Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02751427 2011-08-03
DEVICE AND USE FOR STORING AND SUPPLYING MEDICAMENT
WAFERS
Description:
Field of the invention
The invention relates to a device for storage "and
provision of medicament wafers, i.e. of medicaments in
laminar form, and to a use of the device for medicament
wafers serving for contraception or hormone replacement
therapy.
Prior art
Medicament wafers are film-shaped articles containing
pharmaceutically active substances held in an active
substance carrier. The active substances in the wafers
can, for example, be administered by the transmucosal
route, i.e. via the oral mucosa, by means of the wafers
being placed on or under the tongue, after which the
active substance carrier dissolves and in so doing
releases the active substances. The wafers provided are
enclosed in film pockets. According to DE 101 59 746
B4, these pockets can be composed of at least one
support film and at least one cover film, in which case
at least the film with the larger surface area has two
parallel side edges, and the film-like or laminar
material (wafer) is enclosed in a gas-tight and
moisture-proof manner between the support film and the
cover film. Devices for storage and provision of
medicament wafers can contain film pockets, stacked
therein.
The device described in DE 101 59 746 B4 for storage
and provision of wafers comprises a housing which is
partitioned at least once and on whose lateral inner
faces the side edges of the stacked film pockets bear,
while the edge of a support film protruding beyond the
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edge of an associated cover film bears on a front inner
face, and in which the stacked film pockets are pressed
by means of a spring against the upper inner face of
the housing. The front, upper area of the housing has
two slits for separate dispensing of the support film
and cover film, the wafer being able to be provided
with the support film or with the cover film. After a
film pocket has been removed, the spring has the
purpose of holding the remaining film pockets together
near the slits and positioning them for further
removal. A separating tool for separating the support
film from the cover film is arranged between the slits,
on which separating tool the uppermost support film
bears via its area lying in front of the front edge of
the cover film. A transport element, which is rotatable
about an axis of rotation, transports the medicament
pockets out of the housing.
This device has the disadvantage that a user has no
possibility of monitoring whether a wafer intended to
be taken at a certain time has already been taken or is
still to be taken. As a result, two wafers can easily
be taken instead of one, or the user completely forgets
to take the wafer. Moreover, with this closed device,
the user cannot see how many wafers he has already
taken or how many wafers remain to be taken. Opening
this compact device is not envisioned and would destroy
it.
As regards the possibility of monitoring the time and
frequency of administration of tablets, coated pills or
the like, the prior art discloses so-called medicament
blister packs, i.e. articles for storage of tablets,
coated pills or the like, in which the tablets, coated
pills or the like are contained in pockets embossed in
a first foil, and the foil is connected to a second
foil that seals the pockets and can be torn off.
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In EP 0 166 763 Bl, for example, a blister pack is
provided with a row of pockets for the tablets, where
the pockets correspond in an unambiguous manner to the
days of at least one calendar month and where, in
addition, consecutive integer indicia are arranged in
proximity to the pockets in such a way that each pocket
can be visually identified with one and only one
calendar day of the calendar month, and where
consecutive integer indicia are arranged in proximity
to tear-off zones in the second foil in such a way that
they are visible from the rear face of the second foil,
and where each zone can be visually identified with one
and only one calendar day of the calendar month. Each
pocket can therefore be visually identified, both from
the front face and also from the rear face, with one
and only one calendar day. Taking the tablets on a
daily basis and monitoring user compliance is made
easier in this way.
Moreover, EP 0 511 726 Bl describes an arrangement
which is used to receive tablets in an array and
comprises the following: a blister pack with a
predetermined surface area within which are located a
plurality of tablets configured in a chosen array, a
container for receiving the blister pack, and a day
calendar which can be oriented with respect to the
array of tablets in the blister pack, the day calendar
being movable in order to position a selected start day
on a first tablet in the array of tablets, and with
pointers being provided on the container, and the
blister pack has a locating notch near its edge and in
proximity to a first tablet, such that the first tablet
to be taken is indicated.
Furthermore, DE 10 2005 032 015 A discloses a case
which receives a blister pack and comprises a first
case half and a second case half hinged thereon. The
first case half is designed as a pocket for receiving
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the blister pack and has an outer part and an inner
viewing part and also first apertures in the viewing
part and second apertures in the outer part, the first
apertures being aligned with the second apertures,
specifically at least where the receptacles for the
tablets are located in the blister pack after it is
received in the pocket. The second case half has a
compartment for receiving a display means displaying
days of the week, and windows for displaying the days
of the week in an inner viewing surface of the second
case half in the area of the compartment, the windows
being arranged in such a way that they are assigned to
the columns of the receptacles of a blister pack
received in the pocket.
However, these embodiments of devices for storage and
provision of medicament units relate to tablets in
blister packs, not to medicament wafers in medicament
pockets.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to
make available a device for storage and provision of
medicament wafers which makes it possible to monitor
the progress with which medicament wafers are taken.
Another object of the present invention is to ensure
that the wafers are reliably removed from the device in
a predetermined rhythm, i.e. that the device allows the
user to monitor whether a medicament wafer has been
taken as planned at a predetermined time.
A further object of the present invention is to make
available a device for storage and provision of
medicament wafers which is suitable for everyday use,
has the required mechanical stability and can be
produced easily and simply and therefore inexpensively.
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A further object of the present invention is to provide
a safe means of storing the medicament wafers.
Summary of the invention
5
These and other objects are achieved by the claimed
device for storage and provision of medicament wafers
and by the claimed use of the device. Advantageous
embodiments of the invention are set forth in the
dependent claims.
A medicament pocket in the device according to the
invention typically consists of a base film and of a
cover film. The cover film can be connected, for
example glued or welded, to the base film via a
preferably strip-shaped join that extends along the
side edges of the cover film. Moreover, in a
particularly preferred embodiment, the base film and
the cover film, on at least one side edge, can each
have protruding tabs that are not connected to each
other. This makes it much easier to tear apart and thus
open the medicament pocket in order to remove the wafer
contained therein, because the two films can be easily
gripped. A medicament wafer is enclosed, preferably in
an airtight and moisture-proof manner, between the base
film and the cover film inside an area formed by the
join. The film pockets can have a small raised area,
which is either a result of their structure or is
caused by the wafer and is provided only in the area
thereof.
The device according to the invention for storage and
provision of medicament wafers comprises a stack of
medicament pockets for the storage and provision of the
medicament wafers, and at least one connecting element.
The medicament pockets each have first medicament
pocket areas with openings which are aligned with one
another and through which the at least one connecting
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element is guided and connects the medicament pockets
to one another and arranges them movably relative to
one another.
By virtue of the ability of the connecting element,
which is guided through the aligned openings, to
arrange the medicament pockets movably relative to one
another, it is advantageously achieved that the areas
of the medicament pockets having the opening do not
have to lie directly on one another, and instead they
can be spaced slightly apart from one another. This
avoids a situation in which, because of the increased
thickness of the medicament pockets in the area of the
respective medicament wafer, the stack fans out in an
impractical and inappropriate way in the direction of
the medicament pockets otherwise lying tightly over one
another, specifically on the side directed away from
the opening in the medicament pockets, in the same way,
for example, as a book which has become wet and in
which the side areas of the pages of the book that are
not bound in the spine take up more room overall in
their spatial extent and thus leave the book looking
unsightly and misshapen.
Compared to the prior art, this simple device has the
further advantage that the user is always able to check
the number of medicament pockets remaining and, knowing
the total number of medicament pockets at the start of
the first administration and knowing the starting date
of the first administration or removal of a medicament
pocket, can determine whether he/she has already
removed a medicament pocket or has still to remove it.
In addition, the user can determine how long the
treatment still has to go or when he/she will need a
new device.
The device according to the invention can preferably be
used for the storage and provision of medicament wafers
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serving for contraception or hormone replacement
therapy.
Detailed description
The at least one connecting element, which is guided
through the openings, connects the medicament pockets
to one another and arranges them movably relative to
one another, can be designed, for example, as a rivet,
i.e. the at least one connecting element can consist of
two for example rod-shaped connecting element parts,
which can be plugged into each other or screwed
together or adhesively bonded to each other. The at
least one connecting element can also be rod-shaped.
In another embodiment of the invention, the connecting
element can also have a compact design in which it
consists of two parts and, when these are joined
together, can almost completely fill the openings in
the medicament pockets. The at least one connecting
element can in particular comprise a box-shaped lower
part, with a rib arranged therein for passing through
the openings, and an upper part closing off the box-
shaped lower part. Moreover, the box-shaped lower part
of the box-shaped connecting element can have a base
plate, a wall sitting on the base plate and partially
enclosing and therefore guiding the respective first
medicament pocket areas, and the rib.
A connecting element is in any case to be understood as
a component that is guided through the openings in the
medicament pockets and connects the medicament pockets.
Thus, a rivet and also the rib of the compact
connecting element can be understood as connecting
elements. In the case of the rib, additional suitable
holding devices are of course needed at the foot and
head of the rib in order to hold the stack together.
These additional holding devices can, for example, be
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provided by the box structure consisting of the box-
shaped lower part and upper part. Alternatively, the
foot and head of the rib can also be provided with
differently configured head and foot parts that hold
the stack together. The rib can also be designed as a
rivet with two rib-shaped rivet heads.
When connecting element parts forming the at least one
connecting element are joined together, they can latch
onto each other and are preferably not able to be
separated again without being destroyed, or they can be
adhesively bonded or welded to one another or can also
be joined together using another joining technique. In
all these cases, the join constitutes what is called a
tamper-evident closure, i.e. a closure that is secure
against tampering. It is particularly preferable if the
at least two parts forming the connecting element are
joined together by a form-fit connection.
A rivet is to be understood as a connecting element
that consists of at least two parts, which engage in
each other and are thus connected to each other with a
form fit, and that is also able, by means of suitable
head designs, to hold together the stack of medicament
pockets arranged therebetween.
The openings, which are located in the first medicament
pocket areas, are preferably in the form of oblong
holes. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the
invention, the medicament pockets can be connected
using two connecting elements spaced apart from each
other, and, in particular, the connecting elements can
each be guided through adjoining the ends of the oblong
holes. This embodiment avoids individual medicament
pockets shifting relative to one another. In this way,
the connecting elements also act as guide elements for
the medicament pockets.
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The shape of the openings is preferably such that a
connecting element guided through the openings slides
therein without friction.
By means of the chosen structure of the device, the
medicament pockets, with the wafers contained in them,
are stacked together as in a notepad or book and can be
removed one after another, preferably from the top.
When the pocket lying at the top is removed in order to
administer a first wafer, the pocket lying below it in
the stack becomes visible. This pocket lying underneath
can then be removed during a subsequent second time of
administration. The other pockets with the wafers can
be removed according to the sequence of pockets in the
stack. The pocket can be removed by being torn off or
torn out.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
medicament pockets, in addition to having the first
medicament pocket area, in which the openings but not
the medicament wafer are located, also have a second
medicament pocket area, in which the medicament wafer
is located.
The first medicament pocket area and the second
medicament pocket area are preferably connected
separably to each other. The first medicament pocket
area and the second medicament pocket area are
preferably connected to each other via a perforation.
This allows the pockets to be easily removed from the
stack, for example by being torn out or severed. In a
particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the
perforation via which the first medicament pocket areas
and the second medicament pocket areas are connected to
each other is not formed across the full width of the
medicament pockets and is instead shorter and merges at
both of its ends into slits, which act like notches.
This makes removal of the medicament wafer even easier.
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It has been found that it is thus possible to avoid or
reduce the difficulties that often arise at the start
of the process of separating the second medicament
pocket area on account of the firm material property of
the medicament pockets.
To further simplify or improve the overview of the
number of medicament pockets, the medicament pockets
can each additionally have a cutout located on an edge
of the medicament pockets that is preferably formed
jointly by the first and second medicament pocket
areas. The cutouts can, for example, be punched out of
the medicament pocket. They give a view of a graphic
mark on the medicament pocket lying underneath in the
stack. The graphic mark can, for example, be a symbol,
such as two coloured dots, a smiley face, a company
logo or a crossbar. The cutout becomes incrementally
larger from medicament pocket to medicament pocket,
such that the cutouts, when seen across all the
medicament pockets in the stack, have a step-shaped
profile, with the result that the marks on all the
medicament pockets are visible. The cutouts and the
graphic marks that can be discerned through them also
have the advantage that, during the production of the
stack, the production personnel or a suitable
monitoring device can easily check that the stack is
complete and can thus easily check the number of
medicament pockets in the stack.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, each
of the second medicament pocket areas has, on a marking
edge, a marking in one of several marking portions
arranged next to one another at the marking edge,
wherein the respective markings on the second
medicament pocket areas within the stack are arranged
in successive marking portions from one medicament
pocket to the next medicament pocket. In this way, a
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user can easily monitor the progress with which the
medicament wafers are administered.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the
stack can additionally be connected to a support by
means of the at least one connecting element, which
support is used to give the stack additional stability
and protect it against mechanical damage. In addition,
a cover can be provided which at least partially covers
the second medicament pocket areas. The cover can, for
example, also be a component part of the connecting
element. The stack is preferably arranged between the
support and the cover at least partially covering the
second medicament pocket areas. It is particularly
preferable if the cover and the support are formed in
one piece.
The support and the cover are provided in particular
for protection of the medicament pockets. The support
and the covers are preferably made of a stable
material, for example card or plastic. The cover and/or
the support can also be provided with an inscription or
a logo or with some other arrangement that does not
exclusively have functional purposes and instead also
or exclusively serves aesthetic purposes. For example,
a mirror or a graphic representation, e.g. a photograph
or a drawing, can also be arranged on the inside face
of the cover. Likewise, this site can also be provided
with a storage area in which, for example, cosmetic
articles such as face powder or similar make-up can be
kept ready. A pocket calculator or a clock can also be
provided on the inside face of the cover. Said devices
and representations can be provided equally or in
addition on the outside face of the cover and/or on the
inside face or the outside face of the support.
In another particular embodiment, successive date
indicators are arranged on the support or on the cover.
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The date indicators are aligned with the marking
portions on the medicament pockets and allow the user
to monitor the administration of the wafers.
If the date indicators are arranged on the cover, the
cover preferably only partially covers the second
medicament. pocket areas, specifically only to such an
extent that the markings on the second medicament
pocket areas can still be seen when the cover is closed
and can be aligned with the date indicators. However,
the date indicators can also be arranged on the inside
face of the cover, such that they are visible together
with the markings on the medicament pockets when the
wafer pocket booklet has been opened.
Preferably, the date indicators are arranged on an edge
of the cover adjoining the second medicament pocket
areas. Accordingly, the date indicators are aligned
with markings which, in the second medicament pocket
areas, are each located on a marking edge adjoining the
edge of the cover having the date indicators. The
markings are in each case provided in one of several
marking portions arranged next to one another on the
marking edge and, in the second medicament pocket areas
within the stack, are arranged in successive marking
portions from one medicament pocket to the next.
Moreover, the support can have an end strip protruding
from an edge of the second medicament pocket areas and
has the date indicators on the end strip. In this case,
the date indicators can be aligned with markings which,
in the second medicament pocket areas, are located on a
marking edge adjoining the end strip. The markings are
provided in each case in one several marking portions
arranged next to one another on the marking edge. They
are arranged, in the second medicament pocket areas
within the stack, in successive marking portions from
one medicament pocket to the next. The date indicators
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can be arranged either on the inside face of the end
strip or on the outside face thereof. In the first
case, the date indicators and preferably also the
markings are visible only when the end strip is folded
out. In the second case, the end strip has to be folded
in to make the date indicators visible. In this case,
the markings on the medicament pockets are to be
arranged in such a way that they are adjacent to the
date indicators on the end strip when the latter is
folded in.
With the aid of the two last-mentioned embodiments, the
progress with which the medicament wafers are
administered can be better monitored, since this
progress is related to the date indicators.
If the wafers are to be taken daily, the date
indicators, in a preferred embodiment, indicate days of
the week or days of the calendar, the latter being
shown by the numbering of the days of a month. Compared
to the indication of calendar days, indicators showing
days of the week have the advantage of a more frequent
rate of repetition. This permits an easier arrangement
of date indicators on the end strip of the support or
the cover since, for the first day, only the matching
day of the week has to be chosen from the seven days of
the week, whereas, in the case of calendar days being
indicated, the matching calendar day has to be chosen
from 28, 29, 30 or 31 calendar days.
The date indicators are preferably provided by
applying, to the end strip of the support or to the
cover, a display means that has the date indicators,
for example a display strip. For example, a display
strip containing the date indicators can be applied by
sliding it into a holder on the end strip of the
support or on the cover or by affixing it to the end
strip of the support or to the cover. For example, the
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holder can designed as a slit which, in the area of the
date indicators arranged on the inserted display strip,
has windows which permit a view of the date indicators
and permit assignment to an aligned marking on the top
medicament pocket.
A display strip of this kind can, for example,
initially have about twice as many successive date
indicators as can be accommodated in the holder, so as
to be able to suitably prepare the display strip for
application to the end strip of the support or to the
cover. After determining when a wafer is to be taken
for the first time, the associated date indicator on
the display strip is placed on the end strip of the
support or the cover, and, starting from this
determined date indicator, the length of the display
strip is then reduced to the length area corresponding
to the available length on the end strip of the
support or the cover. For example, the display strip
can be bent aside or cut off for the first
administration. The display strip thus prepared is then
secured in the holder on the end strip of the support
or the cover, for example pushed into it or clamped
there, or affixed to the end strip of the support or
the cover, such that the date indicators are aligned
with the markings on the medicament pockets. Of course,
the date indicators on the display strips or the end
strips of the support or of the cover can also be
applied in handwritten form. The days of the week, days
of the calendar or other date indicators are preferably
applied at the start of a phase of administration of
the wafers.
In another embodiment of the invention, the support on
which the stack of medicament pockets is arranged is
also preferably formed in one piece with a lid that
closes in order to cover the second medicament pocket
areas. Depending on the embodiment, the lid can
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comprise the above-described end strip with date
indicators.
In a preferred embodiment, the lid can extend as far as
the cover, and either the lid and the cover can each
have a closure element or only the cover or only the
support can have a closure element, such that the lid
can be closed with the cover.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, for
example,, a first closure element can be a metal
element, e.g. a metal strip, and a second closure
element can be a magnet element, e.g. a magnetic strip.
It is likewise conceivable that the closure elements
form a velcro closure. In another variant of the
invention, the closure elements can also form a press-
stud system, e.g. as in a purse. In another embodiment,
one closure element can be button-like and the other
closure element shaped like a buttonhole and they can
be accordingly connected to each other. Likewise, one
of the closure elements can be designed as a clip,
which is inserted into a slit-like opening in the
second closure element. Moreover, the support or the
cover can have a stretchable closure element, for
example a rubber band. In this embodiment, the closed
lid, which extends as far as the closed cover and bears
on the latter or under it, is connected to the cover by
the rubber band, said rubber band being guided round
the outside of the whole device.
A device according to the invention, which can used for
contraception, can contain a stack of, for example, 120
medicament pockets for receiving medicament wafers. For
contraception, it has hitherto been customary for one
administration unit, i.e. one wafer, to be taken each
day for 21 days, this administration phase being
followed by a medication-free phase of 7 days.
Alternatively, one administration unit can also be
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taken each day for 24 days, this administration phase
being followed by a medication-free phase of 4 days. In
the case of modern contraceptives, however, flexible
administration cycles are used that last longer than 21
days, for example up to 120 days. This longer
administration phase is then followed by a medication-
free phase of 4 days, for example. To be able to
provide wafers in sufficient numbers for such a case, a
greater number of medicament pockets than a total of 28
can also be made available in the stack. For example,
60 or even 120 medicament pockets for the
administration phase can be provided in the device.
The device according to the invention is preferably
forgery-proof. For this purpose, one or more security
features are provided on the device to make it possible
to verify that the device is genuine, for example
imprints in microscript, holograms, tilt images or
other security features.
The figures described below serve to provide a general
understanding of the invention. However, they are not
to be understood as limiting the invention, and instead
they merely explain certain embodiments that are
preferred, without excluding other preferred
embodiments.
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a stack of wafers
according to a first embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a stack of wafers
according to a second embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket
booklet according to a third embodiment of the
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invention, with step-shaped cutouts in the
state when closed;
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket
booklet according to a fourth embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 5 shows another perspective view of the wafer
pocket booklet from Fig. 4 in the closed state;
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket
booklet according to a fifth embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket
booklet according to a sixth embodiment of the
invention in different stages of assembly;
Fig.7a: support with a slit; Fig. 7b-1: stack
and connecting element in separate view; Fig.
7b-2: stack and connecting element assembled;
Fig. 7c: device in the assembled state; Fig.
7d: device in the closed state; Fig. 7e:
alternative embodiment of the wafer pocket
booklet;
Fig. 8 shows a side view of the wafer pocket booklet
from Fig. 4 in the opened and closed state;
Fig. 8a shows a side view of the wafer pocket booklet
from Fig. 8, but with magnetic closure;
Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the wafer pocket
booklet from Fig. 4 in the partially opened and
closed state with a stretchable connecting
element;
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Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the wafer pocket
booklet from Fig. 9 in the opened and closed
state with another closure element;
Fig. 11 shows a side view of the wafer pocket booklet
according to the invention in the partially
opened state and the closed state;
Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of another embodiment
of a wafer pocket booklet with the connecting
element from Fig. 7 in different stages of
assembly; Fig. 12a: support with the connecting
element; Fig. 12a-1: first variant of the
arrangement of a strip showing days of the
week; Fig. 12a-2: second variant of the
arrangement of a strip showing days of the
week; Fig. 12b: after insertion of the stack;
Fig. 12c: device partially closed.
The same reference signs in the figures designate the
same features.
Fig. 1 shows a wafer pocket booklet according to the
invention for storage and provision of medicament
wafers 2. The wafer pocket booklet consists of a stack
1 of several medicament pockets 4, 4', 4'' for the
storage and provision of the medicament wafers 2. The
medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" have first medicament
pocket areas 10 and second medicament pocket areas 11.
The medicament wafers 2 are contained in the second
medicament pocket areas 11. The first medicament pocket
areas 10 have openings 8 aligned with one another. The
openings 8 are designed as oblong holes. The connecting
element 9 is guided through the openings 8. The
connecting element 9 connects the medicament pockets 4,
4', 4" to one another and arranges them movably
relative to one another. The connecting element 9 is a
rivet. The first medicament pocket areas 10 and the
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second medicament pocket areas 11 are each connected to
one another via a perforation 7, which makes it easier
to remove a medicament wafer 2 by simply tearing the
second medicament pocket area 11 from the first
medicament pocket area 10 at the perforation 7. The
first medicament pocket area 10 remains in the wafer
pocket booklet.
Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the wafer pocket
booklet according to the invention. The wafer pocket
booklet according to Fig. 2 is substantially identical
to the design of the wafer pocket booklet in Fig. 1.
The wafer pocket booklet consists of a stack 1 of
several medicament pockets 4, 4, 4'' for the storage
and provision of the medicament wafers 2. The
medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" have first medicament
pocket areas 10 and second medicament pocket areas 11,
wherein the second medicament pocket areas are once
again provided with aligned openings 8. The opening 8
is designed as an oblong hole. In contrast to Fig. 1,
the medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" in this embodiment
are connected to one another by a compact connecting
element 9. The compact connecting element 9 completely
fills the opening in the assembled state.
The compact connecting element 9, which is a rivet, is
shown above the stack 1. The connecting element 9 has a
lower part 9a and an upper part 9b. The lower part 9a
engages from underneath through the oblong holes 8. The
column-like rivet holders 9d, 9e are secured on a base
plate 9c and spaced apart from each other in such a way
that the outer flanks of the rivet holders 9d, 9e bear
loosely on the rounded ends of the oblong holes. These
outer flanks tilt slightly inwards towards the top (see
enlarged view of the rivet holder 9e) such that the
medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" placed one after another
onto the lower part 9a of the rivet slide easily with
their respective oblong hole 8 onto the rivet 9. Once
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the whole stack 1 has been formed, the rivet 9 is
closed, by means of the upper part 9b of the rivet
being pressed in between the column-like rivet holders
9d, 9e. For the form-fit connection of the upper part
9a of the rivet to the lower part 9b of the rivet, both
rivet parts have serrated side faces that latch onto
each other. After the rivet 9 has been closed, the
stack 1 can be handled without any problem, without
fear of the integrity of the stack 1 being adversely
affected during handling. The form-fit connection also
ensures that the rivet cannot be opened without the
connecting element being destroyed. This permits a
design that is secure against tampering. Moreover, the
riveted stack 1 can also be used to replenish a
separate support. The rivet 9 is of such a length that
the medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" have vertical play
thereon. It is possible in this way to take account of
the difference in thickness between the second
medicament pocket areas 11 and the first medicament
pocket areas 10. The medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" also
slide on the rivet 9 without friction.
The first medicament pocket areas 10 and the second
medicament pocket areas 11 are connected to each other
via a perforation 7, wherein the perforation as a whole
is shorter than in Fig. 1, i.e. does not extend across
the full width of the medicament pockets 4, 4', 4",
and instead merges into slits 20 at its two ends. In
this way, the removal of the medicament wafer 2, which
is located in the second medicament pocket area 11, is
facilitated by easier tearing of the second medicament
pocket area 11 from the first medicament pocket area 10
at the perforation 7. It has in fact been found that,
because of the nature of the material at the
transitions from the first medicament pocket area 10 to
the second medicament pocket area 11, the medicament
pocket areas 10, 11 often cannot be easily separated
from each other, which problem is avoided by this
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means. After separation, the first medicament pocket
area 10 remains in the wafer pocket booklet.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment
of the invention with a structure analogous to Fig. 1,
wherein the medicament pockets 4, 4', 4'' each
additionally have a cutout 16 and a marking 3. The
cutouts 16 are each located at an edge of the
medicament pocket 4 that the first and second
medicament pocket areas 10, 11 have in common. The
individual cutouts 16 of the successive medicament
pockets 4, 4' , 4" in the stack 1 are designed in such
a way that they become incrementally larger from
medicament pocket to medicament pocket, as a result of
which the cutouts, seen across all the medicament
pockets, have a step-shaped profile from medicament
pocket to medicament pocket. The cutouts 16, which can
be punched out for example from the medicament pockets
4, 4', 4'' during the production process, allow a view
of a graphic mark 21, shown as two dots in the area of
the cutout, on the medicament pocket 4', 4" lying
under it in the stack 1.
In this embodiment, the stack 1 is arranged on a
support. The stack 1 and the support are connected to
each other by two rivets 9. Alternatively, it would
also be possible to use just one rivet 9' to connect
the stack 1 to the support and to connect the
medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" to one another. The
marking 3 can be seen on the top medicament pocket 4 in
the second medicament pocket area 11.
In this embodiment, the support has an end strip 17
protruding from one edge of the second medicament
pocket areas 11 and has date indicators 6 arranged on
the end strip 17. Said edge of the second medicament
pocket areas 11 is the marking edge, on which a marking
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3 is located. The date indicators 6, here weekday
indicators, are aligned with the respective marking 3.
The date indicators 6 are applied, for example, by
affixing a strip showing the date indicators and
comprise the days of the week "Mon", "Tue", "Wed",
"Thu", "Fri", "Sat", "Sun". This strip is prepared in
such a way that the indicator of the first day of the
week appears to the far left. A first marking 3 aligned
with the weekday indicator "Mon" is arranged on the top
medicament pocket 4. Further markings are not shown,
since they are concealed by the upper medicament pocket
4.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment
of the invention with a design with step-shaped cutouts
16 analogous to Fig. 3. In this embodiment, a cover 12
is provided in addition to the support 5, wherein the
support 5 and the cover 12 are formed in one piece. The
cover 12 extends across the first medicament pocket
area 10 and as far as the lower edge of the second
medicament pocket area 11. It ends almost flush with
the second medicament pocket area 11. A closure element
15 in the form of a metal strip is applied on or
introduced into the cover 12 at the end thereof. In
addition to the cover 12, the support 5 is formed in
one piece with a closing lid 13 for covering part of
the second medicament pocket area 11. The lid 13
comprises the protruding end strip 17 with date
indicators 6 as also shown in Fig. 3, in this case
weekday indicators. The date indicators 6 are aligned
with the respective markings 3, which are located on
the marking edge of the second medicament pocket areas
11 adjacent to the end strip 17 and are arranged in
successive marking portions 22 from one medicament
pocket 4 to the next medicament pocket 4.
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The date indicators 6 are applied by affixing a strip
showing the date indicators and comprise the days of
the week "Mon" "Tue" "Wed" "Thu" "Fri" "Sat"
"Sun". This strip is prepared in such a way that the
indicator of the first day of the week appears to the
far left. A first marking 3 aligned with the weekday
indicator "Mon" is arranged on the top medicament
pocket 4. Further markings are not shown, since they
are concealed by the upper medicament pocket 4.
Another closure element 15', designed as a magnetic
strip, is arranged on the lid 13.
Fig. 5 shows another perspective view of the wafer
pocket booklet shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the wafer
pocket booklet from Fig. 4 is shown in closed state.
The lid 13 lies on the cover 12 and thus closes the
booklet according to the invention. Decorations and a
logo are applied on the cover 12 and on the lid 13.
Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of another embodiment
of the invention with support 5 and cover 12. The wafer
pocket booklet according to the invention in Fig. 6
corresponds in principle to the view of the booklet in
Fig. 4.
In contrast to the wafer pocket booklet in Fig. 4, the
date indicators 6 in this embodiment, here days of the
week, are located on the closure element 15 at the end
of the cover 12. The cover 12 extends only as far as
the edge of the surface showing the markings 3 on the
second medicament pocket areas 11 and leaves the
markings exposed when the cover is closed. In this way,
the marking 3 on the top medicament pocket 4 remains
visible when the cover 12 is closed.
In this embodiment, the lid 13 with the closure element
15' is designed without end strip and date indicators
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and is integrally formed directly on the support 5, the
lid 13 closing the wafer pocket booklet as in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket
booklet according to a second embodiment of the
invention in different stages of assembly.
Fig. 7a shows a support 5 with a slit 19 formed in the
support according to another embodiment of the
invention. An end strip 17 with date indicators 6,
adjoined by a lid 13, is formed integrally on the
support S.
Fig. 7b-1 shows a stack 1 with medicament pockets 4,
4', 4'' having a marking 3, wherein the medicament
pockets 4, 4', 4'' have a perforation 7 with slits 20
as in Fig. 2.
In this embodiment, another connecting element 9 is
shown, consisting of the lower connecting element part
9a and the upper connecting element part 9b. The lower
connecting element part 9a is box-shaped and contains,
at the centre, a rib 9c for engaging in the openings 8
in the medicament pockets 4, 4', 4' ' . The rib 9c is
arranged on the base plate 9d. The base plate 9d
further supports a wall 9e which, on three sides and
partially on the fourth side, sits on the edge of the
base plate. The upper connecting element part 9b is
designed as a plate and can be fitted snugly onto the
lower connecting element part 9a and, for example,
connected thereto by adhesive bonding or by means of
ultrasonic welding. In this embodiment, the upper
connecting element part 9b is designed at the same time
as cover 12 and therefore also takes over the function
of the latter. At the lower end, the connecting element
9 has a tab 18 with which the stack 1, held together by
the connecting element, is inserted into a separate
support S. Insertion is made possible, for example, by
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the slit 19 shown in the support 5 in Fig. 7a. In this
way, a reusable support 5 can be replenished many times
over with an assembled stack 1.
In a particularly expedient variant of this embodiment,
the connecting element 9 is designed as a rivet (not
shown) . For this purpose, the rib 9c has a slit-shaped
recess that extends in the longitudinal direction and
runs from the top face of the rib down into the rib. In
this case, the plate 9b is also provided with a
downwardly projecting further rib, which is preferably
designed in one piece with the plate and has the
function of engaging in the recess in the lower rib 9c.
This permits a connection of the upper connecting
element part 9b to the lower connecting element part
9a. This connection can also be provided as a form-fit
connection, for example by means of the additional rib
on the plate 9b and the walls of the recess in the rib
9c each having serrated surfaces that latch onto each
other when the rivet is closed. Moreover, the end face
of the wall 9e can also be provided with a slit, and
the underside of the plate 9b can have, for example, a
further longitudinal rib that engages in the slit in
the wall and, for example, is locked therein.
Fig. 7b-2 shows a stack 1 that has been fitted into the
lower connecting element part 9a. The box-shaped wall
9e of the lower connecting element part 9a completely
encloses the outsides of the medicament pocket area 10
and thus serves as an outer guide for the medicament
pockets 4, 41, 411.
Fig. 7c shows the wafer pocket booklet according to the
invention combined with the support 5 and the lid 13.
For this purpose, the assembled stack 1 is inserted by
means of the tab 18 (Fig. 7b-1) into the slit 19 (Fig.
7a) of the support 5. This embodiment has the advantage
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that the support 5 can be used more than once, with
only new stacks 1 being used in each case.
Fig. 7d shows, finally, the closed wafer pocket booklet
of this embodiment, wherein print has been arranged on
the lid 13. In this embodiment, the lid 13 is designed
such that, in the closed state of the booklet, it
extends over the medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" as far
as the edge of the cover 12 and ends almost flush with
the latter.
Fig. 7e shows an embodiment variant serving as an
alternative to the embodiment described above. This
differs from the embodiment in Fig. 7a to Fig. 7d in
that the cover 12 is guided away rearwards from the
stack 1 and in that the date indicators 6 on the lid 13
are located in front of a closure block 14, which
serves to receive a closure element, for example a
magnetic strip.
Fig. 8 shows a variant of the embodiment from Fig. 4 in
a side view, in which the closure elements 15, 15' are
designed as a velcro closure. The closure element 15'
is arranged at the end of the cover 12, on the
underside thereof, and the closure element 15 is
arranged at the end of the lid 13 on the upper side
thereof (when seen in the closed state) . In the closed
state of the device, the closure elements 15 and 15'
engage in each other as shown in Fig. 8.
It will be seen from Fig. 8 that the rivet 9 is of such
a length that the medicament pockets have vertical play
thereon.
A wafer pocket booklet with a magnetic closure is shown
in Fig. 8a. On the edge of the lid 13, a metal strip 15
is applied preferably across the full width thereof,
and, on the edge area of the cover 12, a magnetic strip
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15' is applied likewise preferably across the full
width thereof.
Fig. 9 shows perspective views of a variant of the
embodiment from Fig. 4 in the partially opened state
and in the closed state. The device has a compact
connecting element 9, formed by the connecting element
parts 9a and 9b (Fig. 2) . On the support 5, a closure
element 15' ' is provided which is designed as a rubber
band.
In the view of the closed embodiment in Fig. 9, it will
be seen that the rubber band 15' ' surrounds the device
and thus closes the cover 12 with the lid 13.
Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a variant of the
embodiment from Fig. 9 in the opened state and in the
closed state. The device has a closure element 15, 15'
differing from the wafer pocket booklet shown in Fig.
9. In this embodiment, a closure element 15 is provided
in the cover 12 and a closure element 15' is provided
in the lid 13. The closure element 15 is designed as a
clip, and the closure element 15' is designed as a slit
or oblong hole. To close the cover 12 with the lid 13,
the clip 15 is pushed into the slit 15'. In the view of
the closed embodiment in Fig. 10, it will be seen that
the clip 15 engages in the slit 15' and thus closes the
lid 13 with the cover 12.
Fig. 11 shows side views of another embodiment of the
invention in the partially opened state and in the
closed state. The lid 13 has a closure element 15,
which is designed like a buttonhole. The material of
the lid 13 is preferably card. The connecting element 9
is designed as a rivet, which at the same time serves
as closure element 15' and takes over the function of
the latter.
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In order to close the lid 13 in this case with the
rivet 9, the connecting element 15 of the lid 13,
designed as a hole, is pressed with light pressure onto
the rivet 9. The head end of the rivet 9 is guided
through the hole 15 and thus closes the device.
Figures 12a, 12b, 12c show' another embodiment of a
wafer pocket booklet in different stages of assembly.
The stack 1 comprises a large number of medicament
pockets 4, for example 28 pockets, of which only the
uppermost medicament pocket is visible. The medicament
pocket 4 contains a sealed-in wafer 2. Marking portions
22 are located at the lower edge of the medicament
pockets 4. A marking 3 is located on one of the marking
portions 22. In the second (not visible) medicament
pocket lying beneath the upper and visible medicament
pocket 4, this marking is arranged on the marking
portion lying next to the first marking portion in
which the marking is located on the uppermost
medicament pocket.
The medicament pockets 4 are notched on both sides in
the upper area at 20 and have a perforation 7. In
addition, the medicament pockets 4 have oblong holes 8
through which a rib 9c engages in the assembled state
of the wafer pocket booklet.
In Fig. 12a, the lower connecting element part 9a is
shown on the support 5. As in the embodiment from Fig.
7, the connecting element is in two parts: it has a
lower part 9a and an upper part 9b. The lower part 9a
comprises a rib 9c, a frame 9e and also a base plate
9d. The rib 9c engages from below through the oblong
holes 8. The frame 9e sits on the edge of the base
plate 9d. It delimits the base plate 9d on three sides
and also partially on the fourth side. At the point
where this frame 9e is not present, the medicament
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pockets 4 can extend through the connecting part having
the perforation 7. Otherwise this frame 9e engages
flush around the upper part of the medicament pockets 4
and therefore guides the latter in such a way that they
sit firmly without play in the wafer pocket booklet.
The upper connecting element part 9b is formed by a
plate, which can be secured with a form fit or with a
materially cohesive fit on the lower connecting element
part 9a. This plate 9b is connected to the support 5,
for example materially cohesively (welding, gluing or
the like).
The lower connecting element part 9a is secured on the
support 5, for example by gluing. When producing the
stack 1 of medicament pockets 4, the supports 5 are
preferably made available with the lower connecting
element part 9a. The medicament pockets 4 are then
placed onto the support 5, wherein the rib 9c of the
lower part 9a secured on the support 5 slides into the
oblong hole 8 of the pockets 4. The medicament pockets
4 are held on the support 5 by this rib 9c and by the
frame 9e. In addition, their position is determined
exactly by the frame 9e.
After all the medicament pockets 4 of a wafer pocket
booklet have been stacked together and the connecting
element has been closed, the support 5 is provided with
a strip 6 showing the days of the week. The strip 6
showing the days of the week can be applied both in the
position shown in Fig. 12a-1 and also in the position
shown in Fig. 12a-2. The strip 6 showing the days of
the week is arranged such that it is flush with the
marking portions 22 on the medicament pockets 4. In
this way, the user can tell on which day of the week
the wafer 2 in the upper medicament pocket 4 has to be
taken.
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The support 5 is then folded over at the upper end in
such a way that the end forms a cover 12 for the wafer
pocket booklet. Information concerning the manufacturer
and the name of the medicament or even a logo can be
arranged on the cover 12. The cover 12 extends across
the entire surface of the medicament pockets 4 and
across the protruding edge of the support 5 at the
lower end of the wafer pocket booklet.
The wafer pocket booklet is assembled after the
connecting element has been folded over and closed.
