Patent Application
20140319008
Blister packaging for small electronics goods is well known. One type of such display packaging consists of a pair of corrugated cardboard sheets joined together with a clear PVC plastic insert to show the product, and is popular with manufacturers and consumers. Consumers can see the product when contemplating a purchase, and for manufacturers the double cardboard layer package is rugged for protecting the product during shipping, and the sealed edges provide tamper resistance. See, for example, Nazari, U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,480.
There are environmental concerns with this popular type of packaging, however, as the cardboard and plastic portions are individually recyclable but must be separated for recycling. Even if designed to be separable, many consumers fail to make the effort. This is because the packaging is typically difficult to open and consumers resort to using a knife or scissors to cut the plastic portion and extract the product, leaving the plastic and cardboard together upon disposal. Accordingly, a better package is needed for displaying the product in a tamperproof fashion, and that is environmentally friendly as well as inexpensive to make.
Another issue with blister packaging for consumer products, having two sheets of corrugated cardboard and a clear plastic container sandwiched between them, is that this type of conventional packaging uses hot melt glue typically applied by hand and difficult to control due to the drying time and placement of the glue. Also, the corrugated sheets of the cardboard are visible on the side edges of the finished packaging which is aesthetically unappealing.
Other conventional blister packaging uses one sheet of corrugated cardboard and one or two flat sheet of paper. adhered together by adhesive. Since only one cardboard sheet is used, this type of packaging sometimes lacks sufficient structural strength when multiple display packs are stood on their sides in a container. When the weight of the top package is supported directly by the packs in the bottom bundle, they must have sufficient structural strength and rigidity to prevent them from bending.
A two-piece package for displaying a product includes a first sheet having a top panel with a cut-out attached to a bottom panel. The top panel and bottom panel are sized to have a common peripheral edge when folded together. A second sheet includes a front panel bearing an image of the product on one side. The second sheet is foldable into a shell having a rear opening sized to receive the product, and includes protruding tabs.
The package is configured such that when the shell is inserted through the cut-out and the first sheet folded together, the tabs are sandwiched by the top panel and the bottom panel. To seal the package, an adhesive is applied between the first sheet and the second sheet along the common peripheral edge. The adhesive may also extend inward of the common peripheral edge as desired. In other embodiments, the tabs may extend into the common peripheral edge, and adhesive may be applied on the tabs as well. Also the common peripheral edge is preferably crushed around a majority of its perimeter to add strength and resiliency, and provide an attractive edge to the package.
The first sheet and the second sheet can each preferably comprise a printed side and a blank side, to make production easy and inexpensive. The first sheet and the second sheet may also be made of corrugated cardboard. Whether corrugated cardboard or another similar crushable material is used, the crushed area can extend inward of the common peripheral edge by approximately one half inch. Additionally, the first sheet and the second sheet may also have corresponding slots for forming a handle for hanging and carrying once the package is assembled.
To make the package, an image of a product is placed on one side of the sheet forming the shell, which will typically have a blank opposing side. The first sheet, once folded into a shell is placed through a cut-out portion of the folding sheet having the cut-out. When the shell is placed through the cut-out, the protruding tabs engage the cut-out. The sheet having the cut out is then folded over to cover the open side of the shell and enclose the protruding tabs, an adhesive is applied around the peripheral edge of folded sheet and the edge preferably crushed. The folded sheets may also include complimentary slots for forming a handle.
a is a plan view of the printed side of a first cardboard sheet.
b is a plan view of the printed side of a second cardboard sheet.
a is a perspective view of the blank side of a first cardboard sheet.
b is a perspective view of the blank side of a partially folded second cardboard sheet.
Fig. IA shows in plan view a flat pattern of the printed side 108 of a first cardboard sheet 100. The first cardboard sheet 100 includes a top panel 102 and a bottom panel 104 for overlaying each other to form a common periphery. The top panel 102 comprises a cut-out 106. On the printed side 108, indicia 110, such as a product image, description, brand name and/or trademark, among others are preferably included. Only the printed side 108 and indicia 110 will be visible to purchasers when the first cardboard sheet 100 is folded. The first cardboard sheet 100 may also include slots 114 which form an integrated handle (not shown) when the first cardboard sheet 100 is folded prior to use.
Ideally, any adhesive will be strong enough so the package 10 will stay together in transit, when stacked and while hanging on display, but weak enough so the package 10 can be opened by a consumer. Although, as mentioned above, it is believed many consumers do not open these types of packages as designed, the package 10 being made entirely of cardboard is recyclable without separation. With the indicia 110, such as a photograph of the product (not shown) printed on the package 10, customers can see what they're buying before a purchase occurs.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment 10 of the invention is sufficient in detail to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is understood, however, that the detail of the preferred embodiment presented is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, in as much as equivalents thereof and other modifications which come within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this specification. For example, the package 10 may be formed by inserting the folded second cardboard sheet 200 through the cut-out 106 before folding the top panel 102 over the bottom panel 104, or may be formed by seating the folded cardboard sheet 200 on the bottom panel 104 before folding over the top panel. Also, the first cardboard sheet may not be contiguous, but may comprise a separate top panel 102 and bottom panel 104 separately brought together. obviating the need for folding the first cardboard sheet 100.
This application claims the benefit of the priority filing date of provisional application no. 61/638,171, filed on Apr. 25, 2012.
