BLISTER PACKAGE

Abstract

A standable package for holding a blister pack. The package is formed of a unitary sheet of folded paperboard material and comprises, when assembled, a front portion having an opening for the blister pack, a back portion connected to the front portion for enclosing the blister pack between the front portion and the back portion, a base connected to the front portion, and a support member connected to base and the back portion. The blister pack is inserted between the front portion and the back portion of the package when the sheet is folded along horizontal fold lines separating the front portion from the base, the base from the support member, and the support member from the back portion. The base, the support member and the front portion form a support base for the package that enables it to stand in an upright position. The support base is open at its sides to enable opening of the package from the open sides of the support base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application 60/938,112, filed May 15, 2007.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a blister package for displaying products, particularly products for sale to consumers at retail outlets. More particularly, this invention relates to a standable package, made from a single sheet of folded paperboard material, for holding a blister pack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Companies often distribute and display products for sale to consumers in various forms of blister packages. Standing blister packages typically are made primarily or entirely of plastic, which can be expensive and a load on the environment if made of non-biodegradable material. It would be desirable to replace most of the plastic in such a standing blister package with less expensive and biodegradable paperboard material. Moreover, some plastic blister packages are difficult to open, particularly without using a knife or scissors.

Thus, there is a continuing need for a more environmentally-friendly, primarily paper-containing, standing blister package that can be easily opened yet is still theft-resistant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a package for holding a blister pack, said package formed of a unitary sheet of folded paperboard material and comprising, when assembled,

• • a front portion having an opening therein for the blister pack,
  • a back portion connected to the front portion at least along a portion of its sides for securely enclosing the blister pack between the front portion and the back portion,
  • a base connected to the front portion, and
  • a support member connected to base and the back portion,
    wherein the blister pack is inserted between the front portion and the back portion of the package when the sheet is folded along horizontal fold lines separating the front portion from the base, the base from the support member, and the support member from the back portion, and wherein the base, the support member and a portion of the front portion below the opening for the blister pack form a support base for the package that enables it to stand in an upright position, said support base being open at its sides to enable opening of the package from the open sides of the support base.

The invention also relates to a standing blister package comprising the above package and a blister pack contained therein.

The standable package may be made from a single sheet of paperboard material that is sturdy but flexible enough to support the contents of the blister pack and to prevent the contents from getting crushed when the package is handled.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of an assembled standing blister package according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a single paper sheet cut so as to construct the package according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the package of FIG. 1 not assembled with the blister pack.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the package of FIG. 1 not assembled with the blister pack.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another standable package according to the invention, not assembled with the blister pack.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the package of FIG. 6 in a standing position.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a single paper sheet cut so as to construct another standable package according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a standing blister package 10 for distributing and displaying a product in accordance with the invention comprises a standable package for holding a blister pack. The standable package is formed of a unitary or single sheet of paperboard material, such as sheet 12, which should be sufficiently thick so as to securely hold and protect a blister pack, such as blister pack 14, of the product. The package 10 has a front portion 16, with an opening therein for the blister pack, such as opening 18 shown in FIG. 2. The package 10 also has a base 20 connected to the front portion for supporting the standing blister package, and a support member 26 connected at one end to the back portion 28 (shown in FIG. 2) of the package and at the other end to a foot portion 22 that is connected to base 20. Support member 26 and base 20 should be sufficiently large and rigid to support the blister package and the contents of the blister in an upright position. Base 20 may be connected directly to support member 26. However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, base 20 is connected to support member 26 via foot portion 22, which is typically secured to base 20 with an adhesive, such as H. B. Fuller S-3879-U-001 glue, to further reinforce the base and support member. As shown in FIG. 2, back portion 28 has a perforated tear line E located below the level of the blister pack when the package is in a standing position. The portion of back portion 28 below line E is designated portion 30. Sheet 12 also has cut out sections 34 and 36 in the front and back portions for hanging the blister package on a display panel in a store or other retail outlet.

As shown in FIG. 2, paperboard sheet 12 is cut out in the shape illustrated and includes horizontal fold lines or creases, such as perforation lines A-D, to permit ease of folding of the sheet into the desired package. To more conveniently indicate the manner in which package 10 is assembled from sheet 12, sections of sheet 12 are marked in the drawings with numbers 16, 20, 22, 26, 28 and 30. These sections are contiguous with respective perforation lines A, B, C and D formed between adjacent sections.

Viewing FIG. 2, sheet 12 is folded as follows. Front portion 16 is folded upward along line A, and base 20 is folded upward along line B and under foot portion 22. Adhesive 24 is placed on foot portion 22 to secure the foot portion to a portion of base 20. Support member 26 is folded upward and forward along line C and then along line D to bring back portion 28 into proximity with front portion 16, forming a pocket for the blister pack. Sufficient space is left between the front portion 16 and back portion 28 to form the pocket into which the blister pack is inserted. The blister pack is inserted between the front portion and the back portion of the package when the sheet is folded along fold lines A-D separating the front portion from the base, the base from the support member, and the support member from the back portion. The back portion is then connected to the front portion at least along a portion of its sides for securely enclosing the blister pack between the front portion and the back portion. In one embodiment, the front portion is connected to the back portion by glue or a heat sealed coating applied near the longitudinal sides of the front portion and/or back portion of the paperboard sheet. The heat sealing of the front portion to the back portion can be accomplished by various methods known in the art.

The blister pack may be inserted into the top of the pocket formed between the front portion and the back portion of the package with the back of the blister pack facing the back portion of the package. If desired, additional openings or holes may be positioned on the front and/or back portion of the package in a pattern that corresponds to the arrangement of blisters on the particular blister pack to be inserted in the pocket such that, when the blister pack is fully inserted in the pocket, a respective individual blister projects outwardly from each opening or hole. In this manner, the blister pack can be firmly and protectively retained in the pocket. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various patterns, sizing, and number of openings can be used for particular blister packs. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrated patterns, sizes, or openings shown; the actual pattern, size, and number of openings will vary to accommodate the particular layout of the blisters on a blister pack to be held by the inventive package.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the package of FIG. 1 not assembled with the blister pack. As shown in FIG. 4, the base 20, the support member 26 and a portion of the front portion 16 below the opening for the blister pack form a support base for the package that is open at its sides, such as at opening 32, to enable opening of the package from the open sides of the support base. Opening 32 has a triangular cross-section, but the opening may have a square, rectangular, or other cross section.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the package of FIG. 1, showing perforated tear line E in the back portion 28 of the package below the level of the blister pack when the package is in a standing position and above the fold line D between the back portion 28 and the support member 26. A person attempting to gain access to the contents of the blister pack by tearing the back portion 28 from the front portion 16 of the package through the opening 32 will instead tear the back portion along tear line E, thus preventing easy access to the contents of the blister pack.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another standable package according to the invention, not assembled with the blister pack. In this embodiment, package 40 is formed of a unitary sheet of folded paperboard material. Package 40 has a front portion 42, with an opening (not shown) therein for the blister pack, and a lower portion beneath the area of the blister pack, which is designated as portion 44 in FIG. 6. Package 40 also has a base connected to the front portion, said base comprising portions 46 and 48 for supporting the standing blister package, and a support member 50 connected at one end to the base (portion 48 thereof) and at the other end to the back portion 52 of the package. Support member 50 and base portions 46 and 48 should be sufficiently large and rigid to support the blister package and the contents of the blister in an upright position.

The paperboard sheet from which package 40 is formed has horizontal fold lines or creases, such as perforated fold lines F-J, to permit ease of folding of the sheet into the desired package. The portions of the sheet are contiguous with respective perforation lines F-J formed between adjacent sections. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the base comprising portions 46 and 48 has a fold line H separating portions 46 and 48 such that when the base is pulled downward along this fold line, the package collapses into a substantially flattened position for ease of shipment. When force is exerted upward along the fold line H, the package is standable in an upright position, as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, the weight of the blister pack and its contents will tend to expand the opening 54 shown in FIG. 6 to a more open position such as shown in FIG. 7, increasing stability of the standing package.

Information about the product in the blister pack and/or the manufacturer is typically printed on the package and may also be inserted in the blister behind the product.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a single paper sheet cut so as to construct another package according to the invention. The package is similar to the package shown in FIGS. 6-7 with the addition of a flap or panel that folds down and is inserted between the front and back portions of the package to provide a surface for printing a design, colors and/or information behind the product in the blister pack. In FIG. 8, paperboard sheet 62 is cut out in the shape illustrated and includes horizontal fold lines or creases, such as perforation lines K, L, M, N and P, to permit ease of folding of the sheet into the desired package. Sections of the sheet marked with numbers 66, 70, 72, 76, 78 and 82 are contiguous, with respective perforation lines K, L, M, N and P formed between adjacent sections.

The package formed from sheet 62 has a front portion 66, with an opening 68 for the blister pack. The package also has a base comprising portions 70 and 72 for supporting the standing blister package, and a support member 76 connected at one end to the base (portion 72 thereof) and at the other end to the back portion 78 of the sheet. Support member 76 and base portions 70 and 72 should be sufficiently large and rigid to support the blister package and the contents of the blister in an upright position. Sheet 62 also has flap 82 that folds down and is inserted between the front and back portions of the package to provide a surface for printing a design, colors and/or information behind the product in the blister pack.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, sheet 62 also has cut out sections 84 and 86 in the front and back portions for hanging the blister package on a display panel in a store or retail outlet. Cut out section 88 in flap 82 is provided so as not to obstruct passage through the cut out sections 84 and 86. Sheet 62 also has a perforated tear line O in the back portion 78 below the level of the blister pack when the package is in a standing position and above the fold line N between the back portion 78 and the support member 76. The portion of back portion 78 below line O is designated portion 80. A person attempting to gain access to the contents of the blister pack by tearing the back portion 78 from the front portion 66 of the package through the opening between the front portion, base and support member will instead tear the back portion along tear line O, thus preventing easy access to the contents of the blister pack. Support member 76 also has a thumb notch 90 therein to assist the user in opening the blister package.

Viewing FIG. 8, sheet 62 is folded as follows. Flap 82 is folded downward along line P so that it is flush against back portion 78. Front portion 66 and portion 70 of the base (which comprises portions 70 and 72), is folded upward along line L to bring flap 82 and back portion 78 into proximity with front portion 66, forming a pocket for the blister pack Sufficient space is left between the front portion 66 and back portion 78 to form the pocket into which the blister pack is inserted. The blister pack is inserted between the front portion and the back portion of the package when the sheet is folded along line L. The back portion is then connected to the front portion at least along a portion of its sides for securely enclosing the blister pack between the front portion and the back portion. In one embodiment, the front portion is connected to the back portion by glue or a heat sealed coating applied near the longitudinal sides of the front portion and/or back portion of the paperboard sheet. The heat sealing of the front portion to the back portion can be accomplished by various methods known in the art.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the base has a fold line L separating base portions 70 and 72 such that when the base is pulled downward along this fold line, the package collapses into a substantially flattened position for ease of shipment. When force is exerted upward along line L, the package is standable in an upright position. Moreover, the weight of the blister pack and its contents will tend to expand the opening formed between the lower portion of the front portion, the base and the support member to a more open position (similar to opening 54 shown in FIG. 7), increasing stability of the standing package.

While a multifunction package has been described which is formed from a single sheet or blank of paper, the invention is not intended to be limited to this construction and alternatively may be formed from multiple sheets of paper or from other suitable materials to form the desired combination package that can advantageously be used for the distribution and display of blister-packaged articles.

Various embodiments of this invention have been described. However, this disclosure should not be deemed to be a limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, various modification, adaptations, and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A standable package for holding a blister pack, said package formed of a unitary sheet of folded paperboard material and comprising, when assembled,

a front portion having an opening therein for the blister pack,

a back portion connected to the front portion at least along a portion of its sides for securely enclosing the blister pack between the front portion and the back portion,

a base connected to the front portion, and

a support member connected to base and the back portion,

wherein the blister pack is inserted between the front portion and the back portion of the package when the sheet is folded along horizontal fold lines separating the front portion from the base, the base from the support member, and the support member from the back portion,

and wherein the base, the support member and a portion of the front portion below the opening for the blister pack form a support base for the package that enables it to stand in an upright position, said support base being open at its sides to enable opening of the package from the open sides of the support base.

2. The package of claim 1 further comprising a foot portion connected to the base and the support member, said foot portion being glued to the base.

3. The package of claim 1 that is at least partially open at its top when assembled in a standing position.

4. The package of claim 1 wherein the front portion is connected to the back portion by a heat sealed coating.

5. The package of claim 1 further comprising a tear line in the back portion below the level of the blister pack when the package is in a standing position and above the fold line between the back portion and the support member.

6. The package of claim 1 wherein the base has a horizontal fold line such that when the base is pulled downward along the fold line, the package collapses into a substantially flattened position, and when force is exerted upward along the fold line, the package is standable in an upright position.

7. A standing blister package comprising:

a) a standable package for holding a blister pack, said package formed of a unitary sheet of folded paperboard material and comprising, when assembled, a front portion having an opening therein for the blister pack, a back portion connected to the front portion at least along a portion of its sides for securely enclosing the blister pack between the front portion and the back portion, a base connected to the front portion, and a support member connected to base and the back portion,

wherein the blister pack is inserted between the front portion and the back portion of the package when the sheet is folded along horizontal fold lines separating the front portion from the base, the base from the support member, and the support member from the back portion, and wherein the base, the support member and a portion of the front portion below the opening for the blister pack form a support base for the package that enables it to stand in an upright position, said support base being open at its sides to enable opening of the package from the open sides of the support base, and

b) a blister pack inserted in the opening of the front portion between the front portion and the back portion.

8. The standing blister package of claim 7 further comprising a foot portion connected to the base and the support member, said foot portion being glued to the base.

9. The standing blister package of claim 7 that is at least partially open at its top when assembled in a standing position.

10. The standing blister package of claim 7 wherein the front portion is connected to the back portion by a heat sealed coating.

11. The standing blister package of claim 7 further comprising a tear line in the back portion below the level of the blister pack when the package is in a standing position and above the fold line between the back portion and the support member.

12. The standing blister package of claim 7 wherein in the standable package a) the base has a horizontal fold line such that when the base is pulled downward along the fold line, the package collapses into a substantially flattened position, and when force is exerted upward along the fold line, the package is standable in an upright position.