U.S. patent application number 12/267635 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-21 for child-resistant container for housing a blister card.
Invention is credited to Yaotsung Tung.
Application Number | 20090127156 12/267635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40640795 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090127156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tung; Yaotsung |
May 21, 2009 |
Child-Resistant Container for Housing a Blister Card
Abstract
A container for permanently securing a blister card includes a
top, a bottom, and a spine connecting by a hinge. The top and
bottom each includes one half of a child-resistant latch system.
The top having a latch with latch recesses and a pair of latch arms
formed at a front edge of the top. The bottom having an identical
arrangement with a latch with latch recesses and a pair of latch
arms formed at the front edge. The latch recesses in the top latch
align with the latch arms in the bottom, while the latch recesses
in the bottom latch align with the latch arms in the top. The
recesses in both latches secure the latch arms respectively and
remain in a locked position until uses presses upon the upper
surface of the latches and separates the top and bottom about the
hinge.
Inventors: |
Tung; Yaotsung; (Basking
Ridge, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DUANE MORRIS LLP - Philadelphia;IP DEPARTMENT
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-4196
US
|
Family ID: |
40640795 |
Appl. No.: |
12/267635 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60988165 |
Nov 15, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 ;
220/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0463 20130101;
A61J 1/035 20130101; B65D 2215/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 ;
220/324 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04; B65D 45/16 20060101 B65D045/16 |
Claims
1. A container for housing a blister card comprising: a top; a
bottom; said top and bottom being connected about a hinge; a spine
for permanently securing a blister card; and a spine catch for
permanently securing said spine.
2. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 1,
further including a child-resistant latch system.
3. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 2,
wherein said top having a lower surface further including a front
and rear edge, sidewalls, and curved walls.
4. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 3,
wherein said bottom have an upper surface further including a front
and rear edge, sidewalls, and curved wall.
5. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 4,
wherein said spine catch projects from said upper surface of said
bottom.
6. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 5,
further comprising support walls projecting upward from said upper
surface of said bottom.
7. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 6,
wherein said child-resistant latch system further comprising a top
latch, a bottom latch, top latch arms and bottom latch arms.
8. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 7,
wherein said top latch further comprises a curved wall, lip, and
latch recesses.
9. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 8,
further comprising a latch hinge connecting said top latch to said
top via at said front edge.
10. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 9,
wherein said top latch arms further comprise two short walls both
having flanges.
11. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 10,
wherein said bottom latch further comprises a curved wall, lip, and
latch recesses.
12. The container for housing blister card according to claim 11,
further comprising a latch hinge connecting said bottom latch to
said bottom at said front edge.
13. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 12,
wherein said bottom latch arms further comprise two short walls
both having flanges.
14. The container for housing a blister card according to claim 13,
wherein said latch recesses in said top latch secure said bottom
latch arms and said latch recesses in said bottom latch secure said
top latch arms sealing said top and said bottom in a sealed
position.
15. A child-resistant container comprising: a top having sidewalls
and a curved wall; a bottom having un upper surface, sidewalls and
a curved wall; said top being secured to said bottom by a hinge; a
blister card; a spine attached to said bottom by a spine hinge; a
pair of support walls rising from said upper surface of said
bottom; a spine lock attached to said bottom for permanently
attaching said spine; said blister card being permanently held
between said spine and said support walls; and a child-resistant
latch system having a top latch, a bottom latch, top latch arms and
bottom latch arms.
16. The child-resistant container of claim 15, wherein said top
latch further comprising latch recesses.
17. The child-resistant container of claim 16, wherein said bottom
latch further comprising latch recesses.
18. The child-resistant container of claim 17, wherein said top
latch arms further comprising a pair of short walls protruding
toward one another each having a flange.
19. The child-resistant container of claim 18, wherein said bottom
latch arms further comprising a pair of short walls protruding
toward one another each having a flange.
20. The child-resistant container of claim 19, wherein said latch
recesses of said top latch complement and receive said bottom latch
arms.
21. The child-resistant container of claim 20, wherein said latch
recesses of said bottom latch complement and receive said top latch
arms.
22. The child-resistant container of claim 21, wherein said latch
recesses of said top latch simultaneously retain said arms of said
bottom latch arms as said latch recesses of said bottom latch
retain said arms of said top latch arms holding said top and said
bottom sealed.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of
U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/988,165, filed Nov.
15, 2007 and entitled Container for Housing Medication, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to packaging
suitable for storing and dispensing medication and more
specifically to containers that house blister cards that provide a
simple method for determining whether a dose has been taken while
meeting child resistance standards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is well known that medications, such as pills, tablets,
and capsules, must be administered over a dosing period. In many
circumstances, the medications can be harmful to children, so
law-makers have passed regulations concerning child resistant
packaging. The use of child resistant packaging is well known
throughout the art, and has been utilized for goods ranging from
household items to pharmaceutical products. The pharmaceutical
industry has settled on two main methods of dispensing medication,
either loosely in a "amber" bottle or more discretely in a blister
card.
[0004] The traditional child-resistant "amber" bottle utilizes a
"push and turn" cap by which the person wishing to open the bottle
must press down to release a locking mechanism before turning the
cap. These bottles are effective for mass distribution of a
medication, but have significant drawbacks. First, "push and turn"
cap's are often smaller in size, so that they do not provide a
sufficiently stable gripping surface to allow a user of limited
dexterity, i.e. the elderly, to access the medication in side
easily. Secondly, the level of chemical stability of the individual
pills has been a serious concern. Pills that are dispensed in
traditional "amber bottles" are often handled and put back into the
bottle or, since the bottle is being constantly opened and closed,
causing excessive contamination and moisture often enter the
bottle. For example, hand moisture and body oils can significantly
reduce the shelf-life and effectiveness of a medication. Finally,
"amber bottles" provide no compliance feature that informs the user
as to whether or not a dose has been taken during that dosing
period, be it a morning, afternoon, day, or week.
[0005] The other well-known medication packaging is "unit dose"
packaging or blister cards. Blister cards are typically formed from
flexible materials with a plurality of cavities that receive and
dispense one pill. An open side of each cavity is covered with a
pierceable foil seal. The user simply pushes a selected pill
through the foil seal in order to remove the medication from its
individual blister on the card. Blister card packaging ensures
stability and allows for patient compliance, although it often does
not provide sufficient protection for the medication or child
resistance. The pierceable foil seal could be difficult to pierce
or remove without damaging the dose, so some blister cards are
equipped with a tab the user can pull to remove the foil seal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a senior-friendly, child
resistant medication dispenser for containing a blister card that
includes a permanently locking spine mechanism that secures a
blister card inside the container. The container having a two
handed press and separate child resistant feature wherein the user
must simultaneously press at least two buttons with enough force to
bend the buttons as to release them from tabs holding the buttons
in a locked position. Once the buttons are depressed with
sufficient force as to clear the locking arms the buttons are then
separated and the top and bottom of the container are separated
about a hinge.
[0007] The spine mechanism is integrated into the top of the
container and separates the top into multiple sections. The spine
uses a hook implement on its inner surface at the peripheral edge
farthest from the hinge to snap and lock permanently onto a catch
mechanism that is part of the bottom of the container. The catch
mechanism is a stiff plastic surface that includes a relatively
deep ledge for the hook to bind upon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will be more fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by
the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the
invention, which are to be considered together with the
accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and
further wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of a child resistant
container with attached blister card with unattached spine
mechanism in an open position in accordance with the present
invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the child resistant
container as shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the child resistant
container with an attached spine mechanism in accordance with the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front top perspective view of the child
resistant container in a closed position in accordance with the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a top view of the child resistant container shown
in FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the child resistant
container shown in FIG. 5, as taken along lines 100-100;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top view of the child resistant container shown
in FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the child resistant
container shown in FIG. 7, as taken along lines 200-200;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a front top perspective view of the child
resistant container in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 10 is a front top perspective view of the child
resistant container shown in FIG. 8, in a closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] This description of preferred embodiments is intended to be
read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be
considered part of the entire written description of this
invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and
certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale
or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and
conciseness. In the description, relative terms such as
"horizontal," "vertical," "up," "down," "top" and "bottom" as well
as derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally," "downwardly,"
"upwardly," etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation
as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under
discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description
and normally are not intended to require a particular orientation.
Terms including "inwardly" versus "outwardly," "longitudinal"
versus "lateral" and the like are to be interpreted relative to one
another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center
of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling
and the like, such as "connected" and "interconnected," refer to a
relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one
another either directly or indirectly through intervening
structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or
relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term
"operatively connected" is such an attachment, coupling or
connection that allows the pertinent structures to operate as
intended by virtue of that relationship. In the claims,
means-plus-function clauses, if used, are intended to cover the
structures described, suggested, or rendered obvious by the written
description or drawings for performing the recited function,
including not only structural equivalents but also equivalent
structures.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, senior-friendly, child-resistant
container 1 that includes a top 2, a bottom 20, a hinge 18, a spine
40, and a latch system 50. More particularly, top 2 includes top
wall 3, angled walls 8, sidewalls 6, curved corner walls 11 and 12,
and curved walls 4 and 5. Angled walls 8 project downward and
outwardly from angled edges 14 of top wall 3. Sidewalls 6 project
downward from side edge 13 of angled walls 14 creating top rim 15
around the perimeter of top 2. Curved walls 4 and 5 project
outwards from rear edges 9 and 10 respectively of top wall 3
connecting to hinge 18. Curved corner walls 11 and 12 project from
the sidewalls 6 toward latch edge 7. Latch walls 67 and 68 project
downward from top wall 3 at latch edge 7.
[0021] Bottom 20 includes bottom wall 21, angled walls 25,
sidewalls 23, curved wall 22, curved corner walls 27 and 28, spine
catch 32, and support walls 36. Angled walls 25 projects both
upwardly and outwardly from angled edge 30 of bottom wall 21.
Sidewalls 23 project upward from side edge 29 of angled wall 25
forming bottom rim 31 about the perimeter of bottom 20. Curved
corner walls 27 and 28 project forward from sidewalls 23 toward
latch edge 24. Latch walls 69 and 70 project upward from bottom
wall 21 at latch edge 24. Curved wall 22 projects upward from
bottom wall 21 connecting to hinge 18 and to top 2. Top 2 and
bottom 20 open and close about hinge 18 wherein the top rim 15 and
bottom rim 31 created a closed seal of container 1.
[0022] Spine catch 32 including lower wall 35, horizontal wall 34
and upper wall 33 projects upward from the upper surface of bottom
wall 21. More particularly, lower wall 35 projects upward from the
upper surface of bottom wall 21 near latch edge 24. Horizontal wall
34 projects forward toward latch edge 24 and turns upward forming
upper wall 33 creating spine catch 32. Support walls 36 including a
front end 37 and abutments 38 project upward from the upper surface
of bottom wall 21 and run the length of bottom 20 from rear edge 26
to front end 37. Blister card 75 having pill tabs 79 is set upon
support walls 36 and pushed forward against abutments 38.
[0023] Spine 40 including spine wall 42, rim 43, and rounded wall
44 rotates about hinge 41 clamping down upon the back surface of
blister card 75. Rounded wall 44 extends downward from rim 43 of
spine wall 42 connected to container by via hinge 41. Ledge 45
projects from the inner surface of rounded wall 44 such that when
spine 40 is in a clamped position rounded wall 44 extends beyond
the upper wall 33 of spine catch 32 and ledge 45 bends the spine
catch 32 inward. Once ledge 45 is lowered beyond the height of
upper wall 33, ledge 45 hooks into horizontal wall 34 releasing the
pressure off of the upper wall 33 and permanently attaching the
spine 40 to spine catch 32 trapping blister card 75. Blister card
75 further including cavities 77 holding medication (not shown)
cannot be removed from container 1.
[0024] Child-resistant latch system 50 including top latch 51a,
bottom latch 51b, top latch arms 61a, and bottom latch arms 61b
seals the top 2 and bottom 20 about hinge 18 until a user opens
container 1. Top latch 51a including curved wall 52a projecting
downward from latch hinge 53a attached to top wall 3 at latch edge
7 and extending forward over front wall 68. Lip 53a bulges from the
lower edge or curved wall 52a to create an additional impediment
for releasing child-resistant latch system 50. Lip wall 56a and
sidewall 57a project inward from the outer surface of curved wall
52a to form latch recesses 55a. Bottom latch 51b includes curved
wall 52b projecting upward from latch hinge 53b attached to bottom
wall 21 at latch edge 24 and extending forward over front wall 69.
Lip 54b bulges from the upper edge of curved wall 52b to create an
additional impediment to releasing child-resistant latch system 50.
Lip wall 56b and sidewall 57b project inward from the outer surface
of curved 52b to form latch recesses 55b.
[0025] Top latch arms 61a includes two short walls 62a projecting
toward one another in front of front wall 67 in a mirrored
relation, whereby creating gap 65. Flanges 63a project downward
from the inner bottom edges of short walls 62a. The short walls 62a
and flanges 63a are formed to identically align with and fit
perfectly within latch recesses 55b of bottom latch 51b. Bottom
latch arms 61b includes two short walls 62b projecting toward one
another in front of front wall 69 in a mirrored relation, whereby
creating gap 66. Flanges 63b project upward from the inner upper
edges of short walls 62b. The short walls 62b and flanges 63b are
formed to identically align with and fit perfectly within latch
recesses 55a of top latch 51a
[0026] As a result of closing top 2 and bottom 20 about hinge 18,
lip 54a makes contact with flanges 63b forcing the top latch 51a
toward bottom front wall 70. Curved wall 52a is pressed beneath
bottom latch arms 61b until short walls 62b and flanges 63b enter
into latch recesses 55a fitting over lip wall 56a and within
sidewall 57a. Simultaneously, lip 54b makes contact with flanges
63a forcing the bottom latch 51b toward top front wall 67. Curved
wall 52b is pressed beneath top latch arms 61a until short walls
62a and flanges 63aa enter into latch recesses 5b fitting over lip
wall 56b and within sidewall 57b. The combination of top latch 51a
and bottom latch 51b with top latch arms 61a and bottom latch arms
61b create the child-resistance latch system 50 of container 1. A
user can release the child-resistant latch system 50 by
simultaneously pressing upon the curved surface 52a of top latch
51a and curved surface 52b of bottom latch 51b. Latch hinges 53a
and 53b bend allowing top latch 51a and bottom latch 51b to lower
toward front walls 68 and 69 respectively. Latch recesses 55a and
55b release latch arms 61a and 61b allowing top latch 51a and
bottom latch 51b to slide underneath the latch arms 61a and 61b.
The user must then retain pressure on both the top latch 51a and
bottom latch 51b, which pulling or pushing the top 2 and bottom 20
in opposite directions about hinge 18.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 9-10, another embodiment of
child-resistant latch system 80 includes top latch 81a, bottom
latch 81b, top latch arms 92a and bottom latch arms 92b. Top latch
81a including curved wall 82a projecting downward from latch hinge
83a attached to top wall 3 at latch edge 7 and extending forward
over front wall 97. Lower wall 86a, sidewalls 87a, and nook 88a
project inward from the outer surface of curved wall 82a to form
latch recesses 85a. Nook 88a including back wall 89a (not shown),
front wall 90a (not shown), and sidewalls 91a (not shown) create a
secondary area within latch recess 85a. Bottom latch 81b includes
curved wall 82b projecting upward from latch hinge 83b attached to
bottom wall 21 at latch edge 24 and extending forward over front
wall 102. Lower wall 86b and sidewalls 87b and nook 88b project
inward from the outer surface of curved wall 82b to form latch
recesses 85b. Nook 88b including back wall 89b (not shown), front
wall 90b (not shown), and sidewalls 91b (not shown) create a
secondary area within latch recess 85b.
[0028] Top latch arms 92a including hook walls 92a project outward
and downward from latch edge 7 of top wall 3 creating gap 95
between ledge 94a formed at the distal edge of hook walls 93a and
front wall 97. Bottom latch arms 92b including hook walls 92b
project outward and upward from latch edge 24 of bottom wall 21
creating gap 96 between ledge 94b formed at the distal edge of hook
walls 93b and front wall 102.
[0029] Similarly, as a result as closing top 2 and bottom 20 about
hinge 18, top latch 81a lowers toward bottom latch arms 92b causing
bottom latch arms 92b to enter into latch recesses 85a entering
between side walls 87a and making contact with lower wall 86a.
Ledges 94b enter nooks 88a in top latch 81a clamping itself on the
front wall 90a and holding top latch 81a to bottom latch arms 92b.
At the same time, bottom latch 81b enters top latch arms 92a
causing bottom latch arms 92a to enter into latch recess 85b
entering between side walls 87b and making contact with lower wall
86b. Ledges 94a enters nooks 88b in bottom latch 81b clamping
itself on the front wall 90b and holding bottom latch 81b to top
latch arms 92a. Again, in order to open container 1, the user
presses upon the curved walls 82a and 82b releasing latch arms 92a
and 92b from nooks 88a and 88b. Then the user pulls apart the top 2
from bottom 20 along hinge 18 simultaneously.
[0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is by no
means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed and
shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or
equivalents within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *