Healthcare product package

Abstract

A healthcare product package (10) comprises a container (2) for containing a healthcare product and an information unit (1) which is located inside the container. The information unit (1) comprises a carrier (3), for instance a base card, and at least one information article (4, 6, 8) attached to the carrier (3).

Claims

1. A healthcare product package comprising: (a) a container containing a healthcare product, and (b) an information unit which is located inside the container, wherein the information unit comprises a carrier and at least two information articles attached to the carrier, wherein each of the at least two information articles is a leaflet which is in a folded-up state, wherein the at least two information articles are releasably attached to a common side of the carrier and arranged in a stack, and wherein the information unit does not include means enclosing the at least two information articles.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein the carrier is a base card or backing card.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein the carrier has a length in the range of 100-200 mm.

4. The product of claim 1, wherein the carrier has a width in the range of 50-80 mm.

5. The product of claim 1, wherein the carrier has a thickness in the range of 0.1-2 mm.

6. The product of claim 1, wherein the carrier has an end which is located adjacent an opening of the container.

7. The product of claim 1, wherein the at least two information articles are made from paper.

8. The product of claim 1, wherein the information articles or at least one of the information articles provides information about the healthcare product.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein the information concerns user instructions, safety information or product characteristics.

10. The product of claim 1, wherein the healthcare product is a pharmaceutical product and the at least two information articles contain& information about the pharmaceutical product.

11. The product of claim 10, wherein the at least two information articles comprise any one or more of a Patient Information Leaflet, a Doctor's Information Leaflet and an Instructions for Use, each containing information concerning the pharmaceutical product.

12. The product of claim 10, wherein the pharmaceutical product is a pre-filled delivery device.

13. The product of claim 1, wherein the container is a box or a carton.

14. The product of claim 1, wherein the healthcare product is mounted to the carrier.

15. The product of claim 1, wherein the information unit consists only of the carrier and the information articles as component parts.

16. The product of claim 1, wherein the carrier is in a collapsed state and movable to an extended state.

17. The product of claim 16, wherein the carrier is a quickstart guide.

18. A healthcare product package comprising: (a) a container containing a healthcare product, and (b) an information unit which is located inside the container, wherein the information unit comprises a carrier and at least two information articles attached to the carrier, wherein each of the at least two information articles is a leaflet which is in a folded-up state, wherein the at least two information articles are releasably attached to a common side of the carrier and arranged in a stack, wherein the information unit does not include means enclosing the at least two information articles; and wherein the common side of the carrier is a top side, wherein a first one of the at least two information articles is a bottommost information article in the stack and is releasably attached to the top side of the carrier, and wherein a second one of the at least two information articles is a topmost information article in the stack and is releasably attached to a top side of the information article in the stack immediately behind it.

19. The product of claim 18, wherein the stack includes at least one additional said information article, wherein the at least one additional information article is an intermediate information article in the stack which is sandwiched between the topmost and bottommost information articles, and wherein each intermediate information article is releasably attached to the information article behind it in the stack and supports the information article in the stack atop it.

20. A healthcare product package comprising: (a) a container containing a healthcare product, and (b) an information unit which is located inside the container, wherein the information unit comprises a carrier and at least two information articles attached to the carrier, wherein each of the at least two information articles is a leaflet which is in a folded-up state, wherein the at least two information articles are releasably attached to a common side of the carrier and arranged in a stack, wherein the information unit does not include means enclosing the at least two information articles; wherein the common side of the carrier is a top side, and wherein a first one of the at least two information articles is releasably attached to the top side of the carrier and a second one of the at least two information articles is releasably attached to a top side of the first information article.

21. A healthcare product package comprising: (a) a container containing a healthcare product, and (b) an information unit which is located inside the container, wherein the information unit comprises a carrier and at least two information articles attached to the carrier, wherein each of the at least two information articles is a leaflet which is in a folded-up state, wherein the at least two information articles are releasably attached to a top side of the carrier and arranged in a stack, wherein the information unit does not include means enclosing the at least two information articles; and wherein the top side of the carrier presents a top face of the carrier, the first and second information articles each have a bottom face and a top face, the releasable attachment of the first information article to the carrier top side attaches the bottom face of the first information article to the top face of the carrier, and the releasable attachment of the second information article to the carrier top side attaches the bottom face of the second information article to the top face of the first information article.

22. The product of claim 21, wherein the healthcare product comprises a delivery device selected from the group consisting of a syringe, injector and autoinjector.

23. The product of claim 22, wherein one of the at least two information articles comprises instructions for use of the delivery device.

24. The product of claim 21, wherein the releasable attachment of the first information article to the carrier and of the second information article to the first information article is a temporary adhesive connecting the respective top and bottom faces.

25. The product of claim 24, wherein the temporary adhesive connecting the respective top and bottom faces has the form of at least one zone of temporary adhesive.

26. The product of claim 25, wherein the at least one zone is at least one spot.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan (or top) view of a first information unit/healthcare product package in accordance with the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a front view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

(3) FIGS. 2A and 2B are enlarged scrap views from FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 2C is a front view of one of the information articles in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second information unit/healthcare product package in accordance with the invention;

(6) FIG. 4 is a front view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third information unit/healthcare product package in accordance with the invention;

(8) FIG. 6 is side view in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 7A is a plan view of a fourth information unit/healthcare product package in accordance with the invention;

(10) FIG. 7B is a side view on arrow C in FIG. 7A;

(11) FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fifth information unit/healthcare product package in accordance with the invention;

(12) FIG. 9 is a rear view on arrow D in FIG. 8;

(13) FIG. 10 is an orthogonal, fragmentary view of an information unit in accordance with the invention being inserted into a container to form a sixth healthcare product package in accordance with the invention;

(14) FIG. 11 is an orthogonal view of a first extendible carrier for use in the invention;

(15) FIG. 12 is an orthogonal view of a second extendible carrier for use in the invention;

(16) FIG. 13 is an orthogonal view of a third extendible carrier for use in the invention; and

(17) FIGS. 14A to 14E are orthogonal views of a fourth extendible carrier for use in the invention, showing how the carrier can be moved from an extended state (FIG. 14A) to a collapsed state (FIG. 14E).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(18) In the following there is described a number of illustrated embodiments of the invention which correspond closely to each other. For convenience, only the first embodiment shall be described in great detail. The other embodiments are described mainly in terms of their different features and properties, with their other details being understood as being as described for the first embodiment. For further convenience, like features in the different embodiments are identified by like reference numerals in the FIGURES of drawings (e.g. the reference numbers 3, 103, 203, etc., and 19a, 119a, 219a, etc. and so forth are common to like features across the FIGURES).

(19) In the following description of the illustrated embodiments, the healthcare product may be of any of the types previously mentioned in this specification; for example, a pre-filled autoinjector.

(20) In FIGS. 1, 2, and 2A-C there is shown a first information unit 1 in accordance with the invention. The first information unit 1 is adapted in use to be located in, and form an insert to, a container (schematically indicated at 2 in chain-line in FIG. 1 at 2) to form a first healthcare product package 10 in accordance with the invention, for instance as is described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 10.

(21) The container 2 may be of any form elsewhere described in the present specification, e.g. a carton or box erected from a blank. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the first information unit 1 inside the closed container 2.

(22) The first information unit 1 comprises a carrier 3 and plural information articles 4, 6, 8 attached to the carrier 3. In this embodiment, the information articles are in the form of folded leaflets. The folded leaflets 4, 6, 8 each contain information relating to a healthcare product or plurality of healthcare products (not shown) also to be included in the container 2. The informational content of the folded leaflets may as described elsewhere in this specification. By way of example, the healthcare product package is to contain one or more of the same healthcare product and one of the folded leaflets is a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) (known as a Package Insert in the United States of America), another leaflet is for a healthcare professional (e.g. a Doctor's information leaflet (DIL)) and the third leaflet is an instruction for use (IFU) leaflet, each concerning that healthcare product (e.g. an autoinjector, either pre-filled with a drug formulation or coming with one or more drug-filled containers to mount in the autoinjector (e.g. vials or syringes)).

(23) Each folded leaflet 4, 6, 8 is typically formed from a planar sheet of paper or paper-like material using methods and apparatus known in the art. For illustrative purposes, FIG. 2C is a front view of the folded leaflet 4. Typically, each folded leaflet 4, 6, 8 is provided with a fixing (for example a tie, such as shown at 10 in FIG. 2C), to hold it in its folded state, including when mounted on the carrier 3. The fixings can be undone by a user when appropriate so that the respective leaflets 4, 6, 8 can be unfolded and viewed (e.g. read).

(24) The carrier 3 is a base card/backing card in the form of a planar sheet. In this embodiment, the carrier 3 is of rectangular shape. The carrier has a longitudinal axis X-X along a centre-line of the carrier 3, a top 7, a bottom 9, a front end 11, a rear end 13 and a pair of sides 15, 17. The carrier 1 has a width W, a length L and a thickness T (see FIGS. 2A and 2B).

(25) The top 7 of the carrier 3 is presented by a major face 7a and the bottom 9 of the carrier 3 is presented by another major face 9a. The front end 11, rear end 13 and sides 15, 17 of the carrier 3 are presented by four minor sidewalls 11a, 13a, 15a, 17a, respectively. Each of the major faces 7a, 9a and the minor sidewalls 11a, 13a, 15a, 17a are planar.

(26) The major faces 7a, 9a each have a pair of spaced-apart, outer (longitudinal) side edges 19a, 19b, which are straight and parallel to one another, and front and rear outer (lateral) edges 21a, 21b which are spaced-apart, straight and parallel to one another. The outer lateral edges 21a, 21b connect to the outer side edges 19a, 19b at the respective front 11 and rear ends 13. The sidewalls 11a, 13a, 15a, 17a extend respectively from the outer edges 21a, 21b, 19a, 19b, of the major top face 7a to the corresponding outer edges (not labelled) of the major bottom face 9a.

(27) The folded leaflets 4, 6, 8 are attached to a major face, in this instance the top face 7a, of the carrier 3. Moreover, the folded leaflets 4, 6, 8 are arranged into a stack 23, having two levels, on the carrier top face 7a, with the bottom face of the folded leaflet 4 mounted to the carrier top face 7a (the first level) and the bottom faces of the second and third folded leaflets 6, 8 mounted to the top face 4a of the first folded leaflet 4 in a side-by-side layout (the second level). The stack 23 can be considered as branched into two branches 23a, 23b, defined by the second and third folded leaflets 6, 8 respectively.

(28) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the footprint of the (bottommost) folded leaflet 4 (and the stack 23 as a whole) is wholly inside the land area of the top face 7a of the carrier 3; however, the outer longitudinal side edges 19, 19b of the top face 7a of the carrier 3 are in close proximity to the outer longitudinal side edges (not labelled)) of the bottommost folded leaflet 4 in the stack 23 so as to minimise the amount of carrier material used. In other words, the side margins of the carrier 3 to either (longitudinal) side of the stack 23 are minimised.

(29) As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arrangement of the folded leaflets 4, 6, 8 on the carrier 3 in this embodiment is symmetrical about a plane of symmetry Y-Y which incorporates (is coincident with) the longitudinal axis X-X and is oriented perpendicularly to the front face 7a of the carrier 3.

(30) The mounting of the bottommost folded leaflet 4 to the carrier 3 and the topmost folded leaflets 6, 8 to the bottommost folded leaflet 4 is a releasable attachment, in this instance through use of a temporary adhesive, for example peelable glue, or other means apparent to the skilled person in the art. By way of example, one or more spots of a temporary adhesive (e.g. peelable glue) may be applied to the bottom face of each of the information articles 4, 6, 8 and the information articles 4, 6, 8 then mounted to each other and the carrier 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the spots join the top faces 4a, 7a of the bottommost information article and carrier 3 to the bottom faces of the respective information article(s) overlying them. Alternatively, the spots can be applied to the top face 7a of the carrier 3 and to the top faces of the information articles other than the topmost one. Otherwise, a mixture of these two methods could be used. However, the first method mentioned would be the most simple and practical.

(31) In this way, the folded leaflets 4, 6, 8 are able to be separated from each other and from the carrier 3 and unfolded (after removal of any fixings, such as ties 10) so that the informational content thereof can be viewed, typically after removal of the information unit 1 from the container 2 it has been located in.

(32) On the major top face 7a of the carrier 3, in the corner between the front outer edge 11a and the outer side edge 19b, there is provided a machine-readable unique identifier or code 25, in this case a machine readable 2D code, more specifically a bar-code, for example a Pharmacode (also known as a Pharmaceutical Binary Code). Machine-readable unique identifiers or codes of other types (e.g. optical marks) could also be used, as will be appreciated by the skilled practitioner in the art.

(33) The carrier 3 is made from a board material, typically paperboard, so as to have the requisite degree of stiffness to run on machines typically used in packaging lines. As an example, the board material may be made of paperboard of GC1 or GC2 grade (DIN Standard 19303). Where the carrier 3 is coated, such as in the case of GC2 grade paperboard, the coating is preferably on the bottom face 9a.

(34) In a modification to the first information unit 1, not shown, another folded leaflet is included in the stack 23 to form a third level thereof. Depending on the size (footprint) of the additional folded leaflet, it either overlies and mounts to the front face 6a, 8a of just one of the folded leaflets 6,8 or it overlies (bridges) and mounts to both of those front faces 6a, 8a (for example, such as the folded leaflet 208 in the third information unit 201 described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6).

(35) In an alternative modification to the first information unit 1, not shown, the stack 23 includes one or more further folded leaflets which are mounted to one of the branches 23a, 23b to build up that branch. The stack could also include one or more further folded leaflets which are mounted to the other branch 23a, 23b so that both branches 23a, 23b are built up.

(36) Of course, the first information unit 1 could comprise a combination of the above two modifications; e.g. one or more additional folded leaflets on the branches 23a, 23b and one or more folded leaflets which bridge the branches 23a, 23b.

(37) As shown, the information unit 1 is fully enclosed within the container 2 and is freely located therein (i.e. not attached to the container 2).

(38) In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown a second information unit 101 in accordance with the invention. The second information unit 101 is adapted in use to be located in, and form an insert to, a container (schematically indicated at 102 in chain-line in FIG. 3) to form a second healthcare product package 110 in accordance with the invention, for instance as described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 10.

(39) The rectangular carrier 103 has a different, in this instance smaller, aspect ratio (L:W) than in the first information unit 1.

(40) Moreover, the stack 123 of information articles (folded leaflets as before) is not branched, as in the first information unit 1, but made up of superimposed folded leaflets in the stack 123, one on top of the other (i.e. in a back-to-back or piggyback arrangement).

(41) In more detail, the stack 123 has a bottommost folded leaflet 104 releasably mounted (e.g. with temporary adhesive) to the top face 107a of the carrier 103 (the first level) and a topmost folded leaflet 110 located above the bottommost folded leaflet 104 (the Nth level where N 2). As indicated by reference numeral 112 in FIG. 4, the stack 123 may optionally contain one or more intermediate folded leaflets in-between the bottommost and topmost folded leaflets 104, 110. If there are no intermediate folded leaflets 112, then the bottommost and topmost folded leaflets 104, 110 will be releasably attached directly to one another, e.g. with temporary adhesive. If, however, the stack 123 further includes at least one intermediate folded leaflet 112, then the bottom face of each such intermediate folded leaflet 112 will be mounted (e.g. with temporary adhesive) to the top face of the folded leaflet underneath it—e.g. the bottommost folded leaflet 104 or another intermediate folded leaflet 112, respectively, depending on if there is only one intermediate folded leaflet 112 or plural intermediate folded leaflets 112—and the bottom face of the topmost folded leaflet 110 will be mounted on the top face of an intermediate folded leaflet 112, which will be the topmost intermediate folded leaflet 112 where more than one is present in the stack 123.

(42) The application of temporary adhesive, such as a peelable glue, may be by spotting, as previously described herein.

(43) In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown a third information unit 201 in accordance with the invention. The third information unit 201 is adapted in use to be located in, and form an insert to, a container (schematically indicated at 202 in chain-line in FIG. 5) to form a third healthcare product package 210 in accordance with the invention, for instance as described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 10.

(44) The rectangular carrier 203 has a different, in this instance more elongated, aspect ratio (W:L) than the carrier 3 of the first information unit 1. Moreover, in the third information unit 203 the stack 223 comprises two information articles (folded leaflets as before) 204, 206 which are releasably mounted on the front face 207a of the carrier 203 (defining the first level of the stack), for example through use of temporary adhesive. In more detail, the mounting of the folded leaflets 204, 206 is such that the bottom faces 204b, 206b of the folded leaflets 204, 206 are in facing relationship with, and releasably attached to, the carrier front face 207a. Moreover, the folded leaflets 204, 206 are arranged on the carrier front face 207a so that one of them (folded leaflet 206) is positioned in front of the other one (folded leaflet 204) so that their respective rear 206c and front ends 204c are either touching, as indicated at 212 in FIG. 5, or in close proximity.

(45) A further information article (folded leaflet) 208 is then mounted in the stack 223 to be superimposed over the other two folded leaflets 204, 206 to bridge or straddle the other two folded leaflets 204, 206 and thus form the second level of the stack 223. The further folded leaflet 208 may be releasably mounted, e.g. through temporary adhesive, to one or both of the other folded leaflets 204, 206.

(46) The stack 223 could be further added to by, for instance by mounting one or more additional folded leaflet to the top surface 208a of folded leaflet 208, e.g. in piggyback fashion as described above in respect of the second information unit 101.

(47) The application of temporary adhesive, such as a peelable glue, may be by spotting, as previously described herein.

(48) In FIGS. 7A and 7B there is shown a fourth information unit 301 in accordance with the invention adapted in use to be located in, and form an insert to, a container 302 to form a fourth healthcare product package 310 in accordance with the invention, e.g. of the type shown in FIG. 10.

(49) The fourth information unit 301 has only a single information article 304 (e.g. a folded leaflet) mounted on the carrier 307. In a variant (not shown), the land area of the carrier top face 307a taken up by the information article 304 may be smaller than shown so that one or more further information articles (e.g. folded leaflets) may be mounted on the free land area of the carrier top face 307a, for example in a side-by-side arrangement such as the information articles 204, 206 in the third information unit 201. Thus, there is no stack in the fourth information unit 301.

(50) The information article 304 may be mounted to the carrier top face 307a through temporary adhesive (e.g. peelable glue) as has been described previously.

(51) In FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown a fifth information unit 401 in accordance with the invention. The fifth information unit 401 is adapted in use to be located in, and form an insert to, a container (schematically indicated at 402 in chain-line) to form a fifth healthcare product package 410 in accordance with the invention, for instance as described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 10.

(52) On the rectangular carrier 403 there is provided either a single information article 404 (e.g. a folded information leaflet) or a stack 423 (represented in chain-line). In the variant where there is a stack 423, the stack 423 may be any according to the invention, including the stacks 23; 123; 223 previously disclosed hereinabove.

(53) The principle difference between the fifth information unit 401 and the other information units 1; 101; 201; 301 is that the carrier 403 comprises a free land area to one side of the information article 404 or stack 423 of sufficient size for a healthcare product (schematically represented at 450) to be mounted thereon. Typically, this means a carrier 403 that is wider compared to a carrier used solely for one or more information articles (e.g. folded leaflets), such as the first to fourth information units 1; 101; 201; 301, where the side margins of the carrier are generally in close proximity to the information article(s)/stack(s) to reduce the amount of carrier material used. Thus, the aspect ratio (L:W) of a carrier, such as carrier 403, used to carry one or more information articles (e.g. folded leaflets), whether or not in a stack formation, and a healthcare product on one of its major faces (e.g. top face) will typically be less than that for a carrier used solely for carrying the information article(s)/stack(s).

(54) The healthcare product 450 can rest freely on the top face 407a of the land area of the carrier 403 or be releasably fixed thereto, e.g. through one or more ties threaded through apertures in the carrier 403 and tied around the healthcare product 450. As shown in FIG. 9, the carrier 403 may optionally be provided with a side wing 451 (shown in chain-line to indicate its optional presence) along the outer side 417 which can be oriented upwards to prevent the healthcare product 450 slipping sideways off the carrier 403, especially where freely mounted on the land area. Although not shown, it will be understood that a wing could be provided at any one or more of the top end 411, bottom end 413 and opposite side 415 of the carrier 403, either without or, preferably, with the side wing 451. Preferably, where a wing is provided, the healthcare product is ‘sandwiched’ between the wing and an information article or stack.

(55) In the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9, the carriers 3; 103; 203; 303; 403 are a single, rigid piece of sheet material (in effect a two dimensional (flat) structure, as they have a relatively small thickness T). Other than the provision of one or more peripheral wings, such as described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the sheet material is not provided with any special means (such as fold lines) to enable the carrier to change its size or shape, for example to be extended, such as by unfolding.

(56) In FIG. 10 there is shown an information unit 501 (fragmentary section thereof) in accordance with the invention being inserted into a container 502 (fragmentary section thereof) to form a sixth healthcare product package 510 in accordance with the invention. The information unit 501 may be any in accordance with the invention, for instance any of those described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 and 11 to 14. The container 502 is pre-formed prior to receipt of the information unit 501. The container 502 in this embodiment is a carton, for instance made from cardboard, coated paper or other material known in the art for forming same, which has been erected and assembled in known manner other than for leaving an opening 502a. As indicated by arrow E, the information unit 501 is inserted through the opening 502a to be fully inserted into the inner volume or inner space 502c of the container 502, whereupon at some future point the opening 502a is closed in known manner by moving closure flaps 502b into position in the opening 502a and joining them together. In this instance, the rear end 513 of the carrier 503 is the leading end of the information unit 501 and the front end (not shown, but see earlier embodiments) is the trailing end (with respect to the direction of insertion), but it could be the other way round of course. The information unit 501 is then fully enclosed in the container 502, along with the healthcare product (not shown) and any other materials which may be needed in the container 502. The information unit 501 is freely located in the container 502; i.e. it is not attached (i.e. fixed) to the container inner surfaces.

(57) Conveniently, the healthcare product is inserted into the container 502 through the same opening 502a. If the information unit 501 carries the healthcare product, such as in the fifth information unit 401 supra, then the healthcare product is inserted into the enclosure 402 at the same time. Otherwise, it would be inserted separately. Preferably, the closed opening 502a is adapted to be re-opened so that the information unit 501 (and healthcare product) can be removed from the inner space 502a of the container 502 in the opposite way (i.e. in the direction of arrow F) to which it was introduced.

(58) However, it is clearly possible for the container 502 to be opened somehow else (e.g. at another end or side of the container 502) to enable removal of the information unit 501/healthcare product through such other opening.

(59) Preferably, the information unit 501 is located in the container 501 so that, when the container 502 is opened, the carrier 503 can be grasped by a user to extract the information unit 501. By way of example, where the opening 502a is re-opened, the front end (trailing end) of the carrier 503 is adjacent the opening 502a to enable it to be grasped by a user with their fingers and the information unit 501 pulled out of the opening 502a. Alternatively, the rear end 513 (leading end) of the carrier 503 is adjacent an opening (not shown) on the side of the container 502 opposite to that in which the opening 502a is formed. When that other opening is opened, the information unit 501 can be pulled out of the container 502 through that other opening by grasping the carrier rear end 513 with fingers. Ideally, the carrier end for grasping is the one at any machine readable unique ID or code (not shown, but see other embodiments) is provided at to enable it to be interrogated whilst in situ in the container, as the need arises.

(60) In FIGS. 11 to 14 there are various further embodiments of carrier that can be used in the present invention. Moreover, without limitation, each embodiment of the invention disclosed (both generally and specifically) with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 may be modified by substitution of the carrier 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503 thereof with any one of the carriers hereinafter to be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. To avoid unnecessary repetition, like reference numerals will be used for those features of the carries of FIGS. 11 to 14 which are common with the carriers 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503 previously described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.

(61) FIG. 11 shows a carrier 603 which differs from those of FIGS. 1 to 10 in that it is movable between collapsed and extended states, as indicated by the double-headed arrow M. In this instance the carrier 603 is twice the size desired for its function in an information unit to carry and locate the associated information article(s) in a container. However, the carrier 603 is provided with a single fold line 627 which extends from the front end 611 to the rear end 613 to bisect the carrier 603 into two carrier panels 603a,603b (here, equal halves; widths W and lengths (not labelled) are the same) and about which the carrier 603 can be moved from/to an extended (unfolded) state, in which the carrier 603 is laid out flat (where the carrier panels 603a, 603b are (substantially) co-planar), to/from a collapsed (folded) state, in which the carrier 603 is folded up so that the carrier panels 603a, 603 are in an overlying or stacked relationship.

(62) As will be appreciated, in the folded state the carrier panels 603a, 603b will be in an opposing face-to-face relationship with one of the carrier panels 603a being topmost (thus presenting the top 607 of the carrier 603) and the other carrier panel 603b being bottommost (thus defining the bottom 609 of the carrier 603). Moreover, the carrier panels 603a, 603b may be maintained in the folded state through a releasable attachment between the opposed facing surfaces of the carrier panels 603a, 603b, examples being a temporary adhesive as mentioned previously hereinabove for other embodiments of the invention. These opposed facing carrier surfaces are the inner surfaces of the carrier 603 in its collapsed (folded) state.

(63) In the collapsed state of the carrier 603, its footprint (substantially) corresponds to that of a carrier formed by just one of the carrier panels 603a, 603b. Moreover, the total surface area of the carrier 603 is twice as great as that presented by a carrier corresponding in shape and size to just one of the carrier panels 603a, 603b. As a practical example, replacing the previous carriers 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503 with a carrier 603 whose carrier panels 603a, 603b each correspond in shape and size to that previous carrier means that the total surface area of the carrier 603 is twice that of the one it has replaced, without affecting its primary function to carry and locate the information article(s) in the container.

(64) An advantage of this comparatively greater total surface area is that this forms the outer surface of the carrier 603 when it is extended (unfolded). In other words, the inner surfaces of the carrier 603 when in its collapsed state become outer surfaces in the extended state. Or expressed yet another way, both sides of each panel 603a, 603b form an outer surface in the extended state. Consequently, the extended state of the carrier 603 provides much more potentially usable surface area than a comparable carrier corresponding in footprint to just one of the panels 603a, 603b (e.g. one of the ‘single panel’ carriers 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503).

(65) One use for the extra surface area provided by the carrier 603 in its extended state is to additionally use the carrier 603 to carry more information for the user of the healthcare product, noting that it will be a straightforward matter for the user (or someone else) to open the carrier 603 to its extended state (either with or without the information article(s) firstly removed) after the carrier is removed from the container. As an example, the carrier 603 may form a quickstart guide for the healthcare product or an aspect thereof, for instance how to use a delivery device if there is one (e.g. pre-filled syringe or (auto)injector, as described elsewhere herein). The additional information can be provided on one or both surfaces of one or both panels 603a, 603b. By way of example only, FIG. 11 represents the areas in which information is provided at 629. It will be appreciated that information can be presented on the top and/or bottom surfaces 607, 609; this could of course require the user (or someone else) to remove the information article(s) first.

(66) The carrier 703 shown in FIG. 12 is identical to that of FIG. 11 other than the fold line 727 extends laterally from one longitudinal side to the other. Again, the fold line 727 bisects the carrier 703 into two equal halves 703a, 703b (the widths (not labelled) and the lengths L are equal) which can be folded to overlie.

(67) In FIG. 13 there is shown a carrier 803 which is similar to carriers 603; 703 in that it is movable between extended (unfolded) and collapsible (folded) states, but it comprises more than two carrier panels 803a-e in series to form a concertina arrangement. In this instance, the carrier comprises three carrier panels 803a-c of the same shape and size, but the chain line indicates that in variants it can have one or more further such carrier panels 803d-e. As can be seen, the carrier 803 is provided with plural, (substantially) parallel fold lines 827, here extending from the front end 811 to the rear end 813, to divide the carrier 803 into the carrier panels. As before, the carrier 803 can be collapsed (folded up), as shown by arrows M, to a collapsed (folded) state with a footprint which corresponds to that of each of the carrier panels. This arrangement can provide even more surface area than the two panel arrangements supra, e.g. to allow more information to be presented by this type of carrier 803, e.g. if used as a quickstart guide. The number of extra panels needed compared to the two panel arrangements will depend on how much extra outer surface (e.g. for information) is required.

(68) A further extendible carrier 903 is shown in FIGS. 14A-E. This carrier 903 is similar to the other extendible carriers 603; 703; 803 in that it can be moved between an extended (unfolded) state (FIG. 14A) to a collapsed (folded) state (FIG. 14E). However, the carrier 903 has two fold lines 927a, 927b oriented (substantially) perpendicularly to one another and extending between opposing ends so as to divide the carrier 903 into four carrier panels (quarters) 903a-d of the same size (width W and length L) and the same shape (square or rectangular). The folding action is shown by the arrows M1, M2.

(69) The extendible carriers 603; 703; 803; 903 have the following attributes in common:— Like the previous ‘single panel’ carriers 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503, they are formed from a planar sheet (a blank; in effect a two-dimensional (flat) material). They may be made from the same materials and have the same material properties as previously described for the carrier element of the invention, in particular the previous carriers 3; 103; 203; 303; 403; 503. Following from the preceding point, the carriers 603; 703; 803; 903 are formed from a blank of a single, rigid piece of sheet (in effect two dimensional (flat)) material) which is provided with fold lines to enable the sheet to be folded up ready for use in carrying and locating the at least one information article in a container. Notwithstanding the fold lines, such carriers are still sufficiently stiff for reliable automated insertion into the container. With the carrier in its collapsed (folded) state, at least one information article may be mounted on it, for example in one of the manners hereinabove described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. The carrier in its folded state may carry an accessory in between opposed facing surfaces thereof (which define a pocket of sorts). As an example, where the healthcare product comprises a syringe or (auto)injector, the accessory may be one or more swabs to wipe the intended injection site on human or animal tissue. The fold lines can be formed in any manner know in the packaging art. One or more of the fold lines can be such as to allow one of more of the carrier panels to be detached from the carrier. For instance, the fold lines are formed as lines of weakness, an example being a perforation line. This variant may be used to separate the carrier panel on which the at least one information article is attached from the other panel(s) on which the information for the quickstart guide is provided. This variation may be applied to all embodiments of the extendible carrier disclosed herein. The footprint of the carrier in its collapsed state (and thus of the carrier panels) is a quadrilateral selected from rectangular and square, typically rectangular as for the carriers of FIGS. 1 to 10. The footprint of the carrier in its extended state is also such a quadrilateral. The carrier may be held in its collapsed state through use of a releasable attachment between the panels, examples for such releasable attachment being described hereinabove. Typically, the at least one information article is mounted to the top 607; 707; 807 of the extendible carrier, to correspond to the non-extendible carriers of FIGS. 1 to 9. However, in variations the at least one information article may be mounted (sandwiched) on the carrier between opposed facing surfaces of the carrier panels in the collapsed state (e.g. releasably attached to an inner surface or simply held in place between carrier panels).

(70) Having regard to the extendible carriers described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, the carrier described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 can be considered as consisting of a single carrier panel.

(71) The illustrated embodiments may further be understood by recourse to the related details given in the Summary of the Invention section hereinabove, which related details can be read into the detailed description of the illustrated embodiments.

(72) It will be apparent that each illustrated embodiment of the invention could be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention.

(73) For instance, the illustrated embodiments may be modified to include, as addition or replacement, any one or more features of the other embodiments which are described in the Summary of the Invention or with reference to the FIGURES of drawings.

(74) Moreover, the illustrated embodiments can be implemented with dimensions and arrangements in proportion to what is shown in the FIGURES of drawings.