MULTI-CAVITY BLISTER PACKAGE WITH INDIVIDUALLY ACCESSIBLE PRODUCT WINDOWS

Abstract

A multi-cavity blister package includes a backing card. A transparent, plastic semi-rigid cover sheet co-extensive with the backing card formed with a plurality of raised portions each of which, when secured to the backing card, forms a product receiving cavity or compartment. The plastic covering is secured to the backing card to form a plurality of product receiving cavities. The backing card has perforations proximate to each product-receiving cavity to allow selective perforations to be burst to provide access to an associated cavity without compromising remaining cavities or compartments for future use.

Claims

1. Multi-cavity blister package comprising a generally flat backing card having a pre-defined surface area; and a transparent plastic semi-rigid cover sheet generally co-extensive with said backing card over said pre-determined area, said plastic cover sheet being provided with a plurality of pre-formed raised portions each of which when secured to said backing card forms a product receiving cavity, chamber or compartment; means for securing selected portions of said plastic covering to said backing card to form a plurality of product receiving cavities, said backing card being provided with perforations proximate to each product-receiving cavity, whereby selective perforations can be burst to provide access to an associated cavity to remove a product contained therein without compromising those cavities or compartments in which product remains.

2. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said product receiving cavities are arranged in an array of rows and columns.

3. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein at least two product receiving cavities are provided.

4. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein all said product receiving cavities are similar in size and shape to receive a predetermined product in each cavity.

5. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said product receiving cavities differs in size and/or shape to accommodate different products.

6. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said product receiving cavities differs in size to accommodate similar but different-sized products.

7. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said perforations are generally coextensive with associated cavities.

8. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said perforations form a closed outline on said backing card that is substantially corresponds to the size and shape of an associated cavity.

9. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 8, wherein said perforations are equal in length about said entire closed outline.

10. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 8, wherein said perforations forming said entire closed outline are formed of shorter and longer perforations.

11. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 10, wherein said entire closed outline is generally rectangular formed by four sides and said larger perforations being formed at least along one of said four sides to facilitate tearing of said perforations along at least along one of said four sides.

12. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid cover sheet is formed of PVC.

13. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said semi-rigid cover sheet has a predetermined flexibility and said perforations are selected to provide preselected burst strength for severing said perforations to provide access to an associated product cavity.

14. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said backing card weight, perforation teeth per inch and tie widths are selected to facilitate tearing of said backing card with a pressure on a raised portion of said cover sheet against said backing card less than a predetermined bursting strength.

15. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 11, wherein at least one of said sides is formed by micro perforations.

16. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein said blister package is provided with a hole or cut-out through both said backing card and said cover sheet to facilitate hanging of the package on a peg.

17. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 1, wherein means for securing comprises a heat seal.

18. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 17, wherein said heat seal extends about a periphery defined by said surface area.

19. A multi-cavity blister package as defined in claim 18, wherein said heat seal includes selected regions between product receiving cavities.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate the improvements and advantages that derive from the present invention upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the Figures in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-cavity blister package in accordance with the invention forming an array or matrix of cavities, chambers or compartments for storing and displaying same or similar products each individually packaged and accessible on the card;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the multi-cavity blister package shown in FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the package shown in FIG. 2;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the blister package shown in FIG. 2, taken along line 4-4; and

[0019] FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 3 of an alternate embodiment in which the perforations along the top sides or edges, as viewed in FIG. 5, are modified from the perforations provided along the sides and bottom edges of each window or blister.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring now to the Figures, in which the identical or similar parts are designated by the same reference or numerals throughout, and first referring to FIGS. 1-3, a multi-cavity blister pack with individually accessible perforated product windows, cavities or pouches is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

[0021] The blister package 10 is a multi-cavity blister package that includes a generally flat backing card 12 having a predefined surface area A. While the blister package 10 can assume different shapes or outlines and sizes the presently preferred embodiment is rectangular as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the surface area A is equal to the product of the height H of the package and its width W.

[0022] A plastic semi-rigid cover sheet 14 is generally coextensive with the backing card 12 and, therefore, also shares the same surface area A. The surface area A includes a peripheral portion 16a that extends about the perimeter of the blister package 10, the remaining area being designated by the reference numeral 16b.

[0023] The plastic cover sheet may be any suitable semi-rigid plastic material conventionally used for making blister packages formed with a plurality of product containing cavities, compartments or chambers 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d and 18e in the embodiment illustrated. The product receiving cavities may be arranged in an array or matrix of rows and columns, such as three rows and five columns as shown. However, the present invention contemplates any arrangement or number of cavities on the backing card 12 consistent with the sizes of the cavities 18a-18e necessary to contain and display products P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5. At least two product receiving cavities may be used but there is no limit on the maximum number of such cavities as these will be determined by the size of the backing card 12 and the sizes of the individual cavities 14 required for housing and displaying the products. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cavities 18a-18e are differently sized to house and display related but different products (e.g. sizes, appearances, etc.). Thus, in the example illustrated, picture hanging hooks are shown with four of the cavities 20a housing being smallest and housing a picture hook P1 supported by a single nail, four cavities 20b housing a larger picture hook supported by a single nail, three cavities 20c housing a still larger picture hook supported by a single nail, two cavities 20d housing a larger picture hook supported by two nails and, one cavity 20e housing a picture hook supported by three nails. Package 10, therefore, is in the nature of a kit of assorted picture hooks as may be needed by a consumer for differently sized pictures or frames. The plastic cover sheet 14 is thermoformed to create raised windows 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d and 20e to accommodate products P1-P5 to be stored and displayed in associated compartments or cavities, as also shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] A hang hole or cutout 28 may also be provided as is typical with such packages for hanging the packages on a peg of a display or rack.

[0025] The cover sheet 14 is typically transparent and secured to the backing card 12 in any conventional manner to form the product compartments, cavities or chambers 18a-18e. For example, the transparent cover sheet may be secured along the perimeter 16a by means of a heat seal 26a. Depending on the size of the blister package 10, the plastic covering sheet may also be secured to the backing card 12 in selected regions 26b between product receiving cavities over selected portions of the remaining area 16b.

[0026] The plastic coversheet, as noted, is semi-rigid and typically formed of PVC with a predetermined flexibility to allow a user to apply pressure to the raised window 20a-20e to apply pressure on the products P1-P5 to apply pressure, in turn, to the backing card 12.

[0027] An important feature of the invention is the provision of perforations 24a on the backing card 12 proximate to each product-receiving cavity, chamber or compartment 18a-18e to provide individual access to an associated cavity. In this manner, selected perforations can be burst to provide access to an associated cavity to remove a product therein without compromising the remaining cavities or compartments in which product remains for future use. As indicated in FIG. 1-3, the perforations 24a are generally coextensive with associated cavities 18a-18e to form a closed outline on the backing card 12 that substantially corresponds to the size and shape of an associated cavity 18a-18e. In the embodiment illustrated the perforations 24a are uniform and define a rectangular tab, flap or strip 32 that essentially corresponds to the size and shape of an associated cavity. However, as shown the tabs 32 may be slightly oversized to facilitate opening. The rectangular perforations 24a form two opposing sides of equal lengths. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention all of the perforations are of equal lengths and selected to facilitate the bursting open of a tab or strip 32 by application of a suitable pressure by a user on the plastic covering 14 and the enclosed product to then transfer the force to the tab or strip 32.

[0028] Selection of the correct perforations determines the bursting strength of the tabs or strips 32. The bursting strength, as is known in the industry, is both a function of the number of teeth per inch (TPI), tie widths (tw) or spaces between the perforations. The force that needs to be applied to the tabs or strips 32 to sever the panel along the perforations is normally termed the burst strength and is the amount of pressure needed to rupture a sheet of paper that is perforated. When a backing card is perforated the card is partially cut so that the burst strength is reduced. For any given perforated configuration the burst strength is usually expressed as TPItw=percent of hold. By changing these parameters the burst strength can be significantly changed from low to high. For example, 12-16 TPI typically provides intermediate-to-hard tear strength ideal for mailings and other applications that require a lot of handling. Medium to easy tear can be achieved with 8 TPI while 6 TPI and lower normally provides easier tear. However, the burst strength is also a function of numerous other factors besides the TPI and tie widths. Such factors include, for example, grain direction of the card stock, the type of substrate (paper, recycled board, etc.), the density and thickness of the substrate, the age of the paper, temperature and relative humidity that affects the moisture content of the paper and even the bevel of the perforated blade that forms the perforations. Those skilled in the art will know how to select these factors to provide a desired burst strength to provide both security for the products while ensuring accessibility to a selected cavity and the product(s) contained therein without compromising the cavities or compartments in which products remain. The blister package 10, therefore, allows a user to selectively access and use items or products that are needed without disturbing the remaining products contained in the yet unopened cavities for future use.

[0029] Another embodiment of the invention provides different perforation configurations along one or more of the sides of the tabs, strips or flaps 32. Referring to FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment is shown in which the perforations 24a have one TPI while the perforations 24b at the top of each window have another TPI to modify the burst strength to facilitate the rupturing of the tabs or strips to facilitate tearing of the perforations along at least one of the four sides. This is a useful feature to allow a user to more easily open one or more of the tabs or strips 32 and access selected products without damaging the blister packages so that it can be preserved for future use. Micro perforations can also be used to provide weaker perforations. For example, an 8 TPI0.032 tw=0.256 or 25.6% hold. Changing the tie to 0.018 inch provides a perforation with a 14.4% hold, substantially less even though it uses the same TPI. A 32 TPI0.008 tw also has a 25.6% hold so it is essentially the same strength as the 8 TPI even though finer micro perforations are often thought of being weaker than coarse perforations. The tear strength of a 32 TPI, however, is about 25% the tear strength of the 8 TPI0.032 perforations since the tw is about 25% the size. Stated in another way, the 32 TPI is just as strong (same burst strength) but much easier to tear. Those skilled in the art will be able to select the appropriate parameters for the perforations either about the entire peripheries of the tabs or strips 32 or provide different parameters for the perforations to provide desired bursting strengths for a given blister pack type, size, product etc.

[0030] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.