U.S. patent application number 16/264767 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-01 for unit dose packaging system (udps) inner card configurations.
The applicant listed for this patent is WestRock MWV, LLC. Invention is credited to Marty Jones, Steven P. Jones, James D. Knotts.
Application Number | 20190233159 16/264767 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67391860 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-01 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190233159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones; Steven P. ; et
al. |
August 1, 2019 |
UNIT DOSE PACKAGING SYSTEM (UDPS) INNER CARD CONFIGURATIONS
Abstract
A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature includes
an outer paperboard sleeve and an inner paperboard slide card
lockably retained within the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve
includes a plurality of panels operatively connected to each other
such that a top panel of the plurality of panels includes an inner
slide card retaining aperture and an inner slide card releasing
button defined thereon. The inner slide card includes a plurality
of unit dose dispensing blisters and a retaining and releasing
panel located adjacent to the unit dose dispensing blisters. The
inner slide card includes an access edge opposite the retaining and
releasing panel, wherein the access edge is free of any folding
spine.
Inventors: |
Jones; Steven P.; (Elon,
NC) ; Jones; Marty; (Glen Allen, VA) ; Knotts;
James D.; (Glen Allen, VA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
WestRock MWV, LLC |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67391860 |
Appl. No.: |
16/264767 |
Filed: |
February 1, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62624927 |
Feb 1, 2018 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0463 20130101;
B65D 2215/04 20130101; B65D 75/327 20130101; B65D 75/367 20130101;
B65D 2583/0454 20130101; B65D 5/38 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 5/38 20060101
B65D005/38; B65D 75/36 20060101 B65D075/36; B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Claims
1. A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature,
comprising: an outer paperboard sleeve and an inner paperboard
slide card lockably retained within the outer sleeve, such that the
outer sleeve includes a plurality of panels operatively connected
to each other such that a top panel of the plurality of panels
includes an inner slide card retaining aperture and an inner slide
card releasing button defined thereon; and wherein the inner slide
card includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters and a
retaining and releasing panel located adjacent to the one or more
unit dose dispensing blisters, wherein the inner slide card
includes an access edge opposite the retaining and releasing panel,
wherein the access edge is free of any folding spine.
2. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the retaining and
releasing panel is hingedly attached along a fold line to the inner
slide card, with a catch edge opposite the fold line.
3. The package as recited in claim 2, wherein the top panel
includes a plurality of layers, wherein the card retaining aperture
is defined as an aperture in an inner layer of the plurality of
layers, and wherein the slide card releasing button is defined in
an outer layer of the plurality of layers, wherein the card
retaining aperture includes a catch edge configured to engage the
catch edge of the retaining and releasing panel to prevent removal
of the slide card without depressing the button.
4. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner slide card
includes a fold over panel connected to the inner slide card along
a spine that extends along a lateral edge of the inner slide card
between the inner slide card retaining and releasing panel and the
access edge.
5. The package as recited in claim 4, wherein the fold over panel
includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters.
6. The package as recited in claim 5, wherein the one or more dose
dispensing blisters of the inner slide card, including the one or
more dose dispensing blisters of the fold over panel, are Alu-Alu
blisters.
7. The package as recited in claim 4, wherein the fold over panel
includes a spaced apart pair of end edges, wherein one of the end
edges that is closest to the access edge is recessed within the
sleeve with the inner slide card locked within the sleeve.
8. The package as recited in claim 7, wherein the end edges are
parallel to the access edge of the inner slide card.
9. The package as recited in claim 4, wherein the fold over panel
is free of dose dispensing blisters.
10. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner slide card
includes two opposed lateral edges extending between the access
edge and the retaining and releasing panel, wherein each of the
lateral edges and the access edge are all free of any folding
spine.
11. A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature,
comprising: an inner paperboard slide card configured to be
lockably retained within an outer sleeve, wherein the inner slide
card includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters and a
retaining and releasing panel located adjacent to the one or more
unit dose dispensing blisters, wherein the inner slide card
includes an access edge opposite the retaining and releasing panel,
wherein the access edge is free of any folding spine.
12. The package as recited in claim 11, wherein the retaining and
releasing panel is hingedly attached along a fold line to the inner
slide card, with a catch edge opposite the fold line.
13. The package as recited in claim 12, wherein the catch edge of
the retaining and releasing panel is configured to engage a catch
edge of a card retaining aperture to prevent removal of the slide
card without depressing a button.
14. The package as recited in claim 11, wherein the inner slide
card includes a fold over panel connected to the inner slide card
along a spine that extends along a lateral edge of the inner slide
card between the inner slide card retaining and releasing panel and
the access edge.
15. The package as recited in claim 14, wherein the fold over panel
includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters.
16. The package as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more
dose dispensing blisters of the inner slide card, including the one
or more dose dispensing blisters of the fold over panel, are
Alu-Alu blisters.
17. The package as recited in claim 14, wherein the fold over panel
includes a spaced apart pair of end edges, wherein one of the end
edges that is closest to the access edge is positioned to be
recessed within a sleeve with the inner slide card locked within
the sleeve.
18. The package as recited in claim 17, wherein the end edges are
parallel to the access edge of the inner slide card.
19. The package as recited in claim 14, wherein the fold over panel
is free of dose dispensing blisters.
20. The package as recited in claim 11, wherein the inner slide
card includes two opposed lateral edges extending between the
access edge and the retaining and releasing panel, wherein each of
the lateral edges and the access edge are all free of any folding
spine.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.
62/624927 filed on Feb. 1, 2018, which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present disclosure relates to unit dose packaging
systems (UDPSs), and more particularly to child resistant
UDPSs.
2. Description of Related Art
[0003] Child resistant unit dose packaging systems require pressing
a button or tab on an outer sleeve to release a blister back from
the sleeve. Once the blisters are clear of the sleeve, a dose can
be removed by pressing it out of the blister. The multiple steps
required to actually obtain the product from the blister discourage
and/or prevent children from being able to remove products from the
blister pack.
[0004] In traditional child resistant unit dose packaging systems,
depending on the specific design configuration, it may be possible
to rock the spine of the blister pack from the sleeve without
depressing the button. This can potentially create a pick point for
children in testing, in which some designs may not meet more
stringent child proofing standards.
[0005] The conventional techniques have been considered
satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever
present need for improved unit dose packaging systems. This
disclosure provides a solution for this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature
includes an outer paperboard sleeve and an inner paperboard slide
card lockably retained within the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve
includes a plurality of panels operatively connected to each other
such that a top panel of the plurality of panels includes an inner
slide card retaining aperture and an inner slide card releasing
button defined thereon. The inner slide card includes one or more
unit dose dispensing blisters and a retaining and releasing panel
located adjacent to the one or more unit dose dispensing blisters.
The inner slide card includes an access edge opposite the retaining
and releasing panel, wherein the access edge is free of any folding
spine.
[0007] The retaining and releasing panel can be hingedly attached
along a fold line to the inner slide card, with a catch edge
opposite the fold line. The top panel can include a plurality of
layers, wherein the card retaining aperture is defined as an
aperture in an inner layer of the plurality of layers, and wherein
the slide card releasing button is defined in an outer layer of the
plurality of layers. The card retaining aperture can include a
catch edge configured to engage the catch edge of the retaining and
releasing panel to prevent removal of the slide card without
depressing the button.
[0008] The inner slide card can include a fold over panel connected
to the inner slide card along a spine that extends along a lateral
edge of the inner slide card between the inner slide card retaining
and releasing panel and the access edge. The fold over panel can
include one or more unit dose dispensing blisters. The one or more
dose dispensing blisters of the inner slide card, including the one
or more dose dispensing blisters of the fold over panel, can be
Alu-Alu blisters. It is also contemplated that the fold over panel
can be free of dose dispensing blisters. The fold over panel can
includes a spaced apart pair of end edges, wherein one of the end
edges that is closest to the access edge is recessed within the
sleeve with the inner slide card locked within the sleeve. The end
edges can be parallel to the access edge of the inner slide
card.
[0009] In another aspect, the inner slide card can include two
opposed lateral edges extending between the access edge and the
retaining and releasing panel, wherein each of the lateral edges
and the access edge are all free of any folding spine.
[0010] These and other features of the systems and methods of the
subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those
skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] So that those skilled in the art to which the subject
disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use
the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue
experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in
detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an
exemplary embodiment of a package constructed in accordance with
the present disclosure, showing the sleeve and the inner slide card
in the open, unlocked position for accessing the blister packs;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1,
showing the button and the card retaining aperture with the inner
slide card in the closed and locked position;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner slide card of FIG.
1, showing the inner slide card without the sleeve;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment
of a slide card in accordance with the present disclosure, showing
the slide card with no fold over panel; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the
package of FIG. 1, showing the position of the access edge of the
inner slide card with the inner slide card in the locked position
within the sleeve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like
reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects
of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and
illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary
embodiment of a package in accordance with the disclosure is shown
in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100.
Other embodiments of packages in accordance with the disclosure, or
aspects thereof, are provided in FIGS. 2-5, as will be described.
The systems and methods described herein can be used to prevent
access, as in child proofing, to contents in unit dose packaging
systems such as for pharmaceuticals.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829 is incorporated by reference herein
in its entirety. It provides an explanation of a unit dose
packaging system (UPDS), provides an explanation of how to form
such a package from a paperboard blank which is assembled into an
outer sleeve, provides an explanation of how to form an inner slide
card, and provides an explanation for how to assemble the inner
slide card into the outer sleeve to provide a locking mechanism in
the closed position of the inner slide card and a mechanism for
preventing complete removal of the inner slide card from the outer
sleeve or shell.
[0019] The unit dose paperboard package 100 has a locking feature
and includes an outer paperboard sleeve 102 and an inner paperboard
slide card 104 lockably retained within the outer sleeve 102. As
shown in FIG. 2, the outer sleeve 102 includes a plurality of
panels 106, 108, 110, and 112 operatively connected to each other
such that a top panel 110 of the plurality of panels includes an
inner slide card retaining aperture 114 and an inner slide card
releasing button 116 defined thereon. The top panel 110 can include
a plurality of layers 111 and 113, wherein the card retaining
aperture 114 is defined as an aperture in the inner layer 113 of
the plurality of layers 111 and 113. The slide card releasing
button 116 is defined in the outer layer 111. The inner slide card
104 includes a plurality of unit dose dispensing blisters 118 and a
retaining and releasing panel 120 located adjacent to the unit dose
dispensing blisters 118. The inner slide card includes an access
edge 122 opposite the retaining and releasing panel, wherein the
access edge 122 is free of any folding spine.
[0020] With reference now to FIG. 3, the retaining and releasing
panel 120 can be hingedly attached along a fold line 124 to the
inner slide card 104, with a catch edge 126 opposite the fold line
124. The card retaining aperture 114 can include a catch edge 128
(identified in FIG. 2) configured to engage the catch edge 126 of
the retaining and releasing panel 120 to prevent removal of the
slide card 104 without depressing the button 116.
[0021] The inner slide card 104 includes a fold over panel 130
connected to the inner slide card 104 along a spine 132 that
extends along a lateral edge 134 of the inner slide card 104
between the inner slide card retaining and releasing panel 120 and
the access edge 122. The fold over panel 130 can optionally include
a plurality of unit dose dispensing blisters 118 as indicated by
the broken lines in FIG. 1. The dose dispensing blisters 118 of the
inner slide card, including the dose dispensing blisters of the
fold over panel 130 if applicable, can be Alu-Alu blisters or any
other suitable type. It is also contemplated that the fold over
panel 130 can be free of dose dispensing blisters 118 as shown in
FIG. 3. The fold over panel 130 includes a spaced apart pair of end
edges 136 and 138, wherein the end edge 138 is the closest to the
access edge 122 and is offset from the access edge 122 by an offset
distance D in the direction toward the end edge 136. This offset
distance D makes the end edge 138 recessed within the sleeve 102
with the inner slide card 104 locked within the sleeve 102 as shown
in FIG. 5. The end edges 136 and 138 are parallel to the access
edge 122 of the inner slide card 104, and there is enough clearance
between the end edge 136 and the catch edge 126, indicated by
distance d in FIG. 1, to allow the fold over panel 130 to open when
the inner slide card 104 is in the open position shown in FIG. 1. A
retention tab 140 in the sleeve 102 interlocks with the retaining
and releasing panel 120 to prevent full removal of the inner slide
card 104 beyond the open position shown in FIG. 1.
[0022] With reference now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of an inner
slide card 204 for use with the sleeve 102 does not include a fold
over panel 103. The inner slide card 204 includes a retaining and
releasing panel 220, and fold line 224, an access edge 222, and
blister packs 218 much like slide card 104 described above. Two
opposed lateral edges 234 extending between the access edge 222 and
the retaining and releasing panel 220, wherein each of the lateral
edges 234 and the access edge 222 are all free of any folding
spine. Potential advantages for having no spline include
elimination of rocking of the spine to access content without
pushing the button 116. The accessible portion of the slide card
204 can be made slick and hard to grasp as a single layer. It is
also difficult for children to get their mouth on the single layer
of slide card 204 when in the locked position.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 5, the lunate cutouts 142 shown in
FIGS. 1 and 5 allow a user to access the access edge 122 of the
inner slide card when the inner slide card is in the locked
position as shown in FIG. 5. When a user depresses the button 116,
the catch edges 126 and 128 of the inner slide card 104 and the
sleeve 102, respectively, disengage and the user can pinch the
slide card through the lunate cutouts 142 as indicated by the large
arrows in FIG. 5. The user can then pull the slide card 104 out of
the sleeve 102 until it reaches the open position shown in FIG. 1.
Since there is no spline projecting from the open end of the sleeve
102, circumventing the button pushing step is discouraged and even
impossible, e.g., in child proofing testing.
[0024] The slide card 104 includes potential advantages over
traditional configurations. This eliminates rocking of the spine,
as there is no spine accessible in the locked position shown in
FIG. 5. The single layer of slide card 104 that is accessible in
the locked position can be made slick and hard to grasp as a single
layer. It is difficult for children to get the mouth on this single
layer. The fold over panel 130 can prevent users for closing the
package incorrectly, as one must fold the fold over panel 130 over
the slide card 104 before sliding the slide card 104 back into the
locked position within sleeve 102. It can also provide better
nesting of Alu-Alu blisters than in traditional configurations as
it prevents rocking which traditional Alu-Alu blisters can
exacerbate.
[0025] Those skilled in the art having the benefit of this
disclosure, and the benefit of U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829, will
readily appreciate how to assemble the blank 101 of FIG. 4 into a
sleeve 102, how to assemble the slide card 104, and how to assemble
the slide card 104 into the sleeve 102 so that improved direct
pressing of the button 102 unlocks access to the slide card 104
when in the locked position, in accordance to this disclosure.
[0026] The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as
described above and shown in the drawings, provide for unit dose
packages with superior properties including improved child-proofing
and durability. While the apparatus and methods of the subject
disclosure have been shown and described with reference to
preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily
appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.
* * * * *