Abstract: A pouch style containment and dispensing package for flowable products is provided. The package comprises at least three layers of thin materials selected from a group of materials including heat sealable plastic films, metal foils, oxygen barrier films, plastic moisture barrier films, adhesives, coextrudable plastics and high strength plastics. The package includes an aperture or aperture forming means and a flap portion that is folded over and sealed to cover the aperture or aperture forming means, so that when the flap portion is folded back and away, an aperture is exposed or created. The layers may be selected so that a contact face of the flap member is sealed at a lower temperature than a sealing temperature for forming edge seals on the inner product contacting wall layers. Also, one layer may comprise a high strength layer that will not lose a significant amount of strength at temperatures substantially higher than the edge sealing temperature.

Abstract: An aperture forming structure for a sealed containment and dispensing package for flowable products is provided. The structure includes a breakaway tip member of thermoformable plastic. In one embodiment a cap may be integrally formed with the aperture forming structure and may be used to protect the tip member or for reclosing the aperture. An alternative embodiment relates to a pouch, wherein a flap member portion of the pouch is folded over and sealingly attached to the body of the pouch. When the flap member portion is pulled away from the body, an outlet aperture is produced through the surface of the pouch.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making compact packages for spreadable products involving flights mounted on a conveyor chain having tiny cam operated pivoting clamps which open to precut cards fed in by a card feeder. The pivoting clamps on the flights are opened by cam pressure and pick the cards on the fly as they travel. After passing the end of the cam they close down on the card. The cards are then, after passing over rails with spring resistance members, transported through a unique rotary scoring and bending assembly, which simultaneously scores and bends up longitudinal side flanges to create a channel shaped member from the flat paperboard card.

Abstract: An aperture forming structure, which when attached to or integrally formed in dispenser packages for flowable substances allows reclosure and single or multiple uses. The aperture forming structure includes a break away tip member of thermoformable plastic. The break away tip includes a hollow protrusion from a surface. The intersection of the hollow protrusion and the surface is a fault line. Rupturing of the fault line creates an aperture from which the contents of the dispenser package may exit. A cap may be integrally formed with the aperture forming structure and detached for protecting the hollow protrusion or for closing the aperture created when the fault line is ruptured. The aperture forming structure can be made by heating a relatively stiff substantially flat thermoformable sheet of and then stretching the sheet to create a first and a second hollow protrusion in a tiered configuration. A rupture line is placed at the intersection of the first and the second protrusions.

Abstract: A swab means (10) for applying fluids to a surface having a quick, easy opening dispenser package portion (12 and 14) and at least one sponge-like member (30). The dispenser package portion (12 and 14) includes a wall (12) made from a thermoplastic material and having an outlet creating formation (20). When a sufficient force is applied to the at least one outlet creating formation (20), an outlet opening (18) is formed allowing a release of the fluid contents (17) to flow from the dispenser package (12 and 14) and into the overlying at least one sponge-like member (30).

Abstract: A dispenser package and outlet forming structure include a package wall (20) and a flap (30). Flap (30) is folded over at any desirable location of the package (10) and is adhesively attached to the package wall (20) at any predetermined location. Flap (30) is folded so that the surface of flap (30) that is adhesed to the surface of the package wall (20) is one continuous surface. When a pulling force exerted by a user exceeds the adhesion force between the package wall (20) and the flap (30), the flap (30) will break away from the package wall (20) causing a locus, fault, or score (40) to rupture. The rupturing of the locus, fault, or score (40) also causes the aperture outlet (50) to rupture thereby forming an outlet hole at a predetermined location for allowing the flowable product contents to exit the package (10).

Abstract: An aperture forming structure, which when attached to or integrally formed in dispenser packages for flowable substances allows reclosure and single or multiple uses. The aperture forming structure includes a break away tip member of thermoformable plastic. The break away tip includes a hollow protrusion from a surface. The intersection of the hollow protrusion and the surface is a fault line. Rupturing of the fault line creates an aperture from which the contents of the dispenser package may exit. A cap may be integrally formed with the aperture forming structure and detached for protecting the hollow protrusion or for closing the aperture created when the fault line is ruptured. The aperture forming structure can be made by heating a relatively stiff substantially flat thermoformable sheet of and then stretching the sheet to create a first and a second hollow protrusion in a tiered configuration. A rupture line is placed at the intersection of the first and the second protrusions.

Abstract: A container thermoformed from a relatively thin flat plastic film comprising an upright standing hollow containment formation having an upper flat rim to which a thin cover member is sealingly attached in a sealing pattern. The sealing rim encompassing the containment formation with at least a portion of the sealing rim extending outwardly from the hollow containment formation an amount adequate to permit it to function as a tab. The extending tab portion has a fault line on its underside traversing the tab at a right angle to a centerline extending outwardly from the hollow containment formation which when the tab portion is upwardly bent causes the tab to rupture at the fault line. The rupturing causes the outer tab portion to break away from the remaining tab portion while remaining sealed to the thin cover member which is also upwardly bent to create an outlet passage for flowable material between the remaining tab portion and the thin cover.

Abstract: An aperture forming structure, which when attached to or integrally formed in dispenser packages for flowable substances allows reclosure and single or multiple uses. The aperture forming structure includes a break away tip member of thermoformable plastic. The break away tip includes a hollow protrusion from a surface. The intersection of the hollow protrusion and the surface is a fault line. Rupturing of the fault line creates an aperture from which the contents of the dispenser package may exit. A cap may be integrally formed with the aperture forming structure and detached for protecting the hollow protrusion or for closing the aperture created when the fault line is ruptured. The aperture forming structure can be made by heating a relatively stiff substantially flat thermoformable sheet of and then stretching the sheet to create a first and a second hollow protrusion in a tiered configuration. A rupture line is placed at the intersection of the first and the second protrusions.

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 incorporate the rupturable stress concentrator onto containers or dispenser packages including a pouch type package having a slit opening, whereby upon rupturing the stress concentrator, the flowable products flow out from the container or package through the stress concentrator.

Abstract: A stress concentrator aperture-forming structure for containers or packages for flowable products, which allows 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 products.

Abstract: A collator and collating method employs a continuous or intermittently driven thin web member for collating a plurality of articles supplied from an automatic production machine or the like. The web is preferably coated on one side with an adhesive which removably adheres to the articles being collated, permitting the articles to be secured in any desired collated pattern during handling and shipping while allowing easy removal after shipment. The web may be cut into desired lengths with the collated articles adhered thereto for stacking one on top of another during shipment or storage. In alternate embodiments, openings or pockets are formed in the web, which may or may not also be adhesively coated, for locating the collated articles in desired patterns.

Abstract: A compact form-fill-seal machine for producing sealed cups and other sealed package structures, including dispenser packages for flowable substances having a fault line extending over a stress concentrating protrusion member.

Abstract: A dispenser package comprising a relatively stiff flat sheet including a tough, high barrier layer secured to at least one surface thereof, a flexible sheet secured to one side of the relatively stiff sheet to form an enclosed flexible pouch or chamber adjacent the relatively stiff sheet, a cut pattern or fault line or other fault area scored or otherwise formed in the relatively stiff sheet generally along the transverse center line thereof, and at least one asymmetric protrusion displacing at least a portion of the fault line or fault pattern of the relatively stiff sheet, said protrusion preferably comprising an asymmetrical substantially semi- or split pyramidal shape.

Abstract: A package for an individual service portion of a spreadable product, such as a butter pat or the like, has two opposed edges on each of the base and cover folded into a channel shape and the respective channel sides of the base and cover are positioned in overlapping abutting contact with two opposed sides of the pat to thereby encase the pat in an open-ended, generally rectangularly-shaped tubular member. Alternative structures include forming the cover from a "deadfold" foil and tamping the ends against the ends of the pat and the bottom of the base channel member to form a completely enclosed package without sealing. Also alternatively, the sides of the bottom channel may extend the full height of the pat and the top cover may be a flat sheet or may be channel-shaped perpendicular to that of the base member so as to abut the ends of the pat and form a package essentially completely enclosing the pat.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making compact packages for spreadable products wherein base cards are cut from a supply of relatively stiff material, scored and bent into the shape of a channel, the channel then reopened and substantially flattened, and a portion of spreadable product is thereafter deposited onto each pre-bent base card between the score lines. Top sheet material is drawn from a supply of relatively flexible material, scored parallel to each edge, and then folded under the material web, compressed to form a crease at the fold line, and then reopened to a relatively flat position.

Abstract: A dispenser package for flowable substances of the type where the flowable product is contained within a flexible pouch adhered to a relatively stiff sheet material which is opened along a fault line or fault pattern with one hand by folding the stiff ends toward one another into a "V" shape, wherein the flexible product-containing pouch is formed with a shallow duct or channel area directly behind the fault line connecting two laterally spaced pockets located on either side of the fault pattern to eliminate squirting or "spitting" of the flowable product upon rupture of the fault line or fault pattern. The stiff sheet material also may contain one or more protrusions displacing at least a portion of the fault line out of the plane thereof, the protrusions comprising substantially pyramidal shapes having either straight-lined or curved profiles.

Abstract: A dispenser package for flowable substances of the type where the flowable product is contained within a flexible pouch adhered to a relatively stiff material and may be opened along a fault line or cut pattern scored in the relatively stiff material with one hand by folding the stiff ends toward one another into a "V" shape containing one or more dimples, pyramidal shapes or other protrusions on the fault line or fault area. The protrusions not only increase and concentrate the stress forces, so that even very tough, high barrier materials may be used in constructing the package and will rupture at the protrusions by the aforesaid folding motion, but also control both the aperture shape and flow direction of the flowable substance as it is dispensed. The ability to make the package of tough materials enables the package to contain substances under pressure which subsequently will be dispensed.

Abstract: A sealed package particularly adapted for storing, shipping, handling and for supporting for use after the cover is peeled off, an individual portion of a spreadable product such as butter, margarine, peanut butter and the like. The package is comprised of a relatively flat, relatively stiff base member which is generally rectangularly shaped having the spreadable product adhering to the center portion of the base member and a top member or cover made from a flexible sheet into a shape having a center portion generally co-extensive with the top surface of the spreadable product and downwardly and outwardly extending edges pleated to form peel tabs, said top member being cohesively attached to the base member at the outwardly extending edges so as to fully enclose the spreadable product on the base member with such peel tabs extending beyond the base.

Abstract: A dispenser package comprising a relatively stiff flat sheet including a tough, high barrier layer secured to at least one surface thereof, a flexible sheet secured to one side of the relatively stiff sheet to form an enclosed flexible pouch or chamber adjacent the relatively stiff sheet, a cut pattern or fault line or other fault area scored or otherwise formed in the relatively stiff sheet generally along the transverse center line thereof, and at least one asymmetric protrusion displacing at least a portion of the fault line or fault pattern of the relatively stiff sheet, said protrusion preferably comprising an asymmetrical substantially semi- or split pyramidal shape.