US3677397A - Package for dosage units - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to packages for dosage units comprising a sheet-like holder in which the dosage units are arranged in rows and a wallet in which the holder is removably enclosed, the wallet having an internal shape complementary to the external shape of the wallet such that the holder can be inserted in the wallet in only one position.

Description

United States Patent Beckham 51 July 18, 1972 54] PACKAGE FOR DOSAGE UNITS [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Robinson Beckham, Durham, England UNITED STATES PATENTS [73] Assi e B D H Hunu l Li i d, Edi 3,324,995 6/1967 Sharp; Jr ..206/42 burgh, Scotland 3,428,167 2/ 1969 Hung Tao Sheng..... [22] Filed: April 22 1970 3,554,429 1/1971 Cohen ..206/73 X PP 30,822 Primary Excminer.loseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe 30 Foreign A fl fi priority Data Attorney-W. R. Liberman April 25, 1969 Great Britain ..2l,18l/69 [57] ABSTRACT [52] 11.8. C1. ..206/42, 150/52 R, 206/46 P, This invention relates to packages for dosage units comprising 229/11. a sheet-like holder in which the dosage units are arranged in 1 fm 3659 83/04 rows and a wallet in which the holder is removably enclosed, [5 8] F mid of Search ..206/42, DIG. 5, 46 P, 56 AB; the wallet having an internal shape complementary to the ISO/0.5, 52 R, 39; 229/9, 11; 116/121 temal shape of the wallet such that the holder can be inserted in the wallet in only one position.

3 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,397

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FIGB. ,7

( Qllq Q 9.9.. 2 \QllQQ Q 9* GOOD INVENTCDR 508mm 6 4m ATTORNEY PACKAGE FOR DOSAGE UNITS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In much drug therapy it is necessary for drugs to be administered orally in accordance with a rigid regimen requiring that drugs in mixed dosage forms are administered in a strict sequence. For example, it is commonplace to supply oral contraceptive drugs in packs or containers each containing a number of tablets, usually 21 to 28, which have to be taken in a strict sequence over a cycle of, usually, 21 to 28 days. Some of the tablets in such a pack contain contraceptive drugs and others in the same pack are placebo tablets which have no contraceptive effect. If the tablets are not administered in the proper sequence, conception becomes possible.v

An object of the invention is to provide a pack which enables drugs to be taken in a predetermined sequence with less risk of error than is usual with known packs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A wallet pack for containing drugs comprises a holder 1, for

tablets in the form of a laminated sheet of plastics material or card or other suitable material. The holder is conveniently in the form of a rigid or semi-rigid sheet of plastics material formed with a plurality of bubbles or blisters 2 arranged in horizontal and vertical rows. A sheet of frangible metal foil is affixed to one side of the plastics sheet. A tablet is contained in each bubble or blister 2. The tablets are ejected by pressing on the blisters 2 so that the tablet breaks through the frangible metal foil. Such holders are in common use and are usually known as blister packs.

The holder 1 of the present invention has its opposite side edges provided with inwardly directed shoulders 3 so that the holder has one portion, hereinafter considered the bottom portion, which is narrower than the other or top portion. If desired, the side edges of this narrower bottom portion can, converge towards the bottom edge. Alternatively, the holder can have opposite side edges which converge to a third or bottom edge as shown in FIG. 3.

The blisters 2 are arranged in this holder 1 in horizontal and vertical rows. Sufficient space is left on the holder above the top row of blisters to enable an indicator 4, hereinafter called a day strip, to be fixed in the space on the side of the holder covered by the transparent plastics material.

The day strip 4 can have a surface on which a user of the package can write directions for taking the drug.

Alternatively, the day strip can form part of a day card supplied separately with the holder. The day card consists of seven strips of material separated from each other by rows of perforations or other means which enable the strips to be torn off from the card. The strips each contain indications of the desired sequence for administration of the drugs. Thus, for example, each of the strips has printed on it the name of one of the days of the week and each of these indications registers with one of the vertical rows of blisters-on the holder there being seven such vertical rows. The day card includes 7 day strips and the indications on each of the strips begins with a different day of the week and then runs through the remainder of the days in the proper sequence. Thus, the first strip has Sunday printed to register with the first vertical row and Saturday to register with the last vertical row while the second strip has Monday printed to register with the first vertical row and Sunday to register with the last and so on. When the tablets are supplied the desired starting day for the treatment or sequence of drugs is selected and the strip for that sequence is torn off and affixed above the top row of blisters. The other strips are then discarded. The dosage scheme is then carried out by taking all of the tablets in the top or first horizontal row and then carrying on through the tablets in the second horizontal row and so on until the tablets are all exhausted. If it is desired to continue the dosage scheme it is then necessary to obtain a new holder.

The holder 1 is removably contained in a wallet pack 5. The internal shape of the wallet pack 5 is complementary to that of the external shape of the holder 1 so that the holder can only be inserted in the wallet pack in one position which is the correct position. The upper edge of the wallet 5 contains a notch 6 which facilitates the removal of the holder 1. The clay strip will of course, emerge first when the holder is withdrawn from the wallet and the uppermost row of blisters will be the first row to emerge. The tablets which are taken are always taken from the first emerging row.

The wallet pack is made of plastics material with a discreet styling or get-up" and is of such a size that it can be carried in a womens handbag.

Both the wallet pack and the holder are disposable.

The top portion of the wallet 5 is provided with a means 7 which cooperates with notch 6 to assist in the extraction of the holder from the wallet.

What we claim is:

l. A package for dosage units comprising a generally flat sheet-like support member of trapezoidal outline having a first short edge parallel to a longer opposite edge a pair of sides joining the ends of the short and longer edges, means on the support to receive therewithin a plurality of dosage units in rows parallel to the short and longer parallel edges, indicia receiving means on the support between the said longer edge and the first of the dosage units receiving rows, a generally trapezoidal container for the support having an opening thereunto longer than the aforementioned short edge of the support and means on the support, adjacent the indicia receiving means, and extending axially of the support beyond the longer edge thereof providing a manually engageable finger grip for the insertion and withdrawal of the support into and out of the folder.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder has two opposite side edges formed with inwardly directed shoulders so that the holder has two portions one of which is of smaller area than the other, a plurality of dosage units being arranged in parallel rows in the portion of smaller area and an indicator strip being provided on the portion of larger area.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support has two opposite non-parallel side edges which converge towards the short edge.

Claims (3)

1. A package for dosage units comprising a generally flat sheetlike support member of trapezoidal outline having a first short edge parallel to a longer opposite edge a pair of sides joining the ends of the short and longer edges, means on the support to receive therewithin a plurality of dosage units in rows parallel to the short and longer parallel edges, indicia receiving means on the support between the said longer edge and the first of the dosage units receiving rows, a generally trapezoidal container for the support having an opening thereunto longer than the aforementioned short edge of the support and means on the support, adjacent the indicia receiving means, and extending axially of the support beyond the longer edge thereof providing a manually engageable finger grip for the insertion and withdrawal of the support into and out of the folder.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holder has two opposite side edges formed with inwardly directed shoulders so that the holder has two portions one of which is of smaller area than the other, a plurality of dosage units being arranged in parallel rows in the portion of smaller area and an indicator strip being provided on the portion of larger area.

3. A package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support has two opposite non-parallel side edges which converge towards the short edge.

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