U.S. patent application number 11/175546 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for child resistant blister pack container for stacked blister packs with non-coincidental notching.
Invention is credited to Stuart W. DeJonge.
Application Number | 20060157375 11/175546 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46322234 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060157375 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeJonge; Stuart W. |
July 20, 2006 |
Child resistant blister pack container for stacked blister packs
with non-coincidental notching
Abstract
A child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs includes a container with a bottom member, a top member, and
a child resistant push and lift mechanism. The bottom and top
members, once filled and assembled, cannot be separated. They work
together with a locking mechanism to assure that a stack of blister
packs are secured, and that, upon use of a peel away feature of a
blister pack from the stack, the sealed medication of that pack is
automatically opened (exposed) for use. A breakaway mechanism
involving non-coincidental notches permits removal of the top and
bottom members seperately and not as a closed pack. These important
features prevent or discourage a user from removing multiple
packages that might otherwise be unprotected (no longer child
resistant) until used.
Inventors: |
DeJonge; Stuart W.; (Lake
Ariel, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kenneth P. Glynn
24 Mine Street
Flemington
NJ
08822
US
|
Family ID: |
46322234 |
Appl. No.: |
11/175546 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11039627 |
Jan 20, 2005 |
|
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11175546 |
Jul 6, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/535 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2215/02 20130101;
B65D 2215/04 20130101; B65D 83/0463 20130101; B65D 83/08
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/535 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Claims
1. A child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs, which comprises: (a.) a container bottom member having a
bottom section, sidewalls, and a back section, and having a locking
area located toward said back section, said locking area including
at least a component of locking means for locking a stack of
blister packs to said bottom member; (b.) a container top member
attached to said bottom member, said top member having a top
section, sidewalls, and a back section, said top member adapted to
connect with said bottom member, said top member having a fixed top
section toward said back section, and having a lid top section
hingedly connected to said fixed top section, said lid top section
having an open upwardly hinged position and a closed position,
wherein, when in said closed position, said lid top section closes
onto said bottom member sidewalls; (c.) a container child resistant
push and lift mechanism, having a spring-based push tab and a tab
lock, wherein said tab has a locked position in its rest position
and has an unlocked position in its pushed position, one of said
push tab and said tab lock being attached to said bottom member and
the other being attached to said top member, such that when said
top member is in its closed position, said push tab is locked by
said tab lock and said lid top section cannot be opened until said
push tab is in its pushed position; and, (d.) a plurality of
blister packs in a stack and locked into said container, each
blister pack of said plurality of blister packs having a bottom
member and a top member with a blister enclosing a medication, said
blister pack having a locking end and a sealed medication end
containing said blister, said blister pack having a peelable
separation capability between said top member and said bottom
member to permit exposure of said medication, and having a
breakaway mechanism between said locking end and said sealed
medication end, said break away mechanism being a pair of
non-coincidental notches, one being on said top member and one
being on said bottom member, said locking end including locking
means for locking said blister pack to a container, wherein when
said top member is peeled and then said breakaway mechanism top
member notch is torn, said blister is opened to expose medication
and to dispose of said top member; wherein when said lid top
section is closed, a user must push said push tab, lift said lid
top section and tear open said top member notch breakaway mechanism
of a sealed medication blister pack to procure medication from said
container.
2. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said bottom member has a locking means
component that includes at least one post extending upwardly from
said bottom member, and a clamping mechanism is also provided as a
part of said container such that a stack of blister packs having
corresponding perforations may be stacked on said at least one post
and clamped in place.
3. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 2 wherein said clamp is connected to an underside of
said fixed top section.
4. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said bottom member and said top member
have rectangular top view shapes.
5. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said child resistant push and lift
mechanism is located on said sidewalls.
6. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 5 wherein there are two opposing child resistant
push and lift mechanisms on said sidewalls.
7. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said bottom member and said top member
include interlocking means for permanent connection of said bottom
member and said top member to one another.
8. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said locking area includes a raised shelf
to accommodate thickness differential between medication-free
locking ends and sealed medication ends of a stack of blister
packs.
9. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said push and lift mechanism push tab is
integrally formed on one of said bottom member and said top member,
and said tab lock is integrally formed on the other of said bottom
member and said top member.
10. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 9 wherein there are two opposing child resistant
push and lift mechanisms.
11. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said blister pack breakaway mechanism top
member notch and said breakaway bottom member notch are on opposite
sides of their members from each other.
12. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said blister pack breakaway mechanism top
member notch and said breakaway bottom member notch are on the same
sides of their members, said sides being selected from the group
consisting of left sides and right sides.
13. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 1 wherein said blister pack locking means is
selected from the group consisting of at least one orifice, a key,
an increased thickness area, and combinations thereof.
14. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 13 wherein said container bottom member has a
locking means component that includes at least one post extending
upwardly from said bottom member, and a clamping mechanism is also
provided as a part of said container such that a stack of blister
packs having corresponding perforations may be stacked on said at
least one post and clamped in place.
15. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 13 wherein said container clamp is connected to an
underside of said fixed top section.
16. The child resistant blister pack container and stacked blister
packs of claim 13 wherein said bottom member and said top member
have rectangular top view shapes.
17. A blister pack, which comprises: a bottom member and a top
member with a blister enclosing a medication, said blister pack
having a locking end and a sealed medication end containing said
blister, said blister pack having a peelable separation capability
between said top member and said bottom member to permit exposure
of said medication, and having a breakaway mechanism between said
locking end and said sealed medication end, said break away
mechanism being a pair of non-coincidental notches, one being on
said top member and one being on said bottom member, said locking
end including locking means for locking said blister pack to a
container, wherein when said top member is peeled and then said
breakaway mechanism top member notch is torn, said blister is
opened to expose medication and to dispose of said top member.
18. The blister pack of claim 17 wherein said breakaway mechanism
top member notch and said breakaway bottom member notch are on
opposite sides of their members from each other.
19. The blister pack of claim 17 wherein said breakaway mechanism
top member notch and said breakaway bottom member notch are on the
same sides of their members, said sides being selected from the
group consisting of left sides and right sides.
20. The blister pack of claim 17 wherein said locking means is
selected from the group consisting of at least one orifice, a key,
an increased thickness area, and combinations thereof.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/039,627 filed on Jan. 20, 2005 entitled
"Child Resistant Pack Container for Stacked Blister Packs", by the
same inventor herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to child resistant blister
pack containers that hold stacked blister packs so that multiple
requirements for enhanced safety are provided. First, the present
invention containers require compound movement to be opened.
Second, the individual medication blister packs are clamped or
otherwise locked into the containers. Third, when a blister pack
content is removed, the blister pack must be torn or otherwise
opened to expose the medication.
[0004] 2. Information Disclosure Statement
[0005] The following patents relate to child resistant and other
medicine containers:
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 625,757 to Fred C. Groneman describes a blank
for making a medicine-box consisting of a four-sided central part
adapted to form the bottom of the box mating outward, extensions at
the parallel sides and adapted to form the vertical sides of a box
and narrow strips along the outer edge portions of said extensions
adapted to be turned inward their entire length to produce guards
from one end of the box to near the other end, extensions at the
ends of the central portion adapted to produce the ends of the box
and one of said end extensions provided with a curved line of
perforations to facilitate removing a section of one end to gain
access for removing medicine from the box, substantially as shown
and described for the purpose stated.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,826 to Steven Ginsberg et al. describes
a packaged supply of individual doses of a personal care product,
e.g., strips of a water-soluble film that contains a
pharmaceutically active material, comprises the combination of a) a
tray; b) a plurality of substantially identical packets uniformly
stacked in the tray, each packet having a pouch portion that holds
a single dose of the product and a lab portion releasably connected
to the pouch portion; c) retention means for holding the lab
portions of the stacked packets in the tray; and d) a cover that is
movably connected to the tray, the cover being movable between a
closed position in which the stack of packets is enclosed within
the tray and an open position in which the pouch portion of the
topmost packet on the stack is sufficiently exposed that its front
edge can be gripped, allowing the pouch portion to be pulled away
from the restrained tab portion to which it is connected, thereby
releasing that pouch portion from the tray.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,888,350 to William Horvath describes a snap
lock and squeeze open slide top container that has a small centered
catch depending from the inner face of the cover. The edge of the
catch forms with the closed end of the cover a slot which
accommodates the rear edge of the drawer portion of the container.
The profile of the catch is tapered, forming an inclined plane
directed to the front end of the container. The cover and drawer
are slideably engaged by lateral meshing flanges which are
interrupted near the closed end to provide slight clearances
between the inside of the cover and the outside of the drawer.
These clearances, together with an inverted V-shaped cut centered
in the rear skirt of the cover, permit the cover to bow up when the
sides are squeezed, releasing the edge of the drawer portion from
the slot formed by the catch to open the drawer. When the drawer is
closed, the edge portion rides forward along the inclined plane
depending from the cover, engaging the slot with a click, to lock
the container closed. To prevent spillage, the opening of the
drawer is limited by a pair of small stops depending from the inner
face of the cover near each sidewall, which ride in elongated
recesses in the lateral walls.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,630 to Otto Phillips describes a sliding
cover safety package including a container having a cover mounted
thereon for slidable movement between open and closed positions
with respect to the container. The container and cover are provided
with locking lugs having a locked position when the cover is closed
in which the cover is locked against movement from its closed
position with respect to the container, and an unlocked position
when the cover is closed in which the cover can slide with respect
to the container to its open position. The locking lugs are movable
between the locked and unlocked positions by axial movement of the
cover with respect to the container. Resilient biasing member is
engaged between the container and cover to bias the locking lugs to
the locked position such that the cover can slide from it closed
position with respect to the container only after axial movement of
the cover with respect to the container against the biasing
members.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,284,204 to Howard M. Carey, Jr. describes a
two-part package which includes a sleeve for receiving a tray. One
surface of the sleeve has openings formed therein for receiving
dimpled, detents formed in the tray. As the tray is fully
positioned in the sleeves, the detents engage the openings and
retain the tray thereby inhibiting unwanted opening of the package
and release of contents. Upon exertion of sufficient manual force
on the sides of the sleeve, detent action is overcome and the
package is opened as desired.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,238 to Jay A. Batchelor describes a
medicament package for improving compliance with a therapeutic
regimen. The therapeutic regimen involves a plurality of medication
administered to a patient in a prescribed sequence and in
accordance with specified intervals. The package includes a
multiplicity of blister cards of generally uniform planar
dimensions. The blister cards carrying the medicaments in
sequential order on the individual cards and from card to card. The
blister cards being placed in stacked array with the principal
dimensions thereof oriented generally horizontally and arranged in
order of use with the first to be used topmost. Also included is a
base which houses the stack of blister cards and is adapted to
support the stack vertically and provides lateral support to the
edges of the blister cards. The base permits direct and
unobstructed access to the uppermost blister card and limited
access only to the edges of the blister cards. A lid is adapted to
cover the base and movable to an open position allowing access to
the uppermost blister card. Each blister card generally contains
indicia denoting the order and sequence when the contents of a
particular blister cavity are to be consumed.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,187 to Stanley Poncetta et al. describes
a dispenser and method for dispensing materials from a blister pack
of one or more blister cards. A single blister card having a
plurality of blister thereon can be used with other blister cards
in a stack. To dispense materials from the aligned blisters of
stacked blister cards, a plunger is driven through a guide hole in
a top plate and into aligned blisters of a stack of blister cards.
In this way, a plurality of blisters can be quickly and cleanly
opened. Thus, a plurality of medical pills can be liberated from
the blisters and can easily gravitate to a collection region below
the stack of blister cards. Several embodiments of the mount for
blister card stack is disclosed.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,018 to John E. Harrold describes a child
resistant container for blister packs with a housing with an
opening, and slides located inside the housing which position and
retain several drawers inserted into the opening. A latching
mechanism is provided to engage and retain each of the drawers when
inserted into the housing. The latching mechanism has cooperating
male and female parts located on the drawer and the housing in
positions complimentary to each other. The part located on the
housing is functionally operable with a latching trigger slideably
connected to the housing. Resilient living springs are provided to
urge each of the drawers into latching engagement and, when a
drawer is pushed in against the spring, moves to partially
disengages the drawer. The latching trigger moves the latching
mechanism into a second position fully disengaging the drawer for
removal. The remainder of the drawers which have not been pushed in
remain retained in the safety container by the latching means.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,935 to Graham L. Lewis describes an
integrated medicanent package which comprises a prefabricated
medicament container having a plurality of initially open top
blisters, a closure cover affixed to one marginal edge thereof by
at least one living hinge, the closure cover having at least one
clasp on an open end of the closure cover opposite the living
hinge, the blisters arranged in rows and columns separated by
longitudinal and transverse shoulders, at least one of the
longitudinal and the transverse shoulders having perforations
therethrough wherein the prefabricated medicine container is
adapted to be separated along the perforations into a plurality of
units, and a sealing sheet with medicament information at a
location corresponding to the at least one said plurality of
blister such that the medicament information on the outside surface
of the sealing sheet corresponds with the medicament in the
blisters, the medicament information comprising the name of the
patient, the time of day, the day of week and the calendar date for
the patient to take the medicament in the blister, the sealing
sheet when removed from the location indicates to the patient that
the medicament has been taken.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,053 to John E. Harrold describes a child
resistant multiple dosage blister pack dispenser which includes a
main housing bottom component having walls and bottom panel for
supporting a blister pack, and a main top component. The bottom
panel has a plurality of orifices located so as to position a
blister pack thereabove, with individual dosages of the blister
pack located above the orifices. These orifices are of sufficient
size and shape to push individual dosages from the blister pack
therethrough. The main housing top component is permanently
connected to the bottom component and laterally moveable relative
to the bottom component. The top component has a first position,
being a rest position, and having a second position, being a
dispensing position. There is a biasing spring connected to at
least one of the bottom component and the top component, that
biases the top component relative to the bottom component so that
the top component is in its first position. There are a plurality
of push tabs located on the top component in an array corresponding
to the plurality of the orifices on the bottom component. These
plurality of push tabs are not located above the orifices or the
individual dosages when the top component is in its first position.
Further, the plurality of push tabs are located above the
individual dosages and the bottom component orifices for pushing
dosage from the blister pack therethrough when the top component is
in its second position.
[0016] Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is
neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention is a child resistant blister pack
container for stacked blister packs. The term "blister" as used
herein means a sealed bubble or pouch for maintaining sanitary
conditions of an enclosed medication, chemical or material.
Blisters include plastic, foil, paper, treated paper, and
combinations. Two examples are clear bubble top with foil bottom,
and plastic top and bottom pouch. Some are rigid bubbles and others
are flexible.
[0018] The present invention child resistant blister pack container
includes a bottom member, a top member, and a child resistant push
and lift mechanism. The bottom and top members work together to
assure that a stack of blister packs are secured and that, upon
removal of a blister package from the pack, the sealed medication
of that package is automatically opened (exposed) for use. This
important feature prevents or discourages a user from removing
multiple packages that might otherwise be unprotected (no longer
child resistant) until used.
[0019] The bottom member of the container has a bottom section,
sidewalls, and a back section, and has a locking area located
toward the back section. The locking area includes at least a
component of locking means for locking a stack of blister packs to
the bottom member. The locking means component may operate in
conjunction with a locking means component of the top member, a
separate (third) piece, or may have the entire locking mechanism
connected to it.
[0020] The top member of the container is attached to the bottom
member, the top member having a top section, sidewalls, and a back
section. The top member is adapted to connect with the bottom
member. The top member has a fixed top section toward the back
section, and has a lid top section hingedly connected to the fixed
top section. The lid top section has an open upwardly hinged
position and a closed position, wherein, when in the closed
position, the lid top section closes onto the bottom member
sidewalls.
[0021] The child resistant push and lift mechanism of the container
has a spring-based push tab and a tab lock, wherein the tab has a
locked position in its rest position and has an unlocked position
in its pushed position, one of the push tab and the tab lock being
attached to the bottom member and the other being attached to the
top member, such that when the top member is in its closed
position, the push tab is locked by the tab lock and the lid top
section cannot be opened until the push tab is in its pushed
position.
[0022] A plurality of stacked blister packs is inserted into the
container. The blister packs are of a type of blister pack having a
locking end and an opposing sealed medication end with a peel away
feature and with a breakaway mechanism therebetween so that a peel
away and breakaway action separates the sealed medication end from
the locking end and unseals the medication, and also separates the
top and bottom members of each blister pack as it is opened. This
is achieved by the use of non-coincidental notching of the top and
bottom members of the blister packs. By "non-coincidental notching"
is meant that the notch or notches of the top layer of the pack
does not lay atop or overlap with the any notch or notches on the
bottom layer of the pack. Because the layers are child resistant
and cannot be torn unless notched, and then only at the notch, a
user will only be able to tear away the top member first, thus
separating the top and bottom member of the pack and exposing the
medication for use. It is only after the top member is torn away
that the bottom member notch is visible to the user and accessible
for tearing and removal of the bottom of the pack to expose the
next pack in the stack for use.
[0023] The plurality of stacked blister packs are locked at the
locking end with the locking means of the bottom and/or top
component(s).
[0024] When the lid top section of the container is closed, a user
must push the push tab, lift said lid top section and breakaway a
sealed medication end of a blister pack to procure medication from
the container.
[0025] In some embodiments, the bottom member of the container has
a locking means component that includes at least one post extending
upwardly from the bottom member, and a clamping mechanism is also
provided as a part of the container. A stack of blister packs
having non-coincidental notched top and bottom members may be
stacked on the at least one post and clamped in place. In some
embodiments, the clamping mechanism is connected to an underside of
the fixed top section.
[0026] In some preferred embodiments, there may be two clamping
mechanisms, the same or diverse, that act as the blister pack
locking means. In yet other embodiments, the locking means may be
located contiguous to the breakaway mechanism of the blister.
[0027] In some embodiments, the bottom member and the top member of
the container may have rectangular top view shapes, although any
shape could be used, e.g. to conform to an oval blister pack, or
simply to have another shape, such as a hex or a circle.
[0028] The child resistant push and lift mechanism of the container
may be located on the sidewalls. There may be one or there may be
two, opposing, child resistant push and lift mechanisms on the
sidewalls.
[0029] The bottom member and the top member of the container may
include interlocking means for permanent connection of the bottom
member and the top member to one another.
[0030] The present invention is also directed to a blister pack for
use in the present invention container. This blister pack includes
a bottom member and a top member with a blister enclosing a
medication, the blister pack having a locking end and a sealed
medication end containing said blister, and having a breakaway
mechanism between the locking end and the sealed medication end
away from the blister (i.e., not going through the blister), the
breakaway mechanism being non-coincidental notches on the bottom
member and the bottom member so that initially only the top member
can be pulled and torn. The locking end includes locking means for
locking the blister pack to a container. When the sealed medication
end is separated from the locking end upon use of the breakaway
mechanism, that is, the pulling upon and tearing away of the
notched top member, the top member separates from the bottom member
and the blister is opened to expose medication. Subsequent pulling
and tearing of the bottom member removes it from the stack.
[0031] The blister pack locking means may be selected from the
group consisting of at least one orifice, a key, an increased
thickness area, and combinations thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The present invention should be more fully understood when
the specification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings
appended hereto wherein:
[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a present invention child
resistant blister pack for a present invention container for
stacked blister packs, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show side cut views
respectively of the bottom component and the top component of a
present invention child resistant blister pack container;
[0034] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a cut side view and a cut end view,
respectively, of the container of the present invention and blister
packs of the present invention as set forth in the previous
Figures;
[0035] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an uncut oblique closed view, and an
uncut oblique open view of the present invention container shown in
the previous Figures, to illustrate the child resistant push and
lift mechanism;
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a top view of an alternative present invention
blister pack;
[0037] FIG. 9 shows a top view of another embodiment of a present
invention blister pack and FIG. 10 shows a plurality of the FIG. 9
blister pack in a present invention child resistant container;
and,
[0038] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a top view of a present invention
blister pack, and a side cut view of a present invention child
resistant container holding a plurality of the FIG. 11 blister
packs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a present invention child
resistant blister pack for a present invention container for
stacked blister packs, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show side cut views
respectively of the bottom component and the top component of a
present invention child resistant blister pack container. In these
FIGS. 1 through 3, identical parts are numbered identically, and
all three Figures are discussed collectively.
[0040] The blister pack 1 has a sealed medication end 3 with
medication capsule 7 or other product enclosed and sealed in
blister 5 (in this case, a pouch). Locking end 9 is separate from
sealed medication end 3, as shown. Locking end 9 has a locking
means component, here, orifice 13, for attachment to a post. The
breakaway mechanism has two notches, namely, a top member notch 11
and a bottom member notch 15 (hidden because it is non-coincidental
with notch 11). End 3 has an unsealed flap to allow a user to grip
the top member of the pack. When blister pack 1 portion is attached
to a post via orifice 13 (and it may also be compressed and further
locked by a boss and ledge at the edge), and a user pulls on the
top member, the medication is exposed for use. Further pulling the
top member allows it to be torn away at the notch, and exposes the
bottom member to be likewise removable by being torn away at its
non-coincidental notch. Thus, subsequent pulling and tearing of
bottom member of the notch 15 enables the user to discard the
bottom layer and thereby present the next pack in the stack for
future use. Instead of notches of the same size and shape and on
opposite sides (left and right), the notches could be of diverse
shapes and sizes and both be only on the left or the right.
Examples of these are discussed below. Instead of capsule 7, there
could be any type of medication, pill, chemical, or other material.
One such alternative is a medicinal strip that itself may be sealed
or on a strip substrate.
[0041] In FIGS. 2 and 3, bottom member 10 and top member 30
cooperate to create a present invention child resistant blister
pack container. Bottom member 10 includes a bottom section 21, a
back section 25, a front section 23 and opposing sidewalls, such as
sidewall 27. Bottom section 21 has a locking area 29 toward back
section 25. The locking area 29 includes an elevated locking means
component, here, post 31 adapted to receive a stack of blister
packs like pack 1, by placing orifice 13 onto post 31 with multiple
packs, and then closing top member 30 over it. Also, the front
ledge 33 and the boss 37 cooperate to clamp the stack of blister
packs near or adjacent the notches to increase the effectiveness of
the device and the process.
[0042] In this example, there are two posts next to each other for
side by side blister pack stacking. Top member 30 has a top
section, a front section 43, a back section 49 and sidewalls. The
top section has a lid top section 41, a hinge 45 and a fixed tip
section 47 with boss 37. Wall 55 is connected to fixed top section
47, and wall 51 is connected to lid top section 47 and front
section 43, as shown. These lift up together at hinge 45 and cut
53. The walls 51 and 55 have corresponding opposing walls not
shown.
[0043] There are two post caps, such as cap 57, for fitting onto
the posts. These posts and caps preferably include one way catches,
ratchets or other known mechanisms that will prevent their
separation once they are connected. There are also attachment means
35 and 39 for interconnecting to prevent separation of container
bottom member 10 and container top member 30 once they are snapped
together.
[0044] FIGS. 4 and 5 show cut side and cut end views respectively
of the present invention container members shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
with stacks of blister packs such as that shown in FIG. 1.
Identical components from above are identically numbered and need
not be repeated here. Blister pack stack 100 has a plurality of
blister packs 1 (FIG. 1) attached to post 31, and a corresponding
stack 200 attached to a second post (not shown). The raised
platform locking area 29 accommodates the thickness differences
between the flat locking end 9 and the much thicker
medication-containing sealed end 3. Also, ledge 33 and boss 37
clamp the stacks, as indicated above.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, side-by-side stacks 100 and 200 are
contained within the child resistant container, although a single
stack could be accommodated by having a single post arrangement
with a narrower container or by having wider blister packs, e.g.
with two capsules, and with two post-aligned orifices. Of course,
two or more posts for a single stack could alternatively be
incorporated into alternative embodiments.
[0046] Also shown in FIG. 5 are two child resistant push and lift
mechanisms 20 and 40. These are pushed in at their bottoms to
release interlocking members to enable a user to lift up the lid
section 41 of the top member 30, otherwise the container cannot be
opened. Thus, a user squeezes the push and lift mechanism and lifts
the top to open the container and then pulls off a blister pack top
member at its notch to expose the medication (The arrangements of
the present invention components discourage premature removal of
blister packs). The lid section is subsequently closed and again
the contents are rendered child resistant, again requiring compound
motion to be reopened.
[0047] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an uncut oblique closed view, and an
uncut oblique open view of the present invention container shown in
the previous Figures, to illustrate the child resistant push and
lift mechanism. Components shown above are identically numbered and
need not be repeated here.
[0048] Bottom member side 69 and top member sides 71 and 75 were
removed in the cut Figures above, but are symmetrical and opposite
to their corresponding sides 27, 51 and 55 described above.
Likewise, cut 77 corresponds to and is opposite cut 53 of FIG.
3.
[0049] In these FIGS. 6 and 7, more detail is shown in the push and
lift mechanisms 20 and 40. Reference is specifically made to
mechanism 20. It has a one way ratchet lip 63 that locks onto
concomitant lip 65 on the top member 30 when closed. A user must
press on bottom tab 61 to separate the lips so that lid top section
41 may be swung up to open the container. When finished with
medication removal, close the container top lid section 41 to snap
and lock, as shown in closed position FIG. 6.
[0050] FIG. 8 shows a top view of an alternative present invention
blister pack. Thus, pack 80 has a sealed end 81 and a locking end
85, with top member notch 89 and bottom member 91. Here, the
notches are on the same side of their members and are of diverse
sizes and shapes. Rectangular cut out 87 would fit onto a vertical
tongue for locking. When a user pulls to remove the top member, the
medication 93 is exposed for consumption. Tearing at notch 89
permits removal of the top member. Subsequent tearing of notch 91
permits removal of the bottom member and presentation of the next
pack.
[0051] FIG. 9 shows a top view of another embodiment of a present
invention blister pack and FIG. 10 shows a plurality of the FIG. 9
blister packs in a present invention child resistant container. The
two FIGS. 9 and 10 are described together.
[0052] Blister pack 110 has a sealed end 101 and a locking end 107.
Instead of locking end 107 having orifice(s) for locking as
described above, there are increased thickness ends that act to
prevent removal, such as thick end 109. This pack 110 has a blister
103 with a top member notch 105 and a bottom member notch 111, to
work similarly to those described in conjunction with FIG. 1
above.
[0053] Container bottom member 120 has a bottom 121, a back 123,
sidewall 129 and pressure post 125. It also has a one way lock
component 127 to operate with lock component 141 of top member 130
to keep the top and bottom from being separated once loaded with
blister pack stack 210 and pushed together.
[0054] Top member 130 has a fixed top section 131 and a lid top
section 135. Fixed top section 131 has sidewalls and a back 139
with lock component 141 described above. Lid top section 135 has
sidewalls such as sidewall 137, a front (not shown) and is
connected to fixed top section 131 by hinge 133. Pressure post 143
extends downwardly inside fixed top section 131, as shown. Stack
210 is a plurality of blister packs 110, and, when compressed by
pressure post 125 and pressure post 143 acting together, along with
the corresponding thick ends 109, prevent removal of a blister
packs, resulting in the desired present invention tear and
medication exposure.
[0055] FIGS. 11 and 12 show a top view of a present invention
blister pack, and a side cut view of a present invention child
resistant container holding a plurality of the FIG. 11 blister
packs.
[0056] Blister pack 150 has a sealed end 151 and a locking end 153.
Instead of locking end 153 having orifice(s) or locking increased
thickness ends as described above, there are opposing half circle
cut outs 147 and 149 that act to prevent removal by encircling
outside posts such as post 167. Pack 150 has a blister 159 with a
semicircular top member notch 155 and a slot-type bottom member
notch 157. These work similarly to those described in conjunction
with FIG. 1 above.
[0057] Container bottom member 160 has a bottom 161, a back 163,
sidewall 165 and the locking half post 167. It also has a one way
lock component to operate with a lock component of top member 170,
as shown, to keep the top and bottom from being separated once
loaded with blister pack stack 160 and pushed together.
[0058] Top member 170 has a fixed top section 171 and a lid top
section 173. Fixed top section 171 has sidewalls and a back 177
with a lock component as described above. Lid top section 173 has
sidewalls, a front (not shown) and is connected to fixed top
section 171 by a hinge. Pressure post 175 extends downwardly in the
middle, inside fixed top section 173, as shown. Stack 160 is a
plurality of blister packs 150, and, when compressed by pressure
post 175 and wrapped around two outside half posts acting together
prevent removal of a blister pack, resulting in the desired tear
and medication exposure.
[0059] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For
example, the blister packs need not contain medication, but contain
other material that needs or is desirable to keep from children,
such as epoxy, rat poison or other material that could be packaged
in a plurality of blister packs. It is therefore understood that
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
* * * * *