Patent Publication Number: US-2021179331-A1

Title: Packaged Oral Care Implement and Packaged Set Thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the commercialization of toothbrushes, the current trend is to package toothbrushes in blister packages. White the use of blister packages has proven to be cost-effective and effective at adequately protecting the toothbrush contained therein, existing blister packages are often difficult to open. Furthermore, toothbrushes may also be packaged in blister packs whereby the cavity of the blister pack is closed by a backer card. As a result, the toothbrushes are only visible from one side because the backer card tends to be opaque. However, it may be desirable for a consumer to be able to view both sides of the toothbrush before deciding whether to make a purchase. Thus, a need exists for an improved package that cures one or more of the aforementioned deficiencies. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a packaged oral care implement that includes a package and at least one oral care implement. The package may include a blister package having a receiving cavity and a flat panel coupled to the blister packaged to close an open end of the receiving cavity. The flat panel may include a first window aperture. A transparent film may be placed onto a front surface of the flat panel to cover or otherwise close the first window aperture. 
     In one embodiment, the invention may be a packaged oral care implement comprising: a package having a front surface and an opposite rear surface, the package comprising: a blister package comprising a receiving cavity having an open rear end; a flat panel comprising a front surface, a rear surface opposite the front surface, and a first window aperture formed through the flat panel, the flat panel coupled to the blister package so that the rear surface of the flat panel closes the open rear end of the receiving cavity; and a transparent film coupled to the front surface of the flat panel and covering the first window aperture; and an oral care implement positioned within the receiving cavity of the blister package, wherein the oral care implement is visible from the rear surface of the package through the blister package and from the front surface of the package through the first window aperture. 
     In another embodiment, the invention may be a packaged set of oral care implements comprising: a package having a front surface and an opposite rear surface, the package comprising: a blister package comprising one or more receiving cavities each having an open rear end; a flat panel coupled to the blister package so that a rear surface of the flat panel closes the open rear end of each of the one or more receiving cavities, the flat panel comprising a plurality of pre-weakened areas that divide the flat panel into a plurality of sections such that each of the plurality of sections is aligned with one of the one or more receiving cavities, wherein each of the plurality of sections comprises a first window aperture; a transparent film coupled to a front surface of the flat panel that is opposite the rear surface of the flat panel, the transparent film covering the first window aperture, wherein the transparent film is non-heat sealable; and a plurality of oral care implements positioned between the blister pack and the flat panel so that each of the plurality of oral care implements is positioned within one of the plurality of receiving cavities, wherein each of the oral care implements is visible from the rear surface of the package through the blister package and from the front surface of the package through the first and window aperture. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should he understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a packaged set of oral care implements in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the packaged set of oral care implements of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded rear perspective view of the packaged set of oral care implements of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up view of area V of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a section of the packaged set of oral care implements being detached from a remainder of the packaged set of oral care implements; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate the section of the packaged set of oral care implements of  FIG. 6  being opened to provide a user with access to the oral care implement contained therein; and 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of a packaged set of oral care implements in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
     The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the exemplified embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2  concurrently, a packaged set of oral care implements  1000  is illustrated according to an embodiment of the present invention. The packaged set of oral care implements  1000  generally comprises a package  100  and a plurality of oral care implements  200  that are positioned within and retained by the package  100 . The package  100  protects the oral care implement  200  from damage during transit from the manufacturing facility to the retail store or the consumer&#39;s home. The package  100  also enables a potential consumer to view the oral care implement  200  through the package  100  when the consumer is trying to determine whether or not to make a purchase. 
     Although in the exemplified embodiment the package  100  contains a plurality of the oral care implements  200 , in other embodiments the package  100  may contain only one of the oral care implements  200 . Thus, the invention may be directed to only a portion or section of the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  illustrated in  FIG. 1  that is sufficient to hold or otherwise contain a single one of the oral care implements  200 . For example, the portion or section of the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  that is being detached from the remainder of the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  in  FIG. 6  could form the packaged oral care implement in some embodiments. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implement  200  is a toothbrush, and more specifically a manual toothbrush. Of course, in other embodiments the oral care implement  200  may be a powered toothbrush. In still other embodiments, other types of oral care implements can be used in conjunction with the package  100 , including tongue cleaners, tooth polishers, oral care material dispensers, and other oral care ansate implements. Finally, in certain other embodiments, the invention can be the package  100  independent of the product contained therein. 
     Moreover although in the exemplified embodiment the package  100  is intended to contain one or more oral care implements  200 , the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments. Specifically, in other embodiments the package  100  may contain, for example, an oral care implement and a container of toothpaste. Alternatively, the package  100  may contain oral care implements plus any other articles such as pencils, pens, hygiene caps, or the like. Moreover, although in the exemplified embodiment each of the oral care implements  200  is positioned within its own receiving cavity, in other embodiments multiple oral care implements  200  may be disposed in a single cavity. 
     The package  100  generally comprises a front surface  101  and a rear surface  102  that is opposite the front surface  101 . The front surface  101  of the package  100  is flat or planar whereas at least a portion of the rear surface  102  of the package  1000  has a three-dimensional contour. The oral care implements  200  are exposed on both of the front and rear surfaces  101 ,  102  of the package  100 . However, a greater amount/percentage of the oral care implements  100  are exposed when viewed from the rear surface  102  of the package  100  than from the front surface  101  of the package  100 . In the exemplified embodiment, an entirety of the oral care implements  100  are visible when viewed from the rear surface  102  of the package  100  whereas only a portion of the oral care implements  200  are visible when viewed from the front surface  101  of the package  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  concurrently, the package  100  generally comprises a blister package  110 , a flat panel  130 , and a transparent film  150 . These components of the package  100  are coupled together in such a manner that they can hold the plurality of oral care implements  200  for display in a retail environment while permitting the oral care implement  200  to be viewed by a consumer. Thus, the package  100  protects the oral care implements  200  during transit and display, but the package  100  does not affect a consumer&#39;s ability to view the product prior to purchase. In the exemplified embodiment, there are six of the oral care implements  200  positioned within the package  100 , although more or less than six of the oral care implements  200  may be positioned in the package  100  in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the package  100  is sold as a unit with all of the oral care implements  200 . 
     In other embodiments, the package  100  includes tear-away portions so that each of the oral care implements  200  can be purchased separately at the point of sale by detaching portions of the package from a remainder of the package, as described in more detail below. Thus, in the exemplified embodiment the package  100  is what is known in the art as a hanger mat, which is a single package containing multiple articles whereby the articles can be individually detached or removed from the package while remaining enclosed within an individual package. Thus, the individual packages make up the whole package  100 , but each individual package is detachable from the whole package  100 . 
     The plurality of oral care implements  200  are housed within the package  100  as described herein. Each of the oral care implements  200  comprises a handle  210 , a head  220 , and a neck  215  that extends between the handle  210  and the head  220 . Specifically, the handle  210  extends from a distal end  211  to a proximal end  212 , the neck  215  is coupled to and extends from the proximal end  212  of the handle  210 , and the head  220  is coupled to and extends from the neck  215  on the opposite end of the neck  215  from the handle  210 . 
     A plurality of tooth cleaning elements  221  extend from a front surface of the head  220  for cleaning a user&#39;s oral cavity. The plurality of tooth cleaning elements  221  may comprise bristles formed of nylon that may be end-rounded, tapered, and/or spiral, lamella or other wiper-style cleaning elements that are formed from a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber, or any other element that is typically used for the cleaning of a user&#39;s teeth, gums, and/or tongue. Common examples of tooth cleaning elements include, without limitation, bristle tufts, filament bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastomeric protrusions, flexible polymer protrusions, combinations thereof and/or structures containing such materials or combinations. Suitable elastomeric materials include any biocompatible resilient material suitable for uses in an oral hygiene apparatus. To provide optimum comfort as well as cleaning benefits, elastomeric material that may be used to form lamella preferably has a hardness property in the range of A8 to A25 Shore hardness. One preferred elastomeric material is styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS Corporation. Nevertheless, SEBS material from other manufacturers or other materials within and outside the noted hardness range can be used. The tooth cleaning elements  221  may be coupled to the head  220  in any conventional manner. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implements  200  positioned in the package  100  are identical to one another. Thus, the package  100  holds six identical oral care implements  200 . However, the invention is not to be so limited and the package  100  may contain several different oral care implements  200  with different shapes, structures, bristle patterns, or the like. 
     As noted throughout, when the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  is assembled for retail display (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), at least a portion of the oral care implements  200  contained in the package  100  are visible from outside of the package  100  from both the front of the package  100  and the rear of the package  100 . As a result, surfaces of the portion of the oral care implement  200  that are substantially opposite one another (i.e., 180° apart) can be viewed by the consumer without removing the oral care implement  200  from the package  100  or compromising the integrity of the package  100 . 
     As noted above, the package  100  comprises the blister package  110 , the flat panel  130 , and the transparent film  150 , each of which will be described in some detail herein below. In the exemplified embodiment, the flat panel  130  is formed of the same material as a typical backer card. For example, the flat panel  130  may be formed from a paperboard material, cardboard, or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the flat panel  110  is formed from 270-320 grams per square meter (GSM) paperboard made from recycled or virgin material. In the invention described herein the flat panel  130  forms a front of the package  100  rather than a rear of the package  100  as with traditional backer cards. 
     The flat panel  130  generally comprises a front surface  131  and a rear surface  132  opposite the front surface  131 . Each of the front and rear surfaces  131 ,  132  of the flat panel  130  are flat, planar surfaces. In the exemplified embodiment, the front and rear surfaces  131 ,  132  of the flat panel  130  are parallel to one another. The flat panel  130  may include product information, marketing information, instructions, other relevant information, graphics, logos, and/or other visual designs printed or otherwise provided thereon. All or a portion of the flat panel  130  can be opaque so that product information can be effectively conveyed to the consumer. In some embodiments, such markings or printing may be provided on the front surface  131  of the flat panel  130  whereas in other embodiments such markings or printing may be provided on the rear surface  132  of the flat panel  130 . In other embodiments still, both of the front and rear surfaces  131 ,  132  of the flat panel  130  may include markings, printings, or the like thereon to provide information about the product contained in the package  100  to a consumer. While the flat panel  130  may be flexible in certain embodiments, in other embodiments the flat panel  130  may be rigid or semi-rigid. 
     The blister package  110  is coupled to the rear surface  132  of the flat panel  130 . The blister package  110  may be a thermoformed plastic film having a three-dimensional contour that enables the blister package  100  to house the oral care implements  200 . Suitable thermoformed plastic films may be constructed of such material as polyethyleneterephtalate (PETA, PETG, PETGAG), polyvinylchloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP) or styrol-butadiene-blockcopolymer (SBS), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET), with PCT or RPET being preferred in some embodiments. Other suitable materials of construction for the thermoformed plastic film include, without limitation, renewable primary products, for example of cornstarch, sugar (polyhydroxybutyrat/-valerat), cellulose diacetat, cellulose nitrate, polyactid (PLA), and polyhydroxybutyrat (PHB). 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the blister package  100  is substantially transparent, thereby allowing visibility therethrough. However, in alternate embodiments, only a portion of the blister package  100  may be substantially transparent. As used herein, the term “transparent” includes materials that allow a user to see through the material, even if the material is colored or includes a small degree of translucency. 
     The blister package  110  has a front surface  111  and a rear surface  112  opposite the front surface  111 . When coupled to the flat panel  130 , the rear surface  112  of the blister package  110  is adjacent to the rear surface  132  of the flat panel  130 . Furthermore, a perimeter portion of the blister package  110  may be heat-sealed or otherwise affixed (using an adhesive or the like) to the rear surface  132  of the flat panel  130  to couple the blister package  110  to the flat panel  130 . 
     The blister package  110  comprises or defines a plurality of receiving cavities  113 . In the exemplified embodiment, the blister package  110  is an integral, monolithic structure that forms or defines all of the plurality of receiving cavities  113 . In alternative embodiments, the blister package  110  may comprise a plurality of blister sections that are separately formed from one another and each coupled to the flat panel  130 . In such an embodiment, each of the blister sections may comprises one of the plurality of receiving cavities  113 . Each of the plurality of receiving cavities  113  has an open rear end in the rear surface  112  of the blister package  110  to facilitate placing the oral care implements  200  into and removing the oral care implements  200  from the receiving cavities  113 . During assembly of the packaged set of oral care implements  1000 , the oral care implements  200  are placed within the receiving cavities  113  of the blister package  110  through the open rear end and then the blister package  110  is coupled to the rear surface  132  of the flat panel  130  (using heat sealing, adhesive bonding, or the like). As a result, the oral care implements  200  are disposed within the receiving cavity  113  between the blister packages  110  and the flat panel  130 . 
     The transparent film  150  is coupled to the front surface  131  of the flat panel  130 . The transparent film  150  may be a non-heat sealable laminate film. In some embodiments, the transparent film  150  may be formed from biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In some embodiments the transparent film  150  may have a thickness between 10 and 70 microns, more specifically between 10 and 50 microns, more specifically between 10 and 30 microns, and still more specifically between 15 and 25 microns. In certain embodiments, the transparent film  150  is affixed to the front surface  131  of the flat panel  130  using an adhesive. Although adhesive is used in the exemplified embodiment, in other embodiments the transparent film  150  may be coupled to the flat panel  130  using fasteners, staples, screws, nails, other hardware components, hook-and-loop strips, or the like. Such mechanisms may be necessary in some embodiment when the transparent film  150  is non-heat sealable. However, it is possible that in other embodiments the transparent film  150  may be capable of being heat-sealed to the flat panel  130 . In the exemplified embodiment, the transparent film  150  covers an entirety of the front surface  131  of the flat panel  130 . Thus, the transparent film  150  forms an entirety of the front surface  101  of the package  100 . It is possible in other embodiments for the transparent film  150  to be located only along certain portions of the flat panel  130  rather than covering it in its entirety. As will be described in more detail below, the transparent film  150  covers apertures in the flat panel  130  to form windows through which the oral care implements  200  can be viewed. 
     As noted above, in the exemplified embodiment the package  100  is intended to house a plurality of the oral care implements  200 . In that regard, in the exemplified embodiment the package  100  comprises a plurality of pre-weakened areas  160  that divide the package  100  into a plurality of sections  161 . The pre-weakened areas  160  extend through the entirety of the package  100 , including through the blister package  110 , the flat panel  130 , and the transparent film  150 . Thus, a user can readily detach a section  161  of the package  100  from the remainder of the package  100 , which includes detaching a section of the blister package  110 , the flat panel  130 , and the transparent film  150  while keeping the section of the blister package  110 , the flat panel  130 , and the transparent film  150  being detached intact. Thus, even after being detached, the oral care implement  200  in that particular section  161  remains positioned within the receiving cavity  113  and disposed between the blister package  110  and the flat panel  130 . Thus, the detached section  161  still offers protection to the oral care implement  200  against damage and bacteria until it is opened by a consumer as described below with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In the exemplified embodiment, the pre-weakened areas  160  may be formed by perforation lines, score lines, small holes, a deep depression, or the like. 
     With a brief reference to  FIG. 9 , an alternative embodiment of a packaged set of oral care implements  1000   a  is illustrated to describe an alternative embodiment for the pre-weakened areas  160   a.  The packaged set of oral care implements  1000   a  will be numbered similarly to the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  except that the suffix “a” will be used. Thus, the description fo the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  is applicable to the packaged set of oral care implements  1000   a  unless a contradictory description is provided in the description of  FIG. 9 . 
     In the embodiment of the packaged set of oral care implements  1000   a  illustrated in  FIG. 9 , each section  161   a  of the package  100   a  may be coupled to the adjacent sections  161   a  at discrete attachment points  169   a  (also referred to as “notches”), with the remainder of the adjacent sections  161   a  not being physically attached. Some but not all of the attachment points  169   a  are labeled in the drawings to avoid clutter and redundancy. Thus, in this embodiment the adjacent sections  161  are only attached at small, discrete, spaced apart regions, thereby rendering detachment of the adjacent sections  161  from one another easy to achieve. In some embodiments, the discrete attachment points  169   a  may be between 0.5 and 2.0 mm in length, and more specifically between 1.0 and 1.5 mm in length. In one preferable embodiment, the discrete attachment points may be 1.0 mm in length. There is no physical attachment between the adjacent sections  161  in between the discrete attachment points  169   a.    
     As will be described in greater detail below with regard to the main embodiment, the package  100   a  comprises a first window aperture  133   a  and a second window aperture  134   a , which are apertures formed through the flat panel  130   a  that are covered by the transparent film  150   a.  In the exemplified embodiment, none of the discrete attachment points  169   a  are aligned. with either of the first and second window apertures  133   a,    134   a.  Stated another way, the package  100   a  extends along a longitudinal axis A-A. Any plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A and that extends through the front and rear surfaces of the package  100   a  that intersects either of the first and second window apertures  133   a,    134   a  does not also intersect any one of the notches  169   a.  As a result of this, none of the discrete attachment points  169   a  are aligned with the longitudinal axis A-A, and thus the longitudinal axis A-A of the package  100   a  does not intersect any of the notches  169   a.  Thus, the discrete attachment points  169   a  are off-centered and are not provided in the region of the first and second window apertures  133   a,    134   a . This protects the integrity of the seal into the receiving cavities as aligning the discrete attachment points  169   a  with the first and/or second window apertures  133   a,    134   a  creates a situation where the transparent film  150  may rip or tear along the first and second window apertures  133   a,    134   a.    
     The exact structure that creates the pre-weakened areas  160  is not to be limiting of the invention in all embodiments so long as the pre-weakened areas  160  enable sections of the package  100  to be detached from the remainder of the package  100  as described herein. Furthermore, in some embodiments the pre-weakened areas  160  may be omitted such that detaching sections of the package  100  may not be possible or may at least not be facilitated by the structure of the package  100 . 
     Each of the sections  161  of the package  100  includes a portion of the blister package  110 , a portion of the flat panel  130 , and a portion of the transparent film  150 . Furthermore, each of the sections  161  comprises one of the receiving cavities  113  so that each of the sections  161  of the package  100  can hold or otherwise contain one of the oral care implements  200 . Stated another way, one of the oral care implements  200  is positioned within the receiving cavity  113  of each of the sections  161  of the package  100 . Thus, detaching one of the sections  161  from the remainder of the package  100  will detach one of the oral care implements  200  so that it can be purchased or used separately from the others of the oral care implements  200  of the packaged set of oral care implements  1000 . 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the flat panel  130  comprises a first window aperture  133  and a second window aperture  134  within each of the sections  161  of the package  100 . Thus, one of the first window apertures  133  and one of the second window apertures  134  is aligned with each of the receiving cavities  113  of the blister package  110 . As a result, portions of each of the oral care implements  200  (one of which is positioned within each of the receiving cavities  113 ) can be seen from a front of the package  100  through each of the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134 . The package  100  has a longitudinal axis that extends transverse to an axis of the oral care implements  200 , the longitudinal axis of the package  100  dividing the package into a first section and a second section, In the exemplified embodiment, both of the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  are located within the first section of the package  100 . Stated another way, both of the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  are located on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the package  100  (although a small part of the second window aperture  134  may extend onto the second side of the longitudinal axis of the package  100  in some embodiments). Thus, the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  allow a consumer to view upper portions of the oral care implement  200  but not lower portions of the oral care implement  200  from the front surface  101  of the package  100 . 
     Each of the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  extends through the flat panel  130  from the front surface  131  to the rear surface  132 . The first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  are spaced apart such that they are separated by a bridge portion  135  of the flat panel  130 . In the exemplified embodiment, the oral care implements  200  extend along a longitudinal axis and the bridge portions  135  are elongated in a direction that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the oral care implements  200 . In the exemplified embodiment, the bridge portions  135  are arcuate. Moreover, the arcuate shape of the bridge portions  135  match or otherwise correspond to the direction of movement of the head/neck  215 ,  220  of the oral care implement  200  that occurs when a force is applied to the head  220 . Specifically, the arc-like movement of the head  220  when under pressure is similar to the arc-like shape of the bridge portion  135 . 
     The surface area of the first window aperture  133  is larger than the surface area of the second window aperture  134  in the exemplified embodiment. The space between the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  (i.e., the surface area of the bridge portion  135 ) is small relative to the overall length of the oral care implement  100 . Thus, the surface area of the bridge portion  135  is less than the surface area of each of the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134 . As a result, the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  are reasonably close together such that at first glance an observer may not notice that there are two distinct window apertures, The bridge portion  135  covers/conceals from view an axial portion of the oral care implement  200  that is between the proximal portion of the handle  210  that is visible through the second window aperture  134  and the portion of the neck and head  215 ,  220  that are visible through the first window aperture  133 . 
     As described above, the transparent film  150  covers the entirety of the front surface  131  of the flat panel  130 , thereby covering or enclosing each of the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  along the front surface  101  of the package  100 . In other embodiments, the transparent film  150  may merely be coupled to the flat panel  130  so as to cover or enclose each of the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  without requiting the transparent film  150  to cover the entirety of the front surface  131  of the flat panel  130 . Thus, the transparent film  150  may merely span the first and second window openings  133 ,  134  without extending much beyond the first and second window openings  133 ,  134 . However, covering the entire front surface  131  of the flat panel  130  with the transparent film  150  may create a more seamless and desirable aesthetic. There is no opening from the front surface  101  of the package  100  into the receiving cavities  113  because the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  are closed by the transparent film  150 . However, because the transparent film  150  is transparent, it does not block a user from viewing the oral care implements  200 , or portions thereof, through the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134 , as best shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Each of the first window apertures  133  are identical in shape, appearance, and position on the particular section  161  of the package  100  on which they are located and each of the second window apertures  134  are identical in shape, appearance, and relative position on the particular section  161  of the package  100  on which they are located. Thus, although the specific details will be described with regard to one of the first window apertures  133  and one of the second window apertures  134 , it should be appreciated that the descriptions apply to each of the first and each of the second window apertures  133 ,  134 . 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the first window aperture  133  comprises a generally linear portion  136  and a bulbous potion  137 . In the exemplified embodiment, the bulbous portion  137  is round, circular, or ovular in shape, but the invention is not to be so limited in all embodiments and the bulbous portion  137  could have a square, rectangular, or triangular shape in other embodiments. The bulbous portion  137  is sized, shaped, and positioned so that the head  220  and tooth cleaning elements  221  are visible therethrough when viewed from the front surface  101  of the package  100 . The linear portion  136  is sized, shaped, and positioned so that a portion of the neck  215  of the oral care implement  200  is visible therethrough when viewed from the front surface  101  of the package  100 . The second window aperture  134  is spaced apart from the first window aperture  133  by the bridge portion  135  of the flat panel  130 . The second window aperture  134  has a generally trapezoidal shape. A proximal portion of the handle  210  of the oral care implement  200  that is adjacent to the neck  215  is visible through the second window aperture  134  when viewed from the front surface  101  of the package  100 . 
     The bridge portion  135  extends between the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  so that a portion of the oral care implement  200  located between the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  is not visible from the front surface  101  of the package  100 . The bridge portion  135  has a convex upper edge  138  that defines a lower end of the first window aperture  133  and a concave lower edge  139  that defines an upper end of the second window aperture  134 . Thus, as noted above the bridge portion  135  is generally arcuate in shape. The lower end of the first window aperture  133  and the upper end of the second window aperture  134  are complementary in shape so that the lower end of the first window aperture  133  and the upper end of the second window aperture  134  would fit seamlessly together if the bridge portion  135  were removed. 
     The first and second window apertures  133 ,  134  and the bridge portion  135  of the flat panel  130  collectively have a shape that corresponds with a shape of an upper portion of the oral care implement  200 . As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an entirety of the oral care implement  200  is visible from the rear surface  102  of the package  100  through the blister package  130  and the head  220 , the neck  215 , and a portion of the handle  210  of the oral care implement  200  is visible from the front surface  101  of the package  100  through the transparent film  150  and the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134 . The portion of the handle  210  may be less than one-half of a length of the handle  210 , less than one-third of the length of the handle  210 , less than one-fourth of the length of the handle  210 , less than one-fifth of the length of the handle  210 , less than one-sixth of the length of the handle  210 , less than one seventh, one-eighth, one-ninth, or one-tenth of the length of the handle  210  in various different embodiments. 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the flat panel  130  comprises indicia  140  (illustrated in  FIG. 1  only) on the front surface  131  along the bridge portion  135  that is indicative of a characteristic of the oral care implement  200  contained in the package  100 . In the exemplified embodiment, the indicia  140  is an illustration of a spring with arrows to indicate that the oral care implement  200  is flexible. In certain embodiments, the bridge portion  135 , and hence also the indicia  140  thereon, may be located in alignment with a pivot point of the oral care implement  200  about which the head  220  flexes/pivots when pressure is applied to the head  220  during brushing. Thus, the indicia  140  may not only indicate that the oral care implement  200  has flexibility, but also provide an indication of the exact location at which the head  220  pivots/flexes during use. Of course, the spring is just one specific indicium that may be used. The indicia  140  on the bridge portion  135  of the flat panel  130  may be modified to indicate different characteristics of the oral care implement  200 , such as a tapering or spiral filament to indicate that the oral care implement  200  has tapered or spiral bristles, a snowflake or the like to indicate that the oral care implement  200  includes an additive that provides a cooling sensation (trigeminal response) to a user during use, or the like. The specific symbol or illustration used for the indicia  140  is not limiting of the present invention and can be modified as needed depending on the characteristics of the oral care implement  200  that is contained in the package  100  and desired to be informatively relayed to a consumer 
     In the exemplified embodiment, the package  100  includes a hanging element  199  for hanging the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  in a retail environment. In the exemplified embodiment, the hanging element  199  is a strip of plastic or similar material that is coupled to the package  100 . In other embodiments, the hanging element  199  could merely be an aperture or opening so that the package  100  can be hung from a hook. Thus, variations in the exact configuration of the hanging element  199  are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 1 , in the exemplified embodiment there is a hanging aperture  141  formed through the package  100  within each of the sections  161  of the package  100 . Thus, a retail store employee could detach each of the sections  161  of the package  100  and hang them separately if so desired rather than hanging the entire packaged set of oral care implements  1000  together as a single unit. When the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  is hanging for display, the front surface  131  of the flat panel  130  (which is covered by the transparent film  150 ) forms a display side of the package  100  that is exposed to a consumer. The rear surface  132  of the flat panel  130  is generally obscured from a consumer&#39;s view unless the consumer manipulates the packaged set of oral care implements  1000  and/or removes it from its hanging position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , as described above each of the sections  161  of the package  100  can be detached from a remainder of the package  100  by tearing along the pre-weakened area  160  surrounding that particular section  161 .  FIG. 6  illustrates one of the sections  161  being separated from a remainder of the package  100 . As can be seen, the package  100  comprises a perimeter portion  190  that surrounds the plurality of sections  161  so that even when all of the sections  161  are detached, the perimeter portion  190  remains intact. One of the sections  161  may be detached by a consumer at the retail location prior to purchase or the sections  161  may be detached by a retail store employee prior to displaying the oral care implements  200  for sale. As discussed above, each of the sections  161  comprises a portion of the flat panel  130 , a portion of the blister package  110 , and a portion of the transparent film  150 . Furthermore, one of the oral care implements  200  is positioned within each of the sections  161 . 
     In some embodiments, the invention may be directed to a single one of the sections  161 . Each of the sections  161  includes the flat panel  130 , the first and second window apertures  133 ,  134 , the blister package  110 , and the transparent film  150 . Furthermore, each of the sections  161  contains one of the oral care implements  200 . Thus, the invention may be directed to a packaged oral care implement that includes a package that comprises the blister package  110 , the flat panel  130 , and the transparent film  150  as described herein as well as one of the oral care implements  200 . In one embodiment, the section  161  that is illustrated in  FIG. 6  removed from the remainder of the package  100  may form the entirety of the packaged oral care implement claimed herein. 
     Next, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the section  161  can be opened to expose the oral care implement  200  contained therein. In that regard, in some embodiments a portion of the flat panel  130  and the blister package  110  located along a corner of the section  161  may be separated or otherwise not adhered to one another. As a result, a tab  145  is formed along that corner for separating the flat panel  130  from the blister package  100  to enable a user to remove the oral care implement  200 . In some embodiments, there may be indicia  146  located along the tab  145  to identify the tab  145  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the oral care implement  200  located within the receiving cavity  113  of the blister package  110  of one section of the package  100  after the flat panel  130  has been separated from the blister package  110 . Once so opened, a user can remove the oral care implement  200  from the receiving cavity  113  of the blister package  110  and use the oral care implement  200  in a traditional manner for oral hygiene activities. 
     While the foregoing description and drawings represent the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, sizes, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments.