Abstract:
A child-resistant compact for dispensing product on blister cards includes a first portion having a first panel hinged to a first clamp for capturing an end of a first blister card, and a second portion having a second panel hinged to a second clamp for capturing an end of a second blister card. The first and second clamps are connected to each other such that the first and second panels form a chamber for enclosing the blister cards. At least one child-resistant latch is on the periphery of the panels for opening one or both panels with respect to the clamps for access to the blister cards. The first and second portions of the compact preferably are of integrally molded plastic construction, either separate from or integrally with each other. The at least one chid-resistant latch preferably includes a first latch at an end of the compact opposite from the clamps and second latches on opposite sides of the compact, preferably requiring simultaneous activation to open the compact. The panels preferably include a guide adjacent to the first latch for aligning the panels as the compact is closed to facilitate interengagement of the latch elements on the panels.

Description:
[0001]     The present disclosure relates to a child-resistant compact-style container for dispensing product, such as medications or the like, from blister cards.  
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0002]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,838 discloses a compact-style child-resistant package having a case of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. An edge of a blister card, for dispensing medication or the like, is captured in a clamp formed between opposed sections of the one-piece case. A first panel is hinged to a first clamp section and a second panel is hinged to a second clamp section so that the first and/or second panel can be opened to give access to the blister card within the case. The case includes side push tabs and a front release latch between the panels for child-resistant operation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,901 discloses a child-resistant compact-style package that has side latches and a front latch for simultaneous activation to open the package. Although the child-resistant compacts disclosed in the noted patents present significant improvements over packages theretofore extant in the art, further improvements remain desirable. A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a child-resistant compact for dispensing product on blister cards having improved strength and rigidity in the opposed panels that form the case of the compact, and/or that provides improved alignment between the panels of the case as the panels are closed.  
         [0003]     The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other.  
         [0004]     A child-resistant compact for dispensing product on blister cards, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, includes a first portion having a first panel hinged to a first clamp for capturing an end of a first blister card, and a second portion having a second panel hinged to a second clamp for capturing an end of a second blister card. The first and second clamps are connected to each other such that the first and second panels form a chamber for enclosing the blister cards. At least one child-resistant latch is on the periphery of the panels for opening one or both panels with respect to the clamps for access to the blister cards. The first and second portions of the compact preferably are of integrally molded plastic construction, either separate from or integrally with each other. The at least one child-resistant latch preferably includes a first latch at an end of the compact opposite from the clamps and second latches on opposite sides of the compact, preferably requiring simultaneous activation to open the compact. The panels preferably include a guide adjacent to the first latch for aligning the panels as the compact is closed to facilitate interengagement of the latch elements on the panels. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a child-resistant compact in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the compact of  FIG. 1  in inverted orientation;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the compact in  FIG. 1  with the panels open;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the compact of  FIG. 1  with the first or upper portion of the compact removed;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the compact in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along the respective lines  6 - 6  and  7 - 7  in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary front elevational view taken substantially from the direction  9  in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  10 - 10  in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  13 - 13  in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the first or top portion of the case of the compact in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 15  is an elevational view of the first portion of the compact illustrated in  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 16 and 17  are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along the respective lines  16 - 16  and  17 - 17  in  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 18  is a front elevational view of the first latch element on the first portion of the compact illustrated in  FIGS. 14-15 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 19  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  19 - 19  in  FIG. 18 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 20  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  20 - 20  in  FIG. 14 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the second or bottom portion of the compact case illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 22  is a plan view of the compact case portion illustrated in  FIG. 21 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 23  is a side elevational view of the compact portion illustrated in  FIG. 22 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 24  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  24 - 24  in  FIG. 22 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 25  is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the direction  25  in  FIG. 23 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 26  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  26 - 26  in  FIG. 23 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a child-resistant compact in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure;  
         [0031]      FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the compact illustrated in  FIG. 27  with the panels open;  
         [0032]      FIG. 29  is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  29 - 29  in  FIG. 27 ;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 30 and 31  are fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along the respective lines  30 - 30  and  31 - 31  in  FIG. 28 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 32  is a perspective view of a case in the embodiment of  FIGS. 27-31  of two-piece molded plastic construction; and  
         [0035]      FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a case in the embodiment of  FIGS. 27-31  of alternative one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]      FIGS. 1-13  illustrate a child-resistant compact  40  in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. Compact  40  includes a container or case  42  in which there are disposed a pair of blister cards  44 , 46  that contain dispensable product, such as medication or the like in tablet form. Case  42  includes a first or top portion  48  and a second or bottom portion  50  that are secured to each other along the back edge of the case. (The terms “top” and “bottom” are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the upright orientation of the compact as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  5 . The term “compact” is employed by way of description to refer to a package of a size similar to a cosmetic compact or the like.) First portion  48 , in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , includes a first clamp  66  connected by a linear hinge  70  to a first panel  51 . Second portion  50  in this embodiment includes a second clamp  111  connected by linear hinge  114  to a second panel  55 . Clamps  66 ,  111  are interconnected so that panels  51 ,  55  can be opened along hinges  70 ,  114 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , to provide access to the blister cards. At least one child-resistant latch holds panels  51 ,  55  in the closed position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-13 , there are a front latch  52  and a pair of opposed side latches  54 ,  56  that releasably hold first and second panels  51 ,  55  in the closed position illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2  and  5 - 13 . The overall size of compact  40  preferably is such that latches  54 ,  56  can be actuated simultaneously by one hand of an adult.  
         [0037]     First or top case portion  48  is illustrated in detail in  FIGS. 14-20 . Panel  51  preferably includes a generally flat base wall  58  of generally rectangular construction, but preferably having a rounded front end as shown. A pair of opposed sidewalls  60 , 62  extend along the side edges of base wall  58 , and preferably are parallel to each other and supported and stiffened by longitudinally spaced internal gussets  64 . First clamp  66  is formed along the back edge of base wall  58 , including a first clamp member  68  integrally joined to base wall  58  by hinge  70  and a second clamp member  72  integrally joined to first clamp member  70  by a linear hinge  74 . Clamp members  68 ,  72  are generally rectangular and parallel to each other, as best seen in  FIG. 15 , along axes lateral to the front-to-back axis of first case portion  48 . First clamp member  68  includes at least one clamp element, preferably in the form of a pair of laterally spaced split pegs  76 . (Directional words such as “laterally” are employed by way of description and not limitation with respect to the back-to-front dimension of the case and compact, with the “back” being at the clamps  66 ,  111  and the “front” being at the end opposite to the clamps.) Second clamp element  72  includes at least one clamp member, preferably in the form of laterally spaced sockets  78  that are longitudinally aligned with associated pegs  76 . When second clamp element  72  is folded along hinge  74  over first clamp element  68 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , sockets  78  cooperate with pegs  76  to capture blister card  44  on first portion  48 . A peg  77  limits pivotal motion of second clamp element  72  into first clamp element  68 . Clamp element  72  preferably also includes laterally spaced apertures  79  that cooperate with pegs on second section  50  to assemble the compact, as will be described. First clamp element  68  has sidewalls  69  to enclose second clamp element  72  in such folded position to present a uniform outer appearance.  
         [0038]     A pair of laterally opposed latch arms  80 ,  82  extend from base wall  58  through associated recesses  84  in sidewalls  60 ,  62 . Recesses  84  help isolate latch arms  80 ,  82  from the remainder of panel  51  as the arms are bent inwardly, as will be described. Each latch arm  80 ,  82  includes an outwardly convex wall portion  86  ( FIG. 20 ) connected to base wall  58  by a flexible resilient hinge portion  88 . A reinforcing wall  90 , 92  ( FIGS. 14-15  and  20 ) extends behind each latch arm  80 ,  82  to interconnect the spaced portions of sidewalls  60 ,  62 , and thus to strengthen the sidewalls as well as base wall  58  around latch arms  80 ,  82  against bending when the latch arms are actuated. Walls  90 , 92  are integral with side walls  60 , 62  and are integral with base wall  58 . A pair of spaced ribs  93  ( FIGS. 15 and 20 ) preferably extend from each latch arm wall  88  to the associated reinforcing wall  90  or  92 , integrally with base wall  58 , to reinforce the latch arms. An arcuate end wall  94  integrally extends between sidewalls  60 , 62  in this embodiment having a rounded front end. (End wall  94  could be straight or of other suitable geometry without departing from the disclosure in its broadest aspects.) A latch arm  96  is disposed within a gap  98  in end wall  94  and is integrally connected to base wall  58 . A reinforcing wall  100  extends behind latch arm  96 , being integral with both sides of end wall  94  as well as the adjacent portion of base wall  58 , to strengthen panel  51  against bending upon activation of latch arm  96 . A pair of tabs  102 ,  104  ( FIG. 18 ) extend laterally from the end of latch arm  96  remote from base wall  58 . A pair of spaced ribs  105  ( FIGS. 15 and 19 ) preferably extend between wall  100  and latch arm  96 , adjacent to and integrally with base wall  58 , to strengthen the latch arm. An internal shoulder  107  ( FIG. 13 ) preferably extends around the periphery of panel  51 .  
         [0039]     Second case portion  50  ( FIGS. 21-26 ) is to some extent a mirror image of first portion  48  ( FIGS. 14-20 ). Thus, panel  55  of second portion  50  includes a generally flat base wall  106  with parallel sidewalls  108 , 110  strengthened by gussets  64 . Second clamp  111  includes a first clamp element  112  integrally joined to base wall  106  by linear hinge  114 , and a second clamp element  116  integrally joined to first clamp portion  112  by a linear hinge  118 . Clamp elements  112 ,  116  are generally rectangular and include associated split pegs  120  and sockets  122  so that clamp  111  captures blister card  46  when clamp element  116  is folded along hinge  118  and sockets  122  encompass split pegs  120  ( FIG. 7 ). A peg  121  ( FIGS. 6 and 21 - 22 ) limits motion of second clamp element  116  into first clamp element. First clamp element  112  has sidewalls  119  to enclose second clamp element in the folded position to present a uniform outer appearance. Split pegs  123  ( FIGS. 6, 22  and  23 ) on clamp element  116  are adapted to be received in sockets  79  ( FIGS. 6, 15  and  16 ) to secure first and second portions  48 ,  50  to each other and thereby form case  42 .  
         [0040]     There is a recess  124 , at the (preferably arcuate) front end wall  125  of case portion  50 . A pair of laterally spaced latch tabs  126 ,  128  are opposed to each other across recess  124 . Tabs  126 ,  128  have forwardly facing inclined cam surfaces  127 ,  129  ( FIGS. 24 and 25 ). A reinforcing wall  130  bridges recess  124  and is integrally joined to base wall  106  to strengthen the front end of second case portion  50 . A pair of laterally spaced guide post  132 , 134  extend from recess  124  at positions respectively outward from latch tabs  126 , 128  but within end wall  125 . A pair of latch pockets or recesses  136 ,  138  are laterally spaced and opposed to each other in sidewalls  110 ,  108  respectively. Each latch recess  136 ,  138  is formed by a U-shaped wall section  140  that has an open center  141 . Open center  141  also opens at  143  in base wall  106  at each recess  136 ,  138 . The side portions of wall sections  140  are connected to sidewalls  108 ,  110  and braced by gussets  142  against bending with respect to the sidewalls and base wall  106 . Gussets  142  are internally integral with base wall  106  and each associated side portion of wall section  140 , as best seen in  FIGS. 21, 22  and  26 . The inside upper edges of wall sections  140  preferably are angled, as best seen at  144  in  FIG. 26 , to form cam surfaces for engagement by latch arms  80 ,  82  on panel  51 . An external shoulder  145  ( FIG. 13 ) preferably extends around panel  55 .  
         [0041]     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-26 , portions  48 ,  50  of case  42  preferably are of respectively separate integrally molded plastic constructions. In assembly, blister card  44  is located over pegs  76  and  77  on first portion  48 , and second clamp element  72  is folded along hinge  74  until sockets  78  engage pegs  76  to capture blister card  44  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Likewise, blister card  46  is assembled over split pegs  120  on second case portion  50 , and clamp element  116  is folded along hinge  118  to clamp blister card  46  in position ( FIG. 7 ). Clamps  66 ,  111  are then aligned and pegs  123  on clamp  111  are inserted into sockets  79  on clamp  66 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , to lock the clamps and case portions together. Thus, the upper and lower case portions, with the blister cards assembled thereto, are connected to each other while panels  51 ,  55  are free to pivot around hinges  70 ,  114 .  
         [0042]     As panels  51 ,  55  are closed against each other, from the open position of  FIG. 3  to the closed position of  FIGS. 1 and 4 - 13 , guide posts  132 ,  134  on panel  55  are received between walls  94 ,  100  on panel  51  ( FIG. 12 ). The free ends of posts  132 ,  134  preferably are angled at both front and back, as best seen in  FIGS. 12 and 24 , so that engagement between the guide posts and wall  94  or  100  will cam panels  51 ,  55  into longitudinal alignment and thereby promote engagement at the latches. Tabs  102 ,  104  on latch arm  96  ride along outer cam surfaces  127 ,  129  on latch tabs  126 ,  128 , camming latch arm  96  outwardly until tabs  102 , 104  snap beneath the lower edges of tabs  126 ,  128 . In this respect, front latch  52  operates in the manner disclosed in U.S. Patent document 2005/0023285A1, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. At the same time, the convex wall portions  86  of latch arms  80 ,  82  on first case portion  48  engage and are cammed inwardly by cam surfaces  144  on wall portions  140  until convex wall portion  86  on each latch arm  80 ,  82  snaps into recesses  136 ,  138 . Support walls  90 ,  92 ,  100  on panel  51 , and support wall  130  and gussets  142  on panel  55  restrain the respective panels against bending at the latch elements.  
         [0043]     To open compact  40 , front latch  52  and side latches  54 ,  56  must be released simultaneously. Front latch  52  is released by pressing latch arm  96  inwardly, from the position shown in solid in  FIG. 10  to the position shown in phantom wherein tabs  102 ,  104  on latch arm  96  clears tabs  126 ,  128  on panel  55 . Latch  56  (and latch  54 ) is released when latch arm  82  is pushed inwardly from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in phantom in  FIG. 11 . Latch arm  96  may then be pushed upwardly, with tabs  102 ,  104  behind tabs  126 ,  128 , and/or panel  55  pulled downwardly to open panels  51 ,  55 . Consumer instructions to open the package can be molded, printed or applied as a label to one or both panels  51 ,  55 .  
         [0044]      FIGS. 27-30  illustrate a compact  150  in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Compact  150  includes a case  151  having a first or top portion  152  and a second or bottom portion  154 , each of which includes a clamp  66 ,  111  as previously described to capture associated blister cards  44 ,  46 . First case portion  152  has a panel  153  connected to clamp  66  by a linear hinge  70 . Second case portion  154  includes a panel  155  connected to clamp  111  by a linear hinge  114 . A front latch  156  of compact  150  is similar to front latch  52  previously described, although latch arm  158  integral with panel  153  is an extension of end wall  194  rather than being separated from the end wall as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-26 . In compact  150 , the side latches  196 ,  198  include latch arms  200 ,  202  on panel  155  that are extensions of panel sidewalls  110 ,  108 , rather than being separated from the sidewalls as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-26 . The ends of latch arms  200 ,  202  include lugs  204  ( FIGS. 29 and 30 ) that are received into openings  206  ( FIGS. 29 and 31 ) on panel  153  and by snap-fit over ledges  208 . Thus, as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-27 , front latch arm  158  must be pushed inwardly simultaneously with inward movement of side latch arms  200 ,  202  to open panel  153  and/or panel  155  and obtain access to blister cards  44 ,  46 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 32  illustrates an embodiment in which first case portion  152  and second case portion  154 , in case  151  of  FIG. 28 , are of separate integrally molded plastic constructions.  FIG. 33  illustrates a modification in which first case portion  152  and second case portion  154  are of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction connected by a linear hinge line  210 . This type of one-piece construction also could be used in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-26 .  
         [0046]     There thus has been disclosed a child-resistant compact for dispensing product on blister cards, such as medication or the like, that fully satisfies all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The disclosure has been presented in connection with several exemplary embodiments, and a number of additional modifications and variations have been described. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing discussion. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.