Patent Grant
11932465
The present invention relates to child resistant packaging which may be used to hold harmful products such as toxic substances, pharmaceutical products, smoking articles, sharp objects and the like.
Packaging, for example cartons, are used to hold a number of different products. A carton is a container such as a box typically formed from card, paperboard, laminated board, polymer sheet or other similar materials. Cartons are frequently used to hold products such as pharmaceutical products, smoking articles, veterinary products, cleaning products, water treatment products, plant protection products, sharp objects, small components, harmful substances and the like.
Pharmaceutical products are frequently contained within blister packs which include a foil barrier that acts to protect the pharmaceutical product from moisture, light and other external perturbations, while also providing a degree of child resistance. Blister packs are often contained within a carton, such as a cuboidal box formed from card, which is closed at one or both ends with a tuck in flap. Such boxes are often not child resistant. In other words, a child can easily remove the tuck in flap and access the contents, such as a blister pack, within the box. Accidental consumption of pharmaceutical products by children remains a significant problem in many countries.
While child resistant caps for bottles, such as medicine bottles, and child resistant blister foils exist, there is a need for cartons to include a child resistant element to help prevent a child from accessing the contents of the carton and unintentionally causing harm. At the same time, the carton may need to be accessed by the elderly and seriously ill, who may have limited strength, dexterity, and diminished motor skills due to age or illness. Thus, there is a need for a carton that cannot be accessed by a child, but is openable by an adult.
Smoking articles, such as conventional tobacco cigarettes and more recently marijuana smoking articles (e.g. “joints”) are frequently contained within a carton, such as a rectangular box formed from card. Such boxes are often not child resistant meaning the child can access the smoking articles inside. This is particularly problematic given the increased availability and use of marijuana smoking articles in many countries. Thus, there is a need for a carton for smoking articles that cannot be accessed by a child, but is still openable by an adult.
Conventional child resistant packages are made from more than one material, resulting in a relatively complicated and lengthy manufacturing procedure causing an increase in the cost of manufacturing. The use of more than one material may also create lines of weakness in the child resistant packaging. Consequently, there is a need for a child resistant packaging made from a single material.
According to the present invention there is provided a (e.g. child resistant) carton comprising; a housing comprising an outer layer and an inner layer; and a sliding container dimensioned such that it may be enclosed within the inner layer of the housing; wherein the sliding container can be moved from a closed configuration wherein the sliding container is enclosed within the inner layer of the housing to an open configuration wherein at least a portion of the sliding container is outside the housing; characterised in that; the sliding container comprises an (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. a tab) which engages with an aperture (e.g. hole) in the housing inner layer when in register with the aperture (e.g. hole) to thereby hold the sliding container in the first closed configuration; and the outer layer of the housing comprising a means for applying pressure (e.g. pressing tab) in register with the aperture (e.g. hole) of the inner layer, such that pressure applied in register with the aperture (e.g. hole) of the inner layer is exerted on the (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tab) to thereby disengage the (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tab) from the aperture (e.g. hole) to allow the sliding container to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
The carton may be a foldable carton. The carton may be child resistant.
It will be appreciated that the sliding container may also be considered a housing. For example, a housing for a blister pack or a housing for smoking articles.
The applicants have found that a carton that includes both a means for applying pressure in register with an aperture and an engagement means engageable with the aperture provides a simple and effective means for providing a child resistant carton. The user must compress the means for applying pressure on the housing while simultaneously pulling the sliding container to open the carton, which may be difficult for a child to achieve due to the finger strength and dexterity required and the complexity of the action. While a child may be prevented from opening the carton, it is possible for an adult to open the carton. Additionally, the carton is not configured to be so difficult to open that an elderly person or adult with reduced motor skills, strength or coordination cannot open the carton.
Preferably the means for applying pressure is a pressing tab. Preferably the engagement means is a tab. Preferably the housing comprises an open end and a closed end, wherein the sliding container extends from the open end when in the open configuration. It will be appreciated that the open end is the end of the housing through which the sliding container moves when the carton is in use. It will be appreciated that the closed end of the housing is located on the opposite side of the housing with respect to the open end.
Preferably the housing and sliding container are formed from the same material. Preferably the housing inner layer and outer layer are formed from the same continuous sheet of material. The applicants have found that by using a single material to produce a carton according to the present invention, they are able to both simplify the manufacturing procedure and provide a packaging that is more capable of resisting being opened by a child.
Preferably the means for applying pressure (e.g. pressing tab) is formed from the same continuous sheet of material as the housing. Preferably the engagement means (e.g. tab) is form from the same continuous sheet of material as the sliding container. Preferably the material used is an anti-tear laminate. By forming the means for apply pressure and/or engagement means from the same material as that used to make the carton the applicants have been able to simplify the manufacturing procedure and reduce the number of materials required to produce the carton in comparison to more conventional child resistant packaging. Preferably the sliding container comprises first and second (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tabs) located on (e.g. respectively) opposite sides of the sliding container which engage with first and second (e.g. rear) apertures (e.g. holes) on (e.g. respectively) opposite sides of the housing inner layer when in register with the first and second (e.g. rear) apertures (e.g. holes); and the outer layer of the housing comprises first and second (e.g. rear) means for applying pressure (e.g. pressing tabs) in register with the first and second (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tabs) to thereby disengage the first and second (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tabs) from the first and second (e.g. rear) apertures (e.g. holes) to allow the sliding container to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration; wherein the first and second (e.g. rear) means for applying pressure (e.g. pressing tabs) are located on (e.g. respectively) opposite sides of the housing. Preferably the first and second apertures (and their respective means for applying pressure) are located toward the rear of the housing. The rear first and second apertures allow for the sliding container to be held in the closed configuration. It will be appreciated that the rear of the housing is the region of the housing located toward the closed end of the housing.
It will be appreciated that the positioning of features of the invention “on opposite sides” to one another can be taken to mean that the features (e.g. engagement means/apertures/means for applying pressure) are on opposite sides with respect to one another (i.e. on respectively opposite sides). For example, when a first and second engagement means are located on opposite sides of the sliding container, the first engagement means is positioned on the opposite side of the sliding container with respect to the second engagement means. This is illustrated in the attached Examples and Figures.
Preferably the sliding container comprises a pull tab located towards the open end of the housing. Preferably the pull tab is positioned on the front side of the sliding container. The pull tab allows for the adult user (particularly the more senior adult user) to easily move the sliding container from the closed configuration to the open configuration when the means for applying pressure are compressed. The pull tab also increases the level of dexterity required to open the carton to prevent opening of the package by a child.
When the carton includes a first and second means for applying pressure in register with a first and second aperture and a first and second engagement means, the user must compress both the first and second means for applying pressure while simultaneously pulling the sliding container to open the carton. The applicants have found that having both the means for applying pressure in register with an aperture and the engagement means engageable with the aperture positioned on respectively opposite sides of the carton helps to provide a secure lock to thereby prevent opening of the packaging by a child. This configuration may also mean that the means for applying pressure are spaced such that a child cannot simultaneously compress both the means for applying pressure to thereby open the carton because the child would not have a sufficiently large finger span or hand span to do so. For example, the distance between each means for applying pressure may be greater than the fingerspan of a child, but smaller than the finger span of an adult. For example, the distance between the apertures may be greater than the fingerspan of a child, but smaller than the finger span of an adult. For example, the distance between the engagement means may be greater than the fingerspan of a child, but smaller than the finger span of an adult. For example, the distance between each means for applying pressure/apertures/engagement means may be greater than the distance between a child's thumb and little finger, thumb and ring finger, thumb and middle finger, or thumb and index finger, such that the child cannot simultaneous compress each means for applying pressure using one hand. For example, the distance between each means for applying pressure may be between about 50 mm and 150 mm, for example between about 50 mm and 80 mm, for example between about 60 mm and 70 mm, for example between 60 and 90 mm, for example between about 70 and 80 mm. For example, the distance between each aperture may be between about 50 mm and 150 mm, for example between about 50 mm and 80 mm, for example between about 60 mm and 70 mm, for example between 60 and 90 mm, for example between about 70 and 80 mm. For example, the distance between each engagement means may be between about 50 mm and 150 mm, for example between about 40 mm and 80 mm, for example between about 50 mm and 60 mm, for example between 60 and 90 mm, for example between about 60 and 70 mm.
Preferably the inner layer of the housing comprises third and fourth (e.g. front) apertures located on opposite sides of the inner housing such that the first and second (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tabs) engage with the first and second (e.g. front) apertures in the housing inner layer when in register with the first and second (e.g. front) apertures to thereby hold the sliding container in the closed configuration; and wherein, when the sliding container is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the first and second (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tabs) engage with the third and fourth (e.g. front) apertures in the housing inner layer when in register with the third and fourth (e.g. front) apertures to thereby hold the sliding container in the open configuration and/or to prevent the sliding container from being completely removed from the housing. Preferably the third and fourth apertures are located towards the front of the housing. It will be appreciated that the front of the housing is the region of the housing located toward the open end of the housing. The third and fourth apertures may both allow for the sliding container to be held in the open configuration and prevent complete removal of the sliding container and its contents from the housing.
In another embodiment of the invention the housing may additionally comprises third and fourth (e.g. front) means for applying pressure (e.g. pressing tabs) in register with the third and fourth (e.g. front) apertures (e.g. holes) such that when the sliding container is in the open configuration the user may compress the third and fourth (e.g. front) means for applying pressure (e.g. pressing tabs) such that pressure applied in register with the third and fourth (e.g. front) apertures (e.g. holes) is exerted on the first and second (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tabs) to thereby disengage the first and second (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tabs) for the third and fourth (e.g. front) apertures (e.g. holes) to allow the sliding container and its contents to be completely removed from the housing.
The carton may further comprise at least one tamper evident feature e.g. a feature that provides an indication that the carton has been tampered with e.g. a feature that provides an indication that someone has tried to access the contents of the carton. This feature may be, for example, a tape, a label or a tamper proof seal as set out below.
Preferably the carton comprises a closure flap (e.g. tuck in flap) which covers the open end of the housing when in the closed configuration. Preferably the housing further comprises a seal or lock which locks the closure flap (e.g. tuck in flap) across the open end of the housing when in the closed configuration. Preferable the seal or lock is a tamper proof seal (e.g. tamper evident seal), the tamper proof seal (e.g. tamper evident seal) comprising a perforated portion that ruptures on first opening of the seal to thereby enable removal of the closure flap (e.g. tuck in flap) from the open end. It will be appreciated that a tamper proof seal is a tamper evident seal i.e. a seal that provides an indication that the seal has been tampered with.
Preferably the or each (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tab) is biased outwardly from the side of the sliding container. This enhances engagement of the or a (e.g. substantially wing shaped) engagement means (e.g. tab) with the or a aperture of the inner layer of the housing. Preferably the or each engagement means is substantially wing shaped such that the or each engagement means comprises a first edge orientated substantially at a right angle to the direction of travel of the sliding container and a second edge with an orientation inclined to the direction of travel of the sliding container, wherein the first edge is located towards the open (e.g. front) end of the housing and the second edge is located towards the closed (e.g. rear) end of the housing such that; the first edge of the or each engagement means engages with an aperture in the housing inner layer when in register therewith to thereby hold the sliding container in the closed configuration and/or open configuration; and the second edge of the or each engagement means contacts the edge of a third or fourth (e.g. front) aperture (e.g. hole) in the housing inner layer in such a way to enable the engagement means to slide past the edge of the aperture in moving from the open configuration to the closed configuration.
The applicants have found that the use of substantially wing shaped engagement means provides an effective means for ensuring that the sliding container is effectively held in position when in the closed and open configurations as well as enabling the movement of the sliding container from the open to closed configuration, allowing for the carton to be closed and reused.
Preferably the housing and sliding container are formed from the same material. Preferably the housing outer layer and inner layer are formed from the same continuous sheet of material. Preferably, the housing outer layer and inner layer are connected are so cannot be separated. The material used for a carton according to the present invention may be for example, card, paper board, plastic, polymeric material for example polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or polyvinyl chloride, laminated board and the like. A laminated board may for example comprise a card or paper board substrate and a layer of a polymer such as polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate attached to the substrate. Laminated board may help to prevent the carton from tearing, so assisting with the child resistant properties of the carton. Preferably the housing and/or sliding container are made from an anti-tear material such as an anti-tear laminate, for example valeron anti-tear laminate.
The material used for a carton according to the present invention may comprise a transparent material, for example a transparent polymer, for example transparent polyethylene terephthalate. Forming the or a portion of the housing from a sheet of transparent material means the sliding container may be visible through the housing portion when the carton is closed. This means that information or graphics disposed on the on the sliding container may be visible when the carton is in the closed configuration. This means that information may not need to be duplicated on the housing and the sliding container.
The carton may comprise a product within the sliding container, for example pharmaceutical product, a smoking product (e.g. smoking article), veterinary product, cleaning product, water treatment product, plant protection product, sharp object, small component, harmful substances and the like. The pharmaceutical product may include one or more tablets, capsules, syringes, liquid formulations and the like. The product may comprise a blister pack comprising a pharmaceutical or other product.
The sliding container may be a box, for example for smoking articles such as tobacco cigarettes or marijuana smoking articles (e.g. joints). The box may be defined by side walls, a front wall, rear wall, a top panel and a bottom panel. The front and/or rear wall may comprise a closure. Providing a closure may act to seal the box to prevent the contents from escaping, while at the same time allowing access by an adult user to the contents within the box. A closure may add an additional level of child resistance to the carton. The closure may comprise a tuck in flap. The closure may further comprise two dust flaps, wherein the tuck in flap engages between the top panel and the dust flaps. The box may comprise a locking element to prevent opening by a child.
The sliding container may be a clamshell container, for example enclosing a blister pack. The clamshell container may be defined by two sections (e.g. halves) joined by a hinge to encase the product inside.
The sliding container may be tamper evident e.g. it may have one or more tamper evident features that indicate when a product from the sliding container has been removed. For example, when the sliding container is a clamshell container, the two sections (e.g. halves) may be joined by a hinge and a perforated portion that ruptures on first opening of the clamshell container to thereby enable removal of the product inside.
The sliding container may be child resistant e.g. it may have one or more child resistant features that prevent a child from accessing the contents of the sliding container when the carton is open. For example, the sliding container may comprise a box with a rim that hinders or prevents a child from accessing the contents of the box when the container is open.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The outer layer 101 of the housing 100 comprises first 107 and second 103 means for applying pressure in register with the first 104 and second 108 apertures such that pressure applied in register with the first 104 and second 108 apertures is exerted on the first 112 and second 111 engagement means of the sliding container 110 to thereby disengage the first 112 and second 111 engagement means from the first 104 and second 108 apertures of the housing 100. This allows the sliding container 110 to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
To open the child resistant carton the user must first open flap 106. The user must then compress both the first 107 and second 103 means for applying pressure while simultaneously pulling the pull tab 113. The distance between the first 107 and second 103 means for applying pressure is around 67 mm. Due to the first 107 and second 103 means for applying pressure being positioned on respectively opposite sides of the carton at a distance of 67 mm apart, a child would not be able to open the carton as they would not have a sufficiently large finger span or hand span to do so. They would also not have the dexterity required to press both means for applying pressure and pull the pull tab at the same time.
When the sliding container 110 is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the first 112 and second 111 engagement means engage with the third 105 and fourth 109 apertures in the housing inner layer 102 when in register with the third 105 and fourth 109 apertures to thereby hold the sliding container 110 in the open configuration and to prevent the sliding container 110 from being completely removed from the housing 100.
As can be seen from
The housing 200 is formed from a single continuous sheet of valeron anti tear laminate, meaning the outer 201 and inner 202 layers of the housing 200 are formed from the same continuous sheet of material. The use of an anti-tear laminate prevents the carton from being torn open and its contents exposed, forcing the user to open the carton via the mechanism defined by the present invention (outlined below). The housing 200 is formed from a net of valeron. This net is illustrated in
The outer layer 201 of the housing 200 comprises first 207 and second 203 means for applying pressure in register with the first 204 and second 208 apertures such that pressure applied in register with the first 204 and second 208 apertures is exerted on the first 212 and second 211 engagement means of the sliding container 210 to thereby disengage the first 212 and second 211 engagement means from the first 204 and second 208 apertures of the housing 200. This allows the sliding container 210 to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
To open the child resistant carton the user must first open flap 206. The user must then compress both the first 207 and second 203 means for applying pressure while simultaneously pulling the pull tab 213. The distance between the first 207 and second 203 means for applying pressure is around 79 mm. Due to the first 207 and second 203 means for applying pressure being positioned on respectively opposite sides of the carton at a distance of 79 mm apart, a child would not be able to open the carton as they would not have a sufficiently large finger span or hand span to do so. They would also not have the dexterity required to press both means for applying pressure and pull the pull tab at the same time.
When the sliding container 210 is moved from the closed configuration to the open configuration, the first 212 and second 211 engagement means engage with the third 205 and fourth 209 apertures in the housing inner layer 202 when in register with the third 205 and fourth 209 apertures to thereby hold the sliding container 210 in the open configuration and to prevent the sliding container 210 from being completely removed from the housing 200.
As can be seen from
In these examples the first (112 & 212) and second (111 & 211) engagement means are in the form of tabs and the first (107 & 207) and second (103 & 203) means for applying pressure are in the form of pressing tabs.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1906536 | May 2019 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2020/062686 | 5/7/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/225355 | 11/12/2020 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country |
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| 2009024772 | Feb 2009 | WO |
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| Entry |
|---|
| United Kingdom Search Report issued in corresponding United Kingdom Application No. GB1906536.6, dated Oct. 8, 2019 (6 pages). |
| International Search Report issued in corresponding International Application No. PCT/EP2020/062686, dated Oct. 9, 2020 (7 pages). |
| Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority issued in corresponding International Application No. PCT/EP2020/062686, dated Oct. 9, 2020 (8 pages). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220204210 A1 | Jun 2022 | US |
