Packaging for a blister pack

Abstract

Packaging for a blister pack ( 15 ) containing medication pills is in the form of a container ( 16 ) having a tray ( 17 ) for receiving the blister pack ( 15 ) and a lid ( 18 ) hinged to the tray ( 17 ), for movement between open and closed positions. A pin ( 30 ) or ( 34 ) is carried by one of the tray ( 17 ) and lid ( 18 ) to project towards the other of the tray and lid. The pin ( 30 ) is configured to trap the blister pack thereon, between the tray ( 17 ) and a broken-away part ( 29 ) of the lid ( 18 ), whereas pin ( 34 ) has one or more barbs ( 35 ) to retain the blister pack thereon. When a blister pack (15) has been pushed on to the pin ( 30 ) or ( 34 ), removal of the pack from the packaging is resisted.

1 . Packaging for a blister pack containing medication pills, which packaging comprises a container having a tray for receiving the blister pack and a lid hinged to the tray for movement between a closed position where the pack is wholly enclosed within the container and an open position where access may be gained to the pack, and a pin carried by one of the tray and the lid to project towards the other of the tray and lid, the pin being configured so that in use a blister pack may be engaged with the pin whereafter removal of the pack from the pin is resisted thereby retaining the pack within the packaging.  
   
   
       2 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pin is disposed internally of the container and is permanently secured to a major area of one of the container tray and lid.  
   
   
       3 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the pin extends substantially wholly to the other of the tray or lid when the lid is in its closed position.  
   
   
       4 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the length of the pin is greater than the internal spacing between the major areas of the tray and lid and the other of the tray and lid has an aperture within which the free end of the pin is received when the lid is in its closed position.  
   
   
       5 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the pin is provided with at least one barb-like formation at or adjacent its free end, to retain a blister pack thereon once pressed on to the pin.  
   
   
       6 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the pin is provided with a pair of barb-like formations on opposed sides of the pin.  
   
   
       7 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the pin is provided with at least one barb-like formation adjacent its end remote from said major area, and the aperture is profiled so that on placing a pack within the container over the pin when the lid is in its open position and then closing the lid, said remote end of the pin on entering the aperture presses the pack on to the pin past the at least one barb-like formation, whereafter on opening the pack, the pack is retained on the pin.  
   
   
       8 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the pin is of a plastically-deformable material and initially has a length greater than the internal spacing between the major areas of the tray and lid, and on moving the lid to its closed position for the first time at least the free end region of the pin plastically deforms so retaining on the pin a pack previously pressed thereon.  
   
   
       9 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pin has a barb-like formation at one end thereof and a shoulder part-way between the ends of the pin, one of the tray and the lid having a hole into which the barbed end of the pin is irremovably receivable and the other of the tray and lid having an aperture though which the pin may be passed to engage the barbed end with said hole when the lid is in its closed position, so trapping a blister pack within the container between said one of the tray and lid and the shoulder on the pin.  
   
   
       10 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the other of the tray and lid carries a second pin which projects towards the one of the tray and lid in a location remote from the location of the first-mentioned pin, whereby a second blister pack may be contained and retained within the packaging and retained on the second pin.  
   
   
       11 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pin is provided in a corner region of the tray, to be engaged by a corner portion of the blister pack.  
   
   
       12 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said one of the tray and lid carries a plurality of similar pins each configured to be engaged with a blister pack and resist removal of a pack therefrom.  
   
   
       13 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of pins are aligned in a row and are disposed along an edge of the tray, to be engaged with an edge margin of a pack.  
   
   
       14 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pin is of generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.  
   
   
       15 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tray has a first flange external to the major area of the tray and there is a second flange adapted to overlie the first flange, the pin being provided on one of the flanges and the other flange having a hole in which the pin may be received, the tray and lid being profiled so that when the greater part of a blister pack is located between the tray and lid, an edge portion of the pack lies between the first and second flanges and is retained there by the pin.  
   
   
       16 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the second flange is formed as a part of the lid, but is connected thereto by a frangible joint whereby the lid may be opened leaving the two flanges interengaged by the pin following breaking of the joint.  
   
   
       17 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a catch mechanism is provided to hold the lid in its closed position.  
   
   
       18 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the catch mechanism has child-resistant properties.  
   
   
       19 . Packaging for a blister pack containing medication pills, which packaging comprises a container having a tray for receiving the blister pack and a lid hinged to the tray for movement between open and closed positions, each of the tray and the lid having a respective major area and a peripheral rim around the major area, each said rim projecting towards the other said rim whereby a blister pack disposed on the major area of the tray is enclosed between the tray and the lid when said lid is in its closed position and access can be gained to the pack when the lid is in its open position, said packaging further comprising a pin within the package and projecting from the major area of one of the tray and lid, the pin having a free end remote from said major area which said free end is configured to penetrate a blister pack, said pin being provided with at least one barb-like formation adjacent its free end whereby removal of a blister pack pushed on to the pin is resisted, the pin having a length greater than the distance between the major areas of the tray and lid when the lid is in its closed position and the major area of the other of the tray and lid having an aperture for receiving the free end of the pin when the lid is in its closed position whereby a blister pack placed on the tray when the lid is in its open position is forced on to the pin as the lid is moved to its closed position.  
   
   
       20 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the pin a shoulder part-way between the ends of the pin, and the aperture is profiled so that the barbed end of the pin is irremovably received in the aperture on closing the lid and the other of the tray and lid having a hole though which the pin can be inserted to engage the barbed end with said aperture when the lid is in its closed position, so trapping a blister pack within the container between said one of the tray and lid and the shoulder on the pin.  
   
   
       21 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the pin is provided in a corner region of the tray, to be engaged by a corner portion of the blister pack.  
   
   
       22 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein a catch mechanism is provided to hold the lid in its closed position.  
   
   
       23 . Packaging for a blister pack as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the catch mechanism has child-resistant properties.