Child resistant container for housing a blister card

Abstract

A blister card container includes a plurality of walls defining an opening and a chamber, an arm projecting into the chamber, and a yoke. The opening and chamber are sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a blister card therein. The yoke is sized and configured to be slidably received in the chamber. The yoke includes a body, a hook extending from the body, and a locking cantilever extending from the body. The hook is sized and configured to engage the blister card. The locking cantilever has a stop sized and configured to be releasably engaged with the arm. The yoke is in a locked position when the locking cantilever is engaged with the arm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/021,911 filed Jan. 18, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to packaging suitable for dispensing medication and more specifically to child-resistant containers for blister cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of child resistant packaging has been used to package goods ranging from household items to pharmaceutical products that may be harmful to children. Two main methods of dispensing medication with a child-resistant feature have been developed by the pharmaceutical industry.

One method is the child-resistant “amber” bottle. The traditional “amber” bottle utilizes a “push-and-turn” cap that may be removed only when a person pushes down on the cap while simultaneously turning the cap in relation to the bottle. Although these bottles are effective for mass distribution of a medication, they have significant drawbacks. One such drawback is that “amber” bottles are typically small in size and do not provide a sufficiently stable gripping surface to allow a user of limited dexterity, i.e., the elderly, to easily access the medication. Another drawback is related to the stability of the individual pills. The stability of medication is a growing concern in the pharmaceutical field as pills are often handled and then returned to their container increasing the chances of contaminating the pills. Finally, the shelf life and effectiveness of a medication can be decreased by over handling the pills, which exposes the pills to hand oils and body moisture that may deteriorate the pills.

Another type of medication packaging is a blister card or “unit dose” packaging. Blister cards are typically formed from flexible materials with a plurality of cavities that may receive a pill. The pills are sealed within the cavities with a foil seal that is secured to the blister card. A user must push the pill through the foil seal in order to take the medication. Although blister card packaging ensures stability and allows for patients to quickly identify if they have taken a dosage, it does not provide significant child resistance.

Accordingly, an improved blister card dispenser is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, a blister card container includes a plurality of walls defining an opening and a chamber, an arm projecting into the chamber, and a yoke. The opening and chamber are sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a blister card therein. The yoke is sized and configured to be slidably received in the chamber. The yoke includes a body, a hook extending from the body, and a locking cantilever extending from the body. The hook is sized and configured to engage the blister card. The locking cantilever has a stop sized and configured to be releasably engaged with the arm. The yoke is in a locked position when the locking cantilever is engaged with the arm.

In some embodiments, a method of removing a portion of a blister card from a blister card container in which the blister card is disposed is provided. The method includes applying pressure to the blister card by pushing the blister card further into the blister card container, squeezing a release button to compress a locking cantilever; and releasing the pressure on the blister card while continuing to squeeze the release button.

In some embodiments, a method includes providing a blister card container. The blister card includes a plurality of walls defining an opening and a chamber, an arm projecting into the chamber, and a yoke. The opening and chamber are sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a blister card therein. The yoke is sized and configured to be slidably received in the chamber. The yoke includes a body, a hook extending from the body, and a locking cantilever extending from the body. The hook is sized and configured to engage the blister card. The locking cantilever has a stop sized and configured to be releasably engaged with the arm. A force is applied to the locking cantilever to compress the locking cantilever. The blister card is pulled from the chamber to expose a portion of the blister card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by, the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which are to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an improved child-resistant container loaded with a blister card in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top-side plan view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the improved child-resistant container taken along line A-A in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 an end-on view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 1 with the blister card partially extended;

FIG. 7 is a partially exploded isometric view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an exploded isometric bottom-side view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a yoke of the child-resistant container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a rear-end view of the yoke illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a top-side plan view of the yoke illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the yoke taken along line A-A in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an isometric top-side view of a bottom housing segment of a housing and a yoke in locking engagement in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of Detail A illustrated in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a top-side plan view of a yoke and blister card in a first position when installed in a bottom housing segment of the housing in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a top-side plan view of a yoke and a blister card in a second position when installed in a bottom housing segment of the housing in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a top-side plan view of a yoke and a blister card in the second position when the release buttons of the bottom housing segment of the housing are squeezed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a top-side plan view of a yoke and a blister card in a third position within the bottom housing segment of the housing in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of another improved child-resistant container for a blister card in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a top-side plan view of the improved child-resistant container for a blister card illustrated in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a partially exploded isometric view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is an exploded isometric view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated in FIG. 20; and

FIG. 24 is an exploded isometric bottom-side view of the improved child-resistant container illustrated FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the description, relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and normally are not intended to require a particular orientation. Terms including “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral” and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term “operatively connected” is such an attachment, coupling or connection that allows the pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue of that relationship. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses, if used, are intended to cover the structures described, suggested, or rendered obvious by the written description or drawings for performing the recited function, including not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an improved child-resistant container 100 for a blister card 180 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the child-resistant container 100 includes a housing 102 having an opening 106 and a chamber 108 that are configured to slidably receive a yoke 160 therein. The yoke 160 may slide between a retracted position in which a blister card 180 is substantially disposed within the housing 102 (see FIG. 1) and an extended position in which a substantial portion of the blister card 180 is accessible outside of the housing 102 (see FIG. 6).

Housing 102 may include a top wall 110, a bottom wall 112, a first side wall 114, a second side wall 116, and a rear wall 118 all of which define an opening 106 and a chamber 108. The top and bottom walls 110, 112 may include a cutout or curved recess 104 that may enable a user to grasp a blister card 180 that is disposed within the housing 102. Housing 102 may be formed from any suitably rigid material that protects the blister card 180 from being accessed by a child. Examples of materials for housing 102 include, but are not limited to, polymers, plastics, or the like.

Housing 102 may be a monolith or it may include multiple segments. As shown in FIG. 1, housing 102 may include a top housing segment 102a and a bottom housing segment 102b, which may be fastened together. Examples of fastening top housing segment 102a and bottom housing segment 102b include, but are not limited to, using an adhesive or glue, using a screw or bolt, mechanical fastening, or the like. In some embodiments and as illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, the top housing segment 102a may include one or more posts 134 and tabs 138 that are sized and arranged to be respectively received in corresponding sockets 124 and slots 130 formed in the bottom housing segment 102b.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the bottom housing segment 102b may include one or more, release buttons 120. Although two release buttons 120 are illustrated, one skilled in the art will understand that fewer or more release buttons 120 may be implemented. Release buttons 120 may be a cantilever extending from the rear wall 118 of bottom housing segment 102b that is configured to be reversibly bent. A trigger post 132 may be disposed on the interior surface of the release buttons 120.

Bottom housing segment 102b may also include one or more deformable tabs 122 formed in the bottom wall 112 by slotting the bottom wall 112. The deformable tabs 122 may initially be coplanar with the bottom wall 112 and be disposed at an angle with respect to the bottom wall 112 when a force is applied to them. When disposed in the bent position, the deformable tabs 122 eliminate the child-proof feature of the child-resistant blister card container 100 as described in greater detail below.

One or more inwardly extending arms 126 may be disposed adjacent to the release buttons 120 in the side walls 114,116 of the bottom housing segment 102b. The inwardly extending arms 126 may include an angled portion 126a and a locking portion 126b. Angled portions 126a may be disposed at angles less than ninety degrees with respect to the elongate portion of the side walls 114, 116 to facilitate loading of a blister card 180 although other angles may be used. The locking portion 126b may be disposed substantially parallel to the elongate portion of the side walls 114,116 to maintain the blister card 180 disposed within the housing 102.

The bottom housing segment 102b may also include one or more locking projections 150 that inwardly extend from the rear wall 118. As shown in FIG. 7, locking projections 150 may be formed at an angle with respect to the rear wall 118. However, one skilled in the art will understand that the locking projections 150 may have other geometries.

One or more bottom sliding guides 128 in the form of rails may longitudinally extend along the interior surface 144 of bottom housing segment 102b. Bottom sliding guides 128 facilitate the sliding of the yoke 260 as described in greater detail below.

As best seen in FIG. 9, top housing segment 102a may include one or more top sliding guides 152 and slide stops 136. Sliding guides 152 may also be in the form of rails that longitudinally extend along the interior surface 146 of top housing segment 102a and terminate at slide stops 136. Slide stops 136 may have an angled portion 136a disposed towards the opening 106 and a substantially perpendicular portion 136b opposite the angled portion 136a. The angled portion 136a may have an angle less than ninety degrees with respect to the plane defined by the interior surface 146 of the top housing segment 102a to facilitate loading of the blister card 180. The substantially perpendicular portion 136b may be substantially perpendicular to the interior surface 146 of the top housing segment 102a to prevent the removal of the blister card 180 from the housing 102.

FIGS. 10-14 illustrate several views of a yoke 160 in accordance with the present invention. Yoke 160 may be formed from a sturdy yet resilient material that is suitable to engage a blister card 180 and be reversibly deformed when an external force applied by a user. Examples of materials for yoke 160 include, but are not limited to, polymers, plastics, or the like.

Yoke 160 may include a body 162 including a hook 172 and one or more stays 174. One or more sliding notches 176 may also be formed in the body 162 of the yoke 160 to facilitate sliding of the yoke 160 with respect to the housing 102 as described below. Although sliding notches 176 are illustrated as being formed on the top of yoke 160, one skilled in the art will understand that the sliding notches 176 may also be formed on the bottom of yoke 160. Hook 172 is sized and arranged to engage a hole 182 formed on the blister card 180. The one or more stays 174 are sized and arranged to maintain the engagement of the blister card 180 and the hook 172.

One or more biasing members 164 may extend from the body 162 of the yoke 160. Biasing members 164 may act to bias the yoke 160 against the inwardly extending arms 126 as described in greater detailed below. As shown in FIG. 10, biasing members 164 may be cantilevers although one skilled in the art will understand that other biasing elements including, but not limited to, compression springs, torsion springs, tension springs, or the like may be installed in the chamber 108 to bias the yoke 160 against the inwardly projecting arm 126.

Yoke 160 may include one or more locking cantilevers 166. As illustrated in FIG. 10, locking cantilevers 166 may extend from the body 162 of the yoke 160 and have a curved shape. A stop 168 defining a cavity 170 may be disposed at an end of the locking cantilever 166.

As best seen in FIG. 8, the blister card 180 may have a generally rectangular shape having a first end 180a and a second end 180b and defining a hole 182. The hole 182 may be formed near the second end 180b of the blister card 180. The second end 180b of the blister card 180 may have a reduced width compared to the first end 180a to provide clearance for the locking cantilevers 166 when the blister card 180 are 160 attached to one another as best seen in FIG. 7. The blister card 180 may include one or more pill pockets 184 having a pill 186 disposed therein.

The assembly of the improved child-resistant container 100 for a blister card 180 in accordance with the present invention is now described. The housing 102 may be formed by joining the top and bottom housing segments 102a, 102b. For example, the posts 134 and tabs 138 disposed on the top housing segment 102a may be received in the corresponding sockets 124 and slots 130 of the bottom housing segment 102b. In some embodiments, the posts 134 and tabs 138 have a press-fit engagement in the sockets 124 and slots 130 to securely maintain the top and bottom housing segments 102a, 102b joined together. In some embodiments, glue or adhesive may also be applied to permanently join the top and bottom housing segments 102a, 102b to each another.

The blister card 180 may be engaged with the yoke 160 by sliding the second end 180b of the blister card 180 over the hook 172 and beneath the stays 174 of the yoke 160 until the hole 182 of the blister card 180 is engaged by the hook 172. The yoke 160 and blister card 180 may be installed in the housing 102 by inserting the yoke 160 into the opening 106 defined by the housing 102. The sliding notches 176 of yoke 160 may engage the sliding guides 142 disposed on the top housing segment 102a. If sliding notches are also provided on the bottom of yoke 160, then they may engage sliding guides 128 disposed on the bottom housing segment 102b.

A force may be applied to the first end 180a of the blister card 180 causing the yoke 160 to slide along the path defined by the sliding guides 128, 142. The sliding notches 176 prevent the yoke 160 from being misaligned and jamming as the yoke 160 slides within the chamber 108 of housing 102. When the yoke 160 nears the rear wall 118 of the housing 102, the locking cantilevers 166 are bent as they contact the angled portion 126a of the inwardly of the inwardly extending arm 126. When the biasing members 164 contact the locking projections 150, an additional force is applied to the blister card 180 and yoke 160 causing the biasing members 164 compress or bend. When the biasing members 164 are compressed or bent a certain distance, the locking cantilevers 166 clear the inwardly projecting arms 126 causing the locking cantilevers 166 to return to their original, unbent orientation.

The force applied to the blister card 180 may be released resulting in the biasing members 164 biasing the yoke 160 towards the opening 106 of housing 102. However, with the locking cantilevers 166 in their unbent position, the locking cavities 170 formed in the stops 168 are aligned with the locking portion 126b of the inwardly extending arm 126 such that the locking portion 126b is received within the cavity 170. The biasing members 164 may continue to apply a biasing force that maintains the locking portion 126b of the inwardly extending arm 126 disposed within the cavity 170 of the stop 168 as best seen in FIG. 16. On skilled in the art will understand that the yoke 160 may also be sized such that the biasing members 164 may be in an unbiased condition (e.g., unbent or uncompressed) while the locking portion 126b of the inwardly extending arm 126 is disposed within the cavity 170. The blister card 180 is retained within the blister card housing 102 and cannot be released by merely pulling on the blister card 180 without destroying at least one of the blister card, blister card housing 102, or yoke 160.

With reference to FIGS. 17-20, accessing the blister card using the child resistant feature of the blister card container 100 is now described. As shown in FIG. 17, the blister card 180 and yoke 160 may initially be disposed within the housing 102 such that the yoke 160 maintains the blister card 180 are effectively locked within the housing 102. In this position, the trigger posts 132 that inwardly extend from the release buttons 120 are not aligned with the stops 168. Accordingly, if the release buttons are pressed or squeezed, the trigger posts 132 will not contact the stops 168 or cause the locking cantilevers 166 to be compressed.

To gain access to the medication or pills 186 housed within the blister card 180, a user applies a force to the first end 180a of the blister card, e.g., by pushing the first end 180a of the blister card towards the rear wall 118 as identified by arrow 190 in FIG. 17. The force applied by the user compresses the biasing members 164 as they contact the locking projections 150. In this position, the trigger posts 132 extending from the release button 120 are aligned with the stops 168 disposed on the locking cantilevers 166 and the locking portion 126a of the inwardly extending arm 126 are not disposed within the cavities 170 formed in the stops 168.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, a user may apply a force perpendicular to the release buttons 120, e.g., squeezes the release buttons 120 as identified by arrows 192, causing the release buttons 120 to be inwardly bent. When the release buttons 120 are inwardly bent, the trigger posts 132 contact the stops 168 causing the locking cantilevers 166 to be compressed. If sufficient force is provided, the locking cantilevers 166 are compressed such that the stops 168 clear the inwardly extending arms 126.

As shown in FIG. 19, a user may apply a force in the direction of arrow 194 (e.g., a pulling force) to the blister card 180 while maintaining the release buttons 120 in compression enabling the yoke 160 to slide past the inwardly extending arms 126 towards the opening 106. The blister card 180 and yoke 160 may be slid until the yoke 160 contacts the slide stops 136 enabling the user to gain access to the blister card 180 and the pills 186 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In this manner, the blister card container 100 provides child-resistant protection. One skilled in the art will understand that a user may not need to apply a pulling force as the biasing members 164 may sufficiently compressed or bent such that they cause the blister card 180 to slide towards opening 106.

The improved child-resistant container 100 also includes a feature that enables the child-resistance feature to be disabled to provide easier access to the blister card for people who do not have young children and may have limited dexterity, e.g., the elderly. The child-resistant feature may be disabled by bending the deformable tabs 122 towards the chamber 108 either prior to the loading of the yoke 160 and blister card 180 or when the yoke 160 and blister card 180 are in an extended position as illustrated in FIG. 6. The deformable tabs 122 are sized and arranged such that when they are bent they extend into the chamber 108 of the housing 102 preventing the stops 168 of the locking cantilevers 166 from clearing the inwardly extending arms 126. Accordingly, since the stops 168 of the locking cantilevers 166 do not clear the inwardly extending arms 126, then the locking portion 126b of the inwardly extending arms 126 are prevented from being received in the cavities 170 of the stops 168 and thus the child-resistance feature of the blister card container 100 from is not engaged.

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of an improved child-resistant container 200 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 20, the improved child-resistant container 200 includes a housing 202 that is sized and arranged to receive a scaffold 220 therein. The scaffold is configured to slidably support a yoke 260 as illustrated in FIG. 22.

The housing 202 includes a top wall 210, a bottom wall 212, and a pair of side walls 214, 216 all of which define an opening 206 and a chamber 208. The opening 206 and chamber 208 are sized and arranged to receive the scaffold 220 therein. One or more notches 204 may be formed in each of the side walls 214, 216. Advantageously, the housing 202 may be manufactured from cardboard to reduce the manufacturing costs of the child-resistant container 200. One skilled in the art will understand that other materials including, but not limited to, plastics, polymers or the like may be used to form housing 202.

Scaffold 220 has an elongate body defining a sliding track 222 that may include one or more sliding guides 238. The sliding track 222 may be connected to an opening support 224 and a rear support 226, which each serve to structurally reinforce the housing 202. As shown in FIG. 23, opening support 224 has a rectangular geometry that is sized and configured to be received in opening 206 of housing 202. One or more slide stops 228 may be disposed in the interior of opening support 224.

The rear support 226 includes several of the features incorporated in the lower housing segment 102b described above. For example, the rear support 226 includes one or more release buttons 230 having a trigger post 234 inwardly extending therefrom. Release buttons 230 may be implemented as a cantilever configured to be reversibly bent in a manner similar to the release button 120 as described above. Additionally, rear support 226 includes locking projections 240, which may be formed as an angle portion of the rear support, as well as one or more inwardly extending arms 232 having an angled portion 232a and a locking portion 232b. Release buttons 230 may also include an outwardly extending tab 236 sized and arranged to be received within notches 204 in housing 202 when the scaffold 220 is installed in housing 202.

Yoke 260 and blister card 280 are identical to yoke 160 and blister card 180 described above. Similar descriptions are not repeated.

The improved child-resistant blister card container 200 may be assembled by inserting the rear support 226 of the scaffold 220 into the opening 206 of the housing 202. The scaffold 220 is pushed into the chamber 208 until the outwardly extending tabs 236 are received within the notches 204 formed in the housing 202. The scaffold 220 may be sized to be tightly received within the chamber 208 of the housing 202, e.g., a press-fit, such that the scaffold 220 would remain disposed within the housing 202 even if the outwardly extending tabs 236 were not received within notches 204.

The blister card 280 may be loaded onto the yoke 260 as described above. For example, the second end 280b of the blister card 280 may be slid over the hook 272 of the yoke 260 until the hole 282 of the blister card 280 is engaged by the hook 272. The stays 274 maintain the engagement of the blister card 280 and the yoke 260.

The yoke 260 and blister card 280 assembly may be inserted into the opening 206 of the housing 202 and scaffold opening support 224. The blister card 280 is pushed into the chamber 208 causing the locking cantilevers 266 of the yoke 260 to inwardly bend. As the blister card is pushed into the chamber 208, the sliding notches 276 of the yoke 260 and the sliding guides 238 of the scaffold 220 are engaged and act to properly guide the yoke 260 into the chamber 208 without jamming caused by misalignment of the yoke 260 with respect to the housing 202 and scaffold 220.

The yoke 260 slides along sliding guides 238 toward the rear wall 218 until the biasing members 264 contact the locking projections 240 causing the biasing members 264 to bend. When the biasing members 264 are bent a certain distance, the locking cantilevers 266 clear the inwardly projecting arms 232 causing the locking cantilevers 266 to return to their original, unbent orientation. The force applied to the blister card 280 may be released causing the biasing members 264 to force the yoke 260 and blister card 280 towards the opening 206 of the housing 202.

The yoke 260 and blister card 280 may be moved towards the opening 206 until the locking cantilevers 266 contact the locking portion 232b inwardly projecting arms 232. The locking portion 232b of the inwardly projecting arms 232 may be received within cavity 270 formed in the stop 268 of the yoke 260. The biasing members 264 may be bent and thus apply a force when the locking portion 232b of the inwardly projecting arms 232 is received within the cavity 270.

The blister card 280, and more specifically the pills 286 stored within the blister card 280, cannot be readily accessed when the locking cantilevers 266 are engaged with the inwardly projecting arms 232. Additionally, stops 268 on the yoke 260 and trigger posts 234 on release buttons 230 may be sized and arranged such that they do not contact one another while the locking portion 232b of the inwardly projecting arms 232 is received within the cavity 270 formed in the stop 268. In this manner, the blister card container 200 provides child-resistance as the pills 286 are not readily accessible.

The manner of accessing the pills 286 is similar to the method described above. For example, a person desiring to obtain the pills may push or otherwise apply a force on the blister card 280 in the direction of the rear wall 218 bending the biasing members 264, dislodging the locking portion 232b of the inwardly projecting arms 232 from the cavity 270, and aligning the stops 268 on the yoke 260 with the trigger posts 234 on the release buttons 230.

The person may squeeze the release buttons 230 causing the trigger posts 234 to contact the stops 268 and bend the locking cantilevers 266. The release buttons 230 are squeezed until the stops 268 clear the inwardly projecting arms 232 and the blister card 280 is pulled in a direction opposite of the previous pushing force. Pulling the blister card 280 in a direction opposite the previous pulling causes the yoke 260 to slide along the sliding guides 238 of the scaffold 220.

The person may continue to pull the blister card 280 until the yoke 260 contacts the slide stops 228 located in the opening support 224 of the scaffold 220. In this position, the pills 286 are accessible by the person as illustrated in FIG. 20.

The present invention may be designed for high-speed automated assembly. The yoke 160, 260 is designed to receive the blister card 180, 280 in a straight linear motion allowing automated assembly that is currently in use in manufacturing facilities around the world. The child-resistant blister card container 100, 200 may be loaded into an assembly line machine and have the blister cards secured onto the hook and without human assistance making the process of filling and processing medications both more simple and cost effective.

Additionally, the present invention provides a significant improvement over the “amber” bottle as it does not require a pressing and turning motion that can be difficult for those with limited dexterity while retaining child-resistance. Furthermore, incorporating a blister card 180, 280 into the child-resistant container 100, 200 enables a user to be able to identify if he or she has taken their required dosage while retaining child safety. The deformable tabs 122 enable the child resistance to be overcome for instances where the person prescribed the medication does not have children and has limited dexterity.

Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.

Claims

1. A blister card container, comprising:

a plurality of walls defining an opening and a chamber, the opening and chamber sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a blister card therein;

an arm projecting into the chamber; and

a yoke sized and configured to be slidably received in the chamber, the yoke including: a body, a hook extending from the body, the hook sized and configured to engage the blister card; and a locking cantilever extending from the body, the locking cantilever having a stop sized and configured to be releasably engaged with the arm,

wherein the yoke is in a locked position when the locking cantilever is engaged with the arm.

2. The blister card container of claim 1, wherein the stop defines a cavity sized and configured to releasably receive a portion of the arm therein.

3. The blister card container of claim 1, further comprising:

a release button sized and configured to disengage the locking cantilever of the yoke and the inwardly projecting arm.

4. The blister card container of claim 2, further comprising:

a biasing member disposed in the chamber, the spring configured to apply a force that releasably retains the inwardly projecting arm disposed within the cavity of the stop.

5. The blister card container of claim 4, wherein the biasing member is a cantilever extending from the body of the yoke.

6. The blister card container of claim 1, wherein the yoke further includes a stay extending from the body, the stay configured to maintain the engagement of the hook and the blister card.

7. The blister card container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of walls form a housing.

8. The blister card container of claim 7, wherein the housing further includes a deformable tab formed in one of the plurality of walls, the deformable tab configured to be bent into the chamber and to prevent the yoke from being in the locked position.

9. The blister card container of claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls of the housing defines a notch, the blister card container further comprising:

a scaffold disposed within the housing, the scaffold having an elongate body having a first end and a second end, the first end of the scaffold including the inwardly extending arm and a release button, the release button extending through the notch in the at least one wall.

10. A method of removing a portion of a blister card from a blister card container in which the blister card is disposed, the method comprising:

applying pressure to the blister card by pushing the blister card further into the blister card container;

squeezing a release button to compress a locking cantilever; and

releasing the pressure on the blister card while continuing to squeeze the release button.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

pulling the blister card out of the housing while continuing to squeeze the release button.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the release button is formed on a housing of the blister card container.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the release button includes an inwardly projecting trigger post, the trigger post sized and configured to contact the locking cantilever when the release button is squeezed.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the locking cantilever extends from a body of a yoke, the yoke connected to the blister pack.

15. A method, comprising:

providing a blister card container including: a plurality of walls defining an opening and a chamber, the opening and chamber having a substantial portion of a blister card disposed therein; an arm projecting into the chamber; and a yoke slidably disposed within the chamber, the yoke including: a body, a hook extending from the body and engaging the blister card; and a locking cantilever extending from the body releasably engaged with the arm;

applying a force to the locking cantilever to compress the locking cantilever; and

pulling the blister card from the chamber to expose a portion of the blister card.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the force applied to the locking cantilever is maintained during the pulling step.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

pushing the blister card into the chamber before applying the force to the locking cantilever.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the blister card container further includes a deformable tab in at least one of the plurality of walls.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

bending the deformable tab into the chamber while the portion of the blister card is exposed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the deformable tab prevents the locking cantilever from engaging the arm.