Abstract:
A reclosable blister package wherein the blister package assembly is divided into main body portion and a door portion separated by an integral hinge formed therein. The first or main body portion of the blister package assembly is permanently attached to a planar base backing member, with the second or door portion being attached to the backing at its flanges by a reclosable system including interconnecting members, for example, projections/recesses, a tab and slot, or a “button” and “hole”, disposed on the side walls or on an extension flange extending from the flange of the main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to resealable and reclosable packages, and more particularly to a reclosable blister type package for displaying packaged goods in a container which can be opened and resealed without obvious or apparent damage. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A form of packaging commonly used in retail merchandising is the blister package designed for pegboard display. Generally, these types of packages have a cardboard backing, upon which product or advertising information is printed, and to which is attached a clear plastic blister assembly to form a container in which goods are displayed and held. A hole is formed at the top of the cardboard backing so that the package can be held on an extended peg of a pegboard display. In this manner large volumes of varied items can be held on a pegboard, in stores where shelf space is a premium. 
     This type of packaging is used for numerous and varied types of items and would includes such things as small quantities of nails, aftermarket automotive products (e.g. windshield wipers and wiper refills), batteries, and other items too numerous to mention. In the usual case, blister packaging is required when it is desirable to provide a convenient way of merchandising preselected number of units, such as a package containing four windshield wipers and/or refills. A second object of the conventional blister pack is to provide security for the goods, because the blister package is substantially bigger than the goods themselves, which makes pilferage and shoplifting much more difficult. An example of this would be a ballpoint pen, which if offered for sale in bulk and contained in a shelf bin, could easily be pilfered merely by picking up and inserting one in a shirt pocket. On the other hand, if held in a blister package, pilferage is a much more difficult and risky task, since the pilferer must break open the package to remove the pilferable contents. 
     As a result, most of the development work in the past has been directed toward providing blister package which are destroyed when opened. Typically, these blister packaging devices have a cardboard backing to which is attached a clear plastic assembly. An adhesive plastic material is first sprayed onto the surface of the cardboard, usually the entire surface in cases where the blister packaging is of the same relative size as the cardboard backing. Then the cardboard backing is positioned atop the blister pack assembly, together with its contents, and heat is applied to the flanged edges of the blister pack to bond the cardboard, plastic adhesive and blister pack assembly flanges together. This process is called heat sealing. 
     In order to open the package, the plastic assembly must be torn from the cardboard backing. An improvement in common use today, includes providing perforations in the cardboard backing to facilitate access to the goods through the cardboard. 
     A problem arises when it is desired to provide blister packaging suitable for pegboard display, wherein the blister back can easily be opened and reclosed/resealed without apparent damage to the packaging itself. This would be of value in situations where it is desirable to remove the goods from the package for inspection prior to purchase, or in cases where intended use of the goods is such that the purchaser will use only a few items at a time and wish to store, in the original packaging, the remaining items. Examples of these situations would be where a prospective purchaser of a set of windshield wipers or other products wherein the purchaser may purchase a plurality of items when only one or two are needed, with the rest to be stored for future use. 
     The need exists for a reclosable blister package made from one thermoformed plastic blister that can be easily opened and reclosed without damages to the package, which can be affixed to the backing card in a tamper resistant fashion, and which can be secured to the backing card while fully loaded. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These objects are accomplished by use of a packaging system having a planar base surfaced formed of cardboard or the like, with a heat sealing coating, and a copolyester plastic blister assembly. The plastic blister assembly has a main body portion forming a merchandise compartment and a door portion separated by an integrally formed hinge extending transversely across the blister pack assembly. The integral hinge defines a boundary line between the main body portion and an upper, reclosable, door portion. 
     A pair of first opposing side walls and an interconnecting end wall extend from the edges of the main body portion to form, when the plastic assembly is attached to the backing plate, a container for the packaged merchandise. An attachment flange circumscribes the end and sidewalls of the lower, first portion, and provides an attachment surface for adhesively attaching the plastic container to the backing plate. The plastic blister assembly is permanently attached to the cardboard planar backing plate by means of a heat sealing process using a nonsealable adhesive between the first attachment flange and the backing plate. 
     The door portion, in like manner, has extending from its sides and end, second or upper end and side walls, and a circumscribing, second attachment flange, all similar in size and appearance to the first or lower end, end wall, side walls and attachment flange. 
     An attachment means may be provided between the door portion and the main body portion, for example, in the form of a mating projection/recess, a tab and slot arrangement, or a “button” and “hole” arrangement. Other suitable attachment systems may also be employed; for example, a pair of opposing locking tabs may retain the upper section in a closed position. 
     With the reclosable system of the invention, a consumer may purchase a plurality of items packaged within a single blister pack, whereby a single item may be removed for use and the remaining item stored in the original pack for later use. 
     Additional features, benefits and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing several preferred embodiments of the instant invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective representational view of the embodiment of the reclosable blister package assembly having a pair of opposing locking tabs shown in a closed position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective representational view of a tab and slot embodiment of the reclosable blister package assembly of FIG. 1 shown in an opened position. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective representational view of a tab and slot embodiment of the reclosable blister package assembly shown in a closed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective representational view of a tab and slot embodiment of the reclosable blister package assembly of FIG. 3 shown in an opened position. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial rear view of the reclosable tab and slot blister package of FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective representational view of a button and hole embodiment of the reclosable blister package assembly shown in a closed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective representational view of the button and hole embodiment of the reclosable blister package assembly of FIG. 6 shown in an opened position. 
     FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional side view of the reclosable button and hole blister package of FIGS. 6 and 7 shown in the open position. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional side view of the reclosable button and hole blister package of FIGS. 6 and 7 shown in the closed position with the open position shown in dotted lines. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plastic blister package assembly  10  is designed to be hung from a peg hook (not shown) inserted through peg hook hole  12  in assembly  10 . A plastic blister assembly  13 , formed of unitary construction and preferably of copolyester plastic, typically a glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate, or PVC is provided for attachment to planar backing substrate or plate  11 . 
     Transverse hinge  20  is integrally formed in the plastic assembly  13  and serves as a dividing line between a main body portion  14  and a pivoting door portion  15 . Extending from the sides of main body portion  14  are main body portion side walls  16  and an interconnecting first portion end wall  18 . Circumscribing sidewalls  16  and end wall  18  is first portion attachment flange  22 . Attachment flange  22  is heat sealed to the base plate  11  for permanently attaching plastic assembly  13  to base plate  11 . When so attached, a compartment is formed into which merchandise can be inserted through an access opening  30 . 
     In like manner, the door portion  15  has extending from its sides, second portion side walls  17  and interconnecting second portion end wall  19 . Circumscribing sidewalls  17  and interconnecting end wall  19  is second portion attachment flange  23 . 
     When the door portion  15  of plastic assembly  13  is in the closed position (see FIG.  1 ), the blister package assembly  10  appears to be of unitary construction having a single compartment all of which is adhesively attached by means of a circumscribing attachment flange to base plate  11 . 
     By providing the transverse hinge  20 , the door portion  15  of plastic assembly  13  can be folded out away from base plate  11  to provide access to the merchandise compartment defined by the lower portion of plastic assembly  13  and base plate  11 , even though base plate  11  is without any hinges as is shown in FIG.  1 . Access to the merchandise compartment is provided through the access opening  30  formed in the place of the sidewall facing the end wall  18 . 
     In order to provide a reclosable arrangement, the side walls  16  of main body portion  14  comprise depressions  16   a  and the side walls  17  of the door portion  15  comprise corresponding inward projections  17   a . In the closed position, the projections  17   a  matingly engage the depressions  16   a  to lock the door portion  15  against the main body portion  14  and thereby close the access opening  30 . Moreover, because the projections  17   a  and depressions  16   a  are locating in opposing fashion, the resilient nature of the side walls  16 ,  17  serve to resiliently retain the door portion  15  in the closed position. Of course, the locking arrangement between the door portion  15  and the main body portion  14  may consist of a friction fit between the projection  17   a  and the depression  16   a . Likewise, a snap-fit engagement may be provided to promote a positive engagement and closure of the door portion. 
     In additional to the locking system formed by the projections  17   a ,  17   b  and the depressions  16   a ,  16   b , the present invention may further comprise locking ridges  40 ,  42  formed on the front end of the attachment flange  22 . As shown in FIG. 2, the locking ridges  40 ,  42  parallely extend away from the access opening  30  on each side of the peg hole  12 . Corresponding locking troughs  50 ,  52  are provided in the door portion  15 , and these locking troughs  50 ,  52  are sized to frictionally engage the locking ridges  40 ,  42  as shown in FIG.  1 . These elements  40 ,  42 ,  50 ,  52  serve to further hold the door portion  15  in the closed position shown in FIG. 1 because the ridges  40 ,  42  and troughs  50 ,  52  add stability to resilient characteristic of the entire assembly. For example, the ridges  40 ,  42  and troughs  50 ,  52  increase the resilient interface between the projections  17   a ,  17   b  and the depressions  16   a ,  16   b . In addition, the overall strength of the access opening  30  is enhanced. Moreover, the ridges  40 ,  42  and troughs  50 ,  52  add to the frictional resistance holding the door portion  15  in the closed position. Of course, the exact design, size and arrangement of the ridges  40 ,  42  and troughs  50 ,  52  may vary from the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     The main body portion  14  is also formed with a finger-receiving depression  60  positioned on the top surface. The depression  60  makes it easier to open the door portion  15  by permitting the user to pry open the door portion by inserting a finger or finger nail under the flap  24  of the door portion  15 . 
     An alternate embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plastic blister package assembly  110  is designed to be hung from a peg hook (not shown) inserted through peg hook hole  112  in cardboard planar base plate or substrate  111 . A plastic blister assembly  113 , formed of unitary construction and preferably of copolyester plastic, typically a glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate, or PVC is provided for attachment to planar base plate  111 . 
     Transverse hinge  120  is integrally formed in the top surface of plastic assembly  113  and serves as a dividing line between a first or lower portion  114   a  of planar top surface  114  and upper, second portion  115   a  of planar top surface  115 . Extending from the sides of lower, first portion planar surface  114  are first portion side walls  116  and an interconnecting first portion end wall  118 . Circumscribing side walls  116  and end wall  118  is first portion attachment flange  122 . Attachment flange  122  is heat sealed to the base plate  111  for permanently attaching plastic assembly  113  to base plate  111 . When so attached, a compartment is formed into which merchandise can be inserted. 
     In like manner, the second, or upper portion  115   a  of planar top surface  115  has extending from its sides, second portion side walls  117  and interconnecting second portion end wall  119 . Circumscribing sidewalls  117  and interconnecting end wall  119  is second portion attachment flange  123 . 
     When the upper portion  115   a  of plastic assembly  113  is in the closed position, with second attachment flange  123  positioned against base plate  111 , the blister package assembly  110  appears to be of unitary construction having a single compartment all of which is adhesively attached by means of a circumscribing attachment flange to base plate  111 . 
     By providing separate pairs of opposing side walls  116  and  117 , and transverse hinge  120 , the upper portion of plastic assembly  113  can be folded out away from base plate  111  to provide access to the merchandise compartment defined by the lower portion of plastic assembly  113  and base plate  111 , even though base plate  111  is without any hinges as is shown in FIG.  4 . 
     In the second preferred embodiment, the flange  123  is formed with a flange extension  124 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, mating portions such as tab portion  130  are formed in flange extension  124  and slots  132  are formed in wings  133 . These elements are provided to make the package openable and reclosable without apparent damage. Flange extension  124  wraps around the base plate  111  and a hole  124   a  is provided in the flange extension  124 . Wings  133  also wrap around the side edges of the base plate  111 . The hole  124   a  is aligned with the hook hole  112  provided in the base plate  111 . Tabs  130  slip into slots  132  when the package is closed, and the tabs  130  are frictionally retained in place to provide a positive locking or closing of the package. 
     In FIG. 5, the back side of the base plate  111  is partially shown with the tabs  130  positively inserted into the slots  132  provided in the wings  133 . The package is opened by manually removing the tabs  130  from the slots  132 , and thereafter the extension flange  124  is pulled away from the base plate  111 . The upper portion  115   a  is then pivoted away from the base plate about the integral hinge  120  to exposed or provide access to the merchandise compartment defined by the lower portion  114   a  of plastic assembly  113 . 
     Because the inventive package may be opened and reclosed with no apparent damage, some indication of tampering may be provided in the form of tamper evident label. Tamper evident label may, for example, be attached with nonreusable adhesive across a portion of flange  123  and backing  111 , so that it must tear or otherwise be destroyed when the package is originally opened. A torn label is therefore evidence of tampering. Tamper evident labels may also be used with the tabs and slots described above. 
     It is also noted that the upper portion  115   a  may be heat sealed along the secondary attachment flange  123  to the base plate  111  for temporarily attaching the upper portion  115   a  of the plastic assembly  113  to base plate  111 . When the package is opened for first time, the heat seal provided along secondary flange  123  is broken, and the upper portion  115   a  may be pivoted away from the base plate  111 . When the seal along the secondary flange  123  is broken, it becomes readily evident that someone has tampered with the package. 
     Another alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6,  7  and  8 . As shown in FIG. 6, a mating portion is provided in the form of a “button”  240  and that engages the “hole”  224   a  and the hook hole  212 . Button  240  is formed in the extension flange  224 , and the button  240  is sized to mate with the hole  212  formed in the base plate  211  and the hole  224   a  formed in the extension flange  224 . 
     As with the previous embodiment, flange extension  224  wraps around the base plate  211  and a hole  224   a  is provided in the flange extension  224 . The hole  224   a  is aligned with the hook hole  212  provided in the base plate  211 . The button  240  snaps into both the holes  212  and  224   a  when the package is closed, and the button  240  is frictionally retained in place to provide a positive locking or closing of the package. See FIG.  9 . 
     Button  240  is formed with an aperture  240   a  in order to provide a hanging capability typically served by the hole  212  in the base plate  211 . Therefore, the button hole  240   a  is sized to receive the hook or peg typically associated with a hanging display. 
     To open the package shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the button  240  is dislodged from the holes  212  and  224   a , and the flange is pivoted away from the base plate  211  to reveal or provide access to the merchandise compartment defined by the body portion  214   a . After the user has accessed the merchandise compartment, the second body portion  215   a  closes off the merchandise compartment and the button  240  is again lodged into the holes  212  and  224   a.    
     This invention therefore provides a reclosable blister package made from one thermoformed plastic blister that can be easily opened and reclosed without damages to the package, which can be affixed to the backing card in a tamper resistant fashion, and which can be secured to the backing card while fully loaded. 
     Various modifications may be made to the design illustrated in the attached drawings and described above. For example, the button  240  may be disposed at the location of the hole  224   a  with a hole being provided at the location showing a button in FIGS. 6-9. Likewise, the exact arrangement of the tabs  130  and slot  132  may be altered or modified without departing from the objective of the present invention, i.e. to provide a reclosable blister pack that is relatively easy to manufacture and assembly while maintaining a user friendly package. 
     While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims.