U.S. patent application number 11/822890 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for card and blister package.
Invention is credited to Paul Appelbaum.
Application Number | 20070289890 11/822890 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46328112 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289890 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Appelbaum; Paul |
December 20, 2007 |
Card and blister package
Abstract
A card and blister package for small articles of commerce has a
clear plastic blister piece, a card and a retainer piece. The
blister walls form an article-receiving cavity and a plurality of
upwardly projecting spaced-apart male prongs extending along the
upper edge of the blister piece. A generally rectangular card has
shaped perforations for receiving there-through the prongs of the
blister piece and the retainer comprises a generally rectangular
ring having a plurality of sockets for receiving the prongs of the
blister piece, whereby the prongs can be engaged through the
perforations, snapped into engagement with the ring sockets, and
UV-activated adhesive on the engaged parts illuminated by UV light
so as to bond to the ring to the blister to secure the package.
Inventors: |
Appelbaum; Paul; (Huntington
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul Appelbaum
16371 Wimbledon Ave.
Huntington Beach
CA
92649
US
|
Family ID: |
46328112 |
Appl. No.: |
11/822890 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11453682 |
Jun 16, 2006 |
7255230 |
|
|
11822890 |
Jul 11, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 73/0057 20130101;
B65D 2575/365 20130101; B65D 75/366 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/461 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00 |
Claims
1. A card-and-blister package for small articles of commerce,
including: a) a blister piece having walls that define a cavity for
receiving said articles of commerce, and an upper edge perimeter
portion; b) a card member adapted to engage said blister upper edge
portion to cover said cavity; and c) a retainer ring adapted to
make engagement with said perimeter portion to secure said
card.
2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said card has a
plurality of perforations and wherein said ring has attachment
means and said upper blister perimeter portion has attachment means
and said ring and blister attachment means engage each other by way
of said card perforations.
3. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein said ring attachment
means includes socket elements and said blister attachment means
includes prong elements for engaging said sockets.
4. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein said ring attachment
means includes prong elements and said blister attachment means
includes socket elements.
5. A package as defined in claim 3 wherein said card perforations
are configured and spaced for receiving there-through said blister
prong elements.
6. A package as defined in claim 4 wherein said card perforations
are configured and spaced for receiving there-through said ring
prong elements.
7. A package as defined in claim 5 wherein said perforations have
edges that engage said prongs to hold said card against relative
lateral movement.
8. A package as defined in claim 6 wherein said perforations have
edges that engage said prongs to hold said card against relative
lateral movement.
9. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein said retainer ring is
attached by a hinge to said blister edge portion and whereby said
ring can be rotated to bring its attachment means into engagement
with said corresponding blister attachment means.
10. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein said card perforations
include first and second spaced apart slots, and said blister
attachment means includes first and second flaps pivotally attached
respectively to opposing sides of said perimeter portion, and the
distal end of each said flaps having a male connector element and
said flaps adapted to be engaged through said slots, and said ring
having socket elements configured to engage said flap male
elements, whereby each of said flaps can be fully inserted through
said slots respectively and rotated through about 90 degrees,
whereby the ring socket elements can engage the flap male elements
to secure the card to said blister.
11. A package as defined in claim 10 including first and second
additional spaced apart slots adapted to receive there-through said
flap male elements, whereby each said flap can be fully inserted
through said slots and rotated through about 90 degrees, to bring
said flap male elements into engagement with said first and second
additional slots
12. A package as defined in claim 1 including an inner blister
module having an article-receiving portion with sidewalls and a
bottom, and a flange extending around the upper edge of said module
article-receiving portion, wherein said blister piece has a
generally flat major surface with an opening for receiving said
module article-receiving portion, to hold said module against
relative lateral movement, and the flange engaging said major
surface to hold said module against outward movement, and said flat
major surface holding said flange against said card.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to apparatus and
methods for packaging articles of commerce in card-and-blister
packages.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Card and blister packages are widely used for packaging
small articles of commerce. Typically such a package will have a
clear plastic blister piece, i.e. an open topped enclosure having a
flange that is bonded to the flat surface of a generally
rectangular card commonly using ultrasonic or RF techniques. In
spite of its popularity there remain some shortcomings with such
packages. For example they are vulnerable to tampering since the
card and blister interface can be defeated by pealing back the
blister flange from the card or otherwise separating the two
components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the foregoing and other limitations it is a
general object of the present invention to provide an improved
card-and-blister package.
[0006] A more particular object is to provide a card-and-blister
package that is strong, attractive, and resistant to tampering.
[0007] Yet another object is to provide such a package that lends
itself advantageously to fast and efficient UV sealing
technology.
[0008] These and other objects and advantages are provided by the
present invention that comprises a card-and-blister package that
includes a blister piece, a card, and a blister retainer ring.
[0009] The blister piece has walls that form an article-receiving
cavity and includes an upper edge portion. The card is adapted to
engage the blister upper edge perimeter portion to cover the
cavity, and the ring is adapted to engage the blister perimeter
portion to secure the card.
[0010] There is attachment means on the blister upper perimeter
portion that, in one preferred embodiment, comprises a plurality of
spaced apart upwardly projecting prongs. There is complementary
attachment means on the ring that comprises a plurality of
downwardly-opening socket elements spaced there-along for receiving
the blister prongs. There are shaped perforations on the card
whereby the prongs are engagable through them and pressed into
engagement with the ring socket elements and adhesively bonded
thereto to seal the package.
[0011] In a variant of the invention the ring has downwardly
extending prongs that can engage upwardly opening socket elements
located along the blister upper edge portion.
[0012] In another variant, the socket-equipped ring is hingedly
attached to the blister upper edge portion in the fashion of a
clamshell package, and it can be rotated to bring its sockets into
engagement with the blister prongs, to secure the card and complete
the package.
[0013] In another variant, a first and a second connector flap are
hingedly connected to first and second opposing sides of the upper
edge portion respectively of the blister, each flap having a male
connecting feature on its distal end. The connector flaps can be
engaged through spaced apart slots in the card, and then folded
about 90 degrees along their hinge lines to hold the blister to the
card. The ring has female features that can then engage the
respective male features of the folded flaps and adhered thereto to
secure the package.
[0014] A further variant, like the aforementioned variant, has a
blister piece with pivotable flaps and a card with a pair of spaced
slots that the flaps can extend through. The card of this version
has a pair of additional slots through which the male features of
the outwardly rotated flaps can protrude. The ring has elongate
female sockets for engaging these male features to secure and seal
the package.
[0015] Yet another variant of the invention includes a perforated
card, and a retainer ring, and features an interchangeable "inner
blister" or module, and a retainer for the module. The module has
an article-receiving blister portion and a flange that extends
around the upper perimeter of that portion. The module retainer has
a generally flat major surface with a central opening adapted to
snugly receive the blister portion of the module to stabilize it
against lateral movement, and the flange which will engage the
major surface to hold the module against relative outward movement.
The outer periphery of the module retainer is characterized by a
plurality of upwardly projecting prongs. With the module engaged in
the module retainer, the prongs can be placed through the card
perforations and engaged by and bonded to the socket elements of
the retainer ring to secure the package.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a card-and blister
package according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sealed package according
to the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the package of FIG.
2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a variant of the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the assembled package of
FIG. 4;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the package shown in
FIG. 5;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of yet another
variant of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a card installed in the
open package of FIG. 7;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the sealed package of
FIG. 8;
[0025] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a another variant
of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the variant of FIG. 10
in its sealed condition;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the package of FIG.
11;
[0028] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a further variant
of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 14 is a front elevational view showing the partially
assembled card and blister pieces of FIG. 13;
[0030] FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the partially
assembled package of FIG. 13;
[0031] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a still further
variant according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows that a preferred
embodiment of a card-and-blister package 11 according to the
present invention comprises three pieces: a card 13, a blister
member 17 and a retaining ring 25 of which the blister member and
ring are fabricated of a suitable, clear UV light transparent
plastic using thermo-forming techniques known in the plastic
molding industry. The blister member 17 includes an
article-receiving portion 19 having a flange 21 that is
characterized by a number of upwardly projecting, spaced apart male
prongs or tongues 23 extending therealong.
[0033] The retainer ring 25 has a number of downwardly opening
socket elements 27 that are arranged in corresponding relationship
to the blister prongs 23 and are designed with conventional
snap-lock features to receive and be snapped into engagement with
the prongs.
[0034] The card portion 13 is comprised of a flat semi-rigid
card-like sheet material such as a suitably strong compressed paper
board, card board or plastic. Note that the perforations 16 are
shaped and spaced so as to snugly receive the aforementioned
blister prongs 23.
[0035] After articles of commerce are placed in the blister 17, the
blister prongs 23 can be fully engaged through perforations 16 of
card 13, and then the socket elements 27 of ring 25 snapped into
engagement with the prongs 23. When liquid UV adhesive has been
applied to the "proud points" of the prongs 23, the adhesive is
spread over mutually engaged surfaces and UV illumination will
cause the adhesive to instantly cure to secure the prongs to the
ring cavities and seal the package.
[0036] A variant of the invention shown in FIGS. 4-6 features an
interchangeable "inner blister" or module that, among other things,
can have various shapes to accommodate different products without
requiring changes in tooling for the major package components.
[0037] Accordingly FIG. 4 shows package 11(a) which has a
perforated card 53, a ring 65, a module 75, and a blister retainer
67. The module 75 has flange 77 and a blister section 79 that can
be snugly received through the opening 70 in the retainer 67 to
hold it against lateral movement, and the undersurface of the
flange 77 will engage the flat surface 69 to hold it against
outward movement. The prongs 73 of the blister retainer 67 can then
be applied through the perforations of the card 53, so as to
"sandwich" the flange 77 between the card and retainer 67. Finally,
the socket elements 66 of ring 65 can be pressed into engagement
with adhesive-coated prongs 73 and subsequent UV curing will seal
and secure the package.
[0038] Yet another advantageous variant of the invention is shown
in FIG. 7, where the package 11(b) is shown to comprise blister
piece 87 that is connected by "living" hinge 88 to a retainer ring
99, and a card 83 for covering the blister piece 87. Note the
blister piece 87 has cavity 90 and flange 89 with an outer
perimeter of spaced-apart prongs 93.
[0039] Note the tabs 86 that extend from the perimeter 81 of card
83, and as FIG. 8 best shows, when the card is placed in covering
position, its perimeter 81 will seat against the inside surfaces of
the prongs 93 to stabilize the card, while the tabs 86 engage the
flange surfaces that lie between adjacent prongs.
[0040] The hinged retaining ring 99 has frame member 101 that is
equipped with socket elements 103 which are configured to engage
the prongs 93 when ring 99 is rotated from the position shown in
FIG. 8 to a closed position . . . Thus, after articles of commerce
are placed in cavity 90, card 83 can be positioned there-over, and
the ring 99 rotated to a closed position to bring the prongs 93
into full engagement with corresponding socket elements 103. The
frame 101 will thereby engage tabs 86 to hold the card in place
against vertical movement. Securing of the package is completed by
subsequent UV bonding as with the other variants of the
invention.
[0041] FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show a variant 111 of the invention that
has ring 125, card 113, and blister piece 117, and is similar to
the afore-described card-and-blister package 11 shown in FIG. 1
except that the ring 125 has downwardly facing prongs 127, and the
blister 117 is equipped with socket elements 119. It should be
appreciated how the prongs can be engaged through perforations 116
and into socket elements 119 to complete the package 111 as shown
in FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0042] Yet another variant 213 is illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14 and
15 and includes a ring 225 that has a pair of elongate socket
elements 227, a card 215 that features elongate slots 221, and a
blister piece 217 that features attachment flaps 234 which have
elongate male elements 235. Note that the flaps attach to the upper
edges of the blister walls by integral "living hinges" 237. The
card slots 221 are designed to receive therethrough the flaps 234.
FIGS. 14 and 15 show that when the flaps are fully engaged through
slots 221, they can be folded outwardly to a position against the
card 115. As suggested by FIG. 15 the socket elements 227 of ring
225 can then be pressed into engagement with male elements 235 to
complete the package.
[0043] FIG. 16 illustrates another variant of a card and blister
package 311 and includes ring 325 with spaced downwardly-facing
female elements 327, a blister piece 317 with attachment flaps 334
having elongate male elements 335. The card 315 has first elongate
perforations 321 that are designed to receive therethrough the
flaps 334, and second elongate perforations 322 for receiving
therethrough the male elements 335 in a manner to be described.
[0044] FIGS. 17 and 18 show the flaps 334 of the blister piece
fully inserted in the card slots 321 and the arrows in FIG. 17
illustrate how the flaps can be rotated outwardly to bring the male
elements 335 into the outer slots 322. FIG. 19 best shows how the
male elements protrude beyond the surface of card 315 so as to be
accessible to the female elements 327. Thus it can be appreciated
that when a suitable adhesive is applied to the male or female
features, these parts can then be pressed into each other to secure
the ring 325 in place as FIG. 20 illustrates, to complete the
package.
[0045] While particular embodiments of the invention have been
shown, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto.
Various modifications and variations of the invention will be
evident to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit
of this disclosure, and it is intended that the invention be given
its full scope and breath as defined in the claims that follow.
* * * * *