WO2015185970A1

WO2015185970A1 - Packaging and display

Info

Publication number: WO2015185970A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/000733
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dominic Oliver HAYES; Jo-Ann Clark; Mara GONCLAVES; Robert Monaghan
Original assignee: Kraft Foods R&D, Inc.
Priority date: 2014-06-03
Filing date: 2015-05-05
Publication date: 2015-12-10
Also published as: GB201409823D0; WO2015185970A8; GB2526809A

Abstract

A blister package and display assembly (10) for consumable products comprising a planar blister tray (12) having blister cavities (14) opening to a common surface and a blister sheet overlying the common surface closing the cavities. The blister tray can be erected into a three dimensional shape and the assembly has a fastening arrangement for holding the tray in its erected configuration to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface. The common surface may be on the inside of the erected assembly so that products are dispensed through the interior. The assembly may be used as an advent calendar.

Description

Packaging and Display

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a package for supporting a plurality of consumable products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a blister package and display assembly having a plurality of consumable products housed in a blister tray and covered with a blister sheet and which can be erected to form a self- supporting display and to a method using such a blister package and display assembly.

Background to the Invention

Blister package assemblies to house and support a plurality of consumable products including confectionery items such as candy, gum, mints, as well as pharmaceutical products such as capsules, tablets and the like are known. Blister package assemblies typically include a blister tray having a plurality of cavities supporting therein the consumable products and which open onto a common surface of the tray. A blister sheet is attached to the common surface of the tray so as to cover the open ends of the cavities to sealably enclose the products contained therein. The blister tray is typically made from a thermo-formable material such as polymer or other plastic or pressure- formable material. The blister sheet can be made from sealing materials such as paper, polymers, metallic foil or various combinations and laminates. Often the blister cavities are formed to the general shape of the anticipated product to hold it in place so that movement and damage is minimized prior to product use. At least the cavities of the blister tray are often transparent to allow product viewing.

In certain types of blister packaging, the blister sheet is formed of rupturable material such as foil or plastic film. The product may be dispensed by pushing the product from the cavity through the blister sheet rupturing the sheet thereat and allowing the product to be dispensed. It is also known to provide lines of weakness in the blister sheet along which the sheet may be ruptured to facilitate dispensing from each cavity independently. In a typical blister package assembly, the blister tray is substantially flat and may be accommodated in an outer packaging sleeve.

The known blistery tray package assemblies provide a very effective form of packaging for consumable products that are to be dispensed sequentially but are rather utilitarian in nature. Accordingly, this type of packaging is not usually associated with products that are given as gifts or for special celebrations.

There is a need therefore for an alternative blister package assembly which overcomes, or at least mitigates, the disadvantages of the known blister packages.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a blister package and display assembly for consumable products, the assembly comprising: a. A substantially planar blister tray having a plurality of open ended blister cavities opening to a common surface for supporting said consumable products therein; b. a blister sheet overlying said common surface of said blister tray and closing said open ends of said cavities; wherein the blister tray is configured to be erectable from its substantially planar configuration into a three dimensional shape, the assembly comprising a fastening arrangement for holding the tray in its erected configuration to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface.

In an embodiment, the common surface of the blister tray forms an inner surface of the three dimensional shape. In this embodiment, when the tray is erected to form a three dimension shape and secured using the fastening arrangement, there may be sufficient clearance between opposed regions of the common surface that at least some of the products can be dispensed through the interior of the erected tray.

In an embodiment, the blister tray has upper and lower edges and opposed side edges, and at least upper regions of the side edges are in close proximity or overlap one another when the tray is erected to form a self-supporting display. The blister tray may be configured to define a substantially frusto-conical body when the assembly is erected to form a self-supporting display. In this embodiment, the upper and lower edges of the blister tray may arcuate and the opposed side edges may taper towards each other in a direction from the lower edge towards the upper edge when the tray is in its substantially planar configuration. Lower end regions of the opposed side edges of the tray may be spaced apart from one another when the assembly is erected to form a self-supporting display.

At least the common surface of the tray may be substantially planar when the tray is in its substantial planer configuration and the common surface may be curled into said three dimension shape.

The blister tray may comprise a projection extending from its upper edge. The projection may have at least one sealed blister cavity containing a product or a decorative blister cavity formation in the blister tray in which no product is contained. The projection may be located substantially centrally of the upper edge of the blister tray when in its substantially planar configuration.

The fastening arrangement may comprise formations proximal opposite side edges of the blister tray which co-operate to hold the tray in its erected configuration. The formations may be configured to be secured together to hold the tray in its erected configuration. The formations may comprise at least one projection formed in the blister tray proximal one of the opposed side edges and at least one corresponding recess or opening in which the projection can be received formed in the blister tray proximal the other of the opposed side edges. Alternatively, the fastening arrangement can comprise a locking tab attached to one side edge region of the tray and a corresponding slot formed in the other side edge region of the tray into which the tab is insertable. In a further alternative, the fastening arrangement may comprise cooperating fastening members that are configured to be secured together by means of an adhesive or by means of hook and loop fastener or the like. At least one line of weakness may be defined in the blister sheet in register with each of the blister cavities. The blister sheet may be sealed to the blister tray about each of the blister cavities and the at least one line of weakness may be located outside of a sealed region surrounding each blister cavity.

The blister sheet may comprise a laminated polymeric film. The blister tray may be made from monolayer polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The blister package and display assembly may comprising a product capture and delivery system, the system including a dispensing opening in the blister tray and a member attachable to the common surface of the blister tray and configured to capture product dispensed from at least one of the cavities and to deliver the product to the opening.

At least some of the blister cavities may be transparent.

The blister tray may include blister cavities comprising groups of at least two differently shaped cavities.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a blister package and display assembly for consumable products, the assembly comprising: a. a substantially planer blister tray having a plurality of open ended blister cavities opening to a common surface for supporting said consumable products therein; b. a blister sheet overlying said common surface of said blister tray and closing said open ends of said cavities;

the blister tray being erectable into a three dimensional shape with said common surface of the blister tray on the inside and the assembly comprising a fastening arrangement for holding the tray in its erected three dimensional configuration to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface, wherein when the tray is erected to form a three dimension shape and secured using the fastening arrangement, there is sufficient clearance between opposed regions of the common surface that at least one of the products can be dispensed through the interior of the erected tray. The assembly in accordance with either of the first and second aspects may be configured for use as an advent calendar. In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of using a blister package and display assembly in accordance with either of the first and second aspects outlined above, the method comprising: erecting the tray from an initial substantially planar configuration into a three dimensional shape to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface and securing in its erected configuration using the fastening arrangement.

The method may comprise dispensing at least one product by pressing it out of its respective blister cavity whilst the tray is held in its erected three dimensional configuration by the fastening arrangement. Where said common surface is located internally and the blister pockets are located externally when the tray is erected into a three dimension shape, the method may comprise dispensing the products though the interior of the erected tray.

The assembly may be provided to be sold through a retail outlet with the blister tray in an initially substantially planer configuration for subsequent erection into a self- supporting display after purchase by an end consumer.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front and slightly to one side of an embodiment of a blister package and display assembly in an erected configuration to form a self-supporting display stand; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the blister package and display assembly of Figure 1 in an erected configuration to form a self-supporting display stand;

Figure 3 is a plan view from the rear of the blister package and display assembly of Figure 1 in an un-erected, substantially planar configuration.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the un-erected blister package and display assembly of Figure 3 from the front;

Figure 5 is a plan view from the rear of part of the un-erected blister package and display assembly of Figure 3 on a larger scale; Figure 6 is a perspective view from the rear of an upper end region of the erected blister package and display assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a plan view of an upper end region of an un-erected blister package and display assembly in accordance with the invention illustrating an alternative fastening arrangement for holding the assembly in its erected configuration; and Figure 8 is a perspective view from the rear of an upper end region of the blister package and display assembly of Figure 7 in an erected configuration.

A blister and display assembly 10 for consumable product in accordance with embodiments of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings. The assembly 10 is initially provided in a flat or planar configuration as shown in Figures 3 and 4 but is erectable into a three dimensional shape to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The blister tray and assembly 10 in accordance with the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, intended for use in packaging confectionery product as a gift or novelty item, particularly at festive periods such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and the like. The blister tray and assembly 10 in accordance with the invention could be used as a table display or advent calendar, for example. The assembly 10 includes a blister tray 12 having a plurality of open ended blister cavities 14 which open to a common surface 16. Common surface 16 is planar in an initial configuration of the assembly 10 as shown in Fugues 3 and 4. The blister cavities 14 are dimensioned and shaped to receive and support consumable products 18 therein. A blister sheet 20 overlays and is bonded to the initially planar common surface 16 of the blister tray closing the open ends of the cavities 14 so as to seal the cavities and retain the products in place in a known manner.

The blister tray 12 can be made from a thermo-formable material such as polymer or other plastic or pressure-formable material shaped to define the cavities 14. In an embodiment, the blister tray 12 is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and more particularly a monolayer PET. In another embodiment the blister tray is made from polypropene (PP). The blister sheet 20 can be made from a number of sealing materials such as paper, polymers, metallic foil or various combinations and laminates. The blister sheet 20 may be rupturable so that the products 18 can be dispensed individually by pushing each one out of its cavity 14 through the blister sheet 20 which is ruptured or torn. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 5 the blister sheet 20 may be a peelable sheet which may be a laminated polymeric sheet. The blister sheet 20 in this embodiment has at least one line of 22 weakness in register with each of the cavities 14 to aid in dispensing the products 18 from each cavity 14 independently whilst maintaining the integrity of seal for the remaining products. The lines of weakness 22 may be die cu" or laser scored but can be produced in any suitable manner. The blister sheet 20 is heat sealed to the blister tray 12 about each of the blister cavities 14 so as to form a hermetic seal. Each of the lines of weakness 22 is spaced outwardly from the opening of its respective blister cavity 14 so that there is a heat sealed region 24 between the line of weakness 22 and the cavity to ensure that the product 18 is hermetically sealed in its blister cavity 14. Each line of weakness 22 substantially encircles its respective blister cavity to define a removable section 26 of the blister sheet 20 covering the cavity. The blister sheet is 20 is peelable so that when a product 18 is pressed out of a blister tray, the removable portion 26 delaminates from the tray in the heat sealed region 24 and separates along the line of weakness 22.

The term "peelable" is used in relation to the blister sheet to mean that the sheet is not easily rupturable, except along the lines of weakness 22. The sheet could be resilient in nature for example.

The products 18 may be any suitable consumable products including, but not limited to, confectionery products such as: ca dy, gum, mints, chocolate and the like. The products 18 may be individually wrapped or they may be un- wrapped. The blister cavities 14 are shaped to correspond to the shape of the products 18. All the products 18 and cavities 14 may be the same shape or, as illustrated, at least some of the products 18 and cavities 14 can be of different shapes. In the illustrated embodiment, two groups of differently shaped products 18 and cavities 14 are provided, one group being star shaped the other being round. It will be appreciated that more than two groups of differently shaped products and cavities could be provided and that shapes other than star and round could be used. The products 18 and cavities could also be provided in different sizes. The shapes of the products 18 and blister cavities 14 may be selected to have some relevance to a particular event or festivity. For example, the shapes might be selected to be relevant to Christmas, such as star shapes, Christmas tree shapes, reindeer and the like.

At least the blister cavities 14 of the blister tray 12 may be transparent so that the products 18 can be viewed through the blister cavities 14. In this case in particular, at least some of the products 18 or their wrappers may be differently coloured so as to produce an attractive display when the products are viewed through the blister tray. The remainder of the blister tray 12 may be printed on or otherwise provided with decoration. Alternatively, the whole blister tray may be transparent and the blister sheet 20 printed upon or otherwise provided with a design so that the printing or design is visible through the blister tray.

The blister tray 12 is sufficiently rigid to adequately support and protect the products 18 but is sufficiently flexible that it can be curled or folded from its initial planar configuration into a three dimensional shape to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface. In the embodiment illustrated, the assembly 10 can be curled into a generally conical shape. To this end, the blister tray 12 has an arcuate, convex, lower edge 27 and an arcuate, concave, upper edge 28 and opposed side edges 30, 32 which extend between the upper and lower edges 27, 28. The opposed sided edges 30, 32 are inclined towards each other in a direction from the lower edge 27 to the upper edge 28 so that the main body region is tapered. The arrangement is configured such that the tray 12 can be curled with the common surface 16 innermost so as to bring upper end regions 34 of the opposed side edges 30, 32 together to form a generally frusto-conical shape which is capable of stranding upright on a flat surface, such as a counter or table. The terms "upper" and "lower" used herein in relation to the blister tray 12 and/or the assembly 10, refer to the orientation of the tray and/or assembly when in its erected configuration and stood on a surface as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and should be construed accordingly. It will be appreciated that, at least when its un-erected initial planar configuration, the assembly 10 and/or tray 12 can be held and used in other orientations.

The assembly 10 is provided with a fastening arrangement to hold it in its erected configuration. The fastening arrangement can take a number of forms including formations proximal to the opposed side edges 30, 32 which co-operate to hold the assembly in its erected configuration. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, co-operating formations in the form of a pair of hollow projections 36, 38 are formed in the blister tray at an upper end region adjacent the opposed side edges 30, 32. The arrangement is such that the upper end region 34 of said one opposed side edge 32 is positioned underneath the upper end region of the other of the opposed side edges 30 and one of the projections 36 pressed into the recess formed by the other projection 38 as can be seen in Figure 6. This securely holds the blister tray assembly 10 in its erected configuration so that forms a self-supporting display that can be stood on a surface.

In the embodiment as illustrated, only the upper end regions of the opposed side edges 30, 32 the tray 12 brought together and the lower end regions of the opposed side edges 30, 32 are spaced apart, as can be seen in Figure 2. This is advantageous as it allows access to the interior of the erected assembly 10 for dispensing the product. However, this is not essential and the two opposed side edges 30, 32 could be brought together over the whole, or most, of their length. In this case, further formations may be provided to secure the lower end regions of the opposed side edges 30, 32 together.

Alternative fastening arrangements for securing the assembly 10 in its erected configuration can be adopted as will be understood by persons skilled in the art. For example, alternative types of inter-engaging formations could be used to secure the opposed side edges of the blister tray together. As illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, this might include a locking tab 36', attached to one side edge which is insertable in a slot 38', formed in the blister tray proximal the other side edge, for example. A fastener arrangement which is not integrally formed with the blister tray could also be used to secure the opposed side edges or other parts of the blister tray together to hold the assembly 10 in its erected configuration. Various different types of snap faster could be used for example. Furthermore, the fastening arrangement could include fastening members that are configured to be secured together by means of an adhesive or by means of hook and loop fastener or the like.

In the embodiments illustrated, the upper edge of the tray 12 has a projection 40. The projection 40 is an integral part of the blister tray 12 and is located centrally of the upper edge 28 so that it projects upwardly at the front of the assembly 10 when it is erected to form a self-supporting display stand. The projection 40 includes a blister cavity 42. The blister cavity 42 in the projection 40 may hold a product 18 and be sealed by a part of the blister sheet 20 of it may be an empty cavity formed only for decorative purposes. The projection 40 in this embodiment is star shaped and includes a correspondingly star shaped blister cavity 42. The assembly 10 is suitably shaped and decorated so as to resemble a Christmas tree with a star on the top. In the embodiment illustrated, the products 18 are simply pressed out from the blister cavities 14 and retrieved whilst the assembly is in its erected configuration. To allow for this, there is sufficient clearance inside the erected tray to allow the products to be pressed out of their cavities. In particular, there is sufficient clearance between opposed regions of the common surface 16. The assembly 10 might be picked up off a surface on which it is stood for this or the product allowed to fall on to the surface and retrieved from there through the opening at the rear of the erected assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the assembly is provided with a product capture and delivery system (not shown). The product capture and delivery system includes a dispensing opening provided in the blister tray and a member that is attachable to the common surface 16 of the blister tray in its erected configuration on to which the products fall when they are pressed out of the blister cavities, the member being configured so as to deliver the captured product to the opening. The member may take the form of a slide on to which product pushed out of cavity will fall and which directs the product to the dispensing opening. The system may include a tray on the exterior of the dispensing opening into which the product is directed. The tray could be an integral part of the member which extends through the dispensing opening.

The blister tray 12 or sheet 20 may be provided with an ornamental design appropriate to the theme of the event or festivity and which complements the shapes of the blister cavities. For example, in the present embodiment as illustrated in Figure 1, the main body of the blister tray 12 can be decorated to resemble a Christmas tree with a star on the top. The blister pockets 14 and the products 18 can be decorated to resemble decorations on the tree. The design on the blister tray 12 or sheet 20 can include features adjacent some or all of the blister pockets 14 and which co-operate with the blister pockets to produce the illusion that they are decorations suspended on the tree. For example, as indicated in dashed lines in Figure 7, the design on the blister tray or sheet may include features that make the round blister cavities look like baubles and others which resemble loops for suspending the star shapes from the tree. Whilst in the present embodiment the assembly is shaped and can be decorated to resemble a Christmas tree, it will be appreciated that assemblies in accordance with the invention can be made in a range of different shapes and/or decorated so as to resemble or suggest other symbols or characters commonly associated with a particular festival or seasonal event. For example, assemblies in accordance with the invention could be designed to look like a snow man, Father Christmas or the Easter Bunny. When used as an advent calendar, the blister tray 12 may have twenty four product containing cavities 14, one for each day in December up to an including Christmas Eve.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, it will be appreciated that the assembly 10 could be configured to form any one of a range of different three dimensional shapes that are capable of being stood on a flat surface when erected or otherwise displayed. Such shapes could include polygonal as well as curved shapes. The blistery tray could be provided with crease lines about which the tray 12 can be folded when it is being erected. Also, the assembly 10 need not taper from its base but could, for example, be cylindrical or parallelpiped in shape. The assembly 10 also need not be provided with a projection 40 on the upper edge of the tray 12 or it could be provided with more than one projection 40. As will be understood by persons skilled in the art, the upper edge 28 of the tray 12 could be shaped in various ways to produce an attractive display. For example, the upper edge 28 could be shaped so as to form a peak at its centre. The shapes and sizes of the blister cavities 14 and products 18 can be varied and may be selected so as to have significance for a particular event or festive period other than Christmas.

Claims

1. A blister package and display assembly for consumable products, the assembly comprising: a. a substantially planar blister tray having a plurality of open ended blister cavities opening to a common surface for supporting said consumable products therein; b. a blister sheet overlying said common surface of said blister tray and closing said open ends of said cavities; wherein the blister tray is configured to be erectable from its substantially planar configuration into a three dimensional shape, the assembly comprising a fastening arrangement for holding the tray in its erected configuration to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface.

2. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common surface of the blister tray forms an inner surface of the three dimensional shape.

3. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein when the tray is erected to form a three dimension shape and secured using the fastening arrangement, there is sufficient clearance between opposed regions of the common surface that at least some of the products can be dispensed through the interior of the erected tray.

4. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blister tray has upper and lower edges and opposed side edges, and wherein at least upper regions of the side edges are in close proximity or overlap one another when the tray is erected to form a self- supporting display.

5. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the blister tray is configured to define a substantially frusto-conical shape when the assembly is erected to form a self-supporting display.

6. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein in its substantially planar configuration the upper and lower edges of the blister tray are arcuate and the opposed side edges taper towards each other in a direction from the lower edge towards the upper edge.

7. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein lower end regions of the opposed side edges of the tray are spaced apart from one another when the assembly is erected to form a self-supporting display.

8. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the blister tray comprises a projection extending from its upper edge.

9. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the projection comprises at least one sealed blister cavity containing a product or wherein the projection comprises a decorative blister cavity formation in the blister tray in which no product is contained.

10. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the projection is located substantially centrally of the upper edge of the blister tray when in its substantially planar configuration.

11. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening arrangement comprises formations proximal opposite side edges of the blister tray which co-operate to hold the tray in its erected configuration.

12. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the formations are configured to be secured together to hold the tray in its erected configuration.

13. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the formations comprise at least one projection formed in the blister tray proximal one of the opposed side edges and at least one corresponding recess or opening in which the projection can be received formed in the blister tray proximal the other of the opposed side edges.

14. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fastening arrangement comprises a locking tab attached to one side edge region of the tray and a corresponding slot formed in the other side edge region of the tray into which the tab is insertable.

15. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the fastening arrangement comprises co-operating fastening members that are configured to be secured together by means of an adhesive or by means of hook and loop fastener or the like.

16. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one line of weakness is defined in the blister sheet in register with each of the blister cavities.

17. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the blister sheet is sealed to the blister tray about each of the blister cavities, the at least one line of weakness being located outside of a sealed region surrounding each blister cavity.

18. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the blister tray includes blister cavities comprising groups of at least two differently shaped cavities.

19. A blister package and display assembly for consumable products, the assembly comprising: a. a substantially planer blister tray having a plurality of open ended blister cavities opening to a common surface for supporting said consumable products therein; b. a blister sheet overlying said common surface of said blister tray and closing said open ends of said cavities;

the blister tray being erectable into a three dimensional shape with said common surface of the blister tray on the inside and the assembly comprising a fastening arrangement for holding the tray in its erected three dimensional configuration to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface, wherein when the tray is erected to form a three dimension shape and secured using the fastening arrangement, there is sufficient clearance between opposed regions of the common surface that at least one of the products can be dispensed through the interior of the erected tray.

20. A blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly comprises an advent calendar.

21. A method of using a blister package and display assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: erecting the tray from an initial substantially planar configuration into a three dimensional shape to form a self-supporting display for standing on a surface and securing in position using the fastening arrangement.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, the method comprising dispensing at least one product by pressing it out of its respective blister cavity whilst the tray is held in its erected three dimensional configuration by the fastening arrangement.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said common surface is located internally and the blister pockets are located externally when the tray is erected into a three dimension shape and the products are dispensed though the interior of the erected tray.

24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the assembly is provided to be sold through a retail outlet with the blister tray in an initially substantially planer configuration for subsequent erection into a self- supporting display after purchase by an end consumer.