Description

The present invention relates to a reclosable package and a method for preparing a reclosa- ble package, according to the preamble of present claims 1 and 15.

A lot of products are sold in packages with a tamper-evident closure. One example for such a tamper-evident closure is an overwrapping film, often made of plastics and applied to the package by heat-shrink technology, combined with a tear tape. However, such a film does not represent a reclosable package. Moreover, the first opening of such films often is a diffi cult procedure. References US20110235947A1 and DE20220666U1 are directed to the ob ject of providing a reclosable package for different items.

It is therefore the objective of the invention to provide a reclosable package and a method for preparing a reclosable package which allows easy opening of the package.

The aforementioned problems are solved by a reclosable package, comprising a cavity for storing products arranged within a container, surrounding the cavity, the container extending along a longitudinal direction and having a back side and a front side joined to each other at longitudinal sides parallel to the longitudinal direction and further having an upper side and a bottom side, both extending along intersecting directions to said longitudinal direction, wherein a zipper is arranged at one of either the upper side or the bottom side of the con- tainer, the other one of the upper side or the bottom side being permanently sealed, the zip per reversibly connecting two closure parts of the container, wherein respective end portions of the two closure parts of the container are sealed to each other as a sealed closure, the sealed closure being folded flat and attached to either the front side or the back side of the container before the first opening of the reclosable package, wherein, before said first open ing of the reclosable package, a tear-off strip is arranged between the zipper and the sealed closure, the tear-off strip connecting unsealed first and second portions of each of the two closure parts of the container.

The combination of the zipper closure and the tear-off strip provides comfort to the user both at first and further openings. Moreover, a reliable closure device in form of the zipper is com bined with a tamper-evident closure in form of the tear-off strip. Attaching the sealed closure together with the end portions of the two closure parts to the container keeps the shape of the package handy and compact.

Preferably, the two closure parts are to be understood as extending only from the zipper to their end portions at the sealed closure. It is preferred that the reclosable package is free from portions where a portion of one of the two closure parts is oriented opposite to another portion of the one of the two closure parts. Preferably, the two closure parts only comprise one single folding according to which one of the closure parts is arranged as being in contact with the upper side or the bottom side as well as with the front side or the back side. Prefera bly, the unsealed first and second portions of each of the two closure parts of the container are located between the end portions of the two closure parts and the zipper.

If a user wants to take products out of the container, the tear-off strip has to be removed and the zipper has to be opened such that the two closure parts of the container can be moved away from each other and form an opening of the container.

It is preferred that the tear-off strip is free of contact to both the zipper and the sealed clo sure. This applies to both the state before the first opening and the state after the first open ing and provides enough free space to remove the tear-off strip at the first opening without being affected by the presence of the zipper and/or the sealed closure and without damaging the zipper and/or the sealed closure. Preferably, the state of the sealed closure is not af fected by removing the tear-off strip and/or by opening the zipper. Preferably, the sealed clo sure remains attached to the front side or the back side after the first opening.

According to a preferred embodiment, a longitudinal extension of the zipper is arranged run ning in parallel to a width direction of the container. Preferably, the longitudinal extension of the zipper represents an opening direction of the zipper (a direction along which the zipper is openable). Preferably, the width direction of the container is running perpendicular towards the longitudinal direction of the container and/or running perpendicular towards a height di rection of the container. Preferably, a total width of the container measured along its width direction is smaller than a total length of the container measured along its longitudinal direc tion. Preferably, a total height of the container measured along its height direction is smaller than the total width of the container measured along its width direction. Thus, the zipper is preferably arranged parallel to the extension having a medium length. The dimension of the zipper can thus be chosen to be big enough to allow products to be taken out of the con tainer and small enough to allow for economic design of the package.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the longitudinal extension of the zipper is arranged running in parallel to a longitudinal extension of the sealed closure and/or to a longitudinal extension of the tear-off strip.

Thus, the zipper, the sealed closure and the tear-off strip are preferably arranged running in parallel towards each other. As a consequence, the distance between the zipper and the tear-off strip as well as the distance between the tear-off strip and the sealed closure have the same value over the longitudinal extension and can thus be kept small. Moreover, the de sign of the package is noticed as being uniform.

Moreover, it is preferred that a length of the zipper exceeds a length of the tear-off strip and/or the length of the tear-off strip exceeds a length of the sealed closure. Preferably, the length of the zipper is equal to or smaller than the total width of the container. Preferably, the length of the tear-off strip and/or the length of the sealed closure is smaller than the total width of the container.

Keeping the length of the tear-off strip in a medium level ensures that the length is large enough to provide safe closure and small enough to be quickly teared up.

It is possible that a flavouring source is arranged within the cavity. This flavouring source is suitable for flavouring the items stored in the reclosable package. For example, cigarettes stored in such a package could be flavoured by a menthol flavouring source. According to a preferred embodiment, the zipper is a safety zipper comprising a locking de vice for securing a closed state of the zipper. If items are stored within the package which could pose a risk for certain persons, for example, for children, a safety zipper prevents the items from being taken out of the package by said persons if not a certain safety mechanism has been overcome.

Preferably, the zipper comprises a first and a second side part, reversibly connectable to wards each other, wherein each of the first and the second side part of the zipper is secured to one of the two closure parts of the container. This represents an easy opening mechanism which is reliable and reproducible.

For supporting an easy opening, it is possible that the zipper comprises a slider, reversibly connecting the first and the second side part of the zipper. By moving the slider along the opening direction of the zipper, the zipper is opened or closed.

It is preferred that the first side part of the zipper comprises a first profile and the second side part of the zipper comprises a second profile, wherein the first and the second profile are adapted to interlock with each other. Preferably, the first profile comprises a first shape and the second profile comprises a second shape. Preferably, the first shape is different from the second shape. Preferably, the first shape is complementary to the second shape. Preferably, a cross section of the first shape, perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the zipper, comprises a convex portion having a first diameter. Preferably, a cross section of the second shape, perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the zipper, comprises a concave portion having a second diameter. Preferably, the first diameter is equal to the second diameter.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first profile and the second profile each comprise a plurality of slits, extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the zipper and/or be ing evenly distributed over a length of the first and second profile.

The slits represent material recesses which are able to modify a sound being generated by the opening process or by the closing process of the zipper when the two profiles are sepa rated from each other or connected to each other. Thus, it is possible to create a zipper with an individual opening sound for a specific product. For example, if the items stored in the package are items having a technical image (like screws or nuts), the opening sound could resemble the sound of a motor. If the items stored in the package are items for beauty care (like cotton buds or artificial fingernails), the opening sound could be a smooth ringing sound. Moreover, the opening sound can serve as an audible warning signal for parents, if a child tries to open the package storing dangerous or children forbidden items.

It is possible that the opening sound and the closing sound are different. This could be achieved by providing slits along the opening direction of the zipper, wherein the shape of at least one of the slits is different from the shape of at least one of the following slits. Moreo ver, it is possible that the distance between two adjacent slits varies over the length of the first or second profile.

It is preferred that the container comprises two halves being fin-sealed to each other at said longitudinal sides, and that the container comprises the one of said upper or bottom side that is free from a zipper. Preferably, the two halves are identical to each other. Thus, the number of individual parts necessary for manufacturing the container is low, which reduces costs.

For example, the container is made of a foil material, preferably a metallized foil material.

This foil material could be a plastics foil, or a paper slice coated with a metal layer like an alu minum layer. Preferably, the foil material is airtight which helps preserving the flavour or the quality of goods or perishable goods like food or cigarettes.

It is preferred that the foil material is a flexible foil material. This makes it possible to store items by applying a vacuum to the container after filling.

According to a preferred embodiment, the package further comprises an outer packaging, surrounding the container, wherein the outer packaging is made of cardboard. Thus, the outer packaging can be made stable and at the same time produced in an environmentally friendly manner.

Preferably, the reclosable package also comprises a reinforcing element filled into the con tainer. This reinforcing element is preferably made of cardboard.

The object of the present invention is also solved by a method for preparing a reclosable package,

the method comprising the following steps:

(101) providing two halves of a container, (102) sealing the two halves of the container at two longitudinal sides to form a tube, extend ing along a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal sides,

(103) providing a zipper comprising a slider and a first and a second side part, the slider re versibly connecting the first and the second side part of the zipper,

(104) securing each of the first and the second side part of the zipper to one of the two clo sure parts of the container,

(105) closing the zipper,

(106) filling the tube with at least one product,

(107) sealing the tube at a position below the at least one product, wherein the tube forms the two closure parts of the container, being located above the at least one product,

(108) securing an end portion of each of the two closure parts of the container to a front side or a back side of the container by a sealed closure.

According to an alternative embodiment of step (103), a zipper is provided which is free from a slider and comprises a first and a second side part, wherein the first and the second side part of the zipper are reversibly connectable to each other.

Preferably, step (104) includes securing each of the first and the second side part of the zip per to one of the two closure parts of the container by gluing, sometimes followed by apply ing heat after gluing.

Preferably, after step (105), a reinforcing element is filled into the tube before performing step (106). This reinforcing element is preferably made of a reinforcing plate element and en sures that the products retain their shape. Moreover, it helps that the fin seals can be flatted at the sides and the sealed closure can be pressed for attachment to the front or back side of the container.

For all preferred embodiments of the method as described herein, it is possible that one or more of the features as described with respect to the reclosable container are used. For all preferred embodiments of the reclosable container as described herein, it is possible that one or more of the features as described with respect to the method are used.

Further advantages, objectives and features of the present invention will be described, by way of example only, in the following description with reference to the appended figures. In the figures, similar components in different embodiments can exhibit the same reference signs.

The figures show:

Fig. 1 a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the reclosable package ac cording to the present invention;

Fig. 2 a schematic view of the container of the reclosable package according to fig. 1 in a first state;

Fig. 3a a schematic view of the container of the reclosable package according to fig. 1 in a second state;

Fig. 3b a schematic view of the container of the reclosable package according to fig. 1 in a third state;

Fig. 4 a front view of fig. 2;

Fig. 5a, 5b different views of portions of the container according to fig. 2;

Fig. 6a, 6b different manufacturing steps of the container according to fig. 2.

It should be noted that not all elements of the reclosable package 1 are shown in every fig ure, for the sake of clarity. For example, the outer packaging 9, surrounding the container 4, is only shown by fig. 1.

According to fig. 1 and 2, the reclosable package 1 is shown as being in a first state A1. This means that the zipper 5 is closed and the tear-off strip 7 is intact. The first state A1 repre sents a state before the first opening of the reclosable package 1. As shown, the tear-off strip 7 is arranged between the zipper 5 and the sealed closure 6 and connects unsealed first and second portions 472, 473, 482, 483 of each of the two closure parts 47, 48 of the con tainer 4. As shown, the unsealed first and second portions 472, 473, 482, 483 are located between the end portions 471 , 481 and the zipper 5. If a user wants to take products 3 out of the container 4, the tear-off strip 7 has to be re moved. According to fig. 3a, the reclosable package 1 is shown as being in a second state A2. This means that the zipper 5 is still closed and the tear-off strip 7 is teared open and/or removed.

Next, the zipper 5 has to be opened such that the two closure parts 47, 48 of the container 4 can be moved away from each other and form an opening 10 of the container 4. According to fig. 3b, the reclosable package 1 is shown as being in such a third state A3. This means that the zipper 5 has been opened and the opening 10 towards the cavity 2 is provided.

Fig. 1 and 2 show the reclosable package 1 , comprising a cavity 2 (marked from the outside according to fig. 1) for storing products 3 arranged within the container 4, surrounding the cavity 2. As examples, different products 3 are shown by fig. 1 , including items in form of cig arettes, powder, cubes or cuboids.

The container 4 extends along a longitudinal direction 4x and has a back side 41 and a front side 42 joined to each other at longitudinal sides 43, 44 parallel to the longitudinal direc tion 4x. Furthermore, the container 4 has an upper side 45 and a bottom side 46, both ex tending along intersecting directions 4y, 4z to said longitudinal direction 4x. One of the inter secting directions is a width direction 4y of the container 4 and the other one is a height di rection 4z of the container, with all directions 4x, 4y, 4z running perpendicular towards each other.

As shown, a zipper 5 is arranged at the upper side 45 of the container 4, while the bottom side 46 is permanently sealed (see position 401 of the sealing according to fig. 6b).

The zipper 5 reversibly connects two closure parts 47, 48 of the container 4, wherein respec tive end portions 471 , 481 of the two closure parts 47, 48 of the container 4 are sealed to each other as a sealed closure 6. The sealed closure 6 is folded flat and attached to the front side 42 of the container 4 before the first opening of the reclosable package 1.

The two closure parts 47, 48 only extend from the zipper 5 to their end portions 471 , 481 at the sealed closure 6. The reclosable package 1 is free from portions where a portion of one of the two closure parts 47, 48 is oriented opposite to another portion of the one of the two closure parts 47, 48. Thus, the two closure parts 47, 48 only comprise one single folding (il lustrated by dotted line 12 according to fig. 2) according to which one of the closure parts is arranged as being in contact with the upper side 45 as well as with the front side 42.

It is shown that the tear-off strip 7 is free of contact to both the zipper 5 and the sealed clo sure 6. This applies to both the state A1 before the first opening and the states A2, A3 after the first opening. As shown by fig. 3a and 3b, the state of the sealed closure 6 is not affected by removing the tear-off strip 7 and/or by opening the zipper 5. Thus, the sealed closure 6 remains attached to the front side 42 after the first opening.

A longitudinal extension 5x of the zipper 5 is arranged running in parallel to the width direc tion 4y of the container 4, wherein the longitudinal extension 5x of the zipper 5 represents an opening direction of the zipper 5 (a direction along which the zipper 5 is openable).

A total width B of the container 4 measured along its width direction 4y is smaller than a total length L of the container 4 measured along its longitudinal direction 4x. A total height H of the container 4 measured along its height direction 4z is smaller than the total width B of the con tainer 4. Thus, the zipper 5 is shown to be arranged parallel to the extension 4y having a me dium length.

The longitudinal extension 5x of the zipper 5 is arranged running in parallel to a longitudinal extension 6x of the sealed closure 6 and to a longitudinal extension 7x of the tear-off strip 7. Thus, the zipper 5, the sealed closure 6 and the tear-off strip 7 are arranged running in paral lel towards each other.

Moreover, it is shown by fig. 4 that a length 51 of the zipper 5 exceeds a length 71 of the tear-off strip 7 and that the length 71 of the tear-off strip 7 exceeds a length 61 of the sealed closure 6. The length 51 of the zipper 5 is smaller than the total width B of the container 4. Additionally, the length 71 of the tear-off strip 7 and the length 61 of the sealed closure 6 is smaller than the total width B of the container 4.

Fig. 1 shows a flavouring source 8 in the form of a capsule which could be arranged within the cavity 2 and which, for example, is suitable for flavouring the cigarette 3. According to fig. 4, the zipper 5 is a safety zipper comprising a locking device 52 for securing a closed state (see states A1 or A2) of the zipper 5. Additionally, the zipper 5 comprises a slider 55 reversibly connecting the first 53 and the second side part 54 of the zipper 5. In this case, the locking device 52 forms a part of the slider 55.

As shown by fig. 5a and 5b, the zipper 5 comprises a first 53 and a second side part 54, re versibly connectable towards each other, wherein each of the first 53 and the second side part 54 of the zipper 5 is secured to one of the two closure parts 47, 48 of the container 4.

Moreover, the first side part 53 of the zipper 5 comprises a first profile 531 and the second side part 54 of the zipper 5 comprises a second profile 541 , wherein the first 531 and the second profile 541 are adapted to interlock with each other. Fig. 5a shows a cross section of both profiles 531 , 541 , perpendicular to the longitudinal extension 5x of the zipper 5.

It is shown that the first profile 531 comprises a first shape and the second profile 541 com prises a second shape, wherein the first shape is different from the second shape and com plementary to the second shape. The cross section of the first shape comprises a convex portion having a first diameter 5313. The cross section of the second shape comprises a concave portion having a second diameter 5413, wherein the first diameter 5313 is equal to the second diameter 5413.

Fig. 5b shows that the first profile 531 and the second profile 541 each comprise a plurality of slits 5311 , 5411 , extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extension 5x of the zipper 5. The slits 5411 of the second profile 541 are evenly distributed over a length 5412 of the second profile 541 , wherein all slits 5411 have the same shape. The slits 5311 of the first profile 531 are not evenly distributed over a length 5312 of the first profile 531 ; instead, a distance be tween two adjacent slits 5311 varies over the length 5312 of the first profile 531. Additionally, some slits 5311 are shown to have a first extension, perpendicular to the longitudinal exten sion 5x of the zipper 5, and other slits 5311 are shown to have a second extension, perpen dicular to the longitudinal extension 5x of the zipper 5, wherein a value of the first and the second extension is not the same. Thus, the shape of the slits 5311 is not identical among all slits 5311.

Fig. 2, 6a and 6b show that the container 4 comprises two halves 410, 420, being fin-sealed to each other at the longitudinal sides 43, 44. Furthermore, the container 4 comprises the bottom side 46 which is free from a zipper 5. In this case, the two halves 410, 420 are identi cal to each other and the container 4 is made of a flexible foil material.

According to fig. 1 , the package 1 further comprises an outer packaging 9, surrounding the container 4, wherein the outer packaging 9 is made of cardboard. Furthermore, a reinforcing element 11 made of cardboard is shown which could be filled into the container 4.

Fig. 6a and 6b show two steps (101), (102) of a preferred embodiment of a method for pre paring a reclosable package 1. As shown by fig. 7 and as supported by the illustrations of a reclosable package 1 according to fig. 1-6, said embodiment comprises the following steps:

(101) providing two halves 410, 420 of a container 4,

(102) sealing the two halves 410, 420 of the container 4 at two longitudinal sides 43, 44 to form a tube 400, extending along a longitudinal direction 4x parallel to the longitudinal sides 43, 44,

(103) providing a zipper 5 comprising a slider 55 and a first 53 and a second side part 54, the slider 55 reversibly connecting the first 53 and the second side part 54 of the zipper 55,

(104) securing each of the first 53 and the second side part 54 of the zipper 55 to one of two closure parts 47, 48 of the container 4,

(105) closing the zipper 5,

(105b) filling a reinforcing element 11 into the tube 400,

(106) filling the tube 400 with at least one product 3,

(107) sealing the tube 400 at a position 401 below the at least one product 3, wherein the tube 400 forms the two closure parts 47, 48 of the container 4, being located above the at least one product 3,

(108) securing an end portion 471 , 481 of each of the two closure parts 47, 48 of the con tainer 4 to a front side 42 or a back side 41 of the container 4 by a sealed closure 6.

Step (199) represents the end of the method 100.

List of reference signs

1 package

2 cavity

3 product

4 container

4x longitudinal direction 4y width direction

4z height direction

5 zipper

5x, 6x, 7x longitudinal extension

6 sealed closure

7 tear-off strip

8 flavouring source

9 outer packaging

10 opening

11 reinforcing element

12 line

41 back side

42 front side

43, 44 longitudinal side

45 upper side

46 bottom side

47, 48 closure part

100 method

101 , ... , 108 step

199 end

400 tube

401 position

410, 420 half

471 , 481 end portion

472, 473, 482, 483 portion

51 , 61 , 71 , 5312, 5412 length 52 locking device

53, 54 side part 55 slider

531, 541 profile 5311, 5411 slit

5313, 5413 diameter A1, A2, A3 state

B total width H total height L total length