Environmental rigid blister package

Abstract

Rigid blister packages contain at least one rigid transparent plastic blister protruding outwardly from a relatively flat base on one or two sides. The blister confines and protects an article or articles, while permitting the article(s) to be viewed. The package is environmentally friendly and attractive through incorporation of a relatively thick stiffener or equivalent captured between the two paperboard sheets that provide the outer surfaces of the package. The stiffener occupies a smaller portion of the surface area covered by each paperboard sheet to produce a bulge or puffiness in the surface of at least one of the paperboard sheets to give the base of the package an appearance and feel of strength

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This non-provisional application for patent is related to an earlier-filed provisional application for patent by the inventor, Ser. No. 60/834,995, filed Aug. 1, 2006 entitled Environmental Rigid Blister Package, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Applicant claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) based on the foregoing provisional application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to retail product display packages and, more particularly, to an improved environmentally friendly blister card package that allows the customer to visually inspect the confined product through a transparent blister-like thermo-formed plastic window or compartment in the package prior to purchase.

BACKGROUND

Existing blister card packages typically contain a paperboard base that is basically flat in geometry and a transparent plastic compartment and surrounding flange surface attached to the upper surface of and supported on top of the paperboard base. The compartment, which confines the packaged product, bulges out from the paperboard base, much like a blister, from the flat paperboard surface. Hence, the acquired name of blister card or blister package. The wide flanges to the transparent plastic compartment attach to the paperboard and provide a desired stiffness to the blister card. The back side of the base may contained printed material, such as information concerning the packaged product, but being opaque, does not permit viewing of the product from the back side. A hanger slot is included in the base which allows the card to be hung on a display board hanger rod in the retail environment.

The blister card pack or package has long served as a display package in the retail environment, permitting the customer to visually inspect the product from one side of the blister card by looking through the transparent plastic compartment or a window therein prior to the purchase decision. Packages of this type have been used to package consumer electronics products, such as memory cards, cameras, video game cartridges and the like that are high in value and small in size. Among other purposes, the transparent plastic allowed the retail customer to better assess the physical appearance and size of the packaged product to aid in the determining correctness of the customer's selection and give the customer absolute confidence that the product being purchased was in fact contained in the package. The person wouldn't need to chance purchasing an empty box that to exchange would require a return visit to the retail store. Packages of this type are typically hung from a horizontal rod on a display rack or are seated on a shelf, all of which should be very familiar particularly to those who shop in an computer and electronics stores and in some toy super stores.

While offering some benefit to the consumer, the retailer favors the blister package principally because the package prevents inventory shrinkage, minimizing product loss due to pilferage.

Blister card packages of the past typically include a large transparent plastic compartment with the product sealed inside. The blister card package is typically much larger in size than needed to hold the product and the relatively flat portion of the packages was rather stiff in characteristic and covered a wide area. Those attributes made it impossible for a miscreant to stuff the package in his or her coat or trouser pocket in an attempt to steal the product. The existing blister package, as example, contains a thin paper board material for the base and a plastic compartment with an extending flange and with graphics and textual material printed on at least the paper board. The extending plastic flange extends almost to the outer periphery of the paper board to provide the rigid panel and large size package that security requires. The rigidity of that flange made it difficult to compress the size of the blister card to one that easily fits in a trouser pocket.

While the foregoing comments were directed to content and structure of the blister packages, one is mindful also of the other common packaging types used for packaging of consumer product and contribute to the large amounts of generally non-decomposable plastic material deposited in the landfills. Those include the clamshell package and the clam-packs.

As those who have purchased and removed product purchased in blister packages, clamshell packages and clam-packs have experienced, in order to extract the product one needs to cut through the plastic with a knife or other sharp object. Those attributes also prevented the person from removing the product from the package with his or her bare hands. What's more, the package represented a small if not insignificant part of the manufacturing cost of the product.

After taking apart the package and removing the product, the package would be deposited in the waste receptacle and thrown away. But times have changed. Most plastics are manufactured using oil, and oil has dramatically escalated in price, increasing the manufacturing costs of plastic toys and plastic packaging. Reducing the plastic content of the blister package while maintaining the security features of that package should lower manufacturing costs (or prevent the costs from rising). More importantly, plastic has been found to be an environmental liability. If not recycled, plastic remains in the landfill essentially intact for approximately 500 years without significant decomposition.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to reduce the plastic content in present day blister packages.

And an additional object of the invention is to replace the present day blister package, clam shell package and clam-packs as a retail package for product with a new blister-type package design.

Greater attention is presently being given to keeping plastic packaging out of the landfill. Discarded plastic packaging has come to occupy a good percentage of the municipal solid waste that does not readily decompose. Consequently, the call has gone out to retailers and from the retailers to the packaging manufacturers to design packaging that is more economically and environmentally sustainable. That involves not only using more materials that are recyclable in characteristic, but also removing excess packaging, source-reducing the packages, designing and implementing more reusable packaging, and to use more resources that are renewable. Such packaging is regarded as more environmentally friendly. Those efforts would also minimize any public clamor for regulatory controls and restrictive legislation.

To be recyclable, the plastic material in the package must easily separate from the paper material. If not separable, the recycler is unable to perform the recycling process for the respective materials and recycling fails. The waste package will then be sent to a landfill, where it remains un-recycled and intact.

A further object of the invention is to provide an environmentally friendly package.

A still further object of the invention is to replace the present day blister package, clam shell package and clam-packs as a retail package for product with a blister-type package of a new design that is more environmentally friendly than the foregoing types.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a blister package containing both cardboard material and one or more plastic blisters in which the plastic blisters may be easily separated from the cardboard material.

An ancillary object is to provide a blister package in which the surface of the package contains an embossment or debossment.

A still additional object is to provide a blister package construction In which the package may be formed in any shape, be printed in multiple colors and use any color scheme.

The surface area of the blister portion or portions of the surface area of the blister card package is relatively small leaving a wide area of paper surface available for printed marketing material, such as text and graphic materials, on the front side and the complete area of the rear side.

Some additional definitions are believed helpful to the lay reader in understanding the description which follows. Heavy weight paper that is of a weight between 8 point and 24 point, is referred to herein as “paperboard” to distinguish that relatively stiff paper material from ordinary sheets of writing paper, which are relatively limp. “Corrugated cardboard” as used herein is the kind of structure seen in large cardboard cartons, cardboard moving boxes, and the like. The structure contains a fluted layer of heavyweight paper that is sandwiched and glued between two flat heavy paper sheets or between a sheet of heavy paper that has been folded over a fluted layer of paper to form a relatively stiff structure. “Chipboard” is a solid heavyweight paperboard material that is stiff in characteristic. In the present invention both corrugated cardboard and chipboard serve as stiffeners in alternative package embodiments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rigid blister card type package for confining and displaying a product contains a transparent plastic compartment or blister outwardly extending from the relatively planar base. The blister confines a product and permits a view of the interior and the product. The surface of the base contains a raised portion in a region exhibiting a puffiness surrounding the compartment while the narrow peripheral region adjacent the edge of the base is flat, giving the package a more sturdy and expensive “feel” to the consumer.

The blister card package contains at least one hollow transparent plastic compartment or blister for confining the product, two relatively thin paperboard layers that cover a wide area relative to the area defined by the blister and a surrounding narrow outwardly extending flange bordering the open side of the blister and a flat relatively thick stiffener that occupies a smaller area than either paperboard layer. The stiffener is sandwiched in between the two paperboard layers. A side of each paperboard layer is coated with a blister coating. The two paperboard layers define a particular geometry and covers a relatively wide area while the relatively thick stiffener covers an area slightly smaller than that of the paperboard layers. Together the paperboard layers and the stiffener serve as a base to the package that supports a compartment that confines and displays the product in which the compartment protrudes outward from that base.

The stiffener contains a passage that through which the blister may protrude. That passage is either is slightly larger than the plastic blister and associated flange or, in another embodiment, is just sufficient in area to permit the blister portion to extend through, but not the associated flange. One of the paperboard layers contains an opening to allow the plastic blister to protrude through, but not the associated flange. The peripheral rim of the paperboard layers are fastened together by a heat seal.

In a preferred embodiment the heat seal does not extend to the portion of the paperboard layer that overlies and/or underlies the flange of the plastic blister. That flange contacts the paperboard and, like the stiffener, is physically captured between the paperboard layers, but remains unattached. Because the paperboard is not attached to the plastic flange, recycling of the package when required is more easily accomplished. In one embodiment, the surround region overlying the flange of the plastic blister of the one paperboard layer is fastened to the flange by a heat seal and the other paperboard layer is also fastened to the flange by a heat seal. Together, the heat seals of the paperboard layers capture and confine the flat stiffener there between without being heat sealed or otherwise directly secured to the stiffener. Suitably, the stiffener is formed of corrugated cardboard or chipboard.

In an alternative embodiment, the flange lies under the stiffener and extends through the opening in that stiffener and the opening in the overlying paperboard layer. The underside of the flange is fastened to the other paperboard layer by a heat seal. As before, the stiffener is formed of corrugated cardboard or chipboard. In a more preferred embodiment the heat seal does not extend to the portion of the paperboard layer that overlies and/or underlies the flange of the plastic blister. That flange contacts the paperboard and, like the stiffener, is physically captured between the paperboard layers, but remains unattached. Because the paperboard is not attached to the plastic flange, recycling of the package when required is more easily accomplished.

The cardboard or chipboard stiffeners in the foregoing embodiments are eliminated in a further embodiment in which the stiff plastic blister component contains a very wide generally flat stiff flange that essentially covers a surface area of the paperboard comparable in area to that occupied by the corrugated cardboard stiffener in the previously described embodiments. That flange includes a number of hollow channels, preferably discrete channels, and those channels extend in predefined paths along the flange surface, the top of the channels being elevated above the generally flat surface of the flange.

With the two paperboard layers secured together along the outer edges sandwiching the flange surface of the rigid plastic blister there between, the effective thickness of the flange is increased in the flange regions containing the channels. The greater thickness produces a puffiness or bulging in that region of the surface of the paperboard. That combination of stiffness and surface bulging gives the rigid blister package the same stiff, strong feel and body of the prior embodiments. With fewer components, stock keeping of components is simplified. Reclamation is also simplified.

In still additional embodiments, rigid blister packages in accordance with still additional aspects to the invention contain multiple rigid blisters, all of which may be located on one side of the package or some of which may be located on one side of the package and one or more of the plurality may be located on the opposite side of the package.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the invention, together with the structure characteristic thereof, which were only briefly summarized in the foregoing passages, will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which follows in this specification, taken together with the illustrations thereof presented in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the blister card invention in a top perspective view;

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the thin paperboard covering for the top and bottom surfaces of the blister card of FIG. 1 in respective outer and inside views;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the transparent plastic dome used in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and which serves as the blister in which an article is held for sale;

FIG. 5 illustrates a stiffener component used in the foregoing embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 Is a section view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is another second view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken alone the line 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram that assists in the explanation of the assembly process of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a pictorial perspective of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial view of an upper side portion of an embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which a small region of the upper side portion contains a debossment;

FIG. 11 is a partial view of an upper side portion of an embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which a small region of the upper side portion contains an embossment;

FIG. 12 is a pictorial view illustrating in a reduced scale a free-standing embodiment of the invention with additional compartments extending out the rear of the package that serve as feet;

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate the components of another embodiment of the invention, specifically one of universal application for packaging memory chips of various sizes;

FIG. 16 shows the assembled package embodiment formed from the components of FIGS. 13-15;

FIG. 17 shows a finished panel blank of the side walls for still another package embodiment of the rigid blister package that contains multiple compartments and FIG. 18 illustrates a stiffener component for the same embodiment;

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate a rigid multi-compartment blister component of the foregoing embodiment in front and side views, respectively, and FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate another rigid compartment blister component for the opposite side of that package embodiment in front and side views, respectively;

FIG. 23 is a front view of the rigid blister multi-compartment blister component of FIG. 19 as installed within the stiffener component of FIG. 18 during assembly of a rigid blister package;

FIG. 24 is a front view of the package embodiment using the components of FIGS. 17-22, including the stiffener component and installed compartments 86A-86C of FIG. 23, and in which the rear wall 74 is folded over and behind the front wall 73;

FIG. 25 illustrates the package of FIG. 24 from the opposite side, showing the second compartment protruding from the rear side of the package; and

FIG. 26 is a partial section view of the package illustrated in FIG. 24.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made to the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating an embodiment of the new blister card or package 1 that is constructed in accordance with the invention. The blister package contains a cover layer 3 that provides an upper or top surface of the base and a base layer 5 that provides a rear or underside surface, not fully visible in the figure, to the blister card. Layers 3 and 5 are formed of an opaque paperboard material. Both layers are relatively flat and smooth in appearance, initially, but following assembly provide a embossed or raised appearance at least on the upper surface, an exception later discussed at length. Text and graphic material, including information about the product in the package, is printed on both the top and underside surfaces of the blister card, but for clarity that printed matter is not fully illustrated in this figure.

A circular dome 7 of transparent plastic protrudes out of a circular opening 9 in the top surface of layer 3. Dome 7 is seated (and in one embodiment may be attached) to the bottom layer 5, viewed through the transparent window formed by the dome, which closes the compartment formed by the dome that confines the packaged product, as example, flash memory chip 11. A hanger slot 13 located at the far right in the figure allows the blister card package 1 to be hung on the hanger rod of a display rack, not illustrated. The paperboard is longer and wider than the plastic compartment leaving ample surface area available for marketing and promotional information and advertising.

Reference is made to FIG. 2 which shows the cover layer 3 and bottom layer 5 formed from the paperboard material in a one-piece unitary assembly with the two layers joined together along a fold line 15. The two layers are essentially mirror images of one another in outer geometry and size. When the layers are folded about fold line 15, the one layer is preferably coextensive with the other. The circular opening 9 in front layer 3 is just slightly larger in diameter than dome 7, illustrated in FIG. 4, so that the dome, but not the associated dome flange 8, fits through the opening. The surfaces of the layers illustrated in this figure are the outer surfaces, that contain the printed graphics and text, generally represented as graphics 16 and text 17, respectively, solely as an example.

Reference is next made to FIG. 3, which illustrates the layers presented in FIG. 2 as viewed from the opposite side. This side of the layer is generally hidden from view in the completed package, so there is no need to include any printed matter on this side, which remains blank. However both of the surfaces on this side of the two layers are coated with a heat sensitive adhesive 19, a transparent sensitive adhesive called “blister coating” in the industry, represented by cross-hatched lines. In California the blister coating is required to be water based, whereas in other states the coating is oil based.

Although the cross-hatching is illustrated in the figure at only two discreet locations, it should be understood that the coating covers the entire surface of the respective layers. This coating is preferably applied to one side of the sheets of paper board material and allowed to dry. Prior to cutting the unitary assembly of layers 3 and 5 from the sheets of the paperboard material. This is a unique adhesive that possesses the quality of joining paper to paper, paperboard to paperboard and paperboard to plastic on application of the requisite heat and pressure, but does not join either paper, paperboard or plastic to corrugated cardboard or chipboard (or vice-versa). The significance of that physical property is later discussed in connection with the description of package assembly.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the circular shaped plastic dome 7 that defines the compartment for housing a product in the blister card package. That dome contains a surrounding flange 8 that is larger in diameter than the diameter of the dome. The width of the flange is determined through trial and error to be of sufficient area so that when physically captured between the two paperboard layers, it is difficult as a practical matter for one to manually grip and pull the dome away from the remainder of the package in those embodiments that rely solely on the strength of the physical capture. In this embodiment, however, the dome is fastened by the flange to the paperboard component of the package, latter herein more fully described. The width of the flange is determined through trial and error to be of sufficient area so that when adhered to the paperboard, the strength of the adhesive bond makes it nearly impossible as a practical matter for one to manually grip and pull the dome away from the remainder of the package.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which illustrates the stiffener component 21 of the blister card package. The stiffener is preferably formed of corrugated cardboard, a known material available from cardboard manufacturers or, alternatively, of chipboard, a solid paperboard material that is relatively rigid and stiff. The corrugated structure of the cardboard gives the component the requisite stiffness. Whichever material is selected, the stiffness of that material is imparted to the layers of paperboard in the assembled package. The stiffener is generally flat in geometry and possesses a large circular opening 23. In one package embodiment the diameter of the opening 23 is as large as the diameter of the flange 8 to plastic dome 7, so that it is possible to pass the dome and flange through opening 23. In alternative embodiments, opening 23 is as large as the diameter of dome 7, but not as large as the diameter of flange 8, so that the flange abuts the stiffener. The strength of the stiffener may then be used to provide additional support to retain the dome in place in the package.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, which is a section view of the blister card package of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 6-6 in FIG. 1. As shown in this view, the stiffener 21 is sandwiched in between layers 3 and 5, but is not directly fastened to those layers. Moreover, layer 3 is in part uplifted, rising from the connection with layer 5 on the opposite sides in the section view to fit over the stiffener layer, while the layer 5 remains essentially flat. Layers 3 and 5 are heat sealed together along the edges, but not to stiffener 21, which is effectively “captured” between the two layers.

Reference is next made to FIG. 7, which shows another section of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 7-7 in FIG. 1. As shown in this figure, the dome 7 and flange 8 fit through the central opening 23 in stiffener 21, and the flange portion is sandwiched between the layers 3 and 5. As shown in this figure the portions of layer 3 and 5 that are in contact are heat sealed together. Likewise the portions of layers 3 and 5 that surround the dome and respectively overlie and underlie flange 8 in this embodiment are heat sealed to the flange, but in the alternative embodiments described, the flange remains detached, but physically captured. Neither layer 3 or 5, however, are heat sealed to stiffener 21.

Referring again to FIG. 1, one appreciates that the shape assumed by layer 3 to fit over stiffener 21 gives a portion of the upper surface a thick appearance, a puffing up, so to speak, of the outer surface between the circular rim shaped portion of layer 3 that overlies and is fastened to the flange 8 of the dome, herein sometimes referred to as the rim portion, and the strip-like peripheral portion that borders the blister card package. That puffed-up portion of surface is referred to herein as a raised portion. That aspect is further addressed in the discussion of additional embodiments later herein.

The fabrication and stocking of the blister card package for one embodiment is next considered in connection with the illustration of FIG. 8 to which reference is made. As represented by block 10 the components of the package are brought together for assembly. The integrally joined layers 3 and 5 of paperboard are supplied by the vendor as stacks of pre-cut pre-blister coated pre-printed pieces containing the printed matter, size and shape specified by the assembler and coated on the underside with the transparent blister coating. Likewise the stiffener 21 is supplied in a stack from the vendor fabricated to the assembler's specification. Those specifications should include a requirement that the stiffener be die-cut to shape and that passages through the stiffener, such as circular passage 23, are also formed as a die-cut passage. As those skilled in the art appreciate, the die-cutting procedure produces cuts that are sharp containing well-defined edges. The plastic domes are likewise prefabricated and supplied to the assembler in large cartons and the product is made available for packaging. As those skilled in the art appreciate, it is not possible to assemble the package without packaging the product. That product packaging is carried out concurrently with the foregoing.

With the foregoing parts available, the assembler places the joined layers 3 and 5 onto a jig or fixture, not illustrated, with the coated surface on the backside of the respective layers facing upward. The assembler then places the stiffener 21 into the proper location on the surface of the lower layer 5, properly oriented (as shown in FIG. 1), and places the product that's held for sale in the center of central passage 23 in the stiffener. The assembler then deposits a dome into the circular passage 23 in the stiffener. The assembler then folds layer 3 about fold line 15 and over layer 5 ensuring that the dome 7 protrudes through circular opening 9 in layer 3 on completion of the folding step.

In the embodiment earlier described in which the flange 8 to the dome 7 is larger in diameter than the circular opening 23 in stiffener 21, the order of assembly is slightly different than the foregoing. The assembler places the joined layers 3 and 5 onto a jig or fixture, not illustrated, with the coated surface on the backside of the respective layers facing upward. The assembler then places the product that's held for sale on top of layer 5 and the plastic blister over the product seating the blister on layer 5. Then the stiffener 21 is placed over blister 7. The assembler then folds layer 3 about fold line 15 and over layer 5 ensuring that the dome 7 protrudes through circular opening 9 in layer 3 on completion of the folding step.

Then, as represented by block 12, a heat press is applied onto the entire surface of layer 3 and presses down on the assembly. The heat press is configured of metal and has the geometry of the surface of the regions in blister package that one intends to seal, such as the peripheral rim bordering the package and the rim about flange 8. The heat press applies the appropriate heat and pressure to the components to produce the heat seal. The heat and pressure activate the blister coating (e.g. adhesive) 19 and the adjacent surfaces. The foregoing procedure is referred to as heat sealing, which is conventional in the packaging art. In that way the peripheral strip of paperboard in layer 3 surrounding the stiffener is pressed down and sealed to the corresponding portion of layer 5.

In those embodiments in which the flange 8 of the plastic dome or blister is to be attached to one or the other or both of the two paperboard layers, the rim portion of layer 3, as example, is pressed down and heat sealed to the flange 8 of the dome while the corresponding rim portion of the underlying layer 5 is concurrently heat sealed to the underside of the flange. In the embodiments in which the designer intends that the flange of the plastic blister to remain detached from the paperboard layers, the heat sealing tool is configured to avoid heating the surface regions of the paperboard that overlie (and/or underlie) the flange. Without the application of heat, the blister coating cannot accomplish a heat seal. Therefore, the paperboard does not seal to the flange. In either embodiment, the upper surface of the blister card package is raised or bulged outward, while the underside of layer 5, not illustrated, remains flat.

Continuing with FIG. 8, as represented by box 14, the components, now joined together in an integral assembly, are removed as a blister card package from the heat sealing fixture and allowed to cool to room temperature, ready for delivery to the customer.

By way of example in a specific embodiment of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the diameter of dome 7 was 5.0 inches and that of flange 8 was 6.0 inches. The width of the flange was 0.5 inches. The paperboard material used for layers 3 and 5 was from 8 point to 24 point paper. Stiffener 21 may be B or E-flute corrugated cardboard. The length of the package from top to bottom was 11 inches and the width at the widest point was 7.25 inches. The plastic blister portion 7 (or portions of the package) is preferably formed of eco-friendly alternatives to PVC (polyvinyl chloride), such as RPET (recyclable polyethylene terephthalate), Natureworks® PLA (polylactic acid) and clarified styrene.

The practical embodiment demonstrated excellent stiffness akin to that provided by a relatively thick plastic sheet, proving the ability of the corrugated cardboard and chipboard to serve the stiffener function. Indeed, in an alternative embodiment of the blister card package, later herein described in connection with FIGS. 13-16, the package employs less paper material and more plastic material in the package construction, a seemingly less environmentally friendly product in which the stiffener is fabricated of a thick plastic. In hindsight that alternative may be regarded as an equivalent stiffener in the functional sense in the blister card package.

In other respects the new blister card package equaled or exceeded the capability of the prior blister card package. Larger size blister packages are possible with the new design. As a consequence, there is a greater amount of printable area on the inner and outer paperboard layers 3 and 5 than in prior blister packages so that a greater amount of information can be printed on the outside of the package than previously. One likely effect is that in many instances it may be possible to eliminate packing a printed sheet or small booklet in the blister compartment with the product. That would produce an obvious cost savings since those additional items would no longer need to be procured and inventoried as part of the packaging process.

The greatest advantage is that the product is recyclable. Thus, when a product package is deposited in the waste the package can be separated into the constituent components and recycled separately at the source. First, the stiffener, which is not sealed or bonded to anything else in the package material, that is, is loose, is simply removed and placed in a cardboard only collection barrel. Likewise, in the embodiments in which the flange 8 of the plastic blister compartment 7 is not bonded or heat sealed to a paperboard layer, the blister compartment can be removed and placed in a plastic bin, and the paperboard layers placed in the cardboard only collection bin.

In the embodiments in which the flange of the plaster blister compartment 7 is bonded or heat sealed to the paperboard, the plastic blister compartment 7 is easily torn away from the paperboard layers 3 and 5, with one exception, and the paperboard is deposited in a paper only collection barrel. Since the flange of the plastic blister 7 was heat sealed to the rim section of paper layers 3 and 5, the plastic blister cannot be recycled unless the paper is removed from the flange or the flange is separated from the dome, or the paper simply remains on the flange of the plastic blister and follows along with that plastic blister during recovery processing. The latter is the simplest and least expensive, but recovers a somewhat contaminated plastic. And the latter approach is the one that's taken by the recycler. The plastic is ground by the recycler and produces plastic pellets some of which contain paper particles, providing a lower quality plastic.

Packages constructed in accordance with the invention are more attractive than the blister card packages of the prior art. As earlier pointed out certain portions of the front surface 3 of the package are slightly raised relative to the edge portions of that surface, embossed so to speak, due to the presence of the relatively thick stiffener 17 underneath the raised portion of surface. That stiffener gives the surface of the blister card a certain “puffy” appearance, a feature which consumers ordinarily associate with softness. The foregoing result makes the package more attractive and, hence, desirable. That quality was not available in the prior blister card packages.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 contains a single plastic compartment that held a single product. As those skilled in the art appreciate, the blister card package of the invention is not limited in size and may be fabricated in any size and shape desired and, importantly, with multiple compartments holding more than one unit of a product or separate components and/or accessories of a single product. Another embodiment 25 of the blister card package constructed in accordance with the invention is pictorially illustrated in FIG. 9 to which reference may be made. Blister card package 25 contains plastic compartments 27 and 29 for housing separate components of a product.

As in the preceding embodiment, the upper paperboard layer 31 contains the raised surface portion 32 that overlies the die-cut corrugated cardboard stiffener, not illustrated in the figure, and contains the peripheral rim portion 34 that extends about the outer perimeter of the blister card and is fastened to the underlying paper layer 33, an edge of which is visible in the figure. This embodiment also contains the rim loops 36 that extend about each of the plastic blister compartments, 27 and 29, and is fastened to the underlying paper layer 33. As one skilled in the packaging art with an understanding the present invention realizes, in still further embodiments separate plastic compartments or compartments may be placed on opposite sides of the blister card package. And where the weight of the confined product is heavy, dual hanger slots 37 and 39 may be provided to permit the package to be rack mounted from two laterally spaced hanger rods of a display rack, not illustrated.

The corrugated card board interior layer in the package construction permits incorporation of additional attractive features, namely embossment and/or debossment of portions of the surface of the new blister card package. This is particularly useful in embossing trademarks and/or other lettering and graphic symbols to the sides of the package. As used herein “embossment” means a portion of a surface that is raised relative to another adjacent surface portion. “Debossment” is a coined word that as used herein means a portion of a surface that is depressed relative to another adjacent surface portion and is the opposite of embossment. Deboss is the verb form of debossment, making a debossment. Combinations of embossment and debossment on different regions of a blister card package surface are entirely possible.

As example, reference is made to FIG. 10, illustrating a portion of the upper side of a blister card constructed in accordance with the prior embodiment. In that embodiment at least one portion of surface contains a debossment, specifically the English letter “L,” 40a. For ease of understanding, the numbers used to identify elements in this view are the same as the numbers used for the corresponding element in the embodiment of FIG. 1, but in which the numbers are primed. The blister card is formed of the front paperboard layer 3′, the rear or bottom paperboard layer 5′, and a flat stiffener 22 that is of greater thickness than the outer paperboard layers. As in the prior embodiment each of the outer layers is of paperboard that is blister coated on the inside surface side facing the stiffener. The stiffener 22 is formed of a flat sheet of corrugated cardboard or equivalent that is thick relative to the thickness of paperboard layers 3′ and 5′, and has been die-cut to shape. The square depression or debossment 40a in the blister card surface forms the letter L, which, as example, may constitute a trademark of the product manufacturer.

The foregoing debossment may be formed when heat sealing the package. During that sealing procedure a heat sealing apparatus or press is applied over the blister package that applies heat and pressure along the outer edges of the package as earlier described that seals the peripheral edges of the paperboard together. Other portions of the heat sealing tool or press also produces the heat seals in the surround about any plastic compartment, which are not illustrated in the portions shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. That press can be modified to contain a projection that is in the shape of the particular debossment desired, such as the Letter L in the example illustrated, positioned at the particular package location desired. The projection is a positive image of that letter. The application of heat and pressure during the sealing operation results in producing an indentation in the surface that permanently deforms the paperboard and partially collapses or compresses the underlying fluting in the corrugated cardboard of the middle layer 22, which is permanently deformed. In that way the letter L is debossed.

Alternatively, the letter L may be embossed in the surface as illustrated in FIG. 11, which is next considered. As illustrated, a portion of the upper side of a blister card constructed in accordance with the prior embodiment in which at least one portion of surface contains an embossment, specifically the English letter “L,” 40b. Again, for ease of understanding, the numbers used to identify elements in this view are the same as the numbers used for the corresponding element in the prior embodiment of FIG. 1, but in which the numbers are primed. The blister card in this embodiment is also formed of the front paperboard layer 3′, the rear or bottom paperboard layer 5′, and a flat stiffener 22 that is of greater thickness than the outer paperboard layers. As in the prior embodiment each of the inside of the outer layers is of paper that is blister coated on the side facing the stiffener. The stiffener 22 is formed of the flat sheet of corrugated cardboard or equivalent that is thick relative to the thickness of paperboard layers 3′ and 5′. The embossment 40b in the blister card surface forms the letter L, which, as example, may constitute a trademark of the product manufacturer.

During the sealing procedure a press is applied over the blister package that applies heat and pressure along the outer edges of the package as earlier described that seals the edges of the paperboard together. That press is modified to include a projection that is in the negative image of the particular embossment desired, such as the Letter L in the example illustrated, positioned at the particular package location desired. The projection is a negative image of that letter, essentially an outline of that letter. The application of heat and pressure during the sealing operation results in producing an indentation in the surface that permanently deforms the paperboard and partially collapses or compresses the underlying fluting in the corrugated cardboard of the middle layer 22, which is permanently deformed. In that way a border about the letter L is debossed, that is, is lowered relative to the surface and to that portion of the surface that constitutes the letter L. That gives the appearance that the letter L is raised in level, essentially embossed.

As one appreciates the foregoing capability for producing embossments and debossment gives the package designer the opportunity to produce creative package designs, a facility not previously possible with the blister cards of the prior art.

Reference is made to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 drawn in a greatly reduced scale. As earlier noted, the plastic blister compartments may be formed on both the front and rear sides of the package, in which those compartments protrude out from the stiff panel or card formed by the stiffened paperboard. Although the compartments are generally intended to hold product or components of product, in this embodiment a number of the compartments are put to an alternative use. There is shown a blister card package containing the card portion 41, a first plastic blister 42 on the front side to hold product, not illustrated, and two additional plastic compartments 43 and 44 protruding from the rear side of card 41.

The foregoing is shown in an upright self-supporting free standing position atop a flat table surface 45, partially illustrated. Each of the rear compartments contains a foot portion that abuts the supporting surface 45, such as a table or the like, at a slightly spaced position from the bottom end of card 41, that also rests on the same surface. Compartments 43 and 44 are positioned on the lower side of card 41 so that the foot end of those compartments touch the flat surface when the blister card package is tilted slightly from the vertical. The designer takes into account the weight and size of the product held on the card, so that the product does not unbalance the package and cause the package to tip over. The foregoing is a benefit to the stiffness of the blister card. Thus instead of having to support the blister card package through the hang slot 46, or resting on the rear side on a shelf, the blister card may be free-standing.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 13 through 16 that illustrate a modification of the embodiment of the type of blister card package presented in FIG. 1 in which the flange to the plastic compartment (or compartments) is extremely wide, contains thermo formed channels, provides the stiffener that stiffens the package and produces the puffiness to the central region of the package. In this embodiment, the need for a stiffener of cardboard or chipboard is eliminated, reducing the number of components for the package. Referring to FIG. 13, the package is formed of a paperboard member 50 and, referring to FIG. 14, a transparent plastic member 51, a thin plastic sheet that is thermoformed into the formed surfaces illustrated, including a unitary one piece compartment and stiffening flange.

Paperboard member 50 in this top view defines both the sides or side surfaces 52 and 54 of the package with the surfaces illustrated that become the outside side top and bottom or front and rear surfaces of the package. Those side surfaces are arranged to fold back over one another about fold line 56, the midsection, to produce essentially two layers that serve as the top and bottom surfaces of the package. Side 52 includes an opening or window 58, preferably die-cut and a hanger slot 60A. That hanger slot aligns with a like hanger slot 60B in side portion 54, when the two portions are folded over fold line 56.

Plastic member 51 is thermoformed or otherwise molded to shape from a thin plastic sheet to form pockets 53, 55, 57, and 59 within a rectangular shaped compartment 62. In this view the plastic member is shown in a top view. Thus the individual pockets are open on the opposite or bottom side. This package is designed to store memory chips of the kind that may be used in electronic cameras, MP3 players and the like. Such chips are relatively small in size and come in a number of different shaped small sizes and the package is designed to be universal for those applications. That is, the package may be used to package any of the four different size memory chips, and the printed material and other information that is applied to the surfaces of the paperboard portions 52 and 54 would be appropriate to the particular memory chip and vendor that ordered the package from the assembler. Thus a memory chip will frictionally fit in at least one of the four pockets in the package. During product and package assembly the particular memory chip is inserted into the open end of the compartment and into the respective pocket that was designed to hold the respective chip.

Plastic member 51 contains a rather large surface or flange-like region that surrounds the area defined by compartment 62. That surface includes a number of lengthy channels that extend about the surface. Those channels include channel 65 that extends in a complete loop about the surface, another channel 67 that extends in a partial loop about the compartment and a couple of short straight channels 69 and 71. Each of those channels is hollow and open on the bottom side of plastic member 51. The top of each channel is elevated from the generally flat surface of member 51. That elevation produces the puffiness effect accomplished by the corrugated cardboard in the earlier described embodiment, as becomes more apparent hereafter.

FIG. 15 illustrates the reverse side of paperboard sheet 50 of FIG. 13, and shows portions 52 and 54 fold line 56, window 58 and hanger slot 60A, earlier described. The shaded area that extends in a ribbon like strip 64 about the periphery of the open sheet 50 and the bridging ribbon like strip 66 that covers and runs the length of the fold line, with two small rectangular uncovered regions is a thermoset adhesive referred to as blister coating. To assemble the package, a memory chip, not illustrated, is inserted into a respective pocket, say pocket 53, from the open bottom side and plastic member 51 is placed on the backside of pre-printed side 52 with the compartment 52 extending into and protruding through window 58.

By design the hanger slot 61 in the plastic member aligns with hanger slot 60A in the surface and the outer surfaces of 52 and 54 are pre-printed with various informational, promotional and advertising material as desired by the chip vendor. The foregoing loading is more easily accomplished with the sheet 50 oriented face down as in FIG. 15. Then the side 54 is folded back over the fold line 56 over the rear side of side 52, effectively clamping the plastic member 51 between the two sides. Placed in a jig the assembly is heated by an RF field to set the adhesive.

As is apparent the size of the plastic member 51 is smaller than the size of the sides 52 and 54. Thus around the peripheral edges the two sides are fastened or fused together to each other, and to a portion of the plastic member 51. As completed the package appears as in FIG. 16 from the front. The raised channels 65, 67, 69 and 71 force the surface of the paperboard material forming side 52 outward, producing a puffiness to the surface. As one appreciates, in those circumstances in which a single piece of plastic can successfully be thermo-formed into a unitary combination of compartment, compartment flange and stiffener and used to store small-size articles eliminates the need to fabricate and inventory a separate component that makes the package less expensive to produce and in the end, is less work to recycle.

A still further embodiment of the invention is constructed using aspects of the components of the foregoing embodiments. Reference is made to FIGS. 17 through 26, illustrating the embodiment and the components thereof in a greatly reduced size and not to scale. As example, the dimensions of the package illustrated is fifteen inches by ten inches in length and height. and is intended to hold a case for an iPod™ device and three brushed-metal faceplates. FIG. 17 illustrates a paperboard blank 72 that forms the front 73 and rear 74 sides of the package. Those sides are joined along a fold line 75. In the final stage of packaging and assembly of the articles, the rear side 74 will be folded clockwise about the fold line so that the inside surface thereof is in confronting relationship with the inside surface of front surface 73. That relationship becomes more clear later in the description.

The opposite side of the blank 72 contains a narrow web of the blister coating, the thermally set adhesive, that extends about the periphery of the inside surface of the blank and another web of adhesive that extends over and along the length of fold line 25 on that reverse side of the blank. On final assembly of the package the two sides of the panel are fastened together using those adhesive webs. Front side 73 of the package contains a large window or opening 77 and a large slot 79 that serves as a handle for the package (e.g. a handle slot), while rear side 74 contains a small size opening 76 and also contains a handle slot 78.

FIG. 18 illustrates the stiffener 80, which is formed by die-cutting a sheet of corrugated cardboard or chipboard, either of which are greater in thickness and stiffness than the paperboard material of sides 73 and 74. The stiffener includes a large window or passage that is essentially identical with the geometry and size of window 77. The stiffener includes an extra wide handle slot 83.

Both the foregoing paperboard and cardboard components are opaque in optical characteristic. To confine and hold articles, the package contains two compartments thermoformed to shape from a sheet of transparent plastic material. The larger compartment 85 is illustrated in front and side views in FIGS. 19 and 20, respectively. The compartment is divided into three sections 86A, 86B and 86C, as illustrated, to hold different size articles, and those sections are surrounded by a peripherally extending outwardly extending rim or flange 87. The sections are hollow and are of predetermined volume in size, are strong and stiff. All are open on the reverse or bottom side, not illustrated in FIG. 19 but which is self-evident in appearance, so that articles may be introduced into the compartments before the package is fully assembled as later herein described. This multi-section compartment is sized to protrude through windows 81 and 77 in respective stiffener 80 and front side 73.

A compartment of smaller size that fits into window 76 is illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 in respective front and side views. Compartment 88 is also thermoformed from a thick transparent plastic sheet into a pre-determined three dimensional figure defining a hollow cavity or compartment that is relatively strong and stiff, and is open on one side, the rear side, so that an article may be introduced into the compartment during final assembly of the package. The open side of the compartment is surrounded by a peripherally extending outwardly extending rim or flange 90. Compartment 89 is sized to protrude through window 76 from the inside surface of the rear side panel 74 with the flange 90 abutting the peripheral inside surface of that window to inhibit the window from falling through window 76.

A first step in assembling the package may be to install the rigid blister compartment 85 in stiffener 80, such as is illustrated in FIG. 23 to which reference is made. The cut-out window 81 in the relatively thick stiffener is sized to fit or conform to the outer periphery of the smaller compartments 86A-86C in blister compartment 85, but is not large enough to permit the flange 87, outlined by the dash lines, to protrude through. Instead the flange abuts the inside surface of the stiffener 80, which prevents the compartment 85 from passing entirely through the stiffener. Preferably that installation is accomplished with the front side of the stiffener facing down in an appropriate jig or fixture, not illustrated.

The foregoing subassembly is then installed on the rear side of the front panel 73 in panel blank 72 so that the compartments 86A-86C protrude through window 77 in the front panel and the hanger slot 83 of stiffener 83 overlies the hanger slot 79 in the front panel. As so installed stiffener 80, located beneath the front panel 73 is outlined by dash lines in the figure. At this stage the products that are to be packaged for retail sale as a unit is installed in the respective compartments. In the example given, each of the compartments 86A-86C will hold a iPod™ device faceplate in one of three individual colors. That step may be followed up by installing blister compartment 88 into window 76 in the rear wall panel 74 through the back side of the panel and loading that blister with the iPod™ device case that is sold as a combination with the faceplates.

As one appreciates window 76 is sized to conform to the periphery of the walls of the compartment 89 and allow that compartment to protrude through the paperboard material of the wall panel, but not allow the peripheral flange 90 of that blister 88 to protrude through. Instead that flange abuts the inside surface of the rear wall, and prevents the blister compartment from falling out of the package. The compartment is then filled with a product, such as the intended case.

Holding the product in the compartment, the rear wall panel 74 is then folded back about the fold line and onto the rear side of the stiffener and front wall panel 73 and pressed together with an appropriate jig or fixture, not illustrated. The assembly is then exposed to an RF field that causes the confronting adhesive webs on the paperboard to heat and seal to one another about the periphery and across the rear of the fold line of the package. As so secured, the package in partial section would appear as in FIG. 26, producing a slight puffiness in the side walls of the package in the region where the stiffener, which is slightly smaller in area than the corresponding wall panels, is positioned while the adhesively joined wall portions are in abutment.

It is believed that the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is sufficient in detail to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention without undue experimentation. However, it is expressly understood that the detail of the elements comprising the embodiment presented for the foregoing purpose is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, in as much as equivalents to those elements and other modifications thereof, all of which come within the scope of the invention, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification. Thus, the invention is to be broadly construed within the full scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article comprising:

a base; and

a compartment for confining an article supported on said base, said compartment protruding from a first side of said base, said compartment having at least a transparent wall to permit a view into the interior to observe any article confined in said compartment;

said first side of said base including a flat surface portion and a raised surface portion, said flat surface portion located contiguous to and extending along the peripheral edge of said base and said raised surface portion surrounding said compartment and extending to said flat surface portion.

2. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 1, wherein said base comprises a first layer of paperboard on the top side of said base and a second layer of paperboard on the bottom side of said base, said first layer including an opening for permitting said compartment to protrude there through; and

wherein said compartment includes an open end and a flange portion, said flange portion extending outwardly of and about said open end, said open end being positioned facing an upper side of said second layer of paperboard to close said compartment, and said flange portion positioned surrounding said opening in and being in abutment with the underside of said first layer of paperboard.

3. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 2, wherein said compartment comprises a transparent plastic material, and further comprising a debossment located in said raised surface portion of said first side of said base.

4. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 3, wherein said flange portion of said compartment comprises a wide flange, said wide flange including raised channels of a predetermined height and length about the surface of said wide flange, said raised channels being positioned in abutment with and raising said underside surface of an adjacent portion of said first paperboard layer to produce said raised surface portion in said top surface of said base, said raised channels being of a height that is greater than the thickness of said first paperboard layer.

5. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 2, further comprising a sheet of corrugated cardboard, said sheet including an opening of a size and geometry to receive said flange portion and said open end of said compartment, said sheet being positioned between said first and second layers of paperboard material and being of a thickness that is greater than the thickness of said first layer of paperboard material and of a thickness and geometry to produce and define said raised surface portion of said base.

6. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 2, further comprising a sheet of chipboard, said sheet including an opening of a size and geometry to receive said flange portion and said open end of said compartment, said sheet being positioned between said first and second layers of paperboard material and being of a thickness and geometry to produce and define said raised surface portion of said base.

7. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 5, further comprising an adhesive on said upper side of said second paperboard layer, said adhesive for attaching paperboard to paperboard and paperboard to plastic, but not for attaching paperboard to cardboard; and an adhesive on said underside of said first paperboard layer, said adhesive for attaching paperboard to paperboard and paperboard to plastic, but not for attaching paperboard to cardboard.

8. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 2, wherein said compartment comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid and clarified styrene.

9. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 1, wherein said base includes a hanger slot located at one end for mounting the package to a rack hanger rod hanger rod.

10. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 4, further comprising an adhesive on said upper side of said second paperboard layer, said adhesive for attaching paperboard to paperboard and paperboard to plastic, but not for attaching paperboard to cardboard or to chipboard; and an adhesive on said underside of said first paperboard layer, said adhesive for attaching paperboard to paperboard and paperboard to plastic, but not for attaching paperboard to cardboard or to chipboard.

11. A rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article comprising:

a base; and

a plurality of compartments supported by said base for confining components of articles, some of said compartments protruding from a first side of said base and some of said compartments protruding from a second opposite side of said base, said compartments being transparent to provide a view into the respective compartment interiors to observe any articles or components of an article confined therein;

said first side of said base including a flat surface portion and a bulging surface portion, said flat surface portion located contiguous and extending along the peripheral edge of said base and said bulging portion surrounding said compartments and extending to said flat surface portion.

12. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 11, wherein said base comprises a first layer of paperboard on the top side of said base and a second layer of paperboard on the bottom side of said base, said first layer including openings to permit some of said compartments to protrude there through and said second layer including openings to permit the remainder of said compartments to protrude there through; and

wherein each of said plurality of compartments includes an open end and a rim portion, said rim portion extending outwardly of and about said open end, said open end of some of said plurality of compartments being positioned facing an upper side of said second layer of paperboard to close said compartments and said rim portions associated therewith being positioned surrounding said respective openings in and being in abutment with the underside of said first layer of paperboard; and said open end of the remainder of said plurality of compartments being positioned facing an under side of said first layer of paperboard to close said respective compartments and said rim portions associated therewith positioned surrounding said respective openings in and being in abutment with the upper side of said first layer of paperboard.

13. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 12, wherein said base includes at least one hanger slot located at one end of said base for mounting the package to a rack hanger rod.

14. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 13, further comprising: a sheet of corrugated cardboard, said sheet including a plurality of openings, each said opening being of a size and geometry to receive said flange portion and said open end of a respective one of said plurality of compartments, said sheet being positioned between said first and second layers of paperboard material and being of a thickness and geometry to produce and define said bulging surface portion of said base.

15. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 13, further comprising: a sheet of chipboard, said sheet including a plurality of openings, each said opening being of a size and geometry to receive said rim portion and open end of a respective one of said plurality of compartments, said sheet being positioned between said first and second layers of paperboard material and being of a thickness and geometry to produce and define said bulging surface portion of said base.

16. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 15, wherein said compartment comprises a transparent plastic material.

17. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 14, wherein said compartment comprises a transparent plastic material.

18. The rigid blister package for protecting and displaying an article as defined in claim 14, further comprising an adhesive on said upper side of said second paperboard layer, said adhesive for attaching paperboard to paperboard and paperboard to plastic, but not for attaching paperboard to cardboard or chipboard; and an adhesive on said underside of said first paperboard layer, said adhesive for attaching paperboard to paperboard and paperboard to plastic, but not for attaching paperboard to cardboard or chipboard.

19. A blister package for confining and displaying product, comprising:

a base, said base including at least two layers of paperboard material defining first and second surfaces;

a compartment for holding an article, said compartment comprising a thin plastic material defining a hollow bubble-like shape of predetermined volume in which to receive said article, said compartment being anchored in and protruding out of said base, said plastic material of said compartment being transparent and providing a view from the exterior to the interior of said compartment;

at least one of said first and second surfaces of said base including a raised portion and a flat portion, said raised portion being recessed behind the peripheral edge of said base and said flat portion occupying at least the surface region between said peripheral edge and said raised portion and a narrow region bordering said compartment.

20. The blister package for confining and displaying product, as defined in claim 19,

wherein said compartment includes an open base end and in which said open base end is bordered by an outwardly extending flange:

wherein said base comprises top and bottom layers of heavy paper respectively defining said top and bottom surfaces of said base;

said top layer of heavy paper includes an opening there through of size sufficient to fit said compartment therethrough but insufficient in size to fit said outwardly extending rim therethrough;

wherein base includes a planar sheet of chipboard or corrugated cardboard, said sheet being of a predetermined thickness and stiffness that is greater than the thickness and stiffness of said paperboard material and said planar sheet containing an opening there through sufficient in size to seat said rim of said compartment and said open end;

said opening in said planar sheet being aligned with and overlying said opening in said top layer of heavy paper;

said compartment being positioned with said open end abutting said bottom layer of heavy paper and with said upper portion projecting through said opening in said planar sheet of chipboard or corrugated cardboard and through said opening in said top layer of heavy paper and said flange to said compartment abutting said top layer of heavy paper;

21. The blister package for confining and displaying product as defined in claim 20, further comprising: an adhesive coating on the bottom side of said top layer of heavy paperboard and the top side of said bottom layer of heavy paperboard, said adhesive for adhering paperboard to plastic and paperboard to paperboard, but not for adhering paperboard to cardboard or chip board, wherein said layers of heavy paperboard are attached along said flat portion of said base and are each attached to a opposite abutting sides of said flange, capturing said planar sheet there between to produce a bulge in at least said upper surface of said base, but leaving said planar sheet unattached.

22. The bubble package for confining and displaying product as defined in claim 21, further comprising a hanger slot, said hanger slot located at an upper end of said package to enable said package to be mounted to a rack rod.

23. The blister package for confining and displaying product as defined in claim 19, further comprising printed and graphic matter located on each of said top and bottom surface of said base.

24. The blister package as defined in claim 19 wherein said raised portion of a surface includes an embossment.

25. The blister package as defined in claim 20 wherein said raised portion of a surface includes any of a embossment or debossment.