Product packaging system with lock release
A child resistant, senior friendly packaging system is designed to securely hold multiple unit dose products and formed out of natural fiber or synthetic materials, or any combination thereof. The packaging system comprises a movable insert that can locked in an inaccessible position and comprises a physically detachable unlocking mechanism that can engage the locking mechanism of the movable insert in order to unlock the movable insert permitting movement into an accessible position. The unlocking mechanism can be in the form of an access card that is a part of the system or is user supplied.
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The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/736,732, filed Nov. 15, 2005, herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe invention is directed to child resistant, senior friendly packaging designed to securely hold multiple unit dose products and formed out of natural fiber or synthetic materials, or any combination thereof.
The field of packaging is challenged to provide the end user with packaging designed, or constructed, to hold multiple unit doses in a package that is child resistant and yet senior friendly. The criteria of child resistance requires a package be designed in a manner so that it is extremely difficult for a child (under the age of five) to gain access to any of the unit doses. The criteria of senior friendliness requires a package that is designed to have the unit doses easily accessed by a mature adult who may be arthritic or weak. Clearly, these two criteria are difficult to balance, i.e., making a package difficult for a child to open, but easy for a senior to open.
Known packages, in their most basic form, may simply rely on features such as pull tabs to cover the cell cavities holding the unit dose product. tabs to cover the cell cavities holding the unit dose product. Examples of such packages are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,129,817; 3,610,410; 3,809,220; 3,809,221; 3,811,564; 3,835,995; 3,872,970; 3,899,080; 3,905,479; 3,912,081; 3,912,082; 3,921,805; 3,924,746; 3,924,747; 3,941,248; 4,011,949; 4,120,400; 4,125,190; 4,192,422; 4,231,477; 4,485,915; 4,506,789; 5,046,618; 5,172,812; 5,310,060; 5,529,188; 6,047,829; 6,375,956; and 6,523,691 as well as U.S. patent publication nos. 2001/0017273; 2002/0185404; and 2003/0064381.
These references and any other reference cited herein are incorporated by reference.
Tabs designed in such a manner, which are difficult for children to remove, are normally not senior friendly; conversely, tabs that can be easily removed by mature adults are normally not child resistant. Integrated tabs of this type can be defined as “first level” resistance in paperboard packaging.
In certain instances, it maybe desirable if the package requires the individual to perform a sequence of steps, perhaps simultaneously. An illustration of this is for an individual to first read a set of specific instructions and then perform a sequence of steps simultaneously. For example, the product can be opened by holding package in the left hand, while pressing down on a lock release, and pulling out a slide card with the right hand. Typically, children under the age of five have great difficulty reading and comprehending instructions, while simultaneously attempting to perform a series of sequential steps, thereby rendering the package child resistant. Examples of this are disclosed in U.S. patent publication nos. 2004/0099565 and 2004/0045858, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,272.
However, a complete packaging system designed with the aforementioned features can be further defined as both child resistant and senior friendly. For example, Mature adults are able to read and comprehend instructions and can perform a series of sequential steps simultaneously.
Such a multi step packaging system is advantageous in that it prevents young children from accessing unit dose products, while allowing mature adults access to the individual unit doses contained therein. Additionally, this type of package can be opened and closed repeatedly, which is particularly advantageous when there are unused unit doses remaining inside the package. A package, as described, can continue to provide reassurance that the complete package maintains its child resistant and senior friendly characteristics throughout the dispensing life of the package.
Known packaging systems containing both child resistant and senior friendly features are disadvantageous, in that certain mature adults may find it difficult to gain access to the unit dose product. For example, an adult with arthritis in the joints of the hands may have difficulty in performing a series of sequential steps, such as grasping and holding the package, pressing down on a lock release, and pulling out a slide card containing unit dose product. Such packaging systems, which encumber access to the unit dose product by a mature adult, may have the very features, which are child resistant, circumvented in such a manner that the complete package no longer provides child resistance.
Therefore, it is preferable to provide an option whereby the child resistant features can be disengaged, long term. For example, some styles of child resistant bottle caps are manufactured with one end containing internal screw threads and a locking mechanism, while the opposite end contains external screw threads only. Such a system is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,161.
SUMMARYIt is the object of the invention to provide a complete packaging system containing multi step child resistance and senior friendly features. In addition, this packaging system may be configured to allow for long term disabling of the child resistant features.. Within the scope of this new invention is a multiple lock system, a detachable and reusable access card and card slot.
This object is solved according to an embodiment of the invention by providing a lock system, designed into a single integrated or unibody package, which is released through the use of a detachable and reusable access card. The invention is to be broadly construed as any single integrated or unibody package with a lock system released by any type of reusable card. For example, a credit card, picture ID card, or drivers license. However, the preferred embodiments described below utilize a packaging system formed out of paperboard, natural fiber or synthetic materials or any combination thereof and designed to securely hold multiple unit dose products.
According to preferred embodiments of the invention, an outer folding carton, containing a detachable and reusable access card, and an internal slide tray are formed out of paperboard or synthetic paperboard material, or any combination thereof.
The access card is detached from one of a plurality of side panels and inserted into a card slot in one of a plurality of end panels.
Should the access card remain in the card slot, the multiple lock system is temporarily disabled and the package is placed into a non-child resistant, or open state. Removing the access card reactivates the multiple lock system and returns the package to the previously child resistant condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention is explained below based on drawings showing the various embodiments of the invention.
An embodiment of the invention comprises an outer folding carton containing a detachable and reusable access card, and an internal slide tray.
The first panel 12 has a tab 44 that is used as a protruding guide for the access card 34 card when the carton is assembled. The lower pane extension 40 of the second panel 16 and the lower panel extension with slot 38 of the third panel 20, when assembled, extend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing page, creating depth or thickness to the carton and thereby forming a corner at which the access card slot 42 is present.
It should be noted that the description below refers to the slide tray 50 in an embodiment of the invention. However, the invention contemplates any slidable element, such as a movable tray, slide card or package.
The fourth panel 24 and the fifth panel 28 are glued together at selected portions along fold line 26 and form a second primary section 110. Thus, in its assembled condition, the outer folding carton appears as two primary sections 100, 110, each having panels glued together. The first primary section 100 comprises the first through third panels 12, 16, 20, and the second primary section 110 comprises the fourth and fifth panels 24, 28. The first three fold sections 14, 18, 22 have two fold lines so that the panels are separated from one another with a distance sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the internal slide tray 50. During manufacturing the first panel to be folded and glued will be panel 28, followed by panel extensions 48, then panels 12 and 16.
The internal slide tray 50, as illustrated in
The internal slide tray 50 further comprises an end tab 58 that may further comprise two sub-tabs 59. This tab 58 and sub-tabs 59 are configured to interact with the outer folding carton 10 in a manner that will be explained below.
It should be noted that the internal slide tray 50 is formed from two separate cardboard layers. The internal slide tray 50 may be constructed either as a single piece unit (the top and bottom layers simply folded over) or as a two-piece unit, as illustrated in
In its assembled state, as illustrated by
It should be noted that in one embodiment, the access card 34 is the same width as a standard credit card or driver's license, so that in the event the access card 34 is lost or damaged, the user can still make use of the package using the standard credit card or drivers license. Furthermore, it is also possible that a holding mechanism may be provided so that the access card can be permanently installed to allow access for situations where, e.g., there are no children present or when the convenience of a non-child resistant design is desired. The holding mechanism can comprise glue, adhesive, cohesion, or physical elements, such as some form of interference, frictional, magnetic or other known holding mechanisms.
As can be seen in
However, once the access card 34 has been inserted, it covers the locking holes 46 and prevents the sub-tabs 59 from engaging these holes. The internal slide tray 50 can then be extended until its end tab 58 engages the non-glued flap 48′ of the first panel 12 and prevents removal of the internal slide tray 50. The internal slide tray 50 can then easily be re-inserted, and the card 34 removed and placed back in the card storage slot 36 for safe keeping.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by this specific language, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.
The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional aspects may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
TABLE OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
- 10 outer folding carton
- 12 first panel of outer folding carton
- 13 upper notch portion
- 13′ user access portion of the upper notch portion
- 14 first fold portion of outer folding carton
- 16 second panel of outer folding carton
- 18 second fold portion of outer folding carton
- 20 third panel of outer folding carton
- 22 third fold portion of outer folding carton
- 24 fourth panel of outer folding carton
- 26 fourth fold portion of outer folding carton
- 28 fifth panel of outer folding carton
- 30 covertab
- 32 cover tab slot
- 34 access card
- 34′ access card stop
- 34″ access card tab
- 36 access card storage slot
- 36′ storage area
- 38 lower panel extension with slot
- 40 lower panel extension
- 42 access card slot
- 44 panel tab
- 46 locking holes
- 48 glued flap
- 48′ non-glued flap
- 50 internal slide tray
- 52, 52′ bottom and top layers of the fold portion of internal slide tray
- 54, 54′ bottom and top layers of the first panel of internal slide tray
- 56, 56′ bottom and top layers of the second panel of internal slide tray
- 58 end tab
- 58′ additional end tab
- 59 sub-tab
- 60 perforated tabs
- 60′ single dose unit bubble pack
- 100 first primary section of outer folding carton
- 110 second primary section of outer folding carton
Claims
1. A product packaging system with a lock release, comprising:
- an outer sleeve;
- a movable insert selected from the group consisting of a movable tray, a slide card, and a package that fits within the outer sleeve comprising a product, the insert having an inaccessible position that prevents user access to the product, and an accessible position that allows user access to the product;
- a locking mechanism on the outer sleeve comprising a motion inhibiting portion that engages the movable insert to maintain the inaccessible position; and
- a physically detachable or detached unlocking mechanism having a breaking portion that breaks the engagement of the inhibiting portion of the locking mechanism permitting the movable insert to move to the accessible position.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the packaging system further comprises:
- a sleeve into which the slidably movable insert is fully inserted in the inaccessible position, and is extended in the accessible position.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein:
- the locking mechanism comprises cutouts;
- the movable insert comprises protrusions that engage the cutouts in an interference manner; and
- the unlocking mechanism breaking portion breaks the interference engagement.
4. The system according to claim 4, wherein the unlocking mechanism is an access card, comprising:
- a top surface;
- a bottom surface; and
- a front edge, the front edge serving to initially contact and break the engagement and the top surface and bottom surface serving to keep the engagement broken as long as the unlocking mechanism is in contact with the locking mechanism.
5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:
- an unlocking slot into which the unlocking mechanism is inserted to break and maintain the broken engagement.
6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a storage slot into which the unlocking mechanism may be inserted when not being utilized to contact and break the engagement.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking mechanism further comprises a stop that regulates a depth of insertion of the unlocking mechanism.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking mechanism is initially physically bound to the system prior to being physically detached upon first use.
9. The system according to claim 9, wherein the unlocking mechanism is an access card that is initially bound to the system by a perforation cut that is broken upon first use prior to being physically detached.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a five-panel system, the system further comprising:
- a closing mechanism that keeps the five-panel system closed when it is engaged, and permits the five-panel system to be opened up when it is disengaged.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the closing mechanism comprises a cover tab and a cover tab slot designed to engage one another.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the product comprises multiple dose units.
13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the multiple dose units are provided in a bubble pack configuration.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is formed out of paperboard or synthetic paperboard materials.
15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system, other than the product or immediate product holder is formed exclusively out of paperboard or synthetic paperboard materials.
16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking mechanism is an end-user-supplied unlocking mechanism.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the end-user-supplied unlocking mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a drivers license, business card, credit/debit card, insurance card, or association card.
18. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:
- a holding mechanism for holding the unlocking mechanism in place when permitting the movable insert to move into its accessible position to permit the system to permanently remain in its accessible configuration.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the holding mechanism is selected from the group consisting of adhesive, glue and cohesion.
20. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage area for holding at an element selected from the group consisting of a leaflet, enclosure, customer instructions, regulator information, sales and marketing information and product literature.
21. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a five-panel system, the system further comprising:
- a closing mechanism that keeps the five-panel system closed when it is engaged, and permits the five-panel system to be opened up when it is disengaged.
22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is a three-panel system.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 14, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 30, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Michael Baker (Kenosha, WI), Richard Schmerling (Trevor, WI), Leonard Ekdahl (Antioch, IL), Dawn Kempf (Fox Lake, IL), Gregory Davis (Winthrop Harbor, IL), Kregg Albrecht (Pleasant Prairie, WI)
Application Number: 11/504,305
International Classification: B65D 83/04 (20060101); B65D 85/42 (20060101);