Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ 1 30~,395
CONTAINER FOR TAsLETS
s~ckground of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates to container for tab-
lets, and more particularly, the instant invention relates
to containers for retaining and concealing tablets arrayed
in blister packs and used for purposes such as birth con-
trol.
2. Technical Considerations and Prior Art
The utilization of birth control tablets generallyrequires that the tablets be taken one at a time in a pre-
selected order on an daily basis. The tablets are dis-
pensed in accordance with either a 21-day cycle or a 28-
day cycle regime. It has been found that utilizing blis-
ter packs arranged in seven columns, one for each day, and
either three rows or four rows to make up the 21-day or
28-day cycle, provides a satisactory approach.
Since the blister packs may be carried around by the
birth control user, it is necessary to protect the tablets
in the blister pack from damage which may occur over the
cycle. This need has resulted in numerous arrangements
for retaining blister packs. Many of the prior art pac-
kages for retaining birth control blister packs are rela-
tively complex and expensive to manufacture in that they
have latches and hinges. Moreover, they may from time to
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time become jammed. These devices are exemplified by the
dial type of container disclosed in U.S~ Patent 4,165,709.
The operation of these dial-type dispensers may not be
readil~ apparent to all users ànd from time to time mis-
takes are made in dispensing the tablets due to the com-
plexity of these dispensers. Other types of tablet con-
tainers using oval or circular arrangements are exemplified
by the containers of U.S. Patents 3,283,885 and 4,165,709.
As~exemplified perhaps by U.S. Patent 3,677,397 and
3,504,788 there are several tablet containers for birth
control tablets which have flexible covers. These parti-
cular arrangements do not ade~uately protect the tablets in
that pressure applied to the covers can damage the tablets
or cause the tablets to be inadvertently dispensed through
the trays upon which they are mounted. In order to avoid
this, many co~nercial containers have domed covers.
U.S. Patents 3,527,190; ~,584,598; 3,579,883 and
3,630,171 are illustrative of tablet containers which uti-
lizé hinged covers. Containers using hinged covers are
relatively expensive in that they require both a hinge and
a latch. These parts must be carefully molded and are sub-
ject to wear and breakage. Moreover, when these containers
have compartments for dispensing tablets, the dispensed
tablets tend to become jammed in the compartments. Accord-
~5 ingly, containers utiliæing hinged covers have severaldrawbacks.
There are also numerous patents disclosing a tablet-
containing tray disposed within a sleeve, however, none of
these arrangements have been specificall~ adapked to the
art of dispensing birth control tablets so as to cure
the deficiencies of prior art birth control containers.
For example, U.S. Patents 3,033,355 and 3,397,770 each
disclose partial covers, however they do not disclose just
how one would adhere in an indicia strip or support a
blister pack. Nor do they disclose a reliable oupling
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between the cover and ~ray or an arrangement for prevent-
ing the tr~y from sagging with respect to the cover. U.S.
Patent 1,988,134 discloses a tray which is slideable in a
sleeve with a stop, however there is no disclosure of a
stop which is configured in a easily manufactured arrange-
ment which also adequately supports the tray with respect
to the cover in which it is received. Trays which have
complex and extensive surface contact with the sleeves or
covers in which they are received can upon occasion rather
easily become jammed since debris can collect in convo-
luted surfaces.
In view of the aforementioned considerations, there
is a need for containers for tablets such as blister pac-
kaged birth control tablets, which containers do not have
drawbacks such as the drawbacks of the afore-discussed
patents. Moreover, there is a need for such container
wherein the container has the general appearance of a
cosmetic item.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the instant invention to provide
new and improved containers for storing and dispensing a
supply of tablets, such as birth control tablets, which
must be dispensed during a preselected cycle.
Upon further study of the specification and appended
claims, further objects and advantages of this invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
In view of the aforementioned object and other ob-
jects, the instant invention contemplates a tablet con-
tainer for retaining a blister pack having an array of
tablets thereon arranged in a predetermined pattern,
wherein the blister pack is mounted on a tray member which
is slideably received within a cover member. The tray
member has a deck having an array of holes therethrough in
a pattern which corresponds to the pattern of the array of
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tablets in the bliste~ pack. The length of the deck por-
tion of the tray is slightly less than the length of the
cover so as to provide a portion of the tray which remains
in the cover when all of the tablets are exposed, whereby
the tray is stabili~ed and does not sag when fuliy extend-
ed. Locking means are provided for retaining the tray in
the cover with all of the tablets exposed so that the
cover does not become detached from the tray.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the in-
vention, the invention is used to store and dispense birthcontrol tablets in accordance with either a 21-day or 28-
day cycle. The holes in the deck are therefore either
arranged in seven columns with three rows each for a 21-day
cycle or seven columns with four rows each for a 28-day
cycle. ~djacent the deck there is an angled surface for
~the display of indicia which are aligned with the columns
wherein each column represents one day of the week.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention,
the cover does not have a bottom. Consequently, the cost
of the cover is minimized, the container is easy to open
and the blister pack is visible.
Brief Description of the Dr_wings
Various other objects, features and attendant advan-
tages of the present invention will be more fully appre-
ciated as the same becomes better understood when con-
sidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference characte~s designate the same or
simiiar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the tablet
container in accordance with the instant invention showing
the tablet container closed;
Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the tablet
container of the instant invention showing the tablet
container in an open condition;
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Figure 3 is a top planar view, partially in section
of the tablet container showing how the end portion of a
tray member is locked within a cover member;
Figure 4 is a side elevation taken along lines 4-4
of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an end c~oss-section of the container
showing the container when the container is closed;
Figure 6 is a bottom view, in perspective, of the
tablet container with the container partially open;
Figure 7 is a top view, in perspective, of the
tablet container showing how a blister pack containing
twenty-one birth control tablets is mounted within the
tray of the tablet container and how "day strip" is
mounted adjacent the blister pack;
Figure 8 is an elevation view of a portion of the
tray with the blister pac~ mounted thereon showing how the
tablets are dispensed from the tray;
Figure 9 is a top view of another embodiment of the
invention showing the tray with holes arranged for a
28-day birth control cycle; and
Figure 10 is the top view of still another embodi-
ment o~ the invention showing holes arranged for a 28-day
cycle wherein holes are relatively large to accommodate
larger tablet sizes than the tablets used with the embodi-
ment of Figure 9.
Description of the P lO~ nt
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a tabletcontainer, designated generally by the numeral 10 which
includes a cover member, designated generally by the nume-
ral 11, and a tray member, designated generally by the
numeral 12. The tray member 12 fits completely within the
cover member 11 when the tablet container 10 is closed.
The cover member 11 is rectangular in configuration and
includes a top portion 13 and a pair of ~ide walls 14.
S 9 5
The side walls 14 each llave a p~ir o~ concave flutes 15
therein which converge to a flat surface 16. The flutes
15 and flat 16 p~ovide the tablet container 10 with the
appearance o~ ~ compact in which one rnay carry cosmetics,
Eor example, rather than tablets, such as birth control
tablets. Extending inwardly from the side walls 14 are a
pair of opposed lips 17 which engage the bottom of the
tray member 12 and cooperate with the top portion 13 of
the cover member to form a track for slidably retaining
the tray member within the cover member 11.
Referring now mainly to Figure 2, wherein the tablet
case is shown in its open condition, it is seen that the
tray 12 is slideable from within the cover 11 to an open
position which displays and renders accessible a complete
array of holes 20 formed in a deck, designated generally
by the numeral 21. The deck 21 has an upper surface 22
and a lower surface 23 with the'holes 20 going completely
through the deck 21 from the upper surface to the lower
surface. The array of holes 20 is configured in columns
of seven holes and rows of three holes to provide for a
twenty-one day cycle. The deck 21 is surrounded on three
sides by walls including an end wall 26, a side wall 27
and a rear wall 28. On the fourth side side, there is
positioned a land 29 which slopes from a side wall 30
toward the deck 21. The land 29 has a rectangular, elon-
gated indentation 31 therein which receives a "day strip"
tsee indicia strip 32 in Figure 7) which aligns with the
columns in the array of holes 20. The end walls 26 and 28
and a wall 33 depending from the land 29 each have lugs 35
thereon which are spaced from the top surface 22 of the
land so as to retain a blister pack 37 (see Figures 7 and
8).
Referring now to Figure 3, it is seen that the tray
member 12 of the container 10 is held in the cover member
11 by a pair of resilient detents 40 which project late-
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rally of the tray melnber 12 and are received in a pair of
opposed slots 41 when the tray member 12 is pulled to the
completely open position, the detents 40 engage stops 42
located at the ends of the slots 41 thus preventing the
tray member 12 from sliding completely out of the cover
member 11. The tray member 12 has an open frame 43 which
pro~ects rearwardly from the rear wall 28 adjacent the
deck 21. Frame 43 is rigidly attached to the tray member
12 and remains within the cover member 11 when the tray
member 12 is completely projected. Consequently, the tray
member 12 is stable with respect to the cover member 11
when projected and remains aligned with the space in the
cover member defined by the inside surfaces of the top 13
and side walls 14 of the cover member. The frame 43 has a
rear flange 44 which extends between the lower surface 46
of the top portion 13 of the cover member 11 and the inner
surface 47 of the opposed lips ~7 which project inwardly
from the side walls 14 of the cover member. ~ince the
rear wall 28 adjacent the deck 21 also projects from the
lower surface 46 of the top wall 13 to the top surfaces ~7
of the lip 17 the entire tray member 12 is supported rela-
tive to the cover member 11.
As is seen in Figure 6, the cover member 11 has a
top 13, but is open on the bottom. Consequently, one can
tell at a glance if a blister pack 37 is installed within
the tablet case 10 by simply looking at the bottom of the
tablet case.
Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, the blister pack
37 of the embodiments shown in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7 has
21 tablets mounted therein for use in a 21-day birth con-
trol cycle. Aligned with the tablets on the elongated
indentation 31 in the land 29 is an indicia strip 32 which
has the days of the week sequentially printed thereon. A
number of indicia strips 32 are provided with each con-
tainer 10, each strip starting with a different day and
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continuing ~ith the days in sequence from that day. Strip
32 preferably has an adhesive backing so as to be readily
secured within the indentation 31. As is seen in Figure
8, for each day of the cycle a tablet 50 is dispen~ed ~rom
the tablet container lO by pressing thereon with ones fin-
ger in the direction of the arrow 51. This causes the
lower foil layer 52 of the blister pack 37 to rupture
allowing the tablet 50 to pass through the aligned hole 20
into the users hand. The user knows that a tablet has
been dispensed for a particular day simply because if no
tablet 50 is present in the arrày for a particular day it
can be assumed that the ta~let 50 has been taken. of
course, if there is a tablet in the array for a particular
day, the user knows to take the tablet.
As seen in Figures 3, 9 and 10 angled walls 55 are
positioned beneath the lugs 35 and adjacent to the walls
26 and 28 50 as to render the deck 21 trapazoidal in
`shape. The blister pack 37 is also trapazoidal in the
shape so as to conform with the shape created by the
angled walls 55. Accordingly, the blister pack 37 can be
properly oriented in the tray 12 with relative ease.
The array of holes 20 shown in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7
is for a twenty-one day cycle with an "any-day" startf
wherein the user picks her starting day, selects a label
32 with that particular starting day and places it in
place. The tablets 50 used with this cycle typically con-
tain two constant ingredients and are relatively large,
requiring relatively large holes 20. the complete cycle
actually lasts twenty-eight days with twenty-one days on
and seven days off.
Referring now to Figure 9, there is shown an embodi-
ment of the invention wherein the holes 20' are arranged
in an array for a twenty-eight-day cycle wherein there are
seven columns (one column for each day of the week) and
four rows. With this arrangement the tablet 50 for each
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day contains a different amount of active ingredients and
one level of placeboO The arrangement of Figure 9 is ~or
an "any day" start and like the arrangement of Figures 2,
3, 6 and 7 is accompanied with a plurality of labels of
seven configurations wherein each configuration starts
with a different day of the week.
ReEerring now to Figure 10, therç are also twenty-
eight holes 20" in the tray 12". ~owever, there is no
land 29 or elongated indentation 31 ~or accomodating an
indicia strip 32. This is because the container 10" is
configured to retain a blister pack (not shown) which is
designed for a "Sunday start" only, wherein the blister
pack has the days of the cycle printed directly thereon.
With this arrangement there are twenty-one tablets 50 with
active ingredients and seven tablets containing a placebo.
The foregoing embodiments of the tablet case 10 dis-
close a tablet case which contafns all the tablets neces-
sary for either a twenty-one-day or twenty-eight-day birth
control cycle. The tablet case 10 is unobtrusive and
attractive in appearance and resembles a compact rather
than a case for birth control tablets. The arrangement of
dispensing holes 20 in combination with day indicia pro-
vides a convenient and reliable structure for accurately
following-a twenty-one-or twenty-eight-day prescription
cycle.
From the foregoing description, one skilled in the
art canjeasily ascertain the essential characteristics of
this invention, and without departing from the spirit and
scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications
of the invention to adapt it to various usages and condi-
tions.
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