Child resistant peel pouch

Abstract

Disclosed are packages for dispensing a product, the package including: a first layer; a second layer; a tab seal zone in which the first layer is joined to the second layer by a seal, the tab seal zone defining a first tab and a second tab; a first perforation in the first layer and a second perforation in the second layer, the first perforation defining a tear path in the first layer and the second perforation defining a tear path in the second layer, wherein at least one of the first and second perforations at least partially defines a boundary separating the first tab and the second tab; and a fold guide located in the tab seal zone, the fold guide indicating a fold line that intersects the first perforation and the second perforation across the boundary separating the first tab and the second tab.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package for dispensing a product, the package comprising:
 A first layer;   A second layer;   A tab seal zone in which the first layer is joined to the second layer by a seal, the tab seal zone defining a first tab and a second tab;   A first perforation in the first layer and a second perforation in the second layer, the first perforation defining a tear path in the first layer and the second perforation defining a tear path in the second layer, wherein at least one of the first and second perforations at least partially defines a boundary separating the first tab and the second tab; and   A fold guide located in the tab seal zone, the fold guide indicating a fold line that intersects the first perforation and the second perforation across the boundary separating the first tab and the second tab.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first perforation overlaps the second perforation along a line segment. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first perforation and the second perforation overlap entirely. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , further comprising an arc-shaped cut in at least one of the first layer and the second layer at a base of the first and second tabs. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tear path in the first layer overlaps a portion of the tear path in the second layer, and wherein at least a portion of the tear path in the first layer does not overlap a portion of the tear path in the second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the package defines a tab end adjacent to the tab seal zone and a product end opposite the tab end, wherein the first perforation and the second perforation do not extend to the perimeter at the tab end. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the perimeter further defines a first side edge and a second side edge opposite the first side edge, wherein the first perforation extends to the first side edge and does not extend to the second side edge, and wherein the second perforation extends to the second side edge and does not extend to the first side edge. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first perforation and the second perforation do not extend to a perimeter of the package. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tab seal zone comprises a non-perforated area between a perimeter of the package and the first and second perforations. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tear path in the first layer starts at a longitudinal centerline of the package and extends to a first side edge of the package, and the tear path in the second layer starts at the longitudinal centerline of the package and extends to a second side edge of the package. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the tear path in the first layer at the centerline of the package overlaps the tear path in the second layer at the centerline of the package. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first tab adjoins the second tab. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the tear path in the first layer is non-linear and at least a portion of the tear path in the second layer is non-linear. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein the non-linear portion of the tear path in the first layer does not overlap the non-linear portion of the tear path in the second layer. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first perforation and the second perforation is a single perforation segment. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first perforation and the second perforation comprises two or more perforation segments. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first perforation and the second perforation comprises:
 a first perforation segment; and   a second perforation segment intersecting the first perforation segment.   
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the fold guide is located in a portion of the tab seal zone adjacent to an overlap of the first perforation and the second perforation. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein the fold guide indicates a fold line that is perpendicular to the first perforation and the second perforation at a point of overlap. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the fold guide is at least one of:
 a cut in at least one of the first and second layers, wherein the cut does not intersect a perimeter of the package;   a crease;   a perforation in at least one of the first layer and the second layer;   a debossed pattern in a surface of at least one of the first layer and the second layer;   an embossed pattern in a surface of at least one of the first layer and the second layer;   printed text; and   a printed graphic on the surface of at least one of the first layer and the second layer.   
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the fold guide defines a flap portion in the tab seal zone at a tab end of the package, and a product portion in a product seal zone at a product end of the package. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising: a product seal zone opposite the tab seal zone, and an unsealed portion of the package situated between the product seal zone and the tab seal zone. 
     
     
         23 . A method of opening a child-proof package, the method comprising:
 folding a portion of the package along a fold guide to define a flap portion separated from a product portion of the package by a fold, the fold intersecting a first perforation in a first layer of the package and a second perforation in a second layer of the package at an intersection point, wherein the first perforation overlaps the second perforation; and   tearing the product portion and the flap portion along a first tear line defined by the first perforation and a second tear line defined by the second perforation, the step of tearing including
 severing the first layer and the second layer at the intersection point on the fold, after severing the first layer and the second layer at the intersection point, tearing the package along a first tear vector and a second tear vector, the second tear vector oriented in a direction opposite the first tear vector, 
 severing the first layer along a first segment of the first perforation that does not overlap the second perforation, and 
 severing the second layer along a first segment of the second perforation that does not overlap the first perforation; 
   whereby the step of severing the first layer and the second layer causes a product inside of the package to be exposed.   
     
     
         24 . A method of forming a package for containing and dispensing a product, the method comprising:
 providing a first layer web and a second layer web;   placing a product on at least one pouch area of one of the first and second layer webs;   forming a combined web by sealing the first layer web to the second layer web at least at a product seal zone and a tab seal zone such that the first layer is joined to the second layer by a seal surrounding the at least one pouch area and a seal in the tab seal zone;   forming a perforation in the tab seal zone of at least one of the first layer web and the second layer web, the perforation defining a first tab and a second tab of the package;   forming a fold guide in the tab seal zone of at least one of the first layer web and the second layer web, the fold guide being adjacent to the perforation; and   cutting at least one individual package around an outer package perimeter to separate the individual package from the combined web.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the step of forming a combined web further comprises leaving an unsealed zone adjacent to an outer perimeter of the product seal zone where the first layer web is not sealed to the second layer web.