GB2429701A - Fluid filled blister pack dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention described relates to a dispenser 4 for dispensing fluid from fluid filled blister packs 1. The dispensing apparatus 4 comprises an opening means and a carrying means. The opening means consists of a first member 5 adapted to compress a blister pack 1 in cooperation with an opposing member. The carrying means is adapted to moveably locate the opening means relative to the blister. The dispensing apparatus 4 preferably takes the shape of a band. The first member of the opening means 5 may take the form of a piercing cutting means, while the opposing member may take the form of a user's finger. On pressing the dispensing apparatus 4 in a direction 13, a piercing cutting means 5 may be moved to engage a blister wall and cause contents to be expressed in direction 12.

Description

1 Fluid Dispenser and Fluid Dispensing Assembly 3 The present invention

relates to an apparatus and an 4 associated assembly for dispensing fluids, in particular for dispensing fluid from fluid filled blisters and 6 blister packs.

8 This invention has particular relevance as an alternative 9 to bottles for shower soaps, dispensers for skin creams and small body worn packs for dispensing liquid, cream or 11 gels, especially healthcare alcohol gels.

13 Bottles of various types have historically been used to 14 dispense fluids. The larger bottles may be more cost effective to refill than smaller bottles but refilling 16 can present a spillage hazard and it is time consuming.

17 Some bottles for liquid fluids are valved and have pump 18 dispensers. These pumps are liable to clogging especially 19 if re-used after refilling, and the smaller bottles are not cost effective to refill. Also, the smaller the 21 bottle the more expensive it is in comparison to the 22 fluid it contains. The aforesaid bottle products, when 23 successful, are used in vast quantities and even small 1 innovations leading to production cost improvement or 2 environmental impact would be considered very desirable.

4 In the health care industry there are now many companies that have their own proprietary design of body worn carry 6 bottle for alcohol gel and specialised hanging shower gel 7 bottles. Hanging bottles generally don't have a dosed 8 fluid release.

Valved dosing bottles are more than twice as expensive as 11 non dosing bottles due to the cost of the valved dosing 12 mechanism. Furthermore, jars of skin cream may be 13 unhygienic, and valves used with creams will block.

In relation to dispensing alcohol gels in a clinical 16 setting, these bottles may go to landfill and they 17 present a challenge to obtain a minimum volume and to 18 reduce costs with respect to environmental impact.

In general, users in the healthcare field prefer dosing 21 bottles. In addition, some food containers are better 22 dosed. From a consumer point of view, tubes can be 23 untidy.

Blister packs, especially sachet packs also are and have 26 been used to carry and dispense small quantities of 27 fluids, creams and pastes. Inexpensive deadfold material 28 for blister construction has been known for many years.

Blisters are well known to prevent contamination and 31 drying out of their contents but have not been developed 32 to offer a multiple dosing replacement for paste filled 33 tubes.

2 Blister encapsulation can address the disadvantages 3 associated with bottles but there does not appear in 4 prior art a practical mechanism for directly replacing the use of small bottles (either valved or unvalved) with 6 a plurality of compressible blisters, combined to form a 7 single product that provides a multi dosing dispensing 8 reservoir for a fluid agent.

In addition, a blister pack that may stand up or hang 11 could offer a tidy alternative to, for example, a half 12 empty tube lying on a surface.

14 Fluid filled blister packs have been known for many years and liquid fluid filled blister packs both of the sachet 16 and formed cavity type have been well documented. This 17 field of innovation is very active with many companies 18 and individuals continually innovating new materials and 19 products in the healthcare and cosmetic packaging industries.

22 Single dispensing, seam bursting blisters are known, for 23 example the Dell Pouch' One of the most common type of liquid filled blisters is 26 the heat sealed condiment sachet that is torn open; 27 other fluid filled blisters are known ranging from powder 28 filled asthma reservoirs that are pierced to open and 29 press to open liquid applicators that are squeezed, to burst open a frangible seal. There are also blisters with 31 peel seals and crack open seals and tear open single 32 alcohol gel filled blisters.

1 Prior art does have at least one case of a liquid fluid 2 product having multiple blisters, namely Harper 3 (W02004/062 696) . However, Harper does not have drawings 4 that are accessible nor is there a full description of how to practically achieve a working product in the 6 available disclosure nor is the concept described 7 intended for use in the same manner as a bottle.

9 Individual sachets in a pocket do not have the convenience and ergonomic advantages of a unitary multi 11 dosing product.

13 Single blisters, usually of the sachet type, generally 14 require two hands to tear open and as the contents may require to be deposited on a hand this is not optimally 16 ergonomic. If a press open means is used, such blisters 17 may be liable to accidental opening and if left joined 18 together as a single product they would possibly not have 19 the handling ergonomics of a small bottle. Furthermore, a tear open means would probably be rather untidy and 21 problematic regarding flow control.

23 Further relevant prior art is available, such as Hafner 24 W002/083057, Mule FR2747647, Harper (above) and Glaxo GB2142246A, none of which teach sufficiently to replace 26 the function and use of a simple carry bottle for 27 dispensing fluids. Harper tried to address these issues 28 following his application already described and proposed 29 a valved blister for a pocket in US2005035006.

31 A further consideration is the substantial difference in 32 the concept of formed blisters and sachet type blisters.

33 Thermoformed blisters, even flexible ones, grouped 1 together may have an inherent overall unity of structure 2 that is readily conceived and in fact exists already, for 3 example in pill packs. Sachets are far more 4 uncontrollably flexible.

6 Since EP94304227 (Lilly, 1994), notwithstanding the 7 direction of this art, many working in the field of 8 liquid filled blisters and personal carried fluids have 9 not arrived at the devices herein revealed.

11 Liquid filled blister packs with a plurality of blisters 12 have been proposed, see Harper & Glaxo patents, but no 13 mechanism for achieving a product has been taught to 14 include a dispensing means that co-operates dimensionally with or is fitted to or supported by a fluid containing 16 blister pack with a plurality of blisters.

18 Sachet blisters are conceived as very flexible, 19 especially at joined areas, and to provide a grouping of sachet blisters with an overall unity and firmness for 21 use as one product in a multi dispensing mode is not 22 taught by the prior art. Such a grouping of sachets may 23 be made uniquely ergonomic for the user as a foldable and 24 flexible product. It is well known in the art that sachets are cheaper to produce than thermoformed blisters 26 and that they empty of fluid more completely.

28 It is therefore an object of the present invention to 29 provide an apparatus for dispensing fluid from fluid filled blisters and blister packs.

1 It is a further object of the present invention to 2 provide an assembly comprising fluid filled blisters or 3 blister packs and capable of dispensing fluid therefrom.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, 6 there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing 7 fluid from a blister containing a fluid, the dispensing 8 apparatus comprising: 9 an opening means and a carrying means; the opening means comprising a first member adapted 11 to compress the blister in cooperation with an opposing 12 member; and 13 the carrying means adapted to moveably locate the 14 opening means relative to the blister.

16 The opposing member may be the finger of a user, the 17 surface of an arm upon which the blister is located, or 18 another surface of the dispensing apparatus or of an 19 associated assembly. The blister may be a single, standalone blister or sachet, or alternatively one of an 21 array of blisters or sachets which the dispensing 22 apparatus may be located upon or around and moved along.

24 Preferably, the carrying means is adapted to relatively move the opening means at least partially transversely 26 across a surface of the blister.

28 Preferably, the opening means further comprises a second 29 member opposing the first member, adapted to cooperate with the first member.

1 Preferably, the carrying means comprises a channel 2 defined by the first and second members which receives 3 and at least partially encloses the blister.

Preferably, the first and second members are relatively 6 moveable so as to be urged into contact with the blister 7 and pressurise the fluid.

9 Preferably, the first member and second member are shaped so as to substantially engage one another when urged 11 toward contact.

13 Preferably, the dispensing apparatus provides a preferred 14 fluid flow path for expression of the fluid from the blister.

17 Preferably, the dispensing apparatus further comprises an 18 aperture configured so as to define the preferred fluid 19 flow path.

21 Preferably, the opening means comprises a piercing means 22 operable to provide an opening in the blister.

24 Preferably, the opening means is adapted to simultaneously pressurise the fluid and provide an 26 opening in the blister.

28 Preferably, the piercing means is located on an inner 29 surface of the dispensing means.

31 Preferably, the piercing means is located so as to 32 provide an opening proximal to a boundary of the blister.

1 Preferably, the piercing means is located proximal to the 2 aperture.

4 Preferably, the piercing means is shaped to create an opening capable of cooperating with the preferred fluid 6 flow path.

8 Optionally, the piercing means is shaped so as to create 9 a linear opening in the blister.

11 Alternatively, the piercing means is shaped so as to 12 create a substantially arcuate opening in the blister.

14 Preferably, the dispensing means further comprises a relief structure located on an inner surface opposing the 16 piercing means and adapted to cooperate with the piercing 17 means.

19 Optionally, the relief structure comprises a hardened portion adapted to receive the piercing means.

22 Optionally, the opening means further comprises a gasket 23 portion adapted to provide a partial seal proximal to the 24 opening and to cooperate with the preferred fluid flow path such that the fluid is directed from the opening to 26 the aperture.

28 Alternatively, the opening means is operable to burst the 29 blister.

31 Preferably, the opening means is adapted so as to burst 32 the blister proximal to the aperture.

1 Optionally, the second member is a substantially 2 cylindrical member adapted to receive a finger.

4 Alternatively, the first member comprises an elongate portion moveable so as to be urged into contact with the 6 blister.

8 Preferably, the first member is operable to provide an 9 opening in the blister.

11 Preferably, the first member is moveable between a first 12 protected location and a second location on or near the 13 blister.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, 16 there is provided an assembly comprising: 17 an array comprising one or more blisters and a 18 dispensing apparatus in accordance with the first aspect; 19 wherein the carrying means of the dispensing apparatus movably locates the opening means relative to 21 the one or more blisters.

23 Preferably, the dispensing apparatus is movably 24 locateable on each of the one or more blisters.

26 Preferably, the assembly further comprises a locating 27 means adapted to locate the dispensing apparatus on or 28 near one of the blisters.

Preferably, the locating means is adapted to 31 preferentially locate the opening means on or near one of 32 the blisters.

1 Preferably, the locating means is adapted to allow 2 movement of the opening means such that it is moveable 3 between a location on or near one of the blisters to a 4 location on or near another of the blisters.

6 Optionally, the locating means comprises one or more 7 indicia on the array.

9 Alternatively, the locating means comprises a guiding means supporting the dispensing apparatus and adapted to 11 guide the dispensing apparatus along the array.

13 Yet further alternatively, the locating means comprises a 14 relief structure on the array which cooperated with the dispensing apparatus.

17 Preferably, the relief structure is formed by raised 18 surfaces of the one or more blisters.

Preferably, the array comprises shaping means adapted to 21 form the array into a predetermined shape.

23 Preferably, the shaping means is further adapted to allow 24 the array to move between a plurality of predetermined shapes.

27 Optionally, the shaping means is a rigid member adapted 28 to fixedly retain the array in a predetermined shape.

Preferably, the shaping means comprises a stiffening 31 portion disposed along one or more edges of the array.

33 Preferably, the shaping means is deformable.

2 Optionally, the shaping means comprises one or more 3 hinged portions.

Optionally, the shaping means is adapted to shape the 6 array into a loop.

8 Preferably, fixing means are provided at either end of 9 the array so as to fixedly retain the array as a ioop.

11 Alternatively, the array is adapted to receive a coiling 12 means which shapes the array into a coil.

14 Alternatively, the shaping means is adapted to shape the array so as to locate the assembly on a limb of a user.

17 Optionally, the one or more blisters comprise frangible 18 seals.

Alternatively, the one or more blisters comprise

21 burstable seals.

23 Preferably, the one or more blisters are sachets.

Alternatively, the one or more blisters are stick packs.

27 According to a third aspect of the present invention, 28 there is provided a dispensing means for dispensing fluid 29 from a fluid filled blister or blister pack reservoir comprising a reservoir opening means and a carrying means 31 for the opening means, the opening means is characterised 32 as having compression means which, in use, facilitates a 33 squeezing compression of the blister, such means being 1 able to be depressed towards the blister surface and 2 being relatively moveable across the blister or blister 3 pack surface, the compression means being characterised 4 as comprising an inside surface that is able to cooperate with an opposing surface, between which a blister 6 is located, the carrying means having open access means 7 to receive the blister or blister pack.

9 The dispenser preferably has means to facilitate transmisssion of compressive pressure on the blister from 11 two opposing fingers.

13 An opposing surface, for example, may be a finger, a 14 user's arm, a second inside surface of the dispenser, or a surface that creates a channel with the first inside 16 surface.

18 The dispenser may be flexible or rigid.

Preferably the dispenser comprises a piercing opening 21 means.

23 The dispenser preferably has fluid directing means that 24 comprises a seal that partially surrounds the opening means and functions under compression the fluid also 26 being directed by dispenser material overlying any 27 opening that it creates.

29 When viscous materials, such as creams, are being expelled, the opening created by the opening means may be 31 larger and there may be little or no directing means 32 required such as to reduce remaining fluid residue on the 33 dispenser.

2 Preferably the dispenser enables fluid to be expelled in 3 a desired direction, preferably at right angles to the 4 initial direction of exiting fluid flow.

6 Preferably the dispenser enables simultaneous compression 7 and opening of the reservoir.

9 Optionally the carrying means for the opening means is supported by the blister pack during use.

12 Preferably the dispenser can act on a single blister and 13 preferably is moveable across the surface of a plurality 14 of preferably joined blister reservoirs.

16 Preferably the dispenser can traverse a blister or 17 blisters.

19 In the context of this patent application co-operatively attachable' is used to mean any of; supports or is 21 supported by, is formed on or attached to, or attachable 22 to or fitted to.

24 There may be one or more dispensing means, dispensing means may be cooperatively attachable to the reservoir 26 blister pack.

28 Preferably the dispensing means comprises opposed 29 flexible members.

31 The dispensing means may co-operate with an extension of 32 the blister pack material.

1 The dispensing means may co-operate or be attached to a 2 blister pack structure joining means.

4 The dispensing means may be at least partly co- operatively attached or attachable to a blister pack 6 flexible cover, card or forming means.

8 In use the blister pack may be moved through a dispenser 9 fixed to another structure. Preferably the dispensing means and the blister pack structure are transversely 11 moveable with respect to each other.

13 Preferably the dispensing means is transversely moveable 14 with respect to the blister pack structure surface.

16 Optionally the dispensing means comprises two press 17 members that are moveable towards and away from each 18 other.

Preferably the dispensing means has at least a transverse 21 component in relation to its movement with respect to the 22 blister surface.

24 Optionally the dispensing means comprises opposing members that can be approximated to produce reciprocating 26 pressure.

28 The dispensing means may be fixed to the blister surface 29 by a flexible cover.

31 In this patent application, dispensing means' or 32 opening means' can mean either one or both of a blister 33 opening means and or a blister pressurising means, either 1 or both of these means preferably being able to traverse 2 or being transversely rnoveable in respect of the blister 3 pack to selectively engage a particular blister or a part 4 of a blister, by means of an associated carrying means' or otherwise.

7 Blister pack is the plural of blister and features 8 pertaining or concerning them are generally 9 interchangeable.

11 The dispensing means may be fully or partly supported by 12 the blister pack and or a flexible cover that covers all 13 or part of the blister pack structure.

The dispensing means may comprise a seam bursting means 16 or other means.

18 The dispensing means may moveably co-operate with a 19 forming or stiffening means and be part supported by the forming or stiffening means and part supported directly 21 by the blister pack during use.

23 The dispensing means may freely surround or moveably co- 24 operate with a forming means.

26 Preferably the dispensing means, in the form of an 27 opening means and or a pressurising means, is supported 28 by the filled blister and moves in the direction that the 29 blister surface moves as the user applies pressure to the blister wall or walls to compress them together to 31 dispense blister contents, preferably using finger 32 pressure either directly or indirectly over an 33 intervening structure such as a cover or a dispenser.

2 Preferably where there is a flexible sheet cover, that 3 cover obtains a degree of support from the blister pack 4 and may transmit that support to an overlying dispenser.

6 Preferably the blister surface or a blister seam is burst 7 in a limited manner such that complete overall tearing of 8 the material surface is avoided when the user applies 9 pressure thereby maintaining a reasonably intact product suitable for the user to continue to use and carry.

12 The dispensing means may be co-operatively attachable or 13 fixed to the blister pack assembly by a blister pack 14 covering means.

16 Planar means, for example a compressible plastic or metal 17 means, for example formed as a clip, and external to the 18 blister, may be compressible on each side of the blister 19 in order to fully collapse the blister and ensure complete emptying. The compressible means may preferably 21 have the function of opening the blister by carrying an 22 opening means, such as a piercing means, and facilitate 23 expression of the blister contents by transmission of 24 pressure from the user's fingers to preferably occlude or close up the blister volume.

27 A dispensing means may be a sliding means.

29 A dispenser may have a blister pack end attached to its outer wall and the other end of the blister pack fed 31 through it as each blister is emptied. The blister pack 32 having no forming means and remaining entirely flexible 33 and flexibly attached.

2 A dispensing means may fully or partly surround a blister 3 pack, flexible cover, strip or card.

Preferably an opening piercing means has a guarding means 6 to protect the user's skin.

8 Preferably a dispensing means is a preferably closed 9 flexible band or ioop means that preferably comprises a piercing means on its inside surface.

12 A dispensing means may be attached by a connector, for 13 example a cord, to the user's pocket and be re-useable 14 and re-attachable to unused blister pack structures.

16 Preferably the dispensing means facilitates a dosing 17 means.

19 Alternatively, but not exclusively, the dispensing means comprises two flat rigid plates held by elastic means 21 such that the planar surfaces tend to approximate to each 22 other.

24 The dispenser may be moveable or sliding, the dispenser may be reusable or disposable. The blisters may be 26 formed into a preferably closed flexible loop that 27 enables the user's fingers to operate on both sides of an 28 individual blister.

Preferably the user's fingers have access to the space 31 directly above the surface of both blister sides, 32 optionally with a cover and or dispenser in between the 1 blister surface and the user's fingers, preferably 2 enabling a squeezing action between two fingers.

4 Preferably the dispensing means is able to remain in contact with the blister pack while changing position on 6 the pack surface.

8 According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, 9 there is provided an assembly comprising an apparatus in accordance with the third(3asPect and a reservoir pack 11 assmbly that is preferably characterised as having means 12 that enable the walls of the blisters of the blister pack 13 structure to be compressed together by pressure from a 14 user's fingers thereby reducing the internal volume of any blister thus expelling the blister contents.

17 The blisters of reservoir pack are preferably 18 compressible.

The blisters of the reservoir assembly may preferably be 21 characterised as being sachet blisters or stick pack 22 blisters.

24 The blisters of the reservoir assembly may be formed or are formable into a closed loop or band.

27 Preferably the blister pack structure is unenclosed.

29 As this is a single product with multiple blisters the term during use' means that the dispensing means is able 31 to remain in contact with the product while the product 32 as a whole is being used.

1 In the context of this patent forming means' and 2 shaping means' may be interchangeable with stiffening 3 means' and all may be regarded as a part covering means.

4 The reservoir assembly may comprise a flexible covering means.

7 The covering means may be attached or attachable, fixed 8 or removable with respect to the blister pack structure.

The reservoir assembly may comprise a covering means or a 11 forming or shaping means for example a flexible sheet 12 cover or a card, wire or other material backing.

14 The flexible covering means may be characterised as any flexible covering means covering the blister pack 16 assembly in whole or in part and the covering means is 17 preferably fabricated, for example, in the nature of a 18 preferably flexible bag, sheet, or tape rather than a 19 chamber or rigid container.

21 A forming means, in this patent application, is 22 preferably characterised as not being a rigid container 23 or chamber and preferably it leaves the blister pack 24 structure unenclosed and preferably the forming means and the blister pack structure have a degree of flexibility.

27 The advance in the art that this represents is that with 28 no cover or with a flexible cover, agent can escape from 29 a blister unhindered and more importantly pressure can be brought to bear over a whole blister surface to expel all 31 or most of the contents.

1 The forming means may be flexibly metamorphic for example 2 a bendable or re-bendable material, attached or 3 attachable to the blister pack structure, such as a wire 4 and is preferably bendable to any suitable configuration.

6 The forming means may comprise a plurality of rigid or 7 flexible parts that can move in relation to each other by 8 being jointed or flexibly separated.

Preferably the blister pack reservoir comprises a 11 plurality of sachet packs that has forming or stiffening 12 means attached or attachable such that the user can form 13 the blister pack structure into any suitable shape and 14 ergonomically handle the reservoir as a single product and operate it in a multi dispensing mode.

17 The blister pack assembly may be formed or is formable 18 into a closed loop of blisters.

Preferably the closed loop of blisters that forms the 21 blister pack structure is flexible.

23 The opening means may have an elastically flexible 24 quality in a vertical relationship to the blister surface.

27 Fluid contents contained within the blister are 28 preferably released through an opening in the blister 29 that is directly created by the dispensing means.

31 The dispensing means preferably comprises fluid directing 32 means.

1 The opening means may be partially surrounded by a gasket 2 or temporary seal means preferably formed from the 3 surrounding material in order to direct fluid in a 4 particular direction.

6 Optionally the blister pack structure may be removable 7 from the covering means.

9 Optionally there may be perforations between blisters to enable individual removal after use.

12 Optionally and preferably blisters can be opened and used 13 without requiring removal from the joined up line formed 14 by production manufacture.

16 Optionally the covering means may be fixed to the blister 17 pack structure.

19 Optionally the covering means freely surrounds the blister pack.

22 The shaping or firming means may be non elastic or 23 elastic.

Preferably there is a single row or line of blisters in 26 the blister pack structure.

28 Optionally a structure comprising one or more parts, for 29 example adhesive tape and or wire, may be positioned longitudinally at or adjacent to a long edge of the 31 blister pack the aforesaid structure providing stiffening 32 forming, shaping means and also preferably protective 33 covering means, to protect defined areas of blister 1 surface from being pierced, possibly from under a 2 slidably moveable dispenser and also such a structure may 3 provide a means, such as windows in the structure, 4 through which a cutter may engage the blister surface, to provide the user with a dispenser locating means against 6 each blister.

8 Optionally the blisters may have means to rotate, 9 relative to each other.

11 The opening means may be any opening means including peel 12 opening, seam bursting or piercing.

14 Optionally the opening means is a piercing means that preferably can operate at a position at, near or adjacent 16 to the edge of the blister pack to allow unimpeded exit 17 of agent.

19 Alternatively the opening means may be a seam bursting means, preferably characterised as a means on each side 21 of the blister, that fully distributes a squeezing 22 pressure over the blister surface area and throughout the 23 blister, for example a planar material on each side of 24 the blister or at its simplest the seam bursting means may be the blister wall alone. 27 The use of a plurality of sachet packs, preferably 28 constructed from

metallised materials, as a single 29 product is especially cost effective as a small bottle replacement as opposed to thermoformed or other formed 31 blisters.

1 Optionally the blister pack may consist of two or more, 2 preferably four, hinged sections. The hinges may be a 3 combination of snap hinges, as in bottle caps, freely 4 moving or restricted moving hinges. The sections may be comprised of a number of blister packs with stiffening or 6 forming means or the sections may be manufactured 7 separately from the blister packs and the blister packs 8 attached to preferably a complete preferably trapezoidal 9 shape formed from the sections, either as one piece or joined up from a formed length of material. Such a 11 separate manufactured piece may be re-useable and have 12 attachment means, for example Velcro' for a blister pack 13 strip that has no other shaping means. Such a trapezoidal 14 shape preferably snaps open and shut and has the dispenser easily attached by the user, if connected up by 16 the user, or assembled at manufacture.

18 A blister dispensing means may be slideable across a 19 blister pack surface whether it is also rotational or deformable.

22 A cover such as a card or strip of material or a cover of 23 flexible sheet material either planar sheet or a formed 24 cover, with sheet like rather than plastic moulded or metal formed characteristics, preferably non 26 thermoformable and therefore relatively inexpensive, may 27 partially or wholly cover the blister pack structure.

29 Optionally a blister pack cover may preferably be adhesively fixed to the blister packs and is part of the 31 assembly and in use such a cover may have a pierced 32 opening created through it preferably where it is bonded 33 to the blister substructure.

2 A forming means may be an elastically flexible coil for 3 attachment around a user's arm.

Preferably a blister pack cover may co-operate with and 6 hold a blister dispensing means on to the blister pack or 7 it may act to provide an overall hygienic smooth surface 8 or it may provide a shielding means against accidental 9 penetration of a blister surface by a piercing dispensing means or it may provide a forming means or a product 11 diffusion barrier, thus allowing a cheaper preferably 12 formable material to be in direct contact with the 13 contained product.

A blister pack forming means, such as a card, may form a 16 blister cutting guard for a rotating or moveable piercing 17 means that can be moved into a piercing mode.

19 Dispensing locating indicator means that facilitates the location of the dispensing means at each blister, may 21 preferably be sited on the blister pack structure or 22 forming means or cover.

24 Where there are seals in between blisters these preferably do not require to be perforated for tearing, 26 the product can be made to a specified length, and the 27 seals can therefore be narrower than usual.

29 The piercing opening means may be moveably rotational around or across the blister or may be sliding with 31 respect to the blister pack structure or may be attached 32 to a flexibly moveable material or flexible cover.

1 A slidably moveable carrier for the piercing opening 2 means may be made of plastic or metal and may be reusable 3 being easily removable from the blister pack assembly by 4 the user for example by a catch opening means.

6 Optionally the carrier for a dispensing means may be a 7 strip of formed material with a flexible quality that 8 preferably comprises and allows movement of preferably a 9 plurality of dispenser means by deformation. Such a carrier may also lend a forming means to the blister pack 11 assembly and it may be adhesively or otherwise attached 12 to the blister pack.

14 The product may comprise stick pack blisters that are positioned side by side on a backing card with the end 16 seals of the packs forming along the card edge.

18 Alternatively a compartmentalised conventional stick pack 19 with a central fin seal and folded material sides may form the blister assembly.

22 A side by side stick pack arrangement would give maximum 23 blister doses per unit length of card.

The product may have connecting means of a flexible or 26 elastic or other attachment means for attachment or 27 hanging in a shower cubicle.

29 In one simple and commercial form this product is a connected assembly of reservoirs, that contain a liquid 31 fluid, in the form of a linear row of flexible blisters, 32 preferably sachet blisters, possibly seam burst opening, 33 with or without a removable or a fixed covering or 1 forming means and the blisters are preferably formable 2 into a loop, or coil or other configuration and the pack 3 may have flexibly metamorphic forming means, the 4 dispensing means may be supported by the blister pack.

The dispenser may rest on a forming means or blister 6 structure connecting means until the blisters are in use.

8 In this application blister' may mean any blister. The 9 blisters may remain joined together as produced, or separated and re- formed into a pack or used in a 11 cartridge fashion in a preferably compartmentalised 12 flexible holder. This pack may be especially useful in an 13 absence of gravity or outside pressure.

The present invention will now be described by way of 16 example only and with reference to the accompanying 17 figures in which: 19 Figure 1 illustrates in schematic form a sachet blister pack with a sliding loop band dispenser in 21 accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 23 Figure 2 illustrates in schematic form a sliding 24 loop band dispenser in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 27 Figure 3 illustrates in schematic form a blister 28 pack structure formable as a closed loop in 29 accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 31 Figure 4 illustrates in schematic form a sliding 32 dispensing apparatus in accordance with an aspect of 33 the present invention; 2 Figure 4A illustrates in schematic form a dispensing 3 apparatus for use with viscous pastes; Figures 5 and 5A illustrate in schematic form an 6 alternative embodiment of a blister pack structure, 7 having hinged portions to shape the structure; 9 Figure 6 illustrates in schematic form a further alternative embodiment of the present invention that 11 comprises a folding structure; 13 Figure 7 illustrates in schematic form a yet further 14 alternative embodiment of the present invention having a flexible sheet covering; 17 Figure 8 illustrates in schematic form another 18 alternative embodiment of the present invention 19 which comprises a moveable arm; 21 Figure 9 illustrates in schematic form a top down 22 view of the embodiment of Figure 8; 24 Figure 10 illustrates in schematic form a hanging product in accordance with an aspect of the present 26 invention; and 28 Figure 11 illustrates in schematic form a dispensing 29 slide in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

32 In Figure 1 a blister pack structure 1 comprises a 33 plurality of blisters 1 separated by seals 10, and 1 dispensing means 4 with blister piercing opening means 5 2 on the underside of dispensing means 4. Dispensing means 3 4 is directly attached to the blister pack 1 and 4 preferably supported by it. Blister pack 1 preferably comprises sachet blisters. There may be an attachment 6 means 3, for attachment to the user's clothing, connected 7 to the sliding dispensing means 4. sliding dispensing 8 means 4 may rest over an empty blister and can be moved 9 in direction 8, over the blister pack surface, to a full blister, just before the contents are to be dispensed in 11 direction 12.

13 Fluid flow is preferably facilitated by cut away open 14 section 11. Initial fluid flow is contra the direction of compressing pressure indicated by arrow 13 in fig. 2. The 16 dispenser preferably re-directs the fluid flow by 17 overlying the opening created by piercing opening means 18 5.

sliding stop means 2 prevents accidental removal of the 21 dispenser 4 from the pack 1. sliding stop means 2 22 preferably is a bar of material that overlaps sliding 23 means 4 in width, and is preferably attached to flexible 24 unfilled material 9, and means 2 is fitted to dispensing means 4 by being pushed through the dispensing means 4 26 when it is formed as a closed loop band, by being 27 flexibly rnoveable with respect to the band 4. Sliding 28 locating means 6 may be a preferably flexible 29 longitudinal irregular means attached to the blister pack edge and intermittently interfering with the sliding 31 travel of dispensing means 4.

1 Forming or shaping means 7 may give shape or firmness to 2 the sachet pack 1, to enable ergonomic handling.

4 Piercing cutting means 5 is located under band 4, such that when the user presses on the dispenser the blister 6 wall ruptures under the band 4 and fluid flows out 7 through opening 11. The piercing opening means 5 and 8 opening 11 are preferably positioned at or adjacent to 9 the sachet side 7 that may be a flat sachet or folded sachet edge.

12 The user may disengage the piercing means 5 from the 13 blister 1 surface by squeezing the edges of the blister 14 pack 1 in directions 14 (see figure 2) 16 When the dispensing means 4 is a closed loop, the 17 piercing opening means 5 is guarded from a user's finger 18 (not shown) especially when the dispensing means 4 is not 19 attached to a blister pack 1.

21 Alternatively figure 1 may simply comprise seam bursting 22 sachets (not shown) that burst open on application of 23 pressure and preferably have forming means 6 or 7 with no 24 feature 5.

26 The forming means may be of varying flexibility and may 27 be a backing card, cover or a structural shape formed in 28 the containment material from which the blisters 1 are 29 made.

A loop or band of blisters may be formed; all facilitate 31 ergonomic handling by the user. If a means 4 is present 32 it may simply be a pressuring means. The blister pack 1 1 may have no forming means 7 and remain foldable by the 2 user.

4 In Figure 2 an enlarged top perspective view of a preferably closed band dispenser 4 with preferably 6 flexible walls (preferably elastically flexible walls) is 7 shown. To open up the dispenser 4 for insertion of a 8 blister pack (not shown) or to loosen it to move from one 9 blister to another or to negotiate a bend in the blister pack, pressure is applied in directions 14. On pressing 11 on dispenser walls 4A in direction 13 cutter 5 is moved 12 to engage a blister wall (not shown) and contents (not 13 shown) are expressed in direction 12 through open 14 channel 11. The dispenser wall 4A has a recess 5A into which cutter 5 may enter thus allowing the dispenser 16 walls 4A to fully come together. Partial seal or gasket 17 means 5B is around opening cutter means 5 and directs 18 fluid in the required direction, generally at right 19 angles to initial exit from the blister opening.

21 Dispenser 4 may have cut relief means 41 that enables the 22 dispenser to negotiate and twist around bends in the 23 pack.

The blisters upon which the dispensing means can operate 26 can be unlike the blisters of the prior art, for example 27 sachet blisters with no other opening means in their 28 structure.

A sliding guard 42, for the cutter, may be moved in 31 directions 43 when initially attached to a pack.

1 In Figure 3 blister pack 1 preferably has a single row of 2 blisters 1, preferably sachet blisters, with seals 10.

3 Preferably forming means 7 is present and is preferably 4 flexible and may be adhesively attached to the blisters or be an integral part of the blister material or forming 6 means 7 may be a separate means preferably enabling the 7 blister pack 1 to take up any shape that allows access of 8 the user's fingers to both sides of any individual 9 blister or allows the user's fingers to apply pressure on each side of a blister and preferably enables any 11 suitable shape e.g. a loop, or flat product with one or 12 more bends, with or without the free ends being joined, 13 to be formed as a single product preferably capable of 14 standing for display.

16 Where bends are indicated the blister surfaces may have 17 protective covering means (not shown) to protect against 18 accidental damage by the piercing means as the dispenser 19 negotiates the bend (not shown).

21 Blister pack assembly 1 and or forming means 7 may 22 comprise connecting means for the loop ends for example 23 Velcro' or co-operating slots, in order to be co- 24 operatively attached together. The connecting means may be a separate part (not shown) and may become re-useable 26 and able to accept blister refills the dispenser 4 may be 27 carried by the connecting means 7.

29 The forming or shaping means is preferably inelastically flexible and may be continuous along the length of the 31 pack or have moveable joints or be in separate section 32 hinged by the blister material.

1 Loops of blister with or without dispensers attached may 2 be factory preformed. Forming means 7 or connecting means 3 30 may be any shape and may be hinged. The hinge (not 4 shown) may be restricted in movement preferably being able to move in only 180 degrees.

7 In the example shown, forming means 7 has its free ends 8 29 joined by connecting means 30 that co-operates with 9 means 31 to form a closed loop. The free ends 29 may be easily joined and separated using connecting means 30 11 which also facilitates insertion of free ends 29 into, 12 through, a dispenser 4. The connecting means 30 for 13 example may comprise shaped card 7 or a separate 14 structure with mechanical or adhesive joining means.

After release of fluid the loop of blisters may be folded 16 and placed in a pocket using only one hand to close up 17 hinged forming sections. The blister pack or the joining 18 means may have pack closure means 33 for example a 19 Velcro' dot. Sliding dispensing means 4 can traverse around the loop.

22 A stop means 2 may not be required as the sliding means 4 23 can be removed from off an opened end 29 after use and 24 attached to another unused blister strip 1.

26 In figure 4 a sliding dispenser 4 is shown with two rigid 27 plates 4A that can be held closed by catch means 19. The 28 plates 4A flex around a jointed means 18 and on closure 29 cutter 5 is protected from the user's fingers (not shown) by recess 5A. This dispenser preferably requires 31 pressure to be closed and preferably is held open by 32 elastic means. Design of blister opening means will 1 depend on the consistency and fluid dynamics of the 2 blister contents.

4 Figure 4A shows a sliding dispenser with an opening means 5 for use with sticky, viscous pastes, for instance 6 toothpaste.

8 The cutter or piercing means 5 is preferably "U" or "V" 9 shaped, and preferably cuts a flap (not shown) adjacent to or over the folded edge 44 of the preferably stick 11 pack blister 1 having seals 10. The flap remains 12 attached and preferably the cutter 5 does not penetrate 13 the opposing blister wall 4A as it is supported by the 14 finger guard wall 4A, thus also preventing residue from collecting on the inside of the dispenser 4, and an 16 uncovered hole 45 in the blister is thus formed.

18 The cutter 5 may have retraction or disengagement means, 19 preferably elastic in nature, for example the cutter may be sited on an elevated elastically depressible means 46 21 that is preferably an extension of dispenser wall 4A. On 22 compression of the dispenser 4 a bead of paste is 23 expelled in direction 12, the raised means 46 allowing 24 the bead to form. On depressing the means 46 the bead is finally cut off. The same continuous action may compress 26 a preferably rigid blister compression means 4A, the 27 mechanism preferably returning to an open position by 28 elastic means.

In figures 5 and 5A a closed flexible loop of sachets 1, 31 with four separate forming means 7 is shown., a looped 32 shape as previously shown, can become flattened into a 33 joined up double or quadruple row of blisters, suitable 1 for pocket insertion and provides acceptable handling 2 ergonomics compared to a bottle (not shown) 4 This form of product may be provided flat, ready to be connected and the dispenser (not shown) may be re-useable 6 or it may be fully factory assembled, for complete 7 disposal after use.

9 A base or feet (not shown) enabling the product to be displayed in an upright position may be formed as part of 11 the forming or shaping means 7, or be attachable to said 12 means 7. Being able to stand upright, for example, 13 presents a tidy and attractive form factor.

Hinge 17 may simply be a joining of the blisters or it 16 may be a restricted movement hinge, for example a snap 17 hinge, that enables the pack to stand up for display.

18 Alternatively a blister pack assembly 1 may have no cover 19 or forming means 7 and remain entirely flexible and foldable, making a virtue of this feature thus enabling 21 it to be bundled into a pocket without fear of blisters 22 accidentally leaking. This simple product only requires 23 the user to control the holding of the product with the 24 palm of the hand during use.

26 In figure 6 a card or forming means 7 is hinged at 17.

27 Blister pack 1 has a folded edge 16 and preferably a 28 central fin seal 18 as in a stick pack and is preferably 29 attached or attachable to means 7 which can be closed using catch means 19. Dispensing means 4 with opening 31 means 5 can slide in direction 8 on sliding means 20.wheri 32 the forming means 7 is folded over at hinge 17 the 1 opening means 5 engages a blister and pierces the 2 blister at position 5A.

4 In Figure 7 a flexible sheet covering means 15 has attachment means 3 to be attached to a pocket or belt 6 (not shown) .The flexible covering means 15 has sliding 7 dispensing means 4 encompassing it and stop means 2.

8 Blister pack 1 is placed inside cover 15 through open 9 side 16. Panels 4A correlate to the blisters of a blister pack 1. Blister edges 16A has a frangible seam or a 11 folded edge or a sealed edge for piercing by means 5 in 12 that position.

14 Dispensing means 4 can ride over rigid panels 4A that move independently. On pressuring the panels 4A or the 16 dispenser 4 liquid fluid agent is expelled from the 17 blisters in direction 12 at right angles.

19 In figure 8 a row of formed blisters 1 with sealed tops 23 and seals 24 between the blisters is further covered 21 by cover 25 that is preferably attached to the blisters 22 at points 27. The cover has end stops 2 and preferably 23 hermetically seals the blister assembly by seals 26. The 24 dispensing means 4 can slide along the blister assembly and the user can pierce into individual blisters without 26 compromising the rest of the pack by pressuring piercing 27 opening means 5 at an adhesive laminated section. This 28 arrangement may be used with sachets or formed blisters.

In figure 9 dispensing means 4 in the form of a flexible 31 arm of preferably plastic material has piercing opening 32 means 5 attached. The dispensing means is fixed to the 33 blister surface 1 by covering means 22 and at rest, as 1 shown on blister A, lies on top of protective covering 2 means 22A. On blister B the dispensing means has moved 3 under pressure from the user, to a frangible part 23 of 4 the surface of blister B not covered by cover 22. A frangible surface may be achieved by laser ablation. This 6 blister type preferably has a thermoformed base and 7 frangible lid and is suitable for powder dispensing.

B Blister seals 24 are shown.

In figure 10 a side view, fluid exit in the foreground 11 (out of the page) of a hanging product, possibly a shower 12 gel dispenser, is shown.

14 The blister pack loop 1 may freely pass over a supporting preferably curved surface means 32, for example a tube 16 section or roller, that may be attached,for example, to 17 a wall (not shown) . The supporting means 32 has curved 18 guiding means 38 that guides blisters under the 19 dispensing means 4 that preferably has rounded edges 38.

21 Preferably the supporting means 32 has hanging attachment 22 means 33 with elastic means 34 that allows the blister 23 pack and means 32 to be tilted by the user such that the 24 fluid exit (not shown) can be directed downwards. The means 32 preferably does not roll while the user pulls 26 the blister strip in direction 35 by pulling on empty 27 blisters 36 to bring full blisters 37 into position under 28 dispensing means 4. Dispensing means 4 has piercing means 29 5 and gasket or seal means (not shown) that co-operates with recess guard 5A on the curved surface means 32. The 31 roller or curved blister lead in means 38 may have a 32 blocking means 39 such that a user's finger can access 33 under the blister from one side only.

2 Preferably dispensing means 4 is rigid and is shaped to 3 co-operate with the surface under the blister 1. The 4 dispensing means 4 has hinged attachment means 39 preferably loosely attached to the roller supporting 6 means 32.

8 In use the user easily accesses both sides of the blister 9 to compress the dispensing means 4 in direction 13.

Where waste recovery is a consideration it is ergonomic 11 for the user and more practical and economic for 12 recycling to collect and dispose of joined blisters than 13 single blisters.

Figure 11 shows a basic embodiment of the present 16 invention wherein a slide 4 is located over a blister 1 17 and partially encloses it (by means of extended portions 18 indicated by reference numeral 48) . The blister 1 is 19 sealed with seals indicated by reference numerals 10. A coiling or shaping means (not shown) may be inserted into 21 a shaping means locator 47 adapted to receive it. The 22 coiling or shaping means will thus shape an array of 23 blisters 1 into a preferred shape.

Exerting pressure by compression of the blister in a 26 direction indicated by arrows 13 will cause the fluid 27 within to become pressurised as the blister top 49 is 28 urged into contact with the inner surface 50 of the slide 29 4. With increased pressure, the leftmost seal 10 will burst, thus allowing expression of the contained fluid.

32 This application allows a completely new type of product, 33 a multiple fluid filled blister pack, preferably a sachet 1 pack, as a replacement for bottles, especially small 2 volume bottles and less ergonomic single loose blister 3 packs, that is simple and is a beneficial advance on 4 these bottles and packs.

6 The prior art herein cited does not teach the inventive 7 features of the present invention, nor enjoy the benefits 8 thereof. The present invention is new and leads to 9 initially unexpected advantages such as reduction in bulk during use and a production cost of less than one third 11 of an equivalent volume small dosing carry bottle.

13 Furthermore, where waste recovery is a consideration it 14 is ergonomic for the user and more practical and economic for recycling to collect and dispose of a number of 16 joined blisters than separate individual blisters.

18 The problem of siting a bottle within a shower enclosure 19 and having a controlled release of agent can also be addressed by using the current invention.

22 The problems in achieving an extremely low cost fully 23 ergonomic preferably multi dose fluid filled blister pack 24 alternative to a bottle, for example a small 5Oml.-lOOml.

carry bottle, and the solutions to the problems of use 26 and disposal are solved by the present invention. It 27 provides an improved, and cheaper, product which is more 28 environmentally friendly than the prior art. The 29 predicted increase in uptake therefore has associated benefits for all.

1 Further modifications and improvements may be added 2 without departing from the scope of the invention as 3 defined by the appended claims.

Claims (1)

1 CLAIMS: 3 1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing fluid from a 4

blister containing a fluid, the dispensing apparatus comprising: 6 an opening means and a carrying means; 7 the opening means comprising a first member 8 adapted to compress the blister in cooperation with 9 an opposing member; and the carrying means adapted to moveably locate 11 the opening means relative to the blister.

13 2. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the 14 carrying means is adapted to relatively move the opening means at least partially transversely across 16 a surface of the blister.

18 3. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 2 19 wherein the opening means further comprises a second member opposing the first member, adapted to 21 cooperate with the first member.

23 4. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 3 wherein the 24 carrying means comprises a channel defined by the first and second members which receives and at least 26 partially encloses the blister.

28 5. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 3 or Claim 4 29 wherein the first and second members are relatively moveable so as to be urged into contact with the 31 blister and pressurise the fluid.

1 6. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 3 to 5 2 wherein the first member and second member are shaped 3 so as to substantially engage one another when urged 4 toward contact.

6 7. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 3 to 6 7 wherein the dispensing apparatus provides a preferred 8 fluid flow path for expression of the fluid from the 9 blister.

11 8. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 7 wherein the 12 dispensing apparatus further comprises an aperture 13 configured so as to define the preferred fluid flow 14 path.

16 9. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 3 to 8 17 wherein the opening means is adapted to 18 simultaneously pressurise the fluid and provide an 19 opening in the blister.

21 10. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 3 to 9 22 wherein the opening means comprises a piercing means 23 operable to provide an opening in the blister.

11. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 10 wherein the 26 piercing means is located on an inner surface of the 27 dispensing means.

29 12. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 10 or Claim 11 wherein the piercing means is located so as to 31 provide an opening proximal to a boundary of the 32 blister.

1 13. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 10 to 12 2 wherein the piercing means is located proximal to the 3 aperture.

14. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 10 to 13 6 wherein the piercing means is shaped to create an 7 opening capable of cooperating with a preferred fluid 8 flow path.

15. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 10 to 14 11 wherein the piercing means is shaped so as to create 12 a linear opening in the blister.

14 16. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 10 to 14 wherein the piercing means is shaped so as to create 16 a substantially arcuate opening in the blister.

18 17. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 10 to 16 19 wherein the dispensing means further comprises a relief structure located on an inner surface opposing 21 the piercing means and adapted to cooperate with the 22 piercing means.

24 18. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 17 wherein the relief structure comprises a hardened portion adapted 26 to receive the piercing means.

28 19. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 9 to 18 29 wherein the opening means further comprises a gasket portion adapted to provide a partial seal proximal to 31 the opening and to cooperate with the preferred fluid 32 flow path such that the fluid is directed from the 33 opening to the aperture.

2 20. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 3 to 9 3 wherein the opening means is operable to burst the 4 blister.

6 21. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 20 wherein the 7 opening means is adapted so as to burst the blister 8 proximal to the aperture.

22. The dispensing apparatus of any of Claims 3 to 21 1]. wherein the second member comprises a substantially 12 cylindrical member adapted to receive a finger.

14 23. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 1 wherein the first member comprises an elongate portion moveable so as 16 to be urged into contact with the blister.

18 24. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 1 or Claim 23 19 wherein the first member is operable to provide an opening in the blister.

22 25. The dispensing apparatus of Claim 23 or Claim 24 23 wherein the first member is moveable between a first 24 protected location and a second location on or near the blister.

27 26. An assembly comprising: 28 an array comprising one or more blisters; and 29 a dispensing apparatus in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 25; 31 wherein the carrying means of the dispensing 32 apparatus movably locates the opening means relative 33 to the one or more blisters.

2 27. The assembly of Claim 26 wherein the dispensing 3 apparatus is movably locateable on each of the one or 4 more blisters.

6 28. The assembly of Claim 26 or Claim 27 wherein the 7 assembly further comprises a locating means adapted 8 to locate the dispensing apparatus on or near one of 9 the blisters.

11 29. The assembly of Claim 28 wherein the locating means 12 is adapted to preferentially locate the opening means 13 on or near one of the blisters.

30. The assembly of Claim 28 or Claim 29 wherein the 16 locating means is adapted to allow movement of the 17 opening means such that it is moveable between a 18 location on or near one of the blisters to a location 19 on or near another of the blisters.

21 31. The assembly of any of Claims 28 to 30 wherein the 22 locating means comprises one or more indicia on the 23 array.

32. The assembly of Claim 26 wherein the locating means 26 comprises a guiding means supporting the dispensing 27 apparatus and adapted to guide the dispensing 28 apparatus along the array.

33. The assembly of Claim 26 wherein the locating means 31 comprises a relief structure on the array which 32 cooperated with the dispensing apparatus.

1 34. The assembly of Claim 33 wherein the relief structure 2 is formed by raised surfaces of the one or more 3 blisters.

35. The assembly of any of Claims 26 to 34 wherein the 6 array comprises shaping means adapted to form the 7 array into a predetermined shape.

9 36. The assembly of Claim 35 wherein the shaping means is further adapted to allow the array to move between a 11 plurality of predetermined shapes.

13 37. The assembly of Claim 35 or Claim 36 wherein the 14 shaping means is a rigid member adapted to fixedly retain the array in a predetermined shape.

17 38. The assembly of any of Claims 35 to 37 wherein the 18 shaping means comprises a stiffening portion disposed 19 along one or more edges of the array.

21 39. The assembly of any of Claims 35 to 38 wherein the 22 shaping means is deformable.

24 40. The assembly of any of Claims 35 to 39 wherein the shaping means comprises one or more hinged portions.

27 41. The assembly of any of Claims 34 to 39 wherein the 28 shaping means is adapted to shape the array into a 29 loop.

31 42. The assembly of Claim 41 wherein fixing means are 32 provided at either end of the array so as to fixedly 33 retain the array as a loop.

2 43. The assembly of any of Claims 26 to 34 the array is 3 adapted to receive a coiling means which shapes the 4 array into a coil.

6 44. The assembly of any of Claims 35 to 40 wherein the 7 shaping means is adapted to shape the array so as to 8 locate the assembly on a limb of a user.

45. The assembly of any of Claims 26 to 44 wherein the 11 one or more blisters comprise frangible seals.

13 46. The assembly of any of Claims 26 to 44 wherein the 14 one or more blisters comprise burstable seals.

16 47. The assembly of any of Claims 26 to 46 wherein the 17 one or more blisters are sachets.

19 48. The assembly of any of Claims 26 to 46 wherein the one or more blisters are stick packs.