U.S. patent application number 11/763217 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-18 for blister pack.
This patent application is currently assigned to WALGREEN CO.. Invention is credited to William A. Dolak.
Application Number | 20080308445 11/763217 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40131312 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080308445 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dolak; William A. |
December 18, 2008 |
Blister Pack
Abstract
A storage device for storing an ingestible substance includes a
composite card having one or more perforated seams defining a
plurality of individual cards connected together in a matrix. Each
individual card includes a first side edge, a second side edge
disposed transverse to the first side edge, a blister, and a first
backing material. The blister extends from a first face of the
individual card and is adapted to contain at least one dose of the
ingestible substance. The first backing material is at least partly
adhered to a second face of the individual card. The first backing
material defines a pull tab that extends along the entirety of the
first or second side edge.
Inventors: |
Dolak; William A.;
(Algonquin, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANCIS C. KOWALIK;WALGREEN CO. LAW DEPARTMENT
104 WILMOT ROAD, M.S. #1425
DEERFIELD
IL
60015
US
|
Assignee: |
WALGREEN CO.
Deerfield
IL
|
Family ID: |
40131312 |
Appl. No.: |
11/763217 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/471 ;
53/467 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/327 20130101;
B65B 11/50 20130101; B65D 2575/3236 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/471 ;
53/467 |
International
Class: |
B65D 73/00 20060101
B65D073/00; B65B 5/00 20060101 B65B005/00 |
Claims
1. A storage device for storing an ingestible substance,
comprising: a card having a first side edge and a second side edge,
the second side edge disposed transverse to the first side edge; a
blister extending from a first face of the card and adapted to
contain at least one dose of the ingestible substance; a first
backing material at least partly adhered to a second face of the
card, the second face of the card disposed opposite the first face
of the card, the first backing material comprising a pull tab that
extends along the entirety of one of the first and second side
edges.
2. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising a second
backing material adhered to the second face of the card, the second
backing material disposed between the first backing material and
the card.
3. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the second backing
material comprises a foil material covering the second surface of
the card and enclosing the blister.
4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the card comprises a
generally rectangular card.
5. The storage device of claim 4, wherein the pull tab comprises a
generally rectangular pull tab.
6. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the ingestible substance
comprises a medicinal substance.
7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the ingestible substance
comprises at least one pill.
8. A storage device for storing an ingestible substance,
comprising: a composite card comprising one or more perforated
seams defining a plurality of individual cards connected together
in a matrix, each individual card comprising: a first side edge; a
second side edge disposed transverse to the first side edge; a
blister extending from a first face of the individual card and
adapted to contain at least one dose of the ingestible substance;
and a first backing material at least partly adhered to a second
face of the individual card, the first backing material comprising
a pull tab that extends along the entirety of one of the first and
second side edges.
9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the one or more
perforated seams of the composite card comprises a first seam and
at least one second seam intersecting the first seam.
10. The storage device of claim 9, wherein each of the pull tabs of
the individual cards are disposed adjacent the first seam.
11. The storage device of claim 8, further comprising a second
backing material adhered to the second face of the individual cards
between the individual cards and the first backing material.
12. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the second backing
material comprises a foil material covering the second surface of
the individual cards and enclosing the blisters.
13. The storage device of claim 8, wherein each individual card
comprises a generally rectangular card.
14. The storage device of claim 13, wherein each pull tab comprises
a generally rectangular pull tab.
15. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the ingestible substance
comprises a medicinal substance.
16. The storage device of claim 8, wherein the ingestible substance
comprises at least one pill.
17. A storage device for storing an ingestible substance,
comprising: a composite card comprising one or more perforated
seams defining a plurality of individual cards connected together
in a matrix, each individual card comprising: a first side edge; a
second side edge disposed transverse to the first side edge; a
blister extending from a first face of the individual card and
adapted to contain at least one dose of the ingestible substance; a
foil backing layer adhered to a second face of the individual card
and enclosing the blister; and a paper backing layer partly adhered
to the foil backing layer, the paper backing layer comprising a
rectangular pull tab that extends along the entirety of one of the
first and second side edges.
18. A method of manufacturing a storage device for storing an
ingestible substance, the storage device comprising a composite
card, the composite card comprising a plurality of individual cards
connected by a first perforated seam and a second perforated seam
intersecting the first perforated seam, each individual card
comprising a first portion disposed adjacent the first perforated
seam and a second portion spaced from the first perforated seam,
the method comprising: delivering a dose of the ingestible
substance into each of a plurality of blisters, each blister
extending from a first surface of one of the plurality of
individual cards; and applying a first backing material to a second
surface of the plurality of individual cards, the first backing
material comprising: a first rectangular portion overlying the
first portion of each individual card and defining a pull tab for
each individual card, and two second rectangular portions disposed
on opposing sides of the first portion, the second portions
overlying and adhered to corresponding second portions of the
individual cards.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein applying the first backing
material comprises heat sealing the first backing material to the
second surface of the individual cards.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein heat sealing the first backing
material to the second surface of the cards comprises moving a
press plate into engagement with the second rectangular portion of
the first backing material, the press plate comprising a groove
accommodating the first rectangular portion of the first backing
material.
21. The method of claim 18, further comprising applying a second
backing material to the second surface of the plurality of
individual cards prior to applying the first backing material.
22. The method of claim 18, further comprising perforating the
first and second perforated seams subsequent to applying the first
backing material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is generally related to blister packs
and, more particularly, to blister packs having a peel off backing
material.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Pharmaceutical prescriptions and over-the-counter
medications are often stored in blister packs. Typical blister
packs include a plurality of individual dose cards attached
together in a matrix by perforated seams. Each individual dose card
includes a transparent plastic blister, which contains a single
dose of one or more medications.
[0003] FIG. 1 depicts one conventional blister pack 10 that
includes a plurality of individual blister cards 12. The individual
cards 12 are connected together by perforated seams 14 such that an
individual may remove one or more of the individual cards 12 from
the remainder of the blister pack 10, as depicted in FIG. 2, for
example.
[0004] As shown in FIG. 2, each individual card 12 of the
conventional blister pack 10 includes a front-side 12a, a back-side
12b, a blister 16, a foil backing material 18a, and a paper backing
material 18b. The blisters 16 include cylindrical containers
constructed of transparent plastic, for example, extending from the
front-sides 12a of the individual cards 12. The blisters 16 are
therefore adapted to contain tablets, pills, or any other delivery
device for medications or other ingestible substances.
[0005] Typically, the foil backing material 18a and the paper
backing material 18b constitute a bi-laminate material that is
heat-sealed to the back-sides 12b of the individual cards 12. For
example, the foil backing material 18a is heat-sealed directly to
the cards 12 and the paper backing material 18b is heat-sealed to
the foil backing material 18a. As depicted in FIG. 2, however, the
bi-laminate foil and paper backing materials 18a, 18b define pull
tabs 20, which are not adhered to the back-side 12b of the card 12.
Accordingly, an individual may grasp the pull tab 20 to peel the
paper backing material 18b from the portion of the foil backing
material 18a that is adhered to the card 12. Specifically, peeling
the paper backing material 18b separates the paper backing material
18b from the foil backing material 18a that is adhered to the card
12. Thereafter, the individual may push the blister 16 and force
the tablet, pill, or other delivery device through the foil backing
material 18a. Such a medicinal storage device is often referred to
as a peel-and-push blister card or package.
[0006] As illustrated, the pull tabs 20 of the conventional
peel-and-push blister card 10 are disposed at the corners of the
individual cards 12. Accordingly, the amount of area that each pull
tab 20 provides for an individual to grasp is limited by the size
and geometry of the individual cards 12. Moreover, when the pull
tabs 20 are pulled by a user, the paper backing material 18a often
tears such that a portion remains attached to the individual cards
12, thereby covering the blisters 16 and preventing easy access to
the pill, tablet, or other delivery device.
SUMMARY
[0007] One embodiment of the present invention includes a storage
device for storing an ingestible substance. The storage device
generally includes a composite card having one or more perforated
seams defining a plurality of individual cards connected together
in a matrix. Each individual card includes a first side edge, a
second side edge disposed transverse to the first side edge, a
blister, and a first backing material. The blister extends from a
first face of the individual card and is adapted to contain at
least one dose of the ingestible substance. The first backing
material is at least partly adhered to a second face of the
individual card. The first backing material defines a pull tab that
extends along the entirety of the first or second side edge.
[0008] In another embodiment, the one or more perforated seams of
the composite card includes a first seam and at least one second
seam intersecting the first seam. So configured, each of the pull
tabs of the individual cards are disposed adjacent the first
seam.
[0009] In another embodiment, the storage device may further
include a second backing material adhered to the second face of the
individual cards between the individual cards and the first backing
material.
[0010] In one embodiment, the second backing material may include a
foil material that covers the second surface of the individual
cards and encloses the blisters.
[0011] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a
method of manufacturing a storage device for storing an ingestible
substance. The storage device may include a composite card defining
a plurality of individual cards connected by a first perforated
seam and a second perforated seam intersecting the first perforated
seam. Each individual card may include a first rectangular portion
disposed adjacent the first perforated seam and a second
rectangular portion spaced from the first perforated seam.
[0012] The method generally includes delivering a dose of the
ingestible substance into each of a plurality of blisters extending
from a first surface of the individual cards. Additionally, a
backing material is applied to a second surface of the plurality of
individual cards to seal the blisters. The backing material
includes a first rectangular portion and two second rectangular
portions. The first rectangular portion overlies the first portion
of each individual card and defines a pull tab for removing the
backing material from each individual card. The second rectangular
portions are disposed on opposing sides of the first portion and
are adhered to the second portions of the individual cards.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional blister
pack;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual blister card
of the conventional blister pack of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a blister pack constructed
in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an individual blister card
of the blister pack of FIG. 3; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a partial schematic representation of a machine
for at least partially manufacturing the blister pack of FIG.
3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts one peel-and-push blister pack 100
constructed in accordance with the principles of the present
invention. The blister pack 100 includes a composite blister card
102 having a plurality of perforated seams 104. The perforated
seams 104 define a plurality of individual blister cards 106. The
disclosed embodiment of the composite card 102 is generally
rectangular and includes a longitudinal perforated seam 104a and
four (4) transverse perforated seams 104b intersecting the
longitudinal seam 104a. Thus, the disclosed embodiment of the
composite card 102 includes ten (10) individual cards 106.
Alternative embodiments of the composite card 102, however, may
include generally any number of individual cards 106 arranged in
generally any matrix.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 4, each individual card 106 includes
a front-side 106a, a back-side 106b, a blister 108, and a backing
material 113. The blisters 108 include containers with open ends
108a and closed ends 108b. In the disclosed embodiment, the
blisters 108 include generally cylindrical containers; however, in
alternative embodiments, the blister 108 may have generally any
shape. The open ends 108a of the blisters 108 are disposed adjacent
to and substantially flush with the back-sides 106b of the
individual cards 106. The closed ends 108b are spaced from the
front-sides 106a of the individual cards 106. The blisters 108 are
therefore adapted to contain tablets, pills, or any other delivery
device (not shown) for medications or other ingestible substances,
for example. In one embodiment, the blisters 108 and the individual
cards 106 may be integrally constructed as one piece of transparent
plastic material. In another embodiment, the individual cards 106
may be constructed of paper, cardboard, or generally any other
material and the blisters 108 may include flanges (not shown), for
example, disposed adjacent to and fixed to the individual cards
106.
[0020] The backing material 113 includes a bi-laminate material
including a foil backing layer 110 and a paper backing layer 112
that are uniformly adhered together. In the disclosed embodiment,
the backing material 113 includes a first portion 113a and a second
portion 113b. The second portion 113b of the backing material 113
and, more particularly, the foil backing layer 110 of the second
portion 113b, is directly and uniformly adhered to the back-side
106b of the individual card 106. For example, in one embodiment,
the foil backing layer 110 of the second portion 113b is
heat-sealed to the back-side 106b of the individual card 106.
Accordingly, the paper backing layer 112 of the second portion 113b
of the backing material 113 is also adhered to the back-side 106b
of the individual card 106 via the adhesion to the foil backing
layer 110. As depicted, the first portion 113a of the backing
material 113, which includes portions of both the foil and paper
backing layers 110, 112, is not adhered to the card 106. Rather,
the first portion 113a of the backing material 113 defines a pull
tab 114. The pull tab 114 is freely separable from the individual
card 106.
[0021] So configured, an individual may grasp the pull tab 114 to
peel the backing material 113 from the individual card 106, thereby
gaining access to the medication(s) stored in the blister 108.
Specifically, in one embodiment, pulling the pull tab 114 separates
the paper backing layer 112 of the second portion 113b of the
backing material 113 from the foil backing layer 110 of the second
portion 113b of the backing material 113. Thus, the paper backing
layer 112 is completely removed from the card 106, while the foil
backing layer 110 located the second portion 113b of the backing
material 113 remains adhered to the card 106. The individual may
then push the blister 108 and force the tablet, pill, or other
delivery device through the remaining foil backing layer 110. In
one alternative embodiment, pulling the pull tab 114 removes both
the paper and foil backing materials 112, 110 from the card 106,
thereby eliminating the need to force the tablet, pill, or other
delivery device through the foil backing layer 110 by pushing the
blister 108.
[0022] For descriptive purposes and with continued reference to
FIG. 4, each individual card 106 includes first and second end
edges 116a, 116b and a first and second side edges 118a, 118b. The
side edges 118a, 118b are disposed transverse to the end edges
116a, 116b, thereby defining generally rectangular individual cards
106. Additionally, the first and second portions 113a, 113b of the
backing material 113 are rectangular and extend completely between
the first and second side edges 118a, 118b, as depicted. Moreover,
the first portion 113a of the backing material 113 on each
individual card 106, which also defines the pull tab 114, extends
from the first end edge 116a toward the second end edge 116b and
terminates at a boundary, which is identified by reference numeral
120 in FIG. 3. The second portion 113b of the backing material 113
on each individual card 106 extends from the boundary 120 to the
second end edge 116b. Accordingly, in the disclosed embodiment, the
second portion 113b of the backing material 113 is larger than the
first portion 113a and covers the open end 108a of the blister
108.
[0023] As mentioned, the first portion 113a of the backing material
113 also defines the pull tab 114 for grasping and peeling the
backing material 113 from the individual cards 106. The pull tabs
114 are therefore, also rectangular, which advantageously provides
more surface area for an individual to grasp than the conventional
pull tabs 20 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A
better grasp on the pull tab 114 enables the individual to remove
the backing material 113 more easily.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and mentioned above, each of the
individual blister cards 106 are detachable from the composite
blister card 102. In one embodiment, the individual cards 106
contain a single dose of a medicine, for example. Accordingly, the
composite card 102 contains a plurality of doses. The perforated
seams 104a, 104b enable an individual to tear each individual card
106 from the composite card 102 to carry a single dose away or to
discard an empty individual card 106, for example.
[0025] The process of manufacturing the blister card 100 of the
present invention typically begins with the composite card 102
without the backing material 113 and including empty blisters 108.
FIG. 5 schematically, and generally, depicts one embodiment of a
machine 200 for applying the backing material 113. The machine 200
generally includes a press 202 and a tray 204. The press 202
includes an actuator 206 coupled to move a press plate 208 via a
piston 210. The actuator 206 may be a mechanical actuator, an
electromechanical actuator, a manual actuator, or any other device
capable of moving the press plate 208. The press plate 208 includes
a generally flat rectangular plate including a pressing surface 214
for engaging the backing material 113, as will be described.
Additionally, the press plate 208 defines a groove, or elongated
recess, 216. In the disclosed embodiment, the groove 216 extends
completely through the press plate 208 from a first end 208a to a
second end 208b. In one embodiment, the press plate 208 may also
include a heating element (not shown) for heating the press plate
208 during a heat sealing operation. The tray 204 includes a
generally flat plate defining a plurality of recesses 212. The tray
204 therefore supports the composite card 102 with the blisters 108
received in the recesses 212, such that back-sides 106b of the
individual cards 106 (shown in FIG. 4) face upward and toward the
press plate 208.
[0026] With the composite card 102 positioned in the tray 204, a
piece of the backing material 113 is moved into place on top of the
card 102 with the foil backing layer 110 engaging the composite
card 102. Then, the actuator 206 moves the press plate 208 such
that the pressing surface 214 engages the backing material 113.
Specifically, the pressing surface 214 only engages the second
portions 113b of the backing material 113 on individual cards 106.
The groove 216 in the press plate 208 receives the first portions
113a of the backing material 113 on the individual cards 106.
Accordingly, the press plate 208 simultaneously compresses, heats,
and uniformly adheres the second portions 113b of the backing
material 113 to the composite card 102.
[0027] With the backing material 113 applied to the composite card
102, the perforated seams 104a, 104b are introduced to the
composite card 102. Specifically, in one embodiment, the composite
card 102 is moved into a cutting press (not shown) having a
plurality of blades or other cutting tools arranged in the proper
orientation for forming the perforated seams 104. The cutting press
moves into engagement with the composite card 102 to form the
perforated seams 104. In another embodiment, the composite card 102
may be moved into engagement with one or more cutting wheels for
forming the perforated seams 104, or the perforated seams 104 may
be formed by any other known process.
[0028] While the pull tabs 114 of the embodiment of the individual
cards 106 described above include both the foil backing layer 110
and the paper backing layer 112, alternative embodiments may
include pull tabs 114 constructed of only the paper backing layer
112. For example, in one alternative embodiment, the backing
material 113 of the blister card 100 may only include the paper
backing layer 112. So constructed, the blister card 100 would only
require the paper backing layer 112 to be peeled from the
individual cards 106 to access the tablets, pills, or other
delivery device stored in the blisters 108.
[0029] In another alternative embodiment, the backing material 113
may include both foil and paper backing layers 110, 112, but the
foil and paper backing layers 110, 112 are not adhered together in
the region of the first portion 113a of the backing material 113,
which constitutes the pull tab 114. Rather, only the foil and paper
backing layers 110, 112 located in the second portion 113b of the
backing material 113 are adhered together. So configured, the
entire foil backing layer 110 is uniformly adhered to the back-side
106b of the individual card 106 such that the pull tab 114 is only
defined by a portion of the paper backing layer 112. Therefore, an
individual may grasp the pull tab 114 in a manner similar to that
described above to peel the backing material 113 from the card 106.
Specifically, as the individual pulls the pull tab 114, the paper
backing layer 112 of the second portion 113b may separate from the
foil backing layer 110 of the second portion 113b, thereby
requiring the individual to push the tablet, pill, or other
delivery device through the remaining foil backing layer 110.
Alternatively, pulling the pull tab 114 may remove the entire
second portion 113b of the backing material 113 from the card 106
including both the foil and paper backing layers 110, 112.
[0030] One process for constructing this alternative blister card
100, would first require the foil backing layer 110 to be
completely and uniformly adhered to the back-sides 106b of the
individual cards 106 of the composite card. For example, after
filling each blister 108 with the desired number of tablets, the
composite card 102 may be transferred to a first pressing machine.
The first pressing machine (not shown) may include a heat sealing
machine that completely and uniformly heat seals the foil backing
layer 110 to the back-side of the composite card 102 and therefore,
the back-side 106b of each individual card 106. The foil backing
layer 110 seals over the open ends 108a of the blisters 108 to
contain the tablets. The heat sealing machine for applying the foil
backing layer 110 may include a single uniformly flat press plate,
for example. The press plate may simultaneously compress, heat, and
adhere the foil backing layer 110 to the composite card 102. After
the foil backing layer 110 is applied to the composite card 102,
the composite card 102 may be moved into a separate machine such as
the machine 200 described above with reference to FIG. 5 for
applying the paper backing layer 112.
[0031] While the backing layers 110, 112 have been disclosed herein
as including a foil backing layer 110 and a paper backing layer
112, alternative embodiments of the blister pack 100 constructed in
accordance with the present invention may include backing layers
constructed of different materials, including composite
materials.
[0032] In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the
present invention is not limited to the example, embodiments, or
other details provided herein, but rather, is intended to be
defined by the spirit and scope of the following claims.
* * * * *