JP2003104440A - Unit-dose package - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reinforced unit-dose package, which has particularly a durable locking mechanism. SOLUTION: The unit-dose package 1 is formed from the combination of a flexible portion formed of a paperboard 2, which houses unit does materials, and a rugged plastic locking mechanism comprising a child-resistant trigger mechanism.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a reusable and lockable unit quantity packaging system comprising a paperboard portion and a shaped locking member. This package is easy to use and yet child-safe (child r
Therefore, it is suitable for packaging the drug. It can also withstand repeated use, including opening and closing the locking mechanism.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The concept of unit dose packaging is attractive for pharmaceutical applications. This is because individual doses can be conveniently and systematically distributed and the user can track the consumption of the doses according to the instructed schedule. A feature of such packaging is that it is robust enough to be opened and closed multiple times until the treatment is complete. An example of such packaging is disclosed in commonly assigned US Pat. No. 6,047,829 (Johnstone). The Johnston patent relates to a unit quantity paperboard package having an outer paperboard sleeve and an inner paperboard slide card lockably retained inside the sleeve. The sleeve has a plurality of side panels operatively connected to each other, one of the plurality of side panels having a first inner slide card release means and another of the side panels being a first side slide card release means. It has two inner slide card releasing means, and the inner slide card holding means and releasing means are arranged so as to be substantially adjacent to the unit quantity dispensing means.

Child safety is a particularly desirable feature for the packaging of unit dose medications, and the 1970 Poison Prevention Packaging Act (Poiso).
n Prevention Packaging Act). Under this law, there are guidelines for packaging that meet the child safety standards. For example, a child safety (CR) rate of F = 1 requires that random sampling of test packages does not fall below a 10% failure rate by a test pool consisting of children of a particular age. This general guideline is designed to maintain sufficient integrity for children to tamper with the package.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a reinforced unit dose package having a particularly durable locking structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide a unit dose packaging system that can be easily opened while satisfying and maintaining desired child safety standards throughout its service life. These and other objectives are met by the various embodiments of the invention, including improving aesthetics and improving shipping and packaging stability.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The unit dose packaging system of the present invention comprises a combination of components that form a robust, child-safe package. In this regard, the package member has a flexible portion consisting of a series of continuous panels and a rigid molded plastic locking member. The unit dose is contained in a structure inside the package, such as a card, dispenser, or other structural member.

The flexible portion is formed from paperboard or a flexible, foldable plastic material, although paperboard is preferably used. This part of the package preferably cooperates with the molded locking member to form a rigid frame surrounded by an outer cover. In this regard, one or more panels of the paperboard portion are at least partially attached to the molded locking member to form a rigid frame, and another paperboard panel is provided on top and bottom of the frame. Spread out to form the outer cover. These panels are cut to fit inside the frame provided by the plastic part,
One or more notches, notches, tabs, or tabs to securely attach the paperboard section to the plastic section,
It has slots or the like. In this regard, for example, the paperboard panel forming the top of the package has slots for passing locking features formed in the plastic part. The paperboard panel forming the bottom of the package also has recesses such as notches, cutouts, tabs, etc. to allow operation of the locking mechanism members inside the package.

The paperboard portion is bleached or unbleached, uncoated, or coated C1 suitable for use in packaging.
Formed from S or C2S paperboard. Also, if desired, the paperboard is laminated with a polymeric material or other material to provide additional rigidity and resistance to tearing. Such laminated materials are disclosed in co-pending US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 951,035, assigned to the same applicant as the present application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Alternatively, the paperboard portion can be replaced by another foldable substrate such as plastic. It may also be formed from a single piece of substrate and folded to form each panel of the package, or alternatively, individual panels may be cut from the substrate material to form the package. In order to do so, it may be attached to the locking member as required.

The molded lock member is, as a basic member,
It has a lock member and a lock release member. Some embodiments of suitable locking members are disclosed in detail in, but not limited to, co-pending US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 305,851. At least one of the inventors of this application is common to this application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In such an embodiment,
The molded locking member of the package includes the rigid molded portion of the frame described above, and the locking member is molded to form the frame, the sliding locking tongue, and the locking flap.

The frame portion of the locking member is comprised of a frame base and panels that are connected at right angles to form a polygonal package frame. The frame base is partially cut to accommodate the sliding locking tongue members. In addition to housing a sliding locking tongue, the frame base provides additional support and rigidity to the package. But,
The frame base need not be formed as an uncut continuous panel. Rather, it is molded to provide only the frame member to reduce package weight and material cost while at the same time providing the necessary support for the more flexible members of the package. You may The frame base is attached to at least one panel of paperboard sections by adhesive, mechanical or other means. In one embodiment, the molded polygonal frame is rectangular, in which case it has two end panels that are lower in height and shorter in length than the remaining two side panels. There is. One of the low-height, short-length panels is located at one end of the frame to provide support and attachment points for the locking flap, and the other is at the other end of the frame opposite the locking flap. It is preferably arranged. The two side panels that complete the rectangular frame are molded and attached at right angles to the end panels. Each end of the side panel extends slightly beyond the point of attachment to the corresponding end panel, each end of the side panel forming a ledge for supporting the stacked end panels of the paperboard portion. To further support this structure,
The frame may be further provided with side panels or end panels.

In addition to the end panel and side panel,
A slot housing panel is sandwiched between side panels above the frame base. The panel has a slot for receiving and engaging a tab depending from the locking flap, sufficient to raise it above the frame base and engage the locking tongue below it. It is molded to a perfect thickness. The height of the slot housing panel is such that it holds the locking flap when the package is closed.

A slidable locking tongue is housed inside the frame base. The locking tongue cooperates with the locking flap and slot housing panel to close and secure the package. One end of the locking tongue is a pull ring. The other end of the locking tongue is integrally connected to the curved dwell. The curved dwell has an upwardly projecting edge. An outermost lateral tab of the curved dwell extends therefrom. The side tab engages the depending tab portion of the locking panel when it is inserted into the slot housing panel. The curved dwell is preferably held in place by a pair of stops molded into the slot housing panel. In the molded condition, the curved dwell and tab are housed underneath the slot housing panel. The sliding locking tongue can be molded from a bendable plastic material as a single unit. However, the curved dwell, which has the function of driving the movement of the bar when the pull ring is manipulated, is made from a more flexible plastic than the material used to form the frame of the locking member and other members. Preferably.

A trigger mechanism is used to release the locking mechanism which is locked in the molded, untensioned state. In this regard, the trigger mechanism may be a pull ring or a lever or rod, such as a T-shaped lever. In one embodiment, the trigger mechanism is a circular pull ring.
As the ring is pulled, the tongue moves and pulls out the curved dowel and lateral tabs from the underside of the slot housing panel. The movement of the locking tongue in the pulling direction is
Intentionally limited by a pair of stops located a distance from the pull ring in the frame base and a stop ledge positioned horizontally across the bar to engage the stops. The stop ledge extends across and across the bar, keeping the bar and pull ring in the same plane as the frame base.

The locking flap is connected to one end panel of the molded package frame by a hinge mechanism. The mechanism is preferably in the form of a living hinge molded with the locking flap. In some cases, the locking flap may have finger grips for easy access by the user. A depending tab is attached to one end of the locking flap, preferably in the central portion thereof. The depending tab has a slot corresponding to a side tab attached to the locking tongue. The locking mechanism is secured when the depending tab engages the slot housing panel and the lateral tab engages the slot inside the depending tab.

The paperboard portion of the package is attached to the molded plastic portion by any suitable means.
When the package of the present invention is used to hold a unit dose material such as a drug, a drug, a nutritional supplement, a member for containing the unit dose is provided inside the package. These types of containers can be used to package other commodities and a wide range of materials when dispensing discrete amounts. Such members can be selected from blisters and pouches, pillows, foil inserts, and other containing vessels, all formed by conventional means,
It can be mounted on the paperboard part forming the package, or on a card that is inserted as a separate storage member within the container. For example, if a blister card is desired to be incorporated into the package, the blister card is formed as one or more extensions of the paperboard panel forming the top, bottom and sides of the package.

Part of child safety is achieved by activating the secure locking feature described herein. To close the package, the paperboard portion is extended over the frame base and pressure is applied to the hanging flap portion of the locking flap to engage the tab with the slot provided in the slot housing panel. When the depending tab engages in the slot, it slides past the protruding side tabs and snaps into place. In the fully locked condition, the lateral tabs hang down and apply force to the sides of the tabs. Therefore, it is difficult to remove the hanging tab without applying a moderate amount of pressure to remove the lateral tab. The completely locked state represents the molded state of the locking member.

A more sophisticated method is required to open the package. The side tabs must be removed in order to pull the hanging tabs out of the slot housing panel. In this regard, the user's finger is hooked onto the pull ring at the bottom of the package and the ring is pulled in the direction opposite the locking flap. The ring pulls the locking tongue and now the curved dwell pulls outward from the slot housing panel. There is no firm contact between the side tabs and the depending tabs and the depending tabs are free to be removed from the slot housing panel. The locking flap is then rotated around the integral hinge to release the package cover or top panel. In various embodiments, the pull ring is
It is hidden from the outside of the package by the bottom paperboard panel. In this structure, the paperboard panel is provided with slots to allow operation of the pull ring. In another embodiment, a cutout is provided in the bottom side panel to allow free access to the pull ring. Once the locking flaps have been released, the unit dose housing, such as a blister card, can be widened and the dose removed.

As an additional protection against opening, the locking flap is partially divided into three segments by a pair of slits near the innermost edge of the locking flap. Each segment thus formed can limit movement to some extent with respect to adjacent segments. To open the package, at least one segment must be grasped and pulled outward from the package while the locking tongue is being withdrawn from the slot housing panel while successfully opening the locking flap.

The present invention further includes a method of packaging a unit dosage material. The method comprises: a) forming a locking member having a locking member and a lock releasing member from a rigid plastic material and a flexible plastic material; and b) a blank from a flexible paperboard or plastic material. Cutting out, c) folding and mounting the blank on the locking member, and d) inserting one or more doses of unit dose material into the container.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, a combination paperboard / plastic unit dose package according to the present invention in one embodiment comprises a paperboard portion 2
have. This paperboard part 2 has an upper panel 3 and an extension 4, on which the extension 4 contains a unit dose blister 16. Upper panel 3 is end panel 5
It is connected in a foldable manner. The end panel 5 forms the spine of the package in the completed state. The bottom panel 6 is attached to the molded locking member 12. In this embodiment, the panel 6 has slots 11 cut to provide a movable area over a portion of the molded part. In other embodiments, the slot 11 may replace the notch exposing the plastic part member. The paperboard section 2 is attached to the molded plastic section 12 by an adhesive or a hot melt adhesive. Other attachment means may be used. The plastic part 12 has a locking flap 13, a locking tongue 14 and a frame base 15. The frame base 15 further includes an end panel 22 and a side panel 23, and a slot housing panel 18. End panel 22
The side panel 23 and the side panel 23 are connected at a right angle, and the package 1
Forming a rectangular frame that limits the shape of the. The slot housing panel 18 has a slot 21 for engaging the locking flap 13 and has a hollow area (not shown) underneath it, in which the curve of the locking tongue 14 is curved. The dowel portion 27 is fixed. Alternatively, double panels need not be used. Alternatively, the blister packaging material can be attached directly to the blank single panel by sealing or other known means. In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, the frame base 15 has a series of end panels at the end of the package 1 opposite the locking flaps.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paperboard section 2 is preferably formed as an upper panel 3 and an extension panel 4. As shown, the top panel 3 and extension panel 4 are formed from a double panel of the selected substrate material. This double panel provides additional physical support to the package. Alternatively, a unit dose blister may be formed by sandwiching a blister packaging material such as a laminate or foil sheet between the double panels 4. When using,
The extension 4 is opened outward from the upper panel 3. Therefore,
Characters or patterns such as medication instructions are printed on both the inner and outer surfaces of the upper panel 3 and the extension 4. The panels 3, 4 further have slots 9, 10 positioned and dimensioned to match when the double panel is folded. The slot thus formed allows the hanging tab 19 of the locking mechanism to pass through the top panel and extension panel 4 when the package is closed. As mentioned above, the blank may not use double panels or may be provided in multiple parts, for example a two piece blank.

A view from the top of the package in the closed state is shown in FIG. When the package is completely closed, the upper panel 3 is folded inside the package,
It is folded under the locking flap 13. Panel 3
Are held in place by ledges 28 located near the edges of the side panels 23. Pushing the panel 3 downward pushes its edge downwards and is held firmly in position by the ledge 28. The locking flap 13 is divided into three by a pair of slits 37. The slit 37 divides the locking flap 13 into segments, and the movement of each segment is restricted with respect to the adjacent portion. In this embodiment, egg-shaped finger grips 34, 36 are formed at each end of the flap 13. In other embodiments, the grip is curved, angled, or ribbed. Dividing the flap 13 into segments will improve safety. For the user to pull the package, the pull ring 1
This is because it is necessary to pull at least one segment while engaging 7 and move the locking tongue 14 from the state where no tension is applied. Without engaging the ring 17, when the user grips only one fingergrip 34 without pulling the other fingergrip 36 or flap edge 35, the segment of grip area will move slightly and be added. The tension remains localized around the grip 34 rather than being applied to the flap edge 35 as needed to release the locking flap 13 from the slot housing panel 18, and the package does not open easily. The slot 20 in the central segment of the locking flap 13 is located just above the depending tab 19. The tab 19 projects downwardly below the plane of the locking flap 13 and engages with the locking tongue 14.

As shown in FIG. 4, package 1
The lower or bottom side is a paperboard panel 6 on the outer surface.
The panel 6 is in contact with the bottom surface of the frame base 15,
By the adhesive means, or the above-mentioned side panel 23
Position is held by engaging the upper ledge, or both. The panel 6 is provided with a recess so that the lower trigger mechanism can be operated. In the illustrated embodiment, a square notch is cut to form the node 11 in the panel 6 above the pull ring 17. Node 1 not fixed
Depressing 1 allows the user to grab and move the pull ring 17 from outside the package 1. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the node 11 may be eliminated and the notch 41 may be formed to expose the pull ring 17 partially or completely. However, obscuring the pull ring obscures the means for opening, thus increasing child safety.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the package in the closed state, showing the internal position of the blister 16 containing the unit quantity with respect to the locking mechanism. The dimensions of the package are such that the blister 16 is not compressed by the members of the locking mechanism such as the frame base 15, the stop 30, the stop ledge 31, and the pull ring 17, which in particular project somewhat above the plane of the bottom panel 6. It is preferably adapted to be stored.

Panels 3 and 4 for showing the locking member
The package in the open state, with the parts removed, is shown in FIG. The locking member is the locking flap 13
A frame base 15, a pull ring 17 formed integrally with and fixed to the locking tongue 14, and a slot housing panel 18. Pull ring 1
The size of 7 is such that it accommodates a general user's finger, and is installed inside the notch 32 provided so as to be separated so that the pull ring 17 can be moved.
The distal end of locking tongue 14 is a curved dwell 27 formed from a flexible material. The dwell 27 is fixed to the frame base 15 at the attachment point 33. A side tab 25 is provided on the central region side of the curved dwell 27.
Are arranged. The tab 25 projects outward from the end of the locking tongue 14 in parallel with the frame base 15. The locking tongue 14 cooperates with a pair of stops 30 and stop ledges 31. The stop ledge 31 is engageable with the stop 30 and limits the movement of the tongue 14 and prevents it from moving out of the plane of the frame base 15.

The locking flap 13 includes a hanging tab 19 installed at a right angle to the flap 13 and a tab 1.
It has a slot 20 located above the 9. The flap 13 is further divided into segments by the slit 37. The flap 13 is a living hinge 26 molded together with other members of the locking mechanism.
Is attached to the frame base by and is located on the closed position side. The depending tab 19 corresponds to a slot 21 located in the slot housing panel 18. The slot housing panel 18 is adjacent to and partially connected to the end panel 22 inside the package frame.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the molded frame of the package 1. Here, a number of end panels 22, 24 of approximately the same size are installed in parallel, but at a distance from one another, at the ends forming the spine of the package. These numerous panels provide additional support to the package frame. Also shown in FIG. 8 is the curved dowel 27 of the locking tongue 14. Locking tongue 14 is molded and has lateral tabs 25 as shown. The curved dwell 27 is fixed to the molded frame base 15 at the attachment point 33. The flexibility of the curved dwell facilitates movement of locking tongue 14 relative to support 38 and frame base 15. The flexible portion of the curved dwell 27 includes a section 42 with a ridge 40 molded thereon for reinforcement and a section 42 for the locking tongue 14.
Is formed as a thin portion 43 that facilitates bending of the.

9 to 11 show the operation of the lock mechanism. In FIG. 9, the package is closed (with the top panel removed) and the locking mechanism is in its molded, untensioned state. The curved dwell 27 is housed in a slot housing panel 18 (not shown) with lateral tabs 25 hanging down and projecting outwardly into slots 35 in tabs 19.
The slit 37 divides the locking flap 13 into three segments, and finger grips 34 and 36 are arranged on the two end segments, respectively. To open the locking flap, the user first hooks the pull ring 17 and pulls it outwardly from the locking flap in the opening 32, generally until the stop ledge 31 engages the stop 30. Pull out 14. The curved dwell 27 is pulled out of the slot housing panel 18 by pulling out the locking tongue 14.

FIG. 10 illustrates, in cross-section, the engagement of the depending tab 19, and more specifically the slot 38 formed therein, with the side tab 25 of the curved dwell 27.

FIG. 11 shows the pull ring 17 partially moved outwardly within the opening 32 to withdraw the locking tongue 14. For pull ring, grasp the top and bottom of the package and insert one finger to pull ring 17
It is moved by operating. Lock tongue 1
When pulling out 4, the side tab 25 extending from its end
Is withdrawn from the slot 39 in the depending tab 19. The user is hooking the pull ring 17 while simultaneously pulling one or both finger grips 34,
36 to pull the hanging tab 19 into the slot 20.
Pull out from. If either of the finger grips 34, 36 or the central segment is pulled without lifting the other segment, sufficient tension to release the hanging tab 19 is not transferred to the central segment of the locking flap 13 and the package Does not open immediately. The ease of operating this mechanism can be changed by shortening or lengthening the slit 37.

The combination package according to the present invention is a machine that glues or heat seals a pre-cut and pre-folded blank to the bottom of the frame base 15 and to the mounting points on the end panels 5, 22 and side panels 23. Generally formed at work. A ledge provided along the length of the panel 23 allows the paperboard section to snap fit into the forming frame formed by these side panels and end panels. The blister forming material and unit dose are inserted prior to mounting the paperboard portion to the plastic frame, but this step is preferably performed after the package portions have been joined.

The package of the present invention is suitable for a wide range of packaging applications, and in particular, packaged in unit doses or therapeutics where child safety is important to avoid carelessness. It is useful when

Although the invention has not been described in detail here, it is believed that it includes many other embodiments that will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. Therefore, this specification should not be understood as being limited to the above-described examples and the embodiments illustrated herein.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a unit dose package according to the present invention in a partially open state.

FIG. 2 is a two-dimensional view of the blank forming the paperboard portion of the package, fully unrolled.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the package in a closed state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the outer rear portion of the package, showing the location of the release mechanism on the underside of the outer paperboard panel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the outer rear portion of the package having a cutout above the trigger release mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a unit dose package according to the present invention in a closed state.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the package in the open position with the top panel removed to show the molded plastic locking mechanism members.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a package, showing another structure of the package frame.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the package with the top panel removed to show the locking flap in the engaged and closed position.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism showing engagement of the locking flap with the locking tongue.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the package, showing the operation of the locking mechanism in the package according to the invention in the partially open state.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 package 2 Paperboard part 3 upper panel 4 Extensions and extension panels 5 End panel 6 Bottom panel, paperboard panel 9 slots 10 slots 11 slots, node 12 Locking member, molded plastic part 13 Lock flap 14 Lock tongue 15 frame base 16 Blister 17 pull ring 18 slot housing panel 19 tabs 20 slots 21 slots 22 End panel 23 Side panel 25 side tabs 26 Integral hinge 27 Dwell 28 Ledges 30 stops 31 stop ledge 32 Notches and openings 33 attachment points 34 finger grip 35 flap edges, slots 36 finger grip 37 slits 38 support, slot 39 slots 40 ridge 42 sections 43 Thin part

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (31) Priority claim number 10/118023 (32) Priority date April 9, 2002 (April 4, 2002) (33) Priority claiming countries United States (US) (72) Inventor Todd H. Huffman             United States 23229 Virginia, Li             Chichmond, Baldwin Road             503 (72) Inventor Brad A. Jones             United States 23832 Chi, Virginia             Westerfield, Tulip Oh             Claude 4906 (72) Inventor William Earl Rigby             United States of America 23113 Virginia, Mi             Drussian, Port Elissa Lande             Swing 1204 (72) Inventor Keshav Sharma             United States 23239 Virginia, Li             Chechmond, United Court 1562 F-term (reference) 3E067 AB81 AB82 AC04 BA06A                       BA06C BA15A BA15B BA15C                       BA26A BA26B BA32A BA32B                       BA32C BA34A BA34B BA34C                       BB01C BB14A BB14B BB14C                       BC04A BC04B BC04C DA08                       EA01 EA18 EA23 EA25 EB11                       EB12 EB15 EB17 EC05 EC11                       EE02 EE06 EE42 FA04 FB02                       GD10                 3E084 AA05 AA14 AA24 AA34 AB07                       BA01 CA03 CC07 DA03 DB18                       DC07 FA03 FC18 GA06 GB06

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A unit dosage having a flexible paperboard or plastic portion formed as a series of continuous panels, a rigid molded plastic locking member, and a structure for containing the dosage in a package. package. 2. A) paperboard portion and b) a molded plastic locking member, said paperboard portion comprising (i) a top panel and (ii) a bottom panel having recess means disposed therein. (Iii) a side panel that is foldably connected to the top panel and a bottom panel, the top panel having an extension that is folded with respect to the top panel, the extension being a unit dosage material. 2. A blister on one or more for holding a blister thereon, each of the top panel and extension panel having one or more slots near its edge. Unit package. 3. The molded plastic locking member comprises: a) a pair of side panels and a pair of end panels that form a rigid rectangular package frame; and b) abutting thereto parallel to a bottom panel of the paperboard section. A frame base which is placed in contact and forms a solid tray, c) a sliding locking tongue inside the tray, and d) a locking flap attached to one end panel of the package frame. And, a trigger mechanism is arranged at one end of the locking tongue, a curved dwell is arranged at the other end, and the locking flap projects downward at a right angle from the curved tongue. It has a hanging tab engageable with a dwell, and the recess means of the paperboard portion corresponds to the trigger mechanism of the molded plastic locking member. Upper panel and a slot provided in the extension panel of the paperboard portion cooperate Units amount package slot is formed by being claim 2 for passing a hanging tab of the locking mechanism. 4. The curved dwell has a lateral tab that projects at a right angle therefrom, and the depending tab of the locking flap has a slot inside the tab for engaging the lateral tab. The unit dose package of claim 3. 5. The recess means is a button, a notch,
The unit dose package according to claim 2, which is a tab or a notch. 6. The unit dose package of claim 3, wherein the trigger mechanism is a pull ring. 7. The unit dose package of claim 1 wherein the paperboard portion is formed from C1S or C2S bleached or unbleached paperboard. 8. The unit dose package of claim 7, wherein the paperboard portion is laminated with a polymeric material. 9. A) forming a locking member having a locking member and a releasing member, b) cutting a blank from a flexible paperboard or plastic material, and c) folding the blank for locking. A method of packaging a unit dosage material, comprising the steps of: attaching to a member; and d) inserting one or more dosages of the unit dosage material into a container. 10. The method of claim 9 including the step of forming the locking member from a rigid plastic material and a flexible plastic material. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the locking member is formed to include a sliding locking tongue, a frame base, and a locking flap. 12. The blank comprises a bottom panel having a slot or notch therein, and a pair of end panels each foldably connected to opposite ends of the bottom panel, optionally one or more. 10. The method of claim 9, formed with an upper panel having a plurality of extensions. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the unit dosage material is inserted into one or more blisters mounted on a paperboard section. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the blister is mounted on one or more extensions of the top panel. 15. The method of claim 9 wherein said unit dose material is contained in individual containment vessels inside a container.