Creative thinking spawns innovative child-resistant packages: three unique concepts for pharmaceutical packages combine aesthetics and functionality to promote a positive brand experience and capture market share - Child Resistant Designs

Food & Drug Packaging, May, 2003 by Sergio Gedanke

The assignment to create a proprietary child-resistant (C-R) package that fits within the law requirements is a constant challenge for any pharmaceutical structural packaging design program.

Ingenious mechanisms not only work as a barrier against children's access to the product but somehow end up representing the overall experience in consuming it. The term "experience" can be observed as a trend brought by other category markets and represents a new form of addressing how a product's brand will be used and evaluated by its consumers.

Today's pharmaceutical packages range from blow-molded containers and blister packs to glass and injection-molded bottles. Stock containers and C-R closures are available in a limited number of options. Most of the time they do not fulfill the marketing needs for a recognizable, brand-related form and function package.

In addition, the majority of C-R packaging users are elderly individuals, who potentially carry some level of disability in their hands (such as arthritis) and limited visual sight.

There's an opportunity here for structural packaging designers who understand the importance of brand recognition in combination with giving engineers feasible and economical solutions.

After observing the limitations of some existing products, I created some literal outside-the-box ideas on C-R packaging: (1) Blister lock; (2) Secured flip-top; and (3) Push-to-lock cap.

These distinctive containers and closing systems that meet a variety of demands based on pill count, method of opening and resealing. All three proposals rely on basic requirements for C-R packaging compliance: combined movements of interlocking parts; colored cued buttons or sliders; graphical communication; and cognitive ability in I, children of various ages.

Please note: The proprietary C-R packaging concepts described here, as created by CHARGE Industrial Design, have not yet undergone child-resistant testing. VitaPlus is a fantasy name and is not related to any existing pharmaceutical business.

In separate, each idea could serve a distinctive brand and product. Accessing the product is part of the overall experience that consumers memorize and plays a major role in brand acceptance.

By exploring the vast potential that pharmaceutical packaging has for improvements and brand value building, companies willing to invest resources to develop innovative and effective C-R packages will gain market share and provide meaningful consumer experiences.

1. Blister lock

This concept serves the need for an on-the-go, multi-dose drug packaging that has a C-R feature as part of the carrying case. Main characteristics are:

* The rigid plastic case exposes the pills' chambers and shrouds the locking mechanism. It also takes benefit from the flexibility if the plastic polymer to provide a push-to-pierce bridge for easily ejecting the pill.

* The case can be molded and assemble from a single plastic piece which assembles as a clamshell. A small retention track avoids separation of the blister from the case.

* The Color-coded double-squeeze triggers allow extra protection and require a combination of motions to release the blister for piercing and ejecting the pill.

* Brand communication can be applied an front and back panels of the shrouding ease, Instructions and patient information labels can be applied for extra security and help during emergency situations.

2. Secured flip-top

The blow-molded container and grip indentation provide better ergonomics and represent a proprietary form language which can be extended to a larger line of products. Its distinctiveness is enhanced by the unique curved split line in between closure and bottle. Concept highlights include:

* The container's shape and ergonomic features create brand differentiation. Features are enhanced by the label's die-cut expression and its integration with the overall form.

* C-R attributes explore the child's cognitive ability to understand multi-task switches and operations.

* Geared towards single-hand operation, the duo-function slide button performs all necessary motions to access the product. Slide button forward disables flip-tap closure to open accidentally. When slide button is moved backward it releases the integral hinge. Once released, consumers press down the slider and the hinged stricture opens for product access.

* Closure design can be applied in a multitude of container sizes without the need for retooling.

* Packaging form is easy to store and carry compared to round containers.

3. Push-to-lock cap

The blow-molded container has unique yet familiar pharmaceutical aesthetics. The main characteristic in this concept comes from its proprietary C-R closure system which challenges a child's cognitive ability and is comprised by the following:

* The modified thread geometry allows this screw-off cap to be locked into dote position by a combination of twisting and pushing motion,

* Color-coded locking ring enhances mechanism readability and ensures seal close/open status. Additional audible click action provides instant feedback.