The present invention relates generally to consumer product packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to packaging of confectionary products, pharmaceutical products, or the like.

The packaging for consumable products is very important to the storage of the product. Frequently, the packaging attempts to visually convey indicia about the type of product, the taste of the product or the purpose of the product. For example, some packages for consumer products, such as gum or candy, frequently include indicia on the package indicating the type of tasting product available in the package. Once a consumer identifies the type of product from the package, the consumer typically chooses a product based solely on the packaging indicia.

Various types of blister package assemblies are known in the art. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,118 to Thompson et al., a stepped-edge blister pack for containing and dispensing units of doses of medication such as capsules, tablets, caplets or fast-dissolving dosage forms is disclosed. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,660 to Rune et al., a blister pack is disclosed that comprises at least one blister pack with individually openable blisters including a number of blisters containing placebo (placebo blisters), and a number of blisters containing an active pharmaceutical drug. The prior art is also disclosed in US 2003/080021 A1.

Although today's blister packages adequately support products contained therein, there are some disadvantages. For example, if it is felt that an entire portion of the product may be consumed in one sitting, such as in the case of a candy bar, the manufacturer may wish to provide a once only usable package to store the product, rather than a reusable package. Furthermore, there are also practical facets to packaging consumable products, namely, ease of access to the products stored in the packaging, flexibility of the packaging once pieces of the product are removed, and providing a reusable package.

It is therefore desirable to provide a product package assembly that supports one or more products in a reusable assembly that is not costly and is robust enough to support less than all the products that are removed from the package. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a packaging assembly that is flexible and yet robust enough to support one or more various types of products once some are consumed.

A packaging assembly supports and dispenses a plurality of retail products, such as confectionary products. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of package sleeves that are removably attached to the housing. A blister tray attachment is slidably insertable into one or more of the package sleeves.

For example, in one aspect of the invention, a method of providing a package assembly for consumable products includes forming a housing comprising a plurality of sleeves removably attached to the housing, and providing a blister tray slidably insertable into one or more of the plurality of sleeves, the blister tray supporting consumable products.

Preferably, the step of forming further includes forming the plurality of sleeves from a single flat piece of paperboard material. In one preferred embodiment, the method includes folding ends of the single flat piece of material toward one another, and attaching at least one surface of the ends of the single flat piece of material to the housing.

In one preferred embodiment, the method covering the at least one surface with an adhesive. In another preferred embodiment, the method includes interlocking one or more ends of the flat piece of material to the housing. Preferably, the folding step further includes folding the ends of the flat piece of material over approximately one-half the diameter of the housing.

The method includes attaching the plurality of sleeves to the housing in juxtaposition with one another. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes attaching the plurality of sleeves to the housing spaced apart from one another.

In one preferred embodiment, the method further includes the step of providing a detachable perforated line between the sleeves allowing for the removal of one of the plurality of sleeves from the housing. Preferably, the detachable perforated line is a hinge.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the method further includes the step of providing the detachable perforated line substantially parallel one of an x and a y axis formed by the two primary dimensions of the housing.

The blister package assembly for consumable products includes a housing comprising a plurality of sleeves which are removably attached to the housing, and a blister tray slidably insertable into at least one of the plurality of sleeves, the blister tray supporting consumable products.

In one preferred embodiment, the plurality of sleeves are attached to the housing at a hinge. In another preferred embodiment, the plurality of sleeves are attached to the housing at a detachable perforated line so as to allow the removal of one of the plurality of sleeves. Preferably, the detachable perforated line is substantially parallel one of an x and a y axis formed by the two primary dimensions of the housing.

The plurality of sleeves are positioned on the housing in juxtaposition with one another. In preferred embodiment, the plurality of blister sleeves are spaced apart on the housing. Preferably, the plurality of sleeves are adhered to the housing using an adhesive.

Preferably, the plurality of sleeves are made from a paperboard material. In one preferred embodiment, the paperboard material is a single piece of paperboard material. Preferably, the paperboard material is either biodegradable paper or recyclable paper.

The housing is folded to form said plurality of sleeves.

Additional features and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the claims.

• FIG. 1 is a perspective showing a first embodiment of the package assembly.
• FIG. 2 is a top view of the package assembly of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a plan view of the package housing of FIG. 1 according to the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective showing a second embodiment of the package assembly.
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the package assembly of FIG. 4.
• FIG. 6 is a plan view of the package housing of FIG. 4 according to the invention.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective showing of the blister sleeves of FIG. 1 spaced apart.
• FIGS. 8A-B is a perspective showing a detachment of the blister sleeves along an X axis of the package housing.
• FIGS. 9A-B is a perspective showing a detachment of the blister sleeves along a Y axis of the package housing.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective showing a third embodiment of the package assembly.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

The present invention provides a packaging assembly for supporting and dispensing retail products. The products are consumable or confectionery products. The products include any type of consumable or confectionery products such as gum or candy. The products can alternatively be any other type of consumable products. For instance, the products can be gum or candy or other type of medical or consumable product.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first embodiment of a package assembly 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the package assembly 10 of FIG. 1. Although the package assembly 10 shown in the drawings is designed to preferably be used to support and dispense confectionery products, e.g., gum, the assembly also can be used to support and dispense other products, e.g., pharmaceuticals.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the package assembly 10 of the present invention includes a plurality of sleeves 17, 19 that are removably attached to a housing 12. In one preferred embodiment, for example, the plurality of sleeves 17, 19 are uniform in shape and have a generally rectangular form. The assembly also includes one or more packages or blister trays 14, 15 that are removable from and reinsertable into the sleeves 17, 19. For example, as shown by the arrows 6, 8 in FIGS. 1 and 2, a consumer may slidably remove blister trays 14, 15 from the sleeves 17, 19 and slidably reinsert the blister trays 14, 15 into the sleeves 17, 19 as desired.

Preferably, the blister trays 14, 15 of the present invention are made primarily from plastic and/or plastic or metal foils. As shown in FIG. 1, each tray 14, 15 includes a plurality of compartments 18A-D, 18E-H, respectively, of generally equal dimensions that generally extend outwardly from each tray 14, 15. The trays 14, 15 are dimensioned to press-fit against walls of the sleeves 17, 18 upon insertion of the trays 14, 15 into the sleeves 17, 18. In one preferred embodiment, the center of each blister tray 14, 15 includes a hinge 38 allowing each tray to be folded onto itself and to be stacked. Once stacked, the two blister trays 14, 15 may be slidably removed and inserted into the sleeves, resulting in shorter and wider sleeves. The compartments 18A-H generally hold or store a single product 20A-H, however, in other embodiments, compartment dimensions may be varied and can store multiple and varied products. In one preferred embodiment, the compartments 18A-H are made from plastic that is clear so that a consumer can see the products stored therein. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in a preferred embodiment, the compartments 18A-D of tray 14 and compartments 18E-H of tray 15 are arranged in a series of four (4) longitudinally spaced compartments each, however, each of the trays 14,15 may be adapted to have any number of compartments in various configurations.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 2, in one preferred embodiment, the blister trays 14, 15 are configured to include a slot 22 that may aid the consumer in slidably inserting and removing the blister trays from the sleeves 17, 19. The slot 22 also may be used to facilitate mounting of the package assembly on a product display module. For example, the slot 22 is configured to receive a product display bracket extending from a product display module.

The sleeves 17, 19 of the present invention are made from single or multiple pieces of cardboard or other suitable material and are shaped to support the blister trays 14, 15. The material for the sleeves 17, 19 is preferably chosen to be relatively inexpensive and may in certain embodiments be biodegradable or recyclable. For example, biodegradable paperboard may be used to form the sleeves 17, 19. Of course, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other materials, such as unbleached board as well as polymeric material, may be used to form the sleeves 17, 19 depending on the desired appearance of the assembly 10. If paperboard is used, preferably, the paperboard is coated on at least one side with a conventional coating selected for compatibility with a printing method and board composition chosen for the assembly 10. In addition, the paperboard is preferably a single piece of paperboard.

Preferably, the sleeves 17, 19 are formed by folding the housing 12 so that after folding, the coated side of the housing would become the external surface of each sleeve 17, 19. This allows for indicia concerning the product contents of the assembly 10 to be viewed without removing the package trays 14, 15 from the sleeves 17, 19. Details with respect to folding the housing 12 to form the sleeves 17, 19 are discussed in connection with FIGS. 3 and 6 of the application. It should be noted, however, that the sleeves 17,19 of the present invention are not limited to being formed by folding the housing 12. For example, in one preferred embodiment, the sleeves 17, 19 are formed separately from the housing 12 and are made from paperboard. Once the sleeves 17,19 are formed, the sleeves 17,19 are attached to a flat piece of paperboard using an adhesive, such as glue, to form the housing 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the sleeves 17, 19 includes opposing side walls 21, 23 and 24, 25, top walls 28, 29 and bottom walls 30, 31, respectively. Preferably, the sidewalls 21,23, 24,25, top walls 28, 29 and bottom walls 30,31 define front open ends or front openings 33, 35 and back open ends or back openings 26, 27 of each sleeve 17, 19, respectively. Of course, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the sleeves of the present invention are not limited to having both front openings and back openings. For example, in one preferred embodiment, the sleeves include front openings and back walls instead of back openings. In another preferred embodiment, the openings of sleeves are configured diagonally to one another, resulting in each sleeve having either a front wall or a back wall and a back opening or front opening, respectively. Further, as shown in the FIG. 1 and 2 example, the top walls 28, 29 and bottom walls 30, 31 of each sleeve 17, 19 may include recesses 34, 37 that may aid the consumer in slidably inserting and removing the package trays 14, 15 and/or are for aesthetic purposes.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a plan view of the housing 12 of FIG. 1 is shown. The housing 12 of the present invention is preferably a paper product made in a flat piece. For example, in one preferred embodiment, the housing 12 is made from a single flat piece of paperboard material. As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 2 includes a series of wall flaps 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130 and 132, folds 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, and 114, and attachment flaps 116, 134, wherein the housing folds together and forms the sleeves 17, 19.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a surface of the attachment flaps 116, 134 is covered with an adhesive, such as glue, such that, by folding the attachment flaps 116, 134 over and toward one another, sleeves having an approximately equal dimension to one another are achieved. As shown in FIGS 1, 2 and 3, the attachment flaps 116, 134 are folded over approximately one-half (1/2) the diameter of the housing 12 and form the sleeves 17, 19 by contact and adhesion of the attachment flaps to wall flaps 124, 126. Preferably, the sleeves 17, 19 are positioned in juxtaposition with one another.

Of course, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the points of adhesion on the flaps may be varied and that various sleeve diameters may be achieved to support varying tray diameters. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the sleeves 17, 19 may be positioned spaced apart from one another at a predetermined distance 11. In addition, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other techniques may be used to secure attachment flaps 116, 134 to wall flaps 124,126. For example, in one preferred embodiment, attachment flaps 116, 134 and wall flaps 124, 126 may be secured together as interlocking flaps. Further, when the housing 12 is made from polymeric material, such as plastic, the desirable shape of the sleeves may be made via a process of molds or other suitable method of mass producing plastic.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a center of the housing 12 is provided as a hinge 38 that allows the sleeves 17,19 to be flexed about each other. Preferably, the hinge 38 allows the sleeves 17,19 to be pulled back from one another and stacked, resulting in an outer surface of a top wall of one of the sleeves contacting an outer surface of a bottom wall of another sleeve. Several benefits may be derived by this feature. For example, by providing the flexible hinge 38 as part of the housing 12, formed sleeves 17, 19 may be flexed toward and away from one another and thereby reduce the overall dimensions needed to store the product assembly 10. The hinge 38 of the housing 12 may be constructed as a detachable perforated line allowing the sleeves 17, 19 to be independently separated from the housing 12 to further reduce the space necessary for storing the product especially after partial use of the product. The perforated line also allows the housing 12 to be split into two pieces, thus allowing each sleeve to be used independently.

In one preferred embodiment, the hinge 38 of the housing 12 is constructed as a detachable perforated line substantially parallel one of an X and an Y axis formed by the two primary dimensions of the housing 12 thereby allowing the sleeves 17, 19 to be independently separated from the housing 12. For example, in one preferred embodiment, referring now to FIGS. 8A-B, the hinge 38 is formed substantially parallel a primary X axis of the housing 12 allowing each of the sleeves 17, 19 to be separated 250 along the X axis of the housing 12 and used independently. In another preferred embodiment, for example, the hinge of the present invention is formed substantially parallel a primary Y axis of the housing allowing each of the sleeves to be separated along the Y axis of the housing and used independently.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, a second embodiment of a package assembly 40 according to the present invention is disclosed. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the package assembly 40 and FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the assembly 40. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the package assembly 40 includes one or more package or blister trays 44, 45 that are removable and reinsertable, as indicated by arrows 51, 53, respectively, into sleeves 47, 49 of a housing 42. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeves 47, 49 have a generally square form and are of generally uniform shape.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the package trays 44, 45 includes four (4) compartments 48A-D, 48E-H arranged in a side-by-side 2x2 configuration that generally extend outward from each tray 44, 45 and are configured to press-fit against walls of the sleeve 47, 49. The compartments 48A-H, like the compartments 18A-H described above, may be made of clear plastic so that the consumer can see the products 50A-H stored therein.

Similar to the blister trays 14, 15 described above, the blister trays 44, 45 of the second embodiment are configured to include a slot 52 that may aid the consumer in removing and inserting the blister trays 44, 45 into the sleeves 47, 49. The slot 52 similarly may be adapted to receive a product display bracket to display the assembly 40 from a product display module.

Similar to the sleeves 17, 19 described above, the sleeves 47, 49 of the second embodiment are made from single or multiple pieces of cardboard or other suitable material. Preferably, the material chosen is relatively inexpensive and may, as described previously, in certain embodiments, be biodegradable or recyclable. Preferably, if paperboard is used to form the sleeves 47, 49, the paperboard is coated on at least one side with a conventional coating selected for compatibility with a printing method and board composition chosen for the assembly 40.

The sleeves 47, 49 are also formed by folding the housing 42 so that after folding, the coated side of the housing 42 becomes the external surface of each sleeve 47, 49. By using this technique, indicia concerning the product contents of the assembly 40 may be viewed without removing the package trays 44, 45 from the sleeves 47, 49.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the sleeves 47, 49 includes opposing side walls 54, 55 and 56, 57, top walls 58, 59 and bottom walls 60,62, respectively. Preferably, the sidewalls 54, 55, 56, 57, top walls 58, 59 and bottom walls 60, 62 define front openings 61, 63 and back openings 66, 64 of each sleeve 47, 49, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a plan view of the housing 42 of FIG. 4 is shown. As described previously, the housing 42 of the present invention is preferably a paper product made in a flat piece. Preferably, the flat piece is a single flat piece of paper product. Similar to the housing 12 described above, the housing 42 of the package assembly 40 also includes a series of wall flaps 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214 and 216, folds 220, 222, 224, 226, 232, 234, 236 and 238, and attachment flaps 200, 218 that are dimensioned such that when the housing 42 folds together, a desired shape for the sleeves 47, 49 is obtained.

Similar to the attachment flaps 116, 134 described above, as shown in FIG. 6, a surface of the attachment flaps 200, 218 is covered with an adhesive, such as glue, such that, by folding the attachment flaps 200, 218 over and toward one another, sleeves 47,49 having an approximately equal dimension are achieved. For example, to form the two (2) relatively square shaped sleeves 47, 49 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment flaps 200, 218 are folded over approximately one-half (1/2) the diameter of the housing 42 and form the sleeves 47, 49 by contact and adhesion of the attachment flaps 200, 218 to wall flaps 208, 210, respectively. The sleeves 47, 49 are positioned spaced apart from one another at a predetermined distance. Preferably, the sleeves 47, 49 are positioned in juxtaposition with one another.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, preferably, a center of the housing 42 includes a hinge 230 that allows the sleeves 47, 49 to be flexed about each other. Similar to the housing 12 described above, the hinge 230 may be formed as a detachable perforated line allowing the sleeves 47, 49 to be independently separated from the housing 42 regardless of product in the sleeves 47, 49.

For example, referring now to FIGS. 9A-B, in one preferred embodiment, the hinge 230 of the housing 42 is constructed as a detachable perforated line substantially parallel one of an X and an Y axis formed by the two primary dimensions of the housing 42 allowing the sleeves 47, 49 to be independently separated from the housing 42.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 9A-B, the hinge 230 is formed substantially parallel a primary Y axis of the housing 42 allowing each of the sleeves 47, 49 to be separated 250 from the housing 42 along the Y axis and be used independently. In another preferred embodiment, for example, the hinge of the present invention is formed substantially parallel a primary X axis of the housing allowing each of the sleeves 47, 49 to be separated along the X axis of the housing and used independently.

In addition, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the current invention is not limited to a housing including only two sleeves nor a single hinge, but can include any number of sleeves and multiple hinges or detached perforated lines. For example, referring now to FIG. 10, in one preferred embodiment, a package assembly 300 includes three sleeves 304, 306 and 308 that are removably attached via detachable perforation lines 316 to a housing 302. The assembly 300 also includes three blister trays 310, 312 and 314 that are removable from and reinsertable into the sleeves 304, 306 and 308 as discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-2 and 4-5. The housing, sleeves and hinges are formed similarly as discussed in connections with FIGS. 1-9.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and that various other changes and modifications may be affected herein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, and that all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the invention.