Child-resistant blister package with tear tab

Abstract

A blister package for housing a medicament having a base layer and a blister layer, joined together in-part. Each layer has a tab creation separation line allowing a user to initiate a predetermined sequence of steps required to access the medicament. The tab creation separation lines are located interior to the perimeter of each associated layer. The tab creation separation lines selectively reduce the strength of the associated layer thereby allowing a user to “punch out,” or create, a tab for use in accessing the medicament. A number of predetermined manipulations must be completed to access the medicament. These manipulations include applying a force to create a tab, removing the tab thereby creating a sinistral wing and a dextral wing, and rotating the sinistral wing and the dextral wing in opposite directions to cause a tear that exposes the medicament.

1 . A blister package ( 10 ) for housing a medicament (M), comprising: 
 a base layer ( 100 ) having a base layer perimeter ( 110 ) with one or more exterior edges ( 112 ), a base layer exterior surface ( 120 ), a base layer interior surface ( 130 ), and a base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) located interior to the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) thereby selectively reducing the strength of the base layer ( 100 ) at the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and generally defining a base layer tab creation area ( 150 );    a blister layer ( 200 ) having a blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) with one or more exterior edges ( 212 ), a blister layer exterior surface ( 220 ), a blister layer interior surface ( 230 ), and including an article receiving blister ( 260 ) formed therein, wherein the article receiving blister ( 260 ) is formed with a sidewall ( 262 ) and an endwall ( 264 ) and is designed for holding the medicament (M), the blister layer ( 200 ) having a blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) located interior to the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) thereby selectively reducing the strength of the blister layer ( 200 ) at the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) and generally defining a blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ); wherein    at least twenty percent of the surface area of the base layer interior surface ( 130 ) is joined to the blister layer interior surface ( 230 ) such that the base layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) substantially overlay one another and the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) substantially overlay one another, and such that opening the blister package ( 10 ) requires (i) application of a force to the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) thereby causing separation of the base layer ( 100 ) at the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) at the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) such that a tab ( 300 ), having a base layer component ( 310 ) and a blister layer component ( 320 ), is created, (ii) removal of the tab ( 300 ) from the blister package ( 10 ) by pulling the tab ( 300 ) away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ) thereby tearing the base layer ( 100 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) to the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) and the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) thereby creating a sinistral wing ( 400 ), having a base layer component ( 410 ) and a blister layer component ( 420 ), and a dextral wing ( 500 ), having a base layer component ( 510 ) and a blister layer component ( 520 ), and (iii) rotating the sinistral wing ( 400 ) and the dextral wing ( 500 ) in opposite directions causing a tear to propagate across a portion of the article receiving blister ( 260 ) thereby allowing access to the medicament (M).    
     
     
         2 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) is a slit extending through the base layer ( 100 ) from the base layer exterior surface ( 120 ) to the base layer interior surface ( 130 ).  
     
     
         3 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) is a slit extending through the blister layer ( 200 ) from the blister layer exterior surface ( 220 ) to the blister layer interior surface ( 230 ).  
     
     
         4 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) includes a first base layer separation line section ( 142 ) and a second base layer separation line section ( 144 ).  
     
     
         5 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) includes a first blister layer separation line section ( 242 ) and a second blister layer separation line section ( 244 ).  
     
     
         6 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) includes a first base layer separation line section ( 142 ) and a second base layer separation line section ( 144 ), and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) includes a first blister layer separation line section ( 242 ) and a second blister layer separation line section ( 244 ), such that the first base layer separation line section ( 142 ) and the second base layer separation line section ( 144 ) cooperate to form a substantially concave shape that opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ) and the first blister layer separation line section ( 242 ) and the second blister layer separation line section ( 244 ) cooperate to form a substantially concave shape that opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ).  
     
     
         7 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) is a slit extending through the base layer ( 100 ) from the base layer exterior surface ( 120 ) to the base layer interior surface ( 130 ), the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) is a slit extending through the blister layer ( 200 ) from the blister layer exterior surface ( 220 ) to the blister layer interior surface ( 230 ), and further including a tab retention projection ( 330 ) connecting the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) preventing the tab ( 300 ) from unintentionally leaving the plane of the base layer ( 100 ).  
     
     
         8 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) is substantially concave in shape and opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ) and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) is substantially concave in shape and opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ).  
     
     
         9 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer ( 100 ) is comprised of a material and thickness that cannot be readily ruptured by a human finger pushing on the medicament in the article receiving blister ( 260 ).  
     
     
         10 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the blister layer ( 200 ) within the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) projects away from the plane of the base layer ( 100 ) thereby providing a user an indication of the location upon which to exert the force necessary to create the tab ( 300 ).  
     
     
         11 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the blister layer ( 200 ) is formed of a thermoplastic or cold-form material.  
     
     
         12 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the article receiving blister ( 260 ) are thermoformed or cold-formed in the blister layer ( 200 ).  
     
     
         13 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the portions of the base layer ( 100 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) that are joined together cannot be readily torn from the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) or the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ).  
     
     
         14 . The blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) comprise one or more of the group consisting of die cuts, perforations, indentations, score lines, and weakened fracture lines.  
     
     
         15 . A medication package ( 600 ) having an array of separable blister packages ( 10 ) for housing a medicament (M), each of the separable blister packages comprising: 
 a base layer ( 100 ) having a base layer perimeter ( 110 ) with one or more exterior edges ( 112 ), a base layer exterior surface ( 120 ), a base layer interior surface ( 130 ), and a base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) located interior to the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) thereby selectively reducing the strength of the base layer ( 100 ) at the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and generally defining a base layer tab creation area ( 150 );    a blister layer ( 200 ) having a blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) with one or more exterior edges ( 212 ), and including an article receiving blister ( 260 ) formed therein, wherein the article receiving blister ( 260 ) is formed with a sidewall ( 262 ) and an endwall ( 264 ) and is designed for holding the medicament (M), the blister layer ( 200 ) having a blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) located interior to the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) thereby selectively reducing the strength of the blister layer ( 200 ) at the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) and generally defining a blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ); wherein    at least a portion of the surface area of the base layer interior surface ( 130 ) is joined to the blister layer interior surface ( 230 ) such that the base layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) substantially overlay one another and the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) substantially overlay one another, and such that opening the blister package ( 10 ) requires (i) application of a force to the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) thereby causing separation of the base layer ( 100 ) at the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) at the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) such that a tab ( 300 ), having a base layer component ( 310 ) and a blister layer component ( 320 ), is created, (ii) removal of the tab ( 300 ) from the blister package ( 10 ) by pulling the tab ( 300 ) away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ) thereby tearing the base layer ( 100 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) to the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) and the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) thereby creating a sinistral wing ( 400 ), having a base layer component ( 410 ) and a blister layer component ( 420 ), and a dextral wing ( 500 ), having a base layer component ( 510 ) and a blister layer component ( 520 ), and (iii) rotating the sinistral wing ( 400 ) and the dextral wing ( 500 ) in opposite directions causing a tear to propagate across a portion of the article receiving blister ( 260 ) thereby allowing access to the medicament (M).    
     
     
         16 . The medication package ( 600 ) of  claim 15 , wherein the array of separable blister packages ( 10 ) with the base layer ( 100 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) are formed from one integral base layer and one integral blister layer with tear lines ( 610 ) in the base layer ( 100 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ), wherein the tear lines ( 610 ) enable the separation of the individual blister packages ( 10 ) from each other.  
     
     
         17 . The medication package ( 600 ) of  claim 16 , wherein the tear lines ( 610 ) comprise one or more of the group consisting of die cuts, perforations, indentations, score lines, and weakened fracture lines.  
     
     
         18 . A child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) for housing a medicament (M), comprising: 
 a base layer ( 100 ) having a base layer perimeter ( 110 ) with one or more exterior edges ( 112 ), a base layer exterior surface ( 120 ), a base layer interior surface ( 130 ), and a base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) comprising a slit extending through the base layer ( 100 ) from the base layer exterior surface ( 120 ) to the base layer interior surface ( 130 ) and being located interior to the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) thereby selectively reducing the strength of the base layer ( 100 ) at the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and generally defining a base layer tab creation area ( 150 ), wherein the base layer ( 100 ) is comprised of a material and thickness that cannot be readily ruptured by a human finger pushing on the medicament (M);    a blister layer ( 200 ) having a blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) with one or more exterior edges ( 212 ), a blister layer exterior surface ( 220 ), a blister layer interior surface ( 230 ), and including an article receiving blister ( 260 ) formed therein, wherein the article receiving blister ( 260 ) is formed with a sidewall ( 262 ) and an endwall ( 264 ) and is designed for holding the medicament (M), the blister layer ( 200 ) having a blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) comprising is a slit extending through the blister layer ( 200 ) from the blister layer exterior surface ( 220 ) to the blister layer interior surface ( 230 ) and being located interior to the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) thereby selectively reducing the strength of the blister layer ( 200 ) at the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) and generally defining a blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ); wherein    at least twenty percent of the surface area of the base layer interior surface ( 130 ) is joined to the blister layer interior surface ( 230 ) such the portions of the base layer ( 100 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) that are joined together cannot be readily torn from the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) or the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ), and the base layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) substantially overlay one another and the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) substantially overlay one another, and such that opening the blister package ( 10 ) requires (i) application of a force to the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) thereby causing separation of the base layer ( 100 ) at the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) at the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) such that a tab ( 300 ), having a base layer component ( 310 ) and a blister layer component ( 320 ), is created, (ii) removal of the tab ( 300 ) from the blister package ( 10 ) by pulling the tab ( 300 ) away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ) thereby tearing the base layer ( 100 ) and the blister layer ( 200 ) to the base layer perimeter ( 110 ) and the blister layer perimeter ( 210 ) thereby creating a sinistral wing ( 400 ), having a base layer component ( 410 ) and a blister layer component ( 420 ), and a dextral wing ( 500 ), having a base layer component ( 510 ) and a blister layer component ( 520 ), and (iii) rotating the sinistral wing ( 400 ) and the dextral wing ( 500 ) in opposite directions causing a tear to propagate across a portion of the article receiving blister ( 260 ) thereby allowing access to the medicament (M).    
     
     
         19 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) includes a first base layer separation line section ( 142 ) and a second base layer separation line section ( 144 ).  
     
     
         20 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) includes a first blister layer separation line section ( 242 ) and a second blister layer separation line section ( 244 ).  
     
     
         21 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) includes a first base layer separation line section ( 142 ) and a second base layer separation line section ( 144 ), and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) includes a first blister layer separation line section ( 242 ) and a second blister layer separation line section ( 244 ), such that the first base layer separation line section ( 142 ) and the second base layer separation line section ( 144 ) cooperate to form a substantially concave shape that opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ) and the first blister layer separation line section ( 242 ) and the second blister layer separation line section ( 244 ) cooperate to form a substantially concave shape that opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ).  
     
     
         22 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) is a slit extending through the base layer ( 100 ) from the base layer exterior surface ( 120 ) to the base layer interior surface ( 130 ), the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) is a slit extending through the blister layer ( 200 ) from the blister layer exterior surface ( 220 ) to the blister layer interior surface ( 230 ), and further including a tab retention projection ( 330 ) connecting the base layer tab creation area ( 150 ) and the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) preventing the tab ( 300 ) from unintentionally leaving the plane of the base layer ( 100 ).  
     
     
         23 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) is substantially concave in shape and opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ) and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) is substantially concave in shape and opens away from the article receiving blister ( 260 ).  
     
     
         24 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the blister layer ( 200 ) within the blister layer tab creation area ( 250 ) projects away from the plane of the base layer ( 100 ) thereby providing a user an indication of the location upon which to exert the force necessary to create the tab ( 300 ).  
     
     
         25 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the blister layer ( 200 ) is formed of a thermoplastic or cold-form material.  
     
     
         26 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the article receiving blister ( 260 ) are thermoformed or cold-formed in the blister layer ( 200 ).  
     
     
         27 . The child-resistant blister package ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein the base layer tab creation separation line ( 140 ) and the blister layer tab creation separation line ( 240 ) comprise one or more of the group consisting of die cuts, perforations, indentations, score lines, and weakened fracture lines.