GB2468471A

GB2468471A - Dispensing system for blister type container

Info

Publication number: GB2468471A
Application number: GB0903841A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Elliott
Original assignee: FUTURE TECHNOLOGY
Current assignee: FUTURE TECHNOLOGY
Priority date: 2009-03-06
Filing date: 2009-03-06
Publication date: 2010-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-06
Also published as: WO2010100399A1; GB0903841D0; GB2468471B

Abstract

The present invention provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products. The container includes a tray 2 having a generally planar top surface 4 into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities 6 for receiving the consumer products, generally medicine pills. The cavities 6 are covered by a cover sheet 8 that can either be rupturable or which has pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity. The tray 2 is adapted to releasably secure a dispensing cup 12 in register with a cavity. The dispensing cup 12 may be engaged with the cavity by suitable engaging means 16, 18 or by an interference fit. The flange 14 of the dispensing cup, may be defined with a slot 24 so that the cover sheet 8 is not entirely cut and may remain attached to the rest by a portion left uncut by the slot. Once the foil sheet 8 has been ruptured, the contents of a cavity are therefore dispensed directly into the dispensing cup 12, which is releasably secured to the tray 2, by inverting the container.

Description

TITLE

Dispensing containers

DESCRIPTION

Technical Field

The invention relates to containers for storing and dispensing consumer products.

The term consumer products is intended to cover a wide variety of products as illustrated by the following (non-exhaustive) list: foods, either for immediate consumption, pre-cooked, prepared or oven ready, including prepared meals, confectionary, hardware and DIY items, cosmetics, seeds, animal and fish feeds, electronic components, medical appliances and dressings, medicines and medication such as pills, tablets and capsules.

The containers may be used in place of conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets and capsules, or may be used for organising and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to a predefined dosage regimen.

The principle behind such mixed medication containers is that a dosage regimen of mixed medication can be organised in advance for a period of a week or more, and a patient or nurse can then remove from the container, at predefined times over the said period, the one or more pills, tablets andlor capsules to be administered on each occasion according to the dosage regimen.

Background Art

Blister packs are of course well known for the storage and dispensing of pills, tablets and capsules, which are stored individually in cavities in a multi-cavity tray and removed by pushing each pill, tablet or capsule through a rupturable film or foil covering the cavities. The film or foil cover may be paper or a plastics film that can be peeled or torn away to expose the medication in the tray cavities, but is generally aluminium foil, which has the dual advantage of being easily rupturable and vapour-impermeable. Such blister packs normally cany only one unit dose of the same medication in each cavity.

Mixed medication blister packs have been proposed, having larger cavities for filling by a pharmacist, wherein each cavity in a multi-cavity tray can be filled with a mixture of medications. Typically, a tray may have a 2 x 7, 3 x 7, 4 x 7 or 5 x 7 array of cavities corresponding to 2, 3, 4 or 5 predefined medication times per day over a 7-day period, or one dose prescribed per day over a 2, 3, 4 or 5 week period. For example, a 4 x 7 tray may be filled with the medication to be taken at breakfast-time, lunchtime, early evening and immediately before retiring each day for a week, and then the filled cavities sealed with a rupturable or sequentially rupturable film or foil cover. Printed instructions on the pack identify the intended sequence of opening the individual cavities to dispense their contents according to the prescribed dosage regimen.

Disadvantages of conventional blister packs using a rupturable cover sheet are the difficulty experienced by some patients, particularly the elderly, in pushing the medication through the cover sheet, the need for expensive laminating equipment to seal the aluminium cover sheet over the cavities after the initial filling, and the difficulty experienced by the user in selecting the cavity containing the medication to be dispensed if the medication is pushed up through the foil from below. If the wrong cavity is opened by mistake then re-sealing is impossible because the cover sheet has ruptured.

A major disadvantage of the blister pack using a peelable cover sheet is the difficulty experienced by the user in peeling or tearing away a single selected portion of the cover sheet to expose the contents of only one preselected cavity. This can be achieved by scraping a finger-nail over a corner or tab portion of a segment of the cover sheet sealing the preselected cavity, but grasping that corner to peel away the complete segment sometimes requires considerable manual dexterity and possibly good eyesight, which is beyond the abilities of many elderly users. Also, if a tacky peelable adhesive is used to adhere the cover sheet to the tray, it is desirable to prevent the contents of the tray from coming into contact with the adhesive. Finally, the film cover sheet may not have as high a vapour impermeability as metal foil, so there is a reluctance on the part of pharmacists to pre-fihl a mixed medication blister pack with medication for administration more than seven days in advance of the filling date, lest the medication deteriorates due to storage in humid ambient conditions.

WO 2005/023670 to the present Applicant describes a container that aims to overcome some or all of the above problems and disadvantages. The container is for storing and dispensing consumer products and includes a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products. A cover film is adhered to the generally planar top surface of the tray by a layer of peelable adhesive to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities. The cover film has pre-formed tear lines defining a tear-off portion per cavity to retain the consumer products in that cavity until it is removed by tearing along its tear lines. In practice it will be readily appreciated that the or each tear-off portion can also be defined by cut lines extending completely through the material of the cover film. The or each tear-off portion of the cover film has low vapour transmission properties in the area which in use overlies the associated cavity, those low vapour transmission properties being created by a barrier patch with high vapour barrier properties shaped and sized to overlie the associated cavity. The or each barrier patch is adhered to the underside of the cover film by the same layer of peelable adhesive as that which adheres the cover film to the top surface of the tray.

The barrier patch beneath the or each tear-off portion can be created from a single sheet of barrier film as follows. A single sheet of barrier film is secured to the underside of the cover film by a peelable adhesive. The barrier film has pre-formed tear-lines defining the periphery of the or each vapour-resistant barrier patch so that peeling away the majority of the barrier film from the cover film immediately prior to application of the cover film to secure it to the generally planar top surface of the tray exposes the peelable adhesive in areas necessary for adhesion to the tray but leaves a barrier patch attached to the underside of the or each tear-off portion of the cover film.

In practice it will be readily appreciated that the or each barrier patch can also be defined by cut lines extending completely through the material of the barrier film.

The sheet of barrier film can have a further pre-defined tear line (or cut line) close to one edge thereof to define a tear-off strip which when removed exposes a location anchorage area of the peelable adhesive on the underside of the cover film, for adhering an edge portion of the cover film to an edge portion of the tray before peeling away the majority of the barrier film and adhering it over the cavities. To assist in the process of adhering the cover film to the top surface of the tray, the tray can have upstanding cover film location means. The cover film can have cooperating means for accurate location of the cover sheet over the tray with the one or more cavities and associated tear-off portions in register before adhering the cover film to the tray.

EP 1357050 to the present Applicant discloses an alternative container where the tear-off portions of the cover film have an associated lug portion that is not secured to the tray in use, for gripping by a user preparatory to tearing off the tear-off portion. The generally planar top surface of the tray also has an upwardly extending protrusion positioned to be located beneath each lug portion in use to bend that lug portion upwardly out of the plane of the remainder of the cover film when the cover film is secured to the tray. Because the or each lug portion is bent up out of the plane of the remainder of the cover film when the film is applied, it can very easily be grasped by the user for removal of the tear-off portion. This makes the container particularly suitable for elderly users or those with limited manual dexterity.

Although the containers described in WO 2005/023670 and EP 1357050 are considered to be easier to use than blister packs having rupturable or peelable cover sheets, there is still a potential problem that the medication or other consumer products may be mishandled when they are being dispensed from the cavities. This is because the user will often place their hand or an unsuitable household container over the open cavity and then invert the container so that the consumer products fall into their open hand or the household container through the opening in the cover film that is created when the tear-off portion has been released. However, this can often result in the medication or consumer products being mishandled or falling onto the floor, for

example.

Similar problems can also be experienced with blister packs having rupturable or peelable cover sheets where the medicament or consumer products are often pushed through the cover sheet into an open hand of the user or an unsuitable household container.

Summary of the invention

The present invention provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products comprising a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products, and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities, wherein the tray is adapted to releasably secure a dispensing cup in register with a cavity.

It will be readily appreciated that the dispensing cup may be releasably secured to the tray by any suitable means.

The tray may be adapted such that the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray. For example, the top surface of the tray may be provided with upstanding location means for engaging with a rim part of the dispensing cup such that the dispensing cup is releasably secured in register with a cavity. However, this will not normally be preferred because any engaging means provided on the top surface of the tray may interfere with the cover sheet.

It is therefore generally preferred that the tray is adapted such that the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray by being inserted into a cavity.

The or each cavity can be shaped and sized to releasably secure the dispensing cup by means of an interference fit (i.e. press fit). For example, the open mouth of the or each cavity may be formed to be a particular shape and size so that when a rim part of the dispensing cup is pressed into the open mouth it is retained securely in position by friction until it is deliberately removed by the user. A side wall of the or each cavity may be slightly resilient or flexible so that the open mouth can be widened slightly when the rim part of the dispensing cup is pressed into it.

Alternatively, the or each cavity can include engaging means to releasably secure the dispensing cup by means of an engagement fit. For example, a side wall of the or each cavity may include a recess for engaging a protrusion formed on an outer surface of the dispensing cup. The dispensing cup may be squeezed slightly to allow the protrusion to pass through the open mouth of the cavity and then released to engage the protrusion with the recess formed in the side wall of the cavity. The dispensing cup can be released from the tray in the same way. Alternatively, a side wall of the or each cavity may include a protrusion for engaging with a recess formed in an outer surface of the dispensing cup. The dispensing cup may be squeezed slightly to allow the outer surface to pass the protrusion in the cavity and then released to engage the protrusion with the recess formed in the outer surface of the dispensing cup. The dispensing cup can be released from the tray in the same way. It will be readily appreciated that the present invention is not limited to protrusions and recesses and that any suitable cooperating engaging means can be used.

The cover sheet that is used to seal the one or more cavities may be adhered to the generally planar top surface of the tray by a suitable adhesive or heat-sealed directly to the tray.

The cover sheet can be a conventional rupturable film of paper or foil, for example.

The cover sheet can also be a plastics film of single or multiple-layer construction having pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the consumer products in that cavity until it is removed (either partly or completely) along its line of separation. In the case where the removable portion is only partly removed then it preferably remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is defined by a gap in the associated pre-formed line of separation. The cover sheet is preferably non-rupturable (except around pre-formed tear lines) so that the consumer products caimot be accidentally or deliberately pushed through it.

The or each removable portion of the cover film may include a barrier patch shaped and sized to overlie the associated cavity. The or each associated barrier patch can be formed in a barrier sheet that is adhered to the cover sheet.

The periphery of the or each removable portion can be defined by a pre-formed cut line extending completely through the cover sheet material, a pre-scored or pre-perforated tear line, or any combination thereof. The pre-scored tear lines may be created by pressing a knife on to the surface of the seal so as to cut or score part way through but not fully through the thickness of the cover sheet. The pre-scored tear lines, pre-perforated tear lines and cut lines can be formed using a rotary die cutter or the like.

In the case where the periphery of the or each removable portion is defined by a pre-formed cut line then an associated barrier patch formed in a barrier sheet will be shaped and sized to be larger than the removable portion. The cover sheet and barrier sheet will be adhered together by a layer of peelable adhesive or static bonding such that the or each barrier patch must be peeled away from a narrow border of the cover sheet immediately outside the line of separation defining the periphery of the removable portion when the overlying removable portion is released.

The cover sheet preferably has high vapour barrier properties, optionally by selecting an appropriate material or thickness for the cover sheet and/or the barrier sheet.

Providing low vapour permeability in the region that overlies the one or more cavities means that medication temporarily encapsulated in the cavities can be protected from variations in ambient humidity during storage of the medication within the container.

Low vapour permeability is also important if the container is used to store and dispense consumer products such as foods or electronic components that can perish or suffer damage if too much moisture is allowed to enter the discrete cavities through the cover sheet. It will, however, be recognised that the cover sheet may be provided with other selected barrier properties such as high light barrier properties or high gas barrier properties to reduce or prevent the transmission of light or atmospheric gases such as oxygen, for example. The cover sheet may also be provided with high electrostatic barrier properties.

The cover sheet may be a metal foil, such as aluminium foil, a metallized polymeric film or paper sheet, a plastics film of single or multiple layer construction, or any combination thereof, depending on the sort of consumer products to be stored and dispensed from the container.

Before the dispensing cup can be inserted into a cavity it will normally be necessary to provide some means of access through the cover sheet. This can be achieved in two different ways. In the case where the cover sheet includes one or more removable portions then the removable portion that overlies the particular cavity can be removed (e.g. by tearing along tear lines such as pre-formed score lines or perforations) to provide an opening in the cover sheet through which the dispensing cup can be inserted into the cavity.

However, in the case where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then the dispensing cup itself can be used to rupture the cover sheet. For example, a rim part of the dispensing cup can be placed against the cover sheet in register with the open mouth of a cavity and then pushed through the cover sheet and into the cavity. The rim part of the dispensing cup may be adapted to assist in the process of rupturing the cover sheet. For example, the rim part of the dispensing cup may be chamfered to create a narrow rupturing surface -care being taken to ensure that such a rupturing surface is not sharp enough to cause danger to the user.

A slot or recess may be provided in the rim part of the dispensing cup so that when it is pushed through the rupturable cover sheet, the part of the cover sheet overlying the cavity is not completely removed from the remainder of the cover sheet but remains joined to it by a bridge that is coincident with the slot or recess.

The container is preferably a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen, wherein an array of discrete cavities are formed into the generally planar top surface of the tray, and the cover sheet has pre-formed lines of separation defining an array of removable portions, each removable portion being shaped and sized so that in use it overlies one of the cavities.

The present invention further provides a dispensing cup for use with a container for storing and dispensing consumer products comprising a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete ca'ities for receiving the consumer products, and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities, wherein the dispensing cup is adapted to be releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity.

The dispensing cup may be adapted to be releasably secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray. For example, the top surface of the tray may be provided with upstanding location means for engaging with a rim part of the dispensing cup such that the dispensing cup is releasably secured in register with a cavity. However, this will not normally be preferred because any engaging means provided on the top surface of the tray may interfere with the cover sheet.

It is therefore generally preferred that the dispensing cup is adapted such that it is releasably secured to the tray by being inserted into a cavity.

The dispensing cup can be shaped and sized to be releasably secured to the or each cavity by means of an interference fit (i.e. press fit). For example, a rim part of the dispensing cup can be formed to be a particular shape and size so that when it is pressed into the open mouth of a cavity it is retained securely in position by friction until it is deliberately removed by the user. The rim part of the dispensing cup may be slightly resilient or flexible so that it can be narrowed slightly when it is pressed into the open mouth of the cavity. For example, the rim part may include one or more slots that enable the remainder of the rim part to resiliently flex inwardly so that when the dispensing cup is inserted into the cavity the rim part is "sprung" against a side wall of the cavity.

Alternatively, the dispensing cup can include engaging means to enable the dispensing cup to be releasably secured to the or each cavity by means of an engagement fit. For example, an outer surface of the dispensing cup may include a protrusion for engaging with a recess formed on a side wall of the or each cavity. The dispensing cup may be squeezed slightly to allow the protrusion to pass through the open mouth of the cavity and then released to engage the protrusion with the recess formed in the side wall of the cavity. The dispensing cup can be released from the tray in the same way. Alternatively, an outer surface of the dispensing cup may include a recess for engaging a protrusion formed on a side wall of the or each cavity.

The dispensing cup may be squeezed slightly to allow the outer surface to pass the protrusion in the cavity and then released to engage the protrusion with the recess formed in the outer surface of the dispensing cup. The dispensing cup can be released from the tray in the same way. It will be readily appreciated that the present invention is not limited to protrusions and recesses and that any suitable cooperating engaging means can be used.

In the case where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then the rim part of the dispensing cup may be adapted to assist in the process of rupturing the cover sheet.

For example, the rim part of the dispensing cup may be chamfered to create a narrow rupturing surface -care being taken to ensure that such a rupturing surface is not sharp enough to cause danger to the user.

The dispensing cup may include a rim part and a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the consumer products once they have been dispensed from a cavity. While the rim part will normally be shaped and sized to engage with upstanding location means provided on the top surface of the tray or to enable it to be inserted into the or each cavity formed in the tray (optionally by means of an interference fit with predetermined tolerance) the main body will not be subject to these design constraints and can therefore have any suitable shape or size. The outer surface of the main body may be ergonomically shaped or include one or more gripping features to help the user to hold the dispensing cup while it is being secured to the tray.

Two or more dispensing cups may be joined together -either releasably by means of suitable cooperating engaging means, or integrally formed as a single unit. Each dispensing cup can be provided with a suitable lid or cover that can be releasably secured to a rim part of the respective dispensing cup. The lid or cover can be formed as a separate item or can be attached to the respective dispensing cup by a connector such as a flexible strip, for example, which enables it to be secured to, and removed from, the rim of the dispensing cup as necessary, but prevents it from being accidentally misplaced or lost.

The joined dispensing cups will be releasably secured to the tray of the container such that each dispensing cup is in register with a cavity and the dispensing cups will be spaced apart and oriented relative to each other accordingly. For example, if the container is a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen and an array of discrete cavities are formed into the generally planar top surface of the tray then the discrete cavities may be substantially rectangular in shape. Each corresponding dispensing cup will preferably have a rim part that is also substantially rectangular in shape and two dispensing cups can either be joined together along their short sides or their long -12-sides depending on which two respective cavities they are to be inserted into. A tray can have a 2 x 7, 3 x 7, 4 x 7 or 5 x 7 array of cavities corresponding to 2, 3,4 or 5 predefined medication times per day over a 7-day period, or one dose prescribed per day over a 2, 3, 4 or 5 week period. For example, a 4 x 7 tray may be filled with the medication to be taken at breakfast-time, lunchtime, early evening and immediately before retiring each day for a week. If a user wishes to dispense lunchtime and early evening doses of medication from the dispensing container because they are going to be out of the house or care home for a few hours then two appropriately joined dispensing cups can be simultaneously inserted into the cavities that contain the lunchtime and early evening doses of medication. The medication is temporarily retained in the dispensing cups until needed. To avoid any confusion between the two doses of medication, one of the dispensing cups could be marked lunchtime' and the other could be marked evening'. Alternatively, the dispensing cups could include a region on which any suitable label could be attached or written using a marker pen, for example. The dispensing cups prevent the user from having to take the whole dispensing container with them each time they temporarily leave the house or care home. The medication will remain sealed in the dispensing container, which preferably has high vapour properties, for the majority of the time and will only be placed into the dispensing cups shortly before it is to be taken by the user.

Each dispensing cup may include cooperating engaging means on each of its sides so that it can be releasably joined to one or more dispensing cups to form an array of dispensing cups. For example, if the dispensing cup is generally rectangular in cross section then one short side and one long side of the dispensing cup may include a male' or first type of engaging means and one short side and one long side of the dispensing cup may include a female' or second type of engaging means. With such a structure, there is no limit to how many dispensing cups can be joined together to form an array.

Similarly, a single unit can include any number of integrally formed dispensing cups.

-13 -The present invention further provides a combination of a container for dispensing and storing consumer products comprising a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products, and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities, and a dispensing cup, wherein the tray of the container is adapted to releasably secure the dispensing cup in register with a cavity andlor the dispensing cup is adapted to be releasably secured to the tray in register with cavity.

The features of the container and dispensing cup are as described above.

The present invention further provides a method of using the combination described above, comprising the steps of: securing the dispensing cup to the tray in register with a cavity; manipulating the container so that the consumer products in that cavity are received into the dispensing cup; and removing the dispensing cup from the container.

In the case where the cover sheet has pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the consumer products in that cavity until it is removed (either partly or completely) along its line of separation then a preliminary step may include unsealing a cavity by removing the associated removable portion of the cover sheet.

However, in the case where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then a preliminary step may include using the dispensing cup to rupture the cover sheet by pushing a rim part of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into the cavity.

To dispense the contents of a cavity where the cover sheet has a removable portion per cavity then the user simply pushes down on the associated removable portion with their forefinger. This may require the user to release the removable portion from the remainder of the cover sheet by tearing along tear lines such as pre-formed score lines -14 -or perforations. The force needed to release the removable portion is preferably less than is necessary to push the consumer products through a rupturable cover sheet.

The released removable portion is then pushed down into the cavity on top of the consumer products and can be removed through the newly created opening in the cover sheet by sliding it up the side of the cavity until it can be grasped firmly between forefinger and thumb. In other cases, the removable portion can simply be left in the cavity or may remain partially attached to the remainder of the cover sheet by the use of a bridge portion defined by a gap in the lines of separation defining the periphery of the or each removable portion.

To dispense the contents of a cavity where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then the user simply pushes the rim of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into the underlying cavity.

Before the container is inverted, the dispensing cup is secured to the tray in register with the open mouth of the cavity. The container and the secured dispensing cup can then be inverted so that the consumer products fall into the dispensing cup through the newly created opening in the cover sheet. In the case of a rupturable cover sheet, the part of the cover sheet that has been removed by the dispensing cup will also fall into the dispensing cup unless the rim part of the dispensing cup includes the slot or recess described above such that it remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge. The weight of the consumer products will dislodge the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity and cause it to pivot about the bridge so that the consumer products fall into the dispensing cup. In some cases it might be necessary for the user to shake the container slightly to dislodge the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity. The consumer products can also be pushed through the cover sheet from the rear in the usual way so that they fall into the dispensing cup that is releasably secured to the tray in register with the cavity.

The dispensing cup is then released from the container and the consumer products can be carefully poured from the dispensing cup into the open hand of the user, picked out -15-of the dispensing cup, or temporarily stored in the dispensing cup. If the dispensing cup is to be used to temporarily store the medication then it may be provided with a suitable lid or cover that can be releasably secured to a rim part of the dispensing cup.

The lid or cover can be formed as a separate item or can be attached to the dispensing cup by a connector such as a flexible strip, for example, which enables it to be secured to, and removed from, the rim of the dispensing cup but prevents it from being accidentally misplaced or lost.

The dispensing cup therefore provides an improved way of safely dispensing the consumer products.

Drawiflgs Figure 1 is a cross section view through a container with a non-rupturable cover film before a first type dispensing cup is secured to it; Figure 2 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 1 with the first type of dispensing cup secured to it; Figure 3 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 1 in an inverted position with the first type of dispensing cup removed; Figure 4 is a cross section view through a container with a rupturable cover sheet before a second type of dispensing cup is secured to it; Figure 5 is an end view of the second type of dispensing cup; Figure 6 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 4 with the second type of dispensing cup secured to it; and Figure 7 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 4 with the second type of dispensing cup removed.

Although the following description relates to a container for storing and dispensing medication, it will be readily appreciated that the container may be used to store and dispense any suitable consumer product.

Referring to Figure 1 a multiple-compartment container includes a moulded tray 2.

The tray 2 is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material, and may be formed for -16 -example by press moulding or by vacuum moulding. The tray 2 has a generally planar top surface 4 into which has been formed an array of discrete cavities 6. It will be readily appreciated that the arrangement of the discrete cavities will depend on the particular dosage regimen required.

The cavities 6 are sealed by cover sheet 8, which may be of laminated construction.

The cover sheet 8 includes an array of tear-off portions, each of which is defined by perforations that extend completely around the periphery of an underlying cavity 6 in the moulded tray 2 when the cover sheet is adhered to the top surface 4 of the tray.

The perforations represent predefined zones of weakness in the cover sheet 8.

A required mixture of medication M (e.g. tablets, capsules etc.) is placed in the discrete cavities 6 and these are then sealed by securing the cover sheet 8 to the generally planar top surface 4 of the tray 2. The cover sheet 8 can be adhered to the tray 2 by a suitable adhesive or heat-sealed directly to the tray.

To dispense the medication M stored in one of the discrete cavities 6, the user simply presses down on the overlying tear-off portion. The application of a sufficient amount of force will cause the perforations to tear such that the tear-off portion is released from the remainder of the cover sheet 8. Once released, the tear-off portion can be pushed down into the cavity 6 on top of the medication M. The tear-off portion is easily removed through the newly created opening in the cover sheet 8 by sliding it up the side of the cavity 6 until it can be grasped firmly between forefinger and thumb. Alternatively, the tear-off portion can be left in the cavity 6 and removed at the same time as the medication M is dispensed.

In another arrangement the tear-off portion may remain joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is defined by a gap in the perforations.

Figure 1 shows the situation where a tear-off portion has been removed to leave a newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8 but before the medication M has been dispensed from the cavity 6.

To dispense the medication M a separate dispensing cup 12 is used. The dispensing cup 12 is specifically designed for use with the container. More particularly, the cross section of a rim part 14 of the dispensing cup 12 is shaped and sized to correspond to the shape and size of the open mouth of the cavities 6. Although the rim part 14 may be designed to be an interference fit with the open mouth of the cavities 6, in this case the rim part includes a pair of engaging tabs or protrusions 16.

Once the tear-off portion has been removed, the dispensing cup 12 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6 through the newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8.

It will be readily appreciated that each tear-off portion is the same size as (or slightly larger than) the underlying cavity 6 so that the periphery of the opening 10 is substantially coincident with the periphery of the open mouth of the cavity. The region of the cover sheet 8 bordering the opening 10 will therefore not interfere with the insertion of the dispensing cup 12 into the cavity 6. The dispensing cup 12 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together as the rim part 14 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6. Once the rim part 14 is properly located in the cavity 6, with the annular shoulder of the dispensing cup 12 abutting the top surface 4 of the tray 2, then the dispensing cup can be released such that the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 on the rim part are engaged with corresponding recesses 18 formed in the side wall of the cavity 6 as shown in Figure 2. In an alternative arrangement, the side wall of the cavity may be provided with engaging tabs or protrusions that would engage with recesses or openings provided on the rim part of the dispensing cup. Although recesses 18 are only shown in one cavity 6 for convenience, it will be readily appreciated that all of the cavities have the same shape and size and include recesses that correspond with the engaging tabs or protrusions of the dispensing cup 12.

-18 -The container is then completely inverted together with the secured dispensing cup 12 so that the medication M in the cavity 6 (and in some cases the removed tear-off portion that is still in the cavity) fall into the dispensing cup through the newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8. The dispensing cup 12 remains secured to the tray 2 as a result of the engagement between the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 and the corresponding recesses 18 and will remain located in register with the cavity 6 even when the tray in inverted.

While the container is in the inverted position, the dispensing cup 12 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together to disengage them from the corresponding recesses 18. The dispensing cup can then be removed from the open mouth of the cavity 6.

An alternative version of the dispensing cup is shown in Figures 4 to 7. Like parts have been given the same reference numerals. The dispensing cup 20 is specifically designed for use with a rupturable cover sheet 22 that may be made of paper or foil, for example. In this case, there are no tear-off portions and the medication M in a cavity 6 is dispensed in a slightly different way.

The dispensing cup 20 is specifically designed for use with the container. More particularly, the cross section of a rim part 14 of the dispensing cup 20 is shaped and sized to correspond to the shape and size of the open mouth of the cavities 6. As shown in Figure 5, the rim part 14 is chamfered to define a narrow rupturing surface 1 4a. The rim part 14 also includes a slot 24 that extends the full length of the rim part until it reaches an annular shoulder 26 of the dispensing cup 20. This defines a gap in the rupturing surface 1 4a.

The dispensing cup 20 is located in register with a cavity 6 and with the rupturing surface 14a in contact with the cover sheet 20. Downward pressure is applied to the dispensing cup 20 to press the rim part 14 through the rupturable cover sheet 22 and into the open mouth of the cavity 6. The dispensing cup 20 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together as the rim part 14 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6. Once the rim part 14 is properly located in the cavity 6, with the annular shoulder 26 of the dispensing cup 20 abutting the top surface 4 of the tray 2, then the dispensing cup can be released such that the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 on the rim part are engaged with corresponding recesses 18 formed in the side wall of the cavity 6 as shown in Figure 6.

Because the rupturing surface I 4a includes a gap, the cover sheet 22 is ruptured in such a way that the part of the cover sheet 22a (Figure 7) that overlies the cavity 6 remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is coincident with the slot 24. in other words, the cut line in the cover sheet 22 produced by the rupturing surface 1 4a does not extend completely around the periphery of the open mouth of the cavity 6 but includes a gap that defines the bridge. In an alternative arrangement the gap in the rupturing surface may be omitted and in this case the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity will be completely removed from the remainder of the cover sheet and will fall into the dispensing cup 20 when the container is inverted.

The container is then completely inverted together with the secured dispensing cup 20 so that the medication M in the cavity 6 (and in some cases the removed part of the cover sheet) fall into the dispensing cup through the newly created opening in the cover sheet 22. The dispensing cup 20 remains secured to the tray 2 as a result of the engagement between the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 and the corresponding recesses 18 and will remain located in register with the cavity 6 even when the tray in inverted.

While the container is in the inverted position, the dispensing cup 20 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together to disengage them from the corresponding recesses 18. The dispensing cup can then be removed from the open mouth of the cavity 6.

Claims

-20 -CLAIMS1. A container for storing and dispensing consumer products comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products; and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities; wherein the tray is adapted to releasably secure a dispensing cup in register with a cavity.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the tray is adapted such that the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the top surface of the tray.
3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the top surface of the tray is provided with upstanding location means for engaging with a rim part of the dispensing cup.
4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the tray is adapted such that the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray by being inserted into a cavity.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein the or each cavity is shaped and sized to releasably secure the dispensing cup by means of an interference fit.
6. A container according to claim 4, wherein the or each cavity includes engaging means to releasably secure the dispensing cup by means of an engagement fit.
7. A container according to claim 6, wherein a side wall of the or each cavity includes a recess for engaging a protrusion formed on an outer surface of the dispensing cup.

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8. A container according to claim 6, wherein a side wall of the or each cavity includes a protrusion for engaging a recess formed in an outer surface of the dispensing cup.
9. A container according to any preceding claim, being a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen, wherein an array of discrete cavities are formed into the generally planar top surface of the tray, and the cover sheet has pre-formed lines of separation defining an array of removable portions, each removable portion being shaped and sized so that in use it overlies one of the cavities.
10. A dispensing cup for use with a container for storing and dispensing consumer products comprising a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products, and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities; wherein the dispensing cup is adapted to be releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity.
11. A dispensing cup according to claim 10, being adapted to be releasably secured to the generally planar top surface of the tray.
12. A dispensing cup according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein a rim part of the dispensing cup is adapted to engage with upstanding location means provided on the top surface of the tray.
13. A dispensing cup according to claim 10, being adapted to be releasably secured to the tray by being inserted into a cavity.
14. A dispensing cup according to claim 13, being shaped and sized to be releasably secured to the or each cavity by means of an interference fit.

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15. A dispensing cup according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein a rim part of the dispensing cup includes one or more slots that enable the remainder of the rim part to resiliently flex inwardly.
16. A dispensing cup according to claim 13 or claim 14, further comprising engaging means to releasably secure the dispensing cup to the or each cavity by means of an engagement fit.
17. A dispensing cup according to any of claims 10 to 16, wherein a rim part of the dispensing cup defines a rupturing surface.
18. A dispensing cup according to claim 17, wherein the rim part of the dispensing cup includes a slot or recess defining a gap in the rupturing surface.
19. A dispensing cup according to any of claims 10 to 18, further comprising engaging means to enable the dispensing cup to be releasably secured to another dispensing cup.
20. A plurality of dispensing cups according to any of claims 10 to 18 integrally joined together as a single unit.
21. A combination of: a container for dispensing and storing consumer products comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the consumer products; and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the consumer products in the one or more cavities; and a dispensing cup; -23 -wherein the tray of the container is adapted to releasably secure the dispensing cup in register with a cavity and/or the dispensing cup is adapted to be releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity.
22. A method of using the combination of claim 21, comprising the steps of: securing the dispensing cup to the tray in register with a cavity; manipulating the container so that the consumer products in that cavity are received into the dispensing cup; and removing the dispensing cup from the container.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the cover sheet of the container has pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the consumer products in that cavity until it is removed along its line of separation, the method further comprising the step of: unsealing a cavity by removing the associated removable portion of the cover sheet.
24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the cover sheet of the container is a rupturable cover sheet, the method further comprising the step of: using the dispensing cup to rupture the cover sheet by pushing a rim part of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into a cavity.
25. A dispensing cup substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.
26. A combination of a container for storing and dispensing consumer products and a dispensing cup substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: 1. A medication dispensing cup for use with a container for storing and dispensing medication comprising a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the medication, and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities, wherein the medication dispensing cup comprises: a rim part that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the one or more discrete cavities with an interference fit such that, in use, the medication dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity; a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the medication once it have been dispensed from a cavity; and an annular shoulder adjacent the rim part that abuts the top surface of the tray when the rim part is properly located in the cavity.2. A medication dispensing cup according to claim 1, wherein the rim part defines a rupturing surface.3. A medication dispensing cup according to claim 2, wherein the rim part includes a slot or recess defining a gap in the rupturing surface.4. A medication dispensing cup according to any preceding claim, further comprising engaging means to enable the medication dispensing cup to be releasably secured to another medication dispensing cup.5. A plurality of medication dispensing cups according to any preceding claim integrally joined together as a single unit. * * ***** *. 6. A combination of: *. * * a container for dispensing and storing medication comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the medication; and **.*.* * * a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities; and a medication dispensing cup comprising: a rim part that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the one or more discrete cavities with an interference fit such that, in use, the medication dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity; a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the medication once it have been dispensed from a cavity; and an annular shoulder adjacent the rim part that abuts the top surface of the tray when the rim part is properly located in the cavity.7. A method of using the combination of claim 6, comprising the steps of: securing the medication dispensing cup to the tray in register with a cavity by inserting the rim part into the cavity until the annular shoulder abuts the top surface of the tray; manipulating the container so that the medication in that cavity is received into the main body of the medication dispensing cup; and removing the medication dispensing cup from the container.8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the cover sheet of the container has pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the medication in that cavity until it is removed along its line of separation, the method further comprising the step of: * 25 unsealing a cavity by removing the associated removable portion of the cover : sheet. **.* * a **..9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the cover sheet of the container is a rupturable cover sheet, the method further comprising the step of: using the medication dispensing cup to rupture the cover sheet by pushing the rim part of the medication dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into the cavity.* ** ***S10. A medication dispensing cup substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings.11. A combination of a container for storing and dispensing medication and a medication dispensing cup substantially as described herein and with reference to the drawings. * I SIS S 1.11 * * * I. * * I * I. I. * * * S..S* * 26