Blister package having a securement mechanism and a method of forming and filing said blister package

Abstract

A blister package and a method of forming and filling the blister package are disclosed. The blister package includes a first member having a 3-dimensional bubble and a peripheral flange. A major portion of the peripheral flange is folded to create at least one channel and a minor portion of the peripheral flange has a hook hole formed therethrough. A securement mechanism is formed with the minor portion of the peripheral flange which permits the blister package to be opened and closed. The securement mechanism includes a hinged tab and first and second cooperating attachment members. The blister package further includes a second member sized and configured to be slideably received within the at least one channel when the securement mechanism is in an open position. The second member is retained within the at least one channel when the securement mechanism is in a closed position.

1 . A blister package having a securement mechanism that can be opened and closed multiple times, comprising:
 a) a first member having a front surface, a back surface and a 3-dimensional bubble formed between said front and back surfaces which is capable of at least partially retaining a product, said first member having a peripheral flange with a major portion of said peripheral flange being folded upon itself to create at least one channel and a minor portion of said peripheral flange having a hook hole formed therethrough;   b) a securement mechanism integrally formed with said minor portion of said peripheral flange which permits said blister package to be opened and closed, said securement mechanism including a first attachment member formed on said minor portion of said peripheral flange, a tab extending outwardly from said minor portion of said peripheral flange and having a hinge formed therein, and a second attachment member formed in said tab outward of said hinge, said second attachment member being sized to cooperate with said first attachment member when said tab is pivoted about said hinge to close said blister package; and   c) a second member sized and configured to be slideably received within said at least one channel when said securement mechanism is in an open position, and said second member being retained within said at least one channel when said securement mechanism is in a closed position.   
   
   
       2 . The blister package of  claim 1  wherein said first member is thermoformed and said first attachment member extends outward from said back surface in the same direction as said 3-dimensional bubble. 
   
   
       3 . The blister package of  claim 2  wherein said first attachment member has a square cross-sectional configuration. 
   
   
       4 . The blister package of  claim 3  wherein said second attachment member has a circular cross-sectional configuration which extends outward from said front surface in an opposite direction to said first attachment member, and said circular cross-sectional configuration is size to engage with said square cross-sectional configuration to form an interference fit therewith and close said blister package. 
   
   
       5 . The blister package of  claim 1  wherein said major portion of said peripheral flange extends at least about 70% around said first member. 
   
   
       6 . The blister package of  claim 5  wherein said first member has a width w, said tab has a width w 1 , and said width w 1  is less than half of said width w. 
   
   
       7 . The blister package of  claim 6  wherein said tab is a living hinge formed from two spaced apart semi-circular members and each semi-circular member extends completely across said width w 1  of said tab. 
   
   
       8 . The blister package of  claim 1  wherein said first member has a longitudinal central axis, a pair of said first attachment members is present each projecting inward from said back surface, each of said pair of first attachment members being located on opposite sides of said longitudinal central axis, and a pair of second attachment members is present each extending outward from said front surface and in an opposite direction to said pair of first attachment members, and each of said pair of second attachment members being located on opposite sides of said longitudinal central axis. 
   
   
       9 . The blister package of  claim 1  wherein said second member contains an aperture formed therethrough which is aligned with said hook hole formed through said minor portion of said peripheral flange when said second member is positioned in said at least one channel. 
   
   
       10 . A blister package having a securement mechanism that can be opened and closed, comprising:
 a) a first transparent member having a front surface, a back surface and a 3-dimensional bubble formed between said front and back surfaces which is capable of at least partially retaining a product, said first member having a peripheral flange with a major portion of said peripheral flange being folded upon itself to create at least two oppositely aligned channels, and a minor portion of said peripheral flange aligned at an angle to said two channels and having a hook hole formed therethrough;   b) a securement mechanism integrally formed with said minor portion of said peripheral flange which permits said blister package to be opened and closed multiple times, said securement mechanism including a first attachment member formed on said minor portion of said peripheral flange, a tab extending outwardly from said minor portion of said peripheral flange and having a living hinge formed therein, and a second attachment member formed in said tab outward of said living hinge, said second attachment member being sized to cooperate with said first attachment member when said tab is pivoted about said living hinge to close said blister package; and   c) a second member sized and configured to be slideably received within said two channels when said securement mechanism is in an open position, and said second member being retained within said two channels when said securement mechanism is in a closed position.   
   
   
       11 . The blister package of  claim 10  wherein said major portion of said peripheral flange extends around at least about 70% of said first member. 
   
   
       12 . The blister package of  claim 11  wherein said major portion of said peripheral flange extends around at least about 75% of said first member, and said minor portion of said peripheral flange extends around at least about 15% of said first member. 
   
   
       13 . The blister package of  claim 10  wherein said blister package has an approximately rectangular configuration with first and second sides and first and second ends, and said major portion of said peripheral flange is folded upon itself at said first and second sides and at said second end to create first, second and third channels. 
   
   
       14 . The blister package of  claim 13  wherein said minor portion of said peripheral flange is located adjacent to said first end and is not folded. 
   
   
       15 . The blister package of  claim 13  wherein said first, second and third channels are spaced apart from one another. 
   
   
       16 . A blister package having a securement mechanism that can be opened and closed multiple times, comprising:
 a) a first transparent member having an approximately rectangular configuration with first and second sides and first and second ends, said first member having a front surface, a back surface and a 3-dimensional bubble formed between said front and back surfaces which is capable of at least partially retaining a product, said thermoformed member having a peripheral flange extending outward from said first and second sides and from said first and second ends, said peripheral flange being folded upon itself at said first and second sides and at said second end to create first, second and third channels, and said peripheral flange adjacent to said first end having a hook hole formed therethrough;   b) a securement mechanism integrally formed with said peripheral flange adjacent to said first end which permits said blister package to be opened and closed, said securement mechanism including a first attachment member formed on said peripheral flange adjacent to said first end, a tab extending outwardly from said peripheral flange adjacent to said first end and having a living hinge formed therein, and a second attachment member formed in said tab outward of said living hinge, said second attachment member being sized to cooperate with said first attachment member when said tab is pivoted about said living hinge to close said blister package; and   c) a display card sized and configured to be slideably received within said first, second and third channels when said securement mechanism is in an open position, and said display card being retained within said first, second and third channels when said securement mechanism is in a closed position.   
   
   
       17 . The blister package of  claim 16  wherein said display card has an approximately rectangular configuration with a first end, a front surface and an oppositely aligned back surface, said display card is formed from paperboard and at least one of said front and back surfaces is capable of being printed, said display card has at least one hook hole formed therethrough adjacent to said first end which is aligned adjacent to at least one aperture formed therethrough, and said at least one aperture being sized and configured to allow said second attachment member to pass therethrough once said tab is pivoted at said living hinge. 
   
   
       18 . The blister package of  claim 17  wherein each side of said display card is surrounded by said first, second and third channels and by said securement mechanism. 
   
   
       19 . The blister package of  claim 16  wherein said living hinge includes a pair of semi-circular shaped members aligned parallel to and spaced apart from one another. 
   
   
       20 . The blister package of  claim 16  wherein an audible sound is generated when said second attachment member engages with said first attachment member as said securement mechanism is moved to said closed position. 
   
   
       21 . A method of forming a blister package having a securement mechanism that can be opened and closed multiple times, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) forming a transparent sheet of plastic material into a first member having a front surface, a back surface, and a 3-dimensional bubble surrounded by a peripheral flange, said bubble being formed between said front and back surfaces and being capable of at least partially retaining a product, and integrally forming a securement mechanism on a portion of said peripheral flange which permits said blister package to be opened and closed, said securement mechanism including a first attachment member formed on said portion of said peripheral flange, a tab extending outwardly from said portion of said peripheral flange and having a hinge formed therein, and a second attachment member formed in said tab outward of said hinge, said second attachment member being sized to cooperate with said first attachment member when said tab is folded about said hinge to close said blister package;   b) forming a hook hole in said portion of said peripheral flange;   c) folding another portion of said peripheral flange upon itself to create at least one channel;   d) fitting a second member within said at least one channel which spans across said 3-dimensional bubble, said second member having a first end; and   e) forming a first aperture and a second aperture through said first end of said second member, said first aperture being aligned with said hook hole formed in said first member, and said second aperture being sized and configured to allow said second attachment member to pass therethrough once said tab is folded at said hinge.   
   
   
       22 . A method of forming a blister package having a securement mechanism that can be opened and closed multiple times, and inserting a product therein, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) thermoforming a transparent sheet of plastic material into a first member having a front surface, a back surface, and a 3-dimensional bubble surrounded by a peripheral flange, said bubble being formed between said front and back surfaces and being capable of at least partially retaining a product, and integrally forming a securement mechanism on a portion of said peripheral flange which permits said blister package to be opened and closed, said securement mechanism including a first attachment member formed on said portion of said peripheral flange, a tab extending outwardly from said portion of said peripheral flange and having a hinge formed therein, and a second attachment member formed in said tab outward of said hinge, said second attachment member being sized to cooperate with said first attachment member when said tab is folded about said hinge to close said blister package;   b) forming a hook hole in said portion of said peripheral flange;   c) folding another portion of said peripheral flange upon itself to create at least one channel;   d) fitting a second member within said at least one channel which spans across said 3-dimensional bubble, said second member having a first end;   e) forming a first aperture and a second aperture through said first end of said second member, said first aperture being aligned adjacent to said second aperture, and said second aperture being sized and configured to allow said second attachment member to pass therethrough once said tab is folded at said hinge;   f) inserting a product into said 3-dimensional bubble;   g) sliding said second member into said at least one channel of said first member when said securement mechanism is in an open position, said second member retaining said product in said 3-dimensional bubble; and   h) folding said tab at said hinge wherein said second attachment member passes through said second aperture and engages with said first attachment member to close said blister package.