Method of making a recloseable package

Claim 1

A method of enclosing a product deposited onto a product backing member between first and second sheets of packaging material, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a fastener strip assembly of interengaging fastener elements to a product backing member adjacent to and generally parallel to an access edge of the product backing member, the interengaging fastener elements each having a package sealing flange disposed on opposite sides of the fastener strip, placing the product onto said product backing member in a manner such that the product does not contact the package sealing flanges of said fastener strip to form a product-backing assembly, placing the product-backing assembly between first and second sheets of flexible packaging material, attaching the first and second sheets of flexible packaging material to said fastener element package sealing flanges; contacting said first and second sheets of flexible packaging material with each other at a hermetic seal area adjacent to said product-backing assembly and around the periphery of said product-backing assembly to create a hermetic seal which completely encloses said product-backing assembly between said first and second sheets of flexible packaging material, wherein said hermetic seal includes at least one peelable bond area adjacent to the access edge of said product-backing member.

Claim 2

A method of enclosing a product deposited onto a product backing member between first and second sheets of packaging material, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a fastener strip assembly of interengaging fastener elements to a product backing member adjacent to and generally parallel to an access edge of the product backing member, the interengaging fastener elements each having a package sealing flange disposed on opposite sides of the fastener strip, placing the product onto said product backing member in a manner such that the product does not contact the package sealing flanges of said fastener strip to form a product-backing assembly, placing the product-backing assembly between first and second sheets of flexible packaging material, attaching the first and second sheets of flexible packaging material to said fastener element package sealing flanges; contacting said first and second sheets of flexible packaging material with each other at a hermetic seal area adjacent to said product-backing assembly and around the periphery of said product-backing assembly to create a hermetic seal which completely encloses said product-backing assembly between said first and second sheets of flexible packaging material, wherein said hermetic seal includes at least one peelable bond area adjacent to the access edge of said product-backing member.

Claim 9

A method of enclosing a product and product board between a pair of films to provide a film package having a product enclosing portion and a recloseable seal portion, the first and second films being readily separable at the recloseable seal portion when access to the product is desired, the method comprising the steps of: applying a continuous recloseable seal member adjacent and generally parallel to an access edge of a continuous product board, the recloseable seal member including a pair of interengaging fastener element, each element having a package sealing flange and one of said interengaging fastener elements having a product board flange, the continuous recloseable seal member being applied to the continuous product board along the product board flange of one of said interengaging fastener elements, separating an individual product board from said continuous product board, depositing product on said product board to form a product board assembly, enclosing the product board assembly between a first and second sheet of package film, drawing the first and second sheets of package film around the product board assembly to bring said first and second sheets of packaging film into contact with each other around the periphery of the product, bonding said first and second sheets of packaging film together around the periphery of the product, whereby a peelable hermetic bond is provided proximate to said product board access edge and a generally permanent hermetic bond is provided as to the remainder of the package.

Claim 10

A method of enclosing a product and product board between a pair of films to provide a film package having a product enclosing portion and a recloseable seal portion, the first and second films being readily separable at the recloseable seal portion when access to the product is desired, the method comprising the steps of: applying a continuous recloseable seal member adjacent and generally parallel to an access edge of a continuous product board, the recloseable seal member including a pair of interengaging fastener element, each element having a package sealing flange and one of said interengaging fastener elements having a product board flange, the continuous recloseable seal member being applied to the continuous product board along the product board flange of one of said interengaging fastener elements, separating an individual product board from said continuous product board, depositing product on said product board to form a product board assembly, enclosing the product board assembly between a first and second sheet of package film, drawing the first and second sheets of package film around the product board assembly to bring said first and second sheets of packaging film into contact with each other around the periphery of the product, bonding said first and second sheets of packaging film together around the periphery of the product, whereby a peelable hermetic bond is provided proximate to said product board access edge and a generally permanent hermetic bond is provided as to the remainder of the package.