U.S. patent application number 12/740070 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to CADBURY HOLDINGS LTD.. Invention is credited to Sophie Caron, Fabien Guyot.
Application Number | 20100230320 12/740070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38834653 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100230320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Caron; Sophie ; et
al. |
September 16, 2010 |
PACKAGING
Abstract
Packaging includes a blister pack (14) containing a plurality of
items and a sleeve (12) formed from a blank of foldable material
encircling the blister pack. The sleeve has a flap (48) folded
inwardly about a fold line (50) so as to contact the blister pack,
biasing it towards an opposing portion of the sleeve. The flap (48)
applies a pressure to the blister pack (14) to help in preventing
the pack from slipping out of the sleeve unintentionally but does
not limit movement of the pack relative to sleeve or prevent the
pack from being removed from the sleeve. The flap (48) may be
formed by folding a portion of the sleeve inwardly creating a widow
(54) in the sleeve through which the contents of the blister pack
can be viewed.
Inventors: |
Caron; Sophie; (Fresnes,
FR) ; Guyot; Fabien; (Checy, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSH, FISCHMANN & BREYFOGLE LLP
8055 East Tufts Avenue, Suite 450
Denver
CO
80237
US
|
Assignee: |
CADBURY HOLDINGS LTD.
Uxbridge, Middlesex
UK
|
Family ID: |
38834653 |
Appl. No.: |
12/740070 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
October 23, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2008/003578 |
371 Date: |
April 27, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 ;
206/494; 206/800; 53/397; 53/449; 53/456 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0463
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 ;
206/494; 206/800; 53/397; 53/449; 53/456 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04; B65D 75/00 20060101 B65D075/00; B65B 11/00 20060101
B65B011/00; B65B 43/10 20060101 B65B043/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 1, 2007 |
GB |
0721439.8 |
Claims
1. Packaging including a blister pack containing a plurality of
items and a sleeve member formed from a blank of foldable material
encircling the blister pack, characterised in that the sleeve
member comprises a flap folded inwardly about a fold line so as to
contact the blister pack, biasing it towards an opposing portion of
the sleeve member.
2. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the flap is configured
to contact the pack in a way which does not hinder sliding movement
of the pack into and out of the pack.
3. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve encircles
the blister pack on four sides only.
4. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the packaging is
configured so that one or more items contained in the blister pack
can be viewed through an aperture in the sleeve created by folding
the flap inwardly.
5. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the sleeve member has
opposing first and second main panels and opposing first and second
side panels and the flap is formed, at least partly, in one of the
main panels.
6. Packaging as claimed in claim 5, in which the flap is formed
wholly within one of the main panels.
7. Packaging as claimed in claim 5, in which the fold line lies at
a position between the outer ends of the main panel in which the
flap is at least partly formed.
8. Packaging as claimed in claim 5, in which the flap is folded
through more than 90 degrees from the plane of the main panel.
9. Packaging as claimed in claim 5, in which the flap comprises a
portion of the main panel which is folded inwardly about the fold
line to leave an aperture in the main panel through which one or
more items in the blister pack can be viewed.
10. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the blister pack
comprises a base member having a plurality of pockets, each pocket
containing an individual item.
11. Packaging as claimed in claim 10, in which the flap contacts an
upper surface of at least one of the pockets to bias the pack
towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member, the arrangement
being such that, in use as the pack is moved relative to the
sleeve, the flap rides over the upper surfaces of the pockets
enabling complete removal of the pack from the sleeve.
12. Packaging as claimed in claim 10, in which the base member is
transparent or translucent.
13. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the items are
confectionery items such as gum pellets.
14. (canceled)
15. A method of packaging a plurality of items, the method
comprising: packaging a plurality of items in a blister pack;
forming a sleeve member from a blank of foldable material; creating
a flap in the blank; folding the flap about a fold line so that in
the completed sleeve member it projects inwardly into the interior
of the sleeve member; inserting the blister pack into the sleeve
member so that the flap contacts the blister pack biasing it
towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member.
16. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the flap is pre-cut
in the blank.
17. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the step of folding
the flap is carried out before the blank is formed into the sleeve
member.
18. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the flap is
positioned such that when the blister pack is inserted, at least
one item in the blister pack can be viewed through an aperture in
the sleeve member created by folding the flap inwardly.
19. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the blank comprises
in sequence: a first side panel, a first main panel, a second side
panel, a second main panel and a fixation tab separated by
substantially parallel fold lines, the step of forming the sleeve
member comprising folding the blank about the fold lines to form a
sleeve member having a hollow interior and attaching the fixation
tab to an inner surface of the first side panel.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the flap is formed,
at least partly, in one of the main panels of the sleeve
member.
21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the flap is formed
wholly within one of the main panels.
22. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the fold line lies at
a position between the outer ends of the main panel in which the
flap is at least partly formed.
23. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the step of folding
the flap comprises folding the flap through more than 90 degrees
from the plane of the main panel.
24. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the flap comprises a
portion of the main panel which is folded inwardly about the fold
line to create an aperture in the main panel through which at least
one of the items in the blister pack can be viewed.
25. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the blister pack
comprises a base member having a plurality of pockets, each
containing an individual item.
26. A method as claimed in claim 25, in which the flap is arranged
to contact an upper surface of at least one of the pockets to bias
the pack towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member, the
arrangement being such that, in use as the pack is moved relative
to the sleeve, the flap rides over the upper surfaces of the
pockets enabling complete removal of the pack from the sleeve.
27. A method as claimed in claim 25, in which the base member is
transparent or translucent.
28. A method as claimed in claim 15, in which the items are
confectionery items such as gum pellets.
29.-30. (canceled)
31. Packaging as claimed in claim 1, in which the blank is formed
from paperboard or cardboard.
32. Packaging as claimed in claim 31, in which the blank comprises
in sequence: a first side panel, a first main panel, a second side
panel, a second main panel and a fixation tab separated by
substantially parallel fold lines.
33. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to packaging and in particular
but not exclusively to packaging for confectionery items including
gum pellets.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known to package gum pellets in a so called blister
pack. Typically a blister pack comprises a base member of plastic
in which a number of pockets or cavities are formed. Individual gum
pellets are placed in each pocket and a sheet of foil or other
material is attached to the base to contain and preferably seal the
pellets in the pockets. The consumer can remove individual pellets
one at a time by pushing them out of their pockets through the
foil, whilst the remaining pellets remain contained/sealed within
their pockets. Whilst it is advantageous to package each gum pellet
individually in its own pocket, more than one pellet can be placed
in each pocket and indeed at one extreme the blister pack may
comprise only a single pocket in which a multiple pellets are
placed.
[0003] It is also known to package the blister pack itself to
protect it from damage prior to sale. In one known arrangement, the
blister pack is packaged in a sleeve member having a hollow
interior into which the blister pack may be selectively inserted
and removed. The sleeve member is typically formed from a blank of
foldable material such as paperboard or cardboard. The blank is
folded about fold lines to form a generally rectangular sleeve
member having first and second main panels connected along opposing
edges by side panels. The outside surface of the sleeve member may
contain printed matter to identify the contents of the blister pack
and provide other information for the consumer. In some cases, a
viewing window or aperture is formed through the sleeve member such
that one or more gum pellets in the blister pack may be viewed by a
consumer prior to purchase of the gum package. In this case, the
base sheet of the blister pack will usually be transparent.
[0004] Such packaging is currently popular and achieves
satisfactory results. It has been discovered, however, that the
known packaging does have certain drawbacks. It has been found that
it can be difficult to ensure that blister pack is held
sufficiently firmly within the sleeve member to prevent it
accidentally sliding out of the sleeve member whilst also enabling
a consumer to selectively remove and replace the blister pack with
ease.
[0005] It is an objective of the present invention to provide an
improved packaging which overcomes, or at least mitigates, the
drawbacks of the known packaging.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided packaging including a blister pack containing a plurality
of items and a sleeve member formed from a blank of foldable
material encircling the blister pack, characterised in that sleeve
member comprises a flap folded inwardly about a fold line so as to
contact the blister pack, biasing it towards an opposing portion of
the sleeve member.
[0007] In the packaging in accordance with the invention, the flap
applies a pressure to the blister pack to help prevent the blister
pack from unintentionally slipping out of the sleeve member.
However, the packaging is arranged so that the flap does not
contact the pack in a way which would limit intentional movement of
the pack relative to the sleeve by a consumer and does not prevent
complete removal of the pack from the sleeve if required.
[0008] The sleeve may encircle the blister pack about four sides
only.
[0009] The packaging may be configured so that one or more items
contained in the blister pack can be viewed through an aperture in
the sleeve created by folding the flap inwardly.
[0010] The sleeve member may have opposing first and second main
panels and opposing first and second side panels and the flap may
be formed, at least partly, in one of the main panels. The flap may
be formed wholly within one of the main panels. The fold line may
lie at a position between the ends of the main panel in which the
flap is at least partly formed. The flap may be folded through more
than 90 degrees from the plane of the main panel. The flap may
comprise a portion of the main panel which is folded inwardly about
the fold line to leave an aperture in the main panel through which
one or more items in the blister pack can be viewed.
[0011] The blister pack may comprise a plurality of pockets formed
in a base member, each containing an individual item. The flap may
contact an upper surface of at least one of the pockets to bias the
pack towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member, the
arrangement being such that, in use as the pack is slid relative to
the sleeve, the flap rides over the upper surfaces of the pockets
enabling complete removal of the pack from the sleeve. The base
member may be transparent or translucent.
[0012] The items may be confectionery items such as gum
pellets.
[0013] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there
is provided a method of packaging a plurality of items, the method
comprising: [0014] packaging a plurality of items in a blister
pack; [0015] forming a sleeve member from a blank of foldable
material; [0016] creating a flap in the blank; [0017] folding the
flap about a fold line so that in the completed sleeve member it
projects inwardly into the interior of the sleeve member; [0018]
inserting the blister pack into the sleeve member so that the flap
contacts the blister pack biasing it towards an opposing portion of
the sleeve member.
[0019] The flap may be pre-cut in the blank and the step of folding
the flap may be carried out before the blank is formed into the
sleeve member.
[0020] The flap may be positioned such that when the blister pack
is inserted, at least one item can be viewed through an aperture in
the sleeve member created by folding the flap inwardly.
[0021] The blank may comprise in sequence a first side panel, a
first main panel, a second side panel, a second main panel and a
fixation tab separated by substantially parallel fold lines, the
step of forming the sleeve member comprising folding the blank
about the fold lines to form a sleeve member having a hollow
interior and attaching the fixation tab to an inner surface of the
first side panel.
[0022] The flap may be formed, at least partly, in one of the main
panels of the sleeve member. The flap may be formed wholly within
one of the main panels. The fold line may lie at a position between
the ends of the main panel in which the flap is at least partly
formed. The step of folding the flap may comprise folding the flap
through more than 90 degrees from the plane of the main panel. The
flap may comprise a portion of the main panel which is folded about
the fold line to leave an aperture in the main panel through which
one or more items in the blister pack can be viewed.
[0023] The blister pack may comprise a base member having a
plurality of pockets, each containing an individual item. The flap
may be arranged to contact an upper surface of at least one of the
pockets to bias the pack towards an opposing portion of the sleeve
member, the arrangement being such that, in use as the pack is slid
relative to the sleeve, the flap rides over the upper surfaces of
the pockets enabling complete removal of the pack from the sleeve.
The base member may be transparent or translucent.
[0024] The items may be confectionery items such as gum
pellets.
[0025] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is
provided a blank of foldable material for forming a sleeve member
for use in the packaging in accordance with the first aspect of the
invention or in the method in accordance with the second aspect of
the invention, the blank having a pre-cut flap.
[0026] The blank may be formed from a foldable material such as
paperboard or cardboard.
[0027] The blank may comprise in sequence a first side panel, a
first main panel, a second side panel, a second main panel and a
fixation tab separated by substantially parallel fold lines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way
of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in
which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for a sleeve member forming
part of a packaging in accordance with the invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a packaging in accordance with the
invention, the packaging comprising a sleeve member produced from
the blank of FIG. 1 into which is inserted a blister pack;
[0031] FIG. 3 is A cross sectional view through the packaging of
FIG. 2 taken on line X-X.
[0032] Packaging 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a
sleeve member 12 and a blister pack 14.
[0033] The sleeve member 12 is formed from a blank 16 of foldable
material, such as paperboard or cardboard or the like. The blank
comprises a first side panel 18, a first main panel 20, a second
side panel 22, a second main panel 24 and a fixation tab 26. The
panels 18, 20, 22, 24, and tab 26 are separated by substantially
parallel fold lines 28, 30, 32, 34.
[0034] To form the blank into the sleeve member 12, the blank is
folded about the fold lines 28, 30, 32, 34 and the fixation tab 26
is attached to an inner surface of the first side panel 18 using an
adhesive, which may be a pressure sensitive or heat sensitive
adhesive. In the completed sleeve member 12, the first and second
main panels 20, 24 oppose one another and the first and second side
panels 18, 22 oppose one another to form a generally rectangular
tube into which the blister pack 14 may be inserted so that the
sleeve member surrounds the blister pack on four sides only. In an
alternative arrangement (not shown), the sleeve may enclose the
blister pack on five sides.
[0035] The shape of the sleeve member 12 can be varied and need not
be rectangular. It should also be noted that whilst the main panels
20, 24 will typically be longer than the side panels 18, 22 this
need not be the case. For example, if the sleeve member 12 has the
form of a square tube, the main panels and the side panels will be
substantially the same length.
[0036] The exterior surface of the sleeve member 12 may contain
printed matter identifying the contents of the blister pack 14
together with other information for the consumer.
[0037] The blister pack 14 comprises a base member 40 having a
number of pockets 42 formed therein into which individual items
such as gum pellets 44 are placed. In the present embodiment, the
base member has nine pockets arranged in an array but the number
and positioning of the pockets can be varied as desired. The base
member can be formed from any suitable material but in the present
embodiment is formed from a transparent plastics material. A cover
sheet 46 is fixed to the base member after the items have been
inserted into their pockets to contain the items. The cover sheet
can be any suitable material such as plastic, aluminium foil,
multilayer complex, paper based material, bio plastic material or
the like. The cover sheet 46 will usually be weaker than the base
member 40 so that the items can be pushed out of their pockets
through the cover sheet in a known manner. Preferably, the cover
sheet 46 is affixed to the base member so as to seal the items in
their pockets. This is particularly advantageous where the items
are confectionery items such as gum pellets 44 as the arrangements
protects the pellets 44 from the environment keeping them fresh and
uncontaminated.
[0038] The packaging 10 sleeve member 12 as so far described is
largely conventional. However, in accordance with the invention,
the sleeve member 12 has a flap 48 which is folded inwardly into
the interior of the sleeve member about a fold line 50 so as to
contact the blister pack 14 and press it towards an opposing
portion of the sleeve member as illustrated in FIG. 3. The pressure
applied by the flap 48 to the blister pack 14 is relatively light
and does not hinder a consumer from sliding the blister pack 14 in
and out of the sleeve member 12 or removing the pack from the
sleeve completely but is sufficient to help in preventing the
blister pack 14 from unintentionally slipping out of the sleeve
member.
[0039] The shape and position of the flap 48 can be varied. In the
present embodiment, the flap 48 is formed in one of the main panels
20 of the sleeve member which is a front panel in the completed
packaging. However, the flap could be formed in any of the panels
and could straddle one of the main panels and an adjacent side
panel if desired. The flap 48 is preferably formed by die cutting
the blank 16 as indicated at 52 to define the shape of the flap 48
whilst leaving the flap attached to the remainder of the panel 20
along one edge to form the fold line 50. In the embodiment shown,
the flap 48 is cut along three sides but this might not be the case
where other shapes are used. The flap 48 can then be folded about
the fold line 50 through more than 90 degrees so that it projects
into the interior of the completed sleeve member 12. It is expected
that the flap 48 will be folded about the fold line 50 prior to the
blank 16 being folded to form the sleeve member 12 but the precise
sequence of events can be varied as desired. Once the sleeve member
12 has been formed and with the flap 48 projecting into the
interior, the blister pack 14 is inserted into the sleeve member 12
in the direction of arrow A on FIG. 3 so that the blister pack
slides under the flap 48. Prior to insertion of the blister pack
14, the distance between the free end of the flap 48 and the
opposing main panel 24 is less than the thickness of the blister
pack 14. Consequently, as the blister pack 14 is slid under the
flap 48, the flap is deflected upwardly, as shown, about the fold
line 50 such that the flap 48 applies a light pressure to the
blister pack 14 clamping the pack 14 between itself and the
opposing main panel 24.
[0040] The blister pack 14 is inserted in the sleeve member 12 so
that the transparent base member 40 is directed towards the flap
48. The position of the flap 48 and the blister pack 14 are
arranged so that at least one of the pellets in the blister pack 14
can be seen through the aperture 54 created in the main panel 20
when the flap is folded inwardly. Thus the flap 48 serves two
purposes, one in helping to retain the blister pack 14 in the
sleeve member 12 and the other in creating a window 52 through
which a consumer can view at least one of the pellets prior to
purchase.
[0041] The flap 48 is arranged to ride over the upper end surfaces
56 of the pockets 42 without contacting the sides of the pockets so
that the flap does not limit movement of the pack 14 relative to
the sleeve when the pack 14 is pushed in and out of the sleeve by a
consumer or other user. Thus a consumer is free to move the pack in
and out of the sleeve and to selectively remove and replace the
blister pack with ease. In an alternative embodiment (not shown),
the flap 48 is arranged to contact the cover sheet 46 on the
opposite side of the pack.
[0042] The packaging 10 is particularly suitable for confectionery
items such as chewing gum pellets, pastels, hard gums, mints or the
like. However, packaging 10 in accordance with the invention is not
limited to use in packaging confectionery items but can be used in
packaging almost any items which can advantageously be presented to
consumers in a blister pack and sleeve member. Furthermore, whilst
it is expected that in most applications the blister pack 14 will
have a number of pockets each holding a single item, more than one
item can be placed in each pocket. Indeed, the blister pack 14 may
comprise only a single pocket in which a plurality of items of
placed.
[0043] Whereas the invention has been described in relation to what
is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the disclosed arrangements but rather is intended to
cover various modifications and equivalent constructions included
within the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *