EP1964788A1 - Blister packaging having a safety device for successive removal - Google Patents

Abstract

In a base section (6) there are tear-off inhibitor devices each stretching along a row so as to make push-through areas safe for blister-packed material. So as to set a specific removal sequence in advance for blister-packed items, the inhibitor devices are structured like segments and contain interlinked tear-off inhibitor segments (7',7''). Each inhibitor segment partly masks a push-through area for blister-packed material. An independent claim is also included for a blank for a blister pack.

Description

The invention relates to a blister pack for a blister according to the preamble of claim 1. Such blisters are mainly used for packaging medicines in the form of tablets, capsules, dragees, etc. The blisters consist of a provided with wells for receiving packaged carrier sheet and a pressure-sensitive flat cover sheet through which the packaged is durchdrückbar. For specific medicines, it can be important for a patient or another user to follow a certain order of intake (so-called "compliance").

A compliance packaging is for example in the EP 1 674 408 A1 shown. The blister pack has a blister section and a bottom section between which a blister is inserted. To specify a particular order of removal, a further section is provided, which is arranged between the blister and the bottom section. This section has juxtaposed slide elements, which are displaceable from a blocking position to an open position. Although this blister pack has good compliance properties, it has been found that handling can be difficult, especially for very old users.

From the US 4,125,190 is a generic comparable blister pack known in which a blister is sandwiched between two recessed sections used. The recesses through which the packaged goods are to be passed during the push-through process, are secured by a securing portion which forms the back of the blister pack. This securing portion has a tear strip. In practice, it has been shown that the packaging is also relatively easy for children to open or can be made ready for use. The tear strip in particular has the disadvantage that it is torn off in one go and thus releases all the push-through areas arranged in a row at once. This blister pack is therefore hardly suitable for compliance purposes.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known, in particular to provide a blister pack of the type mentioned, which meets high standards of compliance. Furthermore, it should also be designed child-friendly and senior-friendly. The blister pack should then be easy to manufacture with low material costs and in an automatic packaging line.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved with a blister pack having the features of claim 1. The blister portion and / or the bottom portion may be made of cardboard, a cardboard laminate or other sheet-formed material. The blister pack into which the blister can be sandwiched can advantageously be made from a single blank. Depending on the intended use, the blister pack can be designed as a blister card, as a blister wallet (this would require at least one cover section) or even as a box. The bottom section and the blister section may be connected to one another in an outer edge region which is not acted on by the blister. This fixation may preferably be an adhesive bond. Of course, between the bottom portion and the blister still another portion may be provided, for example, each having a press-through portion associated recesses.

The blocking means are constructed in a segment-like manner, wherein they abut each other subsequent, tear-off barrier segments included. The blocking segments can each be formed by preferably closed weakening lines, in particular by perforation lines. In each case, a blocking segment at least partially covers a push-through region for packaged goods. This arrangement establishes a particular order of picking for a user that can not be bypassed in practice. The corresponding to the wells arranged in rows barrier segments ensure that on a mechanical way skipping or skipping of packaged in a number of wells is not possible. The packaging therefore meets high standards in terms of compliance.

A first blocking segment forming a starting point of a row may have a flag portion. A blister segment corresponding to the flag portion can be provided in the blister section. By applying pressure to the push-through segment, the tab portion can be separable from the plane of the bottom portion, whereby the tab portion can be grasped for tearing off the first barrier segment. With such an arrangement, a high child safety can be achieved.

According to a further embodiment, the blocking segments can only partially cover a push-through region. The blocking segments may for example be strip-shaped, wherein the width of such a strip may be smaller than the extent of the push-through. In terms of its extent, a push-through region approximately corresponds to the recess for a cup. For example, the width of the strip may be less than 60% of the push-through area or the extent of the recess.

To completely release a push-through area, at least one fuse segment can be connected laterally to each blocking segment, which is at least partially separable from the bottom portion. The securing element can be predetermined for example by perforation lines. Thus, a removal process for packaged goods is divided into at least two phases. First, an individually breakable barrier segment must be removed, only then can the at least one securing element be separated from the bottom section at least partially. Now, under normal pressurization, the corresponding packaged goods can be forced through the cover film. In this way, the child safety can be further increased. Surprisingly, it has been found in tests that this arrangement can also be advantageous in conventional blister packs. The blocking means would therefore not necessarily have to be constructed in a segment-like manner and contain adjoining, breakable blocking segments.

It may be advantageous if the securing element is a folding section which can be opened out of the plane of the bottom section. A folding line around which a folding section can be opened can, for example, be a groove created by an embossing process. The folding line may preferably run parallel to the direction of the row. The folding sections can either be opened by the user by intervention by means of fingernails or during the pushing out process of the packaged goods.

It can be particularly advantageous if, for the complete release of the push-through region, each blocking segment has two securing elements, wherein the securing elements are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of a blocking segment. Instead of arranging securing elements on both sides of the blocking segments, it would of course also be possible to provide only one securing element which is assigned to a blocking segment.

The securing elements can be separated from the associated blocking segments by preferably perforation lines running in the direction of a row. The blister packaging can be designed such that after tearing off a barrier segment, the securing elements preferably connected by a few holding points with the bottom portion remain in a blocking position. Because of the few breakpoints the fuse elements can be opened in a simple manner without much effort or otherwise separated from the bottom section.

The blocking segments associated with a row can adjoin one another laterally, wherein they can be arranged alternately and offset in the row. The blocking segments of a row can to a certain extent be arranged on two lines running in the direction of the row, which lie next to one another. In this case, successive blocking segments can be arranged alternately on the lines. This results in a serpentine configuration.

In a further embodiment, in each case a front end of a locking segment related to the direction of the removal order can be separated from a securing element by a line of weakness associated with a preceding blocking segment such that after the at least partial separation of the preceding securing element from the bottom section, the following blocking segment in one Lock or rest position remains. The weakening line may preferably be a perforation and / or cut line, with a cut line with few stopping points being particularly preferred.

In each case with respect to the direction of the removal order front end of a locking segment may protrude into a securing element of a preceding locking segment, whereby after at least Partial separation of the previous locking segment, the front end of a locking segment, for example, manually detectable. Such a design may facilitate handling of the blister package.

The front end of a locking segment can each be U-shaped. The securing element of a preceding locking segment may accordingly have a complementary U-shaped indentation.

A blister with a first and at least a second row of cups for packaged goods can be designed in such a way that the barrier segments assigned to the first and the second row are connected to one another. Such connected rows ensure that the removal order can be specified for the entire blister.

It may be particularly preferred if the last blocking segment of the first row is preferably connected integrally with a first blocking segment forming a starting point of the second row via an arcuate bridge section. This special bridge barrier segment can thus at least partially cover two push-through areas for packaged goods at the same time. Of course, it is also conceivable to separate the last blocking segment of the first row from the first blocking segment of the second row by a weakening line, in particular by a perforation or cutting line.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a blank for the previously described blister pack. The blank has a blister portion and a bottom portion separated by a fold line. Thus, for sandwiching the blister, only the bottom portion needs to be cut to be folded around the blister section. Of course, this blank may further comprise a lid portion with which the blister portion would be covered to protect the cups.

Figur 1

einen Zuschnitt für eine erfindungsgemässe Blisterverpackung,

Figur 2

eine vergrösserte Detailansicht des Zuschnitts gemäss Figur 1 mit Sperrsegmenten und diesen zugeordneten, aufklappbaren Sicherungselementen (Ausschnitt A),

Figur 3

eine Ansicht auf eine Rückseite einer aus dem Zuschnitt gemäss Figur 1 hergestellten Blisterverpackung in ungeöffnetem Zustand,

Figur 4

die Blisterverpackung gemäss Figur 3 mit einem freigegebenen Durchdrückbereich im Startpunkt,

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer weiteren Blisterverpackung,

Figur 6

einen Zuschnitt für die Blisterverpackung gemäss Figur 5,

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Teil-Darstellung einer Blisterverpackung in ungeöffnetem Zustand,

Figur 8

die Blisterverpackung gemäss Figur 7 mit einem nach Druckbeaufschlagung durch ein Durchdrücksegment abgetrennten Fahnenabschnitt,

Figur 9

die Blisterverpackung gemäss Figur 7 mit einem vollständig freigegebenen Durchdrückbereich im Startpunkt,

Figur 10

einen Zuschnitt für eine alternative Blisterverpackung, die nicht Gegenstand der Erfindung ist, und

Figur 11

eine vergrösserte Darstellung auf einen Bodenabschnitt des Zuschnitts gemäss Figur 10.

Further individual features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments and from the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a blank for a blister pack according to the invention,

FIG. 2

an enlarged detail view of the blank according to FIG. 1 with locking segments and their associated, hinged securing elements (detail A),

FIG. 3

a view on a back one of the blank according to FIG. 1 produced blister pack in unopened condition,

FIG. 4

the blister pack according to FIG. 3 with a released push-through area in the starting point,

FIG. 5

a perspective view of another blister pack,

FIG. 6

a blank for the blister pack according FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7

a partial perspective view of a blister pack in the unopened state,

FIG. 8

the blister pack according to FIG. 7 with a segment of a flag separated after being pressurized by a push-through segment,

FIG. 9

the blister pack according to FIG. 7 with a fully released push-through area at the starting point,

FIG. 10

a blank for an alternative blister pack, which is not the subject of the invention, and

FIG. 11

an enlarged view of a bottom portion of the blank according to FIG. 10 ,

FIG. 1 shows a designated blister for a blister pack. In such blister packs commercially available blisters can be used sandwiched. The blisters consist of a provided with wells for receiving packaged carrier sheet and a pressure-sensitive flat cover sheet through which the packaged is durchdrückbar. As a rule, the cups are arranged in one or more rows.

As FIG. 1 shows, 5 recesses 10 are provided for receiving the wells of a blister on a Blisterabschnitt. The blister portion 5 is separated by a fold line 16 from a bottom portion 6 which defines the back of the blister pack.
The bottom portion 6 is apparently contained in rows extending blocking means. The locking means are constructed in a segment-like manner and contain adjoining, breakable locking segments, which are marked with 7. Each blocking segment 7, 7 ', 7 ", etc. serves in each case for securing a push-through region for a packaged product eg in the US 4,125,190 - Between the bottom portion 6 and a blister also be provided a further section, which has the Durchdrückbereichen associated recesses.

The blocking segment 7 predetermining a starting point has a flag portion 8 which can interact with a corresponding push-through segment 9 on the blister portion 5. The push-through segment 9 must be pressed against the flag portion from the front (cf. Fig. 3 ). On the other hand, the second blocking segment 7 'and the following blocking segments 7 ", 7"' and 7 ' ^v need only be acted upon by gripping from the rear side. The removal direction is indicated by an arrow e. The last blocking segment 7 ^{v of} the first row is integrally connected via an arcuate bridge section to a first blocking segment 7 ^v forming a starting point of the second row. The following blocking segments of the second row are similar to the blocking segments 7 ', 7 ", 7"' of the first row.

Out FIG. 1 goes on to show that the locking segments connect to each other in such a way that results in a serpentine configuration. Each blocking segment are assigned as folding sections designed securing elements 11 and 12.

The exact configuration of the blocking and securing arrangement according to the invention is shown in FIG FIG. 2 good to see. With dashed lines perforation lines are shown. Furthermore, solid lines are visible, representing the cutting lines and which are interrupted by short vertical lines. These short dashes indicate breakpoints 19. Then also dash-dotted lines can be seen indicating the grooves or grooves created by an embossing process. This assignment of the lines also applies to the following figures.

As FIG. 2 shows, the folding lines 20 and 21 of the securing elements 11 and 12 are predetermined by grooving. The tear-off barrier segments adjoin one another laterally in the region of their ends. The front end of the exemplary blocking segment 7 ", referred to the direction e of the removal sequence, protrudes into the securing element 11 'of the preceding blocking segment 7', whereby the front end of the blocking segment 7" is U-shaped. The securing element 11 'of the preceding locking segment 7' correspondingly has a complementary U-shaped indentation. In the U-shaped section of the dividing line between the blocking segment 7 "and the securing element 11 ', only one stopping point is provided.

In FIG. 3 is a back of a blister pack recognizable. With a hatched area a push-through segment 9 is indicated, which is arranged under the flag portion 8 in the blister section. In FIG. 4 is completely released at the starting point of the row of the indicated by an imaginary, dotted circle push-through for the first packaged. The first locking segment 7 has been removed, the flap sections 11 and 12 have been opened. In this position, the packaged goods would only have to be pushed through the cover foil of the blister. Then, to remove the second packaged product of the series, the second blocking segment 7 'can be grasped and torn off in the region of its front end. Evidently, the front, U-shaped end of the locking segment 7 'protrudes into the exposed space of the first packaged goods, whereby it can be easily grasped with the fingers.

As FIG. 5 shows, the blister pack 1 can also be designed as BlisterWallet. For this purpose, a lid portion 17 is provided. Furthermore, in FIG. 5 a pocket for patient information recognizable. Between a pocket portion 28 and the lid portion 17 these are insertable. In FIG. 6 is the associated blank 15 for the blister after FIG. 5 shown.

In the FIGS. 7 to 9 the removal process for removing a first packaged goods in a row can be seen. FIG. 7 shows the blister pack 1 in a starting position. In this position, the flag portion 8 of the first locking segment 7 is still in the plane of the bottom portion 6. By pressurizing the opposite side of the push-through segment (segment 9, see. Fig. 1 and 3 ), the flag portion 8 can be separated from the plane of the bottom portion 6. The raised flag portion 8 could now be detected with a finger and the blocking segment 7 then demolished ( FIG. 8). FIG. 9 shows a blister pack 1, in which the first blocking segment has been completely removed. Furthermore, a hole 22 can be seen. This hole results when the push-through segment has been completely removed from the blister section.

In the folding section 11, the indentation 29 is clearly visible. Also clearly visible is the front, U-shaped end 28 of the second locking segment 7 '. The front end 28 is exposed and could be detected to remove the second packaged product of the series.

The FIGS. 10 and 11 show a variant of a locking and securing arrangement in a bottom section 6. This embodiment is not covered by the present invention. However, it could be the subject of a separate invention.

The blank 27 for a blister pack has a cut section and perforation lines as well as specially designed rolled lines bottom section 6. Although here are - like provided in the preceding embodiments - adjoining, tear-off segments. However, these segments 24, 25 and 26 do not cover a push-through area for packaged goods, but serve to secure the blocking segments 7. The blocking segments 7 each partially cover a push-through area for packaged goods. Laterally folding sections 12 are arranged on both sides of the locking segments 7. The flap portions 12 may be formed approximately the same, resulting in each push-through an approximately mirror-symmetrical structure of the respective blocking means arrangement.

In FIG. 11 is indicated by a dashed circle 18 a push-through area for packaged goods. As can be seen, this push-through area is covered by the blocking segment 7 and the flap sections 12 adjoining laterally therefrom. Before a blocking segment 7 can be torn off, a tear-away segment 25 arranged in the region of the front end of the blocking segment 7 must be torn away. These breakaway segments 25 are evidently arranged in a row adjacent to one another. The starting point is a designated first 24 Wegreisssegment having an extension. Corresponding to the first breakaway segment, a push-through segment 9 is provided on the bottom section 5, with the aid of which the breakaway segment 24 can be separated from the plane of the bottom section in the region of its extension.

Claims (13)

A blister pack (1) for a blister (2), in which the packaged product is received in at least one row of cups (3), with a blister portion (5) and a bottom portion (6) between which portions of the blister can be sandwiched or inserted wherein the blister portion (5) has recesses (10) for receiving the cups (3) of the blister (2) and wherein in the bottom portion (6) breakable, respectively along a series extending locking means are provided for securing the push-through for packaging material, characterized in that, in order to specify a specific order of removal of packaged goods, the blocking means are constructed in a segment-like manner and contain adjoining tear-off blocking segments (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 ' ^v , 7 ^v ), one blocking segment ( 7) at least partially covers a push-through region for packaged goods. A blister pack according to claim 1, characterized in that a first blocking segment (7) forming a starting point of a row has a flag portion (8) and that a corresponding push-through segment (9) is provided in the blister portion (5), pressure being applied to the push-through segment (9 ) the flag portion (8) from the plane of the bottom portion (6) is separable, whereby for tearing off the first locking segment (7) of the flag portion (8) can be taken. Blister pack according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blocking segments (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 ' ^v , 7 ^v ) only partially cover a push-through region and that for completely releasing a push-through region at each Locking segment (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 " ^v , 7 ^v ) laterally at least one at least partially from the bottom portion (6) separable fuse element (11, 12) adjoins. Blister pack according to claim 3, characterized in that the securing element is a hinged from the plane of the bottom portion (6) folding portion (11, 12). Blister pack according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that for complete release of a push-through each locking segment (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 " ^v , 7 ^v ) has two securing elements (11, 12), wherein the Securing elements (11) in each case on two opposite sides of a locking segment (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 ' ^v , 7 ^v )) are arranged. Blister pack according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the securing elements (11, 12) by preferably extending in the direction of a series of perforation lines of the associated blocking segments (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 " ^v , 7 ^v ) are separated and that after tearing off a barrier segment (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 ' ^v , 7 ^v ) preferably connected by a few breakpoints with the bottom portion (6) securing elements (11, 12) in one Lock position remain. Blister pack according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the series associated blocking segments (7, 7 ', 7 ", 7"', 7 " ^v ) connect laterally to each other, wherein they are arranged alternately and offset in the series. Blister pack according to claim 5 or 6 and claim 7, characterized in that in each case one with respect to the direction of the removal order front end of a barrier segment (7 ") by a line of weakness, preferably a perforation and / or cutting line, particularly preferably one Section line with a few breakpoints of a securing element (11 ') is separated, which is associated with a preceding blocking segment (7') that after the at least partially separating the preceding securing element (11 ') from the bottom portion (6), the subsequent blocking segment (7 ") remains in a locked or rest position. Blister pack according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that in each case one with respect to the direction of the removal order front end of a locking segment (7 ") protrudes into a securing element (11 ') of a preceding locking segment (7'). Blister pack according to claim 9, characterized in that the front end (28) of a blocking segment (7 ") is in each case U-shaped and the securing element (11 ') of a preceding blocking segment (7') has a complementary U-shaped indentation (29). having. Blister pack according to one of claims 1 to 6 for a blister with a first and at least a second row of cups (3) for packaged goods, characterized in that the first and second row associated blocking segments (7 ' ^v , 7 ^v ) connect to each other , Blister pack according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the last blocking segment (7 ^v ) of the first row preferably via an arcuate bridge section is integrally connected to a starting point of the second row forming the first blocking segment (7 ^v ). Blank for a blister pack according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the blister section (5) and the bottom section (6) are separated from one another by a fold line (16).

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