The present application is directed to paperboard packages and, more particularly, to self-standing features for paperboard packages.
Manufacturers and retailers of consumer goods, such as pharmaceuticals, software, electronics, health and beauty products and the like, typically package their products in tamper resistant security packages. For example, many consumer goods are packaged in blister or clamshell packages formed by positioning a consumer good in a flanged blister made from various polymeric and/or paperboard materials and sealing the flanged blister between two paperboard substrates. Consumers have voiced disapproval of such packages because of the difficulty of opening the same and the potential for being cut on a rough edge especially of plastic blisters. Packages may therefore be made based largely on paperboard, for example, NATRALOCK packages. Packaging made primarily of paperboard is more sustainable than packaging made from petroleum-based plastics. The paperboard used in such packages may be tear-resistant as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,635.
Some blister packages may comprise a paperboard card and a blister. Such a package may be suitable for display by hanging from a hook, but may not be well adapted for display in a standing configuration. Accordingly, there is a need for a blister package that provides a convenient feature for displaying the package in a standing configuration.
In one aspect a packaging structure is disclosed which comprises a first panel and a second panel comprised of sheet material, and a first blister comprising a flange, wherein the first blister is sealed to at least one of the panels, and wherein the first panel and the second panel are connected at a first angle along a first fold line.
Other aspects of the disclosed packaging structures will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
As various embodiments of the security package are described, reference will be made to
Paperboard security packages, such as blister packages, are well known by those skilled in the art.
The card 110 (and other cards, sleeves, liners, wraps, etc described herein) may be formed of a sheet material such as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its strength. An example of such a sheet material is EASYSEAL paperboard made by MeadWestvaco Corporation. The sheet material may have a heat sealable coating, for example to allow a heat seal to be created between the back panel 120 and front panel 140. Alternately, other forms of adhesive may be used to seal these panels together. It should be noted that the use of tear resistant materials, and/or in more than one layer, help to improve the tamper- and theft-resistance of the package.
Package 100 may be used to enclose either a loose item of merchandise, or an inner carton enclosing merchandise. For example, a manufacturer may have an existing well established carton with a well-recognized brand image, but lacking adequate security. Such a carton may have a premium appearance, for example custom graphics, metallization, embossing, or other premium features. By placing the existing premium carton inside the security package, tamper and theft resistance are provided. Furthermore once the security package is opened (which may destroy the security package) the premium package is still intact. Thus a manufacturer may wish to enclose an existing carton within package 100, or any of the other security packages described herein.
The following packages and blanks disclosed in this application teach modifications on the standard paperboard blister packages. The disclosed modifications teach improved standing features for a paperboard based package. It is to be understood that a variety of materials may be used to form these packages. However, for sustainability purposes, a paperboard based material may be used and for improved theft deterrence a tear resistant paperboard may be used. The standing features described in this application may be used alone or in combination with other package features.
Back panel 220 and front panel 240 may, for example, be paperboard. The panels are shown with substantially the same perimeter, which may yield a package comprised of two layers of paperboard. However, portions of the package might only be single ply. A more secure package may result if the blister flange 264 is sandwiched between two layers of material. One or both plies may comprise hang hole 221, 241. Back panel 220 and front panel 240 may comprise cut lines 226, 246 delineating leg panels 227, 247 that may be hingedly folded relative to the package, for example along fold lines such as 226F.
Heat sealing may be accomplished by use of both heat and pressure. Heat sealing may be used at the juncture of blister flange 264 with the front panel 240 and back panel 220. Heat sealing may also be used along the periphery of front panel 240 and back panel 220. Alternately heat sealing may be used on the entire adjoining surfaces of front panel 240 and back panel 220, including the blister flange 264.
In another embodiment, the package may be made of only one layer of paperboard, for example by attaching blister 260 to back panel 220 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means, and omitting front panel 240.
In another embodiment the package may be made of only one layer of paperboard, for example by attaching blister 360 to back panel 320 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means, and omitting front panel 340.
It is to be understood that the hang tab may comprise two or more layers of material. It is to be understood that the hang tab may comprise three or more layers of material. It is to be understood that the exact dimensions of the package may be adjusted based on manufacturing preferences. In addition, fold-over panels may be provided on some paperboard panels to strengthen certain areas, for example the hang tab, by adding one or more layers. In such an instance a heavier product may be contained within the package without risk of the hang tab tearing or breaking. These packages may be formed from more than one blank of paperboard material, or the blanks may in some cases be combined. In some cases, the packages may be formed from a single blank of paperboard material. In some cases, the packages may be formed using a single layer of paperboard material.
Fold lines in certain of the package designs may provide an area through which to initiate a tear. To help prevent such a tear or keep it from breaching the blister, stress diverter features (not shown) may be provided such as shaped openings along a fold line to divert a tear away from the blister. One or more layers of the paperboard (any in any of the packages) may have one or more overt (visible) or hidden features to help deflect any initiated tear back toward the outside periphery of the package, or otherwise away from the contents. For example, partially-cut lines may be made into a hidden surface such as the inward-facing surface of the front panel or back panel, so that if a tear is initiated, the hidden partially-cut line may divert the tear back toward the edge of the package. Such tear-diverting features are described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/081,404.
A tear proof material such as DURAFOLD paperboard will usually need to be opened using a tool such as a knife or scissors. Tear resistant material such as NATRALOCK may be provided with overt or hidden features to assist a customer in opening the package, as described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/025,102. Such opening features may be incorporated in any of the packages disclosed herein.
The front panel 440 and back panel 420, and their attached panels, may be identical or nearly identical as shown in
As seen in
In another embodiment the package may be made of only one layer of paperboard. For example, front panel 440 and its attached panels may be omitted, and the blisters 460, 470 attached to one or both surfaces of back panel 420 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means. Alternately, back panel 420 and its attached panels may be omitted, and the blisters 460, 470 attached to one or both surfaces of front panel 440 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means.
In another embodiment the package may be made of only one layer of paperboard. For example, front panel 540 may be omitted, and the blisters 560, 570 attached to one or both surfaces of back panel 520 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means. Alternately, back panel 520 may be omitted, and the blisters 560, 570 attached to one or both surfaces of front panel 540 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means.
Blisters 660, 670 may be provided with blister flange 664, 674 that may be sandwiched from behind by back panel 620 and from in front by front panel 640. Apertures 624, 644 may be provided in back panel 620 and front panel 640 through which blisters 670, 660 respectively may protrude. Catch holes 622, 642 may be provided in the back panel 620 and front panel 640.
In another embodiment the package may be made of only one layer of paperboard. For example, front panel 640 may be omitted, and the blisters 660, 670 attached to one or both surfaces of back panel 620 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means. Alternately, back panel 620 may be omitted, and the blisters 660, 670 attached to one or both surfaces of front panel 640 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means.
In another embodiment the package may be made of only one layer of paperboard. For example, front panel 740 may be omitted, and the blisters 762, 772 each attached to an appropriate surface of back panel 720 (in this design, to opposite surfaces of the back panel) by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means. In this case, lower aperture 724 may be omitted. Alternately, back panel 720 may be omitted, and the blisters 762, 772 each attached to an appropriate surface of front panel 740 (in this design, to opposite surfaces of the front panel) by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means. In this case, upper aperture 744 may be omitted.
The package may be designed so that the center of gravity is located over the “footprint” occupied by middle panel 823, giving a stable standing package. Alternately the package may be displayed suspended from hang hole 841. If desired, front blister 860 may be omitted and optionally replaced by a transparent “window” of plastic or blister material.
In another embodiment the package may be made of only one layer of paperboard. For example, front panel 840 may be omitted, and the blisters 860, 870 attached to one or both surfaces of back panel 820 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means. Alternately, back panel 820 may be omitted, and the blisters 860, 870 attached to one or both surfaces of front panel 840 by heat sealing, glue, staples, or other means.
Examples of materials and processes from which the exemplary packages may be formed are discussed in greater detail in U.S. Ser. No. 11/545,842 filed on Oct. 11, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The standing features described in this application may be used alone or in combination with other described standing features or security features. It is to be understood that a variety of materials may be used to form these packages. However, for sustainability purposes, a paperboard based material may be used and for improved theft deterrence a tear resistant paperboard may be used. Package materials may include tear-proof materials such as DURAFOLD paperboard, tear-resistant materials such as NATRALOCK paperboard, as well as other types of paperboard or plastic materials. The packages may be made of one or more layers of material, including but not limited to one, two, three or more layers of material. Different parts of the packages may comprise different materials and/or different numbers of layers.
The packages disclosed herein may be comprised mostly of paperboard, for example as described in International Application PCT/US08/051245. The paperboard used in such packages may be tear-resistant as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,144,635.
The packages disclosed herein may be made from one or several blanks (that is, the cut sheet parts from which the package components are made by folding and other steps). However, it should be understood that certain unitary blanks may be provided instead as more than one part, and certain blanks may be combined into single blanks, while still arriving at the same finished package.
Where more than one blank is used, the blanks may be assembled in various stages, including assembling a unitary blank into a package, assembling separate blanks and then joining them to form a package, and joining two or more blanks together, for example by heat sealing, gluing, mechanical fastening, or otherwise and then forming the combined blanks into the package.
It is to be understood that certain packages may be one continuous piece of material, and other packages may comprise two or more pieces of material. It is to be understood that a package may be heat sealed even where a heat sealed surface is in contact with a non-heat sealable surface. It is to be understood that in such a situation such an adhesion will strengthen the package, though it may not strengthen it as much as heat sealing between two heat sealable surfaces.
The packages described herein may be assembled in stages at various locations, for example partially constructing the package, moving or shipping it to one or more other locations, and completing the assembly of the package. For example, a package may be formed into a flattened or collapsible structure, then moved or shipped to another location for final forming, filling, and closure.
The packages may be shipped flat and erected when the product is filled or it may be shipped with the tray formed such that the heat sealing only needs to be performed at the edges of the package. It is to be understood that alternate sealing methods may be utilized depending upon manufacturing preferences, and that the package designs may still increase tear resistance in such a case, without the heat sealing. It is to be understood that using heat sealing with the package designs described herein may further increase the tear resistance of the packages.
Portions of the packages may be made of one, two, or more layers of material. It is to be understood that additional layers of material may be used based on manufacturing preferences. Portions of certain panels may be folded over or around the portions of other panels, creating multiple layers of material.
The packages may be provided with overt or hidden features to assist a customer in opening the package, as described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/025,102. Such opening features may be incorporated in any of the packages disclosed herein.
The packages may be provided with features to allow opening as described in U.S. Provisional Application 61/025,102. Such features, by way of example, may include overt or hidden weakened areas in the package. Such features may include a cut or nick in the periphery of the package, by which to initiate a tear. Such a tear initiation feature may be covered by a security device.
It should be understood that additional foldover panels may be included in the package blanks for further reinforcing the packages.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed blister packaging structures may provide a theft deterrent function at least for a few moments, while providing legitimate consumers with packages easy to open in a reasonably short time, for example using a pair of scissors and reducing the risk of injury as the scissors are less likely to slip on the NATRALOCK or paperboard like material than on the plastic blister pack.
To provide additional tear resistance protection, any of the materials used in these designs could be provided with overt or hidden features such as nicks, scores, perforations, holes, or other diverting features such that if a tear is initiated in the packaging material, it will not propagate in a direction more likely to breach the package, but may be rerouted by the diverting feature or features in a direction less likely to breach the package. Alternately the diverting feature may stop the tear, slow the progression of the tear, or cause it to take a meandering path, thus lengthening the time it may take to eventually breach the package, and thereby discouraging a thief. Certain tear-diverting features are described in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/081,404.
It is to be understood that a variety of standing features or a variety of hanging features may be used on any of these package designs as determined by manufacturing preferences. One or more reinforcing layers of paperboard or other material may be placed between layers of a package, for example between the front and back panels of a card-type package, for example at the hang hole location, as described in PCT/US08/066517. The packages may be made to stand upright, either by their general shape, or for example by providing “feet” on the lower portion of blister 160, as described in International Application PCT/US06/030280. Although various aspects of the disclosed blister packaging structures have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification.
This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/133,679 filed on Jun. 9, 2011 which is the National Phase entry into the United States of International Application PCT/US09/67004, filed on Dec. 7, 2009, which claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional application Ser. No. 61/122,104 filed on Dec. 12, 2008; each of these applications is herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140174973 A1 | Jun 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61122104 | Dec 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13133679 | US | |
Child | 14177275 | US |