Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a package for containing separate items, such as pills, tablets, doses of medicine, or the like, that can be stored therein and dispensed therefrom by an intended end-user, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a package including an outer sleeve housing a blister card that is slidable into and out of the sleeve whereby the structures of the sleeve and blister card interact to provide child-resistant, senior-friendly dispensing properties. 
         [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,642 B2 issued to Knutson et al. and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2009/0045096 A1 of Knutson et al. and 2009/0178948 A1 of Reilley et al. are assigned to Anderson Packaging, Inc., the assignee of the present application, and disclose examples of packages including a molded plastic sleeve and blister card combination that provides child-resistant, senior-friendly dispensing properties. Other examples of packages are disclosed, for instance, by U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007/0102318 A1 and 2005/0183981 A1. 
         [0003]    Although the packages disclosed by the above referenced patent and published applications are suitable for their intended purposes, there is a need for alternate designs of such packages that are of novel construction and that are difficult for a young child to open (i.e. receive a so-called “F=1” child resistant rating), yet can readily be opened and closed by an intended end-user, such as a senior citizen. Such a package may include a molded plastic container body or sleeve for storing a blister card, tray or the like on which numerous items, such as tablets, doses of medicine, or the like, are individually secured in blister compartments. Preferably, the blister card should be able to be slid between a retracted position in which the items are protected and housed within the sleeve and a dispensing position in which the blister card at least partially extends in an exposed position from the sleeve. In addition, preferably the package is one that can be made of a minimal amount of plastic, yet be of sufficient strength to produce a functional child-resistant package. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A package is provided that is able to contain tablets or like separate dispensable items in a manner exhibiting child-resistant and senior-friendly storage and dispensing properties. The package includes a card, such as a blister card, and a protective hollow sleeve. The card has a base strip on which a plurality of spaced-apart compartments are provided for holding the tablets or like items, and the sleeve has an opposed pair of side edges extending between opposite ends with at least one of the ends being a dispensing end of the package. The sleeve provides a protective housing for the card when the card is in a storage position within the sleeve, and the card is slidable relative to the sleeve between the storage position and a dispensing position in which the card extends at least partially outside the sleeve to expose at least one of the compartments. The card has a pair of locking tabs extending laterally from opposite sides of the card, and the side edges of the sleeve cooperatively engage the locking tabs to lock the card in the storage position when the card is slid within the sleeve to the storage position. 
         [0005]    The side edges of the sleeve can have openings or recesses cooperating and registering with the locking tabs of the card to automatically lock the card in the storage position when the card is slid within the sleeve to the storage position. The locking tabs are resiliently connected to the card such that the locking tabs are resiliently urged into the openings or recesses in the side edges of the sleeve when the locking tabs register with the openings or recesses. In addition, the resilient connection of the locking tabs to the card is flexible such that simultaneous squeezing of the locking tabs toward one another and inward of the sleeve unlocks the card from the sleeve and permits the card to slide relative to the sleeve, such as to a dispensing position. 
         [0006]    The card can have a pair of lateral extensions, or wings, on which the locking tabs are located. The lateral extensions connect to the card via live hinges and pivot relative to the card about the live hinges. The base strip of the card can be a sheet of plastic material with the lateral extensions and live hinges being formed as an integral part of the base strip. The hollow sleeve can be a one-piece, molded, elongate, plastic sleeve having opposite wall panels interconnected and spaced-apart by the opposite pair of elongate side edges. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling a child-resistant, senior-friendly package for containing tablets or like separate dispensable items is provided. A blister card is formed with blister compartments and a pair of wings extending laterally of the blister card from opposite sides of the blister card, and a locking tab is provided on each wing. The wings are folded or pivoted about resilient hinges interconnecting the wings to the blister card, and the blister card is slid into a protective sleeve while the wings remain folded until the locking tabs on the wings register and cooperatively resiliently snap into openings formed in side edges of the sleeve to lock the blister card in a storage position within the sleeve. The method can also include the step of molding the sleeve of plastic such that the sleeve is a one piece molded hollow body having an open dispensing end and an opposite end. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention should become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of a package assembly according to the present invention including a blister card locked within a protective sleeve; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is perspective view of the underside of the package assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the package of  FIG. 1  showing the blister card partially inserted into the protective sleeve during an initial loading operation; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are plan views of opposite panels of the protective sleeve according to the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a blister card according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the package assembly along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the package similar to  FIG. 7 , except with the locking feature of the package disengaged to permit the blister card to slide relative to the protective sleeve; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the package assembly along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing the blister card in a dispensing position adjacent the dispensing end of the protective sleeve; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the package assembly along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the package assembly along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is perspective view of a second embodiment of a package assembly according to the present invention including a pair of blister cards locked within a single protective sleeve; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the package of  FIG. 13  showing the blister cards partially inserted into the protective sleeve during an initial loading operation; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the package assembly along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the package similar to  FIG. 15 , except with the locking feature of the upper card disengaged to permit the upper blister card to slide relative to the protective sleeve; 
           [0024]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the package assembly of  FIG. 13  along the longitudinal axis of the assembly; 
           [0025]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 17  except both blister cards are shown in their dispensing positions adjacent the dispensing end of the protective sleeve; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the package assembly of  FIG. 18  along line  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    First and second embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 1-12  and  FIGS. 13-19 , respectively. The first and second embodiments have common features; however, a primary difference between the embodiments is that the first embodiment is specifically directed to a package including only a single blister card; whereas, the second embodiment is directed to a similar package able to include a plurality of separate blister cards. For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the embodiments are described by referring mainly to examples thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the embodiments may be practiced without limitation to at least some of the specific details. 
         [0028]    With respect to the first embodiment, a fully assembled package  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The package  10  has a compact box-like shape that can be generally thin and elongate and that can be held in a person&#39;s hand. A relatively-rigid outer sleeve  12  of a generally rectangular configuration houses a separately-manufactured blister card  14  or the like that has a set of individual blister compartments  16 . Each blister compartment initially contains a pill, tablet and/or like separate small item (not shown) which can be stored within the package  10  and dispensed therefrom. 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 1 , the blister card  14  is shown in a storage position in which the blister card  14  is housed and protected within the sleeve  12 . In this condition, the pills, tablets and/or like separate small items within the blister compartments  16  cannot be accessed, dispensed, or otherwise separated from the blister card  14 . Accordingly, a young child cannot access the tablets or the like, or the blister compartments  16 , when the blister card  14  is retained in the storage position. 
         [0030]    For purposes of dispensing a pill, tablet and/or like separate small item from the package  10 , the blister card  14  can be slid relative to the outer sleeve  12  through an open end  18  of the sleeve  12  to a dispensing position under certain conditions. A dispensing position of the blister card  14  is shown, for instance, in  FIG. 10 . In this position, one or more blister compartments  16  can be accessed external of the sleeve  12  for dispensing a pill, tablet and/or like separate small item from the blister card  14 . For instance, pressure can be readily exerted downward upon one of the exposed blister compartments  16  to force the tablet or the like to break through a backing layer  18  on the underside of the blister card  14 . 
         [0031]    A feature of the package  10  of the present invention is that it includes a resilient-locking and squeeze-release mechanism that provides child-resistant properties with respect to sliding the blister card  14  from the storage position to a dispensing position. When the blister card  14  is fully inserted into the outer sleeve  12  (i.e., in the storage position as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the blister card  14  becomes automatically locked and engaged to the sleeve  12  and cannot be removed from the outer sleeve  12  without a user simultaneously accomplishing multiple tasks that would be considered difficult for a young child to accomplish. For example, specific locations of opposite outer edges of the outer sleeve  12  are required to be simultaneously squeezed inward in opposite directions toward each other while at the same time a small exposed leading edge  20  of the blister card  14  is gripped and pulled through the open dispensing end  22  of the outer sleeve  12 . Thus, a user must simultaneously perform both the squeezing and pulling actions for the blister card  14  to be freed from the storage position. 
         [0032]    These simultaneous actions are considered difficult for a young child to accomplish for the following reasons. The width “W” of the package  10  can be provided such that a young child&#39;s hand is not expected to be sufficiently large as to be able to span and grasp about the width “W” which is otherwise required to squeeze the package  10  with a single hand. Also, the simultaneous actions of squeezing the package  10 , for instance at one end  24  of the package  10 , and pulling the blister card  14  forward at the opposite open end  22  of the package  10  requires a certain level of dexterity also not expected of a young child. 
         [0033]    However, it should be noted that an adult, including a senior citizen, should readily be able to operate the package  10 . One hand of the adult should be able to readily grip and squeeze the package  10  adjacent the non-dispensing end  24  and the other hand of the adult should be able to grip and pull the exposed leading edge  20  of the blister card  14  at the opposite open dispensing end  22  of the package  10 . After the blister card  14  is partially or fully extended from the package  10  in a dispensing position, force can be exerted on one of the blister compartments  16  to break the contained item through a foil or like backing layer  18  on the underside of the blister card  14  that seals the item within the blister compartment  16 . Thereafter, the blister card  14  can be pushed to slide back into the sleeve  12  to return the blister card  14  to the storage position. When this occurs, the locking mechanism is automatically actuated and the blister card  14  is once again locked within the outer sleeve  12  as discussed above. 
         [0034]    In the first illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the outer sleeve  12  is molded of a material such that it is hollow and made of one-piece. For example, the sleeve  12  can be made of plastic formed into shape by injection molding, blow molding, or like molding technique. A benefit of molding the sleeve as an integral single piece is that the amount of plastic required to make the sleeve can be significantly reduced while maintaining a desired degree of strength and rigidity needed for providing a functional child resistant package. Also, the process of assembling the package is greatly simplified since very little is required relative to preparing the sleeve. The material used to make the sleeve  12  can be a plastic material, a recycled plastic material, a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene, or any other material (metal, composite, paperboard, etc.) that can be formed into a sleeve-shape container that is preferably of one-piece construction. 
         [0035]    In the first illustrated embodiment, the sleeve  12  includes a substantially-rectangular, relatively-large upper wall panel  26 , a substantially-rectangular, relatively-large lower wall panel  28 , an opposed pair of side edges  30  and  32 , the open dispensing end  22 , and the opposite end  24 . The opposite end  24  may be a non-dispensing end and may be provided in a closed condition. As discussed below in greater detail, the end  24  may be used to initially load a blister card  14  into the sleeve  12  before the end  24  is closed. This enables the open dispensing end  22  to be provided with a smaller opening which can be specifically designed to prevent complete separation of the blister card  14  from the sleeve  12  when the blister card  14  is positioned in a full dispensing position and extends from the sleeve  12  via the dispensing end  22 . 
         [0036]    The upper and lower wall panels  26  and  28  are required to extend over and parallel to the upper and lower faces of the blister card  14 ; thus, the upper and lower panels  26  and  28  merely need to be of a size that is slightly greater than the size of the blister card  14  or at least the area of the blister card  14  on which the blister compartments  16  are located. The upper and lower wall panels  26  and  28  can be generally solid; however, as illustrated, they can include slot or other shaped openings  34  for aesthetic purposes and/or for purposes of reducing the amount of plastic required to make the sleeve. Although the openings  34  exist in the panels  26  and  28 , their pattern, location and size are such that they prevent unwanted access and dispensing of the contained items from the blister compartments  16  and such that they do not greatly reduce the desired strength or rigidity of the package  10 . The panels  26  and  28  can also include an optional window-type opening  36  for aesthetic purposes or for providing space for a label (not shown) or the like on the blister card  14  to be readable through one or both panels  26  and  28  of the sleeve  12  when the blister card  14  is in the storage position. Finally, the panels  26  and  28  can include a small cut-out section  38  adjacent the open dispensing end  22  of the sleeve  12  for purposes of exposing the leading edge  20  of the blister card  14  thereby enabling ready gripping of the leading edge  20  when the blister card is to be slid/pulled through the open dispensing end  22  of the package  10 . 
         [0037]    The side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12  define the thickness “T” of the package  10  and therefore the spacing between the wall panels  26  and  28 . This spacing need only be slightly greater than the height of the blister compartments  16  as best shown in  FIG. 9 . A pair of openings, flexible recesses, or the like  40  are formed in the opposite side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12 . These openings form part of the locking mechanism of the package  10  which secures a blister card  14  in the storage position. Preferably, the openings or recesses  40  are located remote from the open dispensing end  22  of the package  10  and adjacent the functionally closed end  24  of the package  10 . Alternatively, the openings or recesses  40  can be located anywhere along the side edges  30  and  32 . In addition, the openings or recesses  40  can be located directly across from one another as shown in  FIG. 1 , or they can be offset or staggered from one another along the side edges  30  and  32 . 
         [0038]    For purposes of maximizing child-resistance of the package, the spacing “W” between the opposite openings  40  in the side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12  can be selected such that the spacing “W” is relatively large in comparison to the size of young child&#39;s hand, yet is readily engage-able between the thumb and finger of one hand of an adult. For example, the spacing “W” can be 2 inches, 3 inches, or greater. Of course, the spacing “W” can also be 1 inch or greater. 
         [0039]    The non-dispensing end  24  of the sleeve  12  can include an end wall  42 . For instance, the end wall  42  can be secured in place (snapped, held by friction, bonded, glued, taped, etc.) to close the otherwise open end  24  of the sleeve  12  after the blister card  14  is loaded into the sleeve  12  through, for instance, the non-dispensing end  24 . See  FIG. 3 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  9 , the end wall  42  can be formed integral with one of the wall panels  26  or  28  via a live hinge  44  and can be bent or folded into position to close the end  24  of the sleeve  12 . Alternatively, the end wall  42  can be separate of the sleeve  12  and be secured in place on the end  24  of the sleeve  12 . Yet another alternative is to utilize tape, a post, a flange or the like to provide a stop adjacent the end  24  of the sleeve  12  merely for the purpose of preventing the blister card  14  from passing through the end  24  of the sleeve  12 . 
         [0040]    Turning to the structure of the blister card  14 , it is best illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The illustrated blister card  14  includes an elongate, generally-planar base strip of material  46  from which a plurality of laterally spaced-apart raised blister compartments  16  project. For example, the strip  46  can be made of thermoformable transparent plastic material and the blister compartments  16  can be provided as depressions/projections molded into a face thereof. Other configurations are also possible. A tablet or like small item can be placed in each hollow open ended compartment  16  and a foil backing or the like  18  can be secured (via adhesion or the like) to a rear face of the strip  46  to seal the tablets or like small items within the blister compartments  16 . 
         [0041]    In the first illustrated embodiment, the blister card  14  includes a tail end section  48  opposite from its leading edge  20 . The tail end section  48  can be formed as an integral continuation of the base strip  46 , or alternatively, can be formed separate of the base strip  46  and simply be secured to one end thereof. The purpose of the tail end section  48  is to cooperate with the side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12  to form the locking/release mechanism. The tail end section  48  can also be used to carry a label or other information which is viewable through the window-like opening  36  of the sleeve  12  discussed above. Further, the tail end section  48  can include ribs  50  or other formations for purposes of strengthening or rigidifying the tail end section  48  of the blister card  14 . 
         [0042]    In the illustrated first embodiment, the tail end section  48 , as manufactured, includes a pair of lateral extensions or wings  52  in which tabs or like projections  54  are formed and/or attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the tabs  54  are formed as a thermoformed hollow projection or depression from the base strip material  46  and extend from the base strip material  46  in an opposite direction relative to the blister compartments  16 . The tabs  54  function as latches of the locking mechanism of the package  10  and are cooperatively receivable in the openings or recesses  40  in the side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12 . Preferably, the wings  52  interconnect to the tail end section via resilient live hinges  56  which permit the wings  52  to be resiliently bent, flexed, folded, or pivoted relative to the remainder of the tail end section  48 . This enables the wings  52  to be positioned generally perpendicular to the base strip material  46  to enable initial insertion of the blister card  14  into the sleeve  12 . In this position, the tabs or latches  54  extend laterally of the blister card  14  in opposite directions such they can register with and extend within and/or through the openings  40  in the side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12 . 
         [0043]    The interconnection between the wings  52  and the remainder of the tail end section  48  is such that a resilient force is constantly exerted on the tabs  54  in a direction into engagement with the openings or recesses  40  of the side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12 . This force results in the wings  52  attempting to pivot about the live hinges  56  to return to a flattened, as manufactured, condition. Thus, when the tabs  54  register with the openings  40 , they resiliently pivot into the openings  40  and become trapped or locked therein. Undesired dislodging of the tabs  54  from the openings  40  is avoided due to this constant resilient force created by the interconnection of the wings  52  to the tail end section  48 . 
         [0044]    Accordingly, the separately-manufactured blister card  14  can be inserted into the sleeve  12  by sliding the leading edge  18  of the blister card  14  into the rear end  24  of the sleeve  12 . See  FIG. 3 . The wings  52  of the tail end section  48  of the blister card  14  shown in  FIG. 3  are folded upward to permit the wings  52  to be received within the sleeve  12 . As best shown in  FIG. 11 , the tabs or latches  54  engage the solid side edges  30  and  32  of the sleeve  12  until they register with the openings  40 . When this occurs, the tabs  54  resiliently extend into the openings  40  due to the wings  52  resiliently pivoting about the live hinges  56 . See  FIG. 7 . Thereafter, the end wall  42  or the like can be secured in place across the rear end  24  of the sleeve  12  to provide a stop thereby preventing withdraw of the blister card  14  through the rear end. 
         [0045]    When a user desires to dispense a tablet or the like from the package  10 , the user squeezes the opposite tabs or latches  54 , such as between a thumb and finger of one hand, to simultaneously position the tabs or latches  54  inward as best shown in  FIG. 8 . In this condition, the user can grip the leading front edge  18  of the blister card  14  adjacent the open dispensing end  22  of the sleeve (see  FIG. 1 ) and pull the blister card  14  through the open dispensing end  22  via a sliding motion. As the blister card  14  is slid through the sleeve  12 , the tabs  54  engage and slide along the solid sections of the side edges  30  and  32  as best illustrated in  FIG. 11 . However, the sleeve  12  includes a pair of stops  58  adjacent the open dispensing end  22  of the sleeve  12  which engage the wings  52  and prevent the tail end section  48  from passing through the open dispensing end  22 . For example, see  FIGS. 9-12 . The stops can be provided as wall sections, flanges or posts that permit the section of the blister card  14  having the blister compartments  16  to readily pass through the open dispensing end  22  of the sleeve  12 , yet limit the tail end section  48  from passing therethrough. Accordingly, the blister card  14  is effectively tethered to the sleeve  12  and cannot be completely separated therefrom during the useful life of the package  10 . 
         [0046]    A second contemplated embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 13-19 . In this embodiment, a package  60  includes a one-piece molded sleeve  62  for housing a pair of separate blister cards,  64  and  66 , back-to-back therein. Similar to the package  10  discussed above, the package  60  includes a resilient-locking and squeeze-release mechanism that provides child-resistant properties with respect to sliding the blister cards,  64  and  66 , from a storage position to a dispensing position. When the blister cards,  64  and  66 , are fully inserted into the outer sleeve  62  (i.e., in the storage position as shown in  FIG. 13 ), the blister cards  64  and  66 , each independently become automatically locked within the sleeve  62  and cannot be withdrawn from the outer sleeve  62  without a user simultaneously accomplishing multiple manipulations of the package  60 . 
         [0047]    For example, specific locations of opposite outer edges of the outer sleeve  62  are required to be squeezed inward in opposite directions simultaneously while a small exposed leading edge  68  of the respective blister card,  64  or  66 , is gripped and pulled through an open dispensing end  70  of the outer sleeve  62 . Thus, a user must simultaneously perform both the squeezing and pulling actions with respect to one of the blister cards,  64  or  66 , for that particular blister card to be freed to advance it from the storage position. 
         [0048]    The outer sleeve  62 , as illustrated, is molded of a material such that it is hollow and made of one-piece. For example, the sleeve  62  can be made of plastic formed into shape by injection molding, blow molding, or like technique. A benefit of molding the sleeve as an integral single piece is that the amount of plastic required to make the sleeve can be significantly reduced while maintaining a desired degree of strength and rigidity needed for providing a functional child resistant package. Also, the process of assembling the package is also greatly simplified. The material used to make the sleeve  62  can be a plastic material, a recycled plastic material, a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene, or any other material (metal, composite, paperboard, etc.) than can be formed into a sleeve-shape container that is preferably of one-piece construction. 
         [0049]    Similar to sleeve  12 , the sleeve  62  includes a substantially-rectangular, relatively-large upper wall panel  72 , a substantially-rectangular, relatively-large lower wall panel  74 , an opposed pair of side edges  76  and  78 , the open dispensing end  70 , and the opposite end  80  which may or may not be closed and which may or may not be used for initially loading the blister cards,  64  and  66 , into the sleeve  62 . 
         [0050]    The upper and lower wall panels  72  and  74  extend in substantially-parallel relation to the faces of the blister cards,  64  and  66 . Thus, the upper and lower panels  72  and  74  are of a size that is slightly greater than the size of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , or at least the area of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , on which blister compartments  82  are located. The upper and lower wall panels  72  and  74  can be generally solid; however, as illustrated, they can include slot or other shaped openings  84  for aesthetic purposes and/or for purposes of reducing the amount of plastic required to make the sleeve  62 . Although the openings  84  exist in the panels  72  and  74 , their pattern, location and size are such that they prevent unwanted access and dispensing of the contained items from the blister compartments  82  and such that they do not greatly reduce the desired strength or rigidity of the package  60 . The panels  72  and  74  can also include an optional window-type opening  86  for aesthetic purposes or for providing space for a label (not shown) or the like on the blister cards,  64  and  66 , to be readable through one or both panels  72  and  74  when at least one of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , is in the storage position. 
         [0051]    The panels  72  and  74  can each include a small cut-out section  88  adjacent the open dispensing end  70  of the sleeve  62  for purposes of exposing the leading edges  68  of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , thereby enabling ready gripping of either of the leading edges  68  when one of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , is to be slid/pulled through the open dispensing end  70  of the package  60 . These cut-out sections  88  can be offset to one another to enable easier selection between one of the two cards,  64  and  66 . 
         [0052]    The side edges  76  and  78  of the sleeve  62  define the thickness “T” of the package  60  and therefore the spacing between wall panels  72  and  74 . As an example, this spacing need only be slightly greater than twice the height of the blister compartments  82  as best shown in  FIG. 15 , assuming the blister compartments  82  are of a uniform height on each card,  64  and  66 . Two sets of openings, flexible recesses, or the like,  90  and  92 , are formed in the opposite side edges  76  and  78  of the sleeve  12 . These sets of openings,  90  and  92 , form part of the locking mechanism of the package  60  which independently secure each blister card,  64  and  66 , in the storage position. Preferably, the sets of openings or recesses,  90  and  92 , are located remote from the open dispensing end  70  of the package  60  adjacent the functionally closed end  80  of the package  60 . Alternatively, the openings or recesses,  90  and  92 , can be located anywhere along the side edges  76  and  78 . In addition, the openings or recesses,  90  and  92 , can be located directly across from one another, or they can be offset or staggered from one another along the side edges  76  and  78  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 17 . 
         [0053]    The non-dispensing end  80  of the sleeve  62  can include an end wall  94 . For instance, the end wall  94  can be secured in place (snapped, held by friction, bonded, glued, taped, etc.) to close the otherwise open end  80  of the sleeve  62  after the blister cards,  64  and  66 , are initially loaded into the sleeve  62  through, for instance, the non-dispensing end  80 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the end wall  94  can be formed integral with one of the wall panels  72  or  74  of the sleeve  62  via a live hinge  96  and can be bent or folded into position to close the end  80  of the sleeve  62 , or alternatively, the end wall  94  can be separate of the sleeve  62  and be secured in place on the end  80  of the sleeve  62 . Yet another alternative is to utilize tape, a post, a flange or the like to provide a stop adjacent the end  80  of the sleeve  62  merely for the purpose of preventing the blister cards,  64  and  66 , from undesirably passing in a reverse direction through the non-dispensing end  80  of the sleeve  62 . 
         [0054]    Turning to the structure of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , each can be essentially identical. This greatly simplifies assembly of the package  60  since any two blister cards can be selected for insertion into a one-piece sleeve  62 . Alternatively, the blister cards,  64  and  66 , can be different. In the illustrated embodiment, each blister card,  64  and  66 , includes an elongate, generally-planar base strip of material  98  from which a plurality of laterally spaced-apart raised blister compartments  82  project. For example, the strip  98  can be made of thermoformable transparent plastic material and the blister compartments  82  can be provided as depressions/projections molded into a face thereof. Other configurations are also possible. A tablet or like small item can be placed in each hollow open ended compartment  82  and a foil backing or the like  100  can be secured (via adhesion or the like) to a rear face of the strip  98  to seal the tablets or like small items within the blister compartments  82 . 
         [0055]    The leading edge  68  of each blister card,  64  and  66 , can include a grip tab  102  and an adjacent recess (not shown). Accordingly, when the blister cards,  64  and  66 , are stacked together, back-to-back, the grip tab  102  of one blister card registers with the recess of the other blister card and vice versa. This makes it easier for the user to grip the leading edge  68  of one of the blister cards without gripping the leading edge  68  of the other of the blister cards. 
         [0056]    Each of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , includes a tail end section  106  opposite from its leading edge  68 . The tail end section  68  can be formed as an integral continuation of the base strip  98 , or alternatively, can be formed separate of the base strip  98  and simply be secured to one end thereof. The purpose of the tail end section  106  is to cooperate with the side edges  76  and  78  of the sleeve  62  to form the locking/release mechanism. The tail end section  106  can also be used to carry a label or other information which is viewable through the window-like opening  86  of the sleeve  62  discussed above. 
         [0057]    The tail end section  106 , as manufactured, includes a pair of lateral extensions or wings  108  in which tabs or like projections  110  are formed and/or attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the tabs  110  are formed as a thermoformed hollow projection or depression from the base strip material  98  and extend from the base strip material  98  in an opposite direction relative to the blister compartments  82 . The tabs  110  function as latches of the locking mechanism of the package  60  and are cooperatively receivable in the openings or recesses,  90  or  92 , in the side edges  76  and  78  of the sleeve  62 . In the illustrated embodiment, the tabs  110  of each blister card are offset relative to one another. Thus, when identical cards,  64  and  66 , are positioned back-to-back within the sleeve  62 , the opposite tabs  110  of each blister card are offset in each side edge. Thus, the locations of the openings,  90  and  92 , in each side edge,  76  and  78 , can be offset thereby increasing the strength of the sleeve  62 . Of course, other tab locations are possible, particularly if the blister cards are not required to be identical. 
         [0058]    Each of the wings  108  interconnect to the tail end section  106  via a resilient live hinge  112  that enables the wings  108  to be resiliently bent, flexed, folded, or pivoted relative to the remainder of the tail end section  98 . Thus, the wings  108  can be pivoted into a position that is generally perpendicular to the base strip material  98  to enable initial insertion of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , into the sleeve  62 . In this position, the tabs or latches  110  extend laterally of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , in opposite directions such that they register with and extend within and/or through the openings,  90  and  92 , in the side edges  76  and  78  of the sleeve  62 . 
         [0059]    The interconnection between each wing  108  and the remainder of the tail end section  106  is such that a resilient force is exerted on the tabs  110  in a direction into engagement with the openings or recesses,  90  and  92 , of the side edges  76  and  78  of the sleeve  62 . This force results in the wings  108  attempting to pivot about the live hinges  112  to return to a flattened, as manufactured, condition. Thus, when the tabs  110  register with the openings,  90  and  92 , they resiliently pivot into the openings,  90  and  92 , and become trapped or locked therein. Undesired dislodging of the tabs  110  from the openings,  90  and  92 , is avoided due to this constant resilient force created by the interconnection of the wings  108  to the tail end section  106 . 
         [0060]    Accordingly, the separately-manufactured blister cards,  64  and  66 , can be inserted separately or simultaneously into the sleeve  62  by sliding the leading edges  68  of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , into the non-dispensing end  80  of the sleeve  62 . The wings  108  of the tail end sections  106  of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , are folded upward to permit the wings  108  to be received within the sleeve  62 . The tabs or latches  110  engage the solid side edges,  76  and  78 , of the sleeve  62  until they register with the openings,  90  and  92 . When this occurs, the tabs  110  resiliently snap into the openings,  90  and  92 , due to the resilient nature of the live hinges  112 . Thereafter, the end wall  94  or the like can be secured in place across the end  80  of the sleeve  62  to provide a stop thereby preventing withdraw of either blister card,  64  and  66 , through the end  80 . 
         [0061]    When a user desires to dispense a tablet or the like from one of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , from the package  60 , the user squeezes both tabs  110  in one of the sets of openings,  90  or  92 , corresponding to one of the blister cards,  64  or  66 , between a thumb and finger of one hand, to simultaneously position the tabs  110  inward within the sleeve  62 . In this condition, the user can grip the appropriate leading front edge  68  of the blister card,  64  or  66 , adjacent the open dispensing end  70  of the sleeve  62  and pull the blister card,  64  or  66 , through the open dispensing end  70  via a sliding motion. As the selected blister card,  64  or  66 , is slid through the sleeve  62 , the tabs  110  of that blister card engage and slide along the solid sections of the side edges,  76  and  78 . However, the sleeve  62  includes a pair of stops  114  adjacent the open dispensing end  70  of the sleeve  62  which engage the wings  108  and prevent the tail end section  106  from passing through the open dispensing end  70 . The stops  114  can be provided as wall sections, flanges or posts that permit the sections of the blister cards,  64  and  66 , having the blister compartments  82  to readily pass through the open dispensing end  70  of the sleeve  62 , yet limit the tail end section  106  from passing therethrough. Accordingly, each blister card,  64  and  66 , is effectively tethered to the sleeve  62  and cannot be completely separated therefrom during the useful life of the package  60  and each can be slid to a dispensing position independent of the other. 
         [0062]    Various modifications to the packages  10  and  60  and their method of assembly can be made. For instance, the number, shape and configuration of the various panels and openings of the sleeves,  12  and  62 , can be altered. The openings in the side edges can be replaced with flexible tabs or the like that have a recess for receiving the latch of the blister cards. Alternatively, these structures can be reversed so that the side edges include a latch and the wings include a recess or like opening. Further, the shape, size and/or pattern of the cutouts, ribs, and the like can be changed as well as the size, shape, number and positioning of the blister compartments. Also, instead of having a pair of locking tabs on each blister card, a single locking tab could be used. 
         [0063]    While preferred packages and methods of assembly have been described in detail, various modifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the package and method according to the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Technology Category: b