Holding Device for a Blister Pack and a Method for Opening a Blister

Abstract

A device for holding a blister pack (42) with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said device comprising a housing (8) for receiving said blister pack (42), which housing (8) comprises a base (9) provided with base openings (10) and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack (42) between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings (10) are displaced from the cavities and the base (9) blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings (10) are aligned with the cavities, the base openings (10) permitting passage of said article therethrough. The device comprises a locking arrangement (12) comprising a operating means (13) operable by a user, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack (42) is locked in said first position, and in which non-locking position the blister pack (42) is movable to said second position. Said operating means (13) are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by a first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at least one second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing. Further, a method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in said device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a device for holding a blister pack with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said device comprising a housing for receiving said blister pack, which housing comprises a base, positioned facing the foil side of the blister pack, provided with base openings and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings are at least partially displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings are aligned with the cavities, the base openings being sized to permit passage of said article therethrough. The device comprises a locking arrangement comprising a operating member operable by a user using one single hand, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack is locked in said first position, and in which ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for holding a blister pack, securely protecting children from opening the blister pack, and at the same time being easy to operate by the intended user, especially by elderly or disabled persons.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010]By the use of said inventive device having said operating means which necessarily has to be moved in at least two steps following each other for unlocking the blister pack from said first position and enabling the blister pack to be moved to said second position, thus enabling opening of the cavities, a very secure arrangement is provided in the event of a child getting hold of the blister pack. At the same time, the device is easy to handle by the intended user, especially by elderly or disabled persons, since the operating means are operable without any greater force and the operation of the operating means is intuitive.

[0011]The device according to the invention provides a convenient and simple solution for protecting children from accessing medicaments. The protective device only slightly enlarges the blister pack, and the protective device together with the blister pack are both discrete and handbag friendly. It is also safe to carry the blister pack in a bag, since there is no risk of pills falling out from the blister pack, as a result of the secure locking arrangement.

[0014]According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means are arranged to be moved in said first direction of movement by moving a first region of the operating means, and arranged to be moved in said second direction of movement by moving a second region of the operating means, said operating means regions being spaced apart. This embodiment further increases the child resistant character, without impairing the easy and intuitive operation of the device for an intended user. However, it is also possible to provide the operating means with a single operating means region arranged to be pushed in both the first and the second direction of movement.

[0026]According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, said device is flexible to a certain degree, whereby the breaking of the foil covering the blister pack is facilitated. By using a flexible device, breaking of the foil covering the blister pack blisters is easily achieved by bending the device together with the blister pack, thereby breaking the foil. This is especially advantageous when in use by elderly persons, or persons with weak hands like rheumatics. The device can be made of any suitable material which is flexible enough and rigid enough, for example a plastic material.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, it is also easy for unsupervised children to release the doses of medicament from the blister packs, whereby they can be poisoned by ingesting said medicament.

However, above-mentioned solutions have several drawbacks, and are not effective enough in preventing children from opening the blister pack.

Some of above-mentioned devices are also too hard to operate for elderly or disabled users.

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