US3489268A - Pilferproof package - Google Patents

Description

P ILFERPROOF PACKAGE Filed May 29, 1968 United States Patent 3,489,268 PILFERPROOF PACKAGE Eugene J. Meierhoefer, West Chester, Pa., assignor to American Home Products Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 29, 1968, Ser. No. 732,910

Int. Cl. B65d 85/54; A61b 19/02 US. Cl. 206-17.5 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is directed to a pilferproof package for hypodermic syringe cartridges comprised of oppositely disposed rigid trays, each sealed to a common divider which serves to support the cartridges and to permit inversion of one tray for ease of connection to the other during assembly. Both trays have break-away tabs at one end and positioning and retaining means within them. Security bars are connected to each of the break-away tabs next to each cartridge needle so as to restrict the motion of the needle and prevent it from being bent into such a position that it is accessible from the outside of the package. Access to the contents of the cartridges is not possible without leaving some evidence of pilfering.

This invention relates generally to sealed containers for materials, and more particularly to pilferproof packages for a plurality of disposable hypodermic syringe cartridges which prevent undetected pilfering.

Disposable hypodermic syringe cartridges for injecting drugs of various kinds have found wide-spread use in the medical and related professions. It has been found useful to the ultimate user and economical to the supplier to package a plurality of such units in a single container. The containers for such cartridges desirably are economical in construction and so made as to prevent pilfenage of the disposable cartridges withput providing evidence of the pilferage having taken place.

In the packaging of narcotics and similar items for disposable, or one-time use, containers, it is particularly desirable to prevent undetected access to the packaged drugs, including, for example, the removal of the narcotics and substitution of a visually similar placebo.

It is also desirable that the packages be quickly opened and preferable that their contents be visually observable during storage.

A particularly useful opening device is the break-away tab, shown and described in US. Patent 3,133,635, issued May 19, 1964 to Gordon and Peterson. In that patent a break-away tab, or break-off section, is defined as comprising:

(l) a plurality of vertically disposed material-weakening slots in one end wall spaced apart a predetermined distance and aligned with positioning and retaining means permitting longitudinal passing thereb'etween of a respective one of the hypodermic syringes in the package when a respectively adjacent portion of the end wall between an adjacent pair of slots is removed,

(2) a lateral slot in a bottom wall extending substantially parallel to the end wall and disposed in the area of the bottom wall between the one end wall and the positioning and retaining means,

(3) a plurality of longitudinal slots in the bottom wall, each longitudinal slot forming an extension of a respective one of the vertical slots in the one end wall and extending substantially parallel to the side walls each of the longitudinal slots opening into the lateral slot to define therewith a plurality of separate tab portions connected to the lower end region of an end wall portion defined between a pair of said vertically disposed slots, and

3,489,268 Patented Jan. 13, 1970 (4) structural means connecting the upper end region of each of the end wall portions to the package and comprising a weakened-web portion whereby a separate one of the tab portions, and with it a respective end portion may be broken away from the package at the weakened web portion by pulling the separate tab portion in a direction downwardly with respect to the bottom wall and outwardly with respect to the one end wall.

A continuing problem in packages utilizing break-away tabs for removal of individual cartridges has been that the removal of one tab and the cartridge behind it makes the needle of the adjacent cartridge accessible by bending it into the open area. The contents of the latter cartridge may be then removed, for instance, by inserting a smaller second needle into the first and withdrawing the contents. Likewise, the plunger end must also be protected against intrusion.

It is desirable that the packages be easily handled during loading and that they be so shaped that a number of them may be stacked either on their side or flat with economy in space requirement.

The cartoning of medicaments must be absolutely accurate. Carton control is the problem of matching a properly printed carton with a loaded package of medicaments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rigid tray package of a type usable for disposable cartridges containing unit dose medicaments which prevents undetected pilfering of the contents.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide packages for injectable medicaments which may be stored fiat or on their sides with economy of space.

It is another object of this invention to provide a two layer package for cartridges which solves handling problems during loading.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a package for cartridges which eliminates a printed carton as such and is adaptable to the use of roll-feed labels, thus reducing the problem of carton control and mislabeling.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a large capacity container for cartridges which permits easy removal of individual syringes by the use of break-away tabs while preventing access to the needles of the cartridges through the spaces adjacent to the break-away tabs.

Still another object is the protection of the plunger end of the cartridges from undetected intrusion.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pr ferred embodiment of a package incorporating the novel features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one end of a tray taken generally alongline 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 with the package shown in the closed position; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 4 4 of FIGURE 1 and showing a detail of the divider construction.

The objects of the present invention may be achieved in apackage 10 for a plurality ofdisposable cartridges 12 in which thepackage 10 is made up of a rigid dishedfirst tray 14, a rigid dishedsecond tray 16 and adivider 18 disposed between them.

Thetray 14 has a substantiallyplanar bass 20,side walls 22, 24, and anend wall 26, best seen in FIGURE 3. Theside walls 22, 24 andend wall 26 are connected to the base and to each other and extend at substantially right angles to the base and to each other.Opposite end wall 26 are a plurality of break-away tabs 28, 30, 32, 34,

i 36. Each of the break-away tabs has extending from it in 3 the direction of thedivider 18 at least one security bar 38 [FIGURE 3). Aflange 40 surrounds the periphery of be open portion of the tray and break-away tabs 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 are connected to it. As may best be seen in FIGURE 3, theflange 40 is connected to theside walls 22, 24 and to theend wall 26, and with them defines :1 :eat 42 to receive thedivider 18.

Thetray 14 has twosepta 44, 46 which serve as posiioning and retaining means for thecartridges 12. The :eptum 44 is supported by the base andside walls 22, 24, and has formed in it a number ofribs 48 defining re- :esses 50. Theseptum 46 is similarly supported and is nade up of a number ofribs 52 definingrecesses 54. t ras been found advantageous to reduce the amount of naterial required for construction of the tray by forming )rifices 56, 58 in thebase 20, provided suificient area 'emains to support alabel 59, as described below.

Thesecond tray 16 is substantially identical to theray 14. Thetray 16 is comprised of abase 60,side walls 52, 64 and anend wall 66.Opposite end wall 66 are a )lurality of break-away tabs 68, 70, 72, 74, 76 each havng at least onesecurity bar 78 extending at substantially 'ight angles from it toward thedivider 18. Aflange 80 urrounds thetray 16 and the break-away tabs 68, 70, 72, '4, 76 are connected to it and supported by it. With theride walls 62, 64 and theend wall 66, theflange 80 deines aseat 82 for thedivider 18.

Thetray 16 contains twosepta 84, 86. The septum i4 is made up of a plurality of ribs 88 defining a plurality vf recesses 90. Similarly, theseptum 86 is made up of L plurality ofribs 92 defining a plurality ofrecesses 94. t is advantageous that the tray be formed with orifices '6 and 98 in thebase 60, provided that sufi'lcient area emains to support alabel 99, as described below.

It is an additional feature of the present invention that he trays may be designed so as to accommodate carridges with needles of at least two diflerent lengths. When the short needle cartridges are to be used, bosses .00 are utilized as stops to prevent longitudinal motion )f the cartridges in the tray. Thebosses 100 are not reuired for a long needle cartridge, that is, a cartridge and leedle which extends substantially the full interior length if the tray.

As may best be seen in FIGURE 2, asheath 102 en- :loses a needle (not shown) of thecartridge 12. When hecartridge 12 is placed in the tray the sheath 102 i lisposed between the security bars 78 located on oppoite sides of the break-awaytab 70.

The security bars 78 prevent motion of the sheath and lence the needle contained within it, beyond the limits if its associated break-away tab. Thus, should thebreaktway tab 68, and its associated cartridge be removed from he package, it would not be possible to bend theadjacent heath 102 and needle into the open space created by the emoval of the break-away tab. In the prior art designs vithout the security bars, it waspossible to bend the heath andneedle into an open space, insert a smaller needle into the needle and withdraw the contents of the artridge without leaving evidence of pilferage, particuarly where a similar appearing placebo was substituted or the cartridge contents.

As is shown in FIGURE 2, security bars 78 are reuired on the side of a break-away tab, such as 76, which 5 adjacent another break-away tab, such as 74, but a e not required adjacent as side wall, such as 64.

Undetected access to the plunger ends of the cartridge 5 prevented by theend walls 26, 66.

A detail of the construction of thedivider 18 is shown [1 FIGURE 4. The divider is made up of a substantiallyvlanar sheet 104 surrounded by aflange 106. Welding ribs v08, 110 are formed on opposite Sides of theflange 106. 11 order to reduce the amount of material required for he divider 18, it is advantageous that orifices 111, 112 e formed in thedivider 18. It is also advantageous to vrovide astrip 113 located so as to be disposed betweenepta 46, 86. Theribs 48, 52, 88, 92 may be ex ended so 4 as to contact thestrip 113, and if desired, may be sealably connected to thestrip 113. The latter sealed embodiment is particularly desirable where thedivider 18 is made of a relatively flexible material, because, inter alia, it acts to stiffen thedivider 18.

During assembly, thetray 14 is placed in position with the base 20 downwards. Thecartridges 12 are loaded into therecesses 50, 54, are supported by thesepta 44, 46 and are prevented from lateral motion by theribs 48, 52. Each cartridge is prevented from longitudinal motion by theend wall 26 or its respective break-awaytab 28, 30, 32, 34, or 36. When thetray 14 is filled, thedivider 18 is inserted into theheat 42 and sealed in place by the use of ultrasonic sealing, solvent sealing, adhesives, or the like, as is well known in the art. The cartridges are then prevented from an upward or downward motion by thebase 20 and thedivider 18. Thetray 14 may then be inverted, and whentray 16 has been similarly loaded, placed in position with thedivider 18 disposed in theseat 82. The final sealing may be made in similar fashion to the prior sealing. A roll-feed label, not shown, may then be applied to at least two sides and preferably to four sides of thepackage 10 and maintained in place by an adhesive placed, for instance, on the external surfaces of thebases 20 and 60. The label may contain printed identification of the contents of the package. A clear plastic film, preferably a shrink film, may be applied as an outer wrapper, or overwrap.

When the package is opened for distribution of the medicament, as a result of the removal of one of the tabs and the cartridge behind it, the balance of the cartridges remain in an enclosure until the tab in front of a specific cartridge is removed. However, possibly a cartridge could be removed or manipulated into an accessible position, but upon so doing, the removal or manipulation would be detectable due to breakage or damage to the package structure.

The completed package is a rigid and stabilized packaging system for individual injectable medicaments. The package protects the contents during shipping and handling prior to use, and may be stored either flat or on its side in a minimum of space. The use of roll-feed labeling and elimination of a printed carton simplifies the carton-control problem. The package may be made of any suitable material, but preferably is made of a clear injection-moldable material, such as styrene, methyl meth acrylate and the like.

Various modifications are possible.

If desired, a single tray may be utilized and a cover substituted for the divider, while retaining all of the desirable features of the tray as described above.

What is claimed is:

1. A package containing disposable cartridges of injectable medicines which prevents undetected pilfering comprising:

(A) a first rigid tray;

(B) a second rigid tray substantially identical to said (C) a divider disposed between said first and second trays and sealably joined to said trays; I

(D) a plurality of break-away tabs disposed at one en of each of said trays;

(E) at least one security bar connected to each of said break-away tabs extending toward said divider; and

(F) positioning and retaining means for the cartridges disposed in each of said trays.

2. A package as defined in claim 1 in which each of said first and second trays has a flange defining a seat for said divider.

3. A package as defined in claim 1 in which at least one of said security bars is located on each side of its rezpective break-away tab next to an adjacent breakaway ta 4. A package as defined in claim 1 in which a single break-away tab retains at least tWo cartridges.

5. A package as defined in claim 1 further having a roll-feed label adhesively applied to at least two sides of its exterior.

6. A package as defined in claim 1 further having at least one boss in said trays to retain relatively short needle cartridges.

7. A package as defined in claim 1 which is formed with adjacent external surfaces at substantially right angles to each other.

8. A package as defined in claim 1 further having orifices formed in at least one of said trays and divider.

9. A package as defined in claim 1 which is formed by injection molding.

10. A package as defined in claim 1 which is made from a material selected from the class consisting of styrene and methyl methacrylate.

11. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second trays and divider are sealed together into a unitized package.

12. A package containing disposable cartridges of injectable medicines which prevents undetected pilfering comprising:

(A) a rigid tray;

(B) a cover connected to said tray;

(C) a plurality of break-away tabs disposed at one end of said tray;

(D)fat least one security bar connected to each of said break-away tabs and extending toward said cover;

(E) positioning and retaining means for the cartridges disposed in said tray.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,133,635 5/1964 Gordon et al. 20663.2

JOSEPH R. DECLAIR, Primary Examiner J, M. CASKI'E, Assistant Examiner US. or. X.R, 206-56, 63.2.

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