United States Patent: 3603453

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United States Patent	3,603,453
Serrell , et al.	September 7, 1971

PHARMACAL PACKAGE CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

A pharmacal package wherein a pair of backing sheets are each secured in closing relation with respect to the blisters of a respective blister sheet, and the backing sheets are arranged with the blisters of respective blister sheets in back-to-back adhesively secured relation with respect to each other.

Inventors:	Serrell; John J. (Harleysville, PA), Sparks; George C. (Harleysville, PA)
Assignee:	Parke, Davis & Company (Detroit, MI)
Appl. No.:	04/831,557
Filed:	June 9, 1969

Current U.S. Class: 206/532 ; 206/445; 206/459.5; 206/461; 206/534; 206/539; 206/815

Current International Class: B65D 83/04 (20060101); B65D 75/54 (20060101); B65D 75/52 (20060101); B65d 075/54 (); B65d 085/56 ()

Field of Search: 206/56,42,65,47

References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents


2921672	January 1960	Ivy et al.
3049224	August 1962	Fredette et al.
3124241	March 1964	Holley et al.
3207301	September 1965	Sparks
3223233	December 1965	Becker et al.
3389825	June 1968	Whiteford
3503493	March 1970	Nagy

Primary Examiner: Dixson, Jr.; William T.

Claims

What Is claimed is:

1. A pharmacal package construction comprising a pair of backing sheets, a pair of blister sheets each having hollow blisters and secured to one of said backing sheets with the blister hollows facing the respective backing sheet, said backing sheets serving to close said blisters, contents in said closed blisters, said backing sheets being arranged with the blisters of respective sheets in back-to-back relation with each other, insert sheet means for a prescription or the like interposed between the backs of said blisters, releasable and resealable adhesive means located on the back of the blisters securing the same in said back-to-back relation, hinge means connecting together an adjacent pair of edges of said backing sheets for relative swinging movement of said backing sheets and their associated blister sheets to define a hinged package exteriorly protected by said backing sheets and adapted for automatic handling.

2. A pharmacal package construction according to claim 1, said backing sheets and hinge means being fabricated of card stock and having printable surfaces on the outer sides thereof for carrying indicia corresponding to the blister contents.

3. A pharmacal package construction according to claim 1, said backing sheets being releasably secured to said blister sheets and provided with severance lines corresponding to said blisters, for selected partial removal of said backing sheets from closing relation with a selected blister without removal of the blister.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While the package construction of the instant invention has been primarily developed and employed in the pharmaceutical field, and particularly for in-hospital dispensing of drugs, it is appreciated that the novel features disclosed are capable of many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

As is well known to those versed in the hospital administration field, the dispensation of drugs, accurately and efficiently, presents many problems both of an economic nature and pertinent to health, safety and law enforcement.

The conventional compounding of prescriptions in the hospital pharmacy, many of which prescriptions are transported more or less loosely on a tray to the various patients' rooms, leaves innumerable possibilities for inadvertent error, as in loss, transposition of prescriptions, as well as pilferage, and the like.

Consonant with advanced thinking in the field, it is desirable employ prepackaged drugs, thereby minimizing or eliminating the possibility of contamination through handling and exposure, and to automatically inventory, store and dispense the required drugs in a manner including the maintenance of completely accurate and current records of drugs ordered, prescribed, dispensed and consumed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the teachings of the instant invention, there is provided a highly improved pharmacal package construction which permits of economical fabrication and filling by the drug manufacturer, being capable of carrying all required indicia in ready visually accessible location, being shipped and stored in its original package to insure sterility, adapted for convenient automatic handling and dispensing, say from conventional dispensing machines, and which provides a continuing record of the actual drug and dosage administered to the patient, the quantity remaining to be administered, and further insures that the drug reaches the patient in its original sterile condition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pharmacal package construction having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the previous paragraph, which is extremely simple in structure, durable throughout storage, handling and use, and which can be economically manufactured and effect substantial economies in costs of handling.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pharmacal package of the type described wherein the patient's prescription may be conveniently incorporated and retained for future reference, from which individual doses are conveniently removed without defacement of the package as a whole, so that even the last remaining dose does not inadvertently get lost, but remains a part of the entire package until consumed.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists of the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a package constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a form of assembly in manufacture of the package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a use condition of the instant package.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the package of FIG. 3, partly broken away to illustrate interior construction.

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating a further use condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, a package construction is there generally designated 10, and includes a pair of backing sheets 11, of generally rectangular outline configuration arranged in parallel-spaced facing relation, and hingedly connected together as by hinge means 12 along one pair of adjacent edges of the backing sheets. In practice, the backing sheets 11 may be fabricated of fibrous card stock, paperboard, or other suitable material, it being found preferable to employ on the inner sides of the backing sheets 11 a layer or coating of moisture barrier material, such as metal foil, or the like. The backing sheets 11 may be formed separately and hingedly connected together by a separate hinge means 12, or may be of an integral construction with the hinge means 12, as illustrated.

Interposed between the parallel-spaced facing backing sheets 11 are a pair of blister sheets 13. Each blister sheet is formed with a plurality of hollow blisters, as by thermoforming of thermoplastic sheet material.

The blister sheets 13 are best seen in FIG. 2, each being of generally rectangular outline configuration, substantially congruent to a respective backing sheet 11, and formed with a plurality of depressed formations each defining an upwardly open or hollow blister 14, as viewed in FIG. 2. In the particular embodiment illustrated, each blister sheet 13 is formed with a rectangular arrangement of six blisters, and is further formed along opposite side edges with cutouts or notches, as at 15.

In manufacture, the blister sheets 13 are filled, as by depositing contents, say pills 20, into the hollows of respective blisters 14. The backing sheets 11 are then superposed in facing engagement with respective blister sheets 13, being in closing relation with respect to the blisters 14 and secured thereto, as by heat sealing or other suitable securing means. Preferably, the material of the backing sheets 11 is releasably removable, as by peeling, from its secured facing engagement and closing relation with the blister sheets 13. Further, the backing sheets 11 are preferably provided, as by scores or perforations, with lines of weakening or severance lines, as at 21. The severance lines serve to subdivide the backing sheets 11 into a plurality of partial regions or areas 22, each of which is separable from the remainder of the respective backing sheet as by severance along the adjacent severance lines 21, and each of which serves as a closure for a respective blister or area of blisters 14.

Following securement of the backing sheets 11 in their facing engagement and closing relation with respect to the blister sheets 13, the backing sheets are swung relative to each other about the axis of hinge means 12 to place the blister sheets 13 into proximate relation, as best seen in FIG. 4. More specifically, the blister sheets 13 are then located in parallel facing relation, with the respective blisters 14 in a back-to-back relationship with each other. Further, there is preferably interposed between the blisters 14 in their back-to-back relation a quantity of releasable and resealable adhesive material, as at 25. By virtue of the adhesive 25 securing blisters 13 in their back-to-back relation, the package construction 10 may be conveniently of an overall rectilinear external configuration for convenient handling by automatic handling means, and further, the backing sheets 11 are located exteriorly of the package to afford a high degree of protection to the contents.

The releasable, resealable adhesive 25 permits of an opening, relative swinging movement between the backing sheets 11 and their respective secured blister sheets 13. This enables hospital personnel to interpose a patient's prescription between the outwardly swung blister sheets 13, and upon reclosure of the blister sheets, the prescription is securely held in position, as indicated at 26 in FIG. 5, the package resuming and retaining its original configuration for convenience in handling, while the prescription remains with the pharmaceuticals for a continuing check on accuracy.

In use, a pill or article of contents 20 may be readily removed from a selected blister 14 by mere peeling of a backing sheet region 22 away from its adjacent blister sheet 13, and simultaneous tearing or severance along the adjacent weakened lines 21. This condition is shown in FIG. 3, wherein a single selected pill 20 is readily available from the package 10, all without adversely affecting the remaining contents or the overall configuration of the package.

This procedure is repeated, and at all times the package itself provides an immediate and obvious visual check of the dosage consumed by the patient, as well as the dosage remaining to be consumed, and all other information pertinent to the drugs. Even when the package has only a single dose remaining, the package retains its original size, so as to effectively prevent inadvertent overlooking or loss of a single pill.

While the exploded view of FIG. 2 illustrates an assembly operation in manufacture of the instant package, it is appreciated that economies may be effected by production in larger sizes and subsequent severing into smaller sizes, as well as integral formation of the blister sheets 13, and other obvious variations.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a pharmacal package construction which is admirably well suited for use in the manufacture, transportation, storage and dispensing of drugs, readily adapted for carrying all required and desired indicia and information, inherently provides a stackable formation to facilitate automatic handling, and otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects. Further, if desired, the package of the instant invention may be overwrapped or may include a receiving sleeve for enhanced attractiveness and strength.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

* * * * *

Current U.S. Class:	206/532 ; 206/445; 206/459.5; 206/461; 206/534; 206/539; 206/815
Current International Class:	B65D 83/04 (20060101); B65D 75/54 (20060101); B65D 75/52 (20060101); B65d 075/54 (); B65d 085/56 ()
Field of Search:	206/56,42,65,47