EP4037982B1

EP4037982B1 - Pharmaceutical product container

Info

Publication number: EP4037982B1
Application number: EP20796645.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Corrado DIAZ GONZALES OLIVETTI
Original assignee: Eurpack Giustini Sacchetti Srl
Current assignee: Eurpack Giustini Sacchetti Srl
Priority date: 2019-10-03
Filing date: 2020-09-30
Publication date: 2024-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2040-09-30
Also published as: WO2021064594A1; EP4037982A1

Description

This invention relates to a pharmaceutical product container of the type described in the preamble to the first claim.
In particular, this invention relates to partitioning means designed to create compartments or sections intended to contain bottles containing pharmaceutical products in the liquid state.
Similar devices are described in the patent applications FR-A-2734795 and EP-A-2050680 .
As is well known, pharmaceutical product packagings basically comprise at least one primary and one secondary container. The primary container is preferably designed to directly contain the pharmaceutical product, whether solid or liquid, and can therefore consist of a peel-off sheet defining a plurality of capsules, such as common blisters, or a vial, for example for containing liquid substances. Secondary containers, on the other hand, are designed to contain one or more primary containers.
Generally, secondary containers basically define a box shape that can be easily opened and closed and that is usually in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped and made of material such as paper.
These secondary containers therefore define foldable faces including tabs configured to be interlocked inside specific slots or rested on another face, so as to create the secondary container.
In some circumstances, especially when the pharmaceutical product is included in vials or bottles, which therefore constitute the primary container thereof, the secondary container may include partitioning means. In most cases, the partitioning means are cardboard walls designed to define separate compartments.
In order to best preserve the integrity of the bottles, partitioning means may also be provided the walls of which are basically counter-shaped to the bottles themselves. The prior art described here has some significant drawbacks.
In particular, the partitioning means only enable separate compartments to be created, but do not provide any indication regarding the use of the bottles.
For example, the bottle could be easily removed, used, and returned to the compartment, without any kind of warning.
Basically, therefore, the containers of the prior art do not sufficiently comply with the new anti-tampering standards and, for this reason, they are now hardly usable and not suitable for correctly containing the pharmaceutical product inside.
In this context, the technical task underlying this invention is to devise a pharmaceutical product container that is capable of basically overcoming at least some of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
In this context of said technical task, one important purpose of the invention is to obtain a pharmaceutical product container that is capable of providing indications regarding the use of the bottles of the pharmaceutical product.
Another important purpose of the invention is to create a container that meets the new anti-tampering standards and that is not easily opened without its being possible to detect tampering.
The technical task and the specified purposes are achieved with a pharmaceutical product container as claimed in the appended claim 1.
Preferred technical solutions are set forth in the dependent claims.
The features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the partition of a pharmaceutical product container according to the invention in which there are two compartments for two bottles of a pharmaceutical product;
Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of the partition of a pharmaceutical product container according to the invention in which there is one bottle;
Fig. 3 is a pre-assembly template for the partition of a pharmaceutical product container according to the invention; and
Fig. 4 represents a pre-assembly template for the casing of a pharmaceutical product container according to the invention.

In this document, the measures, values, shapes and geometric references (such as perpendicularity and parallelism), when used with words like "about" or other similar terms such as "approximately" or "substantially", are to be understood as except for measurement errors or inaccuracies due to production and/or manufacturing errors and, above all, except for a slight divergence from the value, measure, shape or geometric reference with which it is associated. For example, if associated with a value, such terms preferably indicate a divergence of no more than 10% from the value itself.
Furthermore, when terms such as "first", "second", "upper", "lower", "main" and "secondary" are used, they do not necessarily identify an order, relationship priority or relative position, but they can simply be used to distinguish different components more clearly from one another.
Unless otherwise stated, the measurements and data reported in this text shall be considered as performed in International Standard Atmosphere ICAO (ISO 2533:1975).
With reference to the figures, the number 1 globally denotes the pharmaceutical product container according to the invention.
The container 1 is preferably configured to include a pharmaceutical product contained in bottles. Therefore, the pharmaceutical product is preferably liquid. However, the pharmaceutical product could equally be in the form of solid or semisolid tablets and still be included inside bottles 10.
The bottles 10 are, as is well known, basically bottle-shaped casings that mainly have a closed cylindrical body that narrows towards the outlet of the bottle. In particular, the outlet is made from the neck of the bottle 10 and, generally, also includes a closing cap to isolate the internal volume of the bottle 10 from the outside. The container 1, therefore, comprises at least one partition 2.
The partition 2 has, for the most part, the purpose of compartmentalising at least part of the container 1 and of supporting at least one bottle 10 in a stable manner. The partition 2 is preferably also designed to separate a plurality of bottles 10. The container 1, thus, essentially comprises at least one bottle 10, but preferably comprises a plurality of bottles 10, for example two.
In any case, the partition 2 is configured to create at least one compartment 20.
The compartment 20 is designed to include a bottle 10 of pharmaceutical product. The compartment 20 is, therefore, a space or a cavity present in the partition 2 and is designed to enable the insertion of the bottle 10, as shown, for example in Fig. 1.
The partition 2, in creating the compartments 20, preferably, but not exclusively, also includes a base support on which any bottles 10 can be laid down by gravity.
The partition 2 comprises, in addition, at least one first support 21 and one second support 22.
The first support 21 and the second support 22 basically create, at least partially, at least one compartment 20. They may, however, also partially define a plurality of compartments 20. Basically, then, the first support 21 and the second support 22 are edges designed to include the bottle 10 resting on its ends.
The bottle 10, in fact, comprises at least two ends. A first end, which can be the neck of the bottle 10, and a second end, which can be the resting base of the bottle 10.
The first support 21 is preferably designed to support at least the first end of a bottle 10. The second support 22 is, on the other hand, preferably designed to support at least the second end of the bottle 10.
According to the invention, at least one of the supports 21, 22 includes locking means 3.
The locking means 3 are configured to lock at least one end of the bottle 10.
In addition, the locking means 3 are configured to define at least one rip when the bottle 10 is removed from the compartment 20. Basically, therefore, the removal of the bottle 10 from the compartment 20 entails the rupture of at least part of the locking means 3, created by the rip, so as to immediately make it clear that the container 1 has been tampered with.
The term "tampering" refers, mainly, to the first use following the packaging of the container 1.
In particular, the locking means 3 are comprised in the first support 21. In any case, they could also be comprised, at the same time or alternatively, in the second support 22.
In addition, both the first support 21, and any second support 22, may include a plurality of locking means 3. For example, they may include locking means 3 for each compartment 20 defined by the supports 21, 22.
Specifically, the locking means 3 comprise a tab 30.
The tab 30 is, preferably, an almost flat portion protruding from one of the supports 21, 22.
The tab 30 is, therefore, attached to one of the supports 21, 22. In addition, the tab 30 is attached to one of them at at least two attachment areas 31. The attachment areas 31 are preferably the hooking portions between tab 30 and support 21 or 22. They may consist, for example, of simple folds designed to enable the tab 30 to rotate in relation to the support 21 or 22.
In any case, the attachment areas 31 are separate and spaced apart. Basically, therefore, the tab 30 is connected to one of the supports 21, 22 at at least two distinct and separate points.
The tab 30 is designed to resist the removal of one of the ends of the bottle 10 from the compartment 20. In this way, when the bottle 20 is removed from the compartment 20, the tab 30 defines the rip (described above) in relation to the support 21, 22 at at least one attachment area 31.
Therefore, the attachment at two separate attachment areas 31 prevents the movement of the tab 30 in relation to the support 21 or 22 and any movement of the same tab 30 can, therefore, be carried out, as happens when the bottle 10 is removed, only by breaking at least one attachment area 31.
The tab 30, in addition, more specifically, is indirectly attached to an attachment area 31 via a connection 32.
The tab 30 is directly attached, therefore, at one primary end 30a, to one of the supports 21, 22 so as to create one of the attachment areas 31.
In addition, the tab 30 is additionally attached to the support 21 or 22 by means of the connection 32 so as to create the other attachment area 31.
The latter attachment area 31 is defined at one secondary end 32a of the connection 32.
The rip is made by the connection 32 when the bottle 10 is removed from the compartment 20.
The tab 30 and the connection 32, in addition, are attached together at, respectively, a third end 30b, opposite the primary end 30a, and a fourth end 32b, opposite the secondary end 32a.
Of course, the tab 30 and the connection 32 are attached, indicatively, at these ends 30b, 32b. They are not necessarily attached to the end, but also close to the ends, as clearly shown, for example, in Fig. 2.
In addition, the partition 2 preferably consists of a single piece beginning with a single, flat pre-assembly template.
Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3, the tab 30 and the connection 32 are attached together when the partition is assembled, for example via gluing.
In any case, the third end 30b is configured to come into contact with one of the ends of the bottle 10 to lock the bottle 10 itself.
The locking means 3 can, in addition, comprise a locking base 33.
The locking base 33 can be a portion of the first or second support 21, 23 designed to sustain, via gravity, one end of the bottle 10.
The locking base 33 is preferably designed to sustain the first end of the bottle 10, i.e. the neck.
If the locking base 33 is present, the tab 30 is preferably opposite the resting base 33 so that, when the bottle 10 is arranged within the compartment 20, the first end of the bottle 10 is locked between the resting base 33 and the tab 30.
In addition, preferably, the third end 30b of the tab 30 is preferably counter-shaped to the first end of the bottle 10, i.e. to the neck.
As mentioned above, the locking means 3 are preferably arranged near the first support 21 so as to lock the first end of the bottle 10.
Preferably, therefore, the second support 22 comprises a second resting base 4. The second resting base 4 is, preferably, designed to sustain, via gravity, the second end of the bottle 10. The resting base 4 can, therefore, be a flat base or it can also be counter-shaped to the base, i.e. the second end, of the bottle 10.
The resting base 4 can, in addition, support the bottle 10 basically resting on the bottom of the partition 2 or of the container 1, as shown in Fig. 2, or suspended above the bottom and spaced apart from it as happens, preferably, for the locking base 33.
In addition to what is described, the supports 21, 22 preferably each create cavities 23.
The cavities 23 preferably define part of the compartment 20. In addition, also because of the resting bases 33, 4, they are at least partially counter-shaped to, respectively, the first end and to the second end of the bottle 10.
The container 1 described can also comprise, in addition, a casing 5.
The casing 5 is preferably a box-shaped element designed to create a closed volume isolated from the outside, but accessible, on command, by the user.
In addition, the casing 5 preferably houses the partition 2. Obviously, when the container 1 is packaged, the casing 5 also includes at least one bottle 10, preferably a plurality of bottles 10 housed, in their turn, in the partition 2.
The casing 5 is, thus, basically known in the current state of the art and comprises a cover 50.
The cover 50 is, thus, designed to cover an opening of the casing 5, which enables access inside the casing 5. The cover 50 is preferably delimited by notches 51. The notches 51 are preferably designed to enable the cover 50 to be ripped open. The cover 50, therefore, once open, also makes it possible to warn the user that the container 1 has been opened.
The pharmaceutical product container 1 according to the invention achieves important advantages.
In fact, the container 1 makes it possible to warn the user of any tampering with the contents thanks to the rips identified in the attachment areas 31 of the locking means 3.
In addition, if the partition 2 is included inside the casing 5, the cover 50 also makes it possible to additionally warn the user whether the contents of the container 1 have been used or accessed.
Therefore, the bottles 1 are protected by any tampering given that the neck can only be accessed following the ripping of the locking means 3.
Therefore, an additional advantage of the container 1 is that of responding to the new anti-tampering standards, reducing, if not eliminating, the possibility of tampering with the pharmaceutical product contained in the container 1.
The invention is susceptible to variations falling within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims.
In this context, all details can be replaced by equivalent elements, and the materials, shapes, and dimensions may be any materials, shapes, and dimensions.

Claims

A pharmaceutical product container (1) comprising:
- a partition (2) configured to create at least one compartment (20) for one bottle (10) of said pharmaceutical product and including at least one first support (21) designed to support at least one first end of said bottle (10) and one second support (22) designed to support at least one second end, opposite said first end, of said bottle (10),

- at least one of said supports (21, 22) including locking means (3) configured to lock at least one end of said bottle (10) and to define at least one rip when said bottle (10) is removed from said compartment (20) in such a way as to reveal tampering with said container (1),

- said locking means (3) comprising at least one tab (30) attached to said at least one of said supports (21, 22) at at least two separate and spaced attachment areas (31) and designed to resist the removal of said at least one end of said bottle (10) from said compartment (20) in such a way that, when said bottle (10) is removed from said compartment (20), said tab (30) defines said rip in relation to said support (21, 22) at at least one of said attachment areas (31),

- said tab (30) being directly attached, at one primary end (30a), to said at least one of said supports (21, 22) in such a way as to create one of said attachment areas (31) and is additionally attached to said support (21, 22) by means of a connection (32) in such a way as to create another one of said attachment areas (31) at a secondary end (32a) of said connection (32), said connection (32) making said rip when said bottle (10) is removed from said compartment (20), and said container (1) being characterised in that.

- said tab (30) and said connection (32) are mutually attached at two respective third and fourth ends (30b, 32b) opposite respectively said primary end (30a) and said secondary end (32a), said third end (30b) being configured to come into contact with said at least one end of said bottle (10) to lock said bottle (10).
The container (1) according to previous claim, wherein said attachment areas (31) are hooking portions between said tab (30) and said at least one of said supports (21,22) consisting of simple folds designed to enable said tab (30) to rotate in relation to said at least one of said supports (21,22).
The container (1) according to any previous claim, wherein said locking means (3) comprise a first resting base (33) designed to sustain said first end of said bottle (10) by gravity and said tab (30) is opposite said resting base (33) in such a way that, when said bottle (10) is arranged within said compartment (20), said first end of said bottle (10) is locked between said resting base (33) and said tab (30).
The container (1) according to any previous claim 2, wherein said first end of said bottle (10) corresponds to the neck of said bottle (10) and said third end (30b) is counter-shaped to said neck.
The container (1) according to any previous claim, wherein said locking means (3) are arranged at said first support (21) in such a way as to lock said first end of said bottle (10) and said second support (22) comprises a second resting base (4) designed to sustain, by gravity, said second end of said bottle (10) resting on or spaced from the bottom of said container (1).
The container (1) according to any previous claim, wherein said supports (21, 22) create cavities (23) defining part of said compartment (20) at least partially counter-shaped, respectively, to said first and said second end of said bottle (10).
The container (1) according to any previous claim, comprising a casing (5) defining at least one cover (50) and housing said partition (2).
The container (1) according to claim 7, wherein said cover (50) is delimited by notches (51) designed to enable the rip-off opening of said cover (50).