Sealed Break-Open Package Provided with A High-Precision Delivery Mechanism

Abstract

A sealed break-open package; the sealed package has: a first sheet of semi-rigid plastic material; a second sheet of flexible plastic material superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet to define a sealed pocket that contains a dose of a product; and a pre-weakened area that is created in a central area of the first sheet for guiding, following bending of the sealed package, controlled breakage of the first sheet at the pre-weakened area so as to form an outlet opening for the product through the first sheet. The first sheet has a U-shaped protuberance that extends from a side of the first sheet outside of the pocket and is arranged at the pre-weakened area.

1 . A sealed break-open package ( 1 ); the sealed package ( 1 ) comprising:
 a first sheet ( 2 ) of semi-rigid plastic material;   
       a sealed pocket ( 4 ) that contains a dose of a product ( 5 ) and is delimited at one side by the first sheet ( 2 ); and
 a pre-weakened area ( 6 ) that is created in a central area of the first sheet ( 2 ) for guiding, following bending of the first sheet ( 2 ), a controlled breakage of the first sheet ( 2 ) at the pre-weakened area ( 6 ) so as to form an outlet opening for the product ( 5 ) through the first sheet ( 2 ); 
 wherein the first sheet ( 2 ) has a U-shaped protuberance ( 7 ) that extends from a side of the first sheet ( 2 ) outside of the pocket ( 4 ) and is arranged at the pre-weakened area ( 6 ). 
 
     
     
         2 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the product ( 5 ) is a vaporizable solution that includes at least one of propylene glycol and glycerine. 
     
     
         3 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the vaporizable solution further includes nicotine. 
     
     
         4 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the protuberance ( 7 ) is aligned with the pre-weakened area ( 6 ). 
     
     
         5 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-weakened area ( 6 ) comprises at least a first external incision ( 9 ) made in an outer surface ( 10 ) of the first sheet ( 2 ), partially extending over the pocket ( 4 ), and partially extending over the protuberance ( 7 ). 
     
     
         6 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the first external incision ( 9 ) extends along the entire protuberance ( 7 ) up to an outer edge of the protuberance ( 7 ). 
     
     
         7 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the pre-weakened area ( 6 ) comprises an internal incision ( 11 ) made in an inner surface ( 12 ) of the first sheet ( 2 ) opposite to the outer surface ( 10 ) which extends over the pocket ( 4 ), is parallel to and aligned with the first external incision ( 9 ), and is superimposed on the first external incision ( 9 ) over the pocket ( 4 ). 
     
     
         8 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the internal incision ( 11 ) is arranged only and exclusively over the pocket ( 4 ). 
     
     
         9 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the internal incision ( 11 ) is arranged only and exclusively over the first external incision ( 9 ). 
     
     
         10 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the pre-weakened area ( 6 ) comprises a second external incision ( 8 ) made in the outer surface ( 10 ) of the first sheet ( 2 ) which is parallel to and aligned with the first external incision ( 9 ), is arranged at a certain non-zero distance from the first external incision ( 9 ), and is arranged on the opposite side with respect to the protuberance ( 7 ). 
     
     
         11 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second sheet ( 3 ) of flexible plastic material that is superimposed on and sealed to the first sheet ( 2 ) to define the sealed pocket ( 4 ). 
     
     
         12 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein only the first sheet ( 2 ) of semi-rigid plastic material has the protuberance ( 7 ) and therefore the second sheet ( 3 ) is without the protuberance ( 7 ). 
     
     
         13 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the second sheet ( 3 ) also has the protuberance ( 7 ). 
     
     
         14 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped protuberance ( 7 ) extends from the side of the first sheet ( 2 ) a distance of between nine and ten millimetres.