Easy peel pouch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12565369-B2
Application number	US-201716099727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2017
Priority date	Jun 15, 2016
Publication date	Mar 3, 2026
Grant date	Mar 3, 2026

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide for a flexible package including one or more permanent seals and an easy-peel seal. The easy-peel seal an elongated shape that defines a convex portion which projects away from the enclosed space. When opening the package by pulling apart the opposing walls thereof as by grasping and pulling a plurality of flaps, the effective peeling force increases at least 5 N as the package is opened.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A flexible package to contain a food product therein, comprising:
a first flexible wall; a second flexible wall opposed to and coupled to the first flexible wall; a plurality of outside edges, including a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and fourth edge, wherein the flexible package is openable only along the first edge of the plurality of outside edges; at least one permanent seal, wherein the at least one permanent seal has a strength between 20 N/15 mm and 50 N/15 mm; and one peelable seal forming the first edge, wherein the peelable seal has a strength between 7.5 N/15 mm to 15 N/15 mm; wherein the one peelable seal is configured to have a lower effective peel force than the at least the one permanent seal, wherein the at least one permanent seal and the peelable seal define the plurality of outside edges, the peelable seal having a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion joined together at an apex, wherein an external edge of the apex of the peelable seal projects outwards from a single enclosed space; wherein the at least one permanent seal and the peelable seal couple the first flexible wall with the second flexible wall to define the single enclosed space therebetween in a filled, sealed state and maintain an airtight seal of the single enclosed space in the filled, sealed state, the flexible package openable at the apex of the peelable seal along the first edge of the plurality of outside edges to release contents from the flexible package after opening; wherein a first portion and a second portion of the at least one permanent seal each increases in a width dimension in a direction distal to the apex, the first portion being disposed opposite to the second portion, wherein a width of the single enclosed space decreases in the direction distal to the peelable seal, wherein the peelable seal is configured to maintain the airtight seal of the single enclosed space in the filled, sealed state through a retort process, and wherein the peelable seal further includes:
a first linear portion positioned between the first elongated portion and the first portion, wherein the first elongated portion is disposed at an angle to the first linear portion; and
a second linear portion positioned between the second elongated portion and the second portion, wherein the second elongated portion is disposed at an angle to the second linear portion, wherein a coverage area of the first linear portion of the peelable seal overlaps with the first portion at a first radiused intersection and a coverage area of the second linear portion of the peelable seal overlaps with the second portion at a second radiused intersection, wherein the peelable seal extends over the second edge and the third edge in the direction distal to the apex of the peelable seal to form a continuous seal at the first and second radiused intersections of the permanent seal and the peelable seal,
wherein each of the first and second flexible walls includes at least one flap extending beyond the peelable seal in a direction opposite the single enclosed space, wherein the at least one flap of each of the first and second flexible walls are pulled away from one another to peel apart the peelable seal and open the flexible package, wherein the peelable seal is configured to form an opening at the apex at an effective peel force of between 7.5 N to 15 N as the at least one flap of each of the first and second flexible walls are pulled away from one another and the effective peel force decreases as the opening of the peelable seal transitions between the first and second elongated portions and the first and second linear portions, and the effective peel force increases by at least 5 N as the opening transitions between the first and second linear portions and the first and second radiused intersections.

2 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of outside edges define a perimeter of the single enclosed space.

3 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one flap of each of the first and second flexible walls comprises at least one grip feature, wherein the at least one grip feature is a chevron or arc that projects in the same direction as the apex of the peelable seal, wherein the at least one grip feature extends in a direction generally parallel to the peelable seal, wherein the at least one grip feature is raised or sunken at least 0.5 mm with respect to a main surface of each of the at least one flap of each of the first and second flexible walls.

4 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein the width dimension of the at least one permanent seal increases in width by at least 50 percent along the first portion and the second portion in the distal direction.

5 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein the width dimension of the at least one permanent seal increases in width by at least 2 mm along the first portion and the second portion in the distal direction.

6 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein the width dimension of the at least one permanent seal increases in width from a dimension less than 3.5 mm to a dimension at least 5.5 mm in the distal direction.

7 . The flexible package of claim 1 , further comprising a food product disposed in the single enclosed space, the food product having a water activity at or above 0.6.

8 . The flexible package of claim 7 , wherein the food product comprises pet food.

9 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions each include a concave portion disposed at a location in the range of 30 percent to 70 percent along a longitudinal length thereof,
wherein the first and second concave portions are configured to impart pressure points that permit contents to exit the flexible package.

10 . The flexible package of claim 1 , further comprising a gusset coupled to and disposed between the first flexible wall and the second flexible wall, wherein the gusset is opposite the apex.

11 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein the first elongated portion, the second elongated portion, the first flexible wall, and the second flexible wall form a convex portion, wherein a height dimension of the convex portion is at least 2 mm with respect to the first and second linear portions.

12 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein the increase in width of the first portion and the second portion of the at least one permanent seal is configured to:
enable an outside edge associated with the first portion to be parallel to an outside edge associated with the second portion; and enable an internal edge of the first portion to be angled in relation to an internal edge of the second portion.

13 . The flexible package of claim 1 , wherein when the first edge is opened to permit access to the single enclosed space, the first and second radiused intersections of the permanent seal and the peelable seal are configured (a) to permit the peelable seal to fully open and unseal along the first edge and (b) to permit an inside edge of the first portion and an inside edge of the second portion to each form a straight line that is configured to permit contents within the flexible package to flow freely out through the opening of the pouch.

14 . A flexible package comprising:
a first flexible wall; a second flexible wall opposed to and coupled to the first flexible wall; a plurality of outside edges, including a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and fourth edge, wherein the flexible package is openable only along the first outside edge of the plurality of outside edges; at least one permanent seal compris

Assignees

• Mars Inc

Inventors

• Nehus Uwe
• Eberhardt Stefan
• Kulbickas Gytis

Classifications

• B65D75/322

  and forming one compartment · CPC title

• B65D81/32

  for packaging two or more different materials which must be maintained separate prior to use in admixture · CPC title

• B65D75/58

  Opening or contents-removing devices added or incorporated during package manufacture {(B65D75/36, B65D85/1027 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B65D33/16 Primary

  End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices (valves of valve bags {B65D31/14}; closures of filled bags B65D77/10) · CPC title

• B65D33/25

  Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners · CPC title