Sealed single-dose break-open package provided with pre-weakened areas

Abstract

 A sealed single-dose break-open package (1) presenting: a first sheet (2) of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet (3) of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet (2) to define a sealed pocket (4) containing a dose of a product (5); and an incision (6) obtained in the first sheet (2), so as to guide, following a folding of the package (1), a controlled breakage of the first sheet (2) along the incision (6); moreover, the first sheet (2) presents two pre-weakened areas (12), which are aligned with the incision (6), are arranged on opposite sides of the incision (6) at a given distance from the incision (6) itself, and determine a localized weakening of the first sheet (2), which, following a folding of the package (1), facilitates a folding of the first sheet (2) aligned with the incision (6), without at the same time determining any breakage of the first sheet (2).

Description

TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealed single-dose break-open package.

PRIOR ART

[0002] The patent applications WO2009040629A2 and WO2008038074A2 describe a sealed single-dose break-open package presenting: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet to define a sealed pocket that contains a dose of a product; and an incision obtained in the first sheet so as to guide a controlled breakage of the first sheet along the incision in order to cause the formation, through the first sheet itself, of an outlet opening for the product. The incision presents along its own length a variable depth in order to determine a progressive breakage of the first sheet along the incision itself; moreover, the incision presents a rectilinear shape and extends from one end of the first sheet to the other opposite end of the first sheet parallel to a smaller side of the first sheet itself.

[0003] The patent application WO2007145535A2 describes a sealed single-dose break-open package presenting: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material provided with a main incision arranged centrally; a second sheet of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet in order to define a sealed pocket containing a dose of a product; and a third sheet of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet on the opposite side with respect to the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material and (optionally) provided with two secondary incisions arranged on opposite sides of the main incision. When the sealed package is folded, this causes a controlled breakage of the first sheet along the main incision so as to determine the formation of an outlet opening for the product through the first sheet itself.

[0004] Initially, the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material was obtained with relatively high thicknesses that provide the first sheet with a high rigidity and therefore determine precise breakage of the first sheet along the incision when the package is folded. In time, a reduction in the thickness of the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material was requested, so as to reduce the total quantity of packaging material used to obtain the package (both to reduce the cost of the package and to reduce the environmental impact of the package). However, by reducing the thickness of the first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material it was observed that folding the package it is not always possible to obtain a precise breakage of the first sheet along the incision and consequently it is not always possible to obtain optimal outflow of the product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a sealed single-dose break-open package, said package being free from the drawbacks described above and being, in particular, easy and inexpensive to produce.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a sealed single-dose break-open package as recited in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of embodiment thereof, wherein:

• Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective top view of a sealed single-dose break-open package obtained in accordance with the present invention;
• Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective bottom view of the package of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view and in correspondence to a transverse incision of the package of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a variant of the package of Fig. 1; and
• Fig. 5 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a sealed single-dose break-open package obtained in accordance with the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In Figures 1 and 2, the reference number 1 indicates as a whole a sealed single-dose break-open package. The package 1 comprises a rectangular sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and a sheet 3 of flexible plastic material, which is superimposed on and sealed to the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material to define a sealed pocket 4 that contains a dose of a product 5 (liquid, cream, or powder).

[0009] The sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material presents a main incision 6 at the centre, which extends along a direction transverse to the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material (i.e. parallel to a smaller side of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material) so as to guide a controlled breakage of the sheet 2 along the main incision 6, in order to cause the formation through the sheet 2 itself of an outlet opening for the product 5. In other words, in use, to open the package 1 a user must simply grip the package 1 with his or her fingers and fold the package 1 until the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material breaks along the main incision 6; by breaking the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6, the product 5 can be made to flow out of the package 1 in a simple and hygienic way as, during outflow the product 5 itself does not come into contact with the outer surface of the package 1 (i.e. of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material).

[0010] According to what is illustrated in Fig. 3, the main incision 6 presents, along its own length, a variable depth in order to determine a progressive breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6. According to a preferred embodiment, the main incision 6 presents a maximum depth in correspondence to a central portion of the incision 6 itself. Due to the presence of the main incision 6 with variable depth, the breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 is always progressive, i.e. proportional to the degree of folding of the package 1; in this way, when the package 1 is folded by a relatively small amount, the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material breaks only in correspondence to the central portion of the main incision 6 and by increasing the degree of folding of the package 1, the breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material also extends to the peripheral portions of the main incision 6.

[0011] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the cross section of the main incision 6 is V-shaped; according to other embodiments, not illustrated, the cross section of the main incision 6 could be of a different shape.

[0012] According to what is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the main incision 6 does not involve the entire width of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, but only involves a central portion of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, leaving intact (i.e., without the main incision 6) two side portions of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the main incision 6 itself. This characteristic (i.e. the fact that the main incision 6 only involves a central portion of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material) is useful, as it enables the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material to maintain sufficient elasticity even after progressive breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material itself along the main incision 6; in other words, progressive breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 does not cause a complete transverse fracture of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material itself as the side portions of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the main incision 6 remain intact and therefore are able to provide the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material with sufficient elasticity.

[0013] Due to the fact that even after progressive breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material maintains sufficient elasticity, outflow of the product 5 is much easier to control and can be interrupted simply (for example, to dispense the product 5 a little at a time rather than all at once). In fact, if, after having folding the package 1 in order to determine progressive breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6, the package 1 is released, it returns, by elastic return, to a flat or almost flat configuration, in which the fracture of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 is substantially closed; naturally, by folding the package 1 again, the fracture of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 is immediately reopened to dispense a further amount of product 5.

[0014] According to a preferred but not binding embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material consists of a laminate composed of a supporting layer 7 arranged externally and a heat-sealable layer 8 arranged internally (i.e. in contact with the sheet 3 of flexible plastic material). Between the supporting layer 7 and the heat-sealable layer 8 there is provided a further isolating or barrier layer 9 having the purpose of guaranteeing impermeability to air and/or light. By way of non-limiting example, the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material could be composed of a supporting layer of white polystyrene (PS) having a thickness of 400 micron (± 10%), by a barrier layer of "Evoh" having a thickness of 5 micron (± 10%), and by a heat-sealable layer 8 of polyethylene (PE) having a thickness of 25 micron (± 10%).

[0015] According to what is illustrated in Fig. 3, the main incision 6 is obtained on both sides of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material; in other words, the main incision 6 consists of a groove 6a obtained in an outer wall 10 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material (i.e. on the opposite side with respect to the pocket 4) and of a groove 6b obtained in an inner wall 11 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material (i.e. on the same side as the pocket 4).

[0016] The groove 6a obtained in the outer wall 10 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material is V-shaped and is obtained so as to cause local deformation of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and in particular the supporting layer 7 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material.

[0017] The groove 6b obtained in the inner wall 11 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material is V-shaped and is obtained so as to cause local deformation of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and in particular all three layers, supporting 7, heat-sealable 8, and barrier 9 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material. It should be noted that, in correspondence to the groove 6b obtained in the inner wall 11 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, the heat-sealable layer 8 and above all the barrier layer 9 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material undergo local deformation (even in an irregular way), but are not torn, i.e. they remain intact.

[0018] Due to the fact that the barrier layer 9 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material remains substantially intact also in correspondence to the groove 6b obtained in the inner wall 11 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, it is possible to ensure perfect isolation of the pocket 4, which is thus suitable to also contain perishable products and/or products with controlled bacterial charge such as foodstuffs, medicines or cosmetics. Naturally, during break-opening of the package 1 obtained by U-shaped folding of the package 1, it is necessary to break all three layers, i.e. the supporting layer 7, the heat-sealable layer 8, and the barrier layer 9, of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, in correspondence to the main incision 6.

[0019] According to what is illustrated in Figs. 2-5, the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material presents two pre-weakened areas 12, which are aligned with the main incision 6, are arranged on opposite sides of the main incision 6 at a given distance from the main incision 6 itself, and determine a localized weakening of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material which, following a folding of the package 1, facilitates a folding of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material aligned with the main incision 6, without at the same time determining any breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material. In other words, the function of the pre-weakened areas 12 is to ensure that the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material folds in correspondence to the main incision 6 when the package 1 is folded; moreover, the pre-weakened areas 12 do not cause any breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material during folding of the package 1, as their function is purely to guide folding of the package without forming an outlet opening for the product 5 (the outlet opening for the product 5 is formed exclusively in correspondence to the main incision 6).

[0020] In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, each pre-weakened area 12 only comprises the secondary incision 13, which is obtained in the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, is parallel to and aligned with the main incision 6, and presents a smaller depth with respect to the main incision 6. Preferably, each secondary incision 13 is arranged at a given distance from a corresponding outer edge of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material. Moreover, each secondary incision 13 preferably presents, along its own length, a constant depth. Finally, each secondary incision 13 is preferably obtained on one single side of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and, therefore, consists of a single groove obtained in the outer wall 10 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material.

[0021] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, each pre-weakened area 12 comprises, in addition to the secondary incision 13 as described above, also a through cut 14, which is aligned with the main incision 6 (and therefore also with the secondary incision 13) and is arranged in correspondence to an outer edge of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material. Naturally, each through cut 14 is arranged outside of the sealed pocket 4 (and at a safety distance from the sealed pocket 4) in order to prevent undesirable breaks in the sealed pocket 4 itself. Preferably, each through cut 14 presents, in plan view, a triangular shape having a vertex facing the main incision 6; alternatively, each through cut could have a rectangular shape. Moreover, each through cut (14) preferably presents a length (L) ranging from 1 to 3 mm.

[0022] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, each pre-weakened area 12 comprises only the through cut 14 as described above.

[0023] The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein each pre-weakened area 12 comprises only the secondary incision 13, can be applied advantageously for containing and dosing liquid products 5 of limited volume.

[0024] The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein each pre-weakened area 12 comprises the secondary incision 13 and the through cut 14, can advantageously be applied for containing and dosing large volume liquid products 5.

[0025] The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein each pre-weakened area 12 comprises only the through cut 14, can advantageously be applied for containing and dosing thick products 5 (pastes).

[0026] It should be observed that (as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3) the pre-weakened areas 12 only involve the supporting layer 7 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material (i.e. do not involve the heat-sealable layer 8 or the isolating or barrier layer 9 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material). Moreover, it should be observed that (as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2) the package 1 exclusively comprises the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and the sheet 3 of flexible plastic material, i.e. the package 1 does not present any further sheet of flexible plastic material coupled to the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material on the opposite side with respect to the sheet 3 of flexible plastic material.

[0027] Finally, it should be observed that (as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5) the through cuts 14 pass entirely through the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material (i.e. pass through all three layers 7, 8 and 9, of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material); according to a different embodiment, not illustrated, the through cuts 14 pass through only the supporting layer of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, leaving intact the other two layers 8 and 9 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material.

[0028] In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the package 1 has a rectangular shape; naturally, for aesthetic reasons the package 1 could have any other shape: round, elliptical, bottle-shaped, rhomboid, pentagonal, hexagonal, triangular, square, bone-shaped. Naturally, the outer surface of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and/or of the sheet 3 of flexible plastic material can be printed, both to provide information regarding the product 5 and for increased aesthetic decoration.

[0029] The package 1 described above presents numerous advantages as it is simple and inexpensive to produce and at the same time enables simple and intuitive control of outflow of the product 5. In particular, outflow of the product 5 is controlled simply as, on account of the differentiated thickness of the main incision 6, breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material occurs initially only in the central part of the main incision 6, and only subsequently does the breakage extend along the remaining part of the main incision 6; in this way, it is simple and intuitive to create a limited breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and thus cause the formation of an outlet opening of small size through which the product 5 can flow out slowly. Naturally, if a fast outflow of the product 5 is desired, it is sufficient to increase the size of the breakage in the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, i.e., increase the size of the outlet opening; the increase in the size of the breakage in the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material is obtained very simply by increasing folding of the package 1. In other words, in the package 1 described above, breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 is always progressive, i.e. proportional to the degree of folding of the package 1 itself; in this way, it is simple and intuitive to regulate outflow of the product 5 by varying the degree of folding of the package 1.

[0030] Moreover, in the package 1 described above breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 occurs only if the package 1 is folded in a transverse direction (i.e. parallel to the main incision 6) through a considerable angle (typically at least 70-90°); consequently, any accidental breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material along the main incision 6 during handling of the package 1 is highly unlikely.

[0031] Finally, due to the presence of the pre-weakened areas 12, when the package 1 is folded in a transverse direction, the transverse fold is always arranged in correspondence of the main incision 6 even when the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material presents a relatively low thickness. In this way, even when the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material presents a relatively low thickness, a precise breakage of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material is always guaranteed along the main incision 6 and, consequently, optimal outflow of the product 5 is always guaranteed.

Claims

1. A sealed single-dose break-open package (1) comprising:

a first sheet (2) of semi-rigid plastic material comprising a supporting layer (7) arranged externally and a heat-sealable layer (8) arranged internally;

a second sheet (3) of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the heat-sealable layer (8) of the first sheet (2) to define a sealed pocket (4) containing a dose of a product (5); and

a main incision (6) that extends along a straight line and is obtained in the supporting layer (7) of the first sheet (2), so as to guide, following a folding of the package (1), a controlled breakage of the first sheet (2) along the main incision (6), in order to cause the formation of an outlet opening for the product (5) through the first sheet (2) itself;

the sealed single-dose package (1) is characterised in that the supporting layer (7) of the first sheet (2) presents two pre-weakened areas (12), which are separate and different from the main incision (6), are aligned with the main incision (6), are arranged on opposite sides of the main incision (6) and at a given distance from the main incision (6) itself, and determine a localized weakening of the first sheet (2), which, following a folding of the package (1), facilitates a folding of the first sheet (2) aligned with the main incision (6), without at the same time determining any breakage of the first sheet (2).

2. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to claim 1, wherein each pre-weakened area (12) comprises a secondary incision (13), which is obtained in the supporting layer (7) of the first sheet (2), is parallel to and aligned with the main incision (6), and presents a smaller depth with respect to the main incision (6).

3. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to claim 2, wherein each secondary incision (13) is arranged at a given distance from a corresponding outer edge of the first sheet (2).

4. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each secondary incision (13) presents, along its own length, a constant depth.

5. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein each secondary incision (13) is obtained on one single side of the supporting layer (7) of the first sheet (2) and, therefore, consists of a single groove obtained in an outer wall (10) of the first sheet (2).

6. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to any of the claims from 2 to 5, wherein each pre-weakened area (12) exclusively comprises a secondary incision (13).

7. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to claim 1, wherein each pre-weakened area (12) exclusively comprises a through cut (14), which is aligned with the main incision (6) and is arranged in correspondence to an outer edge of the first sheet (2).

8. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein each pre-weakened area (12) comprises a through cut (14), which is aligned with the main incision (6) and is arranged in correspondence to an outer edge of the first sheet (2).

9. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each through cut (14) is arranged outside of the sealed pocket (4).

10. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein each through cut (14) presents, in plan view, a triangular shape having a vertex facing the main incision (6).

11. The sealed single-dose package (1) according to any of the claims from 7 to 10, wherein each through cut (14) presents a length (L) ranging from 1 to 3 mm.

Drawing