Medication holding and dispensing system

Abstract

A product delivery and/or dispensing system is realized by providing a housing or holding zone constructed for securely retaining any desired product or item which a user or gift-giver wishes to be delivered or dispensed with the housing or holding zone being automatically activated or moved from a first, fully retained position into a second, outwardly extending position whenever a slider panel is moved in a direction which is opposite from the direction of the movement of the housing or holding zone. By moving the slider in a first direction, the housing or holding zone moves in an opposite direction, typically to the surprise and excitement of the user. Furthermore, the slider is constructed to enable any desired information to be placed thereon thereby allowing a particular message or product information to be communicated to the user.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 876,058, filed Dec. 19, 2006 entitled MEDICATION HOLDING AND DISPENSING SYSTEM.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This invention relates to child-proof / senior friendly packaging and, more particularly, to an easily manufactured, inexpensive, sliding holder for blister-pack pharmaceutical products and other high value products.BACKGROUND ART[0003]With the ever increasing quantity of products being offered to consumers, substantial interest has been given to products which are able to provide the surprise delivery of a concealed item as well as the controlled delivery of specialty products or items. In particular, products which provide child-proof and / or senior friendly packaging for dispensing pharmaceuticals, medications, prescription and non-prescription vitamins, supplements and the like. In this regard, a wide variety of packaging has been developed over the years in an effort to create a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0026]In an alternate embodiment, the child resistant / child proof lock construction comprises an upstanding finger or tab member mounted to the slider panel which is cooperatively associated with an abutment surface mounted to the upper panel of the housing. In addition, a finger accessible recess or cavity is formed in the upper panel and the slider panel for enabling the user to quickly and easily engage a portion of the slider panel for initiating the movement of the slider panel.

[0027]Due to the locking engagement of the finger / tab member with the abutment surface, longitudinal movement of the slider panel is incapable of being achieved while the finger / tab member is in its locked position. However, by pressing a specific designated area of the upper panel of the housing, the finger / tab member is moved, disengaging the finger / tab member from the abutment surface. Once the finger / tab member has been disengaged, the slider panel is able to be quickly and easily longitudinally moved outwardly from the housing, causing the product retaining panel / container to be longitudinally moved outwardly of the housing in the opposite direction. In this way, the user must employ two hands to gain access to the medication.

[0028]In a preferred construction of this embodiment of the present invention, the locking finger / tab member is mounted along a side edge of the slider panel enabling the finger / tab member to be readily accessed by the user when the slider panel has been longitudinally moved out of the housing. Once in this position, the locking finger / tab member can be removed from the slider member in its entirety, thereby disconnecting the locking mechanism. As a result, in those instances where children are not present and a childproof or child resistant construction is not needed, the user is able to physically disable the locking mechanism on a permanent basis, thereby eliminating any needed to physically disengage the locking finger / tab from engagement with the abutment surface.

[0029]In a third alternate embodiment of the present invention, a folded panel is mounted to the slider plate and positioned for engaging the side edge of a reinforcing plate or abutment plate mounted to the top surface of the housing. In addition, an enlarged movable flap is formed in the top surface of the housing directly above the position of the folded panel when the slider is fully engaged in the housing. As with the previous embodiment, a cutaway zone is formed in the top panel of the housing in direct association with a finger receiving cavity or depression formed in the slider panel and positioned for enabling the user to quickly and easily gain access to the slider panel for causing the slider panel to move.

[0030]By employing this embodiment of the present invention, the user gains control of the slider plate with a first hand by engaging the finger receiving cavity or depression formed therein and attempting to pull the slider panel for withdrawing the slider panel from the housing. However, due to the locked engagement of the abutment plate with the folded panel, longitudinal movement of the slider plate is prevented.

[0031]In order to overcome the lock engagement of the folded panel with the abutment plate, the user presses upon the enlarged flap with a second hand to dislodge the folded panel from the abutment plate. Once dislodged, longitudinal movement of the slider plate is easily achieved. In this way, the user is able to withdraw the slider plate from the housing and simultaneously cause the associated product holding plate / container to move longitudinally from the housing in the opposite direction. Once removed from the housing, the user is able to gain access to the medication or other product retained in the product holding plate / container.

Problems solved by technology

Although attempts have been made to satisfy this demand, prior art products have failed to provide the desired result, typically due to the high cost of production for complex packaging systems.

In addition, senior citizens with limited hand mobility have found many of the prior art dispensing systems are difficult to access which have made many of these prior art systems unpopular.

Although the need and desire for compliance packaging has long existed, the prior art products have failed to satisfy the needs and demands of manufacturers, distributors, and consumers.

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