E. – You know blister packs, that hard plastic packaging that looks like it was shrink-wrapped over its contents?
E. - You mean the stuff that’s so hard to open to get to the toy or tool?
E. - Yeah, exactly. Usually there’s a cardboard backing that can be cut or ripped off, but then you can ruin the instructions or damage the product.
E. - Or worse when it’s sealed with a tough plastic. Yesterday I bought a package of marbles for Rick. Each color was in a separate section. It took me 15 sweaty minutes to get them all out.
E. - Right, so thinking outside the blister pack I came up with a solution and even made a prototype, and here it is!
E. - Neat! So how does it work?
E. - You see this thin line down the middle of the blister that goes to that ring? That’s a piano wire embedded in the plastic.
E. - Oh, that’s why I thought I was losing my hearing at the piano.
E. - Anyhoo, you just insert the index finger in the ring and pull the rip chord, I mean rip cord like this…r-i-i-i-i-i-p…and the pack is open.
E. - Wow! Sort of like opening the cellophane on a pack of cigarettes. Do they still come in cellophane?
E. - Dunno.
E. - Have you applied for a patent, yet?
E. - Nah, this is such a good idea, I’ll post it on halfbakery.
-- FarmerJohn, Dec 18 2003

So which of them thought of the idea?? Not a bad one at that.
-- v0rtexx, Dec 18 2003


Afterwards you can use the piano wire to garotte any passing Iraqi dictators. Um, more practically, packaging is very cost sensitive, and this idea of embedding wire in a packet seems comparatively complex to make. What's wrong with putting things in cardboard boxes, which can actually be reused once they're open?
-- kropotkin, Dec 18 2003


[v0rtexx] The one with blond hair.

[kropotkin] //cardboard boxes, which can actually be reused // I'm all for it, but that's another issue.
-- FarmerJohn, Dec 18 2003


Makes perfect sense. +
-- thumbwax, Dec 18 2003


(Eric and Erica have a staring contest)
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Oh, plus by the way.+
-- k_sra, Dec 18 2003


sp:garrotte. :) are we related in any way, krop?
-- po, Dec 18 2003


I've always hated the name "blister pack" as it makes me picture a product wrapped in a scabby blister. Yuk. Adding the words "rip" and "ring" don't help me. Good idea though.
-- dobtabulous, Dec 18 2003


I always thought blister packs were intentionally hard-to-open, to prevent people from discreetly opening the package in the store and slipping the contents into their pocket, leaving the alarm-setting-off thingy behind.
-- AO, Dec 18 2003


[AO] - you, my friend are a criminal GENIUS!
-- Letsbuildafort, Dec 18 2003


What makes me crazy are the packs that have studs so they can be opened and closed, only they have been stapled shut some time during the manfucturing process. Probably by Erica.
-- DrCurry, Dec 18 2003


I just tried opening a 12-pack of batteries yesterday. I used a long knife and almost took my finger off. [+] from me!
-- Klaatu, Mar 16 2004



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