GB2429967A - Blister-type reservoir pack with reservoir piercing means - Google Patents

Abstract

The pack assembly comprises at least a blister-type reservoir pack 1 and a reservoir piercing means 4 that is carried by the pack and movable with respect to it. The piercing means is supported by the carry means 7, which is slidable with respect to the pack in direction 13 along means 18. The piercing means may also be rotatable (3, Fig.4), in order to allow selective positioning over a frangible portion 17 of the reservoir to be able to pierce it. The assembly may include a cover 8, which can be adhesive, surrounding at least partially the pack, and the carry means and the piercing means may be optionally connected to the cover instead of to the blister pack itself. The cover may also have non-frangible portions on which the piercing means could rest to avoid accidental piercing, and the assembly may have a sub frame or bangle 16 for attaching to a users arm. Other embodiments show the piercing means carried on a cover (27-29, fig.7) within which a blister pack can slide, and a plurality of blister-packs on an assembly.

Description

A fluid filled blister pack assembly This invention relates to methods and

means of forming and opening fluid filled blister packs.

There are various methods of opening fluid filled packs such as milk cartons, juice cartons or pharmaceutical blister packs and tubes. These include peel seals, burst seals, pierce openings in tube ends and powder inhalers for asthma and tear seals. Perforated self adhesive secondary layers on solid pill blister packs are also known,as child safe assemblies, to prevent pills being broken out from the inside and serially arranged blister pill packs that slide out from protective covers that have piercing arrangements are known.

This invention provides an improvement and a further option for an opening mechanism for a small single or a multiple blister pack and provides also provides means for forming a multiiple pack into an ergonomic shape,in order to provide another means of carrying fluids, especially dosed delivery fluids, with ergonomic and cost advantages that other packs and bottles lack.

To open sachets, prior art requires two hands for tear seals or cutting and in the case of frangible seals in order to manufacture and to prevent accidental seal bursting blister filling is limited in volume. One aspect of this invention is to provide a means to have a fully filled blister with secure permanent seals and that an opening can be created on the blister on application of external pressure applied by the user and yet the blister will remain secure from external potentially bursting pressure at other times.

Yet another aspect of this invention is to provide an ergonomic and cost effective dosing container for small fluid quantities for example up to approximately 60m1. of a cheap flowable agent where the pump valve and bottle cost are a greater proportion of the production! retail cost than for instance in perfumes or in other cheaper solutions of larger quantities, for example soap solutions.

A simple press opening mechanism that is appropriate to a fully filled reservoir that is also able to avoid a completely broken product surface in a single or multiple pack assembly and that is more cost effective and ergonomically appropriate than prior art is described herein.

Prior art is also more suited to rigid containers and usually leaves completely torn lids or sachets. For an article that may remain in service for a period beyond the initial dispensing this may carry the disadvantages of continuing to present an irregular broken surface that is unhygienic and may be hazardous and also on a small pharma pack any printed message on the lidding is lost.

Substantial interest and activity has existed in the packaging world for a considerable time regarding the development of small cheap and ergonomic, body worn or personally carried means of dosed flowable agent delivery, especially in the field of health care and alcohol gel delivery. There is much prior art and current product in this field. Environmental stewardship and dose delivery are also concerns of the current invention.

In the case of blister packs filled with decontaminating alcohol gels a volume of 3 ml is advised and this requires a formed blister or a very large sachet. The current carry bottles mostly have valves and they can clog up and for the similar volumes are more expensive and bulkier than the current invention. Assemblies of sufficiently large formed blister packs present a convoluted or corrugated and unhygienic aspect to the user.

This invention attempts to deal with the above issues and preferably relates to formed blister packs preferably multiple packs preferably flat topped blisters or tubes formed into serial blister- like reservoirs that are preferably flexible enough to collapse under pressure and expell the contents of the reservoir through an opening in the pack that is created deliberately by the user. Through all the activity in this area no solution has emerged that creates a preferably one handed, ergonomic, low cost, accidental discharge proof, preferably valveless preferably flexible product for carrying in a pocket and dispenses small volumes of low cost flowable agent.

Considering the concept known as Blister Lock' -Food & Drug Packaging May 03 This concept does propose an external piercing mechanism carried on a cover for opening blister packs. It is designed for solid pills and with its hard exterior is not suitable for body worn contact and would also be more expensive to produce than,for example,a thin polyethylene cover. The opening mechanism proposes no method for control of fluid exit and indeed the clear cover over the pill chambers is not declared as a deadfold burstable material such as aluminium and therefore may require to be opaque. If opaque, a locating means to line up the next blister to be burst will be necessary and the hard though flexible piercing arrangement is unlikely to be suitable for complete compression between fingers to enable fluid ejection.

Should the fluid simply flow out by gravity assist, there are no directions shown for pack attitude.

In other words the concept of using Blister Lock' with modifications, as an ergonomic and cheap valved bottle replacement was not obvious to the progenitors or anybody else in the last three years at least and yet fluid filled serially manufactured blisters were well known.

According to this invention a reservoir pack assembly designed to contain a flowable agent,comprises at least one reservoir pack, a carrying means for a reservoir blister piercing opening means and a reservoir blister piercing opening means, the carrying means for the piercing opening means is able to remain or remains in contact with the pack while able to change position on the pack surface. The opening piercing means may be moveable relative to the blister pack surface. The assembly may further comprise a covering means that wholly or partially covers the reservoir pack,the covering means providing at least any one of the following means during product use, namely, a fixed conversion of a convoluted surface aspect to a hygienic non convoluted surface aspect, means for holding reservoir piercing /bursting opening means, a means to control the opening aperture of the reservoir pack, or a non frangible surface means on the containment outer surface of a reservoir pack. The covering means may be moveable relative to the reservoir pack surface.The reservoirs are preferably characterised as pharma blister' packs but may be formed from tubular or other structures.

The reservoir pack assembly is preferably characterised as comprising a multiple blister pack having means to express flowable agent preferably through reduction of its internal volume on the application of external pressure, and the pack assembly preferably comprises at least a partly frangible surface or containment, and an opening means, preferably characterised as an external piercing or bursting means. The opening means preferably has means to move and engage a particular reservoir or a frangible part of a reservoir preferably by the opening means moving relative to the reservoir pack to engage with the surface of a reservoir or by the opening means changing position on a pack surface, the opening means preferably has a lining up locating means for each blister. The opening means preferably produces a hole in the blister containment wall that is sized no bigger than a small pin circumference eg. 0.5mm -1mm in diameter Such a hole can be produced by piercing through a burstable material that will not tear for example a metal foil covered with a plastic adhesive tape. The tape that covers the burstable part of the surface might be less resistant to puncture than the part of the srface over which the piercing means rests before moving to engage the burstable area.

A frangible seal or other opening method may also be appropriately used with the covering means.

The containment material of the reservoir pack is preferably aluminium or an aluminium laminate. A squeezable fluid filled aluminium blister will eject 96% of contained agent on pressure being applied. This requires the user to apply pressure from each side and therefore after creation of an opening for fluid release it is preferable that the majority of the blister surface remains unbroken.

Alternatively the opening means is a piercing or bursting means and engages the frangible surface making use of pressure means applied by the user that may activate sliding or other applicator means that carries the opening means. The blister pack surface where the opening is to be made is preferably accidentally impenetrable except where the piercing is to take place and this may be achieved by covering the blister surface for example with a cover, for example an adhesive tape, leaving a frangible area that is thereby limited in and preferably controlled in extent.

A sliding means that comprises the bursting means may co-operate with a material extension of the blister assembly or with a surface mounted means such as a tape or other rail like structure or a sliding means may be mounted on a further means on top of a surface mounted tape.

The piercing /bursting means and its co-operation with the blister pack may be described as physically similar to a curtain rail assembly.

Alternatively the piercing or opening means may be part of a stiffening or other structure attached to or in contact with, preferably sliding contact,the blister pack and distort on being pressed by the user thereby engaging the frangible blister surface.

Preferably the piercing means has a very low profile above the surface preferably being no more than 3mm above the lidding surface.

There may be one moveable piercing means for a multiple pack or there may be one piercing means for each reservoir, and attached to the surface of the reservoir or attached to an extension of the reservoir surface.

The surface mounted tape may part or completely cover the frangible lidding leaving a slit or other opening to allow the piercing mechanism to act within the opening and alow egress of flowable agent. The surface mounted tape may facilitate the piercing mechanism in its travel from blister to blister or in movement on a single blister by providing a smooth unbroken surface underneath while also providing protection against accidental breakage of most of the blister surface or breakage during application of expelling pressure. Alternatively one or more adhesive covers may secure a rotational or other means to secure a piercing means against an individual blister surface allowing the piercing means to be moved from the tape surface onto the frangible lidding ready for piercing. Such blisters packs may be used or included with or as part of hospital service packs such as catheter packs or be placed near points of intended use at the bedside or have attachment means to be carried on or around a user's arm.. The shape of the blister assembly and the nature of the reservoirs for the volume required facilitates use in these situations.

Preferably the tape remains unbroken after fluid agent has been expelled thus contining to act as a hygienic surface, a pallette for release of agent from adjacent blisters and a viable print surface. Such a tape may be relatively unbreakable providing protection for the majority of the surface underneath that may consist of a frangible material that is liable to burst on application of a force by a relatively sharp piercing means, or possibly the user's finger or a device on the surface,where it is not covered by the tape thus allowing a non turbulent ejection removal of contents rather than a scooping action by a finger.

Specific preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompannying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional longitudinal view of a blister pack with slideable and fixed bursting means.

Figure 2 shows a slideable bursting means that does not co-operate with a blister edge.

Figure 3 shows a multiple blister pack with a forming means that also comprises piercing means.

Figure 4 shows a pack of two blisters with a rotational pierce mechanism on each blister.

Figure 5 shows a tube divided into a pack of separate reservoirs or a serial row of conventional blisters and opening means attached to the pack assembly side.

Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of a cover surrounding a frangible seal blister.

Figure 6A shows a cross sectional view of a cover around a pierce/burst opening blister.

Figure 6 B shows a top view of 6A Figure 7 shows a blister pack strip half inserted in an outer cover, the outer cover includes pack opening means.

Figure 7A shows a multiple pack product.

Referring to the drawings: In figure 1 blisters I are shown with sealing spaces 11 in between. A sliding means 7 is slideably moveable in directions 13 and carries a pointed piercing feature 4. Means 8 is a covering means that may not be required there being a single material layer forming most of the product, and if cover 8 is present it may cover some or all of the product being fixedly attached to the reservoirs I or not being fixedly attached to the reservoirs. The covering means 8 may consist of a high barrier packing material such as aluminium and the blisters 1 may be of a cheaper lower barrier material or vice versa.

Preferably the blister pack and or cover 8 have a deadfold property.Cover 8 is hermetically sealed at 31 and may have extenal attachment points 32.

The covering means 8 is sited preferably along the length of the product. Opening carrying means 7 includes piercing opening means 4 and is formed preferably as a ring that slidingly co-operates with the blister pack, in directions 13, to enable the piercing means 4 to reach differing parts of the burstable reservoir pack surface.Cover 8 may preferably be adhesive in nature and cover over convolutions or irregular surface features 30. Where a sliding facility to move the piercing means 4 is not present there may be individual piercing means 4 for each blister pack I and these may be held in place by the covering means fixedly attaching means 7 at each blister 1. In use the sliding means 7 is preferably compressible and is left in place after each blister is compressed the user moving it on to the next unused blister just before further use. The piercing means 4 therefore always is parked on an unfilled part of the blister pack 1.

There may be differing area on the blister pack surface that are burstable or non burstable with respect to the piercing means 4. Piercing means 4 may move relative to its carrying means 7 and completely overly 7 in a safe mode.

Feature 16 may represent a sub-frame or bangle or other former to which a row of blisters is attached preferably in order to be flexibly attached to a users arm.

In figure 2 strip sliding means 18 is joined to the blister strip ends at 19 preferably overlying adhesive tape cover 8. Sliding means 7 preferably co-operates with means 18 by encircling it in a ring and can be moved in directions 13. Piercing part 4 of sliding means 7 preferably rests on non burstable tape 8 and can be pushed forward by the user in direction 3 such that part 4 rests on a frangible part l7of the blister lidding. Having burst the frangible lidding, the adhesive tape covering a substantial part of the blister lidding surface, part 7 is returned to cover the non frangible surface and may ride over the unbroken blister surface to the next blister.

In figure 3 A straight or curved or otherwise suitably shaped means 25 eg a thin strip of material ready formed or formable by the user, for example plastic strip or a backing card, may be fixed or formed to a surface of the blister.

Means 25 imparts to the blister strip an elastic curved shape for attachment to an arm or wrist or straight fixed stiffness for insertion into a pocket or a shape bendable to the user's desire. The blisters preferably have the opening surface as a flat surface. Such a row of sequentially arranged blisters 1 is suitable to be carried like a pen, in a pocket or attached to a belt etc of the user( not shown) and may have attachment means 26 and the reservoirs may

have various opening means of prior art.

Strip 25 may overly protective covering means 8 on the blister surface and have extensions 7 with opening bursting means 4 able to engage a frangible part of each blister surface 17 preferably on deliberate directed pressure over feature 4 by the user. Feature 4 has an undersurface that can present a piercing or bursting edge to the blister lidding on application of such pressure otherwise feature 4 may be slightly raised from the lidding surface and shaped to calibrate the opening pressure required. These shaping strips 25 may be factory applied or applied by the user as required. The user can then operate the release of flowable agent as a one handed action.

In figure 4 two blisters I are shown.The frangible lidding is protected by tape 8 leaving area 17 suitable for piercing. Tape 8 has rotational means 19 with piercing means 4 preferably applied to the tape 8 before the tape 8 is applied to the blister 1 surface. 4A shows the piercing means 4 in a safe position, after rotation in direction 3 4B shows the piercing means 4 in a piercing position. 11 is a seal between the blisters. This arrangement may be suitable, for example, for contamination control before and after opening of a catheter pack. The blister pack assembly may have fixing means preferably on its base in order to removeably attach to a suitable point, for example near a bed.

In figure 5 A serial row of reservoirs 1 is formed from a tube or preferably formed in a vertical form fill seal machine and filled from direction 20. These blisters may be clamshell in form.

Means 16 is available as attachment means so that a user may attach the blister pack assembly to a belt or around an arm or it may be placed as a pen like structure in a pocket (all not shown). Seals 11 form the blisters that are preferably made from a deadfold aluminium material that can be rolled up in direction 21 after having been squeezed empty by the user. Strip 22 may be formed as a seal or otherwise attached after filling the blisters and has means to attach a piercing slide means 7 or individual piercing means 4 for each blister with perforations 24 on strip 22 that allow the individual piercing means 4 to move independantly. In use the piercing means are moved in direction 24 in order to engage frangible surface 17 to create an opening through which the contents can escape. In manufacture the blister material is preferably formed and folded at fold 23 then part sealed then filled and finally sealed.

Alternatively means 4 may be attached to a preferably flexible ring that goes around the tube or pack assembly and can slide up and down the pack assembly and rotate to engage a burstable part of a filled pack.

In figure 6 blister I has a permanent seal at 11 and a frangible seal at 11 A. On the blister, seal 11 A being broken, fluid will be expelled in direction 25.

Cover 8 encompassess the product and is fixedly attached at positions 26.

The cover, preferably an adhesive label, imparts a smoother surface free of convolutions or spaces between the blisters to the multi-blister pack preferably giving the pack a non rigid but cohesive feel ideal for wearing in a pocket possibly like a pen or next to the skin being bendable and able to be accidentally pressurised without bursting or being uncomfortable. In figures 6A and 6B and 6C blister 1 has permanent seals 11 and cover 8. Cover 8 is preferably adhesive tape and preferably holds and fixes means 7 to the blister surface.

Cover 8 preferably provides a smooth hygienic non convoluted surface around the pack assembly, in the context of this patent this means that, for example, the aspect of blister edges and spaces between blisters are thus hidden and covered. Means 7 can be affixed above the tape. Means 7 carries piercing means 4 on flexible extensions 7.

Means 4 overlies a non frangible part of the blister surface such as a strip 8A which in manufacture is laid down before means 7 is attached. In use the user may extend means 4 in direction 26 to reach a frangible part of the lidding 17 that is uncovered by tape 8A, or may have a more burstable tape that will allow bursting but limit potential tearing of the containment material thus controlling the opening aperture, and the user then presses down to create an opening 25 preferably all in one action preferably by one hand with the flowable agent dropping into the other hand.

Means 7 plus means 4 may be one piece of flexible material.

In figure 7 a muliple blister pack 1 is shown emerging from an outer cover 27 within which the reservoir pack is preferably sealed before use and the sealed cover may act as a selling display. The cover 27 is preferably flexible and comprises opening means 4. Once the cover 27 is opened preferably by a tear or a re-seal opening (not shown), the internal reservoir pack 1 can slide out from cover 27 and the user is able to pierce the appropriate blister by simple pressure using the opening means 4 preferably on a flat surface of the blister. Flowable agent escapes in direction 28.After use the reservoir pack is preferably fully returned into the cover 27 and returned to a pocket of the user (not shown).

The internal multi pack assembly may have no modification other than to present a burstable surface that can move relative to means 4.

Packs 1 are empty packs while packs 1A are preferably still filled with agent.

The internal pack assembly may be part rigid non compressible and allow fluid to escape by simple gravity. Preferably the line of reservoir blisters 1 is prevented from exiting the open end of the cover 27 by stop means 28. For example during manufacture the blister line 1 be introduced into the cover 27 from the rear 29 and 29 then sealed. The cover 27 may be wide enough to contain two or more blister lines of approximately seven blisters and therefore hold as much fluid as a carry bottle but have a much thinner dimension approximately 6-10mm. Unused blister lines can be brought into use by changing position in the cover 27. Unlike a bottle as the blisters are used up the dimension of the whole assembly reduces. The cover 27 may be re-usable with the rear end 29 being re-sealable. In the case of the blisters being opaque a locating means 30 enables the user to line up each blister with the opening means.

In figure 7A a multiple pack cover 27 is shown. This is preferably a translucent flexible polyethylene pack that can act as a display and seals the product inside. Top opening means 29 is opened by the consumer before first use and may be discarded or left partly attached for hanging in use. The orientation of the pack in use to obtain an ergonomic fluid exit is shown on the surface by indicator arrow means 30. Extension means 28 on each blister prevents it from falling out the pack and visual means 31 allow the consumer to align the blisters with the piercing means 4 while copertative means 32 facilitates the same function mechanically. Blister line 1 once empty will preferably be very thin in dimension and unused blister line 1A can be brought into function by being interchanged with it in the pack 27.

For the purposes of this patent a non frangible or non burstable surface is one that can not be pierced accidentally by the piercing means. Covering means, means any covering means including adhesive tapes and fully or partially encompassing labels and protective outer covering. Throughout this patent blister' pack can mean any reservoir' pack.

Claims (5)

1) A reservoir pack assembly that is designed to contain a flowable agent comprises at least one reservoir pack, a carrying means for a reservoir blister piercing opening means and piercing opening means, the blister opening means can change position relative to the pack surface, the carrying means for the blister pack piercing opening means is able to remain in contact with the blister pack while the opening means changes position on the pack surface.

2) A reservoir pack assembly as claimed in claim I where the reservoir opening means is moveable relative to the blister pack surface.

3) A reservoir pack assembly as claimed in claims I or 2 that comprises a covering means that wholly or partially covers the reservoir pack, the covering means providing at least any one of the following means, namely, conversion of a convoluted multi pack surface to a hygienic non convoluted surface, means for holding reservoir opening means, characterised as piercing or bursting means, means to control the opening aperture of a reservoir, or a non frangible surface means of the reservoir pack containment surface.means on the reservoir surface. 2'o

4) A reservoir pack assembly as claimed in claims 1 --3 has a surface covering means in position over at least part of its containment means, the surface covering means being impenetrable to the bursting means.

5) An assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the blister package array is characterised as comprising forming or shaping means that holds the blister packs in a shape ready formed or formable by the user.

5) An assembly as claimed in claim 1 --4 where the opening means attachment means is a sliding means.

6) An assembly as claimed in claims 1 --4 where the opening attachment means is a rotational means.

7) An assembly as claimed in claims 1-4 where the opening attachment means is a flexibly moveable material.

8) An assembly as claimed in any of claims l---7 where the covering means is an adhesive tape or label that covers a substantial part of the blister surface.

9) An assembly as claimed in claims 1 ---8 where the opening means is attached to sliding means sited above adhesive tape means.

10) An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1-9 that has means to be attached or to be part of a hospital service pack.

11) An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1-10 that consists of more than one pack

12) A multiple assembly as claimed in any of claims 1-10 that has means to form the packs in any particular configuration.

13) An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1--il that has means to be attached around a user's arm.

14) An assembly as claimed in any of claims 1 --12 comprises a sealable product outer cover that forms part of the working means of the product.

Amendments to the claims have been tiled as follows: tZ-

I) A dispensing device for dispensing fluid from a blister package containing multiple blister packs, each blister containing fluid, the dispensing device comprising; a blister pack opening means and a sliding means; the blister pack opening means is arranged that in use, upon activation of the opening means against a surface of the blister, the blister contents are compressed and exit the blister in a direction vectored at least partly against the direction of activation of the opening means, the direction of action of the opening means being transverse to the direction of action of the sliding means; the sliding means is characterised in that it enables the blister package to slide relative to the dispensing device such that a blister pack may enter or exit the device from either side 2) A dispensing device as claimed in claim I wherein the opening means comprises a blister piercing means 3) A dispensing device as claimed in claim I and claim 2 that is supported by the blister pack 4) An assembly comprising; a dispensing device as claimed in claims 1-3 and an array that comprises more than one blister pack.