Peelable pouch containing a single film dosage and process of making same

Abstract

A peelable pouch for containing a single dosage product having a top layer joined to a bottom layer by a containment seal and a distributing seal formed with a stress riser separating a primary compartment from a secondary compartment. The primary compartment houses the product, sealed from the exterior environment. The secondary compartment includes a fold-over line. When the pouch is folded about the fold-over line the tear promoting surface condition permits a user to easily tear off a portion of the pouch and expose a portion of the secondary compartment. The product is accessed by peeling apart the secondary compartment, the distributing seal, and then peeling open the primary compartment. Preferred embodiments incorporate variation in the primary and secondary containment seal thicknesses.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS [0001] This application is related to a previous application filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Paul H. Alvater and Thomas J. Fillis on Aug. 2, 2004, entitled “PEELABLE POUCH CONTAINING A SINGLE OR MULTIPLE DOSAGE FORMS AND PROCESS OF MAKING SAME,” and given Ser. No. 10 / 910,675.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The instant invention relates to product packaging, and particularly to a process for forming a peelable pouch for individually housing single doses of a product, particularly for individually housing single doses of orally consumable film strips, and to the pouch formed thereby. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Orally consumable films have become important consumer products for the dispensing of such substances as breath fresheners, anti-bacterial compounds, and various medicaments; and are frequently compounded with sweeteners, preservatives, and other additives. They are commonly made of water-soluble polymers, such as pullulan,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The inventive peelable pouch also includes a tear promoting feature on the top layer and the bottom layer located substantially on a line that traverses a portion of the secondary compartment. When the pouch is folded about a fold-over line, the tear promoting surface condition or feature permits a user to easily tear off a portion of the top and bottom layers to expose a portion of the secondary compartment interior.

[0014] Once a portion of the secondary compartment is exposed, a user may easily grip the top and bottom layers to peel them apart and separate the distributing seal thereby gaining access to the primary compartment and to the product. The secondary compartment enhances the child-resistance of the pouch and improves the sterility of the packaging since at least two seals must be compromised before the product is exposed to the surrounding environment.

[0021] a tear promoting surface condition, on the top layer and the bottom layer, intersecting a fold-over line such that when the pouch is folded about the fold-over line the tear promoting surface condition permits a user to tear off a portion of the top layer and the bottom layer to expose a portion of the secondary compartment so that the user may grip the top layer and the bottom layer to peel them apart forming an opening in the primary compartment by separating the secondary compartment seal and the distributing seal, and gaining access to the product.

Problems solved by technology

Often such packages are very small and require the user to grip and remove the solid dosage product with a single index finger.

Obviously, such a procedure has a high probability of contaminating the other products in the packaging and has the potential of totally ruining the products from carryover saliva.

Such a contact intensive removal and administration process is entirely unacceptable for medical products.

Further, both the roller and resealable back blister pack have two serious drawbacks, namely, they are not particularly designed to prevent the dispensing of multiple sheets, nor do they have any child-resistant attributes.

These drawbacks may not be of much consequence in some of the frequent uses of orally consumable films, that is, for candy, breath aids, and the like.

Some drawbacks come along with the benefits of individually packaged products.

Perhaps the largest drawback and risk of individually packaged products is the risk posed to children.

Further, written warnings as to the contents are ineffective for children who cannot read.

Most importantly, the vast majority of single dose packaging has not been child-resistant.

Present packaging technologies for individually wrapped candies and non-prescription products such as aspirin are particularly ineffective for the myriad of products that require some degree of child-resistant packaging because such candies and non-prescription product packaging has been designed solely for ease of opening.

However, the key attribute that has made them popular, namely their dissolution upon contact with a liquid, has made them particularly susceptible to damage.

Unfortunately the advances made in child-resistance for such packaging has little to no relevance to applications for thin sheet type products, particularly when such products are not rigid.

At the same time, the package must be easily opened by an adult user that may have limited strength, coordination, or sight.

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