Pouch opening feature

Abstract

A pouch having a distal edge and a proximal edge. A tear notch is located adjacent to the proximal edge. A first pull ring is defined within an edge panel of the proximal end. The first pull ring enables a user to open the pouch by moving the first pull ring to propagate a tear in the pouch from the tear notch toward the distal edge.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 825,303 filed Sep. 12, 2006, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to dispensing packages and, more particularly, to peripherally sealed dispensing packages that incorporate an aperture to facilitate the opening of such packages without the use of an additional tool. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] When designing packaging for various consumer products, it is important to consider the manner in which the packaging may be opened by the end user of the product. For example, steel and aluminum cans have long been used to contain individual servings of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages. Initially, such cans required the use of an additional tool, the can opener, to pierce an opening or openings in the lid portion of the can to remove the beverage. A significant disadvantage associated with ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In view of the shortcomings set forth above, it is an object of the invention to simplify the experience of opening a pouch, particularly for a person who may have reduced grip strength and pulling control. In a preferred embodiment, the invention includes a pouch that can be pre-made or fabricated in a package manufacturing facility. During the fabrication process, the packaging film is printed, sealed and die-cut into the preferred pouch sizes. The pouches are made with a pull-ring opening feature located in the top corner of the pouch, which incorporates a tear notch.

Problems solved by technology

A significant disadvantage associated with this type of packaging was that can openers were not always readily available when a person wished to open the can.

Consumer reaction to this and other improvements, however slight, in package opening convenience has been so positive that it is presently difficult to find cans or boxes requiring additional tools to open them.

While most flexible packaging for consumer goods is ostensibly designed to be opened with normal manual effort, in reality many of these packages require considerable effort or motor control to open the package, and many consumers thus resort to the use of an opening tool.

It should be readily apparent that employing weakened lines in the packaging material has the disadvantage that the package might be inadvertently opened in the transportation or handling of the packages prior to reaching the end user.

Because the tear notch feature is often added to the pouch as part of the package filling operation, it is often poorly made, poorly registered to the seal geometrically and fabricated with inconsistent quality.

Moreover, if starter tear tab is produced with a hot knife or blade, the resulting slot or notch has a tendency to re-seal itself.

In addition, the utility of the starter cut as a tear-open mechanism is limited by the width of the peripheral seal which determines the depth of the cut.

In any case, the starter tear cut often does not substantially improve the tear-open capability of such packages.

Especially when the fingers are wet, oily, or when the user is older or has reduced motor control.

The use of tear strips or tear strings often increases the quantity of waste material.

It also complicates the packaging operation itself, thereby increasing the product manufacturing cost that is ultimately passed on to the consumer.

Such grasping means, while improving the ability to apply tearing forces to the package, have not provided any substantial force magnification or stress concentration which would ease the opening of the package.

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