Break-open single-dose sealed package with a double compartment and method for the production thereof

Abstract

A break-open single-dose sealed package and method for the production thereof; the sealed package has: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet of flexible plastic material set on top of and welded to the first sheet along an annular weld, so as to define a sealed pocket containing a dose of a product; and a pre-weakened area that develops transversely and is obtained in a central area of the first sheet; the pocket is divided into two distinct and separated chambers which are insulated from one another and each contain a corresponding component of the product; and the pocket is divided into the two chambers due to a central weld connecting the second sheet to the first sheet and is weak, so as to be broken by exerting pressure on at least one of the two chambers.

Claims

1. A break-open single-dose sealed package (1); the sealed package (1) comprising: a first sheet (2) of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet (3) of flexible plastic material set on top of and welded to the first sheet (2) along an annular weld (14), so as to define a sealed pocket (4) which contains a dose of a product (5); and a pre-weakened area (6), which is obtained in a central area of the first sheet (2), so as to guide, following a folding of the sealed package (1), a controlled breaking of the first sheet (2) in the pre-weakened area (6), in order to cause the formation of an outlet opening for the product (5) through the first sheet (2); wherein the pocket (4), due to a central weld (17) connecting the second sheet (3) to the first sheet (2), is divided into two distinct and separate chambers (15), which are insulated from one another and each contain a corresponding component (16) of the product (5); wherein the annular weld (14) that defines the pocket (4) has a greater mechanical resistance than the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15); and wherein the central weld (17) dividing the pocket (4) into the two chambers (15) is weak, so as to be broken, without breaking the annular weld (14) as well, by exerting a pressure on at least one of the two chambers (15), so as to be able to mix the two components (16) of the product (5) one with the other before folding the sealed package (1) and therefore before determining a controlled breaking of the first sheet (2) in the pre-weakened area (6).

2. The single-dose sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein: the annular weld (14) defining the pocket (4) is made by heating the two sheets (2, 3) at a first welding temperature; and the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15) is made by heating the two sheets (2, 3) at a second welding temperature, which is lower than the first welding temperature.

3. The single-dose sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15) connects two opposite areas of the annular weld (14) to one another, which defines the pocket (4).

4. The single-dose sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pre-weakened area (6) overlaps the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15) and, therefore the (6) pre-weakened area is arranged between the two chambers (15).

5. The single-dose sealed package (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pre-weakened area (6) is arranged outside both chambers (15).

6. The single-dose sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the pre-weakened area (6) is separate from and arranged beside the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15) and, therefore, the pre-weakened area (6) is arranged at one of the two chambers (15).

7. The sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein: the single-dose sealed package (1) has a rectangular shape, in plan, with two larger sides parallel one to the other and two smaller sides parallel one to the other; and the pre-weakened area (6) develops only transversely, that is, parallel to the two smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package (1).

8. The sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein: the single-dose sealed package (1) has a rectangular shape, in plan, provided with two larger sides parallel one to the other and two smaller sides parallel one to the other; and the pre-weakened area (6) develops both transversely, that is, parallel to the two smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package (1), and longitudinally, that is, parallel to the two larger sides of the single-dose sealed package (1).

9. The sealed package (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pre-weakened area (6) comprises at least one incision (7, 9) arranged transversely, that is, parallel to the two smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package (1), and at least one incision (7, 9) arranged longitudinally, that is, parallel to the two larger sides of the single-dose sealed package (1).

10. The single-dose sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein: the pre-weakened area (6) comprises an inner incision (7), which is obtained through an inner surface (8) of the first sheet (2) facing the pocket (4) and an outer incision (9), which is obtained through an outer surface (10) of the first sheet (2) opposite the pocket (4) and is aligned with the inner incision (7); and the outer incision (9) has a variable depth along its length, and/or the inner incision (7) has a variable depth along its length.

11. The single-dose sealed package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15) is made before the annular weld (14) defining the pocket (4).

12. A method for the production of a break-open single-dose sealed package (1); the production method comprising the steps of: setting on top of one another and welding along an annular weld (14) a first sheet (2) of semi-rigid plastic material and a second sheet (3) of flexible plastic material, so as to define a sealed pocket (4) containing a dose of a product (5); manufacturing a pre-weakened area (6), which develops transversely in a central area of the first sheet (2), so as to guide, following a folding of the sealed package (1), a controlled breaking of the first sheet (2) in the pre-weakened area (6), in order to cause the formation of an outlet opening for the product (5) through the first sheet (2); and making a central weld (17), which connects the second sheet (3) to the first sheet (2) and divides the pocket (4) into two distinct and separate chambers (15), which are insulated from one another and each contain a corresponding component (16) of the product (5); wherein the annular weld (14) defining the pocket (4) has a greater mechanical resistance than the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15); and wherein the central weld (17) dividing the pocket (4) into the two chambers (15) is weak, so as to be broken, without breaking the annular weld (14) as well, by exerting a pressure on at least one of the two chambers (15), so as to be able to mix the two components (16) of the product (5) one with the other before folding the sealed package (1) and therefore before determining a controlled breaking of the first sheet (2) in the pre-weakened area (6).

13. The production method according to claim 12, wherein: the annular weld (14) defining the pocket (4) is made by heating the two sheets (2, 3) at a first welding temperature; and the central weld (17) separating the two chambers (15) is made by heating the two sheets (2, 3) at a second welding temperature, which is lower than the first welding temperature.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a break-open single-dose sealed package made according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the sealed package of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view in cross-section and at a pre-weakened area of the sealed package of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view and from the top of the package of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an alternative package of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the sealed package of FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 is a view from the bottom of an alternative of the package of FIG. 1; and

(9) FIG. 8 is a view from the bottom of a further alternative of the package of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(10) In FIGS. 1 and 2, number 1 denotes as a whole a break-open single-dose sealed package. The single-dose sealed package 1 has, in plan, a rectangular shape (that is, provided with two larger sides parallel one to the other and two smaller sides parallel one to the other) and comprises a sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material having a rectangular shape and a sheet 3 of flexible plastic material having a rectangular shape, which is set on top of and welded to the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, so as to define a sealed pocket 4 which contains a dose of a fluid product 5.

(11) The sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material has, in the centre, a pre-weakened area 6, which is obtained in a central area of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material (in particular in a longitudinally centred area), which transversely develops (i.e. parallel to the smaller sides of the sealed package 1 and perpendicular to the larger sides of the sealed package 1), and guides a controlled breaking of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material in order to cause the formation of an outlet opening for the product 5 through the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material. In other words, in use, to open the single-dose sealed package 1 a user must grip the single-dose sealed package 1 with the fingers of one hand and fold the single-dose sealed package 1 in a V-shape until the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material breaks in the pre-weakened area 6. By breaking the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material in the pre-weakened area 6, the product 5 can exit the single-dose sealed package 1 in a simple and hygienic manner.

(12) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pre-weakened area 6 comprises an inner incision 7 which is transversely oriented (i.e. parallel to the smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package 1 and perpendicular to the larger sides of the single-dose sealed package) and is obtained through an inner surface (i.e. facing towards the pocket 4) of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and an outer incision 9 which is transversely oriented and is obtained through an outer surface 10 (i.e. opposite the pocket 4) of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material. In the preferred (but not limiting) embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the outer incision 9 is transversely and longitudinally aligned with respect to the inner incision 7, i.e. the outer incision 9 perfectly overlaps the inner incision 7.

(13) According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material is formed by a laminate made by a supporting layer 11 arranged on the outer part (i.e. on the side opposite the pocket 4) and a heat-sealable layer 12 arranged on the inner part (i.e. on the same side of the pocket 4 and in contact with sheet 3 of flexible plastic material). Between the supporting layer 11 and the heat-sealable layer 12 a further insulating or barrier layer 13 is provided having the purpose of ensuring non-permeability to air and/or light. By way of non-limiting example, the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material could be made by a white polystyrene (PS) supporting layer 11 having a thickness of 400 microns (10%), by a Evoh or aluminium barrier layer 13 having a thickness of 7 microns (10%), and by a heat-sealable layer of polyethylene (PE) having a thickness of 43 microns (10%).

(14) The outer incision 9 is formed in the outer wall 10 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and is obtained by locally deforming the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and in particular the supporting layer 7 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material.

(15) The inner incision 7 is obtained in the inner wall 8 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material, which has a V shape and is made by locally deforming the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and in particular all three layers, supporting 11, heat-sealable 12 and barrier 13, of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material. It is important to note that at the inner incision 7 the heat-sealable layer 12 and above all the barrier layer 13 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material are locally deformed (even in an irregular manner), but are not torn, i.e. they maintain their integrity. Due to the substantial integrity of the barrier layer 13 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material also at the inner incision 7 formed in the inner wall 8 of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material it is possible to ensure perfect insulation of the pocket 4 which is therefore adapted to also contain perishable and/or controlled bacterial count products such as foods, medicines or cosmetics. Obviously, during the break-opening of the single-dose sealed package 1 obtained by folding the single-dose sealed package in a V shape, it is necessary to break, at the pre-weakened area 6, all three layers, supporting 11, heat-sealable 12 and barrier 13, of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material.

(16) In the (non-limiting) embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the inner incision 7 has a variable depth transversely and along its length; said feature is preferable (but not strictly necessary) to improve the opening of the single-dose sealed package 1 when the single-dose sealed package 1 is folded in a V shape (as illustrated in FIG. 5). In other words, the fact that the inner incision 7 has transversely and along its length a variable depth allows to obtain a progressive breaking of the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material when the single-dose sealed package 1 is folded in a V shape (as illustrated in FIG. 5). In the (non-limiting) embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the outer incision 9 has a variable depth transversely and along its length; said feature is not strictly necessary, since the outer incision 9 could have a constant depth transversely and along its length. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, both incisions 7 and 9 have a V shape in cross-section and therefore have the maximum depth in the centre part; according to other embodiments not illustrated, the incisions 7 and 9 could have, in cross-section, different shapes from the V shape.

(17) According to what is better illustrated in FIG. 4, the pocket 4 is defined by an annular weld 14 which runs along the outer edge of the sheets 2 and 3 and connects the two sheets 2 and 3 in a stable and permanent manner. The pocket 4 is divided into two distinct and separate chambers 15 which are insulated from one another and each contain a corresponding component 16 of the product 5; in other words, the product 5 is formed by the mixing of two components 16 which, until the last moment, that is, until the actual use of the product 5, must remain separate one from the other (the product 5 is an unstable mixture which rapidly degrades and therefore the two components 16 must be mixed only when the product 5 is actually used). The pocket 4 is divided into the two chambers 15 by effect of a central weld 17 which connects the sheet 3 of flexible plastic material to the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material and is weak, so as to be broken by exerting a pressure on at least one of the two chambers 15. In particular, the central weld 17 which separates the two chambers 15 connects two opposite areas of the annular weld 14 to one another, which defines the pocket 4.

(18) In use, before folding the single-dose sealed package 1 in a V shape, until the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material is broken at the pre-weakened area 6, the user presses (compresses) at least one of the two chambers 15 to generate inside the chamber 15, a pressure which is well below the resistance of the annular weld 14, but is higher than the resistance of the central weld 17 and therefore causes the break of the central weld 17; when the central weld 17 breaks, the two chambers 15 enter into mutual communication allowing the mixing of the two components 16 (inside the pocket 4 still being completely intact on the outside) and therefore the formation of the final product 5 (inside of the pocket 4 still being completely intact on the outside) immediately before its actual use.

(19) According to a preferred embodiment, the annular weld 14 defining the pocket 4 is made by heating the two sheets 2 and 3 at a first welding temperature whereas the central weld 17 separating the two chambers 15 is made by heating the two sheets 2 and 3 at a second welding temperature lower (by some tens of Celsius degrees) than the first welding temperature. In other words, the different mechanical resistance of the two welds 14 and 17 is obtained by differentiating the corresponding welding temperatures.

(20) In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the pre-weakened area 6 (formed by the two incisions 7 and 9) overlaps the central weld 17 separating the two chambers 15 and therefore the pre-weakened area 6 is arranged between the two chambers 15. In this embodiment, by folding the single-dose sealed package 1 in a V shape until the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material breaks in the pre-weakened area 6, no leaking occurs if the first central weld 17 has not been broken.

(21) In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pre-weakened area 6 (formed by the two incisions 7 and 9) is separate from and arranged beside the central weld 17 separating the two chambers 15 and therefore the pre-weakened area 6 is arranged at one of the two chambers 15. In this embodiment, by folding the single-dose sealed package 1 in a V shape until the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material breaks in the pre-weakened area 6, the out-flow of a single component 16 is obtained if the central weld 17 has not been previously broken.

(22) According to a possible embodiment, the central weld 17 that separates the two chambers 15 is made before the annular weld defining the pocket 4; in other words, when the annular weld 14 defining the pocket 4 is made, the central weld 17 that separates the two chambers 15 is already present (that is, already previously done).

(23) In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, the pre-weakened area 6 develops only transversely (i.e. parallel to the smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package 1 and perpendicular to the larger sides of the single-dose sealed package 1); consequently, the two incisions 7 and 9 (inner incision 7 and outer incision 9 perfectly overlapping one another) are transversely oriented (i.e. parallel to the smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package 1 and perpendicular to the larger sides of the single-dose sealed package 1). In the alternative embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pre-weakened area 6 develops both transversely (i.e. parallel to the smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package 1 and perpendicular to the larger sides of the single-dose sealed package 1) and longitudinally (i.e. perpendicular to the smaller sides of the single-dose sealed package 1 and parallel to the larger sides of the single-dose sealed package 1); consequently, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, two transversely oriented incisions 7 and 9 are provided (inner incision 7 and outer incision 9 which perfectly overlap one another) and two longitudinally oriented incisions 7 and 9 (inner incision 7 and outer incision 9 which perfectly overlap one another) and in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, further obliquely orientated incisions 7 and 9 are also added.

(24) The presence of incisions 7 and 9 having a longitudinal extension also makes it possible to increase the size of the opening which opens through the sheet 2 of semi-rigid plastic material in the pre-weakened area 6 when the single-dose sealed package 1 is folded in a V shape, allowing the final product 5, obtained by mixing (inside the pocket 4 which is still completely intact on the outside) to be delivered more rapidly to the two components 16.

(25) The single-dose sealed package 1 described above has numerous advantages.

(26) Firstly, the single-dose sealed package 1 described above allows to contain products 5 formed by the mixing of two components 16 which, until the last moment, that is, until the actual use of the product 5, must remain separate one from the other.

(27) Moreover, the single-dose sealed package 1 described above does not present any penalization to the functionality with respect to a similar known single-dose sealed package, since the breaking of the central weld 17, to determine the mixing of the two components 16, is easy, fast and intuitive. In particular, the mixing of the two components 16 takes place completely inside the pocket 4 still completely intact towards the outside, therefore the mixing of the two components 16 is practical, hygienic and allows to easily obtain an optimal mixing.

(28) Finally, the single-dose sealed package 1 described above is simple and inexpensive to manufacture because the manufacturing thereof is completely analogous to the manufacturing of a similar standard single-dose sealed package; that is, the single-dose sealed package 1 described above can be made by adding a simple central welding device to an existing packaging machine which produces standard sealed packages.