DISPOSITIF D'ECHANTILLONNAGE ET DE PRESCRIPTION DE MEDICAMENT

MEDICATION SAMPLE AND MEDICATION PRESCRIPTION DEVICE

Abrégé français

Cette invention concerne un dispositif combiné qui permet d'échantillonner un médicament dans un conteneur réutilisable et de prescrire un médicament. Ce dispositif comprend un panneau de support plat (12) qui possède une surface d'observation ou avant se divisant en une première et une seconde parties. Un conteneur (14) pour médicament réutilisable et amovible renferme une faible quantité d'échantillon de médicament sous forme de pilule, de cachet ou de gélule, lequel conteneur est fixé à la première partie de manière à être visible. Un formulaire d'ordonnance amovible (16) pour le médicament est attaché à la seconde partie de la surface avant du panneau de support. Cette combinaison permet au médecin de distribuer une quantité initiale d'un médicament et d'écrire simultanément une ordonnance pour une plus grande quantité de médicament. Ce dispositif comprend également un panneau de couverture (18) qui protège le formulaire d'ordonnance, une pochette (44) qui contient des imprimés relatifs au médicaments, ainsi qu'un espace de grande taille qui est réservé aux annonces publicitaires imprimées que fait le fabriquant du médicament.

Abrégé anglais

A combination medication sample, in a reusable container and medication
prescription device includes a flat support panel (12) having an obverse or
front facing surface which defines a first and second portion thereof. A
removable, reusabe medication container (14) holding a small sample quantity
of medication in pill, tablet or capsule form is viewably attached to the
first portion and a removable medication prescription form (16) is attached to
the second portion of the front surface of the support panel. This combination
permits the physican to simultaneously dristribute a starter quantity of
medication and to write a prescription for a larger quantity of medication. A
cover panel (18) for protecting the prescription form, a pocket (44) for
holding printed material relating to the medication, and ample space for
printed promotional indicia on behalf of the prescription manufacturer are
also provided.

Revendications

5
CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A combination medication sample and medication prescription
device comprising:
a flat support panel having first and second portions of an obverse
surface thereof;
a removable and reusable sample medication enclosure containing
a sample quantity of medication attached to said first portion;
a separate removable medication prescription form held by
releasable adhesive only to said second portion;
advertising indicia printed on a back surface of said support panel;
a flat cover panel connected to said support panel along a common
margin thereof, said common margin defining a fold line, said
cover panel sized for protectively covering substantially only
said prescription form prior to use thereof;
a pocket defined between a back layer attached to and generally
coextensive with said support panel and said second portion
of said support panel for receiving removable printed material
therein through a slit or cut formed through said back layer;
advertising and promotion indicia describing said medication sample
printed on each surface of said cover panel.
2. A combination medication sample and medication prescription
device consisting essentially of:
a flat support panel having first and second portions of an obverse
surface thereof;
a removable sample medication enclosure containing a sample
quantity of medication attached to said first portion;
a removable medication prescription form attached to said second
portion;
a pocket accessible by a slit or cut formed through a back surface of
a back layer connected against and substantially coextensive

6
with said support panel for receiving removable printed
material therein which is held between said back layer and
said second portion relating to said sample medication;
advertising indicia displayed on said back surface;
a flat cover panel connected to said support panel along a common
margin thereof, said common margin defining a fold line, said
cover panel sized for protectively covering substantially only
said prescription form prior to use thereof;
advertising and promotion indicia describing said medication sample
displayed on each surface of said cover panel.
3. A combination medication sample and medication prescription
device consisting of:
a flat support panel having first and second portions of an obverse
surface thereof;
a removable sample medication enclosure containing a sample
quantity of medication attached to said first portion;
a removable medication prescription form attached to said second
portion;
a pocket defined between a back layer attached to and generally
coextensive with said support panel and said second portion
of said support panel for receiving removable printed material
therein through a slit or cut formed through said back layer
relating to said sample medication;
advertising indicia printed on said back surface;
a flat cover panel connected to said support panel along a common
margin thereof, said common margin defining a fold line, said
cover panel sized for protectively covering substantially only
said prescription form prior to use thereof;
advertising and promotion indicia describing said medication sample
printed on each surface of said cover panel;
said medication enclosure being reusable.

Description

CA 02291046 1999-09-O1
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1
MEDICATION SAMPLE AND MEDICATION PRESCRIPTION DEVICE
This invention relates generally to packaging for medication samples, and
more particularly to a combination sample medication packaging and medication
prescription form for prescribing an additional quantity of the medication.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers routinely distribute packaged samples of
small quantities of medication for distribution by medical practitioners who
are
likely to prescribe the medication to their patients. These medications are
typically
in the form of capsules, tablets, or pills or may also be in the form of
bottled liquid
medications. Moreover, many times when the medical practitioner distributes
1 o samples of the medication, a medication prescription form will also be
completed
so that the patient may obtain a larger quantity of the prescribed medication
for
continued use after using the sample supply. In most cases, the sample
medication packaging or enclosure is also destroyed or otherwise rendered
unusable after gaining access to the first quantity of medication to be
consumed.
This also destroys any printed advertising indica which accompanies the
medication sample.
Additionally, unless additional exterior packaging is provided with the
sample medication at considerable more costs, no further opportunity is
provided
for including separate advertising and promotion of the medication by the
2 o pharmaceutical company or medication description material.
The present invention provides a combination medication sample within
reusable medication enclosure prescription form which may be distributed by
the
medical practitioner while simultaneously providing a convenient opportunity
to
write a prescription for quantities of the medication prescribed. The
2 5 pharmaceutical manufacturer is not only provided significant additional
opportunity
for presenting printed indicia of the medication product, but also provided
with a
conveniently located medication clinical description brochure and other
promotional materials storage pocket in one convenient, easily storable and
carryable arrangement.
3 o This invention is directed to a combination medication sample, in a
reusable container and medication prescription device including a flat support

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2
panel having an obverse or front facing surface which defines a first and
second
portion thereof. A removable, reusable medication container holding a small
sample quantity of medication in pill, tablet or capsule form is viewably
attached to
the first portion and a removable medication prescription form is attached to
the
second portion of the front surface of the support panel. This combination
permits
the physician to simultaneously distribute a starter quantity of medication
and to
write a prescription for a larger quantity of medication. A cover panel for
protecting
the prescription form, a pocket for holding printed material relating to the
medication, and ample space for printed promotional indicia on behalf of the
1 o prescription manufacturer are also provided.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a combination enclosure
with medical sample and medication prescription device for use by authorized
medical practitioners in distributing start-up samples of medication to
patients
while also conveniently providing a prescription form which, when properly
filled in
by the medical practitioner, allows the patient to purchase a larger
prescribed
supply of the medication.
It is another object of this invention to provide a combination medical
sample and medication prescription device which is conveniently usable by
medical practitioners and also provides ample means for presenting printed
2 o advertising and promotional indicia by the pharmaceutical manufacturer.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a combination medical
sample and prescription form device which includes a reusable medication
sample
enclosure which is disposable after the medication contained therein is
consumed.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent
hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the
acxompanying drawings.

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Figure 1 is a front plan view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in
open configuration.
Figure 2 is a section view in the direction of arrows 2 2 in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the invention in a closed
configuration.
Figure 4 is a plan view of the reverse or back surf~e of Figure 3.
Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention is
shown generally at numeral 10 and includes a recxangular flat support panel 12
formed of two layers of relatively stiff paper material which supports a
medication
1 o sample enclosure shown generally at numeral 14 and a removable medication
prescription form 16, both attached to the front or obverse surface of the
support
panel 12.
As best seen in Figure 2, the medication enclosure 14 includes a single
piece thin, transparent, plastic molded container having a top or lid portion
30
hingedly connected at 34 to a bottom or base portion 32. The base 32 includes
a
continuous formed upstanding flange or rib 36 which lockably engages into the
margins of the upper portion 30 as shown in Figure 2. Tab 38 of the base 32 is
provided to open the container about hinge 34 in the direction of arrow B for
access to the packaged medication 26 which holds a sample quantity of pills,
2 o capsules or tablets 28.
The medication enclosure 14 is held in place between the inner surface of
the back layer 12a of support panel 12 and front portions 12a and 12b of
support
panel 12. Lid 30 viev~rably extends from aperture 12a formed through the front
layer of support panel 12.
2 5 The medication prescription form 16 is removably attached by releasible
adhesive against the front surface of the lower portion of the support panel
12 and
contains preprinted physician's information at 16a for enhanced prestige and
identification afforded to the prescribing medical practitioner. Having the
preprinted prescription order form 16 readily accessible to the medical
practitioner,
3 o it is of utmost convenience to provide the patient with sample medication
for start-
up purposes and also to simultaneously write a prescription for an ongoing
supply

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of medication without otherwise searching for an office medication
prescription
form.
A flat cover panel 18, which is pivotally connected to the support panel 12
along a common fold line 22 therebetween, provides two additional important
functions. When in a closed position as shown in Figure 3, the cover panel 18
both lays protectively against the medication prescription form 16 and also
provides a distinctive advertising surface for printed indicia at 40. When
opened
in the reverse direction from arrow A in Figure 3, the inner surface of the
cover
panel 18 provides for the printed placement of additional promotional indicia
at 20
1 o describing the brand name, features and benefits of the sample medication
28.
The cover panel 18 is integrally formed with relatively stiff paper stock
material in
common with the support panel 12.
An additional feature of the invention is shown in Figure 4 wherein the back
Layer 12a of support panel 12 includes a slit 44 formed therethrough to define
a
pocket so that discount coupons for refills 48, a drug information sheet 46
and the
like may be inserted through the slit 44 into the pocket as representing
important
additional information to be conveniently provided for the benefit of the
patient.
Additional advertising space 50 for promoting the medication and the
pharmaceutical manufacturer and a corresponding drawing 42 of the medication
2 o as viewed through the transparent medication container from the front are
also
provided for enhancement.
While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what
are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is
recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the
2 5 invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed
herein, but is
to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all
equivalent
apparatus and articles.

Dessin représentatif