Reclosable blister package assembly

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/817,058, filed Jun. 28, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates generally to a blister package for containing an array of consumable products preferably center filled gum pieces. More particularly, the present invention relates to a blister package assembly including a reclosable sleeve for exposing gum pieces contained in a blister tray.

Blister packages are commonly used to support a variety of consumable products such as gum pieces. A conventional blister package includes a blister tray, having individual blisters each supporting an individual gum piece. The open face blister tray may be housed within a sleeve which slidably accommodates the blister tray. To access one of the gum pieces, the user slides the blister tray out from the sleeve to expose one or more of the blisters.

One type of gum product which is housed in conventional blister packages are center filled gum slabs which include a solid exterior and a liquid or soft interior. The blister package must provide adequate separation and structural protection to these center filled gum slabs so as to prevent crushing of the gum slabs thereby releasing the liquid center.

Many other forms of packaging are also known for supporting individual gum pieces such as sticks or slabs. Packages such as those having reclosable flaps which are openable to expose the gum pieces are prevalent. However, this type of package is not readily transferable for use with center filled gum pieces due to the particular nature of the product.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved reclosable blister package which will accommodate center-filled gum pieces.

The present invention provides a reclosable blister package assembly for accommodating center-filled gum pieces. The package assembly includes a blister tray having an open face and a blister cavity for supporting the gum pieces. The blister tray includes a plurality of ribs within the blister cavity for separating the gum pieces. A cover overlies the blister tray and covers the open face of the tray. The cover has a removable portion for exposing the gum pieces. An openable sleeve surrounds the blister tray. The sleeve includes an openable flap adhesively secured to the removable portion of the covers. Opening of the flap causes the removable portion of the cover to be removed from blister tray.

In a preferred embodiment, the removable portion is defined by a score line which may be formed by a perforation or laser scoring.

FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of the blister package assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the blister package assembly of FIG. 1 .

FIGS. 3-7 are various showings of the blister tray used in combination with the blister package assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Referring to the figures, the present invention provides a blister package assembly 10 for supporting a plurality of center-filled gum pieces 12 . The gum pieces may be individually wrapped. While center-filled gum pieces are shown in the preferred embodiment, it is contemplated that the present invention may be employed with any product which is desired to be separated including any type of confectionery or pharmaceutical product.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the package assembly 10 including a package housing 14 which may be formed from a flat blank of paperboard or other suitable material and folded into the configuration shown in the figures. The package housing 14 includes a front wall 16 , a back wall 18 and an openable flap 20 which may be closed over the front wall 16 . Initially, the flap may be adhesively secured to the outer front surface of front wall 16 by a releasable adhesive. Thereafter, the flap 20 may be opened to access the gum pieces and reclosed by inserting the edge 22 a of flap 22 into a slit 16 a formed in the front wall 16 . While one particular configuration of flap 20 is shown, others are within the contemplation of the present invention.

The package housing 14 is wrapped or otherwise placed around a blister tray 24 more fully shown in FIGS. 3-7 . Blister tray 24 is similar to a conventionally formed blister tray having a bottom surface 24 a and an opposed open face 24 b . The blister tray 24 further includes a plurality of slotted compartments 26 each for supporting and separating an individual gum slab 25 .

As shown in the Figures, the gum slabs 25 are aligned on their side edges. However, the gum pieces could also be aligned along the faces thereof. The blister tray 24 is formed to accommodate the particular arrangement desired.

Each compartment 26 is separated by a formed rib 28 . The formed ribs 28 extend upwardly from the bottom surface 24 a of the tray to the open top face 24 b thereof.

In the preferred embodiment shown herein, the ribs 28 extend longitudinally across the tray partially along the length of the gums slabs. However, it is within the contemplation of the invention that ribs 28 may extend fully across the length of the gum slabs.

The blister tray includes an outer perimetrical planar rim 29 about open face 24 b which supports thereover a cover 30 . Cover 30 may be formed of foil or a paper/foil composite. The cover 30 is adhesively secured to the perimetrical rim 29 of the tray. The cover encloses the gum slabs within the blister tray and environmentally seals the gum slabs therein.

The cover 30 may include a transverse score line 32 thereacross. The score line forms two portions 30 a and 30 b or cover 30 . The score line 32 extends partially through the cover 30 so as not to violate the environmental integrity of the cover. As shown in FIG. 7 , the score line allows one portion of the cover to be removed from the other portion as will be described in further detail hereinbelow. The score line may be formed by laser scoring the cover. Other techniques such as perforating the cover may also be employed.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2 , it is contemplated that the inside surface of flap 22 may include adhesive thereon so as to adhere to portion 30 a of cover 30 . In this manner, when the openable flap 20 is opened it causes the cover 30 to tear along the score line 32 so that upper portion 30 a can be removed from the blister tray. Such opening allows access to the gum slabs which are supported in the blister tray. Once one or more of the gum slabs are removed, the cover 30 may be reclosed by inserting edge 22 a of flap 20 into the slit 16 a in front wall 16 . This recloses the blister tray and locks the cover in position.

The technique for removing a portion of the cover from the blister tray is substantially similar to that shown and described with respect to pending PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US05/23865, filed on Jul. 5, 2005, and entitled “RECLOSABLE CONSUMABLE PRODUCT PACKAGE ASSEMBLY”, which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

One feature of the present invention is that the ribs 28 extend upwardly from the bottom 24 a of the tray 24 to the open top face 24 b generally coplanar with the rim 29 . The ribs 28 thereby provide crush resistance to the package assembly 10 . This prevents the center-filled gum slabs from being crushed and thereby releasing the liquid center. Moreover, the ribs provide separation, preventing contact as between adjacent gum slabs.