IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,464,818

Granted Patent B2

US 7,464,818 · App. 11/250,310 · Granted Dec 16, 2008

Child resistant and senior friendly medicament storage and distribution package

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,464,818
App. No.: 11/250,310
Filed: Oct 14, 2005
Granted: Dec 16, 2008
Kind: B2
Examiner: PICKETT, JOHN G
Art Unit: 3728
USPC: 206/531

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A child resistant senior friendly medication storage and distribution package including a blister portion and a blocking substrate sandwiched between a dispensing substrate and a backing substrate. The procedure to access the medicament is easy for an adult to understand and accomplish, yet difficult for most children. The blister portion contains a base layer and a blister layer. The blister layer includes an article receiving blister designed for holding the medicament. The dispensing substrate has a dispensing substrate blister receiver. The blister receiver is configured to cooperate with the blister so it extends through the dispensing substrate. The blocking substrate includes a gate that initially covers a portion of the blister. The gate must be moved, or slid, out of the way in order to eject the medicament. The user applies a force to the gate causing it to translate between the backing substrate and the dispensing substrate.

Claims (67)

1. A medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) for housing a medicament (M), comprising:

(a) a blister portion ( 100 ) having:

(i) a base layer ( 110 ) having a base layer perimeter ( 120 ), a base layer exterior surface ( 130 ), and a base layer interior surface ( 140 );

(ii) a blister layer ( 150 ) having a blister layer perimeter ( 160 ), a blister layer exterior surface ( 170 ), a blister layer interior surface ( 180 ), and including an article receiving blister ( 190 ), having a blister perimeter ( 196 ), formed therein, wherein the article receiving blister ( 190 ) is designed for holding the medicament (M); wherein

(iii) at least five percent of the surface area of the base layer interior surface ( 130 ) is joined to the blister layer interior surface ( 180 ) thereby sealing the medicament (M) in the article receiving blister ( 190 );

(b) a dispensing substrate ( 200 ) having a dispensing substrate perimeter ( 201 ), a dispensing substrate interior surface ( 210 ), and a dispensing substrate exterior surface ( 220 ), wherein the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) is formed to have:

(i) a dispensing substrate blister receiver ( 230 ) configured to cooperate with the blister portion ( 100 ) such that a portion of the article receiving blister ( 190 ) extends through the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) from the dispensing substrate interior surface ( 210 ) to the dispensing substrate exterior surface ( 220 ); and

(ii) a dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 );

(d) a backing substrate ( 400 ) having a backing substrate perimeter ( 401 ), a backing substrate interior surface ( 410 ), and a backing substrate exterior surface ( 420 ), wherein the backing substrate ( 400 ) is formed to have:

(i) a backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ); and

(e) wherein the blister portion blister layer ( 150 ) is adjacent to the dispensing substrate interior surface ( 210 ), the blocking substrate front surface ( 310 ) is adjacent to the blister portion base layer ( 110 ), and the backing substrate interior surface ( 410 ) is adjacent to the blocking substrate rear surface ( 320 ) such that the dispensing substrate blister receiver ( 230 ), the article receiving blister ( 190 ), and the article dispensing region ( 440 ) substantially align, and the gate ( 340 ) is initially located between the article dispensing region ( 440 ) and the article receiving blister ( 190 ) to prevent unintentional dispensing of the medicament (M), such that dispensing of the medicament (M) requires application of a first force to a portion of the gate ( 340 ) resulting in the gate free edge ( 343 ) sliding toward the gate retaining edge ( 348 ) and past the article dispensing region ( 440 ) such that application of a second force to the article receiving blister ( 190 ) forces the medicament (M) to break through the base layer ( 110 ), pass through an opening in the blocking substrate ( 300 ) created by the movement of the gate ( 340 ), and out the article dispensing region ( 440 ).

2. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the gate ( 340 ) has a fold promoting characteristic ( 350 ) that causes the gate ( 340 ) to begin to fold about the fold promoting characteristic ( 350 ) when the gate ( 340 ) is displaced out of the plane of the package ( 10 ) by the first force, thereby creating a pivot projection ( 352 ) that is easily pivoted about the gate retaining edge ( 348 ) and away from the article receiving blister ( 190 ) drawing the gate free edge ( 343 ) past the article receiving blister ( 190 ) to permit dispensing of the medicament (M).

3. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein application of the first force to the portion of the gate ( 340 ) results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) resulting in movement of the gate free edge ( 343 ) such that the gate ( 340 ) does not block access to the article dispensing region ( 440 ).

4. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 3 , wherein the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) defines a void formed in the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) sized to cooperate with the gate ( 340 ) such that application of the first force results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ).

5. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 3 , wherein the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) is an integral portion of the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) and has a dispensing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 242 ), a portion that is a dispensing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 244 ) that secures the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) and serves as a line about which the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) may pivot as a portion of the gate ( 340 ) is forced through a void in the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) previously occupied by the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ).

6. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 5 , wherein the dispensing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 242 ) includes a portion of that is a dispensing substrate initiation region breakaway edge ( 243 ) that initially secures the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) until the first force reaches a predetermined magnitude causing the breakaway edge ( 243 ) to release from the remainder of the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) and pivot about the dispensing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 244 ), thereby allowing a portion of the gate ( 340 ) to pass a void in the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) previously occupied by the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ).

7. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein application of the first force to the portion of the gate ( 340 ) results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) resulting in movement of the gate free edge ( 343 ) such that the gate ( 340 ) does not block access to the article dispensing region ( 440 ).

8. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 7 , wherein the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) defines a void formed in the backing substrate ( 400 ) sized to cooperate with the gate ( 340 ) such that application of the first force results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ).

9. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 7 , wherein the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) is an integral portion of the backing substrate ( 400 ) and has a backing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 432 ), a portion that is a backing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 434 ) that secures the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) to the backing substrate ( 400 ) and serves as a line about which the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) may pivot as a portion of the gate ( 340 ) is forced through a void in the backing substrate ( 400 ) previously occupied by the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ).

10. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 9 , wherein the backing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 432 ) includes a portion of that is a backing substrate initiation region breakaway edge ( 433 ) that initially secures the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) to the backing substrate ( 400 ) until the first force reaches a predetermined magnitude causing the breakaway edge ( 433 ) to release from the remainder of the backing substrate ( 400 ) and pivot about the backing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 434 ), thereby allowing a portion of the gate ( 340 ) to pass a void in the backing substrate ( 400 ) previously occupied by the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ).

11. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the backing substrate article dispensing region ( 440 ) defines a void formed in the backing substrate ( 400 ) sized to cooperate with the medicament (M) so that the medicament (M) may pass through the article dispensing region ( 440 ) for distribution.

12. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the backing substrate article dispensing region ( 440 ) is an integral portion of the backing substrate ( 400 ) having a separation line ( 444 ) selectively reducing the strength of the backing substrate ( 400 ), thereby permitting the medicament (M) to break a portion of the article dispensing region ( 440 ) free of the backing substrate ( 400 ) along the separation line ( 444 ) when the medicament (M) is exposed to the second force, thereby permitting the medicament (M) to pass through the article dispensing region ( 440 ) for distribution.

13. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 12 , wherein the separation line ( 444 ) is located substantially on the article dispensing region perimeter ( 442 ).

14. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 13 , wherein the separation line ( 444 ) comprises one or more of the group consisting of die cuts, perforations, indentations, score lines, and weakened fracture lines.

15. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the blocking substrate ( 300 ) and the backing substrate ( 400 ) are comprised of a material and thickness that cannot be readily ruptured by a human finger pushing on the medicament (M) in the article receiving blister ( 190 ).

16. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) and the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) are sized to cooperate with the dimensions of a tip of a human finger.

17. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 16 , wherein the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) and the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) are between approximately 0.12 square inches and approximately 0.5 square inches.

18. A child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) for housing a medicament (M), comprising:

(a) a blister portion ( 100 ) having:

(i) a base layer ( 110 ) having a base layer perimeter ( 120 ), a base layer exterior surface ( 130 ), and a base layer interior surface ( 140 );

(ii) a dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) integral to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) and having a dispensing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 242 ) with (a) a portion that is a dispensing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 244 ) that secures the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) and serves as a line about which the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) may pivot, and (b) a portion that is a dispensing substrate initiation region breakaway edge ( 243 ) that initially secures the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) until acted upon by a force of a predetermined magnitude that causes the breakaway edge ( 243 ) to release from the remainder of the dispensing substrate ( 200 );

(i) a backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) integral to the backing substrate ( 400 ) and having a backing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 432 ) with (a) a portion that is a backing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 434 ) that secures the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) to the backing substrate ( 400 ) and serves as a line about which the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) may pivot, and (b) a portion that is a backing substrate initiation region breakaway edge ( 433 ) that initially secures the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) to the backing substrate ( 400 ) until acted upon by a force of a predetermined magnitude causing the breakaway edge ( 433 ) to release from the remainder of the backing substrate ( 400 ); and

19. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein the gate ( 340 ) has a fold promoting characteristic ( 350 ) that causes the gate ( 340 ) to begin to fold about the fold promoting characteristic ( 350 ) when the gate ( 340 ) is displaced out of the plane of the package ( 10 ) by the first force, thereby creating a pivot projection ( 352 ) that is easily pivoted about the gate retaining edge ( 348 ) and away from the article receiving blister ( 190 ) drawing the gate free edge ( 343 ) past the article receiving blister ( 190 ) to permit dispensing of the medicament (M).

20. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein application of the first force to the portion of the gate ( 340 ) results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) resulting in movement of the gate free edge ( 343 ) such that the gate ( 340 ) does not block access to the article dispensing region ( 440 ).

21. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein application of the first force to the portion of the gate ( 340 ) results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) resulting in movement of the gate free edge ( 343 ) such that the gate ( 340 ) does not block access to the article dispensing region ( 440 ).

22. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein the backing substrate article dispensing region ( 440 ) defines a void formed in the backing substrate ( 400 ) sized to cooperate with the medicament (M) so that the medicament (M) may pass through the article dispensing region ( 440 ) for distribution.

23. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein the backing substrate article dispensing region ( 440 ) is an integral portion of the backing substrate ( 400 ) having a separation line ( 444 ) selectively reducing the strength of the backing substrate ( 400 ), thereby permitting the medicament (M) to break a portion of the article dispensing region ( 440 ) free of the backing substrate ( 400 ) along the separation line ( 444 ) when the medicament (M) is exposed to the second force, thereby permitting the medicament (M) to pass through the article dispensing region ( 440 ) for distribution.

24. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 23 , wherein the separation line ( 444 ) is located substantially on the article dispensing region perimeter ( 442 ).

25. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein the blocking substrate ( 300 ) and the backing substrate ( 400 ) are comprised of a material and thickness that cannot be readily ruptured by a human finger pushing on the medicament (M) in the article receiving blister ( 190 ).

26. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 18 , wherein the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) and the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) are sized to cooperate with the dimensions of a tip of a human finger.

27. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 26 , wherein the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) and the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) are between approximately 0.12 square inches and approximately 0.5 square inches.

28. A medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) for housing a medicament (M), comprising:

(a) a blister portion ( 100 ) having:

(i) a base layer ( 110 ) having a base layer perimeter ( 120 ), a base layer exterior surface ( 130 ), and a base layer interior surface ( 140 );

(ii) a dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ), sized to cooperate with the dimensions of a tip of a human finger, integral to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) and having a dispensing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 242 ) with (a) a portion that is a dispensing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 244 ) that secures the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) and serves as a line about which the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) may pivot, and (b) a portion that is a dispensing substrate initiation region breakaway edge ( 243 ) that initially secures the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) to the dispensing substrate ( 200 ) until acted upon by a force of a predetermined magnitude that causes the breakaway edge ( 243 ) to release from the remainder of the dispensing substrate ( 200 );

(c) a blocking substrate ( 300 ) having a blocking substrate perimeter ( 301 ), a blocking substrate front surface ( 310 ), and a blocking substrate rear surface ( 320 ), wherein the blocking substrate ( 300 ) includes a gate ( 340 ) having a gate perimeter ( 342 ) including a gate free edge ( 343 ) and a gate retaining edge ( 348 ), wherein the gate ( 340 ) has a fold promoting characteristic ( 350 ) that causes the gate ( 340 ) to begin to fold about the fold promoting characteristic ( 350 ) when the gate ( 340 ) is displaced out of the plane of the package ( 10 ) by the first force, thereby creating a pivot projection ( 352 ) that is easily pivoted about the gate retaining edge ( 348 ) and away from the article receiving blister ( 190 ) drawing the gate free edge ( 343 ) past the article receiving blister ( 190 ) to permit dispensing of the medicament (M);

(i) a backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ), sized to cooperate with the dimensions of a tip of a human finger, integral to the backing substrate ( 400 ) and having a backing substrate initiation region perimeter ( 432 ) with (a) a portion that is a backing substrate initiation region retaining edge ( 434 ) that secures the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) to the backing substrate ( 400 ) and serves as a line about which the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) may pivot, and (b) a portion that is a backing substrate initiation region breakaway edge ( 433 ) that initially secures the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) to the backing substrate ( 400 ) until acted upon by a force of a predetermined magnitude causing the breakaway edge ( 433 ) to release from the remainder of the backing substrate ( 400 ); and

(ii) an article dispensing region ( 440 ) having an article dispensing region perimeter ( 442 ), wherein the article dispensing region ( 440 ) is configured to cooperate with the blister portion ( 100 ) and the article dispensing region ( 440 ) is an integral portion of the backing substrate ( 400 ) having a separation line ( 444 ) located substantially on the article dispensing region perimeter ( 442 ) to selectively reducing the strength of the backing substrate ( 400 ), thereby permitting the medicament (M) to break a portion of the article dispensing region ( 440 ) free of the backing substrate ( 400 ) along the separation line ( 444 ) when the medicament (M) is exposed to the second force, thereby permitting the medicament (M) to pass through the article dispensing region ( 440 ) for distribution; and

29. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 28 , wherein application of the first force to the portion of the gate ( 340 ) results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the dispensing substrate initiation region ( 240 ) resulting in movement of the gate free edge ( 343 ) such that the gate ( 340 ) does not block access to the article dispensing region ( 440 ).

30. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 28 , wherein application of the first force to the portion of the gate ( 340 ) results in a portion of the gate ( 340 ) extending through the backing substrate initiation region ( 430 ) resulting in movement of the gate free edge ( 343 ) such that the gate ( 340 ) does not block access to the article dispensing region ( 440 ).

31. The child resistant medicament storage and distribution package ( 10 ) of claim 28 , wherein the blocking substrate ( 300 ) and the backing substrate ( 400 ) are comprised of a material and thickness that cannot be readily ruptured by a human finger pushing on the medicament (M) in the article receiving blister ( 190 ).