EP1302188A2

EP1302188A2 - Portable casing for blister packages containing drug tablets, confectionery products and the like

Info

Publication number: EP1302188A2
Application number: EP02022166A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Pillot; Francesco Degano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-03
Filing date: 2002-10-03
Publication date: 2003-04-16
Also published as: EP1302188A3; ITMI20010538U1; ITMI20010538V0

Abstract

A portable casing, specifically designed for blister packages containing drug tablets, confectionery products and the like, is characterized in that said portable casing includes two half-shelves hinged to one another and including closure means so as to define at least an open position and at least a closed position.

At least one of the half-shelves comprises recesses for receiving therein the product containing capsules, as the casing is arranged in its closed condition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable casing or case, specifically designed for blister packages, holding drug tablets, confectionery products and other like products.
As is known, pills, tablets of drugs and the like are frequently held in the so-called "blister" packages, comprising a clear plastic material bottom defining a plurality of capsule recesses for receiving therein the tablets, and being closed by a closing film.
Each tablet or pill is individually packaged.
In order to remove a tablet or pill for use, it is sufficient to tear the film at the tablet region, so as to push the tablet toward the opposite side, in order to cause said tablet to perforate the holding film.
The above mentioned blister packages are usually in turn packaged in a protective casing or case.
Also known is the fact that a common trend for a user is to hold in his/her pocket, bag or the like, only a blister instead of the overall package, in order to save space and weight, since, in a day, only a comparatively small number of tablets are consumed.
In this connection, it should be apparent that if a blister package would be transported without any protection means, then it would be exposed to damages and an accidental opening of the tablet holding capsules.
Actually, in a pocket or a bag, the blister packages can be easily folded and damaged, thereby contaminating the contents or loosing it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide such a portable casing, specifically designed for blister packages containing drug tablets or pills, confectionery products and other like products, and adapted to prevent the blister packages from being accidentally damaged.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a portable casing which is compact and light, to be easily transported even in a pocket.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a casing allowing to easily and quick taking single tablets or pills.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a portable casing, specifically designed for blister packages containing drug tablets, confectionery products and other like products, characterized in that said casing comprises two half-shelves hinged to one another and including closure means, thereby defining at least an open position and at least a closed position.
At least one of the mentioned half-shelves comprises a plurality of recesses provided for receiving therein the product containing blister capsules, as the casing is arranged in its closed or closure condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though exclusive, embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example in the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the casing or case according to the invention, being shown in its open condition ready for receiving a blister package therein;
Figure 2 is a view illustrating the casing in its closure or closed position;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the casing according to the present invention; and
Figure 4 is an elevation view of the casing according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the casing or case according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, comprises a top half-shelf 2 hinged or pivoted to a bottom half-shell 3, through a hinge 4.
As shown, the half-shelves comprises closure means which, for example, can be constituted by a button element or pin element 5, designed for snap engaging in a seat 6.
The two half- shelves 2 and 3 comprise facing substantially flat surfaces, adapted to hold, at a closed condition of the casing, a bottom 7 of a blister package 8 comprising a plurality of capsules 9 formed in said bottom 7 for holding therein each a tablet, pill or other like product, in a per se known manner.
As shown, the top half-shelf 2 comprises openings or ports 10, adapted to provide corresponding seats or recesses for receiving therein the blister package capsules 9, as the blister package is enclosed inside the casing.
The openings 10 could be also replaced by contoured or shaped recesses formed in one of the two half- shelves 2 or 3.
However the mentioned openings allow the capsules 9 to be easily seen from outside, without the need of opening the casing.
Moreover, by advantageously providing also the bottom half-shelf 3 of like openings 11, it would be possible to engage by the fingers the opening 10 to push a tablet held in a capsule 9 to cause it to perforate the blister protective film, from the opposite side, to cause said tablet to exit the blister and the casing, through the openings 11, without the need of opening the casing.
As is clearly shown in the figures, the casing 1 according to the present invention has a thin and contoured configuration, thereby it can be easily stored in a pocket.
The accompanying figures show a casing comprising elongated recesses or openings, each designed for receiving at least two capsules 9 arranged on a same row.
In this connection it should be apparent that the configuration and arrangement of the seats or openings 10 and 11 could be also different, depending on requirements and blister package to be transported.
As a further feature of the invention, it should also be possible to include in the inventive portable casing a programmable device for indicating a set time to take a given drug.
It has been found that the casing according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In fact, the invention provides a portable casing specifically designed for blister packages holding drug tablets or pills, confectionery products and other like products, which casing provides the blister package with a good protection against impacts and damages, owing to the stiffening provided by the half-shelves.
A further advantage of the invention is that the inventive casing protects the blister package while allowing to take tablets by performing a like operation to that performed by the single blister package and, accordingly, without the need of opening the casing.
The casing, moreover, is very light, has a very small size, good aesthetic properties, and one of this characteristics or all said characteristics can be stressed by suitably selecting the casing materials.
Depending on the used materials, the casing can constitute an unexpensive and practical product, or it can be provided with a comparatively high value characteristics.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes can be any, depending on requirements and the status of the art.

Claims

A portable casing, specifically designed for blister packages containing drug tablets, confectionery products and other like products, characterized in that said casing comprises two half-shelves hinged to one another and including closure means, thereby defining at least an open position and at least a closed position.
A casing, according to claim 1, characterized in that both said half-shelves comprise seats, constituted by openings, so as to allow a tablet or other product to be removed from a blister capsule, without opening the casing.
A casing, according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said seats of said half-shelves have an elongated configuration in order to allow a plurality of capsule arranged on a same row to be located therein.
A casing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said casing comprises a programmable device for indicating a set time for taking a drug tablet.
A casing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two half-shelves comprise closure means including, for example, a button element or a pin element for snap engaging in a seat or recess formed in the other half-shelf.
A casing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said casing comprises contoured seats formed in one of said two half-shelves.
A casing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said contoured seats allow said tablets to be seen from outside.
A casing, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said casing is also provided with openings through the bottom half- shelf, thereby allowing a tablet to exit said casing upon perforating a blister package protective film.