EP1700797B1 - Childproof carton package - Google Patents

Abstract

Packing has cube-shaped folding box of paperboard and therein arranged strip shaped blisterpack (B), the reclosable folding box is designed as child proof. The folding box and blisterpack has co-operating means, which is so arranged that the complete removal of the blisterpack from the folding box is prevented.

Description

The invention relates to a child-resistant, resealable packaging made from a cuboid carton made of cardboard and at least one strip-shaped blister pack arranged therein, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Packaging of this type are generally known as drug packages and, for example, in US Pat. No. 6,491,211 B1 and US Pat. No. 6,412,636 B1 described. The blister pack (hereinafter referred to as "the blister") consists of a strip of rigid plastic material in which deep-drawn cups are formed, the od of receiving pills, tablets, capsules,. Like. Serve and after filling of a on the Plastic strip sealed cover sheet limited tensile strength, generally made of metal, especially aluminum, are closed. To remove the drug from the well, the drug is pressed from the back of the strip against the cover sheet, which thereby bursts. It is understood that the stiffness of the plastic material of the strip in the region of the wells is reduced so far, usually already by the deep drawing that deformation of the wells by manual pressure is possible.

Blisters of this type are not sufficiently tamper-resistant enough to prevent infants from gaining access to the drug contained in the blister during unsupervised play. Legislators will soon prescribe that a primary packaging, and such is a blister which is completely removable from a carton, is child resistant. Making a blister child safe requires a relatively complex construction. An example of this is in EP 1 270 440 B1 described. Further state of the art for childproof blisters can be found in US 4,125,190 A . EP 1 057 744 A2 . EP 1 002 744 A1 and US 6,047,829 A just to name a few. However, most of these prior art blister packs are childproof only until first opened. Once the package has been broken and left unattended, it can be dangerous for a toddler.

At the in US Pat. No. 6,491,211 B1 and US Pat. No. 6,412,636 B1 The carton and the blister pack have cooperating means, which are arranged so that a complete removal of the blister pack from the carton is prevented, the carton is child-resistant reclosable.

Due to the fact that the carton and the blister are inextricably linked, the carton box belongs to the primary packaging material and can therefore take over the child protection in the sense of the regulations, while the blister itself can be unsecured.

It is based on the consideration that an adult who has opened a package of the type according to the invention for removing a tablet once, the package does not leave lying around in an open state, because in this condition, the packaging is not tidy and overall impractical to handle. Rather, the adult is induced by the type of packaging to push the blister back into the carton and to close the carton, making the child safety is restored.

At the US Pat. No. 6,491,211 B1 and US Pat. No. 6,412,636 B1 described packaging, the material used on the cartons is relatively high, since the broad sides comprise a total of four or three layers of cardboard. The invention has for its object to provide a new cardboard packaging of the type mentioned.

This object is achieved by the invention defined in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments thereof are described in the subclaims.

In the invention, a latching projection is formed on the blister, while the carton comprises a cardboard formed, elastically pressed into a closed position trap, which acts like a door latch and in a Closed position is releasably latched under elastic bias on the locking projection. The withdrawal of the blister from the carton requires two movements in mutually perpendicular directions, namely the release of the trap transverse to the longitudinal extent of the blister and the subsequent withdrawal of the blister in its longitudinal direction out of the carton. The sequence of these processes seems simple, but does not reveal itself to a toddler.

In order to prevent the blister can be completely removed from the carton - which the carton is legally made part of a primary packaging - a locking device is formed in the carton, the movement path of the locking projection on the blister when moving out of the blister from the Folding box limited. But the blister can also, comparable to the solution, in US Pat. No. 6,491,211 B1 is described, be provided with an opposite to the withdrawal of the blister from the carton bent over tongue, which is caught when pulling out of the blister from a protruding into the interior of the carton cardboard tab.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blister consists of two unequally long strips, which are connected to two parallel and generally transverse to the longitudinal extent of the package bending lines and one of these limited web integrally with each other, wherein the web has such dimensions that he fills the free cross-section of the carton interior. The shorter strip has such a length that, as far as possible, the state of the blister which has been pulled out of the folding box, this strip can be unfolded freely. In pushed into the carton state of the blister, the web forms one of the narrow sides of the cuboid packaging and thus closes the carton at one end.

In a blister of the latter type has according to an advantageous development of the shorter strip on the side of the folding box wall adjacent to this strip limiting crease line a projecting stop lug with sloping to the adjacent bend line, ending in the surface of the strip inclined surface. On the said wall of the folding box body an outgoing from the narrow side opening of the folding box body barrier flap is hinged, which extends unverklebt in the folding box body and has a breakthrough at the edge abuts the stop lug of the blister in the completely pushed into the carton state of the blister. This prevents the shorter strip of the blister from the outside so in the Folding box can be pushed into it that the bridge does not form a flush conclusion of the carton. The formed by the web of the blister narrow side wall of the package thereby retains its stability. The same effect can also be achieved if, according to an alternative to the longer strip of the blister, a projection projecting towards the shorter strip is formed, against which the free edge of the shorter strip abuts when the blister is folded and pushed into the folding box.

For easier removal of the blister from the carton, it is advantageous in packaging of the latter type, when the carton in the area where the web of the blister which forms one of the shorter narrow sides of the package is provided on at least one of its fuselage walls with fingerholes, through the you can grab the blister.

• Fig. 1 den flachliegenden Kartonzuschnitt einer Faltschachtel der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Erfindung;
• Fig. 2 den Blister, der für die Faltschachtel nach Fig. 1 bestimmt ist;
• Fig. 3 schematisch als Querschnittsdarstellung einen Ausschnitt, der die Funktion des Sicherheitsverschlusses in der Ausführungsform der Figuren 1 und 2 erkennen lässt.

The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings. It shows:

• Fig. 1 the flat carton blank of a carton of the preferred embodiment of the invention;
• Fig. 2 the blister, which is for the carton Fig. 1 is determined;
• Fig. 3 schematically a cross-sectional view of a section showing the function of the safety closure in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 lets recognize.

One recognizes in Fig. 1 the flat blank of a cardboard carton, consisting of two wide hull fields 1, 2 and two narrow hull fields 3, 4, which are connected to each other at fold lines, and an adhesive tab 5, which adjoins the outer narrow hull field 3. At the narrow hull fields 3 and 4 close the first and second adhesive tabs 6 and 7 at the end. At the first end of the inner fuselage field 1, a retaining flap 8 adjoins a fold line on which, again at a fold line, a resilient blocking tab 9 adjoins. This continues in a tab 10, which consists of three segments 10a, 10b and 10c. At the fold line, which connects the segments 10a and 10b, there is in the middle an arcuate section 10d, which forms a nose on the segment 10b.

In the fold line, which connects the hull field 1 and the retaining flap 8 with each other, an opening 26 is formed in the center of the blank, which extends symmetrically in the two aforementioned cardboard boxes.

The second wide hull field 2 carries at one end a lid flap 11, which continues in a wide adhesive flap 12. In the wide adhesive flap 12 is delimited by a line of weakness, a tamper-evident window sash 13 is formed, which is delimited by a perforation line and adjacent to which a moon-shaped aperture 14 is located. At the opposite ends, the wide hull fields 1 and 2 have a wide barrier flap 15 and a stiffening flap 16, respectively. The barrier flap 15 has an opening 17 near the fold line connecting it to the hull field 1.

This folding carton blank is processed as follows. The retaining flap 8 is folded onto the inside of the hull field 1 and adhered thereto. The resilient locking tab 9 is folded over in the direction of the retaining flap 8, the segmented tab 10 is guided through the opening formed by the opening 26 and positioned so that the fold line connecting the segments 10a and 10b with each other, at the level of the transverse boundary line of the opening formed by the opening 26 is located. The segment 10c is glued to the outside of the hull panel 1 with its end at the position shown in FIG Fig. 1 is indicated by the line 18.

The adhesive tabs 7 and the reinforcing tab 16 are folded over and glued to their respective carton panels 3, 4 and 2. On a bonding of the reinforcing tab may possibly be dispensed with. The blocking flap 15 is turned inwards, but not glued. Then, after inserting the associated blister (see Fig. 2 ), the adhesive flap 5 is glued to the inside of the hull field 2, the outer sides of the adhesive tabs 6 are glued to the lid panel 11, and the wide adhesive tab 12 is glued to the outside of the hull panel 1, wherein the segments 10b and 10c the flap 10 covered.

Fig. 2 shows the inserted before closing the carton in this Blister B in the unfolded state. The blister B is made of a rigid plastic material and is a long strip, which is divided by two parallel fold lines 20 into a shorter section 21 and a longer section 22. The longer section 22 has in its end region a bead 23 which projects up to the same side as the wells 24 which are formed in blister B. The shorter portion 21 has, near the crease line 20 delimiting it, a lug 25 projecting to the opposite side and having an oblique upper surface which rises progressively above the blister B in a direction away from the crease line 20.

If the blister B is in the closed box, it is in accordance Fig. 3 the bead 23 behind a trap, which is formed by the resilient locking tab 9 and the segments 10 a and 10 b of the tab 10. The nose 25 is located in the opening 17 on the retaining flap 15th

If one breaks the one tamper-evident window sash 13 from the panel 12 at its perforation line, the formed on the segment 10 b nose, which is bounded by the arcuate section 10 d, accessible, and you can pull on her and thereby the aforementioned, of the resilient locking tab 9 formed trap from the path of movement of the bead 23 remove how to Fig. 3 can clearly see, which makes it possible to pull the blister B from the carton. This is facilitated by the finger cut created by the circular aperture 19. The blister B can be as far removed from the carton until the bead 23 abuts the free edge of the resilient locking flap 15. Because the portion 21 of the blister B is shorter than the other, the bead 23 carrying portion 22, which has just the length of the carton, the shorter portion 21 can be opened without being hindered by the carton.

The blister B can be pushed back into the carton after removal of a tablet, wherein the bead 23 slides over the resilient locking tab 9 and locked behind this. Excessive insertion of the shorter portion 21 of the blister B is prevented because the nose 25 formed on it finds a stop at an opposite edge of the opening 17 in the resilient blocking flap 15.

Even after removing the tamper-evident closure formed by the sash 13, the packaging is child-resistant, because children of the age against which medication packages must be protected are unable to co-ordinate the aforementioned different movements with each other, namely to release the trap and Remove blister from the carton.

Claims (4)

1. Childproof resealable package composed of a parallelepiped block-shaped folding box made of cardboard and at least one strip-form blister pack (B) arranged therein which is withdrawable from the former on one of the short narrow sides of the folding box, having means (15, 23) acting in conjunction on the folding box and blister pack (B) which prevent complete withdrawal of the blister pack (B) from the folding box, characterised in that the blister pack (B) has a catch projection (23) and on the folding box a latch (9) is constructed which under elastic pretensioning is detachably engaged on the catch projection (23) in a locking position, consisting of a retaining flap (8) attached via a folding line to an end of one (1) of the broad body panels of the folding box, which flap is folded into the interior of the folding box where it is glued into place, an elastic blocking strap (9) attached via a folding line to the free end thereof which continues in a strap (10) attached to a folding line and consists of three segments (10a, 10b, 10c) bounded with respect to one another by folding lines of which the first (10a) traverses the cross-section of the folding box interior and an opening (26) in the retaining flap (8) and the neighbouring body panel (1) and the two other segments (10b, 10c) are folded onto the outside of the body panel (1) of which the third segment (10c) is there glued into place.
2. Package according to claim 1, characterised in that the blister pack (B) consists of two strips (21, 22) of unequal length that are integrally connected to one another on two bending lines (20) spaced apart running parallel to one another and transverse to the longitudinal extension of the package and a web (33) running between these bending lines, that the web (33) is of such a size that it fills out the open cross-section of the folding box interior and the shorter strip (21) is of such a length that in the widest possible withdrawal state of the blister pack (B) this strip (21) is capable of being freely opened out.
3. Package according to claim 2, characterised in that the shorter strip (21) on the side of the folding box wall (1) adjoining it has a projecting stop lug (25) having an oblique surface falling away with respect to the folding line (20) and ending in the surface of the strip and that on said wall (1) of the folding box body a retaining flap (15) emanating from the opening on the narrow side of the folding box body is articulated which flap unglued extends into the folding box body and has an aperture (17) against whose edge the stop lug (25) of the blister pack (B) rests in the state of being fully inserted into the folding box.
4. Package according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the folding box in the region where the web (33) of the blister pack (B) forms one of the shorter narrow sides of the package is provided on at least one of the body walls (1, 2) with a finger aperture (19) for gripping the blister pack (B).

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