U.S. patent application number 10/402674 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-30 for 024340 childproof blister pack card.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shorewood Packaging Corporation. Invention is credited to Stepowany, Brian T..
Application Number | 20040188312 10/402674 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32989767 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040188312 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stepowany, Brian T. |
September 30, 2004 |
024340 Childproof blister pack card
Abstract
A childproof package for a pharmaceutical product includes a
blister pack including at least one blister covered with a foil
cover through which the pharmaceutical product can be pushed to
eject it from the blister pack. A front panel defines at least one
aperture through which the blister extends and includes a removable
push tab. A middle panel defines at least one aperture in register
with the aperture defined in the front panel and including a
removable perforated tab located adjacent to the aperture defined
in the middle panel and in register with the push tab. A rear panel
includes a removable segment overlying the removable perforated tab
and a removable cover segment overlying the foil cover of the
blister pack. Ejection of the pharmaceutical product through the
foil cover requires (a) removal of the removable segment from the
rear panel, (b) pushing the push tab through the rear panel, (c)
removal of the push tab, the perforated tab and the cover segment
and (d) the application of pressure to the blister.
Inventors: |
Stepowany, Brian T.;
(Manasquan, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PITTS AND BRITTIAN P C
P O BOX 51295
KNOXVILLE
TN
37950-1295
US
|
Assignee: |
Shorewood Packaging
Corporation
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
32989767 |
Appl. No.: |
10/402674 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2585/56 20130101;
B65D 75/327 20130101; B65D 2215/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/42 |
Claims
Having thus described the aforementioned invention, we claim:
1. A childproof package for a pharmaceutical product comprising: a
blister pack including at least one blister covered with a foil
cover through which said pharmaceutical product can be pushed to
eject it from said blister pack; a front panel defining at least
one aperture through which said blister extends and including a
removable push tab; a middle panel defining at least one aperture
in register with said aperture defined in said front panel and
including a removable perforated tab located adjacent to said
aperture defined in said middle panel and in register with said
push tab; and a rear panel including a removable segment overlying
said removable perforated tab and a removable cover segment
overlying said foil cover, whereby ejection of said pharmaceutical
through said foil cover requires (a) removal of said removable
segment, (b) pushing said push tab through said rear panel, (c)
removal of said push tab, said perforated tab and said cover
segment and (d) the application of pressure to said blister.
2. The package of claim 1 wherein said push tab is adhered to said
perforated tab.
3. The package of claim 1 wherein said perforated tab is adhered to
said cover segment.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein said rear panel includes a
removable top section located adjacent to said removable segment to
restrict access to said removable segment.
5. The package of claim 1 and further comprising a display section
attached to said package.
6. A blank for the assembly of a childproof package for a
pharmaceutical product, said blank comprising: a sheet comprising a
front panel, a first fold line connecting said front panel to a
middle panel and a second fold line connecting said front panel to
a rear panel, said front panel defining at least one aperture
adapted to receive a blister of a blister pack and including a
removable push tab, said middle panel defining at least one
aperture located to register with said aperture defined in said
front panel and including a removable perforated tab located
adjacent to said aperture defined in said middle panel and to
register with said push tab; and said rear panel including a
removable segment located to overlie said removable perforated tab
and a removable cover segment located to overlie said foil
cover.
6. The blank of claim 5 and further comprising a display section
attached to said sheet.
7. The blank of claim 5 wherein said push tab is removable by
breaking perforations.
8. The blank of claim 5 wherein said rear panel includes a
plurality of sequentially removable segments.
9. The blank of claim 5 wherein said cover segment is removable by
breaking perforations.
10. The blank of claim 5 wherein said removable segment is
removable by breaking perforations.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of Invention
[0004] This invention pertains to a blister package for
pharmaceutical products which is resistant to opening, requiring
multiple steps to remove a pharmaceutical product
[0005] More particularly, this invention pertains to a package for
pharmaceutical products which requires the removal of multiple
sections in order to gain access to a blister containing a
pharmaceutical product.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] Recently there has been a concerted effort to develop
various packaging for pharmaceutical products which are resistant
to opening by children. Most commonly, this goal has been
accomplished by providing a container with a lid that requires the
application of pressure in just the right location(s) on the lid in
order to remove the lid. This approach has been used most
frequently in the area of prescription pharmaceuticals. There is,
however a balance that must be achieved between making the package
difficult for a child to open while still allowing an adult to open
it, particularly and adult who may be impaired with arthritis, for
example. In addition to being child-resistant, it is often
desirable to package the tablets individually so that the correct
number of tablets may be dispensed, one at a time.
[0008] Increasingly, medications, both prescription and over-the
counter, are being packaged in blister packs. A blister pack
comprises a flexible plastic or polymeric sheet which includes a
plurality of depressions, i.e. blisters, each of which is sized to
contain a pharmaceutical product, such as a tablet or capsule, for
example. Generally, a foil sheet is applied over the blisters to
seal the products within the blisters. When a user wants to use a
product, he applies pressure to the blister to expel the product
through the foil. Unfortunately, a blister pack alone is extremely
susceptible to being opened by a child. Generally, the amount of
pressure required to break the foil is quite small. Accordingly,
various efforts have been made to increase the difficulty of
gaining access to the foil layer of a blister pack.
[0009] U.S. patent application Publication No. U.S. Pat. No.
2003/0006163, published Jan. 9, 2003, discloses a childproof
blister packaging in which a blister pack is enclosed within a
three-panel sheet. When folded, one of the panels, an enclosed
panel, is located between the foil sheet of the blister pack and
another one of the panels. A movable closure located within the
enclosed panel is movable from a position in which it blocks access
to the foil sheet and a position in which an aperture in the
movable closure is aligned with a blister to expose the foil and
allow release of the tablet or capsule contained therein.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,190 issued to Davie, Jr. et al. on Nov.
14, 1978, discloses a child-resistant blister package in which a
blister pack is sandwiched between an upper sheet and a lower
sheet, each of which includes apertures. The apertures in the upper
sheet allow the blisters to extend therethrough. The apertures in
the lower sheet provide access to the foil sheet. A third sheet
includes a single perforated strip which, after removal, permits
access to the apertures defined in the lower sheet.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,830 issued to Muggli on Oct. 31, 2000,
discloses a childproof packaging for tablets in which a blister
pack is sandwiched between a base part and a cover part. A
removable cover strip is located between the base part and the
cover part to permit access to the foil sheet of the blister
pack.
[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide a child
resistant package for pills or tablets that is easy for an adult to
open. It is another object of the invention to provide a package
for pills or tablets that can dispense each pill or tablet
individually. It is yet another object of the invention to provide
a package for pills or tablets that is tamper evident. It is still
another object of the invention to provide a package for pills or
tablets providing ample area for instructions, warnings or
advertisements.
[0013] These and other objects of the invention will become
apparent after reviewing the disclosure of the invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] A childproof package for a pharmaceutical product includes a
blister pack including at least one blister covered with a foil
cover through which the pharmaceutical product can be pushed to
eject it from said blister pack. A front panel defines at least one
aperture through which the blister extends and includes a removable
push tab. A middle panel defines at least one aperture in register
with the aperture defined in the front panel and including a
removable perforated tab located adjacent to the aperture defined
in the middle panel and in register with the push tab. A rear panel
includes a removable segment overlying the removable perforated tab
and a removable cover segment overlying the foil cover of the
blister pack. Ejection of the pharmaceutical product through the
foil cover requires (a) removal of the removable segment from the
rear panel, (b) pushing the push tab through the rear panel, (c)
removal of the push tab, the perforated tab and the cover segment
and (d) the application of pressure to the blister.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The above-mentioned features of the invention will become
more clearly understood from the following detailed description of
the invention read together with the drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for assembling a package
embodying various features of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled package in
accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled package during
removal of an initial perforation section;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an assembled package during
removal of a first perforation section;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an assembled package during
folding of a first tab;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled package during
removal of a first tab;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembled package during
ejection of a tablet; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembled package
following ejection of a tablet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] An improved childproof package for pharmaceuticals,
requiring multiple steps for removing a single product from a
blister pack is described herein.
[0025] FIG. 1 depicts a blank 10 for assembling a package in
accordance with the present invention. The blank 10 includes a rear
panel 12, middle panel 14 and front panel 16. The panels 12, 14 and
16 are generally rectangular in shape and of similar dimensions. A
fold line 18 connects the front panel 16 to the middle panel 14. A
fold line 20 connects the front panel 16 to the rear panel 12.
During assembly, a blister pack 22 is placed upon the surface 24 of
the front panel 16 so that each blister 23 extends through an
aperture 26 defined in the front panel 16. In the depicted
embodiment the blister pack 22 includes ten blisters 23, though the
number is not restrictive of the present invention. Thereafter, the
middle panel 14 is folded along the fold line 18, over the foil
surface 28 of the blister pack 22 to capture the blister pack 22
between the front panel 16 and the middle panel 14. The middle
panel 14 is secured in a position parallel to the front panel 16
with an adhesive. The rear panel 12 is then folded along the fold
line 20 over the middle panel 14 to capture the middle panel 14
between the blister pack 22 and the rear panel 12. The rear panel
12 is secured in a position parallel to the middle panel 14 with an
adhesive.
[0026] The front panel 16 includes a series of push tabs 30 in
spaced relation to the apertures 26. A push tab 30 is associated
with each of the apertures 26. In the depicted embodiment the push
tabs 30 are D-shaped. The push tabs 30 are frangibly connected to
the front panel 16, as with perforations, for example.
[0027] The middle panel 14 includes a series of apertures 32
positioned to register with the apertures 26 in the front panel 16
when the middle panel 14 is folded over the front panel 16.
Adjacent to each aperture 32 is a perforated tab 34. The tabs 34
are frangibly connected to the middle panel 14, as with
perforations, for example. A push tab 30 overlies a portion of each
perforated tab 34 and is secured thereto, as with adhesive, for
example.
[0028] The rear panel 12 has a T-shaped perforated section formed
by a top section 36 and two base sections 38A and 38B. In the
depicted embodiment, the top section 36 comprises a single
removable section which, upon removal, allows access to the two
base sections 38A and 38B. It will be recognized that a separate
top section 36 may be provided to permit individual access to each
of the base sections 38A and 38B. Each of the base sections 38A and
38B comprises five individual perforated sections 40A, 40B, 40C,
40D and 40E. Each of the sections 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D and 40E
overlies the portion of a perforated tab 34 to which the push tab
30 is secured. Adjacent to each of the perforated sections 40A,
40B, 40C, 40D and 40E is a removable cover segment, 41A, 411B, 41C,
41D and 41E, respectively. Each cover segment 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D
and 41E overlies a perforated tab 34, to which it is preferably
secured, as with glue, for example. When in position, the sections
40A, 40B, 40C, 40D and 40E prevent the push tabs 30 and perforated
tabs 34 from being pushed through the rear panel 12. When in
position, the sections 41A, 411B, 41C, 41D and 41E prevent tablets
from being ejected through the foil 28.
[0029] In the depicted embodiment of a blank for making a package
of the invention having both a tablet section 42 formed by the rear
panel 12, middle panel 14 and front panel 16, and a display section
44 formed by a first display panel 46 hingedly connected to the
rear panel 12 and a second display panel 48 foldably connected to
the first display panel 46. The two panels 46 and 48 may be glued
to one another to provide rigidity and support to the display
section 44 or may not be adhered, providing a larger surface on
which to put indicia, such as instructions, warnings or
advertising. The first display panel 46 is connected to the rear
panel 12 by a double fold line, adequately accounting for the
thickness of the tablet section 42 when the package is
assembled.
[0030] With the structure of the package having been described, the
manner in using the package is now explained using FIGS. 2-8.
[0031] The package shown in FIGS. 2-8 has two sections hingedly
connected to one another, the tablet holding section 42 and the
display section 44. FIG. 2 shows the package in an open position
with the front of the package being visible, exposing the blisters
23, each containing a tablet.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows the first step in using the package. A user
removes the top section 36 to allow access to the first removable
segment 40A. As shown in FIG. 4, the user then tears away the first
removable segment 40A to expose the portion of the perforated tab
34 that overlies the push tab 30. Then, as depicted in FIG. 5, the
user pushes the push tab 30 and the exposed portion of the
perforated tab 34 through the rear panel 12. As depicted in FIG. 6,
once this is done, the user grabs the push tab 30 and perforated
tab 34 and removes them, along with the section 41A by pulling the
push tab 30 and perforated tab 34 through the aperture made by the
removal of the perforated base segment 40A. As shown in FIGS. 7 and
8, with the impediment of the perforated tab 34 removed, the user
is able to push the tablet stored in the blister 23 through the
back of the tablet section 42 by rupturing the foil section 28.
[0033] When the next tablet is required, the segment 40B is removed
and then the push tab 30 and perforated section 34underlying
segment 40B are pushed through the rear panel 12, and removed along
with the section 41B. The user then pushes the next tablet stored
in the next blister 23 through the back of the tablet section 42 by
rupturing the foil section 28.
[0034] Those skilled in the art will recognize that a package has
been provided which provides a substantial deterrent to opening by
a young child. The removal of each tablet from the package requires
at least four different actions including removal of a perforated
base segment from the back, pushing a push tab from the front to
the rear of the tablet section 42, removing the push tab,
perforated tab and cover segment from the rear and pushing the
tablet from the front though the foil. The actions alternate
between the front of the tablet section 42 and the rear of the
tablet section.
[0035] While the present invention has been illustrated by
description of several embodiments and while the illustrative
embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not
the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the
scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages
and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art.
The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to
the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and
illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures
may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or
scope of applicant's general inventive concept.
* * * * *