Child Resistant Dispenser

Abstract

A device for dispensing a controlled quantity of a product comprising a housing having a dispensing member movable therein, a dispensing cavity being extendable exteriorly of the housing to permit dispensing of a single unit, a single locking device to lock the dispensing member within the housing, and a second locking arrangement to prevent the dispensing member from being pushed rewardly from the housing, the second locking arrangement comprising first and second locking members which extend outwardly form the dispensing member to engage the housing, the first and second locking members being arrangement such that pressure on one of the locking members to release the same result in a tighter engagement of the other of the locking members with housing.

Description

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 Jan. 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:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the housing;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view thereof,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view thereof with dotted lines being used to show portions thereof;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dispensing member;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the front portion of the device with an upper wall of the sleeve being removed; and

FIGS. 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 FIGS. 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 FIG. 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 aperture 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 FIG. 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 aperture 24. Also, as may be seen in FIG. 9A, 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 FIGS. 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.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a controlled quantity of a product comprising:

a housing;

a dispensing member having a dispensing cavity formed therein, said dispensing member being movable from a first position wherein said dispensing cavity is rendered inaccessible within said housing and a second dispensing position wherein said dispensing cavity is exterior of said housing to permit dispensing of a product therefrom;

a single locking means to lock said dispensing member within said housing; and

second locking means to prevent said dispensing member from being pushed rearwardly from said housing, said second locking means comprising first and second locking members extending outwardly from said dispensing member to engage said housing, said first and second locking members being arranged such that pressure on one of said locking members to release the same results in a tighter engagement of the other of said locking members with said housing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said housing is in the form of a sleeve and said moveable member has first and second opposed ends, said first end extending exteriorly of said sleeve when in said first position, said second end having said dispensing cavity located therein, the arrangement being such that finger pressure may be applied to said first end to slidably move said dispensing member to said second position.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said dispensing cavity is sized to receive a single unit of said product therein.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said dispensing member has a product storage cavity located proximate said first end, a channel extending between said product storage cavity and said dispensing cavity, said channel being sized to permit the passage of a signal unit of said product.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said housing and said dispensing member are formed of an injection molded plastic.

6. The device of claim 1 further including biasing means biasing said dispensing member towards said first position.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said single locking means to lock said dispensing member within said housing comprises a flexible locking tab mounted on said dispensing member, an aperture formed in said sleeve, said flexible tab member having a raised portion thereto engage said aperture when in said first locked position, said tab member, when depressed, permitting movement of said dispensing member to said second dispensing position.