Blister package and storage device

A blister package for containing a product has a tub and a base. The tub slidably engages the base and is slidable between a storage position, used for storing the product, and a removal position, used for removing the product. A panel is secured to the base and locks the tub in the storage position until removed. After the panel is removed, the tub is free to slide to the removal position in which a part of an open side of the tub is adjacent an access aperture in the base. A cover covers the access aperture and is movable between a closed position, adjacent the access aperture, and a open position, spaced apart from the access aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to the field of blister packages. Blister 
packages include a tub for containing a product and a cardboard backing. 
The tub is typically made of clear plastic so that the product can be 
seen. 
In many conventional blister packages the tub is glued to the cardboard 
backing. The blister package is opened by tearing the cardboard away from 
the plastic tub. A problem with conventional glued blister tubs is that 
once the package is opened it cannot be resealed. If items are kept in an 
opened blister package they are prone to fall out and become lost. 
Several known blister packages have a tub which is slidable relative to the 
backing so that after the blister package is first opened it can be closed 
again and used to contain the remaining product. A slidable blister tub is 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,248 to Mackowicki. The tub has laterally 
protruding flanges which engage a pair of channels. To remove the product, 
a user slides the tub so that the tub opening is beyond the cardboard 
backing. After the desired items are removed, the tub is moved back to 
store the remaining product. 
A problem with the blister package disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,248 is 
that the tub is not restrained from sliding. The blister package can be 
opened quickly and presents an easy target for thieves. 
A further problem with the blister package disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,467,248 is that the tub can become completely disengaged from the 
cardboard backing. If the tub becomes inadvertently disengaged from the 
cardboard backing some of the product will probably be spilled. The tub 
can become disengaged when a user is removing items and inadvertently 
slides the tub beyond the flange to channel engagement. The tub can also 
become disengaged during transportation since the tub is not restrained 
from sliding. 
A further problem with the blister tub disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,248 
is that a user cannot tell whether the blister package has already been 
opened. Consumers often want to know whether a package has been opened, 
particularly with edible items, to avoid products which have been tampered 
with. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes the problems with known blister packages. 
The blister package of the present invention has a slidable tub and a 
base. The slidable tub advantageously permits storage of the product in 
the blister package after the blister package has been opened. The base 
has an access aperture through which items can be removed. 
The tub has a container forming a concavity for holding the product. The 
tub also has an open side for removing the product. Two substantially 
parallel flanges extend laterally from the open side. 
The base has two spaced-apart, substantially parallel tracks shaped to 
slidably engage the tub flanges. The slidable engagement between the 
flanges and the parallel tracks permits the tub to slide relative to the 
base between two terminal positions. The storage position is used for 
storing the product and the removal position is used for removing the 
product. 
The base also includes a tub opening sized to receive the container of the 
tub. An access aperture, through which product is removed, is also formed 
in the base. The access aperture is located to be in direct communication 
with the concavity when the tub is in the removal position so that product 
can be removed through the aperture. 
A cover is provided for covering the access aperture. The cover is hingedly 
attached to the base and movable between a closed position, covering the 
access aperture, and a open position, spaced apart from the access 
aperture. The cover advantageously prevents items from inadvertently 
falling out of the blister package when the tub is in the removal 
position. 
The blister package also includes a locking mechanism, removably attached 
to the base, for retaining the tub in the storage position. The locking 
mechanism may include a seal constructed to indicate when the locking 
mechanism has been removed. The locking mechanism and seal advantageously 
indicate whether the blister package has already been opened. Preferably, 
the locking mechanism is a removable portion connected to the base and 
extending between the two tracks. 
A limiting device prevents sliding of the tub beyond the two terminal 
positions. The limiting device advantageously ensures that the tub cannot 
become disengaged from the base. Preferably, an upper side and a bottom 
edge of the tub opening form the upper and lower restraints. 
Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the 
following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth 
in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A blister package 2 including a preferably transparent tub 4 and a base 6 
is shown in FIG. 3. The blister package 2 is used for presenting a product 
(not shown) for sale. The tub 4 is slidable relative to base 6 to 
advantageously permit storing the product in the blister package 2 after 
the blister package 2 has been opened. 
The tub 4 includes a container 8 forming a concavity 10 for containing the 
product (FIG. 2). The tub 4 also has an open side 5 for removing product 
from the container 8. A pair of substantially parallel flanges 7, 9 extend 
laterally from the container 8 and lie in the plane of the open side 5. 
The pair of substantially parallel flanges 7, 9 engage the base 6 in a 
manner so that the two can slide relative to each other as is described 
below. The tub 4 is preferably made of a clear plastic material so that 
the product may be seen. 
Base 6 is formed from a single sheet of material, preferably cardboard 
(FIG. 1). The sheet of material is scored lengthwise along a center score 
line 30 to form two sheet sections 32, 34 which can be folded together so 
that their peripheries are aligned. 
The right-hand (as seen in FIG. 1) sheet section 34 includes a large cutout 
or opening 14 bordered by a lower edge 56, lateral sides 21, and an upper 
edge 57. Cutout 14 is dimensioned so that the container portion 8 of the 
tub 4 can protrude therethrough. The upper edge 57 is part of a panel 16 
bordered by a perforation line 19. In one embodiment of the invention, the 
lateral portions of the perforation line 19 are a continuation of the 
lateral cutout sides 21. Alternatively, score line 19 is indented, as 
shown in FIG. 1, to define tabs 20, the purpose and functioning of which 
is described later. 
Left-hand sheet section 32 includes an openable closable cover 22 bordered 
by a generally U-shaped, perforated line 24 and a score line 26. In use, 
the cover can be pushed out, by separating it from the remainder of the 
sheet along perforation line 24, so that the cover is hingeable about 
score line 26 between a closed position, in which the cover is in the 
plane of sheet 32, and an open position in which it extends angularly away 
from the sheet. For purposes further described below, cover 22 in 
left-hand sheet section 32 is in substantial alignment with panel 18 in 
right-hand sheet section 34 when the two sheets are folded together. 
Each sheet section 32, 34 further includes a cutout 35 which is positioned 
so that they are aligned when the sheets 32, 34 are folded together and 
which are used for hanging the blister package from suitable hangers (not 
shown). 
When the two sheet sections are folded together, they define parallel, 
longitudinally extending tracks 46, 48 in the form of narrow slits or gaps 
between the two sheets, as is best illustrated in FIG. 5. Tub 4 is placed 
between the sheet sections so that container 8 protrudes through opening 
14 and the lateral flanges 7, 9 are captured in the tracks defined by the 
overlapping portions of the sheet sections. 
To complete the package, the two sheet sections are secured; e.g. glued, 
bonded, welded, stapled, riveted or the like, to each other along the 
three non-joined, peripheral edges of the two sheet sections, care being 
taken that the tracks which receive the lateral flanges of the tub are not 
obstructed. To free the tub 4, perforated connection 18 is broken and 
panel 16 is removed. With the panel 16 in place access to container 
portion is prevented and provides indication that the blister package has 
not previously been opened. 
FIG. 4 shows blister package 2 with the tub 4 positioned in a removal 
position. A storage position, which is used for storing the product, is 
shown with broken lines. The removal position 50 permits removal of the 
product through an access aperture 28. Once perforated connection 24 is 
broken, cover 22 is released and movable between the closed position, and 
the open position. FIG. 5 shows cover 22 in the open position permitting 
removal of the product through access aperture 28. 
After removing the desired quantity of the product from the container 8 
through the access aperture 28, the tub 4 is moved back to storage 
position for storing the remaining product. Tabs 20 help to keep the tub 4 
in the storage position after the panel 16 is removed. Tabs 20 are sized 
to bend and when a user applies a modest amount of force to tub 4. FIG. 4 
shows tabs 20 bent when tub 4 is in the removal position. 
Tub 4 is restrained from sliding beyond the storing and removal positions 
40, 50 by the lower edge 56 of opening 14 defined by sheet 34 and the 
upper side 58 formed by the same sheet as panel 16. Bottom edge 56 and 
upper side 58 prevent the tub 4 from becoming disengaged from the base 6 
unless it is distorted, broken, or torn. Inadvertent spilling of the 
product is thereby avoided. 
Modification and variation can be made to the disclosed embodiments without 
departing from the subject of the invention as defined by the following 
claims. For example, base 6 made be made from two sheets rather than one, 
second sheet 34 can be stapled to first sheet rather than glued, or cover 
22 can be slidably mounted to base 6 rather than being hingedly connected 
thereto.