REVERSIBLY PEELABLE SEALING SHEET FOR INDIVIDUAL PILL CONTAINERS

FEUILLE ETANCHE PELABLE ET REFERMABLE POUR CONTENANTS A PILULES DISTINCTS

English Abstract

Disclosed is a set of individual pill containers including a sheet of plastic
material defining a plurality of individual containers closed in a reversible manner by
a peelable sealing sheet. The sealing sheet is made of three layers connected to each
other by a self-adhesive material. Once installed, the portion of the top layer of the
sealing sheet extending on top of each container may be peeled off in a reversible
manner from the medium layer of the same sheet which is attached to the sheet of plastic
material, in order to give access to the pills contained in this container.

Claims

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CLAIMS


1. In a set of individual pill containers comprising:
a) a container-defining sheet made of a plastic material, said container-defining
sheet having a top surface comprising a given number of spaced apart cavities embossed
therein, each of said cavities being upwardly opened and thus defining a container, each
of said containers being surrounded by a flange, each of the flanges that are not directly
adjacent to one side of the container-defining sheet being provided with a central dotted
line punched therein to make it possible to detach each of the containers from the
adjacent containers and thus from the container-defining sheet whenever desired, and
b) a sealing sheet made of paper and positioned on top of the top surface of thecontaining-defining sheet in order to close each of said containers, said sealing sheet
having a top surface and a bottom surface and being shaped and sized to cover at least
all the containers and the surrounding flanges of the container-defining sheet, the bottom
surface of said sealing sheet having bands that are positioned, shaped and sized to be in
superposition on top of the flanges of the container-defining sheet, said bands being
coated with a self-adhesive material and being protected by a protective peelable paper
covering until the sealing sheet is installed onto the containing-defining sheet, said
bands being provided with tearing lines positioned to be in superposition on top of the
dotted lines of the container-defining sheet to make it possible to tear said sealing sheet
into a number of cover pieces corresponding to the number of said containers and thus
to detach each of said containers without having to open the same,
the improvement wherein the sealing sheet (b) comprises five different layers
including:
b1) a top layer made of paper and having an upper top layer surface defining thetop surface of the sealing sheet, and a lower top layer surface;
b2) a medium layer made of paper and having an upper medium layer surface
and a lower medium layer surface, said medium layer having precut medium layer bands

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defining the bands of the sealing sheet once said sealing sheet is installed said medium
layer also having precut medium layer central pieces,
b3) a bottom layer made of paper and having an upper bottom layer surface and
a lower bottom layer surface, said bottom layer having precut bottom layer bands that
are positioned shaped and sized to be in exact superposition below the medium layer
bands, said bottom layer also having precut bottom layer central pieces positioned,
shaped and sized to be in exact superposition below the medium layer central pieces,
b4) a first layer of self adhesive material positioned between the lower top layer
surface and the upper medium layer surface; and
b5) a second layer of self-adhesive material positioned between the lower
medium layer surface and the upper bottom layer surface;
whereby:
the bottom layer bands define the protective peelable paper covering that is
peeled off before installation of the sealing sheet on top of the container-defining sheet;
the bottom and medium layer central pieces are sticked to each other and to the
lower top layer surface and altogether form non-sticking protective pads fitting on top
of the cavities made in the container-defining sheet;
the tearing lines of the sealing sheet consist of two sets of tearing lines
respectively provided on the top and medium layers which can thus be divided out into
parts forming said cover pieces, and
each top layer part to which the bottom and medium layer central pieces are
sticked, can be peeled off in a reversible manner from the medium layer bands
surrounding the corresponding container to give access to the pill(s) contained in said
container.

2.The improved set of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the sealing sheet
comprises information printed on it in such a manner as to be positioned on top of each
cover piece and thus to correspond to what is in the corresponding container.

3. The improved set of claim l or 2, wherein the container defined by the cavities
of the container-defining sheet are positioned to form rows and columns.


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4. The improved set of claim 3, wherein the container-defining sheet comprises
twenty-eight containers, said containers being positioned to define seven rows and four
columns.

5. The improved set of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:
c) positioning means provided on at least the top surface of the container-defining
sheet and on the sealing sheet to ensure proper positioning of both of them withrespect to each other during installation and thus exact superposition of the bands and
tearing lines of the sealing sheet over the corresponding flanges and dotted lines of the
container-defining sheet.

6. The improved set of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the cavities has
upper edges shaped to form a recess and the bottom and medium layer central pieces are
shaped, sized and positioned to fit within the so formed recesses.

7. The improved set of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the container defining
sheet also comprises depressions provided in its flanges at the intersection of
perpendicular dotted lines and wherein the medium and bottom layers of the sealing
sheet have precut side pieces made in their precut medium and bottom layer bands, said
side pieces being shaped, sized and positioned to be in superposition on top of, and fit
into the depressions, thereby giving an easy finger access to the top layer parts.

8. A sealing sheet for a container-defining sheet, said sealing sheet comprising:
b1) a top layer made of paper and having an upper top layer surface and a lower
top layer surface;
b2) a medium layer made of paper and having an upper medium layer surface and
a lower medium layer surface, said medium layer having precut medium layer bandssurrounding precut medium layer central pieces,
b3) a bottom layer made of paper and having an upper bottom layer surface and
a lower bottom layer surface, said bottom layer having precut bottom layer bands that

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are positioned shaped and sized to be in exact superposition below the medium layer
bands, said bottom layer also having precut bottom layer central pieces positioned,
shaped and sized to be in exact superposition below the medium layer central pieces,
b4) a first layer of self adhesive material positioned between the lower top layer
surface and the upper medium layer surface; and
b5) a second layer of self adhesive material positioned between the lower
medium layer surface and the upper bottom layer surface,
whereby:
the bottom layer bands define a protective peelable paper covering that can be
peeled off before installation of the sealing sheet on top of the container-defining sheet;
the bottom and medium layer central pieces are sticked to each other and to the
lower top layer surface and altogether form non-sticking protective pads fitting on top
of cavities made in the container-defining sheet;
the tearing lines of the sealing sheet consist of two sets of tearing lines
respectively provided on the top and medium layers which can thus be divided out into
parts forming cover pieces for said cavities; and
each top layer part to which the bottom and medium layer central pieces are
sticked, can be peeled off in a reversible manner from the medium layer bands.

9. The sealing sheet of claim 8, wherein the top surface of said sealing sheet
comprises information printed on it in such a manner as to be positioned on top of each
cover piece.

Description

1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-26REVERSIBLY PEELABLE SEALING SHEET FORINDIVIDUAL PILL CONTAINERSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a) Field of the inventionThe present invention relates to a peelable sealing sheet especially designed forclosing in a reversible manner a plurality of individual pill containers.The invention also relates to a set of individual pill containers comprising asheet of plastic material defining a plurality of individual containers closed in areversible manner by a peelable sealing sheet.b) Brief description of the prior artIt is of common practice in the pharmaceutical field to prepare sets of individualcontainers containing pills a.nd/ or tablets to be administered to a patient. Each of thesecontainers contains pills and/or tablets that the patient has to take together at the sametime during the day over a given period of time (preferably one week).To prepare such sets of individual pill containers for use by a patient, it is alsoof common practice to use a sheet of plastic material in which a plurality of recesses aremolded. Each of these recesses defines a small upwardly opened container that can befilled with pills. After filling, all the containers are closed by means of a sealing sheeton which can be printed all desirable indications, like the patient’s name, the date andhour of administration, etc. As can be understood, the indications are printed andformatted onto the sealing sheet so that each group of information referring to a givencontainer is positioned in regard to the said container. Tearing lines are provided on boththe container-defining sheet and the sealing sheet to allow for easy separation of theindividual pill containers.In practice, the sealing sheet can be made of plastic material and be thermo-sealed onto the container-defining sheet. Alternatively, the sealing sheet can be madeof paper and be glued onto the container-defining sheet.1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-262For further information as to the structure, manufacture and use of such sets ofindividual pill containers, reference can be made to U.S. patent No. 5,788,079 and itsCanadian counterpart No. 2,207,045 both in the name of the present inventor, and to allthe prior art that was cited during their prosecution. .If, so far, the existing sets of individual pill containers have proved .to beparticularly useful and efficient, they still suffer from a major deficiency, viz. the factthat once a given container of the set is opened by tearing or peeling off thecorresponding portion of the sealing sheet, it cannot be closed ‘again. Thus, if there hasbeen any mistake in the way one or more of the containers were originally filled withpills, there is no way of repairing this error and one must get rid of the Whole setSimilarly, if the patient or his/her nurse has not opened the right container byinadvertence, there is no way of repairing this error and one cannot close up theinadvertently opened container.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the invention is to provide a peelable sealing sheet made of paper,which, thanks to its structure, solves all the problems related to the above mentioneddeficiency inasmuch as it allows each of the containers of the set to be opened andreclosed whenever desired, even when the container is still part of the set.Another object of the invention is to provide a set of individual pill containersof the above mentioned type, wherein the container-defining sheet is sealed with apeelable sealing sheet which, as mentioned hereinabove, allows each of the containersof the set to be reclosed whenever desired.Like all the existing sets, the set of individual pill containers according to theinvention comprises a container—defining sheet which is made of plastic material and hasa top surface comprising a given nmnber of spaced part cavities embossed therein. Eachof the cavities is upwardly opened and thus defines a container surrounded by a flange.Each of the flanges that are not directly adjacent to one side of the container-definingsheet, are provided with a central dotted line punched therein to make it possible todetach each of the containers from the containers adjacent to it and thus from thecontainer-defining sheet whenever desired.1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-263Like the existing sets disclosed in the inventor’s previous U.S. and Canadianpatents mentioned hereinabove, the set of individual pill container according to theinvention also comprises a sealing sheet made of paper and positioned on top of the topsurface of the container-defining sheet in order to close each of the containers. Thissealing sheet has a top surface and a bottom surface and is shaped and sized to cover allthe containers and the surrounding flanges of the container-defining sheet. The bottomsurface of the sealing sheethave bands that are positioned, shaped and sized to be insuperposition on top of the flanges of the container-defining sheet. These bands are 'coated with a self-adhesive material and are protected by a protective peelable papercovering until the sealing sheet is installed onto the containing-defining sheet The bandsare provided with tearing lines positioned to be in superposition on top of the dottedlines of the container-defining sheet to make it possible to tear the sealing sheet into anumber of cover pieces corresponding to the number of containers and thus to detacheach of the containers without having to open the same.As aforesaid, this basic structure is known pe'r se. However, in accordance withthe invention, it is improved in that the sealing sheet comprises five different layersincluding:b,) a top layer made of paper and having an upper top layer surface definingthe top surface of the sealing sheet, and a lower top layer surface;bl) a medium layer made of paper and having an upper medium layer surfaceand a lower medium layer surface;b3) a bottom layer made of paper and having an upper bottom layer surfaceand a lower bottom layer surface;b4) a first layer of self-adhesive material positioned between the lower toplayer surface and the upper medium layer surface; andb,) a second layer of self-adhesive material positioned between the lowermedium layer surface and the upper bottom layer surface.The medium layer b,) has precut medium layer bands «defining the bands of thesealing sheet once the sealing sheet is installed. The medium layer bz) also has precutmedium layer central pieces.1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-264Similarly, the bottom layer b3) has precut bottom layer bands that are positionedshaped and sized to be in exact superposition below the medium layer bands. Thebottom layer b3) also has precut bottom layer central pieces that are positioned, shapedand sized to be in exact superposition below the medium layer central pieces.In practice, the precut bottom layer bands of the bottom layer b3) define theprotective peelable paper covering that is peeled off before installation of the sealingsheet on top of the container-defming sheet. The central pieces of the bottom layer b3)and the medium layer b,) are sticked to each other and to the lower top layer surface,so as to form altogether a plurality of non-sticking protective pads fitting on top of thecavities made in the container-defining sheet.Moreover, the tearing lines of the sealing sheet consist of two sets of tearing linesrespectively provided on the top and medium layers which can thus be divided out intoparts forming the cover pieces. ~9 Thanks to the structure of the sealing sheet, each top layer part to which thebottom and medium layer central pieces are sticked, can be peeled off in a reversiblemanner from the medium layer bands surrounding the corresponding container to giveaccess to the pill(s) contained therein. _The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading thefollowing non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFigure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a set of individual pill containeraccording to a preferred embodiment of the invention, this set being provided with asealing sheet made of five different layers shown in spaced-apartposition;Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container-defining sheet of the set shown inFigure 1;Figure 3 is a top plan View of the bottom layer of the sealing sheet shown inFigure 1;1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-265Figure 4 is a top plan view of the medium layer of the sealing sheet shown inFigure 1;Figure 5 is a side elevational view of part of the sealing sheet shown in Figure1; h ‘‘Figure 6 is a view similarito the one of Figure 5, wherein the bottom layer isshown in peeled-ofi position;Figure 7 is a side elevational cross-section view along line VII-VH (see Figure2) of part of the containers of the set of individual pill containers shown in Figure 1,with the sealing sheet in closing position; IFigure 8 is a view similar to the one of Figure 7, wherein the top layer part andthe corresponding bottom and medium layer central pieces of one of the containers areshown in peeled-off position; and AFigure 9 is a perspective view of a tool for use -to open all the containers of a setat the same time whenever such is required.DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIIWENT OF THE INVENTIONThe set 1 of individual pill containers according to the preferred embodiment ofthe invention as shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a container—definingsheet 3 made of plastic material, which has a top surface comprising a given number ofspaced apart cavities 5 embossed therein. As is shown in Figure 1, each of the cavities5 is upwardly opened and defines a container that is surrounded by a flange 7. As isshown in Figures 7 and 8, the upper edges of each of the cavities S are preferably shapedto form a small, downwardly extending recess 6 that extends all around thecorresponding cavity. The utility of such recesses 6 will be explained hereinafter. As isclearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, each of the flanges 7 that are not directly adjacent toone side of the container-defining sheet are provided with a central dotted line 9 punchedtherein to make it possible to detach each of the containers 5 from the adjacent' containers, and thus from the remaining of the container-defining sheet 3 wheneverdesired.1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-266Preferably, the containers defined by the cavities 5 of the container-definingsheet 3 are positioned to form rows and columns. In accordance with a particularlypreferred embodiment of the invention, the container-defining sheet 3 is devised todefine twenty-eight containers 5, which are positioned to define seven rows and fourcolumns. The four columns correspond to the four periods of the day when pills areusually given (i.e. morning, noon, evening and night). The seven rows correspond to thedays of one week. However, it can be appreciated that the numbers of containers 5 aswell as the numbers of columns and/or rows could be changed as need be.In the case where, as is shown in the accompanying drawings, the containers 5are positioned to define several rows and columns, depressions 10 are preferablyprovided in the flanges 7 at the intersections of perpendicular dotted lines 7 to give afinger access to the sealing sheet used‘ to close the cavities 5. These depressions 10 canbe of any shape: square (as is shown), round, etc. It is compulsory however that, on theone hand, they be located within the limits of the flanges 7 and, on the other hand, thereis at least one depression 10 adjacent each cavity 5. The latter requirement can beachieved by providing depressions at the intersections of all the perpendicular dottedlines 7 or of only one out of two adjacent perpendicular lines, as is shown in Figures 1and 2. As is also shown in the same Figures, the size of the depressions 10 may affectthe shape of the cavities 5 since, in order to satisfy the first requirement mentionedhereinabove, each depression must be within the limits of the corresponding flanges 7in order to be into contact with the adjacent cavities ..The set 1 also comprises a sealing sheet 11 made of paper and positioned on topof the top surface of the containing-defining sheet 3 in order to close each of the_ containers 5. More specifically, the sealing sheet 11 is shaped and sized to cover at leastall the containers 5 and the surrounding flanges 7 of the container-defining sheet 3. Thesealing sheet 11 is also provided with tearing lines as will be explained hereinafter,which are positioned to be in superpositionon top of the dotted lines of the container-defining sheet 3 to make it possible to tear the sealing sheet 11 into a number of coverpieces corresponding to the number of containers 5 and thus to detach each of thecontainers 5 without having to open the same. As is shown, the sealing sheet 11 ispreferably larger in size than the container defining sheet 3 so as to define a perforated1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-267flap 12 that can be used to facilitate installation and positioning of the sealing sheet 11on top of the container-defining sheet 3.In accordance with the invention, the sealing sheet 11 is made of five layersincluding:bl) a top layer 13 made of paper and having an upper top layer surface 15and a lower top layer surface 17;b,) a medium layer 19 made of paper and having an upper medium layersurface 21 and a lower medium layer surface 23;b3) a bottom layer 29 made of paper and having an upper bottom layersurface 31 and a lower bottom layer surface 33;b4) a first layer of self-adhesive material 39 positioned between the lower toplayer surface 17 and the upper medium layer surface 21; and _b5) ' a second layer of self-adhesive material 41 positioned between the lowermedium layer surface 23 and the upper bottom layer surface 31.As it can be understood, the upper top layer surface 15 of the top layer 13 definesthe top surface of the sealing sheet. Advantageously, this top surface may compriseinformation 43 (see Figure 1) printed on it in such a manner as to be positioned on topof each cavity 5 and thus to correspond to what is contained in the correspondingcontainer. This information is of course related to the patient’s prescription and mayinclude the name of the patient, the day and time of administration,’ an identification ofthe room or table of the patient, etc...As is better shown in Figures 1 and 4, the medium layer 19 has precut mediumlayer bands 25 shaped, sized and positioned to be in superposition on top of the flanges7 of the container-defming sheet 3. The medium layer 19 also has precut central pieces27 shaped, sized and positioned fit within the recess 6 of each cavity and to be insuperposition on top of the openings of the containers 5. The medium layer 19 furtherhas precut side pieces 28 shaped, sized and positioned to be in superposition on top ofthe depression 10 made in the container-defining sheet 3.As is shown in Figures 1 and 3, the bottom layer 29 also has precut bottom layerbands 35 that are positioned, shaped and sized to be in superposition below the mediumlayer bands 25. The bottom layer also has precut bottom layer central pieces 371015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-268positioned, shaped and sized to be in exact superposition below the medium layer centralpieces 27. As is better shown in Figures 7 and 8, the central pieces 27 and 37 of themedium and bottom layers are actually sized so the bottom layer central pieces 37may fit with the recesses 6 provided all around the cavities 5. The bottom layer 29further has precut side pieces 38 sized, shaped and positioned to fit into the depressions10 (see Figures 7 and 8).As it can now be understood, the bottom layer bands 35 define a protectivepeelable paper covering that must be peeled off as shown in Figure 6 before installation Aof the sealing sheet 11 on top of the container-defining sheet 5. Once the bands 35 arepeeled off, the sealing sheet 11 can be positioned on top of the container-defining sheet5 and be connected thereto by means of the second layer of adhesive material 41 thatextend just under the medium layer bands 25 that fit onto the flanges 7 (see Figure 5).The bottom and medium layer central pieces 27 and 37 are sticked to each otherand to the lower top layer surface 17 by means of the first and second layers of self-adhesive material 39 and 41, respectively, and they altogether form non-stickingprotective pads fitting on top of the cavities 5 made m the container-defining sheet 3 (seeFigure 5). Similarly, the bottom and medium layer side pieces 28 and 3 8 are sticked toeach other and to the lower top layers surface 17 by means of the first and second layersof self-adhesive material 39 and 41, respectively, and they altogether form non-stickingelements fitting on top of the depressions 10 made in the container-defining sheet 3.As we already disclosed hereinabove and is shown in Figure 7, every bottomlayer central piece 37 is shaped, sized and positioned to fit within the _recess 6 of thecorresponding‘ cavity 6. The advantage of such a positioning is that, even if there is somedimensional slacks in the size of the cavities 5 of the container-defming sheet 3 due tothe molding conditions and/or some misalignment during installation of the sealing sheet11, there is still no risk for the pills within the containers to come into contact with thelayer 41 of the self-adhesive material.As aforesaid, tearing lines are provided on the sealing sheet 11 so as to tear thesame into a number of cover pieces corresponding to the number of containers 5. As isshown, these sets of tearing lines 16, 26 and 36 are respectively provided on the top,medium and bottom layers 13, 19 and 29 so that the sealing sheet 11, once installed, can1015202530CA 02264339 1999-02-269be divided out into parts forming the cover pieces.As is shown in the accompany drawings, the tearing lines '16, 26 and 36 arepositioned to be in exact superposition above each other and above the dotted lines 9 ofthe container-defining sheet 3.As can now be understood (see Figures 7 and 8), the part of the top layer 13defining each cover piece to which the bottom and medium layer central pieces 27 and37 are sticked, can be peeled off in a reversible manner from the medium layer bands25 surrounding the corresponding container to give access to the pill(s) “P”. Ifa givencontainer 5 has been opened by inadvertence, it can be reclosed by reapplying thecorresponding part of the top layer onit. This solves in a very simple yet efficientmanner all the problems mentioned hereinabove, which are presently encountered withthe existing sets.As was also disclosed hereinabove, the depressions 10 and the correspondingnon-sticking elements defined by the side pieces give an easy finger access to the partsof the top layer 13 defining each cover piece, once each contained has been separatedfrom the others. This feature and its advantages are already lmown (see, for example,U.S. patent No. 3,933,245 to MULLEN).Preferably, positioning means 51 can be provided on at'least the top surface ofthe container-defining sheet 3 and on the sealing sheet 11 to ensure proper positioningof both of them with respect to each other during installation, and thus exactsuperposition of the bands and tearing lines of the sealing sheet over the correspondingflanges 7 and doted lines 9 of the container-defining sheet 5. The positioning means 51may consist of holes as shown, which may cooperate with pegs provided onto a recessedsupport used for facilitating their installation. Further detail regarding this feature andits advantages can be found in U.S. patent No. 5,788,079 and its correspondingCanadian counterpart No. 2,207,045 already referred to hereinabove.Assuming now that, for any reasons, one has to open all the containers 5 at thesame time, an “opening” tool 53 can be provided, as shown in Figure 9. This toolconsists of a thick plate having cavities 55 shaped, sized and positioned to receive all thecontainers 5 of a given set 1. Vertically projecting pins 57 are provided on the topsurface of the plate. These pins 57 are positioned in such a manner as to extend just10CA 02264339 1999-02-2610below the depressions 10, at the intersections of the dotted lines 9. When a set to beopened is pressed down onto the plate, the pins 57 perforate the depressions and causethe side pieces 38 and 28 to move up and the corresponding parts of the top layer 13 topeel off from the medium layer bands 25.In use, the sealing sheet may easily be manufactured by first connecting togetherall its layers and then passing the obtained laminated sheet through a press with cuttingmeans to form the central pieces, bands, side pieces and tearing lines.Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention has been described indetail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not limited to this embodiment and that various changes andmodifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Representative Drawing