The present invention relates to a pouch, in particular co a pouch for packaging s medicament, product such as a patch, particularly a patch for transdermal delivery of a medicament.

Many products are supplied in pouches which protect the product: from the ambient atmosphere and/or help to prevent unwanted access to the product, A pouch might comprise a first wall and a second wall which are joined together in sealed regions. The sealed regions substantially surround a compartment portion within which the product can toe located-

Pouches can be difficult to open they rnust foe made durable enough to protect the product during transportation and, in some circumstances, hinder child access to particular products, in particular meϋΛcinal products, They can also provide some degree of environmental protection from, for example, moisture.

There are many ways in which pouches can be manually opened. A sealed region along one edge of the. pouch could be unsealed by eκertinς? a separation force on the first, and second walls such that the sealed region is pesisd apart, Another way is for a user to tear the pouch along a line which crosses the compartment and results in the sαhstanti&l removal of a scaled region froiα one edge of the pouch.

According to the invention there is provided a pouch for contaxning a product, the pouch comprising a first wall ana a second wall, the first wall and second wall being joined together in sealed regions, the sealed regions substantially surrounding a compartment .including a product portion within which a product, cars be located, the first wall comprising a tear strip extending across at least a part, of sine compartment, Che tear strip including a tab portion at a proximal end, the tab portion being located away from edges of the pouch and. rhere being a sealed portion between the tab and the compartment, the tear strip including tear guiding regions in the first wall ax first and second opposing edges, che pooch being arranged such that the Lab portion can be grasped and a removal force exerted thereon to cause a tear to extend along each of the tear guiding regions and across at least part, of the compartment so Chat ar. least a portion or the tear strip is torn away froϊO; the pouch to render, the compartment accessible.

Providing a pouch with a cab formed in the first wail which, when grasped and polled, causes tears to extend along r.wo tear guiding regions and across at least a part the compartment portion provides a user with a novel way to access the contents of the pooch.

The tear gu.id.mg regions may extend along substantially tne entire length of the tear scrip, or may extend along only a portion of the length so that any tear initiated from the tab propagate? along the tear guides and is then Likely Co extend further along that path through the, or eacn, wall. Io embodiments in which the tear guiding regions do not extend the full length of the tear strip it should be understood that tne tear strip includes the region between the tab and tear guides together with the strip th&t is to be corn away from the pouch by a user exertinα a removal force on the tab. The tab is arranged so thθt th&;:s is a sealed region between the tab and the compartment so that any weaknesses that define the tab itself do not risk

5 significantly compromising any environmental protection that uhe ccraparusent provides for a. product therein. The tab may be formed within a sealed region outside the compartment, or πsay be formed in an unsealed region.

Preferably there xs no- path between the tab and. sine

10 compartment that, does not pass through a sealed portion.

The tear guiding regions may exc&nd across at least a part of the compartment portion as this reduces the likelihood of a failed opening in which a user exerting a

1.5 force on the r_.ab does not create a tear that extends across at least, a part of the compartment. The tear guiding regions preferably extend from the tab portion towards, and possibly across,, at least part of the compartment portion. 0

The tab may comprise portions of the first wall only, or portions of both the first and second wails. Ii the tab comprises portions otf both the first and second wails then at least some of the. first and second walls in the

25 tab may be sealed together. Grasping and pulling Che tab causes tears to extend along the tear guiding regions in the first wall and may also cause tears to extend along substantially corresponding tear guiding regions in the second wail . The tab may comprise portions of one or

30 both wails. If the tab comprises portions of both wails the tear strip may comprise portions of one or both walls. The- tab may be defined by a single weakness, such as a cut, perforated line, etched or scored line which extends between the two tear guiding regions _* The tab is formed in at least the first wall and is graspafale by a ussr. Ac. least εcse of the periphery of the tab may be cut in one, or both, of the wails so that the tab is readily accessible to be grasped. In a different embodiment at least some of the periphery of the tab may include one or more breakable bridges in one or both walls that connect the tab to the surrounding wall . The breakable portions may retain the tab so that a user is hindered from grasping it until the user has broken the breakable bridges. The breakable bridges can help to uicre≤se the level of C-iiiά resistance, while the tab, one accessible facilitates access to a product contained .m the compartment. Substantially Che entire periphery of the cab not. connected to the remainder of the tear strip may comprise a breakable foriokje formed by, for example mechanical or laser scoring of the first wa11 ,

If the tab comprises portions of they first wall only the first and second wajls may not be sealed, to one another in at least some, and maybe substantially the entire tab region.

The tear strip chat is torn away from the pouch may provide an access strip through which a user can gain access to the product portion, or may substantially open the product portion, The tear strip) that is torn away from the pouch may reinain attached thereto at. an end, or may be completely removed. The tear strip may extend across a portion or the compartment only and not the product portion. The tear strip may extend across portions ol; both the product portion and compartment and may extend across substantially the entire product portion -

In one embodiment the tab comprises portions of both the first and second walls and grasping and pulling the tab causes tears to extend along tear guiding regions in both trie first wall and second w«li and the tear strip torn away from the pouch includes the product portion of the compartment such tnat the product is accessible from one or both sides of the tear strip.

The pouch may contain a medicament product in the form of a patch, particularly a medicated patch for transdermal delivery of a medication. In a different embodiment the pouch may contain a powder product, a tablet product or any other product, In ail these cases the product may or may not be medicated.

The pouch tnsy further include a flap. The fAap may be formed along one edge thereof. A suitable flap can bs forced by folding a told portion o£ the pouch and reieasably securing it to a wail such chat the flap substantially covers the tab and hinders access to the tab. The releasable securing πsay be by peelably sealing. Alternatively, the flap stay he formed by a separate piece of material, which may be the same as the wail material, may be a laminate, may be a paper material or. other suitable material. The separate flap is reieasabiy secured to a wail such that the tab is substantially covered, or that access to said tab is hindered.

Such a flap can be used to add an additional step for pouch opening for a variety of different. pouch embodiments and the present invention therefore further provides a pouch for containing a product, r,he pouch comprising a first wail and a second wall, the first wail and second wall being sealed together in sealed regions, the sealed regions substantially surrounding a compartment including a product portion within which a product can be located, the pouch including at least one preformed opening feature frorα which a user can initiate a tear and thereby gain access to the product portion of the compartment, the pouch further including at least one flap which reieasafoiy secured to one side of the pouch such that the flap substantially covers the preformed opening fea t are .

.Such an arrangement of the flap hinders access to the preferred opening feature and a user must then perform a two step action in order to open the pouch, first unfolding or removing the flap sufficiently to gain access to the preformed opening feature, and then tearing

Che pouch starting at. said feature. The preformed opening feature may foe a tab as described aϋove, may be a notch in an edge, or through a portion of the pouch, or may be any other sort of features, for example a weakness froπs which a tear may be initiated. It. should be noted that x,h& flap tαay only substantially cover the preformed opening feature from one side of the pouch, but such a cover will still hinder access to ths opening feature.

As noted above, a flap can be formed using at least a portion of one or both of the wails, folded over and releasafaly secured onto a wall. Alternatively a flap can be formed ft:c-m a separate piece of material whicn. is then re leasabIv secured to a wail. There may be more than one llap, for example r.wo flaps, and the flaps can be reieasably secured to either the first wall or second wail. Such flaps could be formed in the same way, or formed in different ways, for example one being a folded flap and the other a separate material flap.

In one enibodiisent two flaps are provided, one formed from each of the first and second wails and each folded back ontϋ the wall frore which they are formed. This creates a three step opening action where a user must unfold both flaps in order to have unhindered access to the pre- fo t:eneά weaYness.

The ox each flap ;nay extend along an entire length of an adjacent edge of a pouch or could be shorter that the edge and extend only along the edge in the region ol ^: the pre-forrsed weakness such that when secured onto one of the wails the flap substantially covered, or hindered access to, the pre-fortsed opening feature, but that the remainder of the pouch was substantially uncovered. If more than one flap is presenr, the flaps need not be the same length, or in the saise position. For example an embodiment, of a pouch may Include more than one pre- formed weakness and a first flap coυid hinder access to a first pt:e~ formed weakness, while a second flap could hinder access to a second pre-formed weakness in a different location, for example an opposite edge of the pouch.

The first, and second walls can be fabricated from any suitable raat&rial ana need not be of the same material. The ti. rsi and second walls may be fabricated from a flexible film isaterial which raav be a laminate or composite material. The film may be a plastics laminate and rfi-sy include a moisture barrier layer. The first and second wails may be .formed, from a single piece of material which is appropriately shaped. In such cases it should be understood that the sealed regions need not be between separate free edges of material, but could fee a continuous piece of material that, for example folds or curves hack on itself so 'chat a piece one side the fold or curve forms part of the first wall and the a piece the o'cher side of the fold forms part of the second wall.

The pouch πsay be substantially rectangular in shape. However, It should be understood that the pouch could be formed in any suitable shape, for example substantially triangular, substantially circular or an irregular shape if desired. The first and second walls may be fabricated by folding a single strip o.f filrrs substantially in half. The sealed regions may extend substantially entirely around the periphery of the pouch.

The sealing of the first and second wails together can toe achieved in a variety of conventional ways which will not be discussed in detail. Within the compartment portion the first and second walls are not sealed together so the walls and seals cooperate to enclose a volume containing a product, portion within which a product such as a medicament patch can be stored. The sealing around the compartment region irsay be achieved in different ways around the compartment. The first and second walls isay be fabricated from a single piece of material which is folded back on itself at least once. The free edges may b& sealed, for example by heat sealing, but the folded edge also forms a. sealed region and need not. be, but can be, further sealed to define the compartment region. The iear guiding reqions may comprise strengthened regions, weakened regions, or simply regions where the relative tear resistance of the wall changes. For example the. wal.1 within the tear strip πiav be strengthened to resist tearing. Tear guiding "weaknesses may be formed by any suitable method such as cutting, laser etching, -rsechamcai scoring or perforating. Within the compartment portion the weaknesses may not penetrate entirely through the wall, so appropriate .methods include laser etching and mechanical scoring. If the wail is formed from a iaraina ted film the weaknesses .may be formed by perforating, cmiting or scoring through one or more, but not all layers, of the wail. Sy avoiding penetrating entirely through the wall the environmental protection Of the compartment may not be significantly compromised. It should be understood that the weaknesses need not all be formed by the same method.

It. should be understood that throughout this specification and in the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or ^ comprising", implies the inclusion of the stated integer or step, or group of integers or steps. Xt should further be noted that features described with reference to one embodiment only are not so lire 5. ted and may be employed in other embodiments . I Q

The invention will now be further described,, Dy way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in wh i ch :

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a pouch;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the pouch of Figure 1 which has been opened;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view oi a second embodiment of a pouch;

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the pouch of Figure 3 which has been opened;

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment oi; a pouch which includes a folded portion;

Figure 6 shows a schematic view of the pouch of Fϊguϊw 6 in which the folded portion has been opened;

Figure 7 show3 a schematic view of a forth ers-bodim^-nt of a pcsυch;

Figure 8 shows a schematic view of the pouch 0* Figure 7 which has been opened; Figure 9 shows a. schematic view of a pouch in which a folded pore ion has been opened to reveal a tδar notch; and

Figure IO shows a schematic view of a pouch in which two folded portions have been opened to reveal a tear notch.

Figure i shows a schematic view of a pouch 1 for containing a product 2, in this case a medicated patch 4.

The pouch 1 comprises a first wall 6 and a second wail S.

The firsr. wall 6 and second wall 8 are sealed together in sealed regions 10. The sealed regions 10 substantially surround a compartment 12 which includes a product portion 14 within which the patch 4 is located.

The first wall *5 comprises a tear strip 16 which extends across at least a part of the compartment .12, ϊhfe tear strip 16 includes a tab portion 18 at a proximal end 20, The cab portion IH is located outside the co-Tϊpartment , in this case wiuhxπ a sealed region 10 and away from edges 22 or t ^' ns pouch 1 such that there is a sealed region between the tab and the compartment. The tear strip 16 has tear guiding regions 24,26 in the first, wall at first arsd second opposing edges 28,30. In this case the tear guiding regions 24,26 extend along substantially the entire length of the tear strip 16, but it should be understood that m this, and other embodiment s, the material properties of the first and second 'wails 6, S may be appropriate for the tear guiding regions to extend for less than substantially the entire length. If the material of the first and second wails 6,8 tears readily in substantially straight lines it may be sufficient to provide on] y short tear guiding regions 24,26 to orientate the tears and then allow the tears to ex ^p end naturally in the guided direction to ope.a the pouch 1.

The pouch 1 is arranged such that the tab portion 16 can

5 be grasped and a removal force exerted thereon to cause a tear to extend along each of the tear guiding regions

22,24, in this case tear guiding weaknesses, so that at least a portion of che tear strip 14 is corn away from the pouch I to render the compartment 12 accessible as

; D shown in Fic?ur» 2 ,

Figure 2 shows an opened pouch I of Figure 1. In this case the tab portion 18 includes a portion of both the 15 first, and second wall 6,8 such that when the tab portion is released from the pouch to be graspod an aperture 32 i$ left in the pouch 1.

The periphery 36 of the tab portion 18 not attached to 0 the remainder of the tear strip 16 is perforated, in this case the perforations extend through both the first and second walls 6,8, but could extend only through the first wall 6, so that there are a plurality of breakable bridges (net shown) which retain the tab portion 18 5 relative to the first wall 6. The breakable bridges are broker") bxsy a user to release the tab portion 18 to allow a user to grasp the tab portion to apply a removal force pulling the tab portion 18 away from the pouch such that tears extend along the path of the tear guiding regions

30 24,26.

The tear guiding weaknesses in this case are laser etched lines which do not penetrate through the first wall, but which orovide a weakness in the first wall which a tear will preferentially follow. There is also a weakness- in the second wall 8 the tab portion 18 and the remainder of the tear strip 16 so that, the second wall B breaks so that the tab portion 18 is removed from the pouch 1 and the remainder of the tear strip 16 is torn away with tears extending along the tear guiding regions 24,26 and the first wall 6 peeling from the second wall 3 in πhe seal ed regions .

In this embodiment the remainder of the tear strip 16 only includes a portion of the f.t>:st wall 6 so that an opening 34 through which the patch 4 can be removed is presented through the f!.it:sε wall 6 into the compartment 12 when the tear strip is torn away from the pouch 1. The second wall 8 is visible though the opening 34,

Figyre 3 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of a pouch 101. In this case the features that operate in the same way as the embodiment of Figure 1 will be referenced with the same numerals.

The tear strip 116 of the pouch 10.1 is wider than that shown in Figure J and; in this embodiment the tear strip includes the product region 14 of the co!ϊtparε.?rserrt 12. The tab portion 116 is again located away from edges 22 of the pouch 101 and retained to the first wall 6 by breakable bridges formed by pert orating the periphery 36 of the tab portion 116 not attached to the remainder of the tear st rip 116.

The tear guiding regions 12H , 126 on either side 128, 13G of the tear strip 116 are formed in both the first and second walls 6,S, The tear guiding regions in this ease ate tear guiding weaknesses formed by laser etching, The tab portion 118 again includes portions of Doth the first and second walls 6,8.

In use, the breakable bridges ar. the periphery 36 are broken co give grasping access Co the tab portion 118 so a user can grasp Che tab portion 11 S and apply a removal force thereto. The force on the tab portion 118 causes tears to extend along the tear guiding regions 124,126 in both the first and second walls 6,8 so that the tear strip is torn away from the pouch 101 as shown in Figure

Αa shown in Figure 4 the tear strip 116 includes the product portion 14 of rhe compartment 12 so the patch 4 is located in the tear strip ilδ. To access the parch 4 the first and second wails 6,3 are separate';; and the patch 4 can be pushed out of either side 128,130 of. ch>= tear strip.

Figures 5 ana 6 show a third embodiment of a pouch 201. The pouch 201 is very similar in construction and arrangement to the pouch 1 of Figure 1, but it includes an addi clonal child resistant feature. The pouch 201 is extended away from the compartment 12 and a flap 40 folded back onto the first wall 6 and peeiably secured thereto using conventional techniques such izhat the flap 40 substantially covers the tab portion 18, The flap 40 prevent, direct access to the tab portion from one side of the pooch 201 and helps to prevent; the breakable bridges that retain the tab portion 118 from bexng broken as a user cannot easily press the tab from one side of the pouch 201. In use, a user would peel the .flap 40 away from the. pouch to reveal the tab portion 218, The pouch can then foe accessed as ser forth above.

Figure 7 shows a forth embodiment of s pouch 301. Structurally the pouch 301 is very similar to the pouch 1 of Figure 1 and the sarαe reference numerals will be used where appropr. i ate .

The pouch 301 differs In thai In the tab portion 318 the fir s 'c ana second walls 5,8 are not s&aled together. The cab portion 318 in this case comprises only the first wall 6 and the periphery 136 is defined by a laser or mechanical etching so that substantially the entire periphery 136 is a breakable bridge between the tab portion 318 and the first wall 6. In use the breakable bridge is broken by a user by bending the pouch 301 or otherwise and the tab portion 3 IS becomes available to be grasped- by a user as described previously.

Tne tab portion 313 in this case only comprises the first wail S arid Che tear strip 216 also comprises only the first wail 6.

As shown in Figure 8, the opened pouch 3Gl does not include an aperture 32 passing through the pouch as no parr, of the second wall 8 has been removed as part of the tab portion 318.

It should be noted that in the embodiments shown in Figures .1,2,5,6,7 and 8 the tear strip can be any s u i t ab 1 e w i dth , It s. s p r e f e r ab 1 y 1 o c a t e d t ow a r ds o n e edge of the product, portion so that the product may be accessed. The tear strip may be wide enough to encompass substantially ail of product: portion, similar to the embodiment in Figure 3 and 4 as this cart provide an alternative access to the product,

5 Figure 9 shows a schematic view at a pouch 401 m which a flap 40 has been opened to reveal a p>:e- formed weakness, in this case a mechanically or laser cut tear notch 50,

The flap 40 is substantially as described above and was 1.0 initially pee labIy sealed to the first wail 6 and substantially hindered access to the tear notch 50. In this case the Clap comprises portions or both the first and second walls 6,8. With the flap 40 unpeeled from the first wall 6 and folded away frora the pouch the tear 15 notch 50 is readily accessible and a user may readily initiate a tear from the tear notch 50 which extends across at least a portion of the compartment 12 so that a user gains access to the content of said compartment 12.

20 The tear notch 50 is located such that a tear initiated therefroj-s extends through the compartment 12, but avoids the product portion J A to avoid damage to a product 4 therein,

25 figure 10 shows a schematic view of a pouch 501 in which two fhleps 40,140 have bean opened to reveal a tear notch 50. This embodiment is very similar to that shown in Figure 9, except that two flaps 40,140 are present.

30 Flap 40 comprises a portion of the first wall 6 and was initially peelably sealed to the first wall 6, while folded portion 140 comprises a portion of the second wall 8 and was initially peelably sealed to the first wall S. π

In this embodiment both flaps 40,140 need to be unfolded in order to obtain unhindered access to Che pre- farmed weakness, which, in this case, is a tear noecu 50,

Tt should be noted that the addition of a flap 40 is applicable to any embodiment In which a flap could substantially hinder access to a tab portion, or any pre- formeα weakness. In particular the use of a flap could be employed in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4.

It should be understood that the invention has been described above by way of example only arid that modifications in detail can be mads without departing from the scope of the claims.