US20150210455A1 - Blister card systems and methods for assemblying the systems - Google Patents
Blister card systems and methods for assemblying the systems Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20150210455A1 US20150210455A1 US14/165,087 US201414165087A US2015210455A1 US 20150210455 A1 US20150210455 A1 US 20150210455A1 US 201414165087 A US201414165087 A US 201414165087A US 2015210455 A1 US2015210455 A1 US 2015210455A1
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- Prior art keywords
- card
- carrier
- product
- window
- retail product
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
- B65D75/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
- B65D75/32—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents
- B65D75/36—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents one sheet or blank being recessed and the other formed of relatively stiff flat sheet material, e.g. blister packages, the recess or recesses being preformed
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D73/00—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs
- B65D73/0007—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being attached to the plane surface of a single card
- B65D73/0028—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being attached to the plane surface of a single card by means of adhesive, heat-seal or the like
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
- B65B11/52—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins one sheet being rendered plastic, e.g. by heating, and forced by fluid pressure, e.g. vacuum, into engagement with the other sheet and contents, e.g. skin-, blister-, or bubble- packaging
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B15/00—Attaching articles to cards, sheets, strings, webs, or other carriers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/02—Applying adhesives or sealing liquids
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D73/00—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs
- B65D73/0007—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being attached to the plane surface of a single card
- B65D73/0014—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being attached to the plane surface of a single card by means of separate fixing elements, e.g. clips, clamps, bands
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D73/00—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs
- B65D73/0042—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being retained within a window, hole or other cut-out portion of a single card
- B65D73/005—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being retained within a window, hole or other cut-out portion of a single card by means of separate fixing elements, e.g. clips, clamps, bands
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D73/00—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs
- B65D73/0078—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being retained or enclosed in a folded-over or doubled card
- B65D73/0085—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being retained or enclosed in a folded-over or doubled card within a window, hole or cut-out portion
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/006—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers in stretch films
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to one or more blister card systems and/or one or more methods for assembling the one or more blister card systems.
- the systems and methods may be utilized to package and/or protect one or more retail products and/or to display one or more retail products in, for example, a retail environment and/or the like.
- Blister card systems are generally used to display, organize and dispense retail products stored therein within a retail environment.
- the blister card systems traditionally are hung or suspended from hooks and/or pegs in a retail environment and are easily removed from the hooks and/or pegs by consumers for examination and/or purchase of the retail products by the consumers.
- the hooks and/or pegs, attached to display shelves, often suspend the retail products from one or more cut-outs formed within packaging of the blister card systems.
- Known blister card systems have pre-formed plastic packaging which include at least one preformed plastic cavity sized and configured to receive and store one or more the retail products and a backing that is sized and configured to enclose the retail products within the preformed plastic cavity.
- preformed plastic cavity is made from thermoformed plastic and the backing is made from a paper-based material, such as, for example, a cardboard or paperboard, a metal foil or a plastic.
- the size and shape of the preformed plastic cavity is based on the size and shape of the retail products being store and enclosed within the preformed plastic cavity of the blister card system. Because different retail products, more often than not, have different sizes and/or shapes, the sizes and shapes of the preformed plastic cavities must also have different corresponding sizes and/or shapes. As a result, special tooling equipment or machines must be used to produce each preformed plastic cavity that has a different size and/or shape and expensive sealing equipment or machines are necessary to seal each preformed plastic cavity that has a different size and/or shape. Moreover, producing and sealing different preformed plastic cavities having different sizes and/or shapes requires manufactures or producers to purchase, utilize, maintain and repair multiple tooling and/or sealing equipment or machines.
- the systems and methods set forth in the present disclosure may produce and seal different blister card systems for storing and enclosing different retail products having different sizes and/or shapes without requiring the use of costly preformed plastic cavities and/or multiple tooling and/or sealing equipment machines. Moreover, the present systems and methods may reduce costs, production times and labour requirements associated with producing and sealing the different blister card systems by utilizing one or more of the following structural features: a top card having at least one cut-out window; at least one carrier located between the top card and a bottom card, which may optionally be hinged to the top card and/or have at least one cut-out window; and one or more compliant films covering the cut-out window(s) for enclosing at least one retail product between the one or more compliant films and the bottom card and/or the at least one carrier.
- a blister card system packages at least one retail product and has a top card having a top side, a bottom side located opposite to the top side of the top card and at least one window extending through the top card from the top side to the bottom side of the top card. Further the system has a security band attaching a retail product to a carrier at a point of attachment and at least a portion of a bottom card connected to at least a portion of the bottom side of the top card, wherein at least a portion of the carrier is located between the top and bottom cards, and further wherein at least a portion of the retail product extends outwardly, with respect to the top side of the top card, through the at least one window of the top card.
- a width of the carrier at a point of attachment is substantially equal to or less than a width of the retail product at the point of attachment.
- the security band is an elastic band wrapped, in a widthwise direction, around the carrier and the retail product.
- the system has an adhesive layer adhering the carrier to at least a portion of the bottom card.
- a length of the carrier is greater than a length of the at least one window formed in the top card such that top and bottom ends of the carrier extend beyond top and bottom edges of the at least one window.
- the system has a stretchable film covering the at least one window formed in the top card and at least a portion of the retail product.
- a width of a portion of the carrier is greater than a width of the at least one window formed in the top card such that opposite edges of the width of the carrier extends beyond side edges of the width of the at least one window.
- a system has a top card having a top side, a bottom side located opposite to the top side of the top card and at least one window extending through the top card from the top side to the bottom side of the top card, at least one product assembly comprising a retail product and a carrier, wherein a width of the carrier, at least at a point along a length of the carrier, is less than a width of the retail product, at a point along a length of the retail product, and at least a portion of a bottom card connected to at least a portion of the bottom side of the top card, wherein a first portion of the at least one product assembly is located between the top and bottom cards, and further wherein a second portion of the at least one product assembly is located within the at least one window formed in the top card.
- the system has a security band attaching the retail product to the carrier to form the at least one product assembly.
- the security band is an elastic band wrapped, in a widthwise direction, around the retail product and the carrier.
- the system has an adhesive layer adhering the carrier to at least a portion of the bottom card.
- a length of the carrier is greater than a length of the at least one window formed in the top card such that top and bottom ends of the carrier extend beyond top and bottom edges of the at least one window.
- the system has a stretchable film covering the at least one window formed in the top card and at least a portion of the retail product.
- the stretchable film is attached to a portion of the bottom side of the top card.
- a method packages a retail product and comprises providing a cradle on a conveyer belt system, wherein the cradle comprises a cavity configured to receive the retail product, positioning a top card on the cradle such that a top side of the top card is adjacent to the cavity of the cradle, wherein the top card has a window formed therein and the window is covered with a stretchable film and configured to receive the retail product, wherein the stretchable film is connected to a bottom side of the top card that is located opposite to the top side of the top card, positioning the retail product within the window of the top card and the cavity of the cradle such that the retail product extends outwardly, with respect to the top side of the top card, through the window formed in the top card and into the cavity of the cradle, and joining at least one portion of a bottom card to the bottom side of the top card via sealing means.
- the method comprises dropping the retail product into the window of the top card and the cavity of the cradle before adhering the at least one portion of the bottom card to the bottom side of the top card.
- the method comprises adhering at least a portion of the retail product to a least a portion of the stretchable film of the top card via an adhering means, wherein the portion of the stretchable film is located within the window of the top card.
- the method comprises adhering at least a portion of the retail product to a portion of the bottom card before joining the top and bottom cards together.
- the portion of the bottom card is a fold-out portion that extends outwardly with respect to the top side of the bottom card.
- the method comprises extending at least a portion of the retail product outwardly with respect to a bottom side of the bottom card through a window formed through the bottom card when the top and bottom card are joined, wherein the bottom side of the bottom card is located opposite with respect to the top card.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a blister card system in an embodiment.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a blister card system in an embodiment.
- FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of a carrier in an embodiment.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of a top card having differently shaped windows formed therein in an embodiment.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a top plane view of a carrier in an embodiment.
- FIG. 6 illustrates a top plane view of a carrier in an embodiment.
- FIG. 7 illustrates a top plan view of a top card having film pockets covering differently shaped windows formed therein in an embodiment.
- FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a blister card system having hinged top and bottom cards with cut-out windows formed therein in an embodiment.
- FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a blister card system having bottom card hinged to a top card having cut-out windows formed therein in an embodiment.
- FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a blister card system having a bottom card, with a fold out portion, hinged to a top card having a cut-out window formed therein in an embodiment.
- the present disclosure sets forth blister card systems and/or methods of assembling blister card systems for packaging, securing, storing, enclosing, protecting, displaying and/or offering-for-sale one or more retail products.
- the systems and methods may package a retail product, banded widthwise to a carrier, adhered to a bottom card or adhered to a film or fold out portion of the bottom card, between a top card and the bottom card such that the retail product may extend through a window formed in the top and/or bottom cards for displaying the retail product.
- two or more windows may be formed in the top card and/or bottom cards for each displaying retail products.
- one or more windows may be formed in the top card and/or bottom card whereby each window is sized and shaped to display one or more retail products.
- the top and bottom cards may be hinged together such that the bottom card may be folded over onto the top card or the top card may be folded over onto the bottom card.
- the present systems and methods may provide at least one blister card system 2 (hereinafter “system 2 ”) as shown in FIG. 1 , configured to package at least one retail product.
- the system 2 may be sized, shaped and/or configured to package, for example, one or more retail products 4 (hereinafter “products 4 ”).
- products 4 retail products 4
- the present disclosure is not limited to a specific embodiment of the number of products 4 which may be packaged within the system 2 .
- the system 2 may package two products 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 ; however, it should be understood that the system 2 may be shaped, sized and/or configured to package any number of products 4 as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the products 4 may be, for example, cosmetic products, consumer products, food products, hard goods, durable goods, soft goods, consumables, consumer-grade goods, professional-grade goods and/or the like.
- the products 4 may be at least one or more over-the-counter retail products (hereinafter “OTC products”).
- OTC products may be, for example, cosmetics, analgesics, medications, pharmaceuticals, razors, razor blades, camera film, batteries, videos, DVDs, smoking cessation products, infant formula, lip sticks, nail polishes, toothbrushes, vitamins, personal care products, home care products, toothbrushes, foodstuffs, packaged foods, kitchen supplies, bags, boxes, containers and/or the like.
- the products 4 which may be secured, stored, displayed and/or dispensed via the system 2 , may be the same retail products, similar retail products, different retail products or a combination of same and different retail products.
- the products 4 may have same, similar and/or different sizes, shapes and/or configurations.
- the products 4 may be finger/toe nail polish as shown in FIG. 1 ; however, the products 4 that may be any retail product(s) known to one of ordinary skill in the art that are configured, adapted, shaped and/or sized to be packed within the system 2 .
- the system 2 and/or the products 4 may be accessible by a consumer through a front-side of a divider or shelf system (not shown in the drawings).
- the system 2 may have a cut-out opening (not shown in the drawings) which may enable the system 2 to be suspended from a hook or a peg (not shown in the drawings) associated with the divider or shelf system.
- a consumer may remove and/or separate the system 2 from divider or shelf system and/or from the hook or peg to examine the products 4 packaged, secured, stored, enclosed, protected and/or displayed within the system 2 . If desirable, the consumer may purchase or offer-to-buy the system 2 and/or the products 4 . After which, the products 4 may be separated and/or removed from the system 2 by the consumer and the system 2 may be discarded and/or recycled by the consumer.
- FIGS. 1 and 2 show the system 2 , in an embodiment, having at least one top card 10 (hereinafter “top card 10 ”), at least one bottom card 20 (hereinafter “bottom card 20 ”) and/or one or more carriers 30 (hereinafter “carriers 30 ”) for the products 4 .
- the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 may be die cut cards and/or carriers, respectively.
- the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 may be hinged together via a hinge 80 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and).
- Each of the products 4 of the system 2 may be placed or positioned on one of the carriers 30 and/or may be attached and/or connected to one of the carriers 30 .
- the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 may be made of materials, such as, for example, paper-based materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 may be made of card stock or may be a plastic card and/or carrier.
- the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 may be made of any materials that are capable, physically, of being securely combined together to assembly and/or form the system 2 .
- the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 may be made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of paper corrugated or wood based materials, blister boards, coated styrene butadiene styrene, corrugated fibreboard, E-Flute corrugated fibreboard, stone paper, ceramic sheets, wood, melamine, standardized layers or sheets or combinations thereof. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to a specific embodiment of the materials that may be used to make the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 of the system 2 .
- printed indicia may be displayed on one or more surfaces of the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 .
- the indicia may be printed on the one or more surfaces of the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 by one or more known printing techniques.
- the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 may be produced, cut and/or formed by one or more die tools or equipment. The present disclosure should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the materials of the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 and/or the shape of the perimeter of the carriers 30 .
- At least one security band 50 may be wrapped widthwise around each product 4 positioned on each carrier 30 such that each product 4 is firmly banded widthwise to one of the carriers 30 via each security band 50 .
- the security band 50 may be made of one or more banding materials such that each security band 50 may by stretched, or wrapped around the carrier 30 and product 4 widthwise.
- the product 4 and carrier 30 are banded together at a point of attachment 52 , via the security band 50 , to form a product assembly 4 , 30 , 50 (hereinafter “product assembly”) as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the security band may comprise a single band layer or more than one band layer.
- the security band 50 may have opposite ends (not shown in the drawings) which may be securely connected and/or attached together to securely stretch or wrap the security band 50 around the carrier 30 and product 4 widthwise.
- the opposite ends of the security band 50 may be firmly and securely connected and/or attached together via heat sealing the ends together or by one or more selected from an adhesive, a cohesive, a glue or combinations thereof.
- the security band 50 may be applied to each product 4 and each carrier 30 by a wrapping or banding tool or machine and/or heat sealed around each product 4 and each carrier 30 .
- application of the security bands 50 to the products 4 and the carriers 30 may be completed by utilizing, for example, one or more heat sealing techniques and/or splicing techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the banding materials of the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 may be one or more elastic materials capable of firmly and securely wrapping the security band 50 around each product 4 and each carrier 30 .
- the banding material may be polyethylene (hereinafter “PE”) selected from the group consisting of linear low density PE, ultra low density PE, low density PE, medium density PE, high density PE and combinations thereof.
- PE polyethylene
- the present disclosure should not be deemed to be limited to a specific embodiment of the elastic material of the security bands 50 which may be any elastic material or band as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the security bands 50 may have a width which may be sized, shaped, adapted and/or configured to firmly and securely band each product 4 and each carrier 30 together to form the product assemblies.
- the point of attachment 52 is defined as a location or position along the lengths of each product 4 and each carrier 30 at which the security band 50 wraps, in a widthwise direction, around the product 4 and the carrier 30 , connecting each product 4 to each carrier 30 .
- each of the products 4 may be firmly connect, attached and/or secured to one of the carriers 30 .
- Securing the products 4 to the carriers 3 may maintain and/or uphold an orientation of the products 4 and/or the product assemblies with respect to each other and/or to the system 2 after joining the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 . It should be understood that the following terms may be used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure: sized; shaped; adapted; and configured.
- each carrier 30 may have a perimeter having a geometrical shape selected from a circular shape, an oval shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a polygonal shape and combinations thereof.
- the perimeter of each carrier 30 may be, for example, rectangle-shaped, oval-shaped, popsicle-stick-shaped, pin-shaped or bottle-shaped.
- a length of each carrier 30 may be greater than a width of each carrier 30 .
- the perimeter of each carrier 30 may be less than the perimeter of each product 4 connected thereto.
- each carrier 30 may have a perimeter 32 comprising, for example, an upper portion 34 , an indented portion 36 and/or a lower portion 38 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 .
- a width of the indented portion 36 may be, for example, equal to or less than a width of the upper portion 34 and/or the lower portion 38 .
- the perimeter 32 of the carrier 30 may have an hour-glass shape as shown in FIG. 3 or a pin shape as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the indented portion 36 may be formed or positioned about or around a midpoint along the length of the carrier 30 .
- the indented portion 36 may be formed or positioned closer or near to the upper portion 34 (as shown in FIG.
- the indented portion 36 may extend from the upper portion 34 to the opposite end of the carrier 30 (as shown in FIG. 6 ) or from the lower portion 38 to the opposite end of the carrier 30 (not shown in the drawings).
- the point of attachment 52 for the product and carrier 30 may be located or positioned at or within the indented portion 36 of the carrier 30 as shown in FIGS. 3 , 5 and 6 .
- a width of the product 4 at the point of attachment 52 may be greater than at least the width of the indented portion 36 of the carrier 30 .
- the product 4 may be firmly connect, attached or secured to the carrier 30 at the point of attachment 52 via the security band 50 .
- the width of the security bands 50 may be, for example, greater than 5 millimetres (hereinafter “mm”) wide, less than 100 mm wide, less than 50 mm wide, about 35 mm wide or about 30 mm wide.
- the security bands 50 may cover, encircle and/or enclose at least a portion of the product 4 , such as, for example, less than ninety (90) percent of the product 4 or more than five (5) percent of the product 4 .
- the security bands 50 may have thickness of, for example, less than about 0.01 inches thick, greater than about 0.0005 inches thick, or about 0.00120 inches thick. The present disclosure should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the widths and/or thicknesses of the security bands 50 .
- the top card 10 has one or more windows 60 (hereinafter “the windows 60 ”) formed therein for displaying, housing, securing and/or storing the products 4 and/or the product assemblies within the system 2 after the top card 10 and bottom card 20 are joined.
- the windows 60 of the top card 10 extends through the top card 10 from a top side of the top card 10 to an opposite bottom side of the top card 10 .
- the windows 60 are configured to receive, house and/or store at least a portion of the products 4 and/or the product assemblies after the system 2 is assembled by connecting, attaching and/or adhering at least a portion of the top card 10 and at least a portion of the bottom card 20 together.
- one or more of the windows 60 formed in the top card 10 may be configured to receive two or more products 4 , each banded to a separate carrier 30 or to the same carrier 30 (not shown in the drawings).
- the windows 60 may be, for example, cut-out windows formed in the top card by cut-out or punch-out techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the windows 60 may be configured to receive, house and/or store the products 4 along with the security bands 50 which are connecting the products 4 to the carriers 30 .
- the windows 60 may each have a perimeter that may be the same as, substantially the same as, substantially similar to, or greater than the perimeters of the products 4 .
- the perimeters of the windows 60 may comprise a geometrical shape selected from a circular shape, an oval shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a polygonal shape and combinations thereof.
- the perimeters of the windows 60 may be the same as, substantially similar to or corresponding to the perimeters of the products 4 .
- the perimeters of the windows 60 may be differently shaped perimeters as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the products 4 may firmly fit or be positioned within the windows 60 or within the perimeters of the windows 60 after the top card 10 and bottom card 20 are joined together.
- the carriers 30 and/or the product assemblies may be adhered, bonded or glued, connected, attached and/or secured to a top side of the bottom card 20 before the system 2 is be assembled by joining the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 .
- at least one first adhesive layer 62 (hereinafter “the first adhesive layer 62 ”) may adhere a bottom side of the carrier 30 to the top side of the bottom card 20 as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the carriers 30 , the products 4 and/or the product assemblies may be connected, attached and/or adhered to the bottom card 20 via first adhesive layer 62 .
- the carrier 30 and the bottom card 20 and/or the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 may be joined together by one or more joining compositions selected from a hotmelt adhesive, a cold glue, a cohesive, a double sided tape, a single sided tape with an adhesive on its back side, an animal glue and combinations thereof.
- the carrier 30 and the bottom card 20 and/or the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 may be joined together by one or more hot melt or clam shell adhesive techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the product assemblies and/or the products 4 may extend outwardly through and/or from the windows 60 of the top card 10 .
- at least portions of the product assemblies and/or the products 4 may be displayed and/or viewable via the windows 60 after connecting the bottom side of the top card 10 to the top side of the bottom card 20 .
- the products 4 when the products 4 extend outwardly from the windows 60 of the top card 10 , the products 4 may be, for example, one or more safety sealed products and/or one or more packaged products.
- At least one second adhesive layer 64 may connect, and/or adhere at least a portion of the bottom side of the top card 10 to at least a portion of the top side of the bottom card 20 as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 may be connected and/or joined together via the second adhesive layer 64 .
- the first adhesive layer 62 may be located adjacent to, may contact and/or may interface with the second adhesive layer 64 .
- the first adhesive layer 62 and/or the second adhesive layer 64 (hereinafter “adhesive layers 62 , 64 ”) may comprise the one or more joining compositions.
- the adhesive layers 62 , 64 may be applied together to the top side of the bottom card 20 .
- the adhesive layers 62 , 64 are applied together onto the top side of the bottom card 20 , the carrier 30 and/or the product assembly may be connected to the bottom card 20 and the top card 10 may be joined to the bottom card immediately thereafter.
- the first adhesive layer 62 may be excluded from system 2 and the second adhesive layer 64 may be applied to a larger portion of the top side of the bottom card 20 such that the carrier 30 , product assembly and/or bottom side of the top card 10 may be adhered to the bottom card via the second adhesive layer 64 (not shown in the drawings).
- the first adhesive layer 62 may be excluded from the system 2 and the top card 10 may apply force to the carrier 30 and/or the product assembly when the top card 10 is joined to the bottom card 20 via the second adhesive layer 64 .
- the carrier 30 and/or the product assembly may be held or maintained in position within the system 2 and/or between the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 by the force applied to the carrier 30 and/or product assembly from or by the top card 10 .
- a consumer may, if desired, examine and/or view the portion of the product assemblies and/or the products 4 which may be extending outwardly from the windows 60 formed in the top card 10 .
- the windows 60 may allow a consumer or other third party to visually and/or physically examine the products 4 of the system 2 via the windows 60 formed in the top card 10 .
- a consumer may desire to purchase the products 4 , packaged by the system 2 .
- the portions of the product assemblies and/or the products 4 which are encircled by the security bands 50 , firmly connect, attach and/or secure the products 4 to the carriers 30 , the bottom card 20 and/or the system 2 .
- the encircling or banding by the security bands 50 may prevent or substantially prevent the products 4 and/or the product assemblies from being separated or removed from the top card 10 , the bottom card 10 , the carriers 30 and/or the system 2 .
- the security bands 50 may prevent or reduce theft of, damage to and/or destruction of the products 4 by firmly securing the products 4 within the system 2 .
- the carriers 30 and/or the security bands 50 may also prevent or substantially prevent the products 4 and/or product assemblies from being separated or removed from the top card 10 , the bottom card 20 and/or the system 2 .
- the bottom card 20 , the carriers 30 and/or the security bands 50 may prevent or reduce theft of, damage to and/or destruction of the products 4 by firmly securing the products within the system 2 .
- At least one of the windows 60 of the top card 10 may be covered by at least one compliant film 65 (hereinafter “film 65 ”) which may be connected or adhered to the bottom side of the top card 10 .
- the film 65 may be a stretchable film which may, in an embodiment, be a clear compliant plastic film layer, such as, in a preferred embodiment, a polyvinyl chloride film layer that may be adhered to the bottom side of the top card 10 .
- the film 65 may comprise a single film layer or more than one film layer.
- the film 65 may be at least a single sheet film having a perimeter 70 which may be configured to cover the at least one windows 60 , or all of the windows 60 , formed in the top card 10 .
- the perimeter 70 of the film 65 in an unstretched state or manner, may be large enough that the film 65 may cover more than one of the windows 60 and/or may allow the film 65 to be connect to one or more portions of the bottom side of the top card 10 surrounding and/or located adjacent to the windows 60 .
- the film 65 In the unstretched state or manner, the film 65 may extend across the one or more windows 60 in a firmly tensioned state or manner.
- the film 65 may be made from at least one clear compliant film or heat activated clear film. Heat active films become loose or relaxed and extremely pliant when activated by heat, and then subsequently harden when cooled.
- the at least one heat activated film may be, for example, a skin film as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the film 65 may be any film layer type that is capable of being laminated and/or attached to the back side of the top card 10 , which may provide a plurality of characteristics that may be derived from different materials used in each layer of a multiple layered film 65 , as well as a total number of film layers that may be combined to produce the multiple layered film 65 .
- the product assemblies and/or the products 4 may extend outwardly through the windows 60 and/or may extend, stretch and/or push the film 65 outward with respect to the top side of the top card 10 when the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 is joined together.
- the film 65 may be contoured to one or more outer surfaces of the products 4 and/or the product assemblies, and/or the products 4 may be completely enclosed between the stretched film 65 and the top side of the bottom card 20 and/or the carriers 30 .
- the stretched film 65 , the top card 10 and/or the bottom card 20 may prevent or reduce theft of, damage to, destruction of, opening of, activating of, tampering with and contamination of the products 4 by completely enclosing the products 4 within the system 2 .
- the carriers 3 and/or the products 4 are located between the stretched film 65 and the bottom card 20 such that the products 4 may be completely and/or totally covered or enclosed within the system 2 .
- Joining the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 together may cause the products 4 to push and/or stretch the film 65 around at least a front portion of the products 4 and/or product assemblies located within the system 2 as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the carriers 30 may have an overall width W 1 at the point of attachment 52 which may be preferably less than or equal to an overall width W 2 of the products 4 at the point of attachment 52 via the security band 50 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 .
- the carriers 30 may have a radius width R 1 , at the point of attachment 52 , of the carriers 30 , the products 4 may have a radius width R 2 at the point of attachment 52 , and the radius width R 1 of the carriers 30 may be smaller than the radius width R 2 of the products 4 .
- the radius width R 1 of the carriers 30 , at the point of attachment 52 may be, for example, less than about one-quarter of an inch, less than about one-eighth of an inch, or about one-sixteenth of an inch smaller, on each side, than the radius width R 2 of the products 4 , at the point of attachment 52 .
- the overall width W 1 of the carriers 30 , at the point of attachment 52 may be, for example, less than about one half of an inch, less than about one-quarter of an inch, or about one-eighth of an inch less than the overall width W 2 of the products, at the point of attachment 52 .
- the security bands 50 may tightly and firmly connect or banded the products 4 to the carriers 30 .
- the product 4 may be tightly and firmly wrapped, banded, connected and/or attached to the carriers 30 via the security bands 50 .
- the indented portion 36 of the carrier 30 may comprise the smaller or lesser overall width W 1 and/or radius width R 1 for firm banding of products 4 to the carriers 30 at the point of attachment 52 .
- the carriers 30 may preferably have a length, a perimeter and/or a width above and/or below the point of attachment (i.e., the width of the upper portion 34 and/or the lower portion 38 as shown in FIGS. 3 , 5 and 6 ) which may be greater than a length, a perimeter and/or overall width of the windows 60 formed in the top card 10 .
- the length, the perimeter and/or the width W 1 of the carriers 30 will preferably extend beyond at least one and preferably beyond both opposite edges of the windows 60 of the top card 10 .
- the top and bottom ends of the carrier 30 may extend beyond the top and bottom edges of the window 60 .
- At least a portion of left and right edges of the carrier 30 may extend beyond the left and right edges of the window 60 .
- the carriers 30 , the products 4 and/or the product assemblies may be held, maintained, restricted and/or further secured within the system 2 by the edges of the windows 60 of the top card 10 and the greater length, perimeter and/or width of the carriers 30 .
- the edges of the windows 60 and the greater length, perimeter and/or width of the carriers 30 may prevent the products 4 from being separated from the system 2 to provide greater or additional anti-tampering protection.
- the edges of the windows 60 would hold, maintain, restrict and/or secure the carriers 30 within the system 2 .
- someone attempting to remove or separate the products 4 from the system 2 will have to disassemble and/or destroy the system 2 because of the greater anti-theft protection provided by the carriers 30 , the security bands 50 , the edges of the windows 60 and/or the stretched film 65 of the system 2 .
- the carriers 30 , the security bands 50 , the edges of the windows 60 , the adhesive layers 62 , 64 and/or the stretched film 65 of the system 2 may provide added security to the products 4 by preventing damage to or destruction of the products 4 , physical tampering with the products 4 , such as, opening or activating the products 4 , and/or contamination of the products 4 , such as, reducing the products 4 exposure to dust, dirt and/or surrounding environmental conditions and/or elements.
- the system 2 may package and/or protect one or more products 4 without use of the carrier 30 and the security band 50 as shown in FIGS. 7-10 .
- the top card 10 and the bottom card 20 may be hinged together such that the top card 10 may be folded over onto the bottom card 20 or the bottom card 20 may be folded over onto the top card 10 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 .
- the system 2 having the hinged top and bottom cards 10 , 20 , may be assembled by hand and/or without the use of any assembly machine.
- FIG. 7 shows a system 2 comprising the top card 10 and bottom card 20 joined together whereby the top card 10 has the windows 60 formed therein.
- the film 65 may be adhered to the back side of the top card 10 and may cover a portion of the windows 60 .
- the film 65 forms a expandable pocket with the bottom card 20 such that the product 4 may be inserted into the expandable pocket formed by the film 65 .
- the product 4 may be inserted into the expandable pocket at a top edge of the film 65 and moved downward into the expandable pocket formed between the film 65 of the top side of the bottom card 20 .
- the product 4 may be packaged and/or protected within the expandable pocket of system 2 formed between the film 65 and the bottom card 20 .
- FIGS. 8 and 9 show the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 connected together via a hinge 80 that may be located between edges of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 .
- the hinge 80 by be located between the bottom edges of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 .
- the hinge may be located between side edges or top edges of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 .
- the hinge 80 may comprise scoring 82 which may extend an entire length of the hinge 80 or at least a portion of the length of the hinge 80 .
- the scoring 82 of the hinge 80 may facilitate or aid in folding the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 onto each other to assembly the system 2 .
- the scoring 82 may be formed by known scoring techniques, such as, for example, die-cutting or the like. As a result, the scoring 82 of the hinge 80 may facilitate or allow the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 to be folded onto each other to assembly the system 2 by hand and/or without the use of any assembly machine.
- the system 2 shown in FIG. 8 has a top card 10 having windows 60 formed therein whereby the film 65 is connected to the bottom side of the top card 10 such that the windows 60 of the top card 10 are covered by the film 65 .
- the bottom card 20 has windows 60 formed therein whereby the film 65 is connected and/or adhered to the top side of the bottom card such that the windows 60 of the bottom card 20 are covered by the film 65 .
- perimeters of the windows 60 of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 may be the same or substantially similar shapes, sizes and/or dimensions.
- the bottom edges of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 are hinged together via the hinge 80 having the scoring 82 thereon. As a result, the top and bottom cards may be folded over onto each other via the hinge 80 and/or thee scoring 82 .
- the adhering means 84 may be applied, attached, adhered to a side of the film 65 facing away from bottom side of the top card 10 and/or the top side of the bottom card 20 by application techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the adhering means 84 may be selected from a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a crosslinkable adhesive, a heat-activatable adhesive, hotmelt adhesive, a cohesive, a double sided tape, a single sided tape with an adhesive on its back side and combinations thereof.
- the adhering means 84 may be clear or semi-clear adhesive that does not restrict visibility through the adhering means 84 . It should be understood that the present disclosure should not be deemed limited to a specific embodiment of the adhering means 84 and/or the one or more portions of the film 65 which may receive the adhering means 84 .
- the product 4 may be connect, attached and/or adhered to the adhering mean 84 of the film 65 connected to the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 .
- the product 4 may be positioned on and/or connected to the adhering means 84 of the film 65 that is connected to the bottom card 20 as shown in FIG. 8 .
- the product 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to the bottom card 20 and/or the film 65 via the adhering means 84 and the product 4 may be positioned or located within the window 60 of the bottom card 20 .
- the adhering means 84 may aid assembly of the system 2 and may facilitate proper placement of the product 4 within the window 60 of the bottom card 20 .
- the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 may be folded onto each other along the scoring 82 of the hinge 80 to assembly the system 2 and package the product 4 within the system 2 .
- the product 4 may be positioned, packaged and/or protected between the films 65 of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 .
- a sealing means 86 may be applied, positioned and/or located on one or more portions of the bottom side of the top card 10 and/or the top side of the bottom card 20 that are free of the film 65 or do not comprise the film 65 .
- the sealing means 86 may be applied to a portion of the bottom side of the top card 10 above the top edge of the film 65 connected to the top card 10 as shown in FIG. 8 .
- the sealing means 86 may be applied to one or more of the bottom side of the top card 10 and/or the top side of the bottom card 20 that are around, adjacent to or surrounding the film 65 , the adhering means 84 and/or the product 4 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 .
- the sealing means 86 may be applied to the bottom side of the top card 10 and/or the top side of the bottom card 20 may application techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
- the sealing means 86 may be selected from a hotmelt adhesive, a cold glue, a cohesive, a double sided tape, a single sided tape with an adhesive on its back side, an animal glue and combinations thereof.
- the present disclosure should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the sealing means 86 or the one or more portions of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 that may receive the sealing means 86 .
- the sealing means 86 positioned on the bottom side of the top card 10 and/or the top side of the bottom card 20 connects, attaches and/or adheres the top and bottom card 10 , 20 together such that the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 are sealed together to form the system 2 .
- the system 2 is sealed and the product 4 is sealed within the system 2 .
- a first portion of the product 4 pushes against and stretches the film 65 of the top card 10 outward with respect to the top side of the top card 10 through the window 60 of the top card 10 and pushes against and stretches the film 65 of the bottom card 20 outward with respect to the bottom side of the back card 20 through the window of the bottom card 20 .
- the product 4 is enclosed, sealed and/or encapsulated within the films 65 of the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 .
- a front portion of the product 4 is encapsulated within the film 65 of the top card 10 and a back portion of the product 4 is encapsulated within the film 65 of the bottom card 20 .
- the sealing means 86 has a high adhesive strength such that the system 2 may not be easily opened to prevent theft of the product 4 . However, the adhesive strength of the sealing means 86 may be low such the system 2 may be opened by hand, or without the use of tools, and the product 4 may be accessed and/or subsequently utilized.
- the adhering means 84 may have an adhesive strength that is less than the adhesive strength of the sealing means 86 . However, the adhesive strength of the adhering means is configured such that the product 4 is maintain within the window 60 while the system 2 is sealed and is easily removable from the film 65 after the system 2 has been opened.
- the system 2 shown in FIG. 9 , has a top card 10 , which is similar to the top card 10 shown in FIG. 8 .
- the top card 10 is hinged to a bottom card 20 , which is free of any windows, via the hinge 80 having the scoring 82 therein.
- the bottom card 20 is continuous with no opening formed therein, one or more adhering means 84 may be applied to the top side of the bottom card 20 a one or more positions that align with the windows 60 formed in the top card 10 when the top and bottom cards are folded over onto each other.
- one or more sealing means are applied to one or more portions of the top side of the bottom card 20 that are free of the one or more adhering means 84 .
- two adhering means 84 are applied to a middle portion of the top side of the bottom card 20 and the sealing means 86 is applied to a top portion and/or a bottom portion of the top side of the bottom card 20 as shown in FIG. 9 .
- the adhering means 84 and/or the sealing means 86 may extend in a lengthwise direction or a widthwise direction of the bottom card 20 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 .
- the adhering means 84 may be located between the sealing means 86 and may extend in the lengthwise direction of the bottom card 20 , and the sealing means 86 may extend in the widthwise direction of the bottom card 20 as shown in FIG. 9 .
- the products 4 may be positioned and/or located on the adhering means 84 of the bottom card 20 , and, as a result, the products 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to the bottom card 20 via the adhering means 84 .
- the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 may be folded, along the scoring 84 of the hinge 82 , over onto each other to assembly the system 2 .
- a portion of the products 4 may push against and/or stretch the films 65 of the top card 10 outwardly with respect to the top side of the top card 10 through the windows of the top card 10 .
- the sealing means 86 of the bottom card 10 may adhere and/or seal the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 together to form the system 2 .
- the products 4 may be enclosed, encapsulated, housed and/or packaged between the films 65 of the top card 10 and the top side of the bottom card 20 .
- FIG. 10 shows the system 2 having the top card 10 with the window 60 formed therein and the film 65 connected to the bottom side of the top card 10 and covering the window 60 of the top card 10 .
- the bottom card 20 may have a fold-out portion 90 (hereinafter “portion 90 ”) formed thereon, which may be folded outwardly with respect to the top side of the bottom card 20 .
- portion 90 may be formed in the bottom card 20 by formation techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as, for example, die-cutting or the like.
- the top surface of the portion 90 may be sized, shaped and/or configure to receive at least a portion of the product 4 .
- the top surface of the portion 90 may have a width and/or a length that may correspond to at least a portion of the product 4 .
- the top surface of the portion 90 may be sized and/or shaped to be the same as or substantially similar to the size and/or shape of the carrier 30 shown in, for example, FIG. 1 .
- the adhering means 84 may be applied to the top surface of the portion 90 , and the product 4 may be positioned or located on the adhering means 84 of the portion 90 . As a result, the product 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to be the bottom card 20 via the adhering means 84 and/or the portion 90 .
- the portion 90 may be free of the adhering means 84 and the security band 50 may be utilized to connect, attach and/or secure the product 4 to the portion 90 (not shown in the drawings) As a result, the product 4 may be connected, attached and/or secured to the bottom card 20 via the security band 50 and/or the portion 90 .
- One or more sealing means 86 may be applied to the top side of the bottom card 20 for joining the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 after the product 4 have been connected to the portion 90 of the bottom card 20 .
- more than one sealing means 86 may be applied to the top side of the bottom card 20 such that the more than one sealing means 86 surround the portion 90 as shown in FIG. 10 .
- the top and bottom cards may be hinged together via the hinge 80 (not shown in the drawings).
- the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 may be joined together, and at least a portion of the product 4 may push against and/or stretch the film 65 of the top card 10 outwardly with respect to the top side of the top card 10 through the window 60 of the top card 10 .
- the product 4 may be enclosed, encapsulated, housed and packaged between the film 65 of the top card 10 and the portion 90 of the bottom card 20 .
- the sealing means 86 of the bottom card 20 may connected, attach, adhere and/or seal the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 together to form the system 6 .
- the product 4 may be enclosed, packaged, protected and/or sealed within the system 2 .
- the top card 10 may be placed facedown onto a conveyer belt system (not shown in the drawing) such that the top side o the top card 10 is adjacent to the conveyer belt system.
- the conveyer belt system comprises at least one cradle (not shown in the drawing) which is sized and shaped to receive the top card 10 and/or the product 4 that may be subsequently positioned and/or located within the window 60 of the top card 10 .
- the cradle may have at least one cavity sized, shaped and/or configured to receive the product 4 after the product 4 stretches the film 65 of the top card and extends outwardly with respect to the top surface of the top card 10 through the window 60 of the top card 10 .
- the size, shape and configuration of the at least one cavity of the cradle may be the same as or substantially similar to the size, shape and configuration of the product 4 .
- the product With the top card 10 positioned and/or located on the cradle of the conveyer belt system, the product is placed, positioned and/or located on the film 65 of the top card 10 and within the window 60 of the top card 10 .
- the product 4 may be dropped or forced directly into the window 60 of the top card and the cavity of the cradle. As a result, the product 4 may push against and/or stretch the film 65 outwardly with respect to the top side of the top card 10 through the window 60 of the top card 10 and into the cavity of the cradle.
- the adhering means 84 may be applied to at least a portion of the film 65 located within the window 60 of the top card 10 prior to the product being positioned or located within the window 60 .
- the product 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to the film 65 located within the window 60 of the top card 10 via the adhering means 84 .
- the bottom card 20 having one or more sealing means 86 applied to the top side of the bottom card 20 , may be positioned directly adjacent to and/or over the bottom side of the top card 10 .
- the top side of the bottom card 20 may be applied to, joined to and/or compressed onto the bottom side of the top card 10 , and the one or more sealing means 86 positioned on the top side of the bottom card 20 may connect, attach, adhere and/or seal the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 together to assembly the system 2 .
- the product 4 may be enclosed, encapsulated and housed between the film 65 of the top card 10 and the top side of the bottom card 20 .
- the product 4 may be packed, protected and/or sealed within the assembled system 2 .
- the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 are hinged together via the hinge 80 (not shown in the drawing) and the system 2 may be assembled by folding, along the hinge 80 , the top and bottom cards 10 , 20 onto each other to enclose or encapsulate the product 4 between the film 65 of the top card 10 and the top side of the bottom card 20 .
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Abstract
Blister card systems and methods package at least one retail product and have a top card with a top side, a bottom side located opposite to the top side of the top card and at least one window extending through the top card from the top side to the bottom side of the top card. The systems and methods have a security band attaching a retail product to a carrier and a bottom card connected to the bottom side of the top card, wherein at least a portion of the carrier is located between the top and bottom cards, and further wherein at least a portion of the retail product extends outwardly, with respect to the top side of the top card, from the at least one window of the top card. The carrier, optionally, has a width that is less than a width of the retail product, and a stretchable film, optionally, covers the at least one window and/or at least a portion of thee retail product extending outward from the at least one window.
Description
- The present disclosure relates to one or more blister card systems and/or one or more methods for assembling the one or more blister card systems. The systems and methods may be utilized to package and/or protect one or more retail products and/or to display one or more retail products in, for example, a retail environment and/or the like.
- Blister card systems are generally used to display, organize and dispense retail products stored therein within a retail environment. The blister card systems traditionally are hung or suspended from hooks and/or pegs in a retail environment and are easily removed from the hooks and/or pegs by consumers for examination and/or purchase of the retail products by the consumers. The hooks and/or pegs, attached to display shelves, often suspend the retail products from one or more cut-outs formed within packaging of the blister card systems. Known blister card systems have pre-formed plastic packaging which include at least one preformed plastic cavity sized and configured to receive and store one or more the retail products and a backing that is sized and configured to enclose the retail products within the preformed plastic cavity. Often preformed plastic cavity is made from thermoformed plastic and the backing is made from a paper-based material, such as, for example, a cardboard or paperboard, a metal foil or a plastic.
- The size and shape of the preformed plastic cavity is based on the size and shape of the retail products being store and enclosed within the preformed plastic cavity of the blister card system. Because different retail products, more often than not, have different sizes and/or shapes, the sizes and shapes of the preformed plastic cavities must also have different corresponding sizes and/or shapes. As a result, special tooling equipment or machines must be used to produce each preformed plastic cavity that has a different size and/or shape and expensive sealing equipment or machines are necessary to seal each preformed plastic cavity that has a different size and/or shape. Moreover, producing and sealing different preformed plastic cavities having different sizes and/or shapes requires manufactures or producers to purchase, utilize, maintain and repair multiple tooling and/or sealing equipment or machines. As a result, the purchasing, utilizing, maintaining and repairing of the multiple tooling and/or sealing equipment or machines to produce and seal different sized and/or shaped preformed plastic cavities makes manufacturing different blister card systems for different retail product costly, untimely and often very labour intensive.
- The systems and methods set forth in the present disclosure may produce and seal different blister card systems for storing and enclosing different retail products having different sizes and/or shapes without requiring the use of costly preformed plastic cavities and/or multiple tooling and/or sealing equipment machines. Moreover, the present systems and methods may reduce costs, production times and labour requirements associated with producing and sealing the different blister card systems by utilizing one or more of the following structural features: a top card having at least one cut-out window; at least one carrier located between the top card and a bottom card, which may optionally be hinged to the top card and/or have at least one cut-out window; and one or more compliant films covering the cut-out window(s) for enclosing at least one retail product between the one or more compliant films and the bottom card and/or the at least one carrier.
- In an embodiment, a blister card system packages at least one retail product and has a top card having a top side, a bottom side located opposite to the top side of the top card and at least one window extending through the top card from the top side to the bottom side of the top card. Further the system has a security band attaching a retail product to a carrier at a point of attachment and at least a portion of a bottom card connected to at least a portion of the bottom side of the top card, wherein at least a portion of the carrier is located between the top and bottom cards, and further wherein at least a portion of the retail product extends outwardly, with respect to the top side of the top card, through the at least one window of the top card.
- In embodiments, a width of the carrier at a point of attachment is substantially equal to or less than a width of the retail product at the point of attachment.
- In embodiments, the security band is an elastic band wrapped, in a widthwise direction, around the carrier and the retail product.
- In embodiments, the system has an adhesive layer adhering the carrier to at least a portion of the bottom card.
- In embodiments, a length of the carrier is greater than a length of the at least one window formed in the top card such that top and bottom ends of the carrier extend beyond top and bottom edges of the at least one window.
- In embodiments, the system has a stretchable film covering the at least one window formed in the top card and at least a portion of the retail product.
- In embodiments, a width of a portion of the carrier is greater than a width of the at least one window formed in the top card such that opposite edges of the width of the carrier extends beyond side edges of the width of the at least one window.
- In embodiments, a system has a top card having a top side, a bottom side located opposite to the top side of the top card and at least one window extending through the top card from the top side to the bottom side of the top card, at least one product assembly comprising a retail product and a carrier, wherein a width of the carrier, at least at a point along a length of the carrier, is less than a width of the retail product, at a point along a length of the retail product, and at least a portion of a bottom card connected to at least a portion of the bottom side of the top card, wherein a first portion of the at least one product assembly is located between the top and bottom cards, and further wherein a second portion of the at least one product assembly is located within the at least one window formed in the top card.
- In embodiments, the system has a security band attaching the retail product to the carrier to form the at least one product assembly.
- In embodiments, the security band is an elastic band wrapped, in a widthwise direction, around the retail product and the carrier.
- In embodiments, the system has an adhesive layer adhering the carrier to at least a portion of the bottom card.
- In embodiments, a length of the carrier is greater than a length of the at least one window formed in the top card such that top and bottom ends of the carrier extend beyond top and bottom edges of the at least one window.
- In embodiments, the system has a stretchable film covering the at least one window formed in the top card and at least a portion of the retail product.
- In embodiments, the stretchable film is attached to a portion of the bottom side of the top card.
- In an embodiment, a method packages a retail product and comprises providing a cradle on a conveyer belt system, wherein the cradle comprises a cavity configured to receive the retail product, positioning a top card on the cradle such that a top side of the top card is adjacent to the cavity of the cradle, wherein the top card has a window formed therein and the window is covered with a stretchable film and configured to receive the retail product, wherein the stretchable film is connected to a bottom side of the top card that is located opposite to the top side of the top card, positioning the retail product within the window of the top card and the cavity of the cradle such that the retail product extends outwardly, with respect to the top side of the top card, through the window formed in the top card and into the cavity of the cradle, and joining at least one portion of a bottom card to the bottom side of the top card via sealing means.
- In embodiments, the method comprises dropping the retail product into the window of the top card and the cavity of the cradle before adhering the at least one portion of the bottom card to the bottom side of the top card.
- In embodiments, the method comprises adhering at least a portion of the retail product to a least a portion of the stretchable film of the top card via an adhering means, wherein the portion of the stretchable film is located within the window of the top card.
- In embodiments, the method comprises adhering at least a portion of the retail product to a portion of the bottom card before joining the top and bottom cards together.
- In embodiments, the portion of the bottom card is a fold-out portion that extends outwardly with respect to the top side of the bottom card.
- In embodiments, the method comprises extending at least a portion of the retail product outwardly with respect to a bottom side of the bottom card through a window formed through the bottom card when the top and bottom card are joined, wherein the bottom side of the bottom card is located opposite with respect to the top card.
- So that the features and advantages of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the systems and methods, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only some typical embodiments of the present systems and methods and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the systems and methods may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a blister card system in an embodiment. -
FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a blister card system in an embodiment. -
FIG. 3 illustrates a top plan view of a carrier in an embodiment. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of a top card having differently shaped windows formed therein in an embodiment. -
FIG. 5 illustrates a top plane view of a carrier in an embodiment. -
FIG. 6 illustrates a top plane view of a carrier in an embodiment. -
FIG. 7 illustrates a top plan view of a top card having film pockets covering differently shaped windows formed therein in an embodiment. -
FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a blister card system having hinged top and bottom cards with cut-out windows formed therein in an embodiment. -
FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a blister card system having bottom card hinged to a top card having cut-out windows formed therein in an embodiment. -
FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a blister card system having a bottom card, with a fold out portion, hinged to a top card having a cut-out window formed therein in an embodiment. - The present disclosure sets forth blister card systems and/or methods of assembling blister card systems for packaging, securing, storing, enclosing, protecting, displaying and/or offering-for-sale one or more retail products. The systems and methods may package a retail product, banded widthwise to a carrier, adhered to a bottom card or adhered to a film or fold out portion of the bottom card, between a top card and the bottom card such that the retail product may extend through a window formed in the top and/or bottom cards for displaying the retail product. In embodiments, two or more windows may be formed in the top card and/or bottom cards for each displaying retail products. In other embodiments, one or more windows may be formed in the top card and/or bottom card whereby each window is sized and shaped to display one or more retail products. In embodiments, the top and bottom cards may be hinged together such that the bottom card may be folded over onto the top card or the top card may be folded over onto the bottom card.
- Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts, the present systems and methods may provide at least one blister card system 2 (hereinafter “
system 2”) as shown inFIG. 1 , configured to package at least one retail product. In embodiments, thesystem 2 may be sized, shaped and/or configured to package, for example, one or more retail products 4 (hereinafter “products 4”). Moreover, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to a specific embodiment of the number ofproducts 4 which may be packaged within thesystem 2. For example, thesystem 2 may package twoproducts 4 as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4 ; however, it should be understood that thesystem 2 may be shaped, sized and/or configured to package any number ofproducts 4 as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. - The
products 4 may be, for example, cosmetic products, consumer products, food products, hard goods, durable goods, soft goods, consumables, consumer-grade goods, professional-grade goods and/or the like. In embodiments, theproducts 4 may be at least one or more over-the-counter retail products (hereinafter “OTC products”). The OTC products may be, for example, cosmetics, analgesics, medications, pharmaceuticals, razors, razor blades, camera film, batteries, videos, DVDs, smoking cessation products, infant formula, lip sticks, nail polishes, toothbrushes, vitamins, personal care products, home care products, toothbrushes, foodstuffs, packaged foods, kitchen supplies, bags, boxes, containers and/or the like. In embodiments, theproducts 4, which may be secured, stored, displayed and/or dispensed via thesystem 2, may be the same retail products, similar retail products, different retail products or a combination of same and different retail products. In embodiments, theproducts 4 may have same, similar and/or different sizes, shapes and/or configurations. For example, theproducts 4 may be finger/toe nail polish as shown inFIG. 1 ; however, theproducts 4 that may be any retail product(s) known to one of ordinary skill in the art that are configured, adapted, shaped and/or sized to be packed within thesystem 2. - The
system 2 and/or theproducts 4 may be accessible by a consumer through a front-side of a divider or shelf system (not shown in the drawings). In embodiments, thesystem 2 may have a cut-out opening (not shown in the drawings) which may enable thesystem 2 to be suspended from a hook or a peg (not shown in the drawings) associated with the divider or shelf system. A consumer may remove and/or separate thesystem 2 from divider or shelf system and/or from the hook or peg to examine theproducts 4 packaged, secured, stored, enclosed, protected and/or displayed within thesystem 2. If desirable, the consumer may purchase or offer-to-buy thesystem 2 and/or theproducts 4. After which, theproducts 4 may be separated and/or removed from thesystem 2 by the consumer and thesystem 2 may be discarded and/or recycled by the consumer. -
FIGS. 1 and 2 show thesystem 2, in an embodiment, having at least one top card 10 (hereinafter “top card 10”), at least one bottom card 20 (hereinafter “bottom card 20”) and/or one or more carriers 30 (hereinafter “carriers 30”) for theproducts 4. In embodiments, thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 may be die cut cards and/or carriers, respectively. In embodiments, thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 may be hinged together via a hinge 80 (as shown inFIGS. 8 and). Each of theproducts 4 of thesystem 2 may be placed or positioned on one of thecarriers 30 and/or may be attached and/or connected to one of thecarriers 30. Thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 may be made of materials, such as, for example, paper-based materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 may be made of card stock or may be a plastic card and/or carrier. - In embodiments, the
top card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 may be made of any materials that are capable, physically, of being securely combined together to assembly and/or form thesystem 2. For example, thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 may be made of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of paper corrugated or wood based materials, blister boards, coated styrene butadiene styrene, corrugated fibreboard, E-Flute corrugated fibreboard, stone paper, ceramic sheets, wood, melamine, standardized layers or sheets or combinations thereof. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to a specific embodiment of the materials that may be used to make thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 of thesystem 2. - In embodiments, printed indicia may be displayed on one or more surfaces of the
top card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30. The indicia may be printed on the one or more surfaces of thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 by one or more known printing techniques. Thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 may be produced, cut and/or formed by one or more die tools or equipment. The present disclosure should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the materials of thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 and/or the shape of the perimeter of thecarriers 30. - In an embodiment, at least one
security band 50 may be wrapped widthwise around eachproduct 4 positioned on eachcarrier 30 such that eachproduct 4 is firmly banded widthwise to one of thecarriers 30 via eachsecurity band 50. Thesecurity band 50 may be made of one or more banding materials such that eachsecurity band 50 may by stretched, or wrapped around thecarrier 30 andproduct 4 widthwise. As a result, theproduct 4 andcarrier 30 are banded together at a point ofattachment 52, via thesecurity band 50, to form aproduct assembly FIG. 2 . In embodiment, the security band may comprise a single band layer or more than one band layer. - The
security band 50 may have opposite ends (not shown in the drawings) which may be securely connected and/or attached together to securely stretch or wrap thesecurity band 50 around thecarrier 30 andproduct 4 widthwise. In embodiments, the opposite ends of thesecurity band 50 may be firmly and securely connected and/or attached together via heat sealing the ends together or by one or more selected from an adhesive, a cohesive, a glue or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, thesecurity band 50 may be applied to eachproduct 4 and eachcarrier 30 by a wrapping or banding tool or machine and/or heat sealed around eachproduct 4 and eachcarrier 30. In an embodiment, application of thesecurity bands 50 to theproducts 4 and thecarriers 30 may be completed by utilizing, for example, one or more heat sealing techniques and/or splicing techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. - The banding materials of the
top card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30 may be one or more elastic materials capable of firmly and securely wrapping thesecurity band 50 around eachproduct 4 and eachcarrier 30. In an embodiment, the banding material may be polyethylene (hereinafter “PE”) selected from the group consisting of linear low density PE, ultra low density PE, low density PE, medium density PE, high density PE and combinations thereof. The present disclosure should not be deemed to be limited to a specific embodiment of the elastic material of thesecurity bands 50 which may be any elastic material or band as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. - The
security bands 50 may have a width which may be sized, shaped, adapted and/or configured to firmly and securely band eachproduct 4 and eachcarrier 30 together to form the product assemblies. The point ofattachment 52 is defined as a location or position along the lengths of eachproduct 4 and eachcarrier 30 at which thesecurity band 50 wraps, in a widthwise direction, around theproduct 4 and thecarrier 30, connecting eachproduct 4 to eachcarrier 30. As a result of the sized width of thesecurity bands 50, each of theproducts 4 may be firmly connect, attached and/or secured to one of thecarriers 30. Securing theproducts 4 to the carriers 3 may maintain and/or uphold an orientation of theproducts 4 and/or the product assemblies with respect to each other and/or to thesystem 2 after joining thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20. It should be understood that the following terms may be used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure: sized; shaped; adapted; and configured. - In embodiments, each
carrier 30 may have a perimeter having a geometrical shape selected from a circular shape, an oval shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a polygonal shape and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, the perimeter of eachcarrier 30 may be, for example, rectangle-shaped, oval-shaped, popsicle-stick-shaped, pin-shaped or bottle-shaped. A length of eachcarrier 30 may be greater than a width of eachcarrier 30. In preferred embodiments, the perimeter of eachcarrier 30 may be less than the perimeter of eachproduct 4 connected thereto. - In an embodiment, each
carrier 30 may have aperimeter 32 comprising, for example, anupper portion 34, anindented portion 36 and/or alower portion 38 as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5 . A width of theindented portion 36 may be, for example, equal to or less than a width of theupper portion 34 and/or thelower portion 38. As a result, theperimeter 32 of thecarrier 30 may have an hour-glass shape as shown inFIG. 3 or a pin shape as shown inFIG. 5 . As shown inFIG. 3 theindented portion 36 may be formed or positioned about or around a midpoint along the length of thecarrier 30. Alternatively, theindented portion 36 may be formed or positioned closer or near to the upper portion 34 (as shown inFIG. 5 ) or the lower portion 38 (not shown in the drawings). In an embodiment, theindented portion 36 may extend from theupper portion 34 to the opposite end of the carrier 30 (as shown inFIG. 6 ) or from thelower portion 38 to the opposite end of the carrier 30 (not shown in the drawings). In an embodiment, the point ofattachment 52 for the product andcarrier 30 may be located or positioned at or within theindented portion 36 of thecarrier 30 as shown inFIGS. 3 , 5 and 6. When theproduct 4 is connected to thecarrier 30 at the point ofattachment 52 located within theindented portion 36 of the carrier via thesecurity band 50, a width of theproduct 4 at the point ofattachment 52 may be greater than at least the width of theindented portion 36 of thecarrier 30. As a result of the lesser width of theindented portion 36 of thecarrier 30, theproduct 4 may be firmly connect, attached or secured to thecarrier 30 at the point ofattachment 52 via thesecurity band 50. - In embodiments, the width of the
security bands 50 may be, for example, greater than 5 millimetres (hereinafter “mm”) wide, less than 100 mm wide, less than 50 mm wide, about 35 mm wide or about 30 mm wide. As a result, thesecurity bands 50 may cover, encircle and/or enclose at least a portion of theproduct 4, such as, for example, less than ninety (90) percent of theproduct 4 or more than five (5) percent of theproduct 4. In embodiments, thesecurity bands 50 may have thickness of, for example, less than about 0.01 inches thick, greater than about 0.0005 inches thick, or about 0.00120 inches thick. The present disclosure should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the widths and/or thicknesses of thesecurity bands 50. - The
top card 10 has one or more windows 60 (hereinafter “thewindows 60”) formed therein for displaying, housing, securing and/or storing theproducts 4 and/or the product assemblies within thesystem 2 after thetop card 10 andbottom card 20 are joined. Thewindows 60 of thetop card 10 extends through thetop card 10 from a top side of thetop card 10 to an opposite bottom side of thetop card 10. Thewindows 60 are configured to receive, house and/or store at least a portion of theproducts 4 and/or the product assemblies after thesystem 2 is assembled by connecting, attaching and/or adhering at least a portion of thetop card 10 and at least a portion of thebottom card 20 together. In embodiments, one or more of thewindows 60 formed in thetop card 10 may be configured to receive two ormore products 4, each banded to aseparate carrier 30 or to the same carrier 30 (not shown in the drawings). Thewindows 60 may be, for example, cut-out windows formed in the top card by cut-out or punch-out techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. - In embodiments, the
windows 60 may be configured to receive, house and/or store theproducts 4 along with thesecurity bands 50 which are connecting theproducts 4 to thecarriers 30. In an embodiment, thewindows 60 may each have a perimeter that may be the same as, substantially the same as, substantially similar to, or greater than the perimeters of theproducts 4. The perimeters of thewindows 60 may comprise a geometrical shape selected from a circular shape, an oval shape, a square shape, a rectangular shape, a triangular shape, a polygonal shape and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the perimeters of thewindows 60 may be the same as, substantially similar to or corresponding to the perimeters of theproducts 4. In embodiments, the perimeters of thewindows 60 may be differently shaped perimeters as shown inFIG. 4 . In embodiments, theproducts 4 may firmly fit or be positioned within thewindows 60 or within the perimeters of thewindows 60 after thetop card 10 andbottom card 20 are joined together. - The
carriers 30 and/or the product assemblies may be adhered, bonded or glued, connected, attached and/or secured to a top side of thebottom card 20 before thesystem 2 is be assembled by joining thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20. In an embodiment, at least one first adhesive layer 62 (hereinafter “the firstadhesive layer 62”) may adhere a bottom side of thecarrier 30 to the top side of thebottom card 20 as shown inFIG. 2 . As a result, thecarriers 30, theproducts 4 and/or the product assemblies may be connected, attached and/or adhered to thebottom card 20 via firstadhesive layer 62. Additionally, when thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 are joined, at least a portion of the carriers 3 will be located between the top side of thebottom card 20 and theproducts 4 and/or thetop card 10. In embodiments, thecarrier 30 and thebottom card 20 and/or thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 may be joined together by one or more joining compositions selected from a hotmelt adhesive, a cold glue, a cohesive, a double sided tape, a single sided tape with an adhesive on its back side, an animal glue and combinations thereof. In embodiments, thecarrier 30 and thebottom card 20 and/or thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 may be joined together by one or more hot melt or clam shell adhesive techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. It should be understood that the following terms may used interchangeably throughout the present disclosure: adhered; bonded; glued; connected; and attached. It should also be understood that the present disclosure is not deemed as limited to a specific joining composition for joining together thecarrier 30 and thebottom card 20 and/or thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20. - When the
top card 10 and thebottom card 20 are joined together to assemble or form thesystem 2, at least portions of the product assemblies and/or theproducts 4 may extend outwardly through and/or from thewindows 60 of thetop card 10. Thus, at least portions of the product assemblies and/or theproducts 4 may be displayed and/or viewable via thewindows 60 after connecting the bottom side of thetop card 10 to the top side of thebottom card 20. In an embodiment, when theproducts 4 extend outwardly from thewindows 60 of thetop card 10, theproducts 4 may be, for example, one or more safety sealed products and/or one or more packaged products. In an embodiment, at least one second adhesive layer 64 (hereinafter “the secondadhesive layer 64”) may connect, and/or adhere at least a portion of the bottom side of thetop card 10 to at least a portion of the top side of thebottom card 20 as shown inFIG. 2 . As a result, thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 may be connected and/or joined together via the secondadhesive layer 64. Moreover, when thesystem 2 is assembled, the firstadhesive layer 62 may be located adjacent to, may contact and/or may interface with the secondadhesive layer 64. In preferred embodiments, the firstadhesive layer 62 and/or the second adhesive layer 64 (hereinafter “adhesive layers - In embodiments, the
adhesive layers bottom card 20. When theadhesive layers bottom card 20, thecarrier 30 and/or the product assembly may be connected to thebottom card 20 and thetop card 10 may be joined to the bottom card immediately thereafter. In embodiments, the firstadhesive layer 62 may be excluded fromsystem 2 and the secondadhesive layer 64 may be applied to a larger portion of the top side of thebottom card 20 such that thecarrier 30, product assembly and/or bottom side of thetop card 10 may be adhered to the bottom card via the second adhesive layer 64 (not shown in the drawings). - In an embodiment, the first
adhesive layer 62 may be excluded from thesystem 2 and thetop card 10 may apply force to thecarrier 30 and/or the product assembly when thetop card 10 is joined to thebottom card 20 via the secondadhesive layer 64. As a result, at least a portion of theproduct 4, thecarrier 30 and/or the product assembly may be held or maintained in position within thesystem 2 and/or between thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 by the force applied to thecarrier 30 and/or product assembly from or by thetop card 10. - A consumer may, if desired, examine and/or view the portion of the product assemblies and/or the
products 4 which may be extending outwardly from thewindows 60 formed in thetop card 10. Thewindows 60 may allow a consumer or other third party to visually and/or physically examine theproducts 4 of thesystem 2 via thewindows 60 formed in thetop card 10. Moreover, after examining and/or viewing theproducts 4 via thewindows 60, a consumer may desire to purchase theproducts 4, packaged by thesystem 2. - The portions of the product assemblies and/or the
products 4, which are encircled by thesecurity bands 50, firmly connect, attach and/or secure theproducts 4 to thecarriers 30, thebottom card 20 and/or thesystem 2. As a result, the encircling or banding by thesecurity bands 50 may prevent or substantially prevent theproducts 4 and/or the product assemblies from being separated or removed from thetop card 10, thebottom card 10, thecarriers 30 and/or thesystem 2. As a result, thesecurity bands 50 may prevent or reduce theft of, damage to and/or destruction of theproducts 4 by firmly securing theproducts 4 within thesystem 2. - Moreover, since the
carriers 30 are connected to top side of thebottom card 20, thecarriers 30 and/or thesecurity bands 50 may also prevent or substantially prevent theproducts 4 and/or product assemblies from being separated or removed from thetop card 10, thebottom card 20 and/or thesystem 2. As a result, thebottom card 20, thecarriers 30 and/or thesecurity bands 50 may prevent or reduce theft of, damage to and/or destruction of theproducts 4 by firmly securing the products within thesystem 2. - In embodiments, at least one of the
windows 60 of thetop card 10 may be covered by at least one compliant film 65 (hereinafter “film 65”) which may be connected or adhered to the bottom side of thetop card 10. Thefilm 65 may be a stretchable film which may, in an embodiment, be a clear compliant plastic film layer, such as, in a preferred embodiment, a polyvinyl chloride film layer that may be adhered to the bottom side of thetop card 10. Thefilm 65 may comprise a single film layer or more than one film layer. Thefilm 65 may be at least a single sheet film having aperimeter 70 which may be configured to cover the at least onewindows 60, or all of thewindows 60, formed in thetop card 10. Theperimeter 70 of thefilm 65, in an unstretched state or manner, may be large enough that thefilm 65 may cover more than one of thewindows 60 and/or may allow thefilm 65 to be connect to one or more portions of the bottom side of thetop card 10 surrounding and/or located adjacent to thewindows 60. In the unstretched state or manner, thefilm 65 may extend across the one ormore windows 60 in a firmly tensioned state or manner. - In embodiments, the
film 65 may be made from at least one clear compliant film or heat activated clear film. Heat active films become loose or relaxed and extremely pliant when activated by heat, and then subsequently harden when cooled. For example, the at least one heat activated film may be, for example, a skin film as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In embodiments, thefilm 65 may be any film layer type that is capable of being laminated and/or attached to the back side of thetop card 10, which may provide a plurality of characteristics that may be derived from different materials used in each layer of a multiple layeredfilm 65, as well as a total number of film layers that may be combined to produce the multiple layeredfilm 65. - With the
windows 60 of thetop card 10 positioned within theperimeter 70 of thefilm 65 and completely and firmly covered by thefilm 65, the product assemblies and/or theproducts 4 may extend outwardly through thewindows 60 and/or may extend, stretch and/or push thefilm 65 outward with respect to the top side of thetop card 10 when thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 is joined together. As a result, thefilm 65 may be contoured to one or more outer surfaces of theproducts 4 and/or the product assemblies, and/or theproducts 4 may be completely enclosed between the stretchedfilm 65 and the top side of thebottom card 20 and/or thecarriers 30. By completely enclosing or protecting theproducts 4 within thesystem 2, the stretchedfilm 65, thetop card 10 and/or thebottom card 20, may prevent or reduce theft of, damage to, destruction of, opening of, activating of, tampering with and contamination of theproducts 4 by completely enclosing theproducts 4 within thesystem 2. Additionally, when thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 are joined together, the carriers 3 and/or theproducts 4 are located between the stretchedfilm 65 and thebottom card 20 such that theproducts 4 may be completely and/or totally covered or enclosed within thesystem 2. Joining thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 together may cause theproducts 4 to push and/or stretch thefilm 65 around at least a front portion of theproducts 4 and/or product assemblies located within thesystem 2 as shown inFIG. 2 . - In embodiments, the
carriers 30 may have an overall width W1 at the point ofattachment 52 which may be preferably less than or equal to an overall width W2 of theproducts 4 at the point ofattachment 52 via thesecurity band 50 as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 . In embodiments, thecarriers 30 may have a radius width R1, at the point ofattachment 52, of thecarriers 30, theproducts 4 may have a radius width R2 at the point ofattachment 52, and the radius width R1 of thecarriers 30 may be smaller than the radius width R2 of theproducts 4. In an embodiment, the radius width R1 of thecarriers 30, at the point ofattachment 52, may be, for example, less than about one-quarter of an inch, less than about one-eighth of an inch, or about one-sixteenth of an inch smaller, on each side, than the radius width R2 of theproducts 4, at the point ofattachment 52. As a result, the overall width W1 of thecarriers 30, at the point ofattachment 52, may be, for example, less than about one half of an inch, less than about one-quarter of an inch, or about one-eighth of an inch less than the overall width W2 of the products, at the point ofattachment 52. With thecarriers 30 having smaller or lesser overall width W1 and/or radius width R1, at the point ofattachment 52, than the overall width W2 and/or radius width R2, at the point ofattachment 52, of theproducts 4, thesecurity bands 50 may tightly and firmly connect or banded theproducts 4 to thecarriers 30. As a result, theproduct 4 may be tightly and firmly wrapped, banded, connected and/or attached to thecarriers 30 via thesecurity bands 50. In an embodiment, theindented portion 36 of thecarrier 30 may comprise the smaller or lesser overall width W1 and/or radius width R1 for firm banding ofproducts 4 to thecarriers 30 at the point ofattachment 52. - The
carriers 30 may preferably have a length, a perimeter and/or a width above and/or below the point of attachment (i.e., the width of theupper portion 34 and/or thelower portion 38 as shown inFIGS. 3 , 5 and 6) which may be greater than a length, a perimeter and/or overall width of thewindows 60 formed in thetop card 10. Thus, when thesystem 2 may be assembled, the length, the perimeter and/or the width W1 of thecarriers 30 will preferably extend beyond at least one and preferably beyond both opposite edges of thewindows 60 of thetop card 10. For example, the top and bottom ends of thecarrier 30 may extend beyond the top and bottom edges of thewindow 60. In an embodiment, at least a portion of left and right edges of thecarrier 30 may extend beyond the left and right edges of thewindow 60. As a result, thecarriers 30, theproducts 4 and/or the product assemblies may be held, maintained, restricted and/or further secured within thesystem 2 by the edges of thewindows 60 of thetop card 10 and the greater length, perimeter and/or width of thecarriers 30. Moreover, the edges of thewindows 60 and the greater length, perimeter and/or width of thecarriers 30 may prevent theproducts 4 from being separated from thesystem 2 to provide greater or additional anti-tampering protection. - For example, if someone attempted to separate the
products 4 from thesystem 2 by pulling the products through thewindows 60, the edges of thewindows 60 would hold, maintain, restrict and/or secure thecarriers 30 within thesystem 2. As a result, someone attempting to remove or separate theproducts 4 from thesystem 2 will have to disassemble and/or destroy thesystem 2 because of the greater anti-theft protection provided by thecarriers 30, thesecurity bands 50, the edges of thewindows 60 and/or the stretchedfilm 65 of thesystem 2. Additionally, thecarriers 30, thesecurity bands 50, the edges of thewindows 60, theadhesive layers film 65 of thesystem 2 may provide added security to theproducts 4 by preventing damage to or destruction of theproducts 4, physical tampering with theproducts 4, such as, opening or activating theproducts 4, and/or contamination of theproducts 4, such as, reducing theproducts 4 exposure to dust, dirt and/or surrounding environmental conditions and/or elements. - In embodiments, the
system 2 may package and/or protect one ormore products 4 without use of thecarrier 30 and thesecurity band 50 as shown inFIGS. 7-10 . Additionally, thetop card 10 and thebottom card 20 may be hinged together such that thetop card 10 may be folded over onto thebottom card 20 or thebottom card 20 may be folded over onto thetop card 10 as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9 . Thesystem 2, having the hinged top andbottom cards -
FIG. 7 shows asystem 2 comprising thetop card 10 andbottom card 20 joined together whereby thetop card 10 has thewindows 60 formed therein. Thefilm 65 may be adhered to the back side of thetop card 10 and may cover a portion of thewindows 60. As a result, thefilm 65 forms a expandable pocket with thebottom card 20 such that theproduct 4 may be inserted into the expandable pocket formed by thefilm 65. Theproduct 4 may be inserted into the expandable pocket at a top edge of thefilm 65 and moved downward into the expandable pocket formed between thefilm 65 of the top side of thebottom card 20. As a result, theproduct 4 may be packaged and/or protected within the expandable pocket ofsystem 2 formed between thefilm 65 and thebottom card 20. -
FIGS. 8 and 9 show the top andbottom cards hinge 80 that may be located between edges of the top andbottom cards hinge 80 by be located between the bottom edges of the top andbottom cards bottom cards hinge 80 may comprise scoring 82 which may extend an entire length of thehinge 80 or at least a portion of the length of thehinge 80. The scoring 82 of thehinge 80 may facilitate or aid in folding the top andbottom cards system 2. The scoring 82 may be formed by known scoring techniques, such as, for example, die-cutting or the like. As a result, the scoring 82 of thehinge 80 may facilitate or allow the top andbottom cards system 2 by hand and/or without the use of any assembly machine. - The
system 2, shown inFIG. 8 has atop card 10 havingwindows 60 formed therein whereby thefilm 65 is connected to the bottom side of thetop card 10 such that thewindows 60 of thetop card 10 are covered by thefilm 65. Thebottom card 20 haswindows 60 formed therein whereby thefilm 65 is connected and/or adhered to the top side of the bottom card such that thewindows 60 of thebottom card 20 are covered by thefilm 65. In embodiments, perimeters of thewindows 60 of the top andbottom cards bottom cards hinge 80 having the scoring 82 thereon. As a result, the top and bottom cards may be folded over onto each other via thehinge 80 and/or thee scoring 82. - At a portion or section of the
film 65 located within thewindow 60 of the top and/orbottom cards means 84. The adhering means 84 may be applied, attached, adhered to a side of thefilm 65 facing away from bottom side of thetop card 10 and/or the top side of thebottom card 20 by application techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The adhering means 84 may be selected from a pressure-sensitive adhesive, a crosslinkable adhesive, a heat-activatable adhesive, hotmelt adhesive, a cohesive, a double sided tape, a single sided tape with an adhesive on its back side and combinations thereof. In embodiments, the adheringmeans 84 may be clear or semi-clear adhesive that does not restrict visibility through the adheringmeans 84. It should be understood that the present disclosure should not be deemed limited to a specific embodiment of the adheringmeans 84 and/or the one or more portions of thefilm 65 which may receive the adheringmeans 84. - The
product 4 may be connect, attached and/or adhered to the adheringmean 84 of thefilm 65 connected to the top andbottom cards product 4 may be positioned on and/or connected to the adhering means 84 of thefilm 65 that is connected to thebottom card 20 as shown inFIG. 8 . As a result, theproduct 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to thebottom card 20 and/or thefilm 65 via the adheringmeans 84 and theproduct 4 may be positioned or located within thewindow 60 of thebottom card 20. The adhering means 84 may aid assembly of thesystem 2 and may facilitate proper placement of theproduct 4 within thewindow 60 of thebottom card 20. The top andbottom cards hinge 80 to assembly thesystem 2 and package theproduct 4 within thesystem 2. As a result, theproduct 4 may be positioned, packaged and/or protected between thefilms 65 of the top andbottom cards - Prior to folding the top and
bottom cards system 2, a sealing means 86 may be applied, positioned and/or located on one or more portions of the bottom side of thetop card 10 and/or the top side of thebottom card 20 that are free of thefilm 65 or do not comprise thefilm 65. For example, the sealing means 86 may be applied to a portion of the bottom side of thetop card 10 above the top edge of thefilm 65 connected to thetop card 10 as shown inFIG. 8 . In embodiments, the sealing means 86 may be applied to one or more of the bottom side of thetop card 10 and/or the top side of thebottom card 20 that are around, adjacent to or surrounding thefilm 65, the adheringmeans 84 and/or theproduct 4 as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10 . The sealing means 86 may be applied to the bottom side of thetop card 10 and/or the top side of thebottom card 20 may application techniques as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The sealing means 86 may be selected from a hotmelt adhesive, a cold glue, a cohesive, a double sided tape, a single sided tape with an adhesive on its back side, an animal glue and combinations thereof. The present disclosure should not be deemed as limited to a specific embodiment of the sealing means 86 or the one or more portions of the top andbottom cards - When the top and
bottom cards top card 10 and/or the top side of thebottom card 20 connects, attaches and/or adheres the top andbottom card bottom cards system 2. As a result, thesystem 2 is sealed and theproduct 4 is sealed within thesystem 2. When the top andbottom cards product 4 pushes against and stretches thefilm 65 of thetop card 10 outward with respect to the top side of thetop card 10 through thewindow 60 of thetop card 10 and pushes against and stretches thefilm 65 of thebottom card 20 outward with respect to the bottom side of theback card 20 through the window of thebottom card 20. As a result, theproduct 4 is enclosed, sealed and/or encapsulated within thefilms 65 of the top andbottom cards product 4 is encapsulated within thefilm 65 of thetop card 10 and a back portion of theproduct 4 is encapsulated within thefilm 65 of thebottom card 20. - The sealing means 86 has a high adhesive strength such that the
system 2 may not be easily opened to prevent theft of theproduct 4. However, the adhesive strength of the sealing means 86 may be low such thesystem 2 may be opened by hand, or without the use of tools, and theproduct 4 may be accessed and/or subsequently utilized. The adhering means 84 may have an adhesive strength that is less than the adhesive strength of the sealing means 86. However, the adhesive strength of the adhering means is configured such that theproduct 4 is maintain within thewindow 60 while thesystem 2 is sealed and is easily removable from thefilm 65 after thesystem 2 has been opened. - The
system 2, shown inFIG. 9 , has atop card 10, which is similar to thetop card 10 shown inFIG. 8 . However, in this embodiment, thetop card 10 is hinged to abottom card 20, which is free of any windows, via thehinge 80 having the scoring 82 therein. Thebottom card 20 is continuous with no opening formed therein, one or more adheringmeans 84 may be applied to the top side of the bottom card 20 a one or more positions that align with thewindows 60 formed in thetop card 10 when the top and bottom cards are folded over onto each other. Moreover, one or more sealing means are applied to one or more portions of the top side of thebottom card 20 that are free of the one or more adheringmeans 84. For example, two adheringmeans 84 are applied to a middle portion of the top side of thebottom card 20 and the sealing means 86 is applied to a top portion and/or a bottom portion of the top side of thebottom card 20 as shown inFIG. 9 . The adhering means 84 and/or the sealing means 86 may extend in a lengthwise direction or a widthwise direction of thebottom card 20 as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10 . For example, the adheringmeans 84 may be located between the sealing means 86 and may extend in the lengthwise direction of thebottom card 20, and the sealing means 86 may extend in the widthwise direction of thebottom card 20 as shown inFIG. 9 . - The
products 4 may be positioned and/or located on the adhering means 84 of thebottom card 20, and, as a result, theproducts 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to thebottom card 20 via the adheringmeans 84. The top andbottom cards hinge 82, over onto each other to assembly thesystem 2. As a result, a portion of theproducts 4 may push against and/or stretch thefilms 65 of thetop card 10 outwardly with respect to the top side of thetop card 10 through the windows of thetop card 10. The sealing means 86 of thebottom card 10 may adhere and/or seal the top andbottom cards system 2. As a result, theproducts 4 may be enclosed, encapsulated, housed and/or packaged between thefilms 65 of thetop card 10 and the top side of thebottom card 20. -
FIG. 10 shows thesystem 2 having thetop card 10 with thewindow 60 formed therein and thefilm 65 connected to the bottom side of thetop card 10 and covering thewindow 60 of thetop card 10. Thebottom card 20 may have a fold-out portion 90 (hereinafter “portion 90”) formed thereon, which may be folded outwardly with respect to the top side of thebottom card 20. As a result, the top surface of theportion 90 may be alleviated with respect to the remaining portions of the top side of thebottom card 20. The portion may be formed in thebottom card 20 by formation techniques known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such as, for example, die-cutting or the like. The top surface of theportion 90 may be sized, shaped and/or configure to receive at least a portion of theproduct 4. For example, the top surface of theportion 90 may have a width and/or a length that may correspond to at least a portion of theproduct 4. In embodiment, the top surface of theportion 90 may be sized and/or shaped to be the same as or substantially similar to the size and/or shape of thecarrier 30 shown in, for example,FIG. 1 . - The adhering means 84 may be applied to the top surface of the
portion 90, and theproduct 4 may be positioned or located on the adhering means 84 of theportion 90. As a result, theproduct 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to be thebottom card 20 via the adheringmeans 84 and/or theportion 90. In an embodiment, theportion 90 may be free of the adheringmeans 84 and thesecurity band 50 may be utilized to connect, attach and/or secure theproduct 4 to the portion 90 (not shown in the drawings) As a result, theproduct 4 may be connected, attached and/or secured to thebottom card 20 via thesecurity band 50 and/or theportion 90. One or more sealing means 86 may be applied to the top side of thebottom card 20 for joining the top andbottom cards product 4 have been connected to theportion 90 of thebottom card 20. For example, more than one sealing means 86 may be applied to the top side of thebottom card 20 such that the more than one sealing means 86 surround theportion 90 as shown inFIG. 10 . In embodiment, the top and bottom cards may be hinged together via the hinge 80 (not shown in the drawings). - After the
product 4 is connected to theportion 90 of thebottom card 20, the top andbottom cards product 4 may push against and/or stretch thefilm 65 of thetop card 10 outwardly with respect to the top side of thetop card 10 through thewindow 60 of thetop card 10. As a result, theproduct 4 may be enclosed, encapsulated, housed and packaged between thefilm 65 of thetop card 10 and theportion 90 of thebottom card 20. The sealing means 86 of thebottom card 20 may connected, attach, adhere and/or seal the top andbottom cards product 4 may be enclosed, packaged, protected and/or sealed within thesystem 2. - In embodiments, the
top card 10 may be placed facedown onto a conveyer belt system (not shown in the drawing) such that the top side o thetop card 10 is adjacent to the conveyer belt system. The conveyer belt system comprises at least one cradle (not shown in the drawing) which is sized and shaped to receive thetop card 10 and/or theproduct 4 that may be subsequently positioned and/or located within thewindow 60 of thetop card 10. The cradle may have at least one cavity sized, shaped and/or configured to receive theproduct 4 after theproduct 4 stretches thefilm 65 of the top card and extends outwardly with respect to the top surface of thetop card 10 through thewindow 60 of thetop card 10. In embodiments, the size, shape and configuration of the at least one cavity of the cradle may be the same as or substantially similar to the size, shape and configuration of theproduct 4. With thetop card 10 positioned and/or located on the cradle of the conveyer belt system, the product is placed, positioned and/or located on thefilm 65 of thetop card 10 and within thewindow 60 of thetop card 10. In an embodiment, theproduct 4 may be dropped or forced directly into thewindow 60 of the top card and the cavity of the cradle. As a result, theproduct 4 may push against and/or stretch thefilm 65 outwardly with respect to the top side of thetop card 10 through thewindow 60 of thetop card 10 and into the cavity of the cradle. - The adhering means 84 may be applied to at least a portion of the
film 65 located within thewindow 60 of thetop card 10 prior to the product being positioned or located within thewindow 60. As a result, theproduct 4 may be connected, attached and/or adhered to thefilm 65 located within thewindow 60 of thetop card 10 via the adheringmeans 84. Thebottom card 20, having one or more sealing means 86 applied to the top side of thebottom card 20, may be positioned directly adjacent to and/or over the bottom side of thetop card 10. The top side of thebottom card 20 may be applied to, joined to and/or compressed onto the bottom side of thetop card 10, and the one or more sealing means 86 positioned on the top side of thebottom card 20 may connect, attach, adhere and/or seal the top andbottom cards system 2. As a result, theproduct 4 may be enclosed, encapsulated and housed between thefilm 65 of thetop card 10 and the top side of thebottom card 20. Moreover, theproduct 4 may be packed, protected and/or sealed within the assembledsystem 2. In embodiments, the top andbottom cards system 2 may be assembled by folding, along thehinge 80, the top andbottom cards product 4 between thefilm 65 of thetop card 10 and the top side of thebottom card 20. - It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems and/or methods. Also, various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, and are also intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
Claims (20)
1. A blister card system for packaging at least one retail product, the system comprising:
a top card having a top side, a bottom side located opposite to the top side of the top card and at least one window extending through the top card from the top side to the bottom side of the top card;
a security band attaching a retail product to a carrier at a point of attachment;
at least a portion of a bottom card connected to at least a portion of the bottom side of the top card, wherein at least a portion of the carrier is located between the top and bottom cards, and further wherein at least a portion of the retail product extends outwardly, with respect to the top side of the top card, through the at least one window of the top card.
2. The blister card system according to claim 1 , wherein a width of the carrier at a point of attachment is substantially equal to or less than a width of the retail product at the point of attachment.
3. The blister card system according to claim 1 , wherein the security band is an elastic band wrapped, in a widthwise direction, around the carrier and the retail product.
4. The blister card system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer adhering the carrier to at least a portion of the bottom card.
5. The blister card system according to claim 1 , wherein a length of the carrier is greater than a length of the at least one window formed in the top card such that top and bottom ends of the carrier extend beyond top and bottom edges of the at least one window.
6. The blister card system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a stretchable film covering the at least one window formed in the top card and at least a portion of the retail product.
7. The blister card system according to claim 1 , wherein a width of a portion of the carrier is greater than a width of the at least one window formed in the top card such that opposite edges of the width of the carrier extends beyond side edges of the width of the at least one window.
8. A blister card system for packaging at least one retail product, the system comprising:
a top card having a top side, a bottom side located opposite to the top side of the top card and at least one window extending through the top card from the top side to the bottom side of the top card;
at least one product assembly comprising a retail product and a carrier, wherein a width of the carrier, at least at a point along a length of the carrier, is less than a width of the retail product, at a point along a length of the retail product;
at least a portion of a bottom card connected to at least a portion of the bottom side of the top card, wherein a first portion of the at least one product assembly is located between the top and bottom cards, and further wherein a second portion of the at least one product assembly is located within the at least one window formed in the top card.
9. The blister card system according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a security band attaching the retail product to the carrier to form the at least one product assembly.
10. The blister card system according to claim 9 , wherein the security band is an elastic band wrapped, in a widthwise direction, around the retail product and the carrier.
11. The blister card system according to claim 8 , further comprising:
an adhesive layer adhering the carrier to at least a portion of the bottom card.
12. The blister card system according to claim 8 , wherein a length of the carrier is greater than a length of the at least one window formed in the top card such that top and bottom ends of the carrier extend beyond top and bottom edges of the at least one window.
13. The blister card system according to claim 8 , further comprising:
a stretchable film covering the at least one window formed in the top card and at least a portion of the retail product.
14. The blister card system according to claim 13 , wherein the stretchable film is attached to a portion of the bottom side of the top card.
15. A method for packaging a retail product, the method comprising:
providing a cradle on a conveyer belt system, wherein the cradle comprises a cavity configured to receive the retail product;
positioning a top card on the cradle such that a top side of the top card is adjacent to the cavity of the cradle, wherein the top card has a window formed therein and the window is covered with a stretchable film and configured to receive the retail product, wherein the stretchable film is connected to a bottom side of the top card that is located opposite to the top side of the top card;
positioning the retail product within the window of the top card and the cavity of the cradle such that the retail product extends outwardly, with respect to the top side of the top card, through the window formed in the top card and into the cavity of the cradle; and
joining at least one portion of a bottom card to the bottom side of the top card via sealing means.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
dropping the retail product into the window of the top card and the cavity of the cradle before adhering the at least one portion of the bottom card to the bottom side of the top card.
17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
adhering at least a portion of the retail product to a least a portion of the stretchable film of the top card via an adhering means, wherein the portion of the stretchable film is located within the window of the top card.
18. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
adhering at least a portion of the retail product to a portion of the bottom card before joining the top and bottom cards together.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the portion of the bottom card is a fold-out portion that extends outwardly with respect to the top side of the bottom card.
20. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
extending at least a portion of the retail product outwardly with respect to a bottom side of the bottom card through a window formed through the bottom card when the top and bottom card are joined, wherein the bottom side of the bottom card is located opposite with respect to the top card.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/165,087 US20150210455A1 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2014-01-27 | Blister card systems and methods for assemblying the systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US14/165,087 US20150210455A1 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2014-01-27 | Blister card systems and methods for assemblying the systems |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20150210455A1 true US20150210455A1 (en) | 2015-07-30 |
Family
ID=53678348
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/165,087 Abandoned US20150210455A1 (en) | 2014-01-27 | 2014-01-27 | Blister card systems and methods for assemblying the systems |
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US (1) | US20150210455A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
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US20160083127A1 (en) * | 2014-09-24 | 2016-03-24 | Peter H. Tillstrom | Blister package assemblies and systems and methods for producing said assemblies |
JP2018079974A (en) * | 2016-11-18 | 2018-05-24 | 株式会社フジシール | Packaging body and packaging member |
JP2020015554A (en) * | 2018-07-24 | 2020-01-30 | アマゾン テクノロジーズ インコーポレイテッド | Package having cutoff part covered by sheet |
USD883086S1 (en) * | 2018-07-04 | 2020-05-05 | Jc Korea Corp. | Packaging folder |
US11008145B2 (en) | 2017-04-28 | 2021-05-18 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Packing system and method of packing |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |