CA2684816A1

CA2684816A1 - Economic package

Info

Publication number: CA2684816A1
Application number: CA 2684816
Authority: CA
Inventors: Thomas D. Intini; Derek Intini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-06
Filing date: 2009-11-06
Publication date: 2011-05-06

Description

ECONOMY PACKAGE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a child resistant and senior friendly package for medication such as capsules, tablets or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known in the art, it is desirable to provide packaging for medicaments which are child resistant to prevent the young child from gaining access thereto.
While there are any number of child resistant packages on the market, a problem which occurs is the degree to which the packages are senior friendly. In other words, complicated mechanisms to prevent access to the medicine can present problems for seniors who are the most frequent users of the medicaments.

A blister type package is well known in the art and comprises a blister layer having capsule receiving pockets and a foil layer over the back of the blister pack.
The foil material is a push through material so when the blister bubble forming the pocket is pushed, the capsule or other item in the blister pocket will break through the foil and be exposed for use.
This is one of the most widely accepted forms of packaging for capsules.

As used herein, the term capsule refers to any individual medicament such as tablets, pills, etc.

The package taught herein is advantageous in that it is relatively simple and inexpensive while also being child resistant and senior friendly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a package according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment using a double top panel;
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the package of Figure 4 with the double panels being in a non secured position;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a modified embodiment of the package Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a package generally designated by reference numeral 10 and which package 10 includes an insert 12 and a sleeve 14.

Insert 12, in the illustrated embodiment, is a blister pack 18 having a plurality of blister pockets 20 formed therein. A foil (not shown) seals the other side of blister pockets 20 as is well known in the art.

Blister 18 is formed to have side walls 22, 24 and end walls 26, 28. As will be seen in the drawings, an opening 30 is formed in end wall 28.

Side walls 22, 24 have inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. Outwardly facing surface 32 of side wall 24 is tapered slightly inwardly from its bottom to its top. A similar arrangement is provided with respect to side wall 22.

-2-Mounted on side walls 22, 24 are respective projections 34, 36. As projections 34, 36 are substantially identical, only one will be described herein. As may be seen in the drawings, projection 36 includes a sloping wall 38 and an abutting wall 40 for reasons which will be described hereinbelow. Located on the top surface of blister layer 19 are a pair of locking elements 42, 44 which are substantially identical. As may be seen, locking element 44 has a sloped wall 46 for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow. A similar arrangement is provided for locking element 42.

Sleeve 14 has an end wall 50 and a pair of side walls 52, 54. Sleeve 14 also includes a top wall 56 and a bottom wall 58. In the top wall 56, there are provided a pair of top wall apertures 60, 62 while side wall 54 includes a side wall aperture 64. A
similar aperture (not shown) is provided in side wall 52.

It will also be noted that in bottom wall 58, there is provided a recess 66.

In use, sleeve 14 is assembled with end wall 50 being secured in any known manner such that access may not be gained to the interior of the sleeve from this end. After being assembled, insert 12 is pushed into the open end of sleeve 14. This continues until locking elements 42, 44 engage top wall apertures 60, 62 to lock insert 12 in a fixed position with respect to sleeve 14.

In order to gain access to insert 12, locking elements 42, 44 must be released from engagement within top wall apertures 60, 62. To do so, the side walls 52, 54 are flexed inwardly adjacent top wall aperture 60, 62 to permit a slight bowing of top wall 56. This bowing is aided by the inward tapering of side walls 22, 24 and is sufficient to permit the disengagement of locking elements 42, 44 and allow the user to grasp the end of insert 12 due to the provision of recess 66.

-3-Insert 12 may then be pulled outwardly to gain access to the blister pockets 20 and the medicaments therein. Complete removal of the insert is prevented by engagement of projections 34, 36 with a respective side wall aperture 64 as shown in Figure 1.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, similar reference numerals are used for like components. In this embodiment, there is provided an additional cover panel 70 which makes the package somewhat more child resistant as the child cannot see the lock mechanism. It also provides an extra panel for prescription information and the like.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5, a first panel 74 and a second panel 76 are provided for overlying top wall 56. First panel 74 and second panel 76 may be secured together by adhesive or the like. Second panel 76 may also have a die cut 78 to permit the insertion of information therein.

In the embodiment of Figure 6, there is provided an extra blister layer 82 also having pockets 84 formed therein. As will be noted, blister layer 82 is shorter in length to permit full access thereto.

In the embodiment of Figure 7, there is shown a tuck end style sleeve. This can be made as a seal end style as is known in the art.

Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment wherein locking projections 34, 36 are not utilized. Rather, there is provided a bendable flap 92 on blister layer 18.
Sleeve 14 is provided with a foldable end wall 94 which is foldable inwardly and will engage flap 92 to prevent insert 12 from being pulled out of sleeve 14.

The package described above can be produced on standard form-fill-seal machinery.
Ideally, it will be formed on a two-piece mold that can be adapted to suit many different

-4-product sizes. Thus, one would have a first mold for the outer wall portion of the blister and a second mold for the blister pocket area. Thus, one could size the blister pockets to be of different sizes and different quantities as desired.

It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

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