U.S. patent application number 12/415428 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-20 for locking assembly for use in lockable containers.
Invention is credited to William J. Bogdziewicz, III, John A. Gelardi, William R. Rigby.
Application Number | 20110011765 12/415428 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43464532 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110011765 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gelardi; John A. ; et
al. |
January 20, 2011 |
LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN LOCKABLE CONTAINERS
Abstract
A lockable container includes a sleeve, a locking assembly, and
a slideable platform. The slideable platform can be stored in the
sleeve. The locking assembly and the slideable platform can each
have one or more of an engaging mechanism and a receiving
mechanism, with reciprocal engaging mechanisms and/or receiving
mechanisms being included at the other element. A release button
can be included in the locking assembly to disengage the engaging
mechanism from the receiving mechanism.
Inventors: |
Gelardi; John A.; (Wake
Forest, NC) ; Rigby; William R.; (Spring Hope,
NC) ; Bogdziewicz, III; William J.; (Raleigh,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION;ATTN: IP LEGAL DEPARTMENT
1021 MAIN CAMPUS DRIVE
RALEIGH
NC
27606
US
|
Family ID: |
43464532 |
Appl. No.: |
12/415428 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61041149 |
Mar 31, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/531 ;
206/1.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 50/067 20130101;
B65D 83/0463 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/531 ;
206/1.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04; B65D 83/00 20060101 B65D083/00 |
Claims
1. A container comprising: a sleeve comprising a plurality of walls
connected to form a void for slideably receiving a slideable
platform and a locking assembly; the locking assembly comprising: a
top portion connected to a base portion, and a first engaging
element extending from the top portion; and the sliding platform
comprising a second engaging element for engaging the first
engaging element.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes an open
end through which the slideable platform and the locking assembly
can be translated, the sleeve further having at least one flap
defined at the open end thereof, the at least one flap defining an
interface slot, the locking assembly being oriented for operation
by the engagement of the base portion thereof with the interface
slot.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the first engagement element
is a locking post, the second engaging element being an aperture,
the locking post being configured for selectably engaging with the
aperture.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein the locking post defines a
sloped surface for promoting displacement of the slideable platform
toward the base portion when the slideable platform is first
substantially inserted into the sleeve.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the top portion of the locking
assembly further includes a release button, the release button
being pivotably displaceable toward the base portion, the release
button being configured for displacing the sliding platform toward
the base portion.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein the release button further
defines a rib extension for contacting the sliding platform.
7. The container of claim 5, wherein the sleeve defines a release
button cutout for providing access to the release button.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the base portion includes at
least one biasing element extending therefrom, each biasing member
being configured for urging at least a portion of the sliding
platform toward the top portion of the locking assembly.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein the base portion further
includes a sleeve-interface portion distal from the portion thereof
connected to the top portion.
10. The container of claim 9, wherein the sleeve includes an open
end through which the slideable platform and the locking assembly
can be translated, the sleeve further having at least one flap
defined at the open end thereof, the at least one flap defining an
interface slot, the locking assembly being oriented for operation
by the engagement of the sleeve-interface portion with the
interface slot.
11. The container of claim 9, wherein the sleeve-interface portion
has a retainer extending therefrom that is dimensioned and
positioned to allow the slideable platform to slide freely into the
sleeve and to engage the second engagement element as the slideable
platform is removed from the sleeve.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein the sleeve-interface portion
is retained in the sleeve by the at least one flap, the retainer
extending through the interference slot.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein slideable platform is a
blister card.
14. The container of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly is at
least one of recyclable, disposable, and reusable.
15. The container of claim 1, wherein the sleeve is formed from a
blank.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Application
No. 61/041,149 filed on Mar. 31, 2008, the contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference thereto. The present disclosure
relates generally to child-resistant and/or lockable containers.
More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a locking
assembly for use in a lockable container.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Child-resistant or lockable containers, wherein multiple
movements are required to open the container, have many uses. One
use for a lockable container is to control the dispensing of
medicine and medicaments in the form of pills and tablets. For
example, locking caps on medicine bottles are well known. The
typical locking cap mechanism requires a coordinated alignment and
tipping, or axial pressure, or inward radial squeezing while
turning the cap to remove it from its container in order to access
the medicaments.
[0003] By way of another example, medicines are packaged in
convenient flat boxes, which are difficult to secure with
child-resistant features. Many medicaments in the form of tablets
are sold in blister packs--blisters formed on a sheet sealed by a
barrier that is punctured when extracting a tablet from a blister.
When a typical cardboard flat box holding one or more blister packs
is opened the entire contents of the package is exposed, making all
of the tablets immediately available. The dangers posed by children
with access to a large quantity of tablets not intended for their
consumption is self evident.
SUMMARY
[0004] The illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure are
directed to a child-resistant lockable container for storage and
dispensing of medications packaged with a slideable member that
holds items, for example, a tray, a drawer with compartments, a
blister card, a blister pack, or the like ("slideable card"). The
slideable card is illustrated as a conventional blister package,
but the slideable member can be a tray, a slideable package, or any
other packaging, as is known to those skilled in the art. A
lockable container can include a sleeve. The sleeve can be made
from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, paper,
plastic, metal, cardboard, and the like. A locking assembly is
illustrated as a two-piece molded plastic insert that can receive
at least a portion of the slideable card. Posts molded on one piece
of the locking assembly can be connected, and in some embodiments
sealed or welded, with the corresponding hollow cylinders molded on
the other piece of locking assembly. Other attachment mechanisms
can be used, and use of such other mechanisms is contemplated. The
locking assembly can be placed into cooperative alignment with the
sleeve, for example, placed inside the sleeve. The slideable card
slideably can be translated into at least a portion of the sleeve
and the locking assembly.
[0005] The locking assembly can include one or more locking
features. The locking features can include, for example, one or
more posts, apertures, catches, lips, hooks, adhesives, metallic
and/or magnetic surfaces, VELCRO.RTM. fasteners, or other engaging
mechanisms ("post") formed on one or both of the two pieces of the
locking assembly. When the slideable card is inserted into the
locking assembly, the engaging mechanisms of the locking assembly
can engage, for example, one or more apertures, posts, catches,
lips, hooks, adhesives, metallic and/or magnetic surfaces,
VELCRO.RTM. fasteners, or other receiving mechanisms ("aperture")
formed on or in the slideable card. A release button is located on
the locking assembly, and is positioned proximate to the post. One
or more ribs, springs, and/or other biasing mechanisms can be
located proximate the engaging or receiving mechanisms to exert a
compressive force upon, and thereby urge, the engaging mechanism to
engage the receiving mechanism.
[0006] Pressing the release button manipulates the slideable card
to disengage the engaging and receiving mechanisms so that the
slideable card can be slideably removed. The sleeve into which the
locking assembly can be inserted can include, among other things, a
cutout for providing a user access to the release button, an open
end, through which the slideable card can be passed, a closed end,
and one or more alignment structures for aligning the locking
assembly with the sleeve. The sleeve can also include retention
mechanisms for maintaining the locking assembly in the proper
configuration for the desired operation of the container.
[0007] These and further features will be described with reference
to the drawings, wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a perspective views of a locking assembly,
according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view of the locking assembly of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top view of the locking assembly of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the locking assembly of FIG.
1.
[0012] FIGS. 6 and 7 are exploded views of the locking assembly of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an exemplary slideable card
for use in an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a lockable package including a
sleeve and the exemplary locking assembly of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lockable package of
FIG. 9 holding an exemplary slideable card similar to the slideable
card of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure
are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed
embodiments are merely exemplary examples of the disclosure that
may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations
thereof. As used herein, the word "exemplary" is used expansively
to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens,
models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scale and
some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of
particular components. In other instances, well-known components,
systems, materials, or methods have not been described in detail in
order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore,
specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not
to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art
to variously employ the present disclosure.
[0017] For purposes of teaching, the illustrated embodiments are
shown and described in the context of a lockable container that
includes a sleeve, a locking assembly, and a slideable card that is
configured to store and dispense pharmaceutical-related goods. In
the illustrated embodiments, the slideable card is illustrated as a
blister card. However, the lockable container can be utilized to
store and dispense other items, and can be specifically useful for
small, delicate, sensitive, or portable items. Examples of such
items include all manner of consumable products such as candy,
food, vitamins, and the like; and all manner of personal care
products such as contact lens, birth control devices, smoking
cessation patches, hearing aid batteries, and the like.
[0018] Further, the lockable container can be configured to store
and dispense items that are not packaged in a blister card but in
any slidable platform. In such embodiments, the blister card
packaging can be substituted with a tray, card, rack, pack, pouch,
or the like. In general, the teaching provided herein are
applicable to any structure that holds or stores an item, that
provides a basis for attaching or securing an item thereto, or that
is otherwise associated with an item. In describing the locking
assembly, features and functions are described, though it will be
appreciated that the locking assembly may not function as described
unless the locking assembly is cooperatively assembled with a
sleeve, an outer container, or other package component.
Nonetheless, for the sake of brevity and simplicity, the locking
assembly functions are described with reference to the locking
assembly without illustrating a sleeve or other package
component.
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals
represent like features throughout, embodiments of the present
disclosure are illustrated. Turning to FIGS. 1-7, an exemplary
embodiment of a locking assembly 10 for use in a lockable package
is illustrated. The locking assembly 10 can be formed from a base
portion 16 and a top portion 18. The base portion 16 and the top
portion 18 can be attached to one another, as shown in FIGS. 1-5.
Specifically, the base portion 16 and the top portion 18 can be
attached to one another with pegs or pins 20 that are press fit in
hollow cylinders 22. In alternative embodiments, it is contemplated
that the locking assembly 10 can be a unitary structure, or that
the base portion 16 and the top portion 18 can be attached to one
another by elements that provide a snap connection, by welding, by
elements that provide a sliding connection, by mechanical
fasteners, by glue or other adhesives, by other attachment
mechanisms, combinations thereof, and the like.
[0020] The locking assembly 10 can include a compartment portion 24
that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a blister card
12 (illustrated in FIG. 8), and to align features of the blister
card 12 with features of locking assembly 10. The blister card 12
will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. 8.
Returning now to FIGS. 1-7, in the illustrated embodiment, the
compartment portion 24 is defined a portion of the base portion 16,
the top portion 18, and the end wall 30.
[0021] The illustrated locking assembly 10 includes a locking post
36 that projects into the compartment portion from the top portion
18. It should be appreciated that the locking post 36 is merely
exemplary as an embodiment of an engaging mechanism. The engaging
mechanism 36 can be any element that can cooperatively engage a
receiving mechanism of a sliding platform, as will be described in
detail below. The illustrated locking post 36 is shaped so as to
lift and engage at least a portion of the blister card 12 as the
blister card 12 is substantially fully inserted into the
compartment portion 24 of the locking assembly 10. Specifically,
the locking post 36 includes a sloped surface 38 that faces the
open end 32 of the compartment portion 24. The locking post 36 also
includes a contacting surface 39, for engaging the blister card 12
as described below. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacting
surface 39 is oriented opposite the sloped surface 38 so as to face
the end wall 30.
[0022] The locking assembly 10 includes a release button 40 that,
in the illustrated embodiment, is defined by a U-shaped slot 42 and
a hinge 44 so as to be pivotally displaceable into the compartment
portion 24. The release button 40 is disposed in the top portion 18
between the locking post 36 and the end wall 30 with the distal end
of the release button 40 being located proximate the contacting
surface 39 of the locking post 36. The illustrated release button
40 includes a rib extension 46 (best viewed in FIG. 7) that extends
into the compartment portion 24 to facilitate contacting and
displacing the blister card 12, as will be described in further
detail below.
[0023] The illustrated locking assembly 10 includes a leaf spring
47, or other retainer such as a hook, a clip, a VELCRO.RTM.
connector, or the like, that is dimensioned and positioned to allow
the blister card 12 to freely slide into the compartment and to
engage the blister card 12 as the blister card 12 is removed from
the compartment. In the illustrated embodiment, the illustrated
retainer 47 is illustrated as extending away from a
sleeve-interface portion 26 of the base portion 16. As illustrated,
the retainer 47 can extend away from the base portion 16 at an
angle toward the top portion 18 and toward the end wall 30. The
function of the sleeve-interface portion 26 will be described below
in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0024] Returning now to FIGS. 1-7, ribs 48a, springs 48b, or other
biasing elements can extend from the base portion 16 to urge or
bias at least a portion of the blister card 12 towards the top
portion 18. Alternative biasing elements include leaf springs,
dagger springs, and other elements, for example, elements that
exert a compressive force on the blister card 12. In alternative
embodiments, one or more ribs 48a direct the blister card 12 toward
the top portion 18 and function as the biasing elements 48a,
48b.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 8, the sliding platform in the form of
a blister card 12 is now described in further detail. The
illustrated blister card 12 includes a planar substrate 50 and a
plurality of blisters 52 that typically hold one or more items such
as medicaments 53. The blisters 52 are arranged so as to avoid
contact with certain internal features of the locking assembly 10
when the blister card 12 is translated into or out of a lockable
package. For purposes of describing the orientation of the blister
card 12, a leading edge E1 and a trailing edge E2 are defined.
[0026] According to an exemplary method of forming a blister card
12 blisters 52 are formed in a planar plastic sheet to provide a
tray and items are placed in the recesses provided by the blisters
52. Thereafter, a backing, such as a sheet of paperboard or foil,
is attached to the planar portion of the tray to enclose the items
in the blisters 52. According to this formation of a blister card
12, the planar substrate 50 is defined by laminated layers provided
by the plastic sheet and paperboard or foil backing.
[0027] The blister card 12 includes an engaging aperture 54 that is
dimensioned and positioned to receive the locking post 36. It
should be understood, that the shape, location, configuration, and
structure of the illustrated aperture 54 is merely an exemplary
embodiment of a receiving mechanism. The receiving mechanism 54 can
be any element that can cooperatively engage the engaging mechanism
36. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture 54 is positioned
proximate the leading edge E1. The compartment and the blister card
12 are dimensioned with respect to one another such that, when the
blister card 12 is substantially, fully inserted into the
compartment portion 24, the engaging aperture 54 is positioned or
aligned to receive the locking post 36.
[0028] The blister card 12 can be alternatively configured and/or
formed according to alternative methods. For example the blister
card 12 can include an alternative number of blisters 52 and/or
blisters 52 that are alternatively arranged. As another example,
the blister cards 12 can taper or narrow towards the leading edge
E1 to facilitate being received in the sleeve 14. Similarly,
although the blisters 52 are illustrated as having substantially
the same shape and being spaced apart by substantially similar
distances, it should be understood that the blisters 52 can have
irregular and/or inconsistent shapes, and that each of the blisters
52 need not contain the same product as the other blisters 52.
[0029] A method of operating a lockable container including the
locking assembly 10 is now described. In the illustrated
embodiment, a locking feature that releasably locks the blister
card 12 within locking assembly 10 includes the locking post 36,
the biasing elements 48a, 48b, and the engaging aperture 54. To
releasably lock the blister card 12 in the sleeve 14, the leading
edge E1 of the blister card 12 is inserted through the open end 32
of the locking assembly 10 with the blisters 52 facing the base
portion 16.
[0030] As the blister card 12 slides into the compartment, the rib
48a can slide between blisters 52, or rows of blisters 52. The
blister card 12 can be further translated until the leading edge E1
slides over the sloped surface 38 and the locking post 36 is
received in the aperture 54. Thereafter, the contacting surface 39
contacts the edge of the aperture 54 to releasably lock the blister
card 12 in the locking assembly 10. Further, the biasing elements
48a, 48b can push the blister card 12 toward the top portion 18 to
hold the aperture 54 in a position whereat the aperture 54 is
engaged with the locking post 36.
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, a releasing feature for
releasing the blister card 12 from the locking assembly 10 includes
the release button 40. To release the blister card 12 from the
locking assembly 10, the release button 40 is pressed into the
compartment portion 24 such that the rib extension 46 contacts the
blister card 12 and displaces the blister card 12 toward the base
portion 16. The blister card 12 pushes against the biasing elements
48a, 48b and the engaging aperture 54 is lifted out of engagement
with the locking post 36. Thereafter, the blister card 12 can be
grasped near the trailing edge E2 and pulled away from the
compartment portion 24 and through the open end 32. In the
illustrated embodiment, the blister card 12 can be prevented from
being fully extracted by the retainer 47, which is received in the
aperture 54. In alternative embodiments, the blister card 12 can be
fully extracted or can be indexed or metered, thereby allowing
access to a limited number of blisters 52 at a time.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 9, an exploded view of a lockable
package 100 is illustrated, according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 9, a lockable package 100
can include a sleeve 101 and a locking assembly 10. As briefly
described above, the locking assembly 10 can include a
sleeve-interface portion 26. The sleeve 101 can include an open end
102 through which a slideable card 12, for example, a blister card,
can be slideably translated. The open end 102 can optionally
include one or more flaps 104. In some embodiments, the open end
102 includes two or more flaps 104. In other embodiments, the open
end 102 includes one flap 104, and the flap 104 includes an
interface slot 106. The sleeve 101, can also include closed end
flaps 108, 110 configured to form a closed end for the sleeve 101.
The sleeve 101 can also include a release button cutout 112 for
providing access to the release button 40 of the locking assembly
10 when the locking assembly 10 is inserted into the sleeve
101.
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 10, a perspective view of a lockable
package 100 is illustrated, according to an exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 10, the locking assembly
10 can be inserted into the sleeve 101 and locked into an operation
position. The sleeve 101 can be a substantially tubular structure
that is formed from a desired number of substantially planar walls.
For example, the sleeve 101 can be formed from a blank and the
blank can include at least four wall panels, including a top,
bottom, and two side panels. Additionally, the blank can include
flaps extending from one or more wall panels. The illustrated
sleeve 101 includes a top panel 92, a bottom panel 94, and two side
panels 96 and 98, and flaps 104, 108, and 110 extending from one or
more of the panels 92, 94, 96, 98.
[0034] The sleeve-interface portion 26 of the locking assembly 10
can interact with the flaps 104 and the interface slot 106 to place
the locking assembly 10 in the proper orientation for operation of
the lockable package 100. In one embodiment, the width of the slot
106 is dimensioned to be substantially equal to the width of the
sleeve-interface portion 26 of the locking assembly 10. As such,
the edges 114 of the flap(s) 104 can interact with an interface
edge 116 of the locking assembly 10 to create a press-fit
connection between the sleeve 101 and the locking assembly 10.
Additionally, or in the alternative, a portion 118 of the locking
assembly 10 can slide under a portion of the flap 104. As such, the
portion of the flap 104 that surrounds the interface slot 106 can
provide a "shoulder" for the locking assembly 10. The shoulder can
add additional support for the locking assembly 10 and can keep the
locking assembly 10 being pushed through the open end 102 of the
sleeve 101.
[0035] The closed-end flaps 108, 110 of the sleeve 101 can be
closed to form a closed end 120. The closed end 120 can be
configured to provide a snug fit between the locking assembly 10
and the sleeve 101 along the end wall 30 of the locking assembly
10. The closed end 120, the interface slot 106, and the edges 114
can engage the end wall 30, and the interface edges 116 and the
interface portion 118 of the locking assembly 10 to hold the
locking assembly 10 in a firm and at least substantially
immobilized position without the use of adhesives or mechanical
fasteners between the locking assembly 10 and the sleeve 101. A
slideable card 12 can be inserted into the sleeve 101 and into a
locked position by interfacing with the locking assembly 10, as
illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0036] It will be appreciated that the illustrated locking assembly
10 can be made of any desired material, for example, plastic,
metal, recycled plastic, and the like. Since the sleeve 101 can
conceal most of the locking assembly 10, the color, texture, and
other appearance of the locking assembly 10 can be tailored to
provide maximum cost efficiency with less attention to appearance
of the locking assembly 10. Additionally, the locking assembly 10
can be recyclable, disposable, or reusable since the locking
assembly 10 can be held by the sleeve 101 without the use of
mechanical or chemical fasteners. In some embodiments, the locking
assembly 10 is held in place using chemical and/or mechanical
fasteners and container 100 is disposable.
[0037] The law does not require and it is economically prohibitive
to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present
claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary
illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear
understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations,
modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All
such variations, modifications, and combinations are included
herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following
claims.
* * * * *