US 4,493,574 AGranted

Dispenser package having fault line protrusion

AssigneeSanford Redmond

InventorsSanford Redmond, Walter A. Mainberger

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A dispenser package for flowable substances of the type where the flowable product is contained within a flexible pouch adhered to a relatively stiff material and may be opened along a fault line or cut pattern scored in the relatively stiff material with one hand by folding the stiff ends toward one another into a "V" shape containing one or more dimples, pyramidal shapes or other protrusions on the fault line or fault area. The protrusions not only increase and concentrate the stress forces, so that even very tough, high barrier materials may be used in constructing the package and will rupture at the protrusions by the aforesaid folding motion, but also control both the aperture shape and flow direction of the flowable substance as it is dispensed. The ability to make the package of tough materials enables the package to contain substances under pressure which subsequently will be dispensed. A sponge-like material also may be compressed within the package shaped so that a portion will project from the package on opening for use as a swab for application of the contents.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A dispensing package for a flowable substance, said package including a relatively stiff substantially flat sheet and flexible sheet secured to one face of said relatively stiff substantially flat sheet, said flexible sheet forming a pocket adjacent said one face of said relatively stiff substantially flat sheet for containing a flowable substance, said relatively stiff substantially flat sheet having a fault line of predetermined length, protrusion means displacing at least a portion of said fault line out of the plane of said relatively stiff substantially flat sheet in a direction away from said one face for substantially maximally increasing the stress in said relatively stiff substantially flat sheet at the displaced portion of said fault line, whereby upon bending said relatively stiff substantially flat sheet into a "V" about an axis extending along said fault line so that the arms of said "V" encapture said pocket, said fault line initially ruptures at the locus of said protrusion means to create at least one opening through which said flowable substance is dispensed in a directed flow, said protrusion means having a configuration which is substantially symmetrical on either side of said fault line and on either side of an axis normal to said fault line and in which the point of greatest displacement is located substantially on said fault line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.