Abstract:
A package is disclosed which includes first panel ( 210 ) having a blister ( 150 ) attached thereto. A second panel ( 220 ) is hingedly attached to the first panel ( 210 ). The second panel ( 220 ) includes a cutout area ( 221 ) through which the blister body protrudes. A retention feature ( 155 ) on the blister body engages an edge of the cutout ( 221 ) to hold the second panel ( 220 ) in a position relative to the first panel ( 210 ).

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a National Phase entry into the United States of PCT Application PCT/US13/20097 filed on Jan. 3, 2013 which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/583,657 filed on Jan. 6, 2012, both of which is prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their respective entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure is directed to blister card packages and, more particularly, to blister packages with a crevice or groove feature in the blister which engages an edge of a card panel to hold the package shape in a desired configuration. 
     Manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods, such as pharmaceuticals, software, electronics, health and beauty products and the like, typically package their products in tamper resistant security packages. For example, many consumer goods are packaged in blister or clamshell packages formed by positioning a consumer good in a flanged blister made from various polymeric and/or paperboard materials and sealing the flanged blister between two paperboard substrates. Consumers have voiced disapproval of such packages because of the difficulty of opening the same and the potential for being cut on a rough edge especially of plastic blisters. Packages may therefore be made based largely on paperboard, for example, NATRALOCK packages. Packaging made primarily of paperboard is more sustainable than packaging made from petroleum-based plastics. The paperboard used in such packages may be tear-resistant as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,635. 
     Some packages may comprise a paperboard card and a polymeric blister. Often the paperboard card may be a planar or flat construction. Such a construction may not stand up readily, or may lack visual interest. It would be advantageous to have a package that provides a feature to help the package stand upright, or form a more interesting, non-planar structure. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect a package is disclosed which includes a blister attached to a card. The card may have at least a first and second panel. The blister may be more firmly attached to the first panel and less firmly attached to the second panel. An edge or an opening in the second panel may removably and reversibly engage a feature of the blister to hold the second panel in a particular configuration or orientation relative to the first panel. The engagement between the blister and second card may be non-destructive to both blister and second card. 
     In certain aspects, the engagement between the blister and the second panel may hold the package in a configuration where the second panel is in a different plane than the first panel. 
     In certain aspects, the engagement between the blister and the second panel may hold the package in a configuration that allows the package to stand upright on an edge of both the first and the second panel. 
     Other aspects of the disclosed package will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of blanks to form a blister package; 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the blanks aligned to assemble the package; 
         FIG. 3  is a front plan view of the assembled package in a flat configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the assembled package in a folded configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is another front perspective view of the assembled package; 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the assembled package; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are top and bottom perspective view of the assembled package; and 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  are front plan views of various paperboard blanks for making the package. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As various embodiments of the package are described, reference will be made to  FIGS. 1-9 . Certain parts of the packages are denoted by reference numerals. Where there is more than one of the same feature, generally only one will be denoted by a reference numeral. Typically in these Figures, where a front plan view is shown for a blank of material, solid lines usually indicate periphery or cuts, and dashed lines usually indicate crease, score, or fold lines. In perspective views, solid lines typically show edges or folds, while dashed lines typically show hidden or partially obscured features. Where assembly steps are described, these steps are exemplary and are not to be limiting as to the sequence of operations used to arrive at the final package. Also, directions such as up, down, top, bottom, front, back, etc. are used for convenience in describing the package and are not meant to be limiting. The packages described here may be made from one blank (that is, the cut sheet parts from which the package components are made by folding and other steps) or from more than one blank. The word “card” or “panel” will often be used to describe a piece of sheet material such as paperboard, particularly with respect to a blank from which the package is made. Since panels are sometimes superimposed, for example, creating a two-layer or multi-layer structure, like features or panels will sometime coincide, in which cases, descriptions may call out the number identifying the feature closer to the viewer, that is, the feature visible in a particular Figure. 
       FIG. 1  shows a front plan view of a first blank  100  which and second blank  200  for forming a package. The first blank  100  as illustrated in the example here will become the “interior” of the package, while the second blank  200  will become the “exterior” of the package. First blank  100  may include left panel  120  and right panel  110 , with optional spine panel  130  therebetween. Relief cuts  125  and  115  may be provided along hinge lines between the left panel and spine, and the spine and right panel, respectively. The relief cuts are optional and may allow easier assembly of the package. Connecting portions  126  and  116  may be provided between the relief cuts. 
     A first or ‘partial’ cutout  121  may be provided in the right panel  120  and a second or ‘full’ cutout  111  may be included in the left panel  110 , These cutouts may receive a blister  150  as described below. 
     Second blank  200  may include left panel  220  and right panel  210 , with optional spine panel  230  therebetween. Fold or crease lines  226 ,  216  may be provided along hinge lines between the left panel and spine, and the spine and right panel, respectively. A ‘partial’ cutout  221  may be provided in the left panel  220 . This cutout may receive a blister  150  as described below. 
     One or more notches  128 ,  228  may be provided in one or both panels (here in left panel  120 ). Such notches may be used to facilitate handling of the package, or for aesthetic reasons. 
     As a step in the assembly of the package,  FIG. 2  shows first blank  100  situated in front of second blank  200 , with a blister  150  placed between the blanks and aligned with ‘full’ cutout  111 . Blister  150  may have a peripheral flange  152  extending at least partly around the blister. The flange  152  may therefore be sandwiched between right panels  110 ,  210 , while the blister body  154  protrudes through cutout  111 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the assembled package with the first blank  100  overlaid on the second blank  200  to form a two-ply structure with the blister flange  152  sandwiched between the right panels  110 ,  210  and the blister body  154  protruding through the full cutout  111 . On the left panels  120 ,  220  the partial cutouts  121 ,  221  may be aligned to form an opening through the left panels. The blanks may be formed with a heat seal layer on their facing sides. The blanks may be heat sealed or otherwise attached to one another. One or both blanks may be made of a tear-resistant material. 
     Blister body  154  may have a retention feature  155  to engage an edge of the partial cutouts  121 ,  221 . Retention feature  155  may take the form of a groove, depression, slot, cutout, slit, ridge, bump, protrusion, or other feature or shape suitable for engaging the partial cutout  121 ,  221 . 
       FIG. 4  shows the package after the left panels  120 ,  220  have been folded over toward the right panels  110 ,  220 . A portion of the blister body  154  protrudes through partial cutout  221 , and an edge of cutout  221  engages the retention feature  155  to hold the panels relative to one another. In the example as shown, the retention feature  155  is situated to engage a ‘far’ edge of the cutout  221  relative to the spine  230 . However, a retention feature may also be provided to engage the cutout along a ‘near’ edge relative to the spine, or along a ‘top’ or ‘bottom’ edge or other edge of the cutout  221 . 
       FIG. 5  shows another view of the package. 
       FIG. 6  shows a side perspective view of the package from the ‘open’ side. The ‘inside’ of the package is visible including left panel  120 , right panel  110 , and spine panel  130 . The blister flange  152  is sandwiched between panels  110 ,  210  while blister body  154  extends through full cutout  111  in panel  110 . An article  160  (in this case, a light bulb) is shown inside blister body  154 . The blister body may be shaped to fit the article  160 . The blister body  154  also extends partly through partial cutout  121  in panel  120 . An edge  121 A of cutout  121  engages a retention feature  155  in the blister body. The retention feature holds panel  120  in position relative to panel  110 . The retention feature  155  may take the form of a groove, depression, slot, cutout, slit, ridge, bump, protrusion, or other feature or shape suitable for engaging the partial cutout  121 . 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show top and bottom perspective views of the package. Certain ‘inside’ panels of the package are partly visible including right panel  110  and spine panel  130  as are certain ‘outside’ panels of the package including left panel  220 . The blister body  154  contains an article  160  which in this example is a light bulb. The blister body  154  extends away from panels  110 ,  210  and partly through the partial cutout in panels  120 ,  220 . An edge of the cutout engages retention feature  155  in the blister body. The retention feature holds panels  120 ,  220  in position relative to panels  110 ,  210 . The retention feature  155  may be located on an area of the blister body  154  away from the spine  130 . However the retention feature may also be located at other locations on the blister body such as at point  155 A toward the top of the blister body, or point  155 B nearer to spine  130 , or point  155 C ( FIG. 7B ) toward the bottom of the blister body. The retention feature  155  may take the form of a groove, depression, slot, cutout, slit, ridge, bump, protrusion, or other feature or shape suitable for engaging the partial cutout  121 . More than one type of retention feature  155  may be utilized, at more than one location on the blister body  154 . The retention feature or features may hold the package panels at a particular angle θ relative to one another. For example the angle θ may be between 15 and 60 degrees. However, the angle may be less than 15 or more than 60 degrees. The retention feature or features may be positioned to allow the partial cutout to engage the blister so as to hold the panel  120 ,  220  in more than one position relative to the panel  110 ,  210 , for example at more than one value of angle θ. 
     A small amount of flexing stress may be present in the panel  120 ,  220  when the retention feature  155  is engaged. This may curve the panel  120 ,  220  slightly as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7B . This curve may add interest to the package, and it may be possible to adjust the placement of location of retention feature  155 , the height of the spine  130 ,  230  (if a spine is used) and the size of the partial cutout to increase or decrease the amount of the curve. 
     The size of the spine panel  130 ,  230  may be chosen to suit the size of the blister body  154 , or the spine panel may be omitted. For example a large blister may in some cases benefit from a larger spine. However, even with a large blister the spine may be optional. 
     The example thus far has described a package including a right panel  110 ,  210 , spine panel  130 ,  230 , and left panel  120 ,  220 , the package being formed in two plies from two separate blanks  100 ,  200  joined together with the blister flange  152  sandwiched between right panels  110 ,  210 .  FIG. 8A  shows the blanks used for forming this package (also previously shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 8B  shows an alternative set of three blanks including the same (‘outer’ ply) of right and left panels  210 ,  220  joined together by a spine. However ‘inner’ ply panels  110  and  120  may be provided as shown each by a separate blank. 
       FIG. 8C  shows an alternative single blank in which panels  220 ,  120  are joined though a spine to panels  110 ,  210 . The blister  150  may be inserted from behind panel  110 , and panel  210  folded backward to trap the blister flange  152  and form the right portion of the package. Panel  220  may then be folded either forward or backward upon panel  120  to form the left portion of the package. 
       FIG. 8D  shows an alternative single blank somewhat similar to  FIG. 8C , in which panels  220 ,  120  are joined though a spine to panels  110 ,  210 . The blister  150  may be inserted from in front of panel  110 , and panel  110  folded forward over panel  210  to trap the blister flange  152  and form the right portion of the package. Panel  120  may then be folded either forward or backward upon panel  220  to form the left portion of the package. 
       FIG. 9A  shows an alternative single blank in which panels  220 ,  120  are joined across their top edge to panels  110 ,  210 . The blister  150  may be inserted from in front of panel  110 , and panels  110 ,  120  folded forward over panels  210 ,  220  to trap the blister flange  152  and form the two plies of the package. 
       FIG. 9B  shows an alternative single blank, somewhat similar to  FIG. 8D . Panel  220  is joined though a spine to panels  110 ,  210 . The blister  150  may be inserted from in front of panel  110 , and panel  110  folded forward over panel  210  to trap the blister flange  152  and form the right portion of the package. Panel  220  forms a single ply left portion of the package. 
     The spine panels  130 ,  230  are optional. For example,  FIG. 9C  is similar to  FIG. 9B , but lacks a spine panel. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9B and 9C , the left panel ( 220 ) may be a single ply of material. As shown in  FIG. 9D , the right panel ( 210 ) may likewise be a single ply of material. In this case the blister flange  152  is not sandwiched between panels  110 ,  210  but may be otherwise attached to panel  210 , for example by adhesive, staples, or other means. 
     It will be understood that the illustrated constructions are examples and do not necessarily include all possible constructions. In any of the constructions, a blister may be attached to one panel (e.g. the right panel or panels). The blister may include a retention feature to engage a cutout on another panel (e.g. the left panel or panels). It will be understood also that in some constructions the spine panel(s) are optional. In some constructions the second ply of material on the spine panel, left panel, or right panel are optional. 
     Although the blister constructions shown here generally are for a blister that completely encloses a product, it is also contemplated that portions of the blisters may be left open, for example to allow a customer to handle the product such as feeling the texture, observing the product directly (without looking through the blister material), testing a fit (e.g. for an electrical connection), and for other purposes. 
     The packages as described herein may be closed and sealed once the contents are placed inside the blister. Once filled, the blister  150  may be placed into the full cutout  111  in panel  110  and the flange  152  sandwiched between two layers of material. The layers (and flange) may then be joined together by heat sealing, adhesive, staples, or other suitable method. 
     The first blank  100  and second blank  200  (or depending on design, a single blank or additional blanks) may be formed of a sheet material such as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its strength. An example of such a sheet material is EASYSEAL paperboard made by MeadWestvaco Corporation. The sheet material may have a heat sealable coating, for example to allow a heat seal to be created between the first blank  100  and second blank  200 . Alternately, other forms of adhesive may be used to seal these parts together. It should be noted that the use of tear resistant materials, and/or in more than one layer, help to improve the tamper- and theft-resistance of the package. The panels may be joined together by heat sealing, RF (radio frequency) sealing, ultrasonic sealing, adhesive, or other means. Such sealing may be done on most of the facing surfaces of the front and back panels or sealing may be done to less than the entire facing surfaces, for example only around the outer perimeter of the package, and along or upon part or all of flange  152 . 
     Blister  150  may be made with common thermoform plastics such as PVC or APET but may also include a recycled material such as RPET or a biodegradable material such as PLA. However other materials including other plastics or paperboard may also be used. Besides thermoforming, the case or blister may be formed by injection molding or other manufacturing methods. The blister may be formed in one or more pieces. One or more blisters may be used in the package. 
     It should be understood that additional panels or fold-over panels may be included in the package for further reinforcing the package, providing additional advertising space, and so on.