Blister card packaging structure with a viewing panel

Abstract

A package structure includes a viewing panel ( 16 ), a blister ( 14 ), a front card ( 12 ), and a rear card ( 18 ). The viewing panel has a surface area. The blister includes a body-portion, with the body portion being sized and shaped to receive one or more consumer goods therein. The front card defines a front opening ( 30 ) therein. That front opening is sized and shaped to receive the body portion of the blister therethrough. The rear card ( 18 ) defines a rear opening therein, with the rear opening having a surface area that is less than the surface area of the viewing panel. The rear card ( 18 ) is attached to the front card to secure the viewing panel therebetween.

1 . A package structure, comprising:
 a viewing panel having a surface area;   a blister including a body portion, the body portion being sized and shaped to receive one or more consumer goods therein;   a front card defining a front opening therein, the front opening being sized and shaped to receive the body portion of the blister therethrough; and   a rear card defining a rear opening therein, the rear opening having a surface area that is less than the surface area of the viewing panel, the rear card being attached to the front card to secure the viewing panel therebetween;   wherein the blister further comprises a viewing panel receiving recess, the viewing panel receiving recess being sized and shaped to closely receive the viewing panel therein.   
   
   
       2 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing panel is comprised of a transparent or generally transparent material. 
   
   
       3 . The package structure of  claim 2 , wherein the viewing panel is adhesively secured to the blister. 
   
   
       4 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the blister is a substrate having a desired shape and configuration. 
   
   
       5 . The package structure of  claim 4 , wherein the blister is a paperboard substrate. 
   
   
       6 . The package structure of  claim 5 , wherein the paperboard substrate includes at least one additional layer. 
   
   
       7 . The package structure of  claim 6 , wherein one given additional layer is a printable coating, a polymeric coating, or a tear-resistant layer. 
   
   
       8 . The package structure of  claim 4 , wherein the blister is formed of a polymeric material. 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the blister further comprises a flange, the front opening further being sized and shaped to prevent passage of the flange therethrough. 
   
   
       11 . The package structure of  claim 10 , wherein the viewing panel receiving recess defines a lip in the blister between the flange and the body portion. 
   
   
       12 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the viewing panel receiving recess has a recess depth that generally corresponds to a panel thickness of the viewing panel. 
   
   
       13 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the front card and the rear card are formed as separate pieces. 
   
   
       14 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the front card and rear card formed of a single, continuous piece, separated by a fold line. 
   
   
       15 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the front card and the rear card are each made of a substrate material. 
   
   
       16 . The package structure of  claim 15 , wherein the substrate material is a paperboard material. 
   
   
       17 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the front card and the rear card each have a corresponding inner surface, each respective inner surface being positioned to engage the other inner surface, a sealing material being provided between the respective inner surfaces for attaching the respective inner surfaces to one another. 
   
   
       18 . The package structure of  claim 1 , wherein the front card and the rear card each include a tear-resistant layer or material. 
   
   
       19 . A package structure, comprising:
 a viewing panel having a surface area;   a blister including a body portion; a front card defining a front opening therein, the front opening being sized and shaped to receive the body portion of the blister therethrough; and   a rear card defining a rear opening therein, the rear opening having a surface area that is less than the surface area of the viewing panel, the rear card being attached to the front card to secure the viewing panel therebetween;   wherein the blister further comprises a viewing panel receiving recess, the viewing panel receiving recess being sized and shaped to closely receive the viewing panel therein.   
   
   
       20 . The package structure of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the blister, the front card, and the rear card is made of blister package substrate material. 
   
   
       21 . The package structure of  claim 20 , wherein the blister package substrate material is a paperboard substrate material. 
   
   
       22 . The package structure of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the blister, the front card, and the rear card has at least one of a tear-resistant layer and a printable layer associated therewith. 
   
   
       23 . The package structure of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of the front card and at least a portion of the rear card are sealed to one another using a sealing material, thereby securing the viewing panel therebetween. 
   
   
       24 . The package structure of  claim 23 , wherein the sealing material is an adhesive. 
   
   
       25 . The package structure of  claim 24 , wherein the adhesive is pressure-sensitive or curable. 
   
   
       26 . The package structure of  claim 23 , wherein the sealing material is a sealant that melts and seals adjacent substrates upon application of at least one of heat, radio-frequency energy, microwave energy, and ultrasonic energy thereto. 
   
   
       27 . The package structure of  claim 19 , wherein the blister further includes a flange, the front opening being further sized and shaped to prevent passage of the flange therethrough. 
   
   
       28 . The package structure of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the front card and the rear card has a hanger notch formed therein. 
   
   
       29 . A package structure, comprising:
 a viewing panel having a surface area;   a blister including a body portion, the body portion being sized and shaped to receive one or more consumer goods therein;   a front card defining a front opening therein, the front opening being sized and shaped to receive the body portion of the blister therethrough; and   a rear card defining a rear opening therein, the rear opening having a surface area that is less than the surface area of the viewing panel, the rear card being attached to the front card to secure the viewing panel therebetween;   wherein the blister includes means for closely receiving the viewing panel therein and supporting the viewing panel over the body portion.