Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CHILDPROOF, SENIOR FRIENDLY BLISTER PACK
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to packaging, and more particularly to
packaging that
inhibits pilfering, and still more particularly to packaging that is
constructed of a substantially
tear-proof card material. This invention also relates to a blister pack that
is childproof while also
being senior-friendly, and more particularly to a blister pack that is
constructed of a substantially
tear-proof card material, and still more particularly to a blister pack that
requires multiple senior-
friendly steps to be performed in order to dispense the pills or other
objects.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore, it has been well known to use blister packs for, among other
things, the
housing of pharmaceutical pills and liquids. Typically, blister packs consist
of a series of blisters
formed into a sheet of substantially impermeable clear plastic. The open end
of the blister is
generally covered with a thin metal foil or peel-off film that may be
punctured or removed to
access the pill inside the blister.
While the known blister packs work in many respects, problems have arisen in
their use.
First, known blister packs, similar to the use of a bottle of pills, do not
provide for an easy way
for consumers to track whether they have taken the necessary medication.
Accordingly, if
consumers cannot remember if they took the necessary medication, they will
either have to
forego taking a pill and risk the possibility of not taking the medication, or
take another pill and
risk the possibility of taking too much of the medication.
Second, because of the nature of the contents of many blister packs,
especially pills,
there is a need to make the blister packs substantially childproof. In that
regard, in blister packs
that include separate individual-pill blister packs that are kiss-cut to each
other, it is known to
have a protective layer over the foil to prevent the pills from being
dispensed prior to the
removal of the protective layer. The protective layer may generally be removed
by using a
fingernail to try and peel back the protective layer or by breaking off a
removable comer piece of
the blister pack and then peeling off the layer. Alternatively, the blister
may be protected by a
protective layer that includes a perforation in the middle of one of the sides
that is designed to
facilitate the tearing of the protective layer to access the pill. Such known
embodiments are
often very difficult to open by hand and often result in jagged or sharp
edges. Because a large
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market for blister packs is senior citizens, who may experience diminished
manual dexterity or
hand pain from arthritis or the like, a manufacturer must take into account
that it should be easy
to operate and open, especially for senior citizens. Therefore, there is a
need to develop a
blister pack that is substantially tamper and tear proof, childproof and
senior-friendly.
A popular design of blister packs for labeling and housing products is known
as a
clamshell. Clamshells are generally comprised of a housing and a chamber for
storing products
and may be reusable or permanently sealed. Permanently sealed clamshells are
generally
formed from a clear plastic housing that is sealed together through radio
frequency (RF), sonic
vibrations or electrical resistance. As the housing is generally made from
clear plastic, inserts
made of cardboard and other materials are often inserted into the clamshell
packaging to
describe or label the goods.
While permanently sealed clamshells offer increased protection from pilfering,
there are
several drawbacks associated with the use of such clamshells. In particular,
the processes for
inserting an insert and for sealing the clamshell together are generally
expensive and time
consuming. Moreover, in order to hold the larger quantities of products in the
"institutional" or
"value" packages normally sold in warehouse clubs and the like, and/or to make
such packages
harder to shoplift, such large all-plastic clamshells tend to take up a
greater amount of shelf
space than necessary, use up more packaging material than necessary to make
the package,
and result in a greater amount of wasted packaging material. Such sealed all-
plastic clamshells
also tend to be harder to open by the consumer (after purchase) than other
sorts of packaging.
Additionally, such plastic packaging is typically slippery, whereby a knife or
scissors being used
to open the package by penetrating the plastic clamshell can bounce or slip
off the package and
cut or otherwise wound the user. Furthermore, when cut open, the plastic
housing often has
sharp edges that can pose a risk to the user and/or young children.
Another common type of container incorporates an opaque box to store goods or
products so that they are not visible to the consumers or others. Such boxes
are typically made
from a cardboard or heavy stock paper having sides comprised of flaps. In
order to seal the
boxes, the flaps of the box are adhered to one another. The box is, therefore,
opened by pulling
one flap apart from the other flaps of the box. While these boxes may, in many
respects, work,
problems have arisen with respect to their use. In particular, because of the
way that the boxes
are opened and closed, the edges of the flaps are not perfectly flush with the
box. Accordingly,
the edges may be torn and/or inadvertently opened if the packaging is
contacted against a
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sharp surface or other object. Having opened or partially opened boxes may
result in additional
costs and expenses to the storeowner or seller because consumers are less
likely to buy goods
that appear to have been tampered with or damaged. Additionally, because these
boxes may
be readily opened by opening a flap along their exposed seams, the products
are susceptible to
pilfering and such pilfering is not always immediately detectable. The
potential problem with
pilfering of products, such as razorbiades, has forced many stores to remove
the products from
the general store shelves and instead place such products behind the counters.
Accordingly,
both the customers and employees are inconvenienced by the fact that the
products must be
specifically requested by the customers and retrieved by an employee in order
to purchase
them.
Therefore, there is a need to produce a substantially pilfer-proof blister
pack or other
packaging container that allows for a retailer to describe or label the
product, while being
economical, easy to manufacture and sized to take up a minimum amount of shelf
space.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improvement over the prior product packaging in
that layers
of the card material for the housing are overlapped so as to criss-cross the
grain of the
overlapped layers used. Accordingly, the housing is resistant to tearing in
two directions instead
of only one. The housing is preferably printable to allow for advertising,
promotional or other
information to be displayed and includes one or more holes to accommodate one
or more
chambers for storing the product. Each of the chambers preferably has a rim
that extends
around the bottom of the chamber so that when the chamber is inserted through
the opening in
the housing, the rim abuts with the underside of the top layer or sheet or the
housing to prevent
the chamber from being pulled through the opening.
The product display chambers may be, among other things, substantially
transparent or
substantially opaque. In the case of the substantially transparent chamber,
the chamber may
be, among other things, a single large plastic compartment or multiple bubble-
like plastic
compartments, and is preferably secured within the housing by the overlapping
layers of the
card portion. Thus, once in place, the products are securely contained within
and visible
through the chamber.
The embodiment having the substantially opaque chamber is preferably made from
a
substantially tear-resistant material. In order to further protect against
theft, the chamber is
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preferably seamless with reinforced corners. A security device such as a
sensor may also be
placed within the product packaging to inhibit anyone from stealing the whole
package.
Likewise, in a pharmaceutical dispensing, substantially, childproof version,
the way that
products contained therein are removed is unique and comprises an improvement
over the prior
art. In particular, the housing of the blister pack is preferably made from a
substantially tear-
resistant material to inhibit pilfering or undesired tearing of the card
portion and encloses a
blister sheet having a plurality of blisters. A preferred material comprises
an SBS board coated
on one side with a laminate having directional grains, such that when two
housing sheets are
placed on top of one another, the grains of the sheets substantially criss-
cross to make the
housing resistant to cutting or tearing in two directions instead of only one.
In one embodiment, the cavities underneath the blisters are initially aligned
such that the
pills or other objects housed inside the cavities are substantially
perpendicular to the dispensing
slots on the bottom sheet of the housing. In order to prevent the blisters
from being turned to
dispense the pills, a zipper strip is kiss-cut or otherwise attached in
perforated-cut fashion to the
blisters. Other detatchable attachment methods should be contemplated as being
within the
scope of the present invention. Upon removal or disengagement of the strip,
the released
blister may be turned until the blister's pill is aligned with its respective
dispensing slot, thereby
allowing the blister to be depressed so as to push the pill or capsule through
the film covering
the dispensing slot, in order to enable removal of the pill. While the example
shown in this
application describes the longitudinal axis of the dispensing slot as
initially aligned at 90
degrees from the longitudinal axis of the blister and the pill contained
therein, other angles from
that axis should be considered as being within the scope of this invention. In
another
embodiment, the blisters need to be released and moved or slid into alignment
with a slot to
permit release of the pill contained therein.
An alternative embodiment of a childproof, senior-friendly blister pack
comprises a pair
of plastic sheets housed within the substantially tear-proof housing. One of
the sheets includes
a plurality of blisters that are preferably arranged in a series of rows
and/or columns for housing
a plurality of pills or other objects, which are retained within the blisters
by a thin foil sheet. The
second sheet comprises a series of channels that align with the series of rows
and/or columns
of blisters such that depressing the blister pushes the pill from the blister
into the respective
channel. The pill may then travel down the channel and into a second channel
that traverses
the series of channels. Once in the second channel, the pill may then proceed
to a pill
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dispensing area that preferably comprises a dispensing slot that is initially
displaced from the
second channel or is otherwise covered to prevent the pill from being
dispensed without further
action.
In operation, the pill may be dispensed in a number of ways including through
the use of
a cover member that slides between a closed position (i.e., covering the
dispensing slot) and an
open position (i.e., uncovering the dispensing slot). A twistable or turnable
blister may also be
used wherein a flange of the blister may initially cover a dispensing slot
when in the storage
mode. Alternatively, the dispensing slot may be a part of the blister.
Rotation of the blister
thereby allows the dispensing slot to be uncovered or moved into alignment
with the second
channel to permit the pill to be dispensed. A zipper strip may also be
employed to initially
prevent movement of the turnable blister or sliding cover member.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved blister
pack that is substantially childproof, yet senior-friendly.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a blister pack wherein
the housing
is manufactured from a printable, substantially tear-resistant material.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved
blister pack
that requires a blister to be released so as to allow the blister to be moved,
for example, turned
or slid, in order to enable a pill to be dispensed, so as to prevent undesired
dispensing of
medication by children.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a blister pack
that facilitates the
tracking of pill consumption.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging container
for displaying
products or product information that is substantially tear-resistant.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging
container that
inhibits theft and the inadvertent opening of the packaging.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a packaging container
that is easy
and economical to manufacture.
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Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from
the
following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
sheets of drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts.
In one aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly blister
pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a card comprising a first face and a second face;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein;
the longitudinal axis of the cavity in the storage position being in a
different direction than
the longitudinal axis in the dispensing position;
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening
when the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable
dispensing of the object
through the dispensing opening; and
retaining means having first and second positions and being operably
associated with the at
least one blister so as to prevent movement of the blister to the dispensing
position when the
retaining means is in the first position.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a card comprising a first face and a second face;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein;
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening
when the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable
dispensing of the object
through the dispensing opening;
the longitudinal axis of the cavity in the storage position being in a
different direction than
the longitudinal axis in the dispensing position;
retaining means having first and second positions;
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the retaining means operably associated with the blister for preventing
movement of the
blister when the retaining means is in the first position; and
the retaining means enabling movement of the blister when the retaining means
is in the
second position.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a card comprising a first face and a second face;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein; and
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening when
the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable dispensing of
the one or more of
the objects through the dispensing opening, wherein the longitudinal axis of
the cavity in the
storage position is approximately at about a 90-degree angle from the
longitudinal axis at the
dispensing position.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a card comprising a first face and a second face;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein;
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening
when the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable
dispensing of the object
through the dispensing opening;
retaining means having first and second positions;
the retaining means operably associated with the blister for preventing
movement of the
blister when the retaining means is in the first position;
the retaining means enabling movement of the blister when the retaining means
is in the
second position; and
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wherein the retaining means is a zipper strip operably affixed to the blister
in the storage
position and separated from the blister in the dispensing position.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a card comprising a first face and a second face, the card comprises a clock
face having
a plurality of numbers surrounding the blister, and wherein the cavity of the
blister is initially
aligned with a number on the clock face to indicate when to take the one or
more of the pills;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein; and
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening
when the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable
dispensing of the object
through the dispensing opening.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a card comprising a first face and a second face, the card comprises a clock
face having
a plurality of numbers surrounding the blister, and wherein the dispensing
slot is initially aligned
with a number on the clock face to indicate when to take the one or more of
the pills;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein; and
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening
when the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable
dispensing of the object
through the dispensing opening.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
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a card comprising a first face comprising a substantially tear-resistant
material having
grains aligned in a first direction and a second face made from a
substantially tear-resistant
material having grains aligned in a second direction substantially contrary to
the grains of the
top half so as to result in a substantially crossing pattern of grains to
provide resistance to
tearing in multiple directions;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein; and
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening
when the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable
dispensing of the one or
more of the objects through the dispensing opening.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing pills, wherein the blister pack comprises:
a blister sheet having one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a
cavity for
housing a pill, and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a retaining member extending adjacent to the blisters, wherein the retaining
member is
removably attached to the blisters to prevent the blisters from being turned;
a housing encompassing the blister sheet and having one or more dispensing
slots
therein, wherein each of the dispensing slots has a longitudinal axis, and
wherein the
longitudinal axis of each of the dispensing slots is not initially aligned
with the longitudinal axis of
the corresponding cavity of the blister; and
whereby the retaining member is at least partially removable so as to release
at least
one of the one or more blisters to allow the blister to be rotated or turned
until the longitudinal
axis of the cavity of the blister substantially aligns with the longitudinal
axis of the dispensing
slot to allow for the pill to be dispensed through the dispensing slot.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for dispensing an object
from a
blister pack comprising the steps of:
filling a blister having an interior cavity with an object by placing the
object
substantially within the cavity, the cavity having a longitudinal axis;
forming the blister into a blister pack by combining it with a card assembly
having a
dispensing opening formed therein, such that the blister is operably retained
by the card and the
longitudinal axis in the storage position being in a different direction than
the dispensing opening
in a storage position;
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fixing the blister in a storage position by a retaining means;
releasing the blister from the retaining means;
moving the blister to a dispensing position wherein the object is
substantially aligned
with the dispensing opening so as to permit passage of the object through the
opening; and,
dispensing the object through the dispensing opening.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method for dispensing a pill from
a blister
pack comprising the steps of:
filling a blister having an interior cavity with an object by placing the pill
substantially
within the cavity, the cavity having a longitudinal axis;
forming the blister into a blister pack by combining it with a card assembly
having a
dispensing opening formed therein, such that the blister is operably retained
by the card and the
longitudinal axis in the storage position being in a different direction than
the dispensing opening
in a storage position, the card assembly further comprises a clock face having
a plurality of
numbers surrounding the blisters, and wherein the cavity of the blister is
initially aligned with a
number on the clock face to indicate when to take the pill;
moving the blister to a dispensing position wherein the pill is substantially
aligned with
the dispensing opening so as to permit passage of the pill through the
opening; and,
dispensing the object through the dispensing opening.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing pills, wherein the blister pack comprises:
a blister sheet having one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a
cavity for
housing a pill, the cavity having a longitudinal axis in a storage position;
a retaining member extending adjacent to the blisters, wherein the retaining
member is
removably attached to the blisters to prevent the blisters from being moved;
and
a housing encompassing the blister sheet and having one or more dispensing
slots
therein, wherein each of the dispensing slots has a longitudinal axis that is
different than the
longitudinal axis of the cavity in the storage position of the blister;
whereby the retaining member is at least partially removed to release at least
one of the
one or more blisters to allow the blister to be moved until the pill within
the blister substantially
aligns with the dispensing slot to allow for the pill to be dispensed through
the dispensing slot.
In another aspect, the invention provides a package for dispensing objects
comprising:
at least one blister;
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the at least one blister having a cavity for housing one or more objects,
wherein the
cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a first wall;
the at least one blister being movably retained on the first wall to enable
movement of
the blister from a storage position to a dispensing position;
the longitudinal axis of the cavity in the storage position being in a
different direction than
the longitudinal axis in the dispensing position; and
retaining means having first and second positions operably associated with the
blister to
retain the blister in the storage position when the retaining means is in the
first position.
In another aspect, the invention provides a package for dispensing objects
comprising:
at least one blister;
the at least one blister having a cavity for housing one or more objects,
wherein the
cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a first wall;
the at least one blister being movably retained on the first wall to enable
movement of
the blister from a storage position to a dispensing position; and
retaining means having first and second positions operably associated with the
blister to
retain the blister in the storage position when the retaining means is in the
first position; and
wherein the longitudinal axis of the cavity in the storage position is not
parallel with the
longitudinal axis of the cavity in the dispensing position.
In another aspect, the invention provides a childproof and senior-friendly
blister pack for
dispensing objects wherein the blister pack comprises:
one or more blisters, wherein each blister includes a cavity for housing one
or more of
the objects and wherein each cavity has a longitudinal axis;
a card comprising a first face and a second face;
at least one blister being movably retained by the card about the first face,
so as to
enable movement of the blister from a storage position to a dispensing
position;
the second face having a dispensing opening formed therein;
the longitudinal axis of the cavity being substantially aligned with the
dispensing opening
when the blister is moved to the dispensing position, so as to enable
dispensing of the object
through the dispensing opening; and
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retaining means having first and second positions and being operably
associated with
the at least one blister so as to prevent movement of the blister to the
dispensing position when
the retaining means is in the first position;
wherein the longitudinal axis of the cavity in the storage position is not
parallel with the
longitudinal axis at the dispensing position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a childproof pharmaceutical
dispensing
blister pack showing the zipper strips of the blister sheet and housing top
sheet still attached
and the blisters in their normal non-dispensing position; the slots in the
housing bottom sheet
perpendicular to the blister cavities and in phantom; and a cover in the open
position to access
the blisters.
Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the childproof pharmaceutical dispensing blister
pack of
Fig. 1 showing the housing top sheet unfolded and rotated away from the
housing bottom sheet,
the blister sheet having a plurality of blisters removably attached to a
removable zipper strip, a
plurality of pills, and a foil layer.
Fig. 3 is a vertical plan view of an unfolded single housing sheet showing a
series of
scored lines used to form the housing top sheet, housing bottom sheet, and
cover for the
childproof pharmaceutical dispensing blister pack.
Fig. 4 is an exploded view illustrating a blister sheet of a childproof
pharmaceutical
dispensing blister pack before the blisters and zipper strip are cut away, and
a thin film or foil
sheet for placing over the pill dispensing slots to retain the pills within
the cavities of the blisters.
Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the childproof pharmaceutical
dispensing blister
pack of Fig. 1 showing the zipper strips partially removed from the housing
top sheet and blister
sheet and away from the first pair of blisters.
Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of the childproof pharmaceutical
dispensing blister
pack of Fig. 1 illustrating a single blister being rotated 90 degrees to allow
a pill to be dispensed.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a blister sheet showing the blisters arranged
in rows with
a plurality of zipper strips attaching the bases of adjacent blisters.
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Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the childproof pharmaceutical dispensing blister
pack
shown in Fig. 7 showing the housing top sheet unfolded and rotated away from
the housing
bottom sheet; the blister sheet having a plurality of blisters arranged in two
rows wherein the
blisters are removably attached zipper strips to adjacent blisters; a
plurality of pills, and a foil
layer.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the blister pack providing
criss-cross
grain card material surrounding a plurality of blisters.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the childproof
pharmaceutical
dispensing blister wherein a clock dial is simulated about each blister and
the dispensing slots
are aligned so as to correlate and graphically illustrate when the pills
should be taken.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a slidable blisters embodiment of a
childproof
pharmaceutical dispensing blister pack showing the zipper strips of the
blister sheet and
housing still attached and the blisters in their normal position distal from
the dispensing slots.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the slidable blisters embodiment of Fig. 11
showing a
zipper strip partially removed from the housing and blister sheet to release a
blister to allow it to
move from its normal position to a position over the corresponding dispensing
slot, as shown in
phantom, to dispense the pill.
Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a childproof, senior-
friendly
pharmaceutical dispensing blister pack showing a plurality of blisters and a
pill dispensing area.
Fig. 14 is an exploded view of the blister pack of FIG. 13 showing a first
plastic sheet
having a plurality of blisters for storing pills and a second plastic sheet
having a plurality of
channels for transporting the pills to the pill dispensing area.
Fig. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a turnable blister that may
be
temporarily locked in either an open or closed position.
Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a childproof, senior-
friendly
blister pack showing a slidable cover member to selectively cover the
dispensing slot.
Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a clamshell package having a
central,
single rectangular display chamber.
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Fig. 18 is an exploded view of the clamshell package from Fig. 17 showing the
housing
bottom sheet rotated away from the housing top sheet and the central, single
rectangular
display chamber having a rim to be securely retained between the top and
bottom sheets when
attached.
Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a substantially opaque chamber for a
clamshell package.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms,
there is shown
in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific
embodiments, with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered merely an
exemplification of the
principles of the invention and the application is limited only to the
appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. I and 2, the improved
childproof
pharmaceutical dispensing blister pack of the present invention, generally
designated by the
numeral 10, is illustrated having a housing 12; a blister sheet 14 containing
a plurality of blisters
16 and a zipper strip 17; and a thin film or foil sheet 18.
The housing 12 includes a top sheet 22, a bottom sheet 24 and a cover 26.
Although
the housing is shown in the figures as being constructed from a single sheet
of material, it is
appreciated that the housing may be comprised of multiple sheets or parts that
are attached or
initially separate pieces with respect to one another and not depart from the
scope of the
present invention. Furthermore, it is appreciated that the blister sheet may
be used without a
cover and not depart from the scope of the present invention.
The top sheet 22 of the housing includes a series of holes 23 shaped to
receive the
plurality of blisters 16. A zipper strip 25 may also be included on the top
sheet 22 that may be
removed in conjunction with, or beforehand, to allow the removal of the zipper
strip 17 on the
blister sheet 14. It is appreciated that the zipper strip 25 may be a uniform
strip or may be
comprised of a series of distinct strips that are individually located
adjacent to a single blister or
between a pair of blisters. Furthermore, it is appreciated that the zipper
strips may be of a
variety of sizes and/or shapes and not depart from the scope of the present
invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, it is preferred that when multiple zipper strips are
utilized, the
zipper strips 25 be separated by spaces or holes 29 to allow for the ends 31
of the zipper strips
17, as explained in more detail below, to extend through the holes 29. Having
the ends of the
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strips extend through the holes facilitates the removal of the zipper strips
from the housing and
blister sheet to release a pair of blisters. It is further appreciated that
the ends of the zipper
strips may include a raised surface or node to facilitate the grabbing of the
zipper strip. While a
zipper strip 25 is shown, it is appreciated that the top sheet 22 may instead
include a slot or
other opening for accessing the zipper strip 17 of the blister sheet 14. As
shown in FIGS. I to 5,
the housing bottom sheet 24 has a series of dispensing slots 27 that are sized
to allow the pills
contained within the blisters 16 to be easily dispensed.
In order to facilitate the manufacture of the blister pack, the single sheet
20 of material
may be scored as shown in FIG. 3. In particular, the housing 12 may include a
first scored line
28 between the top sheet 22 and the bottom sheet 24 to allow the top and
bottom sheets 22 and
24 to be folded on top of one another. The housing 12 may also include
additional scored lines
30 and 32 to allow for the cover 26 to be folded over the blisters 16 when in
use. It is
appreciated that instructions or other information may be printed on the
inside or outside surface
of the cover.
The housing is preferably made from a SBS board coated on one side with a
laminate
material having directional grains. Such material is easier to cut or tear in
the direction of the
grain, than against it. Hence, when two housing sheets are folded or otherwise
placed on top of
one another, instead of the directional grain of the materials all going in
the same direction or
being parallel, (as it would in a single sheet of material which is less
resistant to tearing or cutting
in the direction of the grain) the grains 50,52 of the overlapped sheets serve
to overlap. The
criss-crossing grains of the overlapped material adds strength to the housing
and protects
against undesired tearing or cutting in two directions. An example of a
suitable laminated
material having directional grains is a specialty film produced by Valeron
Strength Films under
the trademark VALERON"'". While Valeron is made from a polyethylene material,
other such
coatings, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene or polyester may be used.
While a SBS
board coated with a laminated material is used, it is appreciated that other
materials having
sufficient strength to resist tearing, including, but not limited to, cloth
films, cloth and plastic films,
and heat sealable boards and other coatings may also be used and not depart
from the scope of
.the present invention. Examples of cloth films and cloth and plastic films
include those films
known by the names SCRIMM and CLAFF. It is further appreciated that the
housing may be
made from any other materials that are known to be used in blister packs such
as, but not limited
to, standard board stock, and not depart from the scope of the present
invention.
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Referring now to FIG. 2, the blister sheet 14 includes a plurality of blisters
16 for housing
pills 34 and a zipper strip 17. Each blister 16 includes a base 36 and a
cavity 38 for containing
a pill 34. The cavity 38 is preferably shaped and positioned such that when
the blister 16
contains a pill 34, the pill 34 extends substantially perpendicular to the
dispensing slot 27 on the
bottom sheet. 22 of the housing 12 to prevent its removal from the blister
pack. However, it is
appreciated that the cavities and the pills therewithin may be positioned in
any direction as long
as they are neither substantially parallel to nor aligned with the dispensing
slot when in the
normal position. Hence other angles between the longitudinal axis of the slot
and the
longitudinal axis of the blister or pill may be used. In order to facilitate
the turning of the blister
16, the blister may include a tab, bulge, protrusion or indentations 40 on the
top or side of the
blister. It is appreciated that the blister may be of various sizes and shapes
and not depart from
the scope of the present invention, with the understanding that the blister
and the housing need
to cooperate to enable rotation of the blister when released, while still
securely holding the
blister within the housing.
Preferably, the blister sheet is molded from a substantially tear-resistant
material, such
as a 10 mil PVC, which is substantially transparent to enable the pills to be
visible when
contained within their respective cavities. However, it is appreciated that
the blister sheet may
be made from a variety of materials that are opaque, transparent or otherwise
and not depart
from the scope of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the blister sheet
14 is preferably
molded into a sheet that includes a plurality of blisters 16 and tabs for the
ends 31 of the zipper
strips 17. The blisters 16 and zipper strip 17 may then be cut away in a known
way to form the
blister sheet 14 shown in FIG. 2 for use with the present invention.
Similarly, a foil sheet or thin
film 18 is placed over the open end of the blisters 16 to maintain the pills
34 within the blisters
16. It is appreciated that the foil sheet or thin film may also be placed over
the housing bottom
sheet such that when the blister sheet is contained within the housing, the
pills are contained
within the cavities of the blisters. The foil sheet or thin film allows for
the pills to be pushed
through the film to dispense the pills. Although it is preferred that a thin
film or foil sheet be
used, it is appreciated that the dispensing slot may be uncovered or covered
by another means
including a removable cover.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the zipper strips 17 extends between two columns of
blisters
16. In order to prevent the blisters from being twisted, rotated or turned,
each zipper strip 17 is
removably attached to the bases 36 of the blisters 16. While one zipper strip
is shown as
cooperating with two blisters or two rows of blisters, each blister or row of
blisters can be
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provided with its own zipper strip. Furthermore, while the zipper strips are
preferably kiss-cut or
perforation-cut to the blisters, it is appreciated that they may be detachably
attached to the
blisters by other means and not depart from the scope of the present
invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ends 31 of the zipper strips 17 extend through holes
29 in the
housing top sheet 22 to enable the zipper strips 17 to be readily engaged by
the user. A tab or
similar device may be attached to the end 31 of the zipper strip 17 to
facilitate the gripping and
removal of the zipper strip. While a zipper strip is shown and described, it
is appreciated that
the blisters may be retained using other sorts of retaining members and not
depart from the
scope of the present invention.
In order to make the blister pack, a blister sheet 14 having a number of
blisters 16 as
shown in FIG. 4 is molded from a 10 mil PVC sheet. Pills, capsules or other
objects 34 are then
inserted into the cavities 38 of the blisters 16. With the pills inside the
cavities of the blisters, a
foil sheet or thin film 18 is attached to the bottom of the blister sheet 14
to seal off the cavities
38, thereby retaining the pills 34 in the cavities 38. The blister sheet 14 is
then cut into a matrix
having a plurality of blisters 16 kiss-cut, scored or perforation-cut to a
zipper strip 17 and
inserted into the housing 12 such that the blisters 16 extend through
corresponding holes 23 in
the top sheet 22 of the housing 12. In order to form the housing, the housing
sheet is folded
along a scored line 28 separating the top sheet 22 and the bottom sheet 24.
The top and
bottom sheets are then fixedly attached to one another using a heat-activated
or other type of
adhesive, or any known method such as, but not limited to, stables or other
fasteners to
securely retain the sheets together and prevent tampering of the blister pack.
Once assembled,
the blisters stick through the openings of the housing and are preferably
retained by a peripheral
flange of the base that is adjacent to and abuts against the underside of the
top sheet of the
housing. Additionally, the housing 12 also may be folded along additional
scored lines 30 and
32 to provide a cover 26 for the blister pack 14. It is appreciated that the
foregoing description
represents a preferred method of making a blister pack of the present
invention and that the
invention is not limited to this particular method.
In order to remove the pills 34, the end 31 of on the zipper strip 17, as
shown in FIGS. 5
and 6, is pulled to remove the zipper strips 17 and 25 from the top sheet 22
of the housing 12
and the blister sheet 14. Removal of the zipper strip 17 from the blister
sheet 14 disengages
the strip 17 from the blisters 16 to which it was connected, thereby releasing
the blisters 16
contained on the blister sheet 14 to allow the blisters 16 to be rotated or
twisted 90 degrees (in
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this example) to align the pills 34 in the cavities 38 of the blisters 16 with
the corresponding
dispensing slots 27 on the bottom sheet 24 of the housing 12. The blisters 16
may then be
pushed so as to drive and expel the pills 34 from the blister pack 10 through
the film 18.
It is the two-step zipper strip pulling and blister twisting operation that
makes the
package substantially childproof because children are not likely to figure out
how to release the
blister for rotation and alignment with the dispensing slot, yet substantially
senior-friendly
because seniors should be able to perform these operations with a minimum of
manual dexterity
or with arthritis pain. Single, double or multiple dose versions of this
embodiment should also
be considered as part of the invention. Likewise, as indicated above, other
blister sheets having
any number of blisters, such as, but not limited to, 14 or 30 blisters, should
be considered as
being within the scope of the invention.
While a blister pack having seven blisters is shown in the figures, it is
appreciated that
the blister sheet may have any number of blisters and not depart from the
scope of the present
invention. Additionally, although a blister sheet having an even number of
columns of blisters is
shown so that a pair of blisters may be released at the same time, it is
appreciated that the
blisters on the blister pack may be arranged in any configuration, including
in a single column or
otherwise. For example, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a
blister sheet for
us in the type of housing shown and disclosed above, wherein the blisters 102
are arranged in
two rows and each blister 102 includes a base 104 and a cavity 106 for housing
a pill 107. As
disclosed above, it is appreciated that the blister sheet may be made from a
PVC sheet or other
known materials.
Each of the adjacent blisters 102 in a row is attached at the base 104 to each
of the
adjacent blisters 102 by a zipper strip 108. In order to prevent the last
blister in a row from
being released with the penultimate blister, a zipper strip 108 is also
preferably attached to the
side of the last blister 102 in the row. The top sheet 110 of the housing 111
may also have a
removable strip 112 to cover part of the zipper strip 108. A hole 114 in the
top sheet 110 of the
housing 111 of the blister pack 100 is preferably sized such that the end 116
of the zipper strip
108 extends into the hole 114 to allow for it to be grabbed to facilitate its
removal. In order to
facilitate the grasping of the zipper strip 108 and to prevent the last
blister 102 from being
rotated prior to removal of the zipper strip 108, the end 116 of the zipper
strip 108 may also
have a node 118 or other projection.
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In operation, the pills 107 are arranged in the cavities 104 of the blisters
102 such that
the pills 107 are not aligned with the dispensing slot 120 of the bottom sheet
122 of the housing
111. Removal of the zipper strip 108 and removable strip 112 releases one of
the blisters 102.
The blister 102 may then be rotated until the cavity 106 of the blister 102
aligns with the
dispensing slot 120 of the bottom sheet 122 of the housing 111. The blister
102 may then be
depressed to push the pill 107 through the foil sheet 124 covering the
dispensing slot 120 to
dispense the pill 107. Although it is preferred that a thin film or foil sheet
be used, it is
appreciated that the dispensing slot may be uncovered or covered by another
means including
a removable cover.
While two rows of four blisters are shown and disclosed, it is appreciated
that any
number of blisters may be used and arranged in any number of rows and columns.
Additionally,
it is appreciated that the zipper strips may be attached to one blister or to
any number of blisters
and not depart from the scope of the present invention.
Turning to Fig. 9, another embodiment of a pill or other object dispensing
blister pack
190 is shown. A criss-cross grain double layer card 191 includes a top sheet
193 and a bottom
sheet 194 that surround and retain a plurality of blisters 192. While the
blister pack is shown as
having ten substantially round blisters, it is appreciated that the blister
pack may have any
number of blisters of varying shapes and not depart from the scope of the
present invention. A
plurality of dispensing slots are formed on the bottom of the card 191 and are
covered with film
or foil so that the pills contained in blisters 192 can be pushed through a
thin film or foil sheet.
In the preferred embodiment, the housing is made from a SBS board coated on
one side
with a laminated material having directional grains so that when two housing
sheets having
grains 195 and 196 that extend in different directions are placed on top of
one another such that
the grains overlap, the criss-crossing grains of the materials add strength to
the housing and
protect against tearing or tampering in two directions. A suitable coating is
manufactured under
the trademark VALERONTM by Valeron Strength Films. While Valeron is made from
a
polyethylene material, other such coatings such as, but not limited to,
polypropylene or
polyester may be used. The material used also is preferably printable to allow
for advertising,
promotional or other information to be displayed on the housing. While a SBS
board with a
cross-laminated coating is preferred, it is appreciated that other materials
having sufficient
strength to resist tearing, including, but not limited to, cloth films, cloth
and plastic films, heat
sealable boards and other coatings, also may be used and not depart from the
scope of the
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present invention. Examples of cloth films and cloth and plastic films include
those films known
by the names SCRIMM and CLAFF.
As shown in Fig. 10, any of the blister pack 1 Oa shown and disclosed
herewithin may
also include a simulated clock dial 200 about the periphery of each of the
blisters 16a. As shown
by the differing alignments of dispensing slots 27a, the alignment of the
blisters 16a can be
used to simulate or correlate to the times when the pills should be taken. For
instance, when a
pill should be taken every three hours, the cavities 40a of the blisters 16a
can be aligned at 3
o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock etc. so as to serve as a visual
reminder or prompt of
when and/or how often to take the medication. Alternatively, dispensing slots
27a could be
aligned at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock etc. so as to serve
as a visual reminder
or prompt of when and/or how often to take the a pill as well as a visual
record of when a pill
was last taken. While a simulated clock face is shown and disclosed, it is
appreciated that any
number of symbols, simulated dials or other information may be included among
the periphery
of the blisters to relay information concerning the pill or other contents of
the blister to the
customer.
Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, an alternative embodiment 300 of a blister pack
having
sliding blisters is shown. The blister pack 300 includes a housing 302 having
a top sheet 304
and a bottom sheet 306 that enclose a blister sheet having a plurality of
blisters 310 and a
zipper strip 312 removably attached to the blisters 310. As disclosed above,
the housing is
preferably made from an SBS board coated on one side with a laminate having
directional
grains, but may be made from other known materials and/or coatings and not
depart from the
scope of the present invention. The top sheet 304 of the housing 302 includes
a series of slots
or channels 314 shaped to receive the blisters 310 and allow the blisters 310
to move within the
housing 302. A plurality of dispensing slots 316 are preferably located within
the channels 314
distal from the normal position of the blisters 310 so as to prevent dispersal
of a pill or other
object 318 without releasing the blister 310. The dispensing slots 316 are
preferably covered by
a thin film or foil sheet 320 so as to maintain the pills within the blister
while allowing the pill to
be pushed through to permit removal of the pill. Although it is preferred that
a thin film or foil
sheet be used, it is appreciated that the dispensing slot may be uncovered or
covered by other
means including a removable cover. A zipper strip 322 also may be included on
the top sheet
304, whereby the zipper strip 322 may be removed in conjunction with, or
before, the removal of
the zipper strip 312 on the blister sheet. While each blister 310 has a zipper
strip 312 and a
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zipper strip 322 individually associated with it, it is appreciated that a
pair of blisters 310 could
share the zipper strips 312, 322 positioned between them.
In order to facilitate the removal of the zipper strips 312, 322, a tab 324 at
the end of the
blister sheet zipper strip 312 extends through a hole on the top sheet 304 to
allow the tab 324 to
be grasped to remove the zipper strip 312 so as to release the blister 310.
Once released, the
blister 310 can be slid along the channel 314 from position A and into
vertical alignment with the
corresponding dispensing slot 316 in position B. The pill 318 within the
blister 310 can then be
pushed through the film 320 covering the slot 316. While four sliding blisters
310 are illustrated,
other arrangements having one or more blisters 310 and channels 314 should be
contemplated
as being within the scope of the invention. It is the two-step zipper strip
pulling and blister sliding
operation that makes the package substantially childproof, yet senior-friendly
because seniors
should be able to perform these operations with a minimum of manual dexterity
or with arthritis
pain. It is further appreciated that the pill may initially be misaligned with
the dispensing slot.
Accordingly, in order to dispense the pill 318 through the dispensing slot
316, the blister 310
must be slid and rotated within the channel 314 until the pill 318 is aligned
with the dispensing
slot 316.
Referring to FIGS. 13 & 14, another embodiment of a blister pack is shown. The
blister
pack, generally designated by the number 400 is illustrated having a housing
402, a blister
sheet 404 containing a plurality of blisters 406 for housing pills 408 and a
twistable or turnable
blister 410 associated therewith; and a second blister sheet 412 having a
plurality of channels
414 for moving the pills from their blisters to the turnable blister 410 for
dispensing.
The housing includes a top sheet 420, a bottom sheet 422 and a cover 424.
Although
the housing is shown as being constructed from a single sheet of material, it
is appreciated that
the housing may be comprised of multiple sheets that are attached to one
another and not
depart from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, while the housing
preferably includes a
cover, it is appreciated that the blister pack may forego a cover and not
depart from the scope of
the present invention.
The top sheet 420 of the housing 402 includes a dispensing slot 426 and a
plurality of
holes 428 sized and shaped to receive the blisters 406 and the turnable
blister 410. It is
appreciated that the dispensing slot 426 may initially be covered in a known
way such as, but
not limited to, a pull-away zipper strip.
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The bottom sheet 422 of the housing 402 preferably includes a hole 430 sized
and
shaped to accommodate all of the channels 414 of the second blister sheet 412.
While a large
hole is shown and disclosed, it is appreciated that there may be multiple
holes to accommodate
the various channels or the housing may be of sufficient depth such that the
channels may be
entirely contained within the housing so that the bottom sheet may be a
uniform sheet without
any holes.
The housing is preferably made from a SBS board coated on one side with a
laminate
having directional grains material. Such material is easier to cut or tear in
the direction of the
grain, than against it. Hence, when two housing sheets are folded or otherwise
placed on top of
one another, instead of the directional grain of the materials all going in
the same direction or
being parallel, (as it would in a single sheet of material which is less
resistant to tearing or cutting
in the direction of the grain) the grains of the overlapped sheets serve to
overlap. The criss-
crossing grains of the overlapped material add strength to the housing and
protects against
undesired tearing or cutting in two directions. An example of a suitable
laminated material having
directional grains is a specialty film produced by Valeron Strength Films
under the trademark
VALERONTM. While Valeron is made from a polyethylene material, other such
coatings including,
but not limited to, polypropylene or polyester may be used.
While a SBS board coated with a laminated material is used, it is appreciated
that other
materials having sufficient strength to resist tearing, including, but not
limited to, cloth films, cloth
and plastic films, heat sealable boards and other coatings, may also be used
and not depart
from the scope of the present invention. Examples of cloth films and cloth and
plastic films
include those films known by the names SCRIMM and CLAFF. It is further
appreciated that the
housing may be made from any other materials that are known to be used in
blister packs such
as, but not limited to, standard board stock, and not depart from the scope of
the present
invention.
Referring again to FIG. 14, the blister sheet 404 includes a plurality of
blisters 406
having cavities 407 for housing pills, and a twistable or turnable blister 410
attached to or
associated with a flange 434. While a blister sheet having seven columns of
between one and
five pills is shown, it is appreciated that the blister sheet may have any
number of blisters
arranged in any number of columns and/or rows and not depart from the scope of
the invention.
It is further appreciated that the individual columns or rows may represent
the particular pills that
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must be taken in a specific time period (e.g., one day) to facilitate the
process of taking the
necessary pills.
The second blister sheet 412 includes a plurality of first channels 414 that
correspond to
the columns or rows of blisters from the blister sheet 404. The channels 414
extend into a
second channel 436 that traverses the plurality of the channels 414. While it
is preferred that a
second channel be used, it is appreciated that the blister pack may use one or
more first
channels that are each preferably associated with an individual dispensing
mechanism and not
depart from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, while the pills
may be dispensed
through the dispensing slot 426, it is appreciated that the end of the second
channel 436 may
include a dispensing slot,that may initially be covered by a thin film of
other covering. Removal
of the covering will thus allow the pills to be dispensed through the slot.
In order to make the blister pack, the blister sheet is molded from a
substantially tear-
resistant material, such as a 10 mil PVC, which is substantially transparent
to enable the pills to
be visible when contained within their respective cavities. However, it is
appreciated that the
blister sheet may be made from a variety of opaque, transparent or other known
materials and
not depart from the scope of the present invention. In particular, the first
blister sheet 404 and
second blister sheet 412 are preferably molded and constructed such that the
first blister sheet
has a plurality of blisters aligned in one or more columns or rows and a
turnable blister
associated therewith, and the second blister sheet has one or more first
channels extending in
the same direction as the columns or rows from the blister sheet and a second
channel running
traversely to the one ore more first channels. Each of the blisters includes a
cavity for housing a
pill.
It is appreciated that the twistable or rotatable blister is preferably a
separate element so
that it may be rotated in relation to the first blister sheet. While a
rotatable blister having a pill-
shaped cavity to facilitate the grasping and rotation of the blister is shown
and disclosed, it is
appreciated that the blister also may comprise bulges comprising grasping
surfaces of different
sizes and shapes. Additionally, it is appreciated that the blister may be
turned using any known
means including, but not limited to, a slot for insertion of an object such
as, but not limited to, a
coin or key-like object, whereby the coin or other object may be turned,
twisted or pushed after it
is placed within the slot to turn the blister.
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Once the blister sheets are molded, the pills may then be placed in the cavity
of the
blister. With the pills inside the cavity of the blister, a foil sheet 440 or
other cover is attached to
the bottom of the blister sheet 404. Although it is preferred that a thin film
or foil sheet be used,
it is appreciated that the dispensing slot may be uncovered or covered by
other means. After
the pills are inserted into the cavities and covered by the foil cover, the
blister sheet may then
be attached to the second blister sheet in a known way including, but not
limited to, adhesive,
tape and/or staples and the like.
In order to form the housing, the housing sheet is folded along a scored line
442
separating the tops sheet 420 and the bottom sheet 422. With the blister
sheets arranged in
between the top and bottom sheets 420, 422, the top and bottom sheets may then
be fixedly
attached to one another using a heat-activated or other type of adhesive or
any known method
such as, but not limited to, tape, staples and/or other fasteners to securely
retain the sheets
together and prevent tampering of the blister pack. The housing also may be
folded along
additional scored lines 444, 446 to provide a cover 424 for the blister pack.
It is appreciated that
the foregoing description represents a preferred method of making the blister
pack of the
present invention and that the invention is not limited to this particular
method.
In order to remove the pills, the cavity 407 of the blister 406 is depressed
to push a pill
408 through the foil sheet and into the respective first channel. The blister
pack may then be
tilted or moved to allow the pill 408 to travel down the first channel 414 and
into the second
channel 436. In the preferred embodiment, the turnable or rotatable blister
410 includes a
flange 434 that initially blocks passage of the pill 408 to the dispensing
slot 426 prior to
activation. In the preferred embodiment, the flange includes a hole or gap 439
that is sized to
allow for the pill 408 to travel through the dispensing slot 426 to be
dispensed. In operation,
rotation of the blister 410 moves the flange 434 away from the slot 426,
thereby aligning the
hole 439 with the dispensing slot 426 to allow the pill 408 to be dispensed
from the blister pack.
It is further appreciated that the rotatable blister may be temporarily locked
into a closed
or open position. While it is appreciated that the blister may be locked into
position in one of a
variety of known ways, one embodiment comprises a push and turn blister. As
shown in FIG.
15, the rotatable blister, generally designated by the numeral 410 includes at
least one retaining
member 450 that extends downwardly from the rotatable blister 410. Ina
preferred
embodiment, the retaining member has a body 456 and a retaining end 458. The
second blister
sheet preferably includes a substantially circular or semi-circular member 459
that is
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substantially the same size as the center section 452 of the rotatable blister
410, but it is
appreciated that it may be of other shapes and sizes. The circular member 459
preferably
includes a plurality of recesses or holes 454 for accepting the retaining end
458 of the retaining
member 450. When not in use, the retaining end 458 of the retaining member 450
is preferably
positioned in one of the recesses 454 such that the dispensing slot 426 is
covered by the flange
434 and the blister 410 is prevented from being rotated. Pushing on the
blister 410 displaces
the retaining end 458 of the retaining member 450 from the recess 454 and
allows the blister
410 to be rotated. In order to allow the blister to be rotated, the second
blister sheet 412
preferably includes a groove or channel 457 that is sized to permit the
retaining end 458 to
move between the two recesses. Once rotation begins, the blister 410
preferably no longer
needs to be pushed. Rotation of the blister will continue until the retaining
end of the retaining
member passes over and falls into the next recess, whereby the flange will be
removed from the
traverse second channel to allow the pill to proceed to the dispensing slot to
be dispensed.
Furthermore, it is appreciated that the traverse second channel or dispensing
slot may
be temporarily blocked in any number of ways including, but not limited to, a
slidable panel or
wall that may selectively block passage of the pill. It is appreciated that in
order to block
passage of the pills to the respective dispensing slot, the second channel 436
of the second
blister sheet 412 may include a slot or hole in its sidewall 455 to allow a
wall or other member to
be inserted into the second channel 436 to block passage of the pill to the
dispensing slot 426.
FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of a substantially childproof and senior-
friendly pill
dispensing mechanism for use with the blister packs of the type shown in FIGS.
13 and 14. The
pill dispensing mechanism, generally identified by the reference number 460,
comprises a cover
member 462 that is slidably housed within a cover member channel 464 to permit
the cover
member 462 to be slid to reveal the dispensing slot 466 for dispensing the
pill.
In the preferred embodiment, when in a first position designated by reference
letter A,
the cover member 462 covers the dispensing slot 466, thereby preventing the
housed pill from
being dispensed. By moving or sliding the cover member 462 within the cover
member channel
464 to a second position generally designated by the letter B (shown in
phantom), the
dispensing slot 466 is uncovered, thereby allowing the pill to be dispensed
through the slot. The
cover member 462 may thereafter be pushed back into position A to prevent
further
dispensement of any pills. While the embodiment shown and disclosed requires
the cover
member to be manually moved between position A and position B, it is
appreciated that the
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cover member may be automatically returned to position A through a known way
such as, but
not limited to, springs, rubber bands, or other elastic-like elements serving
to bias the cover to a
closed position. It is further appreciated that the cover member may initially
be prevented from
movement within the cover member channel through the use of a zipper strip 468
that is initially
removably attached to the cover member in a known way such as, but not limited
to, kiss-cut or
other detachable methods. Removal of the strip thereby releases the cover
member and allows
it to be moved or to slide within the cover member channel to prevent pills
from being
dispensed.
While blister packs for dispensing pills are shown and described, it is also
appreciated
that the tear and cut resistant material disclosed above may be used for other
blister packs,
such as clamshells, other pill dispensers and the like. Referring now to the
drawings, and
particularly to FIGS. 17 and 18, the improved product packaging of the present
invention,
generally designated by the numeral 500, is shown having a housing 506 and a
display
chamber 502. While a clamshell embodiment having a box-shaped chamber is shown
and
disclosed, it is appreciated that the present invention may be used with any
number of
chambers of any known size and shape and with any number of different types of
packaging for
products and not depart from the scope of the invention.
The housing is preferably made from a SBS board coated on one side with a
laminated
material having directional grains so that when two housing sheets having
grains 540 and 550
are placed on top of one another such that the grains overlap, the criss-
crossing grains 560 of
the materials adds strength to the housing and protects against tearing or
tampering in two
directions. A suitable coating is manufactured under the trademark VALERONTM'
by Valeron
Strength Films. While Valeron is made from a polyethylene material, other such
coatings such
as, but not limited to, polypropylene or polyester may be used. The material
used also is
preferably printable to allow for advertising, promotional or other
information to be displayed on
the housing. While a SBS board with a cross-laminated coating is preferred, it
is appreciated
that other materials having sufficient strength to resist tearing including,
but not limited to, cloth
films, cloth and plastic films, heat sealable boards and other coatings, also
may be used and not
depart from the scope of the present invention. Examples of cloth films and
cloth and plastic
films include those films sold under the names SCRIMM and CLAFF.
As shown in FIG. 18, the housing 506 is preferably made from a single sheet of
material
having a scored line 508 to facilitate the folding of the top half 510 onto
the bottom half 512 of
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the sheet to form the blister pack 500. While the housing is shown as being
formed from a
single sheet, it is appreciated that it may be formed from two or more sheets
that are then
laminated, affixed or otherwise secured or placed together. The top sheet 510
of the housing of
the blister pack includes an opening 514 sized to accommodate a display
chamber 502 for
displaying products or other materials such as labels (not shown) or the like.
The opening may
be of any shape or size to accommodate a suitable display chamber.
Furthermore, it is
appreciated that the housing may have any number of openings to accommodate a
number of
chambers and not depart from the scope of the present invention.
The display chamber 502 preferably extends outward from the housing sheet in
order to
house the product or label and is preferably made of a substantially
transparent material such
as a PVC to enable the contents inside the display chamber to be viewed, but
may be made of
other known materials and not depart from the scope of the present invention.
To prevent
objects from tampering with or damaging the blister pack, it is preferred that
the display
chamber be sized to fit snuggly within the opening so that the tamper-
resistant sheet of the
housing substantially surrounds the perimeter of the open end of the display
chamber. In order
to secure the display chamber within the housing, a rim 516 may extend around
the bottom or
open end 518 of the display chamber 502 such that when the display chamber 502
is inserted
through the opening 514, the rim 516 abuts with the underside 520 of the top
half 510 of the
sheet to prevent the display chamber 502 from being pulled through the opening
514. While a
contiguous rim is shown in the figures, it is appreciated that the display
chamber may be
retained by a non-contiguous rim, a series of tabs or other suitable means
such as adhesives
and/or staples and the like.
With the display chamber inserted into the opening, a product or label may be
placed
within the display chamber in the proper orientation for display. The two
housing halves or
portions are then closed together about the scored line and securely affixed.
The two halves
are preferably affixed together using a heat-sealed adhesive, although it is
appreciated that
other types of adhesives or attaching means may be utilized and not depart
from the scope of
the present invention.
The packaging 500 may also include a hole or slot 504 at the upper end of the
packaging or elsewhere that is sized to enable the packaging to be placed onto
a rod or peg
board (not shown) at the point of sale for sale or display. Because of the
cross sectional
characteristics of the housing, the hole is reinforced to prevent tearing or
manipulation.
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While the embodiment of the housing of the product packaging is shown and
disclosed
as having a display chamber that is transparent or substantially transparent,
it is appreciated
that the chamber may be made of a material or coated with a material that is
opaque or
substantially opaque, whereby the items contained within the chamber would be
substantially
hidden. This opaque display chamber would be well suited for a product that is
either small,
unattractive or otherwise unsuitable for display. Attractive graphics and/or
product information
could thus be used on the display chamber as well.
An example of an opaque chamber is shown in FIG. 19. In the preferred
embodiment,
the chamber 600 may be used with a housing of the kind shown in FIGS. 17 and
18. While the
chamber is preferably substantially box-shaped with a top 602 and four walls
604, it is
appreciated that the chamber may be of any known shape and size and not depart
from the
scope of the present invention. It is further appreciated that the chamber may
be sized and
shaped to facilitate the stacking of multiple yet to be used chambers during
the manufacturing
process. For example, it is appreciated that angles may be incorporated into
the walls 604 of
the chamber 600 or other features incorporated therein, to permit multiple
chambers to be
nested.
While the material for the chamber may be made from a wide variety of
materials, it is
preferred that the material be of the type known to protect against tearing or
tampering. An
example of such a material is a SBS board coated on both sides with a material
having
directional grains such as VALERONTM such that the grains criss-cross to add
strength to the
chamber. It is also appreciated that the chamber may comprise two layers of
SBS board that
are coated with a laminated material having directional grains so that when
the two layers are
placed on top of one another such that the grains 612, 614 overlap, the criss-
cross grains of the
material add strength to the chamber and protect against tearing or tampering
in two directions.
While Valeron is made from a polyethylene material, other such coatings may
include,
but are not limited to, polypropylene or polyester. The material used also is
preferably printable
to allow for advertising, promotional or other information to be displayed on
the housing. While
a SBS board with a cross-laminated coating is preferred, it is appreciated
that other materials
having sufficient strength to resist tearing, including, but not limited to,
cloth films, plastic and
cloth films, heat sealable boards and other coatings, also may be used and not
depart from the
scope of the present invention. Examples of cloth films and cloth and plastic
films include those
films sold under the names SCRIMM and CLAFF. The chamber thereby acts to
prevent
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consumers from seeing the product, as well as preventing undesired removal of
the product
from the package prior to purchase.
In order to further assist in the prevention of theft of the blister pack and
its contents, the
interconnection between the walls of the chamber are preferably substantially
seamless.
Accordingly, unlike the known product packages, the walls will not tend to
separate or be easily
separated by the consumer to facilitate the unwanted opening of the chamber
before purchase
of the product. Additionally, the comers and/or sides of the chamber are
preferably reinforced
to further prevent any tampering of the chamber. Examples of chambers having
reinforced
corners and sides include, but are not limited to, chambers having their edges
reinforced with
fiber-reinforced tape or a fiber laminate, similar to a set-up box.
It is further appreciated that the chamber may also contain a security device
such as, but
not limited to, a product sensorttransmitter that will set off an alarm to
indicate that a consumer
or customer may be passing a security sensor and thereby leaving the store
with an
unpurchased product.
To prevent objects from being inserted to tamper with or damage the blister
pack, it is
preferred that the chamber 600 be sized to fit snuggly within the opening 514
so that the
tamper-resistant sheet of the housing 510, 512 surrounds substantially the
perimeter of the
chamber 600. In order to secure the chamber 600 within the housing 510, 512, a
lip or rim 608
may extend from one or more of the bottoms 610 of the walls 604 of the chamber
600 such that
when the chamber is inserted through the opening 514, the lip 608 abuts with
the underside 520
of the top half 510 of the sheet to prevent the chamber 600 from being pulled
through the
opening 514. While separate lips are shown, it is appreciated that the chamber
may be retained
by a contiguous lip, a series of tabs, or any other suitable means such as
adhesives and/or
staples and the like.
In order to gain access to the product or information contained within the
display
chamber, it is understood that the housing may be cut with scissors or a
knife. Because of the
material used for the housing, the resulting cut surfaces will be
substantially free of sharp
edges, thereby making the product package safer to use.
It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected
without departing
from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is
understood that this
application is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
21958339.2 29
