Patent Application
20210323744
The invention relates to cover sheets, and in particular to cover sheets that are secured to the tray of a container 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. The container may be used in place of conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets and capsules, or may be used for organising and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to a predefined dosage regimen. The principle behind such mixed medication containers is that a dosage regimen of mixed medication can be organised in advance for a period of a week or more, and a patient or nurse can then remove from the container, at predefined times over the said period, the one or more pills, tablets and/or capsules to be administered on each occasion according to the dosage regimen.
A container for storing and dispensing consumer products typically includes a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed an array of discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products. The cavities are covered by a seal which is secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray.
The seal can have one or more layers. Each seal layer can be a metal foil, such as aluminium foil, a metallized polymeric film or paper sheet, a plastics film of single or multiple layer construction, or any combination thereof, depending on the sort of consumer products to be stored and dispensed from the container. Each seal layer can be a translucent or transparent, flexible sheet of plastics material such as polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate, for example.
The present invention provides a cover sheet to be secured to the tray of a container in use, the cover sheet comprising a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge that is opposite the first edge, the cover sheet further comprising:
The first layer can be a face layer and the second layer can be a liner or backing layer.
The first and second layers of the cover sheet can be formed of any suitable material. A suitable material is paper or card.
The upper surface of the first layer can provide a printable upper surface of the cover sheet.
The release layer is applied to the upper surface of the second layer (i.e., the surface that faces the lower surface of the first layer) to allow the removable strip of the second layer to be removed easily and cleanly from the adhesive layer. Any suitable release layer or coating can be used, e.g., a commercially-available silicone-based release layer.
The tab portion of the first layer remains adhered to the removable strip and is removed with it. Once the removable strip is removed from the remainder of the first layer by being peeled away from the adhesive layer, the exposed adhesive on the lower surface of the first layer allows the cover sheet to be secured to the tray. The lower surface of the second layer defines a lower surface of the cover sheet. The cover sheet that is secured to the tray includes all of the first layer except the tab portion and all of the second layer except the removable strip.
The tray has a generally planar top surface into which has been formed an array of discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products. The cover sheet is typically secured to the underside of an overhanging part of the top surface of the tray with the cover sheet upside down—i.e., if the tray is positioned with the mouths of the cavities facing upwards, the upper surface of the cover sheet will initially be facing downwards to present the exposed adhesive layer to the underside of the overhanding part of the top surface. The cover sheet can then be folded over along the overhanging part of the tray so that its printable upper surface is facing upwards and it overlies the top surface of the tray and the seal.
The first and second parts of the first pre-formed line of separation can have any suitable shape (e.g., straight, curved, wavy, zig-zag etc.) and can be aligned or angled with respect to each other. The first and second parts of the second pre-formed line of separation can have any suitable shape (e.g., straight, curved, wavy, zig-zag etc.) and are normally angled with respect to each other.
In a preferred arrangement of the first pre-formed line of separation, the first part is curved and the second part is straight and extends substantially perpendicular to the second edge. But it will be readily understood that other arrangements are possible—see above.
In a preferred arrangement of the second pre-formed line of separation, the first part is curved (and substantially coincident with the first part of the first pre-formed line of separation) and the second part is straight and extends substantially parallel with the second edge. But it will be readily understood that other arrangements are possible—see above. The second part can extend to the third edge or the second pre-formed line of separation can include a third part which extends to the second edge—e.g., where the third part is straight and extends substantially perpendicular to the second edge, or is curved, wavy or zig-zag.
The first and second pre-formed lines of separation can be cut lines, or pre-formed tear lines (e.g., score lines or perforated lines), or any combination thereof, and can be formed using a die cutter, for example. Cut lines extend all of the way through the respective layer. Score lines extend only part of the way through the respective layer. Perforated lines comprise a series of cuts and ties.
If the first pre-formed line of separation is a pre-formed tear line (e.g., a score line or perforated line) it will be torn when the tab portion of the first layer is removed together with the removable strip. In particular, the first pre-formed line of separation will tear to release the tab portion from the remainder of the first layer. If the second pre-formed line of separation is a pre-formed tear line (e.g., a score line or perforated line) it will be torn when the removable strip is removed. In particular, the second pre-formed line of separation will tear to release the removable strip from the remainder of the second layer.
At least the first part of the first pre-formed line of separation can be a cut line and at least the first part of the second pre-formed line of separation can be a cut line.
The first part of the first line of separation can include a gap that defines a first frangible bridge region (or tie). The first frangible bridge region temporarily connects the tab portion of the first layer to the remainder of the first layer and can be broken or torn preparatory to removing the removable strip. This releases the tab portion which can be grasped between thumb and forefinger, together with the underlying portion of the second layer that defines a tab portion of the removable strip, and used to peel away the removable strip to expose the adhesive layer. The first frangible bridge region can be positioned anywhere along the first part of the first pre-formed line of separation, but is preferably adjacent the first edge. In practice, this can mean that the first pre-formed line of separation does not extend completely to the first edge of the cover sheet, but is separated from the first edge by the first frangible bridge region.
Additionally, or alternatively, the first part of the second pre-formed line of separation can include a gap that defines a second frangible bridge region (or tie). The second frangible bridge region temporarily connects the removable strip of the second layer—and in particular the tab portion of the removable strip—to the remainder of the second layer and can be broken or torn preparatory to removing the removable strip. The second frangible bridge region can be positioned anywhere along the first part of the second pre-formed line of separation, but is preferably adjacent the first edge. In practice, this can mean that the second pre-formed line of separation does not extend completely to the first edge of the cover sheet, but is separated from the first edge by the second frangible bridge region.
Alternatively, the first part of the second pre-formed line of separation can be non-coincident with the first part of the first pre-formed line of separation (and the first and second intermediate points can also be non-coincident) such that the tab portion of the removable strip is larger than the tab portion of the first layer. The tab portion of the removable strip is removably adhered to a narrow strip of the first layer that extends adjacent to the first part of the first pre-formed line of separation to hold the tab portion of the first layer in position within the plane of the remainder of the cover sheet. The tab portion of the removable strip can be released from the narrow strip of the first layer by peeling it away from the adhesive layer. This releases the tab portion of the first layer which can be grasped between thumb and forefinger, together with the underlying portion of the second layer that defines the tab portion of the removable strip, and used to remove the removable strip completely to expose the adhesive layer. Alternatively, the tab portion of the first layer is larger than the tab portion of the removable strip. The term “substantially coincident” used herein should therefore be understood to cover this particular cover sheet arrangement, i.e., where the first parts of the first and second pre-formed lines of separation (and the first and second intermediate points) are deliberately spaced slightly apart, as well as referring to a more general tolerance in the exact alignment between the first parts of the first and second pre-formed lines of separation and the first and second intermediate points; it being readily understood that a small misalignment will not have any significant effect on the cover sheet.
Any suitable adhesive can be used for the adhesive layer, e.g., a peelable adhesive.
The present invention further provides a method of securing the cover sheet described above to the tray of a container, the tray comprising a generally planar top surface and one or more discrete cavities for receiving consumer products, the method comprising the steps of:
For example, a securing part of the cover sheet is secured to the underside of an overhanging part of the top surface of the tray by the exposed adhesive layer.
The present invention further provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products comprising:
The container can further include a seal secured to the top surface of the tray and the cover sheet can overlie the seal.
The container can be a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen.
A cover sheet 1 is shown in
The cover sheet 1 includes a first layer 2 (e.g., a face layer) and a second layer 4 (e.g., a liner or backing layer). The cover sheet 1 is substantially rectangular and includes a first edge 6a, a second edge 6b, a third edge 6c and a fourth edge 6d. But it will be readily understood that the cover sheet can have any suitable shape.
The first layer 2 can be made of paper or card. The upper surface of the first layer 2 is a printable surface and defines the upper surface of the cover sheet 1. The upper surface includes areas 2a, 2b where information can be printed, e.g., information relating to the medication that is stored in the container or the like. An adhesive layer (not shown) is applied to the lower surface of the first layer 2 and adheres the first and second layers together.
The second layer 4 can also be made of paper or card. The lower surface of the second layer 4 defines the lower surface of the cover sheet 1. A release layer or coating (not shown) is applied to the upper surface of the second layer 4. The release layer is in contact with the adhesive layer and allows the second layer 4 to be removed easily and cleanly from the adhesive layer.
The first layer 2 includes a first cut line 8 that extends across a corner of the cover sheet 1 between the first edge 6a and the second edge 6b as shown in
A first intermediate point 12 lying along the first cut line 8 divides the first cut line into a first part 8a that extends from the first intermediate point to the first edge 6a, and a second part 8b that extends from the first intermediate point to the second edge 6b. The first part 8a is curved and the second part 8b is straight and extends substantially perpendicular to the second edge 6b.
The second layer 4 includes a second cut line 14 that extends from the first edge 6a to the third edge 6c as shown in
It will be readily understood that the first and second cut lines 8, 14 can be replaced with pre-formed tear lines, e.g., score lines or perforated lines, which would tear when the removable strip 18 and the tab portion 10 are removed.
A second intermediate point 16 lying along the second cut line 14 divides the second cut line 14 into a first part 14a that extends from the second intermediate point to the first edge 6a and a second part 14b that extends from the second intermediate point to the third edge 6c. The first part 14a is curved and the second part 14b is straight and extends substantially parallel with the second edge 6b.
The second cut line 14 defines a removable strip 18 of the second layer 4. The removable strip 18 can include a tab portion 18a at one end that underlies and is adhered to the tab portion 10 of the first layer 2, and a strip portion 18b that extends along the second edge 6b of the cover sheet 1 and that underlies and is adhered to a securing portion of the first layer which is shown most clearly in
In the cover sheet arrangements shown in
The tab portion 10 and the underlying tab portion 18a of the removable strip 18 can be grasped between thumb and forefinger, bent out of the plane of the remainder of the cover sheet 1 to break or tear the frangible bridge region 20, and then used to peel the strip portion 18a of the removable strip 18 away from the adhesive layer. Removing the removable strip 18 exposes the adhesive layer which is on the lower surface of the first layer 2. The tab portion 10 remains adhered to the removable strip 18 and is removed and discarded with it.
The cover sheet 1 is secured to the underside of an overhanging part 32 of the top surface of the tray 24 with the cover sheet upside down as shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005706.3 | Apr 2020 | GB | national |
