MXPA00011192A - Flexible package having a zipper - Google Patents

Abstract

A modified flexible package (10) includes a front elastomeric wall (11) and a rear elastomeric wall (12). The front wall (11) and the rear wall (12) are sealed together at a top seal (20) at a top end of the side walls. The top seal (20) is formed by applying heat and/or pressure for a given dwell period, and is preferably a de-laminating seal. A first zipper part (40-1) is attached to an inside surface of the front wall (11) and has a first engagement member (43-1) facing the rear wall. A second zipper part (40-2) is attached to an inside surface of the rear wall (12) and has a second engagement member (43-2) facing the front wall. The first (43-1) and second engagement (43-2) members are engaged together. Both the top seal (10) and the zipper engagement members (43-1, 43-2) are"pinch grip opened". The invention provides a re-closable package that can be opened in an easy one-step manner -"pinch grip opening"- without an additional step of cutting, tearing or the like.

Description

FLEXIBLE PACKING THAT HAS A CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to flexible packages having means for selectively closing the packages after their initial opening. More in particular, the present invention provides a unique flexible seal that is highly consumer friendly, especially with snacks such as potato chips, corn chips, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE The present invention is an improvement over existing flexible packaging, including those currently used by the present assignee to contain snacks such as potato chips Lays®, tortilla chips Tostitos® and the like. The packages for these products usually have upper and lower end seals that are formed by heat sealing and are opened by "clamp-type clamping" (see figure 1) from the sides of the package and pulling out to break the end seal for access to it These common packages, however, do not contain means to close the package after the initial opening of the seals of extreme. Because the heat seal has been destroyed, the most common way to close the package is to bend the open end and apply a fastener to secure the bent portion. Flexible gaskets that have zippers are known in certain applications. A variety of food products can be purchased in pre-sealed flexible packages that have zippers to close the food product after the initial opening. Although a number of packages with zippers are known, existing packages have a number of disadvantages. For example, those packages of the prior art typically should be opened initially using two different steps. First, a heat seal must be broken by cutting the package with scissors or removing a perforated strip. The lockable lock is then opened in a separate second step. This substantially reduces the attractiveness of the packages to the consumer and makes packaging undesirable for a variety of products, such as snack foods and the like. A preferred process for packaging snack products, such as potato chips, tortilla chips and the like, into flexible plastic packages is known in the art as a "vertical filling / sealing process". In this process, as seen in Figure 9, a length of plastic film F is formed in a vertical tube T around a product supply cylinder C, the food product is supplied in the vertical tube through the cylinder, he vertical tube is sealed vertically along its length to form a back seal 50 and is sealed transversely to form upper and lower seals that delineate individual gaskets, and individual gaskets are cut from the vertical tube. Providing a closing lock to a package in a vertical filling / sealing apparatus presents a number of difficulties. Typically, in a non-vertical filling / sealing apparatus, a closure is adhered to a movable plastic film longitudinally elongated in the travel direction of the film. However, in order to adhere a closure to a package in a vertical filling / sealing apparatus, the closure must adhere to the film transversely to the traveling direction of the film, in order to create a package with a sealed closure near the top end of the package. The patent of E.U.A. No. 4,909,017 (assigned to inigrip, Inc.), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, shows a filling method in a vertical form that fills product in a closable package having a fastener or fastener portion. and a burglary-proof seal 35 above the fastener. In summary, a film is fed on forming shoulders 21 and around a vertical tube 24 for forming and filling. Welding bars 22 and 23 seal the edges of the film together to form a tube with a vertical seam. The welding bars 27 and 28 form a lower seal 29, and the product is dropped in the vertical tube 24. The clamping strips slide on the tube 24 with only a fixed part on one side of the film tube. The fastening strips are subsequently sealed on both sides of the film by means of bars 27 and 28. As noted in column 4, lines 29-31, "(the) seam (35) is a tamper-proof seal for packaging and the seam can be removed cut (sic) from the tip of the package before the package is used. "In this way, the package requires an opening procedure other than Two steps US Patent No. 4,617,683, (assigned to Minigrip, Inc.), shows another vertical filling method which fills product in a lockable package having an upper seal 42 and a closable closure or fastener 27 inside. As noted on column 6, rows 30, et seq., (in) the sealed complete package (,) the profiles 52 can remain separated as shown in figure 2 until the upper end or mouth of the The package has been opened as shown in Figure 3 to access the contents in the package, and then the package can be closed by connecting the fastener profiles as shown in Figure 3. The packing opening can be made either to Place the seal on the upper end of the open package, or by cutting the upper end of the package along a line 58 between the seal 42 and the lockable fastener 27 .... (emphasis added). Among other disadvantages in the '683 patent, when the upper end of the package must be cut to be opened, as noted previously, this greatly inhibits the attractiveness of consumer packaging. Another disadvantage of the '683 patent is that the initial separation of the profiles 52 (see Figure 2) creates difficulties in the proper positioning and alignment of the clamping halves on the film (for example, to adhere the clamping halves they must be aligned in suitable positions with respect to each other to ensure the coupling). Connecting the clamping halves after the formation of the packages can therefore lead to substantial alignment problems. It is notable that the '683 patent therefore includes a plurality of parallel fastener profiles. (See column 6, lines 25-29: "By having a plurality of parallel fastener profiles 52, the interconnection of the profiles of the bent section is facilitated because critical lateral alignment is not necessary"). Another disadvantage of the '683 patent is that during manufacture, the fastener halves must be transported individually together with the film (for example, they must be adhered to it); however, if the fastening halves are interlocked, one half can be adhered and the other half can be carried on it. Another disadvantage is that the fastener is exposed to the product during transport so that the product can get stuck in the fastener and interfere with the operation of the fastener (for example, if the package is reversed or for some reason is held up during the boarding, crumbs, etc., can accumulate within the valleys of the holding portions).

Other known methods, apparatuses and packages illustrative of the prior art of the present invention are seen, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,558,613 (assigned to Minignp, Inc.), 5,557,907 and 5,592,802 (assigned to Illinois Tool Woks, Inc.), 4,925,316 (assigned to Illinois Tool Woks, Inc.). assigned to Minigpp, Inc), 4,709,398 (assigned to Minigpp, Inc), 4,691, 372 (assigned to Minignp, Inc), 5,330,269) (assigned to Toyo Aluminum Kabushiki Kaisha), 5,067,822 (assigned to Reynolds Consumer Products, Inc), 4,782,951 (assigned to Oscar Mayer Foods Corp), and 4,976,811 (assigned to Com-Pac International, Inc BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a flexible package is produced that can be opened in a manner such as the common packaging of Fpto-Lay, Inc., for sandwiches, in which the packages are clamped on opposite sides and pull to open (see figure 1) In this way, the packages, both initially and through use, are opened in a single step. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a package is produced having both 1) an upper seal formed by heat and / or pressure (preferably from delamination) and 2) a lockable closure, in which both the top seal and the closure open when a user opens a package with a simple clamp-type grip opening method.

According to another aspect of the invention, 1) a vertical filling method is used to quickly and efficiently pack food product, 2) a closable closure adheres to the packing during the vertical filling process, and 3) a package is produced that is opened by a clamp-type fastener convenient for the user. The method and apparatus can, therefore, be easily adapted to large-scale packing operations. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a flexible package is provided. having an elastomeric front wall and an elastomeric rear wall, the front wall and the rear wall are sealed together in an upper seal, a first closure part adhered to an interior surface of the front wall and having a first coupling member that facing the rear wall, a second closing part adhered to an interior surface of the pole wall and having a second coupling member. or facing the front wall, the first and second coupling members are coupled together, the upper seal is manually opened by clamp-type clamping and the first and second coupling members are manually opened by clamping-type clamping under a clamping force clamp type applied to the front and bottom walls of the coupling members, the front and rear walls have a sufficient strength to resist breakage and deformation under the application of clamping force clamping force during the opening by clamp-type clamping, and b) a food product stored inside the package below the first and second coupling members. The term "front and rear walls" refers to opposite front and rear sides and embraces separate wall members that are joined together (eg, by one or more seams), wall members that are integrally formed, eg, extruded together, etc. Considering this, although some of the preferred embodiments involve packages that are constructed from a single elongated sheet that is formed in a tube having front and back walls by sealing along a back seal, said plastic tube could also, in a alternate modality, formed by extrusion of an elongated tube. According to another aspect of the invention, the upper seal is a heat / pressure / rest seal (defined here below). For example, the upper seal can be formed by heat and pressure for a given period of rest. As another example, the upper seal can be formed by pressure, without heat, for a given period of rest. According to another aspect of the invention, the first coupling member has a male protrusion and the second coupling member has at least one protrusion forming a female cavity, the male protrusion engages in the female cavity. According to another aspect of the invention, the front and rear walls are laminated plastic walls that include at least one inner sealable layer and at least one outer wall layer.

According to another aspect of the invention, the first and second closure portions have cross-sectional shapes that are different from one another and are separate pieces that are connected together only in the coupling members. Although less preferred, the closure portions may each have the same cross-sectional shape. According to another aspect of the invention, the package includes a food product therein. More preferably, the food product includes salty, sweet or spicy snack foods, which are known in the art to provide salty, sweet or spiced flavors, such as, for example, certain sandwiches containing salt, sugar, etc. According to another aspect of the invention, a flexible package is provided having: front and rear walls, the front and rear walls are laminated plastic walls that include at least one interior sealable layer and at least one outer wall layer; a lower seal formed between lower sides of the front and rear walls; an upper seal formed between upper sides of the front and rear walls, the upper seal includes a seal between the inner sealable layers; a closure located within the package near the top seal, the closure has a first closure part having a first coupling member extending longitudinally along the closure portion and a wider base having at least two points of closure. sealer behind the base; the closure also has a second closure part having a second coupling member extending longitudinally along the closing part and a wider base having at least two points of sealant behind the base; the first coupling member engages the second coupling member, the at least two spots of sealant on the first closure part are sealed to the inner layer of the film on a first side of the vertical tube and the at least two points of sealant on the second closing part is sealed to the inner layer of the film on a second side of the vertical tube; the seal between the inner sealable layers is opened by delamination and the coupling between the coupling members of the closure is decoupled with the application of a predetermined clamping-type clamping force. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for opening and closing a flexible package containing a food product which includes the steps of: 1) providing in combination: a) a flexible package having an elastomeric front wall and an elastomeric back wall; the front wall and the rear wall are sealed together in a top seal; a first closure part adhered to an interior surface of the front wall and having a first coupling member facing the rear wall; a second closure part adhered to an interior surface of the rear wall and having a second coupling member facing the front wall; the first and second coupling members are coupled together; the upper seal and the first and second coupling members are abkable by clamp-type clamping under a gripper-type clamping force applied to the front and rear walls below the coupling members, the front and rear walls have sufficient strength to resist breakage and low deformation the application of the gripper-type clamping force during the opening by clamp-type clamping, and b) a food product stored inside the package below the first and second coupling members, 2) opening by means of clamp-type clamping the packing pushing manually with a force of at least clamping force type clamps the opposite sides of the package below the closure to open both the closure, decoupling the coupling portions, and the upper seal from the product side outward in a only opening step by clamp-type clamping, 3) removing a portion of the food product of the package, 4) closing the package by manually re-coupling the first and second coupling members According to another aspect of the invention, during the single opening step by means of clamp-type clamping, the closure is at least partially decoupled before the upper seal begins to open VIEWS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention has a number of significant advantages over the prior art. For example, the present invention provides a package that has both an upper end seal and a closure that both they are closed during transportation and handling of the product, whereby a) the quality and durability of the seal is improved, b) the food particles are prevented from interfering with the closure fastener; and c) a vertical filling / sealing process similar to that of the US patent. No. 4,909,017 can be used to pack product. In addition, the present invention also provides a lockable package that a consumer can open in a simple one-step procedure, rather than an embarrassing two-step procedure that requires scissors or the like. The lockable gaskets of the present invention can be opened using a "clamp-type fastening" method commonly used to open existing sandwich packages. Therefore it is not necessary to educate consumers on how to use the packaging. The packaging is therefore very convenient for the consumer. The above advantages, features and others, and aspects of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the appended drawings, in which similar references indicate similar parts, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a consumer holding a package according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an upper end of a package according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a closure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the closure shown in Figure 3 within a package according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modified closure within a package according to another embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a modified closure within a package according to another embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred construction of a sealing head assembly for manufacturing the packages. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modified construction of the sealing head assembly for making packages similar to those shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of a forming / filling / vertical device used in an illustrative method for making flexible packaging of the present invention; and Figure 10 is an elevation view of an illustrative resistance testing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Figure 1 shows a flexible pack 10 according to a preferred embodiment having an upper seal 20, a lower seal 30, a lockable closure 40 (shown in dotted lines) close to the upper seal , and a post vertical seal 50 Although the rear seal 50 is illustrated as a flange extending from the middle of one of the walls 11 or 12 (ie, formed by adhering an inner surface of the tube to an opposite inner surface of the tube), the back seal could also be flush with the packing material (i.e., formed by adhering an inner surface of the tube to an opposite outer surface of the tube). tube to overlap the sides) In addition, the rear seal 50 could also be formed in another location In addition, other embodiments could include multiple longitudinal seals or even a non-longitudinal seal such as if the tube is extruded. As shown in FIG. 2, the package 10 includes a first wall 11 and a second wall 12. The upper seal 20 is formed between the first and second walls 11 and 12 in a region A the closure 40 (not shown in Figure 2) is accommodated in a region B between the walls. The FP food product is stored in a C region inside the package.

As shown in Figure 1, the package 10 is opened through a "clamp-type clamping" method in which a consumer holds the walls 11 and 12 with his hands H (the left hand is shown) and pulls generally from perpendicular way outward in the directions G, G ' (see figures 1 and 2). At least the upper seal is what it defines in the present as "formed by heat / pressure / rest". The terminology formed by heat / pressure / rest is defined herein as encompassing seals that are fabricated between two adjacent walls (e.g., opposite walls of a film tube) by the application of heat and / or pressure (e.g. between sealing jaws) during a given rest period. The seal is more preferably a delamination stamp. Although less preferred, the seal may be 1) a cohesive seal, 2) an adhesive seal formed by heat / pressure / rest, 3) a cold seal formed by pressure and rest only, or 4) any other known seal of heat / pressure / rest.

The upper seal 20 is preferably a delamination seal in which one or both of the inner layers 11 i and / or 12i delaminate from the outer layers 11o and / or 12o. Considering this, the inner layers 11 i and / or 12 i of the first and second side walls are sealed together (e.g., by heat and / or pressure) and this seal breaks without tearing the outer layers 11o and / or 12o. Except for the delaminated portions of the respective inner layers 11 i and / or 12i the packaging structure, as seen from the outside, remains intact. Although two layers are shown, the inner and / or outer layers illustrated may include one or more layers each. In the preferred embodiment having a delamination stamp, the walls of the packages 10 are preferably made of multilayer plastic materials. In an illustrative embodiment, the package may include a) an outer layer of polypropylene, b) an intermediate layer of polyethylene, and c) an inner layer of polypropylene. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of plastic and elastomeric materials, including common additives, can be used. In preferred embodiments, the materials for the side walls 11 and 12 of the packages are selected from materials described in the U.S.A. No. 5,689,935 (assigned to the present assignee), the entire description of which is also incorporated herein by reference. The packaging material is also preferably a transparent material having acceptable clarity for observing the contents (eg, non-fuzzy). Closure gaskets having cut tops do not become easily transparent because the films for making such gaskets typically require properties (eg, additives) that can inhibit transparency. The seal 20 is preferably opened, for example, delaminated, with the application of a force of less than 1,360 kilograms per linear 2.54 cm, and more preferably of approximately 0.4535 a 0. 907 kilograms by 2.54 linear cm, the opening force is in the direction of the arrows G, G 'shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, in less preferred embodiments, a larger opening force would be required . A preferred method for testing the seal strength or the required opening force includes, as shown in FIG. 10: cutting a strip S having a width of approximately 2.54 cm from an upper part of the package 10: placing the strip S within of known strength test equipment, such as the equipment manufactured by Instron Corp., having two opposing fastener members CM1 and CM2 that uniformly grip the ends of the cut portions of the walls 11 and 12 between the upper fastening members and lower; and moving the clamping members slowly outwards as shown by the arrows in Figure 10, such as at a speed of approximately 12.7 cm / minute. Under such conditions, the 2.54 cm wide portion of seal 20 is preferably opened with the application of a force of less than 1.36 kg, and more preferably between 0.453 to 0.907 kg. Although seal resistors have been discussed with reference to delamination stamps, other seals 20 encompassed by the present invention are also preferably openable within the applied force scales noted above. According to the present invention, the package is opened by clamping the sides of the upper seal and pushing it outwards. In this way, the top seal opens in a direction away from the FP product within the package (i.e., opening from the product side outwards). This allows the package to be opened in a manner convenient to the consumer. Furthermore, if a delamination stamp is opened from above the top seal down towards the product (ie opening from the consumer side), the delamination film could continue well into the product area and undesirably loosen the packing material. The closure 40 adheres to the package in a way to remain engaged under sufficient force to "open by clamp-type fastener" the upper seal. For example, in the most preferred embodiments using an upper delamination seal, the closure 40 is constructed so that the inner layers 11 i and 12 i do not delaminate under the closure when the package is opened, for example, during the "opening". by clamp-type clamping "of the package. Where the inner layers 11 i and 12i can be delaminated, placing a closure 40 in the package 10 with delamination walls 11 and 12 presents difficulties. The amount of force required to open the closure 40 from either the consumer side or from the product side can be adjusted by varying the configuration of the male and female coupling members in a known manner. See, for example, the patent of E.U.A. No. 5,558,613, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The '613 patent states that "(in) general, the profiles must be such as to provide relatively high resistance to the opening from within the package while returning to the relatively easy-to-open package. from the outside. "However, in the present invention, the force required to open the closure from inside the package is preferably reduced, preferably approximately equal to or less than the force required to open the closure from the outside. Outer packaging In one embodiment, for example, closure 40 is opened from the interior by a force of less than about 1.13 kg per 2.54 linear centimeters, preferably from about 0.680 to 0.907 kg per 2.54 linear centimeters (approximately 700-900 grams) The method shown in Figure 10 is also a preferred method for measuring this closing opening force, for example by measuring a section of 2.54 centimeters in width of the closure, preferably after the closure is uncoupled from the closure. less partially, the force that is required to continue the decoupling of the coupling members is minimal or is greatly reduced. The maximum that is required during the entire opening step by clamp-type clamping can therefore be minimized, if desired, because the maximum point of force required to open the clamp may precede that required to open the upper clamp during clamping. opening by clamp-type clamping. As some examples, this maximum force could be obtained below 1.58 kg / 2.54 cm, or even below 1.36 kg /2.54 cm, or less. Furthermore, in cases where the force required to uncouple the closure essentially precedes the force required to open the upper seal during the opening with clamp-type clamping, the maximum opening force could be essentially the force required to uncouple the closure or to open the upper seal. In the most preferred embodiments, the food product in the package is lightweight so that the risk of inadvertent opening from the product side outwards (eg, when the package is handled head-on) is reduced. Figure 3 illustrates a cross section of a closure 40 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The closure 40 includes a male member. 40-1 and a female member 40-2 The male and female members are preferably extruded plastic members The closure can be formed in a variety of ways, but preferably is extruded Although any suitable material can be used, in an illustrative embodiment the closure may include a polyethylene material. Preferably, the closure includes two separate parts that have finite lengths that are equal to, Slightly less than, the width of the package (fastening parts are also shown separately, for example, in the patent 017) One part adheres to one side of the package and the other part adheres to the opposite side of the package In a preferred construction, each of the two parts includes a respective engaging portion and a base portion. Coupling portions preferably include attachable protuberances. Preferably, the protuberances include male and female protuberances.

In the embodiment shown, a first portion 40-1 includes a base portion having a left flange 41-1 and a right flange 42-1 extending from opposite sides of a male protrusion 43-1. In addition, a second portion 40-2 includes a base member having a left flange 41-2 and only a minimum portion 42-2 and a female cavity 43-2. The male projection 43-1 is received in the female cavity 43-2. Although the preferred arrangement is shown, the male and female portions may be upside down, if desired. In alternate embodiments, additional coupling portions may also be included, e.g., additional male and female portions. However, those additional coupling portions are not necessary and are also less preferred. In an illustrative embodiment, the package 10 may be approximately 50.80 centimeters in length from its upper end to its lower end. This package size may contain multiple portions of potato chips or the like; for example, it may contain approximately 570 grams or approximately 20 servings. The package may also contain 1, 2, 3, etc., rations or another quantity of product. In a non-limiting example: seal 20 may be approximately 1.27 centimeters wide (or alternatively 0.63 centimeters wide, or less); the tabs 41-1, 41-2 and 42-1 may each be approximately 1.27 centimeters wide; the width through the male and female coupling members can be approximately 0. 32 centimeters; and the seal 30 can be approximately 1.27 centimeters wide. Various other dimensions could also be used as will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on this description. In addition, a space area or unsealed can be located between the upper seal 20 and the upper part of the closure. This space can accommodate misalignment during the placement of the closure on the package. Preferably, this space is approximately 0.63 to 1.27 centimeters. A smaller distance is beneficial because it reduces the length of the package, and also reduces the excess material in the upper part of the package. Among other things, reducing the extension of the distance between the bottom of the coupling portions of the closure (which delineate the upper end of the inner compartment) and the upper end of the package provides a more similar appearance to the prior art packages and without an ugly extension (that is, a large top tab) that comes out of the top of the package. This extension of distance can therefore easily be less than 5.08 centimeters, and still less than 3.81 centimeters, and still as low as approximately 2.54 centimeters or less. Larger extension distances can also be used. Although the package according to the present invention can be manufactured with any known packaging manufacturing means, such as any vertical or horizontal filling apparatus, etc., it is preferably manufactured in a filling / sealing / vertical apparatus. This illustrated closure structure 40 has particular benefits in a filling / sealing apparatus of vertical form of the type shown in the patent of E.U.A. No. 4,909,017, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. When applying the closure 40 in the apparatus' 017, the minimum portion 42-2 prevents the closure from uncoupling when entering downward in the vertical path, consult point E in FIG. 9. Preferably, as discussed in FIG. patent '017 and as shown in Figure 9, the closure portions 40-1 and 40-2 are initially in a interlocked condition on the film F, and the closure is initially adhered to the film F only at the base of the member 40-1. In the illustrated embodiments, the sealant layers C are formed on a back side of each of a) the left flange 41-1, b) the right flange 42-1, and c) the left flange 41-2 to adhere the parts from the close to the movie. The sealant layers C are preferably coextruded with the male and female sections 40-1 and 40-2, and are preferably made of any known sealant material to adhere to the inner layers 11 and 12i of the gasket 10 with the application of pressure and / or heat. The central sections S behind the cavity 43-2 and the projection 43-1 are preferably provided with a sealing material like that of the sealant layers C. Preferably, said sealant is located in the section S of the part 40-2. However, it is not necessary in all modes to have said sealant in section S of part 40-1. Providing said sealant in section S of part 40-2 ensures that the forces of separation during the opening by clamp-type clamping are apply more along the central axis CL of the coupling members This feature is very beneficial when using a minimum portion 42-2 Without sealant applied in this location, the cutting forces and others during opening can result in, for example , delamination, detachment of the closing seal of the film wall, etc. Each of the sealing layers S and C (when used) are preferably co-extruded with sections 40-1 and 40-2 With the closure shown in Figure 3, the sealant layers C on the left and right extensions 41-1 and 42-1 may be sufficient to keep the section 40-1 adhered to the inner layer 11? or 12? of packaging 10 However, the member 40-2 preferably has its section S formed with a sealing material In a preferred alternate embodiment, the entire rear side of the member 40-2 can be modified to contain said sealing material Similarly, the entire rear side of the member 40 -1 can also be modified to contain said sealant As shown in Figure 4, the left tabs 41-1 and 41-2 extend upward while the right tab 42-1 and the minimum portion 42-2 extend toward In this way, one of the sides 40-1 or 40-2 has a shorter section (portion 42-2) that extends towards the packing. As noted, this short section facilitates proper operation in a filling machine. vertically sealed of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 4,909,017 Without the sealant material behind the coupling portion (e.g., in the S region) of member 40-2, the outward movement of the wall 12 (see dashed lines in Figure 4) can potentially cause cutting forces and others sufficient to break the member 40-2 of the inner layer 12i with the "opening by clamp-type clamping" from the side of the product. Although in the preferred modality the member is shown 40-2 with the minimum portion 42-2 has the female cavity 43-2, the female cavity 43-2 and the male projection 43-1 can be upside down so that the male projection is on the member having the minimum portion . The present invention more preferably provides a four-point sealant adhesion, in which the sealant is applied on opposite sides of a central line CL through the projection 43-1 and the cavity 43-2 over each of the members 40-1 and 40-2, even where one of the members 40-1 and 40-2 includes a minimum portion 42-2. In addition, the present invention also provides a four-point sealant adhesion, in which a closure portion having a minimum portion 42-2 includes sealant at a location directly behind its coupling member and on the center line CL. In an alternate embodiment shown in Figure 5, an extension 42-2 'is provided over member 40-2. The extension 42-2 'helps reduce cutting, etc., because the sealant layer can be applied behind the extension 42-2' to adhere to the packing 10. In this alternative, the portion of sealant S on the 40-2 member can also be eliminated. However, as noted above, this alternative is not desirable for used in vertical filling / sealing apparatuses of the type shown in, for example, 4,909,017, but may be desirable for use in horizontal filling / sealing apparatuses or in other packaging manufacturing devices. In less preferred variations of the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 5, the sealant can be located only behind the portions 41-1 and 41-2 if the closing connection to material is sufficiently strong to prevent the closure from being closed. separate from the packing even without adhesion between the seal and the packing in other areas. In other less preferred embodiments, one or more of the extensions 41-1, 42-1, 41-2 and / or 42-2 'can be removed while the closure connection to the packaging material, for example, behind members 43-1 and 43-2 are sufficiently strong without said portions. Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the invention in which the closure is located in an inverted state within the flexible package. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is particularly advantageous in vertical filling / sealing apparatuses. Considering this, the package is formed and filled in generally the conventional form of vertical filling / sealing devices. However, in this embodiment, the closure 40 is positioned adjacent the lower seal 30 as shown, and preferably the letters or imprint on the film material is also reversed so that the lower seal 30 is in fact at the upper end of the seal. the flexible packages that are formed. The closure is first sealed to the flexible packaging, and the product is then supplied in the vertical tube to fill the flexible packaging. The minimum portion 42-2 of the closure 40 thus extends towards the upper part of the flexible package. This modality has certain advantages during the manufacture of the packages. For example, this modality can facilitate the "detachment" ("detachment" is a well-known step in vertical filling / sealing apparatuses that includes using "detachment bars" that initially make contact with the vertical tube to move the contents towards the bottom of the package before forming the upper seal) by relocating the closure 40 near the lower seal 30. As shown in Figure 8 (discussed below), the structure in Figure 6 allows the sealing jaws of the closure are located above the sealing jaws for the upper and lower seals 20 and 30. Figure 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the sealing jaws., or sealing blocks, which form the upper and lower seals 20 and 30 and which seal the closure 40 to the packaging material. The sealing blocks 61 and 63 are used to form the upper and lower seals 20 and 30, and the sealing blocks 62 and 64 are used to seal the seal 40 to the packing material. Preferably, the blocks 61 and 62 are mounted to move together, and the blocks 63 and 64 are mounted to move together. More specifically: profiles 61 A and 63A form a lower seal 30 of a superior packing; the profiles 61 B and 63B form the upper seal 20 of a lower package; the profiles 62A and 64A seal the closure portions 41-1 and 41-2 to the flexible packaging material; and profiles with recesses 62B and 64B seal the closure in the region of the coupling members 43-2 and 43-1 to the flexible packaging material. As shown in Figure 7, in order to more vigorously seal the packing walls 11 and 12 to the closure 40, the profile 62B may include a flexible portion 65, for example, made of rubber such as, for example, a rubber of silicone to allow a larger amount of pressure to be applied to the location of the closure close to the coupling members (i.e., close to the male projection 43-1 and the female cavity 43-2) without damaging said portions, for improve the sealing capacity with the packaging material. For example, applying rubber on the male side of the embodiment shown in Figure 4 makes it easier to apply back pressure on the female side, so that the female side (which has the minimum portion 42-2) can have a larger applied pressure to secure the coupling of the sealant behind the center section S behind the cavity 43-2 to the packaging film material. In cases where the portion 65 is not made of rubber, the region therein may be integral with the block, eg, metal. In such cases, the closure is preferably constructed to absorb pressure to prevent damage when back pressure is applied. As discussed, Figure 8 shows a modified embodiment of the sealing blocks for making a flexible package as shown in Figure 6. The characteristics in Figure 8 are similar to those shown in Figure 7, except that the member 61 is mounted below member 62 and member 63 is mounted below member 64. In this way, when the jaws 61 and 63 are brought towards each other in the operation of the device, the closure should not interfere with the movement of the jaws, the detachment should be facilitated, such as with the detachment bars mounted immediately below the jaws 61 and 63, etc. Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments currently contemplated as the best modes for carrying out the invention, it is understood that various changes can be made to adapt the invention to different embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts described herein and summarized by the following claims.

Claims (38)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - In combination: (a) a flexible package having an elastomeric front wall and an elastomeric back wall; said front wall and said rear wall are sealed together in an upper seal; a first closure part adhered to an interior surface of the front wall and having a first coupling member facing the rear wall; a second closure part adhered to an interior surface of the rear wall and having a second coupling member facing the front wall; the first and second coupling members are coupled together; the upper seal can be opened manually by clamp-type clamping and the first and second coupling members can be manually opened by clamp-type clamping under a clamping-type clamping force applied to said front and rear walls below the clamping members. coupling; the front and rear walls have a sufficient strength to resist breaking and deformation under the application of said clamping thrust force by clamp during the opening by clamp-type clamping; and (b) a food product stored in the package below the first and second coupling members.

2. - The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said upper seal is a heat / pressure / rest seal.

3. The combination according to claim 2, further characterized in that said upper seal is a seal of heat, pressure and rest.

4. The combination according to claim 2, further characterized in that said upper seal is a seal not heated, pressure and rest.

5. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said coupling members include protrusions that are interleaved.

6. The combination according to claim 5, further characterized in that the first coupling member has a male protuberance and in which said second coupling member has at least one protrusion forming a female cavity, said male protrusion engages in the female cavity.

7. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said front and rear walls are laminated plastic walls that include at least one interior sealable layer and at least one outer wall layer.

8. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said first coupling member consists of

of a single male protrusion and in which the second coupling member consists of a single female cavity, said male protrusion engages in the female cavity.

9. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said first and second closure parts have cross-sectional shapes that are different from one another and are separate pieces that are connected together only in the coupling members.

10. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said food product includes salty, sweet or spicy sandwiches.

11. The combination according to claim 10, further characterized in that said food product includes fried snacks.

12. The combination according to claim 11, further characterized in that said food product includes crisps based on potatoes or corn.

13. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said upper seal can be opened manually by clamp-type clamping under a clamping force of gripper of less than approximately 1.36 kg / 2.54 cm 14.- The combination of according to claim 1, further characterized in that said upper seal can be opened

manually by clamp-type clamping under a gripper clamping force of between 0.453 to 0.900 kg / 2.54 cm.

15. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said first and second coupling members are manually opened by clamp-type clamping under a gripper-type clamping force of less than 1133 kg / 2.54 cm.

16. The combination according to claim 1, further characterized in that said first and second coupling members are manually opened by clamp-type clamping under a gripper-type clamping force of between 0.680 to 900 kg / 2.54 cm.

17. In combination: (a) a flexible package, including front and rear walls, said front and rear walls are laminated plastic walls that include at least one interior sealable layer and at least one outer wall layer, a lower seal formed between lower sides of the front and rear walls; an upper seal formed between upper sides of the front and rear walls, said upper seal includes a seal between the inner sealable layers; a closure located within the package near the top seal, said closure has a first closure part having a first coupling member extending longitudinally along the closure portion and a wider base having at least two points of closure. sealant behind said base; said closure also has a second closure part having a second coupling member extending longitudinally along the portion of

closure and a wider part having at least two points of sealant behind said base; said first coupling member engages with the second coupling member; at least two sealant points on the first closing part are sealed to the inner layer of the film on a first side of the vertical tube and said at least two points of sealant on the second closing part are sealed to the inner layer of said film on a second side of the vertical tube; said seal between the inner sealable layers is openable by delamination and the coupling between the coupling members of the closure is decoupled with the application of a predetermined thrust of clamp-type clamping; and b) food product stored inside the package between the closed closure and the lower seal.

18. The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that the first coupling member has a male protrusion and the second coupling member has a female cavity, said male protrusion engages the female cavity.

19. - The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that the first coupling member consists of a single male protrusion and the second coupling member consists of a single female cavity, the male protrusion engages the female cavity.

20. The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that the first and second closing parts have

cross-sectional shapes that are different from one another and are separate pieces that are connected together only in the coupling members.

21. The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that the food product includes salty, sweet or spicy sandwiches.

22. The combination according to claim 21, further characterized in that the sandwiches include chips based on potatoes or corn.

23. The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that the upper seal is manually opened by clamp-type clamping under a gripper-type clamping force of less than 1360 kg / 2.54 cm.

24. The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that the upper seal is manually opened by clip-type clamping under a gripper-type clamping force of between 0.4535 to 0.900 kg / 2.54 cm.

25. The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that the first and second coupling members are manually opened by clamp-type clamping under a clamping-type clamping force of less than 1133 kg / 2.54 cm.

26. The combination according to claim 17, further characterized in that said first and second members of

Coupling is manually opened by clamp-type clamping under a gripper-type clamping force of between 0.680 to 0.900 kg / 2.54 cm.

27. A method for opening and closing a flexible package containing a food product, comprising the steps of: 1) providing in combination: a) a flexible package having an elastomeric front wall and an elastomeric back wall; said front wall and rear wall are sealed together in a top seal; a first closure part adhered to an interior surface of the front wall and having a first coupling member facing the rear wall; a second closure part adhered to an interior surface of the rear wall and having a second coupling member facing the front wall; the first and second coupling members are coupled together; the upper seal and the first and second coupling members are openable by clamp-type clamping under a gripper-type clamping force applied to the front and rear walls below the coupling members; the front and rear walls have sufficient strength to resist breaking and deformation under the application of said gripper-type clamping force during opening by clamp-type clamping; and b) a food product stored within the package below the first and second coupling members; 2) opening the package by clamping the package by manually pushing with a force of at least said clip-type clamping force the opposite sides of the package below the closure both to open the closure,

uncoupling the coupling portions, and the upper seal of the product side outward in a single opening step by clamp-type clamping; 3) remove a portion of said food product from the package; 4) closing the package manually by coupling again the first and second coupling members.

28. The method according to claim 27, further characterized in that during the single step of opening by clamp-type clamping, the closure is at least partially decoupled before the upper seal begins to open.

29. The method according to claim 28, further characterized in that after said closure is at least partially decoupled, the force required to continue the decoupling of the coupling members is greatly reduced.

30. The method according to claim 27, further characterized by including the step of providing the upper seal with a coupling resistance of less than 1360 kg / 2.54 cm, so that said upper seal is decoupled with a force of gripper clamping force larger than said coupling resistance. The method according to claim 27, further characterized in that it additionally includes the step of providing the upper seal with a coupling resistance of between 0.4535 to 0.900 kg / 2.54 cm, so that said upper seal is decoupled with a force

gripper clamping force larger than said coupling resistance.

32. The method according to claim 27, further characterized in that it further includes the step of providing the closure with a closing coupling strength of less than 1133 kg / 2.54 cm, so that said coupling portions are decoupled with a clamping force of clamp type larger than said closing coupling resistance.

33.- The method according to claim 30, further characterized in that it further includes the step of providing the closure with a closing coupling strength of less than 1133 kg / 2.54 cm, so that said coupling portions are decoupled with a clamping force of clamp type larger than said closing coupling resistance.

34. The method according to claim 27, further characterized in that it further includes the step of providing the closure with a closing coupling resistance of between 0.680 to 0.900 kg / 2.54 cm, so that said coupling portions are decoupled with a clamping force of clamp type larger than the coupling resistance of the closure.

35.- The method according to claim 30, further characterized in that it additionally includes the step of providing the closure with a closing coupling resistance of between 0.680 to 0.900

kg / 2.54 cm, so that said coupling portions are disengaged with a clamping force of clamp type larger than the closing coupling resistance.

36. The method according to claim 27, further characterized in that it additionally includes the step of providing an upper seal forming by heat / pressure / rest said upper seal.

37. The method according to claim 36, further characterized in that said heat / pressure / rest formation includes applying heat and pressure during a period of rest. 38.- The method according to claim 36, further characterized in that said heat / pressure / rest formation includes applying pressure, without heat, during a period of rest.