Package, process and apparatus for making said package
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 with a portion of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and with the removable portion ( 21 ) for defining a housing compartment ( 22 ) for the product, a gripping portion ( 22 ) emerging from the perimetral edge ( 6 ); 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. The package 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 ), and the removable portion ( 21 ) is aligned with at least a portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which it extends as a prolongation. The removable portion ( 21 ) has a cavity ( 21 a ) the concavity whereof, at least in the closed condition of the package, faces the perimetral edge ( 6 ); the gripping portion ( 22 ) is disposed, at least in the closed condition of the package, within said cavity ( 21 a ). The present invention also relates to a process and an apparatus for making said package.
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 the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and with the removable portion ( 21 ), said closing film ( 10 ) being configured for defining—cooperatively with the support ( 1 )— a housing compartment ( 5 ) for the product (P),
a gripping portion ( 22 ) emerging from the perimetral edge ( 6 ),
wherein the removable portion ( 21 ) and at least one part of the closing film ( 10 ) are 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 ) and support ( 1 ) interdict 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 ) extends as a prolongation;
wherein:
the removable portion ( 21 ) exhibits a cavity ( 21 a ) the concavity whereof, at least in the closed condition of the package, faces the perimetral edge ( 6 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) is disposed, at least in the closed condition of the package, inside the cavity ( 21 a ) of the removable portion ( 21 ),
wherein the gripping surface ( 22 ) comprises:
a support portion ( 22 a ),
a coating layer ( 22 b ) adapted to cover at least partially the support portion ( 22 a ), said coating layer ( 22 b ), at least in the closed condition of the package, being interposed between the support portion ( 22 a ) of the gripping portion ( 22 ) and the closing film ( 10 ),
wherein the coating layer ( 22 b ) is of a not heat-sealable material configured for preventing the bond, optionally the sealing, of the gripping portion to the closing film ( 10 ).
2. 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 the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and with the removable portion ( 21 ), said closing film ( 10 ) being configured for defining—cooperatively with the support ( 1 )— a housing compartment ( 5 ) for the product (P),
a gripping portion ( 22 ) emerging from the perimetral edge ( 6 );
wherein the removable portion ( 21 ) and at least one part of the closing film ( 10 ) are 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 ) and support ( 1 ) interdict 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 ) extends as a prolongation;
wherein:
the removable portion ( 21 ) exhibits a cavity ( 21 a ) the concavity whereof, at least in the closed condition of the package, faces the perimetral edge ( 6 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) is disposed, at least in the closed condition of the package, inside the cavity ( 21 a ) of the removable portion ( 21 ),
wherein the support extends, in thickness, between:
a first surface of a heat-sealable material configured for receiving the closing film ( 10 ) in engagement, and
a second surface of a material not heat-sealable with the closing film ( 10 ),
wherein at least the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and the removable portion ( 21 ) are defined superficially by said first surface of heat-sealable material,
wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a portion of the support folded above the perimetral edge ( 6 ) so that the gripping portion ( 22 ) is externally defined by the second not heat-sealable surface.
3. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ), at least in the closed condition of the package, is interposed between the removable portion ( 21 ) and the perimetral edge ( 6 ), optionally the gripping portion ( 22 ), at least in the closed condition of the package, is interposed between the removable portion ( 21 ) and the portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which said removable portions extend as a prolongation.
4. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ), in the closed condition of the package, exhibits an upper surface, which:
at least partially abuts against the closing film ( 10 ),
is disengaged from said closing film ( 10 ).
5. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the closing film ( 10 ) is of a plastic material, the closing film being heat-sealed only to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ) and to the removable portion ( 21 ), the closing film ( 10 ) being not heat-sealed to said gripping portion ( 22 ).
6. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ), in the closed condition, is coplanar with at least said portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) from which the removable portion extends as a prolongation.
7. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is integrally joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ).
8. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) extends as a prolongation of the perimetral edge ( 6 ) away from the base ( 2 ), wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) extends as a prolongation of the portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ), from which, in the closed condition of the package, the removable portion ( 21 ) extends as a prolongation,
wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) is coplanar with at least said portion ( 6 a ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ).
9. 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 ) is engaged with the flange ( 30 ),
the gripping portion ( 22 ) extending at least partially along a respective plane parallel to the lying plane of the flange ( 30 ), optionally the gripping portion ( 22 ) is at least partially coplanar with the flange ( 30 ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ).
10. Package according to claim 1 or, wherein the support portion ( 22 a ) of the gripping portion ( 22 ) is integrally joined to the perimetral edge ( 6 ), optionally the support portion ( 22 a ) of the gripping portion ( 22 ) is integrally joined to the flange ( 30 ) of the perimetral edge ( 6 ).
11. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the package ( 100 ) is configured for defining a pre-opening condition wherein:
the closing film ( 10 ) and the support ( 1 ) interdict the access to the housing compartment ( 5 ), optionally the closing film ( 10 ) is stably engaged with the perimetral edge ( 6 ) for defining said fluid-tight housing compartment ( 5 ) for the product (P),
the removable portion ( 21 ) is at least partially raised, optionally angularly offset, from the gripping portion ( 22 ),
wherein in the pre-opening condition of the package, the closing film ( 10 ) is distanced from the gripping portion ( 22 ) so that such gripping portion is grippable by an user.
12. 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 ) from the perimetral edge ( 6 ) of the support ( 1 ) during a step of opening the package ( 100 ) following the closed condition.
13. 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 supported by, optionally integrally joined to, the flange ( 30 ) and emerges from this latter away from the lateral wall ( 7 ).
14. 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 ), optionally 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 ), optionally the gripping portion ( 22 ) and removable portion ( 21 ) are disposed at a same angular portion ( 11 ) of the support ( 1 ).
15. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the removable portion ( 21 ) comprises a tab having a substantially “L” or “C” or “U” or “V” shape defining said cavity ( 21 a ) the concavity thereof faces the base ( 2 ) of the support ( 1 ), the gripping portion ( 22 b ) being completely contained in the cavity of said removable portion ( 21 ).
16. Package according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a folded portion of the support ( 1 ),
wherein the support extends, in thickness, between a first surface of a heat-sealable material, and a second surface of a material not heat-sealable with the closing film ( 10 ), wherein at least the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and removable portion ( 21 ) are superficially defined by said first upper surface of heat-sealable material,
wherein the gripping portion ( 22 ) comprises a portion of the support folded above the perimetral edge ( 6 ) so that the gripping portion ( 22 ) is externally defined by the second not heat-sealable surface.
17. Package according to claim 2 , wherein the perimetral edge ( 6 ) and the removable portion ( 21 ) are delimited, on one side by the second surface of a not heat-sealable material in which the gripping portion is delimited on both sides, defined the thickness of said gripping portion, by the second not heat-sealable surface.