US20020153276A1

US20020153276A1 - Child-proof package for tablets

Info

Publication number: US20020153276A1
Application number: US09/986,525
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Filion; Jean Prud'Homme
Original assignee: Alcan International Ltd Canada
Current assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Ltd
Priority date: 2001-04-18
Filing date: 2001-11-09
Publication date: 2002-10-24
Also published as: EP1462384A1

Abstract

A form of child-proof package for tablets and the like pharmaceutical products, features a blister pack with at least one blister which is closed off by a push-through type lid foil, the blister serving the purpose of accommodating the tablets. For the purpose of removing the tablets, the push-through type lid foil of the blister pack lies against a wall part and with respect to that can be displaced by sliding from a closed position to an open position so that, when in the open position, the blister with the tablets lie in line with openings in the wall part and the tablets can be pushed through the openings. The blister pack is arranged between a rear wall part and a front part, and the wall part with the openings lies between the rear wall part and the lid foil. The blisters can be displaced by sliding from the closed position to the open position into opening slits and the openings in the inner wall part are covered over by a tear-off strip which is arranged in the rear wall part and can be separated from it along a line of weakness forming a longitudinal slit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to child-proof packages for tablets and the like pharmaceutical products, featuring a blister pack with at least one blister which is closed off by a push-through type foil lid, the blister serving the purpose of accommodating the tablet(s). The packaging is such that, for the purpose of removing the tablets, the push-through type lid foil of the blister pack lies against a wall part with respect to which it can be displaced by sliding from a closed position to an open position so that, when in the open position, the blister with the tablets lie in line with openings in the wall part and the tablets can be pushed through the openings.

2. Background Art

The danger of uncontrolled consumption of medicaments is undisputed; in particular, small children are especially exposed to this potential danger in the form of medicaments that have been left lying around.

The most common form of packaging for tablets is that of blister packs. Widely known in particular is the so called push-through pack which is such that the tablet is pressed out of a cup in the base part of the pack (the so-called “blister”) and through a foil lid. Another known form of blister pack is such that a foil lid is removed by peeling. Other blister packs feature a notch as an aid to tearing.

The present day possibilities for increasing child safety in connection with blister packs mainly involve increasing the difficulty of opening by means of measures that require greater strength, e.g. thicker push-through films, greater force of adhesion of peeling films, or higher force of friction in the case of tearing notches.

Forms of packaging which can be opened only by applying greater force are indeed more child proof, but can present problems for senior citizens.

Known from WO-A-96/03329 is a child-proof form of packaging in which the lid film of the blister pack is covered by a rear wall part. Integrated into this rear wall part are tearing strips that can be removed along a line of weakness. In order to be able to push the tablet out of the blister through the lid film, the tearing strips have to be removed first.

A child-proof packaging of the kind mentioned at the start of this specification has been disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,793 which issued on Sep. 29, 1992 to PCI/Delvco Inc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a form of packaging of the kind mentioned at the start of this specification such that a combination capability is necessary to open it or a simultaneous or complex sequence of movements must be carried out.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a child-proof package for tablets and similar pharmaceutical products, comprising a blister pack with at least one blister which is closed off by a push-through type foil lid, the blister serving the purpose of accommodating the tablets, the packaging being such that, for the purpose of removing the tablets, the push-through type foil lid of the blister pack lies against a wall part with respect to which the blister pack can be displaced by sliding from a closed position to an open position so than, when in the open position, the blister with the tablets lies in line with openings in the wall part and the tablets can be pushed through the openings, wherein the blister pack is arranged between a rear wall part and a front part and the wall part with the openings is an inner wall part lying between the rear wall part and the lid foil, whereby the blisters can be displaced by sliding from be closed position to the open position into opening slits and the openings in the inner wall part are covered over by tear-off strip which is arranged in the rear wall part and can be separated from it along a line of weakness thus forming a longitudinal slit.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a child-proof package for tablets and similar pharmaceutical products, comprising a blister pack with at least one blister which is closed off by a push-through type foil lid, the blister serving the purpose of accommodating the tablets, the packaging being such that for the purpose of removing the tablets, the push-through type foil lid of the blister pack lies against a wall part with respect to which the blister pack can be displaced by sliding from a closed positions where the foil lid lies adjacent to a solid region of the wall part, to an open position in which the blister with the tablets lies in line with a tear-off strip in the wall part, such that when the tear-off strip is removed to create an opening in the wall part, the tablets can be pushed through the foil lid and the opening in the wall part.

Thus, the blister pack is preferably arranged between a rear wall part, and a front part, and the wall part with the openings is an inner wall part lying between the rear wall part and the lid foil, whereby the blisters can be displaced by sliding from the closed position to the open position into opening slits and the openings in the inner wall part are covered over by a tear-off strip which is arranged in the rear wall part and can be separated from it along a line of weakness thus forming a longitudinal slit.

The packaging according to the invention thus combines tear-off strips and a blister pack that can be displaced by sliding in the packaging as preferred elements that serve the purposes of child safety, and results in a packaging arrangement providing greater child safety than state-of-the-art packaging forms.

Opening the packaging according to the invention requires combination skill that recognizes that, in order to push the tablets out, the blister pack has to be moved to a particular position and also that it is necessary to remove a tear-off strip from the rear wall of the packaging.

In order to increase child safety further the resistance to sliding displacement of the blister can be increased in that the opening slits exhibit narrow regions between the closed position and the open position. The greater frictional resistance to the blister at the narrow regions in the opening slits has to be overcome by stronger pressure applied by the fingers.

The arrangement of the inner wall part offers the advantage that, after removing the tear-off strip the lid foil of the blister pack is still not visible. In order that the openings in the inner wall part are also not readily visible, these can be covered by an opening closure that can be pushed through. Further, it has also been found advantageous to cover the inner wall part with a protective layer of plastic material. As a result this removes the possibility of small children in particular exposing the prepared openings after removal of the tear-off strips and possibly other rear wall parts.

A further contribution to increasing child safety in the packaging according to the invention can be made by special shaping of the tear-off strip. This exhibits preferably a gripping flange that terminates in an edge part of the rear wall part, that is freed from it only after bending the edge part, and can then be gripped between two fingers.

A useful design of the packaging according to the invention comprises of a strip-shaped card which can be folded together, whereby in the folded state one end part is folded over a first folding axis onto a middle part and is covered by a lid part folded over a second folding axis. A blister pack is preferably provided in both the middle part and in the end part, whereby the blister pack in the middle contains a daily dose e.g. of a first kind of tablet intended to be taken in the morning and the blister pack in the end part contains the daily dose of a second kind of tablet to be taken in the evening.

In a first version of the packaging according to the invention the opening slits may be arranged perpendicular to the tear-off strips. In a second version, the opening slits are arranged parallel to and over the tear-off strips.

The line of weakness in the rear wall part to delimit the tear-off strip is preferably a line of perforations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are revealed in the following description of preferred exemplified embodiments and with the aid of the drawing, in which: [0022]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the rear side of a packaging for tablets, which has been folded open; [0023]
FIG. 2 plan view of the inner side of the folded open packaging shown in FIG. 1; [0024]
FIG. 3 section through the packaging shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 along line [0025] 1-1 in FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 perspective view of the packaging in FIG. 1 during the removal of the cover part; [0026]
FIG. 5 plan view of a part of the packaging in FIG. 4 after removal of the cover part; and [0027]
FIG. 6 plan view of a part of the packaging in FIG. 5 during the pulling off of a tear-open strip.[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A package [0029] 10 for tablets 12 or similar pharmaceutical products (e.g. liquid-filled or solids-filled capsules, etc.) is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The package 10 has the form of a flat elongated rectangular (strip-shaped) card with parts that can be folded together, whereby, in the folded state, one part C is folded along a first folding axis f onto a middle part B and is covered by a lid part A folded along a second folding axis c. The size of the package 10 folded together in this manner is about one third of the unfolded strip-shaped card.
Situated between the [0030] rear wall parts 14B and 14C of the middle part B or the end part C and the corresponding front parts 16B and 16C is, in each case, a blister pack 18B, 18C. The blister pack 18B, 18C comprises a blister film 20, made for example of PVC, in which blisters or cups 22 are provided, e.g. by thermoforming. The open side of the blister 22 is closed off by a foil lid 24 made, for example, of aluminum foil through which the contents can be pressed.
In the illustrated embodiment, the middle part B of the blister pack [0031] 18B has seven rows, each for three tablets running in a first horizontal direction x, and the blister pack 18C in end part C has seven rows each for two tablets running in a first horizontal direction x. The tablets in the middle part B are, for example, intended to be taken in the morning and those in the end part C to be taken in the evening. The seven rows of tablets correspond to the seven days in the week. The version of packaging 10 shown here corresponds therefore to a weekly pack for consumption of two or three tablets twice daily.
Integrated into each of the [0032] rear wall parts 14B, 14C of the middle part B and end part C are seven tear-off strips 26 running in the first, horizontal direction x. The front parts 16B, 16C of the middle part B and end part C exhibit—corresponding to the blister pack 18B, 18C—three or two opening slits 44 running in a second perpendicular direction y. The blisters 22 are introduced from the rear side of the front part 16B into these opening slits 44 in the longitudinal direction of the opening slits 44—the largest opening width b of which slits 44 corresponds basically to the diameter of an individual blister 22 in the blister pack 18B, 18C. The front parts 16B, 16C and the rear wall parts 14B, 14C are joined at their peripheries at least in part and such that the blister pack 18B, 18C lying in between and delimited by its periphery 19 is enclosed in the middle part B and end part C and can be displaced by sliding only in the longitudinal direction y of the opening slit 44. As a result of this limited ability of displacing the blister pack 18B, 18C each row of tablets has two extreme positions—namely, a closed position S and an open position O. The displacement t between both extreme positions of the blister pack 18B, 18C is a result of the limited possibility to displace the blister pack inside the middle part B and end part C or as a result of the corresponding selected length of opening slit 44. The opening slits 44 are selected such that there is preferably a narrowing 45 between the closed position S and the open position O. As a consequence of this narrowing 45, a frictional force of resistance has to be overcome on displacing the blister 22 from the closed position S to the open position O. This feature, i.e. the narrowing 45 of the opening slit 44, results in a significant increase in the child-proof property of the package 10. It is clear that after removing a dosage of tablets 12 the blister pack 18B, 18C must be pushed back into the closed position S to keep the packaging 10 child-proof.
In the example shown here, the pairs of [0033] blisters 22 in the end part C of the blister pack 18C are in each case displaced a horizontal distance from each other. In this case, of course, the opening slits in the front part 16C are corresponding in shape and feature regions 44 a, 44 b which are displaced with respect to each other.
In the open position O, the [0034] tablets 12 are situated in a row—as viewed in their projection onto the plane of the drawing—over the tear-off strip 26 or over a to longitudinal slit 27 in the roar wall parts 14B, 14C defined by it.
As shown in FIG. 3, an [0035] inner wall 36 is provided on the inner side of the rear wall part 14B, which is made e.g. of cardboard. This inner wall part 36, which is likewise made of cardboard, is preferably provided with a protective layer or film 42 e.g. of PVC (polyvinylchloride) on its side facing rear wall part 14B.
Provided in the [0036] inner wall part 36, by means of notches or partially stamping through the inner wall part 36, are openings 38 which in the unopened package are closed off e.g. by the stamped parts 40. The number and arrangement of the openings 38 corresponds to the number and arrangement of the individual blisters 22 in the blister pack 18B. As viewed in their vertical projection to the plane of the middle part B the openings 38 lie within the corresponding opening slits 44 in the front parts 16B, 16C. The diameter m of the openings 38 is chosen to correspond to the diameter of the tablets 12 in such a manner that the tablets can be pushed through the openings without any great effort.
The opening of the packaging [0037] 10 and the removal of the required daily dose of tablets 12 is described in the following with the aid of FIGS. 4 to 6.
In order to make the tear-off [0038] strips 26 in the middle part B accessible, first the cover part A has to be removed from the middle part B. Starting from the edge at the side of the middle part B are cuts 30 which run in the first horizontal direction x, parallel to the tear-off strips 26 and form between them edge parts 32 which extend up to a folding line p. Via a line of weakness or perforations 28 along the whole length up to the folding line p, the tear-off strips 26 are releasably attached to the rear wall part 14B. A part of the tear-off strip 26 extending into the edge part 32 is designed as a flange 31 for gripping the tear-off strip 26: whereby in order to form the edge region delimiting the gripping flange 34, the line of weakness 28 of the tear-off strip 26 is punched through in the edge part 32. As a result, on bending back the gripping flange 34 is freed from the edge part 32 i.e. the flange for gripping 34 remains and can be readily gripped between two fingers and the tear-off strip 26 removed from the rest of the back wall part 14B.
The procedure described for middle part B i.e. for removing a tear-[0039] off strip 26 also applies analogously to end part C, whereby in that case the cuts 30 and therefore the prepared edge parts 32 in rear wall part 14C are already lying free.
After the tear-[0040] off strip 26 has been removed from the appropriate rear wall part 14B, 14C for the desired time of day and desired day, the blisters 26 are pushed out of their closed position S by the displacement distance t into the open position O. This displacement takes place at the front side 16B, 16C in such a manner that two fingers engage the blisters lying farthest apart and the blister pack 18B, 18C is pushed parallel to the opening slits 44 by applying pressure simultaneously by both fingers.
If an attempt is made to effect the sliding displacement e.g. by pushing only one [0041] single blister 22, the blister pack 18B, 18C tilts in such a manner that the whole row of tablets does not move into line with the tear-off strip 26. As a result, at most only one tablet can be pressed out of the pack, thus providing increased child safety as small children are hardly able to achieve the required parallel displacement of the blister pack 18B, 18C. In addition to the required parallel displacement of the blister pack 18B, 18C there is the further hindrance in that the narrowing of the opening slits 44 creates resistance to displacement so that the displacement movement which is absolutely necessary to be able to remove the tablets 12 can not be achieved by a small child.
After the desired tear-[0042] off strip 26 has been removed and the blister has been brought into the open position O, the tablets can be pressed out of the selected row of individual blisters 22, through the prepared openings 38 and out of the package 10. In the example shown in FIG. 3 the inner wall part 36 is of cardboard optionally laminated with a PVC film acting as a protective layer 42. This results in increased child safety in that after removing one or more tear-off strips 26 or the whole rear wall part 14B, 14C, the pre-stamped or notched openings 38 in the inner wall part 36 are not readily accessible for a small child. The PVC layer prevents small children from being able to free or scratch out the prepared openings 38. Furthermore. the PVC coating makes it necessary to apply additional force to press out the tablets. Of course, other shapes of prepared openings 38 are possible. It is possible for example to prepare the opening by means of a star-shaped cut forming essentially triangular segments, whereby on pressing out the tablet, the individual segments open in the shape of a spiky crown. Likewise, the PVC film which is used as a protective layer 42, may exhibit a line of weakness that corresponds to the opening formed later.
The [0043] rear wall part 14B, 14C may be joined to the underlying inner wall 36 or the protective layer 42 on it, in such a manner that the tear-off strip 26 separates from the underlying wall part 36 or protective layer 42 by peeling.
In the example shown the [0044] front parts 16B, 16C are of cardboard as are the rear wall parts 14B, 14C. In order to increase the resistance of the rear wall parts 14A, 14B, 14C and front parts 16B, 16C to tearing, a laminate containing plastic e.g. a cardboard/PVC laminate may be employed.
In the example shown., the opening slits [0045] 44 are arranged perpendicular to the tear-off strips 26. It is self-evident that the opening slits 44 may also run parallel to the tear-off slits 26. In this case the displacement of the blister pack 18B, 18C is in the longitudinal direction of the tear-off strips 26. This does not, however, change anything with respect to the basic principle of the orientation of the individual blisters 22 or tablets 12 with corresponding openings 38.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. A child-proof package for tablets and similar pharmaceutical products, comprising a blister pack with at least one blister which is closed off by a push-through type foil lid, said blister serving the purpose of accommodating the tablets, the packaging being such that, for the purpose of removing the tablets, the push-through type foil lid of the blister pack lies against a wall part with respect to which the blister pack can be displaced by sliding from a closed position to an open position so that, when in the open position, the blister with the tablets lies in line with openings in the wall part and the tablets can be pushed through the openings, wherein the blister pack is arranged between a rear wall part and a front part and the wall part with the openings is an inner wall part lying between the rear wall part and the foil lid, whereby said at least one blister can be displaced by sliding from the closed position to the open position into opening slits and the openings in the inner wall part are covered over by a tear-off strip which is arranged in the rear wall part and can be separated from it along a line of weakness thereby forming a longitudinal slit.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the opening slits exhibit narrow regions between the closed position and the open position in order to increase the resistance to displacing the blister by a sliding action.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein the openings in the inner wall part are covered over by a closure means that can be pushed through.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the inner wall part is covered over by a protective layer made of a plastic material.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the tear-off strip exhibits a gripping flange that terminates in an edge part of the rear wall part and on bending the edge part is freed from it, and can be gripped by two lingers.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the package comprises a strip-shaped card that can be folded together, whereby in the folded state one end part is folded along a first folding axis onto a middle part and is covered by a lid part folded along a second folding axis.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein a blister pack is arranged in the middle part and a blister pack is arranged in the end part.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein the opening slits are arranged perpendicular to the tear-off strips.

9. The package of claim 1, wherein the opening slits are arranged parallel to and over the tear-off strips.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein the line of weakness provided in the rear wall part to delimit the tear-off strip is a line of perforations.

11. A child-proof package for tablets and similar pharmaceutical products, comprising a blister pack with at least one blister which is closed off by a push-through type foil lid, the blister serving the purpose of accommodating the tablets, the packaging being such that, for the purpose of removing the tablets, the push-through type foil lid of the blister pack ties against a wall part with respect to which the blister pack can be displaced by sliding from a closed position, where the foil lid lies adjacent to a solid region of the wall part, to an open position in which the blister with the tablets lies in line with a tear-off strip in the wall part; such that when the tear-off strip is removed to create an opening in the wall part, the tablets can be pushed through the foil lid and the opening in the wall part.