WO2015197787A1

WO2015197787A1 - Leak detection system

Info

Publication number: WO2015197787A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/064448
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano Capitani; Giulio Benedetti
Original assignee: Cryovac, Inc.
Priority date: 2014-06-25
Filing date: 2015-06-25
Publication date: 2015-12-30

Abstract

A package for a product comprising inner and outer seals defining a control chamber in fluid communication with an indicator portion, wherein the indicator portion has at least a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration and is configured to change from the first configuration to the second configuration if (a) the inner seal fails to seal the inner volume of the package from the control chamber, and/or (b) the outer seal fails to hermetically seal the control chamber from the ambient atmosphere. A process for manufacturing of the package is also provided.

Description

LEAK DETECTION SYSTEM

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is directed at a system for detection of leaks potentially

occurring in the sealing of a package for bulk goods or fluid goods, and at a package comprising means for detection in accordance with the present invention. The leak detection system facilitates detection of leaks or micro leaks, which can compromise the packaged product, during all stages of production, shipping, and storage, until the product is consumed or put in use.

Background Art

[0002] A wide variety of products can be packaged in a flexible package which is created by bonding plastic film, for example by the application of heat, thereby creating a seal extending along portions of the package.

[0003] The integrity of the package can be compromised by an imperfect or damaged seal such that substances present in the environment can contaminate or impair the contents of the package and/or the packaged goods can exit the package, for example when bulk goods or fluid goods are contained in the package. While larger leaks causing packaged goods to exit from the package can be visually detected quite easily in most environments by checking the integrity of the package (e.g. checking for traces of goods on an outside surface of the package), the same is not true for very small leaks (e.g. micro leaks), causing only very small amounts of packaged goods to leak. Further, contamination of the contents of the package cannot easily be detected without special equipment and/or substantial effort. Depending on the packaging requirements (e.g. medical products or food), neither a leak nor a contamination - however small - might be acceptable and must be detectable with a high reliability.

[0004] In some cases, the storage properties of the packaged goods depend on the presence of a controlled atmosphere present in the package. In case the controlled atmosphere is compromised, the contents of the package might exhibit substantial deterioration or properties thereof might change in an undesired manner. In medical applications, the sterility and/or other medical properties of packaged goods are vitally important during the entire product life and in all stages thereof, for example production, shipping, storage, and use, the integrity of the package must be guaranteed. Further, it must be possible to check in a simple and reliable manner, whether the package contents have been compromised in any way.

[0005] In some applications, the controlled atmosphere can consist in the package being evacuated (e.g. a vacuum being present inside the package or residual air being expelled as much as possible). In such cases, the inside of the package exhibits substantially less pressure as compared to the ambient atmosphere. A leak or micro leak occurring in such packages typically results in contamination of the package contents and/or in the storage capabilities being substantially compromised, due to substances present in the environment being drawn through the micro leak and into the package as a result of the pressure differential. In other applications, the controlled atmosphere can consist of a particular composition of air or gas, for example containing or being based on essentially inert gases. In a further example, the contents of the package might have been packaged under positive pressure, thereby ensuring a minimal volume of the flexible package due to the inside of the package exhibiting a higher pressure than the ambient atmosphere. In this latter case, a leak or micro leak typically results in packaged goods (e.g. fluid or liquid contents) being expelled from the package.

[0006] JP H04155173 describes a bag formed from plastic laminate film made by

laminating aluminum foils and plastic films or aluminum-deposited plastic films to one another. The integrity of the bag can be checked by visually inspecting the bag. A leak detection body is configured to effect a change in the outer shape of the package upon occurrence of a leak. The contents of the package must be packaged under vacuum conditions and cannot generate gas under vacuum conditions. Further, the leak detection body must be configured to remain in a compressed configuration when present in a vacuum and to expand at higher pressure. In order to effect the change in shape, the leak detection body must be able to exert a force between the packaged contents and the bag so that the deformation of the outer film of the bag can be achieved.

[0007] DE909299 (C) describes a rigid container, which is closed and evacuated after the packaging of the contents, for example a respirator device. A diaphragm is bent towards the inside in the presence of the vacuum inside the container. If a leak in the container occurs, the vacuum inside the container is compromised such that the membrane moves outwards and actuates an indicator, which is pushed at least partly outside the container, thereby providing a visual clue detectable from the outside, indicating that the vacuum has been compromised. For the diaphragm and indicator to work, a rigid outer container and/or some form of rigid support inside the container is required, in order to provide the mechanical components necessary for maintaining, positioning, and actuating the indicator such that it properly indicates the presence of the vacuum within the container.

[0008] US 2014/0033655 Al describes containers made from flexible material that can be configured with sufficient structural integrity, such that they can receive, contain, and dispense fluent product(s), as intended, without failure. The containers are less expensive to make, can use less material, and can be easier to decorate, when compared with conventional rigid containers, because the conversion of flexible materials (from sheet form to finished goods) generally requires less energy and complexity, than formation of rigid materials (from bulk form to finished goods). The containers use less material, because they are configured with support structures that do not require the use of the thick solid walls used in conventional rigid containers. The described containers can further be configured with sufficient structural integrity, such that they can withstand external forces and environmental conditions from handling, without failure. The containers can also be configured with structures that allow them to be displayed for sale and put into use, as intended, without failure. The structure of the described containers prevents inadvertent rupture or failure that could lead to loss of the fluent product stored therein, mainly by presenting a flexible container that cannot easily be dented or ruptured.

[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a system for detection of leaks potentially occurring in the sealing of a fiexible package for bulk goods or fluid goods, in which the leak detection system facilitates detection of leaks or micro leaks, that can potentially compromise the packaged goods during all stages of production, shipping, storage and use.

[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a package comprising means for detection in accordance with the present invention. Summary of invention

[0011] One or more of the objects specified above are substantially achieved by a system and by a package according to any one of the appended claims.

[0012] According to the invention, in a 1^st aspect there is provided a package for a product, comprising at least one plastic film and a seal, the seal extending along at least a portion of the plastic film, thereby hermetically sealing an inner volume of the package from an ambient atmosphere, wherein the seal comprises an inner seal and an outer seal, the inner seal being arranged proximal to the inner volume of the package and the outer seal being arranged distal to the inner volume, the inner and outer seals defining a control chamber, the control chamber being hermetically sealed from the inner volume and from the ambient atmosphere, the control chamber being in fluid communication with an indicator portion, the indicator portion having at least a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration, and the indicator portion being configured to change from the first configuration to the second configuration if (a) the inner seal fails to hermetically seal the inner volume from the control chamber, and/or (b) the outer seal fails to hermetically seal the control chamber from the ambient atmosphere.

[0013] In a 2^nd aspect, according to the 1^st aspect, the seal is formed by heat sealing the portion of the at least one plastic film.

[0014] In a 3^rd aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, the first configuration comprises a first shape and the second configuration comprises a second shape different from the first shape.

[0015] In a 4^th aspect, according to the 3^rd aspect, the first shape is a substantially flat

configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the first shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially lower than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere or is substantially a vacuum.

[0016] In a 5^th aspect, according to the 4^th aspect, the indicator portion, when in the first shape, defines an internal indicator volume of substantially zero.

[0017] In a 6^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 3 to 5, the second shape is a

substantially non-flat or expanded configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially equal to a pressure of the ambient atmosphere. [0018] In a 7 aspect, according to the 6 aspect, the indicator portion, when in the second configuration, defines a substantially non-zero internal indicator volume.

[0019] In an 8^th aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, the seal further

comprises a connection portion, the connection portion being interposed between and heat sealed to layers of plastic film.

[0020] In a 9^th aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, respective terminal portions of the inner seal and the outer seal are heat sealed to one another at least at one end of the seal.

[0021] In a 10^th aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, the package further comprises at least one spring element having an unbiased configuration in which the at least one spring element is in a substantially non-flat configuration, and a biased configuration, in which the spring element is in a substantially flat configuration, optionally the spring element being arranged within the indicator portion.

[0022] In an 11^th aspect, according to the 10^th aspect, the at least one spring element is

configured to support the transition of the indicator portion from the first

configuration to the second configuration.

[0023] In a 12^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 10 or 11, the at least one spring element is configured, when in the biased configuration, to exert a force on an inner surface of the indicator portion from within the indicator portion, the force being configured to space apart at least a portion of the plastic film in the region of the indicator portion.

[0024] In a 13^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 10 to 12, the at least one spring element comprises first and second elements and exhibits substantially a U-shaped cross section according to a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of plastic film and along a longitudinal extension of the seal, optionally wherein the spring element is substantially symmetrical.

[0025] In a 14^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 10 to 12, the at least one spring element exhibits substantially the shape of a spiral, optionally a diameter of the at least one spring element increasing from a first and a second end thereof towards a middle thereof.

[0026] In a 15^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 10 to 12, the at least one spring element exhibits a substantially conical shape. [0027] In a 16 aspect, according to any one of aspects 10 to 12, the at least one spring element exhibits substantially the shape of a trident, optionally the at least one spring element comprising at least one tooth in an inclined configuration with respect to a plane developing between at least two other teeth of the spring element.

[0028] In a 17^th aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, the indicator portion has a substantially oval shape and/or the indicator portion has a width of between 0.5 cm and 3.0 cm and a height of between 0.5 cm and 3.0 cm.

[0029] In an 18^th aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, the package

comprises two or more indicator portions and control chambers.

[0030] In a 19^th aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, at least one indicator portion is in fluid communication with a respective control chamber.

[0031] In a 20^th aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, the package further comprises a spout, the spout being heat sealed to the package and configured to provide an access opening to the inner volume of the package.

[0032] In a 21^st aspect, according to the 20^th aspect, the seal extends along a portion of the package that comprises the spout, the seal being configured to heat-seal the spout to the package.

[0033] In a 22^nd aspect, according to any one of aspects 1 or 2, the indicator portion

comprises a control fluid and wherein the first configuration comprises a first shape and the second configuration comprises a second shape different from the first shape.

[0034] In a 23^rd aspect, according to the 22^nd aspect, the first shape is a substantially non-flat or expanded configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the first shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially higher than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere.

[0035] In a 24^th aspect, according to the 23^rd aspect, the indicator portion, when in the first shape, defines a substantially non-zero internal indicator volume.

[0036] In a 25^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 22 to 24, the second shape is a

substantially flat configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially equal to or lower than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere, further optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially a vacuum. [0037] In a 26 aspect, according to the 25 aspect, the indicator portion, when in the second shape, defines an internal indicator volume of substantially zero.

[0038] In a 27^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 22 to 26, the control fluid is a

gaseous fluid comprising one or more of air, inert gas, or a mixture of inert gases, optionally wherein the control fluid is N₂.

[0039] In a 28^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 22 to 27, the control fluid is a liquid comprising one or more of water, a control fluid detectable by high voltage leak detection (HVLD), a fluorescent fluid.

[0040] In a 29^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 22 to 28, if one or both of the outer seal and the inner seal is/are compromised, the pressure within the indicator portion decreases.

[0041] In a 30^th aspect, according to the 29^th aspect, the indicator portion, as a result of the pressure decrease, assumes a third configuration different from the first and second configurations, optionally wherein the third configuration comprises a third shape different from the first and second shapes and wherein the third shape can be distinguished from the first and second shapes by means of a visual and/or tactile inspection by a user.

[0042] In a 31^st aspect, according to any one of the preceding aspects, the control chamber comprises the indicator portion.

[0043] In a 32^nd aspect, according to the 3^rd aspect, the first shape is a substantially concave configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the first shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially lower than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere or is substantially a vacuum.

[0044] In a 33^rd aspect, according to the 32^nd aspect, the package further comprises a

removable seal, wherein the indicator portion and the removable seal define an internal indicator volume, optionally wherein, when the indicator portion is in the first configuration, the internal indicator volume is smaller than when the indicator portion is in the second configuration.

[0045] In a 34^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 32 or 33, the second shape is a

substantially convex configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially equal to a pressure of the ambient atmosphere. [0046] In a 35 aspect, according to the 3 aspect, the first shape is a substantially convex configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the first shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially higher than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere.

[0047] In a 36^th aspect, according to the 35^th aspect, the package further comprises a

removable seal, wherein the indicator portion and the removable seal define an internal indicator volume, optionally wherein, when the indicator portion is in the first configuration, the internal indicator volume is greater than when the indicator portion is in the second configuration.

[0048] In a 37^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 35 or 36, the second shape is a

substantially flat or concave configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion exhibits the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber is substantially equal to a pressure of the ambient atmosphere.

[0049] In a 38^th aspect, there is provided a process for forming a package according to any one of the preceding aspects, comprising the steps of preparing the at least one plastic film; forming the seal along the plastic film, the seal extending along at least a portion of the plastic film, thereby hermetically sealing the inner volume of the package from the ambient atmosphere, wherein the step of forming the seal comprises (i) forming the inner seal and (ii) forming the outer seal; wherein the inner seal is arranged proximal to the inner volume of the package and the outer seal is arranged distal to the inner volume. Depending upon the embodiments the control chamber is either deflated or vacuumized (thus creating a pressure below the pressure in the inner volume) or inflated (thus creating a pressure higher than the pressure in the inner volume). Deflating (i.e. extracting of gas) may be achieved during or after formation of the first and second seals using a cannula inserted across the outer seal and placing the control chamber in fluid communication with a vacuum source: after the extracting of gas has been completed the cannula is removed from the package and the outer seal completed in order to make the control chamber gas tight. Analogously, inflating may be achieved during or after formation of the first and second seals using a cannula inserted across the outer seal and placing the control chamber in fluid communication with a control fluid source (typically a gas source) configured for supplying pressurized fluid (typically pressurized gas). After the inflating step has been completed the cannula is removed from the package and the outer seal completed in order to make the control chamber gas tight.

[0050] In a 39^th aspect, according to the 38^th aspect, the steps of forming the inner seal and of forming the outer seal are performed at substantially the same time.

[0051] In a 40^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 38 or 39, the process further

comprises the step of providing the indicator portion with the at least one spring element configured to support a transition of the indicator portion from the first configuration into the second configuration.

[0052] In a 41^st aspect, according to the 40^th aspect, the steps of forming the inner and outer seals and the step of providing the indicator portion with the at least one spring element are performed at substantially the same time.

[0053] In a 42^nd aspect, according to any one of aspects 38 to 41, the process further

comprises the step of providing the control chamber with an internal pressure substantially lower than an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere, optionally wherein the internal pressure is substantially a vacuum.

[0054] In a 43^rd aspect, according to any one of aspects 38 to 42, the process further

comprises the step of providing the package with a spout, the step of providing the package with a spout optionally comprising heat-sealing the spout to the package.

[0055] In a 44^th aspect, according to any one of aspects 38 or 39, the process further

comprises the step of providing the control chamber with a control fluid, optionally the control fluid being provided at a pressure substantially higher than an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere and/or the control chamber being hermitically sealed from the ambient atmosphere after the step of providing the control chamber with the control fluid.

[0056] Advantages of the package include that a defective or compromised seal can be detected easily and efficiently. In particular, the detection of a defective or compromised seal can be performed visually and/or in a tactile manner by examining the indicator portion of the package.

[0057] Further advantages include that the manufacturing of the package can be performed in substantially the same manner as known in the art, without the necessity to adapt or modify the manufacturing process and/or tools in order to accommodate the elements facilitating examination of the seal.

[0058] Additional advantages can be derived from the description and the attached claims. Brief description of drawings

[0059] The present invention will become clearer by reading the following detailed

description, given by way of example and not of limitation, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a known package for bulk goods or fluid goods

exhibiting a common peripheral seal;

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a package 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary spout in accordance with the

present invention;

[0063] FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of a detail of the exemplary spout shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention;

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of package 100 in accordance with the present invention, the package 100 being in a state in which the integrity of the package is not compromised;

[0065] FIG. 4A shows a cross section of a connection portion 162 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a package 100 in accordance with the present invention, the package 100 being in a state in which the integrity of the package is compromised;

[0067] FIG. 5 A shows a perspective view of a detail of package 100 as shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0068] FIG. 5B shows a cross section of a connection portion 162 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0069] FIGs. 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F show alternative examples for spring element 164 in a relaxed (or expanded) state (shown on the left of each figure) and in a compressed

(or biased) state (shown on the right of each figure);

[0070] FIG. 6 shows perspective (semi-transparent) views of a spout of a package 100 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0071] FIG. 6A shows a perspective cutaway view of the spout shown in FIG. 6 having a cap attached thereto;

[0072] FIG. 7 shows perspective (semi-transparent) views of a spout of a package 100 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; [0073] FIG. 7A shows a perspective cutaway view of the spout shown in FIG. 7 having a cap attached thereto;

[0074] FIG. 7B shows perspective (cutaway) views of the spout shown in FIG. 7 having a cap attached thereto;

[0075] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a package 200 in accordance with a fourth

embodiment of the present invention, the package 200 being in a state in which the integrity of the package is not compromised;

[0076] FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of a detail of package 200 in accordance with the present invention, the package 200 being in a state in which the integrity of the package is compromised.

Detailed Description

[0077] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a known package 50 for bulk goods or fluid goods exhibiting a common peripheral seal 54. The seal 54 is formed by heat bonding portions of plastic film to one another, thereby hermetically sealing an inner volume of package 50 from the ambient atmosphere. The ambient atmosphere is understood to provide an ambient air pressure within normal ranges, for example approximately 1 atm or 1013.25 hPa at sea level. It is understood that the ambient pressure can vary depending on several factors, for example elevation, and can typically vary by ±50 hPa or more. The package can comprise a spout 52. The spout 52 is typically arranged between two layers of plastic film and is included in the sealing process, so that the seal 54 extends along package 50 and spout 52, thereby hermetically sealing spout 52 to package 50.

[0078] It is noted that the term "hermetical seal" pertains to seal 54 itself and to the

connection between package 50 and spout 52 - notwithstanding a potential opening in spout 52. As long as spout 52 remains (hermetically) closed, for example due to the spout being sealed itself (e.g. when opening the spout requires rupturing a plastic seal or a similar element) or the spout being hermetically closed off with a cap, the inner volume of the package remains hermetically sealed from the ambient atmosphere.

[0079] However, the integrity of package 50 can be compromised by an imperfect or

damaged seal such that substances present in the environment can contaminate the contents of package 50. Alternatively or additionally, the packaged goods can exit package 50, for example when bulk goods or fluid goods are contained in the package. It is noted that in such cases checking the integrity and/or seat of the cap, possibly in addition to checking the integrity of a plastic seal underneath the cap, is not sufficient to ensure the integrity of the package, since none of the aforementioned actions can detect a defective or faulty seal outside the cap and/or spout portion of the package.

[0080] An imperfect seal can occur, for example, during packaging, when the process of forming the seal is disrupted or when defects in the plastic film are not detected. A seal that has been adequately formed can also be damaged at a later point in time, for example during shipping, storage, or before and during use. An imperfect or damaged seal typically results in the package exhibiting a leak or a micro leak.

[0081] Larger leaks (i.e. non-micro leaks) causing packaged goods to exit from package 50 can be quite easily visually detected in most environments by checking the integrity and outer appearance of package 50. Very small leaks (e.g. micro leaks) however, causing only very small amounts of packaged goods to leak, cannot be easily detected. Detecting a contamination of the contents of package 50 can be even more difficult or impossible without special equipment and/or substantial effort.

Depending on the packaging requirements in particular application environments (e.g. more demanding requirements in connection with medical products or food), neither a leak in package 50 nor a contamination of the goods packaged therein - however small it may be - might be acceptable and must be detectable with a high reliability.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a front view of a package 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Package 100 is substantially made from at least one plastic film 110 and comprises a seal 120. Seal 120 is formed by heat bonding portions of plastic film 110 to one another, thereby hermetically sealing an inner volume of package 100 from the ambient atmosphere. It is noted that the package can be formed from one or more film sheets as known in the art, each film sheet comprising one or more layers of film.

[0083] In cases where the package is formed from a single sheet of single- or multilayer film, the bottom of the package is typically formed by folding the single sheet and by sealing opposite lateral ends thereof to corresponding counter portions of folded-over film material. In some examples, the bottom comprises a bottom portion as well as front and back portions, wherein these portions of film form an upside-down "Y" shape, whereas each branch of the "Y" shape comprises two sheets of film material. In a flat configuration, however, the two upper portions of the "Y" shape are in contact (although typically not sealed) to one another, such that a section of two sheets of film material develops into a section of four sheets of film material.

[0084] In contrast to seal 54 of known package 50 as described with respect to FIG. 1, seal 120 comprises two seals extending substantially alongside one another, namely an inner seal 124 and an outer seal 122. Inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 substantially extend along at least a portion of package 100, allowing package 100 to be formed from a single sheet of plastic film and reducing the total seal area (e.g. the bottom of package 100 can comprise a folded portion of plastic film 110 - as described in the previous paragraph - where no seal is required, thereby reducing the total seal area). Inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 exhibit a non-sealed portion where the co-planar plastic films are not sealed and, thereby, form a control chamber 140 extending substantially along the entire length of seal 120. At respective ends of seal 120, terminal portions of seal 120 are conjointly sealed such that control chamber 140 is hermetically sealed off from the ambient atmosphere.

[0085] The package can comprise a spout 160. A connection portion of spout 160 is

typically arranged between two or more layers of plastic film. The connection portion is included in the sealing process, so that the seal 120 extends along package 100 and around spout 160, thereby hermetically sealing spout 160 (i.e. the connection portion thereof) to package 100. It is noted that the package being hermetically sealed is optional and independent from the functioning of control chamber 140 and/or the presence of spout 160. As described further below, control chamber 140 can be extended by means of an additional channel 161 (see, e.g. FIGs. 6 ff.) to include a sealed off volume between a cap 168 and a seal 170. This if further detailed below.

[0086] In the present example, if the package is hermetically sealed, as long as spout 160 remains hermetically closed or sealed, for example due to spout 160 being sealed itself (e.g. when opening the spout requires rupturing a plastic seal or a similar element) or the spout being hermetically closed off with a cap, the inner volume of the package remains hermetically sealed from the ambient atmosphere. [0087] The spout can be made of thermoplastic material and by using any conventional injection moulding technique. The thermoplastic materials suitable for manufacturing of the spout include, but are not limited to, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, and polyvinyl chloride.

[0088] If the package does not comprise a spout, the contents of the package can be made accessible using any known mechanism, for example an additional patch of film designed to rupture film 110 when being removed, a predetermined rupture zone, a spout arranged within a planar portion of film (e.g. on the front of package 100), and similar.

[0089] The package 100 shown in FIG. 2 illustrates a control chamber 140 extending along a first side portion of package 100, along the entire top portion of package 100 including connection portions 162 and central portion 166 of spout 160, and along a second side portion of package 100, thereby forming a single seal 120 extending along the entire package 100, except for the bottom portion, where no seal is required due to the bottom of package 100 being formed by the plastic film being folded. However, package 100 can comprise more than one control chamber 140. In some examples, the side portions can comprise separate control chambers 140, wherein each control chamber 140 is formed by a separate seal 120 extending along one side of package 100 and along part of the top portion thereof, one of the control chambers 140 optionally extending around spout 160. Package 100 can comprise any number of control chambers, each formed by respective inner and outer seals and sealed off at each respective end.

[0090] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary spout in accordance with the

present invention. Spout 160, such as illustrated in FIGs. 3 and 3 A, can be used to dispense the contents of package 100 when package 100 is in use. Spout 160 comprises a connection portion 162 providing a bonding and/or sealing area configured to cooperate with layers of plastic film when sealing the layers of plastic film to one another and to the connection portion 162 of spout 160. Connection portion 162 can comprise wedge-shaped transition portions 163 that facilitate forming a reliable and precise seal in the section between connection portion 162 and a section where film material from both sides is sealed together directly. By providing transition portions 163 with a suitable shape, for example a wedge shape as shown in FIGs. 3 and 3 A, inner and outer seals 124 and 122 can be formed in a continuous manner without the film material having to compensate for an edge or step at a section where the seals 124 and 122 are in a transition between being formed directly between layers of film and being formed with the connection portion 162 situated between the two layers of film material. In some embodiments, the entire connection portion 162 can exhibit the form of wedge or have another suitable shape.

[0091] Connection portion 162 typically comprises a (e.g. cylindrical) central portion 166 between substantially planar connection portions 162 located on opposite sides of central portion 166. Central portion 166 typically comprises a channel 165 extending around each side of central portion 166 in order to provide the non-sealed portion between inner and outer seals 124 and 122 with an increased volume, thereby ensuring fluid communication between the sections of control chamber 140 located on either side of spout 160. It is noted that channel 165 is optional, and can be present and/or sized in order to optimize fluid flow along central portion 166.

Optionally, connection portions 162 comprise openings, putting channels 165 on both sides of central portion 165 into fluid communication with each other.

Additionally and/or alternatively, connection portions 162 can comprise channels themselves (not shown), aiding in the fluid communication between the central portion 166 and/or opposite portions of control chamber 140.

[0092] A base portion 167 provides an abutment for cap 168 and/or a gripping or mounting flange for package 100. Cap 168 provides package 100 with a reclosable or resealable closure mechanism, optionally in combination with an internal or integral plastic seal. An internal integral plastic seal can indicate whether the package has been previously opened, for example by requiring rupture of a pre-determined breaking point.

[0093] In the first embodiment, connection portion 162 of spout 160 includes two

projections 164 extending pairwise from each end of connection portion 162.

Projections 164 are shown in more detail in FIGs. 3 and 3 A. It is noted that projections 164 shown in FIGs. 3 and 3 A are configured as extending outward from connection portion 162 wherein projections 164 are in a spaced apart relationship to one another, forming substantially a U-shape. However, it is noted that in other embodiments, connection portion 162 can exhibit a single projection 164 that extends longitudinally and laterally outward from connection portion 162, with or without having a spaced-apart counterpart. Therefore, any projection 164 and any number of projections 164 exhibiting a shape and/or configuration substantially achieving the function described below with respect to the first embodiment shown in FIGs. 3, 3A, 4, 4A, 5, and 5A is/are suitable with the present invention.

Alternative shapes for projections 164 are described further below (see also FIGs. 5C to 5F), including examples of spring elements 164 configured for operating independently from connection portion(s) 162. In some embodiments, one or more spring elements 164 are provided as independent elements within indicator portion or portions 142.

[0094] Within the scope of this document, a projection 164 can be generally regarded as a spring element configured to assume a first configuration, in which the spring element is in an unbiased (e.g. relaxed) state when no external force is applied to the spring element, and a second configuration, in which the spring element is in a biased (e.g. compressed) state when an external force is applied to the spring element, deforming the spring element from the unbiased state into the biased state. Without limitation, the compressed or biased state can be a state in which the spatial configuration of the projection(s) in a specific dimension is less than the spatial configuration of the projection(s) in the relaxed or unbiased state in the same dimension (e.g. the projections being more flat or less thick in the biased state as compared to the unbiased state).

[0095] FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of a detail of the exemplary spout shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment shown, projections 164 have a curved planar shape, extending longitudinally and laterally outward from connection portion 162 and have a curved configuration to terminally extend substantially parallel to a main plane of connection portion 162. FIGs. 3, and 3 A show projections 164 in a relaxed configuration, where no considerable force is exerted upon projections 164 (e.g. a force compressing the two projections 164 towards one another). Projections 164 are configured to assume the relaxed and space-apart configuration whenever they are not subjected to any considerable force bending the projections out of shape.

[0096] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of package 100 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the package 100 is shown in a state in which the integrity of the package is not compromised. It is noted that on one side of package 100, film 110 is partly shown as transparent (or cut away) in the illustration in order to show the inside of control chamber 140 and the configuration of projections 164. The portion of control chamber 140 in which projections 164 are arranged is the indicator portion 142. At indicator portion 142, the distance between inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 is greater than the distance between inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 along control chamber 140, thereby providing indicator portion 142 with a potentially larger inner diameter than remaining portions of control chamber 140 (e.g. when a positive pressure is being applied to the control chamber 140 including indicator portion 142, thereby forcing non-sealed portions of film 110 between inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 outward). It is noted that the indicator portion 142 can assume different configuration, each configuration exhibiting a shape different from a shape of other configurations. For example, the indicator portion 142 can be in a substantially flat configuration, exhibiting a substantially flat shape in which layers of film material 110 are substantially co-planar and/or in which an internal indicator volume of the indicator portion is substantially zero and/or minimal. Further, the indicator portion 142 can be in a substantially expanded configuration, exhibiting a substantially non-flat (or expanded) shape in which layers of film material 110 are not co-planar and/or in which an internal indicator volume of the indicator portion is substantially non-zero. An expanded configuration can exhibit, for example, an inflated shape (e.g. a cylindrical or spherical shape) in which layers of film material 110 are forced away from one another, thereby resulting in a shape that substantially increases or maximizes the internal indicator volume as compared to the flat configuration.

[0097] It is noted that the package has outside layers of film 110 on both opposite sides of the package, thereby forming control chamber 140 (including indicator portion 142) and the entire package 100. Figures 4 and 4 A illustrate projections 164 in a biased configuration, where the projections 164 are bent towards one another by a force exerted by plastic film 110 from both sides upon projections 164, thereby bringing projections 164 substantially into contact with one another and making projections 164 assume a substantially co-planar configuration with respect to one another and with respect to film 110 on both sides.

[0098] During manufacture of the package, inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 are formed on film 110 such that control chamber 140 is formed with substantially no inner volume between non-sealed portions of film 110 and with connection portion 162 and projections 164 interposed between layers of film 110. Projections 164 can be compressed in any suitable manner, for example by sealing bars being applied to both layers of film 110, thereby compressing the layers of film 110, connection portion 162, and projections 164, and thereby bringing the latter into the biased configuration described above.

[0099] However, a number of other process steps can bring substantially the same effect, for example forming the seal substantially in vacuum, thereby providing control chamber 140 not only with substantially no inner volume, but furthermore providing whatever small cavities are present within control chamber 140 (e.g. in the immediate vicinity of projections 164, where film 110 is not perfectly co-planar and without any volume in between the layers) with a vacuum or at least sufficiently lower pressure than the pressure of an ambient atmosphere (e.g. ambient pressure). Upon exposure to ambient pressure, the pressure differential maintains sheets of film 110 substantially co-planar to one another and maintains projections 164 in a biased and con-planar configuration as described above.

[00100] All configurations and manufacturing processes resulting in control chamber 140 being formed in the manner described above are suitable according to the present invention. Projections 164 being arranged within control chamber 140 and being in the above-described substantially co-planar and biased configuration provides for a force being exerted upon the inner surfaces of opposite layers 110a and 110b of film 110, thereby pushing layer 110a and 110b of film 110 away from one another in the region of indicator portion 142. In case the vacuum (or the near vacuum, low pressure, etc.) within control chamber 140 and/or indicator portion 142 is compromised, the internal pressure increases and the aforementioned force pushes opposite layers 110a and 110b of film 110 outward, thereby forming an extended and/or inflated indicator portion 142 easily visible from the outside of package 100.

[00101] FIG. 4A shows a cross section along line IV-A in FIG. 2 of a connection portion 162 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A further illustrates the structure of control chamber 140 and indicator portion 142 when control chamber 140 has been formed as described above. Control chamber 140 is shown in FIG. 4A as having a certain volume (e.g. shown by a small gap between opposite layers 110a, 110b of film 110). However, it is noted that the volume is merely shown in a schematic manner in order to describe the overall mechanism. It is understood that control chamber 140 has substantially no inner volume, except for very small cavities, for example near the terminal portion of projections 164, where layers 110a and 110b have to adapt to the shape of connection portion 162 and projections 164.

[00102] As illustrated by the cross section view shown in FIG. 4A, layers 110a and 110b of film 110 enclose connection portion 162, transition portion(s) 163, and projections 164. An approximate extension of indicator portion 142 is shown as 142', although it is noted that indicator portion 142 can have any extension or size required by the respective application. The potential volume within indicator portion 142 can be adjusted by the spacing between inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 (see, e.g., the spacing between inner and outer seals as shown in FIG. 4) as well as the extension 142' of indicator portion 142. As noted above, control chamber 140 is shown having a very small volume for reasons of clarity of the illustration, while in practice chamber 140 has a negligible inner volume or substantially no inner volume.

[00103] The configuration of control chamber 140 and that of indicator portion 142 can

comprise a pressure value present within the substantially zero volume of control chamber 140 (including indicator portion 142). The configuration can also additionally or alternatively comprise the volume of control chamber 140 itself. The fact that control chamber 140 is hermetically sealed prevents any substances (e.g. fluids such as air, gas, liquids, etc.) to enter the inner volume and thereby change the pressure and/or the volume of control chamber 140.

[00104] As long as inner seal 124 remains intact, no contents within the inner volume of package 100 can enter the control chamber 140 and/or the indicator portion 142. Therefore, the volume of control chamber 140 including indicator portion 142 remains the same (e.g. substantially zero) and/or the pressure within the volume of control chamber 140 including indicator portion 142 remains the same (e.g. a vacuum or a pressure substantially lower than ambient pressure).

[00105] Consequently, if the inner seal 124 fails, contents within the inner volume of package 100 can enter the control chamber 140 and/or the indicator portion 142, thereby changing (e.g. increasing or expanding) the volume of or the pressure within control chamber 140. Indicator portion 142 is a portion of control chamber 140 and in fluid communication with the remainder of control chamber 140, such that any change of the volume and/or pressure within control chamber 140 always affects also the indicator portion 142.

[00106] As long as outer seal 122 remains intact, no substances present in the environment (e.g. air, gas, etc.) can enter the control chamber 140 and/or the indicator portion 142. Therefore, the volume of control chamber 140 including indicator portion 142 remains the same (e.g. substantially zero) and/or the pressure within the volume of control chamber 140 including indicator portion 142 remains the same (e.g. a vacuum or a pressure substantially lower than ambient pressure).

[00107] Consequently, if the outer seal 122 fails, substances present in the environment (e.g. air, gas, etc.) can enter the control chamber 140 and/or the indicator portion 142, thereby changing (e.g. increasing or expanding) the volume of or the pressure within control chamber 140. Indicator portion 142 is a portion of control chamber 140 and in fluid communication with the remainder of control chamber 140, such that any change of the volume and/or pressure within control chamber 140 always affects also the indicator portion 142.

[00108] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a package 100 in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 5 A shows a perspective view of a detail of package 100 as shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIGs. 5 and 5 A, package 100 is shown in a state in which the integrity of the package is compromised, i.e. in a state in which either one or both of inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 have been compromised. With parts of film 110 removed from the illustration for clarity, FIG. 5 shows, in particular, the case in which outer seal 122 has been compromised due to a (micro) leak 126 being present in a lateral portion of seal 120.

[00109] As described above, leak 126 allows substances present in the environment, for example air, to enter the space between inner seal 124 and outer seal 122, i.e. to enter control chamber 140. As more and more air enters control chamber 140, the pressure exerted by layers 110a and 110b of film 110 (see FIG. 4A) is gradually reduced, thereby allowing projections 164 to gradually return from their biased and substantially co-planar configuration to their relaxed configuration (see FIGs. 3 and 3A).

[00110] Due to projections 164 returning to their relaxed configuration, layers 110a and 110b of film 110 are moved apart and the inner volume of indicator portion 142 is increased. Because of the inner volume of indicator portion 142 expanding, the inner pressure decreases and the air entering through leak 126 is drawn into control chamber 140 and further into indicator portion 142. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 as a visible bulge forming on one or both sides of spout 160. It is noted that the volume of control chamber 140 itself can also increase, for example due to mechanical deformation (e.g. handling of package 100), such that a non-planar shape of control chamber 140 also becomes visible from the outside (e.g. when portions of control chamber 140 also form a bulge or become otherwise non-flat) if any of the seals 124 and/or 122 is compromised. However, any such deformation is not necessary and/or can be negligible.

[00111] The individual configuration of projections 164 (e.g. rigidity of the material, level of tension in biased configuration, size, shape, etc.) can be modified in order to suit the requirements of the individual application. For example, if the presence of a leak 126 is required to lead to a visible change of indicator portion 142 in a very short time, the projections 164 can be made from a stronger material configured to develop a stronger tension when in a biased configuration. Alternatively or additionally, the individual shape of indicator portion 142 and the material of film 110 can be adapted accordingly.

[00112] FIG. 5B shows a cross section of a connection portion 162 (see line IV-A in FIG. 2) in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention illustrating package 100 in a state in which the integrity of the package is compromised, i.e. in a state in which either one or both of the inner seal 124 and outer seal 122 have been compromised. As can be seen from FIG. 5B, the inner volume of indicator portion 142 has been increased or expanded by the tension exerted by projections 164 as described above. Projections 164 have returned substantially to their relaxed configuration whereas projections 164 are spaced-apart from one another. Layers 110a and 110b of film 110 have been pushed outward and moved apart from one another in the region of indicator portion 142, thereby forming a deformation of film 110 (e.g. a bulge) easily discernible from the outside.

[00113] FIGs. 5C, 5D, 5E, and 5F show alternative examples for spring element 164 in a relaxed (or expanded) state (shown on the left of each figure) and in a compressed (or biased) state (shown on the right of each figure). [00114] FIG. 5C shows a helically shaped spring element (e.g. a spiral) that returns into its relaxed state (shown on the left hand side of FIG. 5C) whenever no substantial external force compresses the spring element. If the spring element is compressed, for example in a manner where a force is exerted upon the top of the spiral, the spring element can be compressed into its biased state (shown on the right hand side of FIG. 5C). In this example, the spiral is in a configuration where the radius of the windings decreases from the bottom to the top of the spiral, such that - provided that suitable radii and windings are chosen - the spiral can assume a compressed state in which the spring element is no thicker than the thickness of a single winding thereof (not shown on the right of FIG. 5C).

[00115] FIG. 5D shows a helically shaped spring element (e.g. a spiral) that returns into its relaxed state (shown on the left hand side of FIG. 5D) whenever no substantial external force compresses the spring element, similar to that shown in FIG. 5C. In the example of FIG. 5D, the spiral contains sections of decreasing and increasing radius, thereby providing a greater vertical extension. As such, the functioning of the spiral is essentially the same as described with respect to the (half-) spiral shown in FIG. 5C.

[00116] FIG. 5E shows a conically shaped spring element that returns into its relaxed conical state (shown on the left hand side of FIG. 5E) whenever no substantial external force compresses the spring element and that can be compressed into a substantially flat state when a suitable force is exerted upon the cone.

[00117] FIG. 5F shows a fork-shaped spring element. The spring element shown in FIG. 5F is created to exhibit a non-flat configuration in which one or more teeth or tines are inclined with respect to remaining teeth or tines. Upon suitable pressure on the spring element, the inclined tooth or teeth are forced into a substantially flat configuration, thereby being biased against the compressing force.

[00118] It is noted that a number of shapes and configuration can produce similar effects and can be used in accordance with the present invention. Further, the spring element or elements 164 can either be connected to connection portion 162 of spout 160 or be separate elements without connection thereto. In the latter case, the indicator portions 142 can be located in a more distanced relationship with respect to spout 160. In some examples, this can facilitate providing the spout 160 with a more reliable seal in the transition portions 163. [00119] FIG. 6 shows perspective views of a spout of a package 100 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, where a semi-transparent view is shown on the right hand side of the figure in order to make internal components of the spout more clearly visible. In general, the spout has the same functionality as described above with respect to the first embodiment. In particular, the spout comprises a central portion 166, connection portions 162, and spring elements 164 as described above. The central portion 166 has a channel 165 extending all around the central portion and, optionally, including corresponding openings in connection portions 162 so that the portion of channel 165 located on one side of spout 160 is in fluid communication with the portion of channel 165 located on the other side of spout 160. Further, connection portions 162 can comprise extensions of channel 165 that facilitate or support fluid communication of channel 165 with portions of control chamber 140 on either side of package 100 and formed in combination with film 110. Spout 160 further comprises an additional channel 161, extending between channel 165 and a top surface of the rim of spout 160.

[00120] FIG. 6A shows a perspective cutaway view of the spout shown in FIG. 6 having a cap attached thereto. In this embodiment, the additional channel 161, preferably vertically arranged in a side wall of the tubular spout, puts channel 165 into fluid communication with a volume present between cap 168 and spout 160 when cap 168 is sealingly engaged on spout 160. As shown, spout 160 is sealed with a removable seal 170, hermetically sealing the contents of package 100 from the ambient environment. Due to the additional channel 161 providing for fluid communication between channel 165 and the volume between cap 168 and seal 170 - thereby putting the entire control chamber 140 into fluid communication with the volume between cap 168 and seal 170 - a (micro) leak present in seal 170 can also be detected as described above. Further, the mechanism can detect whether the package 100 has been tampered with, because any removal of cap 168 or even the slightest opening thereof is detectable in the same manner as described above, since the cap 168 can effectively be regarded as part of the outer seal 122. If the cap 168 is removed or tampered with, the outer seal 122 is compromised and the defect, removal, or tampering can be detected as described above.

[00121] FIG. 7 shows perspective views of a spout of a package 100 in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, where a semi-transparent view is shown on the right hand side of the figure in order to make internal components of the spout more clearly visible. In this alternative embodiment, spout 160 is substantially identical to spout 160 shown in FIGs. 6 and 6A, except for spring elements 164 having been replaced with alternative means. The additional channel 161 is present in this embodiment substantially in the same configuration as described with respect to FIGs. 6 and 6A above.

[00122] FIG. 7A shows a perspective cutaway view of the spout shown in FIG. 7 having a cap attached thereto. Similar to what is shown in FIGs. 6 and 6A, the additional channel 161 provides fluid communication between a volume present between cap 168 and seal 170. The additional channel 161 provides for fluid communication between channel 165 and the volume between cap 168 and seal 170, thereby putting the entire control chamber 140 into fluid communication with the volume between cap 168 and seal 170.

[00123] FIG. 7B shows perspective views of the spout shown in FIG. 7 having a cap attached thereto, where a cutaway view is shown on the left hand side of the figure in order to make internal components of the spout more clearly visible. FIG 7B shows spout 160, cap 168, and seal 170 in a state where the control chamber 140 substantially contains a vacuum or near vacuum (e.g. where a pressure inside control chamber 140 is substantially lower than an ambient pressure). Due to control chamber 140 comprising channel 165 and being in fluid communication with additional channel 161 and with the volume present between cap 168 and seal 170, the same vacuum (or very low pressure) is present in the additional channel 161 and the volume present between cap 168 and seal 170. In this embodiment, cap 168 is provided with a flexible top portion 168' that is configured to deform under certain conditions. The flexibility of the top portion 168' of cap 168 can be achieved, for example, by providing the top portion 168' with a suitable thickness or shape, and/or by making the cap 168 and top portion 168' from a suitable material.

[00124] As can be seen in FIG. 7B, the vacuum or near vacuum present in control chamber 140 and, thus, in channel 165, additional channel 161, and the volume between cap 168 and seal 170, provides for a pressure differential sufficiently large to deform top portion 168' of cap 168, as well as seal 170, thus bringing the top portion 168' into a deformed (i.e. biased) state. The deformation can be detected visually or in a tactile manner from examining the top portion of cap 168, thereby facilitating a check for the presence of the vacuum or near vacuum. Thus, the deformable top portion 168' of cap 168 can be used in a similar manner as spring elements 164 described above. In practice the top portion 168' or the spring elements 164 define an elastic element facilitating transition from the first to the second configuration of the respective indicator portion.

[00125] In case the inner or outer seals 124 and 122 are not compromised, and cap 168 as well as seal 170 are intact, the top portion 168' will remain in the deformed (i.e. biased) state. The function of the spring element is, in this case, provided by an elastic deformation of the top portion 168' of cap 168 and, optionally, of seal 170.

[00126] In case the vacuum or near vacuum present within control chamber 140 is

compromised, for example due to a (micro) leak present in the inner or outer seals 124 and 122, due to removal of cap 168, and/or due to seal 170 being compromised (e.g. seal 170 being defective or having a faulty seal), the top portion 168' of cap 168 will cease to stay in the deformed (i.e. biased) state and assume the non-deformed (i.e. relaxed) state shown in FIG. 7A. The function of the spring element is, in this case, provided by the elastic deformation of the top portion 168' of cap 168 and, optionally, of seal 170, wherein upon removal of the vacuum or near vacuum, the lack of pressure differential between control chamber 140 and the ambient environment will cause the top portion 168' of cap 168 return to its non-deformed state, which can easily be detected externally (e.g. in a visual or a tactile manner).

[00127] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a package 200 in accordance with a fourth

embodiment of the present invention, the package 200 being in a state in which the integrity of the package is not compromised. The alternative embodiment shown in FIGs. 8 and 8 A is different to the first embodiment described above in that the control chamber 240 does not contain a vacuum or substantially lower pressure than the ambient atmosphere, but is under positive pressure, containing a control fluid (e.g. gas or liquid). Due to the fact that control chamber 240 is under substantially higher pressure than the ambient atmosphere, control chamber 240 and indicator portion 242 provide film 210 along inner seal 224 and outer seal 222 with an inflated or expanded configuration, resulting in a shape that is easily visible on the outside of package 200. In this embodiment, a potentially compromised inner and/or outer seal 224 and 222 can be detected by a visual or tactile inspection of indicator portion 242 and/or control chamber 240. [00128] In case the inner seal 224 is compromised, the control fluid within control chamber 240 can enter the inner volume of package 200, resulting in a pressure drop within control chamber 240 and indicator portion 242. the pressure drop can either be seen from the outside of package 200 due to a deformation of indicator portion 242 or can be detected by a tactile inspection of indicator portion 242 - if indicator portion 242 is easily compressible or can be otherwise easily deformed, one of the inner seal 224 and outer seal 222 is compromised. The above-described effect is even stronger if the inner volume of package 200 is provided with a vacuum and/or substantially lower pressure than ambient pressure.

[00129] Likewise, if outer seal 222 is compromised, a similar change in the pressure and/or volume of indicator portion 242 (and control chamber 240) can be observed.

Additionally, control fluid leaking from control chamber 240 can possibly be easily observed, thereby indicating that outer seal 222 has been compromised. In this case it is thus the control fluid acting as elastic element facilitating transition from the first to the second configuration of the indicator portion 242.

[00130] FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of a detail of package 200 in accordance with the present invention, the package 200 being in a state in which the integrity of the package is compromised. FIG. 6A shows an example where a micro leak 226 has occurred in outer seal 222 in the region of indicator portion 242. It is noted that leak 226 can occur anywhere along control chamber 240 and still be detected as described above, since indicator portion 242 and control chamber 240 are in fluid

communication. As illustrated, control fluid 246 contained within indicator portion 242 (and within the entire control chamber 240) can exit from package 200, thereby causing a decrease in pressure and/or volume of indicator portion 242.

[00131] With respect to all embodiments described, it is noted that the packages can comprise any number of separate control chambers and indicator portions as long as each control chamber has at least one indicator portion. In some embodiments, a package can have a single control chamber and a single indicator portion, wherein the control chamber extends along both sides of the package and along the spout and wherein the indicator portion can be arranged on either side of the spout. Due to the entire control chamber being in fluid communication with the control chamber, any leak can be detected as described above by inspection of the indicator portion. In other embodiments, a package can have one or more control chambers, each with an associated indicator portion, on each lateral side of the package.

0132] Indicator portion 168' can be configured to either exhibit a concave configuration (when the seals are intact) or a convex configuration (when the seals are intact . In the third embodiment, a defective seal and/or (micro) leak can easily be detected based on the indicator portion 168' exhibiting a convex configuration (when it should, in fact, exhibit a concave configuration) or based on the indicator portion 168' exhibiting a configuration allowing for pressing or pushing the top of cap 168 into a concave configuration (when it should, in fact, resist compression due to internal pressure within control chamber 140) - depending upon the state of the packaged goods (i.e. non-vacuum or vacuum). Further, the package 200 according to the fourth embodiment described above allows a defective seal and/or (micro) leak to be detected based on the indicator portion 242 exhibiting configuration allowing for external pressure bringing the indicator portion 242, for example, into a substantially flat configuration, while the indicator portion 242 should, in fact, resist compression due to internal pressure within control chamber 240.

[00133] As described above, depending upon the embodiments the control chamber is either deflated or vacuumized (thus creating a pressure below the pressure in the inner volume) or inflated (thus creating a pressure higher than the pressure in the inner volume). Deflating (i.e. extracting of gas) may be achieved during or after formation of the first and second seals using a cannula inserted across the outer seal and placing the control chamber in fluid communication with a vacuum source: after the extracting of gas has been completed the cannula is removed from the package and the outer seal completed in order to make the control chamber gas tight. Note that alternatively to a true cannula an evacuation channel may be formed by proper formation of the outer seal: for instance the outer seal may be formed in two steps wherein in a first step the majority of the outer seal (except for one or more gaps defining said evacuation channel) is formed. During this first phase gas can be evacuated from control chamber for then closing the gaps to complete the outer seal once gas evacuation from the control chamber has been concluded. Also note that, in a further alternative, deflating may also be achieved by squeezing the control chamber during formation of the inner and outer seal, provided that one or more gaps are left open to the outside for evacuation of gas during squeezing. Analogously, inflating may be achieved during or after formation of the first and second seals using a cannula inserted across the outer seal and placing the control chamber in fluid communication with a control fluid source (typically a gas source) configured for supplying pressurized fluid (typically pressurized gas). After the inflating step has been completed the cannula is removed from the package and the outer seal completed in order to make the control chamber gas tight. Note that alternatively to a true cannula an injection channel may be formed by proper formation of the outer seal: for instance the outer seal may be formed in two steps wherein in a first step the majority of the outer seal (except for one or more gaps defining said injection channel) is formed. During this first phase gas can be injected into control chamber for then closing the gaps to complete the outer seal once gas injection into the control chamber has been concluded.

[00134] With respect to the above, a number of different film materials can be used. As used herein, the term "film" is inclusive of plastic web, regardless of whether it is film or sheet or tubing. The film material may be obtained by co-extrusion or lamination (hot or glue) processes, may have a symmetrical or asymmetrical structure and can be monolayer or multilayer. As used herein, the term "extrusion" is used with reference to the process of forming continuous shapes by forcing a molten plastic material through a die, followed by cooling or chemical hardening. Immediately prior to extrusion through the die, the relatively high- viscosity polymeric material is generally fed into a rotating screw of variable pitch, i.e., an extruder, which forces the polymeric material through the die. As used herein, the term "coextrusion" refers to the process of extruding two or more materials through a single die with two or more orifices arranged so that the extrudates merge and weld together into a laminar structure before chilling, i.e., quenching. The term "coextrusion" as used herein also includes "extrusion coating". As used herein, the term "extrusion coating" refers to processes by which a "coating" of molten polymer(s), comprising one or more layers, is extruded onto a solid "substrate" in order to coat the substrate with the molten polymer coating to bond the substrate and the coating together, thus obtaining a complete film.

[00135] The multilayer film can be or can comprise layers that were subjected to orientation.

The term "orientation" refers to "solid state orientation" namely to the process of stretching of the cast film carried out at a temperature higher than the Tg (glass transition temperatures) of all the resins making up the layers of the structure and lower than the temperature at which all the layers of the structure are in the molten state. The solid state orientation may be mono-axial or, typically, bi-axial.

[00136] The multilayer films may have at least 2, more frequently at least 5, even more

frequently at least 7 layers. The total thickness of the film may vary frequently from 15 to 300 micron, in particular from 25 to 200 micron, even more frequently from 40 to 150 micron. The films may be optionally cross-linked. Cross-linking may be carried out by irradiation with high-energy electrons at a suitable dosage level as known in the art.

[00137] The films may be suitable for the manufacturing of the pouch usually have free

shrink values lower than 10% at 120°C, typically lower than 5% in both the longitudinal and transversal direction (ASTM D 2732). In case the film is a monolayer, typical compositions comprise polyesters or polyamides as herein defined and their blends or polyolefins as herein defined and their blends.

[00138] In most of the cases, the films typically comprise at least a heat sealable layer, an outer skin layer (which is the outermost layer of the film on the opposite side than the sealant), which is generally made up of heat resistant polymers or polyolefm and a barrier layer. As used herein, the phrases "seal layer", "sealing layer", "heat seal layer", and "sealant layer", refer to an outer layer involved in the sealing of the film to itself, in particular to the same outer seal layer or to the other outer layer of the same film, to another film, and/or to another article which is not a film.

[00139] The sealing layer usually comprises a heat-sealable polyolefm which in turn

comprises a single polyolefm or a blend of two or more polyolefins such as polyethylene or polypropylene or a blend thereof. The sealing layer may further comprise one or more plasticisers.

[00140] The heat sealable layer comprises one or more of the polymers described in the

following paragraphs. Typically, it comprises more than 50%>, 70%>, 80%>, 90%>, 95%, by weight with respect to the same layer, more typically substantially consists, of one or more of said polymers. The polymer for the heat-sealable layer is typically selected among homogeneous or heterogeneous, linear ethylene- alpha -olefin copolymers, polypropylene copolymers (PP), ethylene-propylene copolymers (EPC) and blends of two or more of these resins. [00141] Particularly preferred polymer for the heat sealable layer are heterogeneous materials as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) with a density usually in the range of from about 0.910 g/cm3 to about 0.930 g/cm3, linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE) with a density usually in the range of from about 0.930 g/cm3 to about 0.945 g/cm3, and very low and ultra low density polyethylene (VLDPE and ULDPE) with a density lower than about 0.915 g/cm3. These resins generally include copolymers of ethylene with one or more co-monomers selected from (C4-C10)- alpha -olefin such as butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1, etc., in which the molecules of the copolymers comprise long chains with relatively few side chain branches or cross- linked structures.

[00142] These polymers can be advantageously blended in various percentages to tailor the sealing properties of the films depending on their use in packaging, as well known by those skilled in the art.

[00143] The heat-sealable of the film can have a typical thickness comprised within the range from 2 to 30 microns, typically from 3 to 25 microns, more typically from 4 to 20 microns.

[00144] The skin layer typically comprises polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins as herein defined. As used herein, the phrase "outer layer" or "external layer" or "skin layer" refers to any film layer having only one of its principal surfaces directly adhered to another layer of the film. The skin layer of the film can have a typical thickness comprised within the range from 2 to 60 microns, typically from 3 to 40 microns, more typically from 4 to 25 microns.

[00145] The term " polyester" is used herein to refer to both homo-and co- polyesters,

wherein homo-polyesters are defined as polymers obtained from the condensation of one dicarboxylic acid with one diol and co- polyesters are defined as polymers obtained from the condensation of one or more dicarboxylic acids with one or more diols. Suitable polyester resins are, for instance, polyesters of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, i.e. poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Preference is given to polyesters which contain ethylene units and include, based on the dicarboxylate units, at least 90 mol %, more typically at least 95 mol %, of terephthalate units. The remaining monomer units are selected from other dicarboxylic acids or diols.

Suitable other aromatic dicarboxylic acids are typically isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, 2,5-, 2,6- or 2,7-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid. Of the cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids, mention should be made of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids (in particular cyclohexane-1 ,4-dicarboxylic acid). Of the aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, the (C3-Ci9)alkanedioic acids are particularly suitable, in particular succinic acid, sebacic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, suberic acid or pimelic acid. Suitable diols are, for example aliphatic diols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butane diol, 1 ,4- butane diol, 1 ,5-pentane diol, 2,2- dimethyl-1 ,3-propane diol, neopentyl glycol and 1 ,6-hexane diol, and cycloaliphatic diols such as 1 ,4- cyclohexanedimethanol and 1 ,4-cyclohexane diol, optionally heteroatom- containing diols having one or more rings.

[00146] Co-polyester resins derived from one or more dicarboxylic acid(s) or their lower alkyl (up to 14 carbon atoms) diesters with one or more glycol(s), particularly an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic glycol may also be used as the polyester resins for the base film. Suitable dicarboxylic acids include aromatic dicarboxylic acids such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, or 2,5-, 2,6- or 2,7- naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids such as succinic acid, sebacic acid, adipic acid, azelaic acid, suberic acid or pimelic acid. Suitable glycol(s) include aliphatic diols such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1 ,3-butane diol, 1 ,4-butane diol, 1 ,5-pentane diol, 2,2- dimethyl- 1 ,3-propane diol, neopentyl glycol and 1 ,6-hexane diol, and cycloaliphatic diols such as 1 ,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and 1 ,4- cyclohexane diol. Examples of such copolyesters are (i) copolyesters of azelaic acid and terephthalic acid with an aliphatic glycol, typically ethylene glycol; (ii) copolyesters of adipic acid and terephthalic acid with an aliphatic glycol, typically ethylene glycol; and (iii) copolyesters of sebacic acid and terephthalic acid with an aliphatic glycol, typically butylene glycol; (iv) co-polyesters of ethylene glycol, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid. Suitable amorphous co-polyesters are those derived from an aliphatic diol and a cycloaliphatic diol with one or more, dicarboxylic acid(s), typically an aromatic dicarboxylic acid. Typical amorphous copolyesters include copolyesters of terephthalic acid with an aliphatic diol and a cycloaliphatic diol, especially ethylene glycol and 1 ,4- cyclohexanedimethanol.

[00147] The term "polyamides" as used herein is intended to refer to both homo- and co- or ter-polyamides. This term specifically includes aliphatic polyamides or co- polyamides, e.g., polyamide 6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, polyamide 6/6, polyamide 6/9, polyamide 6/10, polyamide 6/12, copolyamide 6/9, copolyamide 6/10, copolyamide 6/12, copolyamide 6/66, copolyamide 6/69, aromatic and partially aromatic polyamides or co-polyamides, such as polyamide 61, polyamide 6I/6T, polyamide MXD6, polyamide MXD6/MXDI, and blends thereof.

[00148] As used herein, the term "polyolefm" refers to any polymerized olefin, which can be linear, branched, cyclic, aliphatic, aromatic, substituted, or unsubstituted. More specifically, included in the term polyolefm are homo-polymers of olefin, copolymers of olefin, co-polymers of an olefin and an non-olefmic co-monomer co- polymerizable with the olefin, such as vinyl monomers, modified polymers thereof, and the like. Specific examples include polyethylene homo-polymer, polypropylene homo-polymer, polybutene homo-polymer, ethylene- alpha -olefin co-polymer, propylene- alpha -olefin co-polymer, butene- alpha -olefin co-polymer, ethylene- unsaturated ester co-polymer, ethylene-unsaturated acid co-polymer, (e.g. ethylene- ethyl acrylate co-polymer, ethylene-butyl acrylate co-polymer, ethylene-methyl acrylate co-polymer, ethylene-acrylic acid co-polymer, and ethylene-methacrylic acid co-polymer), ethylene- vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer resin,

polymethylpentene, etc. Useful propylene copolymers include propylene/ethylene copolymers, which are copolymers of propylene and ethylene having a majority weight percent content of propylene, and propylene/ethylene/butene terpolymers, which are copolymers of propylene, ethylene and 1 -butene.

[00149] Optionally, the films comprise a barrier layer. Barrier films typically have an OTR (evaluated at 23°C and 0 % R.H. according to ASTM D-3985) below 100 cm3/(m2-day-atm) and more frequently below 70 cm3/(m2-day-atm). The barrier layer is usually made of a thermoplastic resin selected among a saponified or hydrolyzed product of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVOH), a polyamide, a polyester and a vinyl- vinylidene chloride (PVdC) and their admixtures.

[00150] PVDC is any vinylidene chloride copolymers wherein a major amount of the

copolymer comprises vinylidene chloride and a minor amount of the copolymer comprises one or more unsaturated monomers copolymerisable therewith, typically vinyl chloride, and alkyl acrylates or methacrylates (e.g. methyl acrylate or methacrylate) and the blends thereof in different proportions. Generally a PVDC barrier layer will contain plasticisers and/or stabilizers as known in the art. [00151] As used herein, the term EVOH includes saponified or hydro lyzed ethylene- vinyl acetate copolymers, and refers to ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers having an ethylene comonomer content typically comprised from about 28 to about 48 mole %, more typically, from about 32 to about 44 mole % ethylene, and even more typically, and a saponification degree of at least 85%, typically at least 90%.

[00152] The barrier layer of the film can have a typical thickness comprised within the range from 1 to 60 microns, typically from 2 to 40 microns, more typically from 3 to 30 microns. Some materials comprise an EVOH barrier layer, sandwiched between two polyamide layers, as described in EP2582518A1.

[00153] Alternatively, to provide barrier properties, the skin layer, typically polyester or polyamide-based, can be coated with a ceramic material, such as SiOx or AlOx or with an organic barrier material or metallised.

[00154] Such coatings are deposited onto the polyester or polyamide layer, which is typically biaxially oriented, with the coated side typically as outermost of the film.

[00155] One or more aluminum foil(s), positioned as inner layer(s) of the films, can also be present. Typically the thickness of this layer ranges from 2 to 20 microns, preferably from 3 to 12 microns, even more preferably from 4 to 8 microns.

[00156] As used herein, the terms "inner layer" and "internal layer" refer to any film layer having both of its principal surfaces directly adhered to another layer of the film.

[00157] Some exemplary layers sequences of films suitable for the manufacturing of the pouch according to the present invention are:

polyester/ adhesive/po lyamide/ adhesive/po lypropylene (PP)

polyester/ adhesive/po lyamide/ adhesive/po ly ethylene

polyester/ adhesive/po lyester/adhesive/po lypropylene

polyester/ adhesive/po lyester/adhesive/po ly ethylene

polyester/ adhesive/aluminum/ adhesive/po lypropylene

polyester/ adhesive/aluminum/ adhesive/po lyethylene

polyester/ adhesive/po lyethylene

polyester/ adhesive/po lypropylene

polyester/ adhesive/po lyester/adhesive/po lyamide/ adhesive/polyethylene

polyester/adhesive/po lyester/adhesive/po lyamide/adhesive/polypropylene

polyester/ adhesive/ aluminum/ adhesive/

polyamide/ adhesive/po lypropylene wherein:

- polyethylene and polypropylene layers can be as well coextruded with - polyethylene and polypropylene can be as well coextruded with EVOH as a multilayer film (for ex. PP/adhesive/EVOH/adhesive/PP) and can be monoaxially or biaxially oriented;

- polyester and polyamide layers can be interchangeable within the same sequence and can be monoaxially and typically biaxially oriented;

- polyester layers can be metallised;

- polyester and polyamide layers can be coated SiOx or AlOx;

- the skin layer can be printed;

- the adhesive layer can consist of a glue (being solvent- or water-based, for ex. polyurethane-based) or of polymeric resins specifically formulated to bond the two layers to be adjoined, the selection of which is within the ability of the skilled in the art.

[00158] In addition, UV absorbing pigments or agents or composition comprising light reflective material can be incorporated into one or more the layers of the films in order to provide the films with UV and light barrier properties. Pigments capable of absorbing UV light are within the skill in the art and include, for instance, carbon black, HALS (hindered amine light scattering additives) and combinations thereof.

[00159] Usually, there is more than one UV protecting layer, typically more dark layers containing carbon black are present. The combined thickness of such UV protecting layers is typically at least about 5 μιη, more typically at least about 8 μιη, even more typically at least about 15 μιη, most typically at least 20 μιη.

[00160] A reflective layer is a layer comprising light reflective material and which is able to reflect visible and, typically, also UV light. It is perceived as white or light colored, for instance silver or other metallic colored. Such layers provide protection from light, and typically also some protection from thermal radiation, that is, heat.

Furthermore, customers tend to prefer a white outer layer especially for products such as milk products. Light colors also provide a preferred surface for printing. Reflective layers are within the skill in the art and often contain silver, aluminum, or other metallic pigment or coating or have a white pigment such as titanium dioxide or combinations thereof. [00161] Exemplary film compositions suitable for the manufacturing of the pouches are described in WO2009070494, WO0226494, W09961245, WO9900248,

WO9830390, W09824625, WO2004007195, EP1541340 the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[00162] In general, one or more layers of the films above described can be printed, in order to provide useful information to the consumer, a pleasing image and/or trademark or other advertising information to enhance the retail sale of the packaged product. The films may be printed by any suitable method, such as rotary screen, gravure or flexographic techniques as known in the art.

[00163] The polymer components of the films so described may contain appropriate amounts of additives normally included in such compositions. Some of these additives are typically included in the outer layers or in one of the outer layers, while some others are typically added to inner layers. These additives include slip and anti- block agents such as talc, waxes, silica, and the like, antioxidants, stabilizers, plasticizers, fillers, pigments and dyes, cross-linking inhibitors, cross-linking enhancers, UV absorbers, odor absorbers, oxygen scavengers, bactericides, antistatic agents or compositions, and the like additives known to those skilled in the art of packaging films.

[00164] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently

considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A package (100, 200) for a product (P), comprising:

at least one plastic film (110, 210); and

a seal (120, 220), the seal extending along at least a portion of the plastic film (1 10, 210), thereby hermetically sealing an inner volume of the package (100, 200) from an ambient atmosphere, wherein

the seal (120, 220) comprises an inner seal (124, 224) and an outer seal (122, 222), the inner seal being arranged proximal to the inner volume of the package (1 10, 200) and the outer seal (122, 222) being arranged distal to the inner volume (130, 230);

the inner and outer seals (124, 224, 122, 222) defining a control chamber (140, 240), the control chamber being hermetically sealed from the inner volume and from the ambient atmosphere, the control chamber being in fluid communication with an indicator portion (142, 242, 168'), the indicator portion having at least a first configuration and a second configuration different from the first configuration; and

the indicator portion (142, 242, 168') being configured to change from the first configuration to the second configuration if at least one of the following undesired situations takes place:

- the inner seal (124, 224) fails to hermetically seal the inner volume from the control chamber (140, 240),

- the outer seal (122, 222) fails to hermetically seal the control chamber (140, 240) from the ambient atmosphere.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the second configuration is different from the first configuration in at least one geometric property of the indicator portion (142, 242, 168').

3. The package of any one of the preceding claims wherein the second configuration is different from the first configuration to an extent that by examining visually and/or in a tactile manner said indicator portion (142, 242, 168') the second configuration is distinguishable by a human user from the first configuration.

4. The package of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first configuration comprises a first shape and the second configuration comprises a second shape different from the first shape, wherein the indicator portion (142, 242, 168') is configured to change from the first to the second shape upon occurrence of one or both said undesired situations.

5. The package of any one of the preceding claims wherein the indicator portion (142, 242) is part of the control chamber (140, 240).

6. The package of claim 5, wherein at the indicator portion (142, 242) the distance between inner seal (124, 224, 122, 222) and outer seal (124, 224, 122, 222) is greater than the distance between inner seal (124, 224, 122, 222) and outer seal (124, 224, 122, 222) along the rest of control chamber, such that indicator portion (142, 242) is internally larger than remaining portions of said control chamber.

7. The package of the claim 4 in combination with any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 6, wherein the first shape is a substantially flat shape.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein the indicator portion (142) is configured to exhibit the first shape when one or more of the following take place:

a pressure inside the control chamber (140) is substantially lower than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere,

a pressure inside the control chamber (140) is substantially a vacuum, the indicator portion (142) defines an internal indicator volume of substantially zero.

9. The package of claim 4 in combination with any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 8, wherein the second shape is a substantially non-flat or expanded configuration.

10. The package of claim 9, wherein the indicator portion (142) is configured to exhibit the second shape when one or more of the following take place:

a pressure inside the control chamber (140) is substantially equal to a pressure of the ambient atmosphere;

the indicator portion (142) defines a substantially non-zero internal indicator volume.

11. The package of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (120, 220) further comprises a connection portion (162), the connection portion being interposed between and heat sealed to layers (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) of plastic film (110, 210).

12. The package of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seal (120, 220) further comprises respective terminal portions of the inner seal (124, 224) and the outer seal (122, 222) which are heat sealed to one another at least at one end of the seal (120, 220).

13. The package of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one elastic element (164; 246) arranged within the indicator portion (142, 242) wherein the at least one elastic element (164; 246) is configured to act on the indicator portion and promote transition of the indicator portion (142) from the first configuration to the second configuration.

14. The package of claim 13, wherein the at least one elastic element comprises a spring element (164) which is housed within the indicator portion.

15. The package of claim 14, wherein the at least one spring element (164) is designed to have an unbiased configuration in which the at least one spring element is in a substantially non- flat configuration, and a biased configuration, in which the spring element (164) is in a substantially flat configuration.

16. The package of claim 14 or 15, wherein the at least one spring element (164) is configured, when in the biased configuration, to exert a force on an inner surface of the indicator portion (142) from within the indicator portion (142)and space apart at least a portion of the plastic film (110) located at the indicator portion (142, 242).

17. The package of any one of claims from 14 to 16, wherein the at least one spring element (164) comprises first and second elements and exhibits substantially a U-shaped cross section according to a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of plastic film (110) and along a longitudinal extension of the seal (120, 220).

18. The package of any one of claims from 14 to 17, wherein the spring element (164) exhibits one or more of:

substantially symmetrical geometry;

substantially the shape of a spiral;

substantially conical shape; substantially the shape of a trident, optionally the at least one spring element (164) comprising at least one tooth in an inclined configuration with respect to a plane developing between at least two other teeth of the spring element (164).

19. The package of any one of claims from 1 to 6 in combination with claim 13 wherein the elastic element comprises a control fluid (246) housed inside the indicator portion (242), wherein the control fluid (246) - when gas tightness of both of the outer seal (222) and the inner seal (224) is not compromised - is a pressurized control fluid and presents a control fluid pressure higher than a gas pressure present in the inner volume, optionally wherein the control fluid pressure is 1.2, more optionally 1.5, even more optionally 2 times greater than the gas pressure in the inner volume.

20. The package of claim 19 wherein - when gas tightness of both the outer seal (222) and the inner seal (224) is not compromised - the indicator portion (242) is configured to be kept by the pressurized control fluid in the first shape which is a substantially non-flat or expanded configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion (242), when in the first shape, defines a substantially non-zero internal indicator volume.

21. The package of claim 19 or 20, wherein - when gas tightness of one or both the outer seal (222) and the inner seal (224) is compromised - the indicator portion (242) is configured to move to the second shape, which is a substantially flat configuration, optionally wherein the indicator portion (242) exhibits the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber (240) is substantially equal to or lower than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere, further optionally wherein the indicator portion (242), when in the second shape, defines an internal indicator volume of substantially zero.

22. The package of any one of claims from 19 to 21, wherein the control fluid (246) is or comprises a gaseous fluid comprising one or more of: air, inert gas, a mixture of inert gases, N₂.

23. The package of any one of claims from 19 to 22, wherein the control fluid (246) is or comprises a liquid comprising one or more of: water, a control fluid detectable by high voltage leak detection (HVLD), a fluorescent fluid.

24. The package of any one of claims from 19 to 23, wherein if gas tightness of one or both of the outer seal (222) and the inner seal (224) is compromised, the indicator portion (242) is configured such that control fluid pressure within the indicator portion (242) decreases.

25. The package of claim 24, wherein the indicator portion (242) is configured such that - as a result of the control fluid pressure decrease - the indicator portion (242) assumes a third configuration different from the first and second configurations, optionally wherein the third configuration comprises a third shape different from the first and second shapes and wherein the third shape can be distinguished from the first and second shapes by means of a visual and/or tactile inspection by a human user.

26. The package of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator portion (142, 242) has one or more of the following: a substantially oval shape,

a width of between 0.5 cm and 3.0 cm,

a height of between 0.5 cm and 3.0 cm.

27. The package of any one of the preceding claims comprising two or more indicator portions (142, 242) and two or more control chambers (140, 240).

28. The package of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one indicator portion (142, 242) is in fluid communication with a respective control chamber (140, 240).

29. The package of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a spout (160; 260), the spout being heat sealed to the package and configured to provide an access opening to the inner volume of the package (100, 200).

30. The package of claim 29, wherein the seal (120, 220) extends along a portion of the package (100, 200) that comprises the spout (160, 260), the seal (120, 220) being configured to seal, optionally heat-seal, the spout (160, 260) to the package (100, 200).

31. The package of claim 29 or 30, wherein the spout (160) comprises a connection portion (162) bonding with layers of plastic film and comprising - optionally wedge-shaped - transition portions (163).

32. The package of claim 29 or 30 or 31, wherein the spout (160) comprises a central portion (166) located between connection portions (162) placed on opposite sides of central portion.

33. The package of claim 32, wherein the central portion (166) comprises a channel (165), optionally extending around each side of central portion (166), in order to provide the non- sealed portion between inner and outer seals (124 and 122) with an increased volume and ensuring fluid communication between sections of control chamber (140) located on either side of spout (160).

34. The package of claim 31 or 32 or 33 wherein connection portion (162) of spout (160) includes one, two or more projections (164) extending from each or and end of connection portion (162) each projection forming a respective of said spring elements.

35. The package of claim 33 or 34, wherein the spout (160) comprises an additional channel (161), preferably vertically arranged in a side wall of the spout, which puts channel (165) into fluid communication with a volume present between a cap (168) and spout (160) when cap (168) is sealingly engaged on spout (160).

36. The package of claim 35, wherein spout (160) is sealed with a removable seal (170), hermetically sealing the contents of package (100) from the ambient environment, wherein the additional channel (161) provides for fluid communication between channel (165) and the volume between cap (168) and seal (170) - thereby putting control chamber (140) into fluid communication with the volume between cap (168) and seal (170).

37. The package of claim 36, wherein cap (168) is provided with a flexible top portion which defines said, or one of said, indicator portion(s) (168').

38. The package of claim 37, wherein the first shape is a substantially concave configuration.

39. The package of claim 37 or 38, wherein the indicator portion (168') is configured to exhibit the first shape when a pressure inside the control chamber (140) is substantially lower than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere or is substantially a vacuum.

40. The package of any one of claims from 37 to 39, wherein the indicator portion (168') and the removable seal (170) define an internal indicator volume, wherein, when the indicator portion (168') is in the first configuration, the internal indicator volume is smaller than when the indicator portion (168') is in the second configuration.

41. The package of claim any one of claims from 37 to 40, wherein the second shape is a substantially convex configuration.

42. The package of claim 41, wherein the indicator portion (168') is configured to exhibit the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber (140) is substantially equal to a pressure of the ambient atmosphere.

43. The package of claim 37, wherein the first shape is a substantially convex configuration.

44. The package of claim 37 or 43, wherein the indicator portion (168') is configured to exhibit the first shape when a pressure inside the control chamber (140) is substantially higher than a pressure of the ambient atmosphere.

45. The package of claim 37 or 43 or 44, wherein the indicator portion (168') and the removable seal (170) define an internal indicator volume, wherein, when the indicator portion (168') is in the first configuration, the internal indicator volume is greater than when the indicator portion (168) is in the second configuration.

46. The package of claim 37 or 43 or 44 or 45, wherein the second shape is a substantially flat or concave configuration.

47. The package of claim 37 or 43 or 44 or 45 or 46, wherein the indicator portion (168') is configured to exhibit the second shape when a pressure inside the control chamber (140) is substantially equal to a pressure of the ambient atmosphere.

48. Process for forming a package (100, 200) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:

preparing the at least one plastic film (110, 210); forming the seal (120, 220) along the plastic film, the seal extending along at least a portion of the plastic film (110, 210), thereby hermetically sealing the inner volume of the package (100, 200) from the ambient atmosphere, wherein the step of forming the seal (120, 220) comprises:

- forming the inner seal (124, 224) and

- forming the outer seal (122, 222).

49. The process of claim 48, wherein the steps of forming the inner seal (124, 224) and of forming the outer seal (122, 222) are performed at substantially the same time.

50. The process of claim 48 or 49, further comprising the step of providing the indicator portion (142, 242) with the at least one elastic element (164, 246) configured to facilitate a transition of the indicator portion (142, 242) from the first configuration into the second configuration.

51. The process of any one of claims from 48 to 50, wherein the steps of forming the inner and outer seals (124, 122) and the step of providing the indicator portion (142, 242) with the at least one elastic element are performed at substantially the same time.

52. The process of any one of claims from 48 to 51, further comprising the step of providing the control chamber (140, 240) with an internal pressure different from the pressure present inside the internal volume and/or different from an ambient pressure.

53. The process of claim 52 wherein said internal pressure is substantially lower than an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere and/or lower than the pressure inside the inner volume.

54. The process of claim 53 wherein said internal pressure substantially lower than an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere and/or lower than the pressure inside the inner volume is obtained either by squeezing the control chamber (140) or by extracting gas from the control chamber (140).

55. The process of claim 54, wherein the extracting of gas is achieved during or after formation of the first and second seals using a cannula inserted across the outer seal (122, 222) and placing the control chamber in fluid communication with a vacuum source, further wherein after the extracting step has been completed the cannula is removed from the package and the outer seal completed in order to make the control chamber gas tight.

56. The process of claim 53 wherein said internal pressure is substantially higher than an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere and/or higher than the pressure inside the inner volume.

57. The process of claim 56, wherein said internal pressure substantially higher than an ambient pressure of the ambient atmosphere and/or than the pressure inside the inner volume is obtained either by inflating the control chamber (240) with said control fluid.

58. The process of claim 54, wherein the inflating is achieved during or after formation of the first and second seals using a cannula inserted across the outer seal (122, 222) and placing the control chamber (240) in fluid communication with a control fluid source configured for supplying pressurized fluid, further wherein after the inflating step has been completed the cannula is removed from the package and the outer seal completed in order to make the control chamber gas tight.

59. The process of any one of claims from 48 to 58 further comprising the step of providing the package (100, 200) with a spout (160, 260).

60. The process of claim 59, wherein the step of providing the package (100, 200) with a spout (160, 260) comprises heat-sealing the spout (160, 260) to the package (100).

61. The process of claim 60, wherein the step of inflating, or the step extracting gas from, the control chamber (140, 240) is carried out after heat sealing the spout to the package.

62. The process of any one of claims from 48 to 61 wherein the control chamber (140, 240) is hermetically sealed from the ambient atmosphere and from the inner volume after the step extracting gas from the control chamber or inflating the control chamber with the control fluid.