A blister and package system made of a blister card and an outer package with unique interacting locking mechanisms. The blister card or strip is inserted into the outer package or sleeve and locks immediately without having to further process the outer package or the blister card or strip. The user is able to expose the blisters from the outer package by disengaging the lock. The blister card or strip includes a formable, pliable sheet material, into which one or more individual cavities or blisters are formed. The separated cavities are loaded with product and sealed with one or more layers of puncturable or tearable sheet material, such as aluminum foil. The blister card or strip contains a plastic rivet assembly that forms an interference mechanism. The rivet is trapped by an internally formed panel and stopped by a catch flap included in the outer package.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of packaging, and more particularly, to a dispenser package having a blister strip encapsulated in an outer sleeve. The package, preferably, has a locking function designed to provide senior citizens easy access to the contained drugs while preventing a child from gaining access to the contents of the blister strip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blister card packages are commonly used for distribution of many products including pharmaceutical drugs, batteries, sewing kits, toy cars, etc. A blister card package is used as a stiffener or backing sheet for packaging a product contained in a blister, which may comprise a blister strip having a single row of individual blisters, or a solid form blister having a two-dimensional matrix of individual blisters (which will be discussed in more detail below). Typically, the blister card package is comprised of pre-printed stiff paper, such as cardboard, that is folded to create at least two adjacent sides. One or both of the sides typically contain an aperture. The product to be packaged is usually encased in a clear plastic individual blister, which may be inserted between the two adjacent sides of the blister card package such that the product protrudes from one or both apertures. The two cardboard sides are then sealed, typically via application of heat and pressure, to retain the plastic individual blister within its blister card packaging.

Blister card packages may accommodate individual blisters (as illustrated above) or may be designed to accept blister strips or solid form blisters. The latter are commonly used to package pharmaceutical drugs for public distribution or clinical trials. Pharmaceutical drugs are distributed in many forms such as capsule, pill, lozenge, etc., which are amenable to distribution in blister strips or solid form blisters.

A blister strip comprises a contiguous strip of plastic individual blisters having a common backing, such as foil, that is one unit wide by any number of units long. In contrast, solid form blisters comprise both horizontal and vertical rows of individual blisters, however, solid form blisters also typically share a common backing.

Blister strips and solid form blisters are popular containers for pharmaceutical drugs because the strips may be specially configured to meet the dosage requirements of the drug. For example, an antibiotic drug prescription may require 16 pills to be taken in a specific order. The blister strip or solid form blister may be manufactured such that the pills are packaged in the same order that the pills should be taken. The blister strip or solid form blister may then be packaged in a pre-printed blister card package that contains printed instructions regarding when and how to take each dose. (Additionally, the insertion of one 16-dose strip or one 4-dose wide by 4-dose long solid form blister into a blister card package is much easier to perform than the insertion of 16 distinct blisters arranged in a specific order). Therefore, pharmaceutical drugs distributed to the public or used in clinical trials are typically packaged in blister strips or solid form blisters contained within a sealed blister card package.

Many blister card packaged products, especially pharmaceutical drugs, can be harmful, or even lethal, to children or mentally impaired adults. At the same time, however, the products contained in blister card packages may be vital to the health of other adults including senior citizens, some of which may have impaired physical and cognitive skills and/or poor eyesight. Consequently, it is desirable to manufacture blister card packages that impede a child's access to the product contained in the blister while simultaneously facilitating a senior citizen's access to its content. Such packaging is known in the art and is commonly referred to as child-resistant and senior-friendly packaging.

The federal government has implemented various laws to ensure that materials deemed by the government to be dangerous are packaged in child-resistant and senior-friendly packaging. Specifically, the federal government enacted the Poison Prevention Act of 1970 (“PPA”) (Pub. L. 91-601, 84 Stat. 1670, 15 U.S.C. 1471-75) on Dec. 30, 1970, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Poison Prevention Act of 1970 requires harmful substances to be packaged in child-resistant packaging, i.e., such that children under 5 years of age, having no physical or mental handicaps, cannot “open or obtain a harmful amount of the substance contained therein within a reasonable time” and senior-friendly packaging, i.e., such packaging must also “not [be] difficult for normal adults to use properly.” Notably, the PPA does not require that children be prevented from opening or obtaining a toxic or harmful amount of the substance 100 percent of the times attempted. When the substance is packaged in individual units, the Code of Federal Regulations requires that child-resistant packaging is effective no less than 80 out of every 100 attempts (16 C.F.R. 1700.15(b)(1)). Conversely, senior adults between ages 50 and 70, having no mental or physical disabilities, should be able to open the packaging no less than 90 out of every 100 attempts when permitted to view printed instructions that accompany the packaging (16 C.F.R. 1700.15(b)(2)(i-ii), 16 C.F.R. 1700.20(a)(3)(i), 16 C.F.R. 1700.20 (a)(3)(iv)).

To ensure compliance with the aforementioned federal guidelines, blister card packaging is submitted to a testing agency, which determines the child-resistance rating and whether or not the packaging is senior-friendly. Packaging is rated as senior-friendly solely based on the 90 percent guideline, i.e., senior adults are able to open the packaging at least 90 times out of every 100 attempts. However, the child resistance rating is determined on a scale ranging from F1 through F8. The F represents “fatal at” and the following number represents the number of doses, therefore, F4 is “fatal at 4 doses.” (Consequently, the more difficult it is for a child to access a product contained within a blister card package, the lower the child-resistance rating applied to the packaging). It is intuitive that products contained within packaging rated at F1, i.e., lethal at one dose, should be very difficult for children to access, whereas, products rated at F8, i.e., lethal at 8 doses, do not require the same level of difficulty. A blister card package that is to be used for distribution of potentially lethal pharmaceutical drugs or clinical trial drugs must pass the aforementioned federal guidelines prior to use. Additionally, the child resistance rating will determine what type of pharmaceutical drugs can be distributed within each rating of packaging, i.e., a pharmaceutical drug that is lethal at three doses cannot be packaged in a blister card package that is rated F4 through F8. When the lethal dose of a drug has not been established, federal regulations require an assumption that the drug is lethal at eight doses, therefore, such a drug may be distributed in packaging rated F8.

Blister card packages exist today that have passed the federal child-resistant and senior-friendly testing guidelines. Many existing, patented blister card packages were originally designed for distribution of non-lethal drugs and, therefore, were not required to pass the federal testing guidelines. To sell to a larger market of users, these blister card packages were modified to achieve child-resistance using a variety of methods including adding paperboard layers, adding plastic or tape layers to the exterior of the paperboard, reinforcing a frangible foil backing with a less frangible paper, etc.

After the aforementioned modifications were made, many blister card packages that were previously non-child-resistant were able to pass child resistance testing, however, the packaging became undesirable in other ways. For example, the additional, reinforced layers often prevented the pills from being pushed cleanly through the blister backing and thereby caused degradation of the backing of other adjacent pills. Specifically, some blister card package manufacturers have added a layer of paper to the foil backing through which a pill is pushed. The paper and/or foil backing sometimes does not tear cleanly, leaving the user only one option: scraping the backing until enough of it is removed to allow the user to grasp and peel the backing enough to reach the pill. This can be very difficult, especially for senior citizens or other adults with impaired physical abilities. Additionally, these blister card packages have been manufactured with more than a minimal amount of plastic, which does not make them environmentally viable to produce or dispose after use.

To address some of the concerns mentioned above, manufacturers have looked at alternative forms of packaging for containing medications in secure packages that are sturdy enough to be opened and closed numerous times until the course of medication is completed, yet having a locking function to prevent a child from accessing the medications. Various packages have been utilized comprising a two-piece paperboard container having an internal slide card housing medications and contained within an outer paperboard shell. While these devices have a locking mechanism for preventing access by a child, they do not prevent the slide card from being pulled completely from the paperboard shell upon applying sufficient force to a push-button tab. Yet other packages are not easy to assemble in a flat-laid, pre-glued distribution of a package.

Thus, there is a clear need for child-resistant and senior-friendly packages that have a locking function that achieves a high child resistance rating when tested while remaining easy to use for senior citizens through multiple uses of the package until dosage is depleted. There is a further need for child-resistant and senior-friendly packaging that is environmentally friendly and which requires minimal modifications to a customers established blister layout reducing cost and increasing speed to market.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the invention provides an improved child-resistant and senior-friendly pill dispenser package particularly suited to distribution of pharmaceutical drugs for public or clinical trial use. Specifically, the pill dispenser package of the invention achieves federally mandated child-resistant and senior-friendly guidelines through a locking function while also providing a pill dispenser package that is easy to use for all adults including those with impaired physical abilities. Additionally, the pill dispenser package of the invention allows an individual pharmaceutical drug to be removed from the pill dispenser multiple times without degrading the child resistance rating of the pill dispenser packaging enclosing the remaining pharmaceutical drugs.

It is an object of the invention to provide pill or pharmaceutical dispensing packaging that is difficult for a child to open.

Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide packaging that is easily accessible to competent adults and senior citizens including those with impaired physical abilities.

It is also an object of the invention to provide child-resistant and senior-friendly packaging that passes federally mandated guidelines.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide packaging that is easily and inexpensively manufactured.

Further, it is an object of the invention to provide packaging that is environmentally friendly.

Additionally, it is an object of the invention to provide packaging that utilizes established blister strip layout in the marketplace.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide packaging that allows instructions to be printed directly on the packaging.

In one non-limiting aspect of the invention, a packaging apparatus is provided and includes an inside panel, a bottom panel, and an inside folding panel connecting the top panel to the inside panel and an inside closing panel connected to the inside panel along a left panel. A left folding panel connects the bottom panel and the top panel to each other and a right folding panel connects a top closing panel to the bottom panel. A bottom right panel connects to a top right panel along a first common edge. The inside panel is connected to the top right panel along a second common edge, where the inside closing panel, inside panel, inside folding panel, top panel, left folding panel, bottom panel, tight folding panel, and top closing panel form a sleeve having an opening, the sleeve having a substantially rectangular cross-section. The inside panel includes a rectangular cut-out on an edge directly opposite the second common edge. The sleeve is adapted to receive an insert slidable therein along a sliding direction normal to the rectangular cross-section, where the insert includes a locking member coupled to the rectangular cutout. The locking member prevents the sleeve from sliding out of the sleeve when the locking member is engaged with the rectangular cut-out.

In a second non-limiting aspect of the invention, a blister and package system is provided including a blister card or strip and an outer package with unique interacting locking mechanisms. The blister card is inserted in the outer package and locks immediately without having to further process the outer package or the blister card. The user is able to expose the blisters from the outer package by disengaging the lock. The blister card includes a formable, pliable sheet material, into which one or more individual cavities or blisters are formed. The separated cavities are loaded with product and sealed with one or more layers of puncturable or tearable sheet material, such as aluminum foil. The blister card contains an interface mechanism such as a plastic rivet assembly. The rivet is, preferably, trapped by an internally formed panel and stopped by a catch flap included in the outer package.

Other objects, features and characteristics of the invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiment of the invention. However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein, which define the scope of the invention. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, shown is an environmentally friendly pill dispenser100comprising sleeve105adapted to receive an insert, such as for example, a blister strip110according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown, the blister strip or card110and its contents may be selectively accessed from inside sleeve105by sliding the blister strip110in a sliding motion along direction102in order to expose the contents of blister strip110. The pill dispenser100, preferably, includes a locking function comprising a selectively depressible button215(shown inFIG. 2) formed by a partial cut-out, which is shown inFIG. 5. The button215may be depressed in order to disengage blister strip110from sleeve105, thereby releasing the blister strip110and enabling the blister strip110to slide along direction102and expose the blister strip110from the sleeve105, which is shown and described below. It should be appreciated that blister strip110engages a lip564(shown inFIG. 5) formed internally by folding the various panels to create sleeve105and sliding the blister strip110prior to pushing the button215prevents the lip564(FIG. 5) from disengaging the blister strip110and preventing the blister strip110from sliding out of the sleeve105, as shown and described below. It should also be appreciated that the blister strip110may be inserted into the sleeve105and locks immediately without having to further process the sleeve105or the strip110.

Referring now toFIGS. 3A,3B and4, shown is a view of blister strip110for use with the sleeve105according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 3A, blister strip110comprises base305, which is preferably constructed from a flexible, semi-rigid plastic, however, various other materials may be used including injected mold plastics, thick foil, etc. Blister strip110also comprises blisters, such as blister310formed from the base305. Blister310includes a cavity for receiving a product, such as a pill or tablet (i.e., blister strip110includes a formable, pliable sheet material into which one or more individual cavities may be formed), although in other non-limiting examples, blister310may contain non-pharmaceutical products. In one non-limiting example, blister strip110is shown as a “solid form blister” arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, however, any number of blisters310may be utilized with the invention. Also, blister strip110includes a plastic rivet assembly330provided along rear edge340at corner335and which extends from top surface345to bottom surface350, with the rivet assembly330forming the interference mechanism for engaging sleeve105(Shown inFIG. 1). Plastic rivet assembly330is provided to engage lip564(FIG. 5) formed internally by folding the various panels forming sleeve105(Shown inFIG. 1) thereby enabling the locking function of sleeve105(FIG. 1), as will be shown and described below. In other non-limiting embodiments, plastic rivet assembly330may be provided along the center of rear edge340without departing from the scope of the invention. The rivet assembly220is trapped by an internally formed panel and stopped by a flap included in the sleeve105, which will be shown and described below.

Turning now toFIG. 3B, the rear perspective view of blister strip110illustrates backing315, affixed to the bottom surface of base305and which acts as seals320for sealing the openings of each corresponding blister310. Backing315is preferably constructed from one or more layers of puncturable or tearable sheet material such as, for example, aluminum foil, however, other types of foil or other materials such as paper and plastic may be used. In one non-limiting embodiment, backing315may comprise perforations or cut-scores (not shown) surrounding the portion of the backing that coincides with the perimeter of the individual blister opening (i.e., seal320) to assist the user in penetrating the portion of backing315that acts as seals320or pushing the contents of the blister310through seal320. Preferably, seals320of blister strip110are frangible to prevent damage to a capsule or other item contained within blister310when the capsule or item is pushed through the frangible layer. Also, blister310is preferably constructed from a tear and puncture resistant, durable, flexible, semi-rigid material, thus allowing the user to push on individual blister310forcing the capsule or item through seal320while preventing breakage of capsule or item. Further, blister310may be formed as indentations in base305or may be constructed from a different material that is adhered to base305.

As shown in greater detail inFIG. 4, plastic rivet assembly330includes a male rivet member405selectively coupled to female rivet member410in order to enable the locking function of sleeve105(FIG. 1), although in other non-limiting examples, an air duct retainer or other similar types of retainers may be utilized in lieu of rivet assembly330. The male rivet member405includes a disc-shaped member407coupled to an orthogonal pin409, which is received in aperture415formed in base305. The disc-shaped member407abuts top surface345while pin409traverses aperture415and selectively locks with female rivet member410to selectively couple rivet assembly330to base305. The female rivet member410is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises wall412having a length for catching internal lip564(FIG. 5) of sleeve105when blister strip110is in a locking position inside sleeve105while also being able to be released from lip564(FIG. 5) when blister strip110is in a non-locking position inside sleeve105. Female rivet member410further has a circumferential edge420for preventing member410from being disengaged from lip564(FIG. 5) upon application of a force greater than necessary to slide blister strip110out of sleeve105.

Turning toFIG. 5discloses a blank500for forming sleeve105according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. Blank500is the sleeve105in an unfolded position. Blank500is preferably made of paperboard and may be coated with a polymer coating to make it more tear resistant, although in other non-limiting examples, blank500may be made from durable paper, composite material, or other similar types of materials. The blank500is preferably made up of several panels, which are folded along predetermined fold lines or pre-break lines in order to form sleeve105. The fold lines may be scored while the pre-break lines are formed by a creasing operation, both of which are provided to make it easier to fold the various panels during assembly of sleeve105. Also, during the manufacturing process of sleeve105, the several panels are folded at desired folding angles (e.g., 90 degrees or 180 degrees) and panels508,504,552,536and538may be glued together to permanently couple the panels together. As shown, blank500comprises inside panel502, top panel504and bottom panel506. Inside panel502is folded in relation to inside closing panel508about fold lines510(also third fold line) and512to form a left panel514between inside panel502and inside closing panel508. Inside panel502includes a rectangular shaped cutout528to form a lip564, which abuts rivet assembly330(FIG. 3A) and locks the blister strip110within sleeve105.

Further bottom right panel516is preferably a mirror image of top right panel518, with bottom right panel516folded onto top right panel518along fold line520(also first fold line). Bottom right panel516includes a hook522while top right panel518has a similar hook524. Folding bottom right panel516over top right panel518folds hook522over hook524, with hooks522and524causing rivet assembly330to abut against hooks522and524to prevent disengagement of the blister strip110from sleeve105. Also, top right panel518and bottom right panel516are folded along fold line526(also second fold line) to provide hooks522and524at front of sleeve105and thereby provide an obstruction to prevent blister strip110from disengaging from sleeve105without application of force by a user. Further, blank500is provided with a plurality of substantially similar semi-spherical cutouts501,503,505and507on bottom right panel516, top panel504, bottom panel505and top printing panel556respectively and a spherical cutout509on the edge526separating top right panel518from inside panel502. Cut-outs501,509,503and505form grip-openings of sleeve105making it possible to slide blister strip110(FIG. 3A-3B) substantially out of the sleeve105with a simple finger-grip.

Also as shown inFIG. 5, inside panel502is folded in relation to top panel504about fold line530(also fourth fold line) and pre-break line532to form inside folding panel534between inside panel502and top panel504. Top rear panel536is folded along pre-break line538to form a top back wall for sleeve105. Top panel504is folded in relation to bottom panel506about fold line540(also fifth fold line) and pre-break line542to form a left folding panel544. Bottom rear panel558is folded along pre-break line560to form a bottom back wall for sleeve105. Bottom panel506includes partial cut-out562that acts as a button215(shown inFIG. 2) that must be depressed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in order to release the blister strip110(FIG. 3A-3B) and enable a user to slide the blister strip110out of a locked position inside sleeve105(FIG. 2). Bottom panel506is folded in relation to top closing panel552along fold line546(also sixth fold line) and pre-break line548to form right folding panel550. Left folding panel544and right folding panel550define the thickness of sleeve105along the left and right edges respectively. Top closing panel552is connected to top printing panel556along fold line554, with top closing panel552being selectively provided with glue in order to adhesively couple the top closing panel552to the opposed surface of top panel504, thereby holding sleeve105in its assembled form. The top printing panel556is selectively provided with fugitive glue (i.e., a low-tack adhesive that lacks permanence) or other similar type of glue in order to temporarily affix the sleeve105to marketing literature, for example, paper, a mailing envelope or a magazine, although in other non-limiting embodiments, the sleeve105may be supplied without top printing panel556by tearing panel556along fold-line554prior to shipping sleeve105.

In operation and as shown inFIG. 1-5, blister strip110(FIG. 1) may be selectively locked within sleeve105to form a “F1” child-resistant pill dispenser100by utilizing rivet assembly330(FIG. 3A) to engage internal lip564and lock blister strip110inside the cavity of sleeve105until rivet assembly330is disengaged. When the pill dispenser100is in its locked position, circumferential edge420(FIG. 4) resides below lip564(FIG. 5). Sliding blister strip110in direction102(FIG. 1) causes female rivet member410(FIG. 4) to abut lip564(FIG. 5) and prevent blister strip110from sliding out in direction102(FIG. 1). In order to release blister strip110, a depressible force is applied to portion215(FIG. 2) prior to sliding blister strip110(FIG. 1) in order to cause female rivet member (FIG. 4) to be pushed upwards and clear lip564(FIG. 5) thereby disengaging rivet assembly330(FIG. 3A) from lip564on inside panel502(FIG. 5). The blister strip110may then be selectively accessed by sliding blister strip110(FIG. 2) from sleeve105along direction102(FIG. 1). It should be appreciated that lip564(FIG. 5) may be formed to reside along the bottom surface of sleeve105by folding internally the various panels to create sleeve105. It should also be appreciated that sliding the blister strip110prior to pushing the button215(FIG. 2) prevents the lip564(FIG. 5) from disengaging the rivet assembly330(FIG. 3A) even after force is applied to portion215(FIG. 2) of sleeve105and preventing the blister strip110from sliding out of the sleeve105.

Referring now toFIG. 5-9, the process of assembling sleeve105may comprise folding the various panels of blank500in a predetermined order. First, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, bottom right panel516(FIG. 5) is folded 180 degrees along fold line520(also first fold line) to align bottom right panel516on top of top right panel518. Next, as shown inFIG. 6, top right panel518is folded 180 degrees along fold line526(also second fold line) to position bottom right panel516and top right panel518within the perimeter of inside panel502(shown inFIG. 6). Next, inside closing panel508is folded 90 degrees in relation to left panel514along fold line510(also third fold line). Left panel514is folded along pre-break line512to position inside closing panel508within the perimeter of inside panel502(shown inFIG. 6).

Next, as shown inFIG. 7, inside panel502is folded 90 degrees along fold line530(also fourth fold line) and resides within the perimeter of top panel504when inside folding panel534is folded 90 degrees along pre-break line532. Further top rear panel536is folded along pre-break line538to form back wall and the inside surface of inside closing panel508(FIG. 5) is adhesively glued to inside surface of top panel504to form a permanent adhesive coupling. As shown inFIG. 8, blank500is folded 90 degrees along fold line540(also fifth fold line) and further folded 90 degrees along pre-break line542to cause inside panel520to reside on bottom panel506(FIG. 5). Further, bottom rear panel558is folded 90 degrees and is adhesively coupled to top rear panel534to form back wall.

Next, as shown inFIG. 9, right folding panel550(FIG. 5) is folded 90 degrees along fold line546(also sixth fold line) along direction900and along pre-break line548to position top closing panel552inside the perimeter of top panel504. Next, top closing panel552is adhesively coupled to top panel504by gluing inside surface of top closing panel552to exterior surface of top panel504to form sleeve105. Gluing the panels causes sleeve105to stay fixed in the desired configuration. The top printing panel556is visible and fugitive glue may be applied to provide the sleeve105to be temporarily attached to marketing literature or other similar types of marketing materials.

In an alternate embodiment as shown inFIG. 10, pill dispenser1000may comprise sleeve1005adapted to receive an insert, such as for example, a blister strip1010, which, in a locked position, resides within the cavity of sleeve1005from rear end1020to open end1015. As shown, the blister strip1010may be selectively removed from the sleeve1005by sliding the blister strip1010in a sliding motion along direction1002. The pill dispenser1000includes a locking function comprising a partially cut-out portion1202(shown inFIG. 12), which must be depressed in order to release the blister strip1010and enable the blister strip1010to slide along direction1002, which will be shown and described below. It should be appreciated that blister strip1010includes a protrusion for engaging a lip1204(shown inFIG. 12) formed inside sleeve1005by folding the various panels. It should also be appreciated that pill dispenser1000includes a child-resistant locking feature whereby sliding the blister strip1010prior to pushing a button prevents the blister strip1010from being released within sleeve1005, thereby preventing the blister strip1010from sliding out of sleeve1005and exposing the potentially dangerous contents of the blister strip1010to a child, which will be shown and described below.

Referring now toFIGS. 11A and 11B, shown are perspective views of blister strip1010for use with the sleeve1005(FIG. 10) according to an alternate embodiment of the invention. As shown inFIG. 11A, the top perspective view of blister strip1010is substantially similar to blister strip110shown and described inFIG. 3A-3Band includes base1105, which is preferably constructed from a flexible, semi-rigid plastic, however, various other materials may be used including injected mold plastics, thick foil, etc. Blister strip1010also comprises blisters, such as blister1110formed from base1105. Blister1110includes a cavity for receiving a product, such as a pill or tablet, although in other non-limiting examples, blister1110may contain non-pharmaceutical products. In one non-limiting example, blister strip1010is a “solid form blister” arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, however, any type of configuration for blisters1110may be utilized with the invention. Also, blister strip1010includes a locking panel1115made preferably of semi-rigid plastic riveted to base1105at bottom surface1107at rear edge1120(i.e., rear edge1120is positioned at rear edge1020in a locked position as shown inFIG. 10). Locking panel1115includes a generally trapezoidal portion1125which wraps around edge1120towards blisters1110in direction1130and includes an exposed edge1135provided to abut lip1204(FIG. 12) and enable the locking function of sleeve1005(FIG. 10), as will be shown and described below. In other non-limiting embodiments, pins, glue, staples or other similar types of attachment means may be utilized to couple locking panel1115to base1105.

Turning toFIG. 11B, the rear perspective view of blister strip1010illustrates a backing1140affixed to the bottom surface of base1105and which act as seals1145for sealing the openings of each corresponding blister1110. Backing1140is preferably constructed from aluminum foil, however, other types of foil or other materials such as paper and plastic may be used. In one non-limiting embodiment, backing1140may comprise perforations or cut-scores (not shown) surrounding the portion of the backing1140that coincides with the perimeter of the individual blister opening (i.e., seal1145) to assist the user in penetrating the portion of backing1140that acts as seals1145or pushing the contents of the blister1110(FIG. 11A) through seal1145. Also, locking panel1115includes a generally semi-spherical portion1150extending away from backing1140along an acute angle in direction1132. Portion1150has a generally curved exposed edge1155, which is provided to abut lip1206(FIG. 12) and prevent blister strip1010from being disengaged from sleeve1005(FIG. 10) in a fully extended (or open) position, which will be shown and described below.

FIG. 12discloses a blank1200having various panels, folded along predetermined fold lines or pre-break lines in order to assemble sleeve1005according to an alternate embodiment of the invention. Blank1200is the sleeve1005in an unfolded position. Blank1200is preferably made of paperboard and may be coated with a polymer coating to make it more tear resistant, although in other non-limiting examples, blank1200may be made from durable paper, composite material, or other similar types of materials. The blank1200is preferably made up of several panels, which are folded along predetermined fold lines or pre-break lines in order to form sleeve1005(FIG. 10). The fold lines are scored while the pre-break lines are formed by a creasing operation, both of which are provided to make it easier to fold the various panels during assembly of sleeve1005(FIG. 10). Also, during the manufacturing process of sleeve1005, the several panels are folded at desired folding angles (e.g., 90° or 180°) and panels1214,1218,1208,1240,1246and1200may be glued to fixably connect the panels together.

As shown, blank1200comprises inside panel1208, top panel1210and bottom panel1212. Inside panel1208is folded in relation to inside right panel1214about pre-break line1216(also first pre-break line) and is also folded in relation to inside left panel1218about pre-break line1220(also second pre-break line). Inside panel1208and inside left panel1218includes a generally rectangular cutout1222along pre-break line1220. Also, inside panel1208includes a generally rectangular cut-out1224along pre-break line1216while inside right panel1214includes a generally rectangular cut-out1226partially disposed along pre-break line1216. The cutout1226includes lip1206to prevent blister strip1010from being disengaged from sleeve1005(FIG. 10) when blister strip1010is fully extended in an open position, and which will be shown and described below.

Top panel1210is folded along pre-break line1242to form a top back panel1240while bottom panel1212is folded along pre-break line1248to form a bottom back panel1246. Also, top panel1210is folded in relation to bottom panel1212about pre-break lines1250and1252to form a right folding panel1254between inside panel1208and top panel1210. Inside panel1208includes a rectangular shaped cutout1222to form a protruding lip1204, which abuts edge1155(FIG. 11B) and locks the blister strip1110within sleeve1005. Also, top right panel1234is folded in relation to top panel1210about pre-break line1236. Top right panel includes a spherically shaped cutout1238on the edge separating top right panel1234and top panel1210. Cutouts1224and1238form grip-openings of sleeve1005making it possible to slide blister strip1010(FIG. 10) substantially out of the sleeve1005with a simple finger-grip.

Top panel1210is folded in relation to bottom panel1210about pre-break lines1230and1232to form a left folding panel1228between inside panel1208and top panel1210. The blank1200includes a locking function comprising a partially cut-out portion1202, which must be depressed in order to disengage the blister strip1010and enable a user to slide blister strip1010along direction1002(shown inFIG. 10) in order to access the contents of the blister strip1010. It should be appreciated that blister strip1010engages a lip1204and sliding the blister strip1010prior to pushing portion1202prevents the lip1204(shown inFIG. 12) from disengaging the blister strip1010, thereby preventing the blister strip1010from sliding out of the sleeve1005, which will be shown and described below.

Referring now toFIG. 12-15, the process of assembling sleeve1005(FIG. 10) may comprise folding the various panels of blank1200(FIG. 12) in a predetermined order. First, and as shown inFIGS. 12 and 12, inside right panel1216is folded 180 degrees along pre-break line1216and glued to inside panel1208to permanently position inside right panel1218within the perimeter of inside panel1208. Next, inside left panel1218is folded 180 degrees along pre-break line1220and glued to inside panel1208to permanently position inside left panel1218within the perimeter of inside panel1208. Next, top right panel1234is folded 180 degrees along pre-break line1236and glued to top panel1210to permanently position top right panel1234within the perimeter of top panel1210.

Next, as shown inFIG. 14, inside panel1208is folded 90 degrees along pre-break line1230and left folding panel1228is folded 90 degrees causing the footprint of inside panel1208to reside within the perimeter of top panel1210. Also, top back panel1240(FIG. 12) is folded 90 degrees along pre-break line1242to form a back wall. Next, and as shown inFIG. 15, bottom panel1212is folded 90 degrees along pre-break line1252and right folding panel1254is folded 90 degrees along pre-break line1250(FIG. 12) causing bottom panel1212to reside on top of inside panel1208(FIG. 14). Bottom panel1212is glued to the exposed surface of inside panel1208to permanently couple bottom panel1212to inside panel. Finally, bottom back panel1246is folded 90 degrees and is glued to top back panel1240to form a permanent wall for sleeve1005.

In operation and as shown inFIGS. 10,11A,12and16, blister strip1010(FIG. 16) may be selectively locked within sleeve1005to form a “F1” child-resistant pill dispenser1000. As shown inFIG. 16, the locking function is engaged by utilizing locking panel1115to engage protruding lip1204of inside panel1208and lock blister strip1010inside the cavity of sleeve1005until locking panel1115is disengaged. Particularly, when the pill dispenser1000is in its locked position, exposed edge1155(FIG. 11B) of portion1150(FIG. 16), which is aligned along vertical axis1150, resides below lip1204(FIG. 16) and provides an obstruction preventing blister strip1010from sliding out in direction1600. In order to release blister strip1010, a depressible force is applied to portion1202, also aligned along vertical axis1605, prior to sliding blister strip1010in order to cause portion1150to be pushed upwards and clear lip1204, thereby disengaging locking panel1115from inside panel1208. The blister strip1010may now be selectively accessed by sliding blister strip1010along direction1600. Further, as blister strip1010slides along direction1600, it is prevented from being disengaged from sleeve1005by lip1206on panel inside right panel1214(FIG. 12), which abuts portion1150. It should also be appreciated that sliding the blister strip1010prior to pushing portion1202prevents the lip1204from disengaging the locking panel1115even after a sliding force is applied to blister strip1010in direction1600, thereby preventing the blister strip1010from sliding out of the sleeve1005.

While the invention has been described with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, which embodiments have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, such embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to be limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the invention. The scope of the invention, therefore, shall be defined solely by the following claims. Further, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention.