Lockable and compartmentalized package

• US 8,066,123 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Gelardi, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun; Jacob K
• Application Number:
  US12/765,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20100294692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 206/528, 206/531, 206/532, 206/534, 206/536, 206/1.5, 206/807, 206/538, 206/468, 220/345.1, 220/345.2
• US Class Current: 206/538
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/02 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/04 for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0445 all the articles being stored in individual compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/08 for dispensing thin flat articles in succession towel dispensers intended for re-use A47K10/24; dispensers for surgical scalpel blades A61B17/3215

Abstract

An exemplary lockable package holds a sliding element within a lockable sleeve. The sleeve comprises a base and a top. The base includes a release button defined by a release surround and a hinge that connects the release button to the base. The release button also includes a free end. Pushing inwardly on the release button urges the free end inwardly to disengage a locked sliding element. The sliding element comprises a sliding base, a sliding top, and an article cover that spans the primary containers. For example, the primary containers are pouches that hold consumable articles, such as vitamins, or personal care articles, such as contact lenses.

Claims

1. A lockable package for storing and dispensing articles, comprising:

an outer sleeve having an interior void and an open end, wherein the outer sleeve comprises at least one locking post and a release button proximate to the locking post;

a sliding tray received within the interior void of the outer sleeve and having a pair of opposing reliefs positioned to abut the outer sleeve at the open end thereof when the package is in a locked position, the sliding tray defining at least one compartment accessible through an access window and configured to receive at least one article, the sliding tray further comprising a locking tab having at least one locking aperture configured to releaseably engage said locking post;

wherein the package is configured to permit said sliding tray to translate from a locked position to an unlocked position by urging the release button inwardly to disengage said locking aperture from said locking post.

2. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein the sliding tray further comprises a means for biasing an article contained within said compartment to facilitate removal of the article from the compartment.

3. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein the sliding tray further comprises a lever positioned to urge removal of an article contained within said compartment when an inward pushing force is applied to the lever.

4. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve further comprises a release button stop configured to stop the inward movement of the release button.

5. The lockable package of claim 4, wherein the sliding tray further comprises a receiving notch configured to receive said release button stop.

6. The lockable package of claim 1, further comprising an article cover spanning said compartment and comprising a breachable gate cooperatively aligned with said access window to said compartment, wherein the breachable gate is configured to be lifted or torn from the article cover.

7. The lockable package of claim 6, wherein the breachable gate is constructed of paperboard.

8. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve comprises a pair of locking posts and said locking tab of said sliding tray comprises a corresponding pair of locking apertures.

9. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve further comprises guide rails configured to laterally direct movement of said sliding tray within the outer sleeve.

10. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein said sliding tray further comprises one or more engaging stops and the outer sleeve further comprises one or more engaging ribs corresponding to said engaging stops and positioned to contact said engaging stops to prevent said sliding tray from being fully extracted from the outer sleeve.

11. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein said compartment is defined by interior side walls within the sliding tray.

12. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein said sliding tray comprises a base and a top attached to the base, wherein said compartment is defined by side walls extending from the base and said access window is defined by an aperture in the top.

13. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein said sliding tray defines a plurality of compartments, each compartment configured to receive at least one article.

14. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein said sliding tray comprises a base including said compartment and a top spanning said compartment and attached to said base.

15. The lockable package of claim 1, wherein said outer sleeve comprises a first side matingly connected to a second side to form said interior void.

16. The lockable package of claim 1, further comprising at least one article contained within said compartment.

17. The lockable package of claim 16, wherein the article is a consumable product or a personal care product.

18. The lockable package of claim 16, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of candy, food, vitamins, tobacco products, contact lens, birth control devices, smoking cessation patches, and hearing aid batteries.

19. The lockable package of claim 16, wherein said at least one article is in the form of a primary container containing a second article.

20. The lockable package of claim 19, wherein the primary container is selected from the group consisting of pouches, chips, satchels, pillows, vials, and blister packs.

21. A lockable package for storing and dispensing articles, comprising:

an outer sleeve having an interior void and an open end, wherein the outer sleeve comprises at least one locking post and a release button proximate to the locking post;

a sliding tray received within the interior void of the outer sleeve, the sliding tray defining at least one compartment having a floor and accessible through an access window and configured to receive at least one article, the sliding tray further comprising a locking tab having at least one locking aperture configured to releaseably engage said locking post, wherein the sliding tray further comprises a lever formed in the floor of the compartment and defined on at least one side by a slit in the floor of the compartment, the lever adapted to urge removal of an article contained within said compartment when an inward pushing force is applied to the lever;

wherein the package is configured to permit said sliding tray to translate from a locked position to an unlocked position by urging the release button inwardly to disengage said locking aperture from said locking post.

22. A lockable package for storing and dispensing articles, comprising:

an outer sleeve having an interior void, an open end, and a closed end, wherein the outer sleeve comprises at least one locking post and a release button proximate to the locking post, the locking post and the release button positioned proximal to the closed end of the outer sleeve;

a sliding tray having a first end and a second end, the first end received within the interior void of the outer sleeve and the second end having at least one relief positioned to abut the outer sleeve at the open end thereof when the package is in a locked position, the sliding tray comprising at least one compartment defined by a floor and side walls extending from the floor, the compartment being accessible through an access window and configured to receive at least one article, the sliding tray further comprising a locking tab positioned at the first end of the sliding tray and having at least one locking aperture configured to releaseably engage said locking post when the container is in the locked position with the relief of the sliding tray abutting the outer sleeve;

wherein the package is configured to permit said sliding tray to translate from the locked position to an unlocked position by urging the release button inwardly to disengage said locking aperture from said locking post.