U.S. patent application number 12/415218 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-30 for blister pack secondary package and sleeve.
Invention is credited to William Bogdziewicz III, John Gelardi, Thomas Grinnan.
Application Number | 20100243507 12/415218 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42782791 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100243507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gelardi; John ; et
al. |
September 30, 2010 |
BLISTER PACK SECONDARY PACKAGE AND SLEEVE
Abstract
A lockable container includes a lockable sleeve and a secondary
package. The secondary package is configured as a slideable
platform that can be stored in the lockable sleeve. The slidable
platform includes at lease one receiving flange to hold a primary
package. The lockable sleeve and the slideable platform can each
have one or more of the engaging mechanism and a receiving
mechanism, with reciprocal engaging mechanisms and/or receiving
mechanisms being included at the other elements. A release button
can be included in the locking assembly to disengage the engaging
mechanism form the receiving mechanism.
Inventors: |
Gelardi; John; (Wake Forest,
NC) ; Grinnan; Thomas; (Midlothian, VA) ;
Bogdziewicz III; William; (Raleigh, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION;ATTN: IP LEGAL DEPARTMENT
1021 MAIN CAMPUS DRIVE
RALEIGH
NC
27606
US
|
Family ID: |
42782791 |
Appl. No.: |
12/415218 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 ;
206/468 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0463 20130101;
B65D 73/0085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 ;
206/468 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04; B65D 73/00 20060101 B65D073/00 |
Claims
1. A container, comprising: a sleeve comprising a plurality of
walls that define a void for receiving a slideable secondary
package; and the slideable secondary package comprising: a base
panel; and a top panel foldably attached to the base panel, the top
panel including at least one receiving flange formed thereon, each
receiving flange being configured to receive at least a portion of
a primary package.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the primary package has at
least one blister carrying an item, the base panel defining at
least one gate, each gate corresponding to a respective
blister.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein each gate either is an
aperture or is defined by a perforation.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein the top panel defines a
receiving aperture, the receiving aperture having an aperture
perimeter, the aperture perimeter being large enough such that each
gate is laterally located therewithin.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the top panel has a pair of
receiving flanges, each respective receiving flange being located
on opposite sides of the receiving aperture.
6. The container of claim 2, wherein the top panel defines a
plurality of receiving apertures, the receiving apertures each
defining an aperture perimeter, the aperture perimeter being large
enough such that a group of gates is laterally located therewithin,
each receiving aperture having a pair of receiving flanges
associated therewith, each respective receiving flange being
located on opposite sides of the corresponding receiving
aperture.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein the sleeve defines a lockable
container for retaining slideable secondary package.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
application No. 60/041,170, the content of which is incorporated by
reference thereto. The present disclosure relates generally to
child-resistant and/or lockable containers. More specifically, the
present disclosure relates to an assembly and method of configuring
and providing similar or mixed primary packages within a secondary
package that can be stored in a lockable container.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Child-resistant or lockable containers, wherein multiple
movements are required to open the container, have many uses. One
use for a lockable container is to control the dispensing of
medicine and medicaments in the form of pills and tablets. For
example, locking caps on medicine bottles are well known. The
typical locking cap mechanism requires a coordinated alignment and
tipping, or axial pressure, or inward radial squeezing while
turning the cap to remove it from its container in order to access
the medicaments.
[0003] By way of another example, medicines are packaged in
convenient flat boxes, which are difficult to secure with
child-resistant features. Many medicaments in the form of tablets
are sold in blister packs--blisters formed on a sheet sealed by a
barrier that is punctured when extracting a tablet from a blister.
When a typical cardboard flat box holding one or more blister packs
is opened the entire contents of the package is exposed, making all
of the tablets immediately available. The dangers posed by children
with access to a large quantity of tablets not intended for their
consumption is self evident.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary blank for forming a
blister pack secondary package.
[0005] FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing a secondary
package formed by the assembly of the blank of FIG. 1
[0006] FIG. 4 shows a blister pack being inserted into the
secondary package of FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0007] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a lockable container.
[0008] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the lockable container of FIG.
5, from the opposite side.
[0009] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembled lockable
container of FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0010] FIG. 8 shows an alternative secondary package according to
the present disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 9 shows the alternative secondary package of FIG. 8 and
a lockable sleeve.
[0012] FIG. 10 shows a lockable container of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure
are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed
embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be
embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations
thereof. As used herein, the word "exemplary" is used expansively
to refer to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen,
model or pattern. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some
features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of
particular components. In other instances, well-known components,
systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in
order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to variously employ the present disclosure.
[0014] It is also contemplated that the present disclosure is not
limited to the pharmaceutical-related goods referenced with the
illustrated embodiments, but is applicable to any goods including
small, delicate, sensitive, or portable items. Examples of such
items include all manner of consumable products such as candy,
food, vitamins, and the like; all manner of personal care products
such as contact lens, birth control devices, smoking cessation
patches, hearing aid batteries, and the like; and any item and that
can fit within a lockable container. Further, the present
disclosure is not limited to the blister packs referenced with the
illustrated embodiments, but is applicable to any tray, card, rack,
pack, pouch, and the like to which an item of any sort may be held,
stored, attached, secured or otherwise associated with the
item.
[0015] Further, the lockable container described herein can be
configured to store and dispense items that are not packaged in a
blister card but in any primary package that is then attached to a
secondary package, such as a slidable platform. In such
embodiments, the blister card packaging can be substituted with a
tray, card, rack, pack, pouch, or the like. In general, the
teaching provided herein are applicable to any structure that holds
or stores an item, that provides a basis for attaching or securing
an item thereto, or that is otherwise associated with an item. In
describing the locking assembly, features and functions are
described, though it will be appreciated that the locking assembly
may not function as described unless the locking assembly is
cooperatively assembled with a sleeve, an outer container, or other
package component.
[0016] Referring now to the figures, wherein similar elements are
designated with similar numbers, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary
blank 10 for forming a secondary package, in this case an inner
slide card configured to receive a primary package in the form of a
blister pack. Further, the illustrated blanks are shown and
described in terms of unitary blanks but it is contemplated that
the present invention can be constructed and erected from discrete
panels that are joined. As all the various embodiments of blister
packs, including those with various types of backing such as paper
and/or foil, and those made of various materials such as plastic,
aluminum, and paper, are known to those skilled in the art, the
structure or function of the blister packs referenced herein will
not be further described.
[0017] In addition, the illustrated slide card is configured to be
releasably received by a lockable outer sleeve, such as those
taught in various pending U.S. and foreign patent applications and
patents related to the Shellpak.TM. brand family of products. Also
the materials that comprise the substrate of the blank 10 can be
selected from among any of the well-known materials or combinations
of materials and will not be further taught herein.
[0018] Continuing with reference to FIG. 1, the illustrated
secondary package 10 comprises a base panel 12 and a top panel 14
foldably attached to the base panel 12 along a fold line 16. The
illustrated base panel 12 is defined by a leading edge 20 and a
trailing edge 28, and includes an engaging element in the form of
an engaging aperture 22. The illustrated top panel 14 including a
matingly similar engaging aperture 22a, although in alternative
embodiments there may be only a single engaging element on either
the base panel 12 or top panel 14.
[0019] The top panel 14 further comprises a blister pack receiving
aperture 30. The perimeter of the illustrated receiving aperture 30
is generally the same shape as the perimeter of the top panel 14,
being defined by opposing side edges 32a, 32b , an end edge 34, and
an insert edge 36. The insert edge 36 begins and terminates at
opposing, outwardly turning--with respect to the void that is the
receiving aperture 30--radius cuts 38a, 38b. In the illustrated
embodiment the perimeter of the receiving aperture 30 is slightly
larger than the outside perimeter of the group of gates 40 located
on the base panel 12. Here, as illustrated, each gate is defined by
perforations and is removed before or in conjunction with removing
an item from a respective blister. In other alternatives, the gates
are apertures and do not further impede the removal of an item from
a blister.
[0020] In erecting the illustrated blank 10 to form a slide card,
the top panel 14 is connected to the base panel 12. In connecting
the respective panels 12, 14 the areas on the top panel 14 between
the respective side edges 32a, 32b and score lines 42a, 42b are not
connected to the base panel 12, in order to create receiving
flanges 44a, 44b as further described with reference to FIGS. 2-4.
Here the top panel 14 is connected to the base panel 12 with two
beads of cold adhesive. However, other connecting products are
possible and are contemplated, including hot adhesive, epoxy, or
combinations and the like, as well as mechanical connecting
products such as staples, stitching, punches, rivets, or
combinations and the like, as well as chemical/mechanical
connecting products such as welding, single face or double face
tape, or combinations and the like.
[0021] An exemplary method of folding and erecting the blank 10 to
form a secondary package will now be illustrated with reference to
FIGS. 2-4. Beginning with FIG. 2, the top panel 14 is folded along
the fold line 16, as best shown in FIG. 3, and the top panel 14 is
connected to the base panel 12 in a face-contacting
orientation.
[0022] Turning now to FIG. 4, which shows a fully constructed but
not yet fully erected secondary package, the reader will understand
that connecting the top panel 14 to the base panel 12 creates a
blister pack receiving pocket 50, defined by the receiving flanges
42a, 42b, and those portions along the end edge 34 and insert edge
36 that are not attached to the base panel 12. The insert edge 36
functions as the pocket opening 52. FIG. 4 also shows a
conventional blister pack 51, both before and after being loaded
into the fully constructed secondary package. To load the blister
pack 51 into the receiving pocket 50, the filler moves the blister
pack leading flange 54 toward the pocket opening 52 in the
direction of the arrow "A". More specifically, the filler slides
the leading flange 54 over the insert edge 36 and under the radius
cuts 38a, 38b to align and initiate the engaging of the blister
pack side flanges 56a, 56b with the receiving flanges 44a, 44b.
Once the blister pack side flanges 56a, 56b are correctly
positioned under the radius cuts 38a, 38b, the filler fully inserts
the blister pack 51 into the receiving pocket 50 by pushing the
blister pack until the side flanges 56a, 56b are substantially,
completely inserted within the receiving flanges 44a, 44b and
blister pack leading edge 54 passes under the receiving aperture
end edge 34. The filler can then slide the blister pack trailing
edge 58 back and under the insert edge 36, such that the entire
perimeter of the blister pack 51 is captured between the top panel
14 and base panel 12. In various embodiments the blister packs may
be loaded from the opposite end, and in various embodiments the
blister pack may be further secured to the secondary package.
[0023] For some applications the constructing and filling process
illustrated by FIGS. 2-4 is completed by a single party at one
location, such as a manufacturer/filler. For other applications,
the constructing steps shown in FIGS. 2-4 are completed by one
party at one location and the secondary package is then sent to a
filler at another location who completes the filling steps shown in
FIGS. 2-4.
[0024] Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there are shown exploded views
of an exemplary lockable container 110. As illustrated, the
lockable container 110 holds a slideable element, for example, a
secondary package 10 or "card" within a locking sleeve 114. The
locking sleeve 114 comprises a base 116 and a top 118. A release
button 120 is surrounded by a release button surround aperture 121
("aperture"), except along a hinged 122 that connects the release
button 120 to the base 116. The inside edge of the free end 124
includes an extended rim 125. Pushing inwardly on the free end 124,
i.e., the end of the release button 120 adjacent the aperture 121,
of the release button 120 frees the card 10, as explained in detail
below. Gripping the exposed card end 126 through the recess 128
(best shown in FIG. 7) and pulling outwardly while depressing the
release button 120 enables the secondary package 10 to be released
and at least partially extended from the sleeve 114.
[0025] The illustrated secondary package 10 includes blisters 130
arranged in two columns 132. This particular arrangement permits
the blisters 130 to avoid certain internal features of the
illustrated embodiments when the card 10 is translated inwardly or
outwardly. The card 10 is constructed in the matter described
above, and includes one or more apertures 22 for engaging internal
features of the lockable container 10. The illustrated card 10 has
one aperture 22, configured to act as both a detent receiver and a
retainer receiver, which cooperatively engages the card 10 and
prevents removal of the card 10 from the sleeve 114. In the
illustrated embodiments, this aperture 22 is positioned beyond the
blisters 130 and cooperates with the detent 129 to prevent movement
or translation of the card 10 until the card 10 is intentionally
released by pressing or otherwise properly manipulating the release
button 20.
[0026] Openings 146 in the sleeve top 118 allow the forming of one
or more springs 148 that press the card 10 so as to urge the
aperture 22 into engagement with the retaining detent 129. The
springs can be substituted for, or complimented by, additional
biasing mechanisms such as ribs, leaf springs, dagger springs,
combinations thereof, or the like, to exert a compressive force on
the card 10 to engage or remain engaged with the detent 129. As
will be understood, the biasing mechanism 148 does not have to be
opposite the detent 129, rather the biasing mechanism 148 and the
detent 129 are merely configured to cooperatively engage the detent
retainer 22 of the card 10.
[0027] As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, cylinders 150 located
proximate the side walls 152 of the base 116 receive pins 151
extending downwardly from the top 118. It should be appreciated
that other attachment mechanisms are possible, and that the
cylinders 150 and the pins 151 can be located on either or both of
the base 116 and the top 118. Furthermore, the illustrated
positioning is merely exemplary. A retainer 154, such as the dagger
spring centered in the top 118 near the open end 140 proximate the
recess 128, is captured by the retainer receiver as represented by
the aperture 22, to prevent complete removal of the card 10 from
the container 110. In the closed and locked configuration, the
detent 129 projects through the detent retainer illustrated here as
the aperture 22, to lock the card 10 in the sleeve 114. The inner
ribs 158 inside the top 118 can help stabilize the card 10 as it is
slideably extended and retracted.
[0028] With reference now to FIGS. 4-7, in operation, the free end
124 of the release button 120 is aligned between the ribs or
springs 148 so that when the release button 120 is pushed, the rim
125 pushes the card 10 against the springs 148 and over the detent
129. The guides 168, located on the inside of the base 116,
facilitate sliding of the card 10. When the release button 120 is
pressed, the rim 125 lifts the card 10 until the detent receiver 22
is lifted over the detent 129. Simultaneously, the card end 126 is
grasped and pulled to access at least the first set of blisters
130. The card 10 can continue to be extracted until the retainer
receiver 22 engages the retainer 154.
[0029] The detent 129 includes an engaging edge 176 that engages
the aperture 22 when the card 10 is fully inserted within the
container 110, and holds the card 10 to prevent outward movement
until the release button 120 and rim 125 disengage the aperture 22
from the detent 129. After an item is removed from the container
110, the card 10 can be slid inwardly and returned to a position
within the sleeve 114. When reinserting the card 10, the sloping
upper face 178 of the detent 129 lifts and urges the aperture 22 to
engage the detent 129 as the card 10 is fully reinserted into the
container 110. When the card 10 is fully inserted, the aperture 22
substantially surrounds and engages the detent 129.
[0030] The foregoing description has described embodiments with a
detent 129, and a detent retainer 22. It should be understood that
the detent 129 is only an exemplary engaging mechanism.
Accordingly, the concepts of this disclosure can include any
engaging mechanism, for example, a latch, a lip, a leaf spring, a
pin, a notch, a catch, a hook, an adhesive, a VELCRO.RTM. fastener,
a magnet, a metallic surface, combinations thereof, or the like.
Similarly, the detent retainer 22 is only an exemplary receiving
mechanism for interacting with the engaging mechanism. Accordingly,
the concepts of this disclosure can include any receiving
mechanism, for example, an aperture, a catch, a latch, a hook, a
lip, an adhesive, a VELCRO.RTM. fastener, a magnet, a metallic
surface, combinations thereof, or the like.
[0031] Turning now to FIGS. 8-10, there is shown an alternative
embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 shows a partially
assembled secondary package 210 configured to receive and hold
three primary packages in the form of blister packs 51, each in a
respective receiving pocket 50. Alternative embodiments include
more or less primary packages held by a respective number of
receiving pockets. FIG. 9 shows the secondary package 210 with the
last primary package being inserted and an exemplary outer sleeve
114. Next, FIG. 10 shows a secondary package 210 being inserted
into a lockable container 114 to form a lockable container
according to the present disclosure. The illustrated secondary
package 210 and outer sleeve 114 operate similarly to the
embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7.
[0032] The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive
to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present
claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary
illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear
understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations,
modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All
such variations, modifications, and combinations are included
herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following
claims.
* * * * *