Mechanism for Permanently Attaching a Blister Card within a Container

Abstract

A mechanism for permanently attaching a blister card includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a base with a pair of arced protrusions molded into the top plate that bend a blister card around a hook in the bottom plate. The top plate and bottom plate each extend beyond the width of the blister card to ensure a user is unable to bend the blister card back around the hook and arced protrusions. The blister card, once installed by either hand or high speed automated device, cannot be removed from the mechanism.

Description

This application claims priority from, and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/973,308, filed Sep. 18, 2007, and entitled Container for Housing Medication.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to child-resistant containers for holding blister cards for dispensing product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of child resistant packaging is well known through the art and has been utilized for goods ranging from household items to pharmaceutical products. This type of packaging is very useful when the product being contained can be harmful to children. The pharmaceutical industry has settled on two main methods of dispensing medication, either loosely in a bottle or more discretely in a blister card.

In the search for better ways to dispense goods in a safe manner there have been many innovations. U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,838 discloses a child resistant pack that consists of a one-piece molded plastic design, where the edge of a blister card is clamped between two opposite sides of the case. This arrangement does not allow for the blister to be removed from its plastic housing.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/190,032 discloses a similar container consisting of a one-piece plastic molded design having first and second clamp sections for capturing the end of a blister card. The container also includes at-least one child resistant latch on the periphery of the case for opening outer panels that allow the user access to the blister cards. Both U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,838 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/190,032 require the installation of the blister card in multiple steps, which makes the securing of the blister card more difficult to automate or accomplish by machine.

Another way of holding a blister card inside a child resistant contained is disclosed by patent application Ser. No. 10/595,196. A plastic outer housing receives a blister card that slides from an opening in one end of the housing. The blister card is prevented from completely being removed from the plastic housing by a plastic catch, that is located near the open end of the housing, that enters a pre-cut hole in the blister card and prevents the user from removing the blister card from the housing. The same pre-cut hole also retains the blister card in the housing unless the user presses a button at the un-open end of the housing to release the blister. This construction provides child resistance, since the card must be pulled and button pressed simultaneously. One drawback with the foregoing designs is their reliance upon a catch consistently being received in a pre-cut hole in a blister card. This construction makes it more difficult to automate the process, since the blister card must be either inserted into the plastic housing completely or, be set in place before the container is sealed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a locking mechanism for permanently retaining a blister card within a child resistant container. The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by creating a one-piece inexpensive design that prevents the user from removing the blister card from its housing while also ensuring an easy and simple method of installing the blister card. In one embodiment of the present invention, a one-way attachment mechanism for a blister card includes a locking system having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a base that cooperatively allow a blister card to enter the attachment mechanism, but prevents its removal. The top plate and bottom plate are attached to the base. The top plate consists of a top center section and top extensions that extend from the top center section to either side along the length of the base. The bottom plate consists of a bottom center section and bottom extensions that lengthen from either side of the bottom center section along the length of the base

Stiffening ribs are molded into the outside surface of the bottom plate. A hook molded into the inner surface of the bottom plate and extends towards the top plate before bending downward toward the base. A pair of arced protrusions is molded into the inner surface of the top center section across from the hook. The arced protrusions are on either side of said hook and leave only a small space between the arced protrusions and the bottom center section.

In another embodiment, a single arced protrusion can be positioned just across and allows for a one way entry by pressing against the upper area of the hook and creating a pressure seal that will not allow a user to remove the blister card.

This orientation allows the blister to be loaded by hand or more preferably by high-speed automation equipment. The one motion loading system utilizes a blister card with opening after is pushed by the arced protrusion and then secured around the hook.

The combination of the top plate and the bottom plate form the present invention and can be utilized to permanently hold a blister card to any container by attaching the attachment mechanism to a base. This attachment mechanism can be used by any enclosure be it child-proof or not in order to provide the enclosure with the ability to increase production by having a system that can be easily automated and will assist in any requirement for child-safety.

The means by which the present invention obtains its child resistance, as shown in the drawings, is fully disclosed in the commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/649,466.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully disclosed in or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which are to be considered together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken-away perspective view of a blister card latch formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom front perspective view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top front perspective view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom front perspective view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1, as taken along lines 100-100 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the blister attachment mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is top front perspective view of the blister attachment mechanism within a child-resistant container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the blister attachment mechanism within a child-resistant container shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the blister attachment mechanism within a child-resistant container shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the blister attachment mechanism within a child-resistant container shown in FIG. 10, as taken along lines 200-200 in FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14-15 are each a side view of the blister attachment mechanism within a child-resistant container in accordance with the present invention depicting the typical succession of inserting a blister card;

FIG. 16 is a top front perspective view of the blister attachment mechanism within a container having an inserted blister card in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of the blister attachment mechanism within a container having an inserted blister card shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top view of a prior art blister card as associated with the blister attachment mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This description of preferred embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the description, relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and normally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Terms including “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral” and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment, coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue of that relationship. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if used, are intended to cover the structures described, suggested, or rendered obvious by the written description or drawings for performing the recited function, including not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, blister card latch 1 that provides for one-motion engagement with a blister card 3 includes top plate 4, bottom plate 10, and base 2. Top plate 4 and bottom plate 10 sit perpendicular to base 2 at a relatively close proximity when compared to a blister card 30. A close proximity is defined as being between 0.5 mm (0.02 in) and 0.97 mm (0.038 in) apart for a blister card with a height of 0.38 mm (0.015 in). Top plate 4 includes top extensions 5, which extend outward from a raised, top center portion along the length of base 2. The bottom plate 10 similarly has bottom extensions 11, which extend along the length of base 2 away from a raised bottom center portion of bottom plate 10. The extensions 5 and 11 provide a guard against any tampering with blister card 30 (FIGS. 14-17) in an attempt to circumvent blister card latch 1. The top extensions 5 and bottom extensions 11 also provide more positional stability and rigidity. Stiffening ribs 14 located on a outer surface of bottom plate 10 help to reinforce the structure so a user cannot separate bottom plate 10 from top plate 4 and thereby release blister card 30 from blister card latch 1.

Hook 12 is molded or attached to an inner surface of bottom plate 10 and ensures that blister card 30 (FIG. 14) cannot be removed from container 20 (FIG. 10). Hook 12 is J-shaped and normally bends toward base 2. Arced protrusions or ramps 6 are molded or attached to the inner surface of top plate 4. The arced protrusions 6 begin at the forward end of top plate 4 and curve backward and connect with base 2. Arced protrusions 6 are located on either side of hook 12 so as to force blister card 30, during assembly, to bend slightly upon installation into blister card latch 1, while providing an alignment feature for installing blister card 30. This combination also prevents a user from removing blister card 30 once it has been inserted into the blister card latch 1, while allowing for either a person or a machine to install blister card 30 into the blister card latch 1 by sliding it into under arced protrusions 6 and over hook 12. Significantly, with this construction, blister card 30 cannot be bent enough to reverse the procedure due to the orientation and spacing of hook 12 and arced protrusions 6 relative to top extensions 5 and bottom extensions 11 thus halting any severe manipulation of blister card 30. Referring to FIGS. 10-13, blister card latch 1 may be combined with child resistant container 20 and child-resistant feature 24 so as to keep child resistant container 20 sealed around blister card latch 1 via a pair of hinges 26 attached to base 2 and child resistant container 20.

Referring to FIGS. 14-15 and 16-17, blister card 30 may be inserted into blister card latch 1 so as to be permanently attached, via notch 32, in blister card 30. Top plate extensions 5 and bottom plate extensions 11 cover the areas around notch 32 to prevent any bending of blister card 30 since, if blister card 30 were able to bend, a user might be able to disable blister card latch 1.

It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particular constructions herein disclosed and shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container comprising:

a base;

a top plate connected to said base;

a bottom plate connected to said base; and

a hook connected to said bottom plate.

2. The locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 1 further comprising top extensions that extend outwardly from a raised center portion of said top plate and that are attach to said base.

3. The locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 2 comprising bottom extensions that extend outwardly from a center portion of said bottom plate and that are attach to said base.

4. The locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 3 comprising at least one rib that is attached to said bottom plate.

5. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 4 wherein said base is attached to a child-resistant container.

6. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 5 wherein said base is attached to a child-resistant container by two hinges.

7. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container comprising:

a base;

a top plate having an inner and an outer surface that are oriented perpendicular to said base, said top plate including a center section and two top extensions that extend outwardly from said center section, and two arced protrusions located on an inner surface of said center section;

a bottom plate having an inner and an outer surface that are oriented perpendicular to said base, said bottom plate including a center section and two top extensions that extend outwardly from said center section, a hook centered on said center section of said bottom plate, and at least one stiffening rib attached to the outer surface of said bottom plate and said base.

8. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 7 wherein said two arced protrusions are spaced-apart so that one arced protrusion is located on each side of said hook.

9. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 7 wherein said inner surface of said top plate and said inner surface of said bottom plate are arranged in close proximity to one another.

10. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 9 further comprising a child-resistant container attached to said base.

11. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container according to claim 9 wherein said base is attached to a child-resistant container by two hinges.

12. A locking mechanism for attaching a blister card to a container comprising:

a base attached to a child-resistant container via two hinges;

a top plate having an inner surface and an outer surface oriented in perpendicular relation to said base, said top plate including a center section, two top extensions that extend outwardly from said center section, and two arced protrusions located on an inside surface of said center section;

a bottom plate having in inner surface and an outer surface oriented in perpendicular relation to said base, said bottom plate including a center section, two top extensions that extend outwardly from said center section, and a hook centered on said center section of said bottom plate, with at least one stiffening rib attached to an outer surface of said bottom plate and said base.