EP2551208B1 - Packaging case for pharmaceutical products and pre-cut blank for making same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of packaging for the packaging of products with a user manual. As such, the present invention is directed primarily to the packaging of medicinal products.

More particularly, the invention relates to a product packaging case comprising means for automated implementation and maintenance of a user manual, if necessary folded, before shaping the case and packaging the product to condition.

In the field of the invention, there has already been known for a very long time for the packaging of medicinal products packaging cases of substantially parallelepiped shape comprising a peripheral envelope composed of four parallel panels two by two and interconnected along parallel edges longitudinal. Of the four panels forming the casing of the case two form main panels, each secured to an opposite longitudinal end for one and the other of a flap opening and closing the envelope, flap itself even extended by a locking tab. Two other panels form side panels, generally narrower than the main panels and extended at each of their ends by a locking flap for operating with the locking tab of the closure flaps closure of the packaging case.

These cases are obtained by shaping and assembling by gluing a pre-cut flank having a bonding flap hinged on one side of one of the longitudinal edges of a main panel along a fold line, the bonding flap being plated and glued on an inner face of a side panel to effect the shaping of the parallelepipedal envelope of the cases.

These cases are assembled and shaped at the time of packaging of the products to be packaged, which are introduced into the case automatically after the shaping of the case and the introduction into the case of a record of use, often constituted, in the case of packaging of drugs, by a single sheet printed and folded to be slid into the case.

Cases and instructions for use are currently provided to manufacturers of products to be packaged by separate suppliers. In the pharmaceutical industry, drug manufacturers are now soliciting manufacturers of packaging cases for the supply of cases with the included user manuals to reduce and product packaging operations and the risks of mis-matching between products. instructions, packaging cases and packaged products.

A case with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is known from FR 2,714,823 .

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a new product packaging case structure such as pharmaceuticals that allows the insertion of instructions for use directly into the case during its manufacture and its holding in position during the shaping of the cases and packaging of the products to be packaged in the cases.

To this end, the present invention provides a packaging case, of the type comprising a substantially parallelepipedal envelope formed of two main panels and two side panels parallel in pairs and connected perpendicularly to each other along longitudinal edges. The main panels are each extended, at an opposite longitudinal end, by a closure flap hinged along a fold line on the corresponding main panel and secured to a locking tab articulated on the closure flap along a fold line parallel to the fold line of the closure flap on each main panel. The side panels themselves are extended at their ends by a locking flap intended to cooperate with the locking tab of the closure flaps to ensure the closure of the casing of the case at the longitudinal ends of the casing.

According to the invention, the proposed packaging case includes an adhesive label for holding a flat object such as a user's manual, said adhesive label being glued, at least partially, on an internal surface of a main panel. the envelope of the case and having at least one insertion opening of a flat object such as a user manual.

The adhesive label consists of at least one layer of rectangular material bonded at one end to an inner face of a main panel of the case and at its second end to an inner face of a closure flap, the flat object being adhered to said layer of material between it and the inner face of the main panel.

In this embodiment, the adhesive label has at its first end notches formed in the width of the label to facilitate tearing of said label and the flat object stuck thereon.

In this embodiment still, the second end of the adhesive label glued to the closure flap comprises at least one unglued portion including a tab free tab facilitating the gripping of said label to tear at its first end.

In this embodiment, the layer of material constituting the adhesive label is advantageously made of paper or a plastic film or an adhesive complex comprising at least one of these two materials.

Finally, in the two embodiments proposed, the adhesive label may also comprise a reinforcing layer, sometimes called "liner", on which are glued the layer or layers of materials forming the flat object holding label, said reinforcing layer having a lower bonding surface on an inner face of a main wall of the holster.

Various other characteristics appear from the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.

• la figure 1 représente un flane prédécoupé de carton pour la réalisation d'un étui de conditionnement de produits pharmaceutiques dans une première variante de réalisation ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue de dessus d'une étiquette adhésive de maintien d'un objet plat tel qu'une notice d'utilisation dans la première variante de réalisation d'un étui de conditionnement de produits pharmaceutiques à partir du flane prédécoupé de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'étiquette adhésive de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 représente un flanc prédécoupé de carton pour la réalisation d'un étui de conditionnement de produits pharmaceutiques conforme à la présente invention dans une seconde variante de réalisation ;
• la figure 5 représente une vue de dessus d'une étiquette adhésive de maintien d'un objet plat tel qu'une notice d'utilisation dans la seconde variante de réalisation d'un étui de conditionnement de produits pharmaceutiques à partir du flane prédécoupé de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale de l'étiquette adhésive de la figure 5 .

In the appended figures:

• the figure 1 represents a pre-cut flank of cardboard for the realization of a packaging case for pharmaceutical products in a first embodiment;
• the figure 2 represents a top view of an adhesive label for holding a flat object such as a user guide in the first variant embodiment of a packaging case for pharmaceutical products from the precut blank of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the adhesive label of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 represents a precut blank of cardboard for the realization of a packaging case of pharmaceutical products according to the present invention in a second embodiment;
• the figure 5 represents a top view of an adhesive label for holding a flat object such as a user manual in the second variant embodiment of a packaging case for pharmaceutical products from the precut blank of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the adhesive label of the figure 5 .

The present invention proposes a new type of packaging case made from a flank of cardboard material pre-cut especially adapted Packaging of pharmaceutical products which must be packaged with a dedicated user manual.

In recent years, pharmaceutical companies would like to receive their product packaging cases with the instructions for use directly included in the cases. This would allow them to no longer worry about supplying the holsters on one side to a supplier and on the other hand the corresponding notices from another supplier, which can be a source of error when reuniting with the product. pharmaceutical.

For this purpose, it is proposed a packaging case E as shown in Figures 7 and 8 obtained respectively from a pre-cut flank 10 as shown in FIG. figure 1 and at the figure 4 .

The Figures 1 to 3 represent a first variant of a pre-cut flank 10 of cardboard material comprising an adhesive label 2 for holding a flat object 3 such as a user manual 4 for producing a case E as represented in FIG. figure 7 , and the particular structure of the adhesive label 2 in this embodiment.

In this first embodiment, the pre-cut flank 10 , made of cardboard material, comprises a first rectangular panel 11 integral with a first fold line L1 formed along a length of said first panel 11 of a gluing flap 12 of the same length as the first panel and lower width. The first rectangular panel 11 is also secured along a second fold line L2 formed over a width at one end of the first panel of a first rectangular closure flap 13, itself secured along a third line of folding L3 parallel to the second fold line L2 of a first locking tongue 14. This locking tab 14 preferably comprises at each end a rounded cut 141, 142 and the ends of the fold line L3 are cut about 0.5 to 1 cm. These different cuts participate in the locking function of the tongue 14 as will be described below.

The pre-cut fiane 10 also comprises a second rectangular panel 15 of the same length as the first rectangular panel 11. This second rectangular panel 15 is articulated along a fourth fold line L4 parallel to the first fold line L1 on the first rectangular panel. The second rectangular panel 15 comprising at each of these longitudinal ends a locking flap 16, 17 hinged to the second rectangular panel 15 along a fold line in the extension of the ends of the first rectangular panel 11. These locking flaps 16, 17 comprise laterally notches e1, e2 provided to participate in the locking function of the conditioning case once the flank 10 shaped, as will be described later.

A third rectangular panel 18, identical to the first rectangular panel 11 is hinged along a fifth fold line L5, parallel to the first fold line L1, on the second rectangular panel 15. Like the first rectangular panel 11, the third rectangular panel 15 is secured along a sixth fold line L6 formed over a width at one longitudinal end of the third rectangular panel of a second rectangular closure flap 19 extending in a direction opposite to the first closure flap 13 and even secured along a seventh fold line L7 parallel to the sixth fold line L6 of a second locking tab 20. Like the first locking tab 14, the locking tab 20 preferably has at each end a cut-out in rounded 201 , 202 and the ends of the fold line L7 are cut about 0.5 to 1 cm.

The pre-cut flank 10 finally has a fourth rectangular panel 21 identical to the second rectangular panel 15 and hinged along an eighth fold line L8, parallel to the first fold line L1 , on the third rectangular panel, the fourth rectangular panel 21 having at each of these ends a locking flap 22, 23 hinged to the fourth rectangular panel 21 and symmetrical with respect to the third rectangular panel 15 of the locking flaps 16, 17. The two locking flaps 22, 23 secured to the fourth panel 21 therefore comprise them. also side notches e1, e2.

The first and third rectangular panels 11, 18 are intended to form the main panels of the packaging case and the second and fourth rectangular panels 15, 21 being intended to form the side panels of said packaging case.

The precut flank 10 comprises, according to this first embodiment, an adhesive label 2 for holding a flat object 3 such as a leaflet for use of a pharmaceutical product. This adhesive label 2 forms an insertion pouch for the flat object 3 adhered to the inner surface of the first rectangular panel 11 of the precut flank 11 and having at least one opening 24 for insertion of the flat object 3, located along of the folding line L2 of the closure flap 13, which is preferably located opposite the direction of insertion of the pharmaceutical product to be packaged in the case once constituted.

As shown on Figures 2 and 3 , the adhesive label 2 consists of a first layer of material 25, paper or plastic film, coated on its underside with a layer 26 of permanent glue, a second layer of material 27, also of paper or plastic film and which is glued on the longitudinal and posterior edges of the adhesive label 2 on the first layer of material 25, thus providing an inner pocket 28 in which the flat object 3 is inserted through the opening 24. Preferably, the first layer of material 26 is adhered to a third layer 29 of reinforcement, or "liner", of the adhesive label 2, third reinforcement layer 29 thicker than the first and second layers 25 , 27 and bonded by a permanent or fleeting glue on the first rectangular panel 11 . Preferably, a tab 30 is cut in the second layer of material 27 substantially in the middle of the rim thereof opening side 24 to facilitate the exit of the flat object 3 inserted into the pocket.

The pre-cut flank 10 thus formed is delivered flat for shaping and packaging the pharmaceutical products to be packaged, with the instructions for use inserted in the adhesive label 2.

The forming of the precut flank 10 is particularly simple by folding the first, second, third and fourth panels 11, 15, 18, 21 at right angles to each other around the fold lines L1, L4, L5, L8 and gluing of the fourth rectangular panel 21 on the glue flap 12 , then folding the locking flaps 16 , 17, 22, 23 and closing the closure flaps 13, 19 over the locking flaps 16, 17, 22, 23 and insertion of the locking tabs 14, 20 by sliding the rounded portions 141, 142, 201, 202 in the notches e2 locking flaps 16 , 17 , 22 , 23 to close the packaging case which then acquires a rectangular parallelepiped shape, very common packaging of pharmaceutical products. This gives a packaging case E as shown in FIG. figure 7 .

According to a second variant embodiment, the packaging case of the invention may also be obtained from a pre-cut flank 10 comprising an adhesive label 40 which is constituted differently from the label 2 of the flank 10 of the figure 1 , label 40 shown in detail at Figures 5 and 6 . On the figure 4 , The elements of the pre-cut flank 10 identical to those of the flank 10 of the figure 1 bear the same numerical references.

In this second embodiment, the label 40 consists of at least one layer 41 of rectangular material glued to a first end 41a on the inner face of the first rectangular panel 11 of the flank 10 and at its second end 41b on one side internal of the closure flap 13. the longitudinal edges 41c, 41d them are not glued on the rectangular panel 11 and flap 13, thus leaving an opening 45 of the object storage 3 in the material layer 41. the material layer 41 is covered on its internal surface with fugitive glue and the flat object 3 is glued on this internal face, the latter and the internal face of the rectangular panel 11 . To facilitate removal of the object 3 from the packaging case once the flank 10 has been shaped as previously indicated, the adhesive label 40 has at the first end 41a of the layer of material 41 notches 42 formed in the width of the label 40 to facilitate tearing of said label 40 and the flat object 3 glued on it. The second end 41b of the material layer 41 of the adhesive label 40 glued on the closure flap 13 comprises at least one unglued portion 43 leaving a tab 44 of free label facilitating the gripping of said label 40 to achieve its tearing along the notches 42 at its first end 41a .

In this second embodiment, the material layer 41 constituting the adhesive label 40 is advantageously made of paper or a plastic film or an adhesive complex comprising at least one of these two materials. This layer of material may be glued to the ends 41a, 41b on a reinforcing liner 46 as shown in FIGS. Figures 5 and 6 .

The label 40 made according to this embodiment above must be glued to the inside of the pre-cut flank 10 when it is still flat. The dimensions of the label are such that the liftable tab 44 of the label 40 should exceed the inner face of the closure flap 13 of a few millimeters (1).

The tab 44 not glued facilitates the gripping of the label 40 by the end user who has only to grasp the tab 44 to tear the label 40 with the flat object 3 constituted by a user manual of a pharmaceutical product for example, glued on the layer 41 but not on the flank 10 .

The pre-cut flank 10 in this second embodiment is shaped in exactly the same way as previously described for the flank 10 of the figure 1 to obtain a packaging case E as shown in FIG. figure 8 .

The invention thus proposes a packaging case E, in particular a pharmaceutical product, from a pre-cut flank 10 equipped with an adhesive label 2, 40 allowing the introduction and the maintenance of a flat object 3 such that instructions for use of the pharmaceutical product packaged as soon as the pre-cut flank 10 is produced .

This packaging case comprises, in a conventional manner, a parallelepipedal envelope formed of two main rectangular panels 11, 18 and two side panels 15, 21 parallel in pairs and connected perpendicularly to each other along longitudinal edges defined by the lines of folds L1, L4 , L5 , L8 of the precut flank 10 . The main panels are extended each, at an opposite longitudinal end, by a closure flap 13, 19 articulated along a fold line on the main panel 11, 18 corresponding and secured to a locking tongue 14, hinged to the closure flap along a fold line parallel to the fold line of the closure flap on each main panel. The side panels themselves are extended at their ends by a locking flap 16, 17, 22, 23 intended to cooperate with the locking tab 14, 20 closure flaps 13, 19 to ensure the closure of the envelope of the case E at the longitudinal ends of the envelope.

According to the invention, the proposed packaging case E comprises an adhesive label 2, 40 for holding a flat object 3 such as a user's manual, said adhesive label 2, 40 being glued, at least partially, on an inner surface of a main panel of the case E and having at least one opening 24, 45 of insertion of a user manual forming the flat object from the production of the precut flank 10 to facilitate the final packaging of products and their instructions for use.

Claims (4)

1. A packaging case (E), notably for pharmaceutical products, including a parallepipedal cover comprising:

   - two main panels (11, 18) and two side panels (15, 21) pairwise parallel and perpendicularly bound to each other along longitudinal edges,

   - two closing flaps (13, 19) each jointed along a fold line perpendicular to the longitudinal edges in an opposite end of the main panels (11, 18) and

   - locking tabs (14, 20) each jointed to a closing flap along a fold line parallel to the fold line of the closing flap on a main panel and

   - a locking flap (16, 17, 22, 23) jointed along a fold line at each end of the side panels and intended to cooperate with a locking tab for ensuring the closing of the cover of the case in two longitudinal ends,

   - an adhesive label (40) for maintaining a flat object (3) such as a sheet of instructions for use, said adhesive label (40) being at least partly adhesively bonded on an inner surface of a main panel (11, 18) of the cover of the casing and having at least one opening (24, 25) for inserting the fat object (3),

   characterized in that the adhesive label (40) consists of at least one rectangular material layer (41) adhesively bonded to a first end (41a) on an inner face of a main panel of the case and to its second end (41b) on an inner face of a closing flap, the flat object (3) being adhesively bonded on said material layer between the latter and the inner face of the main panel, the adhesive label (40) including at its first end (41a) notches (42) made in the width of the label for facilitating a tearing off of said label and of said flat object adhesively bonded to the latter, the second end (41b) of the adhesive label adhesively bonded on the closing flap including at least one non-adhesively-bonded portion (43) making a free label tab (44) facilitating the grasping of said label for achieving its tearing off at its first end.
2. The packaging case according to claim 1, characterized in that the material layer forming the adhesive label advantageously consists of paper or of a plastic film or of an adhesive complex comprising at least one of these two materials.
3. The packaging case according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the adhesive label includes a reinforcement layer on which is (are) adhesively bonded the material layer(s) forming the adhesive layer for maintaining the flat object, said reinforcement layer including a lower adhesion surface on an inner face of a main wall of the case.
4. A pre-cut blank (10) of cardboard material for making a packaging case according to one of claims 1 to 3, including:

   - a first rectangular panel (11) secured along a first fold line (L1) formed over a length of said first panel of an adhesion flap (12) of the same length as the first panel and of a smaller width and secured along a second fold line (L2) formed over a width at one end of the first panel of a first closing flap (13), of a rectangular shape, itself secured along a third fold line (L3) parallel to the second fold line of a first locking tab (14), and

   - a second rectangular panel (15) of the same length as the first rectangular panel (11) and jointed along a fourth fold line (L4) parallel to the first on the first rectangular panel (11), the second rectangular panel including at each of these ends a locking flap (16, 17) jointed on the second panel, and

   - a third rectangular panel (18) identical with the first rectangular panel (11) and jointed along a fifth fold line (L5) parallel to the first on the second rectangular panel (15), the third rectangular panel being secured along a sixth fold line (L6) formed over a width at one end of the third rectangular panel of a second closing flap (19), of rectangular shape, extending in a direction apposite to the first closing flap (13) at one end of the first rectangular panel and itself secured along a seventh fold line (L7) parallel to the sixth fold line of a second locking tab (20), and

   - a fourth rectangular panel (21) identical with the second rectangular panel (15) and jointed along an eighth fold line (L8) parallel to the first on the third rectangular panel (18), the fourth rectangular panel including at each of these ends a locking flap (22, 23) jointed on the fourth panel,

   - the first and third rectangular panels (11, 18) being intended to form the main panels of the packaging case (E) and the second and fourth rectangular panels (15, 21) being intended to form the side panels of the packaging case (E), and

   - an adhesive label (2, 40) for maintaining a flat object (3) such as a sheet of instructions for use, being at least partly adhesively bonded on an inner surface of the first rectangular panel (11) of the pre-cut blank and having at least one opening (24, 45) for inserting the flat object, characterized in that the adhesive label (40) consists of at least one rectangular material layer (41) adhesively bonded to a first end (41a) on an inner face of a main panel of the case and to its certain second end (41b) on an inner face of a closing flap, the float object (3) being adhesively bonded on said material layer between the latter and the inner face of the main panel, the adhesive label (40) including at its first end (41a) notches (42) made in the width of the label in order to facilitate a tearing off of said label and of said flat object adhesively bonded on the latter, the second end (41b) of the adhesive label adhesively bonded on the closing flap including at least one non-adhesively-bonded portion (43) making a free label tab (44) facilitating the grasping of said label for achieving its tearing off at its first end.

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