GB2602648A

GB2602648A - Child Resistant Packaging for Storing and Dispensing a Product

Info

Publication number: GB2602648A
Application number: GB2100188.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lant Jon
Original assignee: Origin Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: Origin Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2021-01-07
Filing date: 2021-01-07
Publication date: 2022-07-13
Also published as: WO2022148950A1; GB202100188D0

Abstract

Packaging 5 for storing and dispensing a product comprises a sachet 10 with a dispensing face 30, a rear face (40, fig. 2) and a hermetically sealed storage area in between. The dispensing face has a pre-weakened area 45 configured to rupture and form an aperture when the packaging is manually deformed. The packaging has a label 20 removably attached to the dispensing face to form a barrier over the pre-weakened area which, in use, prevents the product from being dispensed through the aperture after rupture of the pre-weakened area. In one independent claim a tab 35 is connected to the remainder of the sachet by a frangible connection that breaks to separate the tab from the rest of the sachet when the tab is manually deformed, and the label is attached to the tab. In another independent claim a portion of the label is not attached to the dispensing face.

Description

Child Resistant Packaging for Storing and Dispensing a Product

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to packaging for storing a dispensing a product.

Background of the invention

Sachets have found extensive use as a cost-effective and hygienic approach for storing and dispensing single-use products, or storing and dispensing a measured dose or portion bulk products. Sachets are used in many markets and industries to store and dispense fluid, liquid, gel or granular materials, for example, in fast-moving consumer goods to dispense condiments, in household products to dispensing cleaning productions, and in the medical packaging field to dispense medicaments including, but not limited to, topical skin preparations.

Some sachets are snap-to-open, otherwise known as fold-to-open sachets. Snap-to-open sachets, as their names suggests, are opened by folding or snapping the sachet in two. Typically, the folding or snapping action breaks a pre-weakened frangible area such that the contents of the sachet can be dispensed. Snap-to-open sachets are increasingly used for dispensing and storing high-value products, such as cleaning and medicaments. Their popularity in this field is due to the ease with which a measured, precise portion of a product can be dispensed in hygienic fashion. Additionally, storing the products within a sachet is also advantageous as it provides a controlled environment to store a product within and thus protect it from degradation, for example by oxidation.

However, one of the drawbacks that has limited the proliferation of snap-to-open sachets throughout all markets is their ease of opening. The ease of opening existing snap-to-open sachets means they are not sufficiently child-resistant for all applications as a single action can dispense the sachet's contents. As such, current sachet designs do not typically meet the two-step requirement of child-resistant packaging standards such as EN IS08317 and/or 16CFR1700.20.

Furthermore, one of the issues found with sachets of all types is that the sachet cannot be adequately labelled, due to the size of the sachet, material of the sachet or the company filling the sachet not having the correct equipment. As such, individual sachets may not be labelled or only be labelled with the minimum amount of information.

Therefore, at its most general, objects and aspects of the present invention attempt to alleviate problems associated with current sachets, such as snap-to-open sachets, by increasing their child-resistance and their ease of labelling.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided packaging for storing and dispensing a product, the packaging comprising: a sachet comprising a dispensing face, a rear face, a hermetically sealed storage area for storing a portion of a product located between the dispensing face and the rear face, and a tab connected to the remainder of the sachet by a frangible connection; wherein said frangible connection is configured to break, crack or fracture to separate the tab from the rest of the sachet when the tab is manually deformed relative to the rest of the sachet;; wherein the dispensing face comprises a pre-weakened area which is configured to rupture and form an aperture when the packaging is manually deformed, and wherein the packaging further comprises a label, the label removably attached to the dispensing face to form a barrier over the pre-weakened area which, in use, prevents the product from being dispensed through the aperture after rupture of the pre-weakened area, and wherein the label is also attached to the tab.

The provision of a label that is attached to a tab that is connected to the sachet by a frangible connection and further acts as a barrier over the pre-weakened area of the sachet means that for the product inside the sachet to be dispensed a three-step process must be performed. Firstly the frangible connection is be broken, cracked or fractured to separate the tab from the sachet; secondly, the label must be removed such that the barrier covering the pre-weakened area is removed; and,thirdly, the sachet must be manually deformed in the prescribed manner to rupture the pre-weakened area to form an aperture. Not all manual deformations will necessary open the sachet, for example, squeezing will not open a fold-to-open sachet and vice versa. That is, since the tab and the label are attached to one another, a user cannot easily remove the label from the sachet until the frangible connection has been broken, cracked or fractured.

Once the label has been removed from the pre-weakened area, and the pre weakened area has been reputed by manual manipulation of the packaging by a user, product can then be dispensed from the sachet through the aperture by the user.

If the label is not removed before the pre-weakened area is ruptured then the product is prevented from being dispensed from the sachet by the label, which acts as a barrier. In this way, a step-step process for dispensing the product is required which increases the child-resistance and reduces the risk of accidental discharge of the sachet.

The label is removably attached to the dispensing face. That is, the label is attached to the surface of the sachet in such a way that the label can be detached and separated from the sachet. Once the label has been removed from the dispensing face the barrier covering the aperture is removed and the contents of the sachet can be dispensed.

The pre-weakened area is a section of the dispensing surface that is configured to rupture, i.e. open, break or fissure during a specific and predetermined manual deformation of the packaging. Examples of pre-weakened areas include, but are not limited to, scored sections, perforated sections, thinner areas, brittle non-elastic frangible material, areas weakened by incisions and pre-stressed areas.

Preferably, the label and the dispensing face are attached such that, in normal use, the label cannot be removed as a barrier over the pre-weakened area by a user until the frangible connection is broken to separate the tab from the sachet. More preferably, the label is configured such that it can be only be gripped by a user and actuated to expose the pre-weakened area after the frangible connection is broken, cracked or fractured and the tab is separated from the rest of the sachet.

Preferably, once the frangible connection is broken, cracked or fractured to separate the tab from the sachet, the tab and the portion of the label to which it is attached form a gripping portion that the user can grip to remove the label completely from the sachet and expose the pre-weakened area.

Preferably, the label is permanently and irreversibly connected to the tab. Such a permanent connect may be formed by heat welding or with a permanent adhesive for example.

Preferably, the label is reversibly removable from the dispensing face. In this way, the label can be removed from the sachet and re-attached to the sachet multiple times, which creates a resealable sachet as the label can be reattached to the dispensing face to act as a barrier over the aperture.

Preferably, the label is peelably removable from the dispensing face. That is, the label can be detached from the dispensing face by a peeling motion applied by the user. In this way, the product can only be dispensed from the packaging by two distinct and disparate motions. This two-step opening mechanism significantly increases child-resistance and reduces the likelihood of accidental discharge. Preferably, a corner of the label is less strongly attached to the dispensing face than the rest of the label. Preferably, a corner of the label is not attached to the dispensing face. Preferably, the peeling motion used to remove the label will begin at the tab.

Preferably, the frangible connection is configured to be broken by a snapping or folding the tab relative to the rest of the sachet. Alternatively, the frangible connection is configured to be broken, cracked or fractured by a tearing or pulling the tab relative to the sachet.

Preferably, the tab is located at an edge of the sachet. More preferably, the tab is located at a corner of said sachet. In this way, the tab does not extend beyond the normal footprint of the sachet and is less likely to be broken by accident. As such, packaging in this form may have increased child resistance.

Preferably, the frangible connection comprises a frangible line. Preferably, the frangible connection extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sachet. More preferably, the frangible connection extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pre-weakened area. In this way, the chances that the frangible connection and the pre-weakened area are simultaneously broken or ruptured by a single motion is decreased improving the safety of the packaging.

Preferably, the tab and the label are removably attached to one another. Alternatively, the tab and the label are permanently attached to one another.

Preferably, the label forms a hermetic seal which extends around and encloses the pre-weakened area. In this way, if the pre-weakened area is ruptured to form an aperture, the product is not exposed to the external environment as the label acts as an impenetrable barrier which prevents any air, moisture or contaminants from the external environment contacting the product.

Preferably, the label is attached to the dispensing face to define a secondary storage area between the sachet and the label. Preferably, the secondary storage area is configured to accept and accommodate a portion of a product dispensed the pre-weakened area. The secondary storage area is a pocket or area between the label and sachet in which at least a portion of the product contents of the sachet can be stored after it has been dispensed from the sachet.

Preferably, the secondary storage area is hermetically sealed. In this way, even if the aperture has been formed by rupturing the pre-weakened area the product, the label acts as an impenetrable barrier to air, moisture and contaminants. That is, the product is kept in a usable form despite the rupture of the pre-weakened area.

Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the pre-weakened area is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sachet and the longitudinal axis of dispensing face. Preferably, the pre-weakened area extends across at least 30% of the width of the dispensing face. More preferably, the pre-weakened area extends across at least 50% of the width of the dispensing face. Preferably, the pre-weakened area is centrally aligned on the dispensing face.

Preferably, the pre-weakened area is configured to be ruptured only by a prescribed manual deformation. Preferably, the pre-weakened area is configured to be ruptured by a folding motion. That is, in use, the prescribed manual deformation applied to packaging by the final user is a folding motion. More preferably, the pre-weakened are is configured to be ruptured by a final user folding the packaging in two. Even more preferably, the pre-weakened are is configured to be ruptured by a final user folding the packaging in half. In this embodiment, preferably the packaging is resistant to manual deformation by twisting or squeezing motions.

That is, twisting or squeezing cannot manually deform the packaging sufficiently to rupture the pre-weakened area and form an aperture for dispensing the product.

Alternatively, the pre-weakened area is configured to be ruptured by twisting or squeezing motion. That is, the manual deformation applied to packaging by the final user, in use, is a twisting or squeezing motion.

Preferably, the pre-weakened area of the sachet is ruptured by folding a first end of the rear side towards a second end of the rear side to manually deform the sachet into a V-shape.

Preferably, the pre-weakened area is a frangible area. More preferably, the frangible area breaks, cracks or fractures to form a slit in the dispensing face. In this way, the aperture is a slit. Preferably, the pre-weakened area is a substantially rectangular area of the dispensing surface. Preferably, the aperture formed by rupturing the pre-weakened area is substantially rectangular.

Preferably, the dispensing face comprises an internal channel. Preferably, the internal channel extends from the hermetically sealed storage area to the pre-weakened area.

Preferably, the internal channel fluidly connects the aperture and the hermetically sealed storage area after the pre-weakened area has been ruptured. That is, in this preferred embodiment, product is dispensed through the internal channel and aperture. The internal channel acts to narrow the thickness of the dispensing face in a specified location. The internal channel can be particularly helpful in embodiments where the pre-weakened area is ruptured by folding, as the relative thinness of the dispensing face in the location of the internal channel acts to guide the manual deformation to a certain location due to its increased flexibility. Such a feature improves the ease of rupturing the pre-weakened area.

Preferably, the internal channel extends along the dispensing face for the whole of the length of the pre-weakened area. Preferably, the internal channel extends at least half of the distance between an edge of the dispensing face to an opposing edge of the dispensing face.

Preferably, the cross-sectional width of the internal channel is narrowest adjacent the pre-weakened area. Preferably, the cross-sectional width of the internal channel is widest adjacent the hermetically sealed storage area. More preferably, the internal channel has a cross-section that is substantially triangular in shape.

Preferably, the dispensing face comprises an external channel. Preferably, the external channel is offset and/or staggered from the internal channel. More preferably, the external channel is offset and/or staggered in a direction along the longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the external channel extends along the dispensing face for approximately the whole length of the pre-weakened area. More preferably, the external channel extends at least half of the distance between an edge of the dispensing face to an opposing edge of the dispensing face.

Preferably, the internal channel and the external channel define the pre-weakened area. Preferably, the sum of the depth of the internal channel and the depth of the external channel is less than the thickness of the dispensing face.

Preferably, the label comprises multiple layers. Preferably, the label is laminated. Preferably, the label comprises perforations. Preferably, the label comprises information regarding the product contained within the sachet. Preferably, the label is suitable for displaying printed information. Preferably, the label is a multi-paged label. Alternatively, the label is a single layer. Preferably, the label is substantially plain. Preferably, the label comprises instructions regarding the removal of the label. More preferably, the instructions are printed.

Preferably, the Young's Modulus of the rear side of the sachet is lower than the Young's Modulus of the dispensing side. Such a configuration results in the rear side of the sachet being more flexible than the dispensing surface.

Preferably, the label is attached to the dispensing face by an adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferably, the adhesive is resistant to water. More preferably, the adhesive is insoluble in water.

Preferably, the packaging is single-use disposable packaging.

Preferably, the label comprises a digital device for displaying information regarding the product.

In one preferred embodiment, the packaging comprises a plurality of pre-weakened areas and a plurality of storage areas, where each of the plurality of pre-weakened areas is associated with one of the plurality of storage areas and wherein each pre-weakened area of the plurality is configured to rupture and form an aperture when the packaging is manually deformed. As such, in this preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of storage areas can dispense their respective product through their respective aperture.

Preferably, each of the plurality of pre-weakened areas can be ruptured independently of one another by manual deformation. Alternatively, one or more of the pre-weakened areas of the plurality can be ruptured simultaneously by manual deformation.

In a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of labels are attached to the dispensing face and each of the plurality of labels is associated with one of the pre-weakened areas of the plurality.

Preferably, the packaging complies with the child-resistant packaging standard EN IS08317 and/or child-resistant packaging standard 16CFR1700.20.

Preferably, the packaging is for storing and dispensing a product which is fluid. Preferably, the packaging is for storing and dispensing a product which is a liquid. Preferably, the packaging is for storing and dispensing a product which is a gel. Preferably, the packaging is for storing and dispensing a product which is a granular material. Preferably, the packaging is suitable for storing and dispensing a product which is a medicament. Preferably, the product is a medicament.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided packaging for storing and dispensing a product, the packaging comprising: a sachet comprising a dispensing face, a rear face, a hermetically sealed storage area for storing a portion of a product located between the dispensing face and the rear face, wherein the dispensing face comprises a pre-weakened area which is configured to rupture and form an aperture when the packaging is manually deformed, wherein the packaging further comprises a label, the label removably attached to the dispensing face to form a barrier over the pre-weakened area which, in use, prevents the product from being dispensed through the aperture after rupture of the pre-weakened area, wherein a portion of the label is not attached to the dispensing face.

Preferably, the label is attached to the dispensing face by an adhesive.

Preferably, the portion of the label not attached to the dispensing face is a corner of the label.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of packaging comprising a sachet, a label and a tab in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a longitudinal cross-section of the packaging of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the packaging of Figures 1 and 2, where the label has been partially removed; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the packaging of Figures 1-3, where the label has been completely removed to completely expose the dispensing face and the pre-weakened area of the sachet Figure 5 is a schematic view of the packaging of Figure 4, where the packaging has been folded to rupture the pre-weakened area such that an aperture is formed through which a product is being dispensed; and Figure 6 is a schematic view of the packaging of Figure 1 and 2, where the packaging has been folded to rupture the pre-weakened area and form an aperture, but the label is attached to the sachet and is forming a barrier over the aperture such that the packaging cannot dispense its contents in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is depicted packaging 5 in accordance with the present invention. The packaging 5 comprises a sachet 10 and a label 20 which are both substantially cuboid with rectangular faces. The sachet 10 comprises a planar, rectangular dispensing face 30 which is opposed to a planar, rectangular a rear face 40.

At one corner of the sachet 10 is a tab 35 that is connected to the remainder or rest of the sachet 10 by a frangible connection 45. The tab 35 is integrally formed with the remainder of the sachet 10. The frangible connection 45 is a pre-weakened area of the sachet 10 that is designed to break, fracture or crack completely when the tab 35 is actuated relative to the rest of the sachet 10 such that the tab 35 are be separated from the remainder of the sachet 10.

In this embodiment, the frangible connection 45 is a frangible lines that extends diagonally across a corner of the sachet 10. The frangible connection 45 comprises perforations that extend through the sachet 10 such that the attachment of the tab 35 to the remainder of the sachet 10 can be broken or served via folding, pulling or tearing the tab 35 relative the remainder of the sachet 10.

The label 20 is attached to the dispensing face 30 of the sachet 10. In this embodiment, the label 20 is centrally aligned with the dispensing face 30 and covers the majority of the dispensing face 30 to leave a border of uncovered dispensing face 30 around the periphery of the label 20. Additionally, the label is attached to the tab 35 and extends over the frangible connection 45.

To prevent the label 20 from being removed from the sachet 10 and dispensing face 30 prior to the frangible connection being broken, cracked or fractured, the label 20 and particularly the edges of the label 20 are securely adhered to the dispensing face 30. In this way, a user cannot easily or accidentally remove the label 20 from the sachet 10 without first breaking the frangible connection 45.

In this embodiment, the label 20 is attached to the dispensing face 30 and the tab 35 by an adhesive such that the label 20 can be peeled away from the sachet by the final user of the packaging. In normal use, a user will first break, crack or fracture the frangible connection 45 by for example, folding or tearing the tab 35 away from the rest of the sachet 10. After the tab has been separated from the sachet 10 the label 20 remains attached to the tab 35. The user can then grip the label 20 and separated tab 35 to peel off the label 20 and expose the entirety of the dispensing face 30. The adhesive used to adhere the label 20 is chosen to impart sufficient resistance to removal to fulfil the child-resistance standards.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, there is depicted cross-section of the packaging of the present invention where the cross-section has been taken along axis 50 of Figure 1. The cross-section along axis 50 is in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the packaging and at the midpoint of the transverse axis.

Figure 2 shows that the label 20 is adhered to the dispensing face 30 of the sachet 10 and that the sachet 10 further comprises a rear face 40 and edge faces 60. The dispensing face 30 and the rear face 40 both have substantially the same rectangular shape and size as the sachet 10. The internal side of the rear face 40 is bordered along all four of its edges by the edge faces 60, and the opposing side of the edge faces 60 are attached to the internal side of the dispensing face 30.

The configuration of the dispensing face 30, the rear face 40 and the edge faces 60 define and form an airtight cavity 70 inside of the sachet 10. The cavity 70 is a hermetically sealed storage area for housing and storing a product 80 within the sachet 10. In this embodiment, the dispensing face 30, the rear face 40 and the edge faces 60 are all separate pieces bonded together with airtight seals. In other embodiments they are integrally formed from a single-piece of material.

In this embodiment, the rear face 40 of the packaging 10 is less than half the thickness of the dispensing face and consists a material which is less stiff and more elastic than the than the dispensing face 30. Other embodiments are envisaged and the general principle is that the dispensing face 30 should be more rigid, less elastic and less flexible than the rear face 40.

The dispensing face 30 comprises an internal channel 90 which makes the dispensing face thinner at its locale. The internal channel 90 has a triangular cross-section, where the tip of triangle is adjacent the external surface of the dispensing face 30 and the base of the triangle is adjacent the cavity 70. In other words, the internal channel 90 is a protrusion of the cavity 70 which extends into the internal side of the dispensing face 30. In this way, an area of the dispensing face 30 located adjacent to the internal channel 90 is weakened and more flexible due to the relative thinness of the dispensing face 30 in this area. This area is known as the pre-weakened area 100.

The pre-weakened area 100, as well as being adjacent to the internal channel 90, comprises a frangible material. In this embodiment, the frangible material is the same material as the dispensing face 30 and its frangible and brittle nature is conferred by its relative thinness compared to the rest of the dispensing face 30. In other embodiments, the pre-weakened area 100 comprises a different material which is frangible compared the rest of the sachet 10.

The internal channel 90 and the pre-weakened area 100 are centrally aligned on the dispensing face 30 and extend across approximately half of the distance between opposing edge faces 60 of the sachet 10 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dispensing face 30. In use, the internal channel 90 acts to guide the user as to where to make the fold in the packaging 5.

Referring to Figure 3, there is depicted the packaging 5 of Figure 1 and 2 where the frangible connection 45 has been broken, fractured or cracked such that the tab 35 has been separated from the remainder of the sachet 10, and the label 20 has been partially peeled away from the surface of the dispensing face 30 with the tab 35.

As discussed above, the frangible connection 45 is configured to be broken, cracked or fractured or separate the tab from the remainder of the sachet 10. After the frangible connection 45 has been disrupted" the tab 35 can be used to peel a corner of the label 20 away from the dispensing face 30. In this embodiment, the user peels the label 20 off the sachet 10 by gripping the corner of the label 20 and the separated tab 35 in their fingers and pulling the label 20 away from the sachet 10. The force required to peel off the label 20 is designed to require sufficient force to improve the child-resistance of the product.

Referring to Figure 4, there is depicted the packaging 5 of Figures 1-3 where the label 20 has been completely removed to expose the whole of the dispensing face 30 and the pre-weakened area 100. To remove the label 20 the frangible connection 45 is broken, cracked or fractured and, as such, the sachet 10 of Figure 4 is missing a corner where the tab 35 was located.

Referring to Figure 5, there is depicted the packaging 5 of Figure 4, where the packaging 5 has been folded in half. The fold in the packaging 5 is formed in the sachet 10 in the area proximate the internal channel 90. The packaging 5 is folded to form a V-shape where one end of the rear face 40 is folded towards a second end of the rear face 40. That is, the rear face 40 is on the inside of the V-shape and the dispensing face 30 is on the outside of the V-shape.

In use, after the user has broken the frangible connection 45, separated the tab 35 from the remainder of the sachet 10 and removed the label 20, they will fold the sachet 10 in half in order to dispense the contents of the sachet 10. The fold is guided to occur in area proximate the internal channel 90 due to the relative thinness and flexibility of the pre-weakened area 100 compared to the rest of the dispensing face 30. The folding motion causes the frangible pre-weakened area 100 to rupture and form an aperture 110 through which the product 80 stored within the cavity 70 can be dispensed. The rate at which product 80 can be dispensed is controlled by the pressure the user applies to the sachet 10 and the angle of the fold.

Referring to Figure 6, there is depicted the packaging 5 which has been manually deformed by being folded in half to rupture the pre-weakened area 100 and form an aperture 110. However, the frangible connection 35 has not been broken and the tab 35 not separated form the remainder of the sachet, such that the label 20 has not been detached from the dispensing face 30. Thus, the label 20 covers the dispensing face 30 and pre-weakened area 100 and forms an impenetrable barrier over the aperture 110. The product 80 cannot be dispensed due to the label 20, as the label 20 is formed of a laminate material which is impervious to liquids and the adhesive used to secure the label 20 to the sachet 10 is liquid-resistant.

As such, in use, even if the packaging 5 been folded correctly to form an aperture 110 the product 80 is not necessarily dispensed. The requirement for the label 20 to be removed from the packaging 5 adds a compulsory second stage for dispensing product 80.

Therefore, dispensing product 80 requires a three-stage process: breaking, cracking or fracturing the frangible connection 45 and thereby separating the tab 35 from the remainder of the sachet 10, removal of the label 20 and folding the sachet 10 in half to rupture the pre-weakened area 100 and form an aperture. This three-stage process improves the child-resistance of the packaging 5 and decreases the chance of the product 80 being accidentally discharged from the packaging 5.

Claims

Claims 1. Packaging for storing and dispensing a product, said packaging comprising: a sachet comprising a dispensing face, a rear face, a hermetically sealed storage area for storing a portion of a product located between said dispensing face and said rear face, and a tab connected to the remainder of the sachet by a frangible connection; wherein said frangible connection is configured to break, crack or fracture to separate the tab from the rest of the sachet when the tab is manually deformed relative to the rest of the sachet; wherein said dispensing face comprises a pre-weakened area which is configured to rupture and form an aperture when said packaging is manually deformed, wherein said packaging further comprises a label, said label removably attached to said dispensing face to form a barrier over said pre-weakened area which, in use, prevents said product from being dispensed through said aperture after rupture of said pre-weakened area, and wherein said label is also attached to said tab.
2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein said label is permanently and irreversibly connected to said tab.
3 The packaging of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said label is reversibly removable from said dispensing face.
4. The packaging of any one preceding claim, wherein said label is peelably removable from said dispensing face.
The packaging of any one preceding claim, wherein said frangible connection is configured to be broken by snapping or folding said tab relative to the rest of the sachet..
6 The packaging of any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein said frangible connection is configured to be broken, cracked or fractured by tearing or pulling said tab relative to said sachet.
7 The packaging of any one preceding claim, wherein said tab is located at an edge of said sachet.
8 The packaging of any one preceding claim, wherein said tab is located at a corner of said sachet.
9 The packaging of any one preceding claim, wherein said frangible connection comprises a frangible line.
10. The packaging of any one preceding claim, wherein said frangible connection extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said sachet.
11. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein said label forms a hermetic seal that extends across and encloses said pre-weakened area.
12. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein said label is attached to said dispensing face to define a secondary storage area between said sachet and said label
13. The packaging of claim 12, wherein said secondary storage area is arranged to accept and accommodate a portion of a product dispensed through said pre-weakened area.
14. The packaging of claim 12 or 13, wherein said secondary storage area is hermetically sealed
15. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein the longitudinal axis of said pre-weakened area is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sachet.
16. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein said pre-weakened area is configured to be ruptured by folding
17. The packaging of claim 16, wherein said pre-weakened area of said sachet is configured to be ruptured by folding a first end of said rear side towards a second end of said rear side to manipulate said sachet into a V-shape.
18. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein said pre-weakened area comprises a frangible slit in said dispensing face.
19. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein said dispensing face comprises an internal channel, wherein said internal channel extends from said storage area to said pre-weakened area.
20. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein the Young's Modulus of said rear side is lower than the Young's Modulus of said dispensing side.
21. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein said packaging comprises a plurality of said pre-weakened areas and a plurality of storage areas, where each of said plurality of said pre-weakened areas is associated with one of said plurality of storage areas and wherein each pre-weakened area of said plurality is configured to rupture and form an aperture when said packaging is manually deformed.
22. The packaging of claim 22, wherein said label forms a barrier over all of said plurality of pre-weakened areas that, in use, prevents said product from being dispensed through said aperture after rupture of said pre-weakened area.
23. The packaging of any preceding claim, wherein said packaging complies with the child-resistant packaging standard EN IS08317 and/or child-resistant packaging standard 16CFR1700.20.
24. Packaging for storing and dispensing a product, said packaging comprising: a sachet comprising a dispensing face, a rear face, a hermetically sealed storage area for storing a portion of a product located between said dispensing face and said rear face, said dispensing face comprising a pre-weakened area which is configured to rupture and form an aperture when said packaging is manually deformed, said packaging further comprising a label, said label removably attached to said dispensing face to form a barrier over said pre-weakened area which, in use, prevents said product from being dispensed through said aperture after rupture of said pre-weakened area, wherein a portion of said label is not attached to said dispensing face.
25. The packaging of claim 24, wherein said portion of said label not attached to said dispensing face is a corner of said label.