Safety container

A container including a base and an associated cover which form an enclosure for blister packs, pills, medication or other small articles. The container includes at least three latches located around the perimeter of the container to hold it closed. The latches can only be disengaged by applying pressure to all the latches simultaneously. In addition, the latches are spaced from each other so that two hands are required to simultaneously release all of the latches. Openings are advantageously placed near the latches to allow the user to exert inward pressure on the walls of the container, which pressure acts to disengage the latches.

FIELD 
This invention relates to containers used for storing articles, and more 
particularly, to a safety container for storing items, such as blister 
packaged medicines. 
BACKGROUND 
Blister-packaged medicines are generally arranged on "cards", and the cards 
are enclosed and packaged in a box. The boxes usually are stiff paper or 
cardboard and hence have the disadvantage that they can be readily 
tampered with or opened by inquisitive children. Once a child gains access 
to the inside of the cardboard box or other easily opened container 
holding the blister-packaged medicines, it is usually straightforward to 
open the blister packages and potentially gain access to multiple dosages. 
The widely used packaging for blister-packaged medicines have deficiencies. 
For example, known containers for medicine include an area in which the 
medicine or tablets can be stored, and a cover which overlies the area. 
The cover may be equipped so that it latches to, or otherwise releasably 
engages, the edge of the storage container for the pills. In this way, an 
individual can open the container in order to access some or all of the 
contents, and then reclose the container by re-engaging the cover over the 
storage area. Such containers have found application not only for 
individuals who may wish to transport predetermined dosages of a variety 
of pills, tablets and/or capsules in the container, but also for 
manufacturers of medications or other pharmaceuticals. The SUCRETS 
container is an example of such. However, such containers are ill-suited 
to serving as safety containers for medication such as blister-packaged 
medicines. In addition, such pillboxes suffer from various other drawbacks 
and disadvantages. For example, covers of these containers are often 
latched closed at only one point or along one side. As such, when the 
container is jostled within a purse or pocket, or otherwise handled, the 
latch may be inadvertently activated, potentially spilling the contents of 
the container. 
In addition, medication contained in such container generally cannot be 
kept from inquisitive children and their prying fingers. The cover of the 
container generally can be readily released by a child merely by the 
child's pulling up on the cover or pulling at any latch which might 
connect the cover to the container. Allowing a child access to the 
contents of containers is obviously undesirable in all cases, but when the 
containers contain multiple dosages of pills and the like, the risk of 
harm to inquisitive children is further magnified. 
Because tablet containers are generally not child-resistant, individuals 
who wish to use such containers around children must either take extra 
care to secrete the pillboxes away from children's reach or else 
constantly keep the container on his or her person. Because of this 
inconvenience, as well as the risk of multiple dosages falling into 
children's hands, individuals with children often elect to forego the 
convenience of medicine boxes entirely. 
Companies that manufacture and distribute medication in blister packages or 
otherwise are even less inclined to use pillboxes because the risk of 
child access would be multiplied by the volume of any pillboxes 
distributed. Accordingly, most pharmaceutical manufacturers have elected 
not to distribute medication or blister packaged medicines commercially in 
pillboxes. 
In order to keep medication, such as tablets, capsules and pills, from 
children's reach, medication has been generally stored or distributed in 
bottles with child-resistant caps. Such bottles generally cannot 
effectively store blister-packaged medicines and, when used with 
non-packaged medicines, suffer from additional drawbacks and 
disadvantages. For example, the bottle-like shape of such containers is 
usually inconvenient to carry. 
In addition to the above outlined disadvantages of current child-resistant 
closure, most all of these closures require rotation of the cap relative 
to the underlying container. This motion is often not readily performed by 
ailing individuals. 
SUMMARY 
Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved 
container for medication which is both child-resistant and readily 
operable by the intended user. 
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and 
advantages are attained by a safety container which has a base and a 
corresponding cover. The base and the cover meet at their respective edges 
to enclose a space for storing the medication. At least three latches or 
locks are spaced along the perimeter of the container so that two hands 
are needed to open all three of the locks or latches simultaneously in 
order to open the safety container. 
Each of the locks are releasable by a separate finger pressure at a single 
point. 
According to another aspect of the invention, the safety container is 
shaped to have a front and opposing sides, and the latches are located on 
the front and on each of the sides. The distance between the side latches 
can exceed 4 inches according to still another aspect of the invention, 
which will inhibit a hand with fingers spanning less than 4 inches, such 
as a child's hand, from the required simultaneous releasing or opening of 
the latches on the sides with one hand. 
In a further aspect of the invention, the latches comprise nubs located on 
the wall of the base and corresponding slots located on the cover. The 
wall is displaceable in relation to the cover to disengage the nubs from 
the slots. The slots may be configured as notches which extend through the 
surface and have ledge portions located near the edge of the cover. The 
nubs may be formed into prongs having surfaces which engage the ledge 
portions to secure the cover to the base. 
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the cover includes 
depending portions which overlie the sides of the base when the safety 
container is closed. The sides of the base can be accessed through 
openings in the depending portions. Inward finger pressure on each of the 
latches through the respective openings displaces the side of the base 
inwardly and disengages the latches to open the safety container. 
Still other objects, advantages, and novelties of the present invention 
will become apparent in the detailed description that follows, in which 
the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration 
of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention, and by 
reference to the attached drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a safety container or pillbox 21 includes a base 23 
and a cover 25 positionable over the base 23 to close the safety container 
21. In this embodiment, the base 23 has a rectangular bottom portion 29 
with a surrounding wall 27 extending upwardly from the bottom 29. The wall 
has an upper edge 31, and the bottom portion 29 and the wall 27 together 
define an enclosure, or open container, 33 into which blister-packaged 
medicines, pills, or other medication can be placed. The wall 27 is formed 
of a resilient material, thereby allowing portions of the wall to be 
laterally displaced when a lateral force is applied to it. Portions of the 
wall 27 form a front wall 35, a back wall 36, and opposite side walls 37 
extending between the front wall 35 and the back wall 36 to form the 
container 33. 
The cover 25 is attached to the back wall 36 of the base 23 (FIG. 2) by a 
living or a piano type hinge 63. The piano hinge 63 in this embodiment is 
integral with the base 23 and the cover 25, although a separate hinge may 
also be provided. When the safety container 21 is closed as shown in FIG. 
1, the edge of the cover 25 opposes the upper edge 31 of the peripheral 
wall 27 to cover the container 33. 
The cover 25 includes depending side and front portions 39 which extend 
generally perpendicularly from the top of the cover 25. The depending 
portions 39 extend along the edge of the top of the cover 25 and include 
openings 53 therein. The openings are of sufficient size to allow 
fingertips and/or thumb tip to pass through them. When the safety 
container 21 is closed, the depending portions 39 lie adjacent to the wall 
27 of the base 23 and outside of the enclosure 33 to form outside walls of 
the closed safety container 21. Portions of the wall 27 are accessible to 
fingers through the openings 53 when the safety container 21 is closed. 
The cover 25 is releasably secured to the base 23 by releasable locks or 
closures 41. In this preferred embodiment, one of the locks 41a is located 
at the front 35, while a second lock 41b is at one of the sides 37 and 
another lock 41c is at the other of the sides 37. Each of the locks 41 
comprise at least one nub or latch 43 which extends outwardly from the 
wall 27 of the base 23 and a slot or catch 45 in the cover 25 which the 
latch 43 engages when the safety container 21 is closed. The side locks 
41b and 41c include a pair of the latches 43 laterally spaced from each 
other. In this embodiment, the catches 45 comprise notches extending 
through the surface of the cover 25. The notches include lower ledges 47, 
which are best seen in FIG. 7. 
The latches 43 are formed in the shape of prongs which have an engaging 
surface 49 and an upper surface 51 which slants from engaging surface 49 
toward the upper edge 31 of the base 23. When the cover 25 is fully 
closed, the ledges 47 of the notches abut the engaging surfaces 49 of the 
prongs to secure the cover 25 to the base 23. 
To disengage the locks 41 and thereby open the safety container 21, inward 
force needs to be applied to the wall 27 to move the engaging surfaces 49 
off of the ledges 47. The wall 27, however, is substantially surrounded by 
the depending portions 39 of the cover 25. The only access to the wall 27 
is through the openings 53. Therefore, to move the wall 27 inwardly, force 
must be applied through the openings 53. Because the openings 53 are 
located proximate to the latches 43 and slots 45, inward pressure through 
the openings 53 will disengage or release the engaging surfaces 49 from 
the ledges 47. The openings 53 on the sides 39 are shown as being 
positioned between the individual latches of the locks 41b and 41c. The 
individual latches of the locks 41b and 41c are sufficiently close to each 
other so that sufficient finger pressure at a point between them 
disengages or releases both of their engaging surfaces 49 from the 
corresponding ledges 47. 
Since the wall 27 is formed of a resilient material, when inward pressure 
on the wall 27 ceases, the plastic memory of the wall 27 returns to its 
initial position. Accordingly, the locks 41 are only disengaged or opened 
when inward pressure is being applied to the wall 27 to displace the 
surfaces 49 from the ledges 47. Inward pressure thus must be applied at 
the three openings 53 simultaneously to disengage or open all of the locks 
41 and open the safety container 21. In addition, the locks 41 are spaced 
apart from each other along the perimeter of the safety container 21 by 
sufficient distances so that they can only be activated simultaneously by 
using two hands. 
From the foregoing, then, simultaneous operation or opening of all of the 
locks 41 requires not only two hands, but also a coordination of the 
timing of application of the inward force. 
The prongs or latches 43 are preferably located near the upper edge 31 of 
the base 23 so that the most lateral displacement of the prongs in 
relation to the ledges 47 can be accomplished when lateral force is 
applied to the wall 27. Such a location of the prongs also improves 
child-resistance because the force of the plastic memory of the wall 27 at 
its upper edge 31 will act to effectively re-engage the latches quickly 
when lateral pressure is removed from it, for example, when the child 
thinks he or she has opened a given lock and releases it in order to 
attempt to open another of the locks. 
A preferred way to open the safety container 21 with two hands is to hold 
the safety container from the bottom in one hand, placing a finger or 
fingers near the lock 41 in the front 35. The cover 25 is grasped by 
another hand from above the safety container 21 while placing a finger of 
this hand, such as a thumb, near one of the locks 41 on the side of the 
safety container 21 and placing another finger of the same hand on the 
lock 41 on the opposite side. When all of the locks 41 are released or 
opened simultaneously by the fingers positioned over them, the cover 25 is 
disengaged from the base 23 and the cover is pivoted to its open position. 
The openings 53 communicate with, and are located below, the slots 45 at 
the edge of the cover 25. Such an arrangement eases opening of the safety 
container 21 without compromising its child-resistance features. In 
particular, when inward pressure is applied to the side locks 41b and 41c 
through their respective openings 53 by a hand placed above the safety 
container 21, portions of the fingers are also able to grasp edge portions 
55 of the cover. In this way, once the locks 41b and 41c have been 
simultaneously released as required, the hand located above the safety 
container 21 can raise the cover 25 by grasping the edge portions 55 
without needing to be repositioned from where it was when the inward 
pressure was applied to the side locks 41b and 41c. 
The opening 53 at the front 35 extends across the width of the depending 
portion 39 to form a finger channel 57 with a mouth 59 opening toward the 
bottom portion 29 of the safety container 21. This configuration of this 
opening 53 allows the user's second hand to hold the base from below with 
a finger placed in the finger channel to apply the required inward 
pressure. Once the locks 41 have been simultaneously released as required, 
the finger in the finger channel need not be moved when the cover is 
lifted up from the base. 
To close the safety container 21, the cover 25 is repositioned over the 
upper edge 31 of the base 23. The upper surfaces 51 of the prongs or 
latches 43 slant toward the upper edge 31, thereby forming a bevel which 
facilitates closing the cover 25. In particular, the depending portions 39 
of the cover 25 are urged past the prongs 43 by the bevel when they are 
being pushed toward the base 23 of the safety container 21. 
Although the safety container 21 incorporating the principles of this 
invention may be formed in various shapes and sizes, the preferred 
embodiment has the general form of a rectangular box having rounded 
corners 61. The front and back of the box are approximately 41/2 inches 
long, the sides are approximately 31/2 inches long, and the depth of 
approximately 1/2 inch. The latches 41, the base 23, and the cover 25 are 
formed integrally from a polymeric material, such as plastic. 
The above dimensions allow many of the more common sized cards of 
blister-packaged medicines to be received within the enclosure 33. 
Alternative dimensions may also be used to house alternate sized cards of 
blister-packaged medicines. The above-listed dimensions for the safety 
container 21 are also within the range of dimensions suitable for making 
the safety container 21 pocket- or purse-sized. The rounded corners 61 
facilitate inserting the safety container 21 into tight pockets or 
cluttered purses. 
Although the safety container 21 in this embodiment has its cover 25 
hingedly connected to the base 23, in an alternative embodiment, the 
hinged connection could be eliminated entirely and the cover 25 could be 
entirely separable from the base 23. In addition, another of the locks 41 
could be located at the back 36 of the safety container 21 opposite the 
lock 41 on the front 35 of the safety container 21. This back lock would 
be released by fingers of the same hand releasing the lock 41a on the 
front 35. 
Referring now to FIG. 8, an alternative embodiment comprises a safety 
container 121 with a base 123 and an associated cover 125. The cover 125 
is connected to the base 123 at the base back wall 136 of the safety 
container 121. The hinged connection of the cover 125 to the base 123 is 
accomplished by means of a pair of living or piano hinges 163 which are 
laterally spaced from each other, rather than by using the single hinge 63 
which extends substantially along the entire back of the safety container 
21 (FIG. 2). 
The safety container 121 uses only a single lock 141a on each of the 
opposite sides 137 of the safety container 121. The locks 141a comprise a 
single nub 143a positioned along the sides 137 so as to engage one of the 
ledges 47 of the catches 45 when the safety container 121 is in the closed 
position. 
On the front 135, the safety container 121 includes a pair of nubs 143b 
rather than the single nub 43 of the previous embodiment (FIG. 2). When 
the safety container 121 is closed, the nubs 143b engage corresponding 
ledges 47 in the front of the cover 125. 
In another alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a safety 
container 221 includes a base 223 and an associated cover 225. The cover 
has three sides 239 (only one shown) depending from a top 230. Although 
the safety container 221 is generally rectangular, the cover 225 in this 
embodiment is hingedly attached to one of the base shorter sides 237 of 
the rectangular form. Also, in this embodiment the hinged connection 
between the cover 225 and the base 223 is accomplished by means of a pair 
of strap hinges 263. As shown in FIG. 10, the strap hinges 263 allow the 
cover 225 to be distanced from the walls of the base 223. In this way, the 
cover 225 may be further disassociated with the base 223 to make any 
contents in the safety container 221 easily accessible from any side of 
the safety container. The cover 225 is releasably secured to the base 223 
by locks, releasable locks or closures 241 whose detail is the same as the 
locks previously described. 
In addition to the advantages apparent from the above description of the 
preferred embodiment and the various alternative embodiments, the safety 
containers according the present invention have the advantage of being 
child-resistant. The necessity of activating the locks 41, 141, 241 
simultaneously to access the contents of the safety container 
substantially inhibits access by children. If a child applies force at one 
of the lock points to attempt to open the box, this attempt would be 
thwarted by the remaining latches holding the cover secure. 
If, after forcing at a first lock, the child then figures out that 
additional latches are still holding the cover secure, he or she may turn 
attention from the first lock to the other lock or locks. This also will 
inhibit the child's access, because even if the child succeeds in opening 
the second lock or succeeding locks, the original lock he forced would 
have reengaged as soon as the child let go of it, thereby securing the 
safety container. Only simultaneous activation of all of the locks will 
open the safety container, and a serial approach will be ineffective. As a 
result of this construction, many children will be denied access to 
potentially multiple dosages of medication. 
The child-resistant aspects of the present invention are further enhanced 
by embodiments of the present invention which have locks which must be 
activated by a single hand, such as the locks on the opposite sides 37, 
137, 237, but which are spaced from each other by a sufficient distance, 
such as 41/2 inches, so that the small span of a child's hand is incapable 
of activating the pair of opposite locks simultaneously as required. 
A further advantage of safety containers incorporating the principals of 
this invention is that the intended users of the safety container can gain 
access generally conveniently, and without frustration. The locks of the 
safety container do not require a great deal of strength or dexterity to 
be activated, because the child-resistant feature depends on simultaneous 
activation of the locks rather than resisting the force of a child's 
prying fingers. In addition, safety containers of the present invention do 
not require a torquing motion to be opened, which motion is at times 
difficult for arthritic, aging, or ailing patients. From the above, then, 
the present invention allows access to needed medication by those most 
inhibited by lack of strength or dexterity from gaining such access. In 
addition, even for relatively healthy individuals, access to vitamins, 
pills, or other medication can be accomplished with less frustration and 
inconvenience than under the current art. 
While the present invention has been described with reference to a 
preferred embodiment thereof, as well as various alternative embodiments, 
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, various changes and 
modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing 
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the 
appended claims are to be construed to cover equivalent structures.