Common blister battery package and display

• US 5,311,989 A
• Filed: 06/25/1993
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ward, Thomas F., Studee, Stephen B., Kuehn, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US08/082,745
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 206/328, 206/332, 206/333, 206/461-471
• US Class Current: 206/705
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/88 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/328 the compartments being interconnected, e.g. by small channels
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/368 the compartments being interconnected, e.g. by small channels

Abstract

The plastic blister of the package has a lip which is bonded to a stiff backing card to define a space for retaining one or more batteries. Portions of the blister overlie the positive and negative terminals of the batteries to prevent the rotation of the battery within the package. The portions overlying the negative terminal have protrusions which extend inward toward the negative terminal battery. The protrusions are formed so as to engage more tightly battery features of larger size, or to come into greater contact with certain batteries. These "progressive retention" features ensure rotation-preventive engagement with the positive contact nubbins. Thus, batteries of slightly differing size or end configuration will be retained by one or more retention features, as the size and configuration of the battery packaged within the blister is varied. Similarly, the portions of the blister engaging the positive end resiliently engage the negative terminal of the battery. Additionally, one other retention feature is formed as a portion of the blister which protrudes inwardly to grip a feature of the positive terminal. A common blister may thus be employed with batteries of the same standard output yet with dimensions which vary within the allowable standard.

Claims

1. A package for batteries comprising:

(a) a backing member;

(b) a plastic blister having a peripheral lip attached to the backing member, the blister and the backing member defining a space for retaining at least one battery therein, wherein the blister has a bottom which underlies a battery negative terminal, the bottom having portions for resiliently engaging the negative terminal, and wherein the blister has a top which overlies a battery positive terminal; and

(c) portions of the blister top which define a generally circular outwardly protruding cap which engages a protruding nubbin of a battery and an outwardly protruding stiffening arm extends between the cap and the blister peripheral lip to bias the cap against a battery nubbin, wherein the engaged battery is held by the package to resist rotation of batteries of varying dimensions within a standard size.

2. The battery package of claim 1 further comprising portions of the blister top which define an inwardly extending wedge located frontwardly of the nubbin cap, the wedge having surfaces which engage with protruding structure of a battery positive contact end.

3. The battery package of claim 1 further comprising reinforcing structure formed in the blister top comprising at least two outwardly protruding legs which extend from the peripheral lip to a position frontward of the nubbin cap.

4. The battery package of claim 1 wherein the portions of the blister bottom which engage the negative terminal comprise an inwardly protruding depression having a first inwardly extending dimple which is located proximate a blister front, and a second inwardly extending dimple located rearwardly of the first dimple.

5. A package for batteries comprising:

(a) a backing member;

(b) a plastic blister having a peripheral lip attached to the backing member, the blister and the backing member defining a space for retaining at least one battery therein, wherein the blister has a bottom which underlies a battery negative terminal, and wherein the blister has a top which overlies a battery positive terminal;

(c) means for resiliently engaging the negative terminal end of a battery formed on the blister bottom;

(d) means for resiliently engaging the nubbin of a battery positive terminal end formed on the blister top; and

(e) means for resiliently engaging an annular depression in a battery positive terminal end formed on the blister top, wherein the engaged battery is held by the package to resist rotation of batteries of varying dimensions within a standard size.

6. The battery package of claim 5 further comprising reinforcing structure formed in the blister top comprising at least two outwardly protruding legs which extend from the peripheral lip to a position frontward of the nubbin cap.

7. A thermoformed plastic blister adapted for packaging at least one battery, the blister comprising:

(a) a peripheral flange which is adapted for mounting to a backing card;

(b) a pocket extending frontwardly from the flange, the pocket being defined by a blister top, a blister bottom, and two blister sides which extend frontwardly from the flange and which are all joined by a blister front;

(c) portions of the blister top which are adapted to engage a protruding battery positive terminal nubbin;

(d) at least two inwardly extending depressions located on the blister bottom adapted to be adjacent to each packaged battery;

(e) a first dimple extending inward from each bottom depression and located adjacent the blister front; and

(f) a second inwardly extending dimple located rearwardly of the first dimple within each bottom depression, wherein the first or the second or both dimples may engage with features of the negative contact end of a packaged battery, depending on the geometry of a particular battery, wherein the dimples restrict front-to-back displacement of a packaged battery.

8. The battery package blister of claim 7 further comprising portions of the blister top which define an inwardly extending wedge having surfaces which engage with protruding structure of a battery positive contact end.

9. The battery package of claim 7 further comprising reinforcing structure formed in the blister top comprising at least two outwardly protruding legs which extend from the peripheral lip to the blister front.

10. The blister of claim 7 wherein the positive terminal nubbin engaging portions of the blister top comprise a generally circular cap which is positioned to overlie a nubbin, the cap having a generally frustoconical sidewall to engage against nubbins over a range of diameters.