CHILD-RESISTANT PACKAGE

Abstract

The invention provides a child-resistant package (10) comprising an inner tray (100) defining a storage compartment (101) and an outer sleeve (200). The package has a locking system which releasably locks the inner tray (100) in the closed position by means of a locking (tab 150) which releasably engages a locking aperture (213) in the closed position. The package also has a stopping system which prevents further withdrawal of the inner tray (100) from the outer sleeve (200) in the open position by means of the same locking tab (150) engaging a stopping aperture (214) in the open position. The locking tab (150) forms part of both the locking system and the stopping system and the locking tab is involved in both functions.

Claims

1. A child-resistant package comprising: an inner member defining a storage compartment, and an outer sleeve having an inner wall and an outer wall with a space therebetween, wherein the inner member is slidably engaged within the outer sleeve and is movable between a closed position in which the storage compartment is closed and an open position in which the inner member projects from the outer sleeve and the storage compartment is accessible, wherein the package further includes a locking system which releasably locks the inner member in the closed position and a stopping system which prevents further withdrawal of the inner member from the outer sleeve in the open position, and wherein the package further includes a locking tab which releasably engages a locking aperture in the closed position, and which releasably engages a stopping aperture in the open position, wherein the locking tab has an extended position and a retracted position, the locking tab being biased towards the extended position such that, when the inner member is in the closed position, the locking tab adopts the extended position and engages with the locking aperture, wherein the locking tab is provided on the inner member and the locking aperture and stopping aperture are provided in the inner wall of the outer sleeve, such that the locking tab projects through the locking aperture in the closed position, into the space between the inner and outer walls, wherein an access aperture is provided in the outer wall so that the locking tab can be urged inwards to the retracted position and out of engagement with the locking aperture, to unlock the inner member and allow movement towards the open position relative to the outer sleeve, wherein a removable cover is provided over the access aperture, and wherein the access aperture is configured such that the locking tab does not project through the aperture when in the closed/locked position.

2. The child-resistant package of claim 1, wherein the locking tab extends adjacent to the side of the inner member and is hinged on the inner member.

3. The child-resistant package of claim 2, wherein the locking tab is cut out from the underside of the inner member and folded around through an angle of greater than 180 degrees to form an acute angle with the side of the inner member.

4. (canceled)

5. The child-resistant package of claim 1, wherein the stopping aperture is provided in a wall of the outer sleeve such that, when the inner member is in the open position, the locking tab adopts an extended position and engages the stopping aperture to prevent further withdrawal of the inner member from the outer sleeve, beyond the open position.

6. The child-resistant package of claim 5, wherein the stopping aperture presents a stop edge to the locking tab which prevents further movement beyond the open position.

7. The child-resistant package of claim 6, wherein the stop edge is the outermost edge of the stop aperture relative to the direction of movement of the inner member from the closed position to the open position.

8. The child-resistant package of claim 7, wherein a ramp is provided on an inner edge of the stop aperture to automatically urge the locking tab to the retracted position as the inner member is moved from the open position towards the closed position.

9. The child-resistant package of claim 1 comprising two locking systems and two stopping systems, on opposite sides of the package.

10. The child-resistant package of claim 1, wherein the inner member is a tray having an underside and upstanding sides.

11. The child-resistant package of claim 1, wherein the inner member has a hinged lid which is opened to access the storage compartment.

12. The child-resistant package of claim 1, wherein an engagement aperture is provided in the outer sleeve to enable the inner member to be pushed relative to the outer sleeve towards the open position.

13. The child-resistant package of claim 12, further comprising a removable cover provided over the engagement aperture.

14. The child-resistant package of claim 1, wherein an the inner side edge of the locking tab has an acute angle relative to the direction of movement of the inner member.

15. The child-resistant package of claim 14, wherein the shape of the locking tab is a trapezium and preferably a right trapezium.

16. An apparatus comprising: an outer sleeve having an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall having a locking aperture and a stopping aperture; an inner member defining a storage compartment, the inner member being slidably engaged within the outer sleeve and movable between a closed position in which the storage compartment is closed and an open position in which the inner member projects from the outer sleeve and the storage compartment is accessible; a locking tab provided on the inner member, having an extended position and a retracted position, and being biased towards the extended position such that, when the inner member is in the closed position, the locking tab adopts the extended position and engages with the locking aperture, the locking tab being configured to: releasably lock the inner member in the closed position by releasably engaging the locking aperture and projecting through the locking aperture into a space between the inner and outer walls, and prevent withdrawal of the inner member from the outer sleeve in the open position by releasably engaging the stopping aperture in the open position; an access aperture in the outer wall to facilitate urging of the locking tab inwards to the retracted position and out of engagement with the locking aperture, to unlock the inner member and allow movement towards the open position relative to the outer sleeve, the access aperture being configured such that the locking tab does not project through the aperture when in the closed position; and a removable cover over the access aperture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a package in accordance with the invention;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an inner storage tray for use in the package of the invention;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the inner storage tray of FIG. 2;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a detailed cross-section through part of the storage tray of FIG. 2;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an outer sleeve for use in the package of the invention;

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through the package of the invention in the closed configuration;

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the package of the invention in the closed configuration, with the tamper-proof panels being removed;

[0051] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the package of the invention in the closed configuration, showing where forces are applied to open the package;

[0052] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of part of the package of FIG. 8;

[0053] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the package of the invention in the open configuration; and

[0054] FIG. 11 shows a cross-section through the package of the invention in the open configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0055] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, package 10 has an inner tray 100 which defines a storage compartment 101. Inner tray 100 has side walls 110, end walls 120, bottom wall 130 and a hinged lid 140 which is opened to access the storage compartment 101. Inner tray 100 is slidably engaged with outer sleeve 200.

[0056] Outer sleeve 200 has side walls 210, end walls 220 and 221 (only end wall 220 is visible in FIG. 1), bottom wall 230 (not visible in FIG. 1) and top wall 240.

[0057] Locking tabs 150 are an important part of the locking system and the stopping system, and their function will be described below. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the formation of the locking tabs 150 is shown. Each locking tab 150 is cut out from the bottom wall 130 of the inner tray and folded around through an angle of greater than 180 degrees (see arrows) to form an acute angle with the side wall 110 of the inner tray. The resulting “fold crease” 151 provides the resilient hinge mentioned above. The locking tab 150 will have a natural rest position extending away from the side wall 110 (possibly as shown in FIG. 4) but can be urged against the resilient force to a position closer to the side wall 110 and potentially substantially flush with it.

[0058] Outer sleeve 200 is shown in more detail in FIG. 5. In this view, the construction of the side walls 210 can been seen in more detail. Side wall 210 is formed from inner side wall 211 and outer side wall 212. Inner side wall 211 has a locking aperture 213 and a stopping aperture 214. Outer side wall 212 has an access aperture 215 which is smaller than locking aperture 213 and prevents locking tab 150 from projecting through the access aperture. Removable cover panels 216 are provided which cover the access apertures 215 (see also FIG. 1).

[0059] End wall 220 is provided with a removable panel 222 to create an engagement aperture 223 as will be discussed below. End wall 221 forms a cover flap for closing up the package when inner tray 100 is inside.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a horizontal cross-section through the side walls 110 and 210 with the inner tray 100 and outer sleeve 200 in the closed, locked configuration. Locking tab 150 is in the extended position and is engaged with locking aperture 213. Specifically, outer side edge 153 of locking tab 150 is engaged with locking edge 219. Inner tray 100 is therefore unable to be removed from outer sleeve 200.

[0061] With reference to FIG. 7, in order to open the package, cover panels 216 over the access apertures 215 are removed, for example by tearing along a line of weakness or perforation. Panel 222 is also removed to create the engagement aperture 223.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows the forces required for the consumer to move the inner tray 100 out of the outer sleeve 200.

[0063] FIG. 9 shows a vertical cross-section through the side walls 110 and 210. The upper figure shows locking tab 150 in the extended position, engaged with locking aperture 213. By application of a force shown by the arrow, e.g. by the consumer placing a finger through the access aperture 215, the locking tab 150 can be moved to the retracted position and out of engagement with the locking aperture 213, as shown in the lower figure. The inner tray 100 can then be moved out of the outer sleeve 200 by application of a force applied to the inner tray 100 through engagement aperture 223, as shown in FIG. 10, and moved to the open configuration. Hinged lid 140 can then be opened to access storage compartment 101.

[0064] FIG. 11 shows a similar view to FIG. 6, but with the inner tray 100 in the open configuration. The features of the stopping system can be seen, which prevents the inner tray 100 from projecting further than a predetermined amount from the outer sleeve 200. As inner tray 100 reaches the open position and locking tab 150 aligns with stopping aperture 214, the tab automatically extends outward to an extended position (which, in this embodiment, as can be seen by comparing with FIG. 6, is not as extended as in the closed, locked configuration). The locking tab 150 is then engaged with stopping aperture 214 and inner tray 100 is prevented from being further withdrawn from outer sleeve 200 by stop edge 217 on the outermost edge of the stop aperture, against which outer side edge 153 of locking tab 150 abuts.

[0065] Ramp 218 is provided on the inner edge of the stopping aperture 214 to automatically urge the locking tab 150 to the retracted position as the inner member 100 is pushed in, from the open position towards the closed position. Therefore, no action is required by the consumer to disengage the locking tab from the stopping aperture other than pushing the inner tray back into the outer sleeve. Locking tab 150 is shaped to facilitate this function, and is provided with an inner side edge 154 which is angled relative to the direction of movement of the inner tray 100. In this embodiment, the locking tab shape is a right trapezium.