Child resistant device for housing blister packs

Abstract

A container for housing blister packs. The container includes first and second portions attached to one another in a manner whereby said first and second portions are movable from an open condition in which products may be dispensed from the container to a closed condition in which products cannot be dispensed from the container. At least the first portion of the container defines an internal space in said container of sufficient size to receive product in said internal space. The container also includes structure for supporting the blister pack in a position whereby product dispensed from said blister pack is dispensed into the internal space in said container and a closure which retains said first and second portions in the closed position. An opening is provided in the first portion in communication with the internal space to permit passage of product through said opening to be dispensed to outside the container at a location which is blocked when the closure is positioned to retain the first and second portions in the closed position. The container provides a secure way to limit access to product in a blister pack while at the same time facilitating dispensing of product from the blister pack and container.

1 . A container for a blister pack, the blister pack having a base and deformable blisters projecting from the base for containing a product, said container comprising:
 first and second portions attached to one another in a manner whereby said first and second portions are movable from an open condition in which products may be dispensed from the container to a closed condition in which products cannot be dispensed from the container, the first portion of the container defining an internal space in said container of sufficient size to receive product in said internal space,   a structure for supporting the blister pack in a position whereby product dispensed from said blister pack is dispensed into said internal space in said container,   a closure which retains said first and second portions in the closed position, and   an opening in said first portion in communication with said internal space, said opening being of sufficient size to permit passage of product through said opening to be dispensed to outside said container at a location which is blocked when said closure is positioned to retain said first and second portions in the closed position.   
   
   
       2 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said closure is child resistant. 
   
   
       3 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said opening extends through a peripheral sidewall of said first portion to outside said first portion. 
   
   
       4 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said opening is also in communication with a passage in said closure such that product is dispensed to outside said container through said passage in said closure. 
   
   
       5 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said structure for supporting the blister pack comprises a shoulder proximate to said internal space. 
   
   
       6 . A container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said structure for supporting the blister pack further comprises at least one ridge which divides said internal space into a plurality of internal spaces, and each said internal space is in communication with an opening of sufficient size to permit passage of said product through said each said opening to be dispensed to outside said container. 
   
   
       7 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said structure for supporting the blister pack comprises a plate provided with a plurality of openings therein, said plate being positioned such that dispensing of said product from a blister pack supported on said plate dispenses said product through an opening in said plate into said internal space. 
   
   
       8 . A container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said plate is supported by a shoulder proximate to said internal space. 
   
   
       9 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said closure comprises a screw cap, and a threaded protruding member that is attached to said first portion of said container. 
   
   
       10 . A container as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said opening in said first portion communicates with a passage through said threaded protruding member for dispensing of product to outside said container. 
   
   
       11 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second portions of said container are attached to one another by a hinge. 
   
   
       12 . A container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said hinge is located on a side of said first and second portions of said container and mating parts of said closure are formed in each of said first and second portions of said container such that when said container is in the closed position, an additional part of said closure may be attached to said mating parts of said closure to retain said container in a closed position. 
   
   
       13 . A container as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said hinge is located at an edge of said first and second portions and said closure is located opposite the location of said hinge. 
   
   
       14 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second portion comprises a flange positioned to abut with a part of said closure when said container is in the closed position to retain said container in said closed position. 
   
   
       15 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said internal space is shaped to facilitate direction of product to said opening in communication with said internal space. 
   
   
       16 . A container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second portion of said container defines a second internal space in said container of sufficient size to receive product in said second internal space, said container further comprising:
 a second structure for supporting the blister pack in a position whereby product dispensed from said blister pack is dispensed into said second internal space in said container, and   an opening in said second portion in communication with said second internal space, said opening in said second portion being of sufficient size to permit passage of said product through said opening in said second portion to be dispensed to outside said container at a location which is blocked when said closure is positioned to retain said first and second portions in the closed position.   
   
   
       17 . A container as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said opening in said second portion extends through a peripheral sidewall of said second portion to outside said second portion. 
   
   
       18 . A container as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said opening in said second portion is also in communication with a passage in said closure such that product is dispensed to outside said container from said opening in said second portion through said passage in said closure. 
   
   
       19 . A container as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said second structure for supporting the blister pack comprises a shoulder proximate to said second internal space. 
   
   
       20 . A container as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said second structure for supporting the blister pack further comprises at least one ridge which divides said second internal space into a plurality of internal spaces in said second portion, and each said internal space in said second portion is in communication with an opening of sufficient size to permit passage of said product through each said opening to be dispensed to outside said container. 
   
   
       21 . A container as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said second structure for supporting the blister pack comprises a second plate provided with a plurality of openings therein, said second plate being positioned such that dispensing of said product from a blister pack supported on said second plate dispenses said product through an opening in said second plate into said second internal space. 
   
   
       22 . A method for dispensing product from a container containing a blister pack having a base and deformable blisters projecting from the base for containing a product, said method comprising the steps of:
 locating the blister pack in a container at a location whereby dispensing of said product from said blister pack causes said product to enter an internal space in said container,   dispensing product from said blister pack into said internal space,   positioning said container to cause said product to move in said internal space to an opening in communication with said internal space, and   dispensing said product from said container through said opening in communication with said internal space.   
   
   
       23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of opening said container to obtain access to said blister pack prior to said step of dispensing product from said blister pack. 
   
   
       24 . A method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said container comprises a closure and said step of opening said container comprises opening said child resistant closure. 
   
   
       25 . A method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein said step of opening said closure also unblocks an opening in said container through which product is dispensed to outside said container in said step of dispensing product from said container. 
   
   
       26 . A method as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said container contains at least two blister packs, said method further comprising the step of selecting a blister pack from which product is to be dispensed. 
   
   
       27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein each blister pack is associated with a separate internal space in said container and each said internal space is provided with an opening in communication therewith, and wherein said step of opening said closure unblocks at least one opening in said container in communication with each said internal space to permit dispensing of product from said container from each said internal space.