Child-resistant blister package

• Main Author: Lo, Julian B
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.06.2002

The pharmaceutical industry offers a diverse array of dispensers and containers for medications. While governmental regulations require child-resistant caps on bottles and vials containing pharmaceutical products, there exists a general need in the art for a device which is not only child-resistant, but also permits access to the medicaments or other articles contained therein to persons of diminished dexterity or cognitive function. The invention provides a child-resistant apparatus for dispensing articles which comprises a housing for retaining a blister package wherein the, housing comprises a dispensing aperture; optionally, but preferably, a blister package comprising at least one blister cell containing an article to be dispensed; and a substantially rigid backing sheet substantially co-extensive with, and substantially blocking, the dispensing aperture wherein the backing sheet comprises exposed end portions, such that pressure applied on either exposed end portion individually, or on both exposed end portions simultaneously of the backing sheet, imparts arcuate flexure thereto and dislocation thereof from the substantially co-extensive, and substantially blocking position, to a position where the dispensing aperture is unblocked permitting the article contained in the blister cell to be dispensed. Release of pressure on the exposed end portion or portions of the backing sheet relaxes flexure thereof such that the substantially co-extensive, and substantially blocking position, wherein the backing sheet substantially blocks the dispensing aperture, is restored.