U.S. patent application number 10/695862 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-13 for blister pack.
Invention is credited to Kancsar, Peter, Krohn, Michael, Marti, Susanne, Schmauder, Claudia, Zellweger, Laurenz.
Application Number | 20040089577 10/695862 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32232243 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040089577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kancsar, Peter ; et
al. |
May 13, 2004 |
Blister pack
Abstract
A blister pack (1) with a base part (2) with at least one
depression (3) that is surrounded by a shoulder, the entirety of
shoulders forming a contiguous surface. A cover film (5) is sealed
onto the base part (2) and covers the openings (4) of the
depressions. The base part (2) is provided with arrangement (9)
that facilitate the opening of the pack. The arrangement is
configured as one or more flat parts that are defined by separating
lines (7), preferably in the form of indentations (10). The
indentations can be bent along the separating lines (7) at least
partially outwards from the base part (2). At least one edge or tip
so that, with the help of the bent flat part (10), the cover film
(5+L) positioned above the opening (4) of the depression can be
undone, perforated, broken or weakened to such an extent that the
product contained therein can be forced through the depression (3)
by hand. A rolling up element can be joined to the edge portion as
part of the opening aid (9'")
Inventors: |
Kancsar, Peter; (Zurich,
CH) ; Zellweger, Laurenz; (Zurich, CH) ;
Krohn, Michael; (Zurich, CH) ; Schmauder,
Claudia; (Zurich, CH) ; Marti, Susanne;
(Zurich, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISHER, CHRISTEN & SABOL
1725 K STREET, N.W.
SUITE 1108
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
32232243 |
Appl. No.: |
10/695862 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10695862 |
Oct 30, 2003 |
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09926584 |
Jun 3, 2002 |
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09926584 |
Jun 3, 2002 |
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PCT/EP00/04332 |
May 13, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/327 20130101;
B65D 75/58 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/461 |
International
Class: |
B65D 073/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 2, 1999 |
EP |
99810478.0 |
Claims
1. Blister pack, containing a base part with one or a multiplicity
of recesses surrounded by a shoulder, where the shoulders in total
form a coherent flat shoulder surface, and a cover film covering at
least the recesses or the recess openings, and the recesses
containing removable contents, characterised in that the shoulder
surface in the base part (2) has at least one opening aid (9) with
at least one effective opening edge or point, which can weaken the
to cover film (5) covering the recess opening (4) so that the
contents can be pressed out of the recess (3).
2. Blister pack according to claim 1, characterised in that the
opening aid (9) is a surface part which is at least partly
detachable or releasable from the shoulder area and the opening aid
(9) is preferably made from one or more surface parts (10) bordered
by one or more weakening lines (8') and which can be detached from
the shoulder surface along the weakening lines (8').
3. Blister pack according to claim 1, characterised in that to the
recess opening (3) is assigned a surface element (6) with an
opening aid (9), and in that the surface element (6) has a fold
line (7) at which the surface element (6) can be bent out from the
blister pack (1) and swivelled at least to the concave side of the
recess (3), preferably to the concave and convex sides.
4. Blister pack according to claim 3, characterised in that the
blister pack (11) contains several recesses (3) and in that to each
recess (3) in the shoulder surface of the blister pack (11) is
assigned a surface element (6) which is delimited by weakening
lines (8), and from the recess (3) by a fold line (7), To and the
surface element (6) can be detached from the blister pack (11)
along the weakening line (8) and swivelled at the fold line (7)
over the assigned recess (3) or recess opening.
5. Blister pack according to claim 3, characterised in that the
surface parts 35 (10) of the opening aid (9) can be pressed out
from the base part (2) or the surface element (6) by hand or with
an aid, or that by folding the surface element (6) to the convex
side of the assigned recess (3), the recess (3) comes to lie on the
opening aid (9) and the surface part(s) (10) of the opening aid (9)
can be pressed out of the surface element (6) by means of the
recesses, and that by folding the surface element (6) to the
concave side, the opening aid (9) comes to lie on the cover film
(5) in the area of the recess opening (4).
6. Blister pack according to claim 1, characterised in that the
opening aid (9) is formed in the shape of one or several points or
teeth (10), whereby the points or teeth are outlined by weakening
lines (8') and are preferably circular or polygonal arranged, and
the tips of the points or teeth are preferably arranged at a common
point in the surface element (6), and in that preferably a fold
line (7') is arranged between the two adjacent tips of weakening
lines (8') to form a toothed or pointed crown when the points or
teeth are pushed out from the base part (2).
7. Blister pack according to claim 4, characterised in that to each
recess (3) is assigned a surface element (6) with an opening aid
(9), and the surface elements (6) are arranged mutually offset and
opposite between the recesses (3) or at the sides in lines.
8. Blister pack according to claim 1, characterised in that the
effective opening edge, in particular the point, of the opening aid
(9"') is directed away from the recess opening (4) and a roll-up
element (16) is arranged on the edge (19) of the blister pack (15)
facing the opening aid (9"') and is connected to the edge section,
preferably by way of adhesive or sealant, so that the shoulder area
can be rolled back from the edge (19) with the aid of the roll-up
element (16) in order to open the recess opening (4), whereby the
cover film (5) suitably comes to lie on the inside and the opening
aid (9"') is detached along the weakening lines (8') from the
shoulder area (18) during rolling to protrude from the rolled back
shoulder area (18) preferably at a tangent, and in that as rolling
of the shoulder area (18) continues, the protruding opening aid
(9"') is rolled up with the shoulder area (18) around the roll-up
element (16) and its effective opening edge or point makes contact
with the cover film (5) over the recess opening (4) and weakens
this to the extent that the contents can be pressed out from the
recess.
9. Blister pack according to claim 1, characterised in that
weakening lines 8' delimit an opening aid 9"" in the blister pack
1", and that the opening aid 9"" contains fold lines 7' which
preferably delimit two wing parts 17, 17', so that after detaching
the opening aid 9"" from the blister pack 1" by folding the opening
aid 9"" over on itself, in particular by folding the wing parts
17,17' over on themselves, a stable point is formed.
10. Blister pack according to claim 1, characterised in that the
cover film contains an aluminium foil coated with hot sealing
lacquer, of thickness 20-50 mm, in particular 20-30 mm, preferably
20-25 mm, on which is laminated an exterior PET (polyethylene
terephthalate) foil of thickness 10-30 mm, in particular 12-20
mm.
11. Blister pack according to claim 10, characterised in that a
further coating from paper is laminated onto the plastic foil.
12. Process for manufacturing a blister pack according to claim 1,
characterised in that recesses (3) are moulded from a flat
composite foil and the recesses (3) are filled with contents, and a
cover film (5) is sealed over the recess openings (4) of the
recesses (3) on the composite foil, and fold lines (7') and/or
weakening lines (8') of the opening aid (9,9', 9", 9"') are applied
to the composite foil with cover film (5), and blister packs (1)
are cut out with one or more recesses (3).
13. Process for manufacturing a blister pack according to claim 12,
characterised in that before cutting into blister packs, fold lines
(7) and/or weakening lines (8) are applied to the surface elements
(6) .
14. Medicine packaging using blister packs according to claim 1.
Description
[0001] This invention concerns a blister pack, containing a base
part with one or more recesses surrounded by a shoulder, where the
shoulders in total form a coherent flat shoulder surface, and a
cover film covering at least the recesses or recess openings, and
the recesses containing contents which can be removed from the
recess. The invention also consists of the use of the blister pack
and a process for its production.
[0002] It is known to seal base parts, also known as content
carriers, of blister packs, also known as push-through packs, with
push-through cover films, for example made from a metal such as
aluminium. The cover film can be an aluminium foil coated with a
sealant, such as a sealing lacquer. The aluminium foil is sealed
onto the base part with this sealant. To remove the contents, these
are pushed against the cover film by deforming the recess, causing
the cover film to tear or burst, thereby releasing the content or
filling. This means that the cover film must be inelastic and
easily tearable. Thus aluminium foils modified with a sealing layer
are especially suitable for this purpose. The packs described
contain for example medicaments such as pills, tablets, dragees,
ampoules and the like.
[0003] The contents, in particular medicaments, in their habitually
colourful forms of administration which resemble sweets, arouse the
curiosity of children. In order to prevent children from gaining
access to special medicaments, it is often appropriate to make
their opening manipulation difficult. Said cover films have the
disadvantage that the intended ease with which they may be pushed
through constitutes a not insurmountable obstacle, even for
children, to the removal of the contents from the packaging.
[0004] A child-safe pharmaceutical packaging comprising a base
foil, a push-through foil and a safety foil is known from DE-A-29
19 713. The content cannot be removed from the pack by pushing it
through without first completely removing the safety foil, for
example by peeling it off, which can however be difficult even for
adults, in particular elderly persons.
[0005] The purpose of this invention is to create a blister pack
that cannot be opened by children but which can still be easily
used and opened by adults, notably the elderly.
[0006] In accordance with this invention, this task is solved in
that the shoulder surfaces on the base part of the pack has at
least one opening aid with at least one effective opening edge or
point. which can weaken the cover film overlies the recess opening
so that the contents can be pressed out of the recess.
[0007] The opening aid can be preferably at least partly detached
or released from the shoulder surface, whereby it is advantageous
for the opening aid to consist of one or more surface parts which
are separated by one or more weakening lines, and which can be
detached from the shoulder surface along the weakening lines by
hand or with aid.
[0008] The blister pack in accordance with this invention suitably
contains a base part with at least one or more square, round or
oval recesses, which are also known as compartments or cups. The
base part can, for example, be rectangular from the top view,
whereby the recesses are preferably evenly distributed and arranged
in lines and rows or placed mutually offset.
[0009] Weakening lines are target separation lines or target
separation areas along which the material can be separated,
preferably manually. The weakening lines are produced for example
using mechanical means, such as cutting, stamping or scratching
with knives, using physical means such as for example heat
treatment, laser beaming, electron beaming, electrical discharge
machining, dissolution, or swelling using solvents or through
chemical reaction, e.g. by etching. The weakening lines can
accordingly be areas in a foil which are completely or partially
separated or are weakened through a change in the structure of the
material and through abrasion of the material.
[0010] The base parts of this blister pack can be embossed, cast,
deep- or stretch-drawn or vacuum-moulded base parts made of metal
such as aluminium, plastic, plastic/paper composites such as
plastic/paper composites or plastic/metal composites. The plastics
may be plastics coated with inorganic layers, in particular with
SiO.sub.x.
[0011] Suitable plastics for base parts are for example
thermoplastics containing foils and foil composites on an olefin
basis, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or copolymers thereof,
on an ester basis, such as polyethylene terephthalates, polyamides
or halogen-containing plastics such as polyvinyl chloride or
polyvinylidene chloride or mixtures thereof. The base parts may
also have a barrier layer against gases and vapours. Such a barrier
layer may for example be a metal foil, such as an aluminium foil
embedded in a plastic composite or a ceramic or metal layer
arranged between two plastic layers. Ceramic or metal layers may
for example be produced by vaporising metals, oxides or nitrides of
aluminium, silicon and other metals and metalloids in a vacuum and
depositing the materials on a plastic carrier.
[0012] The base part may also be manufactured from or using
materials containing cellulose, such as paper, board, card,
moulding materials containing paper, or be reinforced with the aid
of such materials.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the base part consists of or
contains polyvinylchloride (PVC), PVC coated with polyvinylidene
chloride (PVdC), cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC) or
polychloro-trifluoroethylene (PCTFE). Composite foils with PCTFE,
in particular with PCTFE and PVC, are also preferred. The total
thickness of trie base part is for example 100-500 mm, in
particular 200-360 mm.
[0014] Further preferred foil composites for base parts contain or
consist of an external foil made of PVC of a thickness of 60-100
mm, a further external foil made of oriented polyamide (oPA) of a
thickness of 25-30 mm and an intermediate foil made of aluminium of
a thickness of 45-60 mm. In addition foil composites, each with an
external foil made of polypropylene and an intermediate foil made
of aluminium, may be used.
[0015] Suitably, it is very difficult or impossible to press
through the cover film by hand. The cover film can be manufactured
for example from an aluminium foil, in particular an aluminium
finished with a sealing coating, or from an aluminium foil
composite. The cover film can also contain plastics and/or
cellulose-like material, such as cardboard or paper. In particular,
any plastic detailed above in the base part description, can be
used. In the case of cover films from a plastic-metal composite,
the metal coating can be fused or vapour-deposited in the form of a
foil.
[0016] In addition, notably for single product packs, cover films
can also be used that are made from plastics, in particular
polypropylene, without metal foils or coatings, which can be
pierced, cut or weakened with the corresponding opening aids
described below. The plastics can for example contain fillers to
reduce strength and to ease opening. The cover film can also be
weakened, for example in the area of the recess opening, or have
weakening lines, whereby for example the opening process is
facilitated by use of the opening aids. However, the weakening
lines are suitably formed such that the contents cannot be
extracted by hand without the help of opening aids.
[0017] The cover film can consist of, for example, an aluminium
foil coated with a hot sealing lacquer between 8-50 mm thick, in
particular 20-45 mm, preferably 37-43 mm.
[0018] Furthermore, the cover film can also contain an aluminium
foil coated with hot to sealing lacquer and 20-50 mm thick, in
particular 20-30 mm, preferably 20-25 mm, onto which an external
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) foil is laminated measuring 10-30
mm thick, in particular 12-20 mm. In another variant, said cover
film can include a further paper layer on the plastic foil.
[0019] The cover film covers the base part, for example either
partly or completely, and seals at least the recess openings. It is
suitably connected to the surface with adhesive or seals. The
sealing coating can for example contain or be made of polyolefins
such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyester, such as
polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene-2, 6-naphtalate and take
the form of foils or lacquers and can for example have a thickness
in the region of 1 to 50 mm. Correspondingly, hot sealing lacquer
can also be used. Adhesives such as phenol resins, epoxy resins,
cyanacrylates, acrylates, modified acrylates and in particular
adhesive on a polyurethane base can be used.
[0020] The cover film suitably resists the customary pressure
needed to remove the contents from the recess, in particular any
pressure of which children are capable. The resistance of the top
coating can be due to its strength and/or resilience.
[0021] The opening aids are or contain surface parts which suitably
protrude from the shoulder area of the blister pack or which can be
detached from the shoulder area along the weakening lines.
Furthermore, fold lines can be provided, along which the surface
parts can be bent. The opening aids and associated surface parts
have advantageously effective opening edges and/or points, which
can be brought onto the surface areas of the cover film to be
opened.
[0022] Fold lines are suitably designed in such a way that parts
can be bent or completely removed at these. They are not separating
lines, so it is impossible or very difficult to detach the parts
along a fold line by hand.
[0023] As an example, a long point can be provided which can be
pressed and detached from the base part along the weakening lines,
e.g. perforated lines, and can be bent into shape so that the tip
makes contact with the surface area of the cover film to be
opened.
[0024] It can also be provided that the opening aids are completely
detached or removed from the base part along the weakening
lines.
[0025] In a further and preferred design variant, a surface
element, suitably without a recess, can be provided next to a
recess in the shoulder surface of the blister pack. This surface
element should not be confused with the surface part described
above as an opening aid. The surface element is delimited from the
rest of the base part by way of one or more weakening lines and by
at least one fold line in such a way so that the surface element is
separated from the base part along the weakening line and can be
placed over the neighbouring recess opening by folding it down
along the fold line. The fold line is preferably arranged between
the surface element and the recess.
[0026] The swivellable surface element suitably contains an opening
aid, for example as previously described, which can be used if the
surface element is swivelled directly over the cover film covering
the recess opening, so that the opening aid can be placed directly
on the cover film.
[0027] The surface elements can be bent along the fold line. The
fold line should in particular ensure sufficient connection between
the surface element and the rest of the blister pack after several
folds. The fold line is suitably shaped in such a way so that the
surface element can be swivelled in both directions, for example
clockwise and anti-clockwise.
[0028] The recesses in a blister pack can be arranged for example
in lines and rows, preferably in two lines. For example a line of
surface elements, each containing an opening aid, is assigned to
each line of recesses. The line of surface elements is connected to
a line of recesses by way of a fold line. The individual surface
elements are otherwise separated from each other or from the
bordering shoulder areas of the recesses by weakening lines.
[0029] In a further design variant, the recesses in a blister pack
can be arranged mutually offset whereby the surface elements with
opening aids, also mutually offset, are each arranged between at
least two recesses. This optimises the existing surface of the base
part and saves packaging, as the surface elements with opening aids
occupy less space for example than the recesses surrounded by
shoulders.
[0030] In a particularly preferential design variant, the opening
aids are designed in the form of individual or a multiplicity of
teeth, preferably in the form of points or teeth. The points or
teeth and the triangle shapes defined by the weakening lines in the
blister pack are suitably circular, and are arranged with the tips
of the points or teeth preferably at a common point on the base
part, so that a circular or polygonal tip of the tooth or point is
formed when the point or tooth is pushed out from the base part.
The weakening lines in the base part are for example star-shaped
and arranged to cross at a common point, whereby two neighbouring
tips of weakening lines can be connected by a fold line, so that
the tooth or point along this fold line can be better folded up
from the plane.
[0031] The opening aid in the shape of a crown is preferably
provided in a surface element of the type described above. The
distance from the midpoint of the recess opening to the fold line
between surface elements and the shoulder bordering the recess
preferably corresponds to the distance from the midpoint described
by the circular or polygonal crown to the fold line, so that upon
folding back the surface element, the crown in its concentrated
position comes to rest on the recess or recess opening. The
diameter of the crown enclosed by teeth or points is suitably less
than, or suitably the same as, the diameter of the recess
opening.
[0032] By folding the surface element on the convex side of the
recess (side on which the recess protrudes), the teeth or points
can be folded out from the plane of the surface element by pressing
the recess through with the opening aid, and brought into an
effective opening position which is perpendicular or almost
perpendicular to the surface element. The teeth or teeth can
however also be pushed up from the plane to the effective opening
position by means of a finger or other aid.
[0033] To expose the contents of the pack, the surface element with
the protruding teeth or points is placed on the concave side of the
recess (side on which the recess is hollowed out), i.e. on the
recess opening. The teeth or points bore into the cover film,
cutting a circular shape over the recess opening to damage or
weaken this to an extent that the contents can then be pressed out
of the recess by hand.
[0034] Further design variants similar to those described above can
also be provided, whereby for example surface parts with effective
opening edges or one or more teeth or points can be designed as an
opening aid in place of a toothed crown.
[0035] It can also be provided that the surface elements of the
opening aid, once detached from the base part, can be folded
against themselves to form a stable opening tool, preferably a
point. In addition, an opening aid detached from one of the
weakening lines in the form of a semi-circle can be used as a
semi-circular cutting tool.
[0036] A particular design variant shows a blister pack with an
opening aid arranged on the shoulder area of the blister pack or at
its edge, and which is suitably surrounded by weakening lines and
which can advantageously be at least partly detached from the
shoulder area, whereby the detached part of the opening aid has at
least one effective opening edge, such as a cutting edge, point or
tooth. The effective opening edge or point is preferably directed
away from the recess opening. On the edge of the blister pack
facing the opening aid, advantageously a roll-up element is
provided and connected to the edge section e.g. by a seal or
adhesive. To open the recess opening, the shoulder area is rolled
back with the aid of the roll-up element, where the cover film
suitably lies on the inside when rolled up. As soon as the roll-up
element starts to roll up the surface area of the opening aid, this
is detached from the shoulder area due to the resulting bending
stresses along the weakening lines and preferably protrudes at a
tangent from the rolled shoulder area. As rolling of the shoulder
area continues, the protruding opening aid will be rolled up with
the shoulder area around the roll-up element and its effective
opening edge or point, preferably vertical, makes contact with the
cover film, whereby the distances between the opening aid and the
recess, as well as between the opening aid and the edge and roll-up
element, are selected so that the opening edge or point penetrates
or weakens sections of the cover film preferably in the edge area
of the recess opening so that the contents of the pack can be
pushed out of the recess. The weakening of the cover film suitably
acts as a tear notch, along which the cover film will start to tear
when a perpendicular pressure is exerted on it, thereby exposing
the contents. The weakening lines can be designed as described
above.
[0037] The outside of the push-through pack bears markings and
graphic elements at corresponding points, informing the consumer
inter alia of the individual opening procedures.
[0038] A blister pack in accordance with the invention can be
produced in that recesses can be formed from a flat composite foil
and the recess can be filled with contents and a cover film can be
sealed to the composite foil over the recess openings of the
recesses and fold lines and/or weakening lines of the opening aid
can be arranged in the composite foil with cover film, and blister
packs with one or more recesses can be cut out.
[0039] In addition, in the case of blister packs with several
recesses, the fold lines and/or weakening lines of the surface
elements can be applied before the pack is cut to size.
[0040] If the blister pack includes roll-up elements, these can be
sealed or glued at the same time as the cover film is sealed to the
manufactured blister pack, preferably is on the designated edge of
the blister pack.
[0041] The contents of the pack according to the present invention
can only be removed after performance of a regulated sequence of
opening hand movements, i.e. pressed out from the recess-through
the cover film. This is an almost impossible task for children,
they can scarcely perform several simultaneous movements in
succession. In particular, the pressing through of the opening aid
from the base part and the use of the opening aid to damage the
cover film cannot be executed by children intuitively, but requires
prior knowledge or the ability to read the packaging information.
However, elderly people will find the packaging very easy to
open.
[0042] A more detailed explanation of the invention is given below
with reference to the enclosed diagrams. These show:
[0043] FIG. 1a-d: a diagrammatic view of the opening steps to
expose the contents of a blister pack with a recess;
[0044] FIG. 2a-c: a diagrammatic view of various opening aids;
[0045] FIG. 3: a diagrammatic view of a blister pack with several
recesses and opening aids containing foldable surface elements;
[0046] FIG. 4: a diagrammatic view of a further blister pack with
opening aids;
[0047] FIG. 5: a top view of a blister pack with mutually offset
recesses and surface elements with opening aids;
[0048] FIG. 6a-b: a top view of a blister pack before and after the
application of opening aids;
[0049] FIG. 7a-b: a perspective view of the opening process of a
blister pack with a further opening aid.
[0050] The blister pack 1 shown in FIG. 1a-d contains a base part 2
with a recess 3 and a surface element 6 bordered by a fold line 7,
which has an opening aid 9 defined by a weakening line 8'. The
weakening lines 8' are in the shape of a star and arranged to cross
at a common point. Between the neighbouring ends of two weakening
lines 8' run fold lines 7', which facilitate the unfolding of the
teeth (FIG. 1a).
[0051] The surface element 6 with the opening aid 9 is folded on
the convex side of the recess (FIG. 1b) and the recess 3 is pressed
by means of the opening aid 9 so that the surface parts 10 in the
shape of teeth are pressed out vertically from the plane of the
surface element 6 to form a crown (FIG. 1c).
[0052] The surface element 6 is then folded back again and
swivelled around with the tooth points in front to the concave side
of the recess 3 (FIG. 1d). The surface parts or teeth 10 of the
opening aid 9 bore into the cover film 5 over the recess opening 4
and weaken or damage the cover film 5 in such a way that the
contents can then be pressed out by hand from the recess 3.
[0053] FIG. 2a shows an enlarged opening aid 9 with surface parts
or. teeth 10 in the shape of a crown in perspective. The surface
parts or teeth 10 are folded up along the fold lines 7' from the
shoulder area of the blister pack or from the surface elements.
[0054] The opening aid 9' shown in FIG. 2b lies on a surface
element 6 of a blister pack 1' and has a semi-circular cutting
edge. The opening aid 9' or its associated surface part is detached
from the surface element 6 along a semi-circular weakening line 8'.
This can take place e.g. through folding the surface element 6
along the fold line 7 on the convex side of the base part 2,
whereby the recess 3 is pressed out on complete folding of the
opening aid 9'. By bending the surface element 6 along the fold
line 7 on the concave side of the base part 2, the cover film 5 in
the area of the recess opening 4 can be separated or weakened with
the semi-circular cutting edge of the opening aid 9'.
[0055] The variant of an opening aid 9"" shown in FIG. 2c in top
view, arranged on a surface element 6 is distinguished in that this
can be detached from a blister pack 1" along a weakening line 8',
and the surface part of the opening aid 9"" can be shaped into a
stable point by folding it over onto itself.
[0056] The opening aid 9"" suitably has two edges running opposite
each another preferably in the direction of the recess opening to a
point or tooth 18. Fold lines 7', one of which ends in the said tip
18, are arranged in the opening aid 9"" and in the associated
surface part. The fold lines 7' border two wing parts 17, 17'. The
wing parts 17, 17' can be folded against each other along fold
lines 7' after being detached along the weakening lines 8', whereby
the wing parts 17, 17' make contact with another in particular at
the tip 18 to form a stable fixed point. The opening aid 9"" is
detached in the same way as described in FIG. 1 and 2b.
[0057] FIG. 3 shows a section of a blister pack 11 with several
recesses 3 and surface elements 6, containing opening aids 9 with
weakening and fold lines 8', 7' in the shape of toothed crowns. The
surface elements 6 are mutually delimited by weakening lines 8. The
surface elements 6 are also delimited from the recesses 3 by fold
lines 7. The surface elements 6 with the opening aids 9 can be
removed along the weakening lines 8 from the blister pack 11 and
can be folded over along the fold line 7 onto the recess 3 or
recess opening. The opening process is similar to that described in
FIG. 1.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows a blister pack 11' with triangular opening aids
9" in the shape of triangular points, which are arranged in the
shoulder area of the blister pack 11'. An opening aid 9" is
assigned to each recess 3. The opening aid 9" can be removed from
the base part along the weakening line 8' and bent along the fold
line 7' and its effective opening points applied to the cover
film.
[0059] FIG. 5. shows a blister pack 12 with recesses 3 and surface
elements 6 with opening aids 9 arranged offset and opposite each
other, thereby saving space and packaging material. The surface
elements 6 are separated from the recesses 3 by weakening lines 8
and merely connected to their opposite assigned recesses 3 by a
fold line 7. The opening process is similar to that described in
FIG. 1, 2b and 3.
[0060] FIG. 6a shows a blister pack 13' with recesses 3, after the
recess openings have been filled with contents and sealed with a
cover film. After this process and preferably before cutting into a
packing unit, the opening aids 9, i.e. the associated weakening
lines 8', are applied e.g. by punching, together with fold lines
7'. In addition, the weakening and fold lines 7,8 of the surface
element 6 are also applied. After this process a finished blister
pack 13' results (FIG. 6b).
[0061] The opening aids shown in FIG. 3 to 6 can also comprise a
single tooth or point, or another shape as described above.
[0062] A further design form has a blister pack 15 with an opening
aid 9"' in the form of a tooth or point, the form of which is
outlined by weakening lines 8' applied to the shoulder area 18
(FIG. 7a-b). The teeth or points of the opening aid 9"' are
directed away from the recess opening 4. At the edge 19 facing the
opening aid 9"' of the blister pack 15 is arranged roll-up element
16. The roll-up element 16 is tubular and made from plastic and has
a linear slot on its side to hold the edge area of the shoulder
surface 18.
[0063] To open the recess opening 4, the shoulder area 18 is rolled
back from the edge 19 with the aid of the roll-up element 16,
whereby the cover film 5 lies on the inside. As soon as the roll-up
element 16 starts to roll back the surface part of the opening aid
9"', this is detached from the shoulder area 18 along the weakening
line 8' and projects mainly tangentially. As rolling of the
shoulder area 18 and the opening aid 9"' continues, the protruding
point will make contact with the cover film 5 along the edge and
penetrate this. A local weakening or cut 17 is inflicted on the
cover film 5 in the area of the recess opening 4, which serves as a
tear aid. The contents can then be pressed out from the recess by
hand.
[0064] In the top view, the blister pack 15 can for example take
the shape of a polygon, in particular a triangle, preferably an
isosceles triangle or the shape of a trapezium, preferably an
isosceles trapezium. The blister pack 15 preferably tapers starting
from the roll-up element 16 in the direction of the recess opening
4.
[0065] The blister pack can also contain several recesses,
preferably arranged in a line, whereby each recess is assigned to a
surface element in the blister pack. The surface elements are as
described above preferably in the shape of an isosceles triangle or
trapezium, and arranged mutually opposite and separable next to
each other. The separating lines can be e.g. weakening lines
applied to a blister pack.
* * * * *