Patent Description:
Liquid injection devices such as an auto injector, which is constituted so that 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, and the like are known (for example, see Patent Literature <NUM>). 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 needling 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.

Such liquid injection device is housed in, for example, the blister packaging body described in Patent Literature <NUM>, or the like. By this way, 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.

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.

A packaging body with a cap removal mechanism is described in Patent Literature <NUM>.

The object 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. Solution to Problem.

Such object is achieved by the present invention according to the appended claims.

According to the present invention, when a 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.

Furthermore, since the step part protrudes further outward than the side surface of the barrel part, the step part can be easily engaged with the engaging parts.

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.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of the packaging assembly of the present invention. <FIG> is a perspective view showing a state in which the sealing member has been peeled from the packaging assembly shown in <FIG>. <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are each a perspective view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in <FIG>. <FIG> and <FIG> are each a plane view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in <FIG>. <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are each a cross-sectional view for explaining an operation procedure in removing the cap of the packaging assembly shown in <FIG>.

In the following explanation, for convenience of explanation, the upper side refers to "above" or "upside", the lower side refers to "under" or "downside", the right side refers to "right", the left side refers to "left" in <FIG> and <FIG>; and the right side refers to "right" and the left side refers to "left" in <FIG> and <FIG>. Furthermore, for convenience of explanation, the left side of the liquid injection device refers to "base end" and the right side refers to "distal end" in <FIG>; and the upper side refers to "base end" and the lower side refers to "distal end" in the liquid injection device in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Furthermore, in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the illustration of the plunger and second coil spring is omitted. Furthermore, in <FIG> and <FIG>, only the outermost periphery part (site) of the remover of the cap, i.e., the outer cylinder, is illustrated for the liquid injection device.

As shown in <FIG>, a packaging assembly <NUM> has a liquid injection device <NUM>, and a packaging body <NUM> for housing the liquid injection device <NUM>.

The liquid injection device <NUM> 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.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the liquid injection device <NUM> has a liquid injection device main body <NUM> having an elongated shape, and a cap <NUM> that is removably attached to the liquid injection device main body <NUM>. Since the cap <NUM> is attached to the liquid injection device main body <NUM>, a needle <NUM>, which will be mentioned below, of the liquid injection device main body <NUM> can be protected, and erroneous needling by the needle <NUM>, and the like can be prevented.

The liquid injection device main body <NUM> has a housing <NUM> having a cylindrical shape with a bottom, a syringe <NUM> disposed on the inner periphery side of the housing, a syringe holder <NUM> that holds the syringe <NUM>, a needle cover <NUM> that covers at least a distal portion of a needle <NUM>, which will be mentioned below, of the syringe <NUM>, a first coil spring, which is not illustrated, and a second coil spring, which is not illustrated. The syringe holder <NUM> is retained in the housing <NUM>. Furthermore, the housing <NUM> covers a part other than the needle <NUM> of the syringe <NUM>, i.e., a cylindrical body <NUM>. This housing <NUM> is a gripping part for gripping in injecting a drug solution into a living body. It is sufficient that the housing <NUM> covers at least the base end part of the syringe <NUM>.

The syringe <NUM> has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and has a cylindrical body <NUM> capable of being filled with a drug solution, a needle (hollow needle) <NUM> configured to discharge the drug solution, which is attached to the distal portion of the cylindrical body <NUM>, a gasket <NUM> being capable of sliding in the cylindrical body <NUM>, which is disposed in the cylindrical body <NUM>, and a plunger connected to the gasket <NUM>, which is not illustrated. The first coil spring biases the gasket <NUM> 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.

The cylindrical body <NUM> has a barrel part <NUM> having a bottom part, and a diameter-reduced part <NUM> that is disposed on the central part of the bottom part and whose diameter is reduced with respect to the barrel part <NUM>, and these are integrally formed. Furthermore, an opening through which a liquid can enter and discharge is constituted by the diameter-reduced part <NUM>. Furthermore, the needle <NUM> is attached (fixed) to the diameter-reduced part <NUM> disposed on the distal portion of the barrel part <NUM>.

A drug solution is housed in advance in a lumen part of the cylindrical body <NUM>, i.e., a space surrounded by the cylindrical body <NUM> and the gasket <NUM>, which is positioned on the distal side of the gasket <NUM>.

The needle <NUM> 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 <NUM> is in communication with the lumen part of the cylindrical body <NUM>, and functions as a flow path through which the drug solution from the cylindrical body <NUM> passes. The living body is needled up to a predetermined depth from the skin by the needle tip of the needle <NUM>, and the drug solution is then injected into the body through the flow path of the needle <NUM>.

The needle cover <NUM> has a distal opening, and is movably installed in the housing <NUM> in the axial direction of the liquid injection device <NUM>. This needle cover <NUM> can be moved toward a first position (covering position) where at least the needle tip of the needle <NUM> is covered, and a second position (evacuation position) where the needle tip of the needle <NUM> is exposed. The second coil spring biases the needle cover <NUM> toward the distal direction so that the needle cover <NUM> is positioned on the first position and the distal opening of the needle cover <NUM> is positioned closer to the distal side than the needle tip of the needle <NUM>.

When the drug solution is injected to a living body, the housing <NUM> of the liquid injection device <NUM> is gripped, the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, and the distal portion of the needle cover <NUM> is pressed against an intended site on the surface of the living body. By this way, the needle cover <NUM> 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 <NUM>. Furthermore, when the needle cover <NUM> has moved to the second position, the engaging of the retainer with the plunger is released, and the gasket <NUM> 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 <NUM>. Accordingly, according to this liquid injection device <NUM>, since the gasket <NUM> 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.

The cap <NUM> has a needle shield member <NUM>, and a remover <NUM> that is disposed on the outer periphery side of the needle shield member <NUM>.

The needle shield member <NUM> has a needle tip protecting member <NUM> that covers the needle tip of the needle <NUM>, and cover member <NUM> that retains the needle tip protecting member <NUM>. The needle tip protecting member <NUM> is constituted by, for example, a rubber material, and is detachably attached to the diameter-reduced part <NUM> of the syringe <NUM>. Furthermore, the opening of the needle tip of the needle <NUM> is sealed by the needle tip protecting member <NUM>. The shapes of the needle tip protecting member <NUM> and the cover member <NUM> are not specifically limited, and are each a cylindrical shape with a bottom in this exemplary embodiment.

The remover <NUM> has an outer cylinder <NUM>, and an inner cylinder <NUM> that is disposed in a concentric manner with outer cylinder <NUM> on the inner side of the outer cylinder <NUM>. Furthermore, a pair of arm parts <NUM> is formed on the base end of the inner cylinder <NUM> so as to protrude toward the base end side and face to each other across the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM>. Furthermore, a claw <NUM> is formed on the base end part of each arm part <NUM> so that the claw <NUM> protrudes toward the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM>.

The cover member <NUM> of the needle shield member <NUM> is disposed on the inner side of the inner cylinder <NUM>, and is retained by the inner cylinder <NUM>. Furthermore, the claw <NUM> of each arm part <NUM> engages with the base end of the cover member <NUM>. Accordingly, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, when the remover <NUM> moves in the distal direction with respect to the liquid injection device main body <NUM>, the needle shield member <NUM> also moves in the together with the remover <NUM>, and thus, the cap <NUM> can be removed.

This remover <NUM> is attached to the distal portion of the housing <NUM> of the liquid injection device main body <NUM>. In this case, the base end part of the outer cylinder <NUM> fits with the outer periphery part of the distal portion of the housing <NUM>, and the base end part of each arm part <NUM> fits with the inner periphery part of the distal portion of the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, in the liquid injection device <NUM> in the state that the cap <NUM> is attached, the remover <NUM> is abutting with the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the distal portion of the housing <NUM>. Therefore, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, the bending of the remover <NUM> against the housing <NUM> can be blocked, and thus, the bending of the needle <NUM> with the cap <NUM> can be prevented.

Furthermore, a step part (first step part) <NUM> that protrudes further outward than the side surface of the barrel part <NUM> is disposed between the housing <NUM> and the outer cylinder <NUM> of the remover <NUM> of the cap <NUM>. This step part <NUM> is constituted by the base end part of the outer cylinder <NUM> and the like and is disposed in a circle around the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM>, and engages with a notch part <NUM> or a pair of protruding parts <NUM>, which will be mentioned below, of the packaging body <NUM> when the cap <NUM> is removed from the engage liquid injection device <NUM>.

Furthermore, a diameter-reduced part, which has a reduced diameter with respect to that of the base end part of the outer cylinder <NUM>, 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 <NUM>, and a step part (second step part) <NUM> that protrudes further outward than the side surface of the barrel part <NUM> is disposed by the diameter-reduced part and the diameter-expanded part. This step part <NUM> is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder <NUM> in a circle around the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM>, and engages with a notch part <NUM> or a pair of protruding parts <NUM>, which will be mentioned below, of the packaging body <NUM>, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>. In removing the cap <NUM> from the liquid injection device <NUM>, either of the step part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> may be engaged with the notch part <NUM> or the protruding parts <NUM>.

Furthermore, the cap <NUM> can be removed from the liquid injection device <NUM> by gripping the remover <NUM> with the fingers and withdrawing the remover <NUM> in the distal direction, and at this time, the step part <NUM> functions as a finger hooking part for hooking the fingers.

Subsequently, the packaging body <NUM> will be explained.

As shown in <FIG>, the packaging body <NUM> includes a container <NUM> for housing the liquid injection device <NUM>, and a sealing member <NUM> that is detachably attached to the container <NUM>. The sealing member <NUM> is a sheet material having a sheet shape, i.e., having a plane shape.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the container <NUM> is formed into a protruded shape (blister shape) in which the liquid injection device <NUM> can be housed, i.e., a housing space <NUM> for housing the liquid injection device <NUM>, which will be mentioned below, can be ensured. That is, the container <NUM> has a bottom part <NUM>, side wall parts <NUM> that extend toward the upper side from the surrounding of the bottom part <NUM>, and a flange part <NUM> for attaching a sealing member <NUM>, which laterally extends from the upper ends of the side wall parts <NUM>. Furthermore, a housing space <NUM> for housing the liquid injection device <NUM> is formed in a part inside of the container <NUM> by the bottom part <NUM> and the side wall parts <NUM>, and an opening <NUM> for taking the liquid injection device <NUM> from the housing space <NUM> is formed on the upper end of the housing space <NUM>. In the housing space <NUM>, the end part of the right side is a cap housing space <NUM> for housing the cap <NUM> of the liquid injection device <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is surrounded by the upper ends of the side wall parts <NUM>.

Furthermore, the shape of the container <NUM> 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 planar view seen from the direction vertical to the bottom part <NUM> (hereinafter referred to as a planar view), i.e., an approximately rectangular shape. In <FIG>, the direction of the above-mentioned long axis is represented by "X", and the direction of the above-mentioned short axis is represented by "Y".

Furthermore, the shape of the opening <NUM> 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 planar view.

Furthermore, the shape of the housing space <NUM> is not specifically limited, and the shape is a shape such that the liquid injection device <NUM> can be housed in the housing space <NUM> in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> is in approximately parallel with the longitudinal direction of the opening <NUM>.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, a flange part <NUM> is formed in a circle around the outer periphery part of the upper end part of the container <NUM>. In this flange part <NUM>, among the four sides, the part on the left side is formed to be larger than the other parts.

Furthermore, a notch part <NUM>, which opens toward laterally, is formed on the end part of the flange part <NUM> in the long axis direction X of the container <NUM>, i.e., the part at the left side of the flange part <NUM>. The lower end surface of this notch part <NUM> functions as an engaging part that engages with a step part <NUM> or <NUM> of the cap <NUM> so as to remove the cap <NUM> from the liquid injection device <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). By allowing the liquid injection device <NUM> to laterally approach the notch part <NUM> by this way, the step part <NUM> or <NUM> of the cap <NUM> can be easily engaged with the notch part <NUM>. Furthermore, since the notch part <NUM> is formed on the end part of the flange part <NUM> in the long axis direction X of the container <NUM>, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, in the state that the liquid injection device <NUM> is gripped by the fingers of one hand and the step part <NUM> or <NUM> is engaged with the notch part <NUM>, the container <NUM> can be surely pressed by the fingers of another hand, and thus, the cap <NUM> can be easily removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>.

For the notch part <NUM>, the relationship with the step part <NUM> or <NUM> will be explained below. Since the relationship between the notch part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> and the relationship between the notch part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> are similar, the relationship between the notch part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> will be typically explained.

The shape of the notch part <NUM> is not specifically limited as long as the shape is such that the lower end surface of the notch part <NUM> can be engaged with the step part <NUM>, and it is preferable that the notch part <NUM> is disposed in a manner that the lower end surface (engaging part) of the notch part <NUM> can be engaged with parts facing across the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> of the step part <NUM>. By this way, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, the liquid injection device <NUM> becomes difficult to rotate around the engaging of the notch part <NUM> with the step part <NUM>, and thus the cap <NUM> can be surely removed. Furthermore, it is preferable that the notch part <NUM> is formed into a shape that follows the shape of the step part <NUM>. By this way, the notch part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> are surely engaged, and thus the cap <NUM> can be removed more surely. In this exemplary embodiment, the notch part <NUM> has an arc shape.

Furthermore, the distance L1 from the bottom part <NUM> to the flange part <NUM> in the direction vertical to the bottom part <NUM> of the container <NUM> (see <FIG>) is equal to or longer than the distance L2 from the distal end of the cap <NUM> to the step part <NUM> in the axial direction of the liquid injection device <NUM> (see <FIG>). By this way, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, the step part <NUM> can be disposed on the lower side of the notch part <NUM> in the state that the container <NUM> is placed on a table or the like with aiming the bottom part <NUM> downward in the perpendicular direction without lifting the container <NUM>, and thus the step part <NUM> can be easily engaged with the notch part <NUM>.

Furthermore, the upper surface of the flange part <NUM> is a site to which the sealing member <NUM> can be attached, and the sealing member <NUM> is detachably attached to the upper surface of the flange part <NUM> by, for example, fusion bonding or adhesion or the like. By this way, the flange part <NUM> is covered with the sealing member <NUM>, and the opening <NUM> is tightly sealed, and thus a sterilized state inside of the packaging body <NUM> can be maintained.

Furthermore, when the sealing member <NUM> is peeled from the packaging body <NUM>, the sealing member <NUM> can be easily peeled by gripping the part corresponding to the missing part of the notch part <NUM> in the sealing member <NUM>.

Furthermore, the container <NUM> has a pair of protruding parts <NUM> protruding from the inner surfaces of the side wall parts <NUM> to the housing space <NUM>. The lower end surface of each protruding part <NUM> functions as an engaging part that engages with the step part <NUM> or <NUM> of the cap <NUM> so as to remove the cap <NUM> from the liquid injection device <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The number of the protruding parts <NUM> is not limited to two, and may also be, for example, one, or three or more, and is preferably two or more. Since each protruding part <NUM> is disposed on the housing space <NUM>, in the case when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, the cap <NUM> is housed in the housing space <NUM>. Therefore, the cap <NUM> is easily disposed without rolling or the like.

In the following, when the relationships with the step part <NUM> and <NUM> are explained for the protruding part <NUM>, since the relationship between the protruding part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> and the relationship between the protruding part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> are similar, the relationship between the protruding part <NUM> and the step part <NUM> will be typically explained.

The lower end surface of each protruding part <NUM> is apart from the bottom part <NUM> at a distance equal to or longer than the distance L2 from the distal end of the cap <NUM> to the step part <NUM> in the direction vertical to the bottom part <NUM> (see <FIG>). That is, the distance L3 from the bottom part <NUM> to each protruding part <NUM> in the direction vertical to the bottom part <NUM> of the container <NUM> (see <FIG>) is equal to or longer than the distance L2. By this way, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, the step part <NUM> can be disposed on the lower side of the protruding part <NUM> in the state that the cap <NUM> is inserted into the part where the protruding parts <NUM> have been formed of the housing space <NUM>, without deforming the container <NUM>, and thus, the step part <NUM> can be easily engaged with the notch part <NUM>.

Furthermore, the protruding parts <NUM> are disposed so that the protruding parts <NUM> face to each other in the short axis direction Y of the container <NUM> (see <FIG>) and the lower end surfaces (engaging parts) of the protruding parts <NUM> can be engaged with the parts that face across the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> of the step part <NUM> (see <FIG>). By this way, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, the liquid injection device <NUM> becomes difficult to rotate around the engaging of the notch part <NUM> with the step part <NUM>, and thus the cap <NUM> can be surely removed.

Furthermore, the position of each protruding part <NUM> is not specifically limited, and in this exemplary embodiment, each protruding part <NUM> is disposed in the vicinity of the end part of the side wall part <NUM> in the long axis direction X of the container <NUM>. By this way, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, in the state that the liquid injection device <NUM> is gripped by the fingers of one hand and the step part <NUM> is engaged with each protruding part <NUM>, the container <NUM> can be surely pressed by the fingers of another hand, and thus, the cap <NUM> can be easily removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>. Furthermore, each protruding part <NUM> is disposed in the vicinity of the opening <NUM>. By this way, a user can easily recognize the respective protruding parts <NUM>. Furthermore, the respective protruding parts <NUM> are disposed on the cap housing space <NUM>. By this way, a user can easily understand that the respective protruding parts <NUM> are used in removing the cap <NUM>.

Furthermore, the container <NUM> has a cap inserting part <NUM> to which, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, at least a part closer to the distal end than the step part <NUM> of the cap <NUM> can be inserted in a state that the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> is approximately vertical. The cap inserting part <NUM> is disposed in the housing space <NUM> adjacent to the respective protruding parts <NUM> in the long axis direction X of the container <NUM>, i.e., a cap housing space <NUM>.

When the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the cap <NUM> of the liquid injection device <NUM> is inserted in the cap inserting part <NUM> and moved toward the respective protruding parts <NUM> in the long axis direction X of the container <NUM> (toward the left side in <FIG>) in the state that the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> are approximately vertical. By this way, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the lower end surfaces of the respective protruding parts <NUM> become possible to engage with the parts that face across the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> of the step part <NUM>. Accordingly, when the cap <NUM> is inserted in the cap housing space <NUM> and the step part <NUM> is disposed on the lower sides of the respective protruding parts <NUM> so as to remove the cap <NUM> from the liquid injection device <NUM>, crushing or damaging of the protruding parts <NUM> by the cap <NUM> can be suppressed, and thus the respective protruding parts <NUM> can be surely engaged with the step part <NUM>.

Furthermore, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the container <NUM> has a movement restricting part <NUM> that restricts the movement of the cap <NUM> inserted in the cap inserting part <NUM> with respect to the cap inserting part <NUM>. This movement restricting part <NUM> is a step part disposed on the bottom part <NUM>, and pinches the respective protruding parts <NUM> to thereby restrict the movement of the cap <NUM> to the opposite side in the long axis direction X of the container <NUM>. That is, the movement restricting part <NUM> abuts to the cap <NUM> to thereby block the movement of the cap <NUM> when the liquid injection device <NUM> is moved to the left side in <FIG> from the state that the step part <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is not engaged with the respective protruding parts <NUM> (see <FIG>) to the state that the step part <NUM> can engage with the respective protruding parts <NUM> (see <FIG>). By this way, the step part <NUM> and the respective protruding parts <NUM> can be engaged in an easy and surely manner.

Furthermore, the constitutional material of the container <NUM> is not specifically limited, and examples include various resins such as paper, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, poly-(<NUM>-methylpentene-<NUM>), polycarbonates, acrylic resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, polyesters such as polyethylene telephthalate, butadiene-styrene copolymers and polyamides, and the like.

Secondly, the operational procedures for removing the cap <NUM> from the liquid injection device <NUM> of the packaging assembly <NUM> will be explained.

This packaging assembly <NUM> has two types of methods utilizing the container <NUM>, besides the method in which the cap <NUM> is gripped and withdrawn in the distal direction, as the methods for removing the cap <NUM>. A user of the liquid injection device <NUM> can select either one method from the two ways of methods. The two types of methods utilizing the container <NUM> will be sequentially explained below.

Firstly, as shown in <FIG>, the sealing member <NUM> is peeled from the packaging body <NUM> of the packaging assembly <NUM>, and as shown in <FIG>, the liquid injection device <NUM> is taken from the container <NUM>.

In the first method, subsequently, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the step part <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is engaged with the notch part <NUM> of the container <NUM> in the state that the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> and the flange part <NUM> (bottom part <NUM>) are approximately vertical. The step part <NUM> may be engaged with the notch part <NUM> instead of the step part <NUM>. Furthermore, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, with pressing the container <NUM> by the fingers of one hand, the liquid injection device <NUM> is gripped by the fingers of another hand and moved upward (the hands and fingers are not illustrated). By this way, the cap <NUM> is detached from the liquid injection device <NUM>.

In the second method, the liquid injection device <NUM> is removed from the container <NUM>, the step part <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is then engaged with the respective protruding parts <NUM> of the container <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. In this case, firstly, as shown in <FIG>, the cap <NUM> of the liquid injection device <NUM> is inserted in a place that is closer to the right side in <FIG> than the respective protruding parts <NUM> of the cap inserting part <NUM>, in the state that the axis of the liquid injection device <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM> are approximately vertical, and the cap <NUM> is moved to the left side in <FIG>. By this way, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the respective protruding parts <NUM> become possible to engage with the step part <NUM>. Instead of the step part <NUM>, the step part <NUM> may be put into a state being capable of engaging with the respective protruding parts <NUM>. Furthermore, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, with pressing the container <NUM> by the fingers of one hand, the liquid injection device <NUM> is gripped by the fingers of another hand and moved toward the upper side (the hands and fingers are not illustrated). By this way, the protruding part <NUM> engage with the step part <NUM>, and the cap <NUM> is detached from the liquid injection device <NUM>.

As explained above, according to this packaging assembly <NUM>, when the cap <NUM> is removed from the liquid injection device <NUM>, by allowing the step part <NUM> or <NUM> of the cap <NUM> to engage with the notch part <NUM> or the respective protruding parts <NUM> of the packaging body <NUM>, 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 <NUM> in an easy and certain way.

Furthermore, since the step parts <NUM> and <NUM> protrude further outward than the side surface of the barrel part <NUM> of the syringe <NUM>, the step part <NUM> or <NUM> can be easily engaged with the notch part <NUM> or the respective protruding parts <NUM>.

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.

Furthermore, the present invention may be a combination of optional two or more constitutions (features) among the above-mentioned respective exemplary embodiments.

In addition, in the present invention, the protruding parts may be omitted.

Furthermore, the protruding parts are provided with aiming at being engaged with the step part (first step part) formed between the housing and the cap in the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments, and the protruding parts may be provided with aiming at 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.

Furthermore, the packaging body has a sealing member for sealing the opening of the container in the above-mentioned 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.

Furthermore, the cap is constituted by the remover and the needle shield member in the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to this constitution, and for example, the remover may be omitted. In this case, a step part protruding further 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.

Furthermore, the liquid injection device is an auto injector in the above-mentioned 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.

Furthermore, the liquid injection device has a constitution in which the drug solution is housed in the syringe in advance in the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments, but the constitution is not limited to these, and for example, a drug as a solid formulation such as a powdery 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 "drug solution". Furthermore, the liquid injection device may also have a form that is not filled with a liquid in advance.

The packaging body of 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 further outward than the side surface of the barrel part between an outer peripheral surface of the cap or the housing and the cap, wherein.

Furthermore, the packaging assembly of the present invention is a packaging assembly, including:.

Claim 1:
A packaging body (<NUM>) configured to house a liquid injection device (<NUM>),
the liquid injection device (<NUM>) comprising a syringe (<NUM>) that has a barrel part (<NUM>) capable of being filled with a liquid and a needle (<NUM>) attached to a distal portion of the barrel part (<NUM>) for discharging the liquid, a cap (<NUM>) that covers the needle (<NUM>), and a housing (<NUM>) that covers at least a base end part of the syringe (<NUM>), the liquid injection device (<NUM>) having a step part (<NUM>, <NUM>) that is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap (<NUM>) or between the housing (<NUM>) and the cap (<NUM>), which the step part (<NUM>, <NUM>) protrudes further outward than the side surface of the barrel part (<NUM>),
the packaging body (<NUM>) comprising:
a container (<NUM>) comprising a housing space (<NUM>) configured to house the liquid injection device (<NUM>),
and an opening (<NUM>) configured to remove the liquid injection device (<NUM>) from the housing space (<NUM>), the container (<NUM>) being configured to be attached to a sealing member (<NUM>) configured to seal the opening (<NUM>), and
wherein the container (<NUM>) comprises an engaging part that is configured to engage with the step part (<NUM>, <NUM>) so as to remove the cap (<NUM>) from the liquid injection device (<NUM>),wherein the container (<NUM>) has a bottom part (<NUM>), side wall parts (<NUM>) that extend upward from the surrounding of the bottom part (<NUM>), the opening (<NUM>) surrounded by upper ends of the side wall parts (<NUM>), and a flange part (<NUM>) that laterally extends from the upper ends of the side wall parts (<NUM>) and is configured to be attached to the sealing member (<NUM>),
characterized in that a notch part (<NUM>) is provided at a part of the flange part (<NUM>), the notch part (<NUM>) opening toward laterally, and
a lower end surface of the notch part (<NUM>) functions as the engaging part.