GB2305653A

GB2305653A - Packages

Info

Publication number: GB2305653A
Application number: GB9525542A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Brian Walton
Original assignee: THOMAS WAIDE Ltd
Current assignee: THOMAS WAIDE Ltd
Priority date: 1995-12-14
Filing date: 1995-12-14
Publication date: 1997-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2015-12-14
Also published as: GB9525542D0; GB2305653B

Abstract

A package is provided having a space for storing a product, a display surface 12 carrying information related to the product, and a cover portion 14 movable between a first position in which the display surface 12 is concealed, and a second position in which the display surface 12 is visible there being first and second sealing means for holding the cover portion 14 in the first position. The first sealing means, which is not resealable, may be formed by gluing a tab 16 to a side wall 10 and the second sealing means, which is releasably resealable, by engaging the tab 16 in a slot 17, after the tab 16 has been unsealed so that the cover portion can be releasably retained in the first position and the information inspected when desired. The invention provides a tamper evident, re-closeable, security package.

Description

PACKAGING The invention relates to packaging and particularly, though not exclusively, to packaging for the pharmaceutical industry.

It is frequently necessary when packaging pharmaceutical products to include an information leaflet in the package, for example to include information about the contents of the pharmaceutical products and/or how to use them.

The leaflets have to be printed as a separate item and care has to be taken to ensure that a leaflet is included in the packaging with every product.

Not only does this increase the cost and the need for care, but the end user might well subsequently lose the leaflet.

According to the invention, a package is provided, the package having a space for storing a product, a display surface carrying information related to the product, and a cover portion movable between a first position in which the display surface is concealed, and a second position in which the display surface is visible, there being first and second sealing means for holding the cover portion in the first position, the first sealing means not being resealable, and the second sealing means being releasably resealable so that after the first sealing means has been unsealed, the cover portion can still be releasably retained in the first position, so that the information can be inspected when desired.

The product can be sold in the package with the first sealing means retaining the cover portion in the first position. Once the end user has opened the first sealing means, it cannot be resealed, so evidence remains that the package has been tampered with. For the convenience of the end user, the second sealing means can be used to close the cover portion but the fact that the second sealing means has been used, rather than the first, confirms that the package is not in the original unsold condition. Thus the invention provides a tamper evident, re-closable security package.

The inner surface of the cover portion may carry additional information.

The first sealing means may involve the use of a glued portion which, once torn open, cannot be resealed.

The second sealing means may comprise a tab insertable into a slot.

The glue may be used to initially secure the tab to a face of the package.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of package according to the invention, ready for sale; Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2, but showing a cover portion of the package unsealed; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the package resealed using a second sealing means; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a card blank from which the package is manufactured.

The package comprises a generally rectangular flat card box having side walls 10, end walls 11, a top 12 and a bottom 13. This portion of the package is formed in a conventional manner by folding and gluing the blank shown in Figure 4.

This part of the package comprises a container for a pharmaceutical, for example tablets in a blister pack (not shown).

In addition to that portion of the package which forms a compartment for the product being packaged, the package has a cover in the form of a flap 14, hinged to the package along one edge 15.

The top 12 of the package and the underside of the flap 14 are printed with information about the contents of the package.

When the package is sold, the information is concealed and kept confidential, because a flap 16 on a cover 14 is glued to the adjacent side 10.

The end user of the package can gain access to the information by tearing the flap 16 away from the side 10 and raising the cover. The package is shown in Figure 2 with the flap 16 torn away from the side 10 and the cover 14 partially raised.

After the information has been studied, the cover 14 can be returned to the closed position by tucking the flap 16 into a preformed slot 17, so that the package assumes the condition shown in Figure 3.

This prevents the cover 14 from flapping about and possibly becoming damaged and unreadable, or even torn off completely. However, it is evident from the different method of resealing the package that the package is not in the original unsold condition. This is readily apparent from a comparison of Figures 1 and 3.

The novel features of this embodiment of package are derived from those portions of the blank (see Figure 4) comprising the cover 14, tab 16, and slot 17. The flap 14 is connected to the side 10 by a narrow spacer portion 18 to provide the necessary clearance for folding and gluing when forming the package.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A package having a space for storing a product, a display surface carrying information related to the product, and a cover portion movable between a first position in which the display surface is concealed, and a second position in which the display surface is visible, there being first and second sealing means for holding the cover portion in the first position, the first sealing means not being resealable, and the second sealing means being releasably resealable so that after the first sealing means has been unsealed, the cover portion can still be releasably retained in the first position, so that the information can be inspected when desired.

2. A package as claimed in Claim 1, in which the inner surface of the cover portion carries additional information.

3. A package as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the first sealing means involves the use of a glued portion which, once torn open, cannot be resealed.

4. A package as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second sealing means comprises a tab insertable into a slot.

5. A package as claimed in Claim 4, in which glue is used to initially secure the tab to a face of the package.

6. A package constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.