Sealed Break-Open Package and Corresponding Method for the Production Thereof

Abstract

A sealed break-open package having: a wrapping sheet, which is folded and welded onto itself so as to define, alone, a closed containing chamber, which is designed to contain a fluid product and has a dispensing through opening, through which the fluid product can flow out of the containing chamber; and a closing system, which engages the dispensing opening in a sealing manner, so as to close the dispensing opening. The closing system having a semi-rigid plastic material sheet, which overlaps the wrapping sheet in the area of the dispensing opening, is firmly and permanently connected to the wrapping sheet, and has a pre-weakened region, which overlaps the dispensing opening and guides, following a folding of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet, a controlled breaking of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet in the area of the pre-weakened region, so as to determine the formation, through the semi-rigid plastic material sheet, of a product outlet opening.

1 . A sealed break-open package ( 1 ); the sealed package ( 1 ) comprises:
 a wrapping sheet ( 2 ), which is folded and welded onto itself so as to define, alone, a closed containing chamber, which is designed to contain a fluid product and has a dispensing through opening ( 3 ), through which the fluid product can flow out of the containing chamber; and   a closing system ( 4 ), which engages the dispensing opening ( 3 ) in a sealing manner, so as to close the dispensing opening ( 3 );   wherein the closing system ( 4 ) comprises a semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ), which overlaps the wrapping sheet ( 2 ) in the area of the dispensing opening ( 3 ), is firmly and permanently connected to the wrapping sheet ( 2 ), and has a pre-weakened region ( 6 ); and   wherein the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) overlaps the dispensing opening ( 3 ) and guides, following a folding of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ), a controlled breaking of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ) in the area of the pre-weakened region ( 6 ), so as to determine the formation, through the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ), of a product outlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) is arranged at the centre of the dispensing opening ( 3 ), such that the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) coincides with a centre line of the dispensing opening ( 3 ). 
     
     
         3 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) comprises at least one outer incision ( 7 ), which is obtained through an outer surface ( 8 ) of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ), and at least one inner incision ( 9 ), which is parallel to and aligned with the outer incision ( 7 ) and is obtained through an inner surface ( 10 ) of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ), which is opposite the outer surface ( 8 ). 
     
     
         4 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) comprises a plurality of outer incisions ( 7 ) and a plurality of corresponding inner incisions ( 9 ). 
     
     
         5 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ) is made up of a laminate comprising: a supporting layer ( 11 ) arranged on the outside, a heat-sealable layer ( 12 ) arranged on the inside, and a barrier layer ( 13 ) interposed between the supporting layer ( 11 ) and the heat-sealable layer ( 12 ). 
     
     
         6 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein between the bottom of the outer incision ( 7 ) and the bottom of the inner incision ( 9 ) there is at least the barrier layer ( 13 ) and there is not the supporting layer ( 11 ). 
     
     
         7 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein between the bottom of the outer incision ( 7 ) and the bottom of the inner incision ( 9 ) there is, besides the barrier layer ( 13 ), also the heat-sealable layer ( 12 ) and there is not the supporting layer ( 11 ). 
     
     
         8 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the supporting layer ( 11 ) has an interruption in the area of the bottom of the outer incision ( 7 ). 
     
     
         9 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the outer incision ( 7 ) extends only in the supporting layer ( 11 ) of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ); and   the inner incision ( 9 ) affects all three layers, i.e. the supporting layer ( 11 ), the heat-sealable layer ( 12 ) and the barrier layer ( 13 ), of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ).   
     
     
         10 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the barrier layer ( 13 ) of the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ) is partially arranged inside the outer incision ( 7 ). 
     
     
         11 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein there is a build-up of barrier layer ( 13 ) in the area of the bottom of the outer incision ( 7 ). 
     
     
         12 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid plastic material sheet ( 5 ) of the closing system ( 4 ) overlaps the inner surface of the wrapping sheet ( 2 ) and is located inside the containing chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dispensing opening ( 3 ) is arranged across one folding line of the wrapping sheet ( 2 ); and   the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) is aligned with the folding line of the wrapping sheet ( 2 ).   
     
     
         14 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the dispensing opening ( 3 ) is arranged across an edge of the containing chamber; and   the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) is aligned with the edge of the containing chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The sealed package ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) extends along a straight line; and   the dispensing opening ( 3 ) has a rectangular shape wherein the longer sides are parallel to the pre-weakened region ( 6 ) and the shorter sides are perpendicular to the pre-weakened region ( 6 ).   
     
     
         16 . (canceled)