WO2015056140A1

WO2015056140A1 - Case for blister packs

Info

Publication number: WO2015056140A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/065205
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Fontana
Original assignee: Lameplast S.P.A.
Priority date: 2013-10-14
Filing date: 2014-10-10
Publication date: 2015-04-23
Also published as: EP3057883A1; ITMO20130288A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a case (1, 2) which is able to house at least a blister pack (3) and comprises: two hemi-portions (4, 5, 6, 7), which are coupled in a rotating way in correspondence to a respective first side (38, 39); and two fastening elements (8, 9) which can be pressed, arranged in a hemi-portion (4, 6) to fasten it to the other hemi-portion (5, 7), the fastening elements (8, 9) being able to release the hemi-portions (4, 5, 6, 7) following their simultaneous pressing.

Description

CASE FOR BLISTER PACKS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a case for blister packs, containing tablets, pills or the like.

Background Art

In the pharmaceutical industiy, cardboard boxes are known which internally house a plurality of blister packs, the cavities of which contain medicinal products in the form of tablets or pills.

These boxes have re-closable opening flaps at their extremities.

Because, in the absence of a medical prescription, taking certain medicinal products can be dangerous, the need has arisen to provide containers for blister packs having childproof anti-tampering means.

A known container of this type consists of a box-shaped bottle comprising a prismatic containment body and a cap shaped like a box-like extremity.

The cap and the body are joined by attachment means which permit separating the first from the second only after a transversal removal operation.

This solution has shown itself rather ineffective because even a child, after a few attempts, can manage to uncap the bottle and thus access the blister packs.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a case for containing blister packs which a child is unable to open.

Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to provide a case for containing tamper-evident blister packs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a case for containing blister packs which allows to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within the ambit of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present case for containing blister packs made according to claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better evident from the description of several preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a case for containing blister packs, illustrated by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a case for containing blister packs according to the invention, in a complete opening configuration;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the case of figure 1, in a closed configuration;

Figure 3 is an axonometric view from below of the case of the previous illustrations;

Figure 4 is an axonometric view from above of the case of the previous illustrations, in a preliminary opening stage;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of the case of the previous illustrations, once opened;

Figure 6 is an axonometric view of a second embodiment of a case for containing blister packs according to the invention, in a closed configuration; Figure 7 is an axonometric view from above of the case of Figure 6, in a preliminary opening stage; and

Figure 8 is an axonometric view of the case of the two previous illustrations, once opened.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, globally indicated by reference numeral 1 and 2 are two embodiments of a case for blister packs 3 according to the invention.

The case 1 of the first embodiment is shown in the figures 1 - 5, while the case 2 of the second embodiment is shown in the figures 6 - 8.

Such two embodiments are presented here by way of example only and are not comprehensive.

The invention has been devised to provide a container for blister packs 3 with childproof opening.

The invention is in particular intended to contain blister packs 3, the cavities of which comprise pills, tablets, capsules or the like.

A number of common aspects of the two embodiments are described below. The case 1, 2 preferably has a box-like shape and is suitable for housing at least one blister pack 3.

The case 1, 2 can be made of plastic material, in a single body piece, and is preferably intended to house a plurality of superimposed blister packs 3.

The case 1, 2 comprises two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 coupled in a rotating way in correspondence to a respective first side 38, 39, to allow opening and closing the case 1, 2.

In practice, the two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 are connected in correspondence to a joining line between the respective first sides 38, 39, where a kind of flexible "hinge" is defined, e.g., made up of a plastic strip thinner than the walls of the hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7.

If, as preferable, the two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 have a substantially rectangular perimeter, the first side 38, 39 can be either one of the long sides or one of the short sides.

In the first case, the case 1, 2 opens like a book, in the second case, which is that shown, it opens like a shell.

The two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 can be two half-shells, or valves, or can consist of a tray 5, 7 and of a cover 4, 6 which closes the tray 5, 7 (like in the two embodiments shown).

In any case, when the case 1, 2 is in the closing position, the perimeter edges of the two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 are in contact and the case 1, 2 defines an inner volume that hosts the blister pack 3, which is not therefore directly accessible from the outside.

When the two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 are rotated around said first side 38, 39, so as to stretch them apart, then the blister pack 3 is accessible.

The invention provides for childproof anti-tampering means in the form of two or more fastening elements 8, 9.

The fastening elements 8, 9 can be pressed, i.e., mobile following pressure applied by the fingers, and are arranged on a first hemi-portion 4, 6 to fasten it to the second hemi-portion 5, 7, when the case 1, 2 is in the aforementioned closing position, to prevent its opening by simply moving apart the hemi- portions 4, 5, 6, 7.

Advantageously, the fastening elements 8, 9 are able to release the two hemi- portions 4, 5, 6, 7 the one from the other, following the simultaneous pressing of the elements 8, 9 themselves, to allow the two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 to stretch apart.

These anti-tampering means have a reversible function, i.e., when the fastening elements 8, 9 are released, i.e., when the pressure applied to them ceases, the two hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 of the case 1, 2 can be fastened again.

In practice, unless the two fastening elements 8, 9 are pressed at the same time, the case 1, 2 remains in its closing position.

We shall come back to this aspect when explaining how the invention works. In both the embodiments, the fastening elements 8, 9 are arranged on a second and a third side 10, 1 1, 12, 13 of the first hemi-portion 4, 6, which can be that which defines the above cover, which sides are opposite to one another and are adjacent and transversal to the first side 38, 39.

Preferably, as can be seen from the attached illustrations, the fastening elements 8, 9 are arranged in a part of extremity of the first hemi-portion 4, 6 which is substantially opposite the first side 38, 39.

This part of extremity comprises a fourth free side 14, 15 opposite the first side 38, 39 and the fastening elements 8, 9 are therefore closer to the fourth side 14, 15 than to the first side 38, 39.

The second hemi-portion 5, 7, which may be the aforementioned tray, preferably comprises fastening seats 16, 17 to receive the fastening elements 8, 9, in which seats 16, 17, such elements 8, 9 engage so as to keep the case 1, 2 in the closing position.

Preferably, each fastening element comprises a flexible toothed protrusion 8, 9. In this case, each fastening seat can comprise a through slot 16, 17 having an edge that can be engaged by the respective toothed protrusion 8, 9.

The case 1, 2 can be of the tamper-evident type and comprise one or more breakable sealing elements 18, 19, which keep the hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7 joined in the closing position of the case 1, 2.

In detail, each sealing element 18, 19 comprises a toothed protrusion 20, 21 joined to one of the hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7, e.g., the first hemi-portion 4, 6, by means of a plurality of breakable bridges, representing the breakable part of the sealing elements 18, 19 themselves.

In this case, one of the hemi-portions 4, 5, 6, 7, e.g., the second hemi-portion 5, 7, comprises a closing seat 16, 22 in which the toothed protmsion 20, 21 of the sealing element 18, 19 is anchored, when the case 1, 2 is in closing position. A detailed description is now provided of the structure and operation of the two embodiments of the invention.

In the first embodiment, the tooth of the toothed protmsion 8 of the two fastening elements has a triangular shape or, more precisely, a saw-tooth shape, and clip couples with the above-mentioned slot 16, like a pressure buckle.

The slot 16 is naturally positioned so as to be able to receive the respective protmsion 8 and has a gap such as not only to accommodate the protmsion 8 but to also allow this to bend both during the fastening and the release steps.

The case 1 of this embodiment includes two sealing elements 18 and two respective closing seats 16 which coincide with the fastening seats.

To be precise, said seats are defined by respective opposite elongated slots 16, arranged in the second hemi-portion 5 in its two opposite sides adjacent to the first side 38, in correspondence to the comers defined in the free extremity of the second hemi-portion 5.

In detail, the sealing elements 18 are obtained in the first hemi-portion 4 in correspondence to the respective comers of its free extremity, and are aligned with respective fastening elements 8.

Each sealing element 18 includes a base 40 connected to the first hemi-portion 4 by means of the above-mentioned bridges, from which base 40 protrudes the above-mentioned toothed protmsion 20, having a triangular tooth.

In practice, the slot 16 defines the closing seat in one of its sections closest to the free extremity, and the above-mentioned fastening seat in the remaining part.

Initially, the case 1 is made available closed, with the toothed protrusions 8, 20 of the fastening elements and of the sealing elements 18 ensased in the edses of the relative slots 16 (see figures 2 and 3).

To be able to open the case 1, the sealing elements 18 must be broken, because their engagement in the slots 16 does not allow the hemi-portions 4, 5 to be stretched apart, even when the fastening elements 8 are pressed.

For this purpose, the user presses on said bases 40 of the sealing elements 18, thus breaking the bridges.

The slots 16 can be sized to receive the bases 40 of the sealing elements 18, as shown in figure 5.

In this case, the case 1 simply has to be overturned to cause the by now broken sealing elements 18 to fall.

At this point, the user presses at the same time on the teeth of the fastening elements 8 which protrude from the slots 16, so that such elements 8 bend, disensasins the teeth from the edses of the slots 16 and enabling them to pass through these.

This way, the two hemi-portions 4, 5 can be stretched apart as shown in the figure 4 and the blister pack 3 is made accessible to the user.

To be able to reclose the case 1, the two hemi-portions 4, 5 simply have to be abutted and then pressed so the fastening elements 8 are slotted into the relative slots 16, with the teeth coupled with the edges of the slot 16 itself.

Optionally, a toothed and flexible opening tang 23 can be provided, obtained in the first hemi-portion 4, and suitable for fastening onto, in a releasable way, a protruding rib 24 obtained in the second hemi-portion 5.

The tang 23 and the rib 24 can be arranged in correspondence to the free extremity side of its own hemi-portion 4, 5.

In the second embodiment, the second hemi-portion 7 comprises side boards 41, in which respective fastening seats 17 are obtained, defined by C-shaped recesses, obtained in the proximity of the free extremity of said hemi-portion 7. In this case, the teeth 30 of the protmsions of the fastening elements 9 have a square profile which is the jig of the relative seats 17, and have a triangular section so they can slot into same.

The operation of the fastening elements 9 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first one.

In the second embodiment, a particular solution is provided that makes opening the case 2 even more difficult for a child.

The second hemi-portion 7 comprises an extremity door 25, rotatable around a transversal line 26, in correspondence to which there is a narrowing defining a hinge.

In detail, the door 25 is opened by turning it outwards away from the rest of the case 2, and in particular from the first hemi-portion 6.

This door 25 first of all comprises the aforementioned closing seat 22 in which engages the protrusion 21 of the sealing element 19, which has a triangular tooth, shaped like a saw tooth.

In this case, the sealing element 19 is ananged in correspondence to the free extremity side 15 of the first hemi-portion 6, in central position and the respective seat 22 is obtained in a free extremity wall 27 of the door 25, in central position.

Furthermore, advantageously, the door 25 comprises two side wings 28, 29, adjacent and perpendicular to said extremity wall 27 which, in the closing position of the door 25, are ananged parallel to the boards 41 of the second hemi-portion 7, in correspondence to the fastening seats 17.

Preferably, such wings 28, 29 are positioned internally with respect to the fastening seats 17, away from these so that when the case 2 and the door 25 are in their closing positions, the fastening elements 9 remain outside the wings 28,

29 of the door 25 and substantially interposed between these and the boards 41 of the second hemi-portion 7.

In this configuration, shown in the figure 6, the wings 28, 29 abut the fastening elements 9 to prevent them from bending towards the inside, blocking the teeth

30 within the relative seats 17.

To start with, the case 2 is presented closed with the door 25 in its closing position.

When the user opens the door 25, it drags with it the toothed protmsion 21 of the sealing element 19, breaking the bridges.

At this point, as shown in the figure 7, the wings 28, 29 of the door 25 no longer prevent the fastening elements 9 from bending.

Consequently, the user can press at the same time the teeth 30 of the two fastening elements 9, accessible through the slots 17, release the two hemi- portions 6, 7 and stretch them apart by opening the case 2. Optionally, the first or the second hemi-portion 6, 7 can comprise an internal retention seat 42 to house the blister packs 3, defined by a ring that protrudes from the inner surface of such hemi-portion 6, 7.

In the version shown in the illustrations, such retention seat 42 is obtained in the first hemi-portion 6.

It has in practice been ascertained how the described invention achieves the set objects and in particular the fact is underlined that it provides for a case 1, 2 to contain the blister packs 3 having solutions that make the opening childproof and solutions that act as tamper evident.

Claims

1 ) Case ( 1, 2) able to house at least a blister pack (3), characterized by the fact that it comprises: at least two hemi-portions (4, 5, 6, 7), which are coupled in a rotating way in correspondence to a respective first side (38, 39); and at least two fastening elements (8, 9) which can be pressed, ananged in at least one of said hemi-portions (4, 6) to fasten it to the other hemi-portion (5, 7), said fastening elements (8, 9) being able to release said hemi-portions (4, 5, 6, 7) following their simultaneous pressing.

2) Case ( 1, 2) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said fastening elements (8, 9) are ananged on respective sides ( 10, 1 1, 12, 13) of one of said hemi-portions (4, 6) which are opposite to one another and adjacent to said first side (38, 39).

3) Case ( 1, 2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact that said fastening elements (8, 9) are ananged in said hemi-portion (4, 6) in one of its parts substantially opposite said first side (38, 39).

4) Case ( 1, 2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that at least one of said hemi-portions (5, 7) comprises fastening seats ( 16, 17) to receive said fastening elements (8, 9).

5) Case ( 1, 2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said fastening elements comprise respective toothed protmsions

(8, 9).

6) Case ( 1, 2) according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that each of said seats comprises a through slot ( 16, 17) having an edge that can be engaged by a respective toothed protrusion (8, 9) of said fastening elements.

7) Case ( 1, 2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least a breakable sealing element ( 18, 19) which keeps said hemi-portions (4, 5, 6, 7) joined in a closing position of said case ( 1, 2).

8) Case ( 1, 2) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that said sealing element ( 18, 19) comprises a toothed protrusion (20, 21 ) joined to one of said hemi-portions (4, 6) through a plurality of breakable bridges.

9) Case ( 1, 2) according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized by the fact that one of said hemi-portions (5, 7) comprises a closing seat ( 16, 22) in which said toothed protrusion (20, 21) of the sealing element ( 18, 19) is anchored in said closing position of said case ( 1, 2).

10) Case ( 1 ) according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that it comprises two sealing elements ( 18) and two respective closing seats made up of said fastening seats ( 16).

1 1 ) Case ( 1, 2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it is made of plastic material in a single body piece.

12) Case ( 1, 2) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a tray-shaped hemi-portion (5, 7) and a hemi- portion (4, 6) which is a closing cover.

13) Case ( 1 ) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that one of said hemi-portions (4, 6) shapes said sealing elements ( 18) in correspondence to respective comers opposite said first side (38).

14) Case (2) according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterized by the fact that said tray-shaped hemi-portion (5, 7) comprises side boards (41 ) in which respective fastening seats ( 17) are obtained for said fastening elements (9).

15) Case (2) according to one or more of the claims from 9 to 14, characterized by the fact that one of said hemi-portions (6, 7) comprises an extremity door (25).

16) Case (2) according to claim 15, characterized by the fact that said door (25) comprises side wings (28, 29) which, in the closing position of the door, prevent said fastening elements (9) from being released.

17) Case (2) according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterized by the fact that said closing seat (22) is obtained in said door (25).