Child resistant package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications

• US 5,323,907 A
• Filed: 03/15/1993
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Multi-Comp Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Multi-Comp Incorporated
• Inventors: Kalvelage, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US08/031,657
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 206/528-540, 206/461-471
• US Class Current: 206/531
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/04 requiring the combination of different actions in succession
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/56 for medicinal tablets or pills
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/327 and forming several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/54 Cards, coupons, or other inserts or accessories opening devices B65D75/70

Abstract

The present invention includes a package assembly which comprises a blister package and a surrounding frame having a child resistant feature. The blister package includes a blister sheet having blisters that form recesses adapted for receiving medications and a lidding sheet overlying the face of the blister sheet for enclosing medications in the blister recesses. The surrounding frame is designed for receiving and supporting the blister package and is made up of first and second panels. The apertures in each panel are correspondingly arranged so as to overlap in an opposing face-to-face relation. The apertures in the second panel are configured to partially obstruct the corresponding aperture in the first panel. The partial obstruction thereby forming a protective device to impede unwanted removal of medication from the blister package in a child resistant fashion.

Claims

1. A package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications, comprising

a blister package, including a blister sheet having a plurality of blisters formed therein, said blisters projecting from one face of the sheet and forming recesses in the opposite face, medications positioned in such recesses, and a lidding sheet overlying said opposite face of said blister sheet for enclosing said medications in the blister recesses, and

a frame receiving and supporting said blister package therein, said frame comprising first and second panels and a hinge joining said panels along adjacent edges thereof, the panels being folded into opposing face-to-face relation for sandwiching said blister package therebetween;

a plurality of apertures formed in said first panel, each aperture having a predetermined configuration; and

a plurality of apertures formed in said second panel and being correspondingly arranged with the apertures in said first panel so as to overlie the apertures in said first panel when the panels are folded into opposing face-to-face relation, the apertures in said second panel being of such a configuration as to partially obstruct the corresponding aperture in said first panel while being of a configuration sufficient to allow passage of medication through the apertures in said second panel, the partial obstruction thereby forming a protective device to impede unwanted removal of medication from the blister package.

2. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the apertures of said first panel are so configured and arranged as to also partially obstruct the corresponding aperture in said second panel.

3. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the apertures in said first and second panels are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

4. A package assembly according to claim 1 further comprising indicia on said first panel defining a unique identifying designation for each aperture in said first panel and indicia on said second panel defining the corresponding unique identifying designate for the corresponding apertures in said second panel.

5. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the apertures in said first panel are of a generally rectangular configuration, and the blisters of said blister sheet protrude through said rectangular apertures and are of an elongate configuration of a size adapted for receiving an elongate capsule-shaped medication.

6. A package assembly according to claim 5, wherein the apertures in said second panel are of an irregular configuration including a relatively large, radius portion at one end thereof and a relatively narrow, restricted portion at the opposite end thereof, the relatively large, radius portion overlying one end portion of the corresponding rectangular aperture, and the narrow, restricted portion overlying and partially obstructing the opposite end portion of the corresponding aperture so that an elongate capsule-shaped medication located in the blister can be removed only by pressing the blister at the nonobstructed end thereof.

7. A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein the apertures in said second panel are of an irregular configuration including a relatively large radius portion at one end thereof and a relatively narrow restricted portion at the opposite end thereof, and the blisters of said blister sheet protrude through said apertures are of a round configuration of a size adapted for receiving a tablet-shaped medication.

8. A package assembly according to claim 7, wherein the apertures in said first panel are of a generally rectangular configuration and overlie one side of the relatively large, radius portion of the corresponding irregular aperture to partially obstruct the same so that a round tablet-shaped medication located in the blister can be removed only by pressing the blister at the non-obstructed side thereof.

9. A package assembly according to claim 1 additionally including a tactile indicator associated with each blister of said blister sheet and located on the blister at a location away from the partial obstruction defined by the apertures in said second panel so that patient can identify by feel the proper location on the blister to press for gaining access to the medication.

10. A package assembly according to claim 1 wherein said blisters are comprised of a plastic material having a non-uniform thickness, said plastic material being thick on the side of a blister which is in opposing relation to nonobstructed portion of the corresponding aperture in the second panel overlying said blister, and thin on the side of the blister which is in opposing relation to the partial obstruction caused by the second panel.

11. A packaging device comprising

first and second panels;

a hinge joining said panels along adjacent edges thereof so that the panels can be folded over into opposing face-to-face relation for sandwiching a blister package therebetween;

a plurality of apertures formed in said first panel of a generally rectangular configuration and of a size adapted to receive a capsule;

a plurality of apertures formed in said second panel and being correspondingly arranged with the apertures in said first panel so as to overlie the apertures in said first panel when the panels are folded into opposing face-to-face relation, and the apertures in said second panel being of an irregular configuration as to partially obstruct the corresponding aperture in said first panel, said irregular configuration including a radius portion at one end thereof for receiving a tablet.

12. A packaging device according to claim 11, wherein the apertures of said first panel are so configured and arranged as to also partially obstruct the corresponding aperture in said second panel.

13. A packaging device according to claim 12, wherein the apertures in said first and second panels are arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

14. A packaging device according to claim 13, wherein the apertures in said first and second panels are arranged in seven columns and five rows.

15. A package device according to claim 11, further comprising indicia on said first panel defining a unique identifying designation for each aperture in said first panel and indicia on said second panel defining the corresponding unique identifying designate for the corresponding apertures in said second panel.

16. A package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications, comprising

a blister package, including a blister sheet having a plurality of elongate capsule-shaped blisters formed therein and arranged in rows and columns, said blisters projecting from one face of the sheet and forming recesses in the opposite face adapted for receiving capsule-shaped medications therein, and a lidding sheet overlying said opposite face of said blister sheet for enclosing said medications in the blister recesses, and

a frame receiving and supporting said blister package therein, said frame comprising first and second panels and a hinge joining said panels along adjacent edges thereof, the panels being folded into opposing face-to-face relation for sandwiching said blister package therebetween;

a plurality of apertures formed in said first panel and arranged in rows and columns, each aperture having a generally rectangular configuration and having one of the blisters of said blister sheet protruding therethrough; and

a plurality of apertures formed in said second panel and being correspondingly arranged with the apertures in said first panel so as to overlie the apertures in said first panel when the panels are folded into opposing face-to-face relation, the apertures in said second panel being of an irregular configuration having a relatively narrow restricted portion at one end thereof positioned so as to overlie and partially obstruct one end of the corresponding rectangular aperture in said first panel, the partial obstruction thereby forming a protective device to impede unwanted removal of medication from the blister package.

17. A package assembly for dispensing pharmaceutical medications, comprising

a blister package, including a blister sheet having plurality of round tablet-shaped blisters formed therein and arranged in rows and columns, said blisters projecting from one face of the sheet and forming recesses in the opposite face adapted for receiving tablet-shaped medications therein, and a lidding sheet overlying said opposite face of said blister sheet for enclosing said medications in the blister recesses, and

a frame receiving and supporting said blister package therein, said frame comprising first and second panels and a hinge joining said panels along adjacent edges thereof, the panels being folded into opposing face-to-face relation for sandwiching said blister package therebetween;

a plurality of apertures formed in said first panel and arranged in rows and columns, each aperture having an irregular configuration including a relatively large, radius portion at one end thereof and a relatively narrow, restricted portion at the opposite end thereof, and having one of the blisters of said blister sheet protruding therethrough; and

a plurality of apertures formed in said second panel and being correspondingly arranged with the apertures in said first panel so as to overlie the apertures in said first panel when the panels are folded into opposing face-to-face relation, the apertures in said second panel being of a generally rectangular configuration and positioned so as to overlie one side of the relatively large, radius portion of the corresponding irregular aperture to partially obstruct the same so that a round tablet-shaped medication located in the blister can be removed only by pressing the blister at the nonobstructed side thereof.