Package Structure

This invention relates to package 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:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,010 discloses a blister 20 including flanges 28 adherent to a card 10, and pivotally releasable therefrom along fold lines 12 and 14. Slits 16 and 18 in card 10 receive corners of flanges 28 to relock the blister to the card.

3,174,621 DISCLOSES A BLISTER 14 BONDED TO A CARD PORTION 20 BY ADHESIVE DOTS 26 THAT ARE RELEASABLE TO ACCOMMODATE PIVOTATION OF PORTION 20 IN PROVISION OF ACCESS TO CONTENTS OF THE BLISTER. Relocking is afforded by pivoting locking tongue over flange 16 of blister 14.

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.

It is a general objective of the invention to provide improved blister card package structure of the pivotally opening type 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 package, comprising: a blister having a flanged portion and a raised product holding portion; a paperboard card releasably affixed along a portion of its periphery to said flanged portion; a portion of said card folded over to present a folded edge extending over and engaging said flanged portion of said blister; and means defining a pair of creases in said card disposed in spaced, substantially parallel relationship to one another, one crease of said pair being disposed in substantial registry with said folded edge, the construction and arrangement being such that pivotation of said folded portion about said one crease away from said blister is effective to release said overlapped flanged portion from said folded edge and accommodate subsequent release of said card from said blister by pivotation of said card therefrom about the other of said creases.

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 view of a blister card package embodying the invention, and with portions fragmented for convenience of illustration;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged fragmentary views of the package seen in FIG. 1, illustrating sequential steps in opening the package; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 4--4 in FIG. 1, as seen looking in the direction of arrows applied thereto.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, and first to FIG. 1, a reclosable blister package 10 includes a plastic blister 11 having a peripheral flanged portion 12 and a raised product holding portion 13. A paperboard card 14 is affixed along its periphery to flanged portion 12 of blister 11 by a suitable adhesive designated generally by the letter A.

Releasable affixation of card 14 to a generally U-shaped section of flanged portion 12 is afforded by a pair of cut scores 15, 16 substantially coincident with edges of the U-shaped section of flanged portion 12 and terminating at opposite ends of the U substantially in the region of a crease 17, such as, for example, a score line, in card 14 extending transversely thereof. As is seen also in FIG. 4, a portion 18 of card 14 is reversely folded to present a folded edge 19 extending over and engaging the curved loop of the U-shaped section of the flanged portion 12 of blister 11. Folded portion 18 advantageously serves also as means for hanging or otherwise handling package 10. Reverse folding is maintained by adhesive provided in regions designated generally by letters B and C. Another crease or score line 20 is provided on card 14, in substantial registry with folded edge 19 and in spaced, substantially parallel relationship as respects crease 17.

Construction and arrangement of the package is such that downward pivotation of folded portion 18 about crease 20, away from blister 11, as is seen in FIG. 2, is effective to release overlapped flanged portion 12 from engagement by folded edge 19. As is seen in FIG. 3, continued force on the folded portion 18, to pull it away from blister 11, progressively effects delamination, or ply separation, of that portion of card 14 disposed between cut scores 15, 16 and adherent to flanged portion 12, as folded portion 18 and the portion of card 14 to which it is attached pivot about 17. Contents of the package are thus exposed for use. Locked reclosure is achieved by pivoting the delaminated portion of the board toward the flanged portion 12 while flexing a portion thereof to slip it under folded edge 19 as the latter is pivoted to its original, closed position.

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

While the description and drawing are illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.