Abstract:
A slide card ( 10 ) for use with a sleeve of a unit dose packaging system, comprises a base panel ( 40 ) adapted for receiving unit doses of a medicament ( 90 ), a locking panel ( 20 ) joined by a hinge ( 30 ) to the base panel ( 40 ) and fold-resisting mechanism ( 30 ), ( 70 ), ( 80 ) for inhibiting substantially parallel alignment between the base panel ( 40 ) and the locking panel ( 20 ) when folded over with respect to one another so as to promote engagement of the locking panel ( 20 ) with at least one locking element of the sleeve, thereby inhibiting undesired removal of the base panel ( 40 ) from the sleeve when the base panel ( 40 ) is attempted to be withdrawn from the sleeve.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/617,982, filed Oct. 11, 2004, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Tis invention relates to unit dose packaging systems, and more particularly to an improved slide card having blisters integrally formed therewith and elements for enhancing performance of a locking panel of the slide card.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Unit dose packaging systems are useful as a means for dispensing individual, or unit, dose of a medicament. Such systems are even more useful when they have the added features of providing resistance to the package being opened by a child while at the same time facilitating ease of opening, closing and general use by older individuals whose manual dexterity may have decreased with age. These two attributes are typically referred to as packages, or systems, that are “child-resistant” and “senior-friendly,” respectively.  
         [0004]     The MeadWestvaco Corporation, or one of its predecessor entities, owns patents issued in the United States that disclose unit dose packaging systems that possess child-resistant and senior-friendly characteristics. MeadWestvaco Corporation, the owner of the present application, is the owner of U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829, No. 6,230,893, No. 6,412,636 and No. 6,752,272, which disclose unit dose packaging systems. The specifications and teachings of those four patents are hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829 discloses a unit dose packaging system having a slide card that is received within a shell. The insertable inner slide card is formed from side panels and side panel extensions, both of symmetric construction, that are folded over upon one another to form the slide card. One set of the symmetric side panels contain conventional unit dose packaging holes for receiving respective unit dose blisters. The symmetric equivalents of these panels contain perforated areas corresponding to the holes for permitting removal of respective unit doses. The side panel extensions are disposed at one end of and extend longitudinally from the side panel portions to form an extension to form a panel that will be a part of the systems locking arrangement. The extension is folded over onto the side panel portion to be in condition to engage two separate locking mechanisms. In both locking arrangements, the leading edge of the extension engages an edge and/or opening in the sleeve or shell in a manner that inhibits withdrawal of the insert card until desired. One locking mechanism is positioned at a posterior end of the sleeve/shell to maintain the insert in place fully inserted in the sleeve/shell. A release mechanism can be depressed to lower and disengage the extension, thereby allowing the insert to be withdrawn. A second locking mechanism is formed by folded panels disposed at the anterior end of the sleeve, which is the opening. The folded panel or panels provide a stopping mechanism upon which the extension catches to prevent the insert card from being completely withdrawn.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,893 discloses an improvement in the sleeve/shell of a cut-out and node to facilitate use of a first locking mechanism that fully retains the insert within the sleeve/shell.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,636 discloses a unit dose packaging system wherein the outer sleeve includes offset notches for grasping and removing an internal slide card and the outer sleeve is at least partially laminated with a polymeric film.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,272 discloses a unit dose package having a pocket foldable extending from the sleeve.  
         [0009]     Preventing or inhibiting undesired partial or full removal of the inner slide card from the sleeve/shell is important in helping facilitate resistance to child tampering and use by seniors. Thus, it will be appreciated that it is useful to have a unit dose package that enhances the operation of features that prevent or inhibit the undesired removal of the inner card from the sleeve/shell.  
         [0010]     Because cost of manufacturing is an important factor in the production of any product, it will likewise be appreciated that it is desirable to have a unit dose package that is efficient to operate, is durable and sturdy, and simple to construct thereby reducing the cost of manufacture.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The present invention provides a unit dose packaging system having an inner slide card that is simple and more cost effective to manufacture. The slide card of the system also provides enhanced features for preventing or inhibiting undesired removal of the slide card from a sleeve or shell of the system.  
         [0012]     In a preferred embodiment of one aspect of the invention, a slide card for use with a sleeve of a unit dose packaging system has at least one blister integrally formed with the base panel of the slide card for receiving a unit dose of a medicament.  
         [0013]     In a preferred embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, a slide card for use with a sleeve or shell of a unit dose packaging system has at least one fold-resisting mechanism for inhibiting substantially parallel alignment between a base panel and a locking panel of the slide card.  
         [0014]     In another preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the fold-resisting mechanism is a hinge that connects the base panel and locking panel adapted for biasing the base panel and the locking panel away from one another.  
         [0015]     In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, at least one of a base panel and a locking panel of the slide card has at least one fold-resisting abutment as the fold-resisting mechanism.  
         [0016]     In accordance with still a further preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the base panel and the locking panel each have at least one fold-resisting abutment.  
         [0017]     In accordance with an additional preferred embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, a fold-resisting abutment on the base panel and a fold-resisting abutment on the locking panel are disposed for engagement with one another.  
         [0018]     In accordance with still an additional preferred embodiment of the invention, the fold-resisting abutment is an embossment.  
         [0019]     In a final preferred embodiment of the invention, the slide card including base panel and locking panel are formed from plastic. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view a slide card in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1   a  is an elevation view from an anterior end of the slide card of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the slide card of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the slide card of  FIG. 1  showing the locking panel partially pivoted with respect to the base panel.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the slide card of  FIG. 1  with the locking panel more fully pivoted with respect to the base panel but at an angle wherein the slide card would be inserted within a sleeve or shell and the locking panel disposed for engagement by one or more locks of the sleeve/shell. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.  
         [0026]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , therein is illustrated a slide card in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. A slide card  10  has a base panel  40  and a locking panel  20  hingedly  30  connected. The base panel has blisters  50  for holding a medicament. A rib  60  extends around the perimeter of the base panel  40 . The locking panel  20  has a fold-resisting abutment  70  and base panel  40  has a fold-resisting abutment  80  proximate the hinge  30  and adjoining locking panel.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 1   a , therein is illustrated a slide card  10  in an elevation view from an anterior vantage point. One aspect of the invention is directed primarily to the fold-resisting abutments  70 ,  80 . In the plan view of  FIG. 1 , the slide card  10  would appear the same irrespective of whether the slide card would be integrally formed with blisters or having a separate blister pack joined to the slide card.  FIG. 1   a  illustrates the manner in which the card  10  would be formed from composite slide and blister cards but still maintain, the fold-resisting abutment features. The combination of the rib(s)  60  rising above the surface of the base panel  40  creates a flange  42  element.  
         [0028]     Referring now to the side elevation view of the slide card  10  in  FIG. 2 , the alignment and relative disposition of fold-resisting abutments  70 ,  80  with respect to one another can be seen. As in  FIG. 1   a , the option of forming the card from composite slide and blister cards as opposed to an integrated card is shown. In this side view, the hinge  30  is shown with the possibility of being formed in the “reverse” of the other elements, namely, the fold-resisting abutments  70 ,  80  and rib  60 . If the card  10  is made of plastic material and some types of paper substrates, it can be formed by manufacturing processes such as thermo-forming or die-press with a tool set. An integrated slide and blister card as taught by the invention is simple and can be simply formed by these processes, particularly when the card is made of plastic substrate. The term “reverse” for the hinge  30  refers to the fact that the hinge as illustrated is formed in a downward direction, opposite the direction in which the abutments  70 ,  80  and rib(s)  60  are formed. Although shown in is reverse form, the hinge may be suitably formed in the same upward direction as the other elements on the card. The hinge  30  may be formed in any configuration by known substrate manufacturing methods including but not limited to perforation along a line that will form the hinge and creasing.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the slide card  10  of  FIGS. 1, 1   a  or  2  is shown in perspective view. The locking panel  20  is shown partially pivoted about the hinge  30  with respect to the base panel  40 . In using the slide card  10 , medicaments  90  are contained within the blisters  50 . A substrate such as foil or some type of composite substrate containing foil, generally indicated but not shown, holds the medicaments  90  in place within the blisters  50  until removed by known methods.  
         [0030]     Referring finally to  FIG. 4 , the slide card  10  is shown as illustrated in  FIG. 3  with the locking panel  20  further pivoted to a position wherein it would engage one or more locks in a sleeve or shell to help form a locking arrangement as shown in the prior art discussed herein.  
         [0031]     In one aspect of the invention, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 , the slide card  10  has unit dose blister  50  that are integrally formed with the base panel.  
         [0032]     In another aspect of the invention, the ability of the locking panel  20  to be engaged by an aperture or panel that forms a part of the locking arrangement of the system&#39;s sleeve or shell is enhanced by biasing the locking panel away from a substantially parallel condition with respect to the base panel  40 . A fold-resisting mechanism serves this purpose. The hinge  30  serves as a fold-resisting mechanism to bias the locking panel. The amount of bias in the hinge  30  may be controlled by manufacturing techniques such as varying the thickness of the hinge  30  or otherwise varying the degree to which a line forming the hinge  30  is weakened to permit bending. An abutment  70 ,  80  may serve as an additional or distinct fold-resisting mechanism or element. The abutment  70 ,  80  prevents the locking panel  20  and base panel  40  from being placed into a substantially parallel condition with respect to one another. Although one abutment  70 ,  80  on either of the locking panel  20  and the base panel  40  is sufficient to serve as a fold-resisting mechanism or element, more than one be used on either one or both panels. The use of opposing abutments  70 ,  80  on respective locking  20  and base  40  panels, provides the advantage of being able to minimize the height of each abutment while still achieving desirable fold resistance. Although the abutment may be take many forms, an embossed abutment may be easily manufactured in a substrate, particularly a slide card substrate of plastic. Although paper may be used as a substrate, plastic may be easily thermoformed, die-pressed or otherwise easily manipulated.  
         [0033]     It must be emphasized that the law does not require and it is economically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clean understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.