This invention generally relates to a child resistant blister package having a package design that substantially prevents a child from opening the package.
It is well known to use blister packaging to contain items such as pharmaceutical tablets or capsules. Conventional blister packages include a blister tray. The tray is typically a thermo-formed plastic sheet having a plurality of blister cells or depressions formed on the sheet. Typically after the items are placed in the cells, they are retained and protected in the cell by securing a foil or paperboard lid over the blister cells. In another type of conventional package the items are placed in substantially puncture proof foil containers that are then covered with a foil or paperboard lid.
Typically with foil lids, the foil is thin enough to be either punctured mechanically or ruptured by pressing the contents against the foil. Typically with paperboard lids, gates are formed in the lid in the general vicinity of the blister cells to assist with removing the contents from the cells. Each gate is deformed or manipulated so that it ruptures or partially separates from the lid allowing the content of the blister cell to be pushed through the gate.
While the conventional blister packages are suitable for some applications there are several deficiencies in their design. Although they provide easy removal of the contents from the blister cell, they offer very little protection from children opening the blisters. Child resistance is a feature that is particularly desired for unit dose pharmaceutical packaging, and is mandated by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970. Guidelines are prescribed for packaging to satisfy the criteria for child resistance under the statute. For example, a child resistance (CR) rating of F=1 requires that a random sampling of the subject packages not be compromised by an age specific test pool of children at a failure rate of greater than 10%. This general guideline is designed to ensure that the package has sufficient integrity against tampering by children. In view of this requirement, it is an object of the invention to provide a packaging system with improved child resistance.
In addition to child resistance, however, it is also desirable that the packaging system be senior friendly to permit easy withdrawal of the package contents with minimum manipulation. Such a withdrawal means should be easy to use even if the patient's manual dexterity or strength is reduced. Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a senior friendly package that can be easily manipulated by the user. Based on at least the above deficiencies in the prior art, what is needed is a package that is substantially child resistant yet senior friendly and a method of making the package.
The present invention provides an improvement over the previously developed blister packaging in that there has now been developed a package system having structural elements that make the package substantially child resistant yet senior friendly. A packaging substrate is formed that has at least the following elements. A main panel with at least one gate formed on the main panel to assist with removing contents from a package cell. At least one cell flap secured to the main panel. The cell flap has at least one aperture dimensioned and aligned to fit over a packaged cell. At least one tab flap secured to the main panel on an opposite end from the cell flap. The tab flap further comprises at least one peel away tab and at least one glue area. The peel away tab is aligned and dimensioned so that when properly folded it will substantially overlap the gate or gates of the main panel.
In an exemplary embodiment, a packaging system is formed by securing at least one sealed packaged cell to the main panel. The cell flap is then folded over the packaged cell flap and secured to the main panel. The tab flap is folded and secured to an opposite side of the main panel from the packaged cell. The product is removed from the system, by peeling away the tab flap over a gate, and rupturing the gate on the main panel and manipulating the packaged cell content through the gate.
The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent in the description below and can be understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like characters represent like parts throughout the several views.
Several gates 4 are illustrated along the main panels 12. The gates 4 are illustrated in a closed position with the two parts of the gate 41, 42 secured to each other. When the two parts 41, 42 of a gate 4 are opened or separated a product in a package cell 3 (
The package substrate 100 material may be selected from any suitable substrate material to include conventional paperboard grades, for example solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard ranging in weight upward from about 10 point, preferably from about 11 points to about 14 points. An exemplary substrate 100 includes a 12-point SBS board manufactured by MeadWestvaco Corporation. The substrate 100 may also be an unbleached board, depending on the desired appearance of the final package. The substrate if paperboard is preferably coated on at least one side, with a conventional coating selected for compatibility with the printing method and board composition. The package substrate 100 would typically be formed so that after folding the coated side would become the external surface of the package. This allows for information about the package contents to be viewed without opening the package.
Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications or improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan. Such features, modifications or improvements are, therefore, considered to be a part of this invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the following claims.
This application is related to and claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/380,557 filed on May 14, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030213721 A1 | Nov 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60380557 | May 2002 | US |