Dispensing Device Packaging

Abstract

A dispensing device package including a protective enclosure containing a dispensing device, e.g. an inhaler. The protective enclosure includes at least one rigid enclosure member, which in some implementations defines a recess to house a section of the dispensing device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An inhaler package comprising:
 a protective enclosure containing an inhaler,   wherein the protective enclosure includes at least one rigid enclosure member and at least one flexible support member arranged to support the inhaler.   
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one rigid enclosure member defines a recess to receive a section of the inhaler. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the recess has a shape corresponding to a shape of the inhaler. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the protective enclosure includes two rigid enclosure members that are attached to each other, each defining a recess to receive a respective section of the inhaler. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 24 , wherein each recess has a shape corresponding to a shape of the respective section of the inhaler received by the respective rigid enclosure member. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the inhaler includes an elongated main body and a mouthpiece portion extending in an essentially transverse direction with respect to the main body, and wherein the respective section of the inhaler received within the recess defined by one of the two rigid enclosure members includes the mouthpiece portion. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 26 , wherein the two rigid members are attached to each other in a plane that is essentially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the main body, and diagonal to the transverse direction in which the mouthpiece portion extends. 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 24 , wherein the two rigid members are formed from one sheet of rigid material that is folded. 
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is integrally formed in the recess of at least one of the two rigid enclosure members. 
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 21 , further including at least one auxiliary feature selected from a desiccant member, a patient information leaflet, a spare mouthpiece, or a spare canister. 
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the protective enclosure is arranged in a box. 
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one rigid enclosure member is coated with a functional layer having a barrier coating for reducing gas and moisture permeability of the protective coating. 
     
     
         33 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one rigid enclosure member is coated with a functional layer comprising a radiation protection coating. 
     
     
         34 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one flexible support member is integrally formed in the recess of the rigid enclosure member. 
     
     
         35 . The package of  claim 21  wherein the at least one flexible support member is configured to define an inner diameter of the protective enclosure that is smaller than a diameter of the inhaler, and the inhaler is peripherally retained in the protective enclosure by the at least one flexible support member. 
     
     
         36 . An inhaler package comprising:
 a protective enclosure containing an inhaler,   wherein the protective enclosure includes two rigid enclosure members that are attached to each other, each defining a recess to receive a respective section of the inhaler, and at least one flexible support member arranged to support the inhaler;   wherein each recess has a shape corresponding to a shape of the respective section of the inhaler received by the respective rigid enclosure member.   
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 36 , wherein the inhaler includes an elongated main body and a mouthpiece portion extending in an essentially transverse direction with respect to the main body, and wherein the respective section of the inhaler received within the recess defined by one of the two rigid enclosure members includes the mouthpiece portion. 
     
     
         38 . An inhaler package comprising:
 a protective enclosure containing an inhaler,   wherein the protective enclosure includes two rigid enclosure members that are attached to each other, each defining a recess to receive a respective section of the inhaler, and at least one flexible support member arranged to support the inhaler;   wherein each recess has a shape corresponding to a shape of the respective section of the inhaler received by the respective rigid enclosure member; and   wherein the two rigid members are attached to each other in a plane that is essentially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the main body, and diagonal to the transverse direction in which the mouthpiece portion extends.   
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 38 , wherein the two rigid members are formed from one sheet of rigid material that is folded.