GB2451464A - Blister pack holder - Google Patents
Blister pack holder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2451464A GB2451464A GB0714853A GB0714853A GB2451464A GB 2451464 A GB2451464 A GB 2451464A GB 0714853 A GB0714853 A GB 0714853A GB 0714853 A GB0714853 A GB 0714853A GB 2451464 A GB2451464 A GB 2451464A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- outer pack
- storage unit
- cavities
- parts
- consumer products
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000013039 cover film Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 12
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 12
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000006187 pill Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000003826 tablet Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 description 1
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000005030 aluminium foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002537 cosmetic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000012054 meals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009747 press moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
- B65D83/0445—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments
- B65D83/0463—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills all the articles being stored in individual compartments formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products. It includes a hinged outer pack 2 having a first part 2a and a second part 2b. A first storage unit 20 is removably received in the first part of the outer pack and includes a tray 22 having a generally planar top surface 24 and one or more discrete cavities 26 for receiving the consumer products and a cover film 30 secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities. A second storage unit 20 of similar construction is removably received in the second part of the outer pack. The outer pack 2 is operable between an open configuration where the first and second storage units 20 can be removed from and/or inserted into the first and second parts of the outer pack, respectively, and a closed configuration where the first and second parts of the outer pack are releasably secured together in register with each other to retain the first and second storage unit within the outer pack. Preferably the first and second storage units 20 are in the form of blister packs.
Description
TITLE
Dispensing containers
DESCRIPTION
Technical Field
The invention relates to containers for storing and dispensing consumer products.
The term consumer products is intended to cover a wide variety of products as illustrated by the following (non-exhaustive) list: foods, either for immediate consumption, pre-cooked, prepared or oven ready, including prepared meals, confectionary, hardware and DIY items, cosmetics, seeds, animal and fish feeds, electronic components, medical appliances and dressings, medicines and medication such as pills, tablets and capsules.
Summary of the invention
The invention provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products, comprising: a hinged outer pack having a first part and a second part; a first storage unit removably received in the first part of the outer pack, the first storage unit comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface and one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products; and a cover film secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities; and a second storage unit removably received in the second part of the outer pack, the second storage unit comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface arid one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products; and a cover film secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities; F070 012 00(2) wherein the outer pack is operable between an open configuration where the first and second storage units can be removed from and/or inserted into the first and second parts of the outer pack, respectively, and a closed configuration where the first and second parts of the outer pack are releasably secured together in register with each other to retain the first and second storage unit within the outer pack.
The outer pack is preferably formed as a single piece with the first and second parts being joined together by an integral hinge (i.e. a line or region of flexure). The outer pack will normally be reusable and can be made of any rigid or semi-rigid plastics material.
At least one of the first and second parts of the outer pack further preferably includes means (such as one or more press-fit or friction-fit parts, for example) for releasably securing the first and second parts together in the closed configuration.
The first part of the outer pack preferably further includes means for releasably retaining the first storage unit within the first part of the outer pack. Such means may, for example, take the form of one or more inwardly extending tabs located at the upper periphery of the first part. The user may manually insert the first storage unit past the tabs (perhaps where necessary by bending the first storage unit slightly to reduce its overall size). The tabs will then lie on top of the generally planar top surface of the first storage unit and prevent it from accidentally falling out of the first part of the outer pack when it is open. The user may manually remove the first storage unit from the first part of the outer pack in the same way.
The second part of the outer pack preferably further includes similar means for releasably retaining the second storage unit within the second part of the outer pack.
The storage units will normally be disposable and sized and shaped to correspond to the inner dimensions of the first and second parts of the outer pack. However, it is possibte for two or more storage units to be removably received within each of the F070 01200 (2) first and second parts of the outer pack. In this case each storage unit would be sized and shaped accordingly.
The storage units may be blister packs of the sort commonly used for the storage and dispensing of pills, tablets and capsules, which are stored individually in cavities in a multi-cavity tray and removed by pushing each pill, tablet or capsule through a rupturable film or foil covering the cavities. The film or foil cover may be paper or a plastics film that can be peeled or torn away to expose the medication in the tray cavities, but is generally aluminium foil, which has the dual advantage of being easily rupturable and vapour-impermeable. Such blister packs normally carry only one unit dose of the same medication in each cavity.
In alternative storage units the cover film that is used to seal the one or more cavities may be adhered to the generally planar top surface of the tray by a peelable adhesive.
The cover film may have pre-formed lines (i.e. tear lines, score lines or perforations) defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the consumer products in that cavity until it is removed from the remainder of the cover film, either partly or completely, by tearing or separating along the pre-formed lines. Each removable portion of the cover film may include a patch shaped and sized to overlie the associated cavity and is preferably adhered to the underside of the cover film by the same layer of peelable adhesive as that which adheres the cover film to the top surface of the tray.
The tray and cover film of the storage units may be generally as described in PCI Patent Application WO 2005/023670.
The container provides an easy and convenient way of storing and dispensing medication such as pills, tablets and capsules. For example, the storage units may be multiple-compartment units for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen.
The consumer products are stored in the cavities of the storage units, which can be inserted into the outer pack when it is open. The outer pack can then be closed (i.e. F070 012 00(2) folded along the hinge to bring the first and second parts of the outer pack into register) to safely retain the storage units within the outer pack. When the consumer products are required, the outer pack is opened and the consumer products can either be dispensed directly from the outer pack or one of the storage units can be removed.
The invention further provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products, comprising: a hinged outer pack having a first part and a second part; wherein the first part includes means for releasably retaining a first storage unit within the first part of the outer pack and the second part includes means for releasably retaining a second storage unit within the second part of the outer pack; and wherein the outer pack is operable between an open configuration where the first and second storage units can be removed from and/or inserted into the first and second parts of the outer pack, respectively, and a closed configuration where the first and second parts of the outer pack are releasably secured together in register with each other to retain the first and second storage unit within the outer pack.
Drawings Figure 1 is a top view of an outer pack of a container according to the present invention in an open configuration; Figure 2 is a top view of a storage unit; Figure 3 is a side view of the storage unit of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a top view of the outer pack of the container of Figure 1 containing two storage units of Figures 2 and 3.
Although the following description relates to a container for storing and dispensing medication, it will be readily appreciated that the container may be used to store and dispense any suitable consumer product.
The dispensing container includes an outer pack 2 (or "clam pack") that is formed of a semi-rigid plastics material. The outer pack 2 has a first recess part 2a and a second recess part 2b that are joined together by a corrugated or "soft" hinge 4. Retaining F070 01200 (2) tabs 6 are formed around the open mouth of the first and second recess parts 2a and 2b. Securing parts 8 operate with a press-fit to releasably secure the first and second recess parts together when the outer pack 2 is folded along the hinge 4 to bring them into register (i.e. to bring their free edges lOa and lOb into close proximity). The free edges IQa and lOb include flanges 12 that can be used to overcome the press-fit of the securing parts 8 and open the outer pack 2.
A storage unit 20 is shown in Figures 2 and 3. The storage unit 20 includes a moulded tray 22 that is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material, and may be formed for example by press moulding or by vacuum moulding. The tray 22 has a generally planar top surface 24 into which has been formed a I x 7 array of discrete cavities 26. It will be readily appreciated that other arrangements of the discrete cavities are possible depending on the particular dosage regimen required.
A required mixture of medication is placed in the discrete cavities 26 and these are then sealed by adhering a cover film 30 to the generally planar top surface 24 of the tray 22. For example, since each storage unit 20 has a 1 x 7 array of discrete cavities the dispensing container can hold sufficient medication for fourteen days.
As shown in Figure 4, a storage unit 20 is located in the first and second recess parts 2a and 2b. The storage units 20 are forced past the retaining tabs 6, optionally by folding the storage units slightly to reduce their width. However, the retaining tabs may also be flexible so that they can deflect. The retaining tabs lie on top of the generally planar top surface 24 of each tray 22 and prevent the storage units 20 from accidentally falling out of the recess parts when the outer pack 2 is open.
In some cases the medication in the discrete cavities 26 can be dispensed when the outer pack 2 is open as shown in Figure 4. However, in other cases it will be necessary to remove a storage unit 20 from the outer pack before the medication can be dispensed. This can be achieved by forcing the storage unit 20 past the retaining tabs. The particular configuration of the storage units 20, and in particular the cover F070 01200(2) film 30, will normally determine how the contents of the discrete cavities are dispensed.
The outer pack 2 can be closed by folding it along the hinge 4 and pressing the recess parts together to engage the press-fit securing parts 8.
When a storage unit 20 has been emptied of its medication it can be disposed of and a new storage unit can then be inserted into the outer pack 2 in its place.
F070 01200 (2)
Claims (11)
1. A container for storing and dispensing consumer products comprising: a hinged outer pack having a first part and a second part; a first storage unit removably received in the first part of the outer pack, the first storage unit comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface and one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products; and a cover film secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities; and a second storage unit removably received in the second part of the outer pack, the second storage unit comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface and one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products; and a cover film secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities; wherein the outer pack is operable between an open configuration where the first and second storage units can be removed from and/or inserted into the first and second parts of the outer pack, respectively, and a closed configuration where the first and second parts of the outer pack are releasably secured together in register with each other to retain the first and second storage unit within the outer pack.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second parts of the outer pack further includes means for releasably securing the first and second parts together in the closed configuration.
3. A container according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the first part of the outer pack further includes means for releasably retaining the first storage unit within the first part of the outer pack.
F070 01200 (2)
4. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the second part of the outer pack further includes means for releasably retaining the second storage unit within the second part of the outer pack.
5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second parts of the outer pack are joined together by an integral hinge.
6. The invention further provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products, comprising: a hinged outer pack having a first part and a second part; wherein the first part includes means for releasably retaining a first storage unit within the first part of the outer pack and the second part includes means for releasably retaining a second storage unit within the second part of the outer pack; and wherein the outer pack is operable between an open configuration where the first and second storage units can be removed from and/or inserted into the first and second parts of the outer pack, respectively, and a closed configuration where the first and second parts of the outer pack are releasably secured together in register with each other to retain the first and second storage unit within the outer pack.
7. A container according to claim 6, further comprising a first storage unit removably received in the first part of the outer pack, the first storage unit having a tray having a generally planar top surface and one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products, and a cover film secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities.
8. A container according to claim 6 or claim 7, further comprising a second storage unit removably received in the second part of the outer pack, the second storage unit having a tray having a generally planar top surface and one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products, and a cover film secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities.
F070 012 00 (2)
A -
9. A container according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein at least one of the first and second parts of the outer pack further includes means for releasably securing the first and second parts together in the closed configuration.
10. A container according to any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the first and second parts of the outer pack are joined together by an integral hinge.
11. A container substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.
F070 01200 (2)
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0714853A GB2451464A (en) | 2007-07-28 | 2007-07-28 | Blister pack holder |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0714853A GB2451464A (en) | 2007-07-28 | 2007-07-28 | Blister pack holder |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0714853D0 GB0714853D0 (en) | 2007-09-12 |
| GB2451464A true GB2451464A (en) | 2009-02-04 |
Family
ID=38529007
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0714853A Withdrawn GB2451464A (en) | 2007-07-28 | 2007-07-28 | Blister pack holder |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2451464A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3567013A (en) * | 1967-12-05 | 1971-03-02 | Squibb & Sons Inc | Self-enclosing blister package |
| US4706815A (en) * | 1982-08-23 | 1987-11-17 | American Home Products Corporation | Dispensing container for triphasic |
| US6679381B1 (en) * | 2001-06-18 | 2004-01-20 | Rexam Medical Packaging, Inc.. | One hand opening child resistant blister pack container |
| CA2428862A1 (en) * | 2003-05-16 | 2004-11-16 | Thomas D. Intini | Child resistant and senior friendly container |
| WO2004103857A1 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2004-12-02 | Boots Healthcare International Limited | Pack |
-
2007
- 2007-07-28 GB GB0714853A patent/GB2451464A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3567013A (en) * | 1967-12-05 | 1971-03-02 | Squibb & Sons Inc | Self-enclosing blister package |
| US4706815A (en) * | 1982-08-23 | 1987-11-17 | American Home Products Corporation | Dispensing container for triphasic |
| US6679381B1 (en) * | 2001-06-18 | 2004-01-20 | Rexam Medical Packaging, Inc.. | One hand opening child resistant blister pack container |
| CA2428862A1 (en) * | 2003-05-16 | 2004-11-16 | Thomas D. Intini | Child resistant and senior friendly container |
| WO2004103857A1 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2004-12-02 | Boots Healthcare International Limited | Pack |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0714853D0 (en) | 2007-09-12 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |