Abstract: A transparent thermoformed thermoplastic blister has a product bubble which protrudes from a flange which is connected to a backing card. The bubble has an access opening which is selectably uncovered by a pivotable door hinged to the flange and to a hinge panel by parallel hinges, with the hinge panel hinged to the flange to define an over-center hinge arrangement. The lengths of the hinge panel and door, as well as the spring constants of the hinges may be selected to form a closure which will tend to remain opened once opened, or alternatively one which will automatically spring closed when finger pressure on the door is released. The closure may alternatively be formed in a clamshell package. The physical manipulation of the door is similar to the throwing of a light switch, and hence is readily apprehended by new users.

Abstract: A dispensing container for packaging a product for presentation upon a retail shelf comprising of a bottom sheet, a thermoformed concave tray attached to the bottom sheet and defining therebetween a space, product within the space, the thermoformed concave tray defining an opening, a thermoformed semirigid lid covering the opening, a flexible adhesive substrate attached to the thermoformed lid and the thermoformed concave tray hinging the thermoformed lid to the thermoformed concave tray; and printed indicia on the adhesive substrate hinge.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed material with a bubble body for sealing to a plastic backing card is disclosed. The bubble body has top, left, right, and bottom flanges, and faces defining a bubble which encloses an article compartment. An egress opening is formed in one face or in portions of several faces of the body. The reclosable display package includes a cover independent of the body and connected to the body by an integral hinge. The cover is pivotable about the integral hinge to fully close the egress opening in the body of the package. The bottom, left, and right flanges of the blister together with portions of the attached backing card may be removed to form a package with no protruding flange on three sides.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed material with a bubble body for mounting on a backing card is disclosed. The bubble body has top, left, right, and bottom flanges, and faces defining a bubble which encloses an article compartment. An egress opening is formed in one face or in portions of several faces of the body. The reclosable display package includes a cover independent of the body and connected to a flange of the body by an integral hinge. The cover is pivotable about the integral hinge to fully close the egress opening in the body of the package.

Abstract: A flexible reclosable thermoformed thermoplastic container is disclosed which has a base with side walls and a peripheral shoulder extending from the side walls which has a downwardly depending rim. The cover of the container has peripheral edges with depending side walls and is preferably attached by an integral hinge to the base. The cover is adapted to close upon and cover the base. A locking tab with two opposed faces spaced to fit between the base rim and side walls is connected by an integral hinge to the cover. The locking tab of the cover may be rotated about the integral hinge and inserted between the side wall and rim wall of the base to close the container. Containers with depressions in the base or cover side walls to facilitate opening are also disclosed. Containers may have two locking tabs connected on opposite sides of the cover by integral hinges which permit the cover to be removed entirely from the container.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed material with a bubble body for mounting on a backing card is disclosed. The bubble body has continuous top, left and right peripheral flanges, a bottom flange, a front face to the body, and an egress opening in the front face. The reclosable display package includes a cover integral with the body and connected to the body by an integral hinge. The cover is pivotable about the integral hinge to fully close the egress opening in the front face of the package. The cover has a sealant tool opening adapted to permit the passage of a heat or pressure sealing tool through the plastic of the cover to make direct contact with the bottom peripheral flange and seal it to the backing card.

Abstract: A reclosable plastic container is formed having a cover hingedly attached to a base and having an interlocking structure such that the cover is held onto the base when the container is closed. The interlocking structure includes a locking mechanism for attaching a hinged cover to the container base in a positive-manner so that the cover will not open upon impact, but may conveniently be opened and closed when required. The locking mechanism includes a locking tab hingedly connected to the cover and an outwardly extending projection formed on the base in direct alignment with the locking tab.

Abstract: A reclosable dispenser package of thin flexible thermoformed plastic material and method of manufacture is disclosed, the package including a base with peripheral edges and a cover thermoformed from a sheet of plastic which includes a cover wall with a dispensing opening therein defined by an inner margin, peripheral edges which are joined to the peripheral edges of the base so that the cover is closed upon and substantially covers the base, and a tubular lid integrally hinged to the cover at a hinge line forming a portion of the inner margin. The tubular lid includes an upper lid wall, a lower wall, and a forward surface. The cover wall further includes an arresting platform on which the tubular lid rests when in its closed position. The tubular lid pivots around the hinge line to open and close the dispensing opening.

Abstract: A reclosable display package of thin flexible thermoformed plastic material includes a rear base having a recess for containing any articles to be displayed, and substantially flat mating surface surrounding the recess and extending upwardly to a rear top edge, and two forwardly beveled rear base side flanges and one rear base bottom flange which extend rearwardly from three other edges of the flat mating surface to form a rear base skirt. Additionally, the display package includes a front cover which is integrally hinged along a hinge line to the non-beveled rear base bottom flange and is movable between open and closed positions, the front cover having a front plane which extends upwardly to a front top edge, two front cover side flanges which are forwardly beveled and one front cover bottom flange which extend rearwardly from three other edges of the front plane to form a front cover skirt.

Abstract: A reclosable plastic container is formed having a cover hingedly attached to a base and having an interlocking structure such that the cover is held on the base when the container is closed. Release tabs are formed on each of the cover and base adjacent one another and having camming surfaces on each tab which extend therefrom toward the other tab. The camming surfaces on the tabs intersect in a fulcrum such that when the user presses the tabs together, the tabs rotate about the fulcrum to pull the cover and base apart. The camming surface on each tab may be formed as a ridge formed integrally with the tab. Reinforcing ridges, extending away from the plane of the tab in a direction opposite to that of the camming surfaces, are also preferably formed in the tab to provide structural rigidity so that the tabs do not substantially bend or flex when they are pressed by the user. The tabs allow a securely closed container to be easily opened by one hand of the user.

Abstract: A reclosable container formed from thin, flexible thermoformed plastic material. The container has a base and a domed lid joined together by an integral hinge. The relatively flexible container base is stiffened and made rigid only when the lid is inserted into the container base. The lid and the engaged base are strengthened by rims which are provided about the periphery of the lid. Portions of the lid are flared to engage the sides of the base. When the container is closed, the base and the flared portions of the lid provide an essentially non-protruding and smooth label bridge to which a label may be applied without creating a significant gap between the label and the closed container.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for holding and feeding a continuous sheet (12) of plastic in an operation such as thermoforming. Articulations (13), such as alternating waveforms, are formed on the edges of the plastic sheet (12) by heating and pressing the edges, producing inwardly facing abutment surface at the edges of the sheet. The sheet is then passed into slots (34) in guide rails (32) with the inside surfaces (35) of the guide rails (32) engaging the abutment surfaces on the plastic sheet (12) to prevent the sheet from slipping out of the guide rails. The plastic sheet is thereby held firmly so that it can be passed through such thermoforming operations as heating in an oven (14), forming with a mold at a forming station (40), and cutting the formed articles away from the remainder of the sheet by a trim press (53).

Abstract: A unitary nestable reclosable container is formed from a thin-walled clear flexible plastic or the like and includes a box-like base forming a receptacle for screws, bolts, etc. A lid is integrally joined to the base by a hinge and includes a peripheral groove having walls releasably engaging substantially planar side walls of the base for providing a sturdy closure. The peripheral groove further provides a wall which releasably locks with an upper portion of the base end wall providing a specially designed reversed taper spaced from a lower end wall portion by a restraining shelf. Each side juncture between the lid and base is substantially within a plane provided by the side wall while a label placed across such juncture forms a reliable seal.