GB2218072A - Bilster packages - Google Patents

Abstract

A blister pack of the type in which the blister 1 is retained by trapping it between the layers 2 of a laminated backing card has a layer of tear resistant plastic film 3 underlying the blister 1 whereby removal of the goods from the blister by tearing the card or by pushing them through the back of the card is prevented. The tear resistant layer may form a surface layer of the backing card but is preferably laminated between two or more layers of a paper board card. The tear resistant layer may be, for example, polyester or polyamide film. <IMAGE>

Description

BLISTFR PACKAGING This invention relates to blister packaging and more especially to tamper and pilfer resistant packaging.

In store pilferage of goods from their packages has become extremely prevalent. Blister packs are one prime target for shoplifters.

In those packs where the blister is trapped between the layers of a laminated backing card the product can be fairly easily removed by pushing the product through the back of the card which is normally perforated to ease authorised removal.

Most attempts to improve the pilfer resistance of blister packs have revolved around a complete encasement of the product and backing card in a casing of plastics material, the so called "clam shell" pack. Such packs use a very large amount of plastics material, conventionally styrenes, cellulosics, and vinyls. Apart from cost consideration this results in an environmental problem in the disposal of the pack.

One of the main pre-requisites of a pilfer resistant package is the length of time that it takes to open the pack and remove the goods.

If a pack is difficult to open quickly the would be pilferer is deterred because of the higher risk of detection. Furthermore, if pack integrity is maintained this enables the inclusion of detection devices within it.

This invention provides a blister pack of the type in which the blister is retained by trapping it between the layers of a laminated backing card, wherein a layer of the laminate lying beneath the blister is formed of a tear resistant plastic film such as to prevent removal of the goods from the blister by tearing the card or by pushing them through the back of the card.

The tear resistant layer may be incorporated in the backing card in any desired fashion. It may, for example, form a rear surface layer of the card but preferably is laminated between two or more layers of a paper board card. The tear resistant layer may be for example of smaller dimension than the backing card and laid as a loose insert with two layers of board adhered together around its edges.

Preferably however the tear resistant material is adhered to the board, for example with a self adhesive material. If the tear resistant material has heen coated with, for example a heat seal lacquer, the sandwich of board, blister and tear resistant material can be sealed together, trapping the edges of the blister so the blister is sandwiched between two layers of board and backed with tear resistant material. Alternatively the edges of the blister may be sandwiched between two layers of tear resistant material sealed together with for example a heat seal lacquer.

The tear resistant material may be adhered as discrete pieces or as a continuous length to a continuous length of board.

The adhesives that will be used in the assembly of such a pack will, of course, depend on the materials of the various component layers and of the blister. Adhesives that can be used for adhering plastics material to the same or a different plastics material or to paper board are well known in the art.

The tear resistant layer may be of any material with a high biaxial tear resistance, for example polyester or polyamide film.

The blister will normally be made out of conventional material such as cellulosics, styrenes and vinyls.

The pack may be assembled by any of the conventional ways, for example packaging and lamination may be carried out before cutting of the individual packs of the backing card may be a pre-cut "fold over" card.

The embodiments of the invention are shown hy way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings 1 represents the blister, 2 represents paper board card, 3 represents the tear resistant layer, 4 represents a pressure sensitive adhesive and 5 represents a heat seal lacquer.

Fig. 1 shows a form of pack that can be obtained by forming the laminate before cutting into individual packs. The tear resistant layer 3 is adhered to the rear layer of paper board card 2 by a pressure sensitive adhesive 4. The tear resistant layer 3 has a coating of heat seal lacquer 5 which is bonded to the edges of the blister 1 and to a second sheet of paper board card 2. The second sheet of paper board card 2 may carry a self adhesive coating 4 or it may be bonded to the tear resistant layer 3 by means of the heat seal lacquer.

The arrangement shown in Fig.2 is basically the same as that of Fig.l except that there is a second tear resistant layer 3 positioned above the edges of the blister 1 so that the blister 1 is sandwiched between two tear resistant layers 3.

Fig.3 shows a pre-cut fold-over card. The arrangement of the various layers is the same as shown in Fig.l but the tear resistant layer has dimensions smaller than the back face of the card 2 so that the two card layers 2 are adhered together via the pressure sensitive adhesive layers 4.

Claims (8)

1. A blister pack of the type in which th e blister is retained by trapping it between two layers of a laminated backing card, wherein a layer of the laminate lying beneath the blister is formed of a tear resistant plastics film such as to prevent removal of the goods from the blister by tearing the card or by pushing them through the back of the card.

2. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the tear resistant layer forms a rear surface layer of the card.

3. A pack according to claim 1, wherein the tear resistant layer is laminated between two or more layers of a paper board card.

4. A pack according to claim 3, wherein the tear resistant layer is of smaller dimension than the backing card and is laid as a loose insert with two layers of board adhered together around its edges.

5. A pack according to claim 3 comprising a first card layer with the tear resistant material adhered thereto, an adhesive layer on the tear resistant material to which the edges of the blister are adhered and a further layer of card overlying the edges of the blister so that the blister is sandwiched between two layers of board and backed by the tear resistant material.

6. A pack according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tear resistant layer is a material with a high biaxial tear resistance.

7. A pack according to claim 6, wherein the tear resistant layer is a layer of polyester of polyamide film.

8. A pack according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.