Package for dispensing a dose of product

Abstract

Described is a package for dispensing a dose of product comprising: - a rigid or semi-rigid support (2) which is partly shaped that extends in height starting from a flat perimeter portion (3); - a flexible sheet (5) joined to the support (2) at least at the perimeter portion (3) of the support (2) defining a cavity (6) for containing a dose of product; the support 2 has at least one notch 7 positioned at the relative inner surface 4a defining the cavity 6; the support (2) has a base (4) and a crest (9) which extends in the centre line of the base (4) mainly along a longitudinal direction, transversal to the direction of the notch (7); the crest (9) defines in the cavity (6) a channel (8) having a depth greater than the depth of the base (4).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING A DOSE OF PRODUCT Technical field

[0003] The present invention relates to a package for dispensing a dose of product.

[0004] The type of product has no limitation in terms of its shape, meaning for example granular, or liquid without any limitation in terms of degree of density, and in terms of the type of product, meaning for example food, pharmaceutical, non-food.

[0005] This dispenser package falls within the type of packages which can be opened with a single hand.

[0006] Typically, the thumb and forefinger of the hand grip opposite sides of the package to induce a relative "V" fold.

[0007] This folding induces the breakage of one or more pre-notches made along the folding zone so that they yield, breaking, to allow the product to escape.

[0008] Background art

[0009] Dispenser packages are known in the prior art type consisting of a support shaped in such a way as to form a pocket for containing a granular or liquid product, coupled to a flexible sheet of heat-sealable material which encloses the product in a compartment.

[0010] The shaped support is made of rigid or semi-rigid material, consequently if the pre-notch is provided on this support its breakage might not occur even following the folding of the package, since the breakage of the prenotch takes place by overcoming the strength of the rigid or semi-rigid material of the shaped support.

[0011] In addition, in order to guarantee a positive opening experience to the consumer, it is required that the package be opened in a single stroke, at the first folding of the package, without having to repeat the gesture.Aim of the invention

[0012] In order to meet these requirements, the Applicant has developed a package for dispensing a dose of product as set out in independent claim 1.

[0013] Advantageously, the channel defines a rib that favours the complete breakage of the notch, in a single stroke.

[0014] Another advantage is the complete emptying of the package as the channel favours the collection of the residual product inside the package.

[0015] Brief description of the drawings

[0016] Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment of package for dispensing a dose of product as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] - - Figure 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a variant of a package for dispensing a dose of product according to the present invention in an open configuration;

[0018] - - Figure 2 illustrates a cross-section of the package in Figure 1 ; - - Figure 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a package for dispensing a dose of product according to the present invention in an open configuration.

[0019] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention The numeral 1 denotes a package for dispensing a dose of product.

[0020] This package 1 falls within the technical field of packages that can be opened with one hand by folding it into a "V" shape.

[0021] The package 1 comprises a rigid or semi-rigid support 2 which has a shaped portion 20 that extends in height starting from a flat perimeter portion 3.The package 1 comprises a flexible sheet 5 joined to the support 2 at least at the perimeter portion 3 of the support 2 defining a cavity 6 for containing a dose of product at the shaped portion 20.

[0022] The flexible sheet 5 comprises at least one heat sealable layer intended to join to the support 2 at least at the perimeter portion 3.

[0023] According to a first embodiment, the rigid or semi-rigid support 2 comprises at least a first layer 10 intended to be joined to the flexible sheet 5.

[0024] According to a second embodiment, the rigid or semi-rigid support 2 comprises a plurality of layers 10, 11, 12.

[0025] The shaped portion 20 of the support 2 has at least one notch 7 positioned at the inner surface 20a facing the cavity 6.

[0026] The package 1 has a rectangular shape.

[0027] This does not exclude that the rigid or semi-rigid support 2 is shaped in any shape.

[0028] The notch 7 is positioned at the centre line of one of the sides of the package 1 along a direction transversal to that side.

[0029] The notch 7 is in the form of a single continuous stretch or a plurality of continuous stretches.

[0030] Alternatively, the notch 7 is in the form of a continuous stretch and in association with a plurality of stretches.

[0031] The notch 7 is understood as rectilinear or curvilinear.

[0032] According to the first embodiment, the notch 7 strikes at least part of the first layer 10.

[0033] According to the first embodiment, the notch 7 strikes from one to two of said layers 10, 11.

[0034] According to the present invention, the shaped portion 20 has a base 4 and a crest 9 which extends in the centre line of the base 4 mainly along a longitudinal direction, transversal to the direction of the notch 7.

[0035] With reference to the cavity 6, the base 4 and the crest 9 define respective depths.The crest 9 defines in the cavity 6 a channel 8 having a depth "P2" greater than a depth "P1" of the base 4.

[0036] The crest 9 extends along the relative longitudinal direction of extension for the entire extension of the base 4.

[0037] The notch 7 is positioned at the centre line of the channel 8.

[0038] The channel 8 has a transversal extension, parallel to the direction of the notch 7, variable in a range of 10-30% of the transversal extension of the base 4.

[0039] The channel 8 has a top wall 13 and side walls 14 connecting the top wall 13 to the base 4 inclined at an angle of between 10° and 60°, in particular 45°.

[0040] The top wall 13 of the channel 8 determines the maximum depth "P2" of the channel 8.

[0041] Advantageously, the inclination of the side walls 14 favours the snapbreaking mode of the channel 8 at the notch 7.

[0042] The top wall 13 of the channel 8 is rectangular in shape.

[0043] With reference to the base 4, it has at least one pair of top walls 15, contiguous with the channel 8 and positioned relative to it opposite one another, defining a depth of the cavity 8 less than the depth of the channel 8.

[0044] The top wall 15 of the base 4 determines the maximum depth "P1" of the base 4 outside the channel 8.

[0045] The base 4 comprises side walls 16 connecting the top walls 15 of the base 4 with the perimeter portion 3 inclined by an angle of between 40° and 90°, in particular 70°.

[0046] Advantageously, the inclination of the side walls 16 of the base 4 favours the snap-breaking mode of the channel 8 at the notch 7.

[0047] According to a first variant embodiment, the base 4 has the shape of a truncated pyramid with a rectangular base; the side walls 16 are trapezoidal in shape and the top walls 15 are rectangular in shape.

[0048] According to a second variant embodiment, the base 4 has the shape of atruncated pyramid with an hourglass-shaped base having a pair of polygonal top walls 15 symmetrical to each other and a connecting portion thereof and the side walls 16 are trapezoidal in shape.

[0049] With reference to the package 1, the distance between the top wall 15 of the base 4 and the flexible sheet 5 is variable between 2 mm and 8 mm, in particular 5.5 mm.

[0050] The distance between the top wall 13 of the channel 8 and the top wall 15 of the base 4 is variable between 2 mm and 5 mm, in particular 3 mm.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A package for dispensing a dose of product comprising:- a rigid or semi-rigid support (2) which has a shaped portion (20) that extends in height starting from a flat perimeter portion (3);- a flexible sheet (5) joined to the support (2) at least at the perimeter portion (3) of the support (2) defining a cavity (6) for containing a dose of product at the shaped portion (20);the shaped portion (20) has at least one notch (7) positioned at the inner surface (20a) facing the cavity (6);characterised in thatthe shaped portion (20) has a base (4) and a crest (9) which extends in the centre line of the base (4) mainly along a longitudinal direction, transversal to the direction of the notch (7);the crest (9) defines in the cavity (6) a channel (8) having a depth greater than the depth of the base (4).

2. The package according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the crest (9) extends along the relative longitudinal direction of extension for the entire extension of the base (4).

3. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the crest (9) has a transversal extension, parallel to the direction of the notch (7), which is variable in a range of 10-30% of the transversal extension of the base (4).

4. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the crest (9) has a top wall (13) and side walls (14) connecting the top wall (13) to the base (4) inclined at an angle of between 10° and 60°, in particular 45°.

5. The package according to the preceding claim, characterised in that thetop wall (13) is rectangular in shape.

6. The package according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the base (4) has at least one pair of top walls (15), contiguous with the crest (9) and positioned relative to it opposite one another, defining a depth (P1) of the cavity (6) less than a depth (P2) of the channel (8) defined by the crest (9).

7. The package according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises side walls (16) connecting the top walls (15) of the base (4) with the perimeter portion (3) inclined by an angle of between 40° and 90°, in particular 70°.

8. The package according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the base (4) has the shape of a truncated pyramid with a rectangular base; the side walls (16) are trapezoidal in shape and the top walls (15) are rectangular in shape.

9. The package according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the base (4) has the shape of a truncated pyramid with an hourglass-shaped base having a pair of polygonal top walls (15) symmetrical to each other and a connecting portion of them; the side walls (16) are trapezoidal in shape.

10. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the top wall (15) of the base (4) and the flexible sheet (5) is variable between 2 mm and 8 mm, in particular 5.5 mm.

11. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the top wall (13) of the channel (8) and the top wall (15) of the base (4) is variable between 2 mm and 5mm, in particular 3 mm.

12. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the notch (7) is positioned at the centre line of one of the sides of the package (1) along a direction transversal to that side.

13. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the notch (7) is in the form of a single continuous stretch or a plurality of continuous stretches or a combination of these.

14. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the notch (7) is straight or curved.

15. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flexible sheet (5) comprises at least one heat sealable layer intended to join the support (2) at least at the perimeter portion (3).

16. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rigid or semi-rigid support (2) comprises at least a first layer (10) intended to be joined to the flexible sheet (5); the notch (7) strikes at least part of the first layer (10).

17. The package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rigid or semi-rigid support (2) comprises a plurality of layers (10, 11, 12) and the notch (7) strikes from one to two of said layers (10, 11, 12).

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