EP1270440B1 - Child proof blister package - Google Patents

Abstract

Child-resistant blister packaging includes, between lower and upper support panels (290, 320), a perforated intermediate panel (300) is aligned with and spaced away from slightly smaller perforations in the upper panel. Blister cavities (420) and flanges (411) are individual, loosely held in holes of the intermediate panel, and covered by the upper panel. Child-resistant blister packaging includes, between lower and upper support panels (290, 320), a perforated intermediate panel (300) is aligned with and spaced away from slightly smaller perforations in the upper panel. Blister cavities (420) and flanges (411) are individual, loosely held in holes of the intermediate panel, and covered by the upper panel. The intermediate panel has lines of weakening extending out towards the adjacent edge. They are tangential to the bordering side walls of the penetration (308). Further lines of weakness and hinge lines are detailed.

Description

The invention relates to a childproof blister pack for tablets and the like. small objects according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a blister pack is known from EP 1 057 745.

The above-mentioned publication shows in FIGS. 12 to 15 a childproof packaging for Tablets of the aforementioned type. It consists of a blister base part with one in it trained bowl for receiving a tablet, one sealed on the bottom part push-through cover foil made of aluminum and an outer packaging made of PET material consists of a bottom part with a passage opening for the bowl and a cover, which are connected at their edge. Between the bottom part of the blister and the The bottom part of the outer packaging contains an intermediate part made of cardboard, the one Passage opening for the bowl has the same size as the opening in the bottom part the outer packaging. The blister is at least partially glued to the intermediate part. in the A first opening flap is integrated between the part and via a first weakening line or linearly arranged first perforation detachable from the rest of the intermediate part. Within the first opening tab and also integrated in the intermediate part is a second opening tab, the second perforation of arranged over a second line of weakness or linear the first opening tab is detachable. The two perforation lines are through one Intermediate bridge separated. The cover has one with the first line of perforations in the intermediate part there is a congruent perforation line. The tablet is removed first the first opening tab along its first line of perforations from the rest of the Partly separated and lifted off the outer packaging. In this position the second opening tab separated along the second line of perforations and from the first Opening tab can be detached. Through this process, the lid film of the blister exposed, so that now the tablet by finger pressure on the bowl in the usual way through the Cover film can be pushed through.

The state of the art, which deals with child-resistant blister packs, is extensive. US 4 125 190 describes a blister pack consisting of a strip of one Blister film, which has several wells arranged in a row next to each other, in which contain tablets and which are closed by a cover film. To a tablet to be able to remove, press on the well, and the tablet on the Cover foil passed on print leads to their overstretching and finally to one Tear the cover film, which frees the tablet from the well. To this To make medication strips child-safe, it is between two cardboard carrier boards sandwiched, the aligned with the wells with openings are. These carrier boards are firmly connected. The protrude on their top Cups through the openings. There is a cover plate on the bottom, which covers the openings in the lower support panel, but in the area of the Breakthroughs has a tear strip delimited by lines of weakness. On Pushing the tablets through the sealing film is only possible if the Tear strip is torn off, so that the area under the openings in the lower Carrier panel is exposed. Once the tear strip mentioned is torn off, it is Protection for all cells removed.

EP 1 057 744 A2 describes a child-safe and senior-friendly blister pack for Tablets, capsules and the like. Pharmaceutical products with at least one by means of a press-through cover foil closed bowl for receiving the tablets in a Outer packaging between a bottom panel and an intermediate panel, the intermediate panel is covered by a cover plate. Between the bottom panel or blister pack and There is a first adhesive between the intermediate board and between the intermediate board and the Cover plate a second pressure sensitive adhesive, the latter in the sealed outer packaging one lower than the first pressure sensitive adhesive and after separation of the cover plate from the Intermediate board has a higher adhesive strength than the first pressure sensitive adhesive. The opening This packaging requires different adhesive strength due to the use of glue a combination ability in the sense that before pressing the tablet different parts of the packaging separated from each other and pressed against each other again Need to become.

EP 1 002 744 A1 (= US 6 047 829 A) describes a two-part medicament packaging Cardboard known in which the drug is on an inner slide, which is from is surrounded by an outer shell. The packaging has at least one inner or outer Lock that prevents the slider from being pulled out without a special locking mechanism is released, for its operation thought work is necessary, the toddlers usually do not raise.

US 3 872 970 A describes a child-resistant blister pack in which the wells carrying blister film is sealed by a tough, sealed cover film that is not can be pushed through, but must be peeled off. Around an edge strip to make accessible, which can be gripped with your fingers to peel off, the Blister film on two parallel grooves, which are covered by the cover film which has a line of weakness in this area. Because of the grooves, the Blister film are stretched, causing the cover film to tear open in the weakened area and an edge strip of the same is thereby accessible. Since you also through the cover film Bending the blister film can tear open, this packaging does not appear particularly safe against manipulation by children.

US Pat. No. 5,833,071 A does not describe a blister pack whose cups are tough push-through film are closed. Each well is surrounded by a groove, which by the cover film is spanned. The cover film must be with a pointed object, for example a knife in the area of the grooves to close the enclosed cup open without the risk of the pointed object causing the in the well contained tablet is damaged. The manipulation of this packaging is childproof, but not very user-friendly, and it can do that for people who don't have a steady hand Removing the tablets can make it a difficult procedure.

EP 0 634 342 A2 describes a blister pack in which there is one next to each well Recess is arranged, which you can reach into with your finger. The cover film completely covers the wells and the finger wells only half, so that one grasp there and peel off the blister film. Although this packaging as child-safe is described, there are considerable doubts whether a child by the Wells are invited to manipulations, but do not open the packaging can.

One of the aforementioned blister packs is described in US 5 878 888 A. With her an opening is formed in the blister film next to each well. Cell and Breakthroughs are completely covered by the cover film. In the area of breakthroughs Cover film weakened by a perforation or the like. So that it by finger pressure can be torn open, forming a flag on which the cover film is gripped to peel them off the blister film.

Practice has shown that removing tablets or pills from blister packs pushing the tablet or pill through the cover film, which is under the pressure of the The opposite side is exerted on the tablet or pill, tears open for the user is a more convenient way than peeling a tough, non-penetrable film from the Blister. This finding was the one described in the above-mentioned US 4 125 190 A Packaging, and this knowledge also guides the present invention, even if they do not rule out the use of blisters with push-through-proof cover foils want.

The invention has for its object a child-resistant blister packaging at the beginning Specify the type mentioned, which is childproof to a high degree and convenient to do so handle is.

This object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1. advantageous Embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Since the invention assumes that blisters with push-through cover foils can be used, makes use of the already well-known idea, the cover foil by a To protect the carrier board against being pushed through. In contrast to the state of the art in the invention, the tablets are not made by tearing off a strip of the protective Carrier board accessible, but by opening individual compartments in which each individual blister are housed, from which the single blister after one for children difficult to understand process can be removed individually undamaged to the tablet in question in the usual way by pushing through the cover film or, if one push-through-proof cover film is used to release it by peeling it off.

To remove a single blister from its packaging, it is necessary to put one in it Blister adjacent edge segment of the composite from the upper and lower support panels as well as to break open the at least one intermediate board. For this purpose, the lower one A support hinge in the edge area of each individual blister so that the relevant one Section of the border area and the sections of the border area located thereon two other panels can be pivoted down. This panning is through Corresponding lines of weakness in all of the panels involved enables the swiveling be broken open, and by a weakened hinge line in the lower support panel.

In order to make the opening process for children as complicated as possible, it is advisable a tear-resistant tape between the lower support panel and the intermediate panel attached to it inserted. This tear-resistant tape is glued to the lower panel. As long as it is not removed, none of the edge segments can be swiveled down and an opening the compartments in which the individual blisters are arranged is impossible. This tearproof Band extends the entire length of the support panels and is at at least one end glued to a corner portion of the lower support panel. This corner section and the one above it lying corner section of the intermediate panel are preferably by lines of weakness delimited, and the upper support panel arranged above has one in the corner area corresponding section. By breaking off the corner section you have the end of the mentioned band comfortably in between your fingers, and you can remove this from the Pull out the sandwich structure, which is formed by the lower support panel and intermediate panel. For this reason, the tear-resistant tape mentioned is preferably only with the lower one Carrier panel glued.

If the carrier boards are made of cardboard, the lower carrier board has a grain direction on, which are parallel to the said edge and thus parallel to the tear-resistant tape extends, which facilitates separation of the tear-resistant tape from the cardboard material.

Another hassle for children is when the top support panel is facing down pivotable edge segments has a flag that extends from the hinge line extends in the direction of the opening in which the blister cup is arranged. That has the result is that this flag is vertically upwards when the edge segment concerned is swung down and it protrudes into the path that the single blister has to take, if you want to slide it out of the open compartment. To this To allow sliding out, you have to open the edge segment completely fold the back of the lower support panel. Have exams with toddlers demonstrated that many of them were unable to manipulate this without guidance even after they had managed to manipulate it for a long time Break open edge segment and swivel out of its original position.

The blister pack according to the invention therefore consists of the individual blistem at least three carrier boards, the receiving compartments for individual taking and removal form the single blister. If, as is preferred, the carrier boards are made of cardboard, it is advantageous if you have another, i.e. Adds a second intermediate board, the direction of its grain expediently runs orthogonally to the fiber direction of the other intermediate panel, of course in in all cases preferably parallel to the edge. The upper carrier board has a grain direction that preferably runs transversely to the edge at which the edge segments are broken open. This grain direction increases the stability of this board because its load-bearing structure in the is essentially comb-like.

It goes without saying that the blister pack according to the invention contains only one row of blisters needs, but is comparable to what the above-mentioned US 4 125 190 A shows preferably, and as shown in the embodiment, designed in two rows.

Fig. 1

den Zuschnitt einer unteren Trägertafel,

Fig. 2

den Zuschnitt einer unteren Zwischentafel,

Fig. 3

den Zuschnitt einer oberen Zwischentafel,

Fig. 4

den Zuschnitt einer oberen Trägertafel und

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

cutting a lower board,

Fig. 2

cutting a lower intermediate panel,

Fig. 3

cutting an upper intermediate panel,

Fig. 4

the cutting of an upper panel and

Fig. 5 excerpt in an enlarged scale a cross section through a composite of the the aforementioned four panels with a single blister enclosed therein.

1, the lower support panel 290 is made of cardboard of slender rectangular outline with rounded corners. The dimensions are, for example, approximately 80 x 170 mm. The The blank has two longitudinal edges 291 and two transverse edges 292. In the area of the longitudinal edges 291 four transverse weakening lines 293 are formed at regular intervals, the in the example shown, starting from the edge, about 11 mm deep into the support panel 290 extend into it. At approximately the same distance between the weakening lines 293 weakening lines 295 are formed near corner regions 294, which run arcuate and open into the transverse edges 292.

Between the inner ends of the lines of weakness 293 or between these and the Weakening lines 295 each extend longitudinally running weakening lines 296, which in FIG Segments are divided. Between the segments and the ends of the lines of weakness 293 there remain narrow, non-weakened webs 297.

The curved weakening line 295 can be in a perforation, for example consist. The lines of weakness 293 may be lines of cut that the cardboard material almost penetrate completely or completely.

On each edge strip, which is penetrated by the weakening lines 293 and 295, with the edge 291 finally a tear tape 298 made of a tear-resistant plastic material glued. For reasons of clarity, only one of these tear-off tapes 298 is shown in FIG. 1 shown.

2 shows a lower intermediate panel 300 made of cardboard material. It has the same dimensions like the lower support panel 290, and its grain direction coincides with that of the lower support panel 290 match. The lower intermediate panel 300 is formed by longitudinal edges 301 and transverse edges 302 limited. In the example shown, it has ten approximately square openings 308 which are arranged at equal mutual distances. The space between the Breakthroughs 308 are made by transverse webs 309 and a longitudinal web 305 certainly. Transverse ends extend from the longitudinal edges 301 Lines of weakness 303, each with the transverse boundary lines of the openings 308 swore. These lines of weakness 303 can completely or almost completely remove the cardboard material completely penetrating cuts, but remain adjacent to the edges 301 and adjacent to the openings 308 are each narrow, non-weakened webs 307. The in the area Lines of weakness 303 extending from corner sections 304 are arcuate in FIG Perforation lines elongated, which end in the transverse edges 302.

It should be emphasized at this point that those extending adjacent the longitudinal edges 301 Edges 306 of the openings 308 from the longitudinal edges 301 an equally large distance have the lines of weakness 296 from the edges 291, as in the lower support panel 290 are spaced.

FIG. 3 shows an upper intermediate panel 310, which is essentially the lower intermediate panel 300 is the same, but differs from this in that its corner sections are cut away are and their grain is transverse. A further description is therefore unnecessary.

An upper support panel 320 is shown in FIG. 4. It has the same outline as the one above Intermediate board 310, i.e. their corner areas are cut away. So the outline is of Longitudinal edges 321 and transverse edges 322 formed on the cut away End corner areas. The fiber of the cardboard material that forms the top support panel 320 runs in the transverse direction.

The upper support panel 320 has ten arranged in two rows at regular intervals Breakthroughs 328, the outline of which is half semicircular and half about is rectangular. The opening dimensions of these openings 328 are smaller than that of Openings 308 and 318 on the intermediate panels, i.e. those between the openings 328 remaining webs 329 and 325 are wider than the corresponding webs in the Intermediate panels 300 and 310.

The contours of the parallel, transverse boundaries of the openings 328 are by a short section of about 4 mm in the example shown in the direction of the adjacent longitudinal edge 321 extended by a cutting line 324.

Starting from the longitudinal edge 321, the openings 328 extend between the openings Lines of weakness 323 which extend as far into the upper support panel 320 as that Lines of weakness 293, 303 and 313 in the other panels 290, 300 and 310. Die Cutting lines 324, which start from the openings 328, are each rectangular kinked, the kinked legs in each case close to the lines of weakness mentioned 323 ends. Remain between these and the cutting lines 324 or the longitudinal edge 321 each narrow material webs 327, which are easy to break open.

The aforementioned tables 290, 300, 310 and 320 are intended to be superimposed and to be glued together. When this is done, the longitudinal ones are lying Lines of weakness 296 of the lower support panel 290, the boundary lines 306 close to the edge Openings 308 in the lower intermediate panel 300, the boundary lines 316 near the edge of the Openings 318 in the upper intermediate panel 310 and the angled sections of the Cutting lines 324 one above the other.

Fig. 5 shows the glued state of the aforementioned panels together with one of them enclosed single blister 400, consisting of a deep-drawn blister film 410, one that well 420 closing cover 420 formed by blister film 410 and one in the tablet T contained in the well 420. The well 420 is of a flange 411 surrounded, which has an approximately square outline and to which the cover film 430 is attached.

It should be emphasized at this point that FIG. 5 does not show the material thicknesses to scale. This are namely shown greatly enlarged compared to the other dimensions to the To facilitate understanding.

It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the tear tape 298 in the edge area on the lower carrier panel 290 is glued on. The lower intermediate panel 300 is glued to the lower carrier panel 290, which is shown in FIG the drawing is shown with an adhesive layer G. In the same way are the top Intermediate panel 310 with the lower intermediate panel 300 and the upper support panel 320 with the glued upper intermediate panel 310. In the drawing are the necessary Adhesive layers, however, omitted.

The lower carrier panel 290 can be coated on one side with polyethylene for the adhesive bond. The lower intermediate panel 300 can then be applied to the lower one using heat Seal the carrier plate 290. Alternatively, the lower intermediate panel 300 can be attached to its underside Polyethylene coated to be sealed onto the lower support panel 298. According to a further alternative is the lower intermediate panel 300 on both sides with polyethylene coated so that then the upper intermediate panel 310, the lower intermediate panel 300 and the lower support panel 290 in a single operation using heat can be sealed together.

The substructure of the packaging is now complete and ready to accommodate the individual Blister 400 ready in the compartments thus formed. After inserting the blister, the are punched out of a larger blister, for example, into the Breakthroughs used in the intermediate panels delimited receiving compartments, and the upper carrier plate 320 is then placed on top and with the blister 400 occupied substructure sealed, for what purpose the upper support panel 320 on its underside can be coated with a heat-sealable material, for example polyethylene. Due to the smaller dimensions of the openings 328 in the upper support panel, the surrounding edge areas each cover the flange 411 of the blister 400, are the Blister 400 held captive in the receiving compartments.

If you want to open this blister pack, you must first open the tape 298, which is not just the Child lock is used, but also represents a guarantee closure, removed become. For this purpose, one of the corner sections 294 of the lower support panel 290 with the one on it adhesive corner portion 304 of the lower intermediate panel 300 broken off, making the End of the tape 298 has released from the composite. The tape 298 can then from the Composite can be pulled out to the side, leaving it from the lower one bearing it Carrier panel 290 peels off.

Now one of the compartments holding a blister 400 can be opened by the the edge segment of the sheet composite adjacent to the blister is pressed down. The The line of weakness 296 in the lower support panel 290 acts as a hinge, the narrow webs 307 and 317 on the lower and middle intermediate panels 300 and 310 as well as the narrow ones Web 327 on the upper support panel 320 break open, so that the entire edge segment in Swivels the area of the blister in question. But that section pivots the upper support panel 320, which is designated 324 in FIG. 4, as a rigid flag upwards, see above that the receiving compartment in which the blister 400 in question is located is not yet complete is released. This flag 324 stands up and prevents removal of the Blisters 400. To release the blister 400, it is necessary to swing the blister down Edge segment from the four panels completely to the rear, i.e. under the lower support panel 290 flip so that the flag 324 then lies flat and the blister 400 unhindered from his Storage compartment can be pushed out. Then the tablet T in the usual way are pressed out of the blister or, depending on the design, you peel the cover film 430 from the blister film 410.

It can be seen that the wrapping of an edge segment affects the other receiving compartments leaves unaffected. This is another obstacle for toddlers, the random results often cannot repeat.

Finally, it should be mentioned that the invention can be implemented with any type of blister, for example with "mono-blisters", such as aluminum / aluminum or polypropylene / polypropylene (PP / PP), or with PP / Alu compound blister or with blister-proof cover foils

Claims (10)

1. A child-resistant blister packaging for tablets and the like small articles, consisting of a lower carrier panel (290) and an upper carrier panel (320), which are fixedly connected to one another, wherein the lower carrier panel (290) is closed and the upper carrier panel (320) comprises a plurality of openings (328) arranged in at least one row in mutual distance to another, through each of which a cup (420) made of an deep-drawn blister sheet (410) extends, which on its lower side is encompassed by a flange (411), which on its lower side is sealed by a cover sheet (430), which rests on the lower carrier panel (290), and of at least one intermediate panel (300) arranged between the lower carrier panel (290) and the upper carrier panel (320) and which is provided with openings (308) in alignment with the openings (328) in the upper carrier panel (320), said openings each being penetrated by a cup (420),
   characterized by the following features:

   a) the openings (308) in the intermediate panel have a greater contour than the openings (328) in the upper carrier panel (320),

   b) the flanges (411) of the cups (420) are loosely held in the openings (308) of the intermediate panel 300 between the upper and the lower carrier panels (320, 290),

   c) the intermediate panel (300) has weakening lines (303), which start out from its openings (308) and extend in the direction towards the adjoining edge (301), each of said weakening lines extending tangentially towards the lateral edge walls of the respective opening (308),

   d) the lower carrier panel (290) comprises in its marginal portion weakening lines (293) extending away from the edge (301), which have a mutual distance corresponding to the pitch distance of the openings (308, 328) in the other panels (300, 320), and which extend symmetrically between the openings (328, 308), and a weakened hinge line (296), which extends in alignment with the limitations (306) of the openings (308) in the intermediate panel (300) close to the edge (301), and

   e) the upper carrier panel (320) has first weakening lines (323) in its marginal portion, said weakening lines being able to be broken open, which are congruent with the weakening lines (303) in the intermediate panel (300) and from which second weakening or cutting lines (324) that can be broken open extend, which open into the transversely extending walls of the openings (328) in the upper carrier panel (320).
2. A blister packaging as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a safety band (298) resistant to tearing extends between the lower carrier panel (290) and the intermediate panel (300) on the marginal portion intersected by the weakening lines (293, 303), said safety band being releasably adhered to the lower carrier panel (290) and extending along the entire edge (291 ), and that in at least one corner portion (294) of the compound of lower carrier panel (290) and intermediate panel (300) these panels are provided with weakening lines (295, 303) that can be broken open.
3. A blister packaging as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the marginal segments of the upper carrier panel (320) restricted by the weakening lines (323) each comprise a flap (324) extending over the hinge line (296) towards the opening (328) in the upper carrier panel (320).
4. A blister packaging as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weakening lines (293, 295, 296, 303, 323, 324) are partially cut through.
5. A blister packaging as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panels (290, 300, 320) consist of cardboard.
6. A blister packaging as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that two stacked intermediate panels (300, 310) exist, wherein the fiber direction of the one intermediate panel (300) extends in parallel to the one longitudinally extending edge (301) and perpendicular thereto at the other intermediate panel (310).
7. A blister packaging as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that in the lower carrier panel (290) the fiber direction extends in parallel to the marginal portion intersected by the weakening lines (293).
8. A blister packaging as claimed in one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that in the upper carrier panel (320) the fiber direction extends vertical to the marginal portion intersected by the weakening lines (323).
9. A blister packaging as claimed in claim 2 or in a claim dependent thereon, characterized in that the upper carrier panel (320) and possibly the upper intermediate panel (310) comprises a recess in its corner portions according to the extension of the weakening lines (295, 303) in the corner portion of the lower carrier panel (290) and the intermediate panel (300) connected therewith.
10. A blister packaging as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover sheet (430) is resistant against being pressed through.

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