A flexible packaging laminate is formed to have a built-in opening and reclose feature by forming the laminate as a two-part structure having an outer structure joined in face-to-face relation with an inner structure. Score lines are formed in both structures to enable an opening to be formed through the laminate by lifting an opening portion (e.g., a flap or the like) of the two structures out of the plane of the laminate. The score line through the outer structure defines a larger opening than the score line through the inner structure, such that a marginal region of the outer structure extends beyond the edge of the opening portion of the inner structure. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is used to re-adhere the marginal region to an underlying surface of the inner structure adjacent the opening through the laminate.

There is provided a pack (10) for a product (12) which is sealingly retained in a volume defined by first and second films (13, 14) sealingly secured about a periphery. The pack has an openable portion through which a liquid contained in the product (12) can be dispensed. One of the films (14) has a pre-formed hinge (20) across at least part of the volume to assist folding of, and liquid extraction from, the product (12). The pre-formed hinge (20) may be in the form of a pre-formed fold line.

The invention comprises, in an embodiment, a resealable packaging structure comprising a container having a bottom and at least one sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, wherein the sidewall terminates in a flange. A flexible resealable lid is sealed to the flange. The lid comprises a polyethylene terephthalate layer disposed adjacent the flange, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed adjacent the polyethylene terephthalate layer, and an oriented polypropylene layer disposed adjacent the pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The polyethylene terephthalate layer comprises a laser scored line which penetrates through the thickness of the inner layer but not through the outer layer and defines an opening portion that can be lifted out of the plane of the inner layer, thereby creating an opening through the lid defined by the laser score line.

There is provided a pack (10) for a product (12) comprising a piece of fruit having a rind and a flesh portion containing a liquid in the form of juice. The product (12) is sealingly retained in a volume defined between two films (13, 14) which are sealingly connected around their periphery. The pack (10) has a first openable portion (16) from which the liquid/juice can be dispensed. The fruit product has one or more cuts (47) in its rind to facilitate the manipulation of the fruit to improve juice extraction.

A reclosable package, and a machine and method for making that reclosable package that includes a tray for receiving a product and a substantially horizontal edge, wherein the horizontal edge extends circumferentially on an upper side of the tray and has a clamping portion releasably connected thereto. The package includes a top film across the tray, the edge and the clamping portion, and which may be releasably connected to the edge by a first sealed seam to seal the tray in a gas-tight manner. The top film may be connected to the clamping portion by a second sealed seam. A side face of the tray may include an undercut provided with a projection, the projection being suitable for locking the clamping portion in position when the clamping portion has been detached from the edge and is located between the projection of the undercut and the side face of the tray.

A flexible packaging laminate is formed to have a built-in opening and reclose feature by forming the laminate as a two-part structure having an outer structure joined in face-to-face relation with an inner structure. Score lines are formed in both structures to enable an opening to be formed through the laminate by lifting an opening portion (e.g., a flap or the like) of the two structures out of the plane of the laminate. The score line through the outer structure defines a larger opening than the score line through the inner structure, such that a marginal region of the outer structure extends beyond the edge of the opening portion of the inner structure. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is used to re-adhere the marginal region to an underlying surface of the inner structure adjacent the opening through the laminate.

A packaging known as a skin pack comprising a base and a top film surrounding a product. The top film may be a skin film and the base and the top film may be sealed together in a gas-tight manner along a circumferential sealing region. The base and the top film may extend in one or more edge regions outside the sealing region. In one embodiment, this extension creates an area of overlap outside the sealing region wherein the top film and the base are not sealed together, which may form a tear-open corner. The base may have a deformation or may be formed along an edge or at a corner so as to facilitate gripping the top film by a user.

A package includes a support having a base having a product thereon, a peripheral flange surrounding the base and forming at least one gripping tab, and a film engaged with the peripheral flange to define a housing compartment for the product. The support has a first surface and a second surface, with the second surface presenting heat bonding properties to the film that are different from heat bonding properties of the first surface to the film. The gripping tab includes a first portion and a second portion arranged above the first portion. The gripping tab is externally defined by the second surface and includes a peripheral edge which is part of a radially external perimeter of the peripheral flange.

A food containment assembly includes a first cup with a first sealing flange and a second cup with a second sealing flange. The second cup is separate from and disposed adjacent to the first cup. A seal sheet is adhered to the first sealing flange and the second sealing flange, and the seal sheet forms a hinge to allow rotation of the second cup with respect to the first cup. The seal sheet includes a first slit disposed proximate the hinge and a second slit proximate the hinge, wherein tearing the seal sheet along the first slit allows access to contents of the first cup and tearing the seal sheet along the second slit allows access to contents of the second cup and the hinge remains intact.

A container can include a body having a volume defined therein for retaining a product. The body can include a top surface adapted to be sealed by a lid. The container further includes a channel defined in a portion of the body such that the channel is in fluid communication with the internal volume at a first end and sealed by a portion of the body at an oppositely disposed second end. The container further includes a top flange surrounding the top surface of the body and includes a portion that borders the channel, with removal line disposed in the container to define a removable portion. The removal line extends from a first edge to a second edge and through the channel such that the removable portion can be removed from the body along the removal line to expose the channel.