CA2091222A1

CA2091222A1 - Stress concentrator aperture-forming means for sealed containers and packages

Info

Publication number: CA2091222A1
Application number: CA002091222A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Sanford Redmond
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-10
Filing date: 1993-03-08
Publication date: 1993-09-11
Also published as: KR100293485B1; US5494192A; HK1013974A1; DE69332069D1; DE69332069T2; JPH068962A; EP0560582B1; MY108863A; AR248255A1; US5395031A; BR9301121A; TW221978B; IL104997A0; ATE220029T1; AU661109B2; MX9301291A; KR930019521A; EP0560582A3; AU3408793A; ES2179050T3

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A stress concentrator aperture-forming structure for containers or packages for flowable products, which allow controlled dispensing of the flowable products with one hand.
The stress concentrator includes a substantially flat, relatively stiff sheet, one or more elongated, thin-walled, generally channel-shaped protrusion members, and a fault area crossing one or more of the protrusion members. An enclosed pouch containing the flowable products may also be attached to the stress concentrator. Rupturing the stress concentrator protrusion members across the fault line forms an aperture-forming pattern, which upon application of pressure to the container or package expands to form a larger aperture.
Alternate embodiments of the present invention incorporate the rupturable stress concentrator onto containers or dispenser packages for use with a wide variety of liquids.
Another embodiment incorporates the stress concentrator inside a pouch having a slit opening, where upon rupturing the stress concentrator the flowable products flow through the stress concentrator and the slit opening.

Description

2o9~S~22 1 ~ RYIAT~D A~?L~i~Aslc~8 ~ND P~T~T~

2 The dlspenser package structurQs d~sclosed in th~s 3 application represent improvements of or improved additions to 4 the structures disclosed in Redmond U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,640, S issued Oct. 19, 1976, Redmond et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,574 6 issued Jan. 15, 1985, Redmond U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,715 issued 7 Sept. 16, 1986, and Redmond U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,982 issued 8 February 15, 19a8, the disclosures of which are hereby 9 incorporated by reference.

11 ~AC~aROUN~ AM~_O~Ç~ ~r ~_INV~NT~O~
12 1. F1~1~ Or tho ~EV~5le~
13 The present invention relates to dispenser packages for 14 flowable products and the like and, more specifically, to ~ new and improved configuration and structure of a ~tress concentrator 16 aperture-forming member for containers and dispenser packages 17 which contain and dispense a quantity of flowable product, having 18 particularly advantageous application to single use containers 19 and parkages.

21 2. De~criptlon o~ tho Prior ~
22 Various attempts have heretofore been made to provide a 23 dispenser pacXage into which a flowable product may be packaged 24 in the quantity normally required for a single use, and from which such flowable material may be dispensed.
26 One type of package is a pillow pouch or sachet, 27 typically made of relatively thin plasticstand foils or 28 combinations of laminated plasticc and foils. These packages ~r~
29 most frequently encountered as container~ for catsup, mustard, 33 her condi=ents, homocare preparations ~uch a~ h~lr 2~912%2 1 jl ndltioners, dyes ~nd cre=e~, ee a 1. Although thi~ type of 2 package is universally used, it i8 al80 universally disliked by 3 the consumer. In order to acces~ the contentq, the pouch must be 4 held in one hand while a tearing motion and force are applied by the other hand. Creating the initial tear to break the 6 envelope's seal is often very difficult. Moreover, once the 7 initial tear is created, ~he laminated foil and/or plastic 8 material not only often tears in an uncontrolled fashion, but the 9 holding pressure exerted by one of the user's hands often forces the contents out of the envelope not only before the user i~
11 ready to apply the contents but even before the tearing motion is 12 complete. Opening is generally so difficult that the pouch must 13 o~ten be opened by biting. Opening these packages ha~ led to 14 frayed tempers, broker fingernails, and chipped teeth to name a few of the many problems. A further disadvantage i8 the fact 16 that the user must use both hands to open the container. In the 17 case of invalids, arthritis suffererq and other handicapped 18 people, opening these packages is virtually impossible.
19 Another package is the peel top cup used for butter, margarine, syrup, sauces, salad dressinq, etc. This package also 21 requires good eyesight, manual dexterity, and two hands to open.
22 Similar pacXages for coffee creamers and the like suffer the same 23 difficulties enumerated above with the pouch or sachet. Indeed, 24 many people cannot open them.
Another type of package i8 the unsealed paper 26 corrugated package used for salt and/or pepper, which upon 2r~ bending along a cut through line across the corrugations form~ a 28 hole through which the salt or other solid materials contained in ~9 the corrugations may flow. These salt package~ usually have polyethylene liners which do not rupture or collapse a~ in the - 2 - Yo~l0,1992/1315 2~12%2 l present invention. Also, these pacXages only dispense dry, solid 2 flowables with the assistance of gravity, and cannot adequately 3 dispense "wet~ or liquid flowables nor even contain them as in 4 the present invention, which utllizes hydraullc or compre~s1ve forces to direct the stored liquids out of the container.
6 Redmond's own U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,S40 (hereinafter the 7 '640 patent) discloses a dispenser package which represents a 8 ~arked improvement over the opening difficulties of the foregoing 9 prior package structures in that it accomplishes efficient dispensing of a predetermined quantity of the contents with a 11 one-handed motion and without presentlng the opening dirficulties 12 previously associated with openlng by removal of a cover or 13 tearing o~ an envelope or pouch. In the '640 patent, the 14 ~lowable product is contained within a pouch deflned by a flexible sheet material and a sheet of relati~ely stiff material, 16 which has a predetermined fault line or cut pattern scored into 17 the stiff material such that the stiff material will rupture on 18 the fault line when stress is placed upon the sheet of stiff 19 material. Bending the above sheets into a "V" shape ruptures the fault line or cut pattern, which is located in the vertex of the 21 angles formed by the side5 of the "V, n and creates at least one 22 opening through which the flowable substance iB forced upon 23 compression of the flexible pouch by the relatively stiff sides 24 of the "V" as they are brought together. Advantageou~ly, ona motion with one hand suffices to open and e~iciently dispen6e 26 the product contained.
27 The Redmond et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,574 (hereinafter 28 the '574 patent) discloses a dispenser pac~age ei~ilar to that of 29 the Redmond '640 patent, but which include~ the use of at leaet one stress concentrator protrusion member displacing at lea8t ~

- 3 - Y~lO,l~n~15 2~22~

1 portion of the fault line or fault pattern out of the plane o~
2 the relatively stiff member. The preferred embcdiment of the 3 protrusion member there disclosed has a substantially pyramidal 4 shape which displaces the fault across the apex thereof and i8 substantially symmetrical with re~pect to the fault line. ~he 6 purpose of the stress concentrating protrusion member ia to, upon 7 bending into a "V", concentrate stresses at the fault line 8 causing the protrusions to rupture at the locus of the fault 9 line, creating an aperture through which flowable product is dispensed.
ll The structure of the '640 and '574 patents have been 12 and continue to be commercially successful. However, it was 13 found that in the package configurations therein disclosed, 14 depending upon the particular flowable material enclosed, application of bending pressure could cause a small amount o~
16 enclosed material to squirt or "spit" out of the opening at the 17 instant of rupture of the fault line. Redmond U.S. Pat. No.
18 4,622,715 (hereinafter the '715 patent) substantially reduced 19 this potential squirting problem by providing a shallow channel directly behind the fault line which connects two spaced pockets 21 located on either side of the fault line.
22 The Redmond U.S. Patent No. 4,724,982 (hereinafter the 23 '982 patent) also discloses a dispenser package structure similar 24 to the other aforesaid Redmond patents and, in addition, discloses the use of at least one asymmetric substantially 26 pyramidally shaped stress concentrator, which is particularly 27 advantaqeous where it is desired to simultaneously dispense two 28 different products from isolated chambers.
29 While the above dispenser packages offer many advantages over prior packaging system6, the above packages - 4 - Y~tlO.1997/lIIS

l 2~9~222 1 nonetheless have certain disadvantages. Although superior to 2 prior pouch style packages and preferred by consumers, the ab~ve 3 packages may cost more than the prior pouch packages due to 4 various stiffness and barrier requirements and materials C06t8.
AddLtionally~ because the pyramidally-shaped stress concentrator 6 members protrude outwardly from the surface of the enclosed 7 dispenser package, additional care wa~ needed in packing, 8 stackinq, and shipping to prevent inadvertent damage which, 9 although infrequent, caused some dispenser packages to become deformed or even opened prior to use.

12 3. Obiects o~ the Irve~tioa 13 It is therefore an object of thi~ lnventlon to provide 14 new and improved dispenser packages for ~lowable products.
Another object of this lnvention is to provide a new 16 and improved stress concentrator aperture-forming structure ~or a 17 dispenser package for flowable products which overcomes the 18 drawbacks of the prior stress concentrator aperture-forming 19 protrusion members.
Another object of thi6 invention is to provide a new 21 and improved stress concentrating means for rupturing tough sheet 22 materials or combinations thereof used to form a dispenser 23 package upon bending opposed ends of thé package into a "V"
24 shape, and which permits use of a thinner, more flexible and therefore more economical, sheet material for the relatively 26 stiff flat side as well as for the flexible pocket side.
27 Another object of this invention is to provide a new 28 packaging system that may be constructed from thinner gauge 29 material thicknesses, and therefore requires less material, thereby reducing costs and benefitting the environment.
- S - Y~a~10,1992nJ

2~91222 1 Another object Or th$s invention is to provide a stre~s 2 concentrator expandable aperture-forming structure for a 3 dispenser package that permits dispensing Or "chunky~ style 4 products (salsa with pieces of onion, peppers and tomatoe~; alad dressing with chun~s Or roquefort cheese, etc.).
6 A further object of this invention i8 to provide a new 7 and improved stress concentrator aperture-forming structure for a 8 dispenser package which may be combined into a duplex or 9 multiplex package for flowable product~ which require isolation prior to use.
11 A further object of this invention is to provide a new 12 and improved stress concentrator aperture-forming structure for a 13 dispenser package which simultaneously dispenses two or more 14 discrete flowable products which are $solated ~rom each other prior to being dispensed.
16 Another object of this invention is to provide a new 17 and improved stress concentrator aperture-forming structure which 18 opens relatively smoothly and without a snapping action, thereby 19 significantly reducing or eliminating the possibility Or squirting or spitting and eliminates the need for the channel 21 construction in the pouch portion of the package disclosed in the 22 '715 patent.
23 A still further object Or thi~ invention is to provide 24 a new and improved duplex or multiplex dispenser package which accurately dispenses equal or unequal quantitie~ of two or more 26 flowable products, where the products may be of the same or 27 different viscosities.
28 A further object of this invention is to provide a 29 stress concentrator aperture-form$ng structure for a dispenser package which i~ resistant to inadvértent opening durlng shipp$ng ll - 6 -~ 2 ~ ~

1 or handling as well as damage from packing, particularly when 2 heated where the enclosed product is hot-filled.
3 A further object of this invention i8 to provide a new 4 and improved stress concentrator aperture-forminq structure which S may be sealably mounted onto conventional packageq or containers 6 for flowable products, and thereby convert such conventional 7 packages or containers into a one-handed openable pacXage or 8 container.
9 A still further object o~ this invention is to provide a new and improved stress concentrator aperture-forming structure ll which projects inwardly from the plane of the relatively stif~
12 sheet material, such that there are no portions of said stre6s 13 concentrator which project externally or outwardly from the 14 surface of the package member containing the stress concentrator structure.
16 The ~oregoing specific objects and advantages of the 17 invention are illustrative of those which can be achieved by the 18 present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or l9 limiting of the possible advantages which may be realized. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of the invention will be 21 apparent from the description herein or can be learned from 22 practicing the invention, both as embodied hereln or a~ modified 23 in view of any variations which may be apparent to those of 24 ordinary skill in the art, the same being realized and attalned by means of parts, constructions, instrumentations and 26 combinations pointed out in the appended claims. The present 27 invention resides in the novel parts, constructions, 28 arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and 29 described.

~ - 7 - I~o,l~

l 2~222 1 8~ha~Y 0~ lNVEN~IO~
2 3riefly described, the present invention i8 directed to 3 a new and improved stress concentrator aperture-forming structurs 4 which may be mounted onto, or formed integrally with, ~ container S or other dispenser package f or flowable products and which may be 6 opened by one hand in a manner to cause controlled rupturing of 7 the packaging material and smooth dispensing of the contents.
8 Materials which are capable of a controlled rupture wlth the 9 stress concentrator of the present invention range from ~uch low cost, easily rupturable materials as polystyrene to tough, 11 barrier web materials, such as a single sheet comprised of 12 laminates or co-extrusions containing such materials as metal 13 foil, polyester, EVOH, polypropylene, polyethylene, Barex or 14 nylon. The present stress concentrator can reduce costs of the pac~aging materials as well as provide an improved duplex or 16 multlplex multiple chamber package. Further cost reduction may 17 be realized by reducing the gauge or thickness of the packaging 18 material.
19 In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser package comprises a relatively 21 stiff flat sheet having a tough, high barrier layer secured to at .
22 least one surface thereof, a flexible sheet secùred to said one 23 surface of the relatively stiff sheet to form an enclosed pouch 24 adjacent the relatively stiff side, a cut pattern or fault line or other fault area scored or otherwise formed in the relatively 26 stiff sheat generally along the transverse center line thereof, 27 and at least one, but preferably two or more, adjacent and 28 parallel stress concentrator aperture-forming protrusion members 29 inwardly displacing at least a portion of the fault llne or fault pattern of the relatively stiff sheet, each of said protrusion - 8 - Yo~O,l~n-J5 I 2 ~ J ~ 2 1 members preferably comprising an elongated, thin-walled qenerally 2 channel-shaped configuration, which conf$guration i5 expandable 3 upon rupture.
4 Advantageously, the aforesaid preferred elongated channel-shaped configuration is positioned generally 6 perpendicular to the fault line, and several of the 3tress 7 concentrators may be employed, preferably in parallel and 8 adjacent to one another, forming a stres~ concentrator aperture-9 forming pattern which facilitates rupturing of the container and which is also expandable upon rupture to further facilitate 11 release of the ~aterials stored therein. In a preferred 12 embodiment the channel configuration in cross-section has a 13 rounded bottom and a pointed or rounded crest or peak. In a 14 further pre~erred emhodiment, the fault line traverse~ only some of the channel-shaped stress concentrator members. Thus, for 16 example, interior stress concentrating channels that act as 17 rupturing members are traversed or scored by the fault line, and 18 outer stress concentrating channels which may be scored or not by 19 the fault line act as stiffeners or guard channels, which serve to resist inadvertent opening of the rupturing members during 21 transportation and storage of the dispenser package. The outer 22 channels additionally have a significant effect on the forces 23 which control the manner in which the package opens. Also, as 24 preferably embodied, the stress concentrator pattern of elongated channels are recessed below the plane of the relatively stiff 26 sheet surface, further strengthening the th~n outer surface o~
27 the relatively stiff sheet and further resisting inadvertent 28 opening when the dispenser pacXage iB pressed or ~ent the ~wrong~
29 way i e., opposite the normal opening direction.

~ _9~ 0,~

2092~.2 1 ~ In accordanc- ~lth another pr-~orr~d e=bodl=-nt o~ the 2 ¦ l esent lnvention, a dupleY or =u1tlpl~Y dlap-nser package 1-3 provided which comprises at least two closely adjacent, 4 separately enclosed chambera, each chamber havlng on~ ~ide ~acins S the relatively stiff flat sheet, and at least one stress 6 concentrator aperture-forming protrus~on me~ber positioned above 7 an enclosed chamber and may displace at least a portion of the 8 fault line or fault pattern out of the plane of the relatively 9 stiff flat sheet in a direction away from its associated enclosed chamber. Each stress concentrator aperture-forming memher i5 11 preferably perpendicular to the ~ault line, and extends along the 12 length of the relatively stiff flat sheet.
13 It will be seen ~rom the foregoing that the multiple 14 chamber arrangement of the latter embodiment provides a dispenser pacXage whlch may contain at least two d~screte flowable 16 substances which are isolated from each other prior to use but 17 which are opened and dispensed essentially simultaneously from .
18 the two separate openings formed by rupture o~ the channel-shaped 19 stress concentrator members upon bending o~ the package $nto a "V" shape. Advantageously, and preferably, a plurality of the 21 aforesaid stress concentrator aperture-forming members are 22 positioned and aligned in a parallel and closely facing 23 relationship. It has been found that such a duplex or multiple 24 chamber pacXage can be constructed so that, upon rupture o~ said channel-shaped stress concentrator members, the separately 26 contained flowable substances are dispensed in two closely spaced 27 streams that are easily directed into contact with each other.
28 As used herein, the term~ nfault line" or "fault 29 pattern~ are intended to encompass the aforesald alternat~ve~ of a cut pattern, a single straight line extending across a port~on ~ Yod~ JO, J99~./lIU

2 ~ r~ 2 2 1 of all of the relatively stiff ~lat sheet, or a fault area ~ormed 2 by weakening means other than by a scored continuous line.
3 It will be apparent ~rom the ~oregolnq general 4 description that the objects o~ the invention ~pecifically S enumerated herein are accomplished by the invention as here 6 embodied.
7 Thus, in accordance with the preferred e~bodiments of 8 the invention, it has been found that a dlspenser package 9 constructed of high strength, high quality barrier material may be opened by rupture of a plurality of parallel elongated and 11 thin-walled stress concentrating channel-shaped members, that the 12 aperture formed upon rupture of such a pattern of channel-shaped 13 members is expandable, and that such an aperture-forming 14 structure can be constructed more economically, utllizing thinner gauge materials than those utilized to construct prior dispenser 16 packages having externally projecting stress concentrating 17 protrusion members, such as shown in one or more of the aforesaid 18 Redmond patents.
19 In another preferred embodiment of the present invenSion, the aforesaid stress concentrator aperture-forming 21 means is used to provide a similar means of access to flowable 22 products stored in any all-purpose package container. Thus, as 23 here embodied, the aforesaid stress concentrator aperture-forming 24 structure is formed in a sheet of relatively stiff, thln-walled material which is then suitably sealably mounted over an opening 26 provided in the wall of a conventional container, such as for 27 mil~, juice, oil, etc. The stress concentrating aperture-forming 28 structure of the present invention may be ruptured not only by 29 bending pressure, but by internal pressure a~ well. Thu~, for example, squeezing a milk container cau~es the a~oresald stress ~ 10,1~315 2~22~

1 concentrator to rupture the fault line, providing access to the 2 milk stored therein, creating an openlng which remains open by 3 continued squeezing. Upon relea~e of pressure the stress 4 concentrator reverts to its original closed po~ltion, albeit no longer in a sealed condition.
6 Another preferred embodiment of the present invention 7 employs the stress concentrating means a~ disclosed in the 8 dispenser package embodiment but positioned inside a dispenser 9 package or container instead of exterior to it as in the previou6 embodiments. In this embodiment, a small slit or opening is made 11 in the wall of the package or container. The stress concentrator 12 is then positioned on the inside of the wall over the slit or 13 opening and sealed around it, thereby preventing the flowable 14 substance from contacting the sllt or opening. The flo~able substances may then flow out of the container or package through .
16 the ruptured stress concentrator and slit or opening by squeezing 17 or bending the dispenser package.
18 ~t will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that 19 the foregoing brief description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory of the present 21 invention, but are not intended to be restrictive thereof or 22 limiting of the advantages which can be achieved by the invention 23 or various combinations thereof. The accompanying drawings, 24 referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the 26 detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the 28 invention.

- 12 - uO~lO,l~nJ15 2~9~.22~

I ~RIBF D~9CRIPTI~ 0~ D~A~I~G~
2 FIG. lA is 8 top plan vlew o~ a pre~erred stress 3 concentrator member constructed in accordance wlth the present 4 invention, the view showing a recessed stress concentrating pattern including several stress concentrating protrusion me~bers 6 on the relatively stiff top side of the stress concentrator 7 member, the protrusion members oriented perpendicularly to a 8 fault line, showing the outer guard stress concentrating members 9 having a greater length than the inner rupturing members, and the fault line traversing only the inner rupturing stress 11 concentrating members;
12 FIGS. lB-lD are top plan views illustratlng variou3 13 other stress concentrating patterns in accordance with the 14 present lnvention: FIG. lB illustrating the fault line extending across the entire stress concentrating pattern, FIG. lC
16 illustrating the fault line extending across the face of the 17 relatively stiff side of the stress concentrator member beyond 18 the stress concentrating pattern, and FIG. lD illustrating both 19 the inner rupturing and outer guard stress concentrating members having identical lengths;
21 FIG. 2 is a view in perspective o~ the stress 22 concentrator member shown in FIG. lA;
23 FIG. 3 is a view in perspective another stress 24 concentrator member having a barrier layer;
FIG. 4A is a view in cross-section of a stress 26 concentrator member constructed in accordance with a preferred 27 embodiment of the present invention about the fault line, 28 illustrating a series of channels having pointed peaks and 29 rounded valleys;

- 13 - ~ 10,~ 131 2~.22~ -1 FIG. 4a is a view in perspective of tha stres3 2 concentrator member shown in cross-section in FIG. 4A, 3 illustrating a series of channel-~ having rounded peaks and 4 rounded valleys;
FIG. 4C is a view in perspective o~ the ctress 6 concentrator member shown in cross-section ln FIG. 4A, 7 illustrating a series of channels having pointed peaks and 8 pointed valleys;
9 FIG. 4D is a view in perspective of the stress concentrator member constructed in accordance with the present 11 invention, illustrating a recessed stre~ concentrating pattern, 12 having a series of rounded peaks and valleys; .
13 FIG. 4E is a view similar to FIG. 4D, having more 14 deeply recessed guard members and pointed peaks and rounded valleys;
16 FIG. SA is a view in perspective of a dispenser package 17 constructed in accordance with the present invention, the view 18 showing the package in its pre-opened condition;
19 FIGS. 5B and 5C are front and side plan views of the dispenser pac~age shown in FIG. 5A;
21 FIG. 6A shows a side view of the substantially flat 22 relatively stiff sheet in its pre-opened condition;
23 FIG. 63 shows a view in cross-sectlon o~ the 24 substantially flat relatively stiff sheet shown in FIG. 6A having only one flute; and 26 FIG. 6C shows a similar view of the dispenser package 27 of FIG. 6A in use, this view illustrating the pac~age upon 28 initial bending and at its moment of rupture along the fault 29 line;

- 14 - ~10,1992J13 2091~22 1 FIG. 7A is a view in side elevation of a dispenser 2 package constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of 3 the present invention in its pre-opened condition;
4 FIG. 7B is a similar view o~ the dispenser package of FIG. 7A in use, this view illustrating the package upon initial 6 ~ending and at its moment of ruptur~ at the fault line;
7 FIG. 7C is a view in perspective of the dispenser 8 package of FIG. 7B in use, and also at the moment of rupture at 9 the fault line;
FIG. 7D i5 a similar view of the dispenser package of 11 FIG. 7B in use, this view illustrating the package upon further 12 bending and rupturing along the fault line;
13 FIG. 7E is a similar view of the dispenser package o~
14 FIG. 7C, thiq view illustrating the package upon further bendlng and rupturing and showing the creation of the dispenser opening;
16 FIG. 7F is a similar view of the dispenser package of 17 FIG. 7E, this view illustrating the package upon even further 18 bending, showing the creation of a larger dispenser aperture 19 which would allow passage of chunky products;
FIGS. 8A-8G are views of the stress concentrator member 21 of the present invention used in various containers: FIG. 8A
22 shows a container such as for milk or orange juice; FIG. 8B shows 23 a cylindrically shaped container; and FIGS. 8C-8G show another 24 for~ of dispenser package;
FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional and outline views 26 of a cover and strut member for preventing the stress 28 concentrating pattern from prematurely rupturing;

- 15- 1~1O,J992~1/l5 ~ 209122%

1 FIG. lOA is a sectional view ot a pouch container, such 2 as for catsup, including the stress concentrator member o~ the 3 present invention, also showing the slit opening which is atop 4 the fault line of the stress concentrating pattern; .
S FIG. lOB is a view in perspective of the pouch shown in 6 FIG. lOA, showing the contents of the pouch flowing out of the 7 pouch;
8 FIGS. llA and 11~ are views Or a container such as for 9 soft butter, employing a stress concentrator in accordance with the present invention; and 11 FIG. 12 illustrates a container such as for milk or 12 orange juice, having a trimmed corner employing a stress 13 concentrator member in accordance with the present invention.

C~8CRIPTION OF~TX~ PREYEM ~ ODIMENT~
16 ~ererring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the 17 accompanyinq drawings, there is illustrated a stresq 18 concentrating member for containers and dispenser packages 19 constructed in accordance with the present invention, indicated generally by 2S.
21 As here embodied and illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, 22 stress concentrating member 2S of the present invention includes 23 a substantially flat and relatively stiff sheet 12 having a 2~ stress conc~ntrating pattern 2C on one surface of sheet 12.
Sheet i2 is preferably made of a plastic material most suitable 2fi to the product contained and the protection it reguires.
27 Materials, such as high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), high 28 density polyethylene (HDPE) polyester, Barex, polypropylene, 29 etc., may also be used. For sur~ace materials having high moisture vapor transmission rates, a sealant/barrier 1~ may be - 16 - ~I~JO,J

2~9~222 l suitably bonded to the inner surface 16 of substantially flat 2 relatively stiff sheet 12 so that sheet 12 and sealant/barrier 1 3 are rendered integral with one another, as shown Ln FIG. 3. As 4 understood by those skilled in the art, whereas plastics of similar material may be heat-sealed or bonded together, bonding 6 different plastics together requires adhesives. Preferably, 7 linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) is u~ed as an adhesive.
8 Thu~, multi-layered plastics formed by coextrusion ~ay be sealed 9 together to form the sheet 12 and sealant/barrier 1~ of the present invention.
11 Stress concentrating member 25 may be secured to any 12 container for flowable substances, and is provided with a stress 13 concentrating protrusion pattern 26, having one or more stress 14 concentrating protrusion members 26A, 26~, 26C, 26D, 26- or more, preferably formed perpendicularly to a fault line 24. Shown in 16 FIG. lA is a preferred stress concentrating member 2S, having a 17 preferred pattern 26 with members 26a-26~. As here preferably 18 embodied, protrusion members 26A-26B are formed in the shape o~ a 19 trough, flute, or channel configuration. Protrusion members 26A
and 26B are preferably longer than members 26B-26D, which act as 21 guard or stiffening protrusion members and are preferably on 22 either side of said shorter rupturing protrusion mem~ers. The 23 length of guard members 26A and 26~ in relation to the inner 24 protrusion members 26~-26D is dependent upon the num`ber of inner members, their size, spacing and shape. Thus, the ratio of 26 length between the non-rupturing guard protrusion members and the 27 rupturing protrusion members changes, but a generally preferred 28 range is 5 to 20, and a more preferred range i8 5 to 10. Guard 29 protrusion members may also be placed in between the shorter -17~ JO,1992/lJI~

2~9~22~

1 pturlng protruiion =embors to provide added ~upport or other 2 properties to stress concentrating member 2S. .
3 As shown in FIG. lA, ~ault line 2~ i5 preferably formed 4 by scoring said stress concentrating me~ber 25 acrosa said stress concentrating protrusion pattern 26. Preferably, fault line 2 6 traverses only the inner rupturing protrusion members 26~-26D.
7 It will be understood that the ~ault line 2~ of the present 8 invention is not limited to a linear fault pattern, but may 9 encompass various fault patterns or weakened areas. Also, fault line 24 may traverse some but not all rupturing members, forming 11 an interrupted fault line. Further, fault lina 24 may traverse 12 the protrusions in the stress concentrating protrusion pattern 26 13 at other orientations than that shown in FIGS. lA-lD, depending 14 upon ~actors such as type o~ material used and flowable substance contained. As noted, the longer guard protrusion members 26A and 16 26~ are pre~erably not traversed by ~ault line 24, and ~ay 17 thereby resist inadvertent opening of the inner rupturing 18 protrusion members 26B-26D during transportation and storage.
19 Further, the unscored guard protrusion members have a significant effect upon the ~orces which control the manner in which the 21 container opens.
22 FIGS. lB, lC and lD show alternate configuratlons of 23 the stress concentrating pattern 26. In FIG. lB, fault line 2 24 on relatively stiff flat sheet 12 traverses the entire stress concentrating pattern 26, including not only the shorter 26 rupturing protrusion members 26~, 26C and 26D, but also the 27 longer protrusion members 26A and 26~, which now also act as 28 rupturing members. FIG. lC shows fault line 2~ extending beyond 29 stress concentrating pattern 26 to the side edges o~ relatively stiff flat sheet 12. FIG. lD illustrates a stress concentrating - 18 - ~lo;~mls ~ 2 ~

1 pattern 26 having the inner and outer protrusion mem~er~ of the 2 sam~ length. Additional configuration~ or orientations of the 3 protrusion members of stress concentrating pattern 2~ of ~tress 4 concentrating member 25 are readily apparent to those ~killed in the art. Also, protrusion member~ 26A-26E preferably for~
6 elongated, thin-walled, rib-li~e and channel-shaped 7 configurations.
8 In FIG. 4A stress concentrating ~ember 2S ~B 6hown ln 9 cross-section about fault line 2~. As preferably e~bodied, stress concentrating protrusion me~bers 2CA-26~ have rounded 11 bottoms ~l to better prevent inadvertent rupture and sharp crests 12 or peaks 4D. Alternative e~bodiments, however, may include 13 rounded bottoms 41 and peaks 40A, as shown in FIG. 4B, sharp 14 bottoms 41A and peaks, as ~hown in FIG. 4C, sharp bottoms and rounded peaks (not shown), and combinations thereof.
16 Stress concentrating pattern 26 may al50 be recessed 17 from the plane formed by the substantially flat relatively stiff 18 sheet 12, as shown in FIG. 4D: a preferred embodiment of the 19 dispenser package embodiment discussed below. Rece~ing stress concentrating pattern 26 not only increases the stiffness of 21 stress concentrating member 2S but also resists advertent opening 22 of a container utilizing said mem~er 25 durlng pac~ing, ~torage, 23 or transportation due to undesirable downward pressure upon 24 stress concentrating pattern 2-. As shown in PIG. 4D, stress concentrating pattern 26 is recessed an amount B, preferably 26 approximately 0.030", and protrusion member~ 26A-26~ are spaced 27 an amount D, preferably approximately 0.080~ and are an amount C, 28 preferably approximately 0.080~, deep (from the plane for~ed by 29 the substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12). ~he thickness of the substantially flat relatively stir~ sheet 12 18 preferably - 19 - J~10,199Vl I ~ 2 ~

1 0.006" along the outer plane as well as within the stresq 2 concentrating pattern 26, but may range in the thickness over the 3 range 0.004-0.012". Preferably, ths recessed protrusion member~
4 2CA-26~ have rounded bottoms ~1 and sharp peaks ~0. A~ shown in FIG. 4E, guard protrusion members 26~ and 26~ may be recessed 6 deeper than stress concentrating pattern 26 to provide more 7 support and greater resistance to inadvertent or even intended 8 opening, e.g, a container containing a potentially dangerou~
9 flowable substance will only open upon exertion of ~ufficient pressure and not less. Also, guard protrusion members may be 11 placed in between the rupturing members to provide additional 12 support.
13 It should also be readily understood by those skilled 14 in the art that the size and shape, l-e., pointed or rounded, of said protrusion members in the stress concentrating pattern 2~
16 may be varied within the pattern, thereby combining the features 17 of the pattsrns heretofore described.
18 Referring now more particularly to FIG. 5 of the 19 accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a dispenser package employing a stress concentrator member 2S in accordance with the 21 present invention, and indicated generally by reference numeral 22 10.
23 As here embodied and illustrated in FIGS. SA-5C, 24 dispenser package 10 includes a substantially flat relatively stif~ sheet 12 as described above, which may also have a 26 sealant/barrier 14 suitably bonded to the inner surface 1~ of 27 sheet 12 so that sheet 12 and the sealant/barrier 1~ are rendered 28 integral with one another. Also suitably integrally bonded to 29 tho outer perimeter of sheet 12 or bonded sheet ~2, 14 i8 ~
flexible sslf-supporting sheet '~ for~ing at least one pouch or - 20 - ~ o~ Jl5 2~:9~^2~

1 chamber 22 ad~acent the aforesaid inner surface 1~ o~ flat sheet 2 12 for conta~ning a flowable substance.
3 Advantageously, and as here preferably embodied, the 4 layer of a suitable sealant/vapor impervious barrier material 14 5 i9 suitably integrally bonded to flat sheet lZ on the inner 6 surface 16 which faces flexible sheet 18. Flexible sheet 18, 7 advantageously formed by conventional means, such as vacuum 8 forming, pressure forming, mechanical forning or comblnations 9 thereof, is likewise suitably integrally bonded to sheet 1 as the case may be.
11 The bonds between substantially flat relatively ~tiff 12 sheet 12, sealant/barrier material 14 and flexible side 18 al~o 13 may be formed by conventional means known to persons of ordlnary 14 skill in the packaging art, such as welding, heat sealing, or adhesive or coheslve bonding, the particular bonding method 16 selected depending upon the particular properties of the 17 materials used and the flowable substance(s) to be contained.
18 Advantageously, and as preferably embodied, 19 substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 is pre~erably made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), but when combined with 21 barrier l~ may be made of polystyrene, polyester, EVOH (ethylene 22 vinyl alcohol), or a copolymer thereof, and barrier l~ i9 made of 23 a suitable sealant/vapor impervious barrier material compri~ing 24 saran and foil laminate, or comprising a lamlnate of foil and vinyl, or foil alone, depending upon the nature of the contents 26 to be contained. A particularly tough, high barrier construction 27 comprises saran laminated on each side with polyethylene (sold by 28 Dow Chemical Co. under the name "Saranex~) as the barrier ~heet 29 14, in turn laminated onto polystyrene or polyester, form$ng the substantially flat relatively stif~ sheet ~2. The thlckness of -21- U~10,~992/~115 l 2~ 2~2 1 s ~taneially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 varle~ acccrding tc 2 factors, such as the properties of the materials used, flowable 3 substance contained, and intended usage. A generally preferred 4 range is 4-12 mils ~0.004 - 0.012n), and a mOrQ preferred range is 4-6 mils. Also, substantially flat relatively stif~ sheet 12 6 is prefer~bly also relatively flexible, 3pring-like, and capable 7 of being st$ffened by ribbing material.
8 It will be understood of those of ordinary skill in the 9 art that the bonds formed between materials 12, 14 and 18 can be obtained by the conventional means previously described, again 11 depending upon the nature of the flowable substance being 12 contained. These and other equivalent materials and bonding 13 systems are described in the aforementloned '640, '574, '715 and 14 '982 patents, the disclo3ures ot which are hereby incorporated by re~erence.
16 It will be seen from the foregoing that the structure 17 o~ FIGS. 5A-5C forms an enclosed pouch or chamber 22 between 18 flexible side 18 and substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 19 12, 14 in which the flowable substance is contained and from which the flowable substance is dispensed. Advantageously, the 21 enclosed pouch or chamber 22 comprises a pair of later~lly spaced 22 pockets 20, 21, as shown in FIGS. 5A and SB, which may be 23 interconnected by a shallow duct or channel 29, more ~ully 24 described in the aforesaid Redmond '715 patent.
Prior packaging systems, such as disclosed in the '640, 26 '574, '715 and '982 patents, involve symmetric or asymmetric 27 stress concentratinq members which extend above the plane formed 28 by the substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 and barrier 29 14. As previously discussed, the higher the protrusion, the more likely the package will be damaged during transportation and - 22 - y~lo~Jff~3 2 ~ Q ~ 2 1 handling. one of the governing factors in determining the 2 requi~ite height Or the stress concentrating protrusion member is 3 the elasticity of the substantially ~lat relatlvely stiff sheet 4 12, which may incorporate a sealant barrier layer 1~. Decreasinq S the height of the protrusion results in a smaller dispenser 6 opening 30, per protrusion channel and less rupturing damage, as 7 shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the minimum height of an external 8 protrusion is limited by the type of plastic, its thicknes~ and 9 physical qualities.
As described in the '574 patent, more dispenser 11 openings and greater flow can be generated by increasing the 12 number of external protrusion members. Further, lengthening the 13 stress concentrating protrusions to extend substantially the full 14 length of the package also greatly increases its stiffness, thereby reducing the gauge requirement of the top side and 16 per~itting lower costs. As a result o~ this stiffening and 17 shallow depth, the external protrusions on the pacXage may be 18 straight "V" shaped flutes, ridges or channels along or ad~acent 19 to one another. Nonetheless, the external protrusion members of these previous systems cause several problems and disadvantaqes, 21 particularly due to inappropriate rupturing.
22 In accordance with the present invention, dispenser 23 package 10 is preferably provided with a recessed stress 24 concentrating pattern 26 as described above, with one or more troughs or flutes extending inward from the outer surracs Or the 26 relatively stiff flat sheet 12, instead of outward as in the 27 previous patents. This inversion of the stress concentrating 28 protruding member overcomes many of the difficultieq and 29 disadvantages present in the prior patents. First, the outer surface of the substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 - 23 - ~Jol~n 2 ~ 2 I ~ ~alns planar vithout ~ny protr~dlng peaks extonding out of th-2 plane away from the enclosed pouch 22. Thiq allows far more 3 efficient packaging and decreased dangers of inadvertent rupture 4 during transportation or storage. Second, printing on the substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 over the stress 6 concentrating pattern 26 remain~ readable, unlike printing on the 7 prior externally protruding members. Third, packags stiffness is 8 greatly increased over prior external protrusion packages due to 9 ncrush points~ that resist inadvertent opening. Lastly, the present configuration allows for the use of thinner and/or 11 softer, and therefore lower cost materials not only for the 12 substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 but also for the 13 barrier 14, which previously lent an important degree of rigidity 14 to the package. The reduced cost and usage o~ elastic material lS makes the package of the present invention both economically and 16 environmentally preferable to all present dispenser packaging.
17 It will be seen from the foregoing, and as described in 18 more detail in the aforesaid Redmond patents that fault line 24 19 acts as a guide for controlled rupture of substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 as packaqe ~0 is bent into a ~V~ shape 21 about fault 24. As substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 22 is bent into a "V" shaped configuration, stress is concentrated 23 or focused in a manner different from the outwardly protruding 24 stress concentrating configurations in prior patents, such as the Redmond '574.
26 Unlike the prior Redmond patents, a pivot point 3~ of 27 the present embodiment does not lie on or within the surface of 28 substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12 hut instead drcps 29 beneath the stiff flat side 12 toward the bottom 41 of the stress concentrating protrusion members, as shown by reference numer~l ~1 - 2~ -l ~ 2 2 1 31 in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The pivot point 3~ therefore becomas a 2 ~ulcrum between the peak 12 of pre~erAbly rounded bottom ~, 3 which becomes a "crush~ point, and tho plane or the substantlally 4 flat relatively stif~ shQet 12. Upon applicatlon o~ ~orc-S designated by A and A~, as shown in FIG. 6C and also shown in 6 FIGS. 7B-7E, pivot point 31 moves until reaching the plane formed 7 by the outer surface of the substantially flat relatively stiff 8 sheet 12. The crushing forces caused by the A, A' movement of 9 the dispenser package lO also causes the crush point 32 to migrate in the same direction as the pivot point 31. The result 11 of this co~bination of crush points and relocated pivot points is 12 that, when the package is bent into a "V", the crushing forces at 13 the crush points force the crush points to the plane of the 14 substantially flat relatively stiff qheet 12. This causes an arcuate configuration on each side of the rupturing stress 16 concentrating members, as shown in FIGS. 6C and 7C.
17 Although the stress concentrating means of the present 18 invention works with single or dual flute configurations, the 19 present invention shows further unique characteristics ~hen the number of flutes is increased to 3, 4 and 5 or more. With the 21 larger number of flutes in the stress concentrating pattern 2~, 22 combined with the use of unscored, guard protrusion members 2~a 23 and 2~ as shown in FIG. lA, when dispenser pac~age 10 is bent 24 into a "V" configuration, the pattern 26 bulges outwardly, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7D, creating an expandabl~ dispensing 26 aperture 30, as shown in FI~. 7E, which is roughly shaped like an 27 oval, a football or an ellipse. Aperture 30 is a relativeiy 28 large opening compared to the opening created by the previous 29 Redmond stress concentrator~.

- 25 - ~ O,I~JI~

2 ~

l Another advantage over th~ prior Redmond patents 2 i9 that the stress concentrating means of the present 3 invention tends not to squirt upon inltial rupturing. Indeed, it 4 wa~ found that the stres~ concentrat~ng ~ean~ o~ the present S invention tear open, but do not snap, and ar~ thu6 inherently 6 non-squirting. ~he antl-squirt feature dlscloset in the Redmond 7 '715 patent is thus unnecessary. Since the antl-squirt feature 8 by its very nature tends to block the flow path, el~ination of 9 this feature at least beneath the stres3 concentrating mean~
allows dispenser pacXage 10 to dispense ~chunky" products, such 11 a~ blue cheese, salad dr~ssing, mustard/relish comblnation, 12 chunky peanut butter, salsa, and any other chunky yet flowable 13 products.
14 In researching better constructions and designs for the pac~age and stress concentrator in order to reduce costs, lt w~s 16 found that extending the length of the stress concentrator 26 to 17 substantially the length of the pac~age stlPfened thin films.
18 While a slngle long protrusion was effective ~n stiffening the 19 protrusion side, the rate of dispensing the product was greatly limited. Larger protrusions, although lncreasing dispensing 21 rate, required thicXer and thus more expenslve f$1m~. ~ncreasing 22 the number of protrusions or members in the stresq concentrator 23 as shown in FIG. 7, especially where the ~embers are ad~acent, 24 increased dispenslng rate. For example, ~or BiX 1/8" wide adjacent protrusions crossing the fault line 2~, apertura 30 26 width is 3/4". Further investigation revealed that the pre~erred 27 "accordion"-shaped corrugations along aperture 30 "fitretch" or 28 de-accordion to for~ an even larger opening, as fihown in FIG. 7~, 29 allowing very large chunXs up to ~ in dlamete~ to pass through.

~ - 26 - ~Od/olsnWJ

~122~

'L The accordion pleats simply flattened out to create the expanded 2 aperture 30 in FIG. 7F.
3 It will be apparent from the foregoing and ~g shown in 4 FIGS. 7E and 7F, that the localized opening created at expandable¦
aperture 30 develops a highly directed stream of the flowable 6 substance as the rigid side halves lOA, 108, a~ shown in FIG. 7E, 7 act cooperatively with flexible side 18 to squeeze and expel the 8 contents of pouches 20 and 21.
9 Additional embodiments of the present invention form flexible sheet 18 into two or more separately enclosed, closely 11 adjacent pouches or chambers to thereby for~ a ~duplex" dispenser 12 package. 5uch duplex dispenser packages may contain two or more 13 separate and distinct products iQolated from each other prior to 14 use and co~bined simultaneously upon opening. Preferably, dispenser containers having multiple chambers have a separate 16 fault line across each chamber. Additional embodiment~ of the 17 present invention provide compartments of dirferent sizes, where 18 unequal quantities of different products may be separately stored 19 and yet may be dispensed both accurately and essentially simultaneously.
21 It will be understood that the construction of 22 relatively stiff flat sheet 12 in either of the previously 23 described embodiments may be advantageous even when no extra 24 sealant or barrier material 1~ is required, and such construction is within the scope of the present invention. As previously 26 described in connection with the use of a localized fault line, 27 such a construction may be particularly desirable in dispensing 28 low viscosity flowable substances such as water, cream or alcohol 29 in a highly directed stream from an essentially dripless package.
Such flowable substances do not require a special sealant/barrier - 27 - Y~J0l~/J3ls `2 ~ 2 2 ~

1 layer 14 and yet are appropriate substance9 for a di~penser 2 havlng the other advantages of the present invention.
3 The stress concentrator pattern 26 hereto has been 4 shown in association with dispenser packages 10 for small quantitie~ o~ flowable substance8, which are opened by bending 6 t~e package and rupturing along a fault line 24. Stress 7 concentrator pattern 26, however, may also operate by means of 8 internal pressure, for example, squeezing the container or package. In this alternate embodiment o~ the invention, stress concentrator pattern 26 may be used in association with any al~-11 purpose containers for flowable substance~, such as orange ~UiCQ
12 and milk containers, tooth paste, motor oil, or other flowable 13 substances. Preferably, stress concentrator pattern 2~ opens 14 upon squeezing the contalner and also automatically retracts upon ~5 release, thereby covering the enclosed rlowable substance, albeit 16 not neces~arily resealing it.
17 In this alternative embodiment, stress concentrator 18 member 25 is preferably formed as in the previous embodiment: a 19 substantially flat relatively stiff sheet 12, a stress concentrating pattern 26, including a series of opposed, closely 21 spaced, substantially flute-shaped stress concentrating 22 protrusion member5 26A-26F, and a fault line 24, all as 23 previously described. Stress concentrator member 25 is 24 preferably affixed within or on the top or side of a container, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, by heat-sealing, adhesive~, or any other 26 affixation method known to those sXilled in the art.
27 Shown in FIG. 8A is stress concentrator member 2S on 28 the side of a container 70, such as for milk or orange ~uice.
29 Stres~ concentrator member 25 and stress concentrating pattern 26 are preferably operated by squeezing the conta$ner 70, thereby ll - 28 -~ 2 ~ 2 l generating internal pressure upon the ~tres~ concentrat~ng 2 pattern 26, causing it to rupture substantlally as be~ore in tho 3 previous embodiment along ~ault line 24. The contents may then 4 be dispensed. Alternatively, stre ~ concentrating pattern 26 may be manipulated by the user to rupture along fault line 2~, 6 without necessarily creating internal pressure, by benting stress 7 concentrating pattern 26 to rupture, a~ described in the 8 dispenser package embodiment.
9 Shown in FIG. 8B is a cylindrical container 7~ having stress concentrator member 25 with stre~s concentrating pattern 11 26 on the top thereof. Squeezing the sides of container 71 12 ruptures the stress concentrating pattern 26, which until the 13 application of pressure was pre~erably ~ealed, thereby allowing 14 the user to acce9s the snclosed substance. Preferably, stress concentrator member 25 is covered to prevent inadvertent 16 premature rupturing of stress concentrating pattern 2~.
17 Preferably a strut 80 covers stress concentrating pattern 26 18 during shipping and ~torage. Strut B0 rein~orces the stres~
19 concentrating pattern 26 and helps prevent accidental opening due to accidental pressures upon the container prior to use.
21 Preferably, strut 80 should be readily removable, as with a peel-22 off strut. FIG. 9A shows an embodiment of strut 80, which 23 includes a peel-off cover 81, which i8 affixed onto the sur~ace 24 70A of container 70 and preferably over stresn concentrator member 25; and a strut member 82, which i~ af~ixed to the cover 26 81 and extends perpendicularly to contact the stress 27 concentrating pattern 26 within stress concentrator member 2S, as 28 shown in FIG. 9B.
29 Preferably, strut member 82 applie~ pressure to the stress concentrating pattern 26 in the oppo~ite direction o~ the - 29 - Y~10,1ffX~115 2~222 1 pressure needed to open the pattern 26, il~l~ strut 82 appliQs a 2 countervailing force against pattern 2~ to prevent internal .~ pressures from within the container rrOm rupturing the protruslo 4 members of the pattern 26. Peeling off the co~er al along with the strut member 82, release~ the counter~ailing forcs preventing 6 ~tre~s concentrating pattern 2S ~ro~ rupturlng and opening.
7 Removal of the cover 81 allows the user to squeez~ the container 8 and access the contents stored ~ithin.- FIG. 93 shows peel-off 9 cover 81 on the container surface 70A. Strut ~ember B2, stress concentrator member 25, and stress concentrating pattern 2S are 11 also shown.
12 Additional protective covers over stress concentrating 13 pattern 26 may include a cover 81 without strut a2, or any other 14 protectiva covers readily understood by those skllled in the art.
As with container 70, a strut 80 may be used to ensure 16 sealing o~ the container, such as for milk products. Strut 80 17 may be removed to allow the user to access the contents. Since 18 the stress concentrator member 2S does not reseal, a sealing 19 cover such a~ an adhesive may be employed to fit over said stres~
concentrator member 2S to provide a sanitary seal ~or products, 21 such as milk, which spoil.
22 Another use for stress concentrating member 2S i8 shown 23 in FIGS. 8C-8G. The dispenser package shown in FIGS. 8C-8G has a 24 stress concentrating member 2S along a dispensing surface 83 of dispenser 72, which is formed by folding and sealing a flexible 26 sheet of naterial 18, as shown in FIG. 8G to the shape shown in 27 FIGS. 8C-8F, and sealing the edges along edge 90, a~ shown in 28 FIG. 8F. Squeezing dispenser 72, as shown in FIG. BC, ruptures 29 the stress concentratinq pattern 26 and releases the product - 30 - J~ 101992 2~Q~22~

1 stored within. Further squeezing removes the remaining content~
2 from the dispenser 72.
3 Another embodiment of the present invention is a new 4 and improved pillow container or sachet, such as for catsup, S mustard, etc. As shown in FIG. 10A, stresR concentrator ~ember 6 2S may be affixed within the sachet container 73. The sachet 73 7 in this embodiment preferably includes a pouch made of laminate 8 of saran coated polyester of thickness 0.001~ t50 calibers), 9 0.000285" aluminum foil, and an inner layer of 0.0025~ LLDPF. A
portion of inner layer LLDPE is shown in cro~s-section in FIG.
11 10. On one surface 73A of said container 73 is a slit or opening 12 a4 through the above laminate.
13 Slnce the lnner layer of pouch 73 is preferably coated 14 with LLDPE, stress concentrator member 25 is also pre~erably coated with a layer of LLDPE to a thickness of approximately 16 0.001" to allow bonding between the two surfaces, along a 17 peripheral edge portion 89 of stress concentrator member 25.
18 Stress concentrator member 25 is preferably aligned within ~aid 19 pouch to position said fault line 2~ under the slit opening 84.
Stress concentrator member 25 is preferably firmly 21 attached to the inside surface 73~ of the pouch 73 underneath and 22 around the slit 8- thereby blocking any product within the pouch 23 from contacting the slit opening 8~. When the pouch is filled 24 with a flowable substance, sealed and ready to use, as in the dispenser package embodiment shown in FIG. 10A, slmple bending of 26 the pouch into a "V~ configuration, where the fau1t line 27 preferably runs along the peak Or the "V", ruptures the internal 28 stress concentrating pattern 26 of ~tress concentrator me~ber 25, 29 allowing the flowable substance 88 to rlow out Or the pouch 73, as shown in FIG. 10~. Preferably, the fault line is in - 31 - ~l~lQI992/1l11 ~&~2~2 1 proxi=at~ ~llgn~-n~ With th~ Ylle in th~ pouch v~ll, th~r~y 2 providing a clear path for the product to b~ expelled fro~ the 3 pac~age upon further squeezing. It will be readily understood by 4 those skilled in the art that other conflquration~, orientatlono, S and placements o~ stre6s concentrator ~e~ber 25 and slit opening 6 84 on pouch 73, or other types of containers employing them, ~11 7 within the present invention.
8 A ~urther embodiment Or the present invention employ~ A
9 stress concentrator member 25 in domed dispenQer packages ~or products such as butter. As shown in FIGS. 11~ and llB, streso 11 concentrator member 25 i9 a~fixed to or ~orms the substantially 12 flat sur~ace 85 o~ container 74, which encloses a small amount of 13 soft butter, margarine, or like subgtance within a oemi-rigid 14 plastic dome 86. Also shown in FIGS. llA and llB iB a peel tab 87 which a user may pull to open the package in a conventional 16 way. The stress concentrator member 25, however, offers the user 17 another way to access the stored butter. By bending said stress 18 concentrator member 25 across t~e fault line 24 or squeezing the ls plastic dome 86, the user may rupture the stress concentrating protrusion pattern 26 across the fault line 24, as previously 21 discussed, and thereby access the stored substances.
22 A further embodiment of the present invention is a 23 container 69 such as for milk, which is trimmed along one corner, 24 forminq a surface 91, as shown in FIG. 12. Contalner 69 i8 preferably made of blow-molded plastic. A stre3s concentrator 26 member 2s may be placed on surface 91, and may ~e pre~sed to 27 initially rupture the protrusion pattern 26 open. Squeezlng 28 container 69, as with the previous container e~bodiments, opens 29 the protrusion pattern 26, and relea~e of pressur~ causeo the pattern 26 to retract. Preferably, stress concentrator member 25 ~ - 32 - ~-d~~on~

2 ~

1 i~ initially covered by a pull-tab seal, which i8 remoYed when 2 the user desires to access the contents. As mentioned, the user 3 preferably presses and ruptures the pattern 26 prior to use.
4 It will be understood by those skilled in the art th~t the present invention in its broader aspects is not li~lted to 6 the particular embodiments shown and de~cribed herein, and th~t 7 variations may be made which are within the scope o~ the 8 accompanying claims without departing fro~ the principles o~ the i~v- t--n o~ h~

- 3 3 - Y~ lo,

Claims

1. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member for packages or containers for a flowable substance, comprising:
a substantially flat relatively still sheet member formed from a relatively thin, relatively flexible material;
a stress concentrator aperture-forming means provided in said sheet member comprising at least one elongated, thin-walled protrusion member projecting from one surface of said sheet member and having a generally channel-shaped configuration;
said sheet member including a substantially flat peripheral edge portion around said stress concentrator aperture-forming means; and a fault line of predetermined length traversing said channel-shaped stress concentrator protrusion member;
whereby upon rupture of said fault line, said channel-shaped stress concentrator aperture-forming means forms a relatively flexible and expandable aperture opening.

2. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising:
a second member sealing affixed to said substantially flat peripheral edge portion on a second surface of said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member, wherein said second member includes at least one pouch for containing a flowable substance formed thereon;
wherein said second member includes said pouch on said second surface of said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member having at least one said elongated, thin-walled, channel-shaped protrusion member so that said one surface of said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member is free of projections;
whereby upon bending said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member into a "V" about an axis extending along said fault line so that the arms of said "V" encapture said pouch, said fault line initially ruptures at the loci of the base of said at least one channel-shaped stress concentrator protrusion member to create said relatively flexible and expandable aperture opening through which said flowable substance is dispensed in a directed flow.

3. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member includes a foil barrier material.

4. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member includes a plastic barrier material.

5. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member includes both foil and plastic barrier materials.

6. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said channel-shaped protrusion members spaced apart along said fault line to create a plurality of openings along said fault line upon bending said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet into said "V".

7. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plurality of said protrusion means are spaced sufficiently close together to cause said fault line to tear between each of said plurality of openings so as to create at least one relatively flexible and expandable opening of increased width along said fault line.

8. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plurality of protrusion means comprises non-rupturing guard protrusion members and rupturing protrusion members.

9. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 8, wherein said non-rupturing guard protrusion members are longer than said rupturing protrusion members.

10. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fault line traverses said rupturing protrusion members.

11. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 8, wherein said fault line traverses all protrusion members.

12. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 8, wherein said stress concentrating expandable aperture-forming member includes a plurality of rupturing protrusion members and wherein fault line traverses some but not all rupturing protrusion members.

13. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channel-shaped protrusion member has a sharp peak and a rounded bottom in cross-section along said fault line.

14. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channel-shaped protrusion member has a rounded peak and a rounded bottom in cross-section along said fault line.

15. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said channel-shaped protrusion member has a sharp peak and a sharp bottom in cross-sectional shape along said fault line.

16. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 2, wherein said flexible sheet member forms at least two separately enclosed side-by-side pouches adjacent said second surface of said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member, and including at least two of said channel-shaped protrusion members, one of which is positioned over each of said pouches, each of said channel-shaped protrusion members displacing at least a portion of said fault line out of the plane of said substantially flat relatively stiff sheet in a direction towards its associated pouch.

17. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stress concentrator aperture-forming means comprises a plurality of said channel-shaped protrusion members, wherein said stress concentrator aperture-foming means is recessed from a plane formed by said one surface of the substantially flat relatively stiff sheet member.

18. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said package is internally pressurized.

19. A stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stress concentrating expandable aperture-forming member includes a plurality of rupturing protrusion members, wherein said rupturing protrusion members are adjacent to one another, wherein upon application of pressure said rupturing protrusion members rupture and form a relatively flexible and expandable aperture opening and wherein relatively flexible and expandable aperture ope ning and wherein upon further pressure said relatively flexible and expandable aperture opening expands.

20. A container for a flowable substance, comprising:
a substantially flat sheet member formed from a relatively thin, relatively flexible material and made integral with a surface of said container;
a stress concentrator aperture-forming means provided in said sheet member comprising at least one elongated, thin-walled protrusion member protecting from one surface of said sheet member and having a generally channel-shaped configuration;
said sheet member including a substantially flat peripheral portion around said stress concentrator aperture-forming means; and a fault line of predetermined length traversing said channel-shaped stress concentrator protrusion member;
wherein upon application of pressure to said container said channel-shaped stress concentrator aperture-forming means ruptures along said fault line forming said aperture opening through which said flowable substance flows.

21. A container for a flowable substance as claimed in claim 20, wherein upon release of said pressure upon said container said channel-shaped stress concentrator means retracts to reduce said aperture opening.

22. A container for a flowable substance as claimed in claim 20, wherein said channel-shaped stress concentrator means is covered by a guard cover, wherein said guard cover has an interior side in contact with said channel-shaped stress concentrator means.

23. A container for a flowable substance as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a strut member securely fastened to said interior side of said guard cover, wherein upon covering said channel-shaped stress concentrator means with said guard cover said strut member abuts said channel-shaped stress concentrator means, wherein said strut member provides a counterforce to rupturing forces caused by applying pressure to said container.

24. A container for a flowable substance as claimed in claim 22, wherein said guard cover is removable.

25. A container for a flowable substance as claimed in claim 24, wherein said removable guard cover is peel-off.

26. A container for a flowable substance including a stress concentrator expandable aperture-forming member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container has a slit opening;
wherein said stress concentrating aperture-forming member is positioned within said container, wherein said one surface of said substantially flat sheet member is positioned along the interior surface of said container beneath said slit opening;
wherein said stress concentrating aperture-forming member is secured to said interior surface of said container around said slit opening, wherein said slit opening is not in direct contact with said flowable substance in said container;
and wherein upon rupture of said channel-shaped stress concentrator means across said fault line, said flowable substance within said container flows through said stress concentrator aperture-forming means and said slit opening when pressure is applied to said container.

27. A container for a flowable substance as claimed in claim 26, wherein said container is a flexible pouch.