Package Integrity Indicating Closure

[0001] The present invention relates to a resealable closure intended for packaging in which articles are stored, and more precisely, resealable closures intended for packaging having an indicator of the integrity of the packaging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Some food containers, such as cookies and other snacks, typically have an outer coating. In one type of container, the coating surrounds the frame, which serves as a tray to contain the food product and is designed to protect the food product from damage. Other food products are packaged in plastic trays, such as thermoformed trays, which are sealed from above using a type of cover material. One of the recent developments in the field of food container closures is the reclosable closure disclosed in US Patent No. 6918532 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent 532"), which discloses a coating forming the top of the container having an opening access covered by a sealing flap with the possibility of repeated sealing.

[0003] In the field of packaging, various methods are used to indicate whether the package has already been opened or whether the integrity of the package has not been compromised, often referred to in this field as "indicative of an attempted manipulation". For example, US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0247764 discloses means for indicating package integrity using die cut, elongated strips extending adjacent to the opening in the sealing region, which is referred to as the area around the container opening under the sealing panel, and the US Patent No. 2007/275133 discloses a package integrity indicator in the form of at least one flap or elongated stripe, which / which ends at the opening covered by the closure, the flap or elongated strip falling into the sealed container with the closure after the container is opened for the first time.

[0004] EP 1619137 discloses a tamper-evident tamper-evident package that has the first and second foil layers removably bonded to each other such that the first and second foil layers are separated at least partially when the second layer foil is pulled away from the first foil layer. The first film layer has first and second tear lines formed on it to define respectively the first and second panel sections. The first panel section defines an access opening through the first film layer when it is torn off along the first tear line during the initial separation of the first and second film layers. The second panel section also separates from the first foil layer to provide an indication of the opening of the closure. Then the second foil layer can be glued again to the first foil layer to seal the access opening tightly while the second panel section remains separated from the first foil layer.

[0005] There is a need for improvements in the field of packaging integrity indicators for resealable closures, preferably suitable for use in conjunction with a resealable closure for containers or packages containing food products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention generally relates to a resealable container closure made of a two-layer material that has a package integrity indicator in the form of a panel or flap that ends at an opening covered by the closure, the panel or flap falling into into the container after opening the container for the first time.

[0007] The present invention is defined by a closure indicating a package integrity comprising at least a two-layer material having a first film layer glued to the second film layer. The first tear line made in the first foil layer defines the first panel, aiming to form an access opening by the first foil layer when it is separated from the first foil layer along the first tear line, and the second tear line made in the first layer and ending at the first line the tear is to designate a second lobe to indicate the opening of the closure, when the second panel separates from the first panel along the first layer tear line. The second film layer has a second layer tear line defining a sealing panel that completely covers the first panel and the second panel of the first film layer. The detachable adhesive detachably adheres the sealing panel to the first foil layer so that the sealing sheet is separated from the first foil layer and from the second sheet so as to expose the access opening and provide a visual indication that the closure has been opened after the sealing sheet has been detached once. first from the first foil layer. [0008] The second film layer may have a transparent window portion lying above the second panel of the first layer, such that the second panel is visible through it before the closure is opened for the first time.

[0009] The integrity indicating closure for a container may comprise a two-layer material forming the top of the container in which the top is shaped to provide an access opening to the container and a flap adjacent the access opening. The sealing panel of the outer layer is adhered tightly to the top around the opening so that the flap is visible through the window portion of the sealing panel. The sealing flap is attached with the possibility of repeated sealing tightly to the inner layer around the opening and the sealing flap can be detached from the top and can be separated from the flap by pulling the sealing flap in the direction of tearing off and can be closed again by pushing it to the top close the opening as the sealing panel moves back towards the top, as a result, after closing, the flap is separated from the sealing panel and thus can be viewed through the window portion as not attached to the sealing panel.

[0010] In alternative further embodiments, the flap forms an integral whole with the inner layer and the flap is at a distance from opposite sides of the opening. The outer layer may be made of a material that allows a visual perception of the inner layer flap.

[0011] The present invention in its other form relates to a tamper-evident food container comprising a tray and at least a two-layer material having an inner layer bonded to the outer layer so as to form a top on the tray. The top is formed in such a way as to provide an access opening to access exposed food in the container. The inner layer has a first lobe and a second lobe. The outer layer has a sealing panel formed therein, which completely covers the first panel and covers the second panel of the inner layer. The first panel and sealing panel are permanently connected to each other to form an access opening within the container. A detachable adhesive is applied to one of them or to both inner layers on the periphery outside of the first panel or to the sealing panel above it to glue the sealing panel to the inner layer and to the second panel. The sealing panel is detachable from the inner layer and separated from the second panel by pulling the sealing panel away in the peel direction and closing again by pressing to the top to seal the opening as the sealing panel moves back towards the top, whereby the second panel is closed the lobe is separated from the outer layer.

[0012] In one embodiment, the container has a transparent window portion formed in the sealing portion, adjacent the second panel, so that the second panel is visible through the window portion before the container is opened for the first time, thus indicating the integrity of the package as not yet opened. After opening the container for the first time and then resealing it again, the absence of a second panel adhered to the sealing panel will be visible through the window portion, thus indicating the integrity status of the package as previously opened.

[0013] Food products that can be placed in the container may include cakes, crackers, peanuts, cheese, sliced ​​meat and semi-solid food products.

[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention are set forth in the detailed description or will become apparent in light of the description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, hereinafter described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package having an exemplary closure prior to a loading opening according to the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2a is the package of Figure 1, shown in a partially opened condition.

[0017] Figure 2b shows a partial enlargement of the package of figure 1 after opening and then closing the package again.

[0018] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of Figure 1 taken along line 33.

[0019] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the closure similar to Figure 3 showing the opening opening of the closure.

[0020] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the closure similar to Figure 3 showing again the sealed configuration of the closure after a restful opening.

[0021] Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the closure of Figure 1 taken along line 6-6.

[0022] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the closure of Figure 2b taken along line 75 7.

[0023] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the closure similar to Figures 6 and 7 showing the sealed state of the closure again.

[0024] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram showing the separation of the package integrity feature from the package of Figure 1 according to the present invention; and [0025] Figure 10 is a perspective view of another package having a closure that has been opened, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0026] Referring to the figures, and especially to figures 1-9, there is shown package 10 with closure 11 which includes a package integrity feature. The package 10 has a two-layer coating comprising a first, inner foil layer 12 and a second, outer foil layer 13 forming a top or top surface 14, sides 16, bottom surface (not shown) and crimped ends 18, 19. The inner film layer 12 and the outer film layer 13 are made of a polymer film or other flexible material that has been cut, bent or compressed otherwise to designate the inner space or reservoir to receive the desired product, such as food products, for delivery in the package 10 Packaging 10 can be used to store and distribute food products such as cookies, crackers, sweets or other products.

The outer foil layer 13 may have graphics or other markings to identify the contents of the package 10.

[0027] Preferably, the inner foil layer 12 is formed with an equal extent and bonded to the outer foil layer 13. During the production of the package 10, the first inner foil layer 12 is cut from the side in the punching die along the first tear line 20 and the second tear line 23, and the outer film layer 13 is cut from the side in the die along the third tear line 21 as disclosed in US Patent Application No. 2005/0276525.

[0028] The first tear line 20 is formed as a continuous tear line to designate the first panel 22. The second tear line 23 forms a second panel 42 indicating integrity. The first panel 22 can be separated from the rest of the inner foil layer 12 to expose the opening 24 (figure 2a and figure 4) so ​​that the contents of the package 10 can be accessed. The second panel 42 remains integrally connected to the inner foil layer 12 at the end 44, even after opening the package, and the rest falls only into the opening 24.

[0029] The third tear line 21 defines the sealing panel 26 of the outer foil layer 13. The sealing panel 26 extends beyond the perimeter of the first tear line 20 and the second tear line 23 adjacent the opening 24 such that the sealing panel 26 completely covers and extends beyond the boundaries of both first panel 22 and second panel 42. As a result, the sealing portion 26 completely covers both the first panel 22 and the second panel 42.

[0030] The side of the sealing panel 26, which faces the inner foil layer 12, is covered with a detachable adhesive 28 (see Figures 2b-5) so that the sealing foil 26 can be attached resealable to the inner foil layer 12 in part adjacent to the first panel 22. Alternatively or together with the detachable adhesive 28, detachable adhesive can be applied to the inner film layer 12 along the outer border of the first panel 22. The detachable adhesive may be any pressure sensitive adhesive that allows resealing, and includes, but is not limited to, the adhesives disclosed in US 2006/144911. The sealing panel 26 has a tab 30 or other gripping element that is not covered with adhesive 28, so the sealing panel 26 can be torn off from the inner foil layer 12 to open the package 10.

[0031] Preferably, the sealing panel 26 has a transparent window portion 29 lying above the second panel 42 of the inner foil layer 12 before the package 10 is opened for the first time. The transparent window portion 29 is transparent or essentially transparent, thereby enabling the person concerned to see the second panel 42 attached to it before the package 10 is opened for the first time and, after opening the package 10, to notice the absence of the second panel 42 attached to the sealing panel 26 to indicate integrity packaging, as disclosed in more detail below.

[0032] As shown in figures 3 and 4, the first panel 22 is separated from the rest of the inner foil layer 12, including the second panel 42, along the first tear line 20 and the second tear line 23 and remains adhered to the sealing panel 26 when the sealing panel 26 is pulled off in the peel direction indicated by arrow 32 (Figures 2a and 4) to open the package 10. After accessing the contents of the package and when it is desired to reseal the package 10, the sealing panel 26 can be again applied to the inner foil layer 12, approximately in its original position, as shown in Figure 5. Since the sealing panel 26 extends beyond the periphery of the first panel 22, the detachable adhesive 28 applied thereto facilitates resealing the package 10 by means of the first panel 22 located on the access opening 24.

[0033] In addition, when the sealing panel 26 detaches from the inner foil layer 12 to separate the first panel 22 for the first time, the second panel 42 separates from the first panel 22 along the second tear line 23. As previously noted, the second panel 42 remains integrally attached to the rest of the inner foil layer 12 at the end 44, when the second panel 42 eventually separates from the adhesive coated outer foil layer 13, and especially from the sealing sheet 26 when the sealing sheet 26 is pulled back for the first time in direction 32. Referring to the schematic diagram of Figure 9, when the sealing panel 26 is pulled back for the first time, the first tear line 20 tears apart gradually, as indicated by the string of arrows 50, and the second tear line 23 tears apart gradually, as indicated by the arrows 52 until the second tear line 23 will not end on the first tear line 20.

[0034] The second panel 42, before the package 10 is opened for the first time, is in the plane of the rest of the inner foil layer 12 and thereby extends or is located in a place that will become the opening 24 after opening the package 10. Although the second panel 42 shown as abutting or adjacent to the side of the opening 24, the second panel 42 may be spaced from the sides of the opening 24. After opening the package 10 for the first time, the second panel 42 falls off the plane of the opening and inwards towards the center or interior of the package 10.

[0035] The second panel 42, together with the transparent window portion 29, provides evidence of the integrity of the package in the form of a visual indication of the opening opening of the package 10, even after resealing the sealing panel 26 on the inner foil layer 12 to reseal the package 10. The visual indication is provided by the sealing panel portion 34 showing the black outlined letters forming the word "SEALED" and the portion 36 of the inner foil layer 12 including the portion of the first panel 22 and the second panel 42, shown as gray , which is visible through the window part 29 before the package 10 is opened for the first time, thus indicating the integrity status of the package as not yet opened (figure 1). After opening the package 10, the second panel 42 will fall inside the package 10, while remaining connected to the inner foil layer 12 at the end 44. Then, after re-tightening the sealing panel 26 to the inner foil layer 12 above the opening 24, an empty area 46 is visible as the gray shaded part 36 visible through the window part 29, thus indicating the integrity status of the package as previously opened (figure 2b). As a result, the middle part of the word "SEALED" in the empty space 46 will not be shaded as shown in figure 2b.

[0036] Although part 36 is shown and described herein as gray, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that part 36, as well as the rest of the inner layer 12, can be of any color or shade. Moreover, although the second panel 42 is shown and described as having dimensions that allow the second panel 42 to lie only under the central portion of the word "SEALED" printed on the sealing panel 26, the second panel 42 may have dimensions that allow the complete positioning of the word "SEALED" over a relatively larger with the second panel, so that after opening and then resealing the packaging, the whole word "SEALED" will be above a relatively larger empty area than the empty area 46, and thus only the outline of the word "SEALED" will be visible, but the letters themselves will not have any shaded or colored part.

[0037] Additionally, although part 34 is depicted and described as having the outline of the word "SEALED" formed thereon, alternative words, e.g. "UNOPENED", may instead be used. In a further alternative form, instead of the word, part 34 may be a geometric shape, such as a rectangle, square or circle, that appears filled before first opening the package, and appears partially or completely empty or unfilled after opening and then resealed closing the packaging.

[0038] Although Figures 1-9 show and describe the closure 11 as forming an opening of the coating defining the package 10, the closure 11 may form the upper surface of other packages having resealable openings such as disclosed in US 2007/023435 and thus the closure 11 may form a closure over a thermoformed tray having a sealing panel 26 like cover material on top of the tray.

[0039] Although the second panel 42 is shown and described as formed in the inner film layer 12 by the first tear line 20 and the second tear line 23, alternatively a third tear line can be formed in the inner film layer 12 such that the second panel is completely separated from a hole at the end of the package with the tab portion as disclosed in the form of figures 10a and 10 being the form according to US 2006/265052.

[0040] Referring to figure 10, elements similar to the elements of the form of figures 1-9 are indicated by references increased by 100. The package 110 is a thermoformed tray 60, which forms sides 116 and ends 61, 62. A two-layer film material having an inner film layer 112 and outer foil layer 113, is attached to the periphery 63 of the thermoformed tray 60. As with package 10, pulling tab 130 separates sealing panel 126 from outer foil layer 113 and separates first foil 122 both from inner foil layer 112 and from the second foil 142.

[0041] As with the package 10, the package 110 has a transparent window portion 129 formed in the sealing panel 126 lying adjacent to or above the second panel 142, so that the second panel 142 is visible 142 through the window panel 129 before opening the package for the first time 110, thus indicating the integrity of the package as not yet opened. After opening package 110 for the first time and then resealing it again, through the window portion 129 it will be seen that there is no second panel 142 adhered to sealing panel 126, thus indicating the integrity status of the package as previously opened.

[0042] Packaging 110 can be used for various food products such as cheese, sliced ​​meats and the like. In addition, packaging 110 can be used for semi-solid products such as pudding and yogurt. Although the package 110 is shown to have a rectangular shape, the package 110 can have any shape, including cylindrical and irregular.

[0043] The outer and inner foil layers 112, 113 may be made of the same material as layers 12, 13, which includes polypropylene, polyethylene, cellophane or any other polymeric material suitable for forming the packaging envelope.

[0044] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present integrity feature of the package of this closure benefits from known features indicative of tampering or package integrity.