Multi-layered child resistant blister

Details Multi-layered child resistant blister Multi-layered child resistant blister

2002-02-04

2003-12-09

Foster, Jim (Department: 3728)

Special receptacle or package

For ampule, capsule, pellet, or granule

Structure for 'press-out' of content unit

C053S462000, C206S469000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06659280

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a multi-layered blister package having a cavity with a depth that makes removal of articles contained within the package difficult for children.
2. Discussion of Related Art
It is common practice to use blister packages to package small solid articles or products which may be dispensed from the package by applying pressure to the blister to force the article or product from an individual blister or capsule through a rupturable membrane. Since this type of packaging is typically used for marketing medicines, the invention will be referred to herein with respect to a package particularly suitable for such use, but it should be understood that the package maybe used for other products as well. Recently, a substantial effort has been directed toward providing packaging that contains sufficient impediments to prevent children from easily opening the package and gaining access to the package articles or products while still providing adults with easy access to the articles or products contained therein.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,699 to Gartland discloses a conventional child-resistant package
10
having a blister containing laminate
12
with a plurality of cavity forming blisters
14
provided therein and projecting from a top of the laminate
12
. As illustrated in
FIGS. 1-4
of Gartland, each blister
14
includes a tablet or pill
16
. A foil sheet
18
seals the blister
14
with the pill
16
therein. A card backing
20
is then laminated onto the other surface of the foil
18
and is formed with a series of punch-out sections
22
that are aligned with the blisters
14
. Each punch out section
22
has perforations
24
. A high strength adhesive film
26
is laminated onto the back of the card
20
. The adhesive film
26
is then removed to expose the punch-outs
22
formed by the perforations
24
in the card backing
20
. Then, in order to remove the pill
16
from the blister
14
, pressure is applied to the blister
14
so the pill punctures the foil
18
.
Gartland's package requires a rather undesirable level of dexterity on the part of a user attempting to gain access to the pill
16
in that the user must somehow peel the adhesive film
26
off the back of the card
20
before applying pressure to the blister
14
. Presumably, the user will have to slide a fingernail or other thin device, such as a knife, between the film
26
and card
20
so as to peel the film
26
off the card
20
. Adults, particularly the elderly, may not have the dexterity, hand eye coordination, or patience necessary to peel the film
26
off the back of the card
20
, especially those that suffer from arthritis, poor vision, and other such ailments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,774 to LeBlong discloses another example of a conventional child resistant blister package. In particular, LeBlong discloses a convertible child-resistant blister package
10
that includes a first thermo-formable layer
11
bonded onto a second layer
12
formed from a rupturable material, such as, for example, foil. A blister
15
containing a tablet or pill
16
is provided in the first layer
11
. A third layer
17
is adhered to a bottom of the second layer
12
with a fourth layer
20
adhered to the back of the third layer
17
. A release peel coating is provided between the third layer
17
and the second layer
12
so that the third layer
17
can be peeled off the second layer
12
.
Furthermore, the third and fourth layers
17
and
20
are integral so that when the third layer
17
is peeled off the second layer
12
, both the third and fourth layers
17
and
20
are removed together. Tear slits
21
extend through all four layers to provide access to the individual blisters
15
. Therefore, in order to gain access to the tablet or pill
16
, a detachable section
22
provided at the end of the package
10
is removed exposing the end
26
of a perforated strip
27
provided in the third and fourth layers
17
and
20
. See
FIG. 2
of LeBlong. Then, the longitudinally extending perforated strip
27
is removed exposing the rupturable second layer
12
through which the row of tablets
16
can be pushed. See
FIG. 4
of LeBlong.
It is well known in the industry that child resistant features in such packaging is most effective when provided toward a center of the package away from the edge of the package as such placement restricts children from biting through the edge of the package to gain access to the article or product provided therein. In other words, when removable portions of the child resistant feature are provided along the outer edge of the package, it has been found that children are able to access the articles or products simply by biting through the outer edge of the package. Leblong's package enables children to access any unused pills
16
provided beneath the perforated strip
27
as the end
26
of the strip becomes the edge of the package
10
after the detachable portion
22
is removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,960 to Price discloses yet another example of a conventional child resistant blister package. It should be noted that the Price package positions the child resistant feature at the outer edge of the package. Specifically, Price discloses a child resistant package
10
having a body
11
that contains a plurality of blister chambers
12
with a pill
13
provided therein. The package
10
includes panels A, B, and C. Panel C is folded over panel B and then panel A is folded over panel C. See
FIG. 3
of Price. Panel B includes oval cutouts
36
through which the blister
12
extends. Panel C includes score lines
48
and
50
that align with the oval cutouts
36
in panel B. Likewise, panel A includes score lines
18
that align with the score lines
48
of panel C and oval cutouts
36
of panel B. Panel A also includes a tab
15
with a peel away access panel
17
formed by the score lines
18
and
45
.
To gain access to the pill
13
, the tab
15
and peel away access panel
17
on the outer edge of the package are removed to expose a bendable breakaway panel
21
. The bendable breakaway panel
21
is then removed exposing a rupturable foil barrier
19
. Then, pressure is applied to the blister chamber
12
such that the pill
13
can penetrate through the foil barrier
19
. See
FIG. 2
of Price.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to at least overcome the above-discussed drawbacks of the conventional child resistant packages and dispensers.
Another object of this invention is to provide a multi-layered child resistant blister package having blister packaging with at least one blister that retains an article therein. A single blank sheet has parallel first and second opposing side edges and first, second, and third score lines that are substantially parallel to the first and second opposing side edges. The opposing side edges and score lines delimit a back panel, first and second intermediate panels, and a top panel having at least one blister receiving pocket, respectively.
To assemble the package, the first intermediate panel is folded onto the back panel about the first score line. Then, the second intermediate panel is folded onto the first intermediate panel about the second score line. The top panel is then folded onto the second intermediate panel about the third score line. The blister packaging is attached to the top panel so that the blister receiving pocket receives the blister of the blister packaging. A cavity through which the article passes is defined at least by the folded first and second intermediate panels. The back panel includes at least one tear away panel positioned remote from an outer periphery of the package. The tear away panels are aligned with a corresponding blister.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3811564 (1974-05-01), Braber
patent: 4125190 (1978-11-01), Davie, Jr. et al.
patent: 5050739 (1991-09-01), Hannan et al.
patent: 5265728 (1993-11-01), Allendorf et al.
patent: 5339960 (1994-08-01), Price
patent: 5758774 (1998-06-01), Leblong
patent: 5871145 (19

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