U.S. patent application number 09/771014 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for blister pack and backer for packaging a toothbrush and method for making the same.
Invention is credited to Rubenstein, Michael.
Application Number | 20010032796 09/771014 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26873559 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010032796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rubenstein, Michael |
October 25, 2001 |
Blister pack and backer for packaging a toothbrush and method for
making the same
Abstract
The present invention concerns a blister pack assembly for an
article including a blister pack for receiving the article; and a
backer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the backer being
provided with printed material only on its top surface, so that
when the backer is sealed to the blister pack, the seal will no, be
affected by the presence of ink on the bottom surface. In order to
provide a better appearance, the backer is preferably made of clear
plastic. A first layer of ink is applied to the top surface, so
that the ink, representing promotional material and other
information, is visible through the clear plastic in the direction
of the bottom surface of the backer. A second layer of ink is then
applied over the first layer of ink, so that the first layer of ink
is hidden from view when looking at the top surface of the backer.
A third layer of ink, representing promotional material and other
information is then applied to the second layer of ink, the third
layer of ink being visible (and of course readable) only when
looking at the top surface of the backer through the blister pack.
Consequently, when the seal is made, no ink is present at the
junction between the periphery of the bottom surface of the backer,
permitting a clean seal between the backer and the blister pack. It
should also be noted that since ink is not present on the bottom
surface of the backer, the promotional material and other
information visible on the bottom surface of the packer can cover
the full area of the backer. The present invention also concerns a
method for making a blister pack and backer for packaging an
article.
Inventors: |
Rubenstein, Michael;
(Dollard Des Ormeaux, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Family ID: |
26873559 |
Appl. No.: |
09/771014 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60177707 |
Jan 27, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/461 ;
206/361; 206/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/36 20130101;
B65D 2203/00 20130101; B65D 75/56 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/461 ;
206/471; 206/361 |
International
Class: |
B65D 073/00 |
Claims
1. A backer for use with a blister pack assembly, said backer
having an inside surface and an outside surface, said backer being
made of a transparent material, said backer being provided with a
first layer of ink on said outside surface representing indicia
visible from said inside surface, and a third layer of ink
representing indicia visible from said outside surface.
2. A backer according to claim 1, wherein said backer further
includes a second layer of ink, said second layer of ink being
located between said first and third layers of ink, for visually
insulating said first and third layers of ink.
3. A backer according to claim 1, wherein said first layer of ink
includes a plurality of layers of ink of different colors.
4. A backer according to claim 1, wherein said third layer of ink
includes a plurality of layers ink of different colors.
5. A packaging assembly for packaging an article comprising: a
blister pack for receiving said article, said blister pack being
made of a transparent material, said blister pack having an edge; a
backer having an inside surface and an outside surface, said backer
being adapted to be joined to said blister pack at said edge
through a seal on said inside surface, said backer being provided
with a first layer of ink on said outside surface representing
indicia visible from said inside surface, and a third layer of ink
representing indicia visible from said outside surface.
6. A packaging assembly according to claim 5, wherein said backer
further includes a second layer of ink, said second layer of ink
being located between said first and third layers of ink, for
visually insulating said first and third layers of ink.
7. A packaging assembly according to claim 5, wherein said first
layer of ink includes a plurality of layers of ink of different
colors.
8. A packaging assembly according to claim 5, wherein said third
layer of ink includes a plurality of layers of ink of different
colors.
9. A packaging assembly according to claim 5, wherein said article
is a toothbrush.
10. A packaging assembly according to claim 5, wherein said seal is
an RF seal.
11. A method for printing a backer for use with a blister pack,
said method including the steps of: a) providing a transparent
backer having an inside surface and an outside surface; b) applying
a first layer of ink to said outside surface, said first layer of
ink representing indicia visible from said inside surface; and c)
applying a third layer of ink to said outside surface, said third
layer of ink representing indicia visible from said outside
surface.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said method further
comprises the step b1) applying a second layer of ink to said first
layer of ink.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a blister pack and backer
for a toothbrush
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Toothbrushes, an important tool in the maintenance of oral
hygiene, are packaged, generally, either in a sealed cardboard box,
or in a blister pack. The blister pack includes a backing which
sealed to the blister pack, usually by way of an RF seal. The
blister pack is usually made of clear plastic, and the backer,
having a top and bottom surfaces, is printed on each side with
promotional and other information.
[0003] One of the problems associated with such a blister pack
packaging is that tie bottom surface of the backer (which contacts
the blister pack and is sealed), is printed. Because of variations
in the tolerance of the printing, it is possible that ink will be
present at the periphery of the bottom surface of the backer where
the seat is made. The presence of ink in this region is such that
the resulting seal is imperfect (which is a considerable
disadvantage due to the nature of the use of a toothbrush) which
means the container is opened, which is unhygienic, and may also
result in ink smearing.
[0004] It should also be noted that manufacturers have attempted to
obviate this problem by reducing the area on which the ink may be
present by leaving a border approximately {fraction (1/16)}" in
width on the periphery of the bottom surface of the backer.
However, this is not an acceptable solution, since the tolerance in
the assembling of the backer and the blister pack is larger than
the border, and may also result in smearing if the alignment is
off.
[0005] These problems result in a lack of confidence by the users
since a user will not purchase a badly sealed toothbrush package
which results in a sloppy appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a blister pack
assembly, including a backer, which does not contain ink on its
bottom surface, thereby permitting a perfect seal.
[0007] In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved
with a blister pack assembly for an article including:
[0008] a blister pack for receiving the article;
[0009] a backer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the
backer being provided with printed material only on its top
surface, so that when the backer is sealed to the blister pack, the
seal will not be affected by the presence of ink on the bottom
surface.
[0010] In order to provide a better appearance, the backer is made
of clear plastic. A first layer of ink is applied to the top
surface, so that the ink, representing promotional material and
other information, is visible through the clear plastic in the
direction of the bottom surface of the backer. A second layer of
ink is then applied over the first layer of ink, so that the first
layer of ink is hidden from view when looking at the top surface of
the backer. A third layer of ink, representing promotional material
and other information is then applied to the second layer of ink,
the third layer of ink being visible (and of course readable) only
when looking at the top surface of the backer through the blister
pack.
[0011] Consequently, when the seal is made, no ink is present at
the junction between the periphery of the bottom surface of the
backer, permitting a clean seal between the backer and the blister
pack. It should also be noted that since ink is not present on the
bottom surface of the backer, the promotional material and other
information visible on the bottom surface of the packer can cover
the full area of the backer.
[0012] The present invention also concerns a method for making a
blister pack and backer for packaging an article.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The present invention and its advantages will be more easily
understood after reading the following non-restrictive description
of preferred embodiments thereof, made with reference to the
following drawings:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of a blister pack
assembly according to the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the blister pack assembly according
to the present invention, showing each layer of printing.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a blister pack
assembly 1 for packaging an article (not shown) according to the
present invention. Although the following description will focus on
such a blister pack assembly for packaging a toothbrush, it should
be understood that the present invention is equally applicable to
any other type of article to be package in a blister pack
assembly.
[0017] The blister pack assembly 1 includes a blister pack 3 having
an edge 5 and a backer 7, the backer having an inside surface 9 and
an outside surface 11. Once the toothbrush is inserted in the
blister pack 3, the inside surface 9 of the backer 7 is joined to
the edge 5 of the blister pack 3 and the resulting assembly is
sealed, usually by way of an RF seal.
[0018] The invention lies in the construction of the backer 7, The
backer is made of a sheet of transparent or translucent plastic.
The outside surface 11 thereof is printed with a first layer of ink
13, representing the information destined to be visible through the
transparent plastic. A second layer of ink 15 is applied to the
first layer of ink 13, in order to visually insulate the first
layer 13 from the second layer 15. The second layer 15 acts as an
opaque base for a third layer of ink 17, which represents printed
information destined to be viewed through the blister pack 3, in
the direction of the top surface 9 of the backer 7.
[0019] It should be understood however that the second layer of ink
15 can be omitted. It should further be understood 61 at the first
layer and the third layer are also meant to include a plurality of
layers, and that the terms first layer and third layer represent
the full image to be viewed.
[0020] Accordingly, when the backer 7 is sealed to the blister pack
3, the inside surface 9 of the backer 7 does not have any ink
thereon which would, if the tolerances are off, interfere with the
seal. Furthermore, since there is no ink present on the inside
surface 9, the area available for painting is greater, permitting
more information to be printed on the backer by being able to use
the full area thereof.
[0021] Although expressions such as "inside" and "outside" have
been used in the present description, it should be apparent that
the present invention lies in inking the surface of the backer
which is opposite to the surface receiving the seal.
[0022] Although the present invention has been explained
hereinabove by way of a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be
pointed out that any modifications to this preferred embodiment
within the scope of the present description is not deemed to alter
or change the nature and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *