AP601A

AP601A - Blister pack.

Info

Publication number: AP601A
Application number: APAP/P/1995/000771A
Authority: AP
Inventors: Noel Cedric Fensham; John Christopher Dower
Original assignee: Noel Cedric Fensham
Priority date: 1994-11-10
Filing date: 1995-11-10
Publication date: 1997-07-25
Also published as: AP9500771A0; ZA961112B

Abstract

A blister pack comprises a blister tray formed with a plurality of trough formations in parallel, side-by-side relationship.

Description

( BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a blister pack.

Cigarettes are typically sold in groups of ten, twenty or thirty contained either within a crush-proof hinge-lid pack or a crushable soft pack.

Often, a light smoker, a smoker who is trying to give up smoking or smoker’s who cannot afford it tend to have in their possession only one or two cigarettes at a time. As the cigarettes are unprotected, if not smoked immediately, they tend to damage easily.

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- 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a blister pack comprising a first blister tray formed with a plurality of trough formations in parallel, side-by-side relationship, each trough formation being shaped to accommodate a smoking article, with adjacent trough formations being ς spaced apart from one another by planar lands to which a peelable or rupturable backing film is laminated so as to define a plurality of individually sealed compartments, with each smoking article being individually accessible by rupturing or peeling away that portion of the backing film covering the smoking article.

Preferably, trough-receiving recesses are defined between adjacent trough formations, the trough-receiving recesses being sized to receive second trough formations of a second overlying blister tray in a snug complemental fit.

c ζ In one form of the invention, the second blister tray forms part of a second separate blister pack.

Alternatively, the first blister tray is hinged to the second blister tray.

Lines of weakness may extend through adjacent planar lands and/or the backing film for allowing the selective severing or opening of individual sealed compartments.

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Typically, the backing film is provided with film access means.

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The film access means may comprise a non-attached comer tag for allowing the film to be manually gripped prior to peeling.

Alternatively, the film access means may comprise a blister tray having a peeling recess spaced away from the planar level and defining an airgap for allowing the film to be manually gripped prior to peeling.

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Preferably, each of the elongate trough formations terminate in minor planar end walls which are spaced apart from one another by a distance corresponding to the lengths of the smoking articles, so that the inner surfaces of the end walls serve to retain tobacco particles within the smoking articles.

The invention extends to a blister pack comprising a first blister tray defining a first trough and a first trough-receiving recess adjacent the first trough, a second blister tray hinged to the first blister tray along a fold line and defining a second trough directly opposite the first recess and a second

Q trough-receiving recess directly opposite the first trough.

Conveniently, the blister pack is foldable between an open position and a closed position in which the first trough locates complementallv within the second recess and the second trough locates complementallv within the first recess.

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Typically, the first blister tray defines a row of first troughs alternating with a row of first recesses, and the second blister tray defines a row of second troughs alternating with a row of second recesses, the rows of first and second troughs being arranged to interdigitate with one another when folded

AP. 0 0 6 0 1 together.

Conveniently, the first and second blister trays have planar substrates or lands and a peelable or rupturable backing film laminated to the planar substrates.

The troughs are preferably elongate troughs extending in a direction perpendicular to the fold line, the troughs being sized to accommodate smoking articles. ·

Advantageously, a pair of parallel fold lines are provided, with the fold lines being spaced apart from one another by a distance corresponding to the depths of the compartments, such that the planar substrates are in opposed parallel relationship when the blister trays are folded together.

The invention extends to a smoking article pack comprising a blister pack according to any one of claims 1 to 16, with a smoking article such as a cigar or cigarette being accommodated in each trough.

The backing film may be laminated to the lands by any bonding method, such as gluing or heat sealing, as well as by a co-extrusion process.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a top plan view of a first embodiment of a blister pack of the invention;

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Figure 2

shows a cross-section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 show perspective views of details of variations of film access means forming part of the blister pack of the invention;

Figure 5 shows an opened out plan view of a second embodiment of a blister pack of the invention;

Figure 6 shows a side view of the blister pack of Figure 5 in the partly open position;

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the blister pack of Figure in a closed position;

Figure 8 shows a cross-section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 10 shows a cross-section partly schematic detail of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

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Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a blister pack 10 comprises a transparent blister tray 12 which is vacuum formed from a sheet of clear PVC having a thickness of approximately 250 microns. The blister tray 12 defines a

ΑΡ. 00601 plurality of trough formations 14.1 to 14.10 which are dimensioned to accommodate a conventional cigarette 16 having a length of 85mm. with opposed ends of the cigarette abutting opposed planar end faces 18 and 20 of each trough formation so as to prevent particles of tobacco from being dislodged from the tip of each cigarette. Extending between each trough formation 14.1 to 14.10 are planar land zones 22. The planar land zones 22 extend between adjacent troughs, as well as beyond the opposed end faces 18 and 20 of the trough. A peelable backing film 24 is co-extruded with the planar land end, in conjunction with the trough formations 14.1 to 14.10. defines a plurality of sealed compartments 26, providing an air- and watertight housings for the cigarettes 16. The backing film or web is typically formed from a coated polyethylene having thickness of approximately 60 microns. The film is a multi-layer very high moisture barrier film which is peelable across the full seal range. It is manufactured by LMG Smith Brothers under film designation Y 577/2, and has the following data sheet:

FILM DESIGNATION Y 577/2

DESCRIPTION

A blown, co-extrudable, polyethylene multi-layer very high moisture barrier film which is peelable across the full seal range, and which provides a peelable seal to a PVC base.

SEALING DETAILS:

Seal type: Constant Heat

Sealing range: 80° - 100°C

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PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

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Appearance: Matt

Colour: Full White

Opacity: 60 ~5%

GAUGE RANGE:

Film is available in the range of 37 - 100 microns.

TECHNICAL DATA:

	Tolerance:	Method:	Nominal:
Gauge	± 12%	Micrometer	60 Microns
Yield	± 5%	Analytical	17.6M²/Kg
OiPermeability		Oxtrans	>1500cc/M^:/Dav
WVTR		EPS Dynamic
		WVTR	<3,5gms/M^:/Day
		(38°C and 90% RH)

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A series of parallel perforations 28 are formed through both the planar land zones 22 of the blister tray and the film 24. The perforations 28 are exactly midway between and parallel to the adjacent troughs, and are perpendicular to the side edges 30 and 32 of the blister pack. Perforations divide the blister packs into individual blister pack strips, each housing a single cigarette. This allows one or more blister pack strips to be selectively tom from the remaining strips, as is shown at 34.

In order to enable the film 24 to be peeled off more easily from the undersurface of the planar land, a comer-piece 36 of the film is not attached.

AP.00601 so as to provide a lifting tab for peeling off the film. Each strip is provided with a similar non-attached lifting tab 36.

Referring now to Figure 4, an underside perspective detail of an alternative embodiment is shown in which the planar land 24 is formed with a recessed rib 38 adjacent the edge of the blister pack and defining a space 40 providing access to the film for allowing it to be peeled away from the blister tray. As the perforations 28 extend both through the blister tray and through the film, instead of tearing off a strip 34, it is possible to leave the strip in place and gain access to one of the cigarettes 16 merely by tearing off a strip 42 of the film.

Referring now to Figure 5 to 7, a still further preferred embodiment 44 of a blister pack is shown comprising first and second blister trays 46 and 48 which are hinged to one another on spaced parallel and perforated hinge lines 50 and 52 defining between them an end wall 54. Marginal perforated lines 56 and 58 parallel to the perforated lines 50 and 52 and are formed towards the free ends of the blister pack, which terminate in sealing flaps 60 and 62. The planar web of the first blister tray 46 is cut short at 64, thereby exposing the film 60, which may have a tacky surface. The blister pack 44 is foldable between an open position indicated in Figure 5 to a closed position indicated in Figure 7, in which it forms a complete closed pack with the tacky surface of the sealing flap adhering to the sealing flap 62 so as to define a closed pack.

The first blister tray is formed with five troughs 66.1 to 66.5, which alternate and are spaced apart by first rough-receiving recesses 68.1 to 68.5. The second blister tray 48 is similarly formed with five troughs 70.1 to 70.5 tr:

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AP.00601

which are offset relative to the troughs 66.1 to 66.5 and which alternate with second trough-receiving recesses 72.1 to 72.5. It is clear from the drawing how the first troughs 66.1 to 66.5 are directly opposite and are symmetrical with the respective second trough-receiving recesses 72.1 to 72.5 about an axis of symmetry 74. Similarly, the second troughs 70.1 to 70.5 are symmetrical with the corresponding first trough-receiving recesses 68.1 to 68.5. As a result of this structure, and as is clear from Figure 8, the first row of troughs 66.1 to 66.5 nest snugly within the second row of troughreceiving recesses 72.1 to 72.5 and the second row of troughs 70.1 to 70.5 form a snug complemental fit within the row of recesses 68.1 to 68.5, with the first and second rows of troughs being interdigitated.

The resultant structure of the closed blister pack 44 is relatively compact and rigid. Further, it provides a number of different options for accessing cigarettes. As a first option, the overall integrity of the blister pack 44 may be retained, and laminated strips of film 76 may be selectively removed so as to gain access to the cigarettes within the trough. As a second option, the entire pack may be opened and disassembled either by separating the marginal flaps from one another, by tearing the pack along the perforated lines 56 and 58, or along the perforated hinge lines 50 and 52. If the pack is tom along both the marginal perforated lines 56 and 58 and the perforated hinge lines 50 and 52, then the two blister trays 46 and 48 are completely separated into separate rows, as per the Figure 1 embodiment. Cigarettes can then be distributed either singly or in groups by selectively tearing along the perforated lines 28. The blister pack 44 may be enclosed by means of a sleeve having the form of an open-ended rectangular cylinder.

95/00771

In Figure 9, an alternative cross-sectional view of a blister pack 80 is shown

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- 10 in which each trough has a bulbous profile 82. As a result, opposed blister trays are held together in a snap fit without the need for sealing flaps such as those indicated at 60 and 62.

In Figure 10, a partly schematic cross-sectional side view of a double layer blister pack 84 is shown having a Z-profile with outer blister trays 86 and 88 hinged to an inner blister tray 90 at respective hinged ends 92 and 94. The intermediate or inner blister tray 90 has trough formations 96 and 98 extending from opposite sides of the blister tray in an alternating formation, and being arranged to interdigitate with the inwardly extending trough formations 100 and 102 of the outer blister trays 86 and 88.

In a further embodiment of the invention, two blister trays 10 may be tacked on top of one another with the trough formations of the overlying blister tray nesting within the trough-receiving recesses 104 defined between the adjacent trough formations 14.1 to 14.10. The two overlying blister packs may then be packaged in an overwrap film or a box.

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In a still further embodiment, a hinged blister pack 44 of the type illustrated in Figure 5 may be provided with a single hinge line corresponding to the axis of symmetry 74, as a result of which the first and second blister trays 46 and 48 can be folded back-to-back with their planar undersurfaces in direct contact with one another. For the purposes of double-layer compact packaging, blister packs 10 of the type illustrated in Figure 1 may then be laid over the exposed troughed surfaces so as to achieve a double layer similar to the layer illustrated in Figure 10.

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In place of a peelable film, a rupturable film may also be used as a backing

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- ii film. This may be in the form of a 12 μ hard aluminium foil film of the type manufactured by Alusuisse. The film is lacquer coated on its operatively inner side to enable it to be laminated to the lands of the blister tray. The opposite exposed face of the metallic film or foil is able to receive printing for advertising purposes. A rupturable film of this type is sufficiently strong and flexible to ensure that the cigarettes are maintained within the blister pack, while at the same time being able to rupture relatively easily by pressure of the cigarette caused by finger pressure on the opposed side of the deformable trough, without deforming the cigarette unduly. The blister pack of the invention is ideally suited to an economical and high speed and typically continuous manufacturing process.

Claims

A blister pack comprising a first blister tray formed with a plurality of trough formations in parallel, side-by-side relationship, each trough formation accommodating a smoking article in a snug complemental fit, with adjacent trough formations being spaced apart from one another by planar lands to which a peelable or rupturable backing film is laminated so as to define a plurality of individually sealed compartments, with trough-receiving recesses being defined between adjacent trough formations, the trough-receiving recesses being sized to receive second trough formations of a second overlying blister tray in a snug complemental fit, the second blister tray forming part of a second separate blister pack, with each smoking article in the first and second blister trays being individually accessible by rupturing or peeling away that portion of the backing film covering the smoking article.

A blister pack comprising a first blister tray formed with a plurality of trough formations in parallel, side-by-side relationship, each trough formation accommodating a smoking article in a snug complemental fit, with adjacent trough formations being spaced apart from one another by planar lands to which a peelable or rupturable backing film is laminated so as to define a plurality of individually sealed compartments, with each smoking article being individually accessible by rupturing or peeling away that portion of the backing film covering the smoking article, at least one line of weakness extending between and substantially parallel to the adjacent trough formations for allowing at least one sealed compartment to be manually severed from an adjacent sealed compartment or to beopened along the line of weakness, with each of the elongate trough formations terminating in minor planar end walls which are spaced apart from one another by a distance corresponding to the lengths of the smoking articles, so that the inner surfaces of the end walls serve to retain tobacco particles within the smoking articles.

A blister pack according to either one of the preceding claims in which the backing film is provided with film access means comprising a nonattached corner tag for allowing the film to be manually gripped prior to peeling.

A blister pack according to claim 3 in which the film access means comprises a blister tray having a peeling recess spaced away from the planar level and defining an airgap for allowing the film to be manually gripped prior to peeling.

A blister pack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the blister tray is vacuum formed from a sheet of clear polyvinyl
5/ 0 0 7 7 1 g, (

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AP.00601 chloride having a thickness of approximately 250®.
6. A blister pack according to any one of the preceding claims in which the backing film is formed from a polyethylene film having a thickness

5 from 37 to 100®, the polyethylene film being peelable from the blister tray.
7. A blister pack according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5 in which the backing film is a rupturable metallic film which is laminated
10 to the planar lands of the blister tray.

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