U.S. patent application number 13/335057 was filed with the patent office on 2013-06-27 for blister pack and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gregor N. Neff. Invention is credited to Gregor N. Neff.
Application Number | 20130160408 13/335057 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48653222 |
Filed Date | 2013-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130160408 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Neff; Gregor N. |
June 27, 2013 |
Blister Pack and Method
Abstract
The blister pack is composed of two sheets bonded together at
least one sheet being made of plastic film and forming receptacles
around a plurality of tablets or other objects to be stored and
dispensed. The objects are arranged in rows and columns. An
imperforate tear line is provided along a linear path traversing
each of the objects in each column so that one or more objects can
be freed with one pull along the tear line. Preferably, the
imperforate tear line is formed by orienting the plastic material
and/or forming shallow grooves or score lines in the film sheet.
Both sheets can be made of plastic film, and both can have
imperforate tear lines. The tear lines preferably are positioned so
that only a small portion of the tablet is exposed by the tear [so
that the tablet will tend to be retained in the receptacle until it
is deliberately removed].
Inventors: |
Neff; Gregor N.; (Dobbs
Ferry, NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Neff; Gregor N. |
Dobbs Ferry |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48653222 |
Appl. No.: |
13/335057 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/492 ;
206/532 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2575/3227 20130101;
B65D 75/323 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/492 ;
206/532 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/00 20060101
B65B043/00; B65D 83/04 20060101 B65D083/04 |
Claims
1. A blister package for small objects, said package comprising a.
a body having at least one edge and first and second separate
sealed receptacles, each adapted to contain at least one of said
objects, b. said body comprising first and second sheets, at least
said first one is made of plastic and is shaped to form said
receptacles when said sheets are joined together, said sheets being
sealed together in areas around and between said receptacles, and
c. a first tear structure formed in said first sheet, said tear
structure comprising a first imperforate line of weakness in first
said sheet, said first line of weakness being aligned with and
entering said first and second receptacles to open both of said
receptacles with a single pull on said tear structure.
2. A package as in claim 1 in which said first imperforate line of
weakness extends from said one edge continuously over said first
receptacle and said second receptacle, said second sheet has a
second imperforate line of weakness which is aligned with said
first line of weakness to cause both of said sheets to tear along
its respective imperforate line of weakness in response to a
tearing force applied to said sheets at said imperforate lines of
weakness.
3. A package as in claim 1 in which said one sheet has a further
line of weakness between said objects in an area where said sheets
are bonded together, said further line of weakness extending in a
direction perpendicular to said imperforate line of weakness,
thereby to permit separating said receptacles along said further
line of weakness.
4. A package as in claim 1 in which said sheets have at least two
opposed edges and are sealed together at their edges, and including
edge cut in said sheets along said imperforate line of weakness and
extending into said edges of the said sheets.
5. A package as in claim 1 in which said sheets form third and
fourth receptacles for at least two additional objects, and a
second tear structure in an area of said sheets where they are
bonded together, said second tear structure comprising second
imperforate line of weakness, said second imperforate lines being
aligned with and entering said third and fourth receptacles to
permit opening said receptacles with a single pull on said second
tear structure.
6. A package as in claim 1 in which said imperforate line of
weakness is positioned, relative to said receptacles, so that a
portion of each of said objects is uncovered by said pull, said
portion extending out of its receptacle where it can be grasped in
ones fingers.
7. A package as in claim 1 in which said objects are tablets, and
said sheets form a transition zone extending outwardly from the
outer edge of each of said tablets to the junction between said
sheets, at least one of said sheets forming an angle with the plane
of the sheets where they are bonded together.
8. A package as in claim 7 in which said tablets are approximately
cylindrical and said imperforate line of weakness extends across a
diameter of the circles describing the ends of each tablet at a
point between approximately 0.1 D and 0.9 D preferably 0.5 D to 0.9
D and most preferably, 0.75 D from one edge of said tablet, D being
the diameter of said circles.
9. A package as in claim 1, said objects each comprising bismuth
subsalicylate tablets, and said sheets are made of materials giving
said receptacles characteristics selected from the group consisting
of hermetic, moisture-proof and a combination of hermetic and
moisture-proof characteristics.
10. A package as in claim 1 in which said imperforate line of
weakness is formed by means selected from the group consisting of
orientation of said plastic materials in the direction followed by
said line, and a linear, non-perforating groove in each of said
plastic sheets, and a combination of said orientation and said
groove.
11. A package as in claim 1 in which one of said sheets is
relatively stiff and has an upper surface to which said plastic
film can be releasably adhered and peeled off, and said film has
cavities forming the covers of said receptacles.
12. A package as in claim 11 in which said film has at least one
horizontal transverse line of weakness between said receptacles,
and lifted corner areas at the junction between said lines to
provide lift corners to start secondary tears along said
imperforate lines of weakness.
13. A medicinal tablet package comprising, a. a pair of plastic
sheets bonded together face-to-face and forming a receptacle for
said tablet, b. an imperforate line of weakness in at least one of
said sheets crossing each of the walls of said receptacle at a
location near one edge of said tablet when it is located in said
receptacle, whereby tearing said sheet along said imperforate line
of weakness will expose only a minor portion of said tablet near
said one edge so as to tend to hold said tablet in said receptacle
until it is grasped and withdrawn.
14. A package as in claim 13 in which said tablet is susceptible to
deterioration or contamination due to contact with air or
moisture-laden air, and said imperforate line of weakness is formed
by means selected from the group consisting of orientation of said
plastic materials in the direction followed by said line, a linear
indentation of said plastic sheets, and a combination of said
orientation and indentation, there being another imperforate line
of weakness located in the other of said sheets and aligned with
the first-named line of weakness to tear simultaneously
therewith.
15. A package as in claim 13, said tablets each comprising bismuth
subsalicylate, and the material of said sheets being
cellophane.
16. A method of storing and dispensing medicinal tablets comprising
a. providing a blister package for tablets, said package comprising
i. a body having a plurality of separate receptacles, each
containing at least one of said tablets, ii. said body comprising
first and second sheets, at least the first of which is made of
plastic film and extends around said tablets to form said
receptacles, said sheets being sealed together in areas around and
between said receptacles, iii. a tear structure formed in said
first sheet, said tear structure having a first imperforate line of
weakness aligned with and crossing both of said receptacles to
permit at least a portion of each of said tablets to be uncovered
by a single pull on said tear structure, b. selecting whether to
dispense one of said tablets or more than one, c. tearing said
package along said imperforate line of weakness for a length
corresponding to the number of tablets to be dispensed to open a
number of said receptacles corresponding to the number of tablets
to be dispersed, and d. removing each tablet released from said
package by said tearing step.
17. A method as in claim 16 in which said second sheet has a
surface to which said first sheet is adhered and from which it can
be peeled off, and in which said tearing step comprises peeling a
portion of said first sheet off of said surface and said tablet or
tablets are substantially fully uncovered by said tearing step.
18. A method as in claim 16 in which said second sheet also is made
of plastic film and has a second imperforate line of weakness which
is parallel to and aligned with said first imperforate line of
weakness to tear said second sheet along said second line when said
tear structure is pulled, and the tablet or tablets uncovered by
pulling said tear structure are only partially uncovered
thereby.
19. A method as in claim 16 in which said one sheet has a further
line of weakness between said tablets in an area where said sheets
are bonded together, said further line of weakness extending
perpendicular to said first imperforate line of weakness, and
separating said tablet receptacles along said further line of
weakness.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to packaging and packaging methods,
and particularly to blister packaging and methods. More
particularly, the invention relates to blister packaging and
methods for storing and distributing small objects such as
medicinal tablets and the like.
[0002] Blister packaging is used as relatively low-cost packaging
for a variety of products. Such packaging often is used to package
and store medicinal tablets at a relatively low cost and with long
shelf-life and convenience to the user.
[0003] A particular example of such products is bismuth
subsalicylate tablets, sold over-the-counter under trademarks such
as "Pepto Bismol" or "Kaopectate," and generically under store
brands. Those products are sold in drugstores, grocery stores, mass
marketing outlets, etc. Such tablets are used as an anti-diarrheal
treatment and an upset stomach reliever, often as an easy-to-use
substitute for the liquid and other versions of the product. Such
tablets usually are sold in boxes containing 30 or more tablets,
sealed in five or more blister packs containing six tablets
each.
[0004] Blister packs used as packaging for such tablets are often
made of two sheets of cellophane or other plastic film bonded
face-to-face with one another and forming receptacles surrounding
six tablets spaced from one another vertically and
horizontally.
[0005] The cellophane or other plastic material used is believed to
be moisture-proof and capable of hermetically sealing each tablet
into its receptacle. This protects the tablets from deterioration
due to exposure to the air and the moisture in the air. By
packaging the tablets in such blister packs, shelf lives of several
years or more are attained for the products. This insures that the
tablets will retain their effectiveness for relatively long periods
of time, both on the store shelves, and in the home medicine
cabinet, or the pocket, purse or briefcase of the user, or in the
medicine kit or pockets of outdoors clothing of hikers, skiers,
etc.
[0006] One of the problems with such prior packaging is that it is
relatively difficult to remove the tablets from the packages.
Often, one must use a pair of scissors or other cutting means to
start a cut in the material of the packages, and then cut or tear
the material around a part of the circumference of each of the
tablets to loosen it. Then, often it is necessary to wiggle and
push the tablet sideways until one edge is exposed and can be
grasped and pulled out of the remaining portion of the package.
This procedure is relatively slow and cumbersome, and tends to
reduce the facility of removing the tablets and dispensing them.
This may discourage use of the product.
[0007] Therefore, one object of the invention is to provide
packaging for small objects, particularly for medicinal tablets,
which is relatively easy and quick to use, and yet is relatively
inexpensive. "Tablets," as used herein includes lozenges, pills,
and other small objects, as well as flat-surfaced disks.
[0008] A more specific object is to provide such packaging in the
form of blister packs of barium subsalicylate tablets.
[0009] A further object is to provide methods of using such
packaging and packaged objects which are flexible as well as quick,
in that they permit one to choose to dispense only one or several
objects with a single tearing motion.
[0010] Another object is to provide such a method which permits
easy removal of the objects with minimum spillage or loss.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing
objects are met by the provision of a blister pack and method of
use in which an imperforate line of weakness or tear line is
provided in at least one of the walls of the packaging. This tear
line intersects and traverses each of the receptacles containing
one or more objects. Optionally, a small edge slit or notch is
provided to enable the user to start a tear along the imperforate
tear line to expose one or more objects in one or more receptacles
quickly and easily, and partially or fully expose the tablet or
objects. The objects then can be grasped easily with the fingers
and be removed from the package for use, or they can be removed by
gravity, as desired.
[0012] The imperforate tear lines are provided, rather than
perforated lines, in order to prevent unwanted contamination of the
packaged objects and to protect the hermetic and moisture-proof
character of the receptacles and therefore maintain the shelf life
capabilities of the product, in cases in which those properties are
needed.
[0013] The invention can be used to free either one or a plurality
of the objects with a single pull along an imperforate tear
line.
[0014] In one embodiment, in which both sheets forming the package
have imperforate tear lines, only a relatively small portion of
each tablet is exposed at one edge thereof and the remainder of the
tablet is held loosely in the receptacle until it is grasped by the
user and the pulled out of the package. This has the advantage that
the tablets are held loosely in place until the user is ready to
grasp them, thus tending to keep the tablets from falling and
scattering and becoming lost or soiled and unsanitary, especially
when a plurality of tablet is freed with a single pull of a
tear-strip.
[0015] In other embodiments, such as ones in which one wall is flat
and stiff and is not torn, most or all of each stored object is
exposed, where doing so facilitates easy removal of the object.
[0016] Horizontal perforation lines between the objects in vertical
arrays can be used to separate individual objects from others in
the vertical array. Later, the imperforate tear line can be used to
remove the remaining tablets, either one by one or in a group. The
perforations are made in the areas in which the two sheets are
bonded together so as to avoid disturbing the seals making the
receptacles air-tight.
[0017] The invention is believed to add convenience and value to
the product for which the user will not only be grateful, but also
will become a loyal customer.
[0018] Cellophane is one of the preferred materials of which the
blister pack is made, because of low cost, proven reliability in
packaging such products, transparency, moisture-proof capabilities
and other valuable features. However, other known plastic films can
be used, as long as they have the characteristics required.
[0019] The imperforate tear lines can be made using orientation
lines already present in the plastic material. In addition, or
instead, a small, shallow groove or score line can be made in the
film to enhance the reliable tearing of the material along the
line. The grooves are shallow enough so as not to compromise the
air and moisture-tight characteristics of the material. Preferably,
the grooves are formed by using properly placed, very small
projections in the die used in extruding the material to make the
film. Other techniques of weakening the materials without piercing
them will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0020] In one embodiment, both the top and bottom walls of the
package are plastic film and have imperforate lines of weakness
aligned with one another to tear simultaneously. Either both film
sheets or only one has recesses to form parts of the
receptacles.
[0021] In another embodiment, one sheet can be relatively stiff, as
cardstock or the like, and only the film has recesses and
imperforate lines of weakness. The film is releasably secured to
the stiff sheet and can be peeled off.
[0022] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the
invention will be set forth in or apparent from the following
description and drawings.
IN THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a blister package of
the invention showing a first easy object removal process;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a view like that of FIG. 1 showing a second easy
object removal process;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the blister package shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of
FIG. 3;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a broken-away, partially schematic cross-sectional
view of a portion of the package shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, before
the package has been torn along imperforate lines of weakness;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a view like that of FIG. 5 after the package has
been torn along an imperforate tear line to expose one edge of a
tablet to enable it to be grasped and removed from the package
completely,
[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic, broken-away, cross-sectional view of
dies which can be used to fond the film sheets with small grooves
to improve the functioning of the imperforate tear lines;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
invention; and
[0031] FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged, partially schematic and
partially cross-sectional views taken along lines 9-9 and 10-10,
respectively, of FIG. 8.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
[0032] Referring first to FIG. 1, the package 10 encloses six
individual tablets 12, each of which is sealed in a receptacle
formed between two thin sheets 16 and 18 of cellophane film or
other suitable plastic packaging material to form the receptacles.
The outer edge of each of receptacle is indicated at 14 in FIGS. 1
through 3.
[0033] Located in each receptacle is an object 12 (here a medicinal
tablet) to be stored and dispersed. The receptacles are arranged in
vertical arrays or columns and horizontal arrays or rows. In this
embodiment of the invention, there are two columns and three rows,
for a total of six receptacles.
[0034] The two sheets 16 and 18 (see FIGS. 4-6) are bonded
together, as by heat bonding or adhesives, in all areas outside of
the boundaries 14 defining the tablet receptacles.
[0035] As in the prior art, a central vertical perforated line 20
divides the packaging into two strips containing three tablets
each.
[0036] Also in accordance with the prior art, the packages of some
sellers have horizontal perforated lines 22 and 24 in the sealed
areas between horizontal rows of tablets. Preferably, the central
perforated line 20 is made relatively easy to tear, whereas the
horizontal perforated lines 22 and 24 are made to require a
relatively greater pull force to tear, so as to ensure separation
only along line 20 when the tear is started along that line.
[0037] Referring again to FIG. 3, in accordance with the present
invention, vertical imperforate lines of weakness 26 and 28 are
provided. At each end of each line 26 and 28 is a small slit 32 or
38; 30 or 31 or a v-shaped cut which can be used to start a tearing
action along one of the imperforate lines of weakness.
[0038] In addition, at each crossing between a vertical line 26 or
28 and a horizontal perforation line 22 or 24, there is another
small vertical slit or v-shaped cut, 34, 36, 40 and 42. These slits
are provided to enable the tablets to be removed and opened one at
a time, if desired, so that subsequently, a new tear easily can be
started along one of the imperforate tear lines 26 or 28.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 2, in accordance with one of the
advantageous features of the invention, because the imperforate
tear lines 26 and 28 cross over three tablets each, if a dosage of
three tablets is desired, one merely needs to grasp the upper
left-hand corner 33 of the package and pull to the left and down
while holding the package to tear along the tear line 26 and thus
expose three tablets. If it is desired to remove six tablets, one
then would grasp the upper right-hand corner 35 and pull it while
holding the package with the other hand, and repeat the
process.
[0040] If the package 10 is of the type which has no horizontal
perforation lines 22 or 24, there is little chance that the package
will tear anywhere except along the imperforate line 26 or 28.
[0041] If the package has the horizontal perforation lines 22 and
24, those perforations should be strong enough to resist unwanted
separation under the pull used to create separation along line 26
or 28, so that there will be little chance of separation along line
22 or 24 when attempting to uncover a full column of tablets. Of
course, perforations 22 and 24 also should be weak enough to permit
tearing along line 22 or 24 when a tear along one of those lines is
started deliberately, as by pulling on corner 33 while holding the
package at a point below the horizontal tear line, tearing sidewise
at the edge where the line starts, etc.
[0042] In accordance with one feature of the invention, the
locations of the tear lines 26 and 28 are selected so that only a
relatively small portion of each tablet protrudes from its
receptacle when the tear has been made. This is advantageous in
that it allows one to free multiple tablets with one tear, without
the tablets easily falling out of the package. This is because the
packaging material remaining in contact with each tablet will
provide a certain small amount of holding force to keep the tablet
in place until it is removed by grasping the exposed portion and
pulling it out of remainder of the receptacle. This is done without
disturbing the hermetic seals of any of the unopened
receptacles.
[0043] Thus, one can, with a single pull, make three tablets ready
for easy dispensation without the tablets falling on the floor and
possibly being contaminated.
[0044] Although it is preferred that each imperforate tear line
extend from the upper edge of the package continuously to the lower
edge, it may not be necessary to continue the line all the way to
the bottom edge, as long as the line enters or approaches the last
receptacle in the column close enough to ensure that the last
receptacle in the column will be opened sufficiently.
[0045] Another advantage of the invention is that a person can
choose to remove only one tablet from the package, also without
damaging the hermetic and moisture-proof qualities of any of the
other receptacles, thus preserving the protection of the tablets
remaining in the package.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, when only one tablet is to be removed,
such as the one in the upper left-hand corner of the package, a
tear is made along the horizontal perforated line 22, up to the
line 26. This tear can be made either before or after tearing along
the line 26. If the horizontal tear is made first, the corner 33 is
grasped and the package is torn along line 26 to the line 22, and
the left edge of the tablet 12 is exposed, making it easy to grasp
or otherwise remove the tablet, as by shaking the package and
letting gravity pull the tablet out. The space left as the left
upper corner 33 is removed from the blister pack is indicated at
37.
[0047] Of course, it is not strictly necessary to tear along the
horizontal line 22 at all; it is believed to be sufficient to tear
along line 26 down to line 22, bend the corner 33 away from the
remainder of the package 10, and remove the tablet, leaving the
empty receptacle in place.
[0048] The next tablet below the one removed can be removed later,
with the assistance of the cut line 34 to help start the next tear,
or by simply tearing along an imperforate line of weakness, if the
cut line 34 is not used.
[0049] With cylindrical tablets, such as the tablets 12 shown in
the drawings, it is desired to space the imperforate tear line 26
or 28 a distance L between approximately 0.1 D and 0.9 D from one
edge of each tablet. D is the diameter of each tablet. Preferably,
this distance is approximately 0.75 D.
[0050] This distance can be varied as desired and needed to either
ensure retention of the tablets in each receptacle until it is
desired to remove it, or, if preferred, to release each tablet
immediately upon tearing it free.
[0051] The shape of the tablets can be quite variable. For example,
the shape can be triangular, rectilinear, star-shaped, etc.
Furthermore, the shape of the tablets or objects being packaged can
be rounded on the top and/or bottom, that is, like pills that are
semi-spherical.
[0052] It should be noted that in FIGS. 5 and 6, the top and bottom
walls 16 and 18 of the packaging are shown separated from the
surfaces of the tablet 12 for the purpose of illustration.
Actually, the walls 16 and 18 usually make contact with the
tablet.
[0053] The exposed edge 44 of the tablet which is easy to grasp to
remove the tablet is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As it is apparent in
FIGS. 4-6, the empty space provided around each of the tablet
receptacle has angular walls which tend to provide some frictional
force which tends to hold the tablets in the receptacles until
grasped and removed.
Tear Line Formation
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 7, the extrusion process for extruding
the plastic films under discussion is well-known in the art, except
for provision of a small protrusion 58 on each of the upper and
lower metal parts 52 and 54 of a die 50 which is used to extrude
the film 56 from a molten plastic material such as viscose (to make
cellophane). The two sharp points 58 of the die to form slight,
shallow grooves along the desired locations of the imperforate
lines of weakness. These grooves can supplement or replace the use
of the orientation of the plastic material to keep the tear lines
straight. Two sheets of film having the grooves and/or orientation
lines then are secured to one another back-to-back, with the
imperforate lines of weakness 26 and 28 on one sheet aligned with
those of the other sheet to ensure tearing of both sheets
simultaneously along the lines.
[0055] The grooves in the film can be formed by other means, such
as by lightly scoring the film with a stylus, or other means of
mechanically fowling a weakened but imperforate line.
[0056] It also should be understood that it may not be necessary to
provide starting cuts or notches in the edges of the sheets forming
the receptacles 14 in order to start a tear along an imperforate
line of weakness. If the small, shallow grooves are formed to
define those lines as described above, the grooves may provide an
adequate starting point at the edges of the sheets.
[0057] If the package walls 16 and 18 are transparent, as is the
usual case, it is preferred to color the starting points and
perforation crossing points of the grooves to make them visible to
the user.
[0058] Alternatively, the ends and crossing points can be left
uncolored so as to make them hard to find, for increasing the
child-proof nature of the packaging. Instructions can be read by
adults to tell them about where to tear, and children who cannot
read will be thwarted in their attempts to open the packages.
Manufacturing Method
[0059] Although those skilled in the art are believed to be able to
manufacture the blister packs loaded with objects using known
techniques and equipment, one advantageous method is described
below.
[0060] First, plastic sheets or strips are extruded, with the
orientation of the material extending in the longitudinal direction
in which the sheets or strips move out of the extruders, and, if
necessary, with the very slight grooves, forming or helping to form
the imperforate tear lines. The grooves also can be formed
mechanically, after extrusion, as described above.
[0061] The sheets are cut into long strips of the width desired for
the blister packs. The lower sheet is indented in six places to
form the lower halves of the receptacles, and the objects are put
into the indentations.
[0062] The top strips are similarly formed, mated with the lower
strip and bonded together in areas other than where the receptacles
are located, with the imperforate lines 26 and 28 aligned and fed
to a perforation and cutting station where the perforations and
starting cuts are made. The packages then are severed from one
another, boxed and prepared for shipping.
[0063] This process is automated and requires little or no hand
manufacturing labor.
Further Embodiments
[0064] Variations of the package construction include ones in which
the blisters or receptacles are formed in only one sheet, not
both.
[0065] For example, the top sheet 16 can be formed with the
recesses needed to hold the objects to be stored, and the opposite
or bottom sheet 18 can be flat.
[0066] Another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8-10. The package 60
shown there has a bottom sheet 62 which is relatively stiff, like
cardstock, with a coating 64 to which plastic film 66 adheres but
from which it can be peeled off.
[0067] In both of the above embodiments, the bottom sheet 18
preferably has imperforate lines of weakness to allow a portion of
it to be removed when the top sheet 16 is torn.
[0068] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8-10, the bottom sheet 62
can remain without lines of weakness, and a strip of the top sheet
can be peeled off of the surface and torn along an imperforate line
of weakness 78 or 80 to free the objects 70 in one or more
receptacles 68.
[0069] Since the bottom sheet 62 is not torn off, it is preferred
that the location of the tear line 78 or 80 be such that more of
the object within is exposed so as to facilitate its removal. For
example, the tear line 78 or 80 is located at 0.1 D or below to
completely uncover the object instead of at 0.75 D, thereby opening
each receptacle wider or completely eliminating the cover over the
receptacle.
[0070] Nonetheless, each pull of the tear strop is capable of
freeing one, two or all three objects in a column of receptacles.
Horizontal perforations 72, 74 can be used to totally remove an
unwanted segment of the tear strip when less than all of the
objects in a column are freed.
[0071] Optionally, diamond-shaped lift-areas 76 where the plastic
film 66 is perforated and lifted free of the surface 64 are
provided to assist in providing secondary tear strips; that is,
tears starting to peel off the cover on one or more objects such as
tablets 70 after the object next to it in the column has been
removed. This is done by inserting a thumbnail or fingernail under
a corner formed by one of the diamond-shaped lift areas 76 and
pulling up until there is enough free film to grasp easily and to
pull up to free one or more additional objects 70.
[0072] As it is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the edge of the film 66
preferably extends outwardly from the base 62 to facilitate
starting to peel the film 66 away from the base and tear the film
along the line 78 or 80. As in the embodiments described above,
starting cuts can be provided at the ends of the lines 78, 80, if
needed.
[0073] As it is shown in FIG. 10, the film 66 is lifted upwardly as
indicated by the arrow 79 to tear along the line 78 to remove the
cover off most or all of each object 70 to allow it to be grasped
or deposited in the hand or another receptacle.
[0074] The provision of the imperforate tear strips 78 and 80
provide a means for freeing and dispersing the objects 70 either
singly or in whole columns with a single pull on the tear
strip.
[0075] In addition, since the base 62 is not perforated, there is
no need for a central perforated line like the line 20 shown in
FIGS. 1-3, thus allowing the width of the package 60 to be reduced,
thus saving materials.
[0076] The imperforate lines of weakness 78, 80 are formed by the
same methods as used to form the lines 26, 28 as described
above.
[0077] Of course, the horizontal perforations 72, 74 should be made
strong enough to resist tearing when a strip is pulled to free two
or three objects 70 in a column, but weak enough to tear when the
strip is pulled sideways to deliberately separate the film from the
base along the horizontal line.
[0078] The above description of the invention is intended to be
illustrative and not limiting. Various changes or modifications in
the embodiments described may occur to those skilled in the art.
These can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention.
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