Package, apparatus and process of manufacturing said package

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11618624-B2
Application number	US-201816954618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2018
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package for containing a product comprising a support (1) which has: a base (2) configured for receiving one or more products, a perimetral edge (6) which surrounds the base (2), a removable portion (21) extending as a prolongation of the perimetral edge (6) away from the base (2). The package further comprises a closing film (10) engaged to a portion of the perimetral edge (6) and to the removable portion (21) and configured for defining—in cooperation with the support (1)—a housing compartment (5) for the product (P); the removable portion (21) and at least a part of the closing film (10) are configured for being separated from the support (1) during an opening step of the package (100). The package (100) is configured for defining a closing condition in which: the closing film in cooperation with the support (1) prevents access to the housing compartment (5) of the product (P), and the removable portion (21) is aligned with at least a portion (6a) of the perimetral edge (6) from which it extends as a prolongation. The package (100) further comprises a gripping portion (22) emerging from the perimetral edge 6 and extending, in the closed condition of the package, transversally to the removable portion (21). The present invention also relates to a process and an apparatus for making said package.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Package ( 100 ) for containing at least one product (P) comprising:
at least one support ( 1 ) exhibiting:
at least one base ( 2 ) configured for receiving one or more products (P),
at least one perimetral edge ( 6 ) surrounding the base ( 2 ),
at least one removable portion ( 21 ) extending as a prolongation of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) away from the base ( 2 ),

a closing film ( 10 ) engaged with at least one portion of the perimetral edge ( 6 ), and with the removable portion ( 21 ) and configured for defining—cooperatively with the support ( 1 )—a housing compartment ( 5 ) for the product (P),

the removable portion ( 21 ) and at least part of the closing film ( 10 ) being configured for being separated from the support ( 1 ) during a step of opening the package ( 100 ),
the package ( 100 ) being configured for defining a closed condition wherein:
the closing film ( 10 ) cooperatively with the support ( 1 ) interdicts the access to the housing compartment ( 5 ), and
the removable portion ( 21 ) is aligned with at least one portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which the removable portion ( 21 ) itself extends as a prolongation, wherein the removable portion ( 21 ), in the closed condition, is coplanar with at least said portion ( 6 a ) or the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which the removable portion itself extends as a prolongation;

characterized in that the package ( 100 ) further comprises a gripping portion ( 22 ) emerging from the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and extending, in said closed condition of the package, at least partially transversally to the removable portion ( 21 );
the gripping portion ( 22 ) is directly engaged with at least said portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ), the gripping portion ( 22 ) extending as a prolongation and being folded with respect to said portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ).

2. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is integrally joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ).

3. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping edge ( 22 ) extends between:
an attachment portion ( 24 ) directly engaged with the perimetral edge ( 6 ), and
an end portion ( 23 ) which, at least in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), is distanced from the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and from the removable portion ( 21 ),

wherein the end portion ( 23 ), at least in the closed condition, is distanced from the closing film ( 10 ).

4. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) extends along a prevalent development direction which, at least in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), is angularly offset with respect to the removable portion ( 21 ).

5. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the perimetral edge ( 6 ) comprises an external flange ( 30 ) which lies on a plane, wherein the closing film ( 10 ) being at least partially engaged with the flange ( 30 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) extending along a respective plane transversal to the lying plane of the flange ( 30 ).

6. Package according to claim 5 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ), in the closed condition of the package, extends along a main direction coplanar with the lying plane of the flange ( 30 ).

7. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a tab emerging from the perimetral edge ( 6 ), said tab, in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), lying on a plane,
wherein the removable portion ( 21 ) comprises a respective tab also extending along a respective plane,
wherein the tabs, respectively of the gripping portion ( 22 ) and removable portion ( 21 ), at least in the closed condition of the package ( 100 ), are angularly offset from each other.

8. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the closing film ( 10 ) extends, in thickness, between a first and second surfaces ( 10 a , 10 b ),
the support ( 1 ) extending, in thickness, between a first and second surfaces ( 1 a , 1 b ),
wherein the second surface ( 10 b ) of the closing film ( 10 ) contacts at least partially the first surface ( 1 a ) of the support ( 1 ),
wherein:
the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a first surface ( 22 a ) seamlessly engaged with the first surface ( 1 a ) of the support ( 1 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a second surface ( 22 b ) seamlessly engaged with the second surface ( 1 b ) of the support ( 1 ),

wherein the first surface ( 22 a ) of the gripping portion ( 22 ) does not contact the closing film ( 10 ).

9. Package according to claim 8 , wherein the second surface ( 10 b ) of the closing film ( 10 ) is engaged at least partially with the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and with the removable portion ( 21 ).

10. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ), in the closed condition of the package, is:
joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) only by means of the closing film ( 10 ); or
integrally joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ) by at least one weakening portion ( 25 ) of the support ( 1 ), said weakening portion ( 25 ) being configured for ensuring the separation of the removable portion ( 21 ) itself from the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ) during a step of opening the package ( 100 ) following the closed condition.

11. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the base ( 2 ) of the support ( 1 ) comprises a bottom wall ( 8 ) and a lateral wall ( 7 ),
said lateral wall ( 7 ) emerging, in height, from the bottom wall ( 8 ) transversally to this latter, and defining, cooperatively with said bottom wall ( 8 ), a containment seat adapted to receive the product (P),
wherein the flange ( 30 ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) emerges from the lateral wall ( 7 ) according to a direction exiting from the containment seat, said flange ( 30 ) being distanced from the bottom wall ( 8 ),
wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is disposed at the side of said lateral wall ( 7 ).

12. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the support ( 1 ) comprises at least one angular portion ( 11 ),
the removable portion ( 21 ) being disposed at the at least one angular portion ( 11 ),
the removable portion ( 21 ) defines at least part of said angular portion ( 11 ),
wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is disposed at said at least one angular portion ( 11 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) and removable portion ( 21 ) are disposed at a same angular portion ( 11 ) of the support ( 1 ).

13. Package ( 100 ) for containing at least one product (P) comprising:
at least one support ( 1 ) exhibiting:
at least one base ( 2 ) configured for receiving one or more products (P),
at least one perimetral edge ( 6 ) surrounding the base ( 2 ),
at least one removable portion ( 21 ) extending as a prolongation of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) away from the base ( 2 ),

a closing film ( 10 ) engaged with at least one portion of the perimetral edge ( 6 ), and with the removable portion ( 21 ) and configured for defining—cooperatively with the support ( 1 )—a housing compartment ( 5 ) for the product (P),

the removable portion ( 21 ) and at least part of the closing film ( 10 ) being configured for being separated from the support ( 1 ) during a step of opening the package ( 100 ),
the package ( 100 ) being configured for defining a closed condition wherein:
the closing film ( 10 ) cooperatively with the support ( 1 ) interdicts the access to the housing compartment ( 5 ), and
the removable portion ( 21 ) is aligned with at least one portion ( 6 a) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which the removable portion ( 21 ) its

Assignees

• Cryovac Llc

Inventors

• Ghirardi Alessandra
• Capitani Stefano

Classifications

• B65B5/02

  Machines characterised by incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65D77/204 Primary

  the cover having an unsealed portion for initiating removal (B65D77/2036 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D2577/2066

  Means on, or attached to, container flange facilitating opening, e.g. non-bonding region, cut-out · CPC title

• B65B61/02

  for perforating, scoring {, slitting,} or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging {(scoring ampoules B65B3/006)} · CPC title

• B65D2577/2083

  in container flange · CPC title