Patent ID: 7900772
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: A61J,B65D

Abstract:
1. A package having child-resistant, senior-friendly dispensing properties for storing and dispensing tablets or like items, comprising: a blister card having a substantially flat card section and a plurality of blister compartments for holding the tablets or like items, said card section having a distal end, a proximal end and a face with said blister compartments projecting from said face; and a hollow plastic sleeve having an opposed pair of side edges and at least one dispensing end, said sleeve providing a protective housing for said blister card when said blister card is in a storage position within said sleeve in which said proximal end of said card section is adjacent said dispensing end of said sleeve, and said blister card being slidable in an end-to-end direction relative to said sleeve between said storage position and a dispensing position in which said proximal end of said card section extends outside said sleeve to expose said blister compartments; said plastic sleeve being formed from separate first and second opposed molded body sections that are secured together; a combination of said blister card and said sleeve providing a plurality of latches and latch-catchers that cooperate to automatically lock said blister card in said storage position when said blister card is slid within said sleeve to said storage position; said opposed pair of side edges of said sleeve including a pair of opposed resiliently-depressible tabs for unlatching said latches from said latch-catchers when said pair of opposed tabs are simultaneously depressed toward one another; said sleeve having opposite first and second major wall panels that extend substantially parallel to each other and to said card section of said blister card when said blister card is in said storage position within said sleeve, said opposed pair of side edges interconnecting said wall panels; said first body section including said first major wall panel and one of said plurality of latches integrally molded with and extending from said first major wall panel adjacent a corner of said first major wall panel opposite said dispensing end of said sleeve; said second body section including said second major wall panel and one of said plurality of latches integrally molded with and extending from said second major wall panel adjacent a corner of said second major wall panel opposite said dispensing end of said sleeve; and said blister card including a pair of said latch-catchers located adjacent opposite corners of said distal end of said card section of said blister card.