Abstract:
Disclosed is a plastic or paperboard container having an interior chamber, an open end, and a closed end for receiving and securing a relatively flat packaged insert having a cut out area adapted to hook over a catch mechanism. The container comprises a top piece including a locking element and a bowing slit. The container further comprises a bottom piece that may include a guide element. The top piece and the bottom piece are attached to one another to form the container. The locking element and the guiding element are oriented within the interior chamber in such a manner as to cooperate to receive and retain the one or more inserts. The one or more inserts can be released by applying inward pressure on each side of the container causing the top and bottom pieces to bow away from one another thereby releasing the locking elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Child-resistant plastic shell package containers for blister package inserts (or the like) are made almost entirely from molded plastic. The child-resistant aspect generally results from a catch mechanism integrated into the top and/or bottom pieces of the plastic shell. The catch mechanism is adapted to cooperate with a cut out area on the blister pack to ‘lock’ the blister pack in place within the plastic shell container. Releasing the blister package from the catch mechanism usually involves applying a force to a tab portion of the plastic shell that is positioned above (or below) the catch mechanism. The tab portion is deflectable to the interior of the plastic shell where it contacts and causes the blister pack cut out area to become disengaged from the catch mechanism. The user can then slide the blister pack out of the plastic shell exposing its contents. 
         [0002]    The tab portion ‘unlocking’ mechanism is but one possible embodiment of a lock release mechanism. This disclosure presents an alternative lock release mechanism that can be used in lieu of or as a complement to existing lock release mechanisms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Disclosed is a container having an interior chamber, an open end, and a closed end for receiving and securing a relatively flat packaged insert having a cut out area adapted to hook over a catch mechanism. The container comprises a top piece made from a plastic material including an angled locking post protruding away from the inner surface of the top piece that may contain a bowing slit extending substantially the width of the top piece and positioned near the closed end of the container proximate to the locking post. The container further comprises a bottom piece made from a plastic material including a sloped guide rib protruding away from the inner surface of the bottom piece in which the depth of the guide rib extends substantially the depth of the interior chamber. The top piece and the bottom piece are attached to one another to form the container. The angled locking post and the sloped guide rib are oriented within the interior chamber in such a manner as to cooperate to receive and retain the insert having a cut out area. The insert can be released by applying inward pressure on each side of the container causing the top and bottom pieces to bow away from one another thereby releasing the cut out area from the locking post. 
         [0004]    Also disclosed is a paperboard container having an interior chamber, an open end, and a closed end for receiving and securing a relatively flat packaged insert having a cut out area adapted to hook over a catch mechanism. The container comprises folded panels, including a top panel that may contain a bowing slit extending substantially the width of the top piece and positioned near the closed end of the container proximate to the locking post and that may have a top piece that may be made from a plastic material including an angled locking post protruding away from the inner surface of the top panel attached thereto. The container further comprises a bottom panel that may have embossing, debossing or attached guide ribs that extend the depth of the interior chamber. The top panel and the bottom panel may be folded to form the outer shell from a single blank in such a manner that the locking post and the guide ribs are oriented within the interior chamber in such a manner as to cooperate to receive and retain the insert having a cut out area. The insert can be released by applying inward pressure on each side of the container causing the top and bottom pieces to bow away from one another thereby releasing the cut out area from the locking post. 
         [0005]    Also disclosed is a container having an interior chamber, an open end, and a closed end for receiving and securing a traveler sled adapted to hold one or more blister cards or trays. The container may be paperboard or plastic and may have a locking mechanism that prevents the traveler from moving and that may be released upon pressure exerted upon the sides of the package. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an outer view illustration of a plastic shell container containing a blister package insert. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a plastic shell container containing a blister package insert. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a paperboard version of the shell container containing a blister package insert. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a paperboard version of the shell container containing a blister package insert in an open position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is paperboard version of the shell container containing multiple blister package inserts. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a paperboard version of the shell container containing multiple blister package inserts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0012]    The typical plastic shell configuration can be augmented to provide another method of releasing the lock mechanism between a blister package insert and the plastic container. A user can apply an inward force on each side of the plastic container that will force the top and bottom pieces to move away from one another. When a sufficient force is applied in the appropriate general area in conjunction with a novel design element, a locking mechanism integrated into the plastic shell and a blister package lock cut out area adapted to cooperate with the locking mechanism can be separated to allow for removal of the blister package from the plastic shell. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an outer view illustration of a plastic shell container  10  containing a blister package insert  30 . The plastic shell container  10  is generally comprised of a top piece  12  and a bottom piece  14  of molded plastic. The top  12  and bottom  14  may include reciprocal snap-fit elements (not shown) that allow the two pieces to be joined together to form a complete plastic shell having a substantially open end  18 . The other end of the assembled plastic shell  10  is closed  16 . The top  12  and bottom  14  pieces include curved edges that provide a depth element to each piece. Upon assembly, these generally curved edges form the sides  20  of the plastic shell  10 . The sides  20  are shown in this embodiment to have curved edges. The curve of the sides  20  assists in deflecting the top  12  and the bottom  14  pieces away from one another  52  when an opposing inward force  50  is applied to each side. 
         [0014]    A blister package insert  30  can be insert into the open end  18  and advances substantially the length of the plastic shell  10 . It will eventually hook onto a catch mechanism within the plastic shell  10  and become locked within the interior of the plastic shell  10 . 
         [0015]    Also shown on the surface of the top piece  12  is a bowing slit  22  that runs substantially the width of the plastic shell  10 . The bowing slit  22  is positioned near the closed end of the plastic shell  10  proximate to a locking post that is positioned within the plastic shell  10 . While not shown, a second bowing slit can be placed in the same location on the bottom piece  14 . The use of a second bowing slit enhances the flexibility of the plastic shell when an opposing inward force  50  is applied to the sides about where the bowing slit(s) are positioned. 
         [0016]    It should be noted that the use of the terms top and bottom are for illustrative purposes only. The elements described as being present on the top piece can be positioned on the bottom piece and vice-versa. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional perspective view of a plastic shell container  10  containing a blister package insert  30 . In this illustration, the top  12  and bottom  14  pieces have been inverted from that of  FIG. 1 . In addition to the elements shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  illustrates several features and elements that are present on the surfaces of the top  12  and bottom  14  pieces that define the inner surface when the plastic shell  10  is assembled. A blister package insert  30  is shown fully locked within the interior of the plastic shell  10 . The blister package insert  30  includes a blister package lock cut out (catch mechanism)  32  that is adapted to slide over and hook onto an angled locking post  24  shown protruding inward from the inner surface of the top piece  12 . 
         [0018]    The bottom piece  14  may include a blister package guide rib  26  that ensures the blister package insert  30  is maintained at a particular position within the assembled plastic shell  10 . The main purpose of the blister package guide rib  26  is to ensure that the leading edge of the blister package insert  30  will contact the angled portion of the angled locking post  24 . 
         [0019]    The bottom piece  14  further includes at least one stop post  28  (or similar stop mechanism) positioned between the angled locking post  24  and the closed end  16  of the assembled shell package  10 . The stop mechanisms can also be integrated into the top piece  12 . 
         [0020]    To insert and lock a blister package insert  30  within an assembled plastic shell  10 , a user inserts the blister package insert  30  into the open end  18 . The leading edge of the blister package insert  30  is the edge which is closest to the blister package lock cut out  32 . As the blister package insert  30  enters the chamber it first encounters the sloped blister package guide rib  26 . The slope of the blister package guide rib  26  will urge the blister package insert  30  upward as it continues to move toward the closed end  16  of the plastic shell  10 . The depth of the blister package guide rib  26  is almost the full depth of the interior depth of the plastic shell  10 . There is enough room remaining for the relatively flat blister package insert  30  to slide comfortably. 
         [0021]    The blister package insert  30  continues until its leading edge encounters the angled portion of the blister package angled locking post  24  that protrudes downward from the inner surface of the top piece  12 . The depth of the blister package locking post  24  is such that it extends past the top line of the blister package guide rib  26 . The blister package insert  30  rides down along the blister package angled locking post  24  until it clears. 
         [0022]    The blister package lock cut out  32  is oriented along the same line as the blister package angled locking post  24 . Thus, when the blister package lock cut out  32  clears the blister package angled locking post  24 , the entire blister package insert  30  hooks onto the blister package angled locking post  24 . The blister package insert  30  can not be removed from the plastic shell  10  without un-hooking it from the angled locking post  24 . 
         [0023]    To release a locked blister package insert  30 , the user squeezes the sides  20  of the plastic shell  10  in the general area near the bowing slit(s)  22  or just in front. The squeezing action causes the top  12  and bottom  14  pieces to move or bow away from one another. The bowing slit  22  assist in allowing the top  12  and bottom  14  pieces to outwardly bow. The overall integrity of the plastic shell is less than if the bowing slit  22  were not present. However, the integrity of the assembled plastic shell  10  is not nearly affected to the point of being detrimental to the primary purpose of the plastic shell  10 . 
         [0024]    Since the angled locking post  24  is a part of the top piece  12  it must also move away from the bottom piece  14 . When the entire package has sufficiently bowed, the blister package lock cut out area  32  will clear the angled locking post  24  and the blister package insert  30  can be grasped by the user and pulled outward. 
         [0025]    The top  12  and bottom piece  14  may be snapped together. By snapping these pieces together rather than welding there may be more flexibility in the plastic shell that will allow the top  12  and bottom  14  to bow such that the blister package lock cut area  32  will clear the angle locking post  24 . It is to be understood other locking mechanisms may be used such as friction or ledges to lock the blister in place and this same application of side squeezing in the designated areas will allow the blister to be removed. It is to be understood that snapping top  12  and bottom  14  together and adding cut out  22  may result in a more flexible plastic package and make it easier for the user to unlock and remove the blister. It is to be understood that the locking mechanism does not need to be in the center of the package but may be centrally located such that the bowing of the top  12  and bottom  14  will move the locking element sufficiently away from the part of the blister on which it catches. It is further to be understood that the area that is appropriate to side squeeze  50  may be located approximate to the locking element. More particularly that the side squeeze element  50  may be in the same third of the package as the locking element. It is to be understood that the side squeeze element  50  may be in the same half of the package as the locking element. 
         [0026]    It is to be understood that the outer container may also be made of blow molded plastic, a single piece or plastic-like material, or plastic material welded together rather than snapped and that such construction would function in a similar manner as that described above. Based on manufacturing preferences and patient needs the outer package may contain one or more blisters. It is also to be understood that the outer package may be made of paperboard with pressure point on the side that will unlock the package in a manner similar to the plastic packages discussed previously. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 3-6  provide illustrations of a paperboard shell container  110  containing one or more blister package insert  130 . The paper shell container  110  is generally comprised of a top piece  112  and a bottom piece  114  and at least two side panels  120  and one or more end panels folded and sealed together to form a package with a closed end  116  and open end  118 . When an opposing inward force  150  is applied to side panels  120  the top  112  and bottom  114  pieces of paperboard container  110  deflect away  152  from one another. The pressure deflection may be oval/elliptical like in shape as it spreads across the board deflecting a wider portion of the central area and a narrower portion of the edge areas. Accordingly there may be a benefit to having the locking mechanism centrally located within the package. However, the locking element may be located to either side of the package if needed based on manufacturing preferences. 
         [0028]    The paperboard outer sleeve container will function much like the plastic outer sleeve container. In particular, the locking mechanism will interact with the blister such that the part of the locking mechanism on the interior side of the top  112  and or bottom  114  panels will pull away from the part of the locking mechanism connected to the catch element that is in turn connected to the blister  130  thus allowing the catch element and the blister to move within the package and allow the blister to be at least partially removed from the outer sleeve. It is further to be understood that the area that is appropriate to side squeeze  150  may be located approximate to the locking element. More particularly that the side squeeze element  150  may be in the same third of the package as the locking element. It is to be understood that the side squeeze element  150  may be in the same half of the package as the locking element. 
         [0029]    One or more blister package inserts  130  can be inserted into the open end  118  and advance substantially the length of the paperboard outer shell  110 . A catch mechanism will hold the one or more blisters within the paperboard outer shell  110 . The concept of having an internal mechanism to hold more than one blister card on a dagger is known and such an internal mechanism would unlock in same manner as the single blister device disclosed herein, however, based on manufacturing preferences, the mechanism holding multiple blisters may slide in and catch on the catch mechanism rather than each individual blister. 
         [0030]    The paperboard container  110  may have one or more bowing slits like the plastic containers bowing slit  22  that runs substantially the width of the outer shell, but such additions may not be necessary as paperboard material is more flexible than plastic material. The paperboard may be treated. The paperboard may be tear resistant. 
         [0031]    It is believed that the present invention includes many other embodiments that may not be herein described in detail, but would nonetheless be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the disclosures made. Accordingly, this disclosure should not be read as being limited only to the foregoing examples or only to the designated embodiments.