Patent ID: 7967144

Claim:
A package for storing tablets or like items and having child-resistant dispensing properties, comprising: a card having a base strip on which a plurality of spaced-apart compartments are provided for holding the tablets or like items, said base strip having an opposed pair of side edges and a tail end, said tail end having an opposed pair of lateral extensions such that one of said lateral extensions extends laterally from one of said pair of side edges and another of said lateral extensions extends laterally from an opposite one of said pair of side edges, said lateral extensions being connected to said base strip via live hinges and said base strip being formed of a sheet of plastic with said lateral extensions and live hinges being formed integral with said base strip; and a separate hollow sleeve having an opposed pair of side edges extending between opposite ends of said sleeve with at least one of said ends being a dispensing end, said sleeve providing a protective housing for said card when said card is in a storage position within said sleeve, and said card being slidable relative to said sleeve between said storage position and a dispensing position in which said card extends at least partially outside said sleeve to expose at least one of said compartments; said card having a locking tab formed on each of said lateral extensions; said live hinges of said lateral extensions extending parallel to each other and enabling said lateral extensions to pivot relative to said base strip about said live hinges; and said side edges of said sleeve having openings cooperating and registering with said locking tabs of said card to automatically lock said card in said storage position when said card is slid within said sleeve to said storage position with said lateral extensions pivoted upwardly relative to said card about said live hinges such that said lateral extensions extend generally perpendicular to said base strip.