US20080142400A1 - Child resistant product dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A child resistant product dispenser includes a blister card having compartments for holding a product a housing, and a blister cover for use in covering the blister card compartments. The blister cover may include a dispensing area for each compartment of the blister card. To remove a product from the product dispenser the user presses a dispensing area against either a compartment thereby forcing the product through a frangible area on the blister card and through a frangible area in the housing or against a peelable area on the blister card and a frangible area in the housing. This creates an opening through which the product is removed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/866,268, filed Jun. 11, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for holding and dispensing products and more particularly to apparatuses and methods for holding and dispensing products positioned in a blister card with a child resistant product dispenser.
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• It is well known to provide certain products in what is called a blister card. Blister cards generally have a first member defining a plurality of compartments (also known as blisters) that hold products, such as medicine pills, and a second member that seals the products within the compartments or blisters. There are two general types of second members. The first type of second member has a number of frangible areas with one frangible area positioned adjacent to each compartment. To remove the product from the compartment the user simply presses down on the compartment thereby forcing the product through the frangible area. Such blister cards work well for use with products that can withstand the pressure exerted on them by the user for removal.
• For products that cannot withstand such pressure, such as relatively soft pills, the blister card may use the second type of second member which includes a peelable area positioned adjacent to each compartment. To remove the product, the user simply peels the peelable area away from the blister card to create an opening to the compartment. The product is then easily removed from the compartment by allowing the product to drop or fall out of the compartment under the force of gravity and into the user's hand, for example. Blister cards generally work well for their intended purpose. However, known blister cards have the disadvantage of being relatively easy for children to open. Typical blister cards also have a disadvantage related to the fact that the compartments or blisters extend from the second member of the card. The extended compartments are relatively easy for small children to bite. Such biting has the unfortunate possibility of opening the compartment and releasing the contents of the compartment into the child's mouth. Thus, what is needed is a product dispenser that is easy for an adult to open yet difficult for children to open whether with their hands or with their mouths.
• Many efforts have been made to produce a child resistant product dispenser. However, none of the devices known in the art provide the benefits and advantages provided by the inventors of this patent. These advantages are described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• According to one aspect of this invention, a method of assembling a product dispenser is provided. This method includes the steps of providing a housing, positioning a blister card relative to the housing, and covering the blister card with a blister cover having a plurality of dispensing areas. One dispensing area is provided for each compartment so that each dispensing area is in alignment with a corresponding compartment. Finally, the blister cover is attached to or retained in the housing.
• According to another aspect of this invention, in the preferred embodiment the blister cover has a flange portion which is attached, preferably by heat seal or adhesive, both on top and on bottom to the housing of the product dispenser.
• According to another preferred embodiment of this invention, the product dispenser housing includes a bottom having a plurality of frangible areas each of which is lined up with or juxtaposed to a corresponding frangible area on the second member of the blister card.
• According to another aspect of this invention, the blister cover has a top surface adjacent to the dispensing areas for use in greatly reducing access to the blister card compartments and thus preventing children from biting them.
• According to one embodiment of this invention, to dispense a product from the inventive product dispenser the user presses a dispensing area on the blister cover against a compartment in the blister card. This forces the product through a frangible area on the second member of the blister card and then through a frangible area in the housing.
• According to another embodiment of this invention, to dispense a product from the inventive product dispenser the user presses a dispensing area against a peelable area on the blister card and a frangible area in the housing. This pressing force removes an edge of the peelable area and an edge of the frangible area away from the corresponding compartment. Both the peelable area and frangible area are then peeled back to create an opening to the compartment through which the product can easily be removed.
• One advantage of this invention is that the product dispenser is child resistant yet easy for adults, including the elder and disabled, to open.
• Another advantage of this invention is that children cannot bite through the compartments (blisters) to gain unwanted access to the products.
• Still another advantage of this invention is that in the preferred embodiment a two-step attaching process, preferably either a heat sealing process or an adhesive process, is used to attach the blister cover to the product dispenser housing.
• Still yet another advantage of this invention is that the blister cover provides at least one communication surface which can be used for any purpose which may include compliance aids such as dosage text, day labels, Braille and the like.
• Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the product dispenser of this invention shown with the side members folded open so that access to the products can be achieved.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blister cover showing a top surface adjacent to the dispensing areas for use in preventing children from biting individual compartments in the blister card.
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the blister cover shown inFIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 is a side view of the blister cover shown inFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line5-5 ofFIG. 4 and showing the cavity within the blister cover that receives the blister card.
• FIG. 6 is a detail of section6-6 shown inFIG. 5.
• FIG. 7 is a top view of the housing shown prior to the placement of the blister card.
• FIG. 8 is a top view of the housing similar toFIG. 7, but showing how the side members are folded into place.
• FIG. 9 is a view similar to that shown inFIG. 8, but with the blister card positioned onto the bottom member of the housing.
• FIG. 10 is a view similar to that shown inFIG. 9, but with the middle member shown folded over the blister card.
• FIG. 11 is a view similar to that shown inFIG. 10, but with the blister cover shown placed over the middle member and over the blister card.
• FIG. 12 is a view similar to that shown inFIG. 9, but with the middle member shown as a piece separate from the rest of the housing.
• FIG. 13 is a view similar to that shown inFIG. 10, but with the middle member shown as a piece separate from the rest of the housing.
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another product dispenser embodiment of this invention shown with the side member folded open so that access to the products can be achieved.
• FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the blister cover ofFIG. 14 showing a top surface adjacent to the dispensing areas for use in preventing children from biting individual compartments in the blister card.
• FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the housing showing the frangible areas.
• FIG. 17 is a close up perspective view showing how the compartment is accesses in order to remove a product.
• FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another product dispenser embodiment of this invention showing an optional product chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same,FIG. 1 shows theinventive product dispenser10 shown with the side members folded open so that theblister cover100 can be seen. Below theblister cover100 is aconventional blister card70 havingfrangible areas80 as will be discussed further below.
• With reference toFIGS. 3-6 and9, theblister card70 has afirst member72 defining a plurality of compartments or blisters74. Each of thecompartments74 is used to hold correspondingproduct76. It should be noted that theproduct76 can be any chosen with sound judgment. In one anticipated use, theproduct76 would be some type of medication generally in pill form. It should be noted that while throughout this application one product is shown as fitting within onecompartment74, the oneproduct76 could in fact include a number of separate pieces. Thus, for example, onecompartment74 may have two or more individual pieces such as multiple pills. Thefirst member72 is typically formed of a clear plastic like material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). However, the specific material used can be any chosen with sound engineering judgment for this invention.
• With continuing reference toFIGS. 3-6 and9, asecond member78 is used to seal the products within thecompartments74. Thissecond member78 has a plurality offrangible areas80 which can be broken or ruptured upon application of sufficient pressure. It should be noted that onefrangible area80 is positioned juxtaposed to eachcompartment74. In this way, to remove aproduct76 from acompartment74, it is only necessary to press on or apply a force to eachcompartment74 thereby forcing theproduct76 through thefrangible area80. Thesecond member78 andfrangible areas80 may be formed of any material chosen with sound engineering judgment, such as, aluminum foil. Thesecond member78 is attached to thefirst member72 in any manner chosen with sound engineering judgment.
• With reference again toFIG. 1, theproduct dispenser10 of this invention includeshousing20, ablister cover100 for use in covering thecompartments74 of theblister card70, and connectingmeans150 for use in operatively connecting theblister card70 and theblister cover100 to thehousing20. Theblister card70 andblister cover100 are positioned relative to each other and relative to thehousing20 as will be discussed further below. Although atypical blister card70 has been described, it should be understood that this invention can work with manyother blister cards70.
• With reference now to FIGS.1 and7-10, thehousing20 will be described in more detail.FIG. 7 shows thehousing20 in an early form of assembly. It should be noted that thehousing20 can be formed of any material chosen with sound engineering judgment. In the preferred embodiment, however, thehousing20 is formed of a card stock. Thehousing20 has atop member22, abottom member21, amiddle member28 and a pair ofside members32 and34. As can be seen by comparingFIG. 7 toFIG. 8, theside members32,34 are preferably made by foldingmembers33 and35 ontomembers37 and39 respectively. This creates a double layer thickness for theside members32 and34. It should be understood, however, that a single layer would work well for this invention. Thetop member22 has anaperture26 for use in receiving theblister cover100 as will be described further below. Thebottom member21 may also have a plurality offrangible areas24. Thesefrangible areas24 are used in the process of dispensing theproduct76 as will be discussed further below.
• With reference now toFIGS. 7-13, thehousing20 also preferably includes amiddle member28 that provides additional stability to theproduct dispenser10. Themiddle member28 has a plurality ofholes30 which are used to receive thecompartments74 in theblister card70. Two embodiments for themiddle member28 are preferred. In the first embodiment, shown inFIGS. 7-11, the middle member is referenced28A and is connected to thebottom member21. Most preferably for this embodiment themiddle member28A can pivot or fold at its connections to thebottom member21 so thatmiddle member28A can lay on top of theblister card70 which is placed onto thebottom member21. The result of this folding motion can be visualized by comparingFIG. 9 toFIG. 10. In the second embodiment, the middle member is referenced28B and is a separate piece as shown inFIG. 12. Again, themiddle member28B is placed on top of theblister card70 as shown inFIG. 13. This placement of themiddle member28B is preferably done precisely with the use of known manufacturing equipment.
• With reference now toFIGS. 1-6 and11, theblister cover100 will be described in more detail. Theblister cover100 can be formed of any material chosen with sound engineering judgment. However, in the preferred embodiment theblister cover100 is formed of a see-through (transparent) PVC material. Thetransparent blister cover100 makes it easy to visually determine which compartments74 haveproducts76 and which do not. Theblister cover100 preferably has a mid-portion104 and aflange portion106 that extends from at least a segment of the mid-portion104. In the preferred embodiment, theflange portion106 completely surrounds the mid-portion104, as shown. Theflange portion106 is used to attach theblister cover100 to thehousing20, or is used to help theblister cover100 be retained by thehousing20, or is used to help theblister cover100 be retained by thehousing20, and relative to theblister card70 as will be described further below. The mid-portion104 includes a plurality of dispensingareas102. Each dispensingarea102 is positioned adjacent to acompartment74 on theblister card70. Thus, it should be noted that in the preferred embodiment there are two layers of material between the user's finger or other device used to remove theproduct76 and the product itself, namely, thefirst member72 of the blister card and theblister cover100.
• With continuing reference toFIGS. 1-6 and11, preferably the mid-portion104 includes a plurality ofrecesses116 surrounding each dispensingarea102. It is also preferred that the mid-portion104 of theblister cover100 have atop surface114 adjacent to the dispensingareas102. Most preferably thetop surface114 is formed on both sides of the dispensingareas102, as shown. Thistop surface114 works with therecesses116 to prevent children from being able to biteindividual compartments74 in theblister card70. Thecompartments74 cannot be accessed by a child's teeth because thecompartments74 do not extend above thetop surface114 sufficiently for thecompartments74 or even the dispensingareas102 to be accessible for biting. Preferably, the mid-portion104 also includes at least afirst communication surface118 that could be part oftop surface114. Most preferably there are two such surfaces as shown. These communication surfaces118 can be used for communicating to the user of theproduct dispenser10. While the particular message communicated can be any, some examples include identifying the dosage text, providing day labels, providing information in Braille (as shown) or providing other beneficial information.
• Still referring toFIGS. 1-6 and11, it is preferred that each dispensingarea102 have a shape that matches the top of eachcompartment74 in theblister card70. This is illustrated best inFIG. 6 where it can be seen that a top82 of eachcompartment74 is curved. Abottom surface110 of each dispensingarea102 has a similar curved shape. Of course, other matching shapes would work equally well with this invention. However, such a curved shape is typical for blister card compartments and thus is preferred with this invention. The mid-portion104 of theblister card70 also defines acavity108 that receives theblister card70. Theblister card70 has a height H1 from the top82 of each compartment to a bottom84 of thesecond member78. A height H2 exists between abottom surface110 of each dispensingarea102 and thebottom112 of thecavity108. In the preferred embodiment, height H1 is substantially equal to height H2. This minimizes the distance between thebottom surface110 of each dispensingarea102 and the top of eachcompartment74. This in turn minimizes the motion required by the user when it is desired to dispense aproduct76 from acompartment74.
• With reference now to FIGS.1 and8-13, a method for assembling theproduct dispenser10 will now be described. First, thehousing20 is positioned as shown inFIG. 8 (orFIG. 12). Next, theblister card70 is positioned onto thebottom member21 of thehousing20. Next, themiddle member28 is positioned over theblister card70 such that each of theholes30 in themiddle member28 receives acompartment74 from theblister card70 as shown inFIG. 10 (orFIG. 13). The first embodimentmiddle member28A thus serves to align theblister card70 with thebottom member21. More particularly, themiddle member28A aligns thefrangible areas80 on thesecond member78 with thefrangible arcas24 on thebottom member21. Next, as shown inFIG. 11, theblister cover100 is positioned over top of both themiddle member28 of thehousing20 as well as theblister card70. Thus, it should be noted that in the preferred embodiment, thecavity108 in theblister cover100 receives both themiddle member28 of thehousing20 as well as theblister card70.
• With continuing reference to FIGS.1 and8-13, theblister cover100 is then attached to thehousing20. While any method of attachment chosen with sound engineering judgment will work with this invention, two alternate embodiments are preferred. The first embodiment for attachment uses a two-step heat sealing process. In particular, it is preferred that abottom surface107 of theflange portion106 of theblister cover100 is heat sealed to atop surface23 of thebottom member21 of thehousing20. The mid-portion104 of theblister cover100 is then extended through theaperture26 in thetop member22 of thehousing20 such as is shown inFIG. 1. Then atop surface109 of theflange portion106 of theblister cover100 is heat sealed to abottom surface25 of thetop member28 of thehousing20. The second embodiment for attachment is similar but uses a two-step adhering process. It should be noted that any adhesive chosen with sound engineering judgment can be used for this adhering process. In particular, it is preferred that thebottom surface107 of theflange portion106 of theblister cover100 is adhered to thetop surface23 of thebottom member21 of thehousing20. The mid-portion104 of theblister cover100 is then extended through theaperture26 in thetop member22 of thehousing20 such as is shown inFIG. 1. Then thetop surface109 of theflange portion106 of theblister cover100 is adhered to thebottom surface25 of thetop member28 of thehousing20. For either attachment embodiment, theblister cover100 is attached to thehousing20 in position relative to theblister card70 so that each dispensingarea102 is in alignment with acorresponding compartment74.
• Still referring to FIGS.1 and8-13, thefirst side member32 is next folded over theblister cover100 and then thesecond side member34 is folded over thefirst side member32. Finally, thesecond side member34 may be secured to thebottom member21 in any manner chosen with sound engineering judgment such as, for example, a decal or tape having one side with an adhesive applied.
• With reference now toFIGS. 1-6 and11, it is generally very easy to dispense aproduct76 from theproduct dispenser10 of this invention. First the securing means such as tape is removed and the first andsecond side members32,34 are folded out of the way. At this point, theproduct dispenser10 is in the condition shown inFIG. 1. Next, the user would press one of the dispensingareas102 against the correspondingcompartment74. This in turn forces the first product through the corresponding frangible80 area of thesecond member78 and then through the correspondingfrangible area24 of thebottom member21. This then releases theproduct76 from thecompartment74 where it may be used by the adult as required.
• With reference now toFIGS. 14-17, another embodiment of a product dispenser300 is shown. Much of the structure of the product dispenser300 is similar to that of theproduct dispenser10 described above. However, there are important differences that will now be discussed. First, it should be noted that product dispenser300 is intended for use with aconventional blister card302 havingpeelable areas304, not frangible areas, that are juxtaposed to thecompartments308 that are intended to holdproducts312. Next, while theblister cover316 has a plurality of dispensingareas320, one for eachcompartment308, note that each dispensingarea320 is offset from acorresponding compartment308. By offset it is meant that the dispensingareas320 are not aligned directly above eachcompartment308, as with theproduct dispenser10 described above, but rather each dispensingarea320 is positioned to the side of eachcompartment308. While in the preferred embodiment each dispensingarea320 is positioned to the outside of eachcompartment308, as shown, it should be understood that the dispensing areas could be placed on the inside of each compartment or between compartments and still work well.
• With continuing reference toFIGS. 14-17, ahousing324 is constructed similar to thehousing20 described above. However, eachfrangible area328 is positioned adjacent to the edge of eachpeelable area304. In an alternative embodiment, the frangible areas could instead be holes but this makes it less child resistant. As a result, opening afrangible area328 exposes thepeelable area304 to the user. The reason each dispensingarea320 is positioned to the side of eachcompartment308 is so that when the user exerts a force onto the dispensingarea320 the force is communicated directly to thepeelable area304 of theblister card302 and then thefrangible area328 of thehousing324—not to thecompartment308. Preferably, each dispensingarea320 has anapplication surface332 that is inset from atop surface336. Theapplication surface332 is the surface pressed by the user in order to remove aproduct312 from acompartment308. Most preferably, theapplication surface332 is positioned in direct communication with amiddle member338 of thehousing324. As a result, the user only has to move the application surface332 a minimal distance to open apeelable area304.
• With reference now toFIGS. 1 and 14, the product dispenser300 is assembled substantially like theproduct dispenser10 described above. One difference, shown, is that thehousing324 includes only asingle side member340 that is folded over theblister cover316. Of course bothproduct dispensers10,300 can have any number of side members chosen with sound engineering judgment.
• With reference now toFIGS. 14-17, it is generally very easy to dispense aproduct312 from the product dispenser300. First the securing means is removed and theside member340 is folded out of the way. At this point, the product dispenser300 is in the condition shown inFIG. 12. Next, the user would press theapplication surface332 one of the dispensingareas320 against the correspondingpeelable area304 of theblister card302 andfrangible area328 of thehousing324. This pressing force removes an edge of thepeelable area304 and an edge of thefrangible area328 away from thecorresponding compartment308. It should be noted that this pressing force does not impact thecompartment308 and thus is not communicated to theproduct312. Both thepeelable area304 andfrangible area328 are then peeled back to create anopening330 to thecompartment308. Theproduct312 can then easily be removed from thecompartment308 by allowing it to drop or fall out through theopening330 under the force of gravity. Thus while the product dispenser300 can be used with anyproduct312, it is especially useful with products that are formed of fragile materials, such as certain medications, wafers, etc. that would be damaged if dispensed through the direct force used with theproduct dispenser10 described above.
• With reference now toFIG. 18, anotherproduct dispenser400 is shown. This embodiment shows anoptional product chamber404. Theproduct chamber404 is intended for use in storing any portion of product that has previously been removed from acompartment408. In the embodiment shown, theproduct chamber404 is attached to thehousing412. Optionally, theproduct chamber404 could attach to or be made with theblister cover416. Theproduct chamber404 may include acavity420 and aconnection member424 that is preferably pivotally connected to thehousing412. To access thecavity420 it is only necessary to pivot theproduct chamber404 about theconnection member424.
• The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Claims (13)

1. A product dispenser comprising:

a housing;

a blister card comprising a first member defining a plurality of compartments for use in holding a corresponding plurality of products and a second member used to seal the plurality of products within the plurality of compartments, the second member having a plurality of peelable areas, one peelable area juxtaposed to each compartment, for use in individually removing the plurality of products from the plurality of compartments;

a blister cover for use in covering the plurality of compartments, the blister cover having a plurality of dispensing areas, one offset from each compartment, for use in individually transferring pressure to the peelable area; and

connecting means for operatively connecting the blister card and the blister cover to the housing so that each dispensing area in the blister cover is in alignment with a corresponding compartment in the blister card.

2. The product dispenser ofclaim 1 wherein the blister cover comprises:

a mid-portion having the plurality of dispensing areas; and

a flange portion extending from at least a segment of the mid-portion, the flange portion for use in attaching the blister cover in position relative to the blister card.

3. The product dispenser ofclaim 2 wherein:

the blister card has a height H1 from the top of each compartment to the bottom of the second member, and

the mid-portion of the blister cover defines a cavity that receives the blister card, a height H2 between a bottom surface of each dispensing area and the bottom of the cavity being substantially equal to the height H1.

4. The product dispenser ofclaim 2 wherein the mid-portion of the blister cover has a top surface adjacent to the plurality of dispensing areas for use in preventing children from biting individual compartments in the blister card.

5. The product dispenser ofclaim 1 wherein each dispensing area has an application surface that is inset from said top surface.

6. The product dispenser ofclaim 2 wherein the mid-portion comprises at least a first communication surface.

7. The product dispenser ofclaim 2 wherein the housing comprises:

a top member and a bottom member, the bottom member having a plurality of frangible areas, each frangible area on the bottom member being juxtaposed to a corresponding peelable area on the second member.

8. The product dispenser ofclaim 7 wherein the top member of the housing has an aperture that receives the mid-portion of the blister cover.

9. The product dispenser ofclaim 8 wherein the housing further comprises:

a middle member having a plurality of holes, each of the plurality of holes in the middle member receiving a compartment from the blister card.

10. The product dispenser ofclaim 9 wherein the middle member is pivotally connected to the bottom member of the housing.

11. The product dispenser ofclaim 9 wherein the middle member is attached to the bottom member of the housing.

12. A method of dispensing a product comprising the steps of:

providing a blister card having a first member defining at least a first compartment for use in holding a first product and a second member used to seal the first product within the first compartment, the second member having at least a first peelable area juxtaposed to the first compartment for use in removing the first product from the first compartment;

providing a blister cover for use in covering the first compartment, the blister cover having at least a first dispensing area positioned offset from the first compartment;

pressing the first dispensing area against the first peelable area; and peeling the first peelable area to create an opening to the compartment in order to gain access to the product in the compartment.

13. The method ofclaim 12 further comprising the steps of:

providing a housing operatively connected to the blister card and the blister cover wherein the first dispensing area of the blister cover is offset from the first compartment of the blister card, the housing comprising a bottom member having a first frangible area juxtaposed to the first peelable area of the second member of the blister card;

pressing the first dispensing area against the first frangible area; and

peeling the first frangible area to create an opening to the compartment.

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