Blister card systems and methods for assemblying the systems

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.

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.