U.S. patent application number 13/270862 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-10 for reclosable door-latching package.
This patent application is currently assigned to Portage Plastics Corporation. Invention is credited to Anthony Domerchie, Kevin Putnam.
Application Number | 20120111754 13/270862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46018590 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120111754 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Domerchie; Anthony ; et
al. |
May 10, 2012 |
Reclosable Door-Latching Package
Abstract
A reclosable package having a blister with an outer wall
defining an article-holding cavity in communication with a cavity
opening that includes a door attached by a hinge and configured to
seat in the opening with engagement between the door and a
cavity-opening defining side or edge helping keep the door closed.
In one embodiment, the door includes an indented portion that
frictionally engages at least one and preferably a plurality of
cavity-opening defining side when closed. Such an indented portion
can include an undercut that underlies part of the adjacent
cavity-opening defining side when the door is closed having an
interference fit therebetween that can be a snap fit. The package
can also be configured to provide releasable engagement between
part of the door and part of the blister outer wall when the door
is closed that can be in the form of a bar snap.
Inventors: |
Domerchie; Anthony; (Green
Oaks, IL) ; Putnam; Kevin; (Pardeeville, WI) |
Assignee: |
Portage Plastics
Corporation
Portage
WI
|
Family ID: |
46018590 |
Appl. No.: |
13/270862 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61392000 |
Oct 11, 2010 |
|
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|
61407016 |
Oct 26, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/470 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/366 20130101;
B65D 2575/366 20130101; B65D 2585/6885 20130101; B65D 25/22
20130101; B65D 2575/368 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/470 |
International
Class: |
B65D 75/36 20060101
B65D075/36 |
Claims
1. A reclosable package comprising: a package body having a blister
defining an article holding cavity comprised of an outer wall and
an endwall having a cavity opening therethrough; a door that
operably cooperates with the blister; and wherein the door and
blister comprise a reclosable latching arrangement that releasably
retains the door when the door is disposed in a closed position and
that allows the door to be opened permitting access to the cavity
opening.
2. The reclosable package of claim 1 wherein the reclosable
latching arrangement comprises a first latching arrangement
configured to provide releasable engagement between the blister
endwall and the door and a second latching arrangement configured
to provide releasable engagement between the blister outer wall and
the door.
3. The reclosable package of claim 2 wherein the first latching
arrangement is configured to provide releasable engagement between
part of the door and a cavity opening-defining side of the blister
endwall.
4. The reclosable package of claim 3 wherein the first latching
arrangement comprises at least one outwardly extending portion of
the door that is received in the cavity when the door is closed
engaging at least a portion of the cavity opening-defining
side.
5. The reclosable package of claim 4 wherein the first latching
arrangement comprises an indented portion formed in the door that
seats in the cavity opening when the door is closed frictionally
engaging with the blister endwall along a plurality of cavity
sides.
6. The reclosable package of claim 5 wherein the at least one
outwardly extending portion of the door comprises an outwardly
extending rib that is disposed in the cavity and bears against part
of the cavity opening-defining side when the door is closed.
7. The reclosable package of claim 6 wherein the package body
comprises the door attached to the blister by a hinge and the
pocket formed in the endwall is formed along a portion of the
cavity-opening defining side disposed adjacent the hinge.
8. The reclosable package of claim 7 wherein each cavity
opening-defining side comprises a cavity-opening defining edge.
9. The reclosable package of claim 5 wherein the cavity-opening is
a generally rectangular cavity opening having a pair of cavity
opening defining sides, a cavity opening defining top and a cavity
opening defining bottom, and wherein the indented portion is
configured to engage one of the cavity opening defining top and
bottom.
10. The reclosable package of claim 9 wherein the indented portion
further comprises an undercut.
11. The reclosable package of claim 10 wherein the undercut
produces a snap fit with a corresponding one of the cavity opening
defining sides.
12. The reclosable package of claim 10 wherein the undercut
projects outwardly from the indented portion along a portion of the
corresponding cavity opening defining side with which it engages
when the door is closed.
13. The reclosable package of claim 10 wherein the undercut extends
along one side of the indented portion and the indented portion has
another side configured to at least frictionally engage the cavity
opening defining side opposite the cavity opening defining side
engaged by the undercut.
14. The reclosable package of claim 2 wherein the second latching
arrangement comprises a rib formed in one of the door and outer
wall that is received in a channel formed in the other one of the
door and blister outer wall.
15. The reclosable package of claim 14 wherein the second latching
arrangement comprises a bar snap.
16. The reclosable package of claim 15 wherein the bar snap extends
generally transversely relative to the blister.
17. A reclosable package comprising: a package body comprised of a
blister defining an article holding cavity comprised of an outer
wall and an end wall having a cavity opening therethrough and a
door joined by a hinge that is movable between a closed position
covering the cavity opening and an open position allowing access to
the cavity opening, the door having an endwall and a pair of
sidewalls; and wherein the door and blister comprise a reclosable
latching arrangement that releasably retains the door when the door
is disposed in a closed position, the reclosable latching
arrangement comprising a first latching arrangement configured to
provide releasable engagement between the door and at least one
cavity opening defining edge formed in the blister end wall, and a
second latching arrangement configured provide releasable
engagement between the door and the outer wall of the blister.
18. The reclosable package of claim 17 wherein the first latching
arrangement comprises an outwardly extending portion of one of the
door that is received in a cavity opening formed in the blister end
wall.
19. The reclosable package of claim 18 wherein the outwardly
extending portion comprises an upraised portion of the door, the
cavity opening comprises a generally rectangular opening having a
pair of opposed side cavity opening defining edges, a top or outer
cavity opening defining edge, and a bottom or inner cavity opening
defining edge, and wherein the upraised portion of the door is
configured to engage a plurality of cavity opening defining edges
when the door is closed.
20. The reclosable package of claim 19 wherein the first latching
arrangement comprises a cavity opening-defining edge engaging
portion of the door that engages a cavity opening defining edge
formed in the blister endwall.
21. The reclosable package of claim 20 wherein the upraised portion
of the door is generally rectangular in shape.
22. The reclosable package of claim 21 wherein the generally
rectangular shaped upraised portion further comprises an undercut
projecting outwardly therefrom that produces snap fit engagement
with a corresponding cavity opening defining edge when the door is
closed.
23. The reclosable package of claim 18 wherein the second latching
arrangement comprises a rib formed in one of the door and blister
outer wall and a rib-receiving recess formed in the other one of
the door and blister outer wall.
24. The reclosable package of claim 23 wherein the rib and channel
are configured to provide a snap fit therebetween when the door is
closed.
25. A reclosable package comprising: a package body having a
blister defining an article holding cavity comprised of a pair of
sidewall panels, an outer wall panel, and an endwall having a
cavity opening therethrough; a door joined by a hinge that is
movable between a closed position covering the cavity opening and
an open position allowing access to the cavity opening, the door
having an endwall and a pair of sidewalls; and wherein the door and
blister comprise a reclosable latching arrangement that releasably
retains the door when the door is disposed in a closed position,
the reclosable latching arrangement comprising a first latching
arrangement that includes a cavity opening-defining edge engaging
portion of the door that releasably engages a cavity opening
defining edge formed in the blister endwall when the door is closed
and a second latching arrangement that includes a blister engaging
portion of the door that releasably engages part of the blister
spaced from the cavity opening when the door is closed that
comprises a rib that is releasably received in a recess when the
door is closed.
26. The reclosable package of claim 25 wherein the rib is formed in
the door and the recess comprises a channel formed in the outer
wall panel of the package blister.
27. The reclosable package of claim 26 wherein the rib and channel
are configured to provide a snap fit therebetween when the door is
closed.
28. The reclosable package of claim 25 wherein the cavity
opening-defining edge engaging portion of the door comprises an
indented portion having an undercut that projects outwardly
therefrom that engages a corresponding cavity opening-defining edge
when the door is closed.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/392,000,
filed Oct. 11, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/407,016, filed Oct. 26, 2010, the entirety of each of which is
hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a reclosable package and
more particular to a reclosable package employing a door latching
arrangement.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Packaging articles, including elongate articles, e.g., wiper
blades, for retail display is a challenge. In the past, returns of
non-reclosable packages resulted in many prospective customers not
purchasing the return because of the appearance of tampering as it
was visibly clear that the package had previously been opened. It
is therefore a challenge to make a package that is reclosable so
returned articles can be put back in the original package and
placed back on the retail display in a state that another
prospective purchaser will not realize it was returned.
[0004] In the past, reclosable packages have enjoyed great
commercial success but improvements nonetheless remain desirable.
It is a challenge to produce a package that maximizes internal
volume for retaining the article package while minimizing external
volume to optimize the amount of packages that can be displayed in
a retail store. For example, in at least one known package, the
package includes a door joined to a package blister by a hinge with
each having a hang hole flange with ribs and troughs that interlock
when the door is closed. Unfortunately, to accommodate these ribs
and troughs, each hang hole flange must be made longer, undesirably
increasing the amount of space the package takes up in a retail
display for a given internal article holding volume.
[0005] What is needed is a reclosable package of simple and
economical construction that takes up a minimum of retail display
space for a given amount of packaging volume. What is also desired
is a reclosable package of such a configuration that can be hung on
a peg, such as by including a hang hole.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present invention is directed to a reclosable package
having a reclosable door latching arrangement constructed and
arranged to provide a releasable door-closed retaining engagement
between part of a package door and the boundary or edge of a cavity
opening in a blister of a body of the package and another part of
the door and an outer wall of the blister. The door is configured
with a three dimensionally contoured portion that seats in the
cavity opening engaging a portion of the cavity opening boundary or
edge providing a first latching arrangement when the door is closed
with the engagement helping to keep the door releasably closed. One
of the door and blister outer wall has at least one rib and the
other one of door and blister wall has at least one rib-receiving
channel that releasably receives and engages the at least one rib
providing a second latching arrangement that can define a bar snap
when the door is closed.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the door is configured with an
indented portion configured to engage with a plurality of cavity
opening edges when the door is closed with the indented portion
seated in the cavity opening. Such an indented portion can have and
preferably is configured with an undercut that underlies a portion
of the endwall of the blister in which the cavity opening is formed
to help releasably keep the door closed. In a preferred embodiment,
the undercut underlies part of one of the cavity opening edges when
the door is closed in a manner that provides an interference fit
therebetween and which can result in a snap fit therebetween
helping to keep the door closed. Another part of the indented
portion, such as a bevel or inclined portion opposite the undercut,
which engages part of another one of the cavity opening edges when
the door is closed helping keep the door closed. Such engagement
results in at least a friction fit between the bevel and cavity
opening edge with which it engages when the door is closed. In a
preferred embodiment, the undercut engages along one cavity opening
edge, such that there is an interference and/or snap fit
therebetween, and the beveled or inclined outer surface or edge of
the indention opposite the undercut frictionally engages an
opposite cavity opening defining edge. If desired, the indented
portion can have a plurality of additional spaced apart bevels or
inclined edges that can each also frictionally engage a
corresponding cavity opening defining edge when the door is
closed.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, there is a single, transversely
extending rib, i.e., male bar, formed in an outer wall of the door
that is releasably received in a channel, i.e., female bar, formed
in the outer wall of the blister of the package body defining a bar
snap. In a preferred embodiment, the package blister is defined by
a pair of sidewalls and an outer wall panel with the rib-receiving
channel of the bar snap formed in the outer wall panel. The rib and
rib-receiving channel can be configured to produce a snap-fit
therebetween when the door is closed.
[0009] Engagement between the indented portion and a plurality
cavity opening defining edges, e.g., opposed cavity opening
defining edges, along with engagement between the rib and
rib-receiving channel of the bar snap collectively work together to
produce a reclosable package where the door securely, yet
releasably stays closed when closed. Such a top-opening package
construction advantageously produces a package of simple,
economical, durable and reclosable construction having a blister
that is formed of a single sheet of formable material, such as
preferably plastic. Such a top-opening reclosable door construction
is also well suited for wiper blade packaging applications for
releasably retaining an article, such as a wiper blade, having a
length that is at least a plurality of pairs of times its width.
Such a package can be constructed to have a package length that is
at least a plurality of pairs of times package width.
[0010] Such a package can be formed of a first sheet of plastic
that is thermoformed to produce a package blister that provides an
article-retaining cavity defined by an outer wall and an open
endwall having a cavity opening defined by a boundary with which a
door attached by a hinge releasably engages when the door is
closed. The blister can have a closed endwall opposite the open
endwall. The outer wall of the blister can be formed by a pair of
sidewalls spaced apart by a top wall. Such a package can be formed
of another sheet that is a backing sheet that can also be made of a
thin sheet of plastic attached to the blister to provide a cavity
back wall. Such a backing sheet can also be thermoformed and
attached by sealing, such as ultrasonic welding, RF welding, heat
sealing, or the like. For example, if desired, an adhesive bonding
process can also be employed.
[0011] Where made of plastic, one or both sheets can be
substantially transparent and made of PET, PETG, PVC, Styrene, a
K-resin or the like, which can be from a recycled source. Where
made of such a plastic, one or both sheets can have a thickness
varying between 0.0075 inches and 0.20 inches with a typical
thickness ranging between 0.01 and 0.050 inches. One or both such
sheets can include indicia imprinted thereon and can also be
configured to receive and retain an indicia-containing card within
the article-holding cavity of the package.
[0012] An advantage of the present invention is that the end flange
of the package blister and door are made shorter, typically not
much wider or longer than the hang hole, thereby producing a
package that optimizes package volume relative to the retail space
the package occupies when hung on a peg of a retail display. Other
aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent
from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing
figures.
DRAWING DESCRIPTION
[0013] One or more preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like
reference numerals represent like parts throughout and in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reclosable door-latching
package constructed in accordance with the present invention hung
on a peg of a retail display;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the reclosable door-latching
package depicted removed from the retail display peg with its door
opened;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a partial fragmentary view of the package of FIG.
1 with its door open;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial fragmentary view of the package of FIG.
1 with its door closed;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial fragmentary exploded view of the package
of FIG. 1 with its door open;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the package with
its door open;
[0020] FIG. 7 is an exploded side elevation view of the package of
FIG. 1; and
[0021] FIG. 8 is an exploded top end view of the package of FIG. 1
with the door open.
[0022] Before explaining one or more embodiments of the invention
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and the
arrangement of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments, which can be practiced or carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] FIGS. 1-8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a reclosable
package 20 constructed in accordance with the present invention
having a package body 22 that includes a door 24 attached by a
hinge 26 that is pivotable about the hinge 26 between a closed
position, such as shown in FIG. 1, and an opened position, such as
the opened position depicted in FIG. 2. The package body 22
includes a blister 28 formed of a closed endwall 30 at one end, an
outer wall 32, and an open endwall 34 at its other end defining an
article-holding cavity 36 in which an article 38, such as an
elongate wiper blade 40, is received. The closed endwall 30 lacks
any opening and forms an end of the package blister 28 opposite
that of the open endwall 34. When the package 20 is hung on a peg
35 of a retail display 37, the closed endwall 30 defines a bottom
of the package blister 28 with the open endwall 34 being disposed
at the top of the blister 28.
[0024] The outer wall 32 is made of more than one wall panel. For
example, the package 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a pair of wall
panels 42 and 44 that form blister sidewalls and an outer wall
panel 46 extending between the sidewalls 42 and 44, each of which
can be substantially planar as depicted. The endwall 30 opposite
open endwall 34 can also be substantially planar. In the preferred
package embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the open endwall 34 is
substantially planar and the closed endwall 30 is substantially
planar.
[0025] With reference to FIGS. 5-8, extending about the periphery
of the blister 28 is a mounting flange 48 that is attached, such as
by sealing, e.g., heat-sealing or RF welding, bonding, e.g.,
adhesive bonding, or the like to a corresponding mounting portion
50, e.g., mounting flange 48, of a backing sheet 52 that forms a
back wall 56 of the article-holding cavity 36. The backing sheet 52
can be substantially flat. If desired, the backing sheet 52 can be
formed to include an indented or offset portion 53 like that
depicted in FIG. 5 that extends into the cavity 36 and forms the
back wall 56 of the cavity 36.
[0026] The mounting flange 48 of the package body 22 includes at
least one end flange 58 and can include a pair of side flanges 60.
In a preferred embodiment, the mounting flange 48 of the package
body 22 is formed of a pair of end flanges 58 (only one of which is
shown in FIG. 5) and a pair of side flanges 60. The mounting
portion 50 of the backing sheet 52 can also include a pair of side
flanges 51 (only one side flange shown in FIG. 5) and at least one
end flange 55 (only one end flange shown in FIG. 5). For example,
the indented mounting portion 50 of the backing sheet 52 shown in
FIGS. 5-8 has a pair of side flanges 51 (only one side flange shown
in FIG. 5) and a pair of end flanges 55 (only one end flange shown
in FIG. 5).
[0027] As is best shown in FIG. 5, the backing sheet 52 terminates
adjacent but inboard the hinge 26 such that the backing sheet 52
does not underlie, overlie or form any part of the hinge 26. As is
also depicted by FIG. 5, the top end flange 55 of the backing sheet
52 is spaced from hinge 26 when the backing sheet 50 is attached to
the blister 28. With continued reference to FIG. 5, where the
backing sheet 52 is of indented construction, the top end flange 55
underlies the intersection 57 between the blister endwall 34 and
the blister end flange 58 such that it is spaced from the hinge 26
by about the distance from the intersection 57 to the hinge 26.
[0028] The end flange 58 that extends outwardly from the open end
wall 34 to the hinge 26 has an opening 64 formed in it for
receiving a package holder, such as a rod or peg 35 of an in-store
retail display 37. The hang hole 64 can be circular, such as shown
in FIGS. 1-4, can have a "butterfly" shape, such as shown in FIGS.
5-6, and can have another shape, such as oval, oblong or the like.
Where the end flange 55 of the backing sheet 52 extends outwardly
to have a width greater than that shown in FIG. 5, the hang hole 64
can also extend through the end flange 55 of the backing sheet 52.
Where that is the case, a corresponding hole (not shown) can be
formed in the flange 55 that registers with the hang hole 64 in the
blister end flange 58 when the backing sheet 52 is attached to the
blister 28.
[0029] Hinge 26 can be formed in any conventional manner. Although
the hinge 26 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a generally U-shaped cross
sectional shape, the hinge 26 can have a different cross sectional
shape or configuration. Hinge 26 can be a living hinge that is
integrally formed such as by being three-dimensionally contoured to
produce a hinge. Hinge 26 can also be formed using a score line or
the like that may not be readily visibly apparent.
[0030] The open endwall 34 of the blister 28 has a cavity opening
66 defined by a cavity-opening boundary 68 having a pair of side
edges 70, 72, an inner edge 74 adjacent the end flange 58, and an
outer edge 76 adjacent the outer wall panel 46. Open endwall 34 has
a margin 78 bordering the cavity opening defining edges 70, 72, 74,
76, is generally planar, and is inclined such that it is acutely
angled relative to the backing sheet 52.
[0031] Door 24 is attached by an end flange 80 to hinge 26 with the
end flange 80 also having an opening 82 extending through it for
receiving a package holder, e.g., retail display peg, when the door
24 is closed. As is shown in FIG. 2, peg or hang holes 64 and 82
overlie and substantially align with one another when the door 24
is closed. As with hang hole 64, hang hole or peg hole 82 can be
circular as shown, "butterfly" shaped, or have a different
shape.
[0032] Door 24 has a pair of sidewalls 84, 86 spaced apart by an
outer wall 88 with an endwall 90 extending therebetween. Door 24
has an outer edge 92 that can be configured to provide a lip 94
that permits finger or fingernail engagement to facilitate lifting
of the door 24 away from the package body 22 to disengage and open
the door 24.
[0033] The door 24 and blister 28 are configured to provide a
reclosable door latching arrangement 96 that enables the door 24 to
be opened and closed at least a plurality of times. In a preferred
embodiment, the reclosable door latching arrangement 96 is
constructed and arranged to enable the door 24 to be opened and
closed at least a plurality of pairs, i.e., at least three times,
without showing visible signs of damage, enabling a returned
article 38 to be put back in the package 20 and returned to the
retail display 37.
[0034] The reclosable door latching arrangement 96 is configured to
provide releasable engagement between the door 24 and the open
endwall 34 of the blister 28 to releasably retain the door 24 in
the closed position when the door 24 is closed. The reclosable door
latching arrangement 96 is configured to provide additional
releasable engagement between the door 24 and the outer wall 32 of
the blister 28 that also helps keep the door 24 closed. In the
preferred embodiment of the package embodiment shown in the drawing
figures, the reclosable door latching arrangement 96 is configured
to provide further releasable engagement between the door 24 and
the outer panel 46 of the outer package wall 32, but can be
configured to releasably engage one or both sidewalls 42, 44
instead of or in addition to the outer panel 46.
[0035] The reclosable door latching arrangement 96 includes an
endwall latching arrangement 98 configured to provide releasable
engagement between part of the door 24 and part of the open endwall
34 of the blister 28. As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer wall
88 of the door 24 includes an inwardly extending portion 100
adjacent door end wall 90 that is integrally formed in the door
outer wall 88 which engages a portion of the cavity opening
boundary 68 formed in the open endwall 34 of the blister 28 when
the door 24 is closed. In the package embodiment shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, the inwardly extending portion 100 includes an undercut 102
integrally formed in the door outer wall 88 that engages a portion
of the outer edge 74 of the cavity opening defining boundary 68
formed in the open endwall 34 of the blister 28.
[0036] The inwardly extending portion 100 is an indention that has
a shape complementary to that of the cavity opening 66 and is
configured so it seats in the cavity opening 66 in a manner where
it engages with the boundary 68 of the cavity opening 66 when the
door 24 is closed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the
indention 100 is generally rectangular, e.g., square, so as to have
a shape or configuration substantially complementary with the
generally rectangular, e.g., square, cavity opening 66. The
indention 100 includes a generally flat panel 104 offset by an
outer bevel 106 adjacent door outer wall 90, a pair of side bevels
108, 110 and an inner bevel 112 that is part of or extends along
the cavity opening edge engaging undercut 102. At least bevels 106,
108 and 110 are disposed at an angle that frictionally engages one
or more of corresponding cavity opening edges 76, 70 and 72 when
the indention 100 seats in the endwall cavity opening 66 when the
door 24 is closed with the engagement helping to keep the door 24
closed.
[0037] Bevels 106, 108 and 110 are outwardly angled such that
indented panel 104 has a shape complementary with that of the
cavity opening 66 but smaller than the cavity opening 66 so that
the panel 104 can be received in the opening 66 with the bevels
106, 108 and 110 engaging a corresponding cavity opening edge 76,
70 and 72 when the door 24 is closed. The friction fit produced by
the bevels 106, 108 and 110 frictionally engaging corresponding
cavity opening edges 76, 70 and 72 when the door 24 is closed,
helps releasably keep the door 24 closed. In a preferred
embodiment, each bevel 106, 108 and 110 forms an obtuse included
angle with the outer surface 118 of door panel 104.
[0038] Undercut 102 is integrally formed of part of an outwardly
extending portion 114 that provides a recess 116 that accommodates
part of the endwall margin 78 bordering the bottom cavity opening
edge 74 when the door 24 is closed. Undercut 102 extends outwardly
into the recess 116 defined by outwardly extending portion 114 with
the undercut 102 including an extended portion of outer panel 104
that is connected by a beveled portion 118 to the outwardly
extending portion 114 that defines cavity opening defining edge
accommodating recess 116. Outwardly extending recess-defining
portion 114 can be formed of a pair of elongate generally planar
surfaces 120, 122 which intersect along a line 124 extending
generally parallel to hinge 26. If desired, outwardly extending
recess-defining portion 114 can be formed without any intersection
line 124, such as where formed of a single curved panel. In such a
case, surfaces 120 and 122 would be combined into a single surface
or panel having a curved cross section.
[0039] When the door 24 is closed, frictional engagement between
bevels 106, 108 and 110 helps keep the door 24 closed. When the
door 24 is closed, undercut 102 defines a lip that underlies a
portion of the cavity endwall 34 that extends along cavity opening
defining edge 74 helping to effectively provide an interlock
therebetween that helps keep the door 24 closed. When the door 24
is closed, the frictional engagement of door closing can cause
deflection of a portion of the indention 100 and/or outwardly
extending portion 114 thereby helping to urge the undercut 102 into
a position where it further overlies or underlies cavity opening
defining edge 74 such that the undercut 102 releasably "locks"
underneath the portion of the endwall 34 extending along
substantially the entire length of cavity opening defining edge 74.
When the door 24 is also engaged with the blister outer wall 32,
this "locking" feature in combination with the secondary region of
releasable engagement between the door 24 and blister outer wall
32, the door 24 remains positively yet releasably closed until
adequate pressure is manually applied, such as along lip 94, to
disengage the door 24 from the blister 28.
[0040] In a preferred embodiment, such as is depicted by FIG. 6, at
least the bevel 106 opposite the undercut 102 engages corresponding
cavity opening defining edge 76 when the door 24 is closed with the
undercut 102 snapping under part of cavity opening defining edge
74. In another preferred embodiment, side bevels 108 and 110 can
also engage respective cavity opening defining side edges 70 and 72
when the door 24 is closed. Such engagement between one or more of
bevels 106, 108 and 110 and cavity opening defining edges 76, 70
and 72 is at least frictional and can be configured to provide an
interference fit therebetween when the door 24 is closed.
[0041] The reclosable latching arrangement 96 includes a region of
secondary or additional engagement provided by an endwall latching
arrangement 126 that includes at least one latch 130 formed between
part of the door 24 and part of the blister outer wall 32 being
disposed in releasable engagement with one another when the door 24
is closed. In a preferred embodiment shown in the drawing figures,
the second reclosable latching arrangement 130 is formed by a rib
132 formed in the door 24 that is releasable received in a channel
134 formed in an outer wall 32 of the blister 28 defining a bar
snap 135. In the preferred package embodiment shown in the
drawings, the latching rib 132 of the bar snap 135 is elongate and
transversely extending with the rib 132 integrally formed in the
end wall 90 of the door 24.
[0042] Rib 132 is produced by integrally forming a recessed channel
in door end wall 90 and forms a male bar of the bar snap 135. Rib
132 is received in a complementarily configured integrally formed
elongate channel 134 of the bar snap 135 that extends transversely
substantially the entire width of the outer panel 46 of the package
blister outer wall 32. For example, as best shown in FIG. 1,
rib-receiving channel 134 extends width-wise along the outer panel
46 from at or adjacent one sidewall panel 42 to the other sidewall
panel 44 and forms a female bar of the bar snap 135.
[0043] Door latching rib 132 has a generally U-shaped cross-section
with a pair of sides 136, 138 spaced apart by a rib endwall 140
that can be substantially planar, such as depicted in FIGS. 1 and
3. Rib-receiving channel 134 has a complementary cross-section with
a pair of sides 142, 144 and a channel bottom 146. With reference
to FIG. 2, rib sides 136, 138 respectively engage with channel
sides 142, 144 when the rib 132 is inserted into the channel 134
when the door 24 is closed. In one embodiment, the rib 132 and
channel 134 forming the bar snap 135 are configured so at least one
or both of their sides 136, 138, 142, and 144 respectively
frictionally engage with one another to help releasably retain the
door 24 in the closed position.
[0044] The rib 132 and channel 134 can be configured as a bar snap
135 that produces a snap fit therebetween when the rib 132 is
received in the channel 134 when the door 24 is closed. For
example, rib 132 can be configured to have a width at some point or
location, such as along its endwall 140, that is greater than the
width of the channel 134 at another point or location, such as
between its sides 142, 144, to produce a fit, e.g., interference
fit, between the rib 132 and channel 134 that results in a snap fit
being provided therebetween when the door 24 is closed. If desired,
one or both rib and channel side(s) 136, 138, 142, and 144 can be
angled or inclined to facilitate rib and channel engagement,
including snap fit engagement.
[0045] Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the
scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and
distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
It is also to be understood that, although the foregoing
description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or
more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those
skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, the
present disclosure will suggest many modifications and
constructions, as well as widely differing embodiments and
applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
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