Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MEDICATION DISPENSING PACKAGE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a package for storing medicine in pill
form within respective unit dose capsules for subsequent dispensing of the
medicine
from the capsules in individual doses.
BACKGROUND
Persons with certain medical condition require large doses of medication
which are commonly packaged in individual doses. The doses may comprise
several
pills or tablets which are required to be taken at intervals several times a
day. In such
large dosage requirements, it is common for pills to be packaged within
individual
capsules each representing a dose of plural pills or tablets to be taken in
which a
plurality of the capsules are common supported on a backing sheet and are each
enclosed by a suitable sheet of rupturable material. Common designs of backing
sheets supporting capsules thereon however have limited capacity and cannot
support the volume of tablets required for persons for example who require
multiple
pills four times daily. When using a common design of supporting capsules on a
single backing sheet, simply increasing the number of capsules would result in
the
sheet being too unstable and awkward to handle. It is common to strap two
smaller
backing sheets together when a larger capacity of capsules is required,
however in
this instance the two backing sheets held together are still lacking
sufficient structure
for ease of handling and storage. Furthermore the capsules in this instance
are not
protected.
Various attempts have been made to improve the structure of
medication packaging as shown in the following patents: US 6,981,592 to
Siegel; US
6,371,297 to Cha; US 5,788,974 to D'Amico; US 5,542,236 to Miller; 5,323,908
to
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Boettger; US 5,251,757 to Relyea et al.; US 5,109,987 to Romick; US 4,911,304
to
Bunin; US 5,791,478 to Kalvelage et al.; US 5,050,739 to Hannan et al.; and US
4,340,141 to Fischer.
In general, the structure of prior art medication packages either limits the
overall capacity or becomes unstable and inadequate to fully support all of
the
capsules when the capacity is increased.
US patents 5,050,739 belonging to Hannan and 4,340,141 to Fischer in
particular disclose medication packages comprising a folded backing sheet
supporting
a plurality of capsules on separate panels of the sheet. The capsules are
taught to be
sufficiently spaced apart from one another and offset in relation to capsules
on
opposing panels so that the capsules are nested within one another when the
sheet is
folded. The nesting arrangement of the capsules improves the compactness of
the
resulting package however when requiring sufficient capsules to receive plural
pills of
tablets therein for plural doses throughout a day the resulting required
structure would
be far too large to be supported in a stable configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a medication
dispensing package comprising:
a plurality of capsules arranged for receiving respective medication
tablets therein, each capsule having an opening, an opposing enclosed end, and
a
peripheral rim flange extending about the opening in a plane of the opening, a
height
of the capsule being defined between the plane of the opening and the opposing
enclosed end of the capsule;
a backing sheet having two opposed free edges extending in a
longitudinal direction between opposed ends of the sheet;
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a plurality of fold lines spanning across the backing sheet in the
longitudinal direction between the opposed ends of the sheet and arranged such
that
the backing sheet is foldable into a housing of generally rectangular cross
section in
which the opposed free edges are adjacent one another and the housing defines
a
pair of rectangular main portions supported by at least one spine portion
joined
between the main portions along one side of the main portions to support the
main
portions parallel and spaced apart from one another by a spacing substantially
corresponding to the height of two capsules;
a plurality of apertures formed in the backing sheet so as to be located
in the main portions of the housing, each aperture being arranged to receive
one of
the capsules therein such that the peripheral rim flange of the capsule lies
flush
against the backing sheet about a periphery of the aperture and the capsule
extends
inwardly towards the opposing main portion of the housing;
at least some of the apertures in each main portion being aligned with
respective apertures in the other main portion such that the enclosed ends of
at least
some of the capsules abut one another when the backing sheet is folded into
the
housing;
a rupturable sheeted material arranged to be secured to span the
openings of the capsules;
an adhesive arranged to secure the capsules to the backing sheet; and
a latch arranged to selectively secure the free edges of the backing
sheet to one another when the backing sheet is folded into the housing.
By providing a spine portion which supports two opposing sheets
receiving capsules therein at a spacing from one another which corresponds
approximately to the height of two capsules, when the backing sheet is folded
the
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capsules engage or abut one another to provide some additional support to
maintain
the opposed folded panels of the backing sheet in a parallel and spaced
relationship.
Furthermore by latching the free edges of the panel together in combination
with a
spine having a dimension corresponding to the height of two capsules, the
capsules
are stored in the most compact and efficient manner of close spacing while
being fully
supported about the periphery thereof by the backing sheet. The rectangular
cross
section of the folded housing further increases the stability of the package
when the
free edges of the backing sheet are latched to one another.
As a result of the structure of the medication package described herein,
much larger doses of medication can be achieved in a single package, thus
overcoming some of the deficiencies in the prior art packages noted above. The
medication package according to the present invention is thus well geared for
patients
requiring relatively high volumes of drug ingestion as the high volume of
drugs can be
supported in a common package rather than in separate packages as required
when
using medication packages having characteristics as described in the above
noted
prior art.
The opposed free edges of the backing sheet are preferably arranged to
overlap one another along the full length thereof when the backing sheet is
folded into
the housing of generally rectangular cross section.
The latch may be arranged to secure the free edges of the backing
sheet to one another substantially along a full length of the free edges in
the
longitudinal direction when the backing sheet is arranged to be folded into
the housing
of generally rectangular cross section.
The fold lines are preferably arranged such that said at least one spine
portion comprises two spine portions joined between the pair of main portions
at
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opposing sides of the main portions.
There may be provided four fold lines separating the backing sheet into
five panels, each panel spanning in the longitudinal direction between the
opposed
ends of the backing sheet in which two of the panels comprise spine panels
forming a
5 spine portion of the housing and in which the spine portions have a lateral
dimension
which is substantially equal to a height of two capsules.
Preferably one of the panels of the backing sheet comprises a main
panel fully defining one of the main portions of the housing and two of the
panels
comprise auxiliary panels locating the free edges of the backing sheet along
one edge
thereof respectively such that the two auxiliary panels together define the
other main
portion of the housing of the rectangular cross section when the free edges
are joined.
The two auxiliary panels may have substantially identical dimensions. In
this instance, preferably each of the auxiliary panels have some of the
apertures
formed therein so as to be arranged to receive respective ones of the capsules
therein. Each of the auxiliary panels may thus have approximately half the
number of
apertures formed therein as the main panel.
There may also be provided a cover sheet having fold lines therein
arranged similarly to the backing sheet and which is integrally formed with
the backing
sheet along one of the opposing ends of the sheet. In this instance, apertures
are
preferably formed in the cover sheet which are substantially aligned with the
apertures
in the backing sheet when the cover sheet and the backing sheet are folded
adjacent
one another.
The latch may comprise mating hook and loop fasteners.
All of the apertures may be spaced apart from one end of the packing
sheet to define an open area on the sheet so as to be arranged to receive
label
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information thereon.
Each of the capsules is preferably sized to be arranged to receive a
plurality of medication tablets therein.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a schematic representation of the
assembled medication package.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled backing sheet and
cover sheet in an unfolded position.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a flat blank of material forming the backing
sheet and cover sheet.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a plurality of sheets of capsules for insertion
into the backing sheet.
Figure 5 is an end view along the line 5-5 of one of the sheets of
capsules according to Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a rupturable sheet with adhesive thereon for
cold sealing the cover sheet and the backing sheet to one another.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the various layers of the medication
package shown separated from one another.
Figure 8 is an end view of the assembled backing sheet folded into the
housing of rectangular cross section.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying Figures there is illustrated a medication
dispensing package generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The package 10
is
particularly suited for dispensing unit doses of medication in pill, tablet or
capsule
form. The packages are particularly suited for patients requiring multiple
pills at each
dose at multiple times a day. The packaging is arranged for ease of assembly
by a
pharmacy or vendor of medication who packages the medication according to the
recipient's prescription in unit doses each comprised of a plurality of
individual pills or
tablets and the like.
The package generally comprises a backing sheet 12 formed of a
cardboard like material which is generally rectangular in shape. The sheet
extends in
a longitudinal direction between two ends 14 of the sheet which are joined at
opposing sides by two free edges 16 of the sheet which extend in the
longitudinal
direction. Four folds 18 are formed in the sheet to extend parallel to one
another and
the free edges 16 so as to similarly extend in the longitudinal direction
between the
two ends 14. The backing sheet 12 is thus divided into five separate panels
each
extending the full length of the backing sheet between the opposed ends 14 in
the
longitudinal direction. The panels include a main panel 20 which is
rectangular and
which has the largest width in a lateral direction oriented perpendicular to
the
longitudinal direction of the folds 18. The main panel 20 is generally
centered between
the opposing free edges 16.
The panels further include two spine panels 22 joined along opposing
sides of the main panel 20. The two spine panels 22 each span the full height
of the
backing sheet between the opposed ends 14 and have a lateral dimension which
is
much smaller than the main panel 20 but which are identical to one another.
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Two auxiliary panels 24 are joined to the outer edges of the spine
panels 22 respectively to span laterally each between a respective one of the
spine
panels and a respective one of the free edges 16 of the backing sheets. The
auxiliary
panels 24 also span in the longitudinal direction between the two ends 14 of
the
sheet. A lateral dimension of the auxiliary panels 24 is arranged to be
approximately
half of the lateral dimension of the main panel so that when the free edges 16
of the
backing sheet are joined to one another the two auxiliary panels 24 are
abutted side
by side and together form approximately the same dimension as the main panel
20.
The four folds 18 permit the backing sheet to be folded into a housing of
generally rectangular cross section along the full length of the sheet in the
longitudinal
direction between the two ends 14 of the sheet which form a rectangular
perimeter
about the open ends of the housing. With the free edges 16 of the backing
sheet
joined with one another the backing sheet forms an elongate tubular member
with the
four folds 18 defining four substantially perpendicular corners of the
rectangular cross
section of the housing.
When folded into the rectangular shape of the housing, the backing
sheet defines two main portions 26 of similar rectangular dimensions which are
spaced apart from one another along both sides of the housing by two spine
portions
28. One of the main portions 26 comprises one of the main panels 20 of the
backing
sheet while the opposing main portion comprises the two auxiliary panels 24
joined
together by a seam formed by the abutted free edges 16 of the backing sheet
which is
centered between the two spine portions 28 of the housing. Accordingly each of
the
spine portions comprises one of the spine panels 22 of the backing sheet to
maintain
the two main portions 26 of the housing parallel and spaced apart from one
another
by the lateral width of the spine panels 22.
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A plurality of apertures 30 are formed in each of the two main portions of
the housing. Each main portion includes an array of apertures which is four
apertures
wide in the lateral direction and seven apertures tall in the longitudinal
direction. In the
main portion formed by the main panel 20, all of the apertures are commonly
located
in the main panel. In the main portion of the housing formed by the two
auxiliary
panels 24 an array of two apertures wide in the lateral direction and seven
apertures
tall in the longitudinal direction are located within each of the auxiliary
panels with the
apertures in the two auxiliary panels being substantially symmetrical with
respect to
the seam joining the two auxiliary panels. The apertures in one of the main
portions
are arranged to be aligned both in the longitudinal direction and the lateral
direction
with regard to the apertures in the opposing main portion.
When the backing sheet is unfolded to lie flat, the aperture are thus
arranged to form seven rows which extend laterally and which are separated
from one
another in a longitudinal direction. Each row in the lateral direction
comprises eight
apertures so that two apertures are associated with each of four respective
dosage
times including morning, noon, evening and overnight for example. The
apertures in
all of the panels are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction from one of
the ends 14
of the backing sheet to provide a blank space at one end of each panel for
labelling
information to be applied.
A capsule 32 is provided for mounting within each of the apertures in the
backing sheet to locate pills or tablets and the like therein. The capsules 32
are
mounted in integral sheets, each being associated with a respective one of the
panels
of the backing sheet. Accordingly one sheet comprises an array of capsules
which are
four across in the lateral direction and seven long in the longitudinal
direction for
mating with the apertures in the main panel while two additional sheets have
similar
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arrays to correspond with the auxiliary panels respectively.
Each capsule 32 comprises a pocket having an opening 34 and an
opposing enclosed end 36. Walls 38 span between the closed end 36 and the rim
of
the opening 34 to define the height of the capsule. A rim flange 40 extends
about the
5 periphery of the opening 34 to lie in the plane of the opening. The rim
flanges 40 of all
of the capsules of a given sheet are integrally joined with one another to
form the
continuous sheet so that all of the capsule openings 34 lie in a common plane.
The capsule has suitable dimensions for being received within the
apertures 30 respectively so that the capsules are inserted through the
apertures until
10 the rim flanges 40 abut flush against backing sheet at the outer side of
the backing
sheet when folded into a housing. In this arrangement each capsule extends
through
the aperture into the respective housing towards the opposing main portion of
the
housing when the backing sheet is folded. The lateral dimension of each of the
spine
panels 22 is approximately equal to the height two capsules 32. By arranging
the
apertures in the two main portions to be aligned with one another, when folded
into
the structure of the housing, the enclosed ends 36 of the capsules supported
in one of
the main portions abut or rest against the enclosed ends of the capsules in
the other
main portion. The abutment of the capsules provides some structural support,
while
the lateral dimension of the spines corresponding to the height of two
capsules
properly positions the capsules relative to one another. This configuration
provides
suitable structure to maintain the two main portions of the housing at a fixed
spacing
relative to one another, thereby protecting the capsules from being collapsed
against
one another.
The package also includes a cover sheet 42 which is arranged similarly
to the backing sheet in that the cover sheet also extends in a longitudinal
direction
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between opposed ends 44. Four longitudinally extending folds 36 divide the
cover
sheet into a main panel 48 bounded along opposing sides by two spine panels 50
which in turn support two auxiliary panels 52 thereon. The dimensions and
arrangement of the panels of the cover sheet are identical to the backing
sheet so that
the cover sheet and backing sheet can be integrally formed with one another of
a
continuous sheet of material in which the backing sheet and cover sheet are
formed in
end to end abutment.
A latch mechanism is provided by forming an additional lip 54 on the
cover sheet to extend the full length of one of the free edges thereof in the
longitudinal
direction between opposed ends of the cover sheet. The lip 54 projects
laterally
outward from the sheet sufficiently to overlap the opposing free edge of the
cover
sheet when the sheets are folded into the housing. Mating fasteners 56 are
provided
along the lip 54 of the cover sheet and along the opposing free edge of the
cover
sheet for mating with one another when folded into the housing structure. By
forming
an additional lip 54 along one free edge of the cover sheet, the opposing free
edges
of the backing sheet and cover sheet assembled together are effectively
overlapped
with one another when joined along the full length of the housing. The mating
fasteners 56 in the illustrated embodiment comprise mating hook and loop
fasteners
secured to the lip and opposing free edge of the cover sheet at spaced
positions in
the longitudinal direction for substantially securing the opposing free edges
of the
backing sheet and cover sheet together at the central seam of the housing
along the
full length of the housing in the longitudinal direction.
The material forming the cover sheet and the backing sheet preferably
comprises a thick cardboard like material which is sufficiently stiff to
maintain its
shape when supporting a plurality of tablets within the capsules 32 on the
backing
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sheet. The cardboard material may be partially split or scored at one end of
the
backing sheet where the cover sheet is joined to separate the cover sheet and
backing sheet sufficiently that they may be folded relative to one another
during
assembly. The folds 18 of the backing sheet or the folds 46 of the cover sheet
may
include partial cut-outs 58, or other suitable lines of weakness to allow the
sheets to
be more readily foldable at the fold lines.
The package 10 further includes a rupturable sheeted material 60
having dimensions near that of the backing sheet. The material 60 comprises a
foil
type material having adhesive thereon and which is arranged to ruptured when
pills or
tablets are pushed through the sheet in a manner which is consistent with many
prior
art medication packages. The rupturable sheeted material 60 is arranged to
span the
openings of all of the capsules and has adhesive applied thereto in a pattern
which
matches the pattern of apertures as illustrated in Figure 6. Accordingly when
applied
across the openings of the capsules, the interior portions of the sheeted
material 60
which enclose each opening does not have adhesive thereon. Adhesive is applied
in
a similar pattern to both sides of the rupturable sheeted material 60 and is
arranged to
be a cold seal type of adhesive of sufficient strength to bond the cover sheet
to the
backing sheet with the flanges of the capsules and the foil layer of the
rupturable
sheeted material being secured therebetween.
In use, the backing sheet and cover sheet are delivered to a user as a
single blank of material with the sheets of capsules and the rupturable
sheeted
material 60 being separate therefrom. The capsules are filled with the
appropriate
medication and inserted through the respective apertures in the backing sheet.
The
rupturable sheeted material 60 with adhesive thereon is then applied across
the
openings of the capsules to span and enclose the openings. The cover sheet may
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then be folded over towards the backing sheet to trap the flanges of capsules
and the
foil layer of the rupturable sheeted material between the cover sheet and the
backing
sheet. The cold seal adhesive secures the cover sheet and backing sheet
together
and maintains the rupturable sheeted material in position to enclose the
openings of
all of the capsules.
By subsequently rupturing a portion of the rupturable sheeted material
60 across one of the openings of the capsules, the dosage within that
respective
capsule can be released while the other capsules remain enclosed. When
assembling
the package with the medication therein, labels associated with the medication
are
placed at the open space at one end of the housing at the interior side
thereof. Once
assembled, the backing sheet and associated layers adjoined thereto are folded
into
the rectangular cross sectional shape of the housing structure in which the
free edges
are joined together by the latch formed of the lip 54 and mating fasteners
extending
the full length of the housing in the longitudinal direction. The mating
fasteners of the
latch are arranged to be selectively releasable as desired for unfolding and
refolding a
sheet from and back to the housing structure as desired. Once assembled, the
joined
free edges of the backing sheet and cover sheet provide a stiff structural
housing fully
surrounding the capsules while the opposing panels of the housing structure
are
supported relative to one another by the spine portions which are
uninterrupted by
capsules or apertures and by the capsules themselves which abut one another
within
the interior of the housing.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
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be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
