BLISTER PACK SECONDARY PACKAGE AND SLEEVE

Abstract

A lockable container includes a lockable sleeve and a secondary package. The secondary package is configured as a slideable platform that can be stored in the lockable sleeve. The slidable platform includes at lease one receiving flange to hold a primary package. The lockable sleeve and the slideable platform can each have one or more of the engaging mechanism and a receiving mechanism, with reciprocal engaging mechanisms and/or receiving mechanisms being included at the other elements. A release button can be included in the locking assembly to disengage the engaging mechanism form the receiving mechanism.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application No. 60/041,170, the content of which is incorporated by reference thereto. The present disclosure relates generally to child-resistant and/or lockable containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an assembly and method of configuring and providing similar or mixed primary packages within a secondary package that can be stored in a lockable container.

BACKGROUND

Child-resistant or lockable containers, wherein multiple movements are required to open the container, have many uses. One use for a lockable container is to control the dispensing of medicine and medicaments in the form of pills and tablets. For example, locking caps on medicine bottles are well known. The typical locking cap mechanism requires a coordinated alignment and tipping, or axial pressure, or inward radial squeezing while turning the cap to remove it from its container in order to access the medicaments.

By way of another example, medicines are packaged in convenient flat boxes, which are difficult to secure with child-resistant features. Many medicaments in the form of tablets are sold in blister packs—blisters formed on a sheet sealed by a barrier that is punctured when extracting a tablet from a blister. When a typical cardboard flat box holding one or more blister packs is opened the entire contents of the package is exposed, making all of the tablets immediately available. The dangers posed by children with access to a large quantity of tablets not intended for their consumption is self evident.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary blank for forming a blister pack secondary package.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views showing a secondary package formed by the assembly of the blank of FIG. 1

FIG. 4 shows a blister pack being inserted into the secondary package of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a lockable container.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the lockable container of FIG. 5, from the opposite side.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the assembled lockable container of FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative secondary package according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 shows the alternative secondary package of FIG. 8 and a lockable sleeve.

FIG. 10 shows a lockable container of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

It is also contemplated that the present disclosure is not limited to the pharmaceutical-related goods referenced with the illustrated embodiments, but is applicable to any goods including small, delicate, sensitive, or portable items. Examples of such items include all manner of consumable products such as candy, food, vitamins, and the like; all manner of personal care products such as contact lens, birth control devices, smoking cessation patches, hearing aid batteries, and the like; and any item and that can fit within a lockable container. Further, the present disclosure is not limited to the blister packs referenced with the illustrated embodiments, but is applicable to any tray, card, rack, pack, pouch, and the like to which an item of any sort may be held, stored, attached, secured or otherwise associated with the item.

Further, the lockable container described herein can be configured to store and dispense items that are not packaged in a blister card but in any primary package that is then attached to a secondary package, such as a slidable platform. In such embodiments, the blister card packaging can be substituted with a tray, card, rack, pack, pouch, or the like. In general, the teaching provided herein are applicable to any structure that holds or stores an item, that provides a basis for attaching or securing an item thereto, or that is otherwise associated with an item. In describing the locking assembly, features and functions are described, though it will be appreciated that the locking assembly may not function as described unless the locking assembly is cooperatively assembled with a sleeve, an outer container, or other package component.

Referring now to the figures, wherein similar elements are designated with similar numbers, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary blank 10 for forming a secondary package, in this case an inner slide card configured to receive a primary package in the form of a blister pack. Further, the illustrated blanks are shown and described in terms of unitary blanks but it is contemplated that the present invention can be constructed and erected from discrete panels that are joined. As all the various embodiments of blister packs, including those with various types of backing such as paper and/or foil, and those made of various materials such as plastic, aluminum, and paper, are known to those skilled in the art, the structure or function of the blister packs referenced herein will not be further described.

In addition, the illustrated slide card is configured to be releasably received by a lockable outer sleeve, such as those taught in various pending U.S. and foreign patent applications and patents related to the Shellpak™ brand family of products. Also the materials that comprise the substrate of the blank 10 can be selected from among any of the well-known materials or combinations of materials and will not be further taught herein.

Continuing with reference to FIG. 1, the illustrated secondary package 10 comprises a base panel 12 and a top panel 14 foldably attached to the base panel 12 along a fold line 16. The illustrated base panel 12 is defined by a leading edge 20 and a trailing edge 28, and includes an engaging element in the form of an engaging aperture 22. The illustrated top panel 14 including a matingly similar engaging aperture 22a, although in alternative embodiments there may be only a single engaging element on either the base panel 12 or top panel 14.

The top panel 14 further comprises a blister pack receiving aperture 30. The perimeter of the illustrated receiving aperture 30 is generally the same shape as the perimeter of the top panel 14, being defined by opposing side edges 32a, 32b , an end edge 34, and an insert edge 36. The insert edge 36 begins and terminates at opposing, outwardly turning—with respect to the void that is the receiving aperture 30—radius cuts 38a, 38b. In the illustrated embodiment the perimeter of the receiving aperture 30 is slightly larger than the outside perimeter of the group of gates 40 located on the base panel 12. Here, as illustrated, each gate is defined by perforations and is removed before or in conjunction with removing an item from a respective blister. In other alternatives, the gates are apertures and do not further impede the removal of an item from a blister.

In erecting the illustrated blank 10 to form a slide card, the top panel 14 is connected to the base panel 12. In connecting the respective panels 12, 14 the areas on the top panel 14 between the respective side edges 32a, 32b and score lines 42a, 42b are not connected to the base panel 12, in order to create receiving flanges 44a, 44b as further described with reference to FIGS. 2-4. Here the top panel 14 is connected to the base panel 12 with two beads of cold adhesive. However, other connecting products are possible and are contemplated, including hot adhesive, epoxy, or combinations and the like, as well as mechanical connecting products such as staples, stitching, punches, rivets, or combinations and the like, as well as chemical/mechanical connecting products such as welding, single face or double face tape, or combinations and the like.

An exemplary method of folding and erecting the blank 10 to form a secondary package will now be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2-4. Beginning with FIG. 2, the top panel 14 is folded along the fold line 16, as best shown in FIG. 3, and the top panel 14 is connected to the base panel 12 in a face-contacting orientation.

Turning now to FIG. 4, which shows a fully constructed but not yet fully erected secondary package, the reader will understand that connecting the top panel 14 to the base panel 12 creates a blister pack receiving pocket 50, defined by the receiving flanges 42a, 42b, and those portions along the end edge 34 and insert edge 36 that are not attached to the base panel 12. The insert edge 36 functions as the pocket opening 52. FIG. 4 also shows a conventional blister pack 51, both before and after being loaded into the fully constructed secondary package. To load the blister pack 51 into the receiving pocket 50, the filler moves the blister pack leading flange 54 toward the pocket opening 52 in the direction of the arrow “A”. More specifically, the filler slides the leading flange 54 over the insert edge 36 and under the radius cuts 38a, 38b to align and initiate the engaging of the blister pack side flanges 56a, 56b with the receiving flanges 44a, 44b. Once the blister pack side flanges 56a, 56b are correctly positioned under the radius cuts 38a, 38b, the filler fully inserts the blister pack 51 into the receiving pocket 50 by pushing the blister pack until the side flanges 56a, 56b are substantially, completely inserted within the receiving flanges 44a, 44b and blister pack leading edge 54 passes under the receiving aperture end edge 34. The filler can then slide the blister pack trailing edge 58 back and under the insert edge 36, such that the entire perimeter of the blister pack 51 is captured between the top panel 14 and base panel 12. In various embodiments the blister packs may be loaded from the opposite end, and in various embodiments the blister pack may be further secured to the secondary package.

For some applications the constructing and filling process illustrated by FIGS. 2-4 is completed by a single party at one location, such as a manufacturer/filler. For other applications, the constructing steps shown in FIGS. 2-4 are completed by one party at one location and the secondary package is then sent to a filler at another location who completes the filling steps shown in FIGS. 2-4.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there are shown exploded views of an exemplary lockable container 110. As illustrated, the lockable container 110 holds a slideable element, for example, a secondary package 10 or “card” within a locking sleeve 114. The locking sleeve 114 comprises a base 116 and a top 118. A release button 120 is surrounded by a release button surround aperture 121 (“aperture”), except along a hinged 122 that connects the release button 120 to the base 116. The inside edge of the free end 124 includes an extended rim 125. Pushing inwardly on the free end 124, i.e., the end of the release button 120 adjacent the aperture 121, of the release button 120 frees the card 10, as explained in detail below. Gripping the exposed card end 126 through the recess 128 (best shown in FIG. 7) and pulling outwardly while depressing the release button 120 enables the secondary package 10 to be released and at least partially extended from the sleeve 114.

The illustrated secondary package 10 includes blisters 130 arranged in two columns 132. This particular arrangement permits the blisters 130 to avoid certain internal features of the illustrated embodiments when the card 10 is translated inwardly or outwardly. The card 10 is constructed in the matter described above, and includes one or more apertures 22 for engaging internal features of the lockable container 10. The illustrated card 10 has one aperture 22, configured to act as both a detent receiver and a retainer receiver, which cooperatively engages the card 10 and prevents removal of the card 10 from the sleeve 114. In the illustrated embodiments, this aperture 22 is positioned beyond the blisters 130 and cooperates with the detent 129 to prevent movement or translation of the card 10 until the card 10 is intentionally released by pressing or otherwise properly manipulating the release button 20.

Openings 146 in the sleeve top 118 allow the forming of one or more springs 148 that press the card 10 so as to urge the aperture 22 into engagement with the retaining detent 129. The springs can be substituted for, or complimented by, additional biasing mechanisms such as ribs, leaf springs, dagger springs, combinations thereof, or the like, to exert a compressive force on the card 10 to engage or remain engaged with the detent 129. As will be understood, the biasing mechanism 148 does not have to be opposite the detent 129, rather the biasing mechanism 148 and the detent 129 are merely configured to cooperatively engage the detent retainer 22 of the card 10.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, cylinders 150 located proximate the side walls 152 of the base 116 receive pins 151 extending downwardly from the top 118. It should be appreciated that other attachment mechanisms are possible, and that the cylinders 150 and the pins 151 can be located on either or both of the base 116 and the top 118. Furthermore, the illustrated positioning is merely exemplary. A retainer 154, such as the dagger spring centered in the top 118 near the open end 140 proximate the recess 128, is captured by the retainer receiver as represented by the aperture 22, to prevent complete removal of the card 10 from the container 110. In the closed and locked configuration, the detent 129 projects through the detent retainer illustrated here as the aperture 22, to lock the card 10 in the sleeve 114. The inner ribs 158 inside the top 118 can help stabilize the card 10 as it is slideably extended and retracted.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-7, in operation, the free end 124 of the release button 120 is aligned between the ribs or springs 148 so that when the release button 120 is pushed, the rim 125 pushes the card 10 against the springs 148 and over the detent 129. The guides 168, located on the inside of the base 116, facilitate sliding of the card 10. When the release button 120 is pressed, the rim 125 lifts the card 10 until the detent receiver 22 is lifted over the detent 129. Simultaneously, the card end 126 is grasped and pulled to access at least the first set of blisters 130. The card 10 can continue to be extracted until the retainer receiver 22 engages the retainer 154.

The detent 129 includes an engaging edge 176 that engages the aperture 22 when the card 10 is fully inserted within the container 110, and holds the card 10 to prevent outward movement until the release button 120 and rim 125 disengage the aperture 22 from the detent 129. After an item is removed from the container 110, the card 10 can be slid inwardly and returned to a position within the sleeve 114. When reinserting the card 10, the sloping upper face 178 of the detent 129 lifts and urges the aperture 22 to engage the detent 129 as the card 10 is fully reinserted into the container 110. When the card 10 is fully inserted, the aperture 22 substantially surrounds and engages the detent 129.

The foregoing description has described embodiments with a detent 129, and a detent retainer 22. It should be understood that the detent 129 is only an exemplary engaging mechanism. Accordingly, the concepts of this disclosure can include any engaging mechanism, for example, a latch, a lip, a leaf spring, a pin, a notch, a catch, a hook, an adhesive, a VELCRO® fastener, a magnet, a metallic surface, combinations thereof, or the like. Similarly, the detent retainer 22 is only an exemplary receiving mechanism for interacting with the engaging mechanism. Accordingly, the concepts of this disclosure can include any receiving mechanism, for example, an aperture, a catch, a latch, a hook, a lip, an adhesive, a VELCRO® fastener, a magnet, a metallic surface, combinations thereof, or the like.

Turning now to FIGS. 8-10, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 shows a partially assembled secondary package 210 configured to receive and hold three primary packages in the form of blister packs 51, each in a respective receiving pocket 50. Alternative embodiments include more or less primary packages held by a respective number of receiving pockets. FIG. 9 shows the secondary package 210 with the last primary package being inserted and an exemplary outer sleeve 114. Next, FIG. 10 shows a secondary package 210 being inserted into a lockable container 114 to form a lockable container according to the present disclosure. The illustrated secondary package 210 and outer sleeve 114 operate similarly to the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1-7.

The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a sleeve comprising a plurality of walls that define a void for receiving a slideable secondary package; and

the slideable secondary package comprising: a base panel; and a top panel foldably attached to the base panel, the top panel including at least one receiving flange formed thereon, each receiving flange being configured to receive at least a portion of a primary package.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the primary package has at least one blister carrying an item, the base panel defining at least one gate, each gate corresponding to a respective blister.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein each gate either is an aperture or is defined by a perforation.

4. The container of claim 2, wherein the top panel defines a receiving aperture, the receiving aperture having an aperture perimeter, the aperture perimeter being large enough such that each gate is laterally located therewithin.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the top panel has a pair of receiving flanges, each respective receiving flange being located on opposite sides of the receiving aperture.

6. The container of claim 2, wherein the top panel defines a plurality of receiving apertures, the receiving apertures each defining an aperture perimeter, the aperture perimeter being large enough such that a group of gates is laterally located therewithin, each receiving aperture having a pair of receiving flanges associated therewith, each respective receiving flange being located on opposite sides of the corresponding receiving aperture.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the sleeve defines a lockable container for retaining slideable secondary package.