GB2052426A - Blister pack - Google Patents

Abstract

A blister pack has a number of cavities (A1...) sealed by a film C. In the cavities, tablets are arranged edge-on relative to the film C to facilitate breaking of the sealing film without sudden ejection of the tablet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Blister pack This invention relates to blister packs for items such as tablets.

In packaging tablets, troches, capsules and similar items, it is normal practice to use laminar supports commonly known as blister packs, in which a film of suitable material, usually plastics, is provided with cavities or recesses, generally arranged symmetrically in rows or columns, each of which cavity or recess contains a tablet or similar item. The tablets are held in place and protected in the cavities by a metal film secured to the support by means of a suitable adhesive, the use of such support being convenient and rational, also for conservation of the tablets or similar items; however in practice it has certain drawbacks and limitations, since the removal of the tablets from the cavities is not always a simple matter for the user, who must necessarily tear or break the metallic film which seals the cavity.

Normally, the extraction ofthe tablet or similar item from the support is effected by the user by exerting a finger pressure on the bottom of the cavity to urge the tablet against the metal film until this breaks. However, as already stated, this procedure is not rational as the pressure is exerted by the user and transmitted by the tablet to a wide area of the metal film. Moreover, the tearing of the metal film is difficult and irregular as the surfaces of tablets are usually convex and hence not particularly suitable to tear the sealing film. Also, the tablets which are pressed against the metal film may at times be expelled violently from their cavities and may get lost or soiled by dropping on the floor.

According to the present invention, there is provided a blister pack comprising a sheet provided with a plurality of cavities or recesses closed by a breakable film, the cavities or recesses each containing an item such as a tablet arranged with an edge or minor surface thereof facing the breakable film so that said edge or minor surface can cooperate with the film to facilitate controlled breakage and hence gradual expulsion of the item from the cavity or recess.

Metallic or other types of film may be used to close the cavities or recesses.

The invention will now be explained in the following description to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates, by way of example, one preferred form of embodiment of the present invention; in the drawings: Figure 1 is a cut-away perspective view of the embodiment; Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal and transverse sections respectively of one of the cavities in the supporting sheet.

The illustrated blister pack consists of a sheet A of heat formed plastic material provided with a plurality of cavities or recesses A1 arranged regularly, for example in rows or columns. Each cavity A1 is shaped so as to contain a tablet in a position per pendicularto the support, so that a minor surface of the tablet, in this case the edge B engages on one side bottom A2 of the cavity and on the other side the surface of a film C which tightly seals the cavity itself.

Sealing film C is of metallic material for example, aluminium foil of suitable thickness as to be breakable to release the tablet, in addition to being impermeable. The metal film C is secured to the top surface of supporting sheet A by means of an adhesive and embossing or similar, to ensure airtight union of the two parts. To facilitate heat molding of cavity A1, the bottom A2 of it is shaped according to the contour or perimeter of tablet B. In the case of round tablets, said bottom is curved, i.e. without sharp corners.

It is obvious from the above that the operations relating to preparation of the pack are effected in the conventional manner and with the usual packaging facilities appropriate to ensure housing of tablets B in cavities A1 with their edges perpendicularly to sheet A.

Metal film or foil C which seals the cavities in sheet A is applied successively to complete the packaging.

The opening of cavities A1 is performed in the usual manner by pressing on bottom A2 cavity A1 so as to urge edge B1 of tablet B against metal sealing film C. Thus, the gradual tearing of film C takes place, practically without effort, with consequent controlled expulsion of tablet B as tablets are generally convex (whether circular or polygonal, for example in the form of a Rhombus), the tearing of sealing film C is effected on an initially limited surface area which gradually enlarges as the tablet B is gradually pushed out of the cavity. The edges of the torn metal film C exert a braking effect on the tablet.

As a result, the pressure exerted by the userwill not cause the tablet to be expelled suddenly from the cavity, and will avoid its dropping on the floor where it may become soiled or get lost, as often occurs in supports in which the tablets are set in the horizontal position. It is evident that the form of cavities A1 may vary in relation to the shape of the tablets, troches or similar items, but the advantages will be the same.

1. A blister pack comprising a sheet provided with a plurality of cavities or recesses closed by a breakable film the cavities or recesses each containing an item such as a tablet arranged with an edge or minor surface thereof facing the breakable film so that said edge or minor surface can cooperate with the film to facilitate controlled breakage and hence gradual expulsion of the item from the cavity or recess.

2. A pack according to Claim 1 wherein the form of the cavities or recesses is substantially that of a truncated cone, the smaller end of which in each case forms the bottom part of the cavity or recess.

3. A pack according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the bottom of each cavity or recess conforms to the outline of the item therein.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Blister pack This invention relates to blister packs for items such as tablets. In packaging tablets, troches, capsules and similar items, it is normal practice to use laminar supports commonly known as blister packs, in which a film of suitable material, usually plastics, is provided with cavities or recesses, generally arranged symmetrically in rows or columns, each of which cavity or recess contains a tablet or similar item. The tablets are held in place and protected in the cavities by a metal film secured to the support by means of a suitable adhesive, the use of such support being convenient and rational, also for conservation of the tablets or similar items; however in practice it has certain drawbacks and limitations, since the removal of the tablets from the cavities is not always a simple matter for the user, who must necessarily tear or break the metallic film which seals the cavity. Normally, the extraction ofthe tablet or similar item from the support is effected by the user by exerting a finger pressure on the bottom of the cavity to urge the tablet against the metal film until this breaks. However, as already stated, this procedure is not rational as the pressure is exerted by the user and transmitted by the tablet to a wide area of the metal film. Moreover, the tearing of the metal film is difficult and irregular as the surfaces of tablets are usually convex and hence not particularly suitable to tear the sealing film. Also, the tablets which are pressed against the metal film may at times be expelled violently from their cavities and may get lost or soiled by dropping on the floor. According to the present invention, there is provided a blister pack comprising a sheet provided with a plurality of cavities or recesses closed by a breakable film, the cavities or recesses each containing an item such as a tablet arranged with an edge or minor surface thereof facing the breakable film so that said edge or minor surface can cooperate with the film to facilitate controlled breakage and hence gradual expulsion of the item from the cavity or recess. Metallic or other types of film may be used to close the cavities or recesses. The invention will now be explained in the following description to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates, by way of example, one preferred form of embodiment of the present invention; in the drawings: Figure 1 is a cut-away perspective view of the embodiment; Figures 2 and 3 are longitudinal and transverse sections respectively of one of the cavities in the supporting sheet. The illustrated blister pack consists of a sheet A of heat formed plastic material provided with a plurality of cavities or recesses A1 arranged regularly, for example in rows or columns. Each cavity A1 is shaped so as to contain a tablet in a position per pendicularto the support, so that a minor surface of the tablet, in this case the edge B engages on one side bottom A2 of the cavity and on the other side the surface of a film C which tightly seals the cavity itself. Sealing film C is of metallic material for example, aluminium foil of suitable thickness as to be breakable to release the tablet, in addition to being impermeable. The metal film C is secured to the top surface of supporting sheet A by means of an adhesive and embossing or similar, to ensure airtight union of the two parts. To facilitate heat molding of cavity A1, the bottom A2 of it is shaped according to the contour or perimeter of tablet B. In the case of round tablets, said bottom is curved, i.e. without sharp corners. It is obvious from the above that the operations relating to preparation of the pack are effected in the conventional manner and with the usual packaging facilities appropriate to ensure housing of tablets B in cavities A1 with their edges perpendicularly to sheet A. Metal film or foil C which seals the cavities in sheet A is applied successively to complete the packaging. The opening of cavities A1 is performed in the usual manner by pressing on bottom A2 cavity A1 so as to urge edge B1 of tablet B against metal sealing film C. Thus, the gradual tearing of film C takes place, practically without effort, with consequent controlled expulsion of tablet B as tablets are generally convex (whether circular or polygonal, for example in the form of a Rhombus), the tearing of sealing film C is effected on an initially limited surface area which gradually enlarges as the tablet B is gradually pushed out of the cavity. The edges of the torn metal film C exert a braking effect on the tablet. As a result, the pressure exerted by the userwill not cause the tablet to be expelled suddenly from the cavity, and will avoid its dropping on the floor where it may become soiled or get lost, as often occurs in supports in which the tablets are set in the horizontal position. It is evident that the form of cavities A1 may vary in relation to the shape of the tablets, troches or similar items, but the advantages will be the same. CLAIMS

1. A blister pack comprising a sheet provided with a plurality of cavities or recesses closed by a breakable film the cavities or recesses each containing an item such as a tablet arranged with an edge or minor surface thereof facing the breakable film so that said edge or minor surface can cooperate with the film to facilitate controlled breakage and hence gradual expulsion of the item from the cavity or recess.

2. A pack according to Claim 1 wherein the form of the cavities or recesses is substantially that of a truncated cone, the smaller end of which in each case forms the bottom part of the cavity or recess.

3. A pack according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the bottom of each cavity or recess conforms to the outline of the item therein.

4. A pack according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the cavities or recesses in the sheet are heat molded.

5. A pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cavities or recesses are arranged in one or more rows or columns.

6. A pack according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said film is metallic.

7. A blister pack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.