EP1196333A1

EP1196333A1 - Child-proof packaging for tablets

Info

Publication number: EP1196333A1
Application number: EP00920323A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olivier Y. Muggli
Original assignee: Alcan Technology and Management Ltd
Current assignee: 3A Composites International AG
Priority date: 1999-06-01
Filing date: 2000-05-10
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-10
Also published as: JP3482192B2; MXPA01011987A; CA2374940A1; DE50005918D1; EP1196333B1; US6138830A; JP2003500305A; WO2000073168A1; AU4097100A

Abstract

The invention relates to child-proof packaging for tablets, capsules and other such pharmaceutical products which is also easy to use by elderly persons. Said packaging comprises a blister pack (12) with at least one bubble (24) which is sealed by a push-through cover film (26) and designed to contain the tablets (20). The blister pack is arranged in an outer container (10) between a base part (14) and a covering part (16). A closing part (18) overlaps the covering part (16). The cover film (26) of the blister pack (12) faces the covering part (16) and said covering part (16) presents an opening (32) for removing a packaged tablet, said opening being arranged opposite the bubble (24) of the blister pack (10). Between the base part (14) and the covering part (16) a cover strip (34) is positioned which covers the opening (32) and can be removed when the closing part (18) is opened so that the opening (32) is uncovered.

Description

Childproof packaging for tablets

The invention relates to a child-resistant packaging for tablets, capsules and the like. Pharmaceutical products, with a blister packaging with at least one cup closed by means of a push-through cover film for receiving the tablets or capsules.

The danger of uncontrolled medication intake is undisputed, with toddlers in particular being particularly exposed to this potential danger, especially when medication is left lying around.

Blister packs in particular have become established for packaging tablets and capsules. The so-called push-through packs are widespread, in which the tablet is pressed through a cover film from a bowl in the bottom part of the packaging. In other known blister packs, a cover film is removed by peeling. Still other blister packs have a notch as a tear-open aid.

Ways already used to increase the child safety of the blister packs for tablets and capsules mentioned are that

Difficulty opening with measures that require increased power, such as stronger push-through foils, increased adhesive strength of peel-off foils or high tear resistance for tear notches.

Packaging that can only be opened with increased effort is childproof, but can also be a problem for seniors.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a child-resistant package of the type mentioned at the outset which can be opened by seniors without difficulty. It’s essentially about packaging Design such that a combination ability is required to open them, or that simultaneous movements or those that require coordinating or combining individual steps must be carried out.

To achieve the object according to the invention, the blister pack is arranged in an outer packaging between a base part and a cover part and the cover part is overlapped by a closure part, the cover film of the blister pack being directed against the cover part and the cover part having a removal opening opposite the bowl of the blister pack , and that

(a) between the bottom part and the cover part there is arranged a cover strip, optionally covering the removal opening covered by a push-through opening closure, removable after opening the closure part and exposing the removal opening, or

(b) the removal opening is covered by a tear-off part which is detachably connected to the cover part and at least partially closes the removal opening and, when removed, exposes the removal opening.

In the first case, the opening of the packaging according to the invention requires a combination ability in the sense that after opening the closure part it must be recognized that a slide opening the removal opening must be removed before the tablet is pushed through. In the second case, it must be recognized that after opening the closure part and before pressing the tablet through, the cover film must be exposed in a further step.

The closure part is preferably detachably connected to the cover part, for example via a selective adhesive point. In a preferred embodiment of the packaging according to the invention, the cover strip or tear-open part is also detachably connected to the cover part, a particularly expedient solution being that the cover strip or tear-off part can be separated from the cover part via a weakening line, preferably a perforation line .

Advantageously, the bowl of the blister pack protrudes outwards from the plane formed by the bottom part, in the simplest case the bowl of the blister pack penetrating an opening in the bottom part. If the base part consists of a deformable material, a cup can also be formed from this and the cup of the blister pack can be arranged in the cup of the base part.

In the case of a particularly inexpensive production variant, the outer packaging consists of a single blank.

A double pack can be easily made from two mirror-symmetrically arranged partial packs. This can be designed, for example, in such a way that one of the part packs forms the closure part for the other part pack.

At least two packagings can be combined to form multi-portion packs, the individual packagings being strung together to form a strip pack and preferably being separable from the strip pack along a line of weakness, preferably a line of perforations.

The rigid, semi-rigid and flexible materials known today for the manufacture of packaging in the form of sheets, foils, laminates or other laminates with a thickness of a few μm to a few mm, for example 8 μm to 3 mm, can be used to produce the packaging according to the invention . Examples of foil-like materials are metal foils such as for example aluminum foils. Other examples of sheet-like materials are paper, semi-cardboard and cardboard. Films containing plastic, for example based on polyolefins, such as polyethylenes or polypropylenes, polyamides, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, such as polyalkylene terephthalates and in particular polyethylene terephthalate, are also particularly important. The plastic-containing foils can be monofilms made of plastics, laminates made of two or more plastic foils, laminates made of metal and plastic foils, laminates made of paper and plastic foils or laminates made of paper and metal and plastic foils. The individual layers of the sheet-like materials can be fixed to one another by means of adhesives, laminating adhesives, adhesion promoters and / or by extrusion coating, coextrusion or laminating, etc. Suitable plastic films are, for example, non-oriented or axially or biaxially oriented monofilms or laminates composed of two or more non-oriented or axially or biaxially oriented films made of plastics based on polyolefins, such as polyethylenes or polypropylenes, polyamides, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, such as polyalkylene terephthalates and in particular polyethylene terephthalate, cyclo-olefin copolymers (COC) and polychlorotrifluorethylene (PCTFE, brand name ACLAR).

Transparent plastics with good forming properties such as polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclo-olefin copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide and laminates made from the materials mentioned, e.g. made of PVC and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) or PVC and PVDC (polyvinylchloride). For non-transparent blister packs, for example, laminates made of an aluminum foil planked on both sides with a plastic film with the example structure of polyamide / aluminum / PVC or pigmented plastic films are used. The cover film is usually an aluminum film that can be painted and / or coated with a heat seal lacquer.

All of the above-mentioned sheet-like materials such as paper, semi-cardboard, Cardboard and plastic films in the form of monofilms, laminates etc. can have at least one further continuous layer of sputtered or vacuum-deposited ceramic materials with a thickness of approximately 5 to 500 nm (nanometers), for example Al ₂ O ₃ or SiO _x , where x is a number between 1.5 and 2. These layers of ceramic materials have barrier properties and prevent the diffusion of gases and water vapor through the packaging.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and from the drawing; this shows schematically in

- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of a blister pack with outer packaging. - Fig. 2 is a plan view of the partially opened outer packaging of

1 in the direction of view y;

3 shows a plan view of a blank for producing the outer packaging of FIG. 1;

4 shows a longitudinal section through a blister packaging with an outer packaging as a double packaging, configured analogously to FIG. 1;

5 is a top view of the partially opened outer packaging of

Fig. 4;

6 shows a plan view of a blank for producing the outer packaging of FIG. 4; 7 is a top view of a multi-portion pack

Blister packaging with outer packaging of Fig. 1;

8 shows a plan view of a blank for producing the outer packaging of a second embodiment of a blister packaging with outer packaging designed as a double pack; 9 shows a plan view of the blank from FIG. 8 after folding over first fold lines; 10 shows a plan view of the blank from FIG. 8 after folding over second fold lines, in an embodiment as a multi-portion package.

1 to 3, a first embodiment of an outer packaging 10 made of, for example, cardboard for a blister pack 12 of essentially strip-like shape, is equipped with a base part 14, a cover part 16 and a closure part 18. The blister pack 12 - in the example shown a one-portion pack for a tablet 20 - has a base part 22 made of, for example, polypropylene (PP) with a cup 24 molded from it for receiving the tablet 20 and a cover film 26 sealed or glued to the base part 22, for example Aluminum on. The bowl 24 of the blister pack 12 penetrates a bottom opening 28 in the bottom part 14 of the outer packaging 10, which is adapted to the circumference of the bowl 24, and projects outwards from the bottom part 14. The bottom part 22 of the blister pack 12 lies against the inside of the bottom part 14 of the outer packaging 10 and can optionally be at least partially glued to it. Instead of the bottom opening 28, if the material allows it, a cup can also be formed out of the bottom part 14, i.e. in this case, the bowl 24 of the blister pack 12 would be received by the bowl in the base part 14.

The cover part 16 of the outer packaging 10 is connected in one piece to the base part 14 and forms a loop with it, the cover part 16 and base part 14 lying opposite one another approximately parallel to form an intermediate space 30. The cover part 16 has a removal opening 32 opposite the bottom opening 28 or the cup 24. This removal opening 32 is closed by a cover strip 34 projecting into the intermediate space 30 from the opening side of the loop formed by the base part 14 and the cover part 16. As explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3, the cover strip 34 is also connected in one piece to the cover part 16 and via a weakening line or perforations 44 arranged in a line om cover part 16 releasable to form a pull tab 40.

The closure part 18 is also connected in one piece to the base part 14 to form a loop, the closure part 18 engaging over the free end of the cover part 16 with the pull tab 40 of the cover strip 34 integrated therein. In the area of its free end, the closure part 18 is fixed to the cover part 16 underneath via an adhesive point 36.

To remove the tablet 20, the closure part 18 is first gripped at its free end designed as a tear-open tab 38, and the closure part 18 is separated from the cover part 16 underneath at the adhesive point 36. An opening movement carried out in the direction of arrow A clears the way to the pull tab 40.

After opening the closure part 18 in the direction of arrow A, after the pull tab 40 has been removed, the cover strip 34 is gripped thereon and pulled out of the intermediate space 30 in the direction of the arrow B. In this process, the removal opening 32 is opened towards the intermediate space 30 and is now - only separated by the cover film 26 - the tablet 20 in the bowl 24 exposed. In this open position, the tablet 20 can be pushed through the cover film 26 in the direction of arrow C by finger pressure on the bowl 24 and ejected through the removal opening 32. The removal opening 32 can additionally be covered by a push-through opening closure. This additional closure is, for example, from a line of weakness, e.g. a perforation line, is limited and is separated at the same time as the cover film 26 is pressed through. The additional opening closure serves to camouflage the opening mechanism and protects the cover film 26 from premature mechanical destruction by e.g. Children's fingernails or teeth.

3, substantially strip-shaped blank for the Outer packaging 10 shows the weakened and therefore easily separable connection between the pull tab 40 of the cover strip 34 and the cover part 16 as a perforation line 44. The blister packaging 12 already lies on the base part 14, ie the cup 24 penetrates the bottom opening 28 Outer packaging 10 takes place in a first step by folding cover strip 34 in the direction of arrow D around a fold line d until cover strip 34 rests on cover part 16. The cover part 16 with the cover strip 34 lying thereon is then folded over in the direction of arrow E by a fold line e until it rests on the base part 14 or the blister pack 12. This step also results in an at least partial gluing of edge parts 46 of the cover part 16 to edge parts 48 of the base part 14 to form the intermediate space 30 which serves as a guide for the cover strip 34. As a last step, the closure part 18 is folded over in the direction of the arrow F by a fold line f until it rests on the cover part 16 and is fixed by the adhesive point 36.

An outer packaging 50 shown in FIG. 4 for a blister packaging 52 - in the example a two-portion packaging for two tablets 20a, b - is essentially constructed from outer packaging 10 according to FIG. The same parts are therefore also provided with the same reference symbols, the double configuration being expressed in each case by an addition a or b. Instead of a closure part 18, the base parts 14a, b are integrally connected to one another and lie approximately parallel to one another when the package is closed. Here, the two cover parts 16a, b abut each other and are fixed in this position by means of an adhesive point 54. In this closed position, the two partial packaging 10a and 10b lie on both sides of a mirror plane S. To open the packaging 50, the part 10a is separated from the part 10b at the adhesive point 54 and brought into the open position shown in FIG. 5 in the direction of arrow G. In this position, the two partially opened partial packaging 10a, b can be opened in the same way and the tablets 20a, b removed in the same way are like the outer packaging 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The blank of an outer packaging 50 for a two-portion pack shown in FIG. 6 is closed analogously to the one-portion pack shown in FIG. 3. First, the two cover strips 34a, b are folded inward in the direction of the arrow H and I by fold lines h and i, respectively. The cover parts 16a, b with the cover strips 34a, b lying thereon are then folded inwards in the direction of the arrow K or L by a fold line k or I until they rest on the base parts 14a, b or on one half of the sheet - Put the top packaging 52 on. Finally, the bottom part 14a is folded in the direction of the arrow M around a fold line m, which corresponds to the symmetry axis of the blank, until the two partial outer packaging 10a, b touch each other and is fixed via the adhesive point 54. As will be at the outer package of Fig. 3 also individual edge portions 46a, b of the cover portions 16a, b at least in part with edge parts 48a, the bottom parts b 14a, b to form the two gaps 30a, b of the covering strips 34a, b to each other ^• bonded .

FIG. 7 shows a strip-shaped pack 60 with six individual packs according to FIG. 1 strung together in a strip-like manner. These can be separated from one another by line-shaped perforations 62. However, the individual overpacks 10 can also be opened without having to separate them from the packing strip 60. Such a strip arrangement is also suitable for outer packaging 50 with a two-portion blister packaging 52 according to FIG. 4.

A second embodiment of an outer packaging 70 shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 in the form of a blank designed for a two-portion pack from, for example, cardboard for a blister pack 72 of essentially strip-like shape has a base part 74, a cover part 76 and one Locking part 78 equipped. The blister pack 72 - in Example shown a one-portion pack for a capsule 80 - has a bottom part 82 made of, for example, polypropylene (PP) with a cup 84 molded out of it for receiving the capsule 80 and a cover film 86 made of, for example, aluminum, sealed or glued to the bottom part 82. The cup 84 of the blister pack 72 penetrates a bottom opening 88 in the bottom part 74 of the outer packaging 70 which is adapted to the circumference of the cup 84 and protrudes outwards from the bottom part 74. The bottom part 82 of the blister pack 72 lies against the inside of the bottom part 74 of the outer packaging 70 and can also be at least partially glued to it. Instead of the bottom opening 88, if the material allows it, a cup can also be formed out of the bottom part 74, ie in this case the cup of the blister pack 72 would be received by the cup 84 in the bottom part 74.

The cover part 76 of the outer packaging 70 is connected in one piece to the bottom part 74 and has a removal opening 92 opposite the bottom opening 88 or the cup 84. This removal opening 92 is largely closed by a tear-open part 90. The tear-open part 90 is connected to the cover part 76 via a weakening line or perforations 94 arranged in a line and forms a gripping flap 96 in an area of the removal opening 92 which is not covered. The closure part 78 is likewise connected in one piece to the base part 74 and in the region of its free end fixed to the underlying cover part 76 via an adhesive point.

In the substantially strip-shaped blank for the outer packaging 70 shown in FIG. 8, the blister packaging 72 already lies on the cover part 76. In a first step, the outer packaging 70 is closed by folding the cover part 76 with the blister packaging 72 lying thereon in the direction of the arrow O by a fold line o until the cover part 76 or the blister packaging 72 lies on the base part 74. Here, the cup 84 penetrates the opening 88 in the base part 74. This step also results in at least partial gluing of edge parts of the cover part 76 with edge parts of the bottom part 74. Then the bottom part 74 with the cover part 76 resting thereon is folded in the direction of arrow P by a fold line p until it rests on the closure part 78, the closure part 78 in the region of its free end via an adhesive point on the cover part 76 below is fixed.

In the same way, the second part of the two-portion pack is folded over in the arrow directions Q, R around fold lines q, r. The two parts of the two-portion pack can be separated from one another at their central connection along a perforation line 98.

10, four strip-shaped double packs are lined up to form a multi-portion pack 100 with eight individual packs. These can be separated from one another by line-shaped perforations 102. However, the individual outer packs 70 can also be opened without having to separate them from the pack 70.

Claims

claims

1. Childproof packaging for tablets, capsules and the like. Pharmaceutical products, with a blister pack (12.72) with at least one bowl closed by means of a push-through cover film (26.86)

(24, 84) for receiving the tablets (20) or capsules (80),

characterized in that

the blister pack (12, 72) is arranged in an outer packaging (10, 70) between a base part (14, 74) and a cover part (16.76) and the cover part (16.76) is overlapped by a closure part (18, 78) , wherein the cover film (26,86) of the blister pack (12,72) is directed against the cover part (16.76) and the cover part (16.76) is opposite the bowl (24.84) of the blister pack (10.70) Has removal opening (32.92), and that

(a) between the bottom part (14) and cover part (16) there is arranged a removal opening (32), which optionally covers a push-through opening closure, and which can be removed after opening the closure part (18) and removes the opening (32) exposing the removal opening (32) is, or

(b) the removal opening (92) is covered by a tear-open part (90) which is detachably connected to the cover part (76), at least partially closes the removal opening (92) and exposes the removal opening (92) when removed.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure part (18, 78) is detachably connected to the cover part (16.76).

. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover strip (34) or the tear-open part (90) is detachably connected to the cover part (16.76).

4. Packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover strip (34) or the tear-open part (90) is connected to the cover part (16.76) via a line of weakness, preferably a perforation line (44, 98).

5. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cup (24, 84) of the blister pack (12, 72) protrudes outwards from the plane formed by the base part (14, 74).

6. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that the bowl (24,84) of the blister pack (12,72) has an opening (28,88) in the bottom part

(14.74) penetrates.

7. Packaging according to claim 5, characterized in that a cup is formed out of the bottom part (14, 74) and the cup (24, 84) of the blister packaging (12) is arranged in the cup of the bottom part (14, 74).

8. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the outer packaging (10,70) consists of a single blank.

9. double pack, characterized in that it consists of two mirror-symmetrically arranged partial packaging according to one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Double pack according to claim 9, characterized in that a partial packaging forms the closure part for the other partial packaging.

1. Multi-portion pack of at least two packs according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the individual packs are strung together to form a strip pack (60, 100) and preferably from the strip pack (60, 100) along a weakening line, in particular a perforation line (62, 102), are separable.