GB2443621A

GB2443621A - Resealable closure patch attachable to package

Info

Publication number: GB2443621A
Application number: GB0622510A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Boaz Kristal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-11-13
Filing date: 2006-11-13
Publication date: 2008-05-14
Also published as: GB0622510D0

Abstract

A multiple use sealer (MUS) attachable onto sealed packages 12 has closing means 14 attached to a frame 10 the bottom face of which is coated with attachment means such as adhesive material. Attaching a MUS to the surface of a package is accomplished similarly to the method of adhering self-adhesive labels by removing a protective covering foil and then pressing its bottom face against the surface of the wrapping. A MUS for self use can be attached to the wrapping of a sealed package by the user himself who further creates an aperture confined by the frame by cutting through the wrapping. Exemplary MUSes comprise rigid covers 14 hinged (or slidingly attached) to rigid frames 10 and fasteners such as zippers (52, Figure 2) attached to flexible frames (44). The zipper (52) may be operable by a slider (46) which may carry a spike by which the aperture in the wrapping may be cut.

Description

ATTACHABLE MULTIPLE USE SEALER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to multiple use sealers for s sealed packages. In particular the present invention relates to a method of attaching multiple use sealers to packages and or packing bags and to self-adhesive labels and stickers attachable thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0 Reclosable packages are normally employed for storing sensitive materials or utensils for repetitive access whilst providing for retaining them sealed or relatively isolated from the ambient atmosphere are common in the marketplace. For example, reclosable plastic bags having an opening provided with zippers, are regularly used for packaging food or drugs. Common zippers either of a type "pinch to close and pull to open", or those having a slider moved to one side to open and to the opposite side to close are typically attached to the edge of an opening of the plastic bags by heat-sealing prior to filling the bags.

Plastic bags furnished with reclosable dispensers are common. Such reclosable packages provide for example for retaining the level of humidity of moistened wipes for a relatively long term following the first use. The dispensers are typically adhered by means of hot glue to the sealed and prefilled bags.

Machinery such as a robotic arm typically attaches the dispensers to the filled packages. Therefore, the level of flexibility in changing the shapes or dimensions of a dispenser is limited. Spilled glue may damage a batch of products and :s cleaning of the spillage substantially slows the production line. Manual operation, such as for feeding the robotic arm with dispensers, may cause errors in the direction of the dispensers or their labels and in turn increase the cost of production.

Efforts have been invested in developing machinery providing for speeding up and therefore reducing the costs of manufacturing reclosable packages and packing bags. However, introducing such machinery into, or incorporating it with, existing production lines is normally associated with lack of flexibility and/or a financial burden. Often such costs are unaffordable. In turn a substantial quantity of products, which would preferably be provided with such reclosable packaging, are regularly packaged.

Hence a method for attaching resealable devices to filled packages, which involves simple and significantly less expensive manufacturing equipment, is beneficial.

Furthermore, multiple use seals that can be aftached to a filled package by the user himself or herself, which are simple to use and ic economically affordable, are called for.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ThE DRAWINGS

Fig. I is an isometric view of a multiple use attachable once sealer (MUS) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an isometric view of a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a topside view of a segment of a strip of MUSes,as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a topside view of a segment of strip of MUSes as shown in Jo Fig.2;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention provides a multiple use attachable once sealer (MUS) and a method for providing to a MUS onto a sealed package. A MUS of the invention is a framed aperture having closing or sealing means, such as a cover that can be repeatedly opened and closed. The action of sealing by means of a MUS of the invention means hereinafter also closing or covering its aperture.

The frame of a MUS of the invention is either flexible or rigid and is attathable to a surface of a package. A package according to the invention can be of any geometncai shape and contains materials or utensils enfolded with a sealed wrapping. The wrapping material to which the device of the invention applies is any known material such as plastic, laminated metallic foil or paper, paper, and/or cardboard. A MUS makes the content of a package accessible through its resealable aperture. Exemplary MUSes of the invention have a ngid cover that is i either pivotally or slidingly attached to a rigid frame. Such MUSes are also referred hereinafter by dispensers. Alternatively a MUS of the invention has fastened folding flaps or fastening devices, such as hooks, dasps, Velcro strips, springs, stickers, which are strips the faces of whith are coated with a glue for multiple use, magnetic strips and/or zippers, attached to either a flexible or a rigid frame. MUSes in which the fastening device is a zipper are also referred hereinafter as zippers.

Attaching a MUS of the invention onto a package is accomplished similarly to the method of adhering a self-adhesive label and is accomplished by pressing the bottom face of its frame against a targeted area within the surface 2 of the package. Contact glue or equivalent known adhesive materials sustaining predefined pulling or shearing stresses, which are typically employed in producing self-adhesive articles, provides for such adhering. A covering film is removably attached to the bottom of the frame. This film is removed prior to attaching a MUS onto a surface of the package.

Reference is now made to Figs I -4. In Fig. I an isometric view of dispenser 8, which is a MUS according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown. Rigid frame 10 is adhered to the surface of package 12.

Package 12 may contain any material, such as foodstuff, to which resealable dispenser 8 provides convenient access for dispensing and avoids spreading or spilling of the remainder. Cover 14, which is rigid, is hinged to frame 10. Cover 14 is closed by rotation in the direction indicated by arrow 16 and then snap locking by a slight pressure in the same direction. The cover is snapped open by pulling in the opposite direction. The user creates aperture 18 in the wall of io wrapping of package 12. Typically, the user opens cover 14 and then cuts out a part of the wrapping of package 12 along the internal rim of frame 10, such as by means of a cutting knife. Alternatively perforations made through the wrapping at the phase of producing it provide for its tearing off. Such MUSes are typically made of suitable plastic resins, e.g. polyethylene. Optionally a label is attached to the external face of cover 14.

In Fig. 2 an isometric view of zipper 40, which is a MUS according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown. Zipper 40 is attached to package 42 by adhering flexible frame 44 to the surface of package 42. Moving slider 46 in the direction of arrow 48 to end point 50 presses together mating male and female fasteners 52, moving zipper 40 into a closed position.

To open, slider 46 is moved from end point 50 in the opposite direction up to the other end point in which the MUS is in an open position. The user manually cuts the wrapping of package 42 to generate aperture 54 through the wrapping of package 42. Cutting is carried out, such as by means of a knife or tearing along :5 pre-made perforations as described above. Aitematively a sharpened spike, not shown, inwardly protruding (relative to the surface of the package) from slider 46 provides for such cutting when slider 46 is moved the first time to open the package. Optionally a lock, which is similar to the known temper evident locks, secures slider 46 to end point 50 prior to the first opening, such that a risk of o unintentionally cuthng open a package is minimized.

In Fig. 3 a topside looking view of segment of strip carrying MUSes 60 such as the dispenser described hereinabove is shown. Spaced dispensers 62 are continuously attached along canying film 64. Carrying film 64 serves as a covering film providing for covering the adhesive coating of the bottom faces of s the frames of MUSes 62 prior to their attaching onto packages. Carrying film 64 also provides for wounding strip 60 around a feeding wheel of an applicator for automatically attaching MUSes onto filled packages as is further described infra.

In Fig. 4 a topside view of a segment of strip carrying MUSes 60 such as the zipper described hereinabove is shown. MUSes 72 are spaced apart and 0 continuously attached along carrying film 74. Carrying film 74 serves as a covering film providing for covering the adhesive bottom of MUSes 72 as well as for wounding strip 60 around a feeding wheel of an automatic applicator. Both male and female fasteners 76 are locked together in a closed position in which slider 78 is located close to the respective end point. Each fastener is I 5 respectively heat sealed to strips 80 or 82 both ends of which as well as the ends of both fasteners are respectively heat sealed to each other, as is known in the art. Therefore an elongated aperture is disposed between the fasteners and respective strips' edges. The internal rim of the elongated aperture consists of the edges of the fasteners and the respective strips. These connected strips constitute the flexible frame of MUSes 72. The faces of the frame on which the fasteners are located constitute the face referenced as the upper face of the MUS. The bottom face of the frame is coated with an adhesive material sustaining predefined pulling and shearing stress, as is known in the art.

Carrying film 74 is removably attached to the adhesive face of the frame up to s the stage in which it is peeled off either manually or by means of an automatic applicator.

Manufacturers are able according to the present invention to conveniently convert their current regular packaging into a reclosable packaging simply by attaching MUSes of the invention to their finished products.

() Alternatively they themselves or by the aid of a third party may provide a customer with a MUS for independent use. A single MUS such as any of MUSes 72 or MUSes 62 shown in Fig. 3 to which reference is again made, can be separately packed for self-use. For attaching such a MUS to a sealed package a user first peel off the covering film and then presses the adhesive side of the frame against the targeted area within the surface of the sealed package.

An applicator providing for automatically attaching MUSes of the invention can be incorporated into a production line at the stage in which sealed and prefihled packages emerge. Such an applicator is similar to the known applicators of the kind wipe and tamp" typically providing for attaching self-adhesive labels to non-rigid surfaces. Such applicators automatically release the strip carrying objects to be attached onto the targeted surfaces from their feeding o device; peel off the covering foil from the faces of the objects to be attached; and press them against the targeted surfaces, while the targeted surfaces are moving. Obviously such applicator has to be adapted accordingly. In a case of an applicator having a feeding wheel, the wheel has to be adapted to bear a strip carrying larger and significantly heavier objects than the regular self-adhesive labels. The respective pressing arm and the forces that it exerts on the adhered object have also to be adapted accordingly.

Claims

1. A multiple use attachable once sealer (MUS) for opening of a package, said MUS comprising * a frame having a bottom face, wherein said bottom face is attachable to a surface of said package; * a closing means attached to said frame, and wherein said closing means is capable of repeatedly changing between two positions of which the first one is a closed position and the second an open position. IC)

2. A MUS as in claim 1, wherein said closing means comprises any member selected from a group of members consisting of rigid covers, fastening devices and fastened folding flaps.

i

3. A MUS as in claim 2, wherein said fastening devices include zippers.

4. A MUS as in claim 3, wherein said zipper comprises a slider.

5. A MUS as in claim 4, wherein a spike protrudes from a surface of said 2)) slider.

6. A MUS as in claim 2, wherein said rigid cover is pivotally attached to said frame.

7. A MUS as in claim 6, wherein a label is disposed on a face of said cover.

8. A MUS as in claim 1, wherein said frame is rigid.

9. A MUS as in claim 1, wherein said frame is flexible.

10. A MUS as in claim 1, wherein said bottom face is coated with an adhesive material. Jo

11. A MUS as in claim 10, wherein a foil is removably attached to said coated face.

12. A MUS as in claim 11, wherein said foil is wounded around a wheel.

13. A MUS as in any of claims 1 -11, attached to said package.

14. A method for converting a sealed package into a reclosable package, said method comprising the steps of a. peeling off a foil attached to a bottom face of a frame of a multiple use sealer (MUS); b. pressing said bottom face against a surface of said package; c. cutting an aperture trough a surface of said package confined by the internal rim of said frame, and wherein a closing means is attached to said frame, and wherein said closing means is capable of repeatedly changing between two positions of which the first one is a closed position and the second is an open position.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said closing means comprises any member selected from a group of members consisting of rigid covers, fastening devices and fastened folding flaps.

16. A method as in claim 15, wherein said fastening devices include zippers.

17. A method as in claim 15, wherein said rigid cover is pivotally attached to said frame.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein a label is disposed on a face of said cover.

19. A method as in claim 14, wherein said frame is rigid.

20. A method as in claim 14, wherein said frame is flexible.

21. A method as in claim 14, wherein said pressing is effected by means of an applicator, and wherein said covering foil is released off a feeding device of said applicator prior to said peeling.

22. A method as in claim 16 wherein said zipper comprises a slider.

23. A method as in claim 22, wherein said cutting is effected by means of a spike protruding from a surface of said slider.