IP Library Granted Patent US 10,081,473
Granted Patent B2
US 10,081,473 · App. 13/835,716 · Granted Sep 25, 2018

Packaging container with pull tab

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,081,473
App. No.
13/835,716
Granted
Sep 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A packaging container with a pull tab is provided. The packaging container includes a pouch with at least one opening or at least one perforated openable area in a pouch wall, and one or more pull tab labels adhesively connected to at least one outside wall of the pouch and covering the at least one opening or one perforated openable area. The one or more pull tab labels include a substrate with at least one notch in an edge of the pull tab label and a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of one surface of the substrate. The peel strength between the pull tab label and the outside wall of the pouch is lower in the area of the pull tab label proximate the notch then in the area of the pull tab label proximate the opening or the perforated openable area in the pouch.

Claims (58)

1. A packaging container comprising a pouch with at least one perforated openable area in a pouch wall for dispensing contents of the pouch, and one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels adhesively connected to at least one outside wall of the pouch and covering the at least one perforated openable area, wherein the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels comprise a substrate with at least one v-shaped notch in at least one edge of the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels and a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of one surface of the substrate, wherein the peel strength between the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels and the at least one outside wall of the pouch is lower in an area of the pull tab label proximate the notch than in an area of the pull tab label proximate the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch,

wherein the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch is circular,

wherein the at least one circular perforated openable area includes two half-circle shaped cuts with two unperforated areas interconnecting the two half-circle shaped cuts, wherein the width of the two unperforated areas is about 0.6 mm, and

wherein the two unperforated areas connecting the two half-circle shaped cuts are offset from vertical by about 7 degrees,

wherein the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels are oriented with their long edges parallel to a bottom end seal of the pouch and the v-shaped notch is in a long edge of the rectangular shape, and wherein the v-shaped notch is located on the left hand side of the long edge closer to the bottom end seal of the pouch of the pull tab label.

2. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive completely covers the one surface of the substrate and a varnish covers the pressure sensitive adhesive area in the area of the pull tab label proximate the notch of the pull tab label.

3. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein the varnish is an acrylic or a urethane.

4. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein the coating weight of the varnish ranges from 5 to 30 g/m 2 .

5. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein the peel strength of the varnish (measured from steel after 20 minutes at about 23° C. and 50% air humidity) ranges from 1 to 5 N/20 mm.

6. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein the peel strength of the varnish is from 2 to 10 N/20 mm lower than the peel strength of the pressure sensitive adhesive.

7. The packaging container of claim 2 , wherein the area of the pull tab label covered by the varnish is from 10 to 50% of a total surface area of the pull tab label contacting the pouch.

8. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive partially the covers one surface the substrate, and wherein the area of the pull tab label proximate the notch is void of pressure sensitive adhesive.

9. The packaging container of claim 8 , wherein the area of the pull tab label void of the pressure sensitive adhesive is from 10 to 50% of a total surface area of the pull tab label contacting the pouch.

10. The packaging container of claim 1 , further including one or more cuts or slits in the pull tab label proximate the notch and passing through the thickness of the pull tab label.

11. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular shaped pull tab label ranges in length from 20 to 100 mm and in width from 5 to 50 mm.

12. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one circular perforated owe able area ranges in diameter from 4 to 20 mm.

13. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, aluminum foil, biopolymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, and copolymers and terpolymers of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polybutene.

14. The packaging container claim 13 , wherein the substrate is vacuum metallized with aluminum on at least one surface.

15. The packaging container of claim 13 , wherein the substrate is polypropylene.

16. The packaging container claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the substrate ranges from 10 to 100 microns.

17. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is an extrusion or adhesive lamination of two or more materials selected from the group consisting of paper, aluminum foil, biopolymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, and copolymers and terpolymers of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polybutene.

18. The packaging container of claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the two or more materials are vacuum metallized with aluminum on at least one surface.

19. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is selected from the group consisting of an acrylic a urethane, butyl rubber, ethylene-vinyl acetate, natural rubber, nitriles, silicone rubbers, styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, styrene-ethylene/propylene and styrene-isoprene-styrene and vinyl ether.

20. The packaging container of claim 19 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is an acrylic hot melt.

21. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the coating weight of the pressure sensitive adhesive ranges from 5 to 30 g/m 2 .

22. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the peel strength of pressure sensitive adhesive (measured from steel after 20 minutes at about 23° C. and 50% air humidity) ranges from 2 to 12 N/20 mm.

23. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the pouch is a two or three layer adhesive or extrusion lamination of materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, aluminum foil, metallized oriented polypropylene, metallized oriented polyester, metallized oriented polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol, biopolymers, and copolymers and terpolymers of ethylene, propylene and butene-1.

24. The packaging container of claim 23 , wherein the pouch is a three layer adhesive lamination of polyester, aluminum foil and polyethylene.

25. The packaging container of claim 1 , further including a top tear off feature in the pouch comprising a pair of notches in side seal edges of the pouch and proximate a top of the pouch.

26. The packaging container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one perforated openable area includes one perforated openable area in the pouch.

27. The packaging container of claim 26 , wherein the perforated openable area includes a chad on the inside periphery of the openable area.

28. The packaging container of claim 27 , wherein the chad adheres to the pull tab label when the pull tab label is peeled from the outside wall of the pouch to create an opening in the outside wall of the pouch.

29. A method of making a packaging container comprising:

providing a pouch with at least one perforated openable area in a pouch wall for dispensing contents of the pouch, and one or more pull rectangular shaped tab labels,

adhering the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels to at least one outside wall of the pouch, and

covering the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch wall with the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels,

wherein the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels comprise a substrate with at least one v-shaped notch in at least one edge of the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels and a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of one surface of the substrate, wherein the peel strength between the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels and the at least one outside wall of the pouch is lower an area of the pull tab label proximate the notch than in an area of the pull tab label proximate the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch,

wherein the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch is circular,

wherein the at least one circular perforated openable area includes two half-circle shaped cuts with two unperforated areas interconnecting the two half-circle shaped cuts, wherein the width of the two unperforated areas is about 0.6 mm, and

wherein the two unperforated areas connecting the two half-circle shaped cuts are offset from vertical by about 7 degrees,

wherein the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels are oriented with their long edges parallel to a bottom end seal of the pouch and the v-shaped notch is in a long edge of the rectangular shape, and wherein the v-shaped notch is located on the left hand side of the long edge closer to the bottom end seal of the pouch of the pull tab label.

30. The method of claim 29 , further comprising forming one or more cuts or slits in the pull tab label proximate the notch and passing through the thickness of the label.

31. The method of making of claim 29 further comprising forming a pair of notches in side seal edges of the pouch and proximate a top of the pouch to provide a top tear off feature.

32. A method of making an opening in a packaging container for dispensing of the container contents comprising:

providing a pouch with at least one perforated openable area in a pouch wall for dispensing contents of the pouch, and one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels adhesively secured to at least one outside wall of the pouch, and covering the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch wall,

wherein the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels comprise a substrate with at least one v-shaped notch in at least one edge of the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels and a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a portion of one surface of the substrate, wherein the peel strength between the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels and the at least one outside wall of the pouch is lower in an area of the pull tab label proximate the notch than in an area of the pull tab label proximate the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch,

wherein the perforated openable area includes a chad on an inside periphery of the perforated openable area, and

pulling the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels at the notch to initiate the peeling of the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels from the outside wall of the pouch, and

peeling the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels from the outside wall of the pouch such to remove the chad from the at least one perforated openable area to create at least one opening in the pouch wall, wherein the child adheres to the pressure sensitive adhesive of the pull tab label when the pull tab label is peeled from the outside wall of the pouch,

wherein the at least one perforated openable area in the pouch is circular,

wherein the at least one circular perforated openable area includes two half-circle shaped cuts with two unperforated areas interconnecting the two half-circle shaped cuts, wherein the width of the two unperforated areas is about 0.6 mm, and

wherein the two unperforated areas connecting the two half-circle shaped cuts are offset from vertical by about 7 degrees,

wherein the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels are oriented with their long edges parallel to a bottom end seal of the pouch and the v-shaped notch is in a long edge of the rectangular shape, and wherein the v-shaped notch is located on the left hand side of the long edge closer to the bottom end seal of the pouch of the pull tab label.

33. The method of making an opening in a packaging container of claim 32 , wherein the pouch further includes a top tear off feature in the pouch comprising a pair of notches in side seal edges of the pouch and proximate a top of the pouch.

34. The method of making an opening in a packaging container of claim 33 further comprising tearing the top tear off feature from the top of the pouch to create an opening for dispensing the container contents.

35. The method of making an opening a packaging container of claim 32 further comprising inserting a straw into the at least one opening for dispensing the container contents.

36. The method of making an opening in a packaging container of claim 32 , wherein the one or more rectangular shaped pull tab labels further include one or more cuts or slits in the gull tab label proximate the notch and passing through the thickness of the label.

37. The method of making an opening in a packaging container of claim 32 , wherein the at least one perforated openable area ranges in diameter from 4 to 20 mm.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2026
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION), AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.; PAC WORLDWIDE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 075021/0794 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2023
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; APC PAPER COMPANY, INC.; APC PAPER COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; EL DORADO PACKAGING, INC.; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JANNEL MANUFACTURING INC.; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PRAIRIE STATE IMPRESSIONS, L.L.C.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER, LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.
Reel/Frame 065239/0079 →
ASSIGNMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENTS Recorded Oct 6, 2023
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS PREDECESSOR AGENT
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 065165/0919 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2023
From: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; APC PAPER COMPANY, INC.; APC PAPER COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC.; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; EL DORADO PACKAGING, INC.; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JANNEL MANUFACTURING INC.; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PRAIRIE STATE IMPRESSIONS, L.L.C.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER, LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063091/0264 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC FLEXICON, LLC; AMPAC HOLDCO, INC.; AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC MOBILE HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC PACKAGING, LLC; AMPAC PAPER, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; BONITA PACKAGING PRODUCTS, INC.; CEI HOLDINGS, LLC; COATING EXCELLENCE INTERNATIONAL, LLC; GATEWAY PACKAGING COMPANY LLC; JEN-COAT, INC.; MOHAWK NORTHERN PLASTICS, LLC; POLYFIRST PACKAGING, INC.; PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.; PROAMPAC ORLANDO INC.; PROAMPAC PG BORROWER LLC; PROAMPAC PG INTERMEDIATE LLC; PROAMPAC REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC; PROAMPAC ROCHESTER LLC; PROLAMINA CORPORATION; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION; TRINITY PACKAGING CORPORATION; TULSACK LLC; TWISTED PAPER PRODUCTS, INC.; VITEX PACKAGING, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055139/0731 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 40997/0040 Recorded Dec 16, 2020
From: ANTARES CAPITAL, LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 054789/0524 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Dec 16, 2016
From: AMPAC HOLDINGS LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040996/0966 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Dec 16, 2016
From: AMPAC HOLDINGS LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040997/0040 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2016
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040368/0268 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2016
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040368/0653 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2015
From: AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036357/0728 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 19, 2015
From: AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC; AMPAC FLEXIBLES, LLC; AMPAC PLASTICS, LLC; PROLAMINA MIDWEST CORPORATION
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 036357/0977 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2013
From: BURRI, DAVID; LAZZARA, ANDREA; KROPF, MARTIN; HOFER, ANDREAS; PELLINGRA, SALVATORE
To: AMPAC HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 030751/0449 →