Packaging Having A Weakening Area

Abstract

This flexible packaging ( 10 ) comprises a flexible film ( 14 ) wrapped around a product ( 12 ) to be packaged, the film ( 14 ) defining a closed space ( 24 ) containing the product ( 12 ), the film ( 14 ) having a higher tensile strength over most of its surface and a lower tensile strength over a well located partial weakening area ( 26 ), the higher tensile strength being sufficient for preventing a manual tearing and the lower tensile strength being adapted for allowing a manual tearing of the film ( 14 ). Its partial weakening area ( 26 ) has, along all directions, a dimension which is lower than 25% of the corresponding dimension of the packaging, and the film ( 14 ) comprises a visible marking ( 28 ) locating the position of the partial weakening area ( 26 ).

1 . Flexible packaging ( 10 ) comprising a flexible film ( 14 ) wrapped around a product ( 12 ) to be packaged, the film ( 14 ) defining a closed space ( 24 ) containing the product ( 12 ), the film ( 14 ) having a higher tensile strength over most of its surface and a lower tensile strength over a well located partial weakening area ( 26 ), the higher tensile strength being sufficient for preventing a manual tearing and the lower tensile strength being adapted for allowing a manual tearing of the film ( 14 ), characterized in that the partial weakening area ( 26 ) has, along all directions, a dimension which is lower than 25% of the corresponding dimension of the packaging, and that the film ( 14 ) comprises a visible marking ( 28 ) locating the position of the partial weakening area ( 26 ).  
     
     
         2 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the partial weakening area ( 26 ) has a first dimension which is lower than 25% of the corresponding dimension of the packaging ( 10 ) and a second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension and which is lower than 15% of the corresponding dimension of the packaging.  
     
     
         3 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the visible marking ( 28 ) extends in register over the partial weakening area ( 26 ).  
     
     
         4 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tensile strength of the film ( 14 ) in the weakening area ( 26 ) is from 1 N/15 mm to 20 N/15 mm.  
     
     
         5 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the tensile strength of the film ( 14 ) in the partial weakening area ( 26 ) is from 3 N/15 mm to 8 N/15 mm.  
     
     
         6 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tensile strength of the film ( 14 ) out of the partial weakening area ( 26 ) is from 30 N/15 mm to 150 N/15 mm.  
     
     
         7 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the tensile strength of the film ( 14 ) out of the partial weakening area ( 26 ) is from 50 N/15 mm to 100 N/15 mm.  
     
     
         8 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the maximal dimension of the partial weakening area ( 26 ) is between 3 mm and 30 mm.  
     
     
         9 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the longitudinal edges of the film ( 14 ) are sealed along a longitudinal sealing seam ( 16 ) and the package comprises a cross sealing seam ( 18 A,  18 B) at each end, and in that a partial weakening area ( 26 ) is arranged between both ends of the package.  
     
     
         10 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the length of the packaging measured between both cross sealing seams ( 18 A,  18 B) is higher than two times the diameter or width of the package.  
     
     
         11 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the partial weakening area ( 26 ) extends out of the longitudinal and cross sealing seams ( 16 ,  18 A,  18 B).  
     
     
         12 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the package includes a generally flat main face ( 22 ) and the partial weakening area ( 26 ) extends only over the generally flat main face ( 22 ) of the package.  
     
     
         13 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the film ( 14 ) has, in the partial weakening area ( 26 ), at least one mechanical weakening treatment on at least one layer of the film.  
     
     
         14 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said mechanical weakening treatment comprises a microporous weakening.  
     
     
         15 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said mechanical weakening treatment comprises partially cutting or puncturing of at least one layer of the film ( 14 ) with the aid of a matrix of blades in the weakening area ( 26 ).  
     
     
         16 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the film ( 14 ) has, in the weakening area ( 26 ), a weakening treatment by high-energy radiation along at least one layer of the film.  
     
     
         17 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the film ( 14 ) comprises at least two laminated layers, the first layer having undergone mechanical weakening treatment in the weakening area ( 26 ), the second layer having undergone weakening treatment by means of high-energy radiation in the weakening area ( 26 ).  
     
     
         18 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the film ( 14 ) is a film or complex in which the combination of layers is selected from the group consisting of polyester (PET)/polyethylene (PE), polyamide (OPA)/polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (OPP)/polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET)/polypropylene (PP), polyamide (OPA)/polypropylene (PP), polypropylene (OPP)/polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET)/polyester (PETG), polyamide (OPA)/polyester (PETG), polypropylene (OPP)/polyester (PETG), Paper/polyester (PET), Paper/polyamide (OPA), Paper/polypropylene (OPP), polyester (PET)/polypropylene (OPP), polyester (PET)/polyester (PET), polyester (PET)/polyamide (OPA), aluminium/polyester (PET), aluminium/polypropylene (OPP), aluminium/polyamide (OPA), polyester (PET)/aluminium/polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET)/aluminium/polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET)/aluminium/polyester (PET), polyamide (OPA)/aluminium/polypropylene (PP), polyamide (OPA)/aluminium/polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (OPP)/aluminium/polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (OPP)/aluminium/polypropylene (PP), polypropylene (OPP)/aluminium/polypropylene (OPP), polyester (PET)/polyamide (OPA)/polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET)/polyamide (OPA)/polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET)/polypropylene (OPP)/polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET)/polypropylene (OPP)/polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET)/polyester (PET)/polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET)/polyester (PET)/polyethylene (PE), polyamide (OPA)/polypropylene (OPP)/polypropylene (PP), polyamide (OPA)/polypropylene (OPP)/polyethylene (PE), polyamide (OPA)/polyester (PET)/polypropylene (PP), polyamide (OPA)/polyester (PET)/polyethylene (PE), polyamide (OPA)/polyamide (OPA)/polypropylene (PP), polyamide (OPA)/polyamide (OPA)/polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (OPP)/polyester (PET)/polypropylene (PP), polypropylene (OPP)/polyester (PET)/polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (OPP)/polyamide (OPA)/polypropylene (PP), polypropylene (OPP)/polyamide (OPA)/polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (OPP)/polypropylene (OPP)/polypropylene (PP), polypropylene (OPP)/polypropylene (OPP)/polyethylene (PE), polyester (PET)/polypropylene (PP)/polyester (PET), polyester (PET)/polyethylene (PE)/polyester (PET), polypropylene (OPP)/polypropylene (PP)/polypropylene (OPP), polypropylene (OPP)/polyethylene (PE)/polypropylene (OPP), polyester (PET)/polypropylene (PP)/polypropylene (OPP), polyester (PET)/polyethylene (PE)/polypropylene (OPP), polyamide (OPA)/polypropylene (PP)/polypropylene (OPP), polyamide (OPA)/polyethylene (PE)/polypropylene (OPP), polyester (PET)/polypropylene (PP)/polyamide (OPA), and polyester (PET)/polyethylene (PE)/polyamide (OPA).  
     
     
         19 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the film ( 14 ) is made of an aluminium layer having a thickness between 6 μm and 45 μm and an oriented polymer layer, e.g. PET, OPP, OPA having a thickness between 3 μm and 36 μm.  
     
     
         20 . Flexible packaging according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a drug is enclosed in the space of the packaging.