Package for medicine

• US 8,251,219 B1
• Filed: 10/22/2007
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Walgreen Co. (Walgreens Boots Alliance Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lewis, J. Randolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Pickett, J. Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Raven
• Application Number:
  US11/876,204
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 206/531, 206/538, 206/539, 206/461, 206/462, 206/463, 206/469, 206/528, 206/429, 206/192, 220/23.2, 220/23.4, 220/23.83, 220/23.87, 220/23.88, 220/23.89
• US Class Current: 206/562
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/327 and forming several compartments

Abstract

A new package for medicine has an extended base section that has a generally planar top surface. A series of separate receptacles with frusto-conical walls are positioned across the base section. The receptacles are not integral with (or adhered to) the base section. Instead, each of the receptacles is nested in one of a series of apertures in the base section. Each receptacle has a flange that extends outwardly from and surrounds the opening on the receptacle. The flange has a top surface that is wider than the aperture in which the receptacle is nested, preventing the receptacle from falling through the aperture. A flexible, removable top sheet is sealed to a part of the top surface of the base section, sealing the medicine within the walls of the receptacles and preventing the receptacles from being lifted out of the aperture until the top sheet is peeled back. The top sheet may be adhered to the base section along lines of adhesion that surround each of the openings. Perforations in the top sheet enable individual receptacles to be exposed and removed from the base section without exposing other receptacles.

Claims

1. A package for medicine that has:

an extended base section;

a generally planar top surface on the base section;

a plurality of apertures in the base section;

a removable top sheet that is sealed to a planar part of the top surface of the base section;

a series of separate receptacles that are nested in the apertures and held to the base section by the top sheet without any structure that prevents a user from easily removing the receptacles from the base section once the top sheet is removed;

an opening on top on each of the receptacles;

a wall on each of the receptacles that extends downwardly from the opening on the receptacle, has an uncovered portion that extends beneath the lowermost edge of the base section, and is shaped so that all cross sections of the receptacle below the opening fit within the aperture in which the receptacle is nested; and

a flange section on each of the receptacles that extends outwardly from the opening so that the overall width of the receptacle at its opening is wider than the aperture in which the receptacle is nested.

2. A package as recited in claim 1, in which the removable top sheet is flexible.

3. A package as recited in claim 1, in which the top sheet has perforations between adjacent apertures.

4. A package as recited in claim 1, in which the top sheet is adhered directly to the base section along separate sets of lines of adhesion that surround each aperture.

5. A package as recited in claim 1, in which:

the top sheet is adhered directly to the base section along separate sets of lines of adhesion that surround each aperture; and

the top sheet has perforations between the lines of adhesion between adjacent apertures.

6. A package as recited in claim 1, in which both the base section and the top sheet have perforations between adjacent apertures.

7. A package as recited in claim 1, in which the removable top sheet is adhered to the top surface of the flange sections of at least one of the receptacles.

8. A package as recited in claim 1, in which the removable top sheet is adhered to the flange sections of each of the receptacles.

9. A package of medicine a recited in claim 1, in which the wall on the receptacles is a frusto-conical shaped wall.

14. A package for medicine as recited in claim 1, in which:

the separate receptacles are held to the base section by the top sheet without any seal or adhesion of the receptacles to the base section once the top sheet is removed.

10. A package of medicine that has:

an extended base section;

a generally planar top surface on the base section;

a plurality of apertures in the base section;

a series of separate receptacles that are nested in the apertures but not adhered or sealed to the base section;

an opening on top of each of the receptacles;

a wall on each of the receptacles that extends downwardly from the opening on the receptacle, has an uncovered side portion that extends beneath the lowermost edge of the base section, and is shaped so that all cross-sections of the receptacle below the opening fit within the aperture in which the receptacle is nested;

a flange section on each of the receptacles that extends outwardly from the opening on the receptacle so that the overall width of the receptacle at its opening is wider than the aperture in which the receptacle is nested;

exposed portions on the base section that extend between the apertures and are uncovered by the flange sections of the receptacles;

a removable top sheet that is sealed to the exposed sections on the base section between the receptacles and to a planar part of the top surface of the base section, holding the receptacles to the base section, and

medicine sealed within the walls of the receptacles.

11. A package as recited in claim 10, in which the base section is folded on at least one fold line.

13. A package for medicine as recited in claim 10, in which:

the base section is planar.

12. A package of light-weight medical pills or tablets that has:

an extended base section;

a generally planar top surface on the base section;

a plurality of circular apertures arranged in a two-dimensional pattern in the base section;

perforations in the base section between adjacent apertures;

a removable top sheet that is flexible and is sealed to the top surface of the flanges of the receptacles and to exposed portions on the base that extend between the apertures and are uncovered by the flange sections of the receptacles a part of the top surface of the base section;

a series of separate receptacles that are nested in the apertures and held to the base section by the top sheet without any other structure that prevents a user from easily removing the receptacles from the base section once the top sheet is removed;

a circular opening on top of each of the receptacles;

a frusto-conical wall on each of the receptacles that extends downwardly and inwardly from the opening on the receptacle and has an uncovered side portion that extends beneath the lowermost edge of the base section; and

an annular flange on each of the receptacles that surrounds the opening on the receptacle and has an outside diameter that exceeds the diameter of the aperture in which the receptacle is nested.

15. A package of medicine as recited in claim 12, in which:

the separate receptacles are held to the base section by the top sheet without any seal or adhesion of the receptacles to the base section once the top sheet is removed.