WO2004069688A2 - Distributeur - Google Patents

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Publication number
WO2004069688A2
WO2004069688A2 PCT/GB2004/000451 GB2004000451W WO2004069688A2 WO 2004069688 A2 WO2004069688 A2 WO 2004069688A2 GB 2004000451 W GB2004000451 W GB 2004000451W WO 2004069688 A2 WO2004069688 A2 WO 2004069688A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
blister pack
closure member
dispenser according
dispensing
dispenser
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2004/000451
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2004069688A3 (fr
WO2004069688A8 (fr
Inventor
Martin John Tedham
Original Assignee
Martin John Tedham
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0302545A external-priority patent/GB0302545D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0305256A external-priority patent/GB0305256D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0309000A external-priority patent/GB0309000D0/en
Priority to DE602004026406T priority Critical patent/DE602004026406D1/de
Priority to AU2004208914A priority patent/AU2004208914A1/en
Priority to EP04708391A priority patent/EP1590266B8/fr
Application filed by Martin John Tedham filed Critical Martin John Tedham
Priority to CA002515212A priority patent/CA2515212A1/fr
Priority to JP2006502239A priority patent/JP2006516517A/ja
Priority to AT04708391T priority patent/ATE463445T1/de
Publication of WO2004069688A2 publication Critical patent/WO2004069688A2/fr
Publication of WO2004069688A3 publication Critical patent/WO2004069688A3/fr
Publication of WO2004069688A8 publication Critical patent/WO2004069688A8/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B65D83/0445—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments
    • B65D83/0463—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/03—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets
    • A61J1/035—Blister-type containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B65D83/0445—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments
    • B65D83/0454—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments the whole forming a circular container with rotating parts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2215/00—Child-proof means
    • B65D2215/04—Child-proof means requiring the combination of different actions in succession
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2585/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D2585/56—Containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or materials for medicinal tablets or pills

Definitions

  • This invention relates to dispensing arrangements incorporating blister packs and also to dispensers for use with blister packs.
  • blister packs to store and dispense various products such as, but not limited to, pharmaceutically active compositions in the forms of tablets, capsules, caplets, granules, fine powders, creams and liquids is well known. Blister packs are also used for healthcare products generally and also for products outside this field. The blister pack is a cost effective way of presenting a product in unit dose form.
  • blister packs containing pharmaceutically active products or other products capable of misuse pose a hazard because the packs are not child-resistant and there is a risk that young children may be attracted to the product and manage to dispense one or more products from the blister pack and consume them with potentially fatal consequences.
  • US Patent 5,110,007 discloses a rotary blister pack dispensing arrangement in which a rigid circular plate is fitted over the dispensing side of the blister pack and defines a dispensing window to facilitate one-handed operation; there is no teaching of a child-resistant blister pack dispenser.
  • US Patent 4,627,432 discloses an inhaler device . in which the medicament to be inhaled is stored in the pockets of a rotary blister pack, to be dispensed by a plunger, but again there is no teaching of a child resistant arrangement.
  • a dispenser for dispensing a product in use from a blister pack of the type comprising a support member defining a plurality of pockets arranged in a circle around a blister pack axis, and a cover sheet provided on a dispensing side of said blister pack having rupturable portions which close each of said pockets
  • said dispenser comprising:- a housing, means for locating in use a blister pack for rotation within said housing, a dispensing window disposed in said housing such that in use a blister pack may be rotated to bring each pocket of a blister pack into registration therewith to allow ejection of the contents of a blister pocket therethrough; an access aperture provided in the housing through which in use a user may manually engage an exposed portion of the circumference of the blister pack to apply rotation thereto; and manually releasable locking means adapted to cooperate with the blister pack in use and manually moveable against a bias from a locking position in which the blister pack is prevented from rotation, to a release position in which in use the blister
  • said base portion and said lid portion connect together through at least one snap-fitting.
  • said base portion and said lid portion are integrally formed and joined by a hinge portion.
  • said locating means comprises a central boss portion provided in one of said lid portion and said base portion. Said snap fitting is conveniently between said boss portion and a facing element provided on the other of said lid portion and said base portion.
  • said locking means comprises at least one rockable arm having a locking end biased into engagement with the periphery of the blister pack in use, and the exposed end externally accessible from outside the housing, whereby in use pressure on the exposed end urges said locking end out of engagement with the circumference of said blister pack.
  • Said locking means may comprise two rockable arms spaced apart on the periphery of the housing, and each lockable arm may be formed integrally with said housing.
  • the housing may include an ejector means disposed opposite said dispensing window and operable in use to eject an item contained in an adjacent blister pack through said dispensing window.
  • this invention also extends to a dispenser' in combination with a blister pack.
  • this invention provides a dispenser for dispensing a product, said dispenser including:- a blister pack comprising a support member defining a plurality of pockets arranged in a circle around a blister pack axis, and a cover sheet provided on a dispensing side of said blister pack and having rupturable portions closing each of said pockets, and a closure member rotatably connected to said blister pack for relative rotation about said blister pack axis, said closure member comprising a shield portion generally overlying the dispensing side of said blister pack to prevent or obstruct access to said pockets, said shield portion including a dispensing window with which at least one pocket at a time may be brought into registration by rotation of the blister pack relative to the closure member, wherein, following a dispensing operation, rotation of the blister pack relative to the closure member to bring the next pocket or pockets into registration with the dispensing window is restricted or inhibited by child-resistant means.
  • the restriction or inhibition may be direct by actively locking the blister pack against rotation or indirect by requiring a predetermined sequence of operations before said blister pack may be rotated.
  • the dispenser may be constructed to allow several pockets to be presented to the dispensing window at a time, said dispensing window is conveniently designed so that a single pocket at a time is brought into registration therewith.
  • said child-resistant means comprises a plurality of plastically deformable projections disposed around said blister pack axis and arranged to cooperate with a stop on said closure member to prevent rotation of said blister pack in a given sense after dispensing from the or each pocket presently in registration with the dispensing window until a respective projection has been plastically deformed to allow it to pass said stop.
  • Said plastically deformable projections are conveniently blisters or the like integrally formed on said support member, e.g. in a manner similar to the pockets.
  • Said closure member may include a further stop which is capable of limited movement to act as a resilient detent which cooperates with said plastically deformable projections prior to deformation thereof to locate the blister pack in a given angular orientation.
  • Said closure member may be generally disc shaped with a segment shaped dispensing window extending inwards from the circumference thereof.
  • said blister pack is generally disc shaped with a central circular aperture
  • said closure member includes central engagement means for rotatably engaging the central aperture in said blister pack, and further includes peripheral engagement means for engaging the outer circumference of the blister pack.
  • the central engagement means and the peripheral engagement means may conveniently be a snap fit with said blister pack.
  • said child resistant means comprises a plurality of projections disposed on said blister pack around said blister pack axis and arranged to cooperate with a stop disposed on the closure element to prevent or resist rotation of the blister pack relative to the cover element by users other than adults.
  • the projections may be blisters or bubbles formed integrally in the blister pack.
  • said blister pack is disposed in a generally enclosed housing defined by said closure member and a further closure member disposed adjacent the support member of said blister pack, with said closure member and said further closure member being capable of relative movement towards and away from each other, and said further closure member having one or more projections generally aligned with the dispensing aperture and being operable in use to engage and deform one or more respective blister pockets in said blister pack to eject the product from the or each blister when the further closure member is urged towards said first-mentioned closure member.
  • Said closure member and further closure member may conveniently be mounted for relative hinging movement, for example by an integral connecting hinge region, and said closure member and said further closure member are conveniently urged apart by a bias means.
  • said child-resistant means may include an interlock arrangement designed to retain said closure member and said further closure member in a closed, generally inoperative or “safe” condition when, in use, a user has urged the closure member and the further closure member together form an "armed" position to dispense one or more products, said interlock arrangement being designed to prevent or resist release by a young child.
  • the interlock arrangement may comprise two or more locking elements provided on said closure member designed to interact with respective locking elements on said further closure element, wherein release of the locking means requires local elastic deformation of the closure element and/or the further closure element adjacent one or more of said locking elements.
  • Said child resistant means may further comprise an actuating member mounted for movement on said housing and being operable to index the blister pack relative to the housing to bring a next pocket or plurality thereof into registration with said dispensing window.
  • Said actuating member may be designed to be non-operative when said closure member and said further closure member are locked in the closed "safe" position.
  • said blister pack may be formed with a plurality of circumferentially extending teeth to define a circumferentially facing ratchet surface, and said actuating member may comprise a projection designed to act as a pawl to cooperate with said ratchet surface to allow indexing of said blister pack.
  • said actuating member is rendered inoperable by virtue of the blister pack being locked by the projection on said further closure member projecting through the blister pocket from which the immediately previous product has been dispensed when the closure member and the further closure member are in the "safe" position.
  • Said child resistant means may comprise an externally accessible, manually operable wheel means adapted in use rotatably to engage the external periphery of a blister pack.
  • Said wheel means may comprise a cogged drive surface designed to cooperate with a complementarily toothed circumferential surface of the blister pack in use.
  • said child resistant means includes an externally accessible, rotatable drive portion having an internal drive surface adapted to cooperate with a complementary driven surface formed on, or connected to, said blister pack, with said drive surface and said driven surface being urged away from a drive transfer position by a bias such as a spring whereby said bias must be overcome before drive can be transferred from the externally accessible wheel to the blister pack.
  • the drive surface and said driven surface comprise complementarily toothed portions.
  • Said driven surface may be disposed on a hub member which is rotatably mounted within said closure, said hub member being connected to said blister pack in a non-rotational manner.
  • the dispenser may conveniently include drive means operable to index said blister pack immediately before or after a dispensing operation.
  • the motive force for said indexing may be derived from a stored energy device (e.g. a tension spring) in said closure.
  • a stored energy device e.g. a tension spring
  • the motive force for said indexing may be derived from the relative movement of said closure member and said further closure member during operation of the dispenser.
  • the dispensing unit will be sold incorporating a blister pack containing the product to be dispensed
  • the dispenser may be sold as a separate unit which is subsequently loaded with a blister pack and then replenished with further blister packs when the first one has been exhausted.
  • the invention therefore extends to such a dispensing device per se, for use with a blister pack.
  • Figure 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a dispensing device in accordance with this invention, with the housing open;
  • Figure 2 is a view of the embodiment of Figure 1 but with the housing closed and with the blister pack in a non-dispensing position;
  • Figure 3 is an underneath view of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the housing open;
  • Figure 4 is a view of the top of the housing of the first embodiment but with the blister pack with a pocket ready to dispense;
  • Figure 5 is a section view on lines V - V of Figure 4 of the first embodiment with the blister pack with a pocket ready to dispense;
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment with the clamshell cover open
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment with the clamshell cover closed
  • Figure 8 is an top plan view of the second embodiment with the clamshell cover closed;
  • Figure 9 is a top plan view of the second embodiment with the clam-shell cover open;
  • Figure 10 is an underneath plan view of the second embodiment with the clam-shell cover open;
  • Figure 11 is a plan view of a cover of a third embodiment;
  • Figure 12 is a plan view of the dispensing side of a blister pack for being assembled with the cover of Figure 6;
  • Figure 13 is a side view of the cover and blister pack of the third embodiment when assembled;
  • Figure 14 is a plan view of a cover of a fourth embodiment;
  • Figure 15 is a plan view on the dispensing side of a blister pack of the fourth embodiment for being assembled with the cover;
  • Figure 16 is a side view of the blister pack and cover of the fourth embodiment, when assembled;
  • Figure 17 is a view of a fifth embodiment of the invention with the clamshell cover open;
  • Figure 18 is a plan view of the dispensing side of the blister pack of the fifth embodiment.
  • Figure 19 is a diametrical cross-section through the blister pack of Figure 18;
  • Figure 20 is a section view taken on lines XX to XX of Figure 17; and Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 20 but showing the housing in its locked, closed or "safe" position;
  • Figure 22 is a view of a sixth embodiment of the invention with the clam- shell cover open;
  • Figure 23 a plan view of the dispensing side of the blister pack of the sixth embodiment
  • Figure 24 is a diametrical cross-section through the blister pack of Figure 22;
  • Figure 25 is a section view taken on lines XXV to XXV of Figure 22;
  • Figure 26 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 25 but showing the housing in its locked, closed or "safe" position;
  • Figure 27 is a view of a seventh embodiment of the invention with the clam-shell cover open;
  • Figure 28 is a plan view of the dispensing side of the blister pack of the fifth embodiment.
  • Figure 29 is a diametrical cross-section through the blister pack of Figure 18;
  • Figure 30 is a section view taken on lines XXX to XXX of Figure 27;
  • Figure 31 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 30 but showing the housing in its locked, closed or "safe" position;
  • Figure 32 is a perspective view of a eighth embodiment in its assembled condition;
  • Figure 33 is a perspective view from below of the eighth embodiment;
  • Figure 34 is a section view through the eighth embodiment, and Figures 35 and 36 are detailed plan views showing the orientation of various components of the eighth embodiment in a rest, "safe" state and a state ready for dispensing a tablet, respectively.
  • the various embodiments of child-resistant blister pack dispenser illustrated in the Figures are made up of a circular blister pack with the blister pockets disposed concentrically about a central axis at equal angular increments save for an empty "starter" pocket.
  • the dispensing side of the blister pack is substantially wholly shielded by a cover or closure member, apart from at a dispensing window.
  • the blister pack may be moved incrementally with respect to the cover to present successive product-containing pockets to the dispensing window, but the blister pack and/or the cover is designed to prevent or resist rotation thereof by young children. In this way, if the dispenser is left unattended and picked up by a small child, the risk of the child gaining access to the product in the blister pack is considerably reduced.
  • the blister pack 200 includes peripheral notches 202 between each blister pocket 204.
  • the blister pack 200 is provided with a central circular aperture which fits around a hub 206 which upstands from the base portion 208 of an integral, injection moulded, clam shell housing arrangement made up of the base portion 208 and a lid 210 hinged to the base portion by an integral hinge region 212.
  • the clam shell housing may be hinged from the open position shown in Figure 1 , to the closed position shown in Figure 2, and locked in the closed position by means of a series of sprung teeth 214 which releasably engage an inwardly directed rim on the hub 206 in a snap-fit.
  • the base portion 208 of the housing includes two rockable locking member 216 integral with the base 208 on opposite sides of the base.
  • Each locking member 216 comprises an arm 218 attached adjacent its mid point by a flexible strut 220 to a projection 222 of the floor of the base unit.
  • the locking arm 218 also includes a stub shaft 224 which, when the lid portion is closed, is rotatably received in a respective blind bore 226 in the lid portion 210, so that the locking arm 218 may be rotated about an axis concentric with the stub shaft 224 against the resilient biass afforded by the flexible strut 220.
  • the locking arm 218 is disposed relative to the housing such that, when in a locking position (i.e. as shown in Figure 1 ) an actuating end 228 projects from the housing as seen in Figure 2.
  • a locking wedge 230 which, when the device is in a rest position, engages a respective notch 202 in the blister pack 200 thereby preventing rotation thereof within the casing. It will be noted therefore that, in order to rotate the blister pack, both locking members 216 must be externally engaged and pressed to withdraw the locking wedges 230 from the respective notches 202.
  • the lid portion 210 has a slot 231 formed therein so as to provided a flexible tongue 232 on the end of which is provided an ejection projection 234.
  • the base portion 208 has a dispensing aperture 236 through which the contents of an aligned blister pocket 204 may be ejected.
  • the lid portion 210 and the base portion 208 each have respective cut away regions 240 and 242 so that, when the housing is closed as shown in
  • a blister pack is loaded into the housing and the housing closed for a snap-fit action generally enclosing the blister pack apart from the access slot afforded by cut-away regions 240 and 242.
  • the blister pack will normally be loaded into the housing with the blank starter pocket adjacent the dispensing aperture 236.
  • the locking wedges 230 engage respective notches 202 in the blister pack to prevent rotation. In this position the tongue
  • this embodiment comprises a clam-shell cover 130 comprising upper and lower portions 132 and 134 respectively connected by an integral hinge 136.
  • an upstanding hub 138 designed to snap fit with a complementary toothed male fitting 140 in the upper portion 132.
  • a disc-shaped blister pack 142 is provided with a central aperture 144 which fits over the hub 138 so that the blister pack 142 is rotatably carried by the hub 138.
  • the blister pack 142 carries a number of equally spaced pockets 146 together with a "blind" starter position 148. Between each pocket, in the rim of the blister pack 142 is provided a notch 150 as can be seen more particularly in Figure 9.
  • the outer peripheral wall of the lower portion 134 is provided with two spaced levers 152 which carry a tooth 154 at one end and which are each integrally hinged to the lower portion 134 by integral hinges 156.
  • the teeth of the levers 152 are pitched so that they engage in respective notches in the blister pack 142 and normally prevent rotation of the blister pack within the housing.
  • the teeth 154 may be withdrawn radially outwardly from the notches 150 by pressing the other end of the levers so that each rotates about the hinge
  • the upper portion 132 has a dispensing projection or anvil 158 protruding internally and the lower portion 134 has a dispensing aperture 160 which is angularly aligned with the dispensing anvil 158.
  • a blister pack 142 is loaded into the clam-shell cover with the blind position 148 in registration with the dispensing aperture 160, as shown in Figure 9.
  • the cover is then hinged closed with the two portions snap fitting together.
  • the lower portion 134 of the cover is cut away at a location adjacent the dispensing aperture 160 as seen in Figure 10 to provide an access slot 162 through which the periphery of the blister pack 142 is externally accessible.
  • a cover 10 or closure member is generally of disc form, having a generally sector- shaped dispensing window 12 extending inwardly from the circumference thereof and subtending an angle of approximately 30°.
  • the blister pack 18 is of generally conventional construction comprising a vacuum-drawn or otherwise suitably formed plastic support member 20 defining (in this particular embodiment) twelve pockets 22, with the dispensing side of the support member being covered by a frangible membrane 24 of foil or the like.
  • the blister pack is disc-shaped with a central aperture 26.
  • the support member includes, radially inwardly of each pocket, a projecting bubble 28 which projects from the dispensing side of the blister pack and is designed to be received with clearance in the apex of the sector-shaped dispensing window 12.
  • the cover 10 has a projecting annular hub 30 with an externally directed rib 32 and the outer edge of the cover likewise has a projecting rim 34 with an internally directed rib 36.
  • the pockets 22 of the support member 20 are filled with product apart from the "starter" pocket 23 which is left empty, and the pockets then sealed in the usual manner by laminating a foil or membrane 24 to close the pockets.
  • the dispenser is assembled by offering the dispensing side of the blister pack 18 to the cover 10 so that the annular hub snap fits through the central aperture 26 and the rim 34 of the cover snap-fits around the circumference of the blister pack, so that the blister pack is rotatably supported with respect to the cover, and can only be disassembled with extreme difficulty.
  • the blister pack 18 is oriented such that the empty "starter" pocket 23 is presented at the dispensing window 12. Rotation of the blister pack 18 relative to the cover is prevented by cooperation of the projecting bubble 28 and the fixed and movable stops 14 and 16.
  • the bubble 28 In order to present the next (clockwise) pocket at the dispensing window, the bubble 28 must be depressed, so that it plastically crumples out of the way of the path of travel of the fixed stop 14 and allows the blister pack to be rotated relative to the cover.
  • the next, uncrumpled bubble 28 moves past the movable stopper 16 which moves resiliently and acts like a detent to sit between the next two uncrumpled bubbles 28 and to hold the blister pack against further rotation until the next bubble has been crumpled.
  • this embodiment is of generally similar form, but uses pairs of projecting pips on the dispensing side of the blister pack which cooperate with a lug on the cover.
  • child resistance is provided by designing the pips and the lug so that the blister pack cannot be rotated by a small child.
  • the cover 40 has a dispensing window 42 at the apex of which is provided a projecting lug 44.
  • the cover has a central annular hub 50 with an externally directed rib 52, and a peripheral rim 54 with an internally directed rib
  • the blister pack 46 comprises a support member defining pockets 48 as before which are covered by a membrane. Radially inwardly of each pocket 48 is a pair of pips 58 which project from the dispensing side of the blister pack. In use, the blister pack and cover are assembled as before by snap fitting together, with the empty pocket
  • the lug 44 sits between the associated pair of pips 58 and resists rotational movement of the blister pack relative to the cover thereby resisting access to the full pockets by small children, but being movable by an adult.
  • these make use of a clam shell housing which generally encloses the blister pack, with the two halves of the clam shell housing being squeezable together to eject a product from the blister pocket.
  • the fifth to seventh embodiments have various ways of inhibiting rotation of the blister pack and/or ejection of the product by young children.
  • this comprises a two-piece cover made up of an upper half 60 hingedly attached to a lower half 62; the hinge may be of conventional pin and lug construction or it may be an integral "live" hinge whereby the upper and lower halves of the closure can be hingeably moulded in a single operation.
  • the lower half 62 corresponds generally to the covers 10 and 40 of the previous two embodiments. It has a central hub 64 which snap fits through a central aperture in the blister pack 68. It also includes a dispensing window 70 through which product ejected from a pocket in the blister pack may be presented.
  • the upper half 60 of the enclosure includes a dispensing anvil 72 which is designed to cooperate with an aligned pocket in the blister pack, and a dispensing window 70 to eject product from the pocket when the device is armed and the upper and lower halves squeezed together.
  • the blister pack is provided with a ratchet surface 74 on its outer circumference.
  • a lever mechanism 76 is mounted in the lower half 62 of the enclosure and is designed so that, when slid in the appropriate sense, it rotates the blister pack to bring the next pocket into alignment with the dispensing window 70.
  • the upper and lower halves 60, 62 of the enclosure incorporate a locking arrangement including two diametrically opposed locking spring clips 78 provided on the upper half 60.
  • the locking clips are received in respective diametrically opposed locking recesses 80 on the lower half 62.
  • the locking arrangement engages and locks automatically at the end of the stroke when the upper and lower halves have been pushed together to eject a product from the pocket aligned with the dispensing window, and so locks the device in the position shown in Figure 21 , otherwise referred to as the "safe" position.
  • the anvil 72 projects through the emptied pocket, thus preventing rotation of the blister pack to bring a new pocket into alignment.
  • the enclosure can only be released from the "safe” position to an "armed” position by releasing the locking arrangement to allow the anvil to be withdrawn out of the pocket and out of the path of movement of the next blister.
  • the locking spring clips 78 to be moved out of the locking recesses 80 by pressing the edges of the upper half of the enclosure inwardly adjacent the spring clips 78. Once this has been done, the upper half 60 may be lifted to bring the anvil 72 out of engagement with the empty pocket and to allow the lever 76 to index the blister pack round to bring a next, filled, pocket into engagement with the dispensing window. If required, the upper and lower halves may have a bias arrangement which urges them apart once the locking arrangement has been released.
  • the blister pack is rotated by means of a thumb wheel 90 rotatably mounted on the lower half 62 of the enclosure and having a cogged drive surface designed to mesh with a complementary cogged drive surface 92 provided on the circumference of the blister pack.
  • Operation of the device is substantially the same as that of the fifth embodiment except that the thumb wheel 90 is used to index the blister pack.
  • the outer enclosure is in the form of an upper half 100 hinged to a lower half 102.
  • a rotatable hub 104 with a toothed cog or drive surface and an outer drive flange 106 with upstanding location pins 108.
  • the lower half 102 includes a dispensing window 110 as previously.
  • the blister pack 112 is similar to those previously being of disc form but with a plain outer circumference and an enlarged central aperture 114 with four equally spaced holes 116 designed such that the blister pack 112 can fit over the rotatable hub 114 with the pins 108 locating in the holes 116.
  • a drive member 118 having an externally accessible hand wheel 120 and an internally directed drive surface 122.
  • the upper cover and lower cover are connected by a child- resistant locking device comprising locking spring clips 122 which engage in locking recesses 124 and the lower half 102.
  • a child- resistant locking device comprising locking spring clips 122 which engage in locking recesses 124 and the lower half 102.
  • the drive surfaces 122 and 104 are held out of engagement by a spring 126.
  • the drive wheel 118 is however mounted so that it can be urged downwardly to bring the drive surfaces into engagement so that the hand wheel 120 can be turned to index the next pocket of the blister pack into alignment with the dispensing window 110.
  • product may be dispensed from the blister either manually, by providing a thumb aperture or the like in the upper half 100 of the enclosure or the upper half of the enclosure may include a dispensing anvil similar to those of previous embodiments which serves both to restrict rotation of the blister pack when the enclosure is in its "safe” configuration and to dispense product from the blister when it has been released from its safe position to its "armed” position.
  • the device may be readily modified to allow two or more adjacent pockets to be dispensed at the same time, by suitable enlargement of the dispensing window and the dispensing anvil where provided.
  • the blister pack and/or enclosure may be designed so as to identify each dose by day or time of day.
  • the blister pack may have printed thereon the day of the week adjacent each of the pockets and this may be viewable through a window.
  • the enclosure and blister pack may be designed so that a programmed relative movement of the upper and lower half of the enclosure is used to cause the blister pack to be indexed to its next position.
  • a programmed relative movement of the upper and lower half of the enclosure is used to cause the blister pack to be indexed to its next position.
  • the enclosure is released or moved from a "safe" position to an "armed” position
  • the separating movement of the parts of the enclosure may be harnessed to drive the blister pack to its next position.
  • a stored energy device may be provided whereby separating movements of the upper and lower halves of the enclosure release the blister pack so that it may be driven to its next position by means of the stored energy device.
  • this comprises a cover made up of an upper part 170 and a lower part 172 which are snap fitted together through central hub portions 174 and 176 respectively.
  • the upper cover 170 has a dispensing projection or anvil 178 and the lower portion 172 has a dispensing aperture 180.
  • the dispensing anvil 178 is not aligned with the dispensing aperture 180.
  • the upper and lower portions 170, 172 are urged angularly towards this position by means of a central tension spring (not shown) acting between the upper and lower portions and disposed in the hub region 174, 176.
  • the upper portion and lower portion are provided with co-operating castellated portions 177, 178 disposed concentrically with the hub region and arranged such that, when the cover is in its equilibrium position, with the dispensing anvil 178 out of alignment with the dispensing aperture 180, the castellated portions co-operate to prohibit movement of the upper portion 170 and lower portion 172 towards each other.
  • the castellated portions co-operate to prohibit movement of the upper portion 170 and lower portion 172 towards each other.
  • the castellated portions co-operate to allow the upper portion 170 to be squeezed towards the lower portion 172 to cause the anvil 178 to expel a product from a blister pocket, through the dispensing aperture 180.
  • Figure 35 shows a configuration where the castellated portions are cooperating to prevent movement of the upper portion 170 and the lower portion 172 towards each other
  • Figure 36 shows the angularly displaced position where the castellated portions allow movement of the upper and lower portions towards each other.
  • the castellated portions also function to limit the extent of angular rotation of the upper portion with respect to the lower portion so that this is the same angular extent as the pitch between adjacent pockets in the blister pack.
  • the blister pack is provided with a circularly extending set of ratchet teeth
  • the blister pack which co-operate with a flexible ratchet finger (not shown) such that when the upper part 170 is rotated in a clockwise sense relative to the lower part at the start of a dispensing cycle, the blister pack rotates with the upper part to be driven round to present the next pocket adjacent the dispensing aperture 180 ready for expulsion by the anvil 178.
  • the upper and lower covers are then pushed together to dispense the product from the pocket and then released so that the upper part 170 moves away from the lower part and also returns to its angular rest position, with the flexible ratchet finger moving over the inclined plane of the ratchet tooth without rotating said blister pack.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un distributeur permettant de distribuer un produit depuis une plaquette alvéolaire (200) comprenant un élément de support définissant une pluralité de pochettes (204) disposées en cercle autour de l'axe de la plaquette alvéolaire, et une feuille de protection disposée sur un côté de distribution de ladite plaquette alvéolaire présentant des parties déchirables qui ferment chacune des pochettes. Ce distributeur comprend un logement (208, 210) conçu de manière qu'une plaquette alvéolaire (200) puisse pivoter afin de faire correspondre chaque pochette d'une plaquette alvéolaire pour permettre l'éjection des contenus. Une ouverture d'accès (240, 242) est disposée dans le logement (208, 210) à travers laquelle un utilisateur peut manuellement introduire une partie exposée de la circonférence de la plaquette alvéolaire (200) afin de la faire pivoter. Deux moyens de verrouillage manuellement détachables et espacés (216) coopèrent avec la plaquette alvéolaire et peuvent chacun bouger manuellement contre une sollicitation d'une position de verrouillage, dans laquelle la plaquette alvéolaire ne peut pas pivoter, dans une position détachée, dans laquelle la plaquette alvéolaire peut être tournée, afin de présenter une autre pochette contre l'orifice de distribution.
PCT/GB2004/000451 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 Distributeur WO2004069688A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT04708391T ATE463445T1 (de) 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 Spender für in einer blisterverpackung enthaltenen produckte
JP2006502239A JP2006516517A (ja) 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 ディスペンサー
CA002515212A CA2515212A1 (fr) 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 Distributeur
AU2004208914A AU2004208914A1 (en) 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 Dispenser
EP04708391A EP1590266B8 (fr) 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 Distributeur de produits contenus dans un blister
DE602004026406T DE602004026406D1 (de) 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 Spender für in einer blisterverpackung enthaltenen produckte

Applications Claiming Priority (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0302545.9 2003-02-05
GB0302545A GB0302545D0 (en) 2003-02-05 2003-02-05 Child resistant blister pack and carry case for pharmaceutical cosmetic and healthcare products
GB0305256.0 2003-03-07
GB0305256A GB0305256D0 (en) 2003-03-07 2003-03-07 Dispenser
GB0309000A GB0309000D0 (en) 2003-04-22 2003-04-22 Dispenser
GB0309000.8 2003-04-24

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004069688A2 true WO2004069688A2 (fr) 2004-08-19
WO2004069688A3 WO2004069688A3 (fr) 2005-02-10
WO2004069688A8 WO2004069688A8 (fr) 2010-09-02

Family

ID=31998573

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2004/000451 WO2004069688A2 (fr) 2003-02-05 2004-02-05 Distributeur

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US20040188313A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1590266B8 (fr)
JP (1) JP2006516517A (fr)
AT (1) ATE463445T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2004208914A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2515212A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602004026406D1 (fr)
GB (5) GB2420775B (fr)
HK (1) HK1072041A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004069688A2 (fr)

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EP3068274A4 (fr) * 2013-11-14 2017-05-17 Life Boost LLC Machine et procédés de distribution de compléments nutritionnels et cartouche à usages multiples associée
CN109350533A (zh) * 2018-10-13 2019-02-19 河南牧业经济学院 老人用药品分类存放并定时汇合输出装置
US10252843B2 (en) 2015-02-07 2019-04-09 Life Boost Inc. Nutritional supplements travel dispenser
WO2021086545A1 (fr) * 2019-11-01 2021-05-06 Intercontinental Great Brands Llc Distributeur pour produits consommables

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AT505246B8 (de) * 2007-06-01 2009-06-15 Croma Pharma Gmbh Container für eine mehrzahl von einzeldosen sowie applikator für derartige container
US7661532B2 (en) * 2007-09-20 2010-02-16 Avancen, Llc Tray insert for medication on demand device
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US8584857B2 (en) * 2009-03-13 2013-11-19 Mitsubishi Shoji Packaging Corporation Card package
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USD785314S1 (en) * 2015-09-29 2017-05-02 Apothecary Products, Llc Carousel pill container
WO2018126190A1 (fr) * 2016-12-30 2018-07-05 Brady Robert Owen Ensemble de distribution de comprimés et de capsules
WO2020072064A1 (fr) * 2018-10-04 2020-04-09 Gsw Creative Corporation Distributeur de pilules
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3068274A4 (fr) * 2013-11-14 2017-05-17 Life Boost LLC Machine et procédés de distribution de compléments nutritionnels et cartouche à usages multiples associée
US10759594B2 (en) 2013-11-14 2020-09-01 Life Boost Inc. Machine and methods for dispensing nutritional supplements and multi-serving cartridge therefor
EP3068274B1 (fr) * 2013-11-14 2021-01-13 Life Boost LLC Cartouche multi-portions pour la distribution de compléments nutritionnels
US11447330B2 (en) 2013-11-14 2022-09-20 Tespo Ip, Llc Machine and methods for dispensing nutritional supplements and multi-serving cartridge therefor
US10252843B2 (en) 2015-02-07 2019-04-09 Life Boost Inc. Nutritional supplements travel dispenser
US11014721B2 (en) 2015-02-07 2021-05-25 Life Boost Inc. Nutritional supplements dispenser and methods
US11794963B2 (en) 2015-02-07 2023-10-24 Tespo Ip, Llc Nutritional supplements dispenser and methods
CN109350533A (zh) * 2018-10-13 2019-02-19 河南牧业经济学院 老人用药品分类存放并定时汇合输出装置
CN109350533B (zh) * 2018-10-13 2021-02-26 郑州轻工业大学 老人用药品分类存放并定时汇合输出装置
WO2021086545A1 (fr) * 2019-11-01 2021-05-06 Intercontinental Great Brands Llc Distributeur pour produits consommables

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0402567D0 (en) 2004-03-10
GB2420774B (en) 2006-11-08
GB2420774A (en) 2006-06-07
EP1590266B8 (fr) 2011-01-26
GB2412363B (en) 2006-05-03
GB2401602A (en) 2004-11-17
GB2425768A (en) 2006-11-08
GB2412363C (en) 2006-08-03
EP1590266A2 (fr) 2005-11-02
WO2004069688A3 (fr) 2005-02-10
GB2401602B (en) 2005-08-24
GB2420775A (en) 2006-06-07
GB2420775B (en) 2006-11-01
GB0612919D0 (en) 2006-08-09
ATE463445T1 (de) 2010-04-15
GB2412363A (en) 2005-09-28
GB0601921D0 (en) 2006-03-15
JP2006516517A (ja) 2006-07-06
GB0601922D0 (en) 2006-03-15
EP1590266B1 (fr) 2010-04-07
GB2425768B (en) 2007-05-23
AU2004208914A1 (en) 2004-08-19
DE602004026406D1 (de) 2010-05-20
US20040188313A1 (en) 2004-09-30
GB0512074D0 (en) 2005-07-20
WO2004069688A8 (fr) 2010-09-02
HK1072041A1 (en) 2005-08-12
CA2515212A1 (fr) 2004-08-19

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