BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a package according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the package of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled package of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a variant of the invention according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the partially assembled package of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a partial, enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 a perspective view of the assembled variant of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a partial elevational view of the frame corner latch mechanism of the invention variant;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the front and rear panels of a low-plastic content package according to the invention;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the combined panels of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a package 11 according to the present invention. It is constructed of a suitable clear plastic using conventional thermo-forming techniques, and comprises a front panel 15, rear panel 17 and a wrap-around retainer member 13. Front panel 15 has a planar wall portion 19 in which is formed a blister 21, and rear panel 17 similarly has blister 24 in its planar wall 23. A card 18 has opening 20 and is for displaying printed product information.
FIG. 1 also shows that the retainer member 13 is comprised of four frame elements 25, 27, 29 and 31 each having opposite ends beveled at 45°, and joined by integral living hinges 37. The free ends 43 and 45 are adapted to be bonded together using UV adhesive sealing techniques or other suitable bonding means.
Note that element 25 has a longitudinal slot 42, and the other elements are similarly equipped with slots 41, 44 and 45. When panels 15 and 17 are oriented in the mirroring fashion suggested in FIG. 1 and then brought together, the combined lower edge of the adjoined panels can be snugly received in slot 41 to hold the panels upright, as FIG. 2 shows. FIG. 3 best shows how the slot 41 is engaged and how the opposing blisters 21 and 24 combine to form a single article-receiving cavity 28.
It will be appreciated by reference to FIG. 2 how, once the combined panels are mounted in element 27, the remaining elements can be rotated with respect to each other to form 90° corners and to bring their respective grooves into engagement with the side edges and top edge of the panels to form a rectangular frame around the panels. When the free ends 45 and 46 are secured, adhesively or otherwise, the package is complete as FIG. 4 illustrates. In order to enhance the strength of the package, adhesive such as liquid UV adhesive can be additionally applied to the element grooves and cured by UV illumination to bind the panels firmly on all sides to the wrap around member 13. To provide a modicum of package security yet allowing the purchaser to open it without great pains, bonding can the limited as necessary to only securing the free ends of the wrap-around retainer.
A variant of the invention in the form of package 53 is shown in FIG. 5. It includes a front panel 57, a rear panel 59 and a wrap-around retainer member 55. Member 55 comprises four elements 61, 62, 62 and 64, linked together by living hinges 66 at their 45° beveled ends. Although panels 57 and 59 shown here are constructed of clear plastic, under the invention they can also be constructed of paper board, or other suitable sheet material, and one or both panels or can be of clear plastic with article-receiving blister molded therein. As FIG. 5 suggests, the lower edges of the front panel 57 and rear panel 57, respectively, are received in the slots 66 and 68 of the frame element 62. it should be appreciated by reference to FIG. 6 how the elements 61 and 63 can be rotated through 90° to the position therein shown, wherein the sides edges of the front and rear panels are engaged by the pair of slots of the elements 61 and 63. slot 67 of frame element 62. FIG. 7 shows how the lower edge portions of the panels are received in slots 67 and 68, and shows wall 69 which will serve as the bottom of an article-receiving cavity 77.
Note, as FIG. 6 shows, that the free end of the element 64 has an integrally hinged latch 71. FIGS. 5 and 6 also show that the free end of element 61 is equipped with a latching cavity 75 into which the prod 74 of the latch 73 can be engaged. FIG. 9 best illustrates how latch 73 engages latch cavity 75, and FIG. 8 shows the assembled package 53.
FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the panels of a low plastic content version of the invention, and features panels 85 and 87 of a suitable cardboard, and blister inserts 91 and 93 of clear plastic. Opening 86 in front panel mounts the blister 91 with its flange 95 engaging the surface of panel 85. Similarly the blister 93 with its flange 97 is mounted in the opening 88 of rear panel 87 as FIG. 11 shows.
When panels, with blisters, are brought together as FIG. 12 shows, the combined top, bottom and side edges 100, 101, 102 and 103 respectively, are secured in the slots of a wrap-around retainer member (not shown) that is constructed like the previously described member 13 of FIG. 1 to complete the package.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto. Various modifications and variations of the invention will be evident to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, and it is intended that the invention be given its full scope and breath as defined in the claims that follow.
Patent Application
20080029419
