Packaging for button cells

Abstract

A sales or storage packaging for button cells has a holder for several button cells arranged on a carrier and has at least the seller's designation arranged on the carrier in the form of an adhesive, transparent, printed label attached thereto.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of German Patent Application No. DE 102 13 683.1, filed Mar. 27, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a packaging for button cells, having a holder for several cells that is arranged on a carrier, preferably sales or storage packing. The cells are, in particular, zinc-air cells.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Rising consumption of zinc-air button cells, in particular, cells for hearing aids, has also elevated the packagings of these mass-produced items to the rank of a major marketing factor. Their packaging must be both economical and have an attractive appearance to promote buying interest.

[0004] Following the example of the tablet packagings used by the pharmaceutical industry, packagings for hermetically sealed button cells of the rechargeable Ni—Cd-type or basic Ag2O—Zn and HgO—Zn types that consist of, for example, pairs of nested plastic shells, have been introduced. One of those shells was subdivided into a circular array of compartments for accommodating cells and could be rotated with respect to the other shell such that its compartments could be successively brought into coincidence with a dispensing opening in the other shell and the cell involved withdrawn from the compartment.

[0005] However, in the case of zinc-air cells, there arose the special problem that the air-inlet openings in their cathode cup must be sealed to prevent ingress of air and exclude moisture until such time as they are placed in service, i.e., that their packagings must also be such that cells may be stored in them.

[0006] A corresponding packaging element is represented by, for example, the press-out packaging described in German Patent Application DE 3630926 A1. The cells contained therein are fully protected against ingress of ambient air between a tear-resistant, air-tight, transparent sheet of plastic foil having bowl-shaped blisters and a sheet of aluminum foil that is bonded to that sheet of plastic foil.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,708 discloses a folding box for use as a packaging element for zinc-air cells that incorporates a cardboard carrier having circular recesses for accommodating button cells whose bases are cemented onto a foil on the reverse side of the carrier.

[0008] Another embodiment of a sales packaging for zinc-air cells is disclosed in German Patent Application DE 4128248 A1, which depicts a sales and storage packaging for zinc-air cells having a carrier to which the bases of cells, which are provided with air-inlet openings, are cemented. A transparent plastic cover having bowl-shaped recesses that essentially conform to the shape of the cells is attached to the carrier. Cells may be pressed through the carrier immediately prior to use. Another foil that extends into the vicinities of the carrier through which cells may be pressed is attached to the carrier. Cells may be pressed through this latter foil, which is provided with an adhesive coating, at least at those locations where the bases of cells adhere to it. However, this latter foil remains attached to the carrier after cells have been pressed through it and peeled off it.

[0009] German Patent Application DE 10162492 A1 describes a packaging for zinc-air cells where a rotatable insert is arranged between a cardboard carrier and a cardboard cover that are cemented together such that the insert may be rotated. The cardboard cover has an opening for accommodating the rotatable insert and the cardboard carrier has a reclosable tab through which individual cells may be withdrawn from the rotatable insert.

[0010] The carrier for the holder for accommodating zinc-air cells is, in general, marked with the designation of the cell's manufacturer or seller, i.e., in the case of cells for use in hearing aids, with that of the hearing-aid dealer.

[0011] It would be advantageous to provide a versatile sales and storage packaging for button cells that may used by various sellers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] This invention relates to packaging for button cells including a carrier, a holder for a plurality of the button cells, arranged on the carrier, and a label attached to the packaging, wherein the label is adhesive, transparent, printed and contains at least an identification of a seller.

[0013] This invention also relates to packaging for button cells including a carrier, a holder for a plurality of the button cells, arranged on the carrier, and a label attached to the carrier, wherein the label is adhesive, transparent, printed and contains at least an identification of a seller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Objects of the invention will be discussed in greater detail below, based on the figures, which are to be regarded as schematic representations only.

[0015] FIG. 1 depicts the front side of a prospective sale or storage packing in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 depicts the reverse side of that same packaging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] It will be appreciated that the following description is intended to refer to specific embodiments of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings and is not intended to define or limit the invention, other than in the appended claims.

[0018] According to aspects of the invention, at least the seller's designation is arranged on the carrier or the holder or the packaging in the form of an adhesive, transparent, printed label. The label can be attached thereto. Zinc/air cells are to be regarded as a particularly preferred type of button cell in this conjunction. The packaging involved may preferably serve as either a sales packaging or a storage packaging, or both.

[0019] As may be seen from the Figures, the usual contents, in particular, the usual instructions for use and safety precautions to be observed, have been applied to its reverse side. The front side of the carrier 1 supports a rotatable insert 2 that serves as a holder for several button cells 3 that may be withdrawn through the tab 4 on the reverse side of the packaging.

[0020] According to the invention, a transparent, printed label 5 that contains the name and, perhaps, address or other selected information, of the manufacturer and/or seller of the cells is attached, adhered or cemented to the front side of the carrier 1.

[0021] Employment of a transparent, printed label 5 allows manufacturing sales or storage packagings that have been custom-printed for the particular hearing-aid dealer involved. Only generic sales and storage packagings for button cells will need to be manufactured. Packagings may then be customized by attaching printed labels bearing custom inscriptions to packagings once purchase orders have been received from particular hearing-aid dealers. Custom inscriptions in the form of custom layouts or texts that may be transmitted under computer control to a label printer/labelling machine that labels generic sale and storage packagings with transparent, printed labels that are virtually visually indistinguishable from labelling printed directly on the packagings' cardboard backing may be allocated to each individual purchase order.

Claims

1. Packaging for button cells comprising:

a carrier;

a holder for a plurality of said button cells, arranged on the carrier; and

a label attached to said packaging, wherein said label is adhesive, transparent, printed and contains at least an identification of a seller.

2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the holder is rotatably mounted to the carrier and the carrier has an opening positioned to remove individual button cells upon selected rotation of the holder.

3. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the label is attached on a front side of the carrier in a position above the holder.

4. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the carrier has an opening in an upper portion thereof sized and shaped to receive a display hanger, and the label is located between the opening and the holder.

5. Packaging for button cells comprising:

a carrier;

a holder for a plurality of said button cells, arranged on the carrier; and

a label attached to said carrier, wherein said label is adhesive, transparent, printed and contains at least an identification of a seller.

6. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the holder is rotatably mounted to the carrier and the carrier has an opening positioned to remove individual button cells upon selected rotation of the holder.

7. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the label is attached on a front side of the carrier in a position above the holder.

8. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the carrier has an opening in an upper portion thereof sized and shaped to receive a display hanger, and the label is located between the opening and the holder.