Abstract:
There is provided a child-resistant container having a top and bottom hingedly connected together, first, second and third cooperative locking devices on both the upper and lower members, the locking devices being operative such that a first locking device can be operated to permit a limited unlocking between the two members at which time the second and third locking devices must be operated to fully open the container. A double locking action on two of the locking devices is illustrated as well as an arrangement for dispensing a product from a blister pack within the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to containers and more particularly, relates to a child-resistant/senior friendly package suitable for containing medicants. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of child-resistant packaging is well known in the art and is utilized for many different types of goods. The present invention is primarily directed to packaging for those products which represent a potential hazard in the hands of children—i.e. medicaments and the like. 
     Packaging and design to be child-resistant while still being senior-friendly will depend upon the product being utilized—i.e. size, format, etc. For example, in the field of pharmaceuticals, many different types of pill containers are used commercially. They generally have locking tops which require either a certain alignment between the top and container or a specific force exerted on the top. Also known are individually packaged medicaments which are often sealed in different types of blister packages which are designed to prevent easy access by children. 
     In designing child-resistant packaging, it is important that the package can be opened without undue difficulty by the average consumer for whom the product is intended. This is frequently a problem and one of the primary users of medication are the elderly, and packaging which relies on a certain amount of strength to open is often self-defeating and at the end users find it difficult or impossible to open such packaging. As a result, compliance with taking the medication may be low. 
     Some pharmaceutical products are packaged in the form of pills or tablets and are sealed in child-resistant blister packages. Frequently, these packages are difficult for the elderly to open. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a child-resistant package which is senior friendly. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide packaging suitable for a number of different items and wherein a substantial amount of strength is not required while still incorporating child-resistant features. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide packaging wherein medicaments in blister packages may easily be removed therefrom. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide packaging providing feel safe features should a portion of the package be accidentally opened. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a child-resistant container comprising a bottom member adapted to receive and contain at least one item to be packaged, the bottom member having a base and at least one wall extending upwardly therefrom, a cover member, first, second and third cooperative locking devices on both the cover member and the bottom member, the first, second and third locking devices being operative such that when the cover member is in a closed position with respect to the bottom member, the locking devices function to maintain the cover member and bottom member in a locked relationship, the first locking device permitting limited movement between the cover member and bottom member while maintaining a locking relationship such that the second and third locking devices may be moved to an unlocked position while the first locking device is locked, and the second and third locking devices include means to prevent opening of the container when only one of the second and third locking devices is opened. 
     According to a further object of the present invention, there is provided a child-resistant container comprising a bottom member adapted to receive and contain at least one item to be packaged, the bottom member having a base and at least one wall extending upwardly therefrom, a cover member, first, second and third cooperative locking devices on both the cover member and the bottom member, the first, second and third locking devices being operative such that when the cover member is in a closed position with respect to the bottom member, the locking devices function to maintain the cover member and bottom member in a locked relationship, the first locking device permitting limited movement between the cover member and bottom member while maintaining a locking relationship such that the second and third locking devices may be moved to an unlocked position while the first locking device is locked, the second and third locking devices include means to prevent opening of the container when only one of the second and third locking devices is opened, a plurality of projections extending outwardly from an inner surface of the bottom member, a blister package having a plurality of blister pockets covered by a rupturable foil, the blister package being placed such that at least one of the blister pockets rests on at least one of the projections such that when pressure is applied, a product in the blister pocket will be forced through the rupturable foil. 
     The present invention provides a child-resistant container which is improvement over the prior art such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,069 in that there is provided a double locking feature on the side wall locks. This prevents only one of the locks being opened by a child and sufficient force being exerted to cause the other side lock to likewise open. 
     Also, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are provided means within the container to store blister packs and aids to assist in the dispensing of a product from the blister pack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container in a closed position showing operation of the opening of the container; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevational view thereof; 
         FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b  and  8   c  are sectional views taken along the lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 5  showing the opening of the container; 
         FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  are sectional views taken along the lines  9 - 9  of  FIG. 5  showing the locked and open positions; 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along the lines  11 - 11  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a partial view illustrating the placement of a blister package within the container; and 
         FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b  are sectional views illustrating the removal of an object from a blister pocket. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a container generally designated by reference numeral  10 . 
     Container  10 , as may be seen in  FIG. 2 , has a bottom member generally designated by reference numeral  14  and a cover member generally designated by reference numeral  12 . Cover  12  and bottom member  14  are connected by means of a living hinge  16 . 
     Bottom member  14  includes a first lower side wall  18  and an opposed lower side wall  20 . Extending between side walls  18  and  20  is a lower front wall  22  and a lower rear wall  24 . Forming the base of bottom member  14  is a bottom wall  26 . 
     Extending outwardly from lower side wall  18  are positioning ribs  28  for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow. Similarly, positioning ribs  30  extend outwardly from lower side wall  20 . 
     As also being seen, extending from lower rear wall  24  are a plurality of retaining tabs  32  while a plurality of retaining tabs  34  extend upwardly and inwardly from bottom wall  26  proximate lower front wall  22 . 
     Formed in lower front wall  22  is a lower front locking element generally designated by reference numeral  36  and which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow. Similarly, formed in side walls  18  and  20  are lower side locking elements  38  and  40  respectively. 
     Cover  12  includes a first cover side wall  44  and a second cover side wall  46 . A cover front wall  48  extends between cover side walls  44  and  46  as does cover rear wall  50 . There is also provided a cover top wall  52 . 
     Extending inwardly from cover rear wall  50  are a plurality of retaining tabs  54  similar to bottom retaining tabs  32 . Extending outwardly from cover top wall  52  adjacent cover front wall  48  are retaining tabs  56 . 
     Cover  12  is also provided with locking elements designed to cooperate with locking elements on the bottom member  14  and to this end, there is provided a top front wall locking element  58 , and top side wall locking elements  60  and  62  associated with side walls  44  and  46  respectively. 
     For reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow, extending inwardly from cover top wall  52  are a plurality of projections  64 ; similarly, there are provided bottom wall projections  66  which extend outwardly from bottom wall  26 . 
     The lock arrangement of top front wall locking element  58  and lower front wall locking element  36  will now be described. In this respect, and as may be seen in  FIGS. 8   a  to  8   c , lower front wall locking element  36  includes a first inwardly extending portion  70  from which extends a vertical portion  72 . A second horizontal portion  74  parallel to inwardly extending portion  70  thereby defines a hook type member. Provided in cover top wall  52  is a recess  76  into which horizontal portion  74  will fit and thereby retain the cover  12  and bottom member  14  in a locked position. 
     Each of the side locking members is identical and thus, only one will be described in detail herein. Thus, each of the lower side wall locking elements  38  and  40  comprise a first inwardly extending section  80 , a vertical section  82  extending upwardly therefrom, and a horizontal section  84 . Horizontal section  84  has a slot  86  formed therein. 
     Each of top side wall locking elements  60  and  62  include a flange  90  extending along side walls  44 , 46 . An aperture generally designated by reference numeral  92  is formed in side walls  44 ,  46  and is designed to receive horizontal portion  84  to enter into a locking relationship. It will be noticed that there is a second locking projection  94  ( FIG. 4 ) provided on flange  90  and which is designed to seat within slot  86 . 
     In operation, for the opening of the container, pressure is initially exerted on lower front wall  22  to disengage lower front wall locking element  36  from top front wall locking element  58  as designated by arrow  35  may be seen in  FIG. 8   b.    
     Subsequently, pressure is exerted (as shown by arrow  37 ) on lower side wall locking elements  38  and  40  to disengage the same from top side wall locking elements  60  and  62  respectively. 
     In respect to the above, the unlocking of the container is a sequential event. Thus, one can operate the unlocking of front wall locking elements  36  and  58  which will permit a limited movement of the cover  12  with respect to bottom member  14 . In other words, at this point in time, side wall locking elements  38 ,  40 ,  60  and  62  are designed to permit limited movement. Subsequently, pressure must be placed on the lower side wall locking elements  38  and  40  to disengage the same. 
     The engagement of locking projection  94  with slot  86  provides a substantial safety feature with respect to the child-resistant nature of the pack. Due to these locking projections, it becomes extremely difficult to open only one side and have the other side disengaged. Rather, the secondary locking effect makes the same very difficult to achieve. 
     As previously mentioned, the present invention may be utilized with blister packs which typically have a first blister layer with blister pockets  100  sealed with a foil layer  102  as shown in  FIGS. 10 to 12   b . In this respect, the arrangement is such that projections  64  and  66  are each associated with a blister pocket  100  such that when pressure is placed on the blister package as shown in  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b , the contents will rupture through the foil  102  and access may be had thereto. 
     In order to assist in the opening of the package, indicator arrows  104  may be provided on the foil layer  102 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 12   a  and  12   b , pressure would be exerted on the arrows  104  to thereby rupture the foil  102  to permit access to the contents of the blister pocket  100 . 
     Also, as may be seen in  FIG. 3 , the opening of the package may conveniently be accomplished by using a thumb to open the front locking members and using a thumb and finger to open the side locking members. 
     It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.