# US 7,607,539 B2 · Child resistant blister package

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- Number: US 7,607,539 B2
- Document ID: US7607539B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/560,201
- Filed: 2004-06-10
- Published: 2006-06-29
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2003-06-10
- Assignees: MeadWestvaco Corporation
- Inventors: Timothy Freeze
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607539B2

## CPC

- B65D 75/367: {and forming several compartments}
- A61J 1/035: {Blister-type containers (blisters in general B65D75/36)}
- B65D 75/327: {and forming several compartments}
- B65D 2215/04: requiring the combination of different actions in succession
- B65D 2575/362: with special means for gaining access to the contents
- B65D 2575/365: partially or totally releasing one sheet from the other
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE

## Abstract

The invention provides a substantially child resistant package. A gate panel (110) and a tab panel (140) are secured to an aperture panel (120). At least one aperture (123) is formed on the aperture panel. At least one gate (114) is formed on the gate panel and is aligned with the aperture when the gate panel is in contact with the aperture panel. At least one partially detachable tab (146) is formed on the tab panel and is aligned with the gate when the tab panel is in contact with the gate panel. In an exemplary package, a blister package (11) is aligned with and secured to the aperture panel. The gate panel is secured to the aperture panel and blister package. The tab panel is secured to the gate panel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
an aperture panel with at least one aperture;
a blister tray, at least some portion of said tray protruding through said aperture panel;
a gate panel secured to said aperture panel with at least one gate, a given said at least one gate being substantially aligned with a corresponding said at least one aperture when said gate panel is in contact with said aperture panel;
a tab panel secured to said aperture panel with at least one substantially detachable tab, the tab panel being substantially dimensioned and aligned with said gate panel so that a given said at least one substantially detachable tab is substantially aligned with a corresponding said at least one gate when said tab panel is in contact with said gate panel;
an adhesive coating formed on the tab panel and the corresponding said at least one substantially detachable tab thereof; and
a release agent applied to said gate panel in the vicinity of said at least one gate to prevent adhesion thereof to the adhesive coating on a corresponding said at least one substantially detachable tab.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gate panel further comprises a perforated region that is substantially dimensioned and aligned with a given said at least one substantially detachable tab.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a given said at least one substantially detachable tab of said tab panel is not secured to said gate panel.

### Claim 4

A blister package apparatus for holding a product comprising:
at least one blister for holding a product;
an aperture panel with at least one aperture receiving the at least one blister;
a gate panel having at least one gate, said at least one gate being aligned with a corresponding said at least on blister positioned opposite a given said at least one aperture, the given said at least one aperture being configured for providing access to the product through a corresponding said at least one gate;
a tab panel having at least one tab, each respective said at least one tab being aligned with a corresponding said at least one gate and configured for providing access thereto upon at least partially detaching the respective said at least one tab;
an adhesive coating formed on the tab panel and the corresponding said at least one tab thereof; and
a release agent applied to the gate panel in the vicinity of said at least one gate to prevent adhesion thereof to the adhesive coating on a corresponding said at least one tab.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the gate panel and tab panel are joined by glue.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the gate panel and tab panel are centrally joined by glue.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the gate panel and the tab panel have opposing surfaces and wherein the opposing surfaces, with the exception of surfaces of the at least one tab, are glued together.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the aperture panel, the gate panel, and the tab panel are joined at edges and are folded inward at the joined edges, with the aperture panel over the at least one blister, the gate panel under the at least one blister and the tab panel under the gate panel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the panels have areas that are joined by gluing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the panels have peripheral areas that are joined by gluing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a backing on the at least one blister, and wherein the gate panel is attached to the backing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one blister comprises a plurality of blisters on a blister tray;
wherein the product comprises products in the blisters;
wherein the at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures in the aperture panel for receiving the plurality of blisters;
wherein the at least one gate comprises a plurality of gates in the gate panel aligned with the plurality of blisters on the blister tray opposite the plurality of apertures on the aperture panel;
and wherein the at least one tab comprises a plurality of tabs in the tab panel aligned with the plurality of gates.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a backing on the blister tray, and wherein the gate panel is attached to the backing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the blister tray has an upper surface which is attached to the aperture panel;
further comprising a backing attached to the blister tray for holding the products in the blisters;
wherein the gate panel is attached to the backing; and wherein the tab panel is attached to the gate panel, except for at the tabs.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tab panel is centrally glued to the gate panel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the aperture panel, the gate panel and the tab panel have peripheral areas extending outward beyond the blister tray and the backing, and further comprising adhesive interconnecting the peripheral areas.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the aperture panel, the gate panel, and the tab panel have joined edges and are folded inward at the joined edges, with the aperture panel over the blister tray, the gate panel under the blister tray and the tab panel under the gate panel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the aperture panel has opposite lateral edges, and wherein the gate panel and the tab panel have lateral edges attached respectively to the opposite lateral edges of the aperture panel and wherein the panels are folded and secured in positions parallel to the blister tray.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the panels are joined along plural edges of one of the panels and along single edges of remaining ones of the panels and are folded and secured in positions parallel to the blister tray.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the gates have perforations which may be separated by pushing on the blisters and the products within the blisters after the tabs have been removed.

### Claim 21 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tabs have perforations around edges of the tabs and have accessible ends for lifting the ends and tearing the perforations for removing the tabs and exposing the gates.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the tabs extend to the edges of the tab panel and wherein the ends of the tabs are accessible along the edges of the tab panel.

### Claim 23

A child resistant packaging method comprising:
providing an aperture panel having at least one aperture;
providing a gate panel having at least one gate;
providing a tab panel having at least one tab;
providing an adhesive coating on the tab panel and the at least one tab thereof;
providing a blister tray having at least one blister;
providing a product in the at least one blister;
providing a backing on the blister tray holding the product in the at least one blister;
applying a release agent to the gate panel in the vicinity of at least one given gate to prevent adhesion thereof to the adhesive coating on a corresponding tab;
extending the at least one blister through the at least one aperture;
aligning the at least one gate with the at least one blister opposite the at least one aperture;
covering the at least one gate with the at least one tab;
securing the blister tray between the aperture panel and the tab panel.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23 wherein the providing the panels further comprises providing the panels with joined edges and folding the panels along the joined edges.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23 wherein the providing the panels further comprises providing peripheral areas on the panels and adhering the peripheral areas together.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23 further comprising moving the at least one tab and exposing the at least one gate and pushing on the at least one blister and freeing a product from the at least one blister through the backing and the at least one gate.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26 wherein the moving the at least one tab comprises lifting an end of the at least one tab and tearing perforations along opposite sides of the at least one tab and wherein the forcing the product through the at least one gate comprises breaking the gate from the gate panel at perforations along the gate.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23 wherein the at least one tab and the at least one gate prevent the product from moving through the at least one gate until the at least one tab is moved away from the at least one gate.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a single aperture panel is provided.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a single blister tray is provided.

### Claim 31 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a single gate panel is provided.

### Claim 32 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a single tab panel is provided.

### Claim 33 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the release agent is applied to the gate panel over an area corresponding to that of at least one tab.