Container

This invention relates to a container and, more particularly, to a container having means for holding literature therein.

Clamshell containers comprising a lid portion, a base portion and a hinge portion connecting the lid portion to the base portion and about which the lid portion and/or base portion are moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration are well known for housing a wide variety of products. Such a container is, for instance, used to house a CD or DVD.

Containers having booklet clips in the lid portion are also known such as the CD or DVD containers referred to above.

This invention seeks to provide a clamshell container with a novel arrangement for holding literature or other sheet material therein.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container comprising a base portion, a lid portion, and a hinge portion connecting the base portion to the lid portion and about which the lid portion and/or base portion are movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, a literature receiving area being provided therein which extends across said hinge portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a container comprising a base portion, a lid portion, and a hinge portion connecting the base portion to the lid portion and about which the lid portion and/or base portion are movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and having fastening means for releasably fastening the container in the closed configuration, the container comprising literature receiving means arranged such that literature mounted therein is folded or flexed as the container is moved from the open to the closed configuration so that, in use, when the fastening

means is released, the folded or flexed literature acts as resilient means to assist in opening the container.

In a clamshell container, the lid portion and base portion each extend over a major face of the container (rather than a minor face thereof). In addition, both the lid and base portions are sufficiently deep (in a direction perpendicular to their major face) to house an article (for instance a blister pack or a booklet). Generally, the lid and base portions comprise a substantially rectangular major face with side walls around the periphery thereof (or around at least part of the periphery). In many cases, the lid portion and base portion are of similar depth so the line at which the side walls thereof abut each other is substantially central (although, in some cases, the side walls of the base and lid portions may nest within each and thus overlap). Preferably, the depth of the container is relatively small compared to the length and/or width of the container.

Preferred and optional features will be apparent from the following description and from the subsidiary claims of the specification.

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures IA and IB are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of a container shown in a closed position (with an outer cover in place in Figure IA and omitted in Figure IB to reveal the internal components).

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container of Figure 1 shown in the open configuration;

Figures 3A and 3B are enlarged views of part of Figure 2 showing the installation of sheet material (Figure 3A) and the position of the sheet material once installed (Figure 3B);

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container shown in Figure 3B with the lid portion in a partially open position; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged, sectioned part of Figure 4.

The illustrated embodiment is intended for holding blister packs. However, it will be appreciated that other articles can be held in the container in place of the blister packs. Indeed, the literature receiving area described herein which extends across or spans the hinge portion of the container can be used in other clamshell containers which may be used to house a wide variety of articles. Similarly, the function provided by sheet material located in the literature receiving area may be used in other clamshell containers.

Figures 1-5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a container according to the present invention. This container is capable of housing two blister packs - one in the lid portion and one in the base portion (although in some uses only one blister pack may be installed and some other article or leaflet housed in the other portion). This container can be formed by an injection moulding process.

The container comprises a base portion 31, lid portion 32 and a hinge portion 33 that connects the base portion 31 to the lid portion. Figures IA and B show the container in the closed configuration (with an outer cover 30 removed in Figure IB to reveal the internal components). The outer cover 30 would typically be a sheet of card which extends across the major external faces of the lid portion 32, hinge portion 33 and base portion 31 and is adhered or bonded to the plastic injection moulded component shown in Figure IB.

By forming only the framework of the container of plastic so that the major faces thereof are provided by the outer cover, the amount of plastic material used can be minimised. The outer cover can be securely bonded to the framework so that the security of the container is not

compromised. Such an outer cover, may also have information or graphics provided thereon and both faces thereof may be visible.

One or more blister packs 34 can be inserted in the container through an opening 40 in one end thereof when the base and lid portions 31, 32 are in the closed configuration. One or more flaps 45 (shown in Figure IA but omitted in Figure IB) or some other form of closure may be provided for closing the opening 40 once the blister packs 34 have been installed in the container. Preferably, the closure 45 is a snap-fit with the aperture so once this has been closed, it cannot be re-opened.

Whilst blister packs can be inserted through the end slot in the clamshell in the same way as a cardboard carton, it is also possible to slide each of the blister packs into the lid and base portions when in the open configuration through the cut-outs or recesses that form the slot when the container is closed.

To access the blister packs in order to dispense one or more pills, a detachable part 3OA of the external cover (see Figure IA) is removed to reveal dispensing apertures 31 located in a dispensing area at one end of the base or lid portions adjacent one end of the blister packs held therein. The container is then opened by simultaneously pressing two buttons 42A, 42B on the lid portion 32 adjacent the hinge portion 33, then sliding the lid portion 32 in a direction perpendicular to the length of the hinge portion to disengage interlocking flanges which extend along the length of the base and lid portions 31, 32 so that the lid portion is free to swing open by pivoting about the hinge portion. The two buttons 42A, 42B are preferably accessed directly via rectangular apertures 34B provided in the outer cover 30 as shown in Figure IA.

Figure 2 shows the container in the open configuration with a blister pack 34A housed in the lid portion 32 and a blister pack 34B housed in the base portion 31. Each blister pack has an array of blisters 34C provided thereon and an intermittent rib (not shown) adjacent the edges of the

blister pack. The intermittent rib is formed by a series of spaced projections (but could also comprise a continuous rib of varying height). At the end of each intermittent rib, a further projection 34E is formed to provide a stop feature. The intermittent ribs and stop feature are preferably formed as additional blisters along the sides of the blister pack. A tool for manufacturing standard blister packs can be easily modified to provide the intermittent rib and stop feature on the sides of the blister pack e.g. by cutting extra features in the mould within the existing template for the blister pack.

A channel 43 is provided along the edges of both the lid and base portion 31, 32 to receive the intermittent ribs. Thus, when a blister pack is inserted into the open end of the container, the ribs are located in the respective channels 43 and then slid along the channels to the storage position shown in Figure 2. The channel may be continuous as shown or comprise a series of separate sections which provide the same function.

To dispense one or more pills from a blister pack 34, the blister pack 34 is slid to a position in which the first line of blisters is located over the dispensing apertures 41A, 41B. These apertures are provided in a ramp 44 towards one end of the base portion 31 or lid portion 32. A removal area is thus defined beneath each ramp 43 which is in communication with the exterior of the container (once the detachable part of the external cover referred to above has been removed). The use of inclined ramps 44, enables a dispensing space to be created in both the lid and base portions 31, 32 without increasing the overall depth of the container. The blister pack 13 thus flexes as it is slid up this ramp 44. Once a blister has been aligned with one of the apertures 41, it can be pressed to dispense a pill through the aperture 41 and into the removal area from where it can fall onto a surface or into a user's hand.

The blister pack 34 is flexed about a line extending across its width into a curved form as it is slid up the ramp 44. This helps ensure that the longitudinal edges of the blister pack 34 remain located beneath the

channels 43 as it is then very difficult for the blister pack 34 to be simultaneously bowed or curved about a line extending along its length to withdraw its edges from beneath the channels 43.

After pills have been dispensed from the first line of blisters, the blister pack 34 is slid further along so the second row of blisters is aligned with the dispensing apertures 41 and so on until the last line of blisters is reached.

Graphics are preferably provided in the container which are gradually revealed as the blister pack is slid out. Typically, such graphics would indicate time intervals appropriate to the medication housed in the blister pack, e.g. the days of the week and/or the time of day (morning, afternoon, evening, night).

The intermittent ribs along the sides of the blister pack are preferably arranged to interact with a resilient flap 43A at the end of each channel 43 to provide an indexing mechanism whereby as each projection of the intermittent rib is pulled past the flap 43A, a respective line of blisters is positioned over the dispensing apertures 41 until the stop feature 34E is reached. This is shaped so that it cannot be pulled past the resilient flap 43A (except by application of an excessive force) so that the blister pack 34 is effectively trapped in the container. The stop feature 34E may be hook-shaped so it engages part of the lid/base portion and so prevents the blister pack being separated from the container.

After pills in each line of blisters have been dispensed, the blister pack 34 may be pushed back into the container so it returns to the storage position shown in Figure 2. The projections of the intermittent rib are shaped so they can slide back past the resilient flap 43A relatively easily. The lid and base portions can then be moved to the closed configuration whereby the blister pack is no longer accessible from outside the container. Alternatively, the blister pack 34 can be left projecting from the container (or cut off), although this is not preferred as some of

the child resistant features may then be circumvented and it may prevent closure of the container.

In an alternative embodiment, a locking feature, e.g. one or more projections (not shown), may be provided on the lid portion to prevent a blister pack housed in the base portion from being slid out of the container when the container is in the closed position so that a user has to open the container before either of the blister packs 34 can be slid further out of the container.

The container shown in figures 1-5 is also provided with booklet clips 45 adjacent the hinge portion 33 so that when the container is in the open configuration a booklet housing area 46 is provided in the centre of the container (as shown in Figure 2). Booklets housed in this recessed area 46 would be supported at their edges by flanges 46A, 46B of the lid and base portions 31, 32, respectively, and by the external cover (not shown) which would extend across the underside of the container in the open configuration shown in Figure 2.

The booklet clips 45 are preferably similar to those widely used in DVD containers. These comprise a resilient arm with a free end such that a booklet or other sheet material can be slid beneath the free end so as to be resiliently held in the literature receiving area. The illustrated embodiment has two booklet clips facing the same direction. Other kinds of booklet clips may be used. In some cases, one may also be sufficient.

A booklet may be pre-loaded into area 46, i.e. before the lid and base portions 31, 32 are moved to the closed configuration. A booklet housed in area 46 does not therefore interfere with the loading or dispensing of the blister packs.

Figure 3A shows sheet material 50 being installed in the literature receiving area 46 by being slid beneath the two booklet clips 45. The illustrated sheet material 50 is shown with creases 5OA pre-formed

therein, although these may be omitted. The sheet material 50 shown may be a leaflet, booklet or any other planar sheet-like item that is of an appropriate size to be held in the receiving area 46 by the clips 45.

Figure 3B shows the sheet material 50 once located in the recessed area 46.

As shown, the literature receiving area 46 extends across, or spans the hinge portion 33 of the container and lies between the blister pack receiving areas of the lid and base portions 31, 32. In the example shown, the booklet clips 45 are provided on the base and lid portions immediately adjacent the hinge portion. The literature receiving area thus comprises part of the lid portion immediately adjacent the hinge portion, a part of the base portion immediately adjacent the hinge portion and part of the hinge portion itself and, in the example shown, its width is more than half the size of its length. Such a recess, is thus of an appropriate shape to hold a booklet.

The literature receiving area is thus provided by a third portion of the container in the opened out position (i.e. when opened through 180 degrees) which lies between the main areas of the lid and base portion. It thus provides a useful area for housing literature without significantly increasing the dimensions of the container.

The illustrated container has child-resistant catches 42A, 42B adjacent the hinge portion 33 but in other applications these could be omitted. In this case, the literature receiving area 36 may extend along the entire length of the hinge portion 33.

As well as providing a separate area lying between the two blister packs 34A, 34B for holding and/or displaying literature and graphics material, sheet material located within area 46 is folded or bent into a curved shape when the container is moved to the closed configuration (as shown in Figures 4 and 5). It has been found that such folded or curved

sheet material acts as a resilient element which urges the lid and base portions 31, 32 apart, and thus assists in opening the container, once the fastening means holding the lid and base portions 32, 33 in the closed configuration is released.

Thus, once the fastening means has been released (e.g. by pressing buttons 42A, 42B and sliding the lid portion 32 over the base portion in a direction perpendicular to the hinge axis), the lid portion tends to spring open as the sheet material tries to resume a less curved form.

Other resilient means, e.g. a resilient arm extending from the base and/or lid portions may be used in place of, or in addition to, sheet material in area 46 to urge the lid and base portions apart once released.

In the container described above, the hinge portion 33 extends along the long edge of the container and the blister packs are arranged to slide in a direction substantially parallel to the hinge axis about which the lid and base portions rotate. This is the preferred arrangement as, when the container is in the open configuration, it then has an approximately square perimeter.

It will be appreciated from the above description that each edge of the container provides a separate function: one long edge provides the hinge portion (as well as the booklet clips 45 and release button 42B), the other long edge provides the interlocking flanges, one short edge provides the opening 40 though which blister packs (and additional literature) can be inserted and the other short edge provides the dispensing apertures 41A, 41B and the removal area defined beneath these apertures. Such an arrangement is thus highly space efficient.

The container described has fastening means that are preferably designed to be child resistant whilst also being senior friendly. In a preferred arrangement, the clamshell can only be opened by pressing two buttons (generally requiring two hands) and then a sliding movement in a

different direction to release interlocking features. Once the container has been opened, the flat, rupturable face of the blister pack lies against the lid or base portion so cannot be directly accessed. Instead, the blister pack has to be slid to a dispensing position before a pill can be ejected from a blister and a detachable portion of the outer cover has to be removed before the ejected pill can be reached.

A series of steps and actions is thus required which significantly reduces the chance that a young child will either accidentally (or intentionally) gain access to the pills. The features of the container and the movements required are, however, such that the majority of elderly people should be able to operate the container without difficulty.