Package opening and method therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package. More particularly but not exclusively it relates to package that is rupturable so as to create an opening in the package, yet the package is resistant to rupture from undue forces from particular directions due to a convex shaped burst region that requires straightening to burst.

1 . A package comprising a containment region for contents comprising of a solid and a fluid and defined by at least one piece of plastic film, formed to define four side wall regions extending between a top seam and a burst seam opposite the top seam, where the burst seam;
 a. extend non-parallel the top seam when the package is viewed from the top down;   b. comprises terminal ends that lie each side of a notional vertical top seam plane in which the top seam lies, where the terminal ends are the parts of the package that are located the furthermost from the notional plane;   c. is shaped and/or configured to assume a concave, towards the top seam, base of the package;   d. is formed in an angle extending between the terminal ends at least when the containment region contains said contents; and   e. defines a burst region between the terminal ends at where the package can burst to discharge said solid and a fluid from the package.   
     
     
         2 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the package comprises a first containment region extending from, or near to, the burst seam where the solid settles when the package contains said contents and is in a first position (burst seam at the bottom and top seam at the top). 
     
     
         3 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the package comprises a second containment region extending from, or near to, the top seam where the fluid is located when the package contains said contents and is in its first position. 
     
     
         4 . A package as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first containment region and second containment region are separated by a layer of plastic film, and the first containment region is formed by the same plastic film the defines the package. 
     
     
         5 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the top seam is provided at a junction of the other two of said four side walls regions and has terminal ends that lie in said notional vertical plane. 
     
     
         6 . A package as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the other two side wall regions are generally parallel the notional vertical plane, and/or at said notional plane near the top seam and extend away from said notional plane near the top seam. 
     
     
         7 . A package as claimed in  1 , wherein the first mentioned two side wall regions are parallel, or generally parallel, the notional vertical burst seam plane that extends through the burst seam, and/or the first mentioned two side wall regions are at said notional vertical burst seam plane and extend away from said plane in a direction towards the top seam. 
     
     
         8 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the burst seam defines a burst region at where the package can burst to discharge content from the package. 
     
     
         9 . A package as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the burst region is located between the two terminal ends of the burst seam. 
     
     
         10 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the burst seam is configured to move to a less concave configuration when moving to a bursting configuration. 
     
     
         11 . A package as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the burst seam is configure to move from its concave configuration to a less concave configuration upon an increase in pressure of the fluid within the package in operation, induced by a squeezing of the sidewalls, the squeezing located towards the top seam and/or at the second containment region of the package. 
     
     
         12 . A package as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the squeezing is of the second mentioned two side wall regions. 
     
     
         13 . A package as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the burst region is defined by, and/or comprises, one or more of
 i) a line of weakness, and   ii) a region of weaker bonding between plies of the film compared to other bonded regions of plies of the film, and   iii) a region of less extensive bonding between plies of the film compared to other bonded regions of plies of the film, and   iv) a region of increased resistance to stretch.   
     
     
         14 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the package is contained inside an outer bladder. 
     
     
         15 . A package as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the outer bladder is sealed yet openable to allow contents to be dispensed from the outer bladder. 
     
     
         16 . A package as claimed in  claim 1 , within which a solid and a fluid are contained. 
     
     
         17 . A package as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the solid is of a flowable material. 
     
     
         18 . A combination package comprising a package within an outer bladder, the package comprising a containment region for contents comprising of a solid and a fluid and defined by at least one piece of plastic film, formed to define four side wall regions extending between a top seam and a burst seam opposite the top seam, the burst seam;
 a. extending non-parallel the top seam when the package is viewed from the top down,   b. comprising terminal ends that lie each side of a notional vertical top seam plane in which the top seam lies,   c. shaped and/or configured to assume a concave, towards the top seam, base of the package, and   d. formed in angle less than 180 degrees between the terminal ends at least when the containment region contains said contents,   wherein the outer bladder comprises two side walls that extend between an upper end and lower end of the outer bladder, the two side walls connected to each other at the upper end by an upper seam, the top seam is connected to the upper seam and extends in the same direction as the upper seam,   wherein the burst seam extends between and generally perpendicular to the two side walls, the two side walls contacting the terminal ends of burst seam.   
     
     
         19 . A package as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the burst seam is orthogonal to the top seam and upper seam. 
     
     
         20 . A plurality of combination packages as claimed in  claim 19 , within which a solid and a fluid are contained, the combination packages consolidated in a side by side manner for transport with the top seams substantially parallel each other and the burst seams substantially parallel, and in the same notional vertical plane, as each other.