Abstract:
A packaging body comprises a container comprising: a housing space configured to house a liquid injection device that comprises a syringe and a cap, an opening configured to allow removal of the liquid injection device from the housing space, and an engaging part configured to engage with a step part of the syringe so as to be usable to assist in removal of the cap from the liquid injection device. The container is configured to be attached to a sealing member for sealing the opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a bypass continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2015/072252, filed on Aug. 5, 2015, which claims priority to Japanese Application number 2014-160830, filed on Aug. 6, 2014, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a packaging body and a packaging assembly. 
         [0003]    One known liquid injection device is an auto injector, in which a plunger is pressurized in a distal direction by a biasing force of a coil spring and the plunger then automatically moves toward the distal direction in administering a drug solution to a living body (see, for example, WO 2012/137803). A cap is removably attached to the distal portion of the liquid injection device, and thus, a hollow needle in the liquid injection device can be protected, and erroneous pricking by the hollow needle and the like can be prevented. According to this liquid injection device, even a person having a weak grip such as an aged person or a person who has difficulty in the fingers such as a patient suffering from rheumatism can administer a drug solution in an easy and certain way. 
         [0004]    Such liquid injection device is housed in, for example, the blister packaging body described in JP 2007-536047 A, or the like. Thus, the liquid injection device can be protected during transport, the transpiration of the moisture in the drug solution from the liquid injection device can be prevented, and a sterile state around the liquid injection device can be maintained. In using the liquid injection device, the liquid injection device is taken out of the packaging body, and the cap attached to the distal end is removed by pinching with fingers. 
         [0005]    However, there is a problem that is it difficult for a person having a weak grip, such as an aged person or a person who has difficulty in the fingers such as a patient suffering from rheumatism, to remove the cap by pinching with the fingers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One object of certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide a packaging body and a packaging assembly, which enable easy removal of a cap of a liquid injection device, such as an auto injector housed in the packaging body or packaging assembly. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, provided is a packaging body for housing a liquid injection device that comprises a syringe that has a barrel part configured to be filled with a liquid and a needle, attached to a distal portion of the barrel, configured to discharge the liquid, a cap that covers the needle, and a housing that covers at least a base end part of the syringe, the liquid injection device having a step part that is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap or between the housing and the cap, which protrudes farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part. The packaging body comprises a container comprising a housing space for housing the liquid injection device, and an opening for removing the liquid injection device from the housing space, the container being configured to be attached to a sealing member for sealing the opening. The container comprises an engaging part that engages with the step part so as to remove the cap from the liquid injection device. 
         [0008]    In one aspect, the container has a bottom part, side wall parts that extend upward from a periphery of the bottom part, the opening surrounded by upper ends of the side wall parts, and a flange part that laterally extends from the upper ends of the side wall parts and is configured to be attached the sealing member. A notch part is provided at a part of the flange part, the notch part opening toward laterally. A lower end surface of the notch part functions as the engaging part. 
         [0009]    In one aspect, the notch part is provided at a part covered with the sealing member. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, the packaging body is configured to house the liquid injection device having an elongated shape. The opening has an elongated shape. The container has a shape having a long axis and a short axis in a plan view seen from a direction vertical to the bottom part such that the container is configured to house the liquid injection device in the housing space in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device is approximately parallel to a longitudinal direction of the opening. The notch part is provided at an end portion of the flange part in the direction of the long axis. 
         [0011]    In one aspect, the packaging body is configured to house the liquid injection device having an elongated shape. A distance from the bottom part of the container to the flange part in a direction vertical to the bottom part is equal to or longer than a distance from a distal end of the cap to the step part in the axial direction of the liquid injection device. 
         [0012]    In one aspect, the packaging body is configured to house the liquid injection device having an elongated shape. The notch part is provided to engage with parts of the step part that are facing across the axis of the liquid injection device. 
         [0013]    In one aspect, the packaging body is configured to house the liquid injection device having an elongated shape. The step part is provided over a entire circumference around the axis of the liquid injection device. The notch part is formed to have a shape along the step part. 
         [0014]    In one aspect, the container has a bottom part, side wall parts that extend upward from a periphery of the bottom part, the opening surrounded by the upper ends of the side wall parts, and a protruding part that protrudes to the housing space from a inner surfaces of the side wall parts. A lower end surface of the protruding part is apart from the bottom part in the direction vertical to the bottom part at a distance equal to or longer than a distance from the distal of the cap to the step part in the axial direction of the liquid injection device, and functions as the engaging part. 
         [0015]    In one aspect, the packaging body is configured to house the liquid injection device having an elongated shape. The opening has an elongated shape. The container has a shape having a long axis and a short axis in a plan view seen from the direction vertical to the bottom part such that the container is configured to house the liquid injection device in the housing space in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the opening. The protruding part is provided at the vicinity of end parts of the side wall parts in the direction of the long axis. 
         [0016]    In one aspect, the packaging body is configured to house the liquid injection device having an elongated shape. The opening has an elongated shape. The container has a shape having a long axis and a short axis in a plan view seen from the direction vertical to the bottom part such that the container is configured to house the liquid injection device in the housing space in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the opening. The protruding part is provided as at least a pair of protruding parts such that the protruding parts face to each other in the short axis direction and engage with parts of the step part that are facing across the axis of the liquid injection device. 
         [0017]    In one aspect, the packaging body is configured to house the liquid injection device having an elongated shape. The opening has an elongated shape. The container has a shape having a long axis and a short axis in a plan view seen from the direction vertical to the bottom part such that the container is configured to house the liquid injection device in the housing space in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the opening. The container has a cap inserting part in the housing space adjacent to the protruding part in the long axis direction, the cap inserting part to which at least a part closer to the distal end than the step part of the cap can be inserted in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device and the bottom part are approximately vertical. The engaging part is configured to engage with the parts of the step part that are facing across the axis of the liquid injection device by moving the cap inserted in the cap inserting part toward the protruding part in the long axis direction. 
         [0018]    In one aspect, the container has a movement restricting part on the opposite side of the long axis direction across the protruding part with respect to the cap inserting part, the movement restricting part restricting the movement of the cap inserted in the cap inserting part. 
         [0019]    In one aspect, the protruding part is disposed at the vicinity of the opening. 
         [0020]    In one aspect, the housing space has a cap housing space for housing the cap of the liquid injection device in the housing space, and the protruding part is disposed on the parts of the side wall parts that form the cap housing space. 
         [0021]    In one aspect, the packaging body includes the sealing member. 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, a packaging assembly includes the packaging body described above, and the liquid injection device housed in the housing space. The opening has been sealed with the sealing member. 
         [0023]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention, when the cap is removed from a liquid injection device such as an auto injector, the cap can be removed easily and certainly by engaging a step part of the cap with engaging parts of a packaging body. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, since the step part protrudes farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part, the step part can be easily engaged with the engaging parts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of the packaging assembly of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state in which the sealing member has been peeled from the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a plane view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a plane view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1   
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    The packaging body and packaging assembly of the present invention will be explained below in detail based on the exemplary embodiments shown in the attached drawings. 
         [0039]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of the packaging assembly of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state in which the sealing member has been peeled from the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 3 to 5, 8 and 11  are each a perspective view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  are each a plane view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 6, 7, 12 and 13  are each a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]    In the following explanation, for convenience of explanation, the terms “upper side,” “lower side,” “right side” and “left side” refer to the sides as shown in the Figures. Furthermore, for convenience of explanation, the left side of the liquid injection device as shown in  FIG. 2  is also referred to as “base end” and the right side as shown in  FIG. 2  is referred to as the “distal end.” Similarly, the upper side as shown in  FIGS. 3-8 and 11-13  is referred to as to “base end” and the lower side as shown in  FIGS. 3-8 and 11-13  is referred to as the “distal end.” 
         [0041]    Furthermore, in  FIGS. 6, 7, 12 and 13 , the illustration of the plunger and second coil spring is omitted. Furthermore, in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , only the outermost periphery part (site) of the remover of the cap, i.e., the outer cylinder, is illustrated for the liquid injection device. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a packaging assembly  1  includes a liquid injection device  5 , and a packaging body  2  for housing the liquid injection device  5 . 
         [0043]    The liquid injection device  5  is an auto injector having an elongated shape, which is filled with a drug solution (liquid) in advance, and is used in injecting (administering) the drug solution to a living body. The drug solution is not specifically limited, and is suitably selected from, depending on the purpose of use, for example, hematinics, vaccines, hormone formulations, antirheumatic agents, anticancer agents, anesthetic agents, anticoagulants and the like. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 , the liquid injection device  5  has a liquid injection device main body  6  having an elongated shape, and a cap  7  that is removably attached to the liquid injection device main body  6 . Because the cap  7  is attached to the liquid injection device main body  6 , a needle  66  (described below) of the liquid injection device main body  6  can be protected, and erroneous pricking by the needle  66 , and the like can be prevented. 
         [0045]    The liquid injection device main body  6  has a housing  63  having a cylindrical shape with a bottom, a syringe  61  disposed on the inner periphery side of the housing, a syringe holder  62  that holds the syringe  61 , a needle cover  64  that covers at least a distal portion of a needle  66  of the syringe  61 , a first coil spring, which is not illustrated, and a second coil spring, which is not illustrated. The syringe holder  62  is retained in the housing  63 . Furthermore, the housing  63  covers a part other than the needle  66  of the syringe  61 , i.e., a cylindrical body  611 . This housing  63  is a gripping part for gripping in injecting a drug solution into a living body. It is sufficient that the housing  63  covers at least the base end part of the syringe  61 . 
         [0046]    The syringe  61  has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and has a cylindrical body  611  capable of being filled with a drug solution, a needle (hollow needle)  66  configured to discharge the drug solution, which is attached to the distal portion of the cylindrical body  611 , a gasket  67  being capable of sliding in the cylindrical body  611 , which is disposed in the cylindrical body  611 , and a plunger connected to the gasket  67 , which is not illustrated. The first coil spring biases the gasket  67  toward the distal direction through the plunger. Furthermore, a retainer, which is not illustrated, is engaged with the plunger, and thus, the movement of the plunger in the distal direction is blocked. 
         [0047]    The cylindrical body  611  has a barrel part  612  having a bottom part, and a diameter-reduced part  613 , integral with the barrel part  612 , that is disposed on the central part of the bottom part and whose diameter is reduced with respect to the barrel part  612 . Furthermore, an opening through which a liquid can enter and be discharged is constituted by the diameter-reduced part  613 . Furthermore, the needle  66  is attached (fixed) to the diameter-reduced part  613  disposed on the distal portion of the barrel part  612 . 
         [0048]    A drug solution is housed in advance in a lumen part of the cylindrical body  611 , i.e., a space that is surrounded by the cylindrical body  611  and the gasket  67  and is located on the distal side of the gasket  67 . 
         [0049]    The needle  66  is a hollow needle tube having a sharp needle tip on the distal end, and can needle a living body with the needle tip. The lumen part of the needle  66  is in communication with the lumen part of the cylindrical body  611 , and functions as a flow path through which the drug solution from the cylindrical body  611  passes. Using the needle tip of the needle  66 , the needle is inserted into the living body up to a predetermined depth from the skin, and the drug solution is then injected into the body through the flow path of the needle  66 . 
         [0050]    The needle cover  64  has a distal opening, and is movably installed in the housing  63  in the axial direction of the liquid injection device  5 . This needle cover  64  can be moved toward a first position (covering position) where at least the needle tip of the needle  66  is covered, and a second position (evacuation position) where the needle tip of the needle  66  is exposed. The second coil spring biases the needle cover  64  toward the distal direction so that the needle cover  64  is positioned on the first position and the distal opening of the needle cover  64  is positioned closer to the distal side than the needle tip of the needle  66 . 
         [0051]    When the drug solution is injected to a living body, the housing  63  of the liquid injection device  5  is gripped, the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , and the distal portion of the needle cover  64  is pressed against an intended site on the surface of the living body. Thus, the needle cover  64  moves toward the base end direction in the second position, and the surface of the living body is needled by the needle tip of the needle  66 . Furthermore, when the needle cover  64  has moved to the second position, the engaging of the retainer with the plunger is released, and the gasket  67  moves in the distal direction through the plunger by the biasing force of the first coil spring, and thus, the drug solution is discharged from the needle  66 . Accordingly, according to this liquid injection device  5 , since the gasket  67  automatically moves in the distal direction by the biasing force of the first coil spring, even a person having a weak grip, such as an aged person or a person who has difficulty in the fingers such as a patient suffering from rheumatism, can administer the drug solution in an easy and certain way. 
         [0052]    The cap  7  has a needle shield member  71 , and a remover  72  that is disposed on the outer periphery side of the needle shield member  71 . 
         [0053]    The needle shield member  71  has a needle tip protecting member  711  that covers the needle tip of the needle  66 , and cover member  712  that retains the needle tip protecting member  711 . The needle tip protecting member  711  is constituted by, for example, a rubber material, and is detachably attached to the diameter-reduced part  613  of the syringe  61 . Furthermore, the opening of the needle tip of the needle  66  is sealed by the needle tip protecting member  711 . The shapes of the needle tip protecting member  711  and the cover member  712  are not specifically limited, and have a cylindrical shape with a bottom in this exemplary embodiment. 
         [0054]    The remover  72  has an outer cylinder  721 , and an inner cylinder  722  that is disposed in a concentric manner with outer cylinder  721  on the inner side of the outer cylinder  721 . Furthermore, a pair of arm parts  723  is formed on the base end of the inner cylinder  722  so as to protrude toward the base end side and face to each other across the axis of the liquid injection device  5 . Furthermore, a claw  724  is formed on the base end part of each arm part  723  so that the claw  724  protrudes toward the axis of the liquid injection device  5 . 
         [0055]    The cover member  712  of the needle shield member  71  is disposed on the inner side of the inner cylinder  722 , and is retained by the inner cylinder  722 . Furthermore, the claw  724  of each arm part  723  engages with the base end of the cover member  712 . Accordingly, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , when the remover  72  moves in the distal direction with respect to the liquid injection device main body  6 , the needle shield member  71  also moves in the together with the remover  72 , and thus, the cap  7  can be removed. 
         [0056]    This remover  72  is attached to the distal portion of the housing  63  of the liquid injection device main body  6 . In this case, the base end part of the outer cylinder  721  fits with the outer periphery part of the distal portion of the housing  63 , and the base end part of each arm part  723  fits with the inner periphery part of the distal portion of the housing  63 . Accordingly, in the liquid injection device  5  in the state that the cap  7  is attached, the remover  72  is abutting with the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the distal portion of the housing  63 . Therefore, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , the bending of the remover  72  against the housing  63  can be blocked, and thus, the bending of the needle  66  with the cap  7  can be prevented. 
         [0057]    Furthermore, a step part (first step part)  725  that protrudes farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part  612  is disposed between the housing  63  and the outer cylinder  721  of the remover  72  of the cap  7 . This step part  725  is constituted by the base end part of the outer cylinder  721  and the like and is disposed in a circle around the axis of the liquid injection device  5 , and engages with a notch part  331  or a pair of protruding parts  36  (described below) of the packaging body  2  when the cap  7  is removed from the engage liquid injection device  5 . 
         [0058]    Furthermore, a diameter-reduced part, which has a reduced diameter with respect to that of the base end part of the outer cylinder  721 , and a diameter-expanded part, which has an expanded diameter with respect to that of the diameter-reduced part, are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal portion of the outer cylinder  721 , and a step part (second step part)  726  that protrudes farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part  612  is disposed by the diameter-reduced part and the diameter-expanded part. This step part  726  is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder  721  in a circle around the axis of the liquid injection device  5 , and engages with a notch part  331  or a pair of protruding parts  36  (described below) of the packaging body  2 , when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 . In removing the cap  7  from the liquid injection device  5 , either of the step part  725  and the step part  726  may be engaged with the notch part  331  or the protruding parts  36 . 
         [0059]    Furthermore, the cap  7  can be removed from the liquid injection device  5  by gripping the remover  72  with the fingers and withdrawing the remover  72  in the distal direction, and at this time, the step part  726  functions as a finger hooking part for hooking the fingers. 
         [0060]    Next, the packaging body  2  will be explained. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the packaging body  2  includes a container  3  for housing the liquid injection device  5 , and a sealing member  4  that is detachably attached to the container  3 . The sealing member  4  is a sheet material having a sheet shape, i.e., a planar shape. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the container  3  is formed into a protruded shape (blister shape) in which the liquid injection device  5  can be housed, i.e., a housing space  34  for housing the liquid injection device  5  (described below) can be ensured. That is, the container  3  has a bottom part  31 , side wall parts  32  that extend toward the upper side from a periphery of the bottom part  31 , and a flange part  33  for attaching a sealing member  4 , which laterally extends from the upper ends of the side wall parts  32 . Furthermore, a housing space  34  for housing the liquid injection device  5  is formed in a part inside of the container  3  by the bottom part  31  and the side wall parts  32 , and an opening  35  for taking the liquid injection device  5  from the housing space  34  is formed on the upper end of the housing space  34 . In the housing space  34 , the end part of the right side is a cap housing space  38  for housing the cap  7  of the liquid injection device  5 . The opening  35  is surrounded by the upper ends of the side wall parts  32 . 
         [0063]    The shape of the container  3  is not specifically limited, and in this exemplary embodiment, the shape is an elongated shape having a long axis and a short axis in a plan view seen from the direction vertical to the bottom part  31  (hereinafter referred to as a plan view), i.e., an approximately rectangular shape. In  FIG. 2 , the direction of the above-described long axis is represented by “X”, and the direction of the above-described short axis is represented by “Y”. 
         [0064]    Furthermore, the shape of the opening  35  is not specifically limited, and in this exemplary embodiment, the shape is an elongated shape having a long axis and a short axis in a plan view. 
         [0065]    Furthermore, the shape of the housing space  34  is not specifically limited, and the shape is a shape such that the liquid injection device  5  can be housed in the housing space  34  in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device  5  is in approximately parallel with the longitudinal direction of the opening  35 . 
         [0066]    Furthermore, as described above, a flange part  33  is formed in a circle around the outer periphery part of the upper end part of the container  3 . In this flange part  33 , among the four sides, the part on the left side is formed to be larger than the other parts. 
         [0067]    Furthermore, a notch part  331 , which opens laterally, is formed on the end part of the flange part  33  in the long axis direction X of the container  3 , i.e., the part at the left side of the flange part  33 . The lower end surface of this notch part  331  functions as an engaging part that engages with a step part  725  or  726  of the cap  7  so as to remove the cap  7  from the liquid injection device  5  (see  FIGS. 4 and 6 ). By allowing the liquid injection device  5  to laterally approach the notch part  331  this way, the step part  725  or  726  of the cap  7  can be easily engaged with the notch part  331 . Furthermore, because the notch part  331  is formed on the end part of the flange part  33  in the long axis direction X of the container  3 , when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , in the state that the liquid injection device  5  is gripped by the fingers of one hand and the step part  725  or  726  is engaged with the notch part  331 , the container  3  can be surely pressed by the fingers of another hand, and thus, the cap  7  can be easily removed from the liquid injection device  5 . 
         [0068]    For the notch part  331 , the relationship with the step part  725  or  726  will be explained below. Because the relationship between the notch part  331  and the step part  725  and the relationship between the notch part  331  and the step part  726  are similar, the relationship between the notch part  331  and the step part  725  will be typically explained. 
         [0069]    The shape of the notch part  331  is not specifically limited as long as the shape is such that the lower end surface of the notch part  331  can be engaged with the step part  725 , and it is preferable that the notch part  331  is disposed in a manner that the lower end surface (engaging part) of the notch part  331  can be engaged with parts facing across the axis of the liquid injection device  5  of the step part  725 . Thus, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , the liquid injection device  5  becomes difficult to rotate around the engaging of the notch part  331  with the step part  725 , and thus the cap  7  can be surely removed. Furthermore, it is preferable that the notch part  331  is formed into a shape that follows the shape of the step part  725 . Thus, the notch part  331  and the step part  725  are surely engaged, and thus the cap  7  can be removed more surely. In this exemplary embodiment, the notch part  331  has an arc shape. 
         [0070]    Furthermore, the distance L 1  from the bottom part  31  to the flange part  33  in the direction vertical to the bottom part  31  of the container  3  (see  FIG. 6 ) is equal to or longer than the distance L 2  from the distal end of the cap  7  to the step part  725  in the axial direction of the liquid injection device  5  (see  FIG. 6 ). Thus, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , the step part  725  can be disposed on the lower side of the notch part  331  in the state that the container  3  is placed on a table or the like with aiming the bottom part  31  downward in the perpendicular direction without lifting the container  3 , and thus the step part  725  can be easily engaged with the notch part  331 . 
         [0071]    Furthermore, the upper surface of the flange part  33  is a site to which the sealing member  4  can be attached, and the sealing member  4  is detachably attached to the upper surface of the flange part  33  by, for example, fusion bonding or adhesion or the like. Thus, the flange part  33  is covered with the sealing member  4 , and the opening  35  is tightly sealed, and thus a sterilized state inside of the packaging body  2  can be maintained. 
         [0072]    Furthermore, when the sealing member  4  is peeled from the packaging body  2 , the sealing member  4  can be easily peeled by gripping the part corresponding to the missing part of the notch part  331  in the sealing member  4 . 
         [0073]    Furthermore, the container  3  has a pair of protruding parts  36  protruding from the inner surfaces of the side wall parts  32  to the housing space  34 . The lower end surface of each protruding part  36  functions as an engaging part that engages with the step part  725  or  726  of the cap  7  so as to remove the cap  7  from the liquid injection device  5  (see  FIGS. 10  and  FIG. 12 ). The number of the protruding parts  36  is not limited to two, and may also be, for example, one, or three or more, and is preferably two or more. Because each protruding part  36  is disposed on the housing space  34 , in the case when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , the cap  7  is housed in the housing space  34 . Therefore, the cap  7  is easily disposed without rolling or the like. 
         [0074]    In the following description, when the relationships with the step part  725  and  726  are explained for the protruding part  36 , because the relationship between the protruding part  36  and the step part  725  and the relationship between the protruding part  36  and the step part  726  are similar, the relationship between the protruding part  36  and the step part  725  will be commonly explained. 
         [0075]    The lower end surface of each protruding part  36  is apart from the bottom part  31  at a distance equal to or longer than the distance L 2  from the distal end of the cap  7  to the step part  725  in the direction vertical to the bottom part  31  (see  FIG. 12 ). That is, the distance L 3  from the bottom part  31  to each protruding part  36  in the direction vertical to the bottom part  31  of the container  3  (see  FIG. 12 ) is equal to or longer than the distance L 2 . Thus, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , the step part  725  can be disposed on the lower side of the protruding part  36  in the state that the cap  7  is inserted into the part where the protruding parts  36  have been formed of the housing space  34 , without deforming the container  3 , and thus, the step part  725  can be easily engaged with the notch part  331 . 
         [0076]    Furthermore, the protruding parts  36  are disposed so that the protruding parts  36  face to each other in the short axis direction Y of the container  3  (see  FIG. 2 ) and the lower end surfaces (engaging parts) of the protruding parts  36  can be engaged with the parts that face across the axis of the liquid injection device  5  of the step part  725  (see  FIG. 10 ). Thus, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , the liquid injection device  5  becomes difficult to rotate around the engaging of the notch part  331  with the step part  725 , and thus the cap  7  can be surely removed. 
         [0077]    Furthermore, the position of each protruding part  36  is not specifically limited, and in this exemplary embodiment, each protruding part  36  is disposed in the vicinity of the end part of the side wall part  32  in the long axis direction X of the container  3 . Thus, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , in the state that the liquid injection device  5  is gripped by the fingers of one hand and the step part  725  is engaged with each protruding part  36 , the container  3  can be surely pressed by the fingers of another hand, and thus, the cap  7  can be easily removed from the liquid injection device  5 . Furthermore, each protruding part  36  is disposed in the vicinity of the opening  35 . Thus, a user can easily recognize the respective protruding parts  36 . Furthermore, the respective protruding parts  36  are disposed on the cap housing space  38 . Thus, a user can easily understand that the respective protruding parts  36  are used in removing the cap  7 . 
         [0078]    Furthermore, the container  3  has a cap inserting part  37  to which, when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , at least apart closer to the distal end than the step part  725  of the cap  7  can be inserted in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device  5  and the bottom part  31  is approximately vertical. The cap inserting part  37  is disposed in the housing space  34  adjacent to the respective protruding parts  36  in the long axis direction X of the container  3 , i.e., a cap housing space  38 . 
         [0079]    When the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the cap  7  of the liquid injection device  5  is inserted in the cap inserting part  37  and moved toward the respective protruding parts  36  in the long axis direction X of the container  3  (toward the left side in  FIG. 9 ) in the state that the axis of the liquid injection device  5  and the bottom part  31  are approximately vertical. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , the lower end surfaces of the respective protruding parts  36  become possible to engage with the parts that face across the axis of the liquid injection device  5  of the step part  725 . Accordingly, when the cap  7  is inserted in the cap housing space  38  and the step part  725  is disposed on the lower sides of the respective protruding parts  36  so as to remove the cap  7  from the liquid injection device  5 , crushing or damaging of the protruding parts  36  by the cap  7  can be suppressed, and thus the respective protruding parts  36  can be surely engaged with the step part  725 . 
         [0080]    Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 3, 9 and 10 , the container  3  has a movement restricting part  39  that restricts the movement of the cap  7  inserted in the cap inserting part  37  with respect to the cap inserting part  37 . This movement restricting part  39  is a step part disposed on the bottom part  31 , and pinches the respective protruding parts  36  to thereby restrict the movement of the cap  7  to the opposite side in the long axis direction X of the container  3 . That is, the movement restricting part  39  abuts to the cap  7  to thereby block the movement of the cap  7  when the liquid injection device  5  is moved to the left side in  FIG. 9  from the state that the step part  725  of the cap  7  is not engaged with the respective protruding parts  36  (see  FIGS. 8 and 9 ) to the state that the step part  725  can engage with the respective protruding parts  36  (see  FIG. 10 ). Thus, the step part  725  and the respective protruding parts  36  can be engaged in an easy and surely manner. 
         [0081]    Furthermore, the constitutional material of the container  3  is not specifically limited, and examples include various resins such as paper, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, poly-(4-methylpentene-1), polycarbonates, acrylic resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, polyesters such as polyethylene telephthalate, butadiene-styrene copolymers and polyamides, and the like. 
         [0082]    Secondly, the operational procedures for removing the cap  7  from the liquid injection device  5  of the packaging assembly  1  will be explained. 
         [0083]    This packaging assembly  1  has two types of methods utilizing the container  3 , besides the method in which the cap  7  is gripped and withdrawn in the distal direction, as the methods for removing the cap  7 . A user of the liquid injection device  5  can select either one method from the two ways of methods. The two types of methods utilizing the container  3  will be sequentially explained below. 
         [0084]    Firstly, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the sealing member  4  is peeled from the packaging body  2  of the packaging assembly  1 , and as shown in  FIG. 3 , the liquid injection device  5  is taken from the container  3 . 
         [0085]    In the first method, subsequently, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the step part  725  of the cap  7  is engaged with the notch part  331  of the container  3  in the state that the axis of the liquid injection device  5  and the flange part  33  (bottom part  31 ) are approximately vertical. The step part  726  may be engaged with the notch part  331  instead of the step part  725 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , with pressing the container  3  by the fingers of one hand, the liquid injection device  5  is gripped by the fingers of another hand and moved upward (the hands and fingers are not illustrated). Thus, the cap  7  is detached from the liquid injection device  5 . 
         [0086]    In the second method, the liquid injection device  5  is removed from the container  3 , the step part  725  of the cap  7  is then engaged with the respective protruding parts  36  of the container  3 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 . In this case, firstly, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the cap  7  of the liquid injection device  5  is inserted in a place that is closer to the right side in  FIG. 9  than the respective protruding parts  36  of the cap inserting part  37 , in the state that the axis of the liquid injection device  5  and the bottom part  31  are approximately vertical, and the cap  7  is moved to the left side in  FIG. 9 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , the respective protruding parts  36  become possible to engage with the step part  725 . Instead of the step part  725 , the step part  726  maybe put into a state being capable of engaging with the respective protruding parts  36 . Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , with pressing the container  3  by the fingers of one hand, the liquid injection device  5  is gripped by the fingers of another hand and moved toward the upper side (the hands and fingers are not illustrated). Thus, the protruding part  36  engage with the step part  725 , and the cap  7  is detached from the liquid injection device  5 . 
         [0087]    As explained above, according to this packaging assembly  1 , when the cap  7  is removed from the liquid injection device  5 , by allowing the step part  725  or  7265  of the cap  7  to engage with the notch part  331  or the respective protruding parts  36  of the packaging body  2 , even a person having a weak grip such as an aged person or a person who has difficulty in the fingers such as a patient suffering from rheumatism can remove the cap  7  in an easy and certain way. 
         [0088]    Furthermore, because the step parts  725  and  726  protrude farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part  612  of the syringe  61 , the step part  725  or  726  can be easily engaged with the notch part  331  or the respective protruding parts  36 . 
         [0089]    The packaging body and packaging assembly of the present invention have been explained based on the illustrated exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and each part can be substituted with a part having an optional constitution capable of exerting a similar function. Furthermore, optional constitutional matters may also be added. 
         [0090]    Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention may be a combination of optional two or more constitutions (features) among the above-described respective exemplary embodiments. 
         [0091]    In addition, in embodiments of the present invention, either the notch part or the protruding parts may be omitted. 
         [0092]    Furthermore, the protruding parts are provided with an aim of being engaged with the step part (first step part) formed between the housing and the cap in the above-described exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, and the protruding parts may be provided with an aim of being engaged with the step part (second step part) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cap. In this case, it is sufficient that the distance from the bottom part to the protruding parts in the direction vertical to the bottom part of the container is equal to or longer than the distance from the distal end of the cap to the second step part. 
         [0093]    Furthermore, the packaging body has a sealing member for sealing the opening of the container in the above-described exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this constitution, and may have, for example, a constitution having no sealing member and having a housing box for housing the container. In this case, it is preferable that the housing box houses the container in a slidable manner. In addition, the packaging body may also have a constitution having both a sealing member and a housing box. 
         [0094]    Furthermore, the cap is constituted by the remover and the needle shield member in the above-described exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this constitution, and for example, the remover maybe omitted. In this case, a step part protruding farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the needle shield member or between the housing and the needle shield member. 
         [0095]    Furthermore, the liquid injection device is an auto injector in the above-described exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this form, and for example, the form may be such that a liquid is discharged by manually pressurizing a plunger. 
         [0096]    Furthermore, the liquid injection device has a constitution in which the drug solution is housed in the syringe in advance in the above-described exemplary embodiments, but the constitution is not limited to these, and for example, a drug as a solid formulation such as a powdered formulation may be housed in the syringe. In this case, a liquid such as a lysate is injected into the syringe at the time of use, and a solution formed by dissolving a drug in the liquid can be used as the “drug solution”. Furthermore, the liquid injection device may also have a form that is not filled with a liquid in advance. 
         [0097]    The packaging body of one embodiment the present invention is a packaging body for housing a liquid injection device including a barrel part capable of being filled with a liquid, a syringe having a needle for discharging the liquid, which is attached to a distal portion of the barrel part, a cap that covers the needle, and a housing that covers at least a base end part of the syringe, the liquid injection device having a step part protruding farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part between an outer peripheral surface of the cap or the housing and the cap. The packaging body includes a container including a housing space for housing the liquid injection device and an opening for removing the liquid injection device from the housing space, to which a sealing member for sealing the opening can be attached. The container included an engaging part that engages with the step part so as to remove the cap from the liquid injection device. 
         [0098]    Furthermore, the packaging assembly of one embodiment the present invention is a packaging assembly, including the packaging body described above, and the liquid injection device housed in the housing space, where the opening has been sealed with the sealing member. 
         [0099]    According to certain embodiments of the present invention, when the cap is removed from the liquid injection device, such as an auto injector, the cap can be removed in an easy and certain way, by allowing the step part of the cap to engage with the engaging part of the packaging body. Furthermore, because the step part protrudes farther outward than the side surface of the barrel part, the step part can be easily engaged with the engaging part. Therefore, the present invention has industrial applicability.
     1  packaging assembly     2  packaging body     3  container     31  bottom part     32  side wall part     33  flange part     331  notch part     34  housing space     35  opening     36  protruding part     37  cap inserting part     38  cap housing space     39  movement restricting part     4  sealing member     5  liquid injection device     6  liquid injection device main body     61  syringe     611  cylindrical body     612  barrel part     613  diameter-reduced part     62  syringe holder     63  housing     64  needle cover     66  needle     67  gasket     1  cap     71  needle shield member     711  needle tip protecting member     712  cover member     72  remover     721  outer cylinder     722  inner cylinder     723  arm part     724  claw     725 ,  726  step parts