Packaging

Abstract

Packaging includes a blister pack ( 14 ) containing a plurality of items and a sleeve ( 12 ) formed from a blank of foldable material encircling the blister pack. The sleeve has a flap ( 48 ) folded inwardly about a fold line ( 50 ) so as to contact the blister pack, biasing it towards an opposing portion of the sleeve. The flap ( 48 ) applies a pressure to the blister pack ( 14 ) to help in preventing the pack from slipping out of the sleeve unintentionally but does not limit movement of the pack relative to sleeve or prevent the pack from being removed from the sleeve. The flap ( 48 ) may be formed by folding a portion of the sleeve inwardly creating a widow ( 54 ) in the sleeve through which the contents of the blister pack can be viewed.

1 . Packaging including a blister pack containing a plurality of items and a sleeve member formed from a blank of foldable material encircling the blister pack, characterised in that the sleeve member comprises a flap folded inwardly about a fold line so as to contact the blister pack, biasing it towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member. 
   
   
       2 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the flap is configured to contact the pack in a way which does not hinder sliding movement of the pack into and out of the pack. 
   
   
       3 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the sleeve encircles the blister pack on four sides only. 
   
   
       4 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the packaging is configured so that one or more items contained in the blister pack can be viewed through an aperture in the sleeve created by folding the flap inwardly. 
   
   
       5 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the sleeve member has opposing first and second main panels and opposing first and second side panels and the flap is formed, at least partly, in one of the main panels. 
   
   
       6 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the flap is formed wholly within one of the main panels. 
   
   
       7 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the fold line lies at a position between the outer ends of the main panel in which the flap is at least partly formed. 
   
   
       8 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the flap is folded through more than 90 degrees from the plane of the main panel. 
   
   
       9 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the flap comprises a portion of the main panel which is folded inwardly about the fold line to leave an aperture in the main panel through which one or more items in the blister pack can be viewed. 
   
   
       10 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the blister pack comprises a base member having a plurality of pockets, each pocket containing an individual item. 
   
   
       11 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the flap contacts an upper surface of at least one of the pockets to bias the pack towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member, the arrangement being such that, in use as the pack is moved relative to the sleeve, the flap rides over the upper surfaces of the pockets enabling complete removal of the pack from the sleeve. 
   
   
       12 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 10 , in which the base member is transparent or translucent. 
   
   
       13 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the items are confectionery items such as gum pellets. 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method of packaging a plurality of items, the method comprising:
 packaging a plurality of items in a blister pack;   forming a sleeve member from a blank of foldable material;   creating a flap in the blank;   folding the flap about a fold line so that in the completed sleeve member it projects inwardly into the interior of the sleeve member;   inserting the blister pack into the sleeve member so that the flap contacts the blister pack biasing it towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member.   
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the flap is pre-cut in the blank. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the step of folding the flap is carried out before the blank is formed into the sleeve member. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the flap is positioned such that when the blister pack is inserted, at least one item in the blister pack can be viewed through an aperture in the sleeve member created by folding the flap inwardly. 
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the blank comprises in sequence: a first side panel, a first main panel, a second side panel, a second main panel and a fixation tab separated by substantially parallel fold lines, the step of forming the sleeve member comprising folding the blank about the fold lines to form a sleeve member having a hollow interior and attaching the fixation tab to an inner surface of the first side panel. 
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , in which the flap is formed, at least partly, in one of the main panels of the sleeve member. 
   
   
       21 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the flap is formed wholly within one of the main panels. 
   
   
       22 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the fold line lies at a position between the outer ends of the main panel in which the flap is at least partly formed. 
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the step of folding the flap comprises folding the flap through more than 90 degrees from the plane of the main panel. 
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 20 , in which the flap comprises a portion of the main panel which is folded inwardly about the fold line to create an aperture in the main panel through which at least one of the items in the blister pack can be viewed. 
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the blister pack comprises a base member having a plurality of pockets, each containing an individual item. 
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , in which the flap is arranged to contact an upper surface of at least one of the pockets to bias the pack towards an opposing portion of the sleeve member, the arrangement being such that, in use as the pack is moved relative to the sleeve, the flap rides over the upper surfaces of the pockets enabling complete removal of the pack from the sleeve. 
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , in which the base member is transparent or translucent. 
   
   
       28 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , in which the items are confectionery items such as gum pellets. 
   
   
       29 .- 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the blank is formed from paperboard or cardboard. 
   
   
       32 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 31 , in which the blank comprises in sequence: a first side panel, a first main panel, a second side panel, a second main panel and a fixation tab separated by substantially parallel fold lines. 
   
   
       33 . (canceled)