Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
,3 I aye to ho
Lowe
UI~I T Portion PACK
The present i nventi on net ales to unit t pro Roy on pea us for pi l l S 9
tablets capsules or other solid product items.
The current fonn~fill-seal unit pack systems for various products,
including pills are generally strips or pouches made from metal
foil, paper or wearable plastics films such what access to the
contents is by tearing the pack. These packs can be opened very
10 easily by children and therefore present a potential hazard to them.
It is an object of the presort invention to provide a unit portion
pack which although it does not allow indiscriminate access to its
contents can still be opened relatively easily by an adult.
I
According the present invention there is provided a unit portion
pack for pills or like solid product items, the pack being wormed of
first and second webs defining there between a plurality of mutually
spaced cavity-forming regions around the periphery of each of which
the webs are bonded together, and a purl of the said pills or
like solid product items which are received in the cavil ty-formi no
regions individually and which are substantially smaller in at least
one plan dimension than the corresponding plan dimension of the
cavil ty-fonmi no rouge on; do least one of the webs being flexible
whereby the product items may be manipulated to undergo movement
within the cavi~y-forming regions at least in the direction ox the
said plan dimension, at least the first web being a laminate
comprising a rupturable layer and a Lear resistant layer which is
formed with score or slit lines adapted to provide dispensing
openings for the product items the score or slit lines crossing the
cavity-for~ing regions at a spacing from the peripheries Go said
regions but being located or locatable by a said movement of the
product items within the caYity-forming regions to lie on or outboard
of the periphery en of the product i terms.
of
2 -
Each product item is dispensed by rupturing the rupturable layer
along the score or slit lines to provide a dispensing opening for
what product item, and when by moving the rocket item through the
dispensing opening so formed. The ease or difficulty ox these steps
can be chosen by the design of the pack.
The rupturable layer is arranged to be torn with assistance from or
the cooperation of the product item. This mazy require locations of
the product item relative to the appropriate score or slit line so
lo that it can act as a tool and thereby provide assistance in the
parting of the rupturable layer where required. If the prcduc1: item
is not correctly located in relation to the score or slit line it is
difficult or impossible to form the dispensing opening.
In a preferred embodiment, each Gavity-forming region and the product
received therein are shaped and dimensioned such that adjacent area
substantially triarlgular in cross section earl be or is defined at the
periphery of the cavity-forming region said area being defined by
spaced facing surfaces of said first and second webs and the
periphery of said solid product item, and wherein toe score or slit
line is arranged to cross said area. In this arrangement the product
item acts somewhat as 2 wedge to keep the facing surfaces of the two
webs spaced. Thus, simply squeezing the two facing surfaces together
will rupture the rupturable layer to for the dispensing opening.
Use no the product item in this manner enables the dispensing opening
to be formed reliably end with a minimum of pressure. However,
particularly the product item needs to be located in relation to the
score or slit line before the dispensing opening can be formed, it us
pa not a procedure which children wind easy to perform. Thus it is
thought that the present invention provides a good compromise between
the conflicting requirements for a pack whisk is child resistant and
is yet convenient to use.
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The rupturable layer of the laminate material may be metal ~O;1J such
as aluminum foil, paper, or wearable plastics material film such as
uni~9xially oriented low density polyethylene film.
5 The tear resistant material may be a plastics material film such as
polyester, nylon or PVC film.
There are many possible designs for unit portion packs of the present
invention.
For example, in one embodiment each of the first and second webs are
heat scaled together by way of longitudinally extending and
transversely extending heat seals defining one or more longitudinally
aligned rows of the cavity-forming regions the height of each cavity
being the same as that of the product item contained having been
extended by the product stem, and wherein a respective score or slit
line extends longitudinally of the pack across all the regions of one
row, being located, adjacent to, but spaced inwardly of, a respective
set d l ongi Tao net lye extending heat seal.
In an alternative embodiment, both said first and second webs have
been formed from laminate to have a plurality of regularly spaced
recesses therein, the recesses of the two webs being aligned end the
two webs being bonded together around the recesses to define a
plurality of cavity forming regions, each cavity-fonning region
comprising a product item containing a central cavity surrounded by a
peripheral unbounded region at which the webs are closely adjacent one
another, and wherein a score or slit line extends across each said
cavity-formlng region at the unbounded region thereof.
Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter ye described
by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
,
FIGURE 1 shows a section through a web of a laminate material,
FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of the web of FIGURE 1,
5 FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of a first embodiment ox a unit portion
pack of toe invention made from two webs of material, the top web
being the web of FIGURES 1 and 2,
FIGURE 4 shows a transverse section through the pack of FIGURE 3,
FIGURE 5 shows a partial transverse section of the pack of FIGURES 3
and 4 illustrating the opening of the pack
FIGURE 6 shows a view similar to that of FIGURE 5 after the formation
of a dispensing opening,
FIGURE 7 shows a transverse section through a cavity-forning region
of a second embodiment of a unit portion pack of the invention, end
FIGURE 8 shows a plan view of the cavity-fonming region of FIGURE 7.
Figures 1 and 2 show a section through and a plan Yew of a flexible
web of a laminate material 2 which has a layer 4 of tear resistant
material such as polyester film adhered to a layer 6 of rupturable
material such as aluminum foil. The external surface 8 no the layer
6 is coated with a heat sealant.
Two transversely spaced slit lines 10 are formed to extend
longitudinally of the web 2 in the tear resistant layer 4. In the
embodiment illustrated, each slit line 10 is interrupted to thereby
provide a row of perforations. Of Corey, if required, each ox the
slit lines 10 could be continuous. Alternatively, the silt lines 10
may be replaced by score lines winch are either continuous or
interrupted.
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In the embodiment illustrated, the two longitudinally extending silt
lines lo each extend adjacent to and spaced about 1 cm inwardly of a
longitudinal edge of the web 2.
5 Figure 3 shows a plan view of one embodiment of a double strip park
made using the web 2 shown in Figures l and mu The web 2 forms the
top web of the puck and a second, bottom Deb 26 (Figure 4) is heat
sealed to it such that heft seals 38 and 40 define individual
cavity-forming regions 34. The bosom web I can be of any suitable
lo material capable of being heat sealed to the top web 2 and which
preferably is also flexible.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the cavity-forming
regions 34 are defined to extend in two longitudinally aligned rows,
one to each side of the pack. In this respect, a respective
longitudinal heat seal 40 extends along each side edge of the pack,
whilst transverse and longitudinal intermediate seals 38 separate the
individual regions 34. A Sweeney solid product item 36, such as a
pill, tablet or capsule, is received within each region 34 and is
sealed therein.
The pack shown in Figures 3 and 4 is product extended. Thus, both ox
the webs 2 and 26 used in its formation are planar and can be drawn
from a reel. During manufacture, the pills 36 are arranged in a
regular pattern between the two webs 2 and 26. The heat seals 38 and
MU are then made Jo define the peripheries of the cavity-fonming
regions 34 so as together with the pills 36 to define the final
shapes of the sealed cavities 34 in which the pills received.
It can clearly be seen from Figures 3 and 4 that the plan dimension
of each tablet 36 transversely of the pack is substantially less than
the corresponding plan dimension of each region 34. my virtue of the
flexibility of the webs 2, 26 and of the pack as a whole, each pill
can be manipulated to move ~ransvers21y of the peek within the
cavity-forming region 34 in which it is received.
As can be seen in Figure 3, each of the slit lines 10 of the top web
2 is arranged to extend substantially parallel to but transversely
spaced frump a respective longitudinal side edge of the pack inwardly
of the respective longitudinal heat seal 40. Thus, each slit line 10
is arranged to cross all the cavity-forming regions 34 in one of the
rows. In other words, each region 34 is crossed by port of one of
the slit lines 10.
The transverse dimension of each region 34 and the transverse spacing
'a' of the slit line 10 from the external periphery thereof are
arranged relative Jo the transverse dimension of the tablet 36 such
I that the tablet can if necessary be located within the region 34 by
manipulate on of the park until the slit line 10 is either aligned
with or located outboard of its periphery. It will be appreciated
that when the tablet is so arranged within the region 34, the
peripheral edge of the tablet can be considered to define within the
pack a vacant area 20 substantially triangular in cr~ss-section whose
other two sides ore defined by spaced facing surfaces of the top and
bottom webs 2 and 26.
Figures 5 and 6 show how the formation of this vacant area 20 enables
the pack to be opened to dispense an individual tablet 36.
As can be seen in Figure 5, the bottom side of the area 20 will
normally be supported by one finger F of the user whilst the thumb T
applies a force to the top side of the pack above the aria, at the
side ox the slit line 10 remote from the pill 36. The force exerted
by the thumb causes the frangible layer along the slit line and the
ruminant bridges of the slit line itself to be ruptured as shown in
Figure I such that a dispensing opening 22 is defined which extends
Lo 5
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longitudinally across the region 340 The pill 36 can then be pushed
nephew the dispensing opening 22 by manipulating the pack to move
the pill laterally out of the region 34.
It will thus be appreciated that dispensing of a pill 36 can be
effected relatively simply by an adult. However, as it combines at
least two and possibly three, different movements, namely a possible
first manipulation of the pack to locate the pill in relation to the
appropriate slit line 10, a pressure applying movement Jo rupture the
pack along the slit line 10 and thereby form the dispensing opening
229 and lastly a manipulation of the pack to dispense the pill, it is
difficult for a child to perform.
The embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 is a double strip pack
including only two rows of sealed cay ty-formi no regions 34. Of
course, the pack could be made to have a single row of regions 34 or
more than two rows of such regions as wreck red.
In the pack of Figures 3 and I, additional perforations extending
20 through both webs 2 and 26 could be provided to enable individual
sealed regions 34 with their contents to be removed from the strip
pack.
Examples of the flexible laminate material which may be used in
packages of the i nventi on are:
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I Tear Rest stunt
1. 20~ soft temper A foil ~O~Melinex polyester film
2. I foil/paper laminate 20~Melinex polyester fill
3. 20~ soft temper A foil 3 cast nylon 6 film
4. 25~ uniaxially oriented 20~Melinex polyester film
high density polyethy~
tone film, draw ratio
8:1
5. 25,u unit ax at lye oft enter 100,~ PUKE sheet
low density polyethy
tone film, draw ratio
8:1
These laminates can be made on conventional machines and the layers
thereof would generally be adhesively bonded. The material of the
bottom web 26 of the pack could be made from the same laminate
material so it could be made of an other suitable material capable
of being heat sealed to the top web 2.
A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
Figures 7 and 8 which show a transverse section and a plan
respectively of one cavity-forming region ox a double formed blister
pack. The double formed pack is made from thennoformed or cold
funned top and bottom webs which are bonded together such thaw
30 recesses in the top web are aligned with corresponding recesses in
the bottom web whereby caYity-forming regions for the pull or other
solid product items to be packaged are defined.
. .
, .
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In one embodiment, on web, say the bottom web will De made of thin
formable ~henmoplastic materiel, such us PUKE sheet, and will be
formed to have a plurality of regularly spaced recesses as 94
therein. The top Deb will also be formed to haze corresponding
recesses as 96 therein such that the top and bottom webs when bonded
at their contacting surfaces will define a plurality of
cavity-forming regions 98 for receiving products such as pill 100.
The top web will be formed from a thenmoformable laminate material
comprising a rupturable layer adhered to a tear resistant layer in
which score or slit lines 10~ extend. The score or slit lines may be
either continuous or interrupted. One example of a thermoformable
laminate comprises a frangible Corey of 25~uniaxially oriented low
density polyethylene film and a tear resistor layer of ova PVC
sheet. Either one or both of the webs should be flexible.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 the unformed areas
of the two webs are bonded together in regions 104 spaced from and
surrounding the cavity forming regions 98. It will be seen that each
region 98 includes a central cavity 90 in which the pill 100 is
normally received, surrounded by an unbounded region 92 it which the
webs are normally closely adjacent one another. The score or silt
line 102 is arranged to extend across the unbounded region 92 so as to
be spaced inwardly of the periphery of the cavity-fonming region 98
jut outboard of the central cavity 90.
Because of the close adjacency of the top and bottom webs over the
unbounded region 92, it is difficult or impossible to rupture the top
web along the score or slit lines when the pills 100 are located in
their central cavities 90.
In order Jo remove a pill 90 from the sealed region 98 in which it is
received it is necessary to manipulate the pack to move the pill
trouncers towards the slit line 102. As it is moved, against
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resistance generated by the webs as they are being deformed, the pill
will push and subsequently hold apart the two webs in the unbounded
regiotl 92. In this position, the peripheral edge of the pill can be
considered to define adjacent area substantially triangular in
5 cross-section together with the facing surfaces so the two webs in
the unbounded region I The score or slot line 102 will extend in
the top side of the triangular area on or outboard of the peripheral
edge of the pull. Accordingly, as in the previous embodiment, the
application of thumb pressure to the part of the top web on the
10 opposite side of the score or slit line 102 to the pill Lao will
rupture the frangible layer along the slit line 102. Thus the pill
acts as a wedge to define a vacant area of the pack such that
external pressure applied to the pack above the vacant area can
rupture the laminate at the score or slit line and thereby form a
dispensing opening. Further manipulation of the pack will thereafter
enable the pill to be removed from its cavity.
A blister pack in accordance with the invention may be made from two
webs of the same laminate material, and may have either or both of
the webs thermoformed or cold formed to define ~avity-forming regions
for the product items to be packaged. A laminate material comprising
a layer of aluminum foil, a tear resistant and protective layer of
plastics material such as nylon on the outside of the foil, and a
heat sealable layer on the inside of the toil, may be cold formed for
this purpose.
Of course, it is not essential that each of the cavity fonmlng
regions 98 of the double blister pack of Figures 7 and 8 should have
the shape and configuration illustrated. Thus, the unbounded region
92 need not be provided, the pill simply being received in a suitably
shaped cavity which is larger in at least one plan dimension than,
the corresponding dimension of the pill.
