Abstract:
A packaging system includes an outer shell and a sliding member. The sliding member is disposed in the interior chamber of the outer shell such that the sliding member is movable between a locked position where one end of the sliding member is near the closed end of the outer shell and a withdrawn position where the one end of the sliding member is near the open end of the outer shell. The sliding member has a locking edge which abuts a locking portion of the outer shell when the sliding member is at the locked position such that the sliding member is prevented from moving toward the withdrawn position. The outer shell has an area that is deflected inward of the interior chamber upon application of pressure thereto such that the locking edge of the sliding member clears the locking portion of the outer shell. The area is not defined by any visible boundaries.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a locking container that may be child resistant where multiple movements are required to open the package and control the dispensing of medication. 
         [0002]    Locking caps on medicine bottles are well known. Locking tray systems have also been taught as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,372. Multiple tray systems also have value for bulk prescriptions or for am/pm combination medications. 
         [0003]    A need exists for an easily assembled and easily fillable multi-blister pack that may have child resistant features for use with medications, food, tobacco products or other such products. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Disclosed is a package or packaging system comprising a top cover and a bottom cover, which may form an outer shell, and a sled. The top cover may include a top surface and a side wall defining an open end and a closed end, while the bottom cover may include a bottom surface and a side wall defining a corresponding open end and a closed end. The bottom cover may further include a sled lock positioned along the side wall near the closed end of the bottom cover and a sled rail extending substantially the length of the bottom surface. The sled lock includes a ramped surface facing the open end of the bottom cover and a flat vertical surface facing the closed end of the bottom cover. It is to be understood that the sled lock, sled rail or portions thereof may be adjusted to be located on the top cover based on manufacturing preferences. 
         [0005]    The sled is adapted to sit between the top and bottom cover when the packaging system is assembled. The sled includes a leading edge and a trailing edge and a dagger capable of receiving and retaining an insert card. The top cover attaches to the bottom cover to define an interior chamber in which the sled can slide along the sled rail. The leading edge of the sled will ride up and over the ramped surface of the sled lock until the trailing edge of the sled clears the sled stop causing the sled to be locked into place. Pressure applied to the top and bottom covers proximate to where the sled is positioned will cause the sled to deflect inward and result in the trailing edge of the sled clearing the sled lock. Based on manufacturing preferences, the sled and shell may be adjusted such that pressure may be applied from the sides of the top and bottom covers as well to move the sled. 
         [0006]    The packaging system can also include a hinged end cover attached along the edge of the open end of the top and/or bottom cover. The top cover further may comprise a sled containment ridge positioned along the top surface and extending substantially the length of the open end that functions to prevent the sled from being completely withdrawn from within the interior chamber by abutting the trailing edge of the sled. It is to be understood that manufacturing preferences may adjust the sled containment ridge to be positioned on the bottom cover. 
         [0007]    The sled is adapted to receive an insert card that includes a strategically positioned aperture adapted to hook over and be retained by the at least one dagger. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a bottom cover and sled in an unlocked position of a packaging system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a bottom cover and sled in a locked position of a packaging system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional illustration of an assembled packaging system having the sled in its locked position according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an assembled packaging system having the sled in its unlocked position further showing a plurality of insert cards attached to the sled according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional illustration of an assembled paperboard packaging system having the sled in its unlocked position according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a bottom cover  20  and sled  40  in an unlocked position of a package or packaging system  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The bottom cover  20  includes a bottom surface  21  and a side wall  23  that defines an open end and a closed end. The bottom cover  20  is adapted to mate with a top cover  30  to form the packaging system  10  in which an interior chamber is defined. There are a plurality of tab receptacles  22  that are adapted to receive a corresponding plurality of tabs  32  of the top cover  30  in a snap-fit configuration. Other means of connecting the top cover  30  with the bottom cover  20  can be used such as an adhesive material. Furthermore the bottom cover  20  may be hingidly connected to the top cover  30  in a book style configuration. The bottom surface  21  has at least one sled rail  24  that provides a generally flat surface for a generally C-shaped sled  40  to ride along within the interior chamber of the assembled packaging system  10 . Also included is at least one sled lock  26  positioned along one or more side walls  23  near the closed end of the bottom cover  20 . A hinged end cover  28  is connected along the open end of the bottom cover  20  and provides access to the interior chamber when the packaging system  10  is assembled. The hinged end cover  28  can fold up over and couples with a portion of top cover  30  to seal the interior chamber. It is to be understood that based on manufacturing preferences the features mentioned in this paragraph could be placed on the top cover. 
         [0014]    A sled  40  is shown positioned near the open end of the bottom cover  20  resting on the at least one sled rail  24 . This is considered the unlocked position since the sled  40  can slide freely along the at least one sled rail  24 . The sled includes a sled dagger feature that is used to couple with at least one insert card  50 . The insert card  50  contains the contents of the packaging system  10  and can take multiple forms including, but not limited to, blister type packaging or tray type packaging. 
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a bottom cover  20  and sled  40  in a locked position of a packaging system  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. This illustration is the same as  FIG. 1  except that the sled  40  is now in its locked position tucked behind the at least one sled lock  26 . The at least one sled lock  26  includes a ramped vertical surface facing the open end of bottom cover  20  and a flat vertical surface facing the facing the closed end of bottom cover  20 . This configuration allows the leading edge of sled  40  to ascend up and over the ramped vertical surface of the at least one sled lock  26 . Once the trailing edge of sled  40  clears the at least one sled lock  26  it becomes fixed in place due to the trailing edge of sled  40  abutting the flat vertical surface of the at least one sled lock  26 . The sled  40  cannot move back out until the user applies a force on the packaging system  10  sufficient to cause the trailing edge of sled  40  to clear the flat vertical surface of the at least one sled lock  26 . This unlocking step is described in more detail later. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional illustration of an assembled packaging system  10  having the sled  40  in its locked position according to an embodiment of the invention. This illustration provides a close up view of the sled  40  in the locked position tucked behind the at least one sled lock  26 . A plurality of sled daggers  42  are shown. The one or more sled daggers  42  each angle back. One may protrudes up from the bottom the sled  40  while one may protrude down from the top of the sled  40 . These one or more sled daggers  42  may work in concert to receive and retain at least one insert card  50  wherein the insert card  50  includes a strategically positioned aperture that corresponds with the sled daggers  42 . 
         [0017]    The top cover  30  is similar in construction to the bottom cover  20  in that it also includes a top surface  31  and a side wall  33  that defines an open end and a closed end. The top cover  30  and bottom cover  20  are joined together in this embodiment using a snap-fit type coupling. A cover tab  32  is shown inserted within and retained by a tab receptacle  22 . It should be noted that the cover tabs  32  and the tab receptacles  22  can be inverted such that the cover tabs are present on the bottom cover while the tab receptacles are present on the top cover. Other such couplings can be found about the perimeter of the packaging system  10  to ensure a sufficient connection. 
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an assembled packaging system  10  having the sled  40  in its unlocked position further showing a plurality of insert cards  50  attached to the sled  40  according to an embodiment of the invention. The top cover  30  and bottom cover  20  are coupled with the hinged end cover  28  open. A plurality of insert cards  50  are coupled to a sled  40  (hidden from view) that is resting on sled rails  24  (hidden from view). The top cover  30  further includes a sled containment ridge  34  that runs along the open end of top cover  30 . The sled containment ridge  34  serves a dual purpose. A first function is to ensure that the sled  40  can not be completely withdrawn from the interior chamber of the packaging system  10 . This is achieved because the sled containment ridge  34  extends below the surface  31  of top cover  30 . If a user attempts to withdraw the sled  40  by pulling the insert cards  50 , the top trailing edge of the sled will encounter and abut the sled containment ridge  34  preventing sled  40  from coming out of the interior chamber. A second function for sled containment ridge  34  is to provide a coupling point with the hinged end cover  28  of the bottom cover  20 . When sled  40  and insert cards  50  are fully inserted within the interior chamber and locked behind the at least one sled lock  26 , the hinged end cover  28  can be rotated about its hinged axis and rest upon the upper surface of the sled containment ridge  34  thereby sealing the sled  40  and insert cards  50  within the packaging system  10 . 
         [0019]    To assemble the packaging system  10 , sled  40  is placed atop the at least on sled rail  24  that are formed on the surface  21  of the bottom cover  20 . The top cover  30  is then fit atop the bottom cover  20  and snapped into place using the plurality of cover tabs  32  and tab receptacles  22 . Alternatively, the top cover  30  and the bottom cover  20  can also be coupled in a different manner such as, for instance, via an adhesive material. In addition, the top and bottom could be hinged such that the two sides may be folded together to form a sealed outer shell. One or more insert cards  50  can be inserted into the open end of the packaging system  10  until the insert cards  50  encounter and hook over the sled dagger(s)  42 . It is also possible for the insert cards  50  to be attached to sled  40  before the top cover  30  and bottom cover  20  are coupled if preferred. 
         [0020]    Once the packaging system  10  is assembled, a user can push the insert cards  50  into the interior chamber causing the leading edge of sled  40  to ride up the ramped surface of the at least one sled lock  26  until the sled  40  clears the at least one sled lock  26  and becomes fixed in place. 
         [0021]    To release sled  40  from its locked position, a user applies a pinching pressure on the top cover  30  and the bottom cover  20  in an area proximate to the location of the sled  40 . This area can be on the top, bottom and/or sides of the outer shell. The top cover  30  and bottom cover  20  will deflect inward and contact the surfaces of the generally C-shaped sled  40 . Continued pressure will cause the trailing edges of sled  40  to deflect inward until the sled&#39;s bottom trailing edge clears the at least one sled lock  26 . This effort combined with the user gently grasping and pulling on the insert cards  50  once sled  40  clears the at least one sled lock  26  will allow sled  40  to ride along at least one sled rail  24  further removing and exposing the insert cards  50 . The insert cards can be fully withdrawn while the sled remains trapped within the interior chamber since the trailing edge of sled  40  cannot clear the one or more sled containment ridge(s)  34 . 
         [0022]    The design and construction of the packaging system  10  is not dependent on a specific unlocking tab feature to release the sled from its locked position. Rather, a user need only pinch in a generalized area proximate to the sled&#39;s location to cause a deflection sufficient to clear the at least one sled lock  26 . 
         [0023]    The materials that comprise the main components of the packaging system  10  can vary so long as they maintain sufficient flexibility and rigidity to perform the functions described and attributed to them herein. 
         [0024]    The outer shell may be composed of paper board or a paperboard like substrate and may be folded into an outer shell shape from a cut out die. The paperboard outer shell may have am open end and a closed end. The board may be treated to be tear resistant, water resistant, to have better printing features and/or to add other benefits to the material. The outer shell could be wrapped in shrink film to provide additional barrier or printing benefits. In such a package the locking and retaining features may be adhered or attached to the interior of the paperboard outer shell. For example, at least one sled rail  24  could be attached to the bottom and/or top of the paperboard shell such that the sled can slide along the at least one sled rail  24 . At least one sled lock  26  may be attached to the top and/or bottom of the paperboard package in a location similar to that describes in the prior versions of the package. The sled lock may be attached closer to the closed end of the package; it may be attached to the last third of the package closer to the closed end; it may be attached to the second half of the package. The sled element may be similar to the sled in the plastic shell package. A sled containment ridge  40  may be attached or built-in to the outer paperboard shell. This ridge  40  may be placed in the front third of the package; this ridge  40  may be placed adjacent to or as a portion of the open end of the package. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional illustration of an assembled packaging system  10  having the sled  40  in its unlocked position according to an embodiment of the invention and having the outer shell being comprised of paperboard material. The paperboard may be treated or untreated. The paperboard may be tear resistant. The outer shell may be folder and sealed to form a six sided rectangle with one or more open ends. The outer shell may have a locking ledge  44  formed on the inside by an extra panel. The outer shell may also have locks and retaining features attached to it. Such features may be paperboard or plastic or any other suitable materials. This illustration provides a close up view of the sled  40  in the unlocked position. A sled dagger  42  is shown. The one or more sled daggers  42  angles back away from the open side of the outer shell. These one or more sled daggers  42  may work in concert to receive and retain at least one insert card  50  wherein the insert card  50  includes a strategically positioned aperture that corresponds with the one or more sled daggers  42 . The sled may be made of plastic or any other suitable material. An unlocking feature to allow the sled to move past the locking ledge or locking element  44  may be placed on the sides, top, bottom or any combination of the package. The unlocking element may be a pressure area or a push tab area and may be proximate to the locking element. The unlocking element may be in the same third of the package as the locking element. The unlocking element may be in the same half of the package as the locking element. 
         [0026]    It is to be understood that the pinch pressure may be applied to the top and bottom of the package or on the sides or any combination of the above based on manufacturing preferences. 
         [0027]    This disclosure should not be read as being limited only to the foregoing examples or only to the designated preferred embodiments.