Abstract:
The present invention refers to a fast-opening plaster packaging comprising a plaster having at least an adhesive support protected with at least two films (P 1,  P 2 ) made of protective material and detachable from the adhesive support, and an envelope (E) suitable for containing the plaster. The envelope has at least two portions (E 1,  E 2 ) mutually dividable and each dividable portion of the envelope is anchored to at least one of the protective films (P 1,  P 2 ). The packaging is characterized in that at least one of the protective films (P 1,  P 2 ) has at least a cut (I 1 , I 2 ) suitable for shaping one or more columns and one or more arcades (LA) or semi-arcades. The column(s) is(are) joined to the corresponding semi-wrapper (E 1 ) at anchoring line (C 1 ) of the protective film (P 1 ) and is(are) able, upon pulling at least one of the portions (E 1 ) of the envelope (E), to fold onto itself(themselves) as such one or more arcades or semi-arcades (LA) made of protective material are substantially not involved into folding.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/IB2006/051001 filed on Apr. 3, 2006, claiming priority based on Italian Patent Application No. TO2005A000217, filed Apr. 4, 2005, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention refers to fast-opening packagings of plaster and to the relevant method of manufacturing. 
     In particular, the present invention refers to fast-opening packagings wherein the plaster comprises an adhesive support and protective films (films or protection) and wherein the films, placed onto the adhesive side of the adhesive support, are siliconated or anyway provided with anti-adhering treatment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Packagings of plaster allowing a fast-opening are commercially available. 
     Such packagings comprise a wrapper or an envelope enfolding the plaster and they are suitable for allowing the envelope fast-opening by simply pulling the envelope ends. In particular, in such kind of packagings, the ends pulling action causes the separation of the wrapper into two semi-wrappers, one of which separates from the plaster dragging with it one protective film placed onto a part of the plaster adhesive support, which thus remains mostly uncovered and ready for application; the other semi-wrapper, together with the part of covered adhesive support, is held by the user in his/her hand, so that he/she can pull it away and reveal the whole plaster in immediate sequence. 
     Packagings of such a kind are disclosed, for instance in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,822 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,337 in the name of the applicant. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,822 discloses, for instance, a packaging of plasters wherein the protective films of the adhesive support are attached to the respective semi-wrappers with a lip folded towards outside. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,337 discloses protective films of the adhesive support having a direct back anchor to the respective semi-wrappers. 
     The technical solution disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,822 substantially concerns non-siliconated protective films. 
     The technical solution disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,235,337 substantially concerns siliconated or anyway provided with anti-adhering treatment protective films, in case obtainable also from support material (liner) employed for the manufacturing of the plasters adhesive support. 
     A problem that is particularly felt with respect to the second known solution resides in that, as it can be deduced by looking at  FIG. 1  depicting a longitudinal schematic section of the packaging according to the second known solution, a considerable pulling action has to be exerted on ends E 1 , E 2  in order to open the package, since the strength to separate the semi-wrappers joined one to the other at median lines SX (cold self-welding paper) has to be added to the strength required by one of the films P 1 , P 2  to fold onto itself, for instance as an S or as a Z, and to start detaching an initial portion of the film from the adhesive side (adhesive), a strength that in the case of  FIG. 1  is made easier thanks to the presence of a bandage compress B isolating a large part of the initial portion of films P 1 , P 2  from the adhesive. 
     Moreover, the applicant has noticed that, due to the required strength, it can happen, for instance, that the films initial portions, instead of folding onto themselves, tend to bend or to deviate from the desired folding so that the user is induced to exert an even greater pulling strength, that can result in a wrong opening of the packaging. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to make much more easier the folding of the protective films onto themselves and, consequently, to reduce the overall strength for opening the plaster packaging. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple and very cheap solution that can be applied to the usual components of the protective films, the use of liner obtained from the adhesive support not being excluded. 
     The objects are achieved with the fast-opening packaging of plaster having the features referred to in the following claims. 
     The present invention further relates to a method for the manufacturing of plasters to be used in connection with the packagings according to the invention. 
     The claims form integral part of the technical teaching herein provided as regards the invention. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the plaster protective film comprises a cut having a “portico” profile, designed and arranged so that, under the pulling strength, the folding and the removal of the films only involve the “columns” of the portico (i.e. a largely minority portion of the region of the films themselves), particularly in the initial portion of the opening of the plaster packaging that, as it is known, is simultaneous to the mutual detachment of the semi-wrappers forming the envelope. This way the initial strength, that is the one by far prevailing in the opening step of the plaster packaging, is significantly reduced, also because the portico cut of the film causes a guided folding, which mainly takes place along the track preset by the cut, avoiding unwanted flexions or deviations of the protective film. 
     According to a further feature of the present invention, the protective film cut is shaped in a way such as to assure that, during a first opening step of the plaster packaging, the strength is substantially related to the mutual detachment of the semi-wrappers because the films, having a minimum surface subjected to folding, for instance one or more columns, have minimum resistance to opening and that, during a second step, once the semi-wrappers are separated, the opening strength of the packaging is substantially related to the films folding. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       This and other features of the present invention will become evident from the following description of preferred embodiments, given by way of non limiting example, the enclosed drawings being of help, in which elements denoted with the same or with a similar alphanumeric reference denote components having the same or a similar function and design: 
         FIG. 1  depicts a longitudinal schematic section of a plaster packaging according to the prior art as disclosed; 
         FIG. 2  depicts a view from the side of the protective film of a plaster packaging according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective exploded view of the plaster according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a perspective exploded view exemplifying the opening of the plaster packaging according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a longitudinal schematic section of a semi-open packaging of a plaster according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a view from the side of the protective film of a plaster according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a view from the side of the protective film of a plaster according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a view from the side of the protective film of a plaster according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  depicts an example of device to be used in the method of manufacturing of the plasters according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , a fast-opening packaging of plaster according to the invention comprises, for instance, a wrapper (envelope) E enfolding a plaster P ( FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ) having an adhesive support SA, of a known kind, and protective films, P 1  and P 2 , arranged, in a known way, onto the adhesive side of the adhesive support SA. 
     Wrapper E comprises, for instance, two semi-wrappers, E 1  and E 2 , of a known kind, and the protective films, P 1  and P 2 , have the ends placed at the center line (median ends) of the plaster P sticked, in a known way, through respective sticking strips (stickings or anchor lines), C 1  and C 2 , to the respective semi-wrappers, E 1  and E 2 . 
     Plaster P also comprises, for instance, a bandage compress (compress) B, known in itself, located in median place, and the protective films, P 1  and P 2 , cover and protect, in a known way, the compress B. 
     Protective films, P 1  and P 2 , are for instance made of a protective material of a known kind, for instance consisting of or comprising siliconated paper. 
     According to a first embodiment, the protective films, P 1  and P 2 , have a transverse set of cuts (carvings), I 1  and I 2 , for instance cuts as an U, that placed side by side form a “portico” pattern suitable for shaping columns CO and arcade tabs (arches or arcades) LA on the protective films P 1  and P 2 . Preferably, columns CO are much narrower than arches LA. 
     In such first embodiment, the arches LA tops of P 1  and P 2  are substantially based onto the transverse edges of compress B. 
     When using, by pulling towards outside the end of the semi-wrappers, E 1  and E 2 , ( FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ) thanks to the sticking C 1 , the carving I 1  of P 1  overlying compress B, is able to split open into the two components shaped by cutting, whereby the arcade tabs LA, having a high resistance to folding, slide, together with the semi-wrapper E 1 , on the underlying compress B and on the portion of P 1  not engaged by compress B, while the columns CO, having a low resistance to folding, fold onto themselves substantially outlining an S or a Z. 
     This step of folding onto themselves of the columns CO is simultaneous to the step of mutual detachment of the semi-wrappers, E 1  and E 2 , composing the envelope; afterwards, keeping on pulling, the detachment of the portion of P 1 , fully engaged by the adhesive itself, from the adhesive of the adhesive support SA takes place. Such detachment occurs without any difficulty, through columns CO acting as sheer pulling braces, also because, at this point, the envelope E is already open and it does not impart a considerable resistance to sliding and to folding onto itself of the uncut portion of films P 1  and P 2 . 
     In order to better exemplify the opening process of the plaster packaging according to such first embodiment,  FIG. 5  illustrates an enlarged schematic longitudinal section of a semi-open packaging of a plaster, in which the dotted lines denote the contours of the semi-wrappers E 1  and E 2  already separated. 
     As highlighted in such figure, the arcade tabs LA completely project with respect to the folded columns CO and these latters are stretched like braces ready to start pulling the side of P 1  that is in contact with the adhesive of the adhesive support SA. As it is easy to understand for the person skilled in the art, it is intuitive that, keeping on pulling, the removal of P 1  will require a minimum strength, such as not to break the columns or braces CO, also because the mouth of the semi-wrapper E 1  anchored to P 1  through the sticking strip C 1  is open, as already cited above. 
     In short, thanks to the carvings, during a first step the opening strength of the plaster packaging is substantially related to the mutual detachment of the semi-wrappers E 1  and E 2 , since the films P 1  and/or P 2 , having a minimum surface subjected to folding, for instance the columns, have minimum resistance to opening. 
     During a second step, once the semi-wrappers are separated, the opening strength of the plaster packaging is substantially related to the folding of the films P 1  and/or P 2 . 
     In a second embodiment, each of the films, P 1  and P 2  ( FIG. 6 ), comprises a cut, I 1  and I 2  respectively, as an U suitable for shaping a portico (first portion) with an arch LA having a width equal or similar, for instance, to that of compress B, and just two lateral columns CO (second portion); in such second embodiment, the bandage compress B substantially supports the whole portion of the protection, P 1  and/or P 2 , delimited by the portico cut. 
     Such kind of shape involves that the first portion of protection, being slightly raised over the second portion, which on the contrary is engaged by the adhesive, does not meet any difficulty to slide on the bandage compress B when, during use, a pulling action of the protective films, P 1  and P 2 , is exerted beginning from the sticking strips C 1  and C 2 . 
     Obviously, as it is easy to understand for the person skilled in the art, columns CO will fold onto themselves as an S or as a Z, performing the same functions already disclosed as regards columns CO of the first embodiment. 
     In a third embodiment, the protective films, P 1  and P 2  ( FIG. 7 ), comprise cuts, I 1  and I 2 , suitable for shaping two semi-arcades LAS and a single middle column CO. Such kind of embodiment, that is anyway comprised within the protective scope of the present invention, can be preferable for plasters P provided with bandage compresses B extended up to the edges of the adhesive support SA. 
     According to a fourth embodiment, usable for instance for packagings wherein plaster P is of the without bandage kind, the protective films, P 1  and P 2  ( FIG. 8 ), may comprise, respectively, portico cuts I 1  and I 2  with the arcades facing the median ends of the protective films, P 1  and P 2 , of plaster P. 
     Making reference to  FIG. 8 , it can be deduced, as it is easy to understand for the person skilled in the art, that, by exerting a pulling action of the film P 1  starting, for instance, from the sticking strip C 1 , the column CO will tend to detach from the underlying adhesive support SA folding onto themselves, while the arcade tabs LA will remain anchored to the adhesive support until columns CO will be entirely overturned onto themselves and stretched like braces to transmit the pulling action to the arcade tabs LA themselves. The tearing removal of the arcade tabs LA will require a determined strength, generally higher than that provided in the case of the first embodiment, whereby, in this fourth embodiment, an enlargement of columns CO base is provided, for instance giving the portico cuts a horseshoe profile, so as to strengthen them and to avoid breakings. 
     In such embodiment, it is preferable that the protective films are, for instance, made of a material such as siliconated plastics or the like that, as it is known, is less stiff and tearable of the siliconated paper. 
     In such embodiment, furthermore, it is preferable that the region of the protective films, P 1  and P 2 , that comprises the respective sticking lines or strips, C 1  and C 2 , is treated, for instance, by embossing or knurling, so to slightly raise such region over the surface of the adhesive support SA and to help the columns CO folding (which takes place just under such region) and, anyway, so as to facilitate the initial tearing detachment of the region itself from the adhesive. 
     In the examples so far considered, tabs made of unremoved protective material are provided near the columns, because said material is not cut at the arcades base; however, the removal of the material corresponding to the arcades can result of some advantage for plasters provided with a wide bandage compress, as long as the underlying surface of the bandage compress corresponds to the empty space so created. 
     The method of manufacturing of the plaster packaging according to the invention, according to the disclosed different embodiments, is as follows. 
     During a first step, the protective material under the form of a ribbon, for instance rolled up into rolls R ( FIG. 9 ), is made to pass, in a known way, between a cutting-die F and a counter-roller CC before applying the material itself onto the adhesive support. 
     The rotary cutting-die F will comprise, for instance, cutters T shaped according to one of the carving shapes I 1 , I 2 , illustrated in the disclosed different embodiments. 
     Therefore, during such first step, the ribbon, passing between the rotary cutting-die F and the counter-roller CC, will receive the cutters T print and will then have, for instance, a set of portico cuts producing one of the shapes of columns CO and arcade tabs LA as disclosed. 
     During a second step, once coupled the protective material with the adhesive support, the final pattern on the protective films of plaster P, which in  FIG. 9 , merely illustrative, corresponds to the second embodiment, will be obtained, for instance, by a die-cutting manufacture of the single plasters. 
     Within the present description, to denote the interruptions of the protective material upon which the invention is based, the wording “cut” or “carving” are used that nevertheless, as it is easy to understand for the person skilled in the art, are not to be understood in a limiting way, since they are used for brevity&#39;s sake. 
     Within the present description, “cut” and “carving” mean, for instance, any interruption of the protective material anyway obtained, also by removing a minimum of material (e.g. by laser) or by considerably removing (by melting, by cutting out). This specification is intended to be valid in all respects for interpreting the following claims, to which is better to declare beforehand also that the proposed alternatives and solutions within this description are illustrative only and are not to be understood to be exhaustive regards the subject matter for which protection is claimed. This last specification concerns, as well, the sizes that can be deduced from the drawings, which in the different possible accomplishments can considerably change, also among them, thus producing for instance protective films having different lengths for the same plaster, separable wrappers dividing into unequal envelopes, cuts having different profiles from a film to another one and so on, in fact, obvious changes or alternatives to the above description are possible, in sizes, shapes, materials, components, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction and of the method of manufacturing without departing from the spirit of the invention as specified by the following claims.