Child-resistant medicament storage and distribution back card and sealed blister card

Abstract

A child-resistant medicament storage and distribution back card for senior-friendly and child-resistant distribution of a medicament. The back card is incorporated into a medication package where it protects the area of the package that is most susceptible to attacks on the integrity of the package. The back card has a card opening feature bounded by a perimeter that includes at least two cuts and at least two lands, often thought of as perforations. The cuts extend through the back card, and the lands connect the back card to the card opening feature. Each cut has a cut length and each land has a land length. The ratio of any land length to any cut length is between approximately 0.25 and approximately 0.80, which has been found to substantially prevent removal of the card opening feature from the back card by picking at any of the cuts with a fingernail

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention generally relates to medication packages and, more particularly, relates to a child-resistant medicament storage and distribution back card and a child-resistant sealed blister card incorporating same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] There is a continued need for medication packages that are child-resistant and tamper evident, yet allow the average adult to open the medication packages to get access to the medication therein, as well as the adult who, due to either age or medical infirmity, may have reduced motor skills. Such packaging has been called “child-resistant senior-friendly.” There is also a need to make this type of package economical to manufacture. [0003] Over the years, a wide variety of disposable medication packages have been suggested which are accessible through a variety of folding, stripping, rupturing, peeling and / or tearing procedures. These packages have typically been formed of transparent top layers which are s...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The preferred degree of child-resistance and senior-friendliness is found when each cut length is between approximately 0.020 (0.0508 cm) inches and approximately 0.125 inches (0.03175 cm). Similarly, land lengths of between approximately 0.015 inches (0.0381 cm) and approximately 0.100 inches (0.254 cm), have been found to further advance the child-resistance and senior-friendliness of the back card.

[0013] As previously mentioned, the back card may be incorporated into a medication package. In one particular embodiment, the back card is incorporated into a child-resistant sealed blister card that includes a front card, and a blister unit sandwiched between the back card and the front card. In this embodiment the back card protects the relatively susceptible base layer of the blister unit.

[0021] (c) a back card (100) having a front surface (110), a rear surface (120), and a card opening feature (130), wherein the card opening feature (130) has a perimeter (140) that includes at least two cuts (150), extending from the front surface (110) to the rear surface (120), and at least two lands (160), connecting the back card (100) to the card opening feature (130) across the perimeter (140), wherein each cut (150) has a cut length (150) and each land (160) has a land length (162) and the ratio of any land length (162) to any cut length (152) is between 0.25 and 0.80, thereby substantially preventing removal of the card opening feature (130) from the back card (100) by picking at any of the cuts (150) with a finger;

[0029] (c) a back card (100) having a front surface (110), a rear surface (120), and a card opening feature (130), wherein the card opening feature (130) has a perimeter (140) that includes at least two cuts (150), extending from the front surface (110) to the rear surface (120), and at least two lands (160), connecting the back card (100) to the card opening feature (130) across the perimeter (140), wherein each cut (150) has a cut length (150) between approximately 0.020 inches and approximately 0.125 inches and each land (160) has a land length (162) between 0.015 inches and 0.100 inches, and the ratio of any land length (162) to any cut length (152) is between 0.25 and 0.80, thereby substantially preventing removal of the card opening feature (130) from the back card (100) by picking at any of the cuts (150) with a finger;

Problems solved by technology

Generally these packages are tamper evident, but typically not child resistant.

Child resistant medication packages that use a peeling feature have been in use for some time, however, many people who do not have sufficient motor skills or whose hands shake are not able to easily gain access to the medicament in such packages.

This can be a problem especially when the medicament and the medication packages are small.

Many medication packages that are designed to be torn suffer from the same problems as those designed for peeling, namely they are difficult to open for those with reduced motor skills or do not exhibit a high degree of child-resistance.

While such areas do indeed protect the foil layer, they often invite the attention of children who like to use their fingers to pick at the area.

However, as the land area increases relative to the cut area, the package becomes increasingly difficult for adults, especially those with limited strength or dexterity, to open.

Further, the solution should not encourage children to attempt to defeat the child-resistance characteristics of the package.

Images