SOFT-SIDED FLEXIBLE BLISTER PACKAGE

Abstract

A flexible package (10) is provided for a consumable product. The flexible package includes a pair of flexible packaging films (12, 14) for enclosing the product therebetween. The films are bonded together to define a perimeter seal for surrounding the product. One of the films may be rupturable so as to allow dispensing of the product through the film under manual pressure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a package for supporting a plurality of consumable products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a soft, flexible blister package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has long been known to use blister packages to support and house a plurality of consumable product such as candy, gum, mints, as well as pharmaceutical products such as capsules, tablets and the like. Conventional blister package assemblies of this type include a thermal-formed blister tray having a plurality of upwardly opening compartments which support the consumable products therein. A blister cover or sheet encloses the open upper end of the blister tray to sealably cover each of the compartments. The blister cover may be formed of a wide variety of materials including metal foil, plastic film or combinations thereof. The blister tray is then supported in a paperboard sleeve in a slidable fashion.

When it is desirable to dispense one of the products contained within the blister tray, the blister tray is slid out from the blister sleeve and the blister cover is removed from over one of the compartments to dispense the product. Various techniques are known to dispense the individual product from the compartments. The blister cover could be formed of a rupturable material which allows manual depression of the product through the cover.

In other embodiments, the blister cover may be peeled back at selected locations over the compartment to open the compartment to dispense the product.

While the blister tray and sleeve combination serves adequately for its intended purposes, certain attributes are not readily achieved with this arrangement. For example, the blister tray and sleeve combination is a relatively rigid structure. As successive products are dispensed from the assembly, the user must maintain possession of the entire assembly, in tact, until the last product is dispensed. Thus, when only a small amount of product remains, the user still must carry the entire assembly.

Furthermore, until the blister tray is removed from the blister sleeve, the products cannot be viewed. Thus, the user has no idea of how many products remain in the assembly. Furthermore, even when the tray is removed from the sleeve the product can only be viewed from one side as the blister cover is typically formed of a nontransparent material.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide a blister package which can be more easily carried by the user where the products can be viewed, and where after dispensing of a certain amount products, the size of the package itself can be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a flexible package for a consumable product. The package includes a pair of packaging films for supporting the product therebetween. The films are bonded together to define a perimeter seal for surrounding the products.

In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the perimeter seal includes a releaseable seal to allow dispensing of the product therethrough under manual pressure.

More preferably, the perimeter seal of the package includes a releaseable seal portion and a nonreleaseable seal portion. The film may also include a line perforation for detaching a portion of the package from the remainder.

A method of forming a product package is also provided. The method includes providing a first film and forming an open ended compartment in the first film. A product is inserted into the compartment and a second film is positioned over the first film to enclose the compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a pair of flexible sheets on either side of a plurality of products for forming the blister package of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the assembled package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the blister package of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a further embodiment of the blister package of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention employing cellular cushioning referred to as bubble wrap.

FIG. 6 is a sectional showing of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a flexible soft-sided blister package for accommodating one or more consumable products such as candy, gum, mints, as well as pharmaceutical products such as capsules, tablets and the like. The present invention also provides for ease of dispensing of the products from the blister package.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one representation of a soft-sided blister package of the present invention is shown. Blister package 10 is formed from a pair of flexible sheets 12 and 14. Sheets 12 and 14 may be formed of a wide variety of material including plastic films and the like. For example, the plastic films may include films formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polyethylene or laminates and combinations thereof. In addition, the films may be formed of cellulose and/or other degradable or biodegradable materials. Preferably, as will be described in further detail hereinbelow, the film sheets are transparent enabling visualization of the products contained therein. The sheets support therebetween a plurality of spaced apart products, which in the present illustrative embodiment are gum pellets 16. The gum pellets may be arranged in spaced apart orientation defining plural rows and/or columns. While in the preferred embodiments shown herein, a plurality of gum pellets are shown, it is of course understood that it is within the contemplation of the present invention that a single product may be contained between the sheets 12 and 14.

The sheets 12 and 14 are provided, preferably, from a roll. The sheets 12 and 14 are placed in intimate contact around the array of gum pellets 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheets may be secured together at locations between and around the gum pellets 16. Preferably, as will be described in further detail hereinbelow, various heat seal techniques are used to secure the sheets 12 and 14 together around the gum pellets 16. Also, perforation lines may be included to allow severing of the sheets between the pellets. The assembled sheets may cut to the desired configuration to form package 10. While the sheets 14, 16 conform about the pellets 16 to form a pellet or pocket 15, it is contemplated that the pockets or pouches for the pellets may be provided by vacuum forming techniques.

Referring now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the flexible package of the present invention is shown. Package 20 is formed of a pair of film sheets 22 and 24 which are sealed together about a plurality of spaced apart gum pellets 26. In the present illustrative embodiment, an arrangement of gum pellets in a 2×3 orientation is shown. However, it can be appreciated that any arrangement of rows and columns is within the contemplation of the present invention. The sheets 22 and 24 are sealed together perimetrically around each pellet 26.

In the present embodiment, the perimetrical seal is a four sided seal on each side of the rectangular gum pellet 26. Preferably, the present invention employs a combination of a permanent heat seal and a peelable releasable seal. It may be appreciated, however, that the full heat seal or full releasable seal may be employed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the permanent heat seal 30 is applied to three sides of the pellet 26 and a peelable releasable seal 34 is applied to the remaining sides. In the present illustrative embodiment, the peelable releasable seal 34 of one column of gum pellets is aligned along one edge 20a of the package 20. The peelable releasable seal 34 of the second column is aligned along the opposite edge 20b of the package 20. As depicted in FIG. 3, the peelable releasable seal area 34 is openable under manual squeeze pressure. Thus, the user may dispense an individual pellet 26 from the package 20 by squeezing the pellet through the adjacent peelable releasable seal area 34. Such manual pressure opens the seal and allows dispensing of the pellets.

A further feature of the present invention includes the ability to provide perforations along the permanent heat seal area 32. Such perforations 36 allow the package to be separated between the gum pellets 26 so as to provide separate sealed packages. Any arrangement of individual package configurations may be achieved by the arrangement and location of the perforations 36. As can be appreciated, the package 20 can be severed into smaller units such as columns or rows or can be severed to provide individual sealed pellets. In fact, the arrangement of the perforations 36 allow the package to be separated into any number or configurations of gum pellets 26. Moreover, the package 20 can be separated both prior to dispensing the gum pellets 26 or after dispensing the gum pellets 26. Thus, as each gum pellet is used from the assembled packet, the dispensed portion of the package can be removed from the remainder. This allows the package to be made smaller as the pellets 26 are used.

In addition, as above noted, the sheets 22 and 24 may be formed of a wide variety of material. Furthermore, the sheets may be formed of transparent, translucent or similar tear-opaque materials which would allow visualization of the pellets 26 contained therein. Thus, the consumer would know the type of pellets contained within the package as well as know how many pellets remain in an assembled package.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a further embodiment of the package of the present invention is shown. Package 30 is shown in a single column arrangement including a plurality of gum pellets 36 therein. While a single column is shown, it is understood that the arrangement of FIG. 4 could be employed in a multiple column orientation.

In the present illustrative embodiment, a permanent heat seal 50 is applied about three sides of the pellet 46. The upper side as viewed in FIG. 4 includes the peelable, releasable seal 54. Thus, the arrangement of FIG. 4 allows dispensing in vertical sequence of each individual pellet 46. Perforations are provided between the vertically arranged pellets where the perforation 60 is next adjacent the peelable release seal 54, but is wholly contained within the heat seal 50. Thus, once the first pellet is dispensed from the upper end of the vertical package 40, the used portion of the package can be removed at the perforation 60 then the next successive pellet 46 is available for dispensing. Even after separation, the remaining pellets remain sealed. It, of course, may be appreciated that the package may be severed at any of the perforation locations to define smaller units. In fact, the package can be severed at each perforation location to define individually packaged and sealed pellets.

While the above embodiment has been described with respect to providing a releasable seal along one side of each pellet, it is contemplated that other dispensing techniques could be provided. For example, the pellet could be surrounded on all sides by a permanent heat seal. In such situations, the pellet can be expelled by providing a rupturable location on the package and at the pellet. Perforations, score lines or other “weakened” areas may be provided so as to permit such rupturing to expel the pellet. FIG. 2 shows a perforation 15a which is adjacent pellet 15 to provide a rupturable location. In order to assist in film rupturing, the films may be formed of oriented plastic films such as OPP.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the present invention may also employ a package 70 formed from a material similar to cellular cushioning material commonly referred to a bubble wrap. The package 70 of the present embodiment may include two sheet-like layers 72 and 74 which may be formed of a wide variety of polymeric materials including multi-layered materials and composites. First layer 72 has formed therein a series of pockets or compartments 76. The compartments 76 may be arranged in any pattern and orientation. Each compartment 76 has an open upper end 78 and a closed bottom 90. Each compartment forms a pocket for accommodating a gum pellet 16. A second planar upper layer 74 is bonded to first layer 72 so as to enclose the open ended compartments 76 with the pellets 16 contained therein.

It is contemplated that package 70 of the present invention may be formed by a wide variety of conventional forming techniques well known in the art. For example, the first layer 72 may be provided in sheet like form on a roll of material. The compartments 76 may be formed on the sheet by a vacuum process where the vacuum pulls the layer to form the compartments. The sheet can be then cut to the desired configuration and either prior to cutting the sheet or after the gum pellets 16 have been dropped into the compartments 76.

The planar upper layer 74 may then be bonded over the lower layer 72 enclosing the compartments. The bonding of the upper layer 74 to the lower layer 72 may be achieved by adhesive, heat or ultrasonic welds or any other technique known in the art.

Once the pellets 16 are sealed within each compartment 76 of lower layer 72, the products may be dispensed in a wide variety of fashions. For example, the upper layer 74 may include thereon a plurality of weakened lines, such as laser cuts, or perforations, directly over the open ended compartment 76. Perforations 82 are shown in FIG. 5 by way of example. The bottom 80 of lower layer 72 may be pushed inwardly against the upper layer 74 thereby rupturing the perforation 85 and expelling the gum pellet 16 from compartment 76. In addition, it is contemplated that the closed bottom 80 of compartment 76 may also include weakened lines such as perforation so as to permit expulsion of the gum pellet through the closed bottom end. In addition, it is contemplated that the material forming lower layer 72 may be sufficiently weak that manual pressure will cause the lower layer to rupture expelling the product 16 therethrough without need for perforations.

Also, as is well known in the cellular cushioning field, air can be entrapped within the chamber 76 to facilitate “popping” of the chamber upon manual pressure to further assist in dispensing the gum pellet 16 therefrom. Moreover, it is contemplated that each sealed chamber 76 may include an inert gas entrapped therein. The inert gas provides an internal pressure to the compartment which facilitates “popping”. In addition, the inert gas may include scented air which will dispense a pleasant scent upon popping. Such an arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,644 issued Aug. 18, 1998 and entitled “Scented Bubble Wrap”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

It is further contemplated that the scent contained within the sealed chamber 76 could be selected to be complimentary to the flavor of the gum pellet 16 contained therein.

Items

Item 1. A flexible package for a consumable product comprising:

a pair of flexible packaging films for enclosing said product therebetween; and

said films being bonded together to define a perimeter seal for surrounding said product.

Item 2. A flexible package of item 1 wherein at least one of the flexible packaging films comprises a rupturable material to allow dispensing of said product therethrough under manual pressure.

Item 3. A flexible package of items 1-2 wherein at least a portion of said perimeter seal comprises a releaseable seal to allow dispensing of said product therethrough under manual pressure.

Item 4. A flexible package of items 1-3 wherein the majority of the perimeter seal comprises a releaseable seal.

Item 5. A flexible package of items 1-3 wherein perimeter seal comprises a releaseable seal portion and a non-releaseable seal portion.

Item 6. A flexible package of items 1-5 wherein said films define a plurality of said perimeter seals, each said perimeter seal for surrounding one of a plurality of said products.

Item 7. A flexible package of items 1-4 wherein said film comprises a perforation or line of weakness for enabling detachment of one said perimeter seal from the remaining perimeter seals.

Item 8. A flexible package of item 7 wherein said plurality of perimeter seals are arranged in at least one column and said releaseable seal portions of each said perimeter seal are longitudinally aligned with respect to adjacent compartments within the column.

Item 9. A flexible package of items 1-8 wherein said films are transparent.

Item 10. A flexible package of items 1-9 wherein the perimeter seal is formed by welding the films together.

Item 11. A consumable product package assembly comprising: a plurality of consumable products;

a flexible package, said package defining plural product compartments each compartment enclosing at least one product of said plurality; and

each said compartment being defined by a perimetrical seal about said at least one product.

Item 12. An assembly of item 11 wherein the flexible package comprises at least one material which is rupturable to allow dispensing of said product through said portion.

Item 13. An assembly of items 11-12 wherein at least a portion of said perimetrical seal is releaseable to allow dispensing of said product through said portion.

Item 14. An assembly of items 11-13 wherein each said perimeter seal comprises a releaseable portion and a non-releaseable portion.

Item 15. An assembly of items 11-14 wherein each said component is separated by a perforation or line of weakness so as to permit detachment of one said component from the packaging assembly.

Item 16. An assembly of items 11-15 wherein said flexible package further comprises a pair of films bonded together to define said compartments.

Item 17. An assembly of item 15 wherein said perforation or line of weakness is positioned across said non-releasable portion.

Item 18. An assembly of item 15 wherein said perforation or line or weakness is positioned adjacent said non-releasable portion.

Item 19. An assembly of items 11-18 wherein the perimeter seal is formed by welding.

Item 20. A method of forming a product package comprising the step of:

providing a first flexible film;

forming an open ended compartment in said sheet;

inserting a product in said compartment through said open end;

providing a second flexible film; and

positioning said second film over said first film so as to enclose said compartment.

Item 21. A method of item 20 wherein said providing steps include:

providing said first and second flexible film from rolls.

Item 22. A method of items 20-21 wherein said forming step includes:

applying a vacuum to one side of said first flexible film to form said open ended compartment.

Item 23. A method of items 20-22 further including the step of sealing said second film to said first film about said compartment.

Item 24. A method of item 23 wherein said sealing step further includes sealing said second film to said first film perimetrically about said compartment.

Item 25. A method of items 20-24 further including the step of placing an inert gas in said compartment.

Item 26. A method of item 25 wherein said inert gas is scented.

Item 27. A method of items 20-26 further including the step of placing a line of weakness in said film to permit rupturing of said film for dispensing of said product from said compartment.

Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A flexible package for a consumable product comprising: a pair of flexible packaging films for enclosing said product therebetween; andsaid films being bonded together to define a perimeter seal for surrounding said product.

2. A flexible package of claim 1 wherein at least one of the flexible packaging films comprises a rupturable material to allow dispensing of said product therethrough under manual pressure.

3. A flexible package of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said perimeter seal comprises a releaseable seal to allow dispensing of said product therethrough under manual pressure.

4. A flexible package of claim 3 wherein the majority of the perimeter seal comprises a releaseable seal.

5. A flexible package of claim 3 wherein perimeter seal comprises a releaseable seal portion and a non-releaseable seal portion.

6. A flexible package of claim 1 wherein said films define a plurality of said perimeter seals, each said perimeter seal for surrounding one of a plurality of said products.

7. A flexible package of claim 4 wherein said film comprises a perforation or line of weakness for enabling detachment of one said perimeter seal from the remaining perimeter seals.

8. A flexible package of claim 7 wherein said plurality of perimeter seals are arranged in at least one column and said releaseable seal portions of each said perimeter seal are longitudinally aligned with respect to adjacent compartments within the column.

9. A flexible package of claim 1 wherein said films are transparent.

10. A flexible package of claim 1 wherein the perimeter seal is formed by welding the films together.

11. A consumable product package assembly comprising: a plurality of consumable products; a flexible package, said package defining plural product compartments each compartment enclosing at least one product of said plurality; andeach said compartment being defined by a perimetrical seal about said at least one product.

12. An assembly of claim 11 wherein the flexible package comprises at least one material which is rupturable to allow dispensing of said product through said portion.

13. An assembly of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said perimetrical seal is releaseable to allow dispensing of said product through said portion.

14. An assembly of claim 11 wherein each said perimeter seal comprises a releaseable portion and a non-releaseable portion.

15. An assembly of claim 14 wherein each said component is separated by a perforation or line of weakness so as to permit detachment of one said component from the packaging assembly.

16. An assembly of claim 11 wherein said flexible package further comprises a pair of films bonded together to define said compartments.

17. An assembly of claim 15 wherein said perforation or line of weakness is positioned across said non-releasable portion.

18. An assembly of claim 15 wherein said perforation or line or weakness is positioned adjacent said non-releasable portion.

19. An assembly of claim 11 wherein the perimeter seal is formed by welding.

20. A method of forming a product package comprising the step of: providing a first flexible film;forming an open ended compartment in said sheet;inserting a product in said compartment through said open end;providing a second flexible film; andpositioning said second film over said first film so as to enclose said compartment.

21. A method of claim 20 wherein said providing steps include: providing said first and second flexible film from rolls.

22. A method of claim 20 wherein said forming step includes: applying a vacuum to one side of said first flexible film to form said open ended compartment.

23. A method of claim 20 further including the step of sealing said second film to said first film about said compartment.

24. A method of claim 23 wherein said sealing step further includes sealing said second film to said first film perimetrically about said compartment.

25. A method of claim 20 further including the step of placing an inert gas in said compartment.

26. A method of claim 25 wherein said inert gas is scented.

27. A method of claim 20 further including the step of placing a line of weakness in said film to permit rupturing of said film for dispensing of said product from said compartment.