Blister packaging container and method

Abstract

A container comprises a plastic blister with a first planar peripheral edge and a formed, first open-sided volume extending from the plane of the peripheral edge joined with a paperboard tray with a second planar peripheral edge, the paperboard tray having a plurality of panels connected at fold lines and forming a second open-sided volume. The container has means for joining the first planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the second planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray so that the first and second volumes form a combined container volume. The paperboard tray may be a wedge-shaped tray, with greater depth at one end than at the other end. The container may be filled and sealed on conventional equipment used for blister packages with minor changes in tooling

1 . A container comprising:
 a plastic blister with a first planar peripheral edge and a formed, first open-sided volume extending from the plane of the peripheral edge;   a paperboard tray with a second planar peripheral edge, the paperboard tray having a plurality of panels connected at fold lines and forming a second open-sided volume; and   means for joining the first planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the second planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray so that the first and second volumes form a combined container volume, said means being placed between mating planar portions of the first and second planar peripheral edges to be joined.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the paperboard tray is a wedge-shaped tray, with greater depth at one end than at the other end. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the means for joining the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray comprises a heat seal coating on the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a first support comprising a portion of the planar peripheral edges and a second support comprising a portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray spaced from the first support form a standup base for the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the first support comprises a linear portion of the planar peripheral edges. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the second support comprises a linear portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the first support comprises a linear portion of the planar peripheral edges and the second support comprises a linear portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray, said linear portions lying in the same plane. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising perforations in a surface of the paperboard tray forming a tear opening of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the means for joining the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the planar peripheral edge of the tray comprise a seal that extends between the joined peripheral edges and substantially encircles the combined volume. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume is a concave volume, the second volume is a concave volume and the first and second volumes join to make a combined volume larger than either the first or second concave volume. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first volume is a convex volume, the second volume is a concave volume and the first and second volumes join to make a combined volume smaller than the second concave volume. 
     
     
         12 . A method of making a container comprising:
 providing a plastic blister with a first planar peripheral edge and a formed, first, open-sided volume extending from the plane of the peripheral edge;   forming a paperboard tray with a planar peripheral edge, the paperboard tray having a plurality of panels connected at fold lines and forming a second, open-sided volume; and   joining the first planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister directly to the second planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray with a bond placed between respective mating planar peripheral edge surfaces so that the first and second volumes form a combined container volume.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising coating the paperboard tray with a heat seal coating to form the bond for sealingly joining the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of joining the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray comprises heating the heat seal coating. 
     
     
         15 . A container comprising:
 a cover with a first planar peripheral edge;   a paperboard tray with a second planar peripheral edge, the paperboard tray having a plurality of panels connected at fold lines to form a wedge-shaped paperboard tray with a volume of greater depth at one end than at the other end; and   means for joining the first planar peripheral edge of the cover and the second planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray form a contained volume, said means being placed between mating portions of the first and second planar peripheral edges to be joined; and   a first support comprising a portion of the joined planar peripheral edges and a second support comprising a portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray spaced from the first support forming a standup base for the container.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the first support comprises a linear portion of the planar peripheral edges. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the second support comprises a linear portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the first support comprises a linear a portion of the planar peripheral edges and the second support comprises a linear portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray, said linear portions lying in the same plane. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the cover defines a first concave volume, the paperboard tray defines a second concave volume and the first and second volumes join to make a combined volume larger than either the first or second concave volume. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the cover is either planar or defines a first concave volume, the paperboard tray defines a second concave volume and the cover and second volumes join to make a combined volume essentially equal to or smaller than the second concave volume. 
     
     
         21 . A tool set for use in forming a container comprising:
 a plastic blister with a first peripheral edge and a formed, first open-sided volume extending from the peripheral edge; and   a paperboard tray with a second peripheral edge bearing heat seal material, the paperboard tray having a plurality of panels connected at fold lines to form a wedge-shaped tray with a second open-sided volume with greater depth at one end than at the other end;   said tool set comprising:   a nest for receiving one of said plastic blister and paperboard tray and holding it while product is loaded and the other of said plastic blister and paperboard tray is placed to form a combined volume;   guides attached to the nest for supporting and holding in overlapping alignment the respective peripheral edges of said plastic blister and paperboard tray, the overlapping peripheral edges being oriented generally parallel to an axis defining the depth of the respective volumes in the plastic blister and paperboard tray; and   a heating tool for application to at least a portion of the overlapping peripheral edges of said plastic blister and paperboard tray to activate the heat seal material.   
     
     
         22 . The tool set of  claim 21  wherein the plastic blister is supported in a nest with its first open-sided volume open upward and the paperboard tray is placed with its second, open-sided volume open downward and the heating tool approaches the overlapping peripheral edges of said plastic blister and paperboard tray from the outside of the container. 
     
     
         23 . The tool set of  claim 22 , wherein the plastic blister has a sealing trough around its periphery and the guides comprise supports placed in the sealing trough in a position opposing the heating tool in its approach to the overlapping peripheral edges. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the mating portions of the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray are generally perpendicular in orientation to an axis defining the depth of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the means for joining the mating portions is inboard from an outermost edge of the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the mating portions of the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister and the planar peripheral edge of the paperboard tray are generally parallel in orientation to an axis defining the depth of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein a first support comprising a portion of the planar peripheral edges and a second support comprising a portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray spaced from the first support form a standup base for the container. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the first support comprises a linear portion of the planar peripheral edges. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the second support comprises a linear portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 27 , wherein the first support comprises a linear portion of the planar peripheral edges and the second support comprises a linear portion of a fold line of the paperboard tray, said linear portions being generally parallel. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein the mating portions of the planar peripheral edge of the plastic blister are the outer wall of a peripheral sealing trough channel of the plastic blister. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic blister has a plurality of deformable latches as part of its peripheral edge for holding the plastic blister onto the peripheral edge of the paperboard tray. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic blister has a dispenser panel joined to the remainder of the plastic blister at a hinge and the sealing of the plastic blister to the paperboard tray is selective to allow the dispenser panel to be separated from the paperboard tray for dispensing items contained in the container. 
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein the plastic blister dispenser panel is sealed to a tab formed in the paperboard tray that a user may break free of the paperboard tray to release the dispenser panel for movement at its hinge.