Blister pack

Abstract

A blister pack and method for packaging an item in the blister pack includes a blister card and a blister retained on the card and defines a compartment for retaining the at least one item therein. The blister is slidable relative to the card between a closed position in which the at least one item is inaccessible and an opened position in which the at least one item is accessible for removal from the blister pack.

Claims

1. A blister pack for packaging batteries, comprising: a plurality of batteries; a blister card comprising a first portion and a retention member, wherein the blister card is fabricated from a paperboard material; and a blister retained on the blister card, the blister comprising a body defining a compartment for retaining the batteries therein, wherein the compartment has a mouth defined by the body, said blister being slidable relative to the blister card between a closed position in which the mouth is substantially covered so that the batteries are inaccessible and an opened position in which the mouth is exposed below the first portion so that at least one battery is accessible for removal through the mouth, wherein the blister further comprises a stop for stopping the blister in the opened position and inhibiting the blister from separating from the first portion of the blister card upon sliding movement of the blister to the opened position; wherein in a first configuration, the retention member is attached to the first portion of the blister card so that the blister is retained on the blister card against slidable movement from the closed position to the opened position; wherein in a second configuration, the retention member is permanently removed from the first portion of the blister card so that the blister is slidable relative to the first portion of the blister card to the opened position; and wherein the blister card includes at least one line of weakness separating the first portion of the blister card and the retention member along which the retention member is tearable away from the first portion of the blister card to permanently remove the retention member from the first portion of the blister card to define the second configuration of the retention member.

2. A blister pack in accordance with claim 1 wherein the line of weakness is other than straight along its entire length.

3. A blister pack in accordance with claim 1 wherein the blister card and the blister are configured relative to each other such that upon removal of the retention member from the first portion of the blister card the at least battery in the blister remains inaccessible in the closed position of the blister.

4. A blister pack in accordance with claim 1 wherein the blister card comprises a first panel and a second panel in opposed relationship with the first panel, the blister being disposed at least in part between the first and second panels without being secured thereto such that the blister is slidable relative to the first and second panels.

5. A blister pack in accordance with claim 4 wherein the second panel has an opening therein, a portion of the blister projecting through said opening in the closed position of the blister.

6. A blister pack in accordance with claim 4 wherein the blister comprises a flange extending transversely outward of the body, the flange being disposed between the first and second panels without being secured thereto.

7. A blister pack in accordance with claim 1 wherein the blister includes a protrusion, the first portion of the blister card engaging the protrusion upon movement of the blister to the opened position to inhibit further movement of the blister beyond the opened position.

8. A blister pack in accordance with claim 1 wherein the blister comprises a first blister defining a first compartment and a second blister retained on the blister card and defining a second compartment for retaining at least one battery therein, said second blister being slidable relative to the blister card and relative to the first blister between a closed position in which the at least one battery is inaccessible and an opened position in which the at least one battery is accessible for removal from the blister pack.

9. A blister pack in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blister card further comprises an opening; wherein the first portion includes a first slot having a first upper end and a first lower end; wherein the first portion includes a second slot having a second upper end and a second lower end; wherein the slots are extensions of the opening; wherein at least a portion of the body extends through the opening, wherein stop comprises a first stop and the blister further comprises a second stop; wherein at least a portion of the first stop is positioned within the first slot for movement between the first upper end and the first lower end; wherein at least a portion of the second stop positioned within the second slot for movement between the second upper end and the second lower end; wherein in the closed position, the stops are located at the upper ends of the slots; and wherein in the opened position, the stops are located at the lower ends of the slots.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a blister pack;

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a blister of the blister pack of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the blister pack of FIG. 1 with a blister thereof moved to an open position;

(5) FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the blister pack of FIG. 1 with a blister thereof moved to an open position;

(6) FIG. 6 is a rear view of a rear panel of a blister card of the blister pack of FIG. 1; and

(7) FIG. 7 is a front view of a front panel of a blister card of the blister pack of FIG. 1.

(8) Although specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of any drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

(9) The present disclosure relates generally to packaging and more particularly to a blister pack. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a blister pack is used for packaging multiple items and, in particular, batteries. It is understood, however, that the blister pack may be used to package items other than batteries and may be used to package a single item.

(10) As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and preceded with the word a or an should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Moreover, references to an embodiment or an exemplary embodiment are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

(11) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a blister pack, generally indicated at 100, comprised of a blister card, generally indicated at 102, and a blister 130 retained on the blister card 102 for packaging and/or retaining at least one item (e.g., batteries 104) to be packaged therein. The illustrated blister card 102 is at least a two-piece card including a rear panel 110 (broadly, a first panel) and a front panel 120 (broadly, a second panel) coupled to the rear panel 110 in opposed relationship therewith.

(12) It is contemplated that in other embodiments, the blister card 102 may be of a single-piece construction, such that it is folded into the desired blister card configuration. In other alternative embodiments, the blister card may comprise a single panel (e.g., a rear panel) and remain within the scope of this invention. For example, in such embodiments, the single panel may comprise a plurality of rails that enable the blister 130 to slide relative to the blister card 102 between a closed position, in which the batteries 104 are inaccessible, and an open position, in which at least one battery 104 is accessible for removal from the blister pack 100 as described in more detail below.

(13) In the exemplary embodiment, the front panel 120 is coupled to the rear panel 110 along an outer edge 140 of the rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120. In the exemplary embodiment, the outer edges 140 of the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120 are substantially aligned. Alternatively, the rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120 may have any size and/or configuration that enables the blister pack 100 to function as described herein.

(14) In the exemplary embodiment, the front panel 120 includes a side edge 150 (broadly, a first inner edge) that at least partially defines an opening 160 and a slot edge 170 (broadly, a second inner edge) that at least partially defines at least one slot 180 having an upper end 190 (broadly, a first end) and a lower end 200 (broadly, a second end or stop). In the exemplary embodiment, the slot 180 is an extension of the opening 160. Alternatively, the slot 180 may be defined within the front panel 120 separate from the opening 160.

(15) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the blister pack 100. In the exemplary embodiment, the rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120 are substantially flat and are fabricated from a paperboard material including, without limitation, linerboard, corrugated fiberboard, and/or solid bleached sulfate. Alternatively, the rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120 may be fabricated from any material that enables the blister pack 100 to function as described herein.

(16) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blister 130. The illustrated blister 130 includes a body 210, a peripheral flange 220 extending transversely away from the body 210, and at least one protrusion 230 coupled to the flange 220 and/or the body 210. In the exemplary embodiment, the body 210 defines a compartment that is sized to retain and/or store at least one object and/or product therein.

(17) In the exemplary embodiment, the flange 220 is substantially planar and extends within a plane that is between and substantially parallel to the rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120. As shown in FIG. 2, the flange 220 is substantially flush with the rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120. In the exemplary embodiment, the blister 130 is not directly coupled or secured to rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120 and, thus, is free to move independent of the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120.

(18) In the exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the body 210 extends through the opening 160 (shown in FIG. 1), and at least a portion of the protrusion 230 is positioned within the slot 180 (shown in FIG. 1) such that the protrusion 230 is movable between the upper end 190 (shown in FIG. 1) and the lower end 200 (shown in FIG. 1). That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the blister 130 is slidable relative to the blister card 102 between a closed position (e.g., when the protrusion 230 is at the upper end 190) and an open position (e.g., when the protrusion is at the lower end 200) as described in more detail below.

(19) In the exemplary embodiment, the blister 130 is fabricated from a plastic material that is thermoformed to include the body 210, the flange 220, and/or the protrusion 230. Alternatively, the blister 130 may be fabricated from any material and/or using any method that enables the blister pack 100 to function as described herein.

(20) FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of the blister pack 100 in the open position. In the exemplary embodiment, a perforation 240 (broadly, a line of weakness) (shown in FIG. 1) extends across the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120 such that a lower portion 250 (broadly, a retention member) of each of the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120 are removable and/or tearable away from a respective upper portion 260 of the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120.

(21) In the exemplary embodiment, the lower portion 250 includes a lower edge 270 (broadly, a third inner edge) of the front panel 120 such that the opening 160 has an open side after the lower portion 250 is removed from the upper portion 260. In the exemplary embodiment, the open side of the opening 160 enables the blister 130 to slide towards the open position. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the lower portion 250 is configurable between a first configuration in which the blister 130 is retained on the blister card 102 against slidable movement towards the open position, and a second configuration in which the blister 130 is slidable relative to the blister card 102 towards the open position. In the exemplary embodiment, the lower portion 250 does not include the lower end 200 (i.e., the upper portion 260 includes the lower end 200) to facilitate retaining the protrusion 230 within the slot 180 after the lower portion 250 is removed from the upper portion 260.

(22) FIG. 6 is a rear view of the rear panel 110. In the exemplary embodiment, the perforation 240 of the rear panel 110 is non-linear to facilitate increasing a strength and/or durability of the rear panel 110. More specifically, the perforation 240 of the rear panel 110 includes at least one step 280 that requires a change in force (e.g., direction) to separate the lower potion 250 from the upper portion 260.

(23) The perforation 240 of the rear panel 110 includes a segment 290 that is substantially aligned with and/or extends lower than a lower sidewall 300 (shown in FIG. 3) of the body 210 when the blister 130 is in the closed position to facilitate retaining and/or storing objects within the blister 130. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the upper portion 260 substantially covers a mouth of the compartment defined by the body 210 to facilitate retaining and/or storing the object within the compartment when the blister 130 is in the closed position. The step 280 and/or the segment 290 may have any shape and/or configuration that enables the perforation 240 to function as described herein.

(24) FIG. 7 is a front view of the front panel 120. In the exemplary embodiment, the perforation 240 of the front panel 120 is substantially linear. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the perforation 240 of the front panel 120 is positioned above the lower edge 270 such that the lower portion 250 includes the lower edge 270, and there is a perforation 240 of the front panel 120 on either side of opening 160 that extends between a respective side edge 150 and a respective outer edge 140. The perforation 240 may have any shape and/or configuration that enables the perforation 240 to function as described herein.

(25) To assemble the blister pack 100, the blister 130 is positioned on the rear panel 110 such that at least a portion of the flange 220 is substantially flush with the rear panel 110, and the body 210 and/or the protrusion 230 extend away from the rear panel 110.

(26) The front panel 120 is positioned on the rear panel 110 such that the body 210 extends through the opening 160 and at least a portion of the protrusion 230 is positioned within the slot 180. In the exemplary embodiment, the front panel 120 is coupled to the rear panel 110 with at least a portion of the flange 220 extending between the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120. For example, in the exemplary embodiment, the front panel 120 is heat sealed to the rear panel 110 along an outer edge 140 of the rear panel 110 and/or the front panel 120. Alternatively, the front panel 120 may be coupled to the rear panel 110 using any method and/or mechanism that enables the blister pack 100 to function as described herein.

(27) Before the blister pack 100 is torn along the perforation 240, the upper end 190 keeps the protrusion 230 from moving upward with respect to the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120, and the lower portion 250 keeps the flange 220 from moving downward with respect to the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the upper end 190 and the lower portion 250 keep and/or retain the blister 130 in a substantially stationary position and, thus, inhibits the blister 130 against sliding longitudinally outward towards the open position.

(28) Once the blister pack 100 is torn along the perforation (i.e., the lower portion 250 is separated from the upper portion 260), the upper end 190 inhibits the protrusion 230 from moving upward with respect to the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120, and the lower end 200 inhibits the protrusion 230 from moving downward with respect to the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120. That is, in the exemplary embodiment, the blister 130 slides between the rear panel 110 and the front panel 120 and is slidable between the closed position, wherein the protrusion 230 is at the upper end 190, and the open position, wherein the protrusion is at the lower end 200.

(29) In the exemplary embodiment, the blister 130 is slidable towards the open position to selectively provide access to the one or more items packaged in the blister pack 100 (e.g., the batteries 104). Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, the blister 130 is slidable towards the closed position to selectively restrict access to the batteries 104.

(30) The slot 180 of the blister pack 100 is substantially linear to enable the blister 130 to slide substantially linearly between the closed position and the open position. In at least some embodiments, the slot edge 170 may include at least one notch or step (not shown) that facilitates slowing and/or restricting a movement of the protrusion 230 through the slot 180. For example, in at least one embodiment, the slot edge 170 includes a notch adjacent to the upper end 190 that enables keeping and/or retaining the blister 130 in the closed position.

(31) It is contemplated that in other embodiments, the blister pack 100 may have a plurality of blisters 130 that are each independently slidable between a respective closed position and a respective open position. In other alternative embodiments, the blister pack 100 may include additional lines of weakness (not shown) that enable the blister pack 100 to be separated into a plurality of sub-blister packs. For example, in at least one embodiment, the blister pack 100 includes two blister packs 130 and a line of weakness extending between the blister packs 130 that enables the blister pack 100 to be separated into two sub-blister packs. Each sub-blister pack functions or is configured to function substantially similarly to the blister pack 100. The blister pack 100 may include any number of sub-blister packs and lines of weakness that enables the blister pack 100 to function as described herein.

(32) The present disclosure relates generally to packaging and more particularly to a blister pack. The embodiments described herein are configured to slide open to provide access to an object stored within the blister pack without dumping the other objects stored within the blister pack.

(33) When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the exemplary embodiment(s) thereof, the articles a, an, the, and said are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms comprising, including, and having are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

(34) As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.