Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02491007 2004-12-23
PACKAGE FOR DISPENSING INDIVIDUAL PORTIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly, relates to
the
packaging of medicants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The packaging of medicants is well known in the art and many different types
of packaging are employed. Such packaging generally ranges from situations
wherein
the pills, tablets, capsules or the like are placed in a bulk container to
situations
wherein they are individually packaged.
In the case where the medicants are dispensed in bulk, a container having a
child resistant cap is provided. In the instance wherein the medicants are
individually
dispensed, normally a blister pack is utilized.
Recently, the use of bulk packaging is being discouraged. This results from
the
understanding that packaging for medicants should have several properties. The
first
property is that the package should be tamper evident such that there will be
a clear
indication when the package has been subject to tampering. A second feature is
that
the package also be child resistant. Thus, it is obviously desirable that the
package
prevents young children from accessing the contents thereof. However, in
making the
package child resistant, it is also important that the package still be
readily openable by
those taking the medication. Since the most frequent users of medication are
seniors,
one must take into account the limits of their ability particularly when they
are
suffering from various physical problems.
A still further property is that the packaging should be compliance friendly.
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Recently, studies have indicated that one of the unrecognized problems is that
patients
do not necessarily take their medications as prescribed by the doctor. The
reasons for
this are not fully understood but studies have indicated that packaging plays
a large
role. To this end, more and more pharmaceutical companies are being encouraged
to
use individual packaging of the medicant whereby instructions can be clearly
printed
on the package. It is being found that, particularly among seniors, such type
of
packaging ensures greater compliance with the taking of the medication.
As above mentioned, one of the more common means of packaging individual
pills, capsules, tablets or the like is the use of a blister package. Such a
blister package
usually comprises a laminate of a blister layer having article receiving
pockets formed
therein and with the article receiving pockets being covered by a blister
backing layer.
This blister backing layer is usually an aluminum blister which is rupturable
to permit
access to the product in the blister pocket. While such packages are
inherently tamper
evident, it is not very child resistant and indeed can prove attractive to
some children
since it appears to be a natural curiosity of children to play with such types
of
packages.
A further problem with the conventional blister package is that there is
limited
space for printing and instructions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide packaging for medicants
and
which packaging is tamper evident, senior friendly, child resistant and
compliance
friendly.
According to one aspect to the present invention, there is provided a
container
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comprising an upper wall, a bottom wall, first and second sidewalls extending
between
the bottom wall and the top wall, a cover connected to a side marginal edge of
one of
the first and second sidewalls, the upper wall having a panel therein, the
panel being
defined by a line of weakening extending from a free marginal edge of the
upper wall,
a plurality of tear strips formed in the panel, a blister pack having a
blister layer with a
plurality of pockets formed therein, a blister layer over laying the blister
pockets, the
blister pack being secured to the upper wall with the blister layer lying
adjacent to the
upper wall, each of the blister pockets having one of the tear strips
associated
therewith.
The packaging of the present invention forms a package which is both
attractive
and readily portable. It can be formed from a single blank of paperboard and
can
readily be machine assembled.
The cover provides an additional protection to the tear strips as they are not
readily visible.
The arrangement of the tear strip over the blister pocket provides the degree
of
child resistance required while still being senior friendly. Preferably, the
arrangement
includes a rupturable blister layer sealed to a backside of the blister sheet
to form a
continuous cover over the blister pocket with the blister layer having a
thickness and
being formed of a material which could be ruptured to provide access to the
pocket.
There is also provided a reinforcing layer of a paperboard material which has
a first
side with some portions adhered to the blister layer and the sum of the
adhered
portions being in registry with the blister pockets. The paperboard layer also
will have
a line of weakening extending from the first side into the board, the line of
weakening
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being located in a portion overlying the blister pocket and a line of
weakening
extending into the board for only a portion of the thickness of the board with
a tear
strip formed in the reinforcing layer, the tear strip being associated with
the blister
pocket such that the reinforcing layer will delaminate when the tear strip is
pulled.
In a further arrangement, the tear strips are adhered to the blister about the
periphery of the tear strip, with a tab member connected to the tear strip at
one end
thereof, the arrangement being such that when the tab and tear strips are
removed, the
blister can be ruptured adjacent to the depression and the blister removed.
In a still further arrangement, the reinforcing layer of paperboard material
has a
first side with at least portions thereof adhered to the blister layer and a
tear strip
formed in the paperboard layer. The tear strip overlies the blister pocket
with the tear
strip having a first tab at one end being connected to the tear strip and a
second tab at a
second end being separated from the tear strip by a cut through the paperboard
layer.
Each of the tabs are not adhered to the blister layer and the blister layer
has a gripping
portion to enable grasping thereof such that it may be removed to gain access
to the
contents of the blister pocket.
In the first arrangement set forth above, the delamination of the paperboard
and
the ability to push the product from the pocket is controlled by providing a
line of
weakening formed in the paperboard on the face which is adjacent to the
blister. This
line of weakening permits the product to be dispensed from the blister pocket
with less
effort than would otherwise be the case to thereby render the same a senior
friendly
package. At the same time, the line of weakening is not evident to a child
since it does
not extend through that portion of the paperboard which remains covering the
blister
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pocket.
In the second arrangement, the tear strip is interconnected to a tab and which
tab
is designed to be lifted to pull the paperboard layer from the back of the
blister. In this
regard, the paperboard is only adhered to the blister about the periphery of
the blister
pocket. Thus, after removal of the paperboard layer, the blister may be
removed by
pushing the blister in the area of a depression formed in the blister layer.
This permits
removal of the blister with less effort than would otherwise be the case.
The contents in the blister pocket are conventionally tablets or capsules or
the
like. However, as will be shown in the description of the preferred
embodiments, the
package of the present invention can be utilized with liquids and the like.
The materials utilized in the present invention are well known in the art.
Thus,
the blister layer may be formed with a number of blister pockets projecting
from a
front side thereof, each designed to receive a unit dosage of a pharmaceutical
product
or indeed, some other product. The sheet may comprise a normally rectangular
continuous blister sheet of a flexible clear material which cannot be easily
torn or
ruptured. Typically, such a film would be a vinyl thermoplastic film having a
thickness in excess of 10 mil.
The rupturable film sealed to the back side of the blister sheet is also well
known in the art and may be selected from many known materials. Typically,
such
rupturable blisters are of aluminum material having a thickness in the range
of 1 mil
and which may be joined to the blister sheet by conventional adhesives such as
heat
seal or coatings well known in the art.
In those applications wherein a paper layer is utilized, it again may use a
heat
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sealable adhesive and comprise paper having a weight of between 13 pounds to
17
pounds.
The reinforcing layer is preferably a paper product such paperboard. The tear
strips in the paperboard layer may be defined by parallel lines of
perforations or slits in
the outwardly facing side to thereby form longitudinal tear lines which define
the tear
strip. At one end of the strip, there may be a tab which is not sealed to the
blister layer.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the line of weakening
defining
the tab may extend into the paperboard for a depth of preferably between 10
and 40%
of the thickness of the paperboard and more preferably, approximately 30% of
the
thickness.
Where the tab joins the tear strip, there is preferably a cut from the inner
facing
side of the paperboard which extends between 60 and 90% of the thickness of
the
paperboard.
In the above described embodiment, there is also provided a line of weakening
which is cut into the paperboard from the inner side thereof at the position
where the
capsule will be ejected from the blister pocket. This line of weakening
assists in
dispensing of the product and may extend into the paperboard for a distance of
between 10 and 40% of the thickness thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the forming sequence for manufacturing
the package or container; and
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Figure 2 illustrates the sequence for opening the package or container.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in Figure 1, there is provided a package 10 which comprises a central
bottom panel 12, a dispensing panel 14, and a cover panel 16.
Between bottom panel 12 and dispensing panel 14, there is provided a sidewall
section 20 and similarly, there is provided a sidewall section 18 between
cover panel
16 and central bottom panel 12.
Extending outwardly from the marginal edges of dispensing panel 14 are end
walls 22 and 24. Similarly, extending outwardly from the marginal edges of
bottom
panel 12 are end wall sections 26 and 28.
Dispensing panel 14 includes a cut-out 30 for reasons which will become
apparent hereinbelow. Cover panel 16 also includes a tab portion 32 for
sealing the
package.
Mounted on dispensing panel 14 is a blister pack 34. Such blister packs are
known in the art and preferably, blister pack 34 is, in conjunction with
dispensing
panel 14, formed according to one of the teachings set forth in co-pending
U.S. patent
application Serial Number 10/629,946.
As will be seen from Figure 1, there are provided a pair of lines of
perforations
36. In lieu of perforations a die cut or other similar line of weakening may
be
provided.
As may be seen in Figure l, the package is formed with dispensing panel 14
overlying bottom panel 12 and being spaced therefrom. Subsequently, cover
panel 16
lies on top of dispensing panel 14. As may be seen in Figures 1 and 2, tear
strips 38
CA 02491007 2004-12-23
are provided in dispensing panel 14 according to the teachings of co-pending
U.S.
patent application 10/629,946.
Finally, tab portion 32 may be sealed to sidewall section 20.
In forming the package, it may be manufactured using heat sealable stock or
alternatively hot melt adhesive could be utilized.
As seen in Figure 2, for opening, tab portion 32 is grasped and cover panel 16
raised. Subsequently, the central section of dispensing panel 14 may be
accessed by
inserting a finger in the cut-out portion 30 and tearing along lines of
weakening 36.
Access may then be had to the medicants in blister pack 34.
It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of
illustration only and changes and modifications can be made thereto without
departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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