FORM - 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 OF 1970)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10)
TITLE OF INVENTION
"Single piece re-closable Unit pack"


(a) Bilcare Limited (b) a company registered under the companies Act 1956 and (c) having its office as 601 icc Trade Tower, Pune 411 016, India
The following spedfjctjon particularly describes the nature of the invention


Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a one piece re-closable unit pack such as blister pack and method of manufacturing the same. Further the said re-closable and Eockable blister pack is optionally constructed to provide child resistant capability and / or unique identifiers to aid in establishing the authenticity and genuineness
of a packaged product.
Background of the invention
Packs such as blister packs that comprises of one or plurality of deformable protrusions formed in a flexible sheet with a closure for each of the protrusions are primarily but not exclusively used to packaged in products such as medicaments. Products in blister packs are either sold as such or are generally encased in a container for extra protection during transportation and handling. The container serves multiple purposes like providing protection to the blister pack (s), serve as a substrate to disptey product information and /or usage instructions, lockable provisions to serve as child resistant packs, etc.. Further, establishing the authenticity and genuineness of a packaged product is essential as counterfeited products when consumed can cause grave harm to the end users.
United States Patent 5954202 discloses a Paperboard blank for a self-contained, re-closable package. It relates to paperboard blanks which are used to form self-contained, re-closable packages. Structures of this type, generally, are comprised of one piece of paperboard that when folded act as an outer package when sealed and an innovative re-closable package after being opened.
United States Patent 6047829 discloses a unit dose packaging system (UDPS) having a child resistant locking feature. The invention relates to a two piece paperboard package that houses a unit dose product on an internal slide card within an outer paperboard shell. This package may have one or more internal or external lock(s) that prevent the slide card from being pulled out without triggering some type of lock release mechanism. This package is focused around providing
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a child resistant, senior-friendly unit dose package that can be opened and closed
numerous timee and then finally disposed of.
There is an unfulfilled need in the market place for single piece re-closable packages especially blister packs that do not need additional encasing systems and are yet capable of being child resistant. Further is desirable to provide such single piece re-closable child resistant packs with unique identifiers to aid in establishing the authenticity and genuineness of a packaged product and for diverse applications including anti-counterfeiting, pharmaco-vigilance in clinical trials, enhancing patience compliance, etc.
Summary of the Invention
The main object of the invention is to provide a single piece re-closable unit pack such as blister pack and method of manufacturing the same.
Further object of the invention is to provide a lockable unit pack such as blister pack and method of manufacturing the same.
Other object of the invention is to provide a child safe yet senior friendly unit pack with a self enclosing / re-closing capability that eliminates the need of additional carton / closure to encase / house the pack for enabling / rendering child resistant characteristics.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lockable unit pack such as blister pack.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide child resistant characteristics in a blister pack without using additional housing / enclosure / carton.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system and method of manufacturing the child resistant blister pack.
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Yet another object of the invention is to use preferably same material of the blister
for rood ©ring ohild resistant characteristics.
Another object of the invention is to provide a uniquely identifiable package.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide at least two sets of identification information on the product package.
Another object of the invention is to detect and record access of the product package from the closure and communicate to the externa) device.
Another object of the invention is to enhance visibility of graphics / matter on the closure of the blister pack to the end user.
Yet another object of the invention is to optimally utilize unit pack for displaying graphics I matter/ information related to the product / unit pack.
Thus one aspect of the invention provides a unit pack comprising:
first lamina /sheet in which one or plurality of enclosed spaces containment(s) /
capsule(s) are formed to contain the product(s) wherein the said capsule/s up
stand from first surface of the said first sheet defining one or plurality of
corresponding opening/s in a second surface of the said first sheet,
second rupturable lamina / sheet (closure) that encloses the said receptacle /
capsule wherein portion of the enclosing lamina corresponding / superimposed to
the receptacle J capsule portion is ruptured/ removed while removing the product
wherein
the said second sheet is secured / bonded / affixed / attached to the unformed
portion of the second surface of the first lamina (to enclose the said openings to
seal the products in the upstanding capsules / receptacle);
a unformed portion / region disposed between the portion of the formed cavities wherein the said portion is adapted for fold/ to facilitate fold of the first and second sheet such that
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the formed portions are laid down on each other upon folding;
locking / restriction means adapted to fit / integrated with the folded portions of the
said pack.
In another aspect of the invention a reader device is provided to identify and read the unique identification information on the said package.
In another aspect of the invention a reader means is provided to identify and read the unique identification information on the said package wherein the reader means is suitably able to detect the identification information relating to the product package and conveys the information or generates a signal in response to the information which is communicable to the external device. Suitably, the information is encoded and preferably is optical, electronic or magnetic wherein the reader means comprises of
one or more reading elements arranged to correspond to the position of each set of identification information on the package for reading the at least two sets of identification information;
wherein the said reader means is adapted to read a signal from the at least one identification feature of each of the at least two sets of identification information arranged on or incorporated within different surfaces, sides or planes of the package, and wherein the reading device is configured such that it defines the spatial relationship between a first discrete area of the first set of identification information to be read and a second discrete area of the second set of identification information to be read, and determining, using the reading device, at feast one characteristic of a property of the at feast one identification feature of the first set of identification features, thereby obtaining a first signal, determining, using the reading device, at least one characteristic of a property of the at least one identification feature of the second set of identification features, thereby obtaining a second signal, using a processing unit to derive/form/generate at least one signature for the object, using said first and said second signals (and thereby inherently or explicitly the features' spatial relationship).
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Description of the Invention
Features and advantages of the invention will bec^me apparent in the following
detailed description and the preferred embodiments with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 Schematic of the package (Sheet 1)
Figure 2 Schematic of the package (Sheet 2)
Figure 3 Schematic view of the package (Sheet 3 )
Figure 4 Schematic view of the package (Sheet 4)
Figure 5 Schematic view of the package (Sheet 5)
Figure 6 Schematic view of the package (Sheet 6)
Figure 7 Schematic view of the package (Sheet 7)
Figure 8 Schematic view of the package (Sheet QFigure 9 Schematic view of the package (Sheet 9)
Figure 10 Schematic view of the package (Sheet -j Q)
Figure 12 Schematic view of the package (Sheet 12)
One of the embodiments of the packs is depicted in figure 1 It comprises of a first lamina /sheet 1 in which one or plurality of enclosed spaces containment(s) / capsule(s) 2 are formed to contain the product(s) vfterein the said capsule/s up stand from first surface of the said first sheet defining one or plurality of corresponding opening/s in a second surface of the Said first sheet (not shown) The pack further comprises of a second rupturable lamina / sheet 3 (closure) that encloses the said receptacle / capsule wherein portion of the enclosing lamina corresponding / superimposed to the receptacle / capsule portion is ruptured/ removed while removing the product wherein the said second sheet is secured / bonded / affixed / attached to the unformed portion of the second surface of the first lamina to enclose the said openings to seal the products in the upstanding capsules / receptacle. A unformed portion / region 4 is disposed between the portions indicated as 10 and 20 where cluster of receptacle / capsule portion of the formed cavities wherein the said portion 4 is adopted for fold/ to facilitate fold along the lines indicated as 5 of the first and seconq sheet such that the portions
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10 and 20 are laid down / overlay on each other upon folding as shown in the figure. The receptacles/ capsules are disposed in a zigzag manner on the said formed portions such that upon folding they are interlocked / interspaced between each other so receptacle / capsule of a portion 10 is placed in the space between the two capsules of portions 20. Locking / restriction means is provided in the form of a raised region / projection 7 in the vicinity of the said portion 10 wherein corresponding to raised region / projection 7 is provided with a recesses 8 to removably receive 7 on the other portion 20 such that when folded 7 is press-fitted in the recesses 8 as shown in the Figure 1c. Optionally the boundary of the portions 10 and 20 are defined by stiffeners in the form of formed portion indicated as 9 in Figure 1(c). Another variant of this embodiment is depicted in Figure 2 wherein locking means is in the form of a stripe 80 in addition to the means 7. One of the ends of the said stripe is attached/ integrated / extended portion of (from) the said second lamina from the region in the vicinity of the said recesses 8 as depicted in the Figure 2 (b). The said portion 20 is provided with a slot 90 to removably receive other end 85 of the stripe 80 that is adapted to press-fit in the said slot. The length of the said stripe 80 is such that upon folding said portion 20 on 10 as shown in Figure 2 (c), the said stripe wraps around the package and the end 85 is press-fitted in the said slot 90 as shown in the Figure 2(d). Further, upon folding the projection 7 also press-fits in the said recesses 8. In operation, user has to release the end 85, unwrap the said stripe and further release the said projection 7 from recess 8 with slight force to unfold the package and access product.
Yet another variant of this embodiment is depicted in Figure 3. As described in Figure 1, it comprises of a first lamina /sheet 1 in which one or plurality of enclosed spaces containment(s) / capsule(s) 2 are formed to contain the product(s) wherein the said capsule/s up stand from first surface of the said first sheet defining one or plurality of corresponding opening/s in a second surface of the said first sheet (not shown). The pack further comprises of a second rupturable lamina / sheet 3 (closure) that encloses the said receptacle / capsule wherein portion of the enclosing lamina corresponding / superimposed to the receptacle / capsule portion is ruptured/ removed while removing the product
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wherein the said second sheet is secured / bonded / affixed / attached to the
unformed portion of the second surface of the first lamina to enclose the said
openings to seal the products in the upstanding capsules / receptacle. A
unformed portion / region 4 is disposed between the portions indicated as 10 and
20 where cluster of receptacle / capsule portion of the formed cavities wherein the
said portion 4 is adapted for fold/ to facilitate fold such the portions 10 and 20 are
laid down / overlay on each other upon folding as shown in the Figure 2(b).
Locking / restriction means is provided in the form of a raised region / projection
36 in the vicinity of the said portion 20 wherein corresponding to raised region /
projection 36 is provided with a opening 35 to removably receive 36 on the other
portion 10 such that when folded 36 is engaged in the opening 35 as shown in the
Figure 1d. The receptacles/ capsules are disposed in a zigzag manner on the
said formed portions such that upon folding they are interlocked / interspaced
between each other so receptacle / capsule of a portion 10 is placed in the space
between the two capsules of portions 20. Further, an extended unformed planer
portion 25 is provided as an extension to the portion 20 in the form of a lamina
wherein cluster of capsules / receptacles is not provided. The said extended
planer portion is adapted to be folded along line 26 as shown in Figure 2(b).
Further the said extended portion is provided with a locking means 30 that is
removably press-fitted in the slot 31 to engage the said extended portion. As
shown in Figure 2(d) and (e). the planer portion of 1o overlays the planer portion
20 wherein the planer portion 25 overlays on the unformed portion, that is said
second lamina / sheet (closure) of planer portion 10 and the said locking means
30 is inserted in the slot 31. In operation, user has to release the end 30 of the
said pfaner portion 25 from the said sfot 31 foffowed by disengaging the said
projection 36 from the opening 35 to access the product. Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7
depict variants of the invention and the locking system.
Another embodiment of the package is elaborated in Figure 8. It comprises of a central triangular planer portion 80 provided with an opening 81 at one of the corners. Three planer triangular portions are disposed along the three edges of the said central portion 80. The said three portions are attached or may be integral part of the said central portion. The first planer portion 83 is foldably
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disposed such that the first lamina /sheet (as described in Figure 1) in which one
or plurality of enclosed cpacec contain mo nt(c) / capcule(c) 84 are formed to
contain the product(s) is in the same plane and upper surface side of the central planer portion 80 as indicated in Figure 8. Further, a locking / restricting means 85 is provided projecting from the first planer portion 83. The second triangular planer portion 86 is fold ably disposed along the second edge of the said central portion 80 in such a manner that the enclosed spaces containment(s) / capsule(s) upstand on the opposite face of the said central portion, that is the second repturable sheet / lamina adjoins the upper surface of the said central portion 80. Further, the third triangular planer portion 87 is foldably disposed along third edge of the said central planer portion 80. This planer portion is provided with a slot 90 at the base and a stripe 91 attached / integrated at the apex as shown in the figure. In operation, the third planer portion 87 is foldded such that it overlays on the said central portion 80 such that the containment(s) / capsule(s) are on the upper surface as shown in Figure 8(b). Further the first portion 83 is folded so as to overlay on the capsule side of the said third planer portion as shown in Figure 8 (c). The containments / capsules of the portion 83 are disposed in a zigzag manner with respect to the containments / capsules of the said third portion 86 such that they are interlocked / are placed next to each other when 83 overlays on 86. The said stripe 91 wraps around the three portions and fits in the slot 90 as shown in the Figure 8(d) and 8(e).
Figures 9, 10, 11 depict variants of the fold regions and variants of folds. The fold region comprises of foldable area and perforations/ scoring to facilitate the fold. As indicated in Figure 9 the region 90 comprises of scoring and a foldable region wherein when folded the said region protrudes outwards in convex shape (indicated as 90) as shown in Figure 9 (b). Figures 10 and 11 indicate variants of the fold region wherein a combination of scoring , perforations is used to facilitate the fold.
Another aspect of the invention wherein the package is adapted to fit locking means is shown in Figure 12. A locking means 120 is adapted to fit in the folding region. It comprises of a pressing means 121 operationally coupled with the flaps /
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holding means 122 that are adapted to hold laminas of the package together as indicated in Figure 12 (a) The locking means comprises of a press button / switch 121. Upon pressing the said locking means 121, the flaps are raised resulting in unlocking of the two laminas of the package as shown in the Figure 12(b).
In another embodiment a reader means is provided to identify and read the unique identification information on the said package wherein the reader means is suitably able to detect the identification information relating to the product package and conveys the information or generates a signal in response to the information which is communicable to the external device. Suitably, the information is encoded and preferably is optical, electronic, magnetic or a combination thereof.
In one of the embodiment of the package system, a uniquely identifiable information and /or combination of information is provided on the package.
In yet another embodiment product package is provided with an identification tag for identifying the package for authentication. The tag comprises at least two sets of identification information, said at least two sets of identification information comprising a first set of identification information and a second set of identification information each arranged within a different surface, side or plane of the identification tag, and identification features of said first set of identification information and identification features of said second set of identification information are arranged at a fixed relative spatial position with respect to each other, said fixed spatial relationship being used for identifying the package system.
In yet another embodiment the identifiers are present in a tag on the product package wherein one identifier comprises a readable layer of randomly distributed material which is capable of encoding identification information, for example a conductive material, magnetized or magnetisable material, semi-conductive particle and optically active particles; the second identifier suitably comprises optical information, for example a 1-D or 2-D bar code.
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In yet another embodiment at least two sets of identification information is
providod on the product pooka go and / or package holding provision. In another
variant of this embodiment unique identifying information is suitably included on the package in the form of oriented or orientable particles and may relate to for example, the manufacturer of the package or to an individual. Preferably the identification information comprises information derived from a magnetic field and/or an electric field and optionally optical or magneto-optical information. In yet another variant of this embodiment nano / micro particulate materials and/or material composites with measurable material metrics are used on the package for identification information.
in a preferred embodiment, the product package suitably comprises a substantially non-magnetic host materia} having pores, wherein at least some of the pores contain a substantially magnetic material which is codeable to encode identification information for identifying the product package or a unit dose package. The product package may comprise a substantially electrically-insulating host material having pores, wherein at least some of the pores contain a substantially electrically-conducting material which is codeable to encode identification information for identifying the unit dose package. Desirably, the electrically-conducting material is connectable to a voltage source.
In yet another embodiment the package system is provided with a means to detect unlocking of the lamina of the package to monitor and /or record of package and /or product access from the package system. In another variant of this embodiment the package system is provided with a wired / wireless communication means capable of interacting with external / remote device/s.
In another embodiment a sensing means in the form of embedded system is adapted to fit on the said package system to detect unlocking of the package to monitor and /or record of package and /or product access from the package system. The said sensing means comprises of signal generating provision/s, data processing means, data logging and storing means configured with a
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communication means an optional communication switch, a power source, optional audio signal generating means, an oscillator (Real time clock) wherein the said signal generating means gets activated upon disengaging the said package from the package holding provision. The activation of the signal generating provision may be done by various means such as electronic, mechanical, optical, visual. In a specific embodiment, visual display and the audio signal generating means is provided to alert the user of the time and date of the products to be consumed and also provides quantitative information about the number of products in the package. As the user disengages the package from the closure a signal from the said signal generating provision is sent to the said data processing means wherein the time & date of product dispensed is logged into the data logging provision of the said data processing means. Using the optional communication feature, the user may transfer the logged data to an external device by optionally embedded communication switch.
In one of the variants of this embodiment said logged data in the said data processing is transferred / transmitted via communication means to an external device/s with the aid of RF-wherein the said logged data to be transferred is superimposed on the RF field, generated by the RF circuit In yet another variant of this embodiment the said logged data in the said data processing means is transferred / transmitted via communication means to the said external device/s using an IR link wherein the said logged data to be transferred is in the form of coded pulses or frequency. In yet another variant of this embodiment the said logged data in the said data processing means is transferred / transmitted via communication means to the said companion device through wired and / or any direct contact methods such as I2C, SPI, serial or parallel communication but not limited to these. In yet another variant of this embodiment the data is transferred using wireless communication means such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zeegbee, Wi-Max, GPRS, GSM, Wibree but not limited to it.
Thus it is evident from the present invention that the synergistic operational combination of the said package and combination of first lamina /sheet in which one or plurality of enclosed spaces containment(s) / capsufe(s) are formed to
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contain the product(s) wherein the said capsule/s up stand from first surface of the said first sheet defining one or plurality of corresponding opening/s in a second surface of the said first sheet, second rupturable lamina / sheet (closure) that encloses the said receptacle / capsule wherein portion of the enclosing lamina corresponding / superimposed to the receptacle / capsule portion is ruptured/ removed while removing the product wherein the said second sheet is secured / bonded / affixed / attached to the unformed portion of the second surface of the first lamina (to enclose the said openings to seal the products in the upstanding capsules / receptacle) along with a unformed portion / region disposed between the portion of the formed cavities wherein the said portion is adapted for fold/ to facilitate fold of the first and second sheet provides self enclosing / re-closing capability that eliminates the need of additional carton / closure to encase / house the pack for enabling / rendering child resistant characteristics.

Applicant Bilcare Limited
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