EP1943163A1 - Pack - Google Patents
PackInfo
- Publication number
- EP1943163A1 EP1943163A1 EP06794708A EP06794708A EP1943163A1 EP 1943163 A1 EP1943163 A1 EP 1943163A1 EP 06794708 A EP06794708 A EP 06794708A EP 06794708 A EP06794708 A EP 06794708A EP 1943163 A1 EP1943163 A1 EP 1943163A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- leaf
- tablet
- housing
- tablets
- tablet housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
- B65D83/0445—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments
- B65D83/0463—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container
Definitions
- This invention relates to a pack in the form of a tablet housing, intended to be carried by a user, allowing tablets to be removed from it as and when required.
- the solution will be of a relatively simple nature; therefore one which has a good chance of becoming a consumer product, as opposed to a mere proposal.
- a tablet housing comprising two generally rigid leaves hinged together, each leaf having: recesses or apertures to align with or receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets; and closure means; wherein the housing may be opened in order to access tablets and closed in order to protect and retain tablets.
- the leaves are substantially identical to each other.
- each leaf has apertures to receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets.
- the advantage of apertures over recesses is that the user can see without opening the tablet housing how many tablets are left.
- each leaf may receive 2-8 tablets, preferably 2-6 tablets, more preferably 2-4 tablets.
- each leaf defines a line (i.e. a column or row) of tablets, for example a 2 by 1, 4 by 1 or, especially, a 3 by 1 array.
- a blister pack of size to fit within one of the leaves (hereinafter a "leaf-sized blister pack") may be purchased as such or may be separated from a larger blister pack.
- Such a larger blister pack is formed with means to facilitate the separation of leaf-sized blister packs.
- each leaf is in the form of a shallow moulded tray (formed either with said recesses or with said apertures) .
- Each leaf has a plane substantially in alignment with the hinge and the closure means.
- the base of the tray is spaced from the plane in order substantially to accommodate the blister pack.
- the location where the tray meets the plane there is a shallow shelf on which the periphery of the leaf-sized blister pack rests.
- the leaves could be substantially flat rather than of tray form, and the tablet cells could be accommodated within pockets moulded into each leaf, or simply project substantially through apertures in each leaf.
- the tray form is preferred. The tablet cells are then substantially accommodated within the tablet housing, and better protected from damage.
- a kit comprising a tablet housing of the first aspect, and a plurality of leaf-sized blister packs.
- the plurality of leaf-sized blister packs may be separate from each other, or may be provided in a larger blister pack from which the leaf-sized blister packs may be separated.
- the larger blister pack comprises at least three of the leaf-sized blister packs.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view generally from above, of a tablet housing in accordance with the invention, open;
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view generally from above, of the same tablet housing, closed;
- Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the same tablet housing, open;
- Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the same tablet housing, closed.
- Fig. 5 is a perspective view generally from above of the same tablet housing, closed, and containing tablets.
- the tablet housing 2 comprises two leaves 4, 6, joined by a hinge 8.
- the housing may be opened or closed with the aid of a closure means in the form of two spaced-apart clasps 10, 11, formed respectively from two spaced-apart clasp members 1OA, 1OB and HA, HB (Figs. 2, 3).
- the leaves, hinge and clasp members are all formed in a single plastics moulding.
- Each leaf is in the form of a tray having a base wall 12 and an inclined side wall 14.
- the rim 16 of each leaf defines a central plane of the tablet housing, at which the two leaves meet. Between the rim and the side wall 14 there is a shallow shelf 18 (Fig. 3) .
- the base wall 12 of each leaf is formed with three identical apertures 20, in a line.
- each leaf-sized blister pack having three tablets in a row is placed within each leaf .
- the periphery of each leaf-sized tablet blister pack rests on the shallow shelf 18 of the leaf accepting it.
- the projecting tablet cells 22 are then aligned with the apertures 20 and project slightly through them, but the major parts are housed within the tray (see Fig. 5) .
- the tablet housing When the tablet housing is charged with the two leaf-sized blister packs each of three tablets, the tablet housing can be closed, and is sufficiently small to be carried comfortably in a pocket, handbag or toilet bag.
- the configuration is as shown in Fig. 3.
- tablets When tablets are required the housing is opened by releasing the clasps 10, 11, and the required tablets removed. The housing is then closed again.
- the user can simply see when the housing is about to be exhausted, and can recharge it.
- the blister strips can be supplied as such, in refill packs, or may be provided within a larger blister pack, from which they may be separated. To assist this the larger blister pack may be scored, thinned or perforated.
- the breachable sheets e.g. metallic foils of the two blister strips are face-to-face, and so protected from damage .
- the tablet housing of the invention is inexpensive to manufacture; simple; neat; and functional.
Abstract
A tablet housing (2) comprises two generally rigid leaves (4, 6) hinged together, each leaf having recesses or apertures (20) to align with or receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets; and closure means (10, 11); wherein the housing may be opened in order to access tablets and closed in order to protect and retain tablets.
Description
Pack
This invention relates to a pack in the form of a tablet housing, intended to be carried by a user, allowing tablets to be removed from it as and when required.
There have been many proposals for portable tablet packs. Many have been excessively complex, with a plurality of intricate moving parts, whereby tablets may be advanced and dispensed on operation of an actuator. Layers of further complication have been added; for example tablet counters; indicators that a tablet housing is about to run out of tablets, and so forth. However, such complicated tablet housings have not generally made it onto the market, presumably for reasons of high cost and complexity, and/or poor reliability.
Nevertheless there is still a need for a tablet housing which protects a blister pack of tablets in, for example, a pocket, toilet bag or handbag. Blister packs of tablets placed loose in such a receptacle become distorted and, from time to time, a tablet is forced out of its pocket, through the breachable foil. Market research consistently shows that consumers find this unsatisfactory and desire a solution.
It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a solution to the problems set out above . Desirably the solution will be of a relatively simple nature; therefore one which has a good chance of becoming a consumer product, as opposed to a mere proposal.
CONFIRM* TION COPY
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tablet housing comprising two generally rigid leaves hinged together, each leaf having: recesses or apertures to align with or receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets; and closure means; wherein the housing may be opened in order to access tablets and closed in order to protect and retain tablets.
Preferably the leaves are substantially identical to each other.
Preferably each leaf has apertures to receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets. The advantage of apertures over recesses is that the user can see without opening the tablet housing how many tablets are left.
Preferably each leaf may receive 2-8 tablets, preferably 2-6 tablets, more preferably 2-4 tablets. Preferably each leaf defines a line (i.e. a column or row) of tablets, for example a 2 by 1, 4 by 1 or, especially, a 3 by 1 array.
A blister pack of size to fit within one of the leaves (hereinafter a "leaf-sized blister pack") may be purchased as such or may be separated from a larger blister pack.
Preferably such a larger blister pack is formed with means to facilitate the separation of leaf-sized blister packs.
Such means may, for example, be thinning, scoring or perforation of the material of the larger blister pack, in the appropriate place .
Preferably each leaf is in the form of a shallow moulded tray (formed either with said recesses or with said apertures) . Each leaf has a plane substantially in alignment with the hinge and the closure means. Preferably the base of the tray is spaced from the plane in order substantially to accommodate the blister pack. Preferably in the location where the tray meets the plane there is a shallow shelf on which the periphery of the leaf-sized blister pack rests.
In another embodiment the leaves could be substantially flat rather than of tray form, and the tablet cells could be accommodated within pockets moulded into each leaf, or simply project substantially through apertures in each leaf. However the tray form is preferred. The tablet cells are then substantially accommodated within the tablet housing, and better protected from damage.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is- provided a kit comprising a tablet housing of the first aspect, and a plurality of leaf-sized blister packs. The plurality of leaf-sized blister packs may be separate from each other, or may be provided in a larger blister pack from which the leaf-sized blister packs may be separated. Preferably the larger blister pack comprises at least three of the leaf-sized blister packs.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view generally from above, of a tablet housing in accordance with the invention, open;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view generally from above, of the same tablet housing, closed;
Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the same tablet housing, open;
Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the same tablet housing, closed; and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view generally from above of the same tablet housing, closed, and containing tablets.
The tablet housing 2 comprises two leaves 4, 6, joined by a hinge 8. The housing may be opened or closed with the aid of a closure means in the form of two spaced-apart clasps 10, 11, formed respectively from two spaced-apart clasp members 1OA, 1OB and HA, HB (Figs. 2, 3). The leaves, hinge and clasp members are all formed in a single plastics moulding.
Each leaf is in the form of a tray having a base wall 12 and an inclined side wall 14. The rim 16 of each leaf defines a central plane of the tablet housing, at which the two leaves meet. Between the rim and the side wall 14 there is a shallow shelf 18 (Fig. 3) . The base wall 12 of each leaf is formed with three identical apertures 20, in a line.
To use the tablet housing a leaf-sized blister pack having three tablets in a row is placed within each leaf . The periphery of each leaf-sized tablet blister pack rests on the shallow shelf 18 of the leaf accepting it. The
projecting tablet cells 22 are then aligned with the apertures 20 and project slightly through them, but the major parts are housed within the tray (see Fig. 5) .
When the tablet housing is charged with the two leaf-sized blister packs each of three tablets, the tablet housing can be closed, and is sufficiently small to be carried comfortably in a pocket, handbag or toilet bag. The configuration is as shown in Fig. 3. When tablets are required the housing is opened by releasing the clasps 10, 11, and the required tablets removed. The housing is then closed again.
The user can simply see when the housing is about to be exhausted, and can recharge it.
The blister strips can be supplied as such, in refill packs, or may be provided within a larger blister pack, from which they may be separated. To assist this the larger blister pack may be scored, thinned or perforated.
When the housing is charged with tablets, it will be appreciated that in the closed position shown in Fig. 3, the breachable sheets (e.g. metallic foils of the two blister strips are face-to-face, and so protected from damage .
It will be appreciated that the tablet housing of the invention is inexpensive to manufacture; simple; neat; and functional.
Claims
1. A tablet housing comprises two generally rigid leaves hinged together, each leaf having: recesses or apertures to receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets; and closure means; wherein the housing may be opened in order to access tablets and closed in order to protect and retain tablets .
2. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein each leaf has from 2 to 8 recesses or apertures.
3. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein each leaf has from 2 to 6 recesses or apertures .
4. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein each leaf has from 2 to 4 recesses or apertures.
5. A tablet housing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apertures or recesses in each leaf are arranged in a line.
6. A tablet housing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each leaf is in the form of a shallow moulded tray.
7. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein each leaf is able substantially to accommodate the blister pack.
8. A tablet housing as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each leaf receives its blister pack in such a manner that when the tablet housing is closed the foils of the two blister packs are in face to face relationship.
9. A kit comprising a tablet housing as claimed in any preceding claim, and a plurality of leaf-sized blister packs, separate from each other or separable from each other.
10. A tablet housing or kit substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0520431A GB2430928A (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2005-10-07 | Casing for blister pack |
PCT/GB2006/003757 WO2007042790A1 (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-10-09 | Pack |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1943163A1 true EP1943163A1 (en) | 2008-07-16 |
Family
ID=35429994
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP06794708A Withdrawn EP1943163A1 (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-10-09 | Pack |
Country Status (9)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20090166244A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1943163A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20080053364A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101282889A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2006300932A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2623757A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2430928A (en) |
RU (1) | RU2008118138A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007042790A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8708149B2 (en) | 2011-11-03 | 2014-04-29 | Berlin Packaging, Llc | Flip container for blister card medication holders |
US8678189B2 (en) | 2011-11-03 | 2014-03-25 | Berlin Packaging, Llc | Box type container holder for medication cards |
US9108784B2 (en) * | 2012-06-29 | 2015-08-18 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Dispensing container, packaged product assembly, and related method |
Family Cites Families (20)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3324996A (en) * | 1966-01-19 | 1967-06-13 | Searle & Co | Dispenser for pharmaceutical tablets |
US3603453A (en) * | 1969-06-09 | 1971-09-07 | Parke Davis & Co | Pharmacal package construction |
US3921804A (en) * | 1974-05-09 | 1975-11-25 | William W Tester | Medication dispensing package |
US4384649A (en) * | 1980-12-11 | 1983-05-24 | E. R. Squibb & Sons, Inc. | Dispensing package |
US4511032A (en) * | 1983-04-25 | 1985-04-16 | Sunbeam Plastics Corporation | Child resistant safety container |
US5109984A (en) * | 1990-06-22 | 1992-05-05 | Romick Jerome M | Unit-dose medication handling and dispensing system |
US5323907A (en) * | 1992-06-23 | 1994-06-28 | Multi-Comp, Inc. | Child resistant package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications |
US5346069A (en) * | 1992-09-24 | 1994-09-13 | Intini Thomas D | Container |
US5489025A (en) * | 1994-03-01 | 1996-02-06 | Romick; Jerome M. | Unit-dose medication dispenser and multiple-dispenser frame therefor |
US5740938A (en) * | 1995-03-14 | 1998-04-21 | Magenta Corporation | Safety container |
GB9713876D0 (en) * | 1997-06-30 | 1997-09-03 | Glaxo Group Ltd | Device for holding blister pack |
US5988429A (en) * | 1997-10-14 | 1999-11-23 | Pharmadesign, Inc. | Blister pack pill dispenser |
US6021901A (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 2000-02-08 | Owens-Illinois Closure Inc. | Child-resistant container |
US6832686B2 (en) * | 2001-03-20 | 2004-12-21 | Michael Patrick Donegan | Child resistant compact case |
US6679381B1 (en) * | 2001-06-18 | 2004-01-20 | Rexam Medical Packaging, Inc.. | One hand opening child resistant blister pack container |
ITMI20010538U1 (en) * | 2001-10-03 | 2003-04-03 | Pillot Massimo | PORTABLE CONTAINER PARTICULARLY DESIGNED FOR "BLISTER" TYPE PACKAGES, CONTAINING DRUG TABLETS, SWEET PRODUCTS, AND OTHER PRO |
US6779663B1 (en) * | 2002-02-06 | 2004-08-24 | Powell John Pocsi | System and method for loading pills into a pillbox |
GB0208730D0 (en) * | 2002-04-17 | 2002-05-29 | Boots Co Plc | A pack |
FR2845668B1 (en) * | 2002-10-14 | 2005-08-05 | Sanofi Synthelabo | CASE FOR PROTECTING A BLISTER MADE OF RIGID PLASTIC MATERIAL |
GB0311907D0 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2003-06-25 | Boots Healthcare Int Ltd | Pack |
-
2005
- 2005-10-07 GB GB0520431A patent/GB2430928A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2006
- 2006-10-09 US US12/089,305 patent/US20090166244A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-10-09 AU AU2006300932A patent/AU2006300932A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2006-10-09 EP EP06794708A patent/EP1943163A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2006-10-09 WO PCT/GB2006/003757 patent/WO2007042790A1/en active Application Filing
- 2006-10-09 RU RU2008118138/12A patent/RU2008118138A/en unknown
- 2006-10-09 CN CNA2006800370619A patent/CN101282889A/en active Pending
- 2006-10-09 KR KR1020087008284A patent/KR20080053364A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-10-09 CA CA002623757A patent/CA2623757A1/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO2007042790A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB0520431D0 (en) | 2005-11-16 |
CA2623757A1 (en) | 2007-04-19 |
GB2430928A (en) | 2007-04-11 |
CN101282889A (en) | 2008-10-08 |
AU2006300932A1 (en) | 2007-04-19 |
RU2008118138A (en) | 2009-11-20 |
WO2007042790A1 (en) | 2007-04-19 |
US20090166244A1 (en) | 2009-07-02 |
KR20080053364A (en) | 2008-06-12 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20080428 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20100504 |