Patent Publication Number: US-7591372-B2

Title: Unit dose locking container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/504,977, filed on Sep. 23, 2003, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to child-resistant locking containers. More specifically the present invention relates to a child-resistant case for receiving, holding, and securing a blister card with medicaments, which is configured to releasably engage the blister card by way of appurtenants positioned within the case. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Locking containers, especially child-resistant or locking containers wherein multiple movements must be applied to open the container, have many uses. One use for locking containers is to control the dispensing of medicine or medicaments in the form of pills and tablets. 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 containers and access to medicaments. 
   Many medicines are packaged in convenient flat boxes, which are difficult to secure with childproof locks. Many medicaments in the form of pills or tablets are available in blister cards—protective alveoli formed on a plastic sheet sealed by a paper or foil barrier that is punctured when extracting a tablet from the alveolar. When a cardboard flat box is opened the entire contents of the package is exposed, making all of the tablets immediately available. The dangers posed by children with access to a quantity of tablets not intended for their consumption is self evident. 
   A need exist for child-resistant flat boxes for holding medicaments. A need exists for flat boxes with locks that require coordinated motions for opening. A needs exists for medicament holding packages that present a limited number of doses at a time. A need exists for inexpensive and re-useable locking cases. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The illustrated embodiments of the present invention are directed to a child-resistant safety container for medications stored in a blister card. Generally speaking, a two-piece molded plastic container closed on three sides forms a void that receives a blister card that slidably translates through the open forth side. Appurtenants extend into the void as a means for engaging the blister card to an adjacent catch. Means for engaging include ribs and springs, attached to or formed with the molded plastic pieces as is well known to those skilled in the art, to exert a force on the card. The illustrated embodiments show two flexible springs molded on one side of the container that push the blister card against the opposite side where a catch is located and positioned to engage at least one aperture that is part of the blister card. A retainer prevents the blister card from being fully removed; however, manipulating the retainer with a thin device such as replacement blister card releases the first used blister card, which can then be slid out of the container. Posts molded on one piece are mated to and welded to the corresponding hollow cylinders molded on the other piece. Energy directors may weld side edges. This invention allows blister cards to be loaded into the case during manufacture, at the point of purchase or by a health care professional, or by the user at later times. It also reduces the cost of assembly, and provides a child-resistant, re-useable medicine dispensing case. Additional embodiments fulfill the needs for single dose dispensing packaging. 
   In a single dose dispensing package, a child-resistant case for dispensing medications held on a blister card has a two-piece molded plastic sleeve closed on three edges. A blister card is slidable through the open fourth edge to expose a row of blister upon a manipulation of the parts. An appurtenant, should here in the form of a dagger spring near the open edge, fits through an opening in the blister card and acts as a travel limit when the card is slid out. Additional appurtenants, such as flexible springs and rigid ribs, may be molded with or attached to a first piece and configured to force the blister card against the inside surface of whichever piece includes a molded catch or detent. The detent, shown here for purposes of teaching and not limitation on the side opposite the springs near the closed end, engages an opening in the blister card to prevent a fully inserted blister card from sliding outward. Pressing on an adjacent release distorts the blister card so that the molded catch no longer engages the opening in the blister card, which can then be removably slid outward from the container to expose the blisters. A ramp on the back of the catch depresses the blister pack as it is slid inward. Posts molded on one piece are inserted into and welded to the hollow cylinders molded on the other piece. Energy directors may sonically weld side edges, as well as the posts and cylinders. 
   A storing and dispensing system has a sliding blister card and a locking sleeve comprising a base and matingly connected top. The top is mated to the base by integral pins on one piece being inserted into integral cylinders on another piece and then welding the plastic sleeve shut. The card is made from conventional blister dose pack material—a single layer plastic top with formed alveoli holding pills or tablets on a sealed paper or foil base. The paper or foil is pushed in, cut, or punched beneath each blister to release the respective dose. A blister card manufactured in the convention manner, configured with at least one receiving aperture and the blisters arranged to cooperate with the internal appurtenants, provides the minimum structural rigidity for functioning of the parts. 
   In practice, the blister card is placed in the sleeve opening and pushed inward past the limit spring and perhaps on sliding guides between guiding cylinders and ribs. Internal appurtenant such as springs or ribs urge the blister card toward a detent. The detent or catch engages the blister card&#39;s receiving aperture to lock the card in the sleeve. To unlock the card there is provided a release. In the illustrated embodiments, manipulating the release requires pressing inward to warp a part of the card away from the catch. The warping of the card moves the receiving aperture away from the detent so that the card may be slid outward through the open end of the sleeve. Extending the card to expose the blisters is then a matter of sliding the card outwardly in increments, or fully until a receiving aperture engages a retainer. Reverse pressure easily slides the blister card back into the case. 
   Embodiments according to this invention offer at least the following advantages: lightness in weight, resistance to tampering, child-resistance, ease of access, excellent durability, ease of assembly, repeated use, and excellent economy. It is also contemplated that the present invention is not limited to pharmaceutical-related goods, but is applicable to a plethora of delicate, sensitive, or unique portable goods. Other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded top perspective view of the locking blister package. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the locking package. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the closed locking package. 
       FIG. 4  is a transparent top perspective view of the locking package with the blister panel moved partially outward from a slightly modified rounded closed end container. 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective transparent view of the container with the blister panel ready for loading. 
       FIG. 6  is a transparent perceptive bottom view of the container. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective top view of the locking package with the blister panel slid partially outward. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective bottom view of the locking package. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded bottom perspective view of the open container and bubble tray. 
       FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective top view of the container and bubble tray. 
       FIG. 11  is a bottom perspective assembled view of the closed package. 
       FIG. 12  is an alternative package with multiple detent openings in the blister panel and a T-shaped release panel. 
       FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the package of  FIG. 12  showing positions of elements of the base, top and bubble tray. 
       FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view showing positions of elements of the base, top and bubble tray. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. 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 materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but as a basis for the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
   Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like features throughout, there are illustrated embodiments of the present invention. Turning first to  FIGS. 1-3 , there are shown top and bottom exploded views and a bottom view of the locking package. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a locking case  10  has a sliding unit dose blister card  12 . The locking sleeve  14  has a base  16  and a top  18 . A push U-shaped flap  20  is formed in an opening  21  and is connected to and integrally formed with the case by a thin resilient living hinge section  22 . Pushing on the free end  24  of the push release flap frees the tray  12 . The inside of free end  24  has a curved rim  25 . Gripping the card&#39;s exposed end  26  in the recess  28  of the open end and pulling outward while flap  20  is depressed permits the outward sliding and removal of the card from the case to expose the blisters. 
   The blister card  12  has single dose-containing blisters  30  arranged in two columns  32 . This particular arrangement permits the blisters to avoid certain internal features of the illustrated embodiments when the card is being slid inwardly or outwardly. The card is constructed in the manner well known by those skilled in the art, and includes one or more aperture for engaging internal features. The illustrated blister card  12  has one aperture or hole  34 , configured to act as both a detent receiver and a retainer receiver, which cooperatively engages the card and prevents removal of the card from the sleeve  14 . In the illustrated embodiments, aperture  34  is positioned beyond the blisters  30  and cooperates with the detent  29  to prevent movement or translation of the card until it is intentionally released by pressing or otherwise properly manipulating the release  20 . 
   In alternative embodiments a rib  38  at the end of the card closes the open end  40  of the sleeve  14  when the card is fully recessed within the case, further preventing access to the blisters  30 . The rib fits within cutout  28  and aids in outward sliding of the card. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , in the closed position rib  38  further seals open end  40  of the sleeve  14  by pressing against the inside of the top  18 . 
   Openings  46  in the sleeve top  18  allow the inward forming of a means for engaging, here illustrated as springs  48 , which press the card and urge hole  34  into engagement with retaining detent  29 . Additional means for engaging include ribs, leaf springs, dagger springs, and similar configurations, as well known to those skilled in the art, which exert a force on the card. As will be understood, the means for engaging does not have to be opposite the detent, rather the means for engaging and the detent are merely configured to cooperatively engage the detent retainer  34  of the card. 
   Cylinders  50  along side walls  52  of the base  16  are ready to receive pins  51  extending downward from the top. A retainer  54 , illustrated as the spring centered in the top  18  near the open end  40  above the recess  28 , extends through the retainer receiver, illustrated as aperture  34 , to prevent complete unintentional removal of the card. Detent  29  projects through the detent retainer, here illustrated as hole  34 , to lock the tray  12  in the sleeve  14 . Retainer  54  may be depressed by an inserted blade or replacement card to withdraw the spring from hole  34  for releasing an empty blister card  12  in preparation for inserting of a full blister card. Inner ribs  58  stabilize the card as it is slidably translated in and out of the base. 
     FIG. 4  shows a partially extended transparent sleeve top view of a closed modified rounded end locking case  11 . In the illustrated configuration, after the top  18  is assembled on the base  16 , the card is placed in the case. Alternatively, the card may be placed on the base before assembly. 
     FIG. 5  is a transparent bottom view of the sleeve  14  of package  11  ready for insertion of the card  12 . The inside of the top  18  has ribs aligned between springs  48  to hold the card against guides  64  on the inside of the base  16 . The ribs and springs  48  are of sufficient height so that the blisters are spaced from the inside of the top. 
   The head  24  of the U-shaped flap  20  is aligned between the ribs or springs  48  to warp the card in the direction of the springs at gaps  66  (best shown in  FIG. 2 ) between inner ends  68  of the ribs  58 , to release the hole  34  from the detent  29 . Optional guides  64  on the inside of the base facilitate sliding of the card. Ridges  58  at the inside of base side walls  52  may fit inside of complementary side walls on the top  18 . Push tray release flap  20  includes a rib  25  on the inside of the head  24  of the flap that cooperates with the detent  29 . As the rib  25  is pushed inward, an adjacent part of the blister card is warped toward the top  18  against the engaging appurtenants  48 , releasing the card from engagement with detent  29 . 
   Detent  29  has a straight or hook-shaped inward face to hold the card and prevent outward movement unless push bar  20  and rib  25  warp the card away from the detents. Sloping outer face on the detent warps the card away from the detent upon inward movement of the card, allowing free inward movement upon pushing on the free end of the card. 
   Initials of days of the week or other compliance related indicia located between the bubbles serve as reminders. After a pill is removed from a blister  30 , the card may be returned into the case by sliding it inwardly. During inward sliding, the sloped surface urges the aperture  34  and the card  12  away from the detent  29 . When fully inserted, aperture  34  engage the detent. 
   In alternative embodiments, not shown, a T-shaped release bar  20  is molded inward, and is pressed outward by a card. Means for engaging, such as ribs or springs  48 , are molded inward with the top  18 , as are guiding ribs positioned between or to the side of the blisters. Thus, the means for engaging support the card in holding the T-bar outward. The sloping back surfaces of the detents and the inward surfaces of ribs are radiused along with other card surfaces to facilitate sliding of the card or moving of the surfaces. The outer surface of the push bar has frictional grooves to aid in pushing the bar inward. A plurality of parallel holes  34  on the card engage parallel detents formed within the case. Pressing inward on the T-shaped release  20  warps a part of the card  12  away from the detents in opposition to the force provided by the means for engaging. The warping of the card moves the holes  34  away from the detents  29  so that the tray  12  may be slid through the open end  40  of the sleeve  14 . Withdrawing pressure from the bar  20 , that is releasing the bar, stops the tray in the next outward position. 
   The blister card may be a conventional blister package with a strategically placed hole or holes  34  added to perform the function of a detent receiver and/or a retainer receiver. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, detent and retainer receivers may be created by forming such while forming the blisters. The whole laminated cross-section of the plastic blister layer and the paper base provides strength. A constant containment element surrounds the blister card and forms the new locking case, container, or package. Detents in one hole or holes in parallel series of holes prevent unwanted outward movement of the tray. A push, pull and release sequence limits the exposure of blisters. Reverse pressure easily slides the blister tray back into the containment elements without manipulation of parts. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention.