UNIT DOSE PACKAGING SYSTEM (UDPS) INNER CARD CONFIGURATIONS

Abstract

A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature includes an outer paperboard sleeve and an inner paperboard slide card lockably retained within the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve includes a plurality of panels operatively connected to each other such that a top panel of the plurality of panels includes an inner slide card retaining aperture and an inner slide card releasing button defined thereon. The inner slide card includes a plurality of unit dose dispensing blisters and a retaining and releasing panel located adjacent to the unit dose dispensing blisters. The inner slide card includes an access edge opposite the retaining and releasing panel, wherein the access edge is free of any folding spine.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to unit dose packaging systems (UDPSs), and more particularly to child resistant UDPSs.

2. Description of Related Art

Child resistant unit dose packaging systems require pressing a button or tab on an outer sleeve to release a blister back from the sleeve. Once the blisters are clear of the sleeve, a dose can be removed by pressing it out of the blister. The multiple steps required to actually obtain the product from the blister discourage and/or prevent children from being able to remove products from the blister pack.

In traditional child resistant unit dose packaging systems, depending on the specific design configuration, it may be possible to rock the spine of the blister pack from the sleeve without depressing the button. This can potentially create a pick point for children in testing, in which some designs may not meet more stringent child proofing standards.

The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved unit dose packaging systems. This disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature includes an outer paperboard sleeve and an inner paperboard slide card lockably retained within the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve includes a plurality of panels operatively connected to each other such that a top panel of the plurality of panels includes an inner slide card retaining aperture and an inner slide card releasing button defined thereon. The inner slide card includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters and a retaining and releasing panel located adjacent to the one or more unit dose dispensing blisters. The inner slide card includes an access edge opposite the retaining and releasing panel, wherein the access edge is free of any folding spine.

The retaining and releasing panel can be hingedly attached along a fold line to the inner slide card, with a catch edge opposite the fold line. The top panel can include a plurality of layers, wherein the card retaining aperture is defined as an aperture in an inner layer of the plurality of layers, and wherein the slide card releasing button is defined in an outer layer of the plurality of layers. The card retaining aperture can include a catch edge configured to engage the catch edge of the retaining and releasing panel to prevent removal of the slide card without depressing the button.

The inner slide card can include a fold over panel connected to the inner slide card along a spine that extends along a lateral edge of the inner slide card between the inner slide card retaining and releasing panel and the access edge. The fold over panel can include one or more unit dose dispensing blisters. The one or more dose dispensing blisters of the inner slide card, including the one or more dose dispensing blisters of the fold over panel, can be Alu-Alu blisters. It is also contemplated that the fold over panel can be free of dose dispensing blisters. The fold over panel can includes a spaced apart pair of end edges, wherein one of the end edges that is closest to the access edge is recessed within the sleeve with the inner slide card locked within the sleeve. The end edges can be parallel to the access edge of the inner slide card.

In another aspect, the inner slide card can include two opposed lateral edges extending between the access edge and the retaining and releasing panel, wherein each of the lateral edges and the access edge are all free of any folding spine.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, preferred embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a package constructed in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the sleeve and the inner slide card in the open, unlocked position for accessing the blister packs;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1, showing the button and the card retaining aperture with the inner slide card in the closed and locked position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner slide card of FIG. 1, showing the inner slide card without the sleeve;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a slide card in accordance with the present disclosure, showing the slide card with no fold over panel; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the package of FIG. 1, showing the position of the access edge of the inner slide card with the inner slide card in the locked position within the sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, a partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a package in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments of packages in accordance with the disclosure, or aspects thereof, are provided in FIGS. 2-5, as will be described. The systems and methods described herein can be used to prevent access, as in child proofing, to contents in unit dose packaging systems such as for pharmaceuticals.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. It provides an explanation of a unit dose packaging system (UPDS), provides an explanation of how to form such a package from a paperboard blank which is assembled into an outer sleeve, provides an explanation of how to form an inner slide card, and provides an explanation for how to assemble the inner slide card into the outer sleeve to provide a locking mechanism in the closed position of the inner slide card and a mechanism for preventing complete removal of the inner slide card from the outer sleeve or shell.

The unit dose paperboard package 100 has a locking feature and includes an outer paperboard sleeve 102 and an inner paperboard slide card 104 lockably retained within the outer sleeve 102. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer sleeve 102 includes a plurality of panels 106, 108, 110, and 112 operatively connected to each other such that a top panel 110 of the plurality of panels includes an inner slide card retaining aperture 114 and an inner slide card releasing button 116 defined thereon. The top panel 110 can include a plurality of layers 111 and 113, wherein the card retaining aperture 114 is defined as an aperture in the inner layer 113 of the plurality of layers 111 and 113. The slide card releasing button 116 is defined in the outer layer 111. The inner slide card 104 includes a plurality of unit dose dispensing blisters 118 and a retaining and releasing panel 120 located adjacent to the unit dose dispensing blisters 118. The inner slide card includes an access edge 122 opposite the retaining and releasing panel, wherein the access edge 122 is free of any folding spine.

With reference now to FIG. 3, the retaining and releasing panel 120 can be hingedly attached along a fold line 124 to the inner slide card 104, with a catch edge 126 opposite the fold line 124. The card retaining aperture 114 can include a catch edge 128 (identified in FIG. 2) configured to engage the catch edge 126 of the retaining and releasing panel 120 to prevent removal of the slide card 104 without depressing the button 116.

The inner slide card 104 includes a fold over panel 130 connected to the inner slide card 104 along a spine 132 that extends along a lateral edge 134 of the inner slide card 104 between the inner slide card retaining and releasing panel 120 and the access edge 122. The fold over panel 130 can optionally include a plurality of unit dose dispensing blisters 118 as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1. The dose dispensing blisters 118 of the inner slide card, including the dose dispensing blisters of the fold over panel 130 if applicable, can be Alu-Alu blisters or any other suitable type. It is also contemplated that the fold over panel 130 can be free of dose dispensing blisters 118 as shown in FIG. 3. The fold over panel 130 includes a spaced apart pair of end edges 136 and 138, wherein the end edge 138 is the closest to the access edge 122 and is offset from the access edge 122 by an offset distance D in the direction toward the end edge 136. This offset distance D makes the end edge 138 recessed within the sleeve 102 with the inner slide card 104 locked within the sleeve 102 as shown in FIG. 5. The end edges 136 and 138 are parallel to the access edge 122 of the inner slide card 104, and there is enough clearance between the end edge 136 and the catch edge 126, indicated by distance d in FIG. 1, to allow the fold over panel 130 to open when the inner slide card 104 is in the open position shown in FIG. 1. A retention tab 140 in the sleeve 102 interlocks with the retaining and releasing panel 120 to prevent full removal of the inner slide card 104 beyond the open position shown in FIG. 1.

With reference now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of an inner slide card 204 for use with the sleeve 102 does not include a fold over panel 103. The inner slide card 204 includes a retaining and releasing panel 220, and fold line 224, an access edge 222, and blister packs 218 much like slide card 104 described above. Two opposed lateral edges 234 extending between the access edge 222 and the retaining and releasing panel 220, wherein each of the lateral edges 234 and the access edge 222 are all free of any folding spine. Potential advantages for having no spline include elimination of rocking of the spine to access content without pushing the button 116. The accessible portion of the slide card 204 can be made slick and hard to grasp as a single layer. It is also difficult for children to get their mouth on the single layer of slide card 204 when in the locked position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the lunate cutouts 142 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 allow a user to access the access edge 122 of the inner slide card when the inner slide card is in the locked position as shown in FIG. 5. When a user depresses the button 116, the catch edges 126 and 128 of the inner slide card 104 and the sleeve 102, respectively, disengage and the user can pinch the slide card through the lunate cutouts 142 as indicated by the large arrows in FIG. 5. The user can then pull the slide card 104 out of the sleeve 102 until it reaches the open position shown in FIG. 1. Since there is no spline projecting from the open end of the sleeve 102, circumventing the button pushing step is discouraged and even impossible, e.g., in child proofing testing.

The slide card 104 includes potential advantages over traditional configurations. This eliminates rocking of the spine, as there is no spine accessible in the locked position shown in FIG. 5. The single layer of slide card 104 that is accessible in the locked position can be made slick and hard to grasp as a single layer. It is difficult for children to get the mouth on this single layer. The fold over panel 130 can prevent users for closing the package incorrectly, as one must fold the fold over panel 130 over the slide card 104 before sliding the slide card 104 back into the locked position within sleeve 102. It can also provide better nesting of Alu-Alu blisters than in traditional configurations as it prevents rocking which traditional Alu-Alu blisters can exacerbate.

Those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, and the benefit of U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829, will readily appreciate how to assemble the blank 101 of FIG. 4 into a sleeve 102, how to assemble the slide card 104, and how to assemble the slide card 104 into the sleeve 102 so that improved direct pressing of the button 102 unlocks access to the slide card 104 when in the locked position, in accordance to this disclosure.

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for unit dose packages with superior properties including improved child-proofing and durability. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure.

Claims

1. A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature, comprising: an outer paperboard sleeve and an inner paperboard slide card lockably retained within the outer sleeve, such that the outer sleeve includes a plurality of panels operatively connected to each other such that a top panel of the plurality of panels includes an inner slide card retaining aperture and an inner slide card releasing button defined thereon; andwherein the inner slide card includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters and a retaining and releasing panel located adjacent to the one or more unit dose dispensing blisters, wherein the inner slide card includes an access edge opposite the retaining and releasing panel, wherein the access edge is free of any folding spine.

2. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the retaining and releasing panel is hingedly attached along a fold line to the inner slide card, with a catch edge opposite the fold line.

3. The package as recited in claim 2, wherein the top panel includes a plurality of layers, wherein the card retaining aperture is defined as an aperture in an inner layer of the plurality of layers, and wherein the slide card releasing button is defined in an outer layer of the plurality of layers, wherein the card retaining aperture includes a catch edge configured to engage the catch edge of the retaining and releasing panel to prevent removal of the slide card without depressing the button.

4. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner slide card includes a fold over panel connected to the inner slide card along a spine that extends along a lateral edge of the inner slide card between the inner slide card retaining and releasing panel and the access edge.

5. The package as recited in claim 4, wherein the fold over panel includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters.

6. The package as recited in claim 5, wherein the one or more dose dispensing blisters of the inner slide card, including the one or more dose dispensing blisters of the fold over panel, are Alu-Alu blisters.

7. The package as recited in claim 4, wherein the fold over panel includes a spaced apart pair of end edges, wherein one of the end edges that is closest to the access edge is recessed within the sleeve with the inner slide card locked within the sleeve.

8. The package as recited in claim 7, wherein the end edges are parallel to the access edge of the inner slide card.

9. The package as recited in claim 4, wherein the fold over panel is free of dose dispensing blisters.

10. The package as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner slide card includes two opposed lateral edges extending between the access edge and the retaining and releasing panel, wherein each of the lateral edges and the access edge are all free of any folding spine.

11. A unit dose paperboard package having a locking feature, comprising: an inner paperboard slide card configured to be lockably retained within an outer sleeve, wherein the inner slide card includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters and a retaining and releasing panel located adjacent to the one or more unit dose dispensing blisters, wherein the inner slide card includes an access edge opposite the retaining and releasing panel, wherein the access edge is free of any folding spine.

12. The package as recited in claim 11, wherein the retaining and releasing panel is hingedly attached along a fold line to the inner slide card, with a catch edge opposite the fold line.

13. The package as recited in claim 12, wherein the catch edge of the retaining and releasing panel is configured to engage a catch edge of a card retaining aperture to prevent removal of the slide card without depressing a button.

14. The package as recited in claim 11, wherein the inner slide card includes a fold over panel connected to the inner slide card along a spine that extends along a lateral edge of the inner slide card between the inner slide card retaining and releasing panel and the access edge.

15. The package as recited in claim 14, wherein the fold over panel includes one or more unit dose dispensing blisters.

16. The package as recited in claim 15, wherein the one or more dose dispensing blisters of the inner slide card, including the one or more dose dispensing blisters of the fold over panel, are Alu-Alu blisters.

17. The package as recited in claim 14, wherein the fold over panel includes a spaced apart pair of end edges, wherein one of the end edges that is closest to the access edge is positioned to be recessed within a sleeve with the inner slide card locked within the sleeve.

18. The package as recited in claim 17, wherein the end edges are parallel to the access edge of the inner slide card.

19. The package as recited in claim 14, wherein the fold over panel is free of dose dispensing blisters.

20. The package as recited in claim 11, wherein the inner slide card includes two opposed lateral edges extending between the access edge and the retaining and releasing panel, wherein each of the lateral edges and the access edge are all free of any folding spine.