CHILD RESISTANT CARD
A child resistant card for dispensing one or more pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets, including a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region, in which the closure part includes a blister hole and a perforated front push-through tab, and the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back punch tab is provided. Upon folding at the fold region, the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back punch tab. The child resistant card further includes a blister pack including a blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing portion, wherein the outlet of the blister is covered by the penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill is located inside the closed blister, wherein the blister pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through part such that the blister protrudes through the blister hole. The child resistant card also includes a separate pick and place part including a removable tab that is located between the blister pack and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents removal of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab, wherein the pill can be dispensed from the child resistant card by removing the removable tab and applying force to the blister such that the pill is concomitantly pushed through the closure part and the penetrable backing portion pill push-through tab.
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This application is a Continuation-in-Part of co-pending prior application U.S. Ser. No. 11/677,653, filed Feb. 22, 2007, entitled, “Child Resistant Card,” the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a card for dispensing pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets, that requires the user to perform a series of steps to access a pill within the card, thus preventing a child, but not an adult, access to pills present within the card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONChild resistant packaging for pills, such as tablets and capsules, is well known for preventing uncontrolled consumption of pills by children. For example, blister packs having push-through type packaging have been used in an attempt to prevent children from accessing pills within the blister pack. Often, however, such blister packs are difficult for adults, particularly elderly adults, to open. For example, some blister packs require the user to tear at a notch or to peel a layer from the back of the blister pack, which often requires a great deal of finger strength and dexterity.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide child resistant packaging that renders access to pills difficult for children yet facile for adults. Particular objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain embodiments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention advantageously provides a child resistant card for dispensing pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets, that renders access to the pills difficult for a child but not for an adult, e.g., a senior citizen. The child resistant card of the invention enables the user to access a pill, e.g., a tablet and/or a capsule, disposed within the card after performing a series of steps.
Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a child resistant card for dispensing one or more pills, e.g., capsules and/or tablets, including a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region, in which the closure part includes a blister hole and a perforated front push-through tab, and the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back push-through tab or a perforated back punch tab. Upon folding at the fold region, the blister hole is aligned over the perforated pill push-through tab and the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back push-through tab or perforated back punch tab. The child resistant card further includes a blister pack including a blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing portion, in which the outlet of the blister is covered by the penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill is located inside the closed blister, and the blister pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through part such that the blister protrudes through the blister hole. The child resistant card also includes a separate pick and place part including a removable tab that is located between the blister pack and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents removal of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab, in which the pill can be dispensed from the child resistant card by removing the removable tab and applying force to the blister such that the pill is concomitantly pushed through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab.
In certain aspects of the invention, the removable tab is accessible after at least partial removal of the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back push-through tab. In other aspects of the invention, the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back push-through tab can be at least partially removed by applying force to the perforated front push-through tab. In still other aspects of the invention, one or more of the perforated back push-through tabs and/or the perforated back punch tabs have been removed.
In other aspects of the invention, the removable tab is accessible after at least partial removal of the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back punch tab. In certain aspects of the invention, the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back punch tab can be at least partially removed by applying force to the perforated back punch tab. In yet other aspects of the invention, force can be applied to the perforated back punch tab using an implement such as, for example, a pen or a pencil.
In still other aspects of the invention, the removable tab is removed by grasping and pulling the removable tab from the child resistant card. In yet other aspects of the invention, the removable tab is aligned between the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back push-through tab or perforated back punch tab and aligned between the blister aperture and the perforated pill push-through tab. In other aspects of the invention, the removable tab has a rounded end that is aligned between the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back push-through tab or perforated back punch tab.
In certain aspects of the present invention, the child resistant card further includes an outer cover part attached to the push-through part by a folding rib and/or an inner cover part attached to the push-through part by a second fold region.
In certain aspects of the present invention, the child resistant card further includes two or more blister holes, two or more perforated front push-through tabs, two or more perforated pill push-through tabs, two or more perforated back push-through tabs or perforated back punch tabs, and/or two or more blisters. In other aspects of the present invention, the child resistant card is suitable for dispensing two or more pills.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising including a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region, in which the closure part includes a blister hole, a perforated front push-through tab, and a structural rib hole, and the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back push-through tab or perforated back punch tab is provided. Upon folding at the fold region, the blister hole is aligned over the perforated pill push-through tab and the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back push-through tab or perforated back punch tab.
In certain aspects of the present invention, the structural rib is flat. In other aspects of the present invention, the blister pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through part such that the structural rib is aligned with the structural rib hole. In other aspects of the present invention, the blister pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through part such that the structural rib is protrudes through the structural rib hole. In still other aspects of the present invention, the closure part has two or more (e.g., four) structural rib holes.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a child resistant card for dispensing a pill includes an inner cover part attached to the push-through part by a fold region, the inner cover part having a slot. In certain aspects of the invention, patient information or usage instructions are inserted into the slot.
The child resistant card according to the invention may be manufactured using any suitable rigid, semi-rigid or flexible packaging materials known in the art. Suitable card materials include paper materials such as cardboard and/or one or more of the other materials described herein. A child resistant card according to the invention can include a blister pack having a penetrable backing portion and a blister portion.
In certain aspects of the invention, the backing portion of a blister pack is made of a foil-like substance which includes, but is not limited to, metal foils such as aluminium foils; foils containing one or more plastics, e.g., plastics based on polyolefins such as polyethylenes or polypropylenes, polyamides, polyvinylchloride, polyesters such as polyalkylene-terephthalates, e.g., polyethylene-terephthalate; and paper materials such as parchment, wax paper, cardboard and the like. A foil-containing plastic may be a monofilm of plastic, a laminate of two or more plastic films, a laminate of metal foil and plastic film, a laminates of paper and plastic film or a laminate of paper, metal foil and plastic film. The individual layers of foil-shaped materials may be attached to each other by means of adhesives, laminating adhesives, bonding agents and/or by a process such as extrusion coating, co-extruding, laminating and the like. Plastic films include those that are non-oriented, mono-axially oriented or bi-axially oriented mono-films or laminates of two or more non-oriented or mono-axially oriented or bi-axially oriented films of plastic based on polyolefins, e.g., polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyamides, polyvinylchloride, or polyesters such as polyalkylene-terephthalates, e.g., polyethylene-terephthalate, cyclo-olefin-copolymers (COC) and polychlorotrifluoroethylenes (PCTFE).
The blister portion of a blister pack may be made of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, transparent plastics having good shape-forming characteristics. Such plastics include, but are not limited to, polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclo-olefin-copolymer, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene-terephthalate, polyamide, polychlorotrifluoroethylene and laminates manufactured out of one or more of the materials described herein, e.g., PVC and polychlorotrifluoroethylene or PVC and PVDC (polyvinyldichloride). For non-transparent blister packs use is made e.g., of laminates including aluminium foil clad on both sides with a plastic film, having e.g., a layer structure of polyamide/aluminium/PVC or plastic films containing pigments. The backing portion is normally an aluminium foil, which is lacquer coated and/or coated with a hot sealing lacquer.
All papers, semi-cardboards and cardboards and plastic films mentioned above, in the form of mono-films, laminates and the like, may contain at least one continuous layer of sputtered or vacuum deposited anorganic ceramic materials, for example Al2O3 or SiOx, in which x has a value of 1.5 to 2, in a thickness of for example 5 to 500 nanometers. One or more layers of ceramic materials may be used to provide barrier properties and avoid the diffusion of gases and moisture through the packaging.
In certain aspects of the invention, an implement is used to at least partially remove the perforated back punch tab by pushing. A variety of suitable implements are appropriate and include, but are not limited to, pens, pencils, needles, pins, tacks, nails, screws, skewers and the like.
These and additional features and advantages disclosed here will be further understood from the following detailed disclosure of certain embodiments.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Depicted in
To assemble the child resistant card depicted in
In an embodiment of the invention, closure part 1 includes a series of perforated, removable, front push-through tabs 10, a series of blister holes 12, and a series of structural rib holes 14. Blister holes 12 and structural rib holes 14 are designed to receive each of a series of blisters and/or each of a series of structural ribs, respectively, contained on a blister pack for use with the child resistant card of the present invention. Push-through part 2 contains a series of perforated, removable, pill push-through tabs 16 and a series of perforated, removable, back push-through tabs 18. The pill push-through tabs 16 create resistance to the push-through of pills and require application of a force to allow a pill to push through a push-through tab 16. Inner cover part 4 contains an optional slot 22, into which an insert (e.g., patient information and/or usage instructions) may be inserted. Pick and place part 5 contains a series of removable tabs 26 that, when the card is located between closure part 1 and push-through part 2, prevent removal of pills (e.g., tablets or capsules) from the child resistant card.
In another embodiment of the invention, closure part 1 includes a series of perforated, removable, front push-through tabs 10 and a series of blister holes 12. Blister holes 12 are designed to receive each of a series of blisters contained on a blister pack for use with the child resistant card of the present invention. Push-through part 2 contains a series of perforated, removable, pill push-through tabs 16 and a series of perforated, removable, back punch tabs 38. The pill push-through tabs 16 create resistance to the push-through of pills and require application of a force to allow a pill to push through a push-through tab 16. Inner cover part 4 contains an optional slot 22, into which an insert (e.g., patient information and/or usage instructions) may be inserted. Pick and place part 5 contains a series of removable tabs 26 that, when the card is located between closure part 1 and push-through part 2, prevent removal of pills (e.g., tablets or capsules) from the child resistant card.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, closure part 1 includes a series of perforated, removable, front push-through tabs 10 and a series of blister holes 12. In certain aspects, one or more of the front push-through tabs 10 may optionally be removed prior to assembling and/or using a child resistant card of the invention. Blister holes 12 are designed to receive each of a series of blisters contained on a blister pack for use with the child resistant card of the present invention. Push-through part 2 contains a series of perforated, removable, pill push-through tabs 16 and a series of perforated, removable, back push-through tabs 18 and/or a series of perforated, removable, back punch tabs 38. In certain aspects, one or more of the perforated, removable, back push-through tabs 18 and/or one or more of the perforated, removable, back punch tabs 38 may optionally be removed prior to assembling and/or using a child resistant card of the invention.
A blister pack may optionally contain one or more structural ribs 32. When the blister pack is located within the assembled child resistant card of the invention, the one or more structural ribs 32 are aligned with one or more structural rib holes 14. The one or more structural ribs may be essentially flat, or alternatively may protrude through the one or more structural rib holes 14 of the assembled child resistant card of the invention. The one or more structural ribs 32 can function to increase the stiffness of the assembled child resistant card to increase these ease with which a perforated front push-through tab 10 and a perforated back push-through tab 18 or perforated back punch tab 38 may be at least partially removed from the card, to increase the ease with which removable tab 26 can be removed from the card, and/or to increase the ease with which a pill can concomitantly be pressed through the penetrable backing portion of the blister pack and perforated pill push-through tab 16. The structural rib may be constructed of any material suitable for adding strength to the card, such as one or more of the plastic, foil and/or paper materials described herein.
In certain embodiments of the invention, blister pack 6 may optionally be attached to closure part 1 and/or pick and place part 5 using one or more adhesive compositions or methods known in the art. In other embodiments of the invention, closure part 1 may be attached to push-through part 2 and/or pick and place part 5 using one or more adhesive compositions or methods known in the art. In still other embodiments of the invention, outer cover part 3 may be attached to inner cover part 4 using one or more adhesive compositions or methods known in the art. As used herein, the term adhesive is intended to include, but is not limited to, chemical adhesives, e.g., glues, gums, resins, drying adhesives, contact adhesives, hot adhesives, reactive adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives and the like, as well as mechanical adhesives, e.g., staples, tape, straps, fasteners, folds and the like.
Blister pack 6 may include a series of structural ribs 32. The structural ribs provide strength to the child resistant card which prevents tearing of the card and allows proper removal of pills from the card. In certain embodiments, each structural rib 32 is raised such as depicted in
It is to be understood that the embodiments of the present invention which have been described are merely illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art based upon the teachings presented herein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising:
- a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region, wherein the closure part includes a blister hole and a perforated front push-through tab, and wherein the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back punch tab, wherein upon folding at the fold region, the blister hole is aligned over the perforated pill push-through tab and the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back punch tab;
- a blister pack including a blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing portion, wherein the outlet of the blister is covered by the penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill is located inside the closed blister, wherein the blister pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through part such that the blister protrudes through the blister hole; and
- a separate pick and place part including a removable tab that is located between the blister pack and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents removal of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab, wherein the pill can be dispensed from the child resistant card by removing the removable tab and applying force to the blister such that the pill is concomitantly pushed through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab.
2. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the removable tab is accessible after at least partial removal of the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back punch tab.
3. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back punch tab can be at least partially removed by applying force to the perforated back punch tab.
4. The child resistant card of claim 3, wherein an implement is used to apply force to the perforated back punch tab.
5. The child resistant card of claim 4, wherein the implement is a pen or a pencil.
6. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the removable tab is removed by grasping and pulling the removable tab from the child resistant card.
7. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the removable tab is aligned between the perforated front push-through tab and the perforated back punch tab and aligned between the blister hole and the perforated pill push-through tab.
8. The child resistant card of claim 1, further comprising an outer cover part attached to the push-through part by a folding rib.
9. The child resistant card of claim 1, further comprising an inner cover part attached to the push-through part by a second fold region.
10. The child resistant card of claim 1, further comprising an outer cover part attached to the push-through part by a folding rib, and an inner cover part attached to the outer cover part by a second fold region.
11. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the closure part includes two or more blister holes and two or more perforated front push-through tabs, and wherein the push-through part includes two or more perforated pill push-through tabs and two or more perforated back punch tabs.
12. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the blister pack includes two or more blisters.
13. The child resistant card of claim 1, wherein the perforated back punch tab has been removed.
14. A child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising:
- a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region, wherein the closure part includes a blister hole, a perforated front push-through tab, and a structural rib hole, and wherein the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a perforated back punch tab, wherein upon folding at the fold region, the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the perforated back punch tab;
- a blister pack including a blister having an outlet, a penetrable backing portion, and a structural rib, wherein the outlet of the blister is covered by the penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill is located inside the closed blister; and
- a separate pick and place part including a removable tab that is located between the blister pack and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents removal of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab,
- wherein the blister pack is located between the closure part and the pick and place part such that the blister protrudes through the blister hole and wherein the pill can be dispensed from the child resistant card by removing the removable tab and applying force to the blister such that the pill is concomitantly pushed through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab.
15. The child resistant card of claim 14, wherein the structural rib is flat.
16. The child resistant card of claim 14, wherein the blister pack is located such that the structural rib is aligned with the structural rib hole.
17. The child resistant card of claim 14, wherein the blister pack is located such that the structural rib is protrudes through the structural rib hole.
18. The child resistant card of claim 14, wherein the closure part has at least two structural rib holes.
19. A child resistant card for dispensing a pill comprising:
- a closure part and a push-through part attached by a fold region, wherein the closure part includes a blister hole and a perforated front push-through tab, and wherein the push-through part includes a perforated pill push-through tab and a hole where a perforated back punch tab has been removed, wherein upon folding at the fold region, the perforated front push-through tab is aligned over the hole where the perforated back punch tab has been removed;
- a blister pack including a blister having an outlet and a penetrable backing portion, wherein the outlet of the blister is covered by the penetrable backing portion to create a closed blister and the pill is located inside the closed blister, wherein the blister pack is located between the folded closure part and push-through part such that the blister protrudes through the blister hole;
- a separate pick and place part including a removable tab that is located between the blister pack and push-through part such that the removable tab prevents removal of the pill through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab, wherein the pill can be dispensed from the child resistant card by removing the removable tab and applying force to the blister such that the pill is concomitantly pushed through the penetrable backing portion and the perforated pill push-through tab; and
- an inner cover part having a slot.
20. The child resistant card of claim 19, wherein patient information or usage instructions are inserted into the slot.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 21, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 28, 2008
Applicant: Alcan Global Pharmaceutical Packaging, Inc. (Pennsauken, NJ)
Inventor: John Andrew Prud'Homme (Pincourt)
Application Number: 12/034,819
International Classification: B65D 83/04 (20060101); B65D 83/00 (20060101); B65D 75/36 (20060101);