A package comprising a surface including a removable section including a pull tab, and a method for manufacturing and using such a package

Abstract

The opening array comprises a substantially flat top surface and a tearable foil membrane below the top surface. The top surface comprises a removable portion. A first section of the removable portion is not sealed to the tearable foil membrane, and a second section of the removable portion is sealed to the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane. The opening array further comprises an extended sealing flange extending outwardly and / or upwardly adjacent to the removable portion of the top surface and adjacent to the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane. The opening array is configured such that, while the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane remains sealed to the removable portion, a user pulls the first section of the removable portion of the top surface to remove the removable portion, and the opening forming portion is removed in one piece with the removable portion, thereby forming an opening that extends completely through the opening array.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to an opening array for incorporating into a package comprising a plurality of solid orally ingestible articles, preferably such as pills, e.g., round or elliptical pills. The present disclosure also relates to a package comprising an opening array, and also to a method of accessing the interior of the package by physically manipulating the opening array from a closed configuration to an open configuration, and further, to a method of dispensing a desired number of articles from the interior of the package by dispensing a desired number of articles through an opening formed by the open configuration of the opening array. Background Technology

[0002] Various containers are used to store and dispense pills. However, the known opening of a container may fail to dispense pills, dispense pills but not easily, or dispense pills too quickly, potentially dispensing more pills than desired. For example, effective dispensing from a known container may depend on the pill size, shape, and orientation within the container.

[0003] Additionally, known parts of the container may resist the removal of the parts necessary to form or access an opening, which may increase the difficulty for the user in attempting to dispense a pill from the container. Known parts of the container may also tear irregularly, thereby forming an opening of a size and / or shape different from what was intended by the manufacturer and is necessary for optimal dispensing.

[0004] One embodiment of the present disclosure is an opening array comprising a top surface that is substantially flat, the top surface optionally comprises a cardboard, and the opening array further comprises a tearable foil membrane below the top surface.

[0005] A portion of the tearable foil membrane is directly sealed to an inner portion of the upper surface. Specifically, the upper surface includes a removable portion, and in some embodiments, the removable portion is located only in one quadrant of the upper surface. A first section of the removable portion functions as a pull tab without being sealed to the tearable foil membrane, and a second section of the removable portion is sealed to an opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane (e.g., directly sealed by heat sealing).

[0006] The opening arrangement further includes an extended sealing flange that extends outwardly and / or upwardly adjacent to the removable portion of the upper surface and adjacent to the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane. For example, in an embodiment where the removable portion is located only in one quadrant of the upper surface, the extended sealing flange may extend outwardly and / or upwardly from one quadrant of the upper surface containing the removable portion.

[0007] The extended sealing flange is preferably sealed to one or more side walls of the package. The extended sealing flange of the opening array is preferably integral with the top surface of the opening array, for example, the extended sealing flange is preferably part of the same material as the top surface. Additionally, the extended sealing flange allows for proper orientation with respect to the side walls of the package. This ensures that the removable portion of the seal is correctly positioned in the packaging assembly equipment magazine every time.

[0008] The user can remove the removable portion by pulling a first section of the removable portion on the upper surface while the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane remains sealed to the removable portion, thereby removing the opening forming portion as one piece with the removable portion, thus forming an opening that extends completely through the opening array. In this regard, by pulling the first section of the removable portion on the upper surface to remove the removable portion (and the opening forming portion sealed therein), the user can modify the opening array from (i) a first (closed) configuration in which the opening array does not have any opening that extends completely through the opening array, to (ii) a second (open) configuration in which the opening extends completely to the opening array. The second (open) configuration allows for the distribution of a desired number of multiple articles housed in a package containing the opening array.

[0009] (a) a removable portion of the upper surface, (b) an opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, and / or (c) one or more of the openings of the opening array formed by the removal of the removable portion and the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, include (i) lateral sides in which the width between them increases continuously as the lateral sides extend toward a sealing flange extending from the center of the opening array, and (ii) optional convex sides extending toward a sealing flange extending from the distal end of the lateral sides.

[0010] Advantages of one or more embodiments according to the present disclosure are an opening array configured to form an opening having a size, shape, and location that can be incorporated into a package and provides easy access. One embodiment of such an opening array further comprises an extended sealing flange that extends adjacent to the opening and can be sealed to a sidewall of the package, thereby stabilizing the opening array during removal of the removable portion of the top surface and the opening-forming portion of the tearable foil membrane. The package also provides a controllable method for dispensing various solid dose sizes and shapes from the package.

[0011] Another advantage of one or more embodiments according to the present disclosure is a method for accessing an opening in a package, the method of creating the best size and shape of the opening that matches the material used in the package.

[0012] Another advantage of one or more embodiments according to the present disclosure is a package comprising an opening that allows pills from inside the package to pass through the opening without being captured or trapped in narrower sections of the opening.

[0013] A feature of one or more embodiments according to the present disclosure is an advantageous design of the opening membrane.

[0014] Additional features and advantages are described in this specification and will become apparent from the following detailed description. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an upper plan view of an upper surface in one embodiment of an opening array provided by the present disclosure. FIG. 2a is a top plan view of a tearable foil membrane before opening in one embodiment of an opening array provided by the present disclosure. FIG. 2b is a top plan view of a tearable foil membrane after opening in one embodiment of an opening array provided by the present disclosure. The dimensions (e.g., length and angle) shown in these figures are non-limiting and are provided merely as examples. FIG. 3 is an upper plan view of one embodiment of a removable portion of the upper surface in one embodiment of an opening array provided by the present disclosure. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0016] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural objects unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “opening” or “the opening” includes one opening and also two or more openings.

[0017] The words "include," "includes," and "including" should be interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively. Likewise, the terms "include," "including," and "or" should all be interpreted inclusively, unless such a structure is explicitly prohibited by the context.

[0018] However, the devices and apparatus disclosed herein may lack any elements not specifically disclosed. Accordingly, the disclosure of an embodiment using the term "comprising" includes the disclosure of an embodiment that is "essentially made up" and "made up" of the identified component. Similarly, the methods disclosed herein may lack any steps not specifically disclosed herein. Accordingly, the disclosure of an embodiment using the term "comprising" includes the disclosure of an embodiment that is "essentially made up" and "made up" of the identified step. Additionally, the disclosure of an optional component or step includes the disclosure of an embodiment that lacks the said optional component or step.

[0019] The term "and / or" used in the context of "X and / or Y" shall be interpreted as "X" or "Y" or "X and Y". "At least one of X or Y" shall be interpreted similarly. As used herein, the terms "e.g." and "e.g.," particularly when followed by a list of terms, are merely illustrative and exemplary and shall not be construed as exclusive or inclusive. Any embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with any other embodiment disclosed herein, unless otherwise expressly stated.

[0020] As used in this specification, “substantially” means that at least 75% of the referenced component has the disclosed feature (e.g., “plane”), preferably at least 80% of the referenced component has the disclosed feature, more preferably at least 85% of the referenced component has the disclosed feature, even more preferably at least 90% of the referenced component has the disclosed feature, and most preferably at least 95% of the referenced component has the disclosed feature.

[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the opening array (10) according to the present disclosure comprises an upper surface (20) (Fig. 1) and also comprises a tearable foil membrane (30) (Fig. 2a in a closed configuration before opening and Fig. 2b in an open configuration after opening). The upper surface (20) is preferably substantially flat and preferably comprises cardboard, for example, cardboard over the entire upper surface (20). As will be discussed in more detail below, a portion of the tearable foil membrane (30) is sealed to a portion of the inner side of the upper surface (20) (e.g., directly sealed by heat sealing).

[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upper surface (20) includes a removable portion (21), and in some embodiments, the removable portion (21) is substantially located only in one quadrant of the upper surface (20). As used herein, "quadrant" means one of four sections of the upper surface (20), each section having substantially the same size and substantially the same shape, and defined by a first virtual line and a second virtual line that are perpendicular to each other and intersect at the center of the upper surface (20).

[0023] Referring again to FIG. 1, the opening array (10) further comprises an extended sealing flange (25), the extended sealing flange (25) preferably extends outward and / or upward adjacent to a removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20). Additionally or alternatively, the extended sealing flange (25) preferably extends outward and / or upward adjacent to an opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30).

[0024] For example, in an embodiment where the removable portion (21) is substantially located only in one quadrant of the upper surface (20), the extended sealing flange (25) may extend outward and / or upward from one quadrant of the upper surface (20) containing the removable portion (21). The extended sealing flange (25) is preferably sealed to one or more side walls of a package containing an opening array (10). The extended sealing flange (25) of the opening array (10) may be integral with the upper surface (20) of the opening array (10), and, for example, the extended sealing flange (25) may be part of the same material as the upper surface (20).

[0025] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) includes a first section (21a) that functions as a pull tab, and the first section (21a) of the removable portion (21) is not sealed to the tearable foil membrane (30). The first section (21a) of the removable portion (21) may extend inwardly from a point (28) on the periphery of the removable portion toward the approximate center of the removable portion (21).

[0026] The removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) further comprises a second section (21b), which is sealed directly to a tearable foil membrane (30), for example, by heat sealing. The periphery of the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) is preferably defined by a line of weakness, for example, a perforation, slit, or score, between the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) and the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20).

[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 2a, the tearable foil membrane (30) comprises an opening forming portion (31) and a remainder portion (32) of the tearable foil membrane (30). The opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) comprises a first section that is not sealed to the upper surface (20); the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) further comprises a second section that is directly sealed to a second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20), and the second (sealed) section of the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) surrounds the first (unsealed) section of the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30). The tearable foil membrane (30) may include an extension (35) substantially following the extended sealing flange (25).

[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the gap (50) between the inner edge (40) of the first section (21a) and the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) may expose at least a portion of the second (unsealed) section of the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30). The gap (50) between the inner edge (40) of the first section (21a) and the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) may be formed by die cutting during the manufacture of the opening array (10).

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1, FIGS. 2a, FIGS. 2b and FIGS. 3, some embodiments of the tearable foil membrane (30) are directly sealed on the inside of the upper surface (20) over the entire inside of the upper surface (20), except for the first (unsealed) section (21a) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) and the first (unsealed) section of the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30).

[0030] Separating the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) from the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20) also separates the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) from the remainder (32) of the tearable foil membrane (30), the second section of the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) is still sealed to the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20), and the remainder (32) of the tearable foil membrane (30) is still located inside the upper surface (20).

[0031] Separating the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) from the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20) in this manner forms an opening (61) through the opening array (10) (completely passing through both the upper surface (20) and the tearable foil membrane (30)) to allow the dispensing of a desired number of solid orally ingestible items, such as round or oval pills, from the interior of the package to which the opening array (10) is connected. Such dispensing may include, for example, a user tilting the package so that the upper surface (20) of the opening array (10) faces downward. In some embodiments, the opening (61) is wide along its periphery by at least the longest dimension of each item being dispensed.

[0032] In some embodiments, the removable portion (21) within the upper surface (20) may be substantially in the same plane as the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20). The upper surface (20) may consist of the removable portion (21) and the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20), for example, the removable portion (21) and the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20) may be a single material. In some embodiments, the upper surface (20) is a single layer, and the removable portion (21) and the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20) together form a single layer of the upper surface (20). Additionally or alternatively, the removable portion (21) within the upper surface (20) does not overlap with any other part of the upper surface (20).

[0033] The removable portion (21) on the upper surface (20) may be integral with the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20). Nevertheless, the upper surface (20) preferably includes a weakening line, such as a perforation, slit, or score line, between the removable portion (21) and the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20), so that a user can remove the removable portion (21) from the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20) by pulling the first section (21a) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20). In some embodiments, the upper surface (20) comprises cardboard, and preferably most of the upper surface (20) is cardboard, and most preferably substantially all of the upper surface (20) is cardboard.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 2a, the tearable foil membrane (30) may consist of an opening forming portion (31) and a membrane remainder (32). In a preferred embodiment, the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) is integral with the membrane remainder (32) of the tearable foil membrane (30). For example, the tearable foil membrane (30) preferably does not contain any line of weakness, such as perforations, slits, or scores, between the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) and the membrane remainder (32) of the tearable foil membrane (30). In some embodiments, the tearable foil membrane (30) is completely free of any line of weakness, such as perforations, slits, or scores, so the tearable foil membrane (30) is a single continuous and uninterrupted material. These embodiments ensure a barrier formed by a tearable foil membrane (30).

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, one or more of (a) a removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20), (b) an opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30), and / or (c) an opening (61) formed by the removal of the removable portion (21) while the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) is sealed to the removable portion (21), include lateral sides having a continuously increasing width as the lateral sides extend from the approximate center of the opening array (10) toward a corresponding extended sealing flange (25) or extension (35). In some embodiments, an optional convex surface (96) extends from the distal ends of the lateral sides toward a corresponding extended sealing flange (25) or extension (35). As a non-limiting example, one or more shapes of (a) a removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20), (b) an opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30), or (c) an opening (61) formed by removing the removable portion (21) while the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) is sealed to the removable portion (21) may be substantially similar to an isosceles triangle having rounded vertices (45, 51a, 51b) and / or may be substantially similar to a Moss's egg.

[0036] The seal between the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) and the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) is stronger than the tear resistance of the tearable foil membrane (30). As a result, separating the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) separates the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) from the remainder (32) of the tearable foil membrane (30), and the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) remains sealed to the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20). Thus, the removable portion (21) and the opening forming portion (31) are removed as one piece from the remainder of the opening array (10). While removing these removable portions (21) and opening forming portions (31) from the remainder of the opening array (10), preferably, the remainder (32) of the tearable foil membrane (30) maintains its position on the inner side of the upper surface (20).

[0037] Separating the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) from the remainder of the upper surface (22) in this manner forms an opening (61), through which a solid orally ingestible article inside a package containing an opening array (10), such as a round or oval pill, can be dispensed, for example, by a user tilting the package. The opening (61) extends completely through the upper surface (20) and the tearable foil membrane (30). In a preferred embodiment, the periphery of the opening (61) has substantially the same size, shape, and position as the periphery of the second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) and / or is substantially the same as the periphery of the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30).

[0038] In some embodiments, the opening array (10) is incorporated into a package comprising a substantially cuboid body having six faces, one of which is an upper face (20). The six faces of the body of the package may include four rectangular side walls connecting the lower face and the upper face (20) to the lower face. In other embodiments, the package may be substantially cylindrical, and the periphery of the upper face (20) may be substantially circular.

[0039] The package may further include a hinged lid pivotally connected to one lateral edge of the upper surface (20) and / or one upper edge of the side walls.

[0040] Preferably, the package comprises, or is configured to comprise, a plurality of solid orally ingestible articles, such as round pills or oval pills. One or more solid articles may be dispensed through an opening (61) formed by separating the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) from the remainder (22) of the upper surface (20), and this separation also removes the opening-forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) (the opening-forming portion (31) is sealed to the removable portion (21)). The removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) is maintained connected to the opening-forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) as a single piece during removal.

[0041] A seal (e.g., heat seal) between the opening forming portion (31) and the removable portion (21) guides how the tearable foil membrane (30) opens in combination with a weak line (e.g., perforation, slit, or score) of the upper surface (20). The seal (e.g., heat seal) between the opening forming portion (31) and the removable portion (21) helps provide resistance and a template to form an opening (61) when the upper surface (20) is forcibly opened, thereby tearing the lower tearable foil membrane (30). In some embodiments, the edge of the upper surface (20) acts as a lever point to initiate a directional tear around the edge and to form an opening along the edge.

[0042] In a non-limiting embodiment, one or more of the side walls of the package may extend over the upper surface (20) of the opening array (10), such that the upper edge of one or more side walls is at a distance greater than the distance from the upper surface (20) to the lower surface. In this embodiment, the opening array (10) may further include one or more extensions (26) extending from the upper surface (20), preferably such that the distance from which the extended sealing flange (25) extends from the upper surface is smaller than the distance from the upper surface. Each of the one or more extensions (26) may be integral with the upper surface (20). Each of the one or more extensions (26) may extend from the lateral edge of the upper surface (20) to an adjacent portion of the corresponding side wall located over the upper surface (20). One or more extensions (26) of the opening array (10) are preferably integral with the upper surface (20) of the opening array (10); For example, one or more extensions (26) are preferably part of the same material as the upper surface (20).

[0043] The second section (21b) of the removable portion (21) of the upper surface (20) and the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) may be located in the corner area of ​​the upper surface (20). In this regard, the inventors have found that a centrally located opening causes a bottleneck of the pill and causes it to get stuck more frequently. On the other hand, a corner opening has been found to perform better by providing more controllable and easier dispensing than a central opening. For example, in some embodiments, the corner area of ​​the package acts as a funnel for dispensing the pill more gently.

[0044] The extended sealing flange (25) can help secure the opening (61) formed in the opening array (10) to the side wall of the main body of the package and can provide resistance to the opening (61) at the edge of the upper surface (20). For example, the extended tab (25) enables the tearable foil membrane (30) to be ultrasonically sealed to one or more side walls of the main body of the package. Additionally or alternatively, the extended tab (25) can help orient the opening forming portion (31) of the tearable foil membrane (30) to a desired position.

[0045] In terms of the foregoing disclosure, one embodiment of the opening array comprises a substantially planar top surface, and the opening array further comprises a tearable foil membrane below the top surface, and

[0046] The upper surface includes a removable portion, the first section of the removable portion is not sealed to the tearable foil membrane, and the second section of the removable portion is sealed to the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, and

[0047] The opening array further includes an extended sealing flange extending outwardly and / or upwardly adjacent to a removable portion of the upper surface and adjacent to an opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, and

[0048] The opening array is configured such that the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane is sealed to the removable portion, and the user removes the removable portion by pulling the first section of the removable portion on the upper surface, and the opening forming portion is removed together with the removable portion as a single piece, thereby forming an opening that extends through the opening array completely.

[0049] Here, one or more of (a) the removable portion of the upper surface, (b) the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, or (c) the opening in the opening array formed by the removal of the removable portion and the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, have a lateral side in which the width continuously increases as the lateral side extends toward a sealing flange extending from the center of the opening array.

[0050] In some embodiments, the removable portion within the top surface is substantially in the same plane as the remainder of the top surface and / or does not overlap with any part of the remainder of the top surface, and preferably, the removable portion within the top surface and the remainder of the top surface are the same piece of material.

[0051] In some embodiments, the tearable foil membrane includes an extended section that substantially matches the extended sealing flange on the upper surface.

[0052] In some embodiments, the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening-forming portion of the tearable foil membrane are located in the corner area of ​​the opening array.

[0053] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a package comprising any one of the opening arrangements disclosed herein. Another aspect of the present disclosure is a product comprising any of the packages disclosed herein and further comprising a plurality of articles accommodated by the package. In some embodiments, the articles comprise round or oval pills. In some embodiments, the opening is as wide as or greater than the longest dimension of each article distributed at all points along its periphery.

[0054] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a method for dispensing one or more of a plurality of articles from any one of the products disclosed herein, wherein the method is,

[0055] A step of separating the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening-forming portion of the tearable foil membrane from the package as a single piece to form an opening that extends through the opening array completely; and

[0056] The method includes the step of tilting the package to orient one or more of the articles from the inside of the package through the opening of the opening array.

[0057] In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of articles directed from the interior of the package through the opening of the open array are distributed from the package in the corner area of ​​the package.

[0058] In some embodiments, the method includes the step of identifying a desired number of articles before separating the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening-forming portion of the tearable foil membrane from the package, and one or more of the articles directed from the interior of the package through the opening of the opening array are identical to the desired number of articles.

[0059] In some embodiments, separating the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening-forming portion of the tearable foil membrane from the package involves a user pulling a first section of the removable portion from the remainder of the upper surface.

[0060] Another aspect of the present disclosure is a package comprising an opening array comprising a top surface that is substantially flat, the opening array further comprises a tearable foil membrane below the top surface, and the opening array comprises an opening that extends completely through the top surface and the tearable foil membrane.

[0061] The tear-resistant foil membrane is sealed on the top surface, and

[0062] The opening array further includes an elongated sealing flange extending outwardly and / or upwardly adjacent to the opening, and

[0063] The opening includes lateral sides in which the width between them continuously increases as the lateral sides extend toward a sealing flange extending from the center of the opening array.

[0064] In some embodiments, the product including this package further includes a plurality of articles contained in the package, preferably including round or oval pills.

[0065] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the preferred embodiments of the disclosure described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure and without diminishing its intended benefits. Accordingly, such changes and modifications are intended to be included by the appended claims.

Claims

Claim 1 An opening array comprising a substantially flat upper surface, wherein the opening array further comprises a tearable foil membrane below the upper surface, the upper surface comprises a removable portion, the first section of the removable portion is not sealed to the tearable foil membrane, and the second section of the removable portion is sealed to the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, and the opening array further comprises an extended sealing flange extending outwardly and / or upwardly adjacent to the removable portion of the upper surface and adjacent to the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, and the opening array is configured such that a user removes the removable portion by pulling the first section of the removable portion of the upper surface while the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane is maintained to be sealed to the removable portion, and the opening forming portion is removed as a one-piece with the removable portion, thereby forming an opening extending through the opening array completely, (a) the removable portion of the upper surface, (b) the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, or (c) one or more of the openings in the opening array formed by the removal of the removable portion and the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, the opening array having a lateral side whose width continuously increases as the lateral side extends from the center of the opening array toward the extended sealing flange. Claim 2 An opening array according to claim 1, wherein the removable portion within the upper surface is substantially in the same plane as the remainder of the upper surface and / or does not overlap with any part of the remainder of the upper surface, and preferably, the removable portion within the upper surface and the remainder of the upper surface are made of the same material. Claim 3 An opening arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tearable foil membrane comprises an extension substantially conforming to the extended sealing flange of the upper surface. Claim 4 An opening array according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane are located in the corner region of the opening array. Claim 5 A package comprising the above-mentioned opening array of any one of claims 1 to 4. Claim 6 A product comprising the package of claim 5 and further comprising a plurality of articles included by said package. Claim 7 In paragraph 6, the above article is a product comprising a round or oval pill. Claim 8 In paragraph 6 or 7, the opening is a product that is wide overall along its periphery by at least the longest dimension of each of the distributed articles. Claim 9 A method for dispensing one or more of a plurality of articles from a product according to any one of claims 6 to 8, the method comprising: forming an opening that extends completely through the opening array by separating the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening-forming portion of the tearable foil membrane from the package as one piece; and tilting the package to orient one or more of the plurality of articles from the interior of the package through the opening of the opening array. Claim 10 A method according to claim 9, wherein one or more of the plurality of articles directed from the interior of the package through the opening of the opening array are distributed from the package in the corner area of ​​the package. Claim 11 A method according to claim 9 or 10, comprising the step of identifying a desired number of the plurality of articles before separation from the package the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening forming portion of the tearable foil membrane, wherein one or more of the plurality of articles directed from the interior of the package through the opening of the opening array are identical to the desired number of the plurality of articles. Claim 12 A method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein separating the removable portion of the upper surface and the opening-forming portion of the tearable foil membrane from the package comprises a user pulling the first section of the removable portion from the remainder of the upper surface. Claim 13 A package comprising an opening array including a substantially flat top surface, wherein the opening array further comprises a tearable foil membrane below the top surface, and the opening array comprises an opening extending through the top surface and the tearable foil membrane completely, wherein the tearable foil membrane is sealed to the top surface, and the opening array further comprises an extended sealing flange extending outwardly and / or upwardly adjacent to the opening, and wherein the opening comprises lateral sides in which the width between them continuously increases as the lateral sides extend from the center of the opening array toward the extended sealing flange. Claim 14 A product comprising the package of claim 13 and further comprising a plurality of articles included by said package. Claim 15 In Clause 14, the above articles are products comprising round or oval pills.

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