Abstract:
Childproof packaging for a product such as matches or pharmaceutical tablets includes a sleeve and a container for the product within the sleeve. The package includes two pairs of latches, with each latch of a pair oppositely located on the package. A user must use both hands simultaneously, with a respective hand operating a respective pair of latches, to hold the latches in an unlatched condition and also simultaneously to apply pressure to the container to slide it outwardly relatively to the sleeve. Such a two-handed, five finger operation to open the package requires a dexterity that is easy for adults but very difficult for children. Each latch may be a spring arm mounted tab or button which seats in an aperture in the sleeve.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a package for childproof containment of a product. The product may be matches (or a box thereof) for lighting fires, pharmaceutical or health care substances such as various pills or tablets, or any other packageable product that is considered to be dangerous to children if they gain free or unsupervised access to the product. The term “childproof” means that the package is made very difficult for a child but not for an adult to open. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The discussion below of the background to the invention is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the matter referred to was in Australia published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims. 
     Packages for products of a nature that are dangerous to children may be childproofed in various ways. One way of childproofing a package is to provide it with a dexterity threshold for opening that is beyond a child&#39;s capabilities. A problem with this approach, however, is that if the dexterity level is made too high, the package may become too difficult even for an adult to open, or may become sufficiently difficult as not to be acceptable to adult consumers which could cause consequential loss of market share, notwithstanding the high level of childproofing that is provided. 
     The present invention seeks to provide a childproof package that has a high dexterity threshold and yet remains quite easy for an adult to open. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided a package for childproof containment of a product, the package including 
     a sleeve, 
     a container for the product within the sleeve, 
     the container being slidable outwardly relative to the sleeve for accessing a product within the container, 
     the container and the sleeve including a plurality of latch arrangements for preventing the relative sliding of the container and the sleeve unless the latch arrangements are held in an unlatched condition, 
     the plurality of latch arrangements being so located and of such number as to require use of both hands of a user to simultaneously hold the latch arrangements in an unlatched condition and also simultaneously to apply pressure to the container to slide it outwardly relative to the sleeve for gaining access to a product within the container. 
     Preferably each latch arrangement comprises a biased tab or button on the container which, in the latched condition, seats within an aperture in the sleeve. Such an arrangement can be unlatched by pushing on the tab or button against its bias to hold it clear of the aperture such that the container is then able to be relatively slid outwardly of the sleeve. 
     Preferably individual latch arrangements are paired by being located generally opposite each other on the package whereby each of a pair can be held in an unlatched condition with one hand by contacting one latch arrangement of a pair with the thumb and the other latch arrangement of the pair with a finger and squeezing. With the provision of two such pairs of latch arrangements having biased tabs or buttons according to an embodiment of the invention, two hands are required to simultaneously hold the four latch arrangements in an unlatched condition whereby the container is freed for sliding relative to the sleeve. Whilst the latch arrangements are so held unlatched, a free finger of one hand may be used to apply pressure to an end of the container adjacent an open end of the sleeve to slide the container outwardly of the sleeve. 
     A package according to embodiments of the invention has a high dexterity threshold in that a user needs to use both of his/her hands to condition the package ready for opening (that is, to hold the plurality of latch arrangements in an unlatched condition) and must then apply a further force, for example by pushing with a free finger of one hand, to slide the inner container outwardly of its sleeve. Generally therefore, two actions are required, namely a squeezing action using the thumb and for example middle finger of each hand and then, whilst maintaining the squeezing force, a pushing action using for example the forefinger of one hand. These actions using both hands of a user would be very difficult for a child to perform and yet quite easy for an adult to perform. Thus the invention provides a high dexterity threshold and thus improved childproofing without unduly increasing the difficulty of opening for an adult. 
     The provision of a sleeve within which the container normally resides is an important feature because it ensures an increased level of child proofing compared to prior art childproof packages which typically comprise a container that is closed by a cover or a lid. Ensuring a close sliding fit of the container within the sleeve limits accessibility to the container via a prising implement when the container is latched within the sleeve in any attempt to avoid or overcome the childproof latch arrangements. In contrast, in prior art childproof packages, generally the container is accessible around much of the periphery of the cover or lid which allows a possibility that the cover or lid may be able to be prised off the container. Furthermore, the invention possesses the advantage that even if access between the sleeve and the container is gained in a tampering attempt, the sleeve and container can be separated only by sliding one out of the other, that is, the separability directions are much more limited than in the prior art. Also the latch arrangements according to an embodiment of the invention may be biased and shaped such as to present a tortuous path to any insertion of a prising implement between the sleeve and the container thereby preventing unlatching by the implement. 
     For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be performed, preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a sleeve and of a separated container of a first preferred embodiment of a package according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the sleeve and the container of  FIG. 1  assembled to form the first preferred embodiment of a package according to the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a section view on plane III-III of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a sleeve and a separated container of a second preferred embodiment of a package according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A package  10  (see  FIG. 2 ) according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is a box for the childproof containment of matches. The package or match box  10  includes a sleeve  12  and a container  14  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The sleeve  12  is of rectangular parallelepiped shape having opposite side walls  16  and opposite top and bottom (as orientated in  FIG. 1 ) walls  18  which define open ends  19 . Each side wall  16  includes two apertures  20 ,  22  with the opposite apertures  20  forming a first pair and the opposite apertures  22  a second pair. Each aperture  20  has a ramp surface  24  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) of the same width as the aperture, which leads to the aperture  20  from an open end  19 . Another ramp surface  26  leads from each aperture  20  to the inside surface of wall  16 . Each aperture  22  also has ramp surfaces  28 ,  30  associated with it (see  FIG. 3 ) similar to the ramp surfaces  24 ,  26  associated with apertures  20 . The purpose and functioning of ramp surfaces  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  will be described hereinbelow. 
     The container  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) is an open topped box having side walls  32 , end walls  34  and a bottom wall  36  (as orientated in  FIG. 1 ). It is sized to be a freely sliding fit within and is the same length as the sleeve  12 . Each side wall  32  is formed such that it contains two buttons  38 ,  40  carried by a spring arm, respectively  42 ,  44 . The material from which the container is formed is such that the arms  42 ,  44  are resilient and thereby provide a bias that acts to return the buttons  38 ,  40  to their normal position (seen in  FIG. 1 ) against an inwards pressing force applied to the buttons  38 ,  40 . The buttons  38 ,  40  are shaped and sized such that they are a snug fit within the apertures  20 ,  22  of sleeve  12 . An end  34  of the container  14  may have a match-strike pad  46  thereon. 
     Each spring arm  42  (or  44 )-button  38  (or  40 )-aperture  20  (or  22 ) is a latch arrangement. 
     When container  14  is slid into sleeve  12  through an open end  19  (for example as orientated in  FIG. 1  and indicated by arrow A) the buttons  40  ride over ramp surfaces  24  and then over ramp surfaces  26  of apertures  20  until they enter the apertures  22 , at which point the buttons  38  enter the apertures  20  over ramp surfaces  24 . Effectively the ramp surfaces  24  (then  26  and  30 ) define a channel for the buttons  40 ,  38  for guiding the sliding of container  14  into sleeve  12 . Likewise, if the container  14  is assembled with sleeve  12  from the other end  19 , the ramp surfaces  28  (then  30  and  26 ) effectively define a channel to assist the sliding of container  14  into sleeve  12 . Thus the container  14  and the sleeve  12  include a plurality, namely four, latch arrangements which are arranged in the two pairs  20 - 38 - 42  and  22 - 40 - 44 . These prevent relative sliding of the container  14  outwardly of the sleeve  12  unless all four latch arrangements are simultaneously held in an unlatched condition. 
     To unlatch the latch arrangements, all four buttons  38 ,  40  need to be depressed simultaneously using the thumb and for example the middle finger of each hand, that is, one hand is required to depress the button pair  38  and the other hand to depress the button pair  40 . The forefinger of one hand can then be used to push on an end wall  34  of container  14  to slide it outwardly relative to the sleeve  12  and thereby gain access to the contents, for example matches, within the container  14 . It will be appreciated that the level of dexterity needed to open the package  10  involving both hands and five fingers is beyond the capability of children who should not have unsupervised access to matches. Thus the package  10  provides a high degree of childproofing yet remains relatively easy for an adult to open. 
     The dexterity threshold for opening the package  10  could be further increased by sizing the package as to require a hand span capability for opening that is beyond what a child could accomplish, for example by having a quite wide package such that the span between the buttons of a pair can only be met by an adult. 
     The embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 3  advantageously allows for opening of the package  10  by sliding the container  14  outwardly of either end  19  of the sleeve  12 . Another advantage of the latch arrangement is that whichever direction the container  14  is slid outwardly of the sleeve  12 , the pair of the button-spring arm combinations of the “second” pair of latch arrangements will engage within the apertures of the “first” pair of latch arrangements, for example, with reference to  FIG. 1  as container  14  is slid outwardly of sleeve  12  in a direction opposite to arrow A, the buttons  40  on spring arms  44  will eventually engage within the apertures  20 , thereby latching the container  14  to sleeve  12  in a partially opened position. To completely open or remove the container  14 , the buttons  40  must be unlatched from the apertures  20 , that is, a second unlatching operation must be performed. Clearly, for this advantage to be realised, all of the four latch arrangements need to be substantially identical in shape and size. 
     The container  14  and sleeve  12  may be made from any suitable material, for example a plastics material or a paper or cardboard product (which may be coated or otherwise treated to provide adequate resilience for spring arms  42 ,  44  as may be necessary). The container  14  and sleeve  12  may be made from the same or different materials. 
     Another advantage of the package  10  is that it provides a high level of security against tampering in addition to its childproofing. The package  10  can be made such that it is virtually impossible to insert a levering or prising implement in between the sleeve  12  and container  14  from an end  19  of the sleeve  12  in any attempt by a child to avoid or overcome the latch arrangements  20 - 38 - 42  and  22 - 40 - 44 . Even if such an implement could be inserted between a side wall  16  of sleeve  12  and an adjacent side wall  32  of container  14  to manipulate the latch arrangements, this would not allow opening because the latch arrangements on the other side would remain latched. It would furthermore be highly difficult for a prising implement inserted between the side walls  16  and  32  to manipulate a latch arrangement given the tortuous path presented by the edge of a button  38  or  40  when the spring arms  42  and  44  are directed towards the ends  34  of the container  14  (as illustrated by  FIG. 1 ). 
     Various modifications are possible. For example the package may have shapes that are other than rectangular parallelepiped, for example cylindrical, or shapes that are elliptical or obround in cross-section are within the scope of the invention. Also products other than matches, for example pharmaceutical tablets or capsules, may be contained by the container. The package may also constitute an outer packaging for a product that has its own packaging, for example with the above described first preferred embodiment, the container  14  could contain a box or book of matches as such instead of loose matches. Furthermore the container component of the invention may be a container merely in the sense that it contains a product, for example it could be a blister pack for tablets or capsules and the latch arrangements may include biased tabs (as distinct from buttons) which are formed on both sides of such a pack (such tabs having a generally planar configuration in the plane of the backing sheet of the pack). Thus it is to be understood that descriptions hereinbefore of a product “within” the container is intended to encompass blister pack type containers, that is, substantially panel shaped containers that contain individually packaged items of a product. 
     A package  50  according to a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 4 , is similar to the above described first embodiment in that both its container  54  and its sleeve  52  have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The box-type container  54  includes opposite side walls  56  which are formed to have spring arms  58  that join to the side walls  56  at both ends thereof with a button  60  located generally centrally of each spring arm  58 . The spring arms  58  of  FIG. 4  provide a stronger and thus longer lasting alternative to the single end joining of spring arms  42  and  44  to the side walls  32  of the  FIGS. 1 to 3  embodiment. The sleeve  52  includes apertures  62  within its side walls  64  for snugly seating the buttons  60  of the spring arms  58 . 
     In the  FIG. 4  embodiment ramp surfaces such as  24 - 26 ,  28 - 30  in the first embodiment leading to the apertures  62  are not provided. Instead the buttons  60  are formed to have a tapered leading and trailing edge, see references  66 ,  68 , to facilitate the sliding assembly of the container  54  into the sleeve  52 . The taper  68  on each button  60  does not extend to the spring arm  58 , instead the taper  68  is such as to leave a small edge portion  69  which extends generally perpendicularly from the surface of the spring arm  58  on each button  60 . Each edge portion  69  contacts the facing side edge of its aperture  62  to positively latch the container  54  in position within sleeve  52  when the buttons  60  are seated within the apertures  62 . 
     Also sleeve  52  includes an end wall  70  which includes an opening  72  for finger access for pushing on an end wall  74  of the container  54  to slide it outwardly of the sleeve  52  whilst the four latch arrangements  58 - 60 - 62  are held in an unlatched condition. The end wall  74  of the container  54  may include a flat button-type projection  76  which fits snugly into the opening  72  for a person to apply finger pressure onto. The provision of the end wall  70  increases the level of child proofing because less area of the container  54  is accessible to apply pressure to slide the container  54  outwardly of the sleeve  52 . Also the container  54  is openable only in a single direction. Also in this embodiment as with the first embodiment, the latch arrangements are such that upon sliding of container  54  out of sleeve  52 , the “rear” buttons  60  will eventually engage within the “front” apertures  62  thereby latching the container  54  in a partially opened position relative to sleeve  52 . 
     It is to be understood that the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 3  may incorporate various features of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  as alternatives (for example, the sleeve  12  may include an end wall having an opening or each spring arm  42 ,  44  may join to a side wall of the container  14  at both ends) and vice versa for incorporation of features of the  FIGS. 1 to 3  embodiment with the  FIG. 4  embodiment. 
     The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the scope of the following claims.