Environmental rigid blister package

Abstract

Rigid blister packages contain at least one rigid transparent plastic blister protruding outwardly from a relatively flat base on one or two sides. The blister confines and protects an article or articles, while permitting the article(s) to be viewed. The package is environmentally friendly and attractive through incorporation of a relatively thick stiffener or equivalent captured between the two paperboard sheets that provide the outer surfaces of the package. The stiffener occupies a smaller portion of the surface area covered by each paperboard sheet to produce a bulge or puffiness in the surface of at least one of the paperboard sheets to give the base of the package an appearance and feel of strength

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This non-provisional application for patent is related to an earlier-filed provisional application for patent by the inventor, Ser. No. 60 / 834,995, filed Aug. 1, 2006 entitled Environmental Rigid Blister Package, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Applicant claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) based on the foregoing provisional application.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to retail product display packages and, more particularly, to an improved environmentally friendly blister card package that allows the customer to visually inspect the confined product through a transparent blister-like thermo-formed plastic window or compartment in the package prior to purchase.BACKGROUND[0003]Existing blister card packages typically contain a paperboard base that is basically flat in geometry and a transparent plastic compartment and surrounding flange surface attached to the upper surface...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]A rigid blister card type package for confining and displaying a product contains a transparent plastic compartment or blister outwardly extending from the relatively planar base. The blister confines a product and permits a view of the interior and the product. The surface of the base contains a raised portion in a region exhibiting a puffiness surrounding the compartment while the narrow peripheral region adjacent the edge of the base is flat, giving the package a more sturdy and expensive “feel” to the consumer.

[0025]In an alternative embodiment, the flange lies under the stiffener and extends through the opening in that stiffener and the opening in the overlying paperboard layer. The underside of the flange is fastened to the other paperboard layer by a heat seal. As before, the stiffener is formed of corrugated cardboard or chipboard. In a more preferred embodiment the heat seal does not extend to the portion of the paperboard layer that overlies and / or underlies the flange of the plastic blister. That flange contacts the paperboard and, like the stiffener, is physically captured between the paperboard layers, but remains unattached. Because the paperboard is not attached to the plastic flange, recycling of the package when required is more easily accomplished.

[0027]With the two paperboard layers secured together along the outer edges sandwiching the flange surface of the rigid plastic blister there between, the effective thickness of the flange is increased in the flange regions containing the channels. The greater thickness produces a puffiness or bulging in that region of the surface of the paperboard. That combination of stiffness and surface bulging gives the rigid blister package the same stiff, strong feel and body of the prior embodiments. With fewer components, stock keeping of components is simplified. Reclamation is also simplified.

Problems solved by technology

The back side of the base may contained printed material, such as information concerning the packaged product, but being opaque, does not permit viewing of the product from the back side.

Those attributes made it impossible for a miscreant to stuff the package in his or her coat or trouser pocket in an attempt to steal the product.

The rigidity of that flange made it difficult to compress the size of the blister card to one that easily fits in a trouser pocket.

Most plastics are manufactured using oil, and oil has dramatically escalated in price, increasing the manufacturing costs of plastic toys and plastic packaging.

More importantly, plastic has been found to be an environmental liability.

If not separable, the recycler is unable to perform the recycling process for the respective materials and recycling fails.

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