U.S. patent application number 10/897907 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-26 for display package constructions.
Invention is credited to Karl M. Ritter.
Application Number | 20060016711 10/897907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35655978 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060016711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ritter; Karl M. |
January 26, 2006 |
Display package constructions
Abstract
Display packaging constructions incorporating a plastic blister
cavity, sandwiched between layers of paperboard material,
preferably corrugated paperboard material, are disclosed.
Variations of the basic construction include a high-density
packaging configuration, display packages having security features
for precluding unauthorized access to the interior of the display
package, and a reclosable construction to enable the display
package to be used as a storage container.
Inventors: |
Ritter; Karl M.; (Geneva,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patrick W. Rasche;Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Suite 2600
One Metropolitan Square
St. Louis
MO
63102
US
|
Family ID: |
35655978 |
Appl. No.: |
10/897907 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/470 ;
206/526 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 73/0092
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/470 ;
206/526 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00; B65D 85/00 20060101 B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A display package for the containment and display of at least
one product for sale, the display package comprising: a blister
cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably
configured to receive the at least one product, and through which
the at least one product may be visually inspected, the blister
cavity further having a peripheral flange extending outwardly from
at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion; a
front card, having an aperture, through which the contoured,
three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and
further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a
forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed; a
rear card, having a peripheral contour which is substantially
similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card
being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing
surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the
front and rear cards; the blister cavity being fabricated from a
material that is at least one of transparent, translucent; the
front and rear cards being fabricated from a material that is at
least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard; the rear
card further having an access door formed therein, the access door
further comprising a flap cut from a portion of the rear card
material and pivotably connected thereto; and a releasable locking
mechanism interconnecting the access door and the blister cavity,
for enabling the access door to repeatedly opened and closed, for
enabling storage of the product in the display package.
2. The display package according to claim 1, wherein the releasable
locking mechanism comprises: a snap member, extending rearwardly
from a rearward facing surface of the peripheral flange of the
blister cavity; and a snap aperture, disposed in an edge region of
the access door, and operably configured to receive, in a snap-fit
manner, the snap member.
3. The display package according to claim 1, wherein the blister
cavity is fabricated from a plastic material.
4. The display package according to claim 1, wherein the front and
rear cards are fabricated from corrugated paperboard material.
5. The display package according to claim 4, wherein the corrugated
paperboard material is single wall corrugated paperboard
material.
6. The display package according to claim 5, wherein at least one
tear-resistant security tape is embedded within the corrugated
paperboard material forming at least one of the front and rear
cards, for precluding tearing the front and rear cards so as to
enable unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
7. The display package according to claim 1, wherein the front card
is sealed to a forwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of
the blister cavity, and the rear card is sealed to a
rearwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of the blister
cavity.
8. The display package according to claim 1, further comprising a
line of weakness disposed in the rearwardly facing surface of the
front card, the line of weakness encircling and outwardly spaced
from the peripheral flange of the blister cavity, whereupon
attempted forced separation of the front card from the rear card,
the line of weakness causes portions of the front card that are
sealed to the peripheral flange of the blister cavity that are
encircled by the line of weakness to separate from remaining
portions of the front card that are not encircled by the line of
weakness, to inhibit unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
9. A high-density display packaging system, comprising: at least
two complementary display packages, each display package including:
a blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion
operably configured to receive the at least one product, and
through which the at least one product may be visually inspected,
the blister cavity further having a peripheral flange extending
outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured,
three-dimensional portion; a front card, having an aperture,
through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the
blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing
surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral
flange is juxtaposed; a rear card, having a peripheral contour
which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front
card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the
rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so
that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched
between the front and rear cards; the blister cavity being
fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent,
translucent; the front and rear cards being fabricated from a
material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated
paperboard; the rear card further having an access door formed
therein, the access door further comprising a flap cut from a
portion of the rear card material and pivotably connected thereto;
at least one of the display packages having a first configuration
such that the front and rear cards form a main body portion
enclosing a blister cavity, and a wing portion extending away from
an upper left side region of the main body portion, at least one of
the display packages having a second configuration such that the
front and rear cards form a main body portion enclosing a blister
cavity, and a wing portion extending away from an upper right side
region of the main body portion, a display package of a first
configuration having a recess therein defined by the wing portion
thereof, through which the blister cavity of a display package of
the second configuration may be visually inspected, a display
package of a second configuration having a recess therein defined
by the wing portion thereof, through which the blister cavity of a
display package of the first configuration may be visually
inspected; and a shipping and display case, operably configured to
receive, in a row from front to back, alternating ones of the
display packages whereupon a display package of the first
configuration is preceded or followed by a display package of the
second configuration, and a display package of the second
configuration is preceded or followed by a display package of the
first configuration.
10. A display package for the containment and display of at least
one product for sale, the display package comprising: a blister
cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably
configured to receive the at least one product, and through which
the at least one product may be visually inspected, the blister
cavity further having a peripheral flange extending outwardly from
at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion; a
front card, having an aperture, through which the contoured,
three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and
further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a
forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed; a
rear card, having a peripheral contour which is substantially
similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card
being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing
surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the
front and rear cards; the blister cavity being fabricated from a
material that is at least one of transparent, translucent; the
front and rear cards being fabricated from a material that is at
least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard; and at least
one tear-resistant security tape embedded within the corrugated
paperboard material forming at least one of the front and rear
cards, for precluding tearing the front and rear cards so as to
enable unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
11. A display package for the containment and display of at least
one product for sale, the display package comprising: a blister
cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably
configured to receive the at least one product, and through which
the at least one product may be visually inspected, the blister
cavity further having a peripheral flange extending outwardly from
at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion; a
front card, having an aperture, through which the contoured,
three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and
further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a
forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed; a
rear card, having a peripheral contour which is substantially
similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card
being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing
surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the
front and rear cards; the blister cavity being fabricated from a
material that is at least one of transparent, translucent; the
front and rear cards being fabricated from a material that is at
least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard; wherein the
front card is sealed to a forwardly-facing surface of the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity, and the rear card is
sealed to a rearwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of
the blister cavity.
12. A display package for the containment and display of at least
one product for sale, the display package comprising: a blister
cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably
configured to receive the at least one product, and through which
the at least one product may be visually inspected, the blister
cavity further having a peripheral flange extending outwardly from
at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion; a
front card, having an aperture, through which the contoured,
three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and
further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a
forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed; a
rear card, having a peripheral contour which is substantially
similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card
being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing
surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the
front and rear cards; the blister cavity being fabricated from a
material that is at least one of transparent, translucent; the
front and rear cards being fabricated from a material that is at
least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard; a line of
weakness disposed in the rearwardly facing surface of the front
card, the line of weakness encircling and outwardly spaced from the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity, whereupon attempted forced
separation of the front card from the rear card, the line of
weakness causes portions of the front card that are sealed to the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity that are encircled by the
line of weakness to separate from remaining portions of the front
card that are not encircled by the line of weakness, to inhibit
unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
13. A display package for the containment and display of at least
one product for sale, the display package comprising: a blister
cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably
configured to receive the at least one product, and through which
the at least one product may be visually inspected, the blister
cavity further having a peripheral flange extending outwardly from
at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion; a
front card, having an aperture, through which the contoured,
three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and
further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a
forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed; a
rear card, having a peripheral contour which is substantially
similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card
being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing
surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the
front and rear cards; the blister cavity being fabricated from a
material that is at least one of transparent, translucent; the
front and rear cards being fabricated from a material that is at
least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard; the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity being sealed, along at
least portions thereof, to the respective adjacent front and rear
cards.
14. The display package according to claim 13, wherein the blister
cavity includes a front section hingedly connected to a rear
section.
15. The display package according to claim 14, wherein the rear
section of the blister cavity also includes contoured,
three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at
least one product, and through which the at least one product may
be visually inspected, and the rear card includes an aperture
through which the three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity
projects.
16. The display package according to claim 13, wherein the blister
cavity includes at least one downwardly projecting portion which
supports the display package to enable the display package to be
positioned in a freestanding upright configuration.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. The Technical Field
[0002] The present invention is directed to reusable packaging that
is configured to initially display and then house the product,
while the product is completely encased in the package, and then
house the product repeatedly thereafter, wherein the product is at
least partially enclosed by a transparent or translucent blister
cavity, and wherein the blister cavity is usually fabricated from a
plastic material.
[0003] 2. The Prior Art
[0004] Typical prior art display package constructions are often in
the form of an all-plastic enclosure, often in the form of a
clamshell. That is, the plastic enclosure will be formed as a front
portion and a rear portion, on or both of which may be generally
planar, but have one or more contoured, three-dimensional bubbles
or blister cavities formed therein, into which a portion or all of
the product to be packaged, is received. The front and rear
portions may be initially hinged along a common edge, which may be
a top, bottom or side edge. After placement of the product into the
bubble or blister cavity, the front and rear portions are then
folded about the hinge and snap-fitted together via complementary
snap joining structures formed in the respective front and rear
portions. Alternatively, the front and rear portions may be sealed
to each other, e.g., by heat or sonic welding. Other joining
techniques may also be employed.
[0005] In other prior art constructions, the front and rear
portions of the all-plastic enclosure may be completely separate
structures, which are snap-fitted, sealed together, or otherwise
joined, after placement of the product in the blister cavity.
[0006] Alternatively, prior art display package constructions may
incorporate a plastic blister cavity, usually having flat flanges
which extend outwardly from peripheral edges of the contoured
three-dimensional portion of the blister. The flanges are then
affixed to one or more layers of paperboard or other material. For
example, the blister may be affixed to a single layer of paperboard
material or "card" which forms the rear wall of the product
enclosure.
[0007] In a still further alternative prior art construction, the
contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister may be pushed
through a suitably shaped opening in a front "card". A rear "card"
having dimensions usually the same as the overall dimensions of the
front card, may be placed in a position overlying the rear surfaces
of the blister flanges and rear surface of the front card, so that
the blister flanges are sandwiched between the front and rear
cards.
[0008] Often, such display package constructions, are configured to
hang from hooks, rods or pegs from shelving or upright supports, by
providing one or more apertures, usually adjacent an upper edge
region of the package.
[0009] Among the prior art display package constructions are the
following references:
[0010] Jacobson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,250,387. In this reference,
an all-plastic blister package is provided with a back snap
closure.
[0011] Tjaden, U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,774 discloses reclosable,
all-plastic blister cavities with hinged backs/bottoms with
contoured snap features that interfit with corresponding structures
in the cavity wall.
[0012] Iten et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,417. A package for safety
razor blades, in which a pivotable card-stock panel in the card
back is located behind the open-backed blister cavity. In one
embodiment, plastic cup-shaped structures affixed to the panel
telescopically receive posts extending backward from the front wall
of the blister cavity, to hold the blades in place.
[0013] Yeager et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,935. A open-backed
blister cavity is affixed to the bottom half of a card back. The
top half of the card back is pivotable relative to the blister
cavity, and bumps on the interior of the top of the blister cavity
engage the top edges of the card back to hold it in place, once the
package has been initially opened.
[0014] Shimizu et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,099. This reference
discloses a blister pack with foldable front and back card panels,
and a blister bubble, that appears to be affixed, first to the
front card panel by heat and pressure, with the front and back card
panels attached to each other. However, it is to be noted that the
English text appears to be a very rough translation from the
Japanese, and so the details are given somewhat inconsistently. An
alternative embodiment is disclosed where all three layers are heat
sealed together simultaneously. The packages appear to be
reclosable after opening. Most of the embodiments feature a back
card hinged to the front card, being released by a tear strip or
zipper strip, and then held in place by tucking the free edge of
the back card under a die-cut tab formed in the front card.
[0015] Mickel, U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,689 B2. A package has an
open-backed blister cavity with a removable and replaceable card
back. An aperture in the card back fits over one or more
protuberances on the blister cavity. The protuberances may be
formed to create a "snap" fit with the card back.
[0016] One disadvantage of such prior art display package
constructions, particularly the combination paperboard/plastic
display packages, is that by simply tearing the card(s), it is
often possible to separate the blister from the card(s) and/or
otherwise gain access to the blister cavity, enabling the product
therein to be removed and stolen.
[0017] It would be desirable to provide an improved combination
paperboard/plastic display package construction that is provided
with security features for discouraging or inhibiting theft of
products from within the blister cavities of such display package
constructions.
[0018] It would also be desirable to provide an improved display
package construction that can be reused as a storage container for
the product purchased.
[0019] These and other desirable characteristics and objects of the
present invention will become apparent in view of the present
specification, including claims, and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention comprises, in part, a display package
for the containment and display of at least one product for sale.
The display package, according to one embodiment, comprises a
blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion
operably configured to receive the at least one product, and
through which the at least one product may be visually inspected.
The blister cavity further has a peripheral flange extending
outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured,
three-dimensional portion. A front card is provided, having an
aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of
the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing
surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral
flange is juxtaposed. A rear card is provided, having a peripheral
contour which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of
the front card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation
to the rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed
thereto, so that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is
sandwiched between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is
preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of
transparent, translucent. The front and rear cards are preferably
fabricated from a material that is at least one of paper,
paperboard, corrugated paperboard. The rear card further preferably
has an access door formed therein, the access door further
comprising a flap cut from a portion of the rear card material and
pivotably connected thereto. A releasable locking mechanism
preferably interconnects the access door and the blister cavity,
for enabling the access door to repeatedly opened and closed, for
enabling storage of the product in the display package.
[0021] The releasable locking mechanism preferably comprises a snap
member, extending rearwardly from a rearward facing surface of the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity; and a snap aperture,
disposed in an edge region of the access door, and operably
configured to receive, in a snap-fit manner, the snap member.
[0022] The blister cavity is preferably fabricated from a plastic
material. The front and rear cards are preferably fabricated from
corrugated paperboard material. The corrugated paperboard material
is preferably single wall corrugated paperboard material. At least
one tear-resistant security tape may be embedded within the
corrugated paperboard material forming at least one of the front
and rear cards, for precluding tearing the front and rear cards so
as to enable unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
[0023] Preferably, the front card is sealed to a forwardly-facing
surface of the peripheral flange of the blister cavity, and the
rear card is sealed to a rearwardly-facing surface of the
peripheral flange of the blister cavity.
[0024] A line of weakness may be disposed in the rearwardly facing
surface of the front card, the line of weakness encircling and
outwardly spaced from the peripheral flange of the blister cavity,
whereupon attempted forced separation of the front card from the
rear card, the line of weakness causes portions of the front card
that are sealed to the peripheral flange of the blister cavity that
are encircled by the line of weakness to separate from remaining
portions of the front card that are not encircled by the line of
weakness, to inhibit unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
[0025] The present invention is also directed to a high-density
display packaging system, comprising at least two complementary
display packages. Each display package includes a blister cavity,
having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured
to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least
one product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further
preferably has a peripheral flange extending outwardly from at
least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A
front card has an aperture, through which the contoured,
three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and
further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a
forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed. A
rear card has a peripheral contour which is substantially similar
to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card being
disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing surface of
the front card and affixed thereto, so that the peripheral flange
of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the front and rear
cards. The blister cavity is preferably fabricated from a material
that is at least one of transparent, translucent, while the front
and rear cards are preferably fabricated from a material that is at
least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard.
[0026] The rear card further has an access door formed therein, the
access door further comprising a flap cut from a portion of the
rear card material and pivotably connected thereto. At least one of
the display packages has a first configuration such that the front
and rear cards form a main body portion enclosing a blister cavity,
and a wing portion extending away from an upper left side region of
the main body portion. At least one of the display packages has a
second configuration such that the front and rear cards form a main
body portion enclosing a blister cavity, and a wing portion
extending away from an upper right side region of the main body
portion. A display package of a first configuration has a recess
therein defined by the wing portion thereof, through which the
blister cavity of a display package of the second configuration may
be visually inspected; a display package of a second configuration
having a recess therein defined by the wing portion thereof,
through which the blister cavity of a display package of the first
configuration may be visually inspected. A shipping and display
case is operably configured to receive, in a row from front to
back, alternating ones of the display packages whereupon a display
package of the first configuration is preceded or followed by a
display package of the second configuration, and a display package
of the second configuration is preceded or followed by a display
package of the first configuration.
[0027] The present invention also comprises a display package for
the containment and display of at least one product for sale,
wherein the display package comprises a blister cavity, having a
contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive
the at least one product, and through which the at least one
product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further has a
peripheral flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of
the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an
aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of
the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing
surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral
flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is
substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card,
the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the
rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so
that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched
between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is fabricated
from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent;
while the front and rear cards being fabricated from a material
that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard.
At least one tear-resistant security tape is embedded within the
corrugated paperboard material forming at least one of the front
and rear cards, for precluding tearing the front and rear cards so
as to enable unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
[0028] In another embodiment of the invention, a display package
for the containment and display of at least one product for sale
comprises a blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional
portion operably configured to receive the at least one product,
and through which the at least one product may be visually
inspected. The blister cavity further having a peripheral flange
extending outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured,
three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture, through
which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister
cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing surface,
against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange
is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is
substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card,
the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the
rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so
that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched
between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is preferably
fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent,
translucent, while the front and rear cards are fabricated from a
material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated
paperboard. The front card is preferably sealed to a
forwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of the blister
cavity, and the rear card is sealed to a rearwardly-facing surface
of the peripheral flange of the blister cavity.
[0029] In still another embodiment of the invention, a display
package is provided for the containment and display of at least one
product for sale. A blister cavity has a contoured,
three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at
least one product, and through which the at least one product may
be visually inspected. The blister cavity further has a peripheral
flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the
contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture,
through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the
blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing
surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral
flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is
substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card,
the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the
rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so
that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched
between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is preferably
fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent,
translucent. The front and rear cards are preferably fabricated
from a material that is at least one of paper, paperboard,
corrugated paperboard. A line of weakness may be disposed in the
rearwardly facing surface of the front card, the line of weakness
encircling and outwardly spaced from the peripheral flange of the
blister cavity, whereupon attempted forced separation of the front
card from the rear card, the line of weakness causes portions of
the front card that are sealed to the peripheral flange of the
blister cavity that are encircled by the line of weakness to
separate from remaining portions of the front card that are not
encircled by the line of weakness, to inhibit unauthorized access
to the blister cavity.
[0030] The invention also comprises a display package for the
containment and display of at least one product for sale, in which
the display package comprises a blister cavity, having a contoured,
three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at
least one product, and through which the at least one product may
be visually inspected. The blister cavity further has a peripheral
flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the
contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture,
through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the
blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing
surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral
flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is
substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card,
the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the
rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so
that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched
between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is fabricated
from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent.
The front and rear cards is fabricated from a material that is at
least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard. The
peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sealed, along at least
portions thereof, to the respective adjacent front and rear
cards.
[0031] The blister cavity may include a front section hingedly
connected to a rear section. In this embodiment, the rear section
of the blister cavity also includes contoured, three-dimensional
portion operably configured to receive the at least one product,
and through which the at least one product may be visually
inspected, and the rear card includes an aperture through which the
three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects.
[0032] The blister cavity may also include at least one downwardly
projecting portion which supports the display package to enable the
display package to be positioned in a freestanding upright
configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display package,
fabricated from a combination of paperboard and a plastic blister
cavity, according to an embodiment of the invention, shown with a
shipping carton, which has been converted into a display
carton.
[0034] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a plastic blister cavity,
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein
the plastic blister cavity has a hinged flat back wall.
[0035] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a plastic blister cavity
according to another alternative embodiment of the invention,
wherein the plastic blister cavity has a hinged contoured back
wall.
[0036] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a package assembly, in an
exploded view, employing a plastic blister cavity according to the
embodiment of FIG. 1B, showing how the front (partially shown) and
rear cards have apertures for accommodating the front and rear
contoured portions of the plastic blister cavity.
[0037] FIG. 1D is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein
the cavity features a downwardly projecting stabilizing portion, in
coordination with the blister flange, for enabling the completed
package to stand upright without reliance upon a shipping container
for support.
[0038] FIG. 1E is a perspective exploded view of a display package
using the plastic blister cavity of FIG. 1D.
[0039] FIG. 1F is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein
the cavity features a downwardly projecting stabilizing portion, in
coordination with the blister flange, for enabling the completed
package to stand upright without reliance upon a shipping container
for support.
[0040] FIG. 1G is a perspective exploded view of a display package
using the plastic blister cavity of FIG. 1F.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a front card of the display package
of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a rear card of the display package
of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0043] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of complementary
display packages, fabricated from a combination of paperboard and
plastic blister cavities, according to an alternative embodiment of
the invention, shown with a shipping carton, which has been
converted into a display carton.
[0044] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a front card for the display
packages of the embodiment of FIG. 4.
[0045] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a rear card for the display
packages of the embodiment of FIG. 4.
[0046] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a composite blank for forming
complementary front and rear cards for the complementary display
packages of the embodiment of FIG. 4, wherein the complementary
front and rear cards are formed in a single die-cutting operation,
for facilitated single-pass printing operations.
[0047] FIG. 8 is a plan view of front and rear cards for a display
package according to another alternative embodiment of the
invention, in which a security tape is applied to each of the
cards, showing in particular the orientation of the cards and their
respective security tapes, at the time of assembly of the
cards.
[0048] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the front and rear cards of the
embodiment of FIG. 8, showing how the cards are oriented at the
time of application of the security tape and subsequent die-cutting
of the cards, in a facilitated single-pass operation.
[0049] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, partially exposed perspective view
of the portion of a display package employing the cards of the
embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0050] FIG. 11A is an exploded rear perspective view of a display
package according to another alternative embodiment of the
invention, wherein a safety perforation is formed in the front card
to impede unauthorized access to the blister cavity.
[0051] FIG. 11B is a partially exploded front perspective view of
the display package of the embodiment of FIG. 11A.
[0052] FIG. 11C is a front perspective view of the fully assembled
display package of the embodiment of FIG. 11A.
[0053] FIG. 11D is a front perspective view of the display package
of the embodiment of FIG. 11A, shown after attempted unauthorized
access to the blister cavity.
[0054] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a composite front and rear card
for a reclosable display package according to another alternative
embodiment of the invention.
[0055] FIG. 13 is a plan view of a blister cavity for use with the
composite front and rear card of the display package of the
embodiment of FIG. 12.
[0056] FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of an assembled
reclosable display package according to the embodiment of FIGS. 12
and 13, showing the access door of the reclosable display package
in its open configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0057] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be
described in detail several specific embodiments, with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
[0058] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a display package system 10 according
to an embodiment of the invention. System 10 comprises a
combination corrugated paperboard/plastic display package 12, and a
corrugated paperboard shipping container/display tray 14, for
holding same.
[0059] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, as in all of the embodiments
described herein, the cards that form the structures supporting the
blister cavities are preferably formed from (but not limited to)
corrugated paperboard material, and in particular, preferably from
(but not limited to) single-wall corrugated paperboard material
(that is, a single layer of corrugated paperboard medium,
sandwiched between single sheet layers of paper linerboard).
Preferably, to serve interests of weight, size and cost, the gauge
of the corrugated medium is relatively small, such as E or F flute,
as such materials are referred to in the corrugated paperboard
manufacturing industry.
[0060] Display package 12 incorporates front card 16 which is
preferably fabricated of corrugated paperboard, which may bear
product information indicia. Front card 16 has a cut-out opening 18
for receiving an otherwise conventional plastic blister cavity 20
(a concave bubble of whatever desired configuration, with a
surrounding flange 22 shown in broken lines in FIG. 1). Back card
22 (FIG. 3) is also provided. Upon assembly of front card 16,
blister cavity 20 and back card 24, so that flange 22 of blister
cavity 20 is captured, completely around its perimeter, by front
card 16 and back card 24--with the product (not shown) encapsulated
between blister cavity 20 and the forward facing surface of back
card 24. In addition, to enhance security against theft, all three
packaging components (front card 16, blister cavity 20 and back
card 24) are joined together with a heat-seal coating which is
placed on the inside facing surfaces of front card 16 and back card
24, particularly in the area of flange 22 of blister cavity 20.
This heat-seal coating may be one of any of a variety of coating
materials that are suitable for heat sealing a plastic material to
a paperboard material, such as SOLUCOTE.RTM. by Soluol Chemical
Co., Inc. of West Warwick, R.I.
[0061] In FIGS. 1-3, shipping container/display tray 14 may be of
any suitable configuration, and preferably is provided with a
series of paired aligned slots 26, located on opposite interior
sides of shipping container/display tray 14, which serve to capture
opposite edges of display packages 12, to hold them in an upright
orientation, when shipping container/display tray 14 is placed in a
display location such as a retail store shelf.
[0062] A space-saving alternative display package and system 100 is
illustrated in FIGS. 4-7. Display package system 100 includes
complementary display packages 101, 102, and a shipping
container/display tray 104, which may have a configuration similar
to that of shipping container/display tray 14 of the embodiment of
FIGS. 1-3, or any other desired configuration, consistent with the
particular features of display system 100. A representative blister
cavity 105, having a flange 107 is shown in broken lines in display
package 101. It is to be understood that preferably, identical
blister cavities 105 are to be used with each display package 102,
as well as each display package 101. Although blister cavities 105
may be of any desired configuration, in preferred embodiments of
the invention, blister cavities are relatively shallow, that is
each blister cavity 105 has a depth (the dimension perpendicular to
the paperboard cards) that is relatively less then its height or
width (the dimensions parallel to the planes of the paperboard
cards).
[0063] Complementary display packages 101, 102, as can be seen in
FIG. 4, have mirror-image L-shaped configurations. That is, display
package 101 has a main body portion 106, which would contain the
blister cavity (not shown), and an upper wing 108, which extends to
the right, as seen in FIG. 4. Conversely, display package 102 has a
main body portion 110, and an upper wing 112, which extends to the
left, as seen in FIG. 4. The size and placement of the blister
cavity 105 in each of display packages 101, 102, and the height of
the respective wings 108, 112 are such that when a complementary
pair of display packages 101, 102 are placed in a suitable shipping
container/display tray 104, wing 108 extends in front of the upper
portion of main body portion 110, preferably directly above
portions of the blister cavity that is held in display package 102.
Similarly, if there is another display package 101 (not shown)
behind display package 102, wing 112 of display package 102 would
extend in front of the upper portion of the main body portion 110
of that display package 101, preferably directly above the portions
of the blister cavity held in that display package 101. In that
way, the blister cavities 105 of each of display packages 101, 102
are both visible at the same time, regardless of which of display
packages 101, 102 is in front of the other, when system 100 is
viewed from the front (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 4).
[0064] In principle, in a preferred version of the embodiment of
FIG. 4, the front and rear cards that are used to form display
packages 101, 102 are mirror-image symmetrical, so that, absent
issues such as graphics printing, the same card, e.g., card 114 of
FIG. 5, can serve as the front card for each of packages 101, 102,
simply by flipping it over. Likewise, the same card, e.g., card 116
of FIG. 6, can serve as the rear card for each of packages 101,
102, simply by flipping it over. Front card 114 has a main body
portion 118, wing 120, and aperture 122, through which the
contoured portion of the blister cavity is received. Rear card 116
has a main body portion 124 and wing 126. It is to be understood
that when a blister cavity is placed into a front card 114, and
then rear card 116 (as shown in FIG. 6) is flipped over and placed
over the rearwardly-facing surface of front card 114, the three
components (front card, blister cavity and rear card) will
preferably be sealed together, using the method of sealing
described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.
[0065] As a practical matter of manufacturability, it may be easier
to print and die cut discretely separate front and rear cards for
the complementary display packages 101, 102, rather than use the
same dies, and simply flip over the front and rear cards of one or
the other of packages 101, 102. That is, for interests of
efficiency (which may be influenced by graphics printing
considerations), to print the graphics of the front and rear cards
in a single pass on a single contiguous expanse of paperboard
material (preferably corrugated paperboard material). FIG. 7
illustrates an example of a layout 130 for front and rear cards.
For example, presuming the surface of layout 130 that faces the
viewer of FIG. 7 represents the "outside" surfaces of the cards,
card 132 with aperture 133 can be the front card for a display
package 102 and card 134 can be the rear card for a display package
104, while card 136 with aperture 137 can be the front card for a
display package 101, and card 138 can be the rear card for a
display package 101.
[0066] Alternative variations of the plastic blister cavity may be
employed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a plastic blister
cavity, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention,
wherein the plastic blister cavity 500 has a hinged flat back wall
502.
[0067] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a plastic blister cavity
according to another alternative embodiment of the invention,
wherein the plastic blister cavity 600 has, in addition to a front
cavity portion 602, a hinged back wall 604 having a cavity 606.
[0068] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a package assembly, in an
exploded view, employing a plastic blister cavity according to the
embodiment of FIG. 1B, showing how the front (partially shown) card
610 and rear card 612 have apertures 614, 616, respectively, for
accommodating the front and rear contoured portions of the plastic
blister cavity 600.
[0069] FIG. 1D is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein
the cavity 700 features a downwardly projecting stabilizing portion
702, in coordination with the blister flange 704, for enabling the
completed package to stand upright without reliance upon a shipping
container for support. FIG. 1E is a perspective exploded view of a
display package using the plastic blister cavity 700 of FIG. 1D,
between rear card 706 and front card 708 having aperture 710 (which
may, but need not necessarily, be downward opening--depending upon
whether the particular shape of the projecting blister can be
inserted through the aperture without having to have one "edge" of
the aperture being open). For practical manufacturing
considerations, in this embodiment, and the following one, the
aperture(s) will likely have to open on one edge or the other of
the respective front and/or rear cards.
[0070] FIG. 1F is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity
according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein
the cavity features front and rear cavity portions 802, 804, having
downwardly projecting stabilizing portions 806, 808, respectively,
for enabling the completed package to stand upright without
reliance upon a shipping container for support. FIG. 1G is a
perspective exploded view of a display package using the plastic
blister cavity 800 of FIG. 1F, between front card 810 (with
downward opening aperture 812) and rear card 814 (having downward
opening aperture 816).
[0071] The display package of the embodiment of FIGS. 8-10 is a
further alternative embodiment, which incorporates a security
feature, which may be employed instead of, or preferably in
addition to, the heat-sealing security feature described with
respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. In this embodiment, strips
of tear-resistant tape are embedded within the corrugated
paperboard material of at least one of, and preferably both of, the
front and rear cards of the display package. This provides a
tear-stop barrier, preventing a would-be thief from tearing the
display package sufficiently to gain access to and free the blister
cavity from the front and rear cards. The tear-resistant tapes are
preferably formed from reinforce fiber tape, such as tapes by
Adalism or Sesame.RTM. Tape by Linear Products Inc. of Vancouver,
Wash.
[0072] FIG. 8 illustrates front card 200, having aperture 202, and
rear card 204, for a display package according to an alternative
embodiment of the invention, in which the inwardly facing surfaces
of cards 200, 204 are facing the viewer. The locations of the
tear-resistant tapes 206 are indicated, but are understood as
preferably not being on the surfaces of the cards 200, 204, but
rather are embedded within the corrugated paperboard materials
themselves, as shown in FIG. 10, wherein each tear resistant tape
206 is positioned between the inside liner 208 and the corrugated
medium 210, for each corrugated paperboard card. Preferably, a
quantity of corrugated paperboard is fabricated, having the
embedded tear resistant tape, which is then die cut to form front
cards 200 and rear cards 204, oriented as shown in FIG. 9, so that
the tear-resistant tapes 206 of both cards are parallel to one
another. The cards are then rotated 90.degree. relative to one
another, as shown in FIG. 8, prior to assembly to form display
packages according to this embodiment. It is to be understood that
this security tape feature may be used together with or
alternatively to, the heat-sealing security method and structure
described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.
[0073] FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate another alternative embodiment of
the invention, in which an alternative security feature is
provided. Typically, in the display packages of the present
invention, which are illustrated and described herein, aside from
the heat sealing material which immediately connects the cards and
the blister cavity flanges, adhesive connecting the cards directly
to one another may be used sparingly, e.g., in selected spots
and/or primarily only around the common peripheral regions of the
respective front and rear cards. Such adhesive application also
typically exists in prior art sandwiched card-blister flange-card
constructions. As such, a would-be thief might be inclined to
attempt access to the blister cavity, not by tearing across the
width of the sandwiched cards, but instead attempt to separate the
front and rear cards, thus exposing the edge of the blister cavity
flange, to gain a point of entry to separate the blister cavity
flange from the front card, and access the product in the blister
cavity. The embodiment of FIGS. 11A-11D addresses this alternative
mode of attack.
[0074] Display package 300 is shown in a rear, perspective exploded
view in FIG. 11A. Display package 300 incorporates a rear card 302,
which may be a simple planar sheet of single-wall corrugated
paperboard material; a blister cavity 304, which may be as
described with respect to any of the previously described
embodiments; and front card 306 (having aperture 308), which
likewise is preferably fabricated from single-wall corrugated
paperboard material. The embodiment of FIGS. 11A-11D is
distinguished from the prior embodiments by a perforation 310 which
is provided on the inwardly-facing surface of front card 306. It is
important that perforation 310 not extend completely through the
thickness of front card 306; however, the depth to which the
perforation does extend may be varied as desired according to the
requirements of any particular application. For example, in a
version of the embodiment of FIGS. 11A-11D, if a single-wall
corrugated paperboard material is used, the perforation 310 may
pass through the inner liner and most or all of the way through the
corrugated medium, but not through the outer liner.
[0075] Furthermore, perforation 310 is spaced, preferably
uniformly, a distance away from the edge of aperture 308, which is
greater than the width of the flange which surrounds the contoured,
three-dimensional portion of blister cavity 304, so that upon
assembly of front card 306 to rear card 302, there will be inwardly
facing surfaces of the cards, beyond the edge of the blister cavity
flange, but within the perimeter defined by the perforation 310,
that are immediately juxtaposed against one another. When a display
package 300 is assembled and sealed together (FIG. 11C), sealing
material is applied in this area and between the cards and adjacent
blister cavity flange surfaces (as described with respect to the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-3), but not in the areas between the cards
that are immediately beyond the perimeter defined by the
perforation 310.
[0076] Thus, if a would-be thief does manage to pry a portion of
front card 306 away from rear card 302 (as shown in FIG. 11D), the
sealed portion 312 of front card 306 that is within the perimeter,
tears away from card 306 and remains affixed to the rear card 302,
and the front-facing surface of the blister cavity flange. In this
way, the outer edge of the blister cavity flange is still protected
and access to the blister cavity flange edge prevented, by the
portions of the front and rear cards which are directly sealed to
one another in the area immediately to the outside of the edges of
blister cavity flange, but within the perimeter defined by the
perforation 310.
[0077] While in a preferred embodiment of the invention,
perforation 310 is formed as a series of small spaced apart cuts
extending partially but not completely through the thickness of the
front card, in alterative embodiments of the invention, other lines
of weakness, such as a continuous partial cut-through or a sharp,
deep score, may be employed, so long as the result is that the
portion of the front card which is sealed to the flange of the
blister cavity remains affixed thereto, upon removal of the
remainder of the front card from the display package.
[0078] The display package 400 of FIGS. 12-14 is according to
another embodiment of the invention, wherein reclosability and
repeated access to the interior of the blister cavity is
facilitated by the presence of a reclosable access door. Display
package 400 incorporates combined card 402 (viewed from the inside
in FIG. 12), having front card portion 404 and rear card portion
406, joined along fold line 408. Front card portion 404 includes
blister cavity aperture 410. Rear card portion 406 includes access
door 412, that joins peripheral portion 414 along fold line 416.
Access door 412 includes finger receiving opening 418, and snap
aperture 420. In addition, card 402 may be provided with hanging
hook apertures 422, 424.
[0079] FIG. 13 illustrates, from a rear plan view, a blister cavity
430 for use in combination with the combined card 402. Blister
cavity 430 includes flange 432 and contoured, three-dimensional
portion 436. A snap projection 434, which may be generally
cylindrical with a circumferentially disposed bump or notch (so
that at least a portion, but not all of snap projection 434 has a
diameter greater than the diameter of snap aperture 420), is
preferably molded into the surface of flange 432, and extending
away from the plane of the flange 432, toward the observer of FIG.
13. Snap projection 424 is preferably configured to permit
alignment with and releasably retaining insertion into snap
aperture 420.
[0080] Upon assembly of combined card 402 and blister cavity 430,
contoured, three-dimensional portion 436 of blister cavity 430 is
inserted through aperture 410. Rear portion 406 of card 402 is
folded over, along fold line 408, so that cut-away 426 aligns
generally with and accommodates snap projection 434. Cut-away 426
forms tab 438 on access door 412. Flange 432 becomes captured
between and is preferably affixed to front portion 404 and rear
portion 406, in the manner described with respect to the embodiment
of FIGS. 1-3. Tab 438 of access door 412 is preferably not affixed
to flange 432 in the area adjacent to male snap member 434. When
rear portion 406 is fully folded over, and affixed to front portion
404 (after placement of product within contoured portion 436), snap
aperture 420 aligns with and is "popped" down over snap projection
434.
[0081] After the product has been purchased, access door 412 is
opened simply by placing a fingertip in finger receiving opening
418, and door 412 is pulled open. The product may be removed, used,
and replaced in portion 436, and then door 412 reclosed by pressing
down, until snap opening 420 pops over snap projection 434.
[0082] In addition to the reclosure feature, the embodiment of
FIGS. 12-14, may include the sandwich sealing feature of the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the high-density packaging feature of
FIGS. 4-7, and/or the security features of FIGS. 8-11D.
[0083] The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and
illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto,
except as those skilled in the art who have the present disclosure
before them will be able to make modifications and variations
therein without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *