US20100288669A1

US20100288669A1 - Packaging unit

Info

Publication number: US20100288669A1
Application number: US12/738,139
Authority: US
Inventors: Sven Arndt; Alexander Bauer; Stephan Horst; Matthias Schad
Original assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Current assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
Priority date: 2007-10-30
Filing date: 2008-10-28
Publication date: 2010-11-18
Also published as: EP2203359A2; CN101842294A; CL2011000741A1; MX2010004520A; KR20100100802A; IL205400A0; CA2703185A1; WO2009056531A3; AR069108A1; EP2055649A1; ZA201002426B; WO2009056531A2; TW200938449A; BRPI0819359A2; CL2008003203A1; JP2011502083A; CN102530386A; AU2008320896A1; RU2010121985A

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging unit (1) having a foldable blank (2) and at least one blister card (22) which can be divided up, in particular by means of longitudinal and/or transverse perforations (27, 28) into individual cavities (23) which are provided with two foils (25, 26) joined together at their circumference to form a receiving chamber (24) for a filling (31), particularly a pharmaceutical active substance formulation, the foldable blank (2) having different regions, wherein the regions of the foldable blank (2) comprise functional regions for holding complete blister cards (22) and/or at least a portion of the blister card (22).

Description

The invention relates to a packaging unit having a foldable blank and having at least one blister card which can be separated, in particular by means of longitudinal and/or transverse perforations, into individual cavities which are provided with two foils joined together circumferentially to form a receiving chamber for a filling, particularly a pharmaceutical active substance formulation, the foldable blank having different regions.
The invention further relates to a similar packaging unit.
The invention also relates to the above-mentioned packaging units in conjunction with a blister card which can be separated, in particular by means of longitudinal and/or transverse perforations, into individual cavities which are provided with two foils joined together circumferentially to form a receiving chamber for a filling, particularly a pharmaceutical active substance formulation, wherein for each cavity there is provided at least one area where the foils are not joined together which serves as an opening aid.
The cavities in the blister cards serve inter alia to protect pharmaceutical active substance formulations (e.g. flibanserin) from external environmental influences which might in certain circumstances affect the pharmaceutical quality of the active substance formulation.
Blister packs generally consists of a covering foil and a base foil, the cavities being formed in the base foil. The covering foil and the base foil may be made up of one or more layers of different or similar materials. The covering foil is attached to the base foil in sealed manner e.g. by adhesive bonding, welding or sealing. The covering foil and/or the carrier foil are generally in the form of metal and/or plastics and/or paper foils or films. These materials may be present in several layers. Typical metal foils comprise, for example, aluminium foils and aluminium composite foils made from aluminium and a plastic material, for example. The material used for the plastic foils may be polyvinylchloride (PVC), cycloolefin-copolymer (COC), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCFE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyester (UP), polyacrylate, polyamide (PA) or another plastic material. Often, a blister consists of a covering foil made of aluminium which seals the base foil to accommodate the pharmaceutical product or active substance. This thermoformed base foil may also comprise an aluminium foil to prevent water from penetrating into the cavity for holding the pharmaceutical product. However, in order to create another diffusion barrier or to increase the mechanical stability of the blister, the aluminium foil of the base foil and also the covering foil may optionally be covered with additional films of plastics and/or paper on one or both sides.
In some counties regulations for safer childproof packaging of medical products are under consideration or are already in existence, with the intention of in particular making it more difficult for children to gain access to, in particular, medicaments that have a toxic activity or represent a relatively serious health risk when used inappropriately.
DE 20 2004 003 781 U1 discloses a childproof rectangular package consisting of two foils joined together, the flat sealing area of which encloses at least one chamber for receiving a filling.
When designing drugs packaging, convenience has increasingly moved into the foreground, in response to which so-called wallet packs have been developed. These are combinations of blister packs and folding boxes. A wallet pack of this kind can be folded open and closed again in the manner of a wallet or purse. It consists of one or more blister cards which are fixedly attached to a secondary package made of folded cardboard, for example. The blister cards may be fixed to the secondary package e.g. by adhesive bonding, sealing, riveting or by the use of labels. The wallet may be subdivided into a different number of cardboard layers (panels). Information in the form of a brochure (booklet) can be enclosed in the wallet or attached thereto (e.g. by adhesive bonding, sealing or using sticky labels).
DE 20 2006 007 553 U1 describes a childproof wrapping for tablets having a folded blank made of cardboard or similar material in which is embedded a blister that contains the tablets, while at least one removable tab portion is provided in a position of the folded blank that covers at least the blister section containing a tablet. Individual blister sections each contain at least one tablet and each blister section is detachably connected to the remainder of the blister by means of a frangible line that is provided in its first circumferential region and by means of a missing part provided in its second circumferential region, the missing part being shaped such that when the tab portion is removed a blister section can be gripped and detached from the blister.
Another packaging unit having a folded box and a blister pack for tablets or small items can be found in DE 20 2005 010 281 U1.
Blister cards in packaging units of this kind have to comply with statutory requirements. The blister cards in Europe and the USA differ particularly in terms of their childproof qualities and their senior-friendly qualities.
For the European market, for example, blister cards are used the structure of which is described in the BfArm list that refers to DIN 55559. The blister cards are produced in a blister machine from an opaque shaped PVC film and an aluminium covering foil. The blister cards can be subdivided into individual cavities by means of transverse and longitudinal perforations. To remove the tablet, it is pressed through the covering foil of the blister. Because of the combination of materials and the specific cross-perforation, described in the BfArm list, the blister cards are regarded as childproof. In addition, blister cards tested according to DIN 14375 standards and thereby deemed to be childproof may also be used.
For the American market a blister card is preferably used which comprises a transparent shaped PVC film and a so-called peel-push covering foil, which is made up of several layers, e.g. aluminium/PET/paper (from the inside outwards). The blister card is also cross-perforated by a longitudinal and transverse perforation and contains unsealed areas at specified points. To remove the tablets, generally a cavity is separated off, to begin with, in order to access a gripper tab (unsealed region) with which the layer of paper/PET is pulled off. A transverse perforation is needed so that the aluminium layer remains intact over the blister cavity when it is torn off. In particular, this perforation may be applied at right angles to the direction of tearing. The tablet is then pushed through the aluminium layer. As a result of the combination of materials and the configuration of the cross-perforation or of the unsealed regions, the blister cards are deemed to be childproof and/or senior-friendly according to CFR 16 part 1700.
The aim of the invention is to provide a packaging unit (wallet) which makes it possible to store a portion of a blister card which has already been torn off inside the packaging unit or fix it therein, while these blister cards may in particular be child-resistant and/or senior friendly.
According to the invention the aim is achieved with regard to the packaging unit by the fact that the regions of the foldable blank have functional areas for receiving complete blister cards and/or at least one portion of the blister card.
Thanks to this measure, even special blister cards which are regarded for example as child-resistant and/or senior-friendly in the sense explained above or wherein the cavities have to be separated before being opened, for example, can be used in the packaging unit. After a cavity has been separated off, for example, the remainder of the blister card, i.e. a portion of the blister card, can be accommodated by the corresponding functional area in the packaging unit.
Preferably the blister card is adhesively bonded at distinct areas to a back wall and/or to the wall of the foldable blank. This partial attachment enables the cavities to be arranged in the packaging unit with their reverse sides exposed for the purpose of pressing a tablet through.
According to one feature, the blister card is adhesively bonded, riveted or sealed onto at least one web portion of the foldable blank. If the blister card is embodied as a two-part blister card, there is the possibility of forming a section between the two parts to serve as the adhesive surface.
Preferably, the receptacle for portions of the blister card is in the form of at least two insertion slots corresponding to one another in a wall of the foldable blank. It is envisaged that the corresponding insertion slots are made in the form of at least one first tab and a mating tab arranged in mirror symmetry thereto, which are at a first spacing that corresponds to the smallest removable portion of the blister cards. This is particularly advantageous in blister cards used on the US American market, as in order to remove tablets from the blister card for example the cavities first have to be individually separated off. The remainder of the blister card can thus be securely repositioned within the packaging unit.
According to a further feature the corresponding insertion slots are configured in the form of a plurality of tabs, all with the same orientation, and a mating tab arranged in mirror symmetry thereto, wherein the tabs are at a second spacing from one another and the tab that is directly opposite the mating tab is at the first spacing from the mating tab.
Advantageously, the second spacing corresponds to the spacing of the transverse perforations on the blister card. Thus, portions of the blister card which have been shortened to any desired extent in accordance with the spacing of the transverse perforations in the blister card can be re-fixed in the packaging unit after use.
In another embodiment, the corresponding insertion slots are formed in the packaging unit in the form of two longitudinal slots, the intermediate region of which serves to secure at least one portion of the blister card. In this way, with single or multi-strip blister cards in which the cavities or foil containers with the receiving chambers are arranged in a row, it is possible to divide them up as desired along the perforations and re-fix the remaining sections of the blister card in the packaging unit.
The insertion slots are conveniently formed by an attenuated area in the wall or by pre-stamped frangible points. Pre-stamping, in particular, can be carried out very cheaply as part of the production process. This ensures easy separation of the insertion slot to form the tabs or mating tab needed in order to insert the blister portions.
According to an alternative further feature, the wall of the foldable blank has pre-stamped perforations or openings which are circular or formed as oblong holes, the geometry, arrangement and spacings of which correspond to the geometry, arrangement and spacings of the receiving chambers of the cavities on the blister card. Thus, for example, the carton can be pressed out at the pre-stamped perforations and the blister cards or residual pieces thereof comprising the cavities can be pushed into the openings and thus re-secured in the wallet.
According to another alternative embodiment, the foldable blank has a foldable portion formed by the wall and a second wall, which are separated from one another by a fold line. The first wall has pre-stamped perforations or openings which are circular or formed as oblong holes, the geometry, arrangement and spacings of which correspond to the geometry, arrangement and spacings of the receiving chambers of the cavities on the blister card. The second wall has recesses such that after folding along the fold line the recesses lie substantially congruently on the pre-stamped perforations of the first wall. Complete blister cards or portions of blister cards can be placed on the second wall in such a way that the receiving chambers of the cavities project through the recesses. When folded along the fold line the blister card or corresponding portions thereof are located between the first and second walls and protected from sliding out.
If the perforations or openings are suitably arranged and of such dimensions as to clamp the cavities in position, secure fixing of the blister cards or portions of the blister cards can be ensured.
According to another alternative embodiment, the foldable blank comprises a foldable portion which is formed from the first wall and a second wall, which are separated from one another by a fold line. The second wall has an outer contour portion at the side and above and below this outer contour portion it has an adhesive portion. The outer contour portion is embodied such that the contour at least partly surrounds the receiving chambers of the cavities in the blister card. When the second wall is folded onto the adjacent first wall and then stuck down in the region of the adhesive portion, a holding pouch for complete blister cards or portions of blister cards is thus provided. As the outer contour portion is configured according to the geometry of the receiving chambers of the cavities, portions of blister cards, in particular, are prevented from sliding in the holding pouch. Holding pouches for information leaflets or accessories can also be formed without an outer contour adapted to the cavities.
The foldable blank is expediently made from cardboard and/or plastics. As a result, it can be produced cheaply and easily on an industrial scale and can be pre-printed with user information. It is also possible to use laminates of other materials, e.g. combinations of paper or cardboard, aluminium and/or plastic foils, making the packaging unit especially resistant, e.g. to moisture.
Expediently, the dimensions of the foldable blank are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the blister cards.
According to another preferred alternative embodiment of the packaging unit, the packaging unit comprises at least one holding pouch for at least one blister card and/or a portion of the blister card. The holding pouch is advantageously formed in the regions of the foldable blank by folding the foldable blank.
According to one feature, the holding pouch can be produced by means of additional web portions and adhesive portions adjoining them or by means of additional web portions and separate adhesive portions, the web portions or the adhesive portions being attached to the back wall and/or to the wall as part of the foldable blank, separated by a fold line in each case. Holding pouches of this kind can be produced cheaply and easily without any great wastage during cutting out by this kind of stamping out of the foldable blank. Adhesive bonding is carried out after the folding, normally using fast-curing adhesives.
If the wall has at least one outer contour portion, in practical use the blister cards or portions of blister cards can be removed from the holding pouches more easily.
This alternative embodiment can be used not only in conjunction with blisters but also with other filling materials.
Expediently, the holding pouch can be produced by an additional adhesive portion, the additional adhesive portion being attached to the wall of the foldable blank and separated off by a perforation, and the additional adhesive portion is stuck to the web portion after the insertion of at least one blister card. In this way, an initially sealed holding pouch can be formed which holds the blister cards. To open it, the perforation has to be broken away, which constitutes evidence of opening.
The packaging units mentioned above and hereinafter may be produced using methods known to the skilled man and process steps which can be found in the prior art. For example, the process which is used to produce a packaging unit as described in the present application may include the following process steps:

- loading the foldable blank into a transporting system,
- inserting or sticking on an information leaflet,
- folding the foldable blank in one or more steps,
- applying a label to a closure tab and rotating the foldable blank,
- inserting a blister card and/or information leaflet, and
- adhering the adhesive portions of the foldable blank with a hot melt adhesive.

Using this sequence of processes, packaging units according to the invention can be produced fully automatically in short cycle times and hence very cheaply. The process may particularly advantageously be transferred into corresponding automatically operating packing machines. Hot melt adhesion has the advantage that the adhesive cures very quickly and the adhesive spots will immediately withstand mechanical loads after cooling.
For individual characterisation it is possible to print variable individual data in the form of numerical or letter codes and/or bar codes and/or two-dimensional pixel codes on the foldable blank using a digital printing process. In this way, for example, a batch marking may be produced, which allows items to be traced, in particular. Ink jet or electrophotographic printing processes are particularly suitable.
In an alternative embodiment of the process the application of the label to the closure tab is monitored by a sensor. In this way, for example, quality control can be carried out with regard to the correct placing of the closure tab.
If a code recognition of the foldable blank is carried out after loading, batch monitoring of the foldable blanks may be carried out from the outset. Together with other monitoring data from the other process steps, a complete quality assurance system for the manufacture of the packaging units can thus be provided.
In addition, a folded leaflet may be applied to the foldable blank using another hot melt adhesive and placement of the leaflet. Using further code recognition, the folded leaflet can be monitored for correct positioning and/or correct content.
It will be understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be described hereinafter may be used not only in the particular combination given but also in other combinations. The scope of the invention is defined solely by the claims.

The invention is described more fully hereinafter by means of a number of exemplifying embodiments referring to the associated drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a packaging unit according to the invention having a folded leaflet and a blister card according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the blister card according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the opened folded leaflet according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the packaging unit,

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the packaging unit,

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a fourth embodiment of the packaging unit, and

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a fifth embodiment of the packaging unit,

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view of the packaging unit according to FIG. 1 in the folded state, without the folded leaflet,

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a packaging unit according to the invention in an alternative embodiment, in the folded state, without a folded leaflet,

FIG. 10 is a magnified detail from a closure device of the packaging unit,

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the packaging unit according to FIG. 9,

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a seventh embodiment of the packaging unit,

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of an eighth embodiment of the packaging unit, and

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of a ninth embodiment of the packaging unit.

The packaging unit 1 according to FIG. 1 comprises a foldable blank 2 and at least one blister card 22 which can be separated, by means of longitudinal and/or transverse perforations 27, 28, into individual cavities 23 which are provided with two foils 25, 26 joined together circumferentially to form a receiving chamber 24 for a filling 31, particularly a pharmaceutical active substance formulation. The blister card 22 shown has unsealed areas which serve as an aid 29 for tearing open. The longitudinal and transverse perforations 27 and 28, respectively, on the blister card 22 are particularly finely done.
On the blister card 22, a transverse perforation 30 is provided in each case between the areas provided as a tear-open aid 29 and the receiving chambers 24 of the cavities 23. The areas provided as a tear-open aid 29 are located at the points of interception of the longitudinal and/or transverse perforations 27, 28 and have a substantially diamond-shaped contour. Thus, gripping taps can be formed, while the size of the unsealed areas can be determined to suit the opening characteristics and hence made child-resistant or senior friendly.
Starting from the left, the foldable blank 2 first of all has a covering region 3 which, in the folded state, forms a lid of the packaging unit 1. This is followed by a web portion 4 and a portion in the form of a back wall 5, which are separated from one another by fold lines 12. Adjoining these is another web portion 6 which is narrower than the first web portion 4, and which is followed by a portion in the form of a wall 8, and these are again separated from one another by fold lines 12.
The foldable blank 2 has different functional areas for accommodating complete blister cards 22 and also at least one receptacle for partial sections of blister cards 22.
In the embodiments shown, a complete blister card 22 is stuck to the web portion 6 of the foldable blank 2. For this purpose the blister card 22 has a portion which comprises an adhesive surface 44, at least in certain areas.
At least two insertion slots 13 corresponding to one another are provided in the wall 8 for receiving pieces of blister cards 22. The corresponding insertion slots 13 are in the form of at least one first tab 14 and a mating tab 15 arranged in mirror symmetry thereto, these tabs having a first spacing 16 corresponding to the smallest removable portion of the blister cards 22. In order to be able to accommodate other lengths of portions of the blister cards 22, as schematically shown, the insertion slots 13 corresponding to one another are configured in the form of a plurality of tabs 14, all having the same orientation, and a mating tab 15 arranged in mirror symmetry thereto, the tabs 14 being at a second spacing 17 from one another and the tab 14 located directly opposite the mating tab 15 being at the first spacing 16 from the mating tab 15. The second spacing 17 corresponds to the spacing of the transverse perforation 28 on the blister card 22. In addition, a folded leaflet 32 is stuck to the covering region 3 of the foldable blank 2.
The blister card 22 according to FIG. 2 is used in European countries and can be divided by means of longitudinal and transverse perforations 27, 28 into individual cavities 23 which are provided with two foils 25, 26 joined together around their circumference to form receiving chambers 24 for the filling 31.
The folded leaflet 32 according to FIG. 3 is shown in its unfolded state. The outer envelope which encloses the individual internal sides is divided by the fold lines 36 into a front page 33, a spine 34 and a back page 35.
In contrast to the embodiment of the foldable blank 2 shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the packaging unit 1. In this, the corresponding insertion slots 13 are formed as two longitudinal slots in the back wall 5 and in the wall 8, so as to produce oblong tabs 14 and corresponding mating tabs 15, the intermediate region 45 of which can accommodate a portion of the blister card 22.
In addition, the covering region 3 of the foldable blank 2 comprises on its outside a closure region 18 with a plastic foil or a closure sticker and, immediately adjacent to the closure region 18, an embossing region 37. The closure region 18 forms a releasable and resealable adhesive bond with a closure tab 38 attached to the back wall 5.
In the third embodiment of the packaging unit 1 shown in FIG. 5, the wall 8 of the foldable blank 2 has pre-stamped perforations 11 each in the form of an oblong hole.
The fourth embodiment of the packaging unit 1 shown in FIG. 6 shows a foldable blank 2 which additionally has a foldable portion 7 formed from the wall 8 and a second wall 10 separated from one another by a fold line 12. The wall 8 comprises pre-stamped perforations 11 in the form of oblong holes, the geometry, arrangement and spacings of which correspond to the geometries, arrangements and spacings of the receiving chambers 24 for the cavities 23 on the blister card 22. The wall 10 has recesses 9 such that after folding along the fold line 12 the recesses 9 are located substantially congruently on the pre-stamped perforations 11 of the wall 8, so that complete blister cards 22 or portions thereof can be placed between them.
Moreover, in the fifth embodiment of the packaging unit 1 shown in FIG. 7, the foldable blank 2 has a foldable portion 7 which is formed by the wall 8 and the second wall 10, separated from one another by a fold line 12, the wall 10 comprising an outer contour portion 20 to the side and, above and below this outer contour portion 20, adhesive portions 21. The outer contour portion 20 is shaped according to the geometry and arrangement of the receiving chambers 24 of the cavities 23 of the blister card 22, so that this portion at least partly encloses the receiving chambers 24. After folding along the fold line 12 and adhesion in the region of the adhesive portion 21, holding pouches are thus formed both for complete blister cards and for portions thereof.
The packaging unit 1 according to FIG. 8 consists in the embodiments shown of the foldable blank 2 which comprises a covering region 3, a web portion 4, a back wall 5 and another web portion 6 having a wall 8. The blister cards 22 having the cavities 23 are stuck, sealed or riveted to the web portion 6 in the region of the adhesive surface 44 of the blister card 22. A closure tab 38 made of tear-resistant plastic film, for example, is attached to the outside of the back wall 5, e.g. by adhesive bonding, and projects around the web portion 6 as far as the closure region 18 with the plastic film or aluminium foil. The covering region 3 is provided in the immediate vicinity of the closure region 18 with an embossed point 37 which is raised relative to the covering region 3 and which is at least partly covered by the closure tab 38.
FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment similar to that shown in FIG. 8. As in FIG. 8, the packaging unit 1 holds two blister cards 22. The cavities 23 of the blister card 22 are oriented the same in this embodiment after the packaging unit 1 has been opened.
FIG. 10 shows, in a magnified view, the closure region 18 with the plastic film or aluminium foil on the covering region 3 of the packaging unit 1 in plan view and together with the closure tab 38 this closure region 18 forms a releasable adhesive bond by means of which the packaging unit 1 can be opened and closed repeatedly, and forms a sealing surface 39 at least in parts before the adhesive bond is broken for the first time. This sealing surface 39 can be designed so that, for example, after it is opened for the first time, one or more designs or logos become visible so that it is clearly evident that the packaging unit 1 has been opened.
The covering region 3 of the packaging unit 1 comprises, in the immediate vicinity of the closure region 18, with the plastic film or aluminium foil, a raised embossed point 37 which is covered at least in part by the closure tab 38. In this way it is possible for the closure tab 38 to be held at a spacing from the covering region 3 of the packaging unit 1 by means of the embossed point 37 and consequently the closure tab can be gripped more easily by the fingers in order to open the packaging unit.
In a sixth alternative embodiment of the packaging unit 1 according to FIG. 11, the foldable blank 2 comprises on its back wall 5 two opposing adhesive portions 40 which are adhered with two corresponding additional web portions 41 to the wall 8 during the manufacture of the packaging unit 1 using a fast-curing adhesive, e.g. a hot melt adhesive. The adhesive portions 40 are preferably slightly chamfered in a trapezoidal shape. Thus a holding pouch 19 can be formed for the blister cards 22 with the cavities 23. For easier removal of the blister cards 22 from the holding pouch 19, an outer contour portion 20 is additionally provided on the wall 8 in the embodiment shown.
In the packaging unit 1 according to FIG. 12, the wall 8 comprises another adhesive portion 43, while a perforation 42 is provided between the adhesive portion 43 and the wall 8. For assembly, as already described with reference to FIG. 10, the adhesive portion 40 on the back wall 5 is stuck to the web portions 41 on the wall 8, so as to form a holding pouch 19 for one or more blister cards 22. In addition, after the blister cards 22 have been put in, the additional adhesive portion 43 is stuck to the inside of the web portion 4.
In an eighth alternative embodiment of the packaging unit 1 according to FIG. 13, additional web portions 41 are formed opposite the back wall 5 and adjoining these are adhesive portions 40. For assembling the packaging unit 1, the adhesive portions 40 are stuck to the wall 8 so as to form a holding pouch 19 once again. Obviously, an alternative is possible in which the additional web portions 41 with the adjoining adhesive portions 40 are also formed on the wall 8, the adhesive portions 40 being stuck to the inside of the back wall 5 to form the holding pouch 19. Alternatively, the adhesive portions 40 could also be stuck to the outside of the back wall 5.
Finally, FIG. 14 shows a ninth alternative embodiment of a packaging unit 1 in which an alternative blank is shown, compared with the embodiments of the foldable blank 2 shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. To form the holding pouch 19, once again the adhesive portions 40 on the wall 8 are stuck to the corresponding web portions 41 on the back wall 5 of the foldable blank 2.


List of reference numerals

1	Packaging unit
2	Foldable blank
3	Covering region
4	Web portion
5	Back wall
6	Web portion
7	Foldable portion
8	Wall
9	Recess
10	Wall
11	Perforation
12	Fold line
13	Insertion slot
14	Tab
15	Mating tab
16	First spacing
17	Second spacing
18	Closure region
19	Holding pouch
20	Outer contour portion
21	Adhesive portion
22	Blister card
23	Cavity
24	Receiving chamber
25	Foil
26	Foil
27	Longitudinal perforation
28	Transverse perforation
29	Tear-open aid
30	Perforation
31	Filling
32	Folded leaflet
33	Front page
34	Spine
35	Back page
36	Fold line
37	Embossed point
38	Closure tab
39	Sealing surface
40	Adhesive portion
41	Web portion
42	Perforation
43	Adhesive portion
44	Adhesive surface
45	Intermediate area

Claims

1. Packaging unit having a foldable blank (2) and at least one blister card (22) which can be divided up, in particular by means of longitudinal and/or transverse perforations (27, 28) into individual cavities (23) which are provided with two foils (25, 26) joined together at their circumference to form a receiving chamber (24) for a filling (31), particularly a pharmaceutical active substance formulation, the foldable blank (2) having different regions, characterised in that the regions of the foldable blank (2) comprise functional regions for holding complete blister cards (22) and/or at least a portion of the blister card (22).

2. Packaging unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the blister card (22) is adhesively bonded at different points to a back wall (5) and/or to the wall (8) of the foldable blank (2).

3. Packaging unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the blister card (22) is stuck, riveted or sealed onto at least one web portion (4, 6) of the foldable blank (2).

4. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the blister card (22) is embodied as a two-paneled blister card (22).

5. Packaging unit according to claim 3, characterised in that the blister card (22) comprises between its panels a portion which serves as an adhesive surface (44).

6. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the receptacle for portions of the blister card (22) is embodied in the form of at least two insertion slots (13) corresponding to one another in the wall (8) of the foldable blank (2).

7. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the corresponding insertion slots (13) are constructed in the form of at least one first tab (14) and a mating tab (15) arranged in mirror symmetry thereto, which have in accordance with the smallest separable portion of the blister card (22) a first spacing (16) corresponding thereto.

8. Packaging unit according to one of claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the corresponding insertion slots (13) are formed as a plurality of tabs (14), all having the same orientation, and a mating tab (15) arranged in mirror symmetry thereto, the tabs (14) being at a second spacing (17) from one another and the tab (14) directly opposite the mating tab (15) being at the first spacing (16) from the mating tab (15).

9. Packaging unit according to claim 8, characterised in that the second spacing (17) corresponds to the spacing of the transverse perforation (28) on the blister card (22).

10. Packaging unit according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterised in that the corresponding insertion slots (13) are in the form of two longitudinal slots the intermediate region (45) of which serves to receive at least one portion of the blister card (22).

11. Packaging unit according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the insertion slots (13) are formed by a weakened area in the wall (8) or by pre-stamped frangible points.

12. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the wall (8) of the foldable blank (2) has pre-stamped perforations (11) or openings which are circular or in the form of oblong holes, the geometry, arrangement and spacings of which correspond to the geometries, arrangements and spacings of the receiving chambers (24) of the cavities (23) on the blister card (22).

13. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the foldable blank (2) has a foldable portion (7) formed by the wall (8) and a second wall (10) which are separated form one another by a fold line (12) and in that the wall (8) has pre-stamped perforations (11) or openings which are circular or in the form of oblong holes, the geometry, arrangement and spacings of which corresponding to the geometries, arrangements and spacings of the receiving chambers (24) of the cavities (23) on the blister card (22), and in that the wall (10) has recesses (9) such that after folding along the fold line (12) the recesses (9) are located substantially congruently on the pre-stamped perforations (11) in the wall (8).

14. Packaging unit according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the perforations (11) or openings are arranged and dimensioned so as to clamp cavities in position.

15. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the foldable blank (2) comprises a foldable portion (7) which is formed by the wall (8) and a second wall (10) which are separated from one another by a fold line (12), the second wall (10) comprises an outer contour portion (20) at the sides and above and below this outer contour portion (20) adhesive portions (21) and the outer contour portion (20) at least partly surrounds the receiving chambers (24) of the cavities (23) of the blister card (22).

16. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the foldable blank (2) is made of cardboard and/or plastics.

17. Packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the dimensions of the foldable blank (2) are selected so as to correspond to the dimensions of the blister cards (22).

18. Packaging unit having a foldable blank (2), characterised in that the packaging unit (1) has at least one holding pouch (19) for at least one blister card (22) and/or a portion of the blister card (22) or another filling.

19. Packaging unit according to claim 18 having at least one blister card (22).

20. Packaging unit according to claim 19, characterised in that the blister card(s) (22) can be divided by means of longitudinal and/or transverse perforations (27, 28) into individual cavities (23) which are provided with two foils (25, 26) joined together around their circumference in order to form a receiving chamber (24) for a filling (31), particularly a pharmaceutical active substance formulation.

21. Packaging unit according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterised in that the holding pouch (19) is formed in the regions of the foldable blank (2) by folding the foldable blank (2).

22. Packaging unit according to one of claims 18 to 21, characterised in that the holding pouch (19) can be produced using additional web portions (41) and adjoining adhesive portions (40) or by means of additional web portions (41) and separate adhesive portions (40), the web portions (41) or the adhesive portions (40) being attached, as part of the foldable blank (2) to the back wall (5) and/or to the wall (8), separated by a fold line (12) in each case.

23. Packaging unit according to claim 22, characterised in that the wall (8) has at least one outer contour portion (20).

24. Packaging unit according to one of claims 18 to 23, characterised in that the holding pouch (19) can be produced by an additional adhesive portion (43), the additional adhesive portion (43) being attached to the wall (8) of the foldable blank (2), separated by means of a perforation (42), and the additional adhesive portion (43) is stuck to the web portion (4) after at least one blister card (22) has been inserted.