WO2018038727A1

WO2018038727A1 - Interconnected packages of disposable personal care articles

Info

Publication number: WO2018038727A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/048530
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gacia CORONADO
Original assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc; Kimberly Clark Corp
Current assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide Inc; Kimberly Clark Corp
Priority date: 2016-08-25
Filing date: 2016-08-25
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-25
Also published as: TW201806571A

Abstract

A plurality of individual pouches for housing disposable personal care articles. The pouches are interconnected in series or in parallel. Each pouch has front and back layers of flexible packaging material bonded to each other, and a disposable personal care article sandwiched therebetween within a compartment. A separation line of weakness is defined between individual pouches, each separation line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to separate a leading pouch from the plurality. Each pouch has an opening line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to open each pouch to access the personal care article housed therein. The opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the compartment of said pouch, and may additionally superpose the article housed therein.

Description

INTERCONNECTED PACKAGES OF DISPOSABLE PERSONAL CARE ARTICLES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to interconnected packages of disposable personal care articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable personal care articles, such as facial tissue, pre-moistened wipes, feminine care products, and the like, are packaged and sold in a variety of packaging formats. One known format is to package individual articles in individual pouches, and the pouches are interconnected to each other. The user can tear away as many individual product pouches as may be desired, such as to place one or more pouches in a purse, briefcase, overnight bag, or other satchel. Examples of interconnected pouches that house personal care products include U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. 2006/0142720 A1 by Zander et al., entitled "Package and Dispensing System for Personal Care Articles," and U.S. Pat. App. Publ. 2003/0102239 A1 by Beard, entitled "Packaging and Dispensing System For Pouched Products."

In some conventional embodiments, interconnected pouches are detachable from each other via tear lines that separate successive pouches. Also, in certain embodiments, to facilitate the opening of individual pouches, a notch may be provided at the edge of the pouch to help initiate tearing. However, what is lacking in the art is a configuration of interconnected pouches of articles that allows individual pouches to be removed without exposing the contents of the pouch(es), but that allows the user to easily open individual pouches after the pouch is removed from the interconnected plurality of pouches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment, the invention provides a plurality of individual pouches for housing disposable personal care articles. The pouches are interconnected in series such that the plurality extends in a longitudinal direction when in a fully extended, unfolded, laid-flat state. The plurality of individual pouches has a width that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. Each pouch has a front layer of flexible packaging material bonded to a back layer of flexible packaging material, and a disposable personal care article sandwiched therebetween within a compartment. The front layer and the back layer are unbonded to each other within the compartment. Each layer of flexible packaging material has a thickness. A separation line of weakness is defined between individual pouches, each separation line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to separate a leading pouch from the plurality. Each pouch has an opening line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to open each pouch to access the disposable personal care article housed therein. The opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the compartment of said pouch. In a second embodiment, the invention provides a plurality of individual pouches for housing disposable personal care articles. Each individual pouch has a longitudinal direction, and each individual pouch has a fixed end and a free end longitudinally opposite the fixed end. The pouches are interconnected in parallel such that the fixed end of each pouch is connected directly or indirectly to the fixed end of at least one other pouch via a connection. Each individual pouch has a width that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction. Each pouch has a front layer of flexible packaging material bonded to a back layer of flexible packaging material, and a disposable personal care article sandwiched therebetween within a compartment. The front layer and the back layer are unbonded to each other within the compartment. Each layer of flexible packaging material has a thickness. A separation line of weakness is defined between each pouch and a remainder of the plurality, each separation line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to separate a leading pouch from said plurality. Each pouch has an opening line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to open each pouch to access the disposable personal care article housed therein. The opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the compartment of said pouch.

In a third embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of the first or second embodiment wherein each separation line of weakness is parallel to each opening line of weakness.

In a fourth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through third embodiments wherein the opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the disposable personal care article within said pouch.

In a fifth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through fourth embodiments further wherein that when a consumer pulls on an individual pouch to remove said individual pouch from said plurality, a separation line of weakness tears to facilitate removal, but no opening line of weakness tears.

In a sixth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through fifth embodiments wherein each pouch has a first opening line of weakness in the first layer of flexible packaging material and a second opening line of weakness in the second layer of flexible packaging material, wherein the first opening line of weakness and the second opening line of weakness of each pouch both at least partially superpose the compartment of said pouch.

In a seventh embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through sixth embodiments, wherein each opening line of weakness of each pouch extends across between 70 and 90 percent of the width of said pouch. In an eighth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through sixth embodiments wherein each opening line of weakness of each pouch extends across 100 percent of the width of said pouch.

In a ninth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through eighth embodiments wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a discontinuous series of cuts.

In a tenth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of the ninth embodiment wherein said cuts have a depth that is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material.

In an eleventh embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through eighth embodiments, wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a continuous score line.

In a twelfth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of any one of the first through eleventh embodiments, wherein each separation line of weakness comprises a score line.

In a thirteenth embodiment, the invention provides the plurality of individual pouches of the second embodiment wherein each connection comprises one of adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, heat bonding, or pressure bonding, and wherein each separation line of weakness is defined by a connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 A is a top plan view of a plurality of interconnected pouches for housing disposable personal care articles in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1 B is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 A taken along line 1 B-1 B.

Fig. 1 C is a top plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1A, showing one pouch partially torn away from a remainder of the plurality of interconnected pouches.

Fig. 1 D is a top plan view of a single pouch housing a disposable personal care article, with a portion of the pouch partially torn away to expose the article within the pouch.

Fig. 1 E is a cross-sectional view of the region in Fig. 1 B labeled 1 E, enlarged to show detail. Fig. 2A is a top plan view of a plurality of interconnected pouches for housing disposable personal care articles in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, with portions cut away to show underlying features.

Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 2A taken along line 2B-2B.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a plurality of interconnected pouches for housing disposable personal care articles in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4A is a perspective view of a plurality of interconnected pouches for housing disposable personal care articles in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 4A taken along line 4B-4B, showing only the front pouch in full.

Fig. 4C is a view of the region in Fig. 4B labeled 4C, enlarged to show detail.

Fig. 5 is a front plan view of a plurality of interconnected pouches for housing disposable personal care articles in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to interconnected packages of disposable personal care articles, such as facial tissue, pre-moistened wipes, feminine care products, and the like.

Referring to Figs. 1 -3, in particular embodiments the present invention includes a plurality 10 of individual pouches 11 A, 11 B, 1 1 C for housing disposable personal care articles 18. The plurality includes 2 or more pouches, more particularly 3 to 20 pouches, and still more particularly 5 to 15 pouches. The plurality defines a longitudinal direction 12, a lateral direction 13 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12, and a thickness direction 19 that is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction 12 and the lateral direction 13. The pouches are interconnected in series, such that the plurality 10 extends in the longitudinal direction 12 when in a fully extended, unfolded, laid-flat state. The plurality 10 of pouches has a width 14 that extends in the lateral direction 13.

Referring to Figs. 1 B and 2B, each pouch 11 A, 1 1 1 A, has a front layer of flexible packaging material 16 and a back layer of flexible packaging material 17. Substrates suitable for forming the flexible packaging material are known in the art, and include by way of example polymer films made of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, combinations thereof, and the like. A disposable personal care article 18 is sandwiched between the front and back layers of flexible packaging material 16, 17 within a compartment 20. The front layer 16 and the back layer 17 are unbonded to each other within the compartment 20. The front layer of flexible packaging material 16 has a thickness 26, and the back layer of flexible packaging material 17 has a thickness 27. In particular embodiments, the front and back layers 16, 17 of each pouch 1 1 , 1 11 are bonded to each other around their respective pouch peripheries, as shown in Figs. 1 A, 1 B, 2A, and 2B. Suitable bonding methods include adhesive bonding, heat bonding, ultrasonic bonding, pressure bonding, or the like. In other embodiments, the front and back layers 16, 17 are bonded to each other around part of their respective peripheries, but are integrally connected to each other in other parts of their peripheries, such as when the front and back layers 16, 17 are formed from the same sheet of film, and the film is folded upon itself to create the sandwich (not shown).

Referring again to Figs. 1 -3, a separation line of weakness 25 is defined between individual pouches 1 1A/1 1 B/1 1 C; 11 1 A 11 1 B/1 1 1 C; 21 1 A/211 B/21 1 C. Each separation line of weakness 25 is adapted to allow a consumer to separate a leading pouch 30 from the plurality 10. For example, as representatively illustrated in Fig. 1 C, when a force is applied on the leading pouch 30 in a direction 26, the leading pouch 30 begins to tear away from the remainder of the plurality 10 along the separation line of weakness 25. The separation line of weakness 25 can be formed by a series of perforations, such as, for example, dots or dashes. Such dots or dashes can penetrate the combined thickness 28 of the front layer 16 and back layer 17, as representatively illustrated in Figs. 1 B and 2B. Alternatively, such dots or dashes can only partially penetrate the combined thickness 28. In certain embodiments, each separation line of weakness 25 comprises a continuous score line that only partially penetrates the combined thickness 28 of the front layer 16 and back layer 17 (not shown). Preferably, the separation line of weakness - whether a series of dots or dashes, or a continuous score line - extends across the full width 14 of the plurality 10 of pouches.

Each pouch 11/1 1 1/21 1 has at least one opening line of weakness 40/140/240, respectively. The opening line of weakness is adapted to allow a consumer to open the pouch to access the disposable personal care article 18 housed therein. As shown in Figs. 1A, 2A, and 3, the at least one opening line of weakness 40/140/240 of each pouch at least partially superposes the compartment 20 of the pouch. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the opening line of weakness 240A superposes the compartment 20 of the pouch 21 1 A, but does not superpose the article 18 housed within the pouch 211 A. In particular embodiments, not only does the at least one opening line ofweakness of each pouch at least partially superpose the compartment 20 of the corresponding pouch, but the opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the disposable personal care article 18 within the pouch. Figs. 1A-1 D and 2A-2B representatively illustrate such a configuration. For example, in the embodiment of Figs. 1A-1 D, the opening line of weakness 40A superposes the article 18 housed with the pouch 1 1 A. In the embodiment of Figs. 2A and 2B, the opening line of weakness 140A superposes the article 18 housed within the pouch 11 1 A. One desirable effect of having the opening line ofweakness superpose the article 18 housed within the pouch is that when the pouch is torn along the opening line of weakness to access the article therein (after the pouch has been removed from the remaining plurality of pouches), an edge of the article is in such embodiments likely to be exposed for easy grasping and removal from the pouch, as representatively illustrated in Fig. 1 D.

Preferably, each separation line of weakness is parallel to each opening line of weakness. Figs.

1-3 representatively illustrate such a configuration. For example, in the embodiment of Figs. 1 A-1 D, each opening line of weakness 40A, 40B, 40C is parallel to the adjacent separation line of weakness 25. In the embodiment of Figs. 2A-2B, each opening line of weakness 140A, 140B, 140C is parallel to the adjacent separation line of weakness 25. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, each opening line of weakness 240A, 240B, 240C is parallel to the adjacent separation line of weakness 25. In particular embodiments, when a consumer pulls on an individual pouch 11/1 1 1/21 1 to remove it from the remaining plurality 10, a separation line of weakness 25 tears to facilitate such removal, but no opening line of weakness 11/11 1/211 tears. In this way, the individual pouch can be removed and placed in a purse or briefcase if desired, while remaining sealed to protect the personal care article housed therein from outside contamination. To achieve this effect when an opening line of weakness is parallel to the adjacent separation line of weakness being torn, the opening line of weakness can have a higher tear strength (i.e., require more force to tear) than the adjacent separation line of weakness. In this way, as a removal force is placed on the pouch (such as force 26 in Fig. 1 C), the separation line of weakness 25A will tear, but the opening line of weakness 40A will not. Having each separation line of weakness being parallel to each opening line of weakness can be advantageous in certain manufacturing configurations.

In particular embodiments, each opening line of weakness extends across at least 90 percent, more particularly between 70 and 90 percent, and still more particularly 100 percent of the width 14 of the plurality 10 of pouches. For example, referring to Fig. 1A, the opening line of weakness 40A extends across 100 percent of the width 14 of the plurality 10 of pouches 1 1. Similarly, referring to Fig. 3, the opening line of weakness 240A extends across 100 percent of the width 14 of the plurality 10 of pouches 211 . In other embodiments, such as that representatively illustrated in Fig. 2A, each opening line of weakness 140 extends across between 70 and 90 percent of the width 14 of the plurality 10 of pouches.

As representatively illustrated in Figs. 1 -3, each opening line of weakness can comprise a discontinuous series of cuts, such as dots or dashes. The cuts can have a depth that is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material. For example, as representatively illustrated in Figs. 1A, 1 B, and 1 E, the depth 29 of the opening line of weakness 40A (defined by a discontinuous line of dots or point cuts) is less than the thickness 26 of the front layer of flexible packaging material 16. In other embodiments, each opening line of weakness can comprise a continuous score line that has a depth that is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material. Employing cuts or score lines whose depth is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material for the opening line of weakness is in particular embodiments desirable, because the pouch's compartment 20 remains impervious to the outside environment. This is important in certain applications, such as keeping facial tissue free of outside contaminants, or preventing the evaporation of wetting solution of pre-moistened wipes. If, for example, the dots or dashes forming any opening line of weakness 40/140/240 fully penetrated the thickness of the front layer 16 or back layer 17, the impervious nature of the compartment 20 would be compromised.

In particular embodiments, each pouch has a first opening line of weakness in the first layer of flexible packaging material and a second opening line of weakness in the second layer of flexible packaging material. For example, referring to Figs. 2A and 2B, the pouch 11 1 A has a first opening line of weakness 140A in the first layer of flexible packaging material 16, and further has a second opening line of weakness 140D in the second layer of flexible packaging material 17. The first opening line of weakness 140A and the second opening line of weakness 140D both superpose the compartment 20 of pouch 1 1 1 A, and preferably but optionally also both superpose the article 18 housed within the compartment 20 of pouch 1 11 A. Preferably but optionally, the first and second opening lines of weakness 140A, 140D superpose each other. Such an embodiment allows both the first and second layers 16, 17 to tear upon application of a force to permit more easy access to the article 18 housed within the compartment 20 of the pouch 11 1A. The configuration of both opening lines of weakness 140A and 140D can be as described above with respect to opening lines of weakness generally.

Referring to Figs. 4-5, in alternative embodiments, the present invention includes a plurality 10 of individual pouches 51 A-E for housing disposable personal care articles 18. The plurality includes 2 or more pouches, more particularly 3 to 20 pouches, and still more particularly 5 to 15 pouches. Each individual pouch has a longitudinal direction 12, a lateral direction 13 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12, and a thickness direction 19 that is perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction 12 and the lateral direction 13. Each individual pouch 51A-E has a width 14 that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction 12.

Each individual pouch 51 has a fixed end 52 and a free end 53 longitudinally opposite the fixed end 52. The individual pouches 51A-E are interconnected in parallel, such that the fixed end 52A-E of each pouch 51 A-E is connected directly or indirectly to the fixed end 52A-E of at least one other pouch 51A-E via a connection 55. Each connection can include one or more of adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, heat bonding, pressure bonding, or other suitable connection means. For example, as shown in Fig. 4B, the connections between each individual pouch comprise strips of adhesive - adhesive strip 55A forms the connection between pouch 51 A and pouch 51 B, adhesive strip 55B forms the connection between pouch 51 B and pouch 51 C, adhesive strip 55C forms the connection between pouch 51 C and pouch 51 D, and adhesive strip 55D forms the connection between pouch 51 D and pouch 51 E. In other embodiments, the connection 55 can simply constitute a region in which layers of material from adjacent pouches have been fused together using energy as described above.

Still referring to Figs. 4 and 5, each pouch 52 has a front layer of flexible packaging material 16 and a back layer of flexible packaging material 17. Substrates suitable for forming the flexible packaging material are described in earlier embodiments. A disposable personal care article 18 is sandwiched between the front and back layers of flexible packaging material 16, 17 within a compartment 20. As with embodiments described earlier, the front layer 16 and the back layer 17 are unbonded to each other within the compartment 20. The front layer of flexible packaging material 16 has a thickness 26, and the back layer of flexible packaging material 17 has a thickness 27. In particular embodiments, the front and back layers 16, 17 are bonded to each other around their respective peripheries, as shown in Figs. 4A, 4B, and 5. Suitable bonding methods include those described in earlier embodiments. In other embodiments, the front and back layers 16, 17 are bonded to each other around part of their respective peripheries, but are integrally connected to each other in other parts of their peripheries, as described in earlier embodiments.

A separation line of weakness 25 is defined between each pouch 51 and a remainder of said plurality 10. Each separation line of weakness 25 is adapted to allow a consumer to separate a leading pouch 30 from a remainder of the plurality 10. The separation line of weakness 25 of the embodiments representatively illustrated in Figs. 4-5 can take any of the configurations within each pouch as described in earlier embodiments. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the separation line of weakness 25 is defined by a series of dots or holes, and extends across 100 percent of the width 14 of the pouch 51 A. In particular embodiments, each separation line of weakness 25 can be defined by a connection 55. In other words, a pouch can be configured to tear away (upon application of a force) from the remaining plurality at the connection 55 (such as along a line of adhesive or along an energy bond).

Each pouch has an opening line of weakness 340 adapted to allow a consumer to open the pouch to access the disposable personal care article 18 housed therein. The placement and character of the opening line of weakness in the "connected in parallel" embodiments representatively illustrated in Figs. 4-5 can be as described above in conjunction with the "connected in series" embodiments. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the opening line of weakness 340A not only superposes the compartment 20 of the pouch 51 A, but it also superposes the article 18 held within the pouch 51 A. The embodiment representatively illustrated in Fig. 5 is similar to the embodiment representatively illustrated in Fig. 4A, with one difference. In the embodiment of Fig. 4A, the opening line of weakness 340A is positioned toward the fixed end 52A of the pouch 51 A. In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the opening line of weakness 340C is positioned toward the free end 53A of the pouch 51 A. By moving the opening line of weakness 340C relatively far away from the separation line of weakness 25 as representatively illustrated in Fig. 5, the likelihood that a user will accidentally tear the opening line of weakness when grasping the pouch to tear the separation line of weakness 25 to remove it from the plurality 10 may in certain circumstances be desirably lessened.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to the specific aspects thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these aspects. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A plurality of individual pouches for housing disposable personal care articles, said pouches interconnected in series such that the plurality extends in a longitudinal direction when in a fully extended, unfolded, laid-flat state, the plurality of individual pouches having a width that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction,

wherein each pouch has a front layer of flexible packaging material bonded to a back layer of flexible packaging material, and a disposable personal care article sandwiched therebetween within a compartment, the front layer and the back layer being unbonded to each other within the compartment, each layer of flexible packaging material having a thickness,

wherein a separation line of weakness is defined between individual pouches, each separation line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to separate a leading pouch from said plurality,

wherein each pouch has an opening line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to open each said pouch to access the disposable personal care article housed therein, wherein the opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the compartment of said pouch. 2. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , wherein each separation line of weakness is parallel to each opening line of weakness.

3. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , wherein the opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the disposable personal care article within said pouch.

4. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , further wherein that when a consumer pulls on an individual pouch to remove said individual pouch from said plurality, a separation line of weakness tears to facilitate removal, but no opening line of weakness tears.

5. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , wherein each opening line of weakness extends across between 70 and 90 percent of the width.

6. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , wherein each opening line of weakness extends across 100 percent of the width .

7. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a discontinuous series of cuts.

8. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 7, wherein said cuts have a depth that is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material.

9. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a continuous score line.

10. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 1 , wherein each pouch has a first opening line of weakness in the first layer of flexible packaging material and a second opening line of weakness in the second layer of flexible packaging material, wherein the first opening line of weakness and the second opening line of weakness of each pouch both at least partially superpose the compartment of said pouch.

1 1 . The plurality of individual pouches of claim 10, wherein each opening line of weakness extends across between 70 and 90 percent of the width. 12. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 10, wherein each opening line of weakness extends across 100 percent of the width.

13. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 10, wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a discontinuous series of cuts.

14. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 13, wherein said cuts have a depth that is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material.

15. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 10, wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a continuous score line.

16. The plurality of individual pouches of claims 1 , wherein each separation line of weakness comprises a score line.

17. A plurality of individual pouches for housing disposable personal care articles, each individual pouch having a longitudinal direction, a fixed end and a free end longitudinally opposite the fixed end, said pouches interconnected in parallel such that the fixed end of each pouch is connected directly or indirectly to the fixed end of at least one other pouch via a connection, each individual pouch having a width that extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction,

wherein a separation line of weakness is defined between each pouch and a remainder of said plurality, each separation line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to separate a leading pouch from said plurality,

wherein each pouch has an opening line of weakness adapted to allow a consumer to open each said pouch to access the disposable personal care article housed therein, wherein the opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the compartment of said pouch.

18. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein each separation line of weakness is parallel to each opening line of weakness.

19. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein the opening line of weakness of each pouch at least partially superposes the disposable personal care article within said pouch. 20. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, further wherein that when a consumer pulls on an individual pouch to remove said individual pouch from said plurality, a separation line of weakness tears to facilitate removal, but no opening line of weakness tears.

21 . The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein each opening line of weakness extends across between 70 and 90 percent of the width of said pouch. 26. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein the opening line of weakness of each pouch extends across 100 percent of the width of said pouch.

27. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a discontinuous series of cuts.

28. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 27, wherein said cuts have a depth that is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material.

29. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a continuous score line. 30. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein each pouch has a first opening line of weakness in the first layer of flexible packaging material and a second opening line of weakness in the second layer of flexible packaging material, wherein the first opening line of weakness and the second opening line of weakness of each pouch both at least partially superpose the compartment of said pouch. 31 . The plurality of individual pouches of claim 30, wherein each opening line of weakness of each pouch extends across between 70 and 90 percent of the width of said pouch.

32. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 30, wherein each opening line of weakness of each pouch extends across 100 percent of the width of said pouch.

33. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 30, wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a discontinuous series of cuts.

34. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 33, wherein said cuts have a depth that is less than the thickness of the flexible packaging material.

35. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 30, wherein each opening line of weakness comprises a continuous score line. 36. The plurality of individual pouches of claim 17, wherein each connection comprises one of adhesive bonding, ultrasonic bonding, heat bonding, or pressure bonding, and wherein each separation line of weakness is defined by a connection.

37. The plurality of individual pouches of claims 17, wherein each separation line of weakness comprises a score line.