Internal ejector punch for blister-pack type containers

Abstract

The present invention is embodied in a protective surround in combination with an “internal ejector punch.” The internal ejector punch is either integral to an upper membrane of the protective surround, or is simply disposed within a dome or bubble of a conventional blister-pack type container. For example, given a protective surround such as a blister pack, the internal ejector punch provides the capability to safely protect items within the blister pack such as medication in solid, soft or semi-solid, powder, or liquid form, while allowing such items to be easily and rapidly dispensed from the blister pack by a user. Further, the internal ejector punch is designed to be substantially stronger than the relatively soft blister-pack type container, thereby providing the added benefit of protecting items stored within the internal ejector punch in a manner that would not be possible using only a conventional blister-pack type container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An internal punch for opening a chamber in a blister-pack type container, comprising: 
 a free floating flexible ejector punch disposed within a chamber of a blister-pack type container between a domed upper membrane and a frangible lower membrane;    said free floating flexible ejector punch cutting through the lower membrane to open the chamber by applying pressure to the domed upper membrane.    
     
     
         2 . The internal punch of  claim 1  wherein at least one item is stored within a central cavity within the internal punch.  
     
     
         3 . The internal punch of  claim 2  wherein at least one item stored within the central cavity within the internal punch is released from the central cavity when the cutting edge of the ejector punch is forced through the lower membrane.  
     
     
         4 . The internal punch of  claim 1  further comprising a cutting edge defining a bottom end of the central cavity.  
     
     
         5 . The internal punch of  claim 4  wherein the cutting edge is serrated.  
     
     
         6 . The internal punch of  claim 4  wherein the cutting edge is generally perpendicular to the surface of the frangible lower membrane.  
     
     
         7 . A system for opening a chamber in a blister-pack type container, comprising: 
 a blister pack-type container having an upper membrane comprising at least one flexible dome, each dome defining a central void;    an ejector punch disposed within the central void of at least one dome, said ejector punches having an open end which defines a central cavity within each ejector punch;    a cutting edge defining the open end of each ejector punch;    a lower membrane attached to the bottom of the upper membrane, thereby sealing an ejector punch in at least one dome; and    opening at least one chamber in the blister pack type container by pressing the dome into the ejector punch, thereby forcing the cutting edge of the ejector punch through the lower membrane.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the ejector punch disposed within the central void of at least one dome is integral to at least one of the domes.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the ejector punch disposed within the central void of at least one dome is free floating within at least one of the domes.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein at least one item is stored within the central cavity within each ejector punch.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein at least one item stored within the central cavity within each ejector punch is released from the central cavity when the cutting edge of the ejector punch is forced through the lower membrane.  
     
     
         12 . A dispenser for storing and dispensing material in a solid, powder, or liquid form, comprising: 
 an upper membrane comprising at least one flexible dome, each dome defining a central void;    a lower membrane attached to the bottom of the upper membrane; and    an annular cutter extending down from the interior surface of each dome toward the lower membrane.    
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein medication is stored with the inner circumference of at least one of the annular cutters extending down from the interior surface of each dome.  
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the at least one flexible dome deforms downwardly and pushes the corresponding annular cutter against the lower membrane to cut through the lower membrane when an external downward force is applied to the top of that dome.  
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 14  wherein a space formed within the flexible dome is initially airtight so that the downward deformation of the at least one dome increases pressure within that dome prior to the cutter cutting through the lower membrane.  
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the increased pressure within the at least one dome propels the stored medication from within the dispenser as the membrane is cut.  
     
     
         17 . A method for dispensing items stored within a dispenser comprising: 
 applying a downward force to a blister disposed on an upper surface of an upper membrane that forms a top of the dispenser, thereby deforming the blister and decreasing an internal volume of the dispenser;    increasing the pressure within the dispenser by decreasing the internal volume of the dispenser;    cutting a lower membrane, which seals the dispenser, with an annular cutter which extends down from within the blister towards the lower membrane.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising propelling the items from within the dispenser by using the increased pressure to propel the items from within the dispenser after the lower membrane is cut.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein cutting the lower membrane comprises pushing the annular cutter through a portion of the membrane by applying the downward force to the blister.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein cutting the lower membrane comprises cutting a piece of the membrane such that a small portion of the piece remains attached to the membrane thereby preventing the cut piece from being propelled or otherwise released with the items.  
     
     
         21 . A dispenser for storing and dispensing material, comprising: 
 an upper membrane comprising at least one flexible dome, each dome defining a central void;    a lower membrane attached to the bottom of the upper membrane; and    an annular punch disposed within the interior volume of each dome, said annular punch having a cutting edge generally perpendicular to the lower membrane, and resting above the lower membrane.    
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the annular punch disposed within the interior volume of each dome is integral to each dome.  
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the annular punch disposed within the interior volume of each dome is free floating within each dome.  
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein medication is stored with an inner circumference of at least one of the annular cutters.  
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the at least one flexible dome deforms downwardly and pushes the corresponding annular cutter against the lower membrane to cut through the membrane when an external downward force is applied to the top of that dome.