Package making – Methods – Forming or partial forming a receptacle and subsequent filling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-25
2001-04-24
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Forming or partial forming a receptacle and subsequent filling
C053S452000, C053S454000, C053S467000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219997
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a foldable blister pack, especially for drugs, an apparatus and a method for manufacturing such a blister pack, as well as the use of the same.
Blister packs for drugs in tablet form or in the form of powder or liquid enclosed in a capsule normally incorporate at least one blister part, which consists of a set of interconnected foils covering each other. One relatively rigid foil is in most cases referred to as the base and comprises cavities, so-called open “blisters”, for accommodating a tablet or capsule each, while the other foil, which is flat, is in most cases referred to as the lid and seals the opening of the cavities or blisters.
Examples of suitable materials for the lid are hard aluminium, soft aluminium, paper, polyester, polypropylene and PVC, and examples of suitable materials for the base are aluminium laminate, polypropylene, PVC, PVC/Aclar and PVC/PVDC. There also exist various laminates that may be used as basic material for these foils.
Blister packs can be accidentally damaged when they are being carried around in pockets, handbags etc. Such damage occurs frequently, especially if the lid foil is breakable. As a rule, blister packs are therefore stacked in a separate box or casing, which protects the blisters during transport. This package is normally bulky and voluminous owing to the construction of the blister packs. Further, the user might unintentionally lose the casing, or even throw it away. Thus, the presence of a casing does not in practical use guarantee that the drug is adequately protected.
To remedy this inconvenience, German Patent Application 44 29 503 discloses a compact blister pack comprising a foldable blister assembly. The blister assembly consists of two blister parts, each having a set of blisters, and an intermediate part free of blisters, which is located between the blister parts and is defined by two folding lines. The blister parts are foldable towards each other along said folding lines. The blisters of one blister part are so offset relative to the blisters of the other blister part that, after folding, the blisters of the two blister parts engage between each other. To protect the lid foil of the folded blister assembly, there is provided a protective unit which includes two closure panels that are interconnected by means of an intermediate panel, which is defined by two folding lines. This intermediate panel is joined to the intermediate part of the blister assembly such that a foldable blister pack is formed, in which the closure panels cover the lid foils after folding the blister pack.
One disadvantage of this compact blister pack is that the user has little space available for handling the blisters, in particular the blisters in the row adjacent to the intermediate part. A drug is removed by the user pressing one of the blisters with one of his fingers, thereby breaking the lid foil. Due to the lack of space, there is a risk that a blister part is torn away from the intermediate part, which is fixed to the protective casing. In such event, the blister part is no longer protected by the casing and is also separated from the user instructions that are printed on or attached to the protective casing.
Also, when a drug is being removed from the known blister pack, the blister parts have a tendency to bend and become dented. After some use, it might therefore be difficult, or even impossible, to fold the blister pack, since the uneven and dented blister parts no longer fit together.
Further, frequent use of the known blister pack might also lead to unintentional separation of a blister part from the casing, since the folding lines of the blister assembly are weakened each time the pack is folded or unfolded. This problem is more pronounced when the blister assembly is made of thin and/or flexible material.
Moreover, it is difficult to combine different drugs in the known blister pack. This blister pack requires the use of a foldable blister assembly, which is formed in one piece. Thus, in order to combine different drugs, these drugs must be combined when manufacturing the blister assembly. If different sets of drugs are to be used in the known blister pack, it is therefore necessary to keep a variety of blister assemblies in stock, each blister assembly containing a specific combination of drugs.
The prior art also comprises GB-B-1 133 947, GB-A-2 266 880, U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,084 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,141, disclosing other types of foldable packages containing blister parts.
The object of the invention is to solve or alleviate at least some of the problems described above. More specifically, the blister pack according to the invention should be compact and obviate the need for a separate, protective casing. Further, the blister pack should be durable and minimise the risk of the blister pack being accidentally damaged during use. Also, the blister pack should be capable of permanently carrying instructions for use, and preferably facilitate the provision of different drug combinations. Preferably, the blister pack should also provide for simple recycling of the materials used.
This object is achieved by the blister pack according to the appended claims.
The blister pack according to the invention has the advantage that the supporting unit will stabilise and protect the blister assembly. This is especially advantageous when the blister assembly is made of thin and/or flexible material. Further, separate blister parts, each carrying a different drug, can be combined to form a foldable unit by joining the blister parts to the supporting unit. In addition, the provision of a supporting unit will prevent accidental separation of a blister part from the blister assembly.
Further, since the supporting unit is joined to a tab on the protective unit, the blister pack has large continuous areas that can be printed with instructions for use or that can carry separate leaflets. Thus, the drugs always are accompanied by adequate instructions for use.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2780353 (1957-02-01), Volckening
patent: 3743084 (1973-07-01), Douglas
patent: 3921804 (1975-11-01), Tester
patent: 4125190 (1978-11-01), Davie, Jr. et al.
patent: 4340141 (1982-07-01), Fischer
patent: 4974729 (1990-12-01), Steinnagel
patent: 5081816 (1992-01-01), Cardinali
patent: 5323907 (1994-06-01), Kalvelage
patent: 5542235 (1996-08-01), Konstandin
patent: 4429503 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 2638430 (1990-05-01), None
patent: 1133947 (1968-11-01), None
patent: 2224720 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 2250978 (1990-12-01), None
patent: 2266880 (1992-05-01), None
Assargren Christian
Friberg Claes
Astrazeneca AB
Gerrity Stephen F.
Tawfik Sam
White & Case LLP
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