U.S. patent application number 10/595707 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-15 for child-resistant packaging system and method for making same.
Invention is credited to John A. Gelardi.
Application Number | 20070261984 10/595707 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34619365 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070261984 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gelardi; John A. |
November 15, 2007 |
Child-Resistant Packaging System and Method for Making Same
Abstract
A medication dosage unit packaging system includes a tray for
holding a blister containing a plurality of unit chambers. The
blister is divided into a general access zone containing at least
one general access unit chamber and a restricted access zone
containing at least one restricted access unit chamber. The general
access zone and the restricted access zone are separated by a
chamber-free zone. A retaining cap holds the blister package in the
tray. The retaining cap and the tray have therebetween a guide post
fitting into a guide slot in the chamber-free zone in the blister.
The guide post and the guide slot are positioned in the tray such
that when a blister package is held in the tray by the retaining
cap, the blister is slidable between a first position in which only
the general access zone of the blister is accessible, and a second
position which both the general access zone and the limited access
zone of the blister are accessible. A child-resistant hinging cap
is hingeably mounted into the tray, such that when the hinging cap
is in a closed position, it locks the blister package in its first
position, and when the hinging cap is in an opened position, it
allows the blister package to be slid into its second position.
Inventors: |
Gelardi; John A.;
(Kennebunkport, ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION;ALEXANDRA B. URBAN,ESQ.
299 PARK AVENUE, 13TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10171
US
|
Family ID: |
34619365 |
Appl. No.: |
10/595707 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 15, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US04/38131 |
371 Date: |
March 29, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60519601 |
Nov 13, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/327 20130101;
B65D 83/0463 20130101; B65D 2575/3218 20130101; B65D 2215/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Claims
1. A packaging system, comprising: a tray; a blister pack
comprising a general access zone including a plurality of general
access chambers, a restricted access zone including a plurality of
restricted access chambers, and a chamber-free zone including a
guide slot extending into said chamber-free zone, said general
access zone and said restricted access zone being separated by said
chamber-free zone; a blister retaining cap coupled to said tray for
slideably securing said blister pack within said tray; and, a
hinging cap hingeably mounted to said tray, said hinging cap
controlling access to said restricted access zone.
2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said tray comprises a
frame including end walls, sidewalls, and a mounting post attached
to said frame.
3. The packaging system of claim 2, wherein said tray further
includes at least one general access window corresponding in
position with said general access chambers, and at least one
restricted access window corresponding in position with said
restricted access chambers.
4. The packaging system of claim 3, wherein each one of said
plurality of general access chambers includes at least one general
access item, and each one of said plurality of restricted access
chambers includes at least one restricted access item.
5. The packaging system of claim 4, further comprising a central
guide post extending through said guide slot.
6. The packaging system of claim 5, wherein said blister retaining
cap further includes a base and walls that form a hood, said hood
covering the restricted access zone of said blister pack when said
blister pack is in a first position.
7. The packaging system of claim 6, wherein said tray further
includes at least one stirrup formed within one of side walls.
8. The packaging system of claim 7, wherein said hinging cap
includes a flap, at least one rib protruding from the interior
surface of said flap, and at least one button extending outwardly
from a corresponding strut affixed to said flap.
9. The packaging system of claim 8, wherein said button
correspondingly engages said stirrup so as to secure said hinging
cap closed.
10. The packaging system of claim 9, wherein said flap is hingeably
affixed to said tray so that when said child-resistant hinging cap
is in a closed position, said rib butts at least one of said
restricted access chambers, locking the blister pack in the first
position.
11. The packaging system of claim 10, wherein said hinging cap is
opened by inwardly deflecting said button so as to clear said
stirrup, permitting said rib to clear said restricted access
chambers and said blister pack to slide to a second position.
12. The packaging system of claim 11, wherein said blister
retaining cap further includes a semicircular well.
13. The packaging system of claim 1, further including an outer
sleeve configured to receive said tray, said blister pack, said
retaining cap, and said hinging cap.
14. The packaging system of claim 13, wherein said outer sleeve
includes a first open end and a second open end, such that when
said tray is extended from said first open end the child-resistant
hinging cap is accessible, and when said tray is extended from said
second end the general access zone is accessible.
15. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein said tray, said
retaining cap, and said child-resistant hinging cap comprise a
plastic material.
16. The packaging system of claim 4, wherein said access item
comprises any one of a first medication, a second medication, a
non-medication or any combination thereof.
17. A blister pack, comprising: a general access zone including a
plurality of general access chambers, each one of said general
access chambers including at least one general access item; a
restricted access zone including a plurality of restricted access
chambers, each one of said restricted access chambers including at
least one restricted access item; and, a chamber-free zone
including a guide slot, said general access zone and said
restricted access zone being separated by said chamber-free
zone.
18. The blister pack of claim 17, wherein said access items
comprise any one of a first medication, a second medication, a
non-medication or any combination thereof.
19. The blister pack of claim 18, further comprising a backing
material affixed to the open side of said access chambers for
securely enclosing said general access items within said general
access chambers and said restricted access items within said
restricted access chambers.
20. A method for packaging items, said method comprising: packaging
items in a blister pack, said blister pack including a general
access zone including a plurality of general access chambers, a
restricted access zone including a plurality of restricted access
chambers, and a chamber-free zone including a guide slot axially
extending into said chamber-free zone, said general access zone and
said restricted access zone being separated by said chamber-free
zone; loading said blister pack within a tray; affixing a retaining
cap to said tray for slideably holding said blister pack within
said tray; and, hingeably mounting a child-resistant cap to said
tray for controlling access to said restricted access zone.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of packaging includes
placing at least one general access item into a corresponding
general access chamber and placing at least one restricted access
item into a corresponding restricted access chamber.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of packaging further
includes affixing a backing material to an open side of said
chambers for securely enclosing said items.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of loading includes
inserting said blister pack within said tray, said tray including a
mounting post extending through the guide slot of said chamber-free
zone.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said step of affixing includes
mounting a blister retaining cap to said tray, said blister
retaining cap including a central guide post that is coupled to
said mounting post for allowing the blister pack to slide in a
first position for accessing the general access zone and in a
second position for accessing both the general access zone and the
restricted access zone.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said step of affixing further
includes positioning said retaining cap over the restricted access
zone of said blister pack for covering said restricted access zone
when the blister pack is in said first position.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step of hingeably mounting
includes hingeably attaching said hinging cap to said tray, placing
said hinging cap in a closed position so that a holding rib
positioned within said hinging cap butts against at least one of
said restricted access chambers thereby locking the blister pack in
said first position and preventing the blister pack from sliding in
said second position, and placing said hinging cap in an open
position so that said rib clears said restricted access chambers
allowing the blister pack to slide into the second position for
gaining access to the restricted access zone.
27. The method of claim 26, further including slideably inserting
said tray, said blister pack, said retaining cap and said hinging
cap within an outer sleeve, said outer sleeve including a first
open end and a second open end.
28. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of packaging includes
placing at least one general access item comprising a first
medication into a corresponding general access chamber and placing
at least one restricted access item comprising a second medication
into a corresponding restricted access chamber.
29. A method for packaging items, said method comprising: packaging
items into a blister pack, said blister pack including a general
access zone including a plurality of general access chambers, a
restricted access zone including a plurality of restricted access
chambers, and a chamber-free zone including a guide slot, said
general access zone and said restricted access zone being separated
by said chamber-free zone.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein said step of packaging includes
placing at least one general access item comprising any one of a
first medication, a second medication, a non-medication or any
combination thereof into a corresponding general access
chamber.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein said step of packaging further
includes placing at least one restricted access item comprising any
one of a first medication, a second medication, a non-medication or
any combination thereof into a corresponding restricted access
chamber.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said step of packaging further
includes affixing a backing material to an open side of said
chambers for securely enclosing said items in each of said
respective chambers.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to co-pending U.S.
provisional Application No. 60/519,601, filed on Nov. 13, 2003,
which is entirely incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to systems and
methods for dispensing and accessing packaged items. More
specifically, the present invention is directed to a multi-function
child-resistant packaging system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the pharmaceutical industry, many types of packaging have
been developed for unit doses such as pills, capsules, tablets,
chewables, and the like. One type of packaging is the conventional
blister pack. In a typical blister pack, a thermoforming technique
is used to fabricate a plastic shell containing individual chambers
for holding small consumable items such as pills. A backing is then
affixed to the back of the shell, thereby enclosing each pill in
its own chamber. Individual pills are released from the blister by
applying pressure to the pill through the plastic shell. The pill
chamber collapses as the pill is driven through the backing at the
base of the pill compartment. That portion of the backing ruptures,
and the pill is released from the blister through the resulting
opening.
[0004] For its combination drug therapy products, a pharmaceutical
company may wish to place more than one medication in a blister
pack. In certain situations, it may be desirable to package
together, in the same blister pack, a first medication that
requires a child-resistant container and a second medication that
does not require a child-resistant container. However, a survey of
the packaging arts does not reveal an apparatus that provides both
child-resistant access and free access to respective portions of
the same blister pack. Accordingly, there remains in the art a need
for a system and method for distributing combinations of
medications while restricting access to some medications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The problem identified above is addressed by the present
invention, aspects of which provide a unit dose packaging system
that includes a tray for holding a blister pack containing a
plurality of unit dose chambers. The blister pack is divided into a
general access zone containing at least one general access unit
dose chamber and a restricted access zone containing at least one
restricted access unit dose chamber. The general access zone and
the restricted access zone are separated by a chamber-free zone. A
retaining cap holds the blister pack in the tray. The retaining cap
and the tray include therebetween a guide post fitting into a guide
slot in the chamber-free zone in the blister. The guide post and
the guide slot are positioned in the tray such that when a blister
pack is held in the tray by the retaining cap, the blister pack is
slidable between a first position in which only the general access
zone of the blister is accessible, and a second position in which
both the general access zone and the restricted access zone of the
blister are accessible. A child-resistant hinging cap is hingeably
mounted to the tray, such that when the hinging cap is in a closed
position it locks the blister pack in a first position and when the
hinging cap is in an opened position it allows the blister pack to
slide to a second position.
[0006] As used herein, the terms unit dose and pill includes pills,
capsules, caplets, tablets, chewables, and similarly sized items
that may suitably be stored in a blister pack. The term "restricted
access" includes items that are secured in a child-resistant
manner, and the term general access includes items that are not
required to be secured in a child-resistant manner.
[0007] One embodiment of the present invention provides a system
for packaging restricted access and general access items together
in a single package. As described in greater detail herein, the
restricted access unit dose and the general access unit dose are
packaged together in a specially designed blister pack. The blister
pack is slideably mounted into a tray, such that the blister pack
is slidable between a first position, in which only the general
access pills are easily accessible, and a second position, in which
both the general access pills and the restricted access pills are
more easily accessible.
[0008] In another embodiment, a packaging system includes a
child-resistant hinging cap for locking the blister pack in a first
position. When the child-resistant hinging cap is opened, the
blister pack is unlocked and may be slid into a second position to
gain access to the restricted access items. After one or more of
the restricted access items has been removed from the blister pack,
the user may relock the blister pack by sliding the blister pack
back from the second position to the original first position, and
reclosing the child-resistant hinging cap.
[0009] In another embodiment, a packaging system comprises a tray,
a blister pack, a blister retaining cap, and a hinging cap. The
blister pack further comprises a general access zone including a
plurality of general access chambers, a restricted access zone
including a plurality of restricted access chambers, and a
chamber-free zone including a guide slot extending into the
chamber-free zone. The general access zone and restricted access
zone are separated by the chamber-free zone. The retaining cap is
coupled to the tray for slideably securing the blister pack within
the tray, while the hinging cap is hingeably mounted to the tray to
control access to the restricted access zone.
[0010] In an embodiment directed to a method for packaging items,
one method comprises the steps of packaging items in a blister
pack, loading the pack into a tray, affixing a retaining cap to the
tray, and hingeably mounting a cap to the tray for controlling
access to the restricted access zone. The step of packaging items
in a blister pack includes providing a pack with a general access
zone including a plurality of general access chambers, a restricted
access zone including a plurality of restricted access chambers,
and a chamber-free zone including a guide slot axially extending
into the chamber-free zone. The step of affixing a retaining cap
includes slideably holding the blister pack within the tray.
[0011] Thus, a package according to the present invention provides
easy access to the general access items while providing a
child-resistant system to limit access to restricted access items.
Easy access to the general access items is desirable for the
elderly, for people with impaired dexterity, or for the convenience
of users of medications that are not dangerous. In addition, the
pack frame provides leverage that may be useful in ejecting both
the restricted the general access items out of the blister
pack.
[0012] It is also contemplated that the present invention is not
limited to pharmaceutical-related goods, but is applicable to a
plethora of delicate, sensitive, or unique portable goods. Small
electronic components, jewelry, foods, expensive and precious
articles, and any other item that requires a safe, stable, and
portable environment in which to be shipped and stored may find an
application with the present invention. Other advantages of the
present invention will be apparent from the following description,
the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIGS. 1 and 2 show exploded perspective views, from above
and below, of an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIGS. 3-6 show a series of perspective views illustrating
the operation of the hinging cap of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0015] FIGS. 7-9 show a series of perspective views illustrating an
alternative embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] As required, embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are
not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or
minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to variously employ the present invention. For purposes of teaching
and not limitation, the illustrated embodiments are directed to
pharmaceutical packages.
[0017] Turning now to the figures, wherein like numerals represent
like elements throughout, FIGS. 1 and 2 show exploded perspective
views, from above and below, of an embodiment of a packaging system
10 according to the present invention. The packaging system 10
comprises three components: a blister pack 100, a tray 200 into
which the blister pack is slidably mounted, and a blister retaining
cap 300 that is used to mount the blister pack 100 into the tray
200. In the illustrated embodiment the blister pack 100 is
fabricated using a thermoforming technique, and the tray 200 and
blister retaining cap 300 are fabricated using an injection molding
technique. As understood by those skilled in the art, other
fabrication techniques may be used without departing from the scope
of the claims.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiments, the blister pack 100 is
mounted into the tray 200 by a manufacturer, distributor, or
pharmacist prior to tendering the package to the end user. Thus, a
customer is provided with an assembled pack, in which the blister
pack 100 has been mounted into the tray 200. It is contemplated
that this assembled pack will be disposable. In other embodiments
the packaging system 10 is modified so that the tray 200 and
blister retaining cap 300 are reusable because a used blister pack
100 may be replaced with a new one.
[0019] The blister pack 100 includes a plurality of chambers 102
and 104, and a backing 106. An item such as a pill (not shown)
contained in one of the chambers 102, 104 is released from the
chamber by applying a downward pressure onto the exterior housing
of the selected chamber, causing the chamber to collapse and the
item contained therein to be driven against the portion of the
backing 106 at the base of the chamber. That portion of the backing
106 ruptures and permits the pill to pass through the resulting
opening.
[0020] The blister chambers are divided into two groups. A first
group of general access chambers 102 contains general access unit
doses and a second group of restricted access chambers 104 contains
restricted access unit doses. For purposes of teaching and not
limitation, the illustrated embodiment includes a 6.times.2 matrix
of general access chambers 102, and a 1.times.2 matrix of
restricted access chambers 104. It will be understood that the
dimensions of these matrices may be freely modified without
departing from the scope of the claims. The region of the blister
pack 100 containing the general access chambers 102 is referred to
herein as the general access zone and the region of the blister
pack 100 containing the restricted access chambers 104 is referred
to herein as the restricted access zone.
[0021] As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the blister pack 100
further includes a region 108 between the general access zone and
the restricted access zone in which there are no chambers. This
region 108 is referred to herein as a chamber-free zone. The
chamber-free zone 108 includes a slot 110. Here, the slot 110 is
positioned at least partially in both the restricted access zone
and the chamber-free zone 108 to define a path having a
predetermined length for sliding the blister pack 100 between a
first position and a second position.
[0022] The tray 200 includes a fame 202 with end walls 204 and 206
and side walls 208 and 210. The tray 200 includes a pair of general
access windows 212 and 214 corresponding in position to the general
access chambers 102 of the assembled package. The tray 200 further
includes a pair of restricted access windows 216 and 218. As
described below, when the blister pack 100 is slid into a second
position, the restricted access chambers 104 are aligned with the
restricted access windows 216 and 218. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the blister pack 100 is oriented in the tray 200 so that the
blister backing 106 is positioned between the pill chambers 102 and
104 and the access windows 212, 214, 216 and 218. An item is
released from a chamber by exerting pressure on the exterior
housing of the chamber in the direction of the access windows
corresponding to that chamber, which causes the item to be driven
through the blister backing 106 and the corresponding access window
212, 214, 216 and 218. It will be seen from FIG. 2 that the tray
frame 202 provides structural support that facilitates the driving
of unit doses through the blister backing 106. This aspect of this
embodiment may be helpful for users with impaired dexterity. As
discussed below, the restricted access chambers 104 are aligned
with the restricted access windows 216 and 218 when the blister
pack 100 is slid into a second position.
[0023] The blister pack 100 is held in the tray 200 by the blister
retaining cap 300. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the blister retaining
cap 300 includes a base 302 and three walls 304, 306, and 308 that
together form a hood. This hood forms part of a compartment that
houses the restricted access chambers 104 when the blister pack 100
is in a first position. The blister retaining cap 300 further
includes a central guide post 310. In the illustrated embodiments,
this central guide post 310 is hollow and fits over a corresponding
mounting post 220 on the tray 200. The central guide post 310 may
be permanently attached to the mounting post 220 using an adhesive
or other suitable technique. If desired, the central guide post 310
may be releasably mounted to the mounting post 220. This latter
arrangement would allow the tray 200 and blister retaining cap 300
to be reused with replacement blister packs.
[0024] The central guide post 310 is mounted to the mounting post
220 with the central guide post 310 extending through the blister
guide slot 110. When mounted together, the upper edges of the
blister retaining cap walls 304, 306, and 308 hold the chamber-free
portion 108 of the blister 100 against the inner surface of the
tray 200.
[0025] After the blister pack 100 is mounted into the tray 200, the
blister pack 100 is slidable in a longitudinal direction. The
longitudinal movement of the blister pack 100 within the tray 200
may be determined by the cooperation of the central guide post 310
and the guide slot 110. When the blister pack 100 is in a first
position, the central guide post 310 butts up against a first end
of the guide slot 110. When the blister 100 is in a second
position, the guide post 310 butts up against a second distal end
of the guide slot 110. Lateral movement of the blister pack 100
within the tray 200 may be determined by the side walls 208 and
210.
[0026] FIGS. 3-6 are a series of perspective views of the packaging
system 10, illustrating the structure and operation of a
child-resistant hinging cap 250. In the illustrated embodiments,
the hinging cap 250 is formed as an integral part of the tray 200
during the fabrication process. However, it is possible to form the
child-resistant hinging cap 250 as a separate unit that is
subsequently mounted to the tray 200.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows the child-resistant hinging cap 250 in a closed
position, and FIG. 4 shows the child-resistant hinging cap 250 in
an open position, with the blister 100 in a first position. FIG. 5
shows the child-resistant hinging cap 250 in an open position, with
the blister pack 100 slid into a second position. FIG. 6 shows a
perspective view from below the packaging system 10 with the
child-resistant hinging cap 250 in an open position. As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4, the child-resistant hinging cap 250 includes a flap
252 that is attached to an end wall 204 of the tray 200 by a hinge
254. When the hinging cap 250 is in the closed position, it forms a
flat surface that is substantially continuous with the base 302 of
the blister retaining cap 300.
[0028] As best shown in FIG. 4, this child-resistant hinging cap
250 includes a pair of ribs 256 and 258 protruding from the
interior surface of the flap 252. The ribs 256, 258 are shaped such
that they butt up against the restricted access chambers 104 when
the hinging cap 250 is in a closed position. In this way, even just
one of the ribs 256, 258 locks the blister 100 into a first
position when the child-resistant hinging cap 250 is closed. When
the child-resistant hinging cap 250 is opened, the ribs 256, 258
are clear of the restricted access chambers 104, allowing the
blister 100 to be slid into a second position.
[0029] As further shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this child-resistant
hinging cap 250 includes a pair of buttons 260 and 262 that
protrude outwardly from a pair of resiliently deformable struts 264
and 266. The buttons 260 and 262 are dimensioned and positioned to
fit closely within a pair of stirrups 268 and 270 formed in the
side walls of the tray. When the child-resistant hinging cap 250 is
in a closed position the buttons 260 and 262 protrude outwardly
through the stirrups 268 and 270, engaging the edges thereof and
locking the hinging cap 250 in a closed position. As best shown in
FIG. 4, the child-resistant hinging cap 250 is opened by pressing
the buttons 260 and 262 inward in the direction of arrows 272 and
274 until they are sufficiently clear of the stirrups 268 and 270
to allow the hinging cap 250 to swing open in the direction of
arrow 276.
[0030] It is contemplated that a user of the package will use a
thumb and finger of a first hand to press the two buttons 260 and
262 inward, and use the second hand to swing the hinging cap 250
open. In order to facilitate the gripping of the child-resistant
hinging cap 250 by the second hand, a semicircular well 312 is
provided in the base 302 of the blister retaining cap 300. The
hinging cap 250 includes an ear 278 corresponding in position to
the semicircular well 312 of the blister retaining cap 300. The
hinging cap 250 may be reclosed by swinging it downward so that the
buttons 260 and 262 once again engage the stirrups 268 and 270. The
buttons 260, 262 have a rounded surface allowing the buttons 260,
262 to slide into position without having to use a thumb and finger
to inwardly deflect the buttons 260 and 262.
[0031] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the blister pack 100 is
slid along the direction of arrow 280 into a second position. In
the second position, the restricted access chambers 104 have been
slid out from under the protective retaining cap 300 and are now
visible and accessible. Further, when the blister pack 100 is in
the second position, the restricted access chambers 104 are aligned
with restricted access windows 216 and 218, best shown in FIG. 6.
The unit dose in the restricted access chambers 104 may now be
released from the blister pack 100 by applying pressure to the
restricted access chambers 104 in the direction of arrow 282. As
discussed above, applying pressure in this manner causes the
restricted access chambers 104 to collapse, driving the unit dose
contained therein through the backing 106 and out through the
windows 216 and 218.
[0032] It will be appreciated that the child-resistant hinging cap
250 is child resistant, because it requires the use of both hands
and a developed hand-eye coordination to open the hinging cap 250,
which children below certain ages generally lack. Even if a child
manages to open the hinging cap 250, he or she may find it
difficult to slide the blister pack 100 into the second position so
as to align the restricted access chambers with the restricted
access windows 216 and 218 and then successfully drive a unit dose
from its blister 104.
[0033] FIGS. 7-9 show a series of diagrams illustrating a further
aspect of the invention in which the packaging system 10 is encased
in an outer sleeve 400. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer sleeve 400
includes a first open end 402 and a second open end 404 and is
shaped to fit closely around the entire packaging system 10. The
packaging system 10 may slide out of either end of the outer sleeve
400.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 7, when the packaging system 10 is slid out
of the first open end 402, the child-resistant hinging cap 250 is
exposed without having to completely remove the packaging system 10
from the outer sleeve 400. As shown in FIG. 8, the hinging cap 250
may be opened to provide access to the restricted access chamber
104 of the blister 100. As shown in FIG. 9, when the packaging
system 10 is slid out of the second open end 404, the general
access chambers 102 of the blister 100 are accessible without
having to completely remove the packaging system 10 from the outer
sleeve 400.
[0035] With regard to one method of packaging items according to
the invention, in one step items are packed into a blister pack.
The blister pack includes a general access zone containing at least
one general access chamber and a restricted access zone containing
at least one restricted access chamber, the general access zone and
the restricted access zone being separated by a chamber-free zone.
In another step, the blister pack is loaded into a tray. In another
step, a blister retaining cap is used to hold the blister pack in
the tray. The blister retaining cap and the tray include
therebetween a central guide post that fits into a guide slot in
the chamber-free zone in the blister pack. The central guide post
and guide slot are positioned in the tray such that when the
blister pack is held in the tray by the blister retaining cap, the
blister pack is slidable between a first position, in which only
the general access zone of the blister pack is accessible, and a
second position in which both the general access zone and the
restricted access zone of the blister pack are accessible. The
blister pack is held in the first position by a child-resistant
hinging cap that is hingeably mounted to the tray, such that when
the hinging cap is in a closed position it locks the blister pack
in a first position and when the hinging cap is in an opened
position it allows the blister pack to be slide into a second
position.
[0036] While the foregoing description includes details which will
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it
should be recognized that the description is illustrative in nature
and that many modifications and variations thereof will be apparent
to those skilled in the art having the benefit of these teachings.
It is accordingly intended that the invention herein be defined
solely by the claims appended hereto and that the claims be
interpreted as broadly as permitted by the prior art.
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