EP0028995B1 - Package for pharmaceutical ampoules or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for pharmaceutical ampules is formed from a cardboard blank and including hollow lateral supports of rectangular cross section. Such cross section provides a series of parallel openings into which the ends of the ampules are placed. Each support includes a plurality of articulated flaps adapted to be folded against the ends of each support for reinforcing the rectangular cross section.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging for pharmaceutical ampoules and similar packaging, such as bottle ampoules and vials, belonging to the kind of those formed from a cardboard blank and comprising hollow lateral supports of rectangular section, provided series of openings into which the ends of the bulbs or the like are introduced, and connected by a flat bottom.

The packaging for traditional ampoules consists of boxes with a bottom, side walls and a hinged cover, in which are placed superimposed easels, formed by two longitudinal supports connected by a rectangular bottom. These easels can also be placed inside a case, which opens at one of its ends thanks to an articulated closing tab. The supports of traditional easels have a triangular section, but there are also known easels whose lateral supports are of rectangular section.

• - tout d'abord, la structure même de ces emballages, rappelée ci-dessus (boîte + chevalets, ou étui + chevalets), exige une surface de carton importante,
• - en outre, le manque de rigidité de ces emballages rend nécessaire l'emploi de carton relativement épais, pour obtenir malgré tout une certaine résistance mécanique.

In general, the packaging for current bulbs requires, for their manufacture, a large quantity of cardboard, for two reasons:

• - first of all, the very structure of these packages, recalled above (box + easels, or case + easels), requires a large area of cardboard,
• - In addition, the lack of rigidity of these packages makes it necessary to use relatively thick cardboard, to still obtain a certain mechanical strength.

It is understood that this leads to a high cost of packaging, and to insufficient protection of the bulbs contained in these packaging, which makes it necessary to use very resistant boxes for the grouped shipment of packaging, hence an additional cause of increased costs.

With regard to the mechanical strength of packaging for ampoules, it is advisable to obtain, as far as possible, resistance to crushing and impact, whatever the direction of the pressure forces and various stresses to which may be subjected. packaging. In the case of conventional boxes with bottom, side walls and hinged lid, the packaging offers an average resistance to the forces exerted on the bottom or the lid, and a very low resistance, even zero, to the forces exerted on the side walls. In the case of cases, the resistance to the forces applied to the ends is medium, while the resistance to the forces applied to the different longitudinal faces is very low, or even zero. These drawbacks result both from the general structure of the package, and from the fact that the easels arranged inside have practically no inherent resistance.

Various attempts have already been made to improve the resistance of packaging for ampoules, but they have not been very successful. The problem has been partially considered, for example by trying to reinforce only the easels and by not modifying the general structure of the packaging, and the solutions proposed have often led to a significant increase in the quantity of cardboard required, and even to an increase in the number of pieces needed to make a package.

• - chacun des supports est interrompu en son milieu et sur un intervalle égal à deux fois la hauteur des supports,
• - des lignes de pliage transversales sont prévues sur le fond pour le pliage à angle droit autour de ces lignes comme charnières des deux parties de l'emballage sur lesquelles subsistent les supports.

In French patent 1,291,675, a new type of packaging has been described comprising, on the same bottom, two lateral supports in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped provided with the usual openings for engaging the bulbs and in which:

• - each of the supports is interrupted in the middle and over an interval equal to twice the height of the supports,
• - transverse fold lines are provided on the bottom for folding at right angles around these lines as hinges of the two parts of the packaging on which the supports remain.

Unfortunately, this type of packaging does not withstand various pressures or deformations and the annoying tendency to collapse. Also, is it in practice, supplemented by a case in which it is frictionally engaged, the open part forward. However, even inside this sheath case, the packaging is still deformed and above all, when the case is removed, the supports hold the bulbs poorly and thus tend to escape. Furthermore, this solution still using a case, therefore results in an appreciable consumption of cardboard.

In the certificate of addition 72,562 to French patent 1,114,066, it was suggested to consolidate the assembly by providing in the bottom a provisional flap keeping the supports in the desired position for the installation of the bulbs. Furthermore, it has also been proposed to make the supports non-deformable using foldable tabs placed at the end of the supports.

However, here again and given the lack of connection between the bulb holder and the packaging, the rigidity of the assembly is not sufficient and in practice, it is still necessary to use a case, this which substantially increases the cost of these products.

The invention aims to provide a packaging of the kind in question, complete, that is to say not using a case, a sheath or the like intended to stiffen the easels.

It also aims to provide a compact package, formed in a single piece and cut from a single piece of cardboard, easy to produce, store and format and which, when filled, has excellent deformability.

• - les faces de raccord des deux fonds,
• - les faces extrêmes extérieures placées à chaque extrémité des deux fonds,
  de manière à obturer les extrémités desdits supports latéraux.

This packaging for pharmaceutical or similar ampoules, cut from a single blank of cardboard or the like, of the type comprising two elementary foldable parts, each formed by two hollow parallel lateral supports of rectangular section, connected together by a flat bottom, said lateral supports being provided with openings intended to receive the end of the am hens, the two elementary parts being connected in turn and articulated one on the other by a hinge-shaped portion whose width 1 is substantially equal to the sum of the heights h of said lateral supports, this portion connecting one end of the bottom of one of the parts at the other end of the bottom of the other part (see FR-A-1 291 675), is characterized in that each end of the lateral supports has flaps hinged to and folded against each open end said lateral supports, and which are fixed by their outer face respectively against:

• - the connecting faces of the two bottoms,
• - the outer outer faces placed at each end of the two bottoms,
  so as to close off the ends of said lateral supports.

In other words, this packaging is formed simply of two parts, joined to each other, which perform both the functions of holding the bulbs and closing the packaging, which makes it possible to carry out the whole packaging in one piece, and in particular from a single blank of cardboard, and is a primary cause of saving cardboard. In addition, the reinforcement of the supports at their ends makes it possible to use a thinner cardboard, hence a second cause of economy, while obtaining better resistance of the packaging to crushing and impact, therefore a improved bulb protection. In this regard, it will be noted that the lateral supports with their rectangular section and their reinforcement means constitute a rigid “beam” structure which offers very good resistance to the pressures exerted on the upper, lower and lateral faces of the closed package. , and an exceptionally high resistance to longitudinal forces exerted on the ends of the packaging. The saving of cardboard, compared to packaging for current bulbs, can reach 50% and more, by weight of cardboard. The total cost of manufacture of the packaging according to the invention may also be reduced in a ratio of about _^1/2 compared with the current achievements as manufacturing the packaging is possible with conventional machines used by processors of cardboard, at industrial rates and by applying the usual assembly techniques: gluing, stapling, snap-fastening.

If more generally, the packaging is made of cardboard, it can also be made of other semi-rigid or rigid materials such as plastic.

Several possibilities exist for the practical realization of the hinge connecting the two elementary parts.

A first general solution consists in that the bottoms of the two parts of the packaging are connected together by two adjacent rectangular faces, the width of which is substantially equal to the sum of the heights of the supports, these two faces being folded against the corresponding ends. supports; the axis of the hinge is thus materialized by the junction line between the two faces in question. In this case, the two rectangular faces, folded against the corresponding ends of the supports, are fixed against these ends, in particular by gluing or stapling on shutters closing these ends.

According to another embodiment of the packaging for ampoules object of the invention, this packaging is made from two identical parts, initially separated, each of which has two supports connected by a bottom, extended at one end by a tab folding closure. There is thus a structure with two identical "half-boxes", which are brought together and brought against each other to constitute the complete package closed.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the parts of the initial blank intended to form the openings into which the ends of the bulbs are introduced are cut while remaining attached, by one end or one side, to the corresponding support, so as to constitute the tongues ensuring an individual setting of the bulbs. These tabs ensure a secure blocking and maintenance of the bulbs on the supports of the two parts of the packaging, whatever the dimensional tolerances of the packaging and the bulbs; they allow the packaging to be opened and closed without risking the bulbs coming off unexpectedly, and they can also prevent the upper and lower bulbs from hitting each other. Locking of the bulb locking tabs can be achieved on the inner faces of the supports. To ensure perfect maintenance of the bulbs, whatever the dimensional tolerances of their tips, it can also be provided that the openings in which these tips are introduced have a particular cutout, with a pivoting lateral spout for retaining the bulb tips , especially when closing the filled package to form the box by folding one over the other the two halves.

• - la fig. 1 est une vue en perspective d'un emballage conforme à l'invention, en position semi- ouverte;
• - la fig. 2 est une vue partielle, en coupe longitudinale, montrant la région de la «charnière» d'un emballage selon l'invention;
• - la fig. 3 est une vue en plan par dessus d'un flan à partir duquel est réalisable un emballage préféré conforme à l'invention représenté partiellement monté à la fig. 1;
• - la fig. 4 est une vue partielle, en perspective d'un emballage conforme à l'invention avec calage des ampoules au moyen des languettes découpées dans les supports;
• - la fig. 5 représente, en perspective, une variante de l'emballage selon la fig. 4, avec verrouillage des languettes sur une face des supports;
• - ies figs. 6 à 9 montrent deux perfectionnements avec intercalaires pour éviter aux ampoules de se heurter;
• - les figs. 10 et 11 montrent les ouvertures recevant les pointes des ampoules avec bec de retenue.

In any case, the invention will be better understood, and other characteristics will be highlighted, with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawings, representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, a certain number of embodiments of this packaging for pharmaceutical ampoules and the like:

• - fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package according to the invention, in the semi-open position;
• - fig. 2 is a partial view, in longitudinal section, showing the region of the “hinge” of a package according to the invention;
• - fig. 3 is a plan view from above of a blank from which a preferred packaging according to the invention can be produced, shown partially mounted in FIG. 1;
• - fig. 4 is a partial view, in perspective of a packaging according to the invention with wedging of the bulbs by means of the tabs cut out from the supports;
• - fig. 5 shows, in perspective, a variant of the packaging according to FIG. 4, with locking tabs on one face of the supports;
• - ies figs. 6 to 9 show two improvements with spacers to prevent the bulbs from colliding;
• - figs. 10 and 11 show the openings receiving the tips of the bulbs with retaining spout.

The packaging shown in fig. 1 comprises two elementary parts A and B, each of which is constituted by two hollow parallel lateral supports 1 of rectangular section, connected by a flat bottom 2. In a well-known manner, the supports 1 comprise, formed on their opposite interior faces 3 and on their upper faces 4, series of openings 5 arranged face to face or preferably in staggered rows and into which the tips of the bulbs 6 are introduced.

The bottoms 2 of the two parts A and B of the packaging for ampoules in question are connected together by a rectangular face 7, the width 1 of which is substantially equal to the sum of the heights h of the supports 1. This face 7 is connected to the bottoms 2, on its longest sides by two fold lines 8 parallel so as to form a hinge.

If more generally the supports 1 have the same height h, they can also have different heights to allow the packaging of objects of different size, such as for example on one side of the ampoules, bottles on the other.

In known manner, the bottom 2 of part A of the packaging is extended, at the end opposite to the corresponding fold line 8, by a foldable part 9.

The bottom 2 of part B is extended at the end opposite to the fold line 8 by a folding tab 80 which is fixed to the ends of the lateral supports by means of flaps 37. The opposite tab 9 without tongue but with a tear-away cut partially glued or sealed on the end of part B ensures inviolability of the packaging and the possibility of opening by the customer thanks to the tearing of the strip produced on the tab 9.

The references 12 designate the longitudinal face intended to form after folding the lateral supports 1 in combination with the faces 3 and 4. The references 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 designate the fold lines and the reference 19 a longitudinal side flap intended to be folded at right angles and glued to the bottom 2 of part A or B considered.

In fig. 2, the bottoms 2 of the two parts A and B of the packaging are interconnected by two adjacent rectangular faces 36, produced in the junction face 7 of the parts A and B, the junction line of which forms a hinge pin 35 The width of each of these two faces 36 is substantially equal to the height h of the supports 1. The two faces 36 considered to be folded against the corresponding ends of the supports 1, and they can be fixed by gluing or stapling on flaps 37 which close the ends of the supports 1.

These rectangular flaps 37 (see fig. 3) adjoin one of the three sides of the lateral support, in this case in the drawing on the outer face 12 or on the upper face 4. There are also flaps identical to the other ends of the side support.

• - les faces de raccord 36, pour la partie centrale;
• - les faces extérieures 9 et 80,
  de manière notamment à obturer les extrémités des supports latéraux et à rigidifier l'ensemble (voir fig. 1).

The reference 81 shown with arrows designates the tear-away part. During folding, the flaps 37 are brought back to each of the ends of the lateral supports 1 and these flaps 37 are secured by any appropriate means, in particular by gluing:

• - the connecting faces 36, for the central part;
• - the outer faces 9 and 80,
  so as in particular to close off the ends of the lateral supports and to stiffen the assembly (see fig. 1).

As shown in fig. 4, an individual setting of the bulbs 6 can be achieved by means of tongues 59 which lie in the plane of the upper faces 4 of the supports 1, and which project inwards. These tabs 59 are obtained very simply, by not eliminating the parts of the initial blank intended to form the openings 5, but by cutting them while leaving them attached, by one end, to the upper face 4 of the corresponding support 1. The tongues 59 ensure that each bulb 6 is held in place and thus prevent the bulbs 6 from inadvertently detaching from their supports 1 when the packaging is opened or closed. In a variant, these tongues 59 are folded back inside the support 1 in the direction of the face 12, so that the tip of the bulbs abuts against these tongues during falls on the lateral faces.

To make these wedging tabs 59 even more effective, it is possible to produce, on the inner face 3 of each support 1, and on either side of each opening 5 receiving a bulb tip, notches 60 on which are locked the tabs 59 (see fig. 5).

According to yet another possibility, illustrated in FIG. 4, the bulbs wedging means 6 are constituted, for each opening 5, by two tabs 70 and 71 attached, by one of their sides, to the upper face 4 of the support 1 of rectangular section.

It will also be noted that, if the packaging shown in the drawings is intended for conventional ampoules 6 with two points, the invention also applies, without particular difficulties, to ampoules-bottles and to vials or any other equivalent container. It suffices, as the case may be, to provide, in the supports 1, openings and cutouts of suitable shapes and dimensions. The division into two parts of the packaging also makes it possible to combine, without mixing them, two types of bulbs or the like, for example for two products to be combined in a treatment, with all imaginable variants of sizes and shapes.

To improve the resistance of the bulbs 6 in the packaging and to prevent them from breaking during a fall, one can add a spacer whose function is to keep the bulb 6 at the bottom of the openings 5.

In a first embodiment, this insert 90 (see figs. 6 and 7) has a width L corresponding substantially to the interval between two supports 1, face to face, and a length corresponding to that of parts A and B and more particularly to that occupied by the bulbs 6. Each longitudinal end 91 and 92 of this insert 90 has means intended to come to bear on the shoulder of each bulb so that during a fall, the bulb remains in place. Advantageously, this means can be constituted by a triangular shape 93 or the like: cylinder or a T-shaped tab perpendicular to the interlayer 90. In addition, this interlayer 90 can usefully receive the directions for use to inform the consumer. .

This solution makes it possible to considerably reduce the weight in m ² of the boxes that can be used for making these packages. It has thus been determined that, thanks to this spacer, the weight of the carton in which this packaging 1 is formed could be reduced by about 20%. This translates into a significant saving in raw materials.

In another variant, use is made of another insert (see FIGS. 8 and 9) 95 disposed opposite each support and in a plane perpendicular to the bottom 2. In each insert 95, openings 96 are provided through which the tips of the bulbs 6 and which are arranged opposite the openings 5. The bottom 97 of these openings 96 holds the tips of the bulbs 6 during falls and thus prevents the bulbs of part A or B from striking the bulbs 6 of the part opposite.

• - d'une part, cette solution améliore efficacement le produit et se traduit par une économie substantielle de matières premières, notamment par suite de la suppression de l'étui, économie qui peut même être supérieure à 50% de matières premières;
• - d'autre part, tout spécialiste confronté à ce problème n'aboutissait pas à cette solution, à preuve le long délai qui s'est écoulé entre chacun des documents cités et la solution faisant l'objet de l'invention.

It has long been known to make double easels connected by a hinge (French patent 1,291,675). Similarly, it was known to reinforce the lateral supports (certificate of addition 75,562 to French patent 1,114,066). While each of these two solutions taken separately required the use of a case or sheath engaged in friction, one could not foresee, and this is what is unexpected, that the simple combination of general means taught by these two patents would make it possible to produce complete one-piece packaging, especially as:

• - on the one hand, this solution effectively improves the product and results in a substantial saving of raw materials, in particular as a result of the removal of the case, savings which can even be greater than 50% of raw materials;
• - on the other hand, any specialist faced with this problem did not come up with this solution, as proof of the long time that has elapsed between each of the documents cited and the solution which is the subject of the invention.

In other words, the invention was not obvious, even to a specialist.

Claims (8)

1. Container for pharmaceutical ampules (6) or the like, cut from a single blank of cardboard or the like, of the type having two foldable unit portions (A and B), each formed of two hollow parallel lateral supports (1) of rectangular section, connected together by a flat bottom (2), the said lateral supports (1) being provided with openings (5) intended to receive the end of the ampules (6), the two unit portions (A and B) being in their turn connected and articulated to each other by a portion (7) of hinge shape whose width I is substantially equal to the sum of the heights h of the said lateral supports (1), this hinge portion (7) connecting one end of the bottom (2) of the unit portion A to the other end of the bottom (2) of the unit portion B, characterized by the fact that each end of the lateral supports (1) comprises flaps (37) articulated to and folded onto each opened end of the said lateral supports (1) and which are fastened by their outer face respectively against:

- the connecting faces (36) of both bottoms (2),

- the end faces (9 and 80) located at the end of the bottoms (2),

in order to obturate the ends of the said lateral supports (1).

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the foldable flaps (37) are rectangular and are connected at one of the three faces (3, 4, 12) forming the said lateral support (1) and are directed towards outside.

3. Container according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the parts (3 and 4) of the original blank which are intended to form the openings (5) into which the ends of the ampules (6) are introduced are cut while remaining attached at one end or a side to the corresponding support (1) so as to constitute tongues (59) which assure an individual wedging of the ampules (6), the said tongues (59) being folded into the support (1) in the direction of its outside face (12), in order that the end of the said ampules (6) strikes against said folded tongues (59).

4. Container according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the openings (5) into which are introduced the ends of the ampules (6) have a contour with a lateral nose (72) for the retaining of the ampule ends.

5. Container according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the lateral retaining nose (72) is pivotable.

6. Container according to claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that the hinge (7) connecting the two unit portions (A and B) is formed of two adjacent rectangular faces (36) whose width is substantially equal to the height h of the supports (1), these two faces (36) being folded against the corresponding ends of the supports (1) and fastened against these ends on the said flaps (37) which then close said ends.

7. Container according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the bottom (2) of the portion (A) is extended by a closure tab (9) intended to be folded and applied against the corresponding end of the supports (1) and fixed against the said ends of the flaps (37) in such a manner as to close said ends, and by the fact that the bottom (2) of the portion (B) is extended by a closure tab (80) forming the inviolable locking system for the container by cooperation with the tab (9).

8. Container according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that there is an interpolated cardboard sheet (90-95) in order to maintain the ampules (6) at the bottom of the openings (5), the said interpolated cardboard having a width substantially equal to the distance between two lateral supports (1) face to face and a length substantially equal to this one of the parts (A and B), each longitudinal extremity of this interpolated cardboard (90) comprising means (91, 92, 96, 97) to dwell on the epaulement of each ampule (6).

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