Packaging unit for articles with opening feature

Abstract

A packaging unit having a front wall and a back wall sealed together at a peripheral joint. The front and back walls are formed of semi-rigid material. The front wall and back wall are spaced apart from one another to define an article-receiving region between them. A line of weakness is formed in the back wall. The line of weakness defines an opening flap to be at least partially separated from the remainder of the back wall. A raised opening tab is positioned on the opening flap along the line of weakness and extends away from the opening flap. The line of weakness is rupturable by a user by applying a manual force to the opening tab to at least partially separate the opening flap from the remainder of the back wall along the line of weakness in order to access the article-receiving region.

1 . A packaging unit comprising:
 a front wall and a back wall sealed together at a peripheral joint, said front wall and said back being formed of semi-rigid material and being spaced apart from one another to define an article-receiving region between them;   a line of weakness formed in said back wall, said line of weakness defining an opening flap to be at least partially separated from the remainder of said back wall;   a raised opening tab positioned on said opening flap along said line of weakness, said raised opening tab extending away from said opening flap;   said line of weakness is rupturable by a user by applying a manual force to said opening tab to at least partially separate said opening flap from the remainder of said back wall along said line of weakness in order to access said article-receiving region.   
   
   
       2 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1  wherein said front and back walls are formed of plastic. 
   
   
       3 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1  wherein said front and back walls are formed of cardboard. 
   
   
       4 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1  wherein said line of weakness comprises perforations. 
   
   
       5 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1  wherein said peripheral joint comprises a heat-sealed seam. 
   
   
       6 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1  wherein said peripheral joint comprises a radio frequency sealed seam. 
   
   
       7 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1  further comprising a hinge in said back wall to facilitate separation of said opening flap from said back wall. 
   
   
       8 . A packaging unit comprising:
 a front wall and a back wall sealed together at a peripheral joint, said front wall and said back being formed of semi-rigid material and being spaced apart from one another to define an article-receiving region between them;   a line of weakness formed in said back wall, said line of weakness defining an opening flap to be completely separated from the remainder of said back wall;   a raised opening tab positioned on said opening flap along said line of weakness, said raised opening tab extending away from said opening flap;   said line of weakness is rupturable by a user by applying a manual force to said opening tab to separate said opening flap from the remainder of said back wall along said line of weakness in order to access said article-receiving region.   
   
   
       9 . The packaging unit according to  claim 8  wherein said front and back walls are formed of plastic. 
   
   
       10 . The packaging unit according to  claim 8  wherein said front and back walls are formed of cardboard. 
   
   
       11 . The packaging unit according to  claim 8  wherein said line of weakness comprises perforations. 
   
   
       12 . The packaging unit according to  claim 8  wherein said peripheral joint comprises a heat-sealed seam. 
   
   
       13 . The packaging unit according to  claim 8  wherein said peripheral joint comprises a radio frequency sealed seam.