U.S. patent application number 12/065956 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-12 for holding device for a blister pack and a method for opening a blister.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASTRAZENECA AB. Invention is credited to John Currie, Christopher Harris, Derek Shaw.
Application Number | 20090065506 12/065956 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37836112 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090065506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Currie; John ; et
al. |
March 12, 2009 |
Holding Device for a Blister Pack and a Method for Opening a
Blister
Abstract
A device for holding a blister pack (42) with an array of
cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said
device comprising a housing (8) for receiving said blister pack
(42), which housing (8) comprises a base (9) provided with base
openings (10) and is arranged to permit movement of said blister
pack (42) between a first position and a second position, in which
first position the base openings (10) are displaced from the
cavities and the base (9) blocking the cavities, and in which
second position the base openings (10) are aligned with the
cavities, the base openings (10) permitting passage of said article
therethrough. The device comprises a locking arrangement (12)
comprising a operating means (13) operable by a user, between a
locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking
position the blister pack (42) is locked in said first position,
and in which non-locking position the blister pack (42) is movable
to said second position. Said operating means (13) are operable
from the locking position to the non-locking position by a first
movement of said operating means in relation to the housing,
followed by at least one second movement of said operating means in
relation to the housing. Further, a method for opening a cavity in
a blister pack placed in said device.
Inventors: |
Currie; John; (Cheshire,
GB) ; Harris; Christopher; (Rutland, GB) ;
Shaw; Derek; (Cheshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
P.O BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Assignee: |
ASTRAZENECA AB
Sodertalje
SE
|
Family ID: |
37836112 |
Appl. No.: |
12/065956 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
September 7, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE06/01025 |
371 Date: |
August 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/324 ;
206/531; 53/492 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 50/046 20130101;
B65D 83/0463 20130101; B65D 2215/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/324 ;
206/531; 53/492 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/38 20060101
B65B043/38; B65D 83/04 20060101 B65D083/04; B65D 45/16 20060101
B65D045/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 9, 2005 |
SE |
0502002-9 |
Claims
1. A device for holding a blister pack with an array of cavities
closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said device
comprising a housing for receiving said blister pack, which housing
comprises a base, positioned facing the foil side of the blister
pack, provided with base openings and is arranged to permit
movement of said blister pack between a first position and a second
position, in which first position the base openings are at least
partially displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the
cavities, and in which second position the base openings are
aligned with the cavities, the base openings being sized to permit
passage of said article therethrough, and said device comprises a
locking arrangement comprising operating means operable by a user,
between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which
locking position the blister pack is locked in said first position,
and in which non-locking position the blister pack is movable to
said second position, characterized in that said operating means
are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position
by a first movement of said operating means in relation to the
housing, followed by at least one second movement of said operating
means in relation to the housing.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said
operating means are operable from the locking position to the
non-locking position by being moved in a predetermined first
direction of movement, followed by at least being moved in a
predetermined second direction of movement.
3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said first
direction of movement is substantially transverse to said second
direction of movement.
4. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the
operating means are arranged to be moved in said first direction of
movement by moving a first region of the operating means, and
arranged to be moved in said second direction of movement by moving
a second region of the operating means, and that said operating
means regions are spaced apart.
5. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said
operating means are operable from the locking position to the
non-locking position by moving a first region of the operating
means in a certain direction of movement, followed by at least
moving one second region of the operating means in said certain
direction of movement, and that said operating means regions are
spaced apart.
6. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that said
locking arrangement comprises blocking means for blocking the
movement of the operating means to the non-locking position if said
second operating means region is moved without moving said first
operating means region.
7. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
operating means are arranged to visually indicate to the user
whether the blister pack is locked in said first position or
movable to said second position.
8. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
operating means, when being operated from the non-locking position
to the locking position, are arranged to move the blister pack back
to said first position.
9. A device according to claim 8, characterized in that the
operating means comprise stop means for preventing the movement of
the blister pack and thereby locking it in said first position when
the operating means are in the locking position, and for pushing
the blister pack back to said first position when the operating
means are operated from the non-locking position to the locking
position, and in that said stop means comprise two fangs between
which the blister pack is captured.
10. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
operating means are operable by pushing by the user.
11. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
operating means are movable from the non-locking position to the
locking position by being pushed in a single predetermined third
direction of movement.
12. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the
locking arrangement comprises spring means for urging the operating
means into the locking position when being pushed in said
predetermined third direction of movement.
13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that said
spring means are arranged to urge the operating means toward the
non-locking position.
14. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
locking arrangement is arranged at a compartment at one side of the
housing, in the direction of movement of the blister pack held by
said device, in which compartment a portion of the blister pack is
insertable when the operating means are in the non-locking
position.
15. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the
operating means comprise at least two operating members, the first
operating member comprising said first operating means region, and
the second operating member comprising said second operating means
region.
16. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said
operating members comprise said blocking means.
17. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the
operating means comprise one single operating member.
18. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said
device is flexible to a certain degree, whereby the breaking of the
foil covering the blister pack is facilitated.
19. A method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in a
device according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: unlocking the
blister pack from the first position by operating the operating
means according to the first movement of said operating means in
relation to the housing, followed by at least operating the
operating means according to the second movement of said operating
means in relation to the housing, whereby the operating means are
operated from the locking position to the non-locking position,
moving the blister pack from the first position to the second
position, in which second position said base openings are aligned
with the cavities, and opening a cavity by breaking the foil,
whereby the article contained in said cavity is passed through the
base opening.
20. A method according to claim 19, characterized in that the foil
is broken by flexing said device together with the blister pack.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for holding a
blister pack with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which
cavities contain an article, said device comprising a housing for
receiving said blister pack, which housing comprises a base,
positioned facing the foil side of the blister pack, provided with
base openings and is arranged to permit movement of said blister
pack between a first position and a second position, in which first
position the base openings are at least partially displaced from
the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and in which
second position the base openings are aligned with the cavities,
the base openings being sized to permit passage of said article
therethrough. The device comprises a locking arrangement comprising
a operating member operable by a user using one single hand,
between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which
locking position the blister pack is locked in said first position,
and in which non-locking position the blister pack is movable to
said second position. Further, the present invention relates to a
method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in said
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many medicaments are packaged in blister packs comprising
several deformable cavities formed in a flexible sheet. Doses of
medicament are received in the cavities which are sealed by a foil.
In most cases, to release a dose of medicament, force is applied to
the blister pack and is transmitted to the dose, which ruptures the
foil, for removal of the dose by the user. These blister packs are
convenient and widely used. Unfortunately, it is also easy for
unsupervised children to release the doses of medicament from the
blister packs, whereby they can be poisoned by ingesting said
medicament.
[0003] US 2002/0153276 A1 describes a child-proof package for
tablets and similar pharmaceutical products comprising a blister
pack having cavities containing tablets, and a wall part provided
with openings. Said package is arranged to permit movement of said
blister pack between an open position and a closed position, in
which closed position the cavities are displaced from the openings,
and in which open position the cavities are aligned with the
openings, the openings being sized to permit passage of a tablet
therethrough. The openings in the wall part are covered by a
tear-off strip which is removed before pushing the blister pack
from the closed position into the open position.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,793 A discloses a device for inhibiting
removal of an article from a blister pack with an array of cavities
closed by a foil, which cavities contain articles. Said device
comprises a housing for receiving a blister pack, which housing
comprises a base provided with base openings and is arranged to
permit movement of said blister pack between a first position and a
second position, in which first position the base openings are
displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and
in which second position the base openings are aligned with the
cavities, the base openings being sized to permit passage of said
article therethrough. Said device comprises biasing means for
biasing the blister pack toward said second position.
[0005] US 2004/0188314 A1 describes blister pack comprising a
protective panel having an array of holes substantially identical
to the array of cavities, overlaying the foil and slidable between
a first position with the holes at least partially offset from the
cavities and the panel blocking the cavities, and a second position
with the holes aligned with the cavities. Further, the blister pack
comprises a spring web unitary formed with the blister pack and
with the panel, and arranged to urge the panel into said first
position.
[0006] US 2001/0017273 A1, upon which the preamble of claim 1 is
based, discloses a child-resistant unit dose holder comprising a
blister pack and a sleeve for slidably receiving said blister pack.
The sleeve comprises a base provided with two base openings and is
arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a first
position and a second position, in which first position the base
openings are displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the
cavities, and in which second position the base openings are
aligned with the cavities, the base openings being sized to permit
passage of an article contained in the cavity. Said device
comprises releasable detents operable by a user, between a locking
position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the
blister pack is locked in said first position, and in which
non-locking position the blister pack is movable to said second
position. The detents are operated in response to flexing the
sleeve.
[0007] However, above-mentioned solutions have several drawbacks,
and are not effective enough in preventing children from opening
the blister pack. Some of above-mentioned devices are also too hard
to operate for elderly or disabled users. In the solutions of U.S.
Pat. No. 5,150,793 and US 2004/0188314 A1, respectively, the
cavities are held in the displaced position only by biasing means,
the force of which can be easily overcome by a child, but too hard
to overcome by a disabled person. In the solution of US
2002/0153276 A1, after the removal of the tear-off strip, the
cavities are held in the displaced position only by a frictional
force of resistance of a narrowing between the closed and open
position, which force also can be easily overcome by a child.
Further, in the solution of US 2001/0017273 A1, the locking detents
are released only by a simple flexing operation, whereby the
blister pack is unlocked and can be easily slid to the position
where the cavities can be opened, and the children can gain access
to the medicament contained in the cavities of the blister
pack.
THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide
a device for holding a blister pack, securely protecting children
from opening the blister pack, and at the same time being easy to
operate by the intended user, especially by elderly or disabled
persons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a device
of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 1, comprising the
special features that said operating means are operable from the
locking position to the non-locking position by a first movement of
said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at
least one second movement of said operating means in relation to
the housing.
[0010] By the use of said inventive device having said operating
means which necessarily has to be moved in at least two steps
following each other for unlocking the blister pack from said first
position and enabling the blister pack to be moved to said second
position, thus enabling opening of the cavities, a very secure
arrangement is provided in the event of a child getting hold of the
blister pack. At the same time, the device is easy to handle by the
intended user, especially by elderly or disabled persons, since the
operating means are operable without any greater force and the
operation of the operating means is intuitive.
[0011] The device according to the invention provides a convenient
and simple solution for protecting children from accessing
medicaments. The protective device only slightly enlarges the
blister pack, and the protective device together with the blister
pack are both discrete and handbag friendly. It is also safe to
carry the blister pack in a bag, since there is no risk of pills
falling out from the blister pack, as a result of the secure
locking arrangement.
[0012] The article contained in a cavity of the blister pack
comprises a dose of medicament, e.g. a pill. The device can be
adapted to various kinds of blister packs having different kinds of
patterns for the array of cavities. The device can be provided with
an inserted blister pack and ready to use, and be a disposable
article, but can also be re-filled and re-used after a blister pack
has been emptied.
[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, said operating means are
operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by
being moved in a predetermined first direction of movement,
followed by at least being moved in a predetermined second
direction of movement. Advantageously, said first direction of
movement is substantially transverse to said second direction of
movement.
[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, the operating means are
arranged to be moved in said first direction of movement by moving
a first region of the operating means, and arranged to be moved in
said second direction of movement by moving a second region of the
operating means, said operating means regions being spaced apart.
This embodiment further increases the child resistant character,
without impairing the easy and intuitive operation of the device
for an intended user. However, it is also possible to provide the
operating means with a single operating means region arranged to be
pushed in both the first and the second direction of movement.
[0015] According to another advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, said operating means are
operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by
moving a first region of the operating means in a certain direction
of movement, followed by at least moving one second region of the
operating means in said certain direction of movement, said
operating means regions being spaced apart.
[0016] According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the
device according to the present invention, said locking arrangement
comprises blocking means for blocking the movement of the operating
means to the non-locking position if said second operating means
region is moved without moving said first operating means
region.
[0017] According to still another advantageous embodiment of the
device according to the present invention, the operating means are
arranged to visually indicate to the user whether the blister pack
is locked in said first position or movable to said second
position.
[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, the operating means, when being
operated from the non-locking position to the locking position, are
arranged to move the blister pack back to said first position.
[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, the operating means comprise
stop means for preventing the movement of the blister pack and
thereby locking it in said first position when the operating means
are in the locking position, and for pushing the blister pack back
to said first position when the operating means are operated from
the non-locking position to the locking position, said stop means
comprising two fangs between which the blister pack is
captured.
[0020] According to another advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, the operating means are
operable by pushing by the user.
[0021] According to still another advantageous embodiment of the
device according to the present invention, the operating means are
movable from the non-locking position to the locking position by
being pushed in a single predetermined third direction of
movement.
[0022] According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the
device according to the present invention, the locking arrangement
comprises spring means for urging the operating means into the
locking position when being pushed in said predetermined third
direction of movement. Advantageously, said spring means are
arranged to urge the operating means toward the non-locking
position.
[0023] According to an advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, the locking arrangement is
arranged at a compartment at one side of the housing, in the
direction of movement of the blister pack held by said device, in
which compartment a portion of the blister pack is insertable when
the operating means are in the non-locking position.
[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, the operating means comprise at
least two operating members, the first operating member comprising
said first operating means region, and the second operating member
comprising said second operating means region, and advantageously,
said operating members comprise said blocking means.
[0025] According to still another advantageous embodiment of the
device according to the present invention, the operating means
comprise one single operating member.
[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device
according to the present invention, said device is flexible to a
certain degree, whereby the breaking of the foil covering the
blister pack is facilitated. By using a flexible device, breaking
of the foil covering the blister pack blisters is easily achieved
by bending the device together with the blister pack, thereby
breaking the foil. This is especially advantageous when in use by
elderly persons, or persons with weak hands like rheumatics. The
device can be made of any suitable material which is flexible
enough and rigid enough, for example a plastic material.
[0027] Further, the above-mentioned objects are attained by a
method of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 19 comprising
the special steps of: [0028] unlocking the blister pack from the
first position by operating the operating means according to the
first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing,
followed by at least operating the operating means according to the
second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing,
whereby the operating means are operated from the locking position
to the non-locking position, [0029] moving the blister pack from
the first position to the second position, in which second position
said base openings are aligned with the cavities, and [0030]
opening a cavity by breaking the foil, whereby the article
contained in said cavity is passed through the base opening.
[0031] According to an advantageous embodiment of the method
according to the present invention, the foil is broken by flexing
said device together with the blister pack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The present invention will now be described, for exemplary
purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference
to the enclosed drawings, in which:
[0033] FIGS. 1-2 are side views of the same embodiment of the
device according to the present invention, without the blister
pack,
[0034] FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a portion of the embodiment of
FIG. 1,
[0035] FIGS. 4-5 are schematic perspective views of the embodiment
of FIG. 1, holding a blister pack,
[0036] FIGS. 6-10 are cross sectional views of the locking
arrangement of the embodiment of FIG. 1, where the operating member
is in different positions,
[0037] FIG. 11 is an illustrative view illustrating the different
steps of the method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed
in a device according to the present invention, and
[0038] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an inventive
auxiliary device for use in combination with the device according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] FIG. 1 shows the front side of an embodiment of the device
for holding a blister pack with an array of cavities closed by a
foil, which cavities contain an article, according to the present
invention. The device comprises a housing 8 for receiving said
blister pack. The housing 8 is designed to be flexible to a certain
degree and is formed of a plastic material. The housing 8 comprises
a planar base 9, positioned facing the foil side of the blister
pack, provided with an array of elliptical base openings 10, but
any other shape of the base openings 10 is possible, and with a
pair of longitudinal flanges 11 extending inwardly from opposed
sides to define a slot for receiving the blister pack. The housing
8 is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a
first position and a second position, in which first position the
base openings 10 are at least partially displaced from the cavities
of the blister pack and the base 9 blocking the cavities, and in
which second position the base openings 10 are aligned with the
cavities. Further, the housing 8 comprises spacing means, provided
inside the housing 8 at the base 9, for providing a space between
the foil side of the blister pack and the base 9, in order to allow
the blister pack to slide smoothly between said first position and
said second position, especially after the removal of several
articles from the cavities when ruptured foil portions may extend
from the foil side of the blister pack. The base openings 10 are
sized to permit passage of the article, contained in the cavity,
therethrough. Further, the housing 8 comprises an entry portion 41,
which will be discussed in more detail in connection to FIG. 2, via
which the blister pack is inserted into the housing 8. The device
comprises a locking arrangement 12 comprising an operating member
13 operable by a user using one single hand or two hands, between a
locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking
position the blister pack is locked in said first position, and in
which non-locking position the blister pack is movable to said
second position.
[0040] FIG. 2 shows the rear side of the device of FIG. 1. When the
blister pack is in the second position where the base openings 10
are aligned with the cavities, an article contained in the cavity
can be released by flexing the device and applying a force to the
front side of the blister pack, more specifically to the cavity in
question, which is then transmitted to the article which ruptures
the foil and passes through the base opening 10.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a magnified view of the entry portion 41 shown in
FIG. 1. At the entry portion 41 each flange 11 is provided with a
notch 14. The notches 14 are positioned opposite each other,
forming a transverse entry slot, and the end portion 15 of the
entry portion 41 is provided with a pair of leading edges 16. The
length of the transverse entry slot formed by said notches 14, i.e.
the distance from the inner wall 17 of one of the notches 14 to the
inner wall 17 of the other notch 14, is slightly smaller the width
of the sheet of the blister pack. When the blister pack sheet is
forced into said transverse entry slot, the blister pack sheet is
slightly buckled by the two leading edges 16, whereby the blister
pack sheet is fitted into said transverse entry slot and can be
inserted into the housing. When the blister pack is fully received
by the housing, the two leading edges 16 function as blocking means
preventing children from removing the blister pack from the housing
8 via said transverse entry slot. In the entry portion 41, three
recesses 43, 44 are provided in the base 9. These recesses 43, 44
are arranged to be penetrated by a certain tool from the rear side
of the device, in order to remove the blister pack from the device.
Said certain tool is arranged to force the blister pack away from
the base 9 in a direction transverse to the direction of movement
of the blister pack between said first and second positions, and
out of its engagement with the housing.
[0042] FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in perspective,
holding a blister pack 42. The blister pack 42 is in said first
position and the operating member 13 of the locking arrangement is
in the locking position.
[0043] FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4, having the blister
pack 42 in said second first position and the operating member 13
in the non-locking position.
[0044] FIG. 6 shows, in cross section, the locking arrangement 12
of the embodiment of FIG. 1, where the operating member 13 is in
the locking position. The locking arrangement 12 comprises a
guiding frame 30 in which the operating member 13 is guided. There
is no actual attachment between the guiding frame 30 and the
operating member 13, but the operating member 13 is retained in the
locking arrangement by said guiding frame 30. Further, the guiding
frame 30 prevents the operating member 13 from being moved in a
direction transverse to the plane of said base 9. The operating
member 13 is operable from the locking position to the non-locking
position by being pushed in a predetermined first direction of
movement 19, followed by being pushed in a predetermined second
direction of movement 20. Said first direction of movement 19 is
substantially transverse to said second direction of movement 20.
The operating member 13 is arranged to be pushed in said first
direction of movement 19 by pushing a first region 21 of the
operating member 13, and arranged to be pushed in said second
direction of movement 20 by pushing a second region 22 of the
operating member 13, said operating means regions 21, 22 being
spaced apart. The locking arrangement 12 is arranged at a
compartment 23 at one side of the housing 8, in the direction of
movement of the blister pack held by said device, in which
compartment 23 a portion of the blister pack is insertable when the
operating member 13 is in the non-locking position. The operating
member 13 comprises stop means 24 for stopping the blister pack
from being inserted into the compartment 23 when the operating
member 13 is in the locking position, as it is in FIG. 6, whereby
the blister pack is prevented from being moved to the second
position. The stop means 24 are in the form of two fangs 25, 26,
between which the blister pack is captured, whereby the blister
pack is prevented from possibly pass the stop means 24 when the
operating member 13 is in the locking position, in consequence of
an excessive force on the blister pack in the direction of movement
of the blister pack. Further, the locking arrangement 12 comprises
spring means 27, 28 comprising a first spring member 27 and a
second spring member 28. In the position of FIG. 6, the spring
means 27, 28 are arranged to urge the first operating means region
21 against the first direction of movement 19. The locking
arrangement 12 comprises first retaining means 29 for preventing
the first operating means region 21 to pass its resting position,
against the first direction of movement 19, the resting position of
the first operating means region 21 being the position of the first
operating means region 21 when there is no action on the operating
member 13 and it is in the locking position. Further, the spring
means 27, 28 are arranged to urge the second operating means region
22 against the second direction of movement 20. The locking
arrangement 12 comprises second retaining means 31 for preventing
the second operating means region 22 to pass its resting position
against the second direction of movement 20, the resting position
of the second operating means region 22 being the position of the
second operating means region 22 when there is no action on the
operating member 13 and it is in the locking position. The locking
arrangement 12 comprises first blocking means 32 for blocking the
movement of the second operating means region 22 from its resting
position in a direction transverse to the second direction of
movement 20.
[0045] FIG. 7 shows the locking arrangement 12 with the operating
member 13 in a first transitional position. The user is pushing the
first operating means region 21 in said first direction of movement
19, whereby the operating member 13 is pushed in the same
direction. By this action, a protrusion 33 of the operating member
13, which is projecting in the second direction of movement 20, is
positioned in alignment with a complementary recess 34 of the
guiding frame 30, permitting the operating member 13 to be pushed
in the second direction of movement 20.
[0046] FIG. 8 shows the locking arrangement 12 with the operating
member 13 in a third transitional position, between the second
transitional position and the non-locking position. The locking
arrangement 12 comprises third retaining means 40 for preventing
the operating member 13 to be fully released from the guiding frame
30. The third retaining means 40 comprise a hitch 35 provided on
the operating member 13 and a complementary hitch recess 36
provided in the guiding frame 30. FIG. 8 shows the hitch 35 and the
complementary hitch recess 36 just before they are engaging.
[0047] FIG. 9 shows the locking arrangement 12 with the operating
member 13 in the non-locking position. Said hitch 35 has fully
engaged the complementary hitch recess 36, whereby the operating
member 13 is prevented from being fully released from the guiding
frame 30. Said spring means 27, 28 are arranged to urge the
operating member 13 toward the non-locking position. In the
non-locking position, the operating member 13 is arranged to
visually indicate to the user whether the blister pack is locked in
said first position or movable to said second position. The
operating member 13 is movable from the non-locking position to the
locking position by being pushed in a single predetermined third
direction of movement 37. The operating member 13, when being
operated from the non-locking position to the locking position, is
arranged to move the blister pack back to said first position, by
means of said stop means 24. When the operating member 13 is pushed
in said third direction of movement 37, the spring means 27, 28 are
arranged to urge the operating member 13 back into the locking
position.
[0048] FIG. 10 shows the locking arrangement 12 with the operating
member 13 in a blocked position. The locking arrangement comprises
second blocking means 38 for blocking the movement of the operating
member 13 in said second direction of movement 20 if said second
operating means region 22 is pushed without pushing said first
operating means region 21. Said second blocking means 38 comprise
said protrusion 33 of the operating member 13 and a blocking recess
39. When the user is pushing the second operating means region 22
in said second direction of movement 20 without pushing said first
operating means region 21, the protrusion 33 is arranged to engage
said blocking recess 39, and since the blocking recess 39 is
considerably shallow the movement of the operating member 13 in the
second direction of movement 20 is blocked. By providing a blocking
recess 39 instead of a just blocking wall, an accidental sliding of
the protrusion 33 from the blocking position into alignment with a
complementary recess 34 is prevented.
[0049] FIG. 11 illustrates the method for opening a cavity in a
blister pack held in a device according to the present invention,
by way of seven different steps.
[0050] In step 1, the first operating member portion is pushed in
the predetermined first direction of movement, whereby the
operating member is pushed in same direction and moved to the first
transitional position, which is shown in FIG. 7, in which position
the operating member is permitted to be pushed in the second
direction of movement.
[0051] In step 2, the second operating member portion is pushed in
the predetermined second direction of movement, whereby the
operating member is pushed in same direction and moved to the
second transitional position, in which position the second
operating member portion is permitted to be moved in a direction
substantially transverse to the second direction of movement into
the non-locking position.
[0052] In step 3, the operating member is urged in a direction
transverse to the second direction of movement into the non-locking
position, which is shown in FIG. 9, by means of the spring means of
the locking arrangement and the user's thumb. When the operating
member is in the non-locking position, the operating member
visually indicates to the user, by means of its position, whether
the blister pack is locked in said first position or movable to
said second position.
[0053] In step 4, the blister pack is moved in the direction of the
arrow and a portion of the blister pack is inserted in the
compartment of the locking arrangement, whereby the blister pack is
moved from the first position to the second position, in which
first position the base openings are displaced from the cavities
and the base blocking the cavities, and in which second position
the base openings are aligned with the cavities.
[0054] In step 5, a cavity is opened by breaking the foil, which
foil is broken by flexing the device together with the blister
pack, whereby the article contained in said cavity is passed
through the base opening, and falls into the hand of the user.
[0055] In step 6, the operating member is pushed in the single
predetermined third direction of movement, shown by the arrow, and
by this action the operating member starts to urge the blister pack
toward said first position, in which the base openings are
displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities,
preventing the cavities from being opened.
[0056] In step 7, the blister pack is forced back to the first
position in the direction of the arrow, by means of the stop means
of the operating member, and the spring means of the locking
arrangement urge the operating member into the locking position,
whereby the blister pack is locked in said first position.
[0057] In FIG. 11, the operating member is operated by a user using
two hands, but the operating member is very suitable for operation
by a user using one single hand.
[0058] FIG. 12 shows schematic view of an embodiment of the
auxiliary device for use in combination with the device according
to the present invention. The auxiliary device comprises a planar
base portion 50 and wall portions 51, 52 surrounding said base
portion 50, forming a tray with an opening. The auxiliary device
comprises resting means 53 for permitting the device to rest at the
opening with its rear side facing the base portion of the auxiliary
device. The auxiliary device can also comprise retaining means
positioned at said opening, for releasably retaining the device of
the invention at said opening. The engagement of the device with
the auxiliary device enables elderly/handicapped people to remove
an article more easily from the blister pack, for example by using
a tool. Further, the auxiliary device comprises an opening 54 at
the base portion 50, in any of the wall portions 51, 52 or in the
base portion 50, advantageously at a corner, through which the
removed article can pass. Further, the auxiliary device can be used
for storing the device when not in use.
* * * * *