Patent Application
20110073610
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to a package, for example a child-resistant, elder friendly package to contain articles such as pharmaceutical dosage forms or tobacco products.
Containers provided with child safety features are well known in the art, particularly in North America, for packaging pharmaceutical products. The child safety feature is also referred to as a Child-Resistant Closure (CRC). In general, a child-resistant closure must be difficult for children under 5 years old to open, yet be generally user friendly for users over 50 years old, particularly for users over 60 years old. The US government has established a CR protocol to evaluate effectiveness of closures. Child-Resistant Protocol testing is defined under CFR Title 16, Part 1700 by the Food and Drug Administration. Ideally these are provided in a way that is easy and convenient for the intended consumer to use the product.
Product packaging enhances a product with many additional features such as environmental protection and protection from being damaged. Many products are packaged in multiple unit packages or bulk for consumer convenience and packaging efficiency. Typically the entire product is exposed when the package is opened. If the product needs to be protected from the environment, for example humidity, then a seal is required.
One way to ensure the product is protected is to provide a seal for the entire contents of the package. This type of approach may impose certain dimensional, shape or other design constraints on the package design. In this approach, all of the product may be exposed to the consumer or child who opens the package. Some means would be needed to restrain the product so that it is held in place so that it is easy to access but does not fall out of the package.
Another way is to protect the product in a protective envelope or wrapper. When this wrapper is opened, the entire product is exposed. Again, the entire product is exposed to the environment and it is no longer protected. In addition, the entire remaining product is exposed to children.
Depending on the requirements of the package, the design may become complicated with several contradictory constraints that would need to be managed in order to meet the requirements. This could lead to added expense and an undesirable package for the consumer.
What is desirable is a simple, easy to configure package that can accommodate different types of products and packaging requirements.
An aspect of the invention is a package comprising a first shell portion, a second shell portion, optionally a hinge, and a latch.
The first shell portion has a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion. The second shell portion has a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion. The second peripheral portion of the second shell includes a first latching abutment.
Optionally, but not essentially or necessarily, a hinge can be provided that joins the first shell portion and second shell portion at their first peripheral portions.
The latch is configured for releasably latching the second peripheral portions of the first shell portion and second shell portion together. The latch includes first and second legs, an actuating portion, and a second latching abutment. The first and second legs are joined at an angle. The first leg is secured to the first shell portion.
The first leg has an actuator portion and the second leg has a second latching abutment. The actuator portion of the first leg is positioned to be displaced, for example generally laterally, by a user's finger to displace the second leg, for example generally longitudinally, from a latched position to a released position. The second latching abutment is secured to the second leg. The second latching abutment is configured to engage the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its latched position and to release the first latching abutment when the second leg is in its released position.
Another embodiment of the invention is a clamshell package including a base shell, a lid shell, an integral hinge, and a closure.
The base shell has inside and outside surfaces. It has at least a first and second base well on the inside surface. A generally flat marginal sealing surface encircles the first and second base wells. The lid shell also has inside and outside surfaces. It optionally has at least first and second base lid wells on the inside surface. A generally flat marginal sealing surface encircles the first and second lid wells.
The integral hinge joins the base shell and lid shell. The hinge allows the base shell and lid shell to close together in clamshell fashion. When the clamshell package is closed, the marginal sealing surfaces of the lid shell and base shell are facing and adjacent to each other, preventing access to the wells. The closure releasably secures the base shell to the lid shell when closed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the base shell further comprises at least a second base well on the inside surface.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the generally flat marginal sealing surface of the base shell encircles the base wells.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the lid shell comprises at least a first lid well on the inside surface and a generally flat marginal sealing surface of the lid shell encircling the first lid well.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the lid shell further comprises at least a second lid well on the inside surface of the lid shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the generally flat marginal sealing surfaces of the lid shell encircle the lid wells.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the package further comprises a sealing sheet adhered to the generally flat marginal sealing surfaces of the base wells to hermetically seal the individual base wells.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, package further comprises a sealing sheet adhered to the generally flat marginal sealing surfaces encircling the lid wells to hermetically seal the individual lid wells.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the sealing sheet is weakened or cut between adjacent wells to define separately removable strips that can be individually removed to unseal one well without unsealing an adjacent well.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the base shell, lid shell, integral hinge, and closure are formed as a single injection molded part.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, package further comprises at least a third base well on the inside surface of the base shell, in which the generally flat marginal sealing surface of the base shell encircles the third well.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, package further comprises at least a third lid well on the inside surface of the lid shell, in which the generally flat marginal sealing surface of the lid shell encircles the third lid well.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the first closure comprises at least a first upward-facing lid abutment secured to the lid shell and at least a first downward-facing base abutment secured to the base shell and normally bearing against the lid abutment when the package is closed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the package further comprises a second closure comprising at least a second upward-facing lid abutment secured to the lid shell and at least a second downward-facing base abutment secured to the base shell and normally bearing against the lid abutment when the package is closed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first closure is spaced from the second closure.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, at least one first abutment is resiliently mounted to the corresponding shell, normally biased to engage the other first abutment, and resiliently deflectable against its bias to disengage the other first abutment, releasing the first closure.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, at least one of the second abutments is resiliently mounted to the corresponding shell, normally biased to engage the other second abutment, and resiliently deflectable against its bias to disengage the other second abutment, releasing the second closure.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first and second closures must be operated at least substantially simultaneously to open the package.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the resiliently mounted abutments of the first and second closures are operable to release the closures by urging the resiliently mounted abutment of one closure toward the resiliently mounted abutment of another closure.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the base and lid wells have a length and width generally parallel to the generally flat marginal sealing surface of the base shell and a depth generally perpendicular to the generally flat marginal sealing surface of the base shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the base and lid wells lengths at least three times as great as their widths.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the package further comprises a dosage form of a product in at least one of the base or lid wells.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the dosage form is an extruded stick of a composition.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the dosage form is a rolled sheet of a composition.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sheet of a composition comprises a portion of a leaf.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises ground material and a binding agent.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a base well or lid well is defined by an upstanding wall extending from the corresponding shell to the generally flat marginal sealing surface and encircling the well.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the upstanding walls of at least two adjacent base wells or lid wells are spaced apart, defining a gap between them.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a base well or lid well is formed by a corrugation in the corresponding base shell or lid shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a base well or lid well is formed by a depression in the corresponding base shell or lid shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the base wells and lid wells reinforce the base shell and lid shell against deformation.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the moisture ingress does not exceed 2500 micrograms per day of water when closed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sealed wells have a moisture ingress rate that does not exceeds 750 micrograms per day of water.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the thinnest portions of the base shell and the lid shell are each at least 0.5 mm thick.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the thinnest portions of the base shell and the lid shell are each at least 0.8 mm thick.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the thinnest portions of the base shell and the lid shell are each at least 1 mm thick.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the thinnest portions of the base shell and the lid shell are each at least 2 mm thick.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the package further comprises a peripheral seal disposed around the wells of the base shell and lid shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the package further comprises a re-sealable peripheral seal disposed around the wells of the base shell and lid shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the package incorporates an active agent entrained plastic to remove gases.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the active agent is an oxygen absorber.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the active agent is a desiccant.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the active agent is a molecular sieve or silica gel.
An embodiment of another aspect of the invention is a method of filling the package with a product. Pieces of the product are placed in the base and/or lid wells. The wells of the base and/or lid are covered with a cover sheet to close them. The cover sheet is sealed to the generally flat marginal sealing surfaces to seal the wells. Portions of the cover sheet between two wells are weakened or cut to form strips of the cover sheet. In an embodiment, each strip of the cover sheet covers one well. In an embodiment, each strip is removable separately from one or more adjacent strips of the cover sheet covering different wells.
Still another embodiment is child-resistant container comprising a shell, two drawers, a stop, and a latch.
The shell optionally can have opposed first and second drawer openings. The shell can define a longitudinal passage from the first drawer opening to the second drawer opening.
A first drawer is slidably received in the longitudinal passage and projects through the first drawer opening when the first drawer is opened. A second drawer is slidably received in the longitudinal passage, relatively movable with respect to the first drawer, and projects through the second drawer opening when the second drawer is opened.
The stop is located within the passage. It is configured to engage the first and second drawers to prevent the first and second drawers from sliding apart past a limit of travel, with respect to the shell. The limit of travel is reached when either of the first and second drawers is open sufficiently to provide access to its contents and the other drawer is closed sufficiently to prevent access to its contents.
The latch is normally biased to latch the first and second drawers closed. The latch is operable against its normal bias to unlatch at least one drawer.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the stop comprises an abutment of the first drawer facing the first opening and an abutment of the second drawer facing the second opening, the first and second abutments engaging to define the stop when the drawers are moved apart.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention at least one of the abutments is connected to the corresponding drawer by a link extending toward the other drawer.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention each of the abutments is connected to the corresponding drawer by a link extending toward the other drawer.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention each drawer is identical in shape.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the shell further defines a side opening providing access to the longitudinal passage from outside the shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the latch is at least partially within the longitudinal passage and accessible through the side opening for unlatching a drawer.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the latch comprises a first latch engaging the first drawer and a second latch engaging the second drawer.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the shell further defines first and second side openings providing access to the longitudinal passage from outside the shell.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention first and second latches are at least partially within the longitudinal passage and respectively accessible through the first and second side openings, respectively for unlatching the first and second drawers.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the first drawer has a first drawer abutment facing the first drawer opening, the latch has a first latch abutment facing the second drawer opening, and the first drawer abutment and first latch abutment are positioned to engage each other when the first drawer is closed and the latch is normally biased to latch the first drawer closed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the second drawer has a second drawer abutment facing the first drawer opening, the latch has a second latch abutment facing the second side opening, and the second drawer abutment and second latch abutment are positioned to engage each other when the first drawer is closed and the latch is normally biased to latch the first drawer closed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the first and second latches are configured to unlatch by traveling transversely in opposite directions within the passage, disengaging one of the first and second drawer abutments from the corresponding latch abutment when both latches are operated.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the first drawer and the latch are configured to unlatch the first drawer only when both pushing the first drawer further closed to engage an unlatching mechanism and operating the latch to unlatch the first drawer.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the second drawer and the latch are configured to unlatch the second drawer only when both pushing the second drawer further closed to engage a second unlatching mechanism and operating the latch to unlatch the second drawer.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the unlatching mechanism is a ramp on the latch and a ramp on a link projecting from the drawer that engage to deflect the drawer abutment transversely away from the latch abutment.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the ramp on the latch and the corresponding ramp on the drawer are normally longitudinally displaced when the drawer is closed, and are longitudinally aligned in engaging relation when the drawer is pushed further closed.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the container further comprises a stop preventing the drawers from being simultaneously pushed further closed sufficiently to engage both the unlatching mechanism of the first drawer and the unlatching mechanism of the second drawer, thereby only allowing one of the first and second drawers to be opened at a time.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention the first and second latch are identical in shape.
The following reference characters are used in the specification and figures:
The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth here. Rather, these embodiments are examples of the invention, which has the full scope indicated by the language of the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiments, the first shell portion 42 has a first peripheral portion 46 and a second peripheral portion 48, and the second shell portion 44 has a first peripheral portion 50 and a second peripheral portion 52. The second peripheral portions 48 and 52 are the entire perimeters of the shell portions 42 and 44, except for the first peripheral portions 46 and 50.
In the illustrated embodiments, the second peripheral portion 52 of the shell portion 44 includes a first latching abutment 54 that is engaged or disengaged by the latch 58 as described below. In the illustrated embodiments, a hinge 56 joins the first shell portion 42 and second shell portion 44 at their first portions 46 and 50, defining a clamshell package. Hinges and hinged portions, however, are not essential and not necessary to carry out any embodiment of any invention disclosed in this specification. For example, in place of the hinge 56, the first and second shell portions 42 and 44 may have two or more hooks or another latch between their respective first peripheral portions 46 or 50 to releasably engage the first and second shell portions 42 and 44.
In the illustrated embodiments, a latch 58 can be provided for latching the second portions 48 and 52 of the first shell portion 42 and second shell portion 44 together. The illustrated latch 58 includes a first leg 60 and a second leg 62, an actuator portion 64, and a second latching abutment 66. The first and second legs 60 and 62 are joined at an angle (which is for example 90 degrees and/or corresponds to the respective angle between a side edge of the second shell portion 44 and the front edge of the second shell portion), and the first leg 60 is secured to the first shell portion
In the illustrated embodiments, an actuator portion 64 of the first leg 60 is positioned to be displaced generally laterally (in the direction indicated as “L” in
In the illustrated embodiments, a second latching abutment 66 is secured to the second leg 62. The second latching abutment 66 in the illustrated embodiments is configured to engage the first latching abutment 54 when the second leg 62 is in its latched position, illustrated in
In addition to the common and optional features in the illustrated embodiments, the package 40 illustrated in the Figures can have any one or more of numerous additional optional features. Zero, one, or more than one of these optional features can be employed, whether individually or in any combination.
A first optional feature of the embodiments of
A second optional feature of the embodiments of
A third optional feature of the embodiments of
A fourth optional feature of the embodiments of
A fifth optional feature of the embodiments of
A sixth optional feature of the embodiments of
An seventh optional feature of the embodiments of
An eighth optional feature of the embodiments of
The fourth latching abutment 88 can be secured to the fourth leg 92. The fourth latching abutment 88 can be configured, as shown in the illustrated embodiments, to engage the third latching abutment 86 when the fourth leg 92 is in its latched position. The fourth latching abutment 88 can be configured, as shown in the illustrated embodiments, to release the third latching abutment 86 when the fourth leg 92 is in its released position.
A ninth optional feature of the embodiments of
A tenth optional feature of the embodiments of
The ninth and tenth optional features, or either one of them, can be employed to provide a child resistant but elder friendly package 40. Desirably for this purpose, the actuator portions 64 and 94 are far enough apart that a small child who should not have access to the contents of the package 40 will find it difficult or impossible to operate both simultaneously with one hand. Desirably, the actuator portions 64 and 94 are close enough together that an adult who should have access to the contents of the package 40, including an elderly person, will find it possible, preferably easy to operate both actuator portions 64 and 94 simultaneously with one hand to open the package.
As an eleventh optional child-resistant feature, the embodiments of
The user can lift the section of the second peripheral portion 52 bridging the indentation of the closed package 40, when the latches 58 and 88 are released, to open the package 40 and have access to its contents. This is a child-resistant feature because, in normal operation, both actuator portions 64 and 94 are engaged with one hand and the second shell portion 44 is lifted with the other. The user's hand must be large enough to engage the two actuator portions 64 and 94 at the same time to open the package. Yet, opening the package 40 does not require complex movement, such as grasping and twisting one part relative to another, and can easily be designed by controlling the necessary biasing force so it does not require great strength to open.
A twelfth optional feature of the embodiments of
A thirteenth optional feature of the embodiments of
A fourteenth optional feature of the embodiments of
In the illustrated embodiments, both of the second and fourth legs 62 and 92 engage a bending ramp, respectively the bending ramp 80 defined by the fourth leg 92 and the bending ramp 96 defined by an indentation of the wall defining the second portion 48 of the first shell portion 42. This juxtaposition of two bending ramps increases the lateral displacement of the second leg 62 when the package 40 is unlatched, which can be explained as follows. Engaging the bending ramp 96 with the fourth leg 92 displaces the fourth leg 92, and thus the bending ramp 80, laterally inward with respect to the package, also displacing the second leg 62 laterally inward. Engaging the bending ramp 80 with the second leg 62 further displaces the second leg 62 further laterally inward. This provides a movement comparable to a compound lever. Optionally, just the second leg 62 will bear against the sidewall 112, or optionally or additionally against the wall of the aperture 116, to produce a biasing force tending to resist unlatching.
A fifteenth optional feature of the embodiments of
In a sixteenth, optional elaboration of this mechanism, a second bending ramp 96 can be provided and positioned to be engaged by the fourth leg 92 for bending the fourth leg 92 into contact with a second biasing abutment 100 when the fourth leg 92 is displaced generally longitudinally from its latched position toward its released position.
A seventeenth optional feature of the embodiments of
Referring to
The base shell 122 has inside and outside surfaces 132 and 134. It has at least a first base well, and here five base wells 136, 138, 140, 142, and 144, on the inside surface 132. The wells are formed by depressions in the base shell 122. In the illustrated embodiment, each base well such as 136 is defined by an upstanding wall 146 extending from the base shell 122 to the generally flat marginal sealing surface and encircling the well such as 136. In the illustrated embodiment, the upstanding walls 146 and 148 of at least two adjacent base wells, and here of all five illustrated base wells, are spaced apart, defining a gap such as 150 between them.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base wells 136-144, and more particularly the upstanding walls such as 146 and 148, reinforce the base shell 122 against deformation. This reinforcement is useful to stiffen the base shell 122 against bending, thus keeping its contents more secure against access to the contents of the base wells 136-144 by prying or otherwise bending the base shell 122 while the package 120 is closed and the closures 128-131 are engaged.
In the illustrated embodiment, the base wells such as 136 have a length (measured along the longer upstanding walls such as 146 and 148) and width (measured along the shorter upstanding walls such as 152 and 154) generally parallel to the generally flat marginal sealing surface 156-164 of the base shell 122 and a depth generally perpendicular to the generally flat marginal sealing surface 156-164 of the base shell 122.
In the illustrated embodiment the marginal sealing surface 156-164 is a discontinuous surface defined by the generally coplanar marginal sealing surfaces 156, 158, 160, 162, and 164 of the respective base wells 136, 138, 140, 142, and 144) of the base shell 122. In an alternative embodiment, the facing upstanding walls such as 148 and 166 between two wells can be merged, thus reducing or eliminating the gaps such as 150 and potentially joining the portions of the marginal sealing surface 156-164 to form a single, continuous sealing surface 156-164.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the base wells 136-144 have lengths at least three times as great as their widths, and as illustrated roughly twenty times as great as their widths.
The lid shell 124 also has inside and outside surfaces 172 and 174. It has at least first and second lid wells, and here five lid wells 176, 178, 180, 182, and 184, on the inside surface 172. The wells can be formed by depressions in the lid shell 124. In the illustrated embodiment, each lid well such as 176 is defined by an upstanding wall 186 extending from the lid shell 124 to the generally flat marginal sealing surface and encircling the well such as 176. In the illustrated embodiment, the upstanding walls 186 and 188 of at least two adjacent lid wells, and here of all five illustrated lid wells, are spaced apart, defining a gap such as 190 between them.
In the illustrated embodiment, the lid wells 176-184, and more particularly the upstanding walls such as 186 and 188, reinforce the lid shell 124 against deformation. This reinforcement is useful to stiffen the lid shell 124 against bending, thus keeping its contents more secure against access to the contents of the lid wells 176-184 by prying or otherwise bending the lid shell 124 while the package 20 is closed and the closures 128-131 are engaged.
In the illustrated embodiment, the lid wells such as 176 have a length (measured along the longer upstanding walls such as 186 and 188) and width (measured along the shorter upstanding walls such as 192 and 194) generally parallel to the generally flat marginal sealing surface 196-204 of the lid shell 124 and a depth generally perpendicular to the generally flat marginal sealing surface 196-204 of the lid shell 124.
In the illustrated embodiment the marginal sealing surface 196-204 is a discontinuous surface defined by the generally coplanar marginal sealing surfaces 196, 198, 200, 202, and 204 of the respective lid wells 176, 178, 180, 182, and 184) of the lid shell 124. In an alternative embodiment, the facing upstanding walls such as 198 and 206 between two wells can be merged, thus reducing or eliminating the gaps such as 190 and potentially joining the portions of the marginal sealing surface 196-204 to form a single, continuous sealing surface 196-204.
In the illustrated embodiment, the lid wells 176-184 have lengths at least three times as great as their widths, and as illustrated roughly twenty times as great as their widths.
In the illustrated embodiment, the portions of the base shell 122 and the lid shell 124 separating the base wells 136-144 from the outside of the container are each at least 0.5 mm thick, alternatively at least 0.8 mm thick, alternatively at least 1 mm thick, alternatively at least 2 mm thick, and can be thick enough to provide a sufficient barrier layer and seal against the passage of moisture, oxygen, or both to meet the needs of particular articles carried in the wells. The shells can be made, for example, from polyethylene or polypropylene.
The integral hinge 126 joins the base shell 122 and lid shell 124. The hinge 126 allows the base shell 122 and lid shell 124 to close together in fashion. A non-integral hinge can also optionally be used, though it might add to the cost of manufacture.
The package 120 has at least one closure, and in this embodiment has two. When the package 120 is closed, the marginal sealing surfaces of the lid shell 124 and base shell 122 are facing and adjacent to each other, as shown in
The first closure 128-129 comprises at least a first upward-facing lid abutment 210 (see
The first downward-facing base abutment 212 is resiliently mounted to the corresponding (base) shell 122, as is best seen by reference to
The first downward-facing base abutment 212 carried on the tab 214 is normally biased to the as-molded position shown in the Figures, at which it engages the first upward-facing lid abutment 210 (see
The second closure 130-131 comprises at least a second upward-facing lid abutment 220 (see
The second downward-facing base abutment on the detent 130 is resiliently mounted to the corresponding (base) shell 122, as is best seen by reference to
The first closure 128 is spaced from the second closure 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second closures 128-129 and 130-131 normally must be operated at least substantially simultaneously to open the package 120. The resiliently mounted abutments of the first and second closures are operable, as by pinching the distal portions 218 and 226 with a finger and the thumb of one hand, to release the closures by urging the resiliently mounted abutment of one closure toward the resiliently mounted abutment of another closure. While the distal portions 218 and 226 are pinched inward using one hand, the thumb tab 228 can be engaged to open the package. The need to manipulate two resilient tabs and a thumb tab on different parts of the package 120 renders the closure child-resistant, but still relatively easy to open for an adult having a larger hand span than a young child.
The package 120 as illustrated in
If no seal is required in a given instance, then the flexible film does not need to have the barrier and sealing properties to provide a seal. For example, a paper seal can be used. In another embodiment, the design of the pockets can be such as to restrain the product in the package so no flexible film is required
The flexible film material can be formed in a way that allows one compartment at a time to be opened. The sealing sheets 230 and 232 optionally can be weakened, cut, or perforated, for example between adjacent wells, as at the cuts 234-240 of the sheet 230 and the cuts 242-248 of the sheet 232, to define separately removable strips such as 270 (between two adjacent cuts such as 234 and 236) that can be individually removed to unseal or open one well without unsealing or opening an adjacent well. To access the product, the consumer would peel away the flexible film material exposing one of the compartments. Additionally or instead, a tool could be used to open the compartments. Another option is to provide a pull tab that has a string or other material that is pulled through the flexible film covering a well, opening the compartment.
In various embodiments, the sheets 230 and 232 can originally be two separate sheets or portions of one sheet that bridges the integral hinge. The bridging web of the sheet can either be removed or left in place.
An embodiment of another aspect of the invention is a method of filling the package 120 with a product. Pieces of the product, for example the stick-shaped product pieces 252-268 shown in
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
The outer package of
In various embodiments of the invention when a seal is required the wells or other package elements optionally can include a material to remove gases that the product needs to be protected from. This agent could be added separately to the wells or made as an integral part of the base shell and/or lid shell. For example, a multi material molding process could be used to mold one material for the body and a second, joined material in the form of a polymer or plastic material with an active agent entrained within it.
One example of the active agent entrained plastic is a three component composition and method that is disclosed in one or more of the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,937, 6,214,255, 6,130,263, 6,174,952, 6,613,405 and 6,124,006 incorporated by reference herein. Another example is a two component mixture of active agent and polymer.
In one example a desiccant may be used as the active agent in the entrained polymer. The desiccant can be used to remove moisture from the product and/or the packaged environment. A desiccant can be selected to maintain a specific range of relative humidity. In one example, a molecular sieve desiccant can be used to maintain a relative humidity of less thanl0%. In another example, a silica gel desiccant can be used to maintain the relative humidity in the ranges of 10-30% RH (relative humidity) or 30-50% RH or 40-60% RH. The relative humidity can be controlled, for example, by the amount of silica gel incorporated into the polymer.
Other active agents are optionally contemplated, such as oxygen adsorbers or materials that release a preservative agent. These can also be incorporated into a three component composition described above as well as a two component composition.
In certain embodiments, a dosage form of a product is provided in at least one of the base or lid wells. The product can be an extruded stick of a composition, a rolled sheet of a composition, a portion of a leaf, ground material and a binding agent, a lozenge, a tablet, a plug, combinations of these types (such as a rolled portion of a leaf), or other forms, without limitation.
As used herein, the term “moisture-tight” in reference to a package, individual well, or other container is defined as follows.
For a complete package having perimeter sealing, “moisture tight” means the moisture ingress into the package is less than about 2500 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 2000 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 1500 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 1000 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 500 micrograms of water per day, in a further embodiment about 300 micrograms of water per day, in yet another embodiment about 150 micrograms of water per day, determined by the following test method: (a) place approximately one gram of molecular sieve in the container and record the weight; (b) close and seal the container; (c) place the sealed container in an environmental chamber at conditions of 80% relative humidity and 22 deg. C. (72 deg. F.); (c) after one day, weigh the container containing the molecular sieve; (d) after approximately two weeks, weigh the container; (e) subtract the first day sample from the value obtained and divide by the number of days to calculate the moisture ingress of the container in units of micrograms of water per day.
For an individual well of a package, “moisture tight” means the moisture ingress into an individual sealed well is less than about 750 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 500 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 250 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 150 micrograms of water per day, in another embodiment about 100 micrograms of water per day, determined by the following test method: (a) place approximately 0.2 gram of molecular sieve (more or less, depending on the well size) in the container and record the weight; (b) close and seal the well and close the container; (c) place the sealed container in an environmental chamber at conditions of 80% relative humidity and 22 deg. C. (72 deg. F.); (c) after one day, weigh the package containing the molecular sieve; (d) after approximately two weeks, weigh the package; (e) subtract the first day sample from the value obtained and divide by the number of days to calculate the moisture ingress of the package in units of micrograms of water per day. The test for a multi-well package can be conducted on an individual well, on all of them, or on any number of wells in between one and all.
Referring now to
The shell 332 optionally can have opposed first and second drawer openings 346 and 348. The shell 332 can define a longitudinal passage 350 from the first drawer opening 346 to the second drawer opening 348. In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 332 further can define a first side opening 352, and in this embodiment also a second side opening 354, providing access to the longitudinal passage from outside the shell 332.
The first drawer 334 is slidably received in the longitudinal passage 350 and projects through the first drawer opening 346 when the first drawer 334 is opened, and also, in another embodiment, a little bit when the drawer is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, the first drawer 334 optionally can have its first drawer abutment 340 facing the first opening 350. The first drawer 334 has a gasket 356 and a storage area 358 for containing objects kept in the container 330.
The second drawer 336 is slidably received in the longitudinal passage 350, relatively movable with respect to the first drawer 334, and projects through the second drawer opening 348 when the second drawer is opened and also, in another embodiment, a little bit when the drawer is closed. In the illustrated embodiment, each drawer 334, 336 is identical in shape and function.
The stop defined by the abutments 338 and 340 is located within the passage 350. It is configured to engage the first and second drawers 334, 336 to prevent the first and second drawers from sliding apart past a limit of travel, with respect to the shell. The limit of travel is reached when either of the first and second drawers is open sufficiently to provide access to its contents and the other drawer is closed sufficiently to prevent access to its contents.
In the illustrated embodiment, the stop comprises an abutment 336 of the first drawer 334 facing the first opening 346 and an abutment 340 of the second drawer 336 facing the second opening 348, the first and second abutments 338 and 340 engaging to define the stop when the drawers 334, 336 are moved apart. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the abutments 338 and 340, and in this instance each of them, is connected to the corresponding drawer 334 or 336 by a link 360 of one drawer 334 extending toward the other drawer 336 and vice versa the link 362 of the other drawer 336. In the illustrated embodiment, the stop optionally can have a first portion 360 associated with the first drawer 334 and a second portion 362 associated with the second drawer 336. The stop could alternatively be the first and second portions engaged with each other, as illustrated, or the first and second portions engaged with a portion of the shell, or the first and second portions engaged with a portion of the latch, in alternative embodiments.
The latch, here defined by the first latch 342 and the second latch 344, is normally biased, here by the resilience of the first and second push button gaskets 364 and 366 deformed against the shell 332, to latch and seal the first and second drawers 334, 336 closed as illustrated in
In this embodiment, the first and second latches 342 and 344 are at least partially within the longitudinal passage 350 and respectively accessible through the first and second side openings 352 and 354, respectively for unlatching the first and second drawers 334, 336. The second latch 344 optionally can have a second latch abutment 374 facing the first drawer opening 346.
In the illustrated embodiment the latch 344 is operated using a push button, here opposed push buttons 376 and 378.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second latches 342 and 344 are identical in shape.
Each drawer 334, 336 and the corresponding latch 342, 344 define an unlatching mechanism 380, 382. In the illustrated embodiment, the unlatching mechanism 380, 382 includes a ramp 370 or 372 on the latch 342 or 344 and a ramp (here, the ramps 384 and 386) on a link 388 projecting from the drawer 334 that engage to deflect the drawer abutment 390 transversely away (behind the plane of
In the illustrated embodiment, the first drawer abutment 390 and first latch abutment 368 are positioned to engage each other when the first drawer 334 is closed and the latch 342 is normally biased to latch the first drawer 334 closed. Similarly in this embodiment, the second drawer abutment 392 and second latch abutment 374 are positioned to engage each other when the second drawer 336 is closed and the latch 344 is normally biased to latch the second drawer 336 closed.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second latches 342 and 344 are configured to unlatch by traveling transversely toward each other within the passage 350, disengaging one of the first and second drawer abutments 390, 392 from the corresponding latch abutment 368 or 374 when both latches 342 and 344 are operated.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first drawer 334 and the latch 342 are configured to unlatch the first drawer 334 only when both pushing the first drawer 334 further closed to engage an unlatching mechanism 380 and operating the latch 334 to unlatch the first drawer 334. In the illustrated embodiment, the second drawer 342 and the latch 344 similarly are configured to unlatch the second drawer 336 only when both pushing the second drawer 336 further closed to engage a second unlatching mechanism 382 and operating the latch 344 to unlatch the second drawer.
The unlatching mechanism such as 380 of the present embodiment works as follows.
In the illustrated embodiment, the ramps 370 and 372 on the latch 342 and the corresponding ramps 384 and 386 on the drawer 334 are normally longitudinally displaced when the drawer 334 is closed, as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, a first stop 394 (in drawer 334) and a second stop 396 (in drawer 336) respectfully limit the travel of the links 360 and 398 to prevent the drawers 334, 336 from being simultaneously pushed further closed sufficiently to engage both the unlatching mechanism 380 of the first drawer 334 and the unlatching mechanism 382 of the second drawer 336, thereby only allowing one of the first and second drawers to be opened at a time.
The shell 332 of the illustrated embodiment has guides 400 and 402 that receive the link 388 of the drawer 334 when the unlatching mechanism 380 is engaged and the link 388 is deflected, and similar guides 404 and 406 that receive the link of the drawer 336 when the unlatching mechanism 382 is engaged and the link of the drawer 336 is deflected, in each case to guide the drawer as it is opened. The shell 332 also has a guide 408 to guide the drawer link 360 and a guide 410 to guide the other drawer link 398.
The drawers such as 334 can further include partial covers such as 412. In an embodiment, the partial cover 412 can be molded as an integral part of the drawer 332, with an integral hinge 414, while in the orientation 412′ shown in phantom in
A further description of the illustrated embodiment follows.
The illustrated embodiment includes a package 330, useful for example for solid oral dosages in a bulk arrangement so as to limit the number of solid oral dosages that are presented to a user. The bulk package 330 optionally can be portable, lightweight and easy to use. The package 330 as illustrated has an effective child-resistant closure, as a small child will find it difficult to press the push buttons 376, 378 and push a drawer into the package at the same time. Also, the double drawer feature with only one operable at a time, limits the amount of contents to which the user has access at a given time. The package 330 optionally can also help to create an emotional bond between the user and the product. A package that is fun to operate and has an appealing tactile element is regarded here as creating such an emotional bond.
The illustrated embodiment includes a bulk package for delivering solid oral dosages to a user. The solid oral dosages may include, but are not limited to: edible films, tablets, lozenges and capsules. In one embodiment, the product is an edible film. In an embodiment, the edible films are rectangular in shape; the approximate dimensions can be 25 mm×35 mm in size for example. The bulk package of the present illustrated embodiment can be substantially a rectangular parallelepiped, as an example: the illustrated embodiment is essentially a rectangular parallelepiped with rounded edges and corners, and is relatively thin so that the package may be readily carried in a pocket or handbag. The edible films are stacked in trays located within the bulk package. The bulk package incorporates two trays, one located in each end of the package.
The trays slide out from each end of the package. In an embodiment, each tray holds up to 25 edible films and more preferably, approximately 10 edible films per tray. The bulk package shown in
To open the package, two buttons 376 and 378, located in the center of the package, are used to slide out one of the trays. The buttons are attached to latches 342, 344 that control the child-resistant mechanism. To open the package, the buttons are pressed and held in while simultaneously one of the trays (or drawers) is pushed inward about 1 to 2 mm. Once pushed inward, the tray is released, causing the tray to move outward from the bulk package housing. Once the tray is released, the user may manually slide the tray further open to access the product.
The package is designed such that only one tray may be accessed at a time. When one tray is opened to the user, the other tray is locked within the package.
After the tray is opened, the user may release the two push buttons 376 and 378. When released, the push buttons move the latches outward due to spring back of the compliant gasket, returning to their home positions. To close the package, the user can slide the opened tray back into the housing cover. In the illustrated embodiment, the tray can be flush with the housing cover when fully seated in the package. It is possible to push the tray beyond flush, about 1 to 2 mm. When in the closed position, the tray is again locked into the package and cannot be opened again until the above sequence is repeated.
In the illustrated embodiment, the bulk package is composed of five parts: a housing cover, two identical side buttons with latches and two identical product trays.
The bulk package is designed to protect the product from exposure to moisture. The bulk package as illustrated optionally can have seals that are formed between the product trays and the housing cover, and also optionally can have seals that are formed between the push buttons and the housing cover. The bulk package re-establishes these seals during use life (after the trays have been opened and closed). The re-sealable seals are designed for up to 50 open/close cycles per tray. In one embodiment the seals have a moisture ingress rate of less than 2,000 micrograms per day, preferably less than 1,500 micrograms per day, under the conditions of 22° C./80% RH (relative humidity), determined by the following test method: (a) place approximately one gram of molecular sieve in the container and record the weight; (b) close the resealable mechanism; (c) place the sealed container in an environmental chamber at conditions of 80% relative humidity and 22° C.; (c) after one day, weigh the container containing the molecular sieve; (d) after approximately two weeks, weigh the container; and (e) subtract the first day sample from the value obtained and divide by the number of days to calculate the moisture ingress of the container in units of micrograms of water.
The tray assembly is composed of three parts: (1) the product tray, (2) a compliant gasket material at one end (also used as a button) and (3) a product lid to partially restrict access to the product.
The product tray serves as a reservoir to hold the edible film in a stacked arrangement. The product tray optionally can have a sloped region to facilitate the removal of one piece of edible film from the stack. The sloped region helps to separate the top piece of film from the stack. Typically, the user places a finger on the top of the edible film stack and slides the top piece toward the sloped region. The product tray may be composed of a single material (i.e., polypropylene or polyethylene) or may incorporate an active-polymer (i.e., a desiccant plastic) to control the moisture level in the product. In one embodiment, the product tray is manufactured in a 2-shot injection molding process: the outer portion is molded of a thermoplastic resin (i.e., polypropylene or polyethylene) and the interior portion (the sloped region) is molded out of desiccant plastic. Desiccant plastic material is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,937; 6,080,350; 6,130,263; 6,174,952; 6,214,255; 6,486,261; and 7,005,459, incorporated by reference here.
A compliant gasket material is positioned on one end of the product tray. There are two projections that are located on the side opposite of the gasket material. Referring to
The product tray optionally can have a lid that partially extends over the top of the tray. The lid may be manufactured as a separate component or manufactured integral to the product tray. As an integral component, the lid may be hinged to the product tray. In one embodiment, the product tray and lid are molded in a single injection molding process. Prior to product filling, the lid is not assembled over the top of the tray. The lid may be hinged in an ‘open’ position. After product is filled into the tray, the lid may be rotated closed and locked into position. Once closed, the lid may not be removed.
The gasket serves two functions: (1) provides a seal between the housing cover and the product tray and (2) provides a spring-back force when the user pushes product tray inward. During package operation, the user applies an inward force to the tray on the gasket material.
The gasket may be a separate component or manufactured with the product tray in an integral manner. In one embodiment, the gasket is molded in a 2-shot injection molding process with the product tray. The gasket may be composed of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Suitable TPEs are materials with a good moisture vapor transmissions rates and materials that readily bond (are compatible with) the thermoplastic resin used for the product tray.
The push button latches and product trays are assembled into the housing cover. The push button latches each have a hook-feature on their distal end. When the push buttons are assembled into the housing cover, the hooks interlock together and prevent the push button latches from being removed from the package. The push buttons are an integral part of the child-resistant mechanism in the package. In the closed position, when the push buttons are NOT pressed, the latches prevent the product trays from begin opened. The shorter slotted tab in the product tray optionally can have a projection along the distal end and is assembled over the latch. The interference between the projection and the latch prevent the product tray from opening.
The housing cover can be composed of one material. In a preferred embodiment, the housing cover may be manufactured in one part using an injection molding process. The material used for the housing cover optionally can provide a good barrier to moisture and to UV light to protect the product within the package. The material optionally can also be dimensionally stable since the there are features in the housing cover that interact with other aspects of the bulk package to assist operation of the package. Suitable materials include polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) etc.
The interior, bottom surface of the housing cover optionally can have two channels that project out from the surface. These channels are used to capture the shorter, slotted tab of the product tray.
The product tray's slotted tab optionally can have a set of cleats midway along the top surface. When the push button latches are pressed inward, the cleats ride along the latch. At the same time, one of the product trays is pressed inward. The latch bottom surface optionally can have corresponding cleats so that the slotted tab is deflected downward approximately about 2 to 3 mm. When the push button tabs are fully depressed, the slotted tab is deflected downward so that the tab is aligned with one of the channels in the housing cover. When the product tray is released, the product tray slides outward from the package; during this outward motion, the slotted tab is captured by one of the channels in the housing cover.
The product tray can then be pulled out of the package, until the longer tab on the product tray reaches the end of travel. The end of travel occurs when the harpoon feature of one product tray contacts the harpoon of the opposing product tray. The maximum distance that a product tray can be opened is defined by the harpoon position.
The push button latches can be composed of two components: (1) a push button that forms a seal with the housing cover and (2) a movable latch that is used to release the product trays. The push button latches may be made of two parts and assembled. In a preferred embodiment, the push button latches are made in a 2-shot injection molding process. The push buttons are made of a thermoplastic elastomer with similar material requirements as the Gasket on the product tray.
The push button latches are pushed together inward. In the present embodiment, the latches move approximately 4 mm inward. A set of cleats on the bottom surface of the latches engage a corresponding set of cleats on the slotted tab on the product tray, causing the slotted tab to deflect downward. This allows the slotted tab to fit into a channel in the housing cover and enables one of the product trays to open outward.
It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and that “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality.
This application claims the priority of two provisional United States patent applications, U.S. Ser. Nos. 61/236,370, filed Aug. 24, 2009, and 61/257,735, filed Nov. 3, 2009, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/398,475, filed Mar. 5, 2010. The entire specifications, claims, and drawings of U.S. Ser. Nos. 61/236,370, 61/257,735, and 12/398,475 are incorporated here by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61236370 | Aug 2009 | US | |
| 61257735 | Nov 2009 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12398475 | Mar 2009 | US |
| Child | 12861999 | US |
