Blister Pack and Method

Abstract

The blister pack is composed of two sheets bonded together at least one sheet being made of plastic film and forming receptacles around a plurality of tablets or other objects to be stored and dispensed. The objects are arranged in rows and columns. An imperforate tear line is provided along a linear path traversing each of the objects in each column so that one or more objects can be freed with one pull along the tear line. Preferably, the imperforate tear line is formed by orienting the plastic material and/or forming shallow grooves or score lines in the film sheet. Both sheets can be made of plastic film, and both can have imperforate tear lines. The tear lines preferably are positioned so that only a small portion of the tablet is exposed by the tear [so that the tablet will tend to be retained in the receptacle until it is deliberately removed].

1 . A blister package for small objects, said package comprising
 a. a body having at least one edge and first and second separate sealed receptacles, each adapted to contain at least one of said objects,   b. said body comprising first and second sheets, at least said first one is made of plastic and is shaped to form said receptacles when said sheets are joined together, said sheets being sealed together in areas around and between said receptacles, and   c. a first tear structure formed in said first sheet, said tear structure comprising a first imperforate line of weakness in first said sheet, said first line of weakness being aligned with and entering said first and second receptacles to open both of said receptacles with a single pull on said tear structure.   
     
     
         2 . A package as in  claim 1  in which said first imperforate line of weakness extends from said one edge continuously over said first receptacle and said second receptacle, said second sheet has a second imperforate line of weakness which is aligned with said first line of weakness to cause both of said sheets to tear along its respective imperforate line of weakness in response to a tearing force applied to said sheets at said imperforate lines of weakness. 
     
     
         3 . A package as in  claim 1  in which said one sheet has a further line of weakness between said objects in an area where said sheets are bonded together, said further line of weakness extending in a direction perpendicular to said imperforate line of weakness, thereby to permit separating said receptacles along said further line of weakness. 
     
     
         4 . A package as in  claim 1  in which said sheets have at least two opposed edges and are sealed together at their edges, and including edge cut in said sheets along said imperforate line of weakness and extending into said edges of the said sheets. 
     
     
         5 . A package as in  claim 1  in which said sheets form third and fourth receptacles for at least two additional objects, and a second tear structure in an area of said sheets where they are bonded together, said second tear structure comprising second imperforate line of weakness, said second imperforate lines being aligned with and entering said third and fourth receptacles to permit opening said receptacles with a single pull on said second tear structure. 
     
     
         6 . A package as in  claim 1  in which said imperforate line of weakness is positioned, relative to said receptacles, so that a portion of each of said objects is uncovered by said pull, said portion extending out of its receptacle where it can be grasped in ones fingers. 
     
     
         7 . A package as in  claim 1  in which said objects are tablets, and said sheets form a transition zone extending outwardly from the outer edge of each of said tablets to the junction between said sheets, at least one of said sheets forming an angle with the plane of the sheets where they are bonded together. 
     
     
         8 . A package as in  claim 7  in which said tablets are approximately cylindrical and said imperforate line of weakness extends across a diameter of the circles describing the ends of each tablet at a point between approximately 0.1 D and 0.9 D preferably 0.5 D to 0.9 D and most preferably, 0.75 D from one edge of said tablet, D being the diameter of said circles. 
     
     
         9 . A package as in  claim 1 , said objects each comprising bismuth subsalicylate tablets, and said sheets are made of materials giving said receptacles characteristics selected from the group consisting of hermetic, moisture-proof and a combination of hermetic and moisture-proof characteristics. 
     
     
         10 . A package as in  claim 1  in which said imperforate line of weakness is formed by means selected from the group consisting of orientation of said plastic materials in the direction followed by said line, and a linear, non-perforating groove in each of said plastic sheets, and a combination of said orientation and said groove. 
     
     
         11 . A package as in  claim 1  in which one of said sheets is relatively stiff and has an upper surface to which said plastic film can be releasably adhered and peeled off, and said film has cavities forming the covers of said receptacles. 
     
     
         12 . A package as in  claim 11  in which said film has at least one horizontal transverse line of weakness between said receptacles, and lifted corner areas at the junction between said lines to provide lift corners to start secondary tears along said imperforate lines of weakness. 
     
     
         13 . A medicinal tablet package comprising,
 a. a pair of plastic sheets bonded together face-to-face and forming a receptacle for said tablet,   b. an imperforate line of weakness in at least one of said sheets crossing each of the walls of said receptacle at a location near one edge of said tablet when it is located in said receptacle, whereby tearing said sheet along said imperforate line of weakness will expose only a minor portion of said tablet near said one edge so as to tend to hold said tablet in said receptacle until it is grasped and withdrawn.   
     
     
         14 . A package as in  claim 13  in which said tablet is susceptible to deterioration or contamination due to contact with air or moisture-laden air, and said imperforate line of weakness is formed by means selected from the group consisting of orientation of said plastic materials in the direction followed by said line, a linear indentation of said plastic sheets, and a combination of said orientation and indentation, there being another imperforate line of weakness located in the other of said sheets and aligned with the first-named line of weakness to tear simultaneously therewith. 
     
     
         15 . A package as in  claim 13 , said tablets each comprising bismuth subsalicylate, and the material of said sheets being cellophane. 
     
     
         16 . A method of storing and dispensing medicinal tablets comprising
 a. providing a blister package for tablets, said package comprising
 i. a body having a plurality of separate receptacles, each containing at least one of said tablets, 
 ii. said body comprising first and second sheets, at least the first of which is made of plastic film and extends around said tablets to form said receptacles, said sheets being sealed together in areas around and between said receptacles, 
 iii. a tear structure formed in said first sheet, said tear structure having a first imperforate line of weakness aligned with and crossing both of said receptacles to permit at least a portion of each of said tablets to be uncovered by a single pull on said tear structure, 
   b. selecting whether to dispense one of said tablets or more than one,   c. tearing said package along said imperforate line of weakness for a length corresponding to the number of tablets to be dispensed to open a number of said receptacles corresponding to the number of tablets to be dispersed, and   d. removing each tablet released from said package by said tearing step.   
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16  in which said second sheet has a surface to which said first sheet is adhered and from which it can be peeled off, and in which said tearing step comprises peeling a portion of said first sheet off of said surface and said tablet or tablets are substantially fully uncovered by said tearing step. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 16  in which said second sheet also is made of plastic film and has a second imperforate line of weakness which is parallel to and aligned with said first imperforate line of weakness to tear said second sheet along said second line when said tear structure is pulled, and the tablet or tablets uncovered by pulling said tear structure are only partially uncovered thereby. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 16  in which said one sheet has a further line of weakness between said tablets in an area where said sheets are bonded together, said further line of weakness extending perpendicular to said first imperforate line of weakness, and separating said tablet receptacles along said further line of weakness.