Child-proof package

Abstract

A package which can be torn open by a user, comprising a polymer film material having a preferential tearing direction and defining a cavity for a product, wherein the polymer film material incorporates a bias facilitating tearing along a tear line oriented in a direction other than its preferential tearing direction and a tear initiation location which facilitates tearing of the polymer film material in its preferential tearing direction to open the package, the tear line being adjacent to a tear initiation location. The polymer film material having a preferential tearing direction provides resistance against a child tearing open the package.

1 . A package for containing a product and being able to be torn open by a user, comprising a first layer comprising a polymer film material having a preferential tearing direction, in combination with a second layer comprising a second tearable material, to define a cavity for a product between the layers,
 wherein the polymer film material incorporates a bias facilitating tearing of the polymer film material along a tear line oriented in a direction other than its preferential tearing direction,   wherein the polymer film material incorporates at least one tear initiation location which facilitates tearing of the polymer film material in its preferential tearing direction to thereby open the package for access to its product contents,   and wherein the said tear line is adjacent to a tear initiation location.   
     
     
         2 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the polymer film material is a mono-axially oriented polymer film. 
     
     
         3 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the first layer is formed solely of the polymer film material. 
     
     
         4 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the first layer comprises a laminate of the polymer film material together with a further tearable material. 
     
     
         5 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the bias in the polymer film material is provided by a line of weakness at least part way across the polymer film material. 
     
     
         6 . A package according to  claim 5  wherein the line of weakness is provided by the polymer film material being scored or cut wholly or partly through its thickness or by a line of perforations provided through the polymer film material. 
     
     
         7 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the direction other than the preferential tearing direction of the polymer film material in which the bias is oriented, is a direction perpendicular to the preferential tearing direction. 
     
     
         8 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the tear line is positioned such that a portion of the package including the polymer film material may be torn away from the remainder of the package to thereby create an edge of the package adjacent to the tear initiation location so that the polymer film material may be easily torn by a user along its preferential tearing direction starting at that edge. 
     
     
         9 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the tear initiation location is provided by a point of weakness in the polymer film material. 
     
     
         10 . A package according to  claim 9  wherein the point of weakness comprises the polymer film material being cut wholly or partly through its thickness. 
     
     
         11 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the tear line intersects the tear initiation location. 
     
     
         12 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the tear initiation location is separated from the tear line by a short distance of the polymer film material. 
     
     
         13 . A package according to  claim 1  being a sachet incorporating a cavity for a product between the first and second layers. 
     
     
         14 . A package according to  claim 13  wherein the bias is located adjacent to an edge of the sachet to provide a tear line facilitating tearing off of a strip of the sachet between the bias and the edge. 
     
     
         15 . A package according to  claim 1  being a blister pack in which the cavity for a product between the first and second layers comprises a blister cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A package according to  claim 15  wherein the cover film closing the blister cavity comprises the polymer film material. 
     
     
         17 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the bias is oriented across the blister pack to provide a tear line facilitating tearing across the blister pack. 
     
     
         18 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the bias is located adjacent to and preferably parallel to an edge of the blister pack to provide a tear line facilitating tearing off of a strip of the sachet between the bias and the edge. 
     
     
         19 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the sachet or blister pack incorporates additional lines of weakness positioned and/or oriented to facilitate tearing the sachet from an adjacent sachet connected thereto by a web of sachet material, or to facilitate tearing individual blisters from adjacent blisters. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacture of a package for containing a product and which is able to be torn open by a user, the method comprising:
 forming a cavity suitable for containment of a product between a first layer comprising a polymer film material having a preferential tearing direction and a second layer comprising a second tearable material;   incorporating a bias into the at least one layer of polymer film material facilitating tearing of the polymer film material along a tear line oriented in a direction other than its preferential tearing direction, and;   incorporating into the polymer film material, adjacent to the tear line, at least one tear initiation location which facilitates tearing of the polymer film material in its preferential tearing direction.