The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 25, 1994
Filed:
Feb. 18, 1994
Andrew R Thompson, Swindon, GB;
Ray W Marshall, Romford, GB;
R.P. Scherer Corporation, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A stepped-edge blister pack for containing and dispensing unit doses of medication such as capsules, tablets, caplets or fast-dissolving dosage forms (FDDF) is disclosed. The invention is comprised of a base sheet and a substantially planar lidding sheet. The base sheet has a plurality of blister compartments and a plurality of steps along its edges, one step being adjacent to each blister compartment. The substantially planar lidding sheet is peelably sealed to the base sheet except at extended edge regions, thus forming edge peel tabs, and the lidding sheet is scored with lines of weakening about each blister compartment. The steps along the edges underlay the unsealed extended edge regions of the lidding sheet, thus providing a series of finger accesses to thereby ease the process of grasping a given edge peel tab and ultimately opening a given blister compartment. The invention is particularly useful for patients whose dexterity skills are reduced as a result of age, infirmity or chronic conditions such as arthritis. Further, the stepped edges of the present invention reduce undesired edge undulation that is caused by the presence of an extended unsealed edge peel tab. Thereby, certain problems in machine feeding and coding are reduced.