Package Structure

This invention relates to packaging structure, and more particularly to improvements in blister card packages of the reclosable type.

While reclosable blister card packages have attained wide acceptance, difficulties have been encountered in providing both economical and effective locking means for maintaining reclosure of a package of this type once it has been opened. Known locking means heretofore have required provision of specially shaped tabs, slots, as well as built-up cards to serve as the operating lock elements.

The following is a listing of U.S. Patents believed material to the examination of this application, together with a concise explanation of the relevance of each:

No. 3,157,280 discloses slide-defining flanges 24, 25 on a plastic blister 3 slidable on backing member 2. Locking tabs 29, 30 on member 2 releasably engage flanges 21, 22 on blister 3.

No. 3,174,621 discloses a blister 14 adhesively bonded to a card portion 20 by adhesive dots 26 that are releasable to accommodate pivotation of portion 20 in provision of access to the contents of the blister. Relocking is afforded by pivoting locking tongue 24 over flange 16' of blister 14.

No. 3,326,370 discloses a blister 10 provided with flanges 19 slidable in folded side flanges 52, 53 on a card 12. A cut-out tab 58 on card 12 locks the blister in position, and is releasable by folding card portion 24.

No. 3,326,371 discloses structure similar to that of the '370 patent.

No. 3,464,544 discloses a card defining channels for sliding retention of blister flanges, and locking detents therein.

No. 3,467,248 discloses a card defining channels for blister flanges, and a cut-out locking tab 42 in the card.

No. 3,792,181 discloses a folded locking flange 92 (FIGS. 9, 10) on a blister to accommodate pivotal opening of a cover having a flange 94 retained by flange 92.

No. 3,812,963 discloses sliding cover 12 and base 11, and locking means including apertures 14 for receiving detents 39, 40.

No. 3,896,933 discloses blister and base means relatively slidable and locked by detent means 1d, 2b.

It is a general objective of the invention to provide improved reclosable blister card package structure affording both economy and effectiveness of relocking construction.

In achievement of the foregoing as well as other objectives and advantages, the invention contemplates a reclosable blister card package, comprising: a plastic blister having a flanged portion and a raised product holding portion; a paperboard card releasably affixed to a first part of said flanged portion; a portion of said card folded over to present an edge thereof in engagement with a second part of said flanged portion of said blister; and said card being bendable along a line extending in substantially parallel relationship to said edge of said folded portion so as to accommodate pivotation of said edge out of engagement with said second part of said flanged portion, and consequent release of said card from said blister in provision of access to the interior of said package.

The manner in which the foregoing as well as other objectives and advantages of the invention may best be achieved will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in light of the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of a blister card package embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, and illustrating an operational feature of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken in the plane of line 3--3 in FIG. 1, as seen looking in the direction of arrows applied thereto;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken in the plane of line 4--4 in FIG. 2, as seen looking in the direction of arrows applied thereto;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken in the plane of line 5--5 in FIG. 1, as seen looking in the direction of arrows applied thereto; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, and illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

With more particular reference to the drawing and first to FIG. 1, a reclosable blister card package 10 of generally rectangular configuration comprises a plastic blister 11 having a flanged portion 12 and a raised product holding portion 13. As is seen also in FIG. 5, a paperboard card 14 is releasably affixed to a first part 15 of flanged portion 12 by folded tab means 16 on the card partially adhered to the latter and extending over and slidably engaging part 15 of flanged portion 12. A tab 17 formed in a lower, transversely extending part of flanged portion 12 is received within a slot 18 in card 14 to prevent the blister from sliding from between folded tab means 16 and off the lower end of the card.

In particular accordance with the invention, and with reference also to FIG. 3, a package opening and reclosure feature is afforded by a portion 19 of card 14 extending transversely of the direction of sliding movements and folded over at 20 and adhered to underlying portions of card 14 to present an edge 21 in abutting engagement with a correspondingly extending second part 22 of flanged portion 12 of blister 11. A crease 23, such as, for example a score line, is provided in card 14 parallel to and adjacent the edge 21 of the folded portion 19, and, as is seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, accommodates bending of the card and pivotation of the edge 21 out of engagement with the second part 22 of flanged portion 12, and consequent sliding release of the blister from the card in provision of access to a product held in the package. It will be appreciated that, particularly upon reclosure, a slight gap may exist between the locking edge 21 and the card over which it extends, which gap may receive a small portion of blister flange part 22 in provision of overlapped locking engagement.

As is seen also to advantage in FIG. 1, each tab means 16 includes a portion 16a projecting from the plane of card 14, preferably at right angles thereto, on the side to which blister 13 is affixed. Lower end regions of portions 16a and of the card 14 are so cooperably disposed as to provide support for package 10 in the illustrated upright position on a planar surface (not shown).

The invention comtemplates also that instead of tab 17 and slot 18, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a transversely extending tab 116b as seen in FIG. 6, may be provided on card 114 and folded over to receive the correspondingly disposed lower flange 112 of blister 111 to prevent sliding of the blister from the lower ends of folded tabs 116.

It will be appreciated that the invention affords improved reclosable blister card package structure affording both economy and effectiveness of relocking construction.

While the description and the accompanying drawing are illustrative of preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be recognized that other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.