PACK

Abstract

A tablet housing comprises two generally rigid leaves hinged together, each leaf having (1) recesses or apertures to align with and receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets, and (2) closure means. The housing may be opened in order to access tablets and closed in order to protect and retain tablets.

Description

This invention relates to a pack in the form of a tablet housing, intended to be carried by a user, allowing tablets to be removed from it as and when required.

There have been many proposals for portable tablet packs. Many have been excessively complex, with a plurality of intricate moving parts, whereby tablets may be advanced and dispensed on operation of an actuator. Layers of further complication have been added; for example tablet counters; indicators that a tablet housing is about to run out of tablets, and so forth. However, such complicated tablet housings have not generally made it onto the market, presumably for reasons of high cost and complexity, and/or poor reliability.

Nevertheless there is still a need for a tablet housing which protects a blister pack of tablets in, for example, a pocket, toilet bag or handbag. Blister packs of tablets placed loose in such a receptacle become distorted and, from time to time, a tablet is forced out of its pocket, through the breachable foil. Market research consistently shows that consumers find this unsatisfactory and desire a solution.

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a solution to the problems set out above. Desirably the solution will be of a relatively simple nature; therefore one which has a good chance of becoming a consumer product, as opposed to a mere proposal.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a tablet housing comprising two generally rigid leaves hinged together, each leaf having: recesses or apertures to align with or receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets; and closure means;

wherein the housing may be opened in order to access tablets and closed in order to protect and retain tablets.

Preferably the leaves are substantially identical to each other.

Preferably each leaf has apertures to receive the projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets. The advantage of apertures over recesses is that the user can see without opening the tablet housing how many tablets are left.

Preferably each leaf may receive 2-8 tablets, preferably 2-6 tablets, more preferably 2-4 tablets. Preferably each leaf defines a line (i.e. a column or row) of tablets, for example a 2 by 1, 4 by 1 or, especially, a 3 by 1 array.

A blister pack of size to fit within one of the leaves (hereinafter a “leaf-sized blister pack”) may be purchased as such or may be separated from a larger blister pack. Preferably such a larger blister pack is formed with means to facilitate the separation of leaf-sized blister packs. Such means may, for example, be thinning, scoring or perforation of the material of the larger blister pack, in the appropriate place.

Preferably each leaf is in the form of a shallow moulded tray (formed either with said recesses or with said apertures). Each leaf has a plane substantially in alignment with the hinge and the closure means. Preferably the base of the tray is spaced from the plane in order substantially to accommodate the blister pack. Preferably in the location where the tray meets the plane there is a shallow shelf on which the periphery of the leaf-sized blister pack rests.

In another embodiment the leaves could be substantially flat rather than of tray form, and the tablet cells could be accommodated within pockets moulded into each leaf, or simply project substantially through apertures in each leaf. However the tray form is preferred. The tablet cells are then substantially accommodated within the tablet housing, and better protected from damage.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided a kit comprising a tablet housing of the first aspect, and a plurality of leaf-sized blister packs. The plurality of leaf-sized blister packs may be separate from each other, or may be provided in a larger blister pack from which the leaf-sized blister packs may be separated. Preferably the larger blister pack comprises at least three of the leaf-sized blister packs.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view generally from above, of a tablet housing in accordance with the invention, open;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view generally from above, of the same tablet housing, closed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the same tablet housing, open;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the same tablet housing, closed; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view generally from above of the same tablet housing, closed, and containing tablets.

The tablet housing 2 comprises two leaves 4, 6, joined by a hinge 8. The housing may be opened or closed with the aid of a closure means in the form of two spaced-apart clasps 10, 11, formed respectively from two spaced-apart clasp members 10A, 10B and 11A, 11B (FIGS. 2, 3). The leaves, hinge and clasp members are all formed in a single plastics moulding.

Each leaf is in the form of a tray having a base wall 12 and an inclined side wall 14. The rim 16 of each leaf defines a central plane of the tablet housing, at which the two leaves meet. Between the rim and the side wall 14 there is a shallow shelf 18 (FIG. 3). The base wall 12 of each leaf is formed with three identical apertures 20, in a line.

To use the tablet housing a leaf-sized blister pack having three tablets in a row is placed within each leaf. The periphery of each leaf-sized tablet blister pack rests on the shallow shelf 18 of the leaf accepting it. The projecting tablet cells 22 are then aligned with the apertures 20 and project slightly through them, but the major parts are housed within the tray (see FIG. 5).

When the tablet housing is charged with the two leaf-sized blister packs each of three tablets, the tablet housing can be closed, and is sufficiently small to be carried comfortably in a pocket, handbag or toilet bag. The configuration is as shown in FIG. 3. When tablets are required the housing is opened by releasing the clasps 10, 11, and the required tablets removed. The housing is then closed again.

The user can simply see when the housing is about to be exhausted, and can recharge it.

The blister strips can be supplied as such, in refill packs, or may be provided within a larger blister pack, from which they may be separated. To assist this the larger blister pack may be scored, thinned or perforated.

When the housing is charged with tablets, it will be appreciated that in the closed position shown in FIG. 3, the breachable sheets (e.g. metallic foils of the two blister strips are face-to-face, and so protected from damage.

It will be appreciated that the tablet housing of the invention is inexpensive to manufacture; simple; neat; and functional.

Claims

1. A tablet housing comprising two generally rigid leaves hinged together, each leaf having: wherein the housing may be opened in order to access the tablets and closed in order to protect and retain the tablets.

recesses or apertures adapted to receive projecting tablet cells of a blister pack of tablets; and

closure means;

2. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein each leaf has from 2 to 8 recesses or apertures.

3. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 2, wherein each leaf has from 2 to 6 recesses or apertures.

4. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 3, wherein each leaf has from 2 to 4 recesses or apertures.

5. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apertures or recesses in each leaf are arranged in a line.

6. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein each leaf is in the form of a shallow moulded tray.

7. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 6, wherein each leaf is able substantially to accommodate a blister pack.

8. A tablet housing as claimed in claim 7, wherein each leaf receives its blister pack in such a manner that, when the tablet housing is closed, the foils of the two blister packs are in face to face relationship.

9. A kit comprising a tablet housing as claimed in claim 1, and a plurality of leaf-sized blister packs, separate from each other or separable from each other.

10. (canceled)

11. A kit comprising a tablet housing as claimed in claim 8, and a plurality of leaf-sized blister packs separate from each other or separable from each other.