초록 ▼

Disclosed is a dispensing package that has a plastic backing for maintaining the package in a substantially flat orientation. The plastic backing is adapted to have a label placed on its surface. A score through the label, which extends into the plastic backing, causes the package to open upon flexu

Disclosed is a dispensing package that has a plastic backing for maintaining the package in a substantially flat orientation. The plastic backing is adapted to have a label placed on its surface. A score through the label, which extends into the plastic backing, causes the package to open upon flexure. At least one additional score on the opposite side provides at least one metered opening in the package, where the number of scores and metered openings depends on the contents being dispensed. An additional seal can be placed over the score to prevent accidental opening or provide resealing of the package. Promotional pieces can be used as the additional seal. Absorbent material can be placed adjacent or over the score to provide controlled dispensing and application of the contents. The ends of the plastic backing can be configured as an applicator and/or a handle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing package for carrying and dispensing contents through an opening comprising: (a) a top layer having an outer surface and an inner surface, the top layer including (i) a plastic backing layer defining said outer surface of said top layer and including first and sec

What is claimed is: 1. A dispensing package for carrying and dispensing contents through an opening comprising: (a) a top layer having an outer surface and an inner surface, the top layer including (i) a plastic backing layer defining said outer surface of said top layer and including first and second sides, the plastic backing layer having a first elastic limit and a shear modulus sufficient to maintain said dispensing package in a substantially flat configuration, wherein a first score is formed at least partially through said first side of said plastic backing layer; (ii) a coating layer defining said inner surface of said top layer and formed on said second side of said plastic backing layer, said coating layer having a second elastic limit that is greater than said first elastic limit, wherein a second score substantially aligned with said first score is formed through said coating layer; (b) a pouch layer coupled to said inner surface of said top layer such that a pouch is formed therebetween, said pouch being adapted to carry said contents of said package, said contents being in fluid communication with said second score; and wherein said first elastic limit of said plastic backing layer and said second elastic limit of said coating layer are selected such that flexure of said top layer by a first amount is insufficient to cause said coating layer to exceed said second elastic limit, while flexure of said top layer by said first amount is sufficient to cause said plastic backing layer to exceed said first elastic limit and break along said first score to expose a metered opening defined by the overlap of said first score and said second score. 2. The package of claim 1 further comprising a label carried on the outer surface of said top layer. 3. The package of claim 2 further comprising a film removably attached to a top side of said label. 4. The package of claim 1 wherein said coating layer further comprises a barrier layer and a sealant layer. 5. The package of claim 1 wherein said second score comprises a plurality of individual scores. 6. The package of claim 1 further comprising material adjacent one side of said first score. 7. The package of claim 6 wherein said material is configured to apply said contents. 8. The package of claim 1 further comprising a piece of material positioned over said first score. 9. The package of claim 8 wherein said material is configured to apply said contents. 10. The package of claim 1 further comprising an end of said plastic backing layer configured to be an applicator for said contents when said contents are dispensed. 11. The package of claim 10 further comprising a second end of said plastic backing layer configured to be a handle for applying contents when said contents are dispensed. 12. The dispensing package of claim 2 wherein said label is adhered to said top layer of said plastic backing layer by adhesive means. 13. The dispensing package of claim 12 wherein said adhesive means is selected from the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesive and heat curing adhesive. 14. The dispensing package of claim 1 further comprising a label printed on said first side of said plastic backing layer. 15. The dispensing package of claim 3 wherein said film is adhered to said top side of said label by adhesive means. 16. The dispensing package of claim 15 wherein said adhesive means is selected from the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesive and heat curing adhesive. 17. The dispensing package of claim 15 wherein said adhesive means is omitted from one corner of said film such that non-adhered portion of said film forms a peel tab. 18. The dispensing package of claim 8 wherein said material comprises an absorbent material. 19. The dispensing package of claim 18 wherein said absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of sponge, cloth, flock and foam. 20. The dispensing package of claim 8 wherein said material comprises a non-absorbent material. 21. The dispensing package of claim 20 wherein said non-absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of sand paper and hard plastic. 22. The dispensing package of claim 18 wherein said absorbent material comprises at least one opening configured to provide controlled application of said contents. 23. The dispensing package of claim 1 further comprising two pieces of material laterally positioned along opposing sides of said first score. 24. The dispensing package of claim 1 wherein said pouch layer further comprises an outer pouch layer disposed over an inner sealant layer, said outer pouch layer and said inner sealant layer having a barrier layer therebetween, each of said layers having a perimeter. 25. The dispensing package of claim 24 wherein said perimeters of said outer pouch layer, said inner sealant layer and said barrier layer are sealingly engaged to a perimeter of said coating layer. 26. The dispensing package of claim 25 wherein said perimeters of said outer pouch layer, said inner sealant layer and said barrier layer are sealingly engaged to said perimeter of said coating layer with a sealing means. 27. The dispensing package of claim 26 wherein said sealing means is selected from the group consisting of heat sealing, adhesives and ultrasonic sealing. 28. The dispensing package of claim 25 wherein said outer pouch layer, said inner sealant layer and said barrier layer are non-permanently sealingly engaged to said coating layer along a portion thereof. 29. The dispensing package of claim 28 wherein said second score comprises a plurality of individual scores. 30. The dispensing package of claim 1 wherein said first score extends through a middle portion of said plastic backing layer with continuous portions of said plastic backing layer extending from opposing longitudinal ends of said first score to an outer edge of said plastic backing layer. 31. The dispensing package of claim 1 further comprising a resealable layer disposed on said outer surface of said top layer and configured to cover said first score in order to prevent undesired or further dispensing of said contents. 32. The dispensing package of claim 31 wherein said resealable layer further comprises a promotional item selected from the group consisting of labels, game pieces, lottery cards, booklets and coupons. 33. A method of making a dispensing package for dispensing contents through at least one metered opening comprising: providing a plastic backing layer including first and second sides, said plastic backing layer having a first sheer modulus sufficient to maintain said package in a substantially flat configuration and a first elastic limit; providing a coating layer formed on said second side of said plastic backing layer, said coating layer having a second elastic limit that is greater than said first elastic limit; placing a label on said first side of said plastic backing layer; forming a first score at least partially through said label and said first side of said plastic backing layer; forming a second score substantially aligned with said first score in said coating layer; coupling a pouch layer to said coating layer to form a pouch defined therebetween, said pouch adapted to carry said contents; filling said pouch with said contents; and selecting said first elastic limit of said plastic backing layer and said second elastic limit of said coating layer such that flexure of said coating layer by a first amount is insufficient to cause said coating layer to exceed said second elastic limit, while flexure of said plastic backing layer by said first amount is sufficient to cause said plastic backing layer to exceed said first elastic limit and break along said first score to expose a metered opening defined by the overlap of said first score and said second score. 34. The method of claim 33 further comprising removably placing a film on a top side of said label before forming said first score. 35. The method of claim 33 further comprising placing two pieces of absorbent material adjacent opposing sides of said first score before forming said first score. 36. The method of claim 33 further comprising placing one piece of absorbent material over said first score before coupling said pouch layer to said coating layer. 37. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming additional scores substantially aligned with said first score in said coating layer. 38. The method of claim 33 wherein one end of said plastic backing layer is configured to be an applicator to apply said contents. 39. The method of claim 18 wherein a second end of said plastic backing layer is configured to be a handle to apply said contents. 0 40. The method of claim 33 wherein said label is removably placed on said first side of said plastic backing layer by adhesive means. 41. The method of claim 40 wherein said adhesive means is selected from the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesive and heat curing adhesive. 42. The method of claim 34 wherein said film is adhered to said top side of said label by adhesive means. 43. The method of claim 42 wherein said adhesive means is selected from the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesive and heat curing adhesive. 44. The method of claim 42 wherein said adhesive means is omitted from at least one corner of said film such that non-adhered portion of said film forms a peel tab. 45. The method of claim 35 or 36 wherein said material comprises an absorbent material. 46. The method of claim 45 wherein said absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of sponge, cloth, flock and foam. 47. The method of claim 35 or 36 wherein said material comprises a non-absorbent material. 48. The method of claim 47 wherein said non-absorbent material is selected from the group consisting of sand paper and hard plastic. 49. The method of claim 45 wherein said absorbent material comprises at least one opening configured to provide controlled application of said contents. 50. The method of claim 33 wherein said pouch layer further comprises an outer pouch layer disposed over an inner sealant layer, said outer pouch layer and said inner sealant layer having a barrier layer therebetween, each of said layers having a perimeter. 51. The method of claim 50 wherein said perimeters of said outer pouch layer, said inner sealant layer and said barrier layer are sealingly engaged to a perimeter of said coating layer. 52. The method of claim 51 wherein said perimeters of said outer pouch layer, said inner sealant layer and said barrier layer are sealingly engaged to said perimeter of said coating layer with a sealing means. 53. The method of claim 52 wherein said sealing means is selected from the group consisting of heat sealing, adhesive and ultrasonic sealing. 54. The method of claim 33 wherein said first score is a partial score for preventing accidental dispensing when said dispensing package is stored in luggage, purses or wallets, said partial score extending through a middle portion of said plastic backing layer with continuous portions of said plastic backing layer extending from opposing longitudinal ends of said first score to an outer edge of said plastic backing layer. 55. The method of claim 33 further comprising a resealable layer disposed on said first side of said plastic backing layer and configured to cover said first score in order to prevent undesired or further dispensing of said contents. 56. The method of claim 55 wherein said resealable layer further comprises a promotional item selected from the group consisting of labels, game pieces, lottery cards, booklets and coupons. 57. The method of claim 33 further comprising a means for providing control over formation of depth of said first score in said plastic backing layer. 58. The method of claim 57 wherein said means and said depth are selected based on said contents being dispensed. 59. The method of claim 58 wherein said means is a mechanical means. 60. The method of claim 59 wherein said mechanical means includes a flat bed die. 61. The method of claim 59 wherein said mechanical means includes a cylindrical die. 62. The method of claim 57 wherein said means is a laser means. 63. The method of claim 61 wherein said cylindrical die cooperates with a mating means for providing control of cutting blades used to form said first score in said plastic backing layer. 64. The method of claim 63 wherein said mating means is a cylindrical anvil. 65. The method of claim 63 wherein said first score is formed at a depth selected based on said contents being dispensed. 66. The method of claim 33 wherein said filling said pouch with said contents further comprises providing a pump for pumping said contents into said pouch. 67. The method of claim 66 wherein said pump provides a dispensing time selected to reduce cross seal contamination and provide enhanced seal integrity of said dispensing package. 68. The method of claim 33 wherein said filling said pouch with said contents further comprises providing filler tubes sized according to said contents being dispensed. 69. The method of claim 67 wherein a back pressure is used with said pump during filling and sealing to provide metered dispensing according to sizes of said pouches for avoiding channeling a cross seal area of said dispensing package. 70. A dispensing package for carrying and dispensing contents comprising: a plastic backing layer including first and second sides, said plastic backing layer having a first elastic limit and a shear modulus sufficient to maintain said dispensing package in a substantially flat configuration, wherein a first score is formed at least partially through said first side of said plastic backing layer; a coating layer formed on said second side of said plastic backing layer and having a second elastic limit that is greater than said first elastic limit, wherein a second score substantially aligned with said first score is formed through said coating layer; and a pouch layer coupled to said coating layer and forming a pouch therebetween that is adapted to carry said contents of said package, said contents being in fluid communication with said second score; wherein said first elastic limit of said plastic backing layer and said second elastic limit of said coating layer are selected such that flexure of said coating layer by a first amount is insufficient to cause said coating layer to exceed said second elastic limit, while flexure of said plastic backing layer by said first amount is sufficient to cause said plastic backing layer to exceed said first elastic limit and break along said first score to expose a metered opening defined by the overlap of said first score and said second score. 71. A dispensing package for carrying and dispensing contents comprising: an upper layer including first and second sides, said upper layer having a first elastic limit and a shear modulus sufficient to maintain said dispensing package in a substantially flat configuration, wherein a first score is formed in said first side of said upper layer; a middle layer disposed on said second side of said upper layer and having a second elastic limit that is greater than said first elastic limit, wherein a second score substantially aligned with said first score is formed through said middle layer; and a lower layer coupled to said middle layer so as to define a pouch therebetween, said pouch structured to carry said contents of said package such that said contents are in fluid communication with said second score; wherein said first elastic limit of said upper layer and said second elastic limit of said middle layer are selected such that flexure of said middle layer by a first amount is insufficient to cause said middle layer to exceed said second elastic limit, while flexure of said upper layer by said first amount is sufficient to cause said upper layer to exceed said first elastic limit and break along said first score to expose a metered opening defined by the overlap of said first score and said second score. 72. A method of making a dispensing package comprising: providing a plastic backing layer including first and second sides, said plastic backing layer having a first elastic limit; providing a coating layer formed on said second side of said plastic backing layer, said coating layer having a second elastic limit that is greater than said first elastic limit; forming a first score at least partially through said first side of said plastic backing layer; forming a second score substantially aligned with said first score in said coating layer; coupling a pouch layer to said coating layer to form a pouch defined therebetween, said pouch adapted to carry said contents; filling said pouch with said contents; and selecting said first elastic limit of said plastic backing layer and said second elastic limit of said coating layer such that flexure of said coating layer by a first amount is insufficient to cause said coating layer to exceed said second elastic limit, while flexure of said plastic backing layer by said first amount is sufficient to cause said plastic backing layer to exceed said first elastic limit and break along said first score to expose a metered opening defined by the overlap of said first score and said second score.