U.S. patent application number 10/510987 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for device for dispensing from a blister pack.
Invention is credited to Britton-Williams, Stephen John, May, Stuart Richard, Penfold, Christopher Michael.
Application Number | 20050211597 10/510987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9934956 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050211597 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Penfold, Christopher Michael ;
et al. |
September 29, 2005 |
Device for dispensing from a blister pack
Abstract
A pack for medicinal tablets has two parts hinged together, each
part having pockets (66) containing tablets. The pockets may be
displaced to expel the tablets through a foil sheet (68).
Inventors: |
Penfold, Christopher Michael;
(Nottingham, GB) ; Britton-Williams, Stephen John;
(City Surrey, GB) ; May, Stuart Richard; (City
Surrey, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROTHWELL, FIGG, ERNST & MANBECK, P.C.
1425 K STREET, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
9934956 |
Appl. No.: |
10/510987 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 17, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB03/01673 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 ;
206/528; 206/538 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0463 20130101;
A61J 1/035 20130101; B65D 75/327 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 ;
206/538; 206/528 |
International
Class: |
B65D 083/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 17, 2002 |
GB |
0208730.2 |
Claims
1. A pack of medicinal tablets, the pack comprising a base all
which defines a plurality of locations for the tablets, wherein at
each such location there is a displaceable pocket which constitutes
a recess for a tablet, a cover piece of a rupturable material and a
tablet between the displaceable pocket and the cover piece, wherein
the pack is of a sufficiently rigid construction as to be resistant
to permanent deformation.
2. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the pockets are integral
with the base wall.
3. A pack according to claim 2 wherein the pockets contain naked
tablets.
4. A pack according to claim 2 wherein the tablets are provided in
a blister pack the tablets of which are located in the pockets.
5. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the base wall has openings
which correspond to the locations for the tablets and the recesses
are those of a blister pack located against the base wall, with its
blisters protruding through the openings, and functioning as the
displaceable pockets.
6. A pack according to claim 1 comprising 4 to 16 pockets.
7. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the base wall is formed from
a polymer.
8. A packet according to claim 1 wherein the pockets are
substantially domed shaped.
9. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the pockets are integral
with the base wall and the junction between a pocket and the base
wall is a hinge.
10. A pack according to claim 9 wherein the hinge is
pre-stressed.
11. A pack according to claim 9 wherein the pockets are stable both
in a starting position in which they accommodate a tablet and in an
inverted position in which they have expelled the tablet, through
the cover piece.
12. A medicinal tablet pack comprising: a base wall resistant to
permanent deformation; a plurality of pockets formed in the base
wall'a tablet in each pocket; and a cover piece of a rupturable
material over the pockets; wherein the pocket is displaceable so as
to expel a tablet from the pocket, through the cover piece.
13. A medicinal table pack comprising: a base portion, and a pocket
comprising an open end, and an opposite closed end, the pocket
retaining a medicinal tablet, the pocket being attached to the base
portion at an intersection between the base portion and the pocket
wall; characterized in that the pocket wall comprises a hinge at or
in the vicinity of the intersection between the pocket and the base
portion.
14. A pack assembly comprising two packs, each according to claim
1, joined together so as to have a stowed configuration in which
the tablets cannot be expelled and an opened configuration in which
the tablets can be expelled.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a pack containing medicinal
tablets. The invention relates in particular to packs that comprise
one or more pockets into which one or more tablets may be
packed.
[0002] It is known to pack tablets in blister packs made of a
plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polypropylene
(PP). Such packs are shaped to have a plurality of pockets into
which an individual tablet is contained. The pack is sealed by for
example a sheet of foil. When a consumer needs to take a tablet,
they simply push the pocket containing the tablet up towards the
sheet of foil, forcing the tablet through the foil thereby breaking
the seal and releasing the tablet. All other tablets remain in
respective pockets that remain sealed. In the terminology used in
the packaging art, blister packs of this type are known as primary
packaging.
[0003] In order to enable a consumer to push a tablet through the
sheet of foil, the blister pack is made of a highly flexible
material, such as PVC or PP. Due to the material properties, the
PVC or PP must be thin in order to allow sufficient flexibility and
to ensure that the pocket may be sufficiently deformed by a force
easily applied by a consumer. Because of the flexibility of the
pack, it is necessary to protect the pack from damage whilst at the
point of sale and before a consumer has purchased the pack. It is
known therefore to pack the blister pack in an outer pack. In the
terminology used in the packaging art, such outer packs are known
as secondary packaging. The secondary packaging is often in the
form of a cardboard box, for example.
[0004] A problem with existing packs of this type is that the
packaging is relatively expensive since both primary and secondary
packaging are required.
[0005] A further problem is that the blister units, and the second
packaging if retained, tend to become rather untidy looking in use.
Furthermore sometimes tablets pierce the foil sheet inadvertently,
for example when in a pocket or handbag.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention there is
provided a pack of medicinal tablets, the pack comprising a base
wall which defines a plurality of locations for the tablets,
wherein at each such location there is a displaceable pocket which
constitutes a recess for a tablet, a cover piece of a rupturable
material and a tablet between the displaceable pocket and the cover
piece, wherein the pack is of a sufficiently rigid construction as
to be resistant to permanent deformation.
[0007] By "medicinal" herein we mean to include vitamin products,
other health supplement products and veterinary products. However
the tablets are preferably pharmaceutical products (for human
health), most preferably analgesics, for example aspirin,
paracetamol and ibuprofen.
[0008] By "tablets" herein we mean to include all individualised
solid-form medicinal products, including lozenges.
[0009] Preferably the pockets are integral with the base wall. Each
pocket is preferably upstanding from the rest of the base wall. For
convenience the term "pocket" is used herein to denote any
displaceable region able to retain a tablet.
[0010] Preferably each pocket is displaceable from its upstanding
position on application of a force by a user, so as to expel a
tablet through the cover piece.
[0011] Suitably each pocket is hinged to the base wall.
[0012] Preferably the base wall is of a sufficiently rigid
construction as to be resistant to permanent deformation. It may
advantageously be elastic, such that it can be reversibly
flexed.
[0013] Alternatively or additionally the pack comprises a frame
around the base wall and the frame is of a sufficiently rigid
construction as to be resistant to permanent deformation.
[0014] According to a second aspect of the invention there is
provided a medicinal tablet pack comprising:
[0015] a base wall resistant to permanent deformation;
[0016] a plurality of pockets formed in the base wall;
[0017] a tablet in each pocket; and
[0018] a cover piece of a rupturable material over the pockets;
[0019] wherein the pocket is displaceable so as to expel a tablet
from the pocket, through the cover piece.
[0020] According to a third aspect of the invention there is
provided a medicinal tablet pack comprising:
[0021] a base portion, and
[0022] a pocket comprising an open end, and an opposite closed end,
the pocket retaining a medicinal tablet, the pocket being attached
to the base portion at an intersection between the base portion and
the pocket wall;
[0023] characterised in that the pocket wall comprises a hinge at
or in the vicinity of the intersection between the pocket and the
base portion.
[0024] The definitions which follow may apply to any aspect of the
present invention unless the context demands otherwise.
[0025] In one embodiment having pockets integral with the base wall
or base portion naked tablets are located in the pockets, and are
retained therein by the cover piece.
[0026] In another embodiment having pockets integral with the base
wall the tablets are provided in a blister pack (e.g. of standard
type, typically weak and flexible), with the tablets in the blister
pack in register with the pockets. The blister pack is located with
its tablets within the pockets and a retention means--of which very
many are possible--is provided to hold the blister pack in place.
In effect the blister pack serves as a convenient way of locating
the tablets in place, in the pockets.
[0027] In another embodiment the base wall has openings which
correspond to the locations for the tablets, and the recesses are
those of a blister pack (e.g. of standard type; typically weak and
flexible) located against the base wall, with its blisters
protruding through the openings, and functioning as the
displaceable pockets. A retention means--of which very many are
possible--is provided to hold the blister pack against the base
wall. In effect the base wall supports the blister pack, preventing
it from distorting. The blister pack may be permanently secured in
place--the pack being disposable--or may be intended to be replaced
by a new blister pack, once it is empty.
[0028] Preferably, the pack comprises more than one pocket.
Preferably it comprises 4 to 16 pockets, preferably 6 to 12.
[0029] Conveniently, the or each pocket is adapted to hold one
tablet only. Alternatively the pocket may hold more than one
tablet. This may be useful if the usual dose taken at one time is
more than one tablet. For example, if the usual dose of a
particular tablet is three at one time, then a pocket may hold
three tablets.
[0030] The pack according to the invention obviates the need for a
secondary packaging such is in the form of a carton. The pack
therefore may also serve as a brand carrier.
[0031] The pack may also serve as an information carrier and as
such is able to impart important medicinal information to the
consumer. The information may relate to dosage, contra-indications
and safety for example.
[0032] The information may be applied directly to the pack by, for
example, screen printing, or labelling, or may be applied to a
leaflet affixed to or carried by the pack.
[0033] Preferably, the pack further comprises a cover piece,
serving as a sealing portion, preferably in the form of a sheet
extending over the open end of the pocket to close the open
end.
[0034] The cover piece may suitably be a readily frangible
material; suitably a readily frangible material which has little
resistance to tearing, once it has been pierced. Preferably it is
of thin metallic foil material.
[0035] A pocket may be closed over by an individual cover piece but
preferably all the pockets of the pack are closed over by a single
cover piece, such that its breach by a tablet at one pocket does
not compromise its closure over other pockets, still containing
tablets.
[0036] Preferably the base wall, and the pocket when integral
therewith, is formed from a polymer, preferably a thermoplastic,
for example polypropylene (PP).
[0037] The tablet may be released from the pack by applying a force
to the protruding end of the pocket. This causes the pocket to
deform, pushing the protruding end towards the cover piece. This in
turn causes the tablet to be pushed through the cover piece, and
hence to be released from the pack.
[0038] The pack as a whole, and the pocket in particular, must be
sufficiently rigid to protect the tablet whilst the pack is in
transit between the manufacturer and the wholesaler, and also
between the wholesaler and the retailer. In addition it must be
strong enough to prevent accidental expulsion of the tablet, for
example while being carried around by a consumer.
[0039] On the other hand the pocket must be sufficiently deformable
to enable a consumer to easily push the pocket to displace it, to
force the tablet within the pocket through the cover piece,
allowing release of the tablet.
[0040] The hinge (when present) forms a "weak" bridge between the
base wall and the pocket. This reduces the level of force that is
required to displace the pocket.
[0041] A hinge may be formed from a web of wall material which is
thinner in cross-section than the parts it connects together,
namely the material of the base wall and the material of the
pocket. Preferably the web extends substantially around the
circumference of the pocket. Alternatively, the hinge may be formed
by a web which runs only partially around the circumference of the
pocket. Alternatively the hinge may be formed from a plurality of
thinner webs which are positioned at spaced apart intervals around
the circumference of the pocket.
[0042] A hinge may be formed from a region of the wall having a
variable thickness over a predetermined portion of the wall.
[0043] Preferably a hinge is integrally formed with the wall.
Alternatively it is separately formed.
[0044] Advantageously, the or each pocket is substantially dome
shaped. When a consumer wants to take a tablet, the consumer
applies pressure to the pocket displacing it towards the sealing
portion. This movement causes the tablet to be forced through the
sealing portion, releasing the tablet.
[0045] When a pocket is domed shaped and a hinge is provided, when
a force is applied to the dome the hinge allows relative movement
of the pocket and the base wall, and the result of applying a force
to the dome is that the dome inverts under the force applied, thus
causing the dome to move towards the cover piece. As the pressure
is applied, the deformation of the dome will reach a point where
the dome inverts or "flips" so that it becomes convex rather than
concave.
[0046] Preferably, the pack is designed such that inversion of the
pocket causes it to "over centre" about the hinge. The pocket will
therefore remain in the inverted position after the tablet has been
forced out of the pocket. This can be particularly useful in
providing a consumer with a visual indication that the tablet
within a particular pocket has already been released.
[0047] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there
is provided a method of manufacturing a pack of one of the
preceding aspects.
[0048] Advantageously, the pack is formed from injection moulding.
This allows accurate shaping of the pack to be achieved. In
addition it allows the thickness of the wall to be varied as
required.
[0049] It had previously been thought that it would not be possible
to use injection moulded PP to make a pack for containing
tablets.
[0050] Advantageously, the pack is moulded so that the pockets are
formed in their inverted position. The pockets are then forced into
their non-inverted or as-sold state after moulding. This means that
the hinges are pre-stressed and thus a plastics "living" hinge is
formed. This in effect means that the PP molecules have arranged
themselves linearly during the stressing process and this further
reduces the force which is required to invert the pocket and force
the tablet from the pocket.
[0051] The pockets may be forced into their non-inverted state by
means of mechanical or hydraulic force for example, by a
pressurised air jet.
[0052] Preferably the pocket is stable in each of the positions
described herein. It will not change from the starting or
non-inverted position to the inverted position without application
of a sufficient force to displace the pocket; and vice-versa. Thus
the pockets may be regarded as bistable.
[0053] As noted above each pocket may comprise further wall
portions that are thinner in cross-section. These portions further
reduce the force required to invert the pocket, whilst still
allowing the pocket to be formed generally from a thicker layer of
plastics material which will provide sufficient protection for the
tablet.
[0054] Conveniently, the further areas of reduced wall thickness
comprise one or more concentric rings extending circumferentially
around the pocket, and being spaced apart axially from another.
[0055] The pack may be joined to another pack, to form a pack
assembly. In particular a pack assembly may comprise two packs of
any aspect of the present invention, but preferably identical,
joined together, preferably by a hinge, so as to have a stowed
configuration in which tablets cannot be expelled and an opened
configuration in which tablets can be expelled. Preferably the
cover pieces of the packs are in face-to-face relation when the
pack assembly is in its stowed configuration.
[0056] The invention is particularly useful for forming a pack that
serves as both the primary and the secondary packaging, thus
obviating the need for a secondary packaging. The pack then acts as
a brand and/or information carrier. However, the pack according to
the invention may also be used as a primary packaging which can be
placed inside a secondary packaging.
[0057] The invention will now be further described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0058] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a part-assembled
pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention in
which a pack of the invention retains a standard blister pack;
[0059] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the assembled pack
of FIG. 1 before any tablets have been removed from the pack;
[0060] FIG. 3 is a detailed representation of a pocket of the pack
of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the tablet sealed within the pocket;
[0061] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a pocket of FIG. 1
showing the tablet being pushed out of the pocket;
[0062] FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic representations of a pack
according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which
the pack contains naked tablets, not a blister pack;
[0063] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the pack of FIGS. 5
and 6 showing a user applying a force to the pack in order to push
a tablet out of a pocket;
[0064] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a third embodiment of pack of the
present invention;
[0065] FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the pack of FIG. 8, partially
open; and
[0066] FIG. 10 is a is a perspective view of the pack shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9, shown partially open.
[0067] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a pack according to the
present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral
10. The pack comprises a base wall 11 and a plurality of pockets
12. The pockets are located so that a standard blister pack 20 may
be laid with its tablet protrusions or blisters within the pockets.
The foil closure sheet of the blister pack is shown as 13. The base
wall 11 and pockets 12 are integrally formed from a polymer such as
polypropylene (PP). The pack may be formed by any appropriate means
but preferably is formed by injection moulding.
[0068] Each pocket 12 comprises a pocket wall 14 of a predetermined
thickness. The pocket intersects with the base wall 11 at a hinging
wall 15. The hinging point may be formed from an area of the pocket
wall which is thinner in cross-section than the remainder of the
pocket wall, and allows the pocket 12 to move relative to the base
wall 11.
[0069] Each pocket 12 is substantially dome-shaped, and when a
consumer wants to access a tablet 16 contained within the pocket
12, the consumer merely has to apply force to the pocket 12 causing
the pocket to hinge about the hinging point 15 thus causing the
dome to invert as shown in FIG. 4. This causes the tablet to be
pushed through the foil 13.
[0070] The pocket comprises a concentric ring 19 in which the
pocket wall is of reduced thickness. The ring 19 reduces the force
required to deform the dome.
[0071] The blister pack may be held firmly in place in the pack by
means of securement tabs (not shown) under which the periphery of
the blister pack may be secured at intervals, the blister pack
being flexed into place.
[0072] As the pocket 12 is urged in the tablet-expelling direction
by the force applied by a user, the pocket 12 flexes and "over
centres" at the hinging point 15. Thus the dome inverts and it
remains inverted. This allows the customer a visual means of
identifying how many tablets are left in the pack since it is clear
that any pockets which are inverted no longer contain a tablet.
[0073] With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a second embodiment of the
invention is shown. Parts of the pack which correspond to parts
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 have been allocated the same reference
numerals for the sake of clarity.
[0074] Referring to the figures, it can be seen that the pack 40 no
longer contains a blister pack 20. Rather it contains naked
tablets.
[0075] The hinging point 15 may be formed from an area of the wall
having a thinner cross-section or alternatively may be formed by an
area of the wall having a variable cross-section. The base wall 11
is thinner that that of the first embodiment, but still thicker
than the thickness of the pocket 14 and hinge 15. The pocket does
not have the concentric ring 19, but nevertheless also "over
centres". The foil 13 is configured as individual foil portions
secured over respective pockets, but could be a single sheet
adhered over all of the pockets of the pack.
[0076] Turning to FIG. 7, showing the pack of the second
embodiment, it can be seen that the operation of releasing a tablet
16 from a pocket 14 may be achieved with one hand of the consumer
while the other hand holds the pack in place.
[0077] The most obvious difference between the pack of the third
embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 and those of the first and second
embodiments is that, in fact, it is a pack assembly, having two
"packs" 60, 62 which are connected together by a hinge 64. Each
pack 60, 62 is of the type shown in FIGS. 1-4, in that it comprises
a pre-formed blister pack laid into an array of 6 recesses, the
pockets of which are clearly denoted by the integer 66, in any of
FIGS. 8 to 10. The foil sheet of one of the blister packs can be
seen as 68 in FIG. 10.
[0078] It will be apparent that the pockets 66 face outwardly when
the pack assembly is closed, and thus that the foils 68 are in
face-to-face relation when the pack assembly is closed.
[0079] It will be observed in FIG. 9 that on one of the packs the
middle row of pockets cannot be seen in side view. This is because
they have been displaced inwardly in order to expel their contents,
the medicinal tablets. It will also be observed that in FIG. 10 the
foil sheet is shown as being breached in the corresponding
locations 70, 72.
[0080] The two packs are brought together after use, in order to be
put in a pocket, handbag or medicine cupboard, for example, and in
the closed position a latching arrangement (not shown) operates to
prevent ready separation of the two packs. The latter mechanism may
be a simple mechanical interaction between the two parts, whereby
an opening force applied by an adult can open the pack assembly. A
small lip formation may be seen on each pack at 74, 76, to assist
opening.
[0081] The packs described are preferably for carrying and
dispensing analgesic tablets, for example NSAID analgesic tablets,
notably ibuprofen.
* * * * *