Abstract:
Display packaging constructions incorporating a plastic blister cavity, sandwiched between layers of paperboard material, preferably corrugated paperboard material, are disclosed. Variations of the basic construction include a high-density packaging configuration, display packages having security features for precluding unauthorized access to the interior of the display package, and a reclosable construction to enable the display package to be used as a storage container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. The Technical Field  
         [0002]     The present invention is directed to reusable packaging that is configured to initially display and then house the product, while the product is completely encased in the package, and then house the product repeatedly thereafter, wherein the product is at least partially enclosed by a transparent or translucent blister cavity, and wherein the blister cavity is usually fabricated from a plastic material.  
         [0003]     2. The Prior Art  
         [0004]     Typical prior art display package constructions are often in the form of an all-plastic enclosure, often in the form of a clamshell. That is, the plastic enclosure will be formed as a front portion and a rear portion, on or both of which may be generally planar, but have one or more contoured, three-dimensional bubbles or blister cavities formed therein, into which a portion or all of the product to be packaged, is received. The front and rear portions may be initially hinged along a common edge, which may be a top, bottom or side edge. After placement of the product into the bubble or blister cavity, the front and rear portions are then folded about the hinge and snap-fitted together via complementary snap joining structures formed in the respective front and rear portions. Alternatively, the front and rear portions may be sealed to each other, e.g., by heat or sonic welding. Other joining techniques may also be employed.  
         [0005]     In other prior art constructions, the front and rear portions of the all-plastic enclosure may be completely separate structures, which are snap-fitted, sealed together, or otherwise joined, after placement of the product in the blister cavity.  
         [0006]     Alternatively, prior art display package constructions may incorporate a plastic blister cavity, usually having flat flanges which extend outwardly from peripheral edges of the contoured three-dimensional portion of the blister. The flanges are then affixed to one or more layers of paperboard or other material. For example, the blister may be affixed to a single layer of paperboard material or “card” which forms the rear wall of the product enclosure.  
         [0007]     In a still further alternative prior art construction, the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister may be pushed through a suitably shaped opening in a front “card”. A rear “card” having dimensions usually the same as the overall dimensions of the front card, may be placed in a position overlying the rear surfaces of the blister flanges and rear surface of the front card, so that the blister flanges are sandwiched between the front and rear cards.  
         [0008]     Often, such display package constructions, are configured to hang from hooks, rods or pegs from shelving or upright supports, by providing one or more apertures, usually adjacent an upper edge region of the package.  
         [0009]     Among the prior art display package constructions are the following references:  
         [0010]     Jacobson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,250,387. In this reference, an all-plastic blister package is provided with a back snap closure.  
         [0011]     Tjaden, U.S. Pat. No. 3,397,774 discloses reclosable, all-plastic blister cavities with hinged backs/bottoms with contoured snap features that interfit with corresponding structures in the cavity wall.  
         [0012]     Iten et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,417. A package for safety razor blades, in which a pivotable card-stock panel in the card back is located behind the open-backed blister cavity. In one embodiment, plastic cup-shaped structures affixed to the panel telescopically receive posts extending backward from the front wall of the blister cavity, to hold the blades in place.  
         [0013]     Yeager et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,935. A open-backed blister cavity is affixed to the bottom half of a card back. The top half of the card back is pivotable relative to the blister cavity, and bumps on the interior of the top of the blister cavity engage the top edges of the card back to hold it in place, once the package has been initially opened.  
         [0014]     Shimizu et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,099. This reference discloses a blister pack with foldable front and back card panels, and a blister bubble, that appears to be affixed, first to the front card panel by heat and pressure, with the front and back card panels attached to each other. However, it is to be noted that the English text appears to be a very rough translation from the Japanese, and so the details are given somewhat inconsistently. An alternative embodiment is disclosed where all three layers are heat sealed together simultaneously. The packages appear to be reclosable after opening. Most of the embodiments feature a back card hinged to the front card, being released by a tear strip or zipper strip, and then held in place by tucking the free edge of the back card under a die-cut tab formed in the front card.  
         [0015]     Mickel, U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,689 B2. A package has an open-backed blister cavity with a removable and replaceable card back. An aperture in the card back fits over one or more protuberances on the blister cavity. The protuberances may be formed to create a “snap” fit with the card back.  
         [0016]     One disadvantage of such prior art display package constructions, particularly the combination paperboard/plastic display packages, is that by simply tearing the card(s), it is often possible to separate the blister from the card(s) and/or otherwise gain access to the blister cavity, enabling the product therein to be removed and stolen.  
         [0017]     It would be desirable to provide an improved combination paperboard/plastic display package construction that is provided with security features for discouraging or inhibiting theft of products from within the blister cavities of such display package constructions.  
         [0018]     It would also be desirable to provide an improved display package construction that can be reused as a storage container for the product purchased.  
         [0019]     These and other desirable characteristics and objects of the present invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, including claims, and drawings.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     The present invention comprises, in part, a display package for the containment and display of at least one product for sale. The display package, according to one embodiment, comprises a blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least one product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further has a peripheral flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card is provided, having an aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed. A rear card is provided, having a peripheral contour which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent. The front and rear cards are preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard. The rear card further preferably has an access door formed therein, the access door further comprising a flap cut from a portion of the rear card material and pivotably connected thereto. A releasable locking mechanism preferably interconnects the access door and the blister cavity, for enabling the access door to repeatedly opened and closed, for enabling storage of the product in the display package.  
         [0021]     The releasable locking mechanism preferably comprises a snap member, extending rearwardly from a rearward facing surface of the peripheral flange of the blister cavity; and a snap aperture, disposed in an edge region of the access door, and operably configured to receive, in a snap-fit manner, the snap member.  
         [0022]     The blister cavity is preferably fabricated from a plastic material. The front and rear cards are preferably fabricated from corrugated paperboard material. The corrugated paperboard material is preferably single wall corrugated paperboard material. At least one tear-resistant security tape may be embedded within the corrugated paperboard material forming at least one of the front and rear cards, for precluding tearing the front and rear cards so as to enable unauthorized access to the blister cavity.  
         [0023]     Preferably, the front card is sealed to a forwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of the blister cavity, and the rear card is sealed to a rearwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of the blister cavity.  
         [0024]     A line of weakness may be disposed in the rearwardly facing surface of the front card, the line of weakness encircling and outwardly spaced from the peripheral flange of the blister cavity, whereupon attempted forced separation of the front card from the rear card, the line of weakness causes portions of the front card that are sealed to the peripheral flange of the blister cavity that are encircled by the line of weakness to separate from remaining portions of the front card that are not encircled by the line of weakness, to inhibit unauthorized access to the blister cavity.  
         [0025]     The present invention is also directed to a high-density display packaging system, comprising at least two complementary display packages. Each display package includes a blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least one product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further preferably has a peripheral flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent, while the front and rear cards are preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard.  
         [0026]     The rear card further has an access door formed therein, the access door further comprising a flap cut from a portion of the rear card material and pivotably connected thereto. At least one of the display packages has a first configuration such that the front and rear cards form a main body portion enclosing a blister cavity, and a wing portion extending away from an upper left side region of the main body portion. At least one of the display packages has a second configuration such that the front and rear cards form a main body portion enclosing a blister cavity, and a wing portion extending away from an upper right side region of the main body portion. A display package of a first configuration has a recess therein defined by the wing portion thereof, through which the blister cavity of a display package of the second configuration may be visually inspected; a display package of a second configuration having a recess therein defined by the wing portion thereof, through which the blister cavity of a display package of the first configuration may be visually inspected. A shipping and display case is operably configured to receive, in a row from front to back, alternating ones of the display packages whereupon a display package of the first configuration is preceded or followed by a display package of the second configuration, and a display package of the second configuration is preceded or followed by a display package of the first configuration.  
         [0027]     The present invention also comprises a display package for the containment and display of at least one product for sale, wherein the display package comprises a blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least one product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further has a peripheral flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent; while the front and rear cards being fabricated from a material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard. At least one tear-resistant security tape is embedded within the corrugated paperboard material forming at least one of the front and rear cards, for precluding tearing the front and rear cards so as to enable unauthorized access to the blister cavity.  
         [0028]     In another embodiment of the invention, a display package for the containment and display of at least one product for sale comprises a blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least one product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further having a peripheral flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent, while the front and rear cards are fabricated from a material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard. The front card is preferably sealed to a forwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of the blister cavity, and the rear card is sealed to a rearwardly-facing surface of the peripheral flange of the blister cavity.  
         [0029]     In still another embodiment of the invention, a display package is provided for the containment and display of at least one product for sale. A blister cavity has a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least one product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further has a peripheral flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent. The front and rear cards are preferably fabricated from a material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard. A line of weakness may be disposed in the rearwardly facing surface of the front card, the line of weakness encircling and outwardly spaced from the peripheral flange of the blister cavity, whereupon attempted forced separation of the front card from the rear card, the line of weakness causes portions of the front card that are sealed to the peripheral flange of the blister cavity that are encircled by the line of weakness to separate from remaining portions of the front card that are not encircled by the line of weakness, to inhibit unauthorized access to the blister cavity.  
         [0030]     The invention also comprises a display package for the containment and display of at least one product for sale, in which the display package comprises a blister cavity, having a contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least one product may be visually inspected. The blister cavity further has a peripheral flange extending outwardly from at least a portion of the contoured, three-dimensional portion. A front card has an aperture, through which the contoured, three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects, and further having a rearwardly facing surface, against which a forwardly facing surface of the peripheral flange is juxtaposed. A rear card has a peripheral contour which is substantially similar to a peripheral contour of the front card, the rear card being disposed in overlying relation to the rearwardly facing surface of the front card and affixed thereto, so that the peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sandwiched between the front and rear cards. The blister cavity is fabricated from a material that is at least one of transparent, translucent. The front and rear cards is fabricated from a material that is at least one of paper, paperboard, corrugated paperboard. The peripheral flange of the blister cavity is sealed, along at least portions thereof, to the respective adjacent front and rear cards.  
         [0031]     The blister cavity may include a front section hingedly connected to a rear section. In this embodiment, the rear section of the blister cavity also includes contoured, three-dimensional portion operably configured to receive the at least one product, and through which the at least one product may be visually inspected, and the rear card includes an aperture through which the three-dimensional portion of the blister cavity projects.  
         [0032]     The blister cavity may also include at least one downwardly projecting portion which supports the display package to enable the display package to be positioned in a freestanding upright configuration.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0033]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display package, fabricated from a combination of paperboard and a plastic blister cavity, according to an embodiment of the invention, shown with a shipping carton, which has been converted into a display carton.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a plastic blister cavity, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the plastic blister cavity has a hinged flat back wall.  
         [0035]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a plastic blister cavity according to another alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the plastic blister cavity has a hinged contoured back wall.  
         [0036]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of a package assembly, in an exploded view, employing a plastic blister cavity according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1B , showing how the front (partially shown) and rear cards have apertures for accommodating the front and rear contoured portions of the plastic blister cavity.  
         [0037]      FIG. 1D  is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the cavity features a downwardly projecting stabilizing portion, in coordination with the blister flange, for enabling the completed package to stand upright without reliance upon a shipping container for support.  
         [0038]      FIG. 1E  is a perspective exploded view of a display package using the plastic blister cavity of  FIG. 1D .  
         [0039]      FIG. 1F  is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the cavity features a downwardly projecting stabilizing portion, in coordination with the blister flange, for enabling the completed package to stand upright without reliance upon a shipping container for support.  
         [0040]      FIG. 1G  is a perspective exploded view of a display package using the plastic blister cavity of  FIG. 1F .  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a front card of the display package of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a rear card of the display package of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a pair of complementary display packages, fabricated from a combination of paperboard and plastic blister cavities, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, shown with a shipping carton, which has been converted into a display carton.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a front card for the display packages of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of a rear card for the display packages of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a composite blank for forming complementary front and rear cards for the complementary display packages of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , wherein the complementary front and rear cards are formed in a single die-cutting operation, for facilitated single-pass printing operations.  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of front and rear cards for a display package according to another alternative embodiment of the invention, in which a security tape is applied to each of the cards, showing in particular the orientation of the cards and their respective security tapes, at the time of assembly of the cards.  
         [0048]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the front and rear cards of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , showing how the cards are oriented at the time of application of the security tape and subsequent die-cutting of the cards, in a facilitated single-pass operation.  
         [0049]      FIG. 10  is a fragmentary, partially exposed perspective view of the portion of a display package employing the cards of the embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 11A  is an exploded rear perspective view of a display package according to another alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein a safety perforation is formed in the front card to impede unauthorized access to the blister cavity.  
         [0051]      FIG. 11B  is a partially exploded front perspective view of the display package of the embodiment of  FIG. 11A .  
         [0052]      FIG. 11C  is a front perspective view of the fully assembled display package of the embodiment of  FIG. 11A .  
         [0053]      FIG. 11D  is a front perspective view of the display package of the embodiment of  FIG. 11A , shown after attempted unauthorized access to the blister cavity.  
         [0054]      FIG. 12  is a plan view of a composite front and rear card for a reclosable display package according to another alternative embodiment of the invention.  
         [0055]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a blister cavity for use with the composite front and rear card of the display package of the embodiment of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of an assembled reclosable display package according to the embodiment of  FIGS. 12 and 13 , showing the access door of the reclosable display package in its open configuration.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0057]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will be described in detail several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0058]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a display package system  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. System  10  comprises a combination corrugated paperboard/plastic display package  12 , and a corrugated paperboard shipping container/display tray  14 , for holding same.  
         [0059]     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , as in all of the embodiments described herein, the cards that form the structures supporting the blister cavities are preferably formed from (but not limited to) corrugated paperboard material, and in particular, preferably from (but not limited to) single-wall corrugated paperboard material (that is, a single layer of corrugated paperboard medium, sandwiched between single sheet layers of paper linerboard). Preferably, to serve interests of weight, size and cost, the gauge of the corrugated medium is relatively small, such as E or F flute, as such materials are referred to in the corrugated paperboard manufacturing industry.  
         [0060]     Display package  12  incorporates front card  16  which is preferably fabricated of corrugated paperboard, which may bear product information indicia. Front card  16  has a cut-out opening  18  for receiving an otherwise conventional plastic blister cavity  20  (a concave bubble of whatever desired configuration, with a surrounding flange  22  shown in broken lines in  FIG. 1 ). Back card  22  ( FIG. 3 ) is also provided. Upon assembly of front card  16 , blister cavity  20  and back card  24 , so that flange  22  of blister cavity  20  is captured, completely around its perimeter, by front card  16  and back card  24 —with the product (not shown) encapsulated between blister cavity  20  and the forward facing surface of back card  24 . In addition, to enhance security against theft, all three packaging components (front card  16 , blister cavity  20  and back card  24 ) are joined together with a heat-seal coating which is placed on the inside facing surfaces of front card  16  and back card  24 , particularly in the area of flange  22  of blister cavity  20 . This heat-seal coating may be one of any of a variety of coating materials that are suitable for heat sealing a plastic material to a paperboard material, such as SOLUCOTE® by Soluol Chemical Co., Inc. of West Warwick, R.I.  
         [0061]     In  FIGS. 1-3 , shipping container/display tray  14  may be of any suitable configuration, and preferably is provided with a series of paired aligned slots  26 , located on opposite interior sides of shipping container/display tray  14 , which serve to capture opposite edges of display packages  12 , to hold them in an upright orientation, when shipping container/display tray  14  is placed in a display location such as a retail store shelf.  
         [0062]     A space-saving alternative display package and system  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4-7 . Display package system  100  includes complementary display packages  101 ,  102 , and a shipping container/display tray  104 , which may have a configuration similar to that of shipping container/display tray  14  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , or any other desired configuration, consistent with the particular features of display system  100 . A representative blister cavity  105 , having a flange  107  is shown in broken lines in display package  101 . It is to be understood that preferably, identical blister cavities  105  are to be used with each display package  102 , as well as each display package  101 . Although blister cavities  105  may be of any desired configuration, in preferred embodiments of the invention, blister cavities are relatively shallow, that is each blister cavity  105  has a depth (the dimension perpendicular to the paperboard cards) that is relatively less then its height or width (the dimensions parallel to the planes of the paperboard cards).  
         [0063]     Complementary display packages  101 ,  102 , as can be seen in  FIG. 4 , have mirror-image L-shaped configurations. That is, display package  101  has a main body portion  106 , which would contain the blister cavity (not shown), and an upper wing  108 , which extends to the right, as seen in  FIG. 4 . Conversely, display package  102  has a main body portion  110 , and an upper wing  112 , which extends to the left, as seen in  FIG. 4 . The size and placement of the blister cavity  105  in each of display packages  101 ,  102 , and the height of the respective wings  108 ,  112  are such that when a complementary pair of display packages  101 ,  102  are placed in a suitable shipping container/display tray  104 , wing  108  extends in front of the upper portion of main body portion  110 , preferably directly above portions of the blister cavity that is held in display package  102 . Similarly, if there is another display package  101  (not shown) behind display package  102 , wing  112  of display package  102  would extend in front of the upper portion of the main body portion  110  of that display package  101 , preferably directly above the portions of the blister cavity held in that display package  101 . In that way, the blister cavities  105  of each of display packages  101 ,  102  are both visible at the same time, regardless of which of display packages  101 ,  102  is in front of the other, when system  100  is viewed from the front (the direction of the arrow A in  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0064]     In principle, in a preferred version of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the front and rear cards that are used to form display packages  101 ,  102  are mirror-image symmetrical, so that, absent issues such as graphics printing, the same card, e.g., card  114  of  FIG. 5 , can serve as the front card for each of packages  101 ,  102 , simply by flipping it over. Likewise, the same card, e.g., card  116  of  FIG. 6 , can serve as the rear card for each of packages  101 ,  102 , simply by flipping it over. Front card  114  has a main body portion  118 , wing  120 , and aperture  122 , through which the contoured portion of the blister cavity is received. Rear card  116  has a main body portion  124  and wing  126 . It is to be understood that when a blister cavity is placed into a front card  114 , and then rear card  116  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) is flipped over and placed over the rearwardly-facing surface of front card  114 , the three components (front card, blister cavity and rear card) will preferably be sealed together, using the method of sealing described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 .  
         [0065]     As a practical matter of manufacturability, it may be easier to print and die cut discretely separate front and rear cards for the complementary display packages  101 ,  102 , rather than use the same dies, and simply flip over the front and rear cards of one or the other of packages  101 ,  102 . That is, for interests of efficiency (which may be influenced by graphics printing considerations), to print the graphics of the front and rear cards in a single pass on a single contiguous expanse of paperboard material (preferably corrugated paperboard material).  FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a layout  130  for front and rear cards. For example, presuming the surface of layout  130  that faces the viewer of  FIG. 7  represents the “outside” surfaces of the cards, card  132  with aperture  133  can be the front card for a display package  102  and card  134  can be the rear card for a display package  104 , while card  136  with aperture  137  can be the front card for a display package  101 , and card  138  can be the rear card for a display package  101 .  
         [0066]     Alternative variations of the plastic blister cavity may be employed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example,  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a plastic blister cavity, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the plastic blister cavity  500  has a hinged flat back wall  502 .  
         [0067]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a plastic blister cavity according to another alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the plastic blister cavity  600  has, in addition to a front cavity portion  602 , a hinged back wall  604  having a cavity  606 .  
         [0068]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of a package assembly, in an exploded view, employing a plastic blister cavity according to the embodiment of  FIG. 1B , showing how the front (partially shown) card  610  and rear card  612  have apertures  614 ,  616 , respectively, for accommodating the front and rear contoured portions of the plastic blister cavity  600 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 1D  is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the cavity  700  features a downwardly projecting stabilizing portion  702 , in coordination with the blister flange  704 , for enabling the completed package to stand upright without reliance upon a shipping container for support.  FIG. 1E  is a perspective exploded view of a display package using the plastic blister cavity  700  of  FIG. 1D , between rear card  706  and front card  708  having aperture  710  (which may, but need not necessarily, be downward opening—depending upon whether the particular shape of the projecting blister can be inserted through the aperture without having to have one “edge” of the aperture being open). For practical manufacturing considerations, in this embodiment, and the following one, the aperture(s) will likely have to open on one edge or the other of the respective front and/or rear cards.  
         [0070]      FIG. 1F  is a side elevation of a plastic blister cavity according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the cavity features front and rear cavity portions  802 ,  804 , having downwardly projecting stabilizing portions  806 ,  808 , respectively, for enabling the completed package to stand upright without reliance upon a shipping container for support.  FIG. 1G  is a perspective exploded view of a display package using the plastic blister cavity  800  of  FIG. 1F , between front card  810  (with downward opening aperture  812 ) and rear card  814  (having downward opening aperture  816 ).  
         [0071]     The display package of the embodiment of  FIGS. 8-10  is a further alternative embodiment, which incorporates a security feature, which may be employed instead of, or preferably in addition to, the heat-sealing security feature described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 . In this embodiment, strips of tear-resistant tape are embedded within the corrugated paperboard material of at least one of, and preferably both of, the front and rear cards of the display package. This provides a tear-stop barrier, preventing a would-be thief from tearing the display package sufficiently to gain access to and free the blister cavity from the front and rear cards. The tear-resistant tapes are preferably formed from reinforce fiber tape, such as tapes by Adalism or Sesame® Tape by Linear Products Inc. of Vancouver, Wash.  
         [0072]      FIG. 8  illustrates front card  200 , having aperture  202 , and rear card  204 , for a display package according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the inwardly facing surfaces of cards  200 ,  204  are facing the viewer. The locations of the tear-resistant tapes  206  are indicated, but are understood as preferably not being on the surfaces of the cards  200 ,  204 , but rather are embedded within the corrugated paperboard materials themselves, as shown in  FIG. 10 , wherein each tear resistant tape  206  is positioned between the inside liner  208  and the corrugated medium  210 , for each corrugated paperboard card. Preferably, a quantity of corrugated paperboard is fabricated, having the embedded tear resistant tape, which is then die cut to form front cards  200  and rear cards  204 , oriented as shown in  FIG. 9 , so that the tear-resistant tapes  206  of both cards are parallel to one another. The cards are then rotated 90° relative to one another, as shown in  FIG. 8 , prior to assembly to form display packages according to this embodiment. It is to be understood that this security tape feature may be used together with or alternatively to, the heat-sealing security method and structure described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 .  
         [0073]      FIGS. 11A-11D  illustrate another alternative embodiment of the invention, in which an alternative security feature is provided. Typically, in the display packages of the present invention, which are illustrated and described herein, aside from the heat sealing material which immediately connects the cards and the blister cavity flanges, adhesive connecting the cards directly to one another may be used sparingly, e.g., in selected spots and/or primarily only around the common peripheral regions of the respective front and rear cards. Such adhesive application also typically exists in prior art sandwiched card-blister flange-card constructions. As such, a would-be thief might be inclined to attempt access to the blister cavity, not by tearing across the width of the sandwiched cards, but instead attempt to separate the front and rear cards, thus exposing the edge of the blister cavity flange, to gain a point of entry to separate the blister cavity flange from the front card, and access the product in the blister cavity. The embodiment of  FIGS. 11A-11D  addresses this alternative mode of attack.  
         [0074]     Display package  300  is shown in a rear, perspective exploded view in  FIG. 11A . Display package  300  incorporates a rear card  302 , which may be a simple planar sheet of single-wall corrugated paperboard material; a blister cavity  304 , which may be as described with respect to any of the previously described embodiments; and front card  306  (having aperture  308 ), which likewise is preferably fabricated from single-wall corrugated paperboard material. The embodiment of  FIGS. 11A-11D  is distinguished from the prior embodiments by a perforation  310  which is provided on the inwardly-facing surface of front card  306 . It is important that perforation  310  not extend completely through the thickness of front card  306 ; however, the depth to which the perforation does extend may be varied as desired according to the requirements of any particular application. For example, in a version of the embodiment of  FIGS. 11A-11D , if a single-wall corrugated paperboard material is used, the perforation  310  may pass through the inner liner and most or all of the way through the corrugated medium, but not through the outer liner.  
         [0075]     Furthermore, perforation  310  is spaced, preferably uniformly, a distance away from the edge of aperture  308 , which is greater than the width of the flange which surrounds the contoured, three-dimensional portion of blister cavity  304 , so that upon assembly of front card  306  to rear card  302 , there will be inwardly facing surfaces of the cards, beyond the edge of the blister cavity flange, but within the perimeter defined by the perforation  310 , that are immediately juxtaposed against one another. When a display package  300  is assembled and sealed together ( FIG. 11C ), sealing material is applied in this area and between the cards and adjacent blister cavity flange surfaces (as described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 ), but not in the areas between the cards that are immediately beyond the perimeter defined by the perforation  310 .  
         [0076]     Thus, if a would-be thief does manage to pry a portion of front card  306  away from rear card  302  (as shown in  FIG. 11D ), the sealed portion  312  of front card  306  that is within the perimeter, tears away from card  306  and remains affixed to the rear card  302 , and the front-facing surface of the blister cavity flange. In this way, the outer edge of the blister cavity flange is still protected and access to the blister cavity flange edge prevented, by the portions of the front and rear cards which are directly sealed to one another in the area immediately to the outside of the edges of blister cavity flange, but within the perimeter defined by the perforation  310 .  
         [0077]     While in a preferred embodiment of the invention, perforation  310  is formed as a series of small spaced apart cuts extending partially but not completely through the thickness of the front card, in alterative embodiments of the invention, other lines of weakness, such as a continuous partial cut-through or a sharp, deep score, may be employed, so long as the result is that the portion of the front card which is sealed to the flange of the blister cavity remains affixed thereto, upon removal of the remainder of the front card from the display package.  
         [0078]     The display package  400  of  FIGS. 12-14  is according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein reclosability and repeated access to the interior of the blister cavity is facilitated by the presence of a reclosable access door. Display package  400  incorporates combined card  402  (viewed from the inside in  FIG. 12 ), having front card portion  404  and rear card portion  406 , joined along fold line  408 . Front card portion  404  includes blister cavity aperture  410 . Rear card portion  406  includes access door  412 , that joins peripheral portion  414  along fold line  416 . Access door  412  includes finger receiving opening  418 , and snap aperture  420 . In addition, card  402  may be provided with hanging hook apertures  422 ,  424 .  
         [0079]      FIG. 13  illustrates, from a rear plan view, a blister cavity  430  for use in combination with the combined card  402 . Blister cavity  430  includes flange  432  and contoured, three-dimensional portion  436 . A snap projection  434 , which may be generally cylindrical with a circumferentially disposed bump or notch (so that at least a portion, but not all of snap projection  434  has a diameter greater than the diameter of snap aperture  420 ), is preferably molded into the surface of flange  432 , and extending away from the plane of the flange  432 , toward the observer of  FIG. 13 . Snap projection  424  is preferably configured to permit alignment with and releasably retaining insertion into snap aperture  420 .  
         [0080]     Upon assembly of combined card  402  and blister cavity  430 , contoured, three-dimensional portion  436  of blister cavity  430  is inserted through aperture  410 . Rear portion  406  of card  402  is folded over, along fold line  408 , so that cut-away  426  aligns generally with and accommodates snap projection  434 . Cut-away  426  forms tab  438  on access door  412 . Flange  432  becomes captured between and is preferably affixed to front portion  404  and rear portion  406 , in the manner described with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 . Tab  438  of access door  412  is preferably not affixed to flange  432  in the area adjacent to male snap member  434 . When rear portion  406  is fully folded over, and affixed to front portion  404  (after placement of product within contoured portion  436 ), snap aperture  420  aligns with and is “popped” down over snap projection  434 .  
         [0081]     After the product has been purchased, access door  412  is opened simply by placing a fingertip in finger receiving opening  418 , and door  412  is pulled open. The product may be removed, used, and replaced in portion  436 , and then door  412  reclosed by pressing down, until snap opening  420  pops over snap projection  434 .  
         [0082]     In addition to the reclosure feature, the embodiment of  FIGS. 12-14 , may include the sandwich sealing feature of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the high-density packaging feature of  FIGS. 4-7 , and/or the security features of  FIGS. 8-11D .  
         [0083]     The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto, except as those skilled in the art who have the present disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.