Abstract:
A blister package arrangement comprises a blister package ( 1 ) and a conductor carrier strip ( 10 ) attached thereto, wherein openings ( 4 ) of the carrier strip ( 10 ) are oriented toward pockets ( 3 ) of the blister package ( 1 ). When a tablet ( 2 ) is removed from a pocket ( 3 ), the sealing film ( 13 ) of the blister package ( 1 ) closing the pocket ( 3 ) is separated in such a way that the tablet ( 2 ) is removable through the opening ( 4 ) associated therewith. The openings ( 4 ) are formed by stamped cutting lines ( 41 ) which are disposed in the conductor carrier strip ( 10 ) and surround the pockets ( 3 ) of the associated areas in a ring shape. These stamped lines are interrupted by at least two spars or “bridge parts” ( 43 ) by means of which a cover ( 30 ), covering the pocket ( 3 ) and separated from the conductor carrier strip ( 10 ), is connected with the carrier strip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a blister package arrangement which comprises a blister package and a conductor carrier strip attached thereto, wherein openings of the carrier strip are oriented toward pockets of the blister package. When a tablet is to be removed from a pocket the sealing film of the blister package closing the pocket is separated, allowing the tablet to be removed. 
     Blister packages of this type containing pharmaceutical tablets provided in pockets are well known. For this, electrical conductors usually extend across the surface of a sealing film sealing the pockets over the area of the pockets so that they are broken when a tablet is removed from the pocket of the blister package. A blister package arrangement of this type includes a receiver device for the blister package having an electronic unit that senses the break in the circuit and stores this detection of the removal of the medication. Such a blister package arrangement is known, for example, from EP 0 180 073 A1. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the principal object of the invention to configure a blister package arrangement for a blister package whose sealing film does not include individual conductors such that simple removal of a tablet from a pocket of the blister package and a simultaneous separation of the individual conductor of a conductor carrier strip assigned to each pocket is ensured. 
     This object, as well as further objects which will become apparent from the discussion that follows, are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by stamping cutting lines in the conductor carrier strip which surround the pockets in a ring shape. These stamped lines are interrupted by at least two spars, by means of which a cover over the pocket is connected with the carrier strip. The spars are distributed around the periphery of the stamped lines in such a way that one spar is severed when the associated tablet is pressed out from the pocket. The conductor carrier strip comprises, on the part thereof opposite to the blister package, individual conductors, each of which extends from an individual connecting contact pad over at least one spar and is severed upon removal of the associated tablet. 
     The essential advantage of the invention is the fact that those areas of the conductor carrier strip assigned to one of the blister packages that cover the pockets of a blister package, and over which the individual conductors extend, are each separated from the conductor carrier strip by a ring-shaped stamped line surrounding the pocket. This ensures that the tablets may be easily removed with precise definition. 
     Since at least two spars or “bridge parts” are provided, by means of which the area separated from the conductor carrier strip by means of the stamped line (hereafter referred to as the covering) is connected to the conductor carrier strip, an advantageous completely targeted and defined removal of the covering upon removal of the tablet from the pocket assigned to the covering and positive separation of the assigned individual conductor may be ensured. The conductor routing over the covering may advantageously be accomplished individually, in dependence upon the desired removal parameters, by means of the at least two spars (bridge parts), or by means of only one of the two spars, whereby it is ensured that the individual conductor is broken when its tablet is removed. 
     For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should now be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a known blister package. 
         FIG. 1   a  shows a cross-section through a conductor carrier strip that, with the help of an adhesive layer, is to be adhered to the blister package of the type shown in  FIG. 1  to produce the blister package. 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the blister package of  FIG. 1  from the direction of the deep-drawing film. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the side of the conductor carrier strip facing the blister package arrangement of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view of the conductor carrier strip as in  FIG. 3 , whereby a blister package as in  FIG. 2  is connected with the conductor carrier strip. 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the side of the conductor carrier strip facing away from the blister package. 
         FIG. 6  shows a conductor carrier strip as in  FIG. 5  with a protective layer covering the conductors. 
         FIG. 7  shows a blister package arrangement inserted into a receiver device surrounding the electronic components. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of the side of the conductor carrier strip facing away from the blister package, whereby three different types of spar configurations and conductor routings are shown for the sake of explanation. 
         FIG. 9  is an embodiment in which the stamped line separating the covering includes spars on the two opposing sides extending longitudinally along the covering, whereby the individual conductor extends over both spar pieces. 
         FIG. 10  is an embodiment in which the spar is positioned on one end of the covering as seen along the longitudinal direction of the covering and an additional spar is positioned approximately in the center of an area extending longitudinally along the stamped line, whereby the individual conductor extends over both spars. 
         FIG. 11  shows another embodiment in which the spars are positioned similarly to those in  FIG. 10 , but the individual conductor extends as a loop over the one or the other spar. 
         FIGS. 12˜16  show a conductor carrier strip configured as a book-type carrier device. 
         FIG. 17   a ˜ 17   e  illustrate an expanded embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-17  of the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are designated with the same reference numerals. 
     The following considerations led to the invention: In a known, conventional blister package that does not include individual conductors extending through the areas of the sealing film over the pockets, when a conductor carrier strip with coverings for the above-mentioned areas of the sealing film is to be provided, whereby the individual conductors extend over the coverings, it must be ensured that, during conventional removal of a tablet from a pocket by opening the area of the sealing film of the blister package, the covering positioned over the area of the conductor carrier strip is separated from the conductor carrier strip simultaneously, and also cleanly and simply. Only then is simple, clean tablet removal ensured. In this connection, the thought first arose to separate the covering from the remaining area of the conductor carrier strip by means of a stamped line, that the covering may be simply separated from the conductor carrier strip by pressure from the pocket side onto the tablet, and from the tablet onto the sealing film and the covering. If one provides such a covering separated from the conductor carrier strip by a stamped line, it must be ensured that: (1) conductor routing from the conductor carrier strip is possible via the covering, and (2) when separating the covering upon removal of a tablet it is ensured that the individual conductor is broken. For this purpose, it is proposed by the invention to connect the covering with the conductor carrier strip by means of at least two spars or “bridge parts,” whereby theses spars interrupt the stamped line. For this, a minimum of two spars are to be positioned along the extent of the ring-shaped stamped line so that, upon tablet removal, at least one of the spars is broken in any case. Upon separation of precisely this spar, the individual conductor assigned to this pocket must also be broken and electrically interrupted. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a known blister package  1 , whereby  FIG. 2  shows a top view of the blister package  1  on the side of the deep-drawing film  14  and  FIG. 1  shows a side view of the blister package  1 . The individual bins or pockets to contain the medication or tablets  2  are designated with the reference numeral  3 . 
     Per  FIG. 1   a , a conductor carrier strip  10  to be connected to the blister package  1  includes an adhesive layer  11  on the side facing toward the blister package  1  which adheres the conductor carrier strip  10  to the blister package  1  and possesses connection points  51 ,  54  of an interface  5  on the side facing away from the blister package  1 . Such connection points become electrically connected when the conductor carrier strip  10  is inserted into a receiver device  40  with an electronic unit (not shown) positioned within the receiver device  40 . Such a receiver device  40  is shown in  FIG. 7 . In a known manner, an individual conductor  52  extends from each individual connection point  51  along the surface of the conductor carrier strip  10  over a pocket  3  containing a tablet  2  when the blister package is mounted to a common conductor  53  which, in turn, is connected via a common connection point  54  to the interface  5 . A display to show the data pertaining to the tablet removal is designated with the reference numeral  45  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     An opening  4  of the conductor carrier strip  10  is assigned to each pocket  3  of the blister package  1 , whereby the exertion of pressure against the pocket  3  containing the tablet  2  required to remove the tablet separates the sealing film  13  and forces the tablet through the opening  4  of the conductor carrier strip  10 .  FIG. 3  shows the conductor carrier strip  10  seen from the side facing the blister package  1 , whereby the blister package  1  is not yet mounted or secured on the conductor carrier strip  10 .  FIG. 4  shows a corresponding view of the conductor carrier strip  10 , whereby the blister package  1  is already connected with the conductor carrier strip  10 . 
     According to the invention, the opening  4  for tablet removal is formed by a ring-shaped, closed stamped line  41 , positioned in the conductor carrier strip  10 , which separates the surrounding area from the portion of conductor carrier strip  10  that covers the area of an assigned pocket  3  of the blister package  1 . Therefore, when pressure is exerted against the conductor carrier strip  10  during tablet removal, the corresponding covering  30  is pressed out of the conductor carrier strip  10  because of the stamped line  41  that forms the opening  4 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a view of the conductor carrier strip  10  from the side facing away from the blister package  1  connected therewith. 
       FIG. 6  shows a protective layer  12  that may be mounted on the surface of the conductor carrier strip  10  facing away from the blister package  1  covering at least the outer surface of the individual conductors  52  and the common conductor  53  to protect them. The connection points  51 ,  54  of the interface  5  are recessed in order to allow positive contact with the receiver device  40 . 
     According to the invention, the coverings  30  are each connected by means of at least two spars or “bridge parts”  42 ,  43  to the conductor carrier strip  10 , whereby each spar  42 ,  43  represents an interruption of the stamped line  41 , as is particularly visible in  FIG. 3 . As used throughout, the spars  42 ,  43  are to be interpreted as equivalent to bridge parts, as the term “bridge part” is believed to be a more common description of elements  42 ,  43  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The spars  42 ,  43  are so distributed about the circumference of the stamped line  41  in such a manner that tablet removal is only possible if at least one spar  42  or  43  is broken, and the covering  30  is pressed up out of the plane of the conductor carrier strip  10 , whereby the spar  43  or  42  that is not broken may serve as a piano hinge when the covering  30  is pivoted. 
       FIGS. 9 through 11  show various preferred and particularly advantageous configurations of the spars  42 ,  43  along the stamped line  41 . Per  FIG. 9 , the spars  42 ,  43  are arranged along the direction of the longer extension (longitudinal direction) opposite the covering  30  along the stamped line  41  so that tablet removal causes at least one of these spars, or both spars, to be broken. In this case, the individual conductor  52  extends longitudinally along the covering  30  and over the spars  42  and  43 . The individual conductor  52  preferably extends along the longitudinal centerline L of the covering  30 . 
     Per  FIG. 10 , one spar is on the end of the covering  30  as seen along the longitudinal direction of covering  30 , and an additional spar  42  is positioned approximately in the center of an area of the stamped line  41  extending longitudinally, whereby the individual conductor  52  extends over both spars  42 ,  43 . For this, the first spar  43  is positioned preferably outside the longitudinal centerline L of the covering  30 . The other spar  42  is preferably located on the side of the longitudinal centerline L facing away from the other spar  43 , specifically outside the cross centerline Q of the covering  30 . The individual conductor  52  may extend over the covering  30  in any manner. 
     Per  FIG. 11 , the first spar  43  is again on one end of the stamped line  41  as seen along the longitudinal centerline L. The other spar  42  is relatively wide, and is located approximately along the axis of the cross centerline Q. The individual conductor  52  extends over the spar  42  onto the covering  30  as seen from the conductor carrier strip  10 , forms a loop there, and then extends back from the covering  30  via the spar  42  to the conductor carrier strip  10 . Upon tablet removal, the covering  30  is so opened that in any case the spar  42  and the conductor  52  extending over it are broken. 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of all three embodiments in  FIGS. 9 through 11  in a sample conductor including the individual conductor  52 , the common conductor  53 , and the connection points  51 ,  54  of the interface  5 . 
       FIGS. 12 through 16  show a book-shaped carrier strip  60  in which the conductor carrier strip  10  may be folded toward a second part  63  along a fold line  61  as a first part equivalent to the covering, said first part being connected to the conductor carrier strip  10 . In the second part  63 , insertion openings  62  are positioned that are directed toward the stamped line  41  when the parts  10  and  63  are folded together like a book along the fold line  61 . To produce this blister package configuration  10 , a blister package  1  is so positioned on the second part  63  that its pockets  3  engage with the insertion openings  62  of the part  63 , whereby simultaneously the blister package  1  is directed in the necessary manner toward part  63 , and also toward the conductor carrier strip  10 . Subsequently, parts  10  and  63  are folded together like a book along the fold line  61  and connected together, preferably by an adhesive. The blister package  1  is thus located in exactly the correct position between parts  10  and  63 . The parts  10  and  63  are thereby of such dimensions that they project over the blister package  1  on all sides, whereby the projecting edge areas of parts  10  and  63  are firmly adhered to each other so that separation and removal of the blister package  1  is not possible. 
     A comment here can be made that instead of several individual insertion openings  62 , a single insertion opening  62 ′ may be provided that can receive all pockets of the blister package  1  simultaneously. 
       FIGS. 12 through 14  show views of the carrier strip  60  from within, whereby per  FIG. 13  the blister package  1  is inserted straight, and per  FIG. 14 , it has already been inserted.  FIG. 15  shows the part  63  with the inserted blister package  1  from without, and  FIG. 16  shows a view of the carrier strip  10  from without. 
     In the following, an additional preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 17   a  through  17   c . Details from  FIGS. 17   a  through  17   c  that have already been explained using the previous Figures are designated in a corresponding manner, whereby an apostrophe (′) is appended to the pertinent reference numerals. 
       FIG. 17   b  shows a conductor carrier strip  10 ′ that includes the individual connection points  51 ′, the individual conductors  52 ′, the common conductor  53 ′, and the common connection point on the side facing toward the blister package  1 ′ ( FIG. 17   a ). An electrically insulating dielectric layer  64 ′ is positioned on the side of the conductor carrier strip  10 ′ facing toward the blister package  1 ′ that covers the individual conductors  52 ′ and the common conductor  53 ′ at least in the area in which, per  FIG. 17   c , the blister package  1 ′ is preferably mounted by adhesion of the sealing film  13 ′ to the dielectric layer  64 ′. 
       FIGS. 17   d  and  17   e  show a modification of the conductor carrier strip  10 ′ in which an adhesive layer  66 ′ is mounted on the dielectric layer  64 ′ that is covered by a tear film  65 ′. The tear film  65 ′ preferably extends per  FIG. 17   d  along a side over the adhesive layer  66 ′ so that an area is formed that may be manually gripped in order to remove the tear film  65 ′ from the adhesive layer  66 ′. After removal of the tear film  66 ′, the exposed adhesive layer  66 ′ may be connected with the blister package  1  by pressing against the sealing film  13 ′ of the blister package  1 ′. 
     It is also conceivable to form the electrically insulating layer  64 ′ simultaneously as a adhesive layer so that it may be directly adhered to the sealing film  13 ′. 
     It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of the carrier strips  10 ′ shown in  FIGS. 17   b  through  17   e  may be a component of the book-type carrier strip described in connection with  FIGS. 12 through 16 . 
     There has thus been shown and described a novel blister package arrangement which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which follow.