Child Resistant Visible Blister End Cap

Abstract

A product is packaged in a blister, which is displayed and securely held in a child resistant gripper (10) on the top of a package. The blister bubble (7) is made of a strong plastic material, which is sufficiently rigid to hold its shape and which is difficult to tear or puncture without a sharp tool. The individual blister (3) is displayed with the blister exposed through an opening (11) of a holder (10). A base flange (9) of the blister is secured under the frame (13) around the opening (11) of the holder (10). A backing for the blister, through which the medication (5) is conventionally removed, is held tightly against the bottom (21) of the cap (20). Precise manipulations are required to remove the blister package. The blister package (3) is removed from between the holder (10) and the end cap (20) before the backing on the blister is opened.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 534,386, filed Jan. 7, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Child resistant caps are required on medications. The child resistant caps should be difficult to open accidentally or with random movements by persons or children who are not familiar with instructions for the opening of the caps. On the other hand the child resistant caps should be relatively easy to open by persons who have been able to read and understand the opening directions or who have been instructed in the proper opening techniques. [0003] At the same time, it is difficult to recall whether medications have been taken. The difficulty is increased by newer medications, which have longer times between doses. [0004] Needs exist to provide child resistant caps for medications, which display indications of dosage history or reminders that a dose or doses of medications need to be taken. The displays should be relatively easy to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The manipulations are simple but are complex to understand by a child. If a child is able to remove the end cap from the container, access to the medication in the blister remains restricted. One must pinch both opposite raised ends of the holder inward while lifting the holder perpendicularly away from the end cap to remove the holder from the end cap. Those motions move the locking ribs on end walls of the holder inward and out of engagement with tops of openings in the complementary end walls of the end cap collar. The interfitting vertical walls of the fixed end cap collar and vertical walls of the holder which are positioned within the collar prevent removing the holder by simply pressing inward on one raised end and trying to tip the holder out of the end cap.

[0016] Component 20 is the end cap that perfectly fits at the top of the sleeve. It has four walls protruding upwards on one side to form a cavity, which allows the blister medication and component 10 fitting within the walls perfectly. The medication is sandwiched in between component 10 and the cavity on component 20. There is at least one slot on the protruded wall, which allows the locking of the flex-tab from component 10. By pushing the flex-tab(s) from component 10 inward and lifting it up, patients can retrieve the medication beneath. The bottom surface of the end cap can be flat or can be conformed into any appropriate shape.

Problems solved by technology

The manipulations are simple but are complex to understand by a child.

If a child is able to remove the end cap from the container, access to the medication in the blister remains restricted.

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