U.S. patent application number 11/677653 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for child resistant card.
This patent application is currently assigned to Alcan International Ltd.. Invention is credited to John Andrew Prud'Homme.
Application Number | 20080202972 11/677653 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39709195 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080202972 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prud'Homme; John Andrew |
August 28, 2008 |
CHILD RESISTANT CARD
Abstract
A child resistant card for dispensing one or more pills, e.g.,
capsules and/or tablets, including a closure part and a
push-through part attached by a fold region, in which the closure
part includes a blister hole and a perforated front push-through
tab, and the push-through part includes a perforated pill
push-through tab and a perforated back push-through tab is
provided. Upon folding at the fold region, the perforated front
push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back push-through
tab. The child resistant card further includes a blister pack
including a blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing
portion, wherein the outlet of the blister is covered by the
penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill
is located inside the closed blister, wherein the blister pack is
located between the folded closure part and push-through part such
that the blister protrudes through the blister hole. The child
resistant card also includes a separate pick and place part
including a removable tab that is located between the blister pack
and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents removal
of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the
perforated pill push-through tab, wherein the pill can be dispensed
from the child resistant card by removing the removable tab and
applying force to the blister such that the pill is concomitantly
pushed through the closure part and the penetrable backing portion
pill push-through tab.
Inventors: |
Prud'Homme; John Andrew;
(Pincourt, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD.
TEN SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 3000
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Alcan International Ltd.
Montreal
CA
|
Family ID: |
39709195 |
Appl. No.: |
11/677653 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0463
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Claims
1. A child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising: a
closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region,
wherein the closure part includes a blister hole and a perforated
front push-through tab, and wherein the push-through part includes
a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back
push-through tab, wherein upon folding at the fold region, the
blister hole is aligned over the perforated pill push-through tab
and the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the
perforated back push-through tab; a blister pack including a
blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing portion, wherein
the outlet of the blister is covered by the penetrable backing
portion to create a closed blister and the pill is located inside
the closed blister, wherein the blister pack is located between the
folded closure part and push-through part such that the blister
protrudes through the blister hole; and a separate pick and place
part including a removable tab that is located between the blister
pack and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents
removal of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the
perforated pill push-through tab, wherein the pill can be dispensed
from the child resistant card by removing the removable tab and
applying force to the blister such that the pill is concomitantly
pushed through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated
pill push-through tab.
2. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the removable tab
is accessible after at least partial removal of the perforated
front push-through tab and the perforated back push-through
tab.
3. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the perforated
front push-through tab and the perforated back push-through tab can
be at least partially removed by applying force to the perforated
front push-through tab.
4. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the removable tab
is removed by grasping and pulling the removable tab from the child
resistant card.
5. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the removable tab
is aligned between the perforated front push-through tab and the
perforated back push-through tab and aligned between the blister
hole and the perforated pill push-through tab.
6. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the removable tab
has a rounded end that is aligned between the perforated front
push-through tab and the perforated back push-through tab.
7. The child resistant card of claim 1, further comprising an outer
cover part attached to the push-through part by a folding rib.
8. The child resistant card of claim 1, further comprising an inner
cover part attached to the push-through part by a second fold
region.
9. The child resistant card of claim 1, further comprising an outer
cover part attached to the push-through part by a folding rib, and
an inner cover part attached to the outer cover part by a second
fold region.
10. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the closure part
includes two or more blister holes and two or more perforated front
push-through tabs, and wherein the push-through part includes two
or more perforated pill push-through tabs and two or more
perforated back push-through tabs.
11. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the blister pack
includes two or more blisters.
12. The child resistant card of claim 1 for dispensing two or more
pills.
13. A child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising: a
closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region,
wherein the closure part includes a blister hole, a perforated
front push-through tab, and a structural rib hole, and wherein the
push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a
perforated back push-through tab, wherein upon folding at the fold
region, the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the
perforated back push-through tab; a blister pack including a
blister having an outlet, a penetrable backing portion, and a
structural rib, wherein the outlet of the blister is covered by the
penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill
is located inside the closed blister; and a separate pick and place
part including a removable tab that is located between the blister
pack and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents
removal of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the
perforated pill push-through tab, wherein the blister pack is
located between the closure part and the pick and place part such
that the blister protrudes through the blister hole and wherein the
pill can be dispensed from the child resistant card by removing the
removable tab and applying force to the blister such that the pill
is concomitantly pushed through the penetrable backing portion and
the perforated pill push-through tab.
14. The child resistant card of claim 13, wherein the structural
rib is flat.
15. The child resistant card of claim 13, wherein the blister pack
is located such that the structural rib is aligned with the
structural rib hole.
16. The child resistant card of claim 13, wherein the blister pack
is located such that the structural rib is protrudes through the
structural rib hole.
17. The child resistant card of claim 13, wherein the closure part
has at least two structural rib holes.
18. The child resistant card of claim 13, wherein the closure part
has four structural rib holes.
19. A child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising: a
closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region,
wherein the closure part includes a blister hole and a perforated
front push-through tab, and wherein the push-through part includes
a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back
push-through tab, wherein upon folding at the fold region, the
perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the perforated
back push-through tab; a blister pack including a blister having an
outlet and a penetrable backing portion, wherein the outlet of the
blister is covered by the penetrable backing portion to create a
closed blister and the pill is located inside the closed blister,
wherein the blister pack is located between the folded closure part
and push-through part such that the blister protrudes through the
blister hole; a separate pick and place part including a removable
tab that is located between the blister pack and push-through part
such that the removable tab prevents removal of the pill through
the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through
tab, wherein the pill can be dispensed from the child resistant
card by removing the removable tab and applying force to the
blister such that the pill is concomitantly pushed through the
penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through
tab; and an inner cover part having a slot.
20. The child resistant card of claim 19, wherein patient
information or usage instructions are inserted into the slot.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a card for
dispensing pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets, that requires the
user to perform a series of steps to access a pill within the card,
thus preventing a child, but not an adult, access to pills present
within the card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Child resistant packaging for pills, such as tablets and
capsules, is well known for preventing uncontrolled consumption of
pills by children. For example, blister packs having push-through
type packaging have been used in an attempt to prevent children
from accessing pills within the blister pack. Often, however, such
blister packs are difficult for adults, particularly elderly
adults, to open. For example, some blister packs require the user
to tear at a notch or to peel a layer from the back of the blister
pack, which often requires a great deal of finger strength and
dexterity. Other blister packs, such as those in U.S. Pat. No.
6,675,972, require the user to place a separate tool in a narrow
slot in order to access a pill, which can be difficult for those
with poor eyesight and/or low finger dexterity.
[0003] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide child
resistant packaging that renders access to pills difficult for
children yet facile for adults. Particular objects and advantages
will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who
are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in
view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed
description of certain embodiments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention advantageously provides a child
resistant card for dispensing pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets,
that renders access to the pills difficult for a child but not for
an adult, e.g., a senior citizen. The child resistant card of the
invention enables the user to access a pill, e.g., a tablet and/or
a capsule, disposed within the card after performing a series of
steps.
[0005] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are
directed to a child resistant card for dispensing one or more
pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets, including a closure part and
a push-through part attached by a fold region, in which the closure
part includes a blister hole and a perforated front push-through
tab, and the push-through part includes a perforated pill
push-through tab and a perforated back push-through tab. Upon
folding at the fold region, the blister hole is aligned over the
perforated pill push-through tab and the perforated front
push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back push-through
tab. The child resistant card further includes a blister pack
including a blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing
portion, in which the outlet of the blister is covered by the
penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill
is located inside the closed blister, and the blister pack is
located between the folded closure part and push-through part such
that the blister protrudes through the blister hole. The child
resistant card also includes a separate pick and place part
including a removable tab that is located between the blister pack
and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents removal
of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the
perforated pill push-through tab, in which the pill can be
dispensed from the child resistant card by removing the removable
tab and applying force to the blister such that the pill is
concomitantly pushed through the penetrable backing portion and the
perforated pill push-through tab.
[0006] In certain aspects of the invention, the removable tab is
accessible after at least partial removal of the perforated front
push-through tab and the perforated back push-through tab. In other
aspects of the invention, the perforated front push-through tab and
the perforated back push-through tab can be at least partially
removed by applying force to the perforated front push-through tab.
In still other aspects of the invention, the removable tab is
removed by grasping and pulling the removable tab from the child
resistant card. In yet other aspects of the invention, the
removable tab is aligned between the perforated front push-through
tab and the perforated back push-through tab and aligned between
the blister aperture and the perforated pill push-through tab. In
other aspects of the invention, the removable tab has a rounded end
that is aligned between the perforated front push-through tab and
the perforated back push-through tab.
[0007] In certain aspects of the present invention, the child
resistant card further includes an outer cover part attached to the
push-through part by a folding rib and/or an inner cover part
attached to the push-through part by a second fold region.
[0008] In certain aspects of the present invention, the child
resistant card further includes two or more blister holes, two or
more perforated front push-through tabs, two or more perforated
pill push-through tabs, two or more perforated back push-through
tabs, and/or two or more blisters. In other aspects of the present
invention, the child resistant card is suitable for dispensing two
or more pills.
[0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention, a child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising
including a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold
region, in which the closure part includes a blister hole, a
perforated front push-through tab, and a structural rib hole, and
the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab
and a perforated back push-through tab is provided. Upon folding at
the fold region, the blister hole is aligned over the perforated
pill push-through tab and the perforated front push-through tab is
aligned over the perforated back push-through tab.
[0010] In certain aspects of the present invention, the structural
rib is flat. In other aspects of the present invention, the blister
pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through
part such that the structural rib is aligned with the structural
rib hole. In other aspects of the present invention, the blister
pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through
part such that the structural rib is protrudes through the
structural rib hole. In still other aspects of the present
invention, the closure part has two or more (e.g., four) structural
rib holes.
[0011] In accordance with a further embodiment of the present
invention, a child resistant card for dispensing a pill includes an
inner cover part attached to the push-through part by a fold
region, the inner cover part having a slot. In certain aspects of
the invention, patient information or usage instructions are
inserted into the slot.
[0012] The child resistant card according to the invention may be
manufactured using any suitable rigid, semi-rigid or flexible
packaging materials known in the art. Suitable card materials
include paper materials such as cardboard and/or one or more of the
other materials described herein. A child resistant card according
to the invention can include a blister pack having a penetrable
backing portion and a blister portion.
[0013] In certain aspects of the invention, the backing portion of
a blister pack is made of a foil-like substance which includes, but
is not limited to, metal foils such as aluminium foils; foils
containing one or more plastics, e.g., plastics based on
polyolefins such as polyethylenes or polypropylenes, polyamides,
polyvinylchloride, polyesters such as polyalkylene-terephthalates,
e.g., polyethylene-terephthalate; and paper materials such as
parchment, wax paper, cardboard and the like. A foil-containing
plastic may be a monofilm of plastic, a laminate of two or more
plastic films, a laminate of metal foil and plastic film, a
laminates of paper and plastic film or a laminate of paper, metal
foil and plastic film. The individual layers of foil-shaped
materials may be attached to each other by means of adhesives,
laminating adhesives, bonding agents and/or by a process such as
extrusion coating, co-extruding, laminating and the like. Plastic
films include those that are non-oriented, mono-axially oriented or
bi-axially oriented mono-films or laminates of two or more
non-oriented or mono-axially oriented or bi-axially oriented films
of plastic based on polyolefins, e.g., polyethylenes,
polypropylenes, polyamides, polyvinylchloride, or polyesters such
as polyalkylene-terephthalates, e.g., polyethylene-terephthalate,
cyclo-olefin-copolymers (COC) and polychlorotrifluoroethylenes
(PCTFE).
[0014] The blister portion of a blister pack may be made of a
variety of materials including, but not limited to, transparent
plastics having good shape-forming characteristics. Such plastics
include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene,
cyclo-olefin-copolymer, polyvinylchloride,
polyethylene-terephthalate, polyamide, polychlorotrifluoroethylene
and laminates manufactured out of one or more of the materials
described herein, e.g., PVC and polychlorotrifluoroethylene or PVC
and PVDC (polyvinyldichloride). For non-transparent blister packs
use is made e.g., of laminates including aluminium foil clad on
both sides with a plastic film, having e.g., a layer structure of
polyamide/aluminium/PVC or plastic films containing pigments. The
backing portion is normally an aluminium foil, which is lacquer
coated and/or coated with a hot sealing lacquer.
[0015] All papers, semi-cardboards and cardboards and plastic films
mentioned above, in the form of mono-films, laminates and the like,
may contain at least one continuous layer of sputtered or vacuum
deposited anorganic ceramic materials, for example Al.sub.2O.sub.3
or SiO.sub.x, in which x has a value of 1.5 to 2, in a thickness of
for example 5 to 500 nanometers. One or more layers of ceramic
materials may be used to provide barrier properties and avoid the
diffusion of gases and moisture through the packaging.
[0016] These and additional features and advantages disclosed here
will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure
of certain embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
present invention will be more fully understood from the following
detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a child resistant card
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts a plan view showing the inner portion of a
child resistant card according to an embodiment of the invention
that is visible to the user upon opening.
[0020] FIGS. 3A-3C depict plan views of the blister pack portion of
a child resistant card according to an embodiment of the invention.
(A) is a lateral side view, (B) is a top view, (C) is a
longitudinal side view.
[0021] FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the removable pick and place
portion of a child resistant card according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIGS. 5A-5C detail how the user gains access to tablets or
capsules enclosed within a child resistant card according to an
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Depicted in FIG. 1 is one version of a child resistant card
of the present invention. This version of a child resistant card
includes five paper (e.g., cardboard) parts: closure part 1,
push-through part 2, outer cover part 3, inner cover part 4, and
pick and place part 5. Closure part 1 is connected to push-through
part 2 via fold a. Push-through part 2 is connected to outer cover
part 3 via folding rib 20. Outer cover part 3 is connected to inner
cover part 4 via fold b. Pick and place part 5 is a separate part
that is not connected to parts 1, 2, 3 or 4.
[0024] To assemble the child resistant card depicted in FIG. 1,
pick and place part 5 is located on top of push-through part 2 such
that rounded end 30 of each removable tab 26 is aligned over each
back push-through tab 18. Closure part 1 is then folded on top of
pick and place part 5 by folding closure part 1 in direction A via
folding region a such that each blister hole 12 is aligned over
each pill push-through tab 16 and each front push-through tab 10 is
aligned over each back push-through tab 18. Part 5 is thereby
located between closure part 1 and push-though part 2. Inner cover
part 4 is then folded on top of outer cover part 3 in direction B
via folding region b.
[0025] FIG. 2 depicts a child resistant card of an embodiment of
the present invention after pick and place part 5 is located on top
of push-through part 2 closure part 1 is folded over onto pick and
place part 5 in direction A and inner cover part 4 is folded over
onto outer cover part 3 in direction B. The child resistant card
may then be folded along folding rib 20 such that closure part 1 is
facing inner cover part 4.
[0026] In an embodiment of the invention, closure part 1 includes a
series of perforated, removable, front push-through tabs 10, a
series of blister holes 12, and a series of structural rib holes
14. Blister holes 12 and structural rib holes 14 are designed to
receive each of a series of blisters and/or each of a series of
structural ribs, respectively, contained on a blister pack for use
with the child resistant card of the present invention.
Push-through part 2 contains a series of perforated, removable,
pill push-through tabs 16 and a series of perforated, removable,
back push-through tabs 18. The pill push-through tabs 16 create
resistance to the push-through of pills and require application of
a force to allow a pill to push through a push-through tab 16.
Inner cover part 4 contains an optional slot 22, into which an
insert (e.g., patient information and/or usage instructions) may be
inserted. Pick and place part 5 contains a series of removable tabs
26 that, when the card is located between closure part 1 and
push-through part 2, prevent removal of pills (e.g., tablets or
capsules) from the child resistant card.
[0027] FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of a blister pack, blister
pack 6, having a base part 34 and one or more blisters 36 having an
outlet and shaped to accommodate a pill (e.g., a tablet or a
capsule). A penetrable backing, e.g., a foil-like seal, is
adhesively connected to the underside of base part 34 to close the
outlet of blister 36 such that blister 36 can have a pill enclosed
within. Blister pack 6 is located between pick and place part 5 and
closure part 1 such that a blister 36 protrudes through a
corresponding blister hole 12. When blister pack 6 is located in
this manner, a pill within blister 36 cannot be pushed through push
through tab 16 because removable tab 26 is present between the
backing portion of blister pack 6 and push through tab 16. After
removal of removable tab 26, a pill may be removed by applying
force to blister 36 such that the pill is concomitantly pushed
through the penetrable backing portion and perforated pill
push-through tab 16. Both the penetrable backing portion and the
pill push-through tab provide resistance to the push through of a
pill. A force must be applied to overcome this resistance to push
through a pill.
[0028] A blister pack may optionally contain one or more structural
ribs 32. When the blister pack is located within the assembled
child resistant card of the invention, the one or more structural
ribs 32 are aligned with one or more structural rib holes 14. The
one or more structural ribs may be essentially flat, or
alternatively may protrude through the one or more structural rib
holes 14 of the assembled child resistant card of the invention.
The one or more structural ribs 32 can function to increase the
stiffness of the assembled child resistant card to increase these
ease with which a perforated front push-through tab 10 and a
perforated back push-through tab 18 may be at least partially
removed from the card, to increase the ease with which removable
tab 26 can be removed from the card, and/or to increase the ease
with which a pill can concomitantly be pressed through the
penetrable backing portion of the blister pack and perforated pill
push-through tab 16. The structural rib may be constructed of any
material suitable for adding strength to the card, such as one or
more of the plastic, foil and/or paper materials described
herein.
[0029] In certain embodiments of the invention, blister pack 6 may
optionally be attached to closure part 1 and/or pick and place part
5 using one or more adhesive compositions or methods known in the
art. In other embodiments of the invention, closure part 1 may be
attached to push-through part 2 and/or pick and place part 5 using
one or more adhesive compositions or methods known in the art. In
still other embodiments of the invention, outer cover part 3 may be
attached to inner cover part 4 using one or more adhesive
compositions or methods known in the art. As used herein, the term
adhesive is intended to include, but is not limited to, chemical
adhesives, e.g., glues, gums, resins, drying adhesives, contact
adhesives, hot adhesives, reactive adhesives, pressure sensitive
adhesives and the like, as well as mechanical adhesives, e.g.,
staples, tape, straps, fasteners, folds and the like.
[0030] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of removable pick and place
part 5 depicting a series of removable tabs 26. Each removable tab
26 is attached to pick and place part 5 via attachment regions 28.
The rounded end 30 of each removable tab 26 traverses rectangular
cut-out region 24. Cut-out region 24 is a void and, other than
where rounded end 30 of each tab 26 traverses this region, is
devoid of paper product. When rounded end 30 is grasped by a user
and pulled, attachment regions 28 are released and removable tab 26
may be removed from pick and place part 5.
[0031] FIG. 5 details how a user gains access to a pill sealed
within a child resistant card of the present invention using a
series of steps. In step A, a user grasps the child resistant card
of the present invention, places a finger on back push-through tab
18 and applies force (e.g., pressure) by pushing back push-through
tab 18 to break at least some of the perforations holding
push-through tab 18 in place, such that push-through tab 18 is
partially or completely released from push-through part 2. As shown
in step B, while pushing, the user's finger also bends rounded end
30 of tab 26 away from push-through part 2 and breaks at least some
of the perforations holding push-through tab 10 in place such that
push-through tab 10 is partially or completely released from
closure part 1, and such that rounded end 30 of removable tab 26 is
exposed. Rounded end 30 of removable tab 26 is grasped by the user
and pulled, such that removable tab 26 is removed from the child
resistant card leaving an opening in pick and place part 5 located
between a corresponding blister hole 12, the penetrable backing of
the blister pack, and a corresponding pill push-through tab 16. The
user can now remove a pill located in blister 36 by pushing the top
of the blister with a finger as shown in step C such that the pill
is concomitantly pushed through two layers: the penetrable backing
of the blister pack underneath blister 36 and the corresponding
perforated pill push-through tab 16 of push-through part 2.
[0032] Blister pack 6 may include a series of structural ribs 32.
The structural ribs provide strength to the child resistant card
which prevents tearing of the card and allows proper removal of
pills from the card. In certain embodiments, each structural rib 32
is raised such as depicted in FIG. 3C. In other embodiments, each
structural rib 32 is flat. In embodiments in which structural rib
32 is raised, each structural rib 32 protrudes through each
corresponding structural rib hole 14 when blister pack 6 is located
between pick and place part 5 and closure part 1. In embodiments in
which each structural rib 32 is flat, each structural rib hole 14
is located over each corresponding structural rib 32 such that each
structural rib 32 can be viewed through each corresponding
structural rib hole 14.
[0033] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the present
invention which have been described are merely illustrative of some
of the applications of the principles of the present invention.
Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art
based upon the teachings presented herein without departing from
the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *