FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly, relates to a child

resistant container packaging.

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. Primarily, this type of packaging is used for those

products which represent a potential hazard in the hands of children - i.e. medicants and

the like. The approach adopted for the child resistant packaging usually depends upon the

product per se - i.e. its size, format, etc. Thus, for example, in the field of medicines

many different types of pill containers have locking tops. These locking tops can only be

released by performing a manoeuver while turning the top. Generally, one may be

required to either depress or lift the top while turning in order to disengage various

locking mechanisms. Similarly, it is known in the art to package tablets in different types

of blister packages which are designed to prevent easy access by children.

In designing child-resistant packages, it is also 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 in that one of the primary groups of medicant users

are the elderly, and packaging which relies on the user having a certain amount of strength

to open the packages is often self-defeating in that the elderly find it difficult or

impossible to open such packaging. This has led to the use of the term "senior friendly"

packaging.

A child resistant container is illustrated in U.S. Publication No. 2005-0011773 and

which was published January 20, 2005; this publication is incorporated herein by

reference.

In this publication, there is disclosed a dispensing package which has a dispensing

member with a dispensing cavity and a product storage cavity. The dispensing member is

mounted within a sleeve moveable from a first storage position to a second storage

position wherein the dispensing cavity is exterior of the housing to permit dispensing of a

single unit of the product. The child resistant feature is provided from first and second

locks which must be operated either sequentially or simultaneously in order to move the

dispensing cavity exteriorly of the housing. While this package provides a certain degree

of child resistant features, it is possible to remove the dispensing member rearwardly

through the sleeve even though a locking device is provided to prevent the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a child resistant package

which prevents removal of the dispensing member from the sleeve.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for

dispensing a controlled quantity of a product comprising a housing, a dispensing member

having a dispensing cavity formed therein, the dispensing member being movable from a

first position wherein the dispensing cavity is rendered inaccessible within the housing

and a second dispensing position wherein the dispensing cavity is exterior of the housing

to permit dispensing of a product therefrom, a single locking means to lock the dispensing

member within the housing and second locking means to prevent the dispensing member

from being pushed rearwardly from the housing, the second locking means comprising

first and second locking members extending outwardly from the dispensing member to

engage the housing, the first and second locking members being arranged such that

pressure on one of the locking members to release the same results in a tighter

engagement of the other of the locking members with the housing.

The package of the present invention simplifies the previously mentioned package

in that the side locks are removed thus making for easier operation of the dispensing

feature without affecting the child resistant nature of the package.

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:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the housing;

Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view thereof with dotted lines being used to show

portions thereof;

Figure 5 is a perspective view -of the dispensing member;

Figure 6 is- a top plan view thereof;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the front portion of the device with an upper wall

of the sleeve being removed; and

Figures 9A to 9C illustrate movement of the dispensing member to dispense a

product therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, the

device of the present invention includes a housing as may be seen in Figures 1 and 2 in

which housing is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

Housing 10 is in the form of a sleeve and has a pair of opposed sidewalls 12, 14, a

front wall 16, a bottom wall 18, and a top wall 20. At its rear, housing 10 does not have a

wall, but rather is open ended. It will be noted that both front wall 16 and bottom wall 18

tapered inwardly at the rear open end to form a V-shaped notch generally designated by

reference numeral 22.

In top wall 20, there is provided a top wall aperture 24 for reasons which will

become apparent hereinbelow. Front wall 16 also includes a front wall aperture 26. In

this regard, it will be noted that there are provided a pair of recesses 28 and 30 at the side

edges of front wall aperture 26.

The device also includes a dispensing member which is generally designated by

reference numeral 32 and which is designed to fit within housing 10.

Dispensing member 32 has a pair of opposed sidewalls 34, 36. Sidewall 36 is

shorter than sidewall 34 and terminates in an inwardly extending wall 38.

There is also provided a dispensing cavity 40 which is defined by sidewalls 42, 44,

front wall 46, and a bottom wall 47. Front wall 46 which defines a portion of dispensing

cavity 40 has an outwardly extending shoulder portion 48 at one end thereof. On the

other side, there is provided at locking member 50 which extends from side wall 44 and

which includes a flange 52 which is arranged to seat in recess 30 as will be discussed in

greater detail below herein.

A biasing member 54 also extends outwardly from side wall 44 and as may be as

seen in Figure 6, biasing member 54 extends slightly beyond front wall 46 which defines

dispensing cavity 40.

Extending outwardly from inwardly extending wall 38 is a locking tab 56 which

has a raised portion 58 which is sized to fit within top wall appature 24 as will be

discussed in greater detail herein below. A flange 59 extends beyond raised portion 58 to

prevent opening.

Dispensing member 32 has a bottom wall 60 and rear wall 62. A partial top wall

64 is connected to rear wall 62 by means of a living hinge 66 as is known in the art.

Extending inwardly from rear wall 62 is a stub wall 68 which is designed to retain top

wall 64 in position with locking bars 70, 72 frictionally engaging the sides of stub

wall 68.

As shown in Figure 5, a raised bottom wall portion may be provided to control and

only permit a single unit to enter dispensing cavity 40 at any one time.

The dispenser is assembled by inserting dispensing member 32 into housing or

sleeve 10 through the open rear end. In so doing, raised portion 58 of locking tab 56 will

engage within top wall appature 24. Also, as may be seen in Figure 9 A, flange 52 of

locking member 50 engages in recess 30 while outwardly extending shoulder 48 will

engage with front wall recess 28. In order to dispense a unit contained within the

dispensing member, the dispenser is tilted such that a single dose or unit is permitted to

enter dispensing cavity 40. Subsequently, pressure is exerted on rear wall 62 of

dispensing member 60 and, as may be seen in Figures 9B and 9C, access is then had to

dispensing cavity 40. Following the dispensing of the product, biasing member 54 will

urge dispensing member 32 back to its normal storage position. Also, as may be seen,

even if pressure is exerted on flange 52 of locking member 50, this will merely force

outwardly extending shoulder 48 into even tighter engagement with front wall recess 28

and thereby prevent a person gaining access to the interior of dispensing member 32.

It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of

illustration only and that changes and modifications may be made thereto without

departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.