U.S. patent number 3,826,358 [Application Number 05/251,997] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-30 for package for tablets.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Miles Laboratories, Inc.. Invention is credited to Arthur Devon Butler, Robert Lee Debroka, Horace Bradley Moyer, Ronald Lee Yinger.
United States Patent |
3,826,358 |
Butler , et al. |
July 30, 1974 |
PACKAGE FOR TABLETS
Abstract
A combination of a tubular container having inwardly projecting
holding means and cushion means frictionally engaged therewith
adjacent the bottom end wall. Am ambient effective element may be
retained between the cushion means and the bottom end wall.
Inventors: |
Butler; Arthur Devon (Elkhart,
IN), Debroka; Robert Lee (Mishawaka, IN), Moyer; Horace
Bradley (Elkhart, IN), Yinger; Ronald Lee (Edwarsburg,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Miles Laboratories, Inc.
(Elkhart, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
22954229 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/251,997 |
Filed: |
May 10, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/204; 206/205;
206/523; 312/31; 206/534 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
81/266 (20130101); B65D 81/1075 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
81/107 (20060101); B65D 81/26 (20060101); B65d
081/26 (); B65d 085/56 (); B01f 003/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/42,46PV
;312/31 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Summer; Leonard
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A package for friable tablets comprising, in combination, a
container having a tubular side wall, an end wall and an open end
opposite said end wall, said side wall defining an inner chamber of
substantially uniform impediment-free cross section and said side
wall being provided adjacent said open end with shoulder means
adapted for removable engagement by closure means, holding means
adjacent said end wall consisting of at least three equally spaced
axially extending, radially inwardly projecting vanes of equal size
integral with said side and end walls, said vanes each having an
inwardly sloping end edge surface opposite said end wall, said
vanes extending longitudinally within said chamber a distance
substantially less than the length of said tubular side wall, said
vanes reducing the area of said chamber cross section thereat, and
semi-rigid cushion means disposed within said container adjacent
said end wall, said cushion means having a cross sectional
dimension which is less than that of the impediment-free portion of
said inner chamber and greater than that of said reduced cross
section portion thereof, said cushion means frictionally engaging
said vanes and being disposed in spaced relationship to said side
and end walls, said cushion means having an inner end surface
portion facing away from said end wall and disposed in said
impediment-free portion of said inner chamber and spaced
longitudinally from said vanes.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubular
side wall and said cushion means are cylindrical in shape.
3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein there is a
cylindrical ambient effective element within said container
disposed between said cushion means and said end wall.
4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, including an ambient
effective element within said container disposed between said
cushion means and said end wall, said ambient effective element
being larger than the maximum spacing between said cushion means
and said side wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new package particularly suited for
maintaining intact, friable tablets. This invention further relates
to a novel package having two communicating chambers such that a
physical separation may exist between materials situated in the
respective chambers.
In many fields it has been found convenient to prepare single use
units in the form of a shaped object, generally referred to as a
tablet. Such tablets may be prepared according to known techniques
in various sizes, shapes, hardnesses, etc.
One widely used method of forming tablets involves compressing
powdered or granular compositions in punch and die sets on
tableting equipment. Another known method of preparing tablets
involves molding.
It is also known that many tablets are friable, and must be
carefully packaged if they are to be received by a consumer in a
satisfactory condition.
To protect small tablets, particularly those that are easily
broken, it has been a practice to insert in the top of a bottle a
cushion of a flexible, soft material, such as cotton, after the
bottle has been loaded with tablets. The amount of material
inserted is chosen so that it fills the void space remaining after
loading the bottle and exerts a light, yieldable, force upon the
tablets. In this way, when the bottle is shaken during handling
prior to reaching the consumer, the tablets are not permitted to
fly about and become fractured.
It has been a practice with larger tablets to use as a cushion a
disc of a yieldable material. This cushion is often placed in the
space remaining after the filling of the bottle. In some
situations, it has been found desirable to insert a cushion in the
bottle prior to filling with the product as well as in the space
remaining after filling.
In some situations it is desirable to include within the bottle an
ambient effective element. Such element may be a humidifying
material, a perfume, a color signal device sensitive to heat,
moisture, or breakdown of the product, or other element related to
the condition of the product. When such element is include in a
loose condition with the tablets, it has been the practice to have
it in a form which is substantially different therefrom.
One such different form is that used for desiccants. These
materials are commonly placed in small packets which should be
easily recognizable as not being the product. However, as in the
case of a loose cushion, it has unfortunately been found that
consumers endeavor, at times, to use these packets as if they were
the product.
Attempts have been made to physically separate these elements from
the product, such as by incorporation in a cap used with the
bottle. Although physical separation does alleviate the problem of
the consumer improperly using this element, the cost of such
packages has been prohibitively high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is embodied in a combination of a container having a
tubular sidewall, an end wall and an open end opposite the end
wall; and cushion means. The side wall is provided with shoulder
means adjacent to the open end adapted for removable engagement by
closure means. Holding means projects from the inner surface of the
side and end walls. The cushion means, disposed within the
container is retained therein by frictional engagement with the
holding means.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a package
for tablets that includes cushion means frictionally retained
therein under normal conditions of removal of a product from the
package.
It is another object of this invention to provide, in a container,
two communicating, physically separated, chambers separated by
cushion means which is retained in the container under normal
conditions of removal of a product therefrom.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an inexpensive
combination of a container and cushion means having the desirable
properties described herein.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a package for
tablets that includes an ambient effective element that is
physically separated from a product included therein.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide, in
combination, a container and a removable cushion means suitable for
use with high speed production equipment.
Other objects of this invention will be readily identifiable by one
skilled in the art from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a container having a
structure in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken along the Line 2--2 of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away to show detail, of a
package in which the container of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in
combination with a yieldable cushion, an ambient effective element,
and a closure member;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section view taken along Line 4--4 of FIG. 3,
with tablets and a second cushion shown in phantom;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a container 12 having a tubular side wall
13 with an exterior surface 15 and an interior surface 16. In this
embodiment, container 12 has a cylindrical shape and the exterior
surface 15 and the interior surface 16 are substantially parallel
and concentric. Container 12 may have other shapes, such as,
rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, oval, and the like.
Preferably, this container will be symmetrical about the
longitudinal center axis thereof. The length and width or diameter
of container 12 may be varied so that either dimension is the
greater according to the end use thereof. Generally, the container
12 will be longer than it is wide, however, it is possible that a
reversal of these dimensions may be desirable.
The container of this embodiment is preferably formed by injection
molding high density polyethylene. However, it is to be recognized
that other materials may be utilized for the construction of
container 12 within the scope of this invention. Examples of
materials commonly used for this type of container include
polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, glass, metal and the like.
Container 12 has an end wall 17 and an open end defined by a
annular end surface 19. In this embodiment, end wall 17 is integral
with side wall 13. It is contemplated that end wall 17 may be
attached to side wall 13 by other means, such as, a friction fit,
welding, screwing, adhesive bonding, clips and the like.
Preferably, end wall 17 is permanently fixed to side wall 13 if its
removal is not required. Of course, if periodic access is desired
through this portion of container 12, end wall 17 may detachably
cooperate with side wall 13.
Adjacent its open end the container 12 is formed with shoulder
means 20 adapted for removable engagement by closure means. In this
embodiment, shoulder means 20 is a screw thread. Shoulder means 20
may be spaced from end 19 as shown or contiguous therewith as
required. Such shoulder means may be interrupted or extend only
partially around side wall 13, as in the case of shoulder means
cooperable with a snap lock closure means.
The container 12 is provided with holding means in the form of
three axially extending vanes 21, 22 and 23, which are
substantially identical and project radially into container 12 from
interior surface 16 adjacent the end wall 17. Vanes 21, 22 and 23
are preferably equiangularly spaced and are relatively thin
compared to their height and width. The particular shape of vanes
21, 22 and 23 is not considered critical and the selection thereof
will vary according to the particular end use of the combination of
this invention.
In this embodiment, vanes 21, 22 and 23 each have a rounded
inwardly sloping upper end edge surfaces 24, 25 and 26. While a
rounded upper end edge surface is preferred, this surface may have
other shapes according to the final use of the container. Such
surface may be a sloped flat surface instead of rounded. In other
embodiments this surface may be rippled so as to impart a lateral
movement to an object making contact therewith. Many other shapes
may, of course, be selected within the scope of this invention.
Vanes 21, 22 and 23 have an inner surfaces 27, 28 and 29,
respectively, which are flat and substantially parallel with
interior side wall surface 16. In this embodiment surfaces 27, 28
and 29 blend, respectively, into the radius of each of the surfaces
24, 25 and 26 at the joining point of such surfaces of each vane.
Although such a blending is beneficial in this embodiment, it is
recognized that a sharp break may be the choice in other structures
within the scope of this invention.
It is to be understood that the number of holding means included in
container 12 is not critical and that no limitation is imposed on
the plurality of holding means therein.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, yieldable cushion means 31 is shown
disposed within the container 12. Cushion means 31 is preferably a
cylinder of semi-rigid, cellular material such as foam polystyrene.
It is a known characteristic of this material that it will deform
when an object applies sufficient pressure thereto and that a
portion of such deformation will be permanent. However, this
material has adequate resilience to have a small amount of spring
back and, accordingly, exerts sufficient continuing pressure
against such deforming object, even when the latter is in a fixed
relation thereto, to result in a frictional engagement
therewith.
Cushion 31 has a radius greater than the radial spacing between the
axis of the tubular wall 13 and the inner vane surfaces 27, 28 and
29 such that deformed portion 33 is formed in cushion 31 at each
place of contact between said cushion and vanes 21, 22 and 23 as it
is disposed in container 12. Although some permanent deformation
exists in cushion 31, its structure is such that there is a
continuing exertion of pressure against the vanes and thereby a
frictional engagement therewith effective to hold cushion means 31
in the operative position within container 12 shown in FIGS. 3 and
4.
The cushion means 31 may be selected from the numerous semi-rigid
materials suitable for this use. Among such materials are cellular
polystyrene, cotton wadding, compressed paper, cellulose sponge,
polyurethane foam and the like. The size of the cushion is, of
course, selected so that it will properly engage the holding means.
It is to be understood that the shape of the cushion means is not
critical and may be varied according to the container, tablets, or
other limitations related to its use.
A closure means 34 is removably engaged with shoulder means 20 and,
in conjunction with a sealing liner 35, closes the open end of
container 12. Closure means 34, in this embodiment, is a metal cap
having a thread that matches shoulder means 20. Liner 35 has been
included, as is the practice, to assist in the formation of a
substantially airtight seal with annular end surface 19.
In FIGS. 3 and 4 an ambient effective element 36 is shown disposed
between end wall 17 and cushion means 31 and is generally centered
within the vanes 21, 22 and 23. It will be recognized that element
36 is located within one of two separate and communicating chambers
37 and 38 formed within container 12 by cushion means 31. In the
illustrated embodiment the element 36 takes the form of a
cylindrical or disc shaped molecular sieve desiccant of a size such
that it readily fits within the vanes 21, 22 and 23. Seating of the
element 36 is facilitated by the rounded surfaces 24, 25 and 26. It
will be observed that, while the element 36 is physically separated
from chamber 38 by the cushion 31, the communication between
chambers 37 and 38, permits element 36 to beneficially affect the
entire ambience within container 12. Element 36 is of such
demensions that when in any position in chamber 37 it is larger
than the maximum spacing between cushion 31 and interior surface
16, and is accordingly prevented from passing therebetween into
chamber 38.
The element selected may be a desiccant, or it may be selected for
other desirable properties related to the ambience within container
12. Such element may have the character of a humidifying material,
a perfume, a color signal device sensitive to heat, moisture or
breakdown of a product within the container. The shape selected for
the element may correspond to the exterior or interior
configurations of the container or may be chosen according to other
controlling features. Of course it is to be recognized that a
plurality of elements may be positioned in chamber 37 if a
plurality of effects is desired.
Shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 4 as being disposed coaxially
within the chamber 38 and in contact with cushion means 31 is a
product 10 which may take the form of a plurality of stacked
cylindrical tablets. Also shown in FIG. 4 in dot-and-dash lines is
a cylindrical cushion 31a which may be identical with cushion 31
and is interposed between the top of the product 10 and the closure
means 34.
The particular configuration of the external and internal surfaces
of this novel container may be other than the preferred
arrangements represented by the above described embodiments. Such a
variety of configurations is contemplated within the scope of this
invention.
The combination of this invention may be readily assembled and
filled with product using standard loading equipment. Conventional
equipment may be used for placing the cushion means a predetermined
distance into the container with adequate force so that it will be
properly retained therein by the holding means. Since equipment for
these loading operations is currently available, it will not be
described herein.
* * * * *