Patent ID: 7506762

Claim:
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.