Abstract:
A storing and dispensing system ( 10 ) includes a first sliding element ( 12 ) and a sleeve ( 14 ). The first sliding element ( 12 ) has a base configured to hold at least one article, and the base incorporates a flange portion ( 71   a ). The sleeve ( 14 ) further includes a first side ( 16 ) or ( 18 ), an open end, and at least one guide rail ( 40 ). The first side ( 16, 18 ) is matingly connected to a second side (the other of  16, 18 ) to form a void for receiving the sliding element ( 12 ). The open end is configured to permit the sliding element ( 12 ) to translate between a first position and a second position. The at least one guide rail ( 40 ) includes a first retaining edge ( 42 ), positioned within the void, to cooperatively contact the flange  71   a.

Description:
This application is a 371 of PCT/US08/81753 filed on Oct. 30, 2008 which claims benefit of 60/984,230 filed on Oct. 31, 2007. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a container that houses multiple sliding elements, such as a tray, for storing and dispensing articles. More specifically, embodiments of the present disclosure include those directed to containers and packages with sliding elements for holding articles, guide rails for separating and stacking multiple sliding elements, locking mechanisms, and releasing mechanisms. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Child-resistant or lockable containers, wherein multiple movements are required to open the container, have many uses. One use for a lockable container is to inhibit access to articles such as medicine and medicaments in the form of pills and tablets, which if consumed by an unintended person could be fatal. For example, locking caps on medicine bottles are well known. The typical locking cap mechanism requires a coordinated alignment and tipping, or axial pressure, or inward radial squeezing while turning the cap, to remove it from the bottle and in order to access the articles therein. 
     Alternatively, articles may be packaged in a primary container and the primary containers grouped and packaged in secondary container, such as a paperboard box. Examples of primary containers include chips, satchels, pouches, pillows, vials, blister packs, and the like. When a typical paperboard box holding one or more primary containers is opened, all of the articles are immediately available. Children who can open such secondary containers now may have access to a dangerous quantity of articles not intended for their consumption. 
     Against the present state of the art, the Applicant seeks to create a need and market for containers of greatly increased capacity that can store and orderly dispense articles. In addition, the Applicant seeks to create a need and market for containers with one or more slidable elements that hold articles, such as blister packs and trays, with child-resistant features that require coordinated motions in order to access the articles. Further, the Applicant seeks to create a need and market for a child-resistant secondary package that is inexpensive to manufacture and re-useable. Related to these desires, the Applicant seeks to create a need and market for alternative embodiments with less sophisticated child-resistance features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an exemplary lockable package, according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an alternative exploded view of the lockable package of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3-5  are perspective views of the sleeve base of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 6-8  are perspective views showing the assembly of the package of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an end elevation view of the assembled package of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 10-11  show an alternative embodiment of the package of  FIG. 1 , according to the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 12-13  show a second alternative embodiment of the package of  FIG. 1 , according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the described embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present embodiments. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure. 
     It is contemplated that the present disclosure is not limited to the pharmaceutical and personal healthcare related articles referenced with the illustrated embodiments, but is applicable to any small, delicate, sensitive, or portable article. Examples of such articles include all manner of consumable products such as candy, food, vitamins, tobacco, and the like; all manner of personal care products such as contact lens, birth control devices, smoking cessation patches, hearing aid batteries, and the like; and any item that can fit within a portable container. Further, the present disclosure is not limited to the slidable blister pack referenced with the illustrated embodiments, but is applicable to any slidable element, card, rack, support, holder, shelf, drawer, vessel, and the like to which an article of any sort may be held, stored, attached, contained, secured or otherwise associated with the article. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like features throughout, there are illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure. Turning first, momentarily, to  FIG. 8 , there is shown an exemplary lockable package  10 . As illustrated, the lockable package  10  holds stacked elements  12  within a lockable sleeve  14 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the sleeve  14  comprises a base  16  and a top  18 . The illustrated base  16  and top  18  each include a release button  20  defined by a release surround  22  and a hinge  24  that connects the release button  20  to the surrounding structure. Each of the illustrated release buttons  20  includes a free end  26  and each illustrated free end  26  includes a raised edge  27 . Pushing inwardly on a release button  20  urges the free end  26  and associated raised edge  27  inwardly to disengage a locked sliding element  12 , as explained below. 
     The illustrated base  16  and top  18  further include elements that form a locking mechanism: a plurality of locking posts  28 , each with a respective engaging edge  30 , are located proximate to the release button  20 . In alternative embodiments one locking post  28  is provided, in other embodiments additional locking posts  28   x  are provided. Still, in other alternative embodiments only one of the base  16  or top  18  includes a locking mechanism. The base  16  and top  18  each further include optional stop ribs  32 . The sleeve  14  includes an improved interior structure comprising guide rails  40 , which perform various functions including separating and retaining the sliding elements  12 , and guiding a sliding element  12  as it translates between positions within the void defined by assembled base  16  and top  18 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , each of the illustrated guide rails  40  includes a first retaining edge  42 , a second retaining edge  44 , and a guide face  46  that spans between the respective edges  42 ,  44 . The illustrated embodiments show guide rails  40  hingedly attached to the base  16 , but the guide rails  40  can be hingedly or fixedly attached to any portion of the sleeve  14 , or formed integrally with the sleeve  14 , or formed separately and later attached or otherwise associated with the sleeve  14 . These guide rails  40  are hingedly attached to the base  16  by way of wing panels  48  that span between the back of the guide face  46  and a hinge  50 . 
     Both the illustrated base  16  and top  18  include support ribs  52 , and an optional interior side walls  54 , best shown in  FIG. 9 , spaced apart from the respective outer side walls that form the sleeve  14 . Associated with the base  16  are engaging tabs  56  and associated with the top  18  are engaging apertures  58  (best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Together, the engaging tabs  56  and engaging apertures form a means for attaching the base  16  to the top  18 . In alternative embodiments these elements are reversed or other attachments are used such as a pins and cylinders. In addition, an optional recess  60  is provided for each of the base  16  and top  18  for easier access to the sliding element(s)  12 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , the illustrated sliding element  12  is a blister pack  70   a  comprising a base  71   a , at least one blister  72  configured to hold at least one article (not shown), at least one locking aperture  74 , optional stop apertures  76 , and optional stop catches  78 . Here, for purposes of illustration and not limitation, the sliding element is a blister pack  70  and the means for holding articles are the blister  72 . In alternative embodiments the sliding elements are trays, shelves, cards, racks, and the like that hold articles or primary containers such as chips, satchels, pouches, pillows, vials, blister packs, and the like. In alternative embodiments the means for holding includes compartments, racks, recesses, holds, ties, wraps, adhesives, and all manner of mechanical and/or chemical attachments, and the like, or combinations thereof. 
     The assembly and operation of the elements listed above to form a sleeve or container  14 , or a package  10 , will now be described with reference, primarily, to  FIGS. 3-7 . An exemplary method for assembling the sleeve  14  begins with reference to  FIGS. 3-5 .  FIG. 3  shows a base  16  with the associated guide rails  40  splayed outwardly, as the illustrated base  16  may be configured shortly after manufacture. The guide rails  40  are rotated inwardly, that is, toward the interior of the base  16  as sequentially shown in  FIG. 4  and then  FIG. 5 . Thereafter, the top  18  can be permanently or temporarily attached to the base  16 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 , by matingly aligning each engaging tab  56  to each respective engaging aperture  58  until the respective elements engage to form a five-sided container that defines an interior void. Further, the sleeve  14  can be permanently welded, glued, or otherwise connected if so desired. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 6-8 , the illustrated method shows a first and a second blister pack  70   a ,  70   b  being inserted into the sleeve  14 . Please note that, in order to more clearly observe the loading of the sliding elements  12  into the sleeve  14 , the sleeve  14  is shown without the top  18 . Further, with regard to this illustrated embodiment, the loading of a first blister pack  70   a  into the base  16  is substantially identical to the loading of a second blister pack  70   b  into the top  18 . Accordingly, only the loading of the first blister pack  70   a  will be described in detail. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a sliding element  12  is inserted into an assembled sleeve  14  to form a lockable package  10 . In inserting the sliding element  12 , shown here as a first blister pack  70   a , into the open end of the sleeve  14  the blister pack flange or base  71   a  is captured between each first retaining edge  42  and a support rib  52  or the adjacent interior surface of the base  16 . This capturing of the flange  71   a  contributes to retaining and holding multiple sliding elements within the sleeve, and keeping respective sliding elements substantially separated from each other, as best illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Continuing with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , further inserting the blister pack  70   a  allows the opposite sides of the first and last column of blisters  72   x ,  72   y  to contact the respective guide face  46 , which laterally guides the blister pack  70   a  as it is translated between a fully inserted (closed or closed and locked) and fully extended (open) positions. In addition, the opposite sides of the blister pack base  70   a  are guided by the respective interior side walls  54 . 
     Fully inserting the blister pack  70   a  into the sleeve  14  allows the locking apertures  74  to ride up and over the respective locking posts  28  until they breech and engage the locking apertures  74  along the respective engaging edge  30 . Located at the opposite end of the blister card  70   a , proximate to the open end of the sleeve  14 , are optional stop catches  78  positioned over optional stop ribs  32 . The engagement of the stop catches  78  and stop ribs  32  increases the withdrawal resistance of the blister pack  70   a . With the locking tabs  28  and locking apertures  74  engaged the sliding element  12  is now fully inserted and releaseably locked within the sleeve  14 . 
     To release a locked sliding element  12  from the protective sleeve  14 , the release button  20  is pressed inwardly, to lift each locking aperture  74  until the locking aperture(s)  74  is lifted over the respective locking post(s)  28 . Simultaneously, the opposite or free end of the sliding blister pack  70   a  is grasped at the recess  60  and pulled to reveal at least a first blister  72  holding an article. The illustrated blister pack  70   a  can continue to be extracted from the sleeve  14 , but may be stopped from being fully extracted when the optional stop ribs  32  engaged the respective optional stop apertures  76 . 
     Some alternative embodiments do not include the releaseable locking mechanism elements  20 ,  28 ,  74  as regards one or more sliding elements. Further, in some embodiments one sliding element is locked while another is not, while in other embodiments both sliding elements are locked, while in still other embodiments neither sliding elements are locked. Additional combinations including additional sliding elements are contemplated. 
     An alternative embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Many substantially similar or equivalent elements illustrated and discussed above are present in this alternative embodiment. These elements are designated with the prefix number “1” to signal a different embodiment but a substantially similar equivalent or element. For example, the sliding element  112  of  FIG. 10  is equivalent to the sliding element  12  in  FIG. 1  as the element numbers are identical except for the prefix number “1”; contrast that to the element number  180  in  FIG. 10 , which is new as no previous element was designated with the number “80”. 
     The illustrated sleeve  114  includes only a single locking post  128  and a single release button  120 . The illustrated sliding element  112  includes only a single locking aperture  174  but introduces a hinge  180 , which connects multiple sliding elements  170   a ,  170   b  previously illustrated as separate sliding elements  70   a ,  70   b . Note that the illustrated upper sliding element  170   b  is narrower than the lower sliding element  170   a . This configuration allows for the upper blisters  172   b  to rest on or between the lower blisters  172   a , and for guide rails  140  (not shown) with a guide face  146  but only a first retaining edge  142  (not shown). With this combination of alternative elements the illustrated package  110  may provide at least the same increased capacity as the embodiment illustrated above. In operation the release button  120  is pressed to disengage the attached locking elements  128 ,  174  and allow the user to extend the sliding element  112  from the sleeve  114 . Thereafter, the upper blister pack  170   b  may be unfolded to access the articles held on either the lower or upper blister packs  170   a ,  170   b.    
     An alternative embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 . Many substantially similar or equivalent elements illustrated and discussed above are present in this alternative embodiment. These elements are designated with the prefix number “2” to signal a different embodiment but a substantially similar element. For example, the sliding element  212  of  FIG. 13  is equivalent to the sliding element  12  in  FIG. 1  as the element numbers are identical except for the prefix number “2”; contrast that to the element number  219  in  FIG. 12 , which is new as no previous element was designated with the number “19”. 
     The previous illustrated packages  10 ,  110  included a locking mechanism comprising a locking post(s), release button(s), and engaging aperture(s). These combinations of elements illustrate a child-resistance feature. Alternative embodiments do not include these child-resistance features. To that end, those embodiments are packages that receive and hold multiple sliding elements, or the equivalent, but wherein the sliding element is not necessarily locked in the sleeve. Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a package that hold multiple sliding elements may include a removable top  219 , that may or may not require coordinated motions to open such that it provides a level of child-resistance 
     For the purposes of teaching and not limitation, various elements are described herein with directional or positional adjectives, such as “top”, “base”, “lower”, “first”, “second”, and “upper”, but it is contemplated that the position or location of many elements can be switched or reversed. The respective locations of certain features including the locking mechanism components  74 ,  28 ,  20  and the optional engaging and stopping elements  32 ,  76 ,  78  are design choices. 
     The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims