BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a child-resistant container and more specifically to an easily refillable child-resistant container for storing a removable blister pack having an arrangement of blisters each of which contains a tablet or capsule.
Many pharmaceutical products such as tablets and capsules are packaged in blister packs to deter children from obtaining and ingesting the products, to provide a small quantity of medication in a cost effective package and to allow for compliance throughout the medication cycle. In addition, blister packs are commonly utilized as physician samples for specific drugs and are not always packaged in a child-resistant package/container. The designer of such blister packs is confronted with conflicting requirements. The blister pack should be child-resistant and at the same time able to be opened without unreasonable difficulty. Typical blister packs are known to be difficult for some adults to open while still failing to be a deterrent for unsupervised children. In addition, blister packs are often utilized to help users keep track of their daily dosage of medication, which is taken over long periods of time.
A child-resistant container for storing blister packs provides a second layer of safety. To be effective the container should require a degree of perception and manual dexterity above the abilities of unsupervised children attempting to gain access to the contents of the blister pack and should also be easy for adults to use. A container requiring the coordinated use of both hands and the simultaneous application of a force to both a latch and a lock assembly to gain access to the blister pack, such as the container of the invention disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/941,588 filed on Sep. 14, 2004, which was published under U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0115862 A1 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, provides the requisite level of protection.
Although the container of the above-referenced U.S. Patent Application solves the problems mentioned above, several disadvantages still exist in the child-resistant containers. Namely, the manufacturing process requires additional steps to secure the blister pack to the child-resistant container. For instance, holes within the blister pack must be precisely aligned with corresponding holding pins. This step could become time consuming due to the precision required to properly install the blister pack. Other manufacturing processes require that an adhesive be applied to the blister pack to secure the blister pack to the container. The application of an adhesive is not only time consuming but also poses a risk of potentially harmful chemical reactions between the adhesive and the medicine contained within the blister pack.
Another disadvantage of currently available blister pack holding child-resistant containers is that the blister packs are not quickly replaceable. In the case of the use of holding pins, a user must detach the old pack and align a new pack with the pins. In the case of the use of adhesives, the user must detach the pack and apply new adhesive for a new pack. Both of these options do not provide for quick replacement of blister packs.
Thus, a need exists for a child-resistant container capable of easy installation and removal of blister packs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Breifly stated, the present invention is directed to a child-resistant container for holding at least one item. The container includes a housing having upper and lower walls and at least one open side between the upper and lower walls. The container also includes a tray having a drawer slideably positioned therein. The drawer is for containing the item. The tray is pivotably connected to the housing at a pivot joint for movement between a first position in which the tray and the drawer are contained in the housing for preventing access to the item and a second position in which the tray extends through the open side of the housing for exposing the drawer and the item.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a child-resistant container in a first (closed) position in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the child-resistant container of FIG. 1 showing the tray in a second (open) position;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the child-resistant container of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded, top perspective view of the child-resistant container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the child-resistant container of FIG. 1 without a base;
FIG. 6 is a greatly enlarged view of a latch assembly of the child-resistant container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a locking mechanism of the child-resistant container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a top elevation view of a child-resistant container without a top of an alternate embodiment engaged with a drawer key in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the child-resistant container in a first (closed) position in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the child resistant container of FIG. 9 showing the tray in a second (open) position;
FIG. 11 is a partially exploded, top perspective view of the child-resistant container of FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the child-resistant container of FIG. 9 showing a keyhole and a key; and
FIG. 13 is a partially broken away, top perspective view of a pivot member of the child-resistant container of FIG. 9 engaged with the key of FIG. 12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the child-resistant container and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-8 a first preferred embodiment of a child-resistant container 10 in accordance with the present invention. The container 10 of the first preferred embodiment is for containing at least on item, such as a blister pack (not shown) having an arrangement of blisters, each containing a medication dose or tablet (not shown). One having ordinary skill in the art will realize that the blister pack typically includes a generally transparent top layer and a generally opaque rear layer that is bonded to the top layer such that moisture or other foreign matter is unable to penetrate the blister pack. The rear layer of the blister pack is rupturable such that the medication dose may be urged through the rear layer by applying a force, generally perpendicular to the top layer, to the medication dose. The top layer is typically constructed of a polymeric material and the rear layer is typically constructed of a foil-type material or a laminate with at least one layer of foil therein.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that contents or items other than tablets or capsules can be contained in the container 10 of the present invention. For example, liquid or granular pharmaceuticals, contact lenses suspended in liquid or similar items potentially hazardous to children or adults can be safely contained in a readily accessible and convenient manner using the container 10 of the present invention. Accordingly, while the first preferred embodiment of the container 10 is discussed below as having a tray 20 for holding a blister pack, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the present invention is not limited to containers for containing blister packs.
The container 10 may be used to contain other contents without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The necessary changes to the container 10 to accommodate contents other than a blister pack would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art when considered in combination with this disclosure. Accordingly, for brevity, the below disclosure is directed to a container 10 for blister packs having an arrangement of tablets with the understanding that the invention is not limited to containing blister packs or tablets.
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the container 10 includes a housing 18, a tray 20, a latch 22, and a lock assembly 24. The housing 18 has a generally rectangular shape. However, those of skill in the art will appreciate from this disclosure that the container 10 of the present invention is not limited to a container having a housing of any particular shape. For example, the housing 18 may be cylindrically shaped, triangularly shaped, cubically shaped or the like without departing from the scope of the present invention. Preferably, the rectangular-shaped housing 18 has first, second, third, and fourth corners 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, each of which has a generally arcuate shape. The first corner 18a preferably has a radius of curvature greater than the second, third and fourth corners 18b, 18c, 18d and is adjacent to the second and fourth corners 18b, 18d. As will be discussed further below, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the first corner 18a having the greater radius of curvature enables a user to readily ascertain the orientation of the container 10. The artisan will also understand that there are numerous other methods that may be employed to enable the user to determine the orientation of the container 10, such as a faceted corner or the use of a textured surface. Thus the invention is not limited to the use of generally arcuate corners, one of which having a distinguishable difference in its radius of curvature over others, as the sole method for determining orientation.
The housing 18 has a base or lower wall 26, a top or upper wall 28, at least one closed side 30 and at least one open side 32. The base 26 and top 28 have semi-circular cutouts 110 that join to form outermost edges of circular keyholes 94 which will be described in more detail below. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the cutouts 110 could be of other shapes and sizes so long as a key (described below) is capable of fitting through the cutout portion. The at least one closed side 30 extends between the base 26 and the top 28 along a first portion 34 of a perimeter 36 of the base 26. The at least one open side 32 extends between the base 26 and the top 28 along a second portion 38 of the perimeter 36 of the base 26 and at least from the fourth corner 18d to the first corner 18a. Preferably the at least one closed side 30 comprises a base component 30a and a top component 30b. The base component 30a extends upwardly from the base 26 and the top component 30b extends downwardly from the top 28. Referring to FIG. 4, inside portions of the walls 40a of the base component 30a of the at least one closed side 30 has a rabbet 42a with an inwardly projecting lip 44a. The bottom edge 40b of the top component 30b of the at least one closed side 30 has a rabbet 42b with an outwardly projecting lip 44b for mating in a snap fit connection with the corresponding rabbet 42a and lip 44a of the wall inside portion 40a of the at least one closed side 30. The base component 30a further includes a female component 47a (FIG. 4) that mates with a male component 47b (FIG. 5) of the top component 30b for further securing the base component 30a and the top component 30b. The female and male components 47a, 47b are sized such that a close frictional fit is formed when the two mate.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will understand from the present disclosure that the base component 30a and the top component 30b of the at least one closed side 30 are preferably formed as an integral part of the base 26 and top 28, respectively. The artisan also will understand that the base component 30a and the top component 30b may be secured to each other by a variety of other well known fastening methods such as an interference fit, screws, adhesives or the like. Further, the artisan will understand that the base component 30a and the top component 30b need not be formed as an integral part of the base 26 and top 28, respectively, but rather may be separate structures secured to the base 26 and top 28, respectively, by the methods discussed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, a pivot 46 extends between the base 26 and the top 28 through the tray 20. The pivot 46 is preferably positioned proximal to the fourth corner 18d of the housing 18 and comprises a first cylindrical structure 46a and a second cylindrical structure 46b. The first cylindrical structure 46a is integral with the base and extends upwardly from the base 26. The second cylindrical structure 46b is integral with the top 28, extends downwardly from the top 28 and engages the first cylindrical structure 46a in peg-in-hole like union. Those skilled in the art will understand from this disclosure that the pivot 46 may be any of a variety of well known connectors that provide for angular displacement between the connected structures, such as a hinge, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, the tray 20 preferably has a shape that generally corresponds to the shape of the base 26 and is preferably generally rectangular in shape. The tray 20 is pivotably connected to the housing 18. Preferably the tray 20 has a pivot hole 48 therethrough that is journaled with the pivot 46 to form a pivot joint. The tray 20 is pivotable between a first (or closed) position 50 (FIG. 1) in which the tray 20 is in the housing 18 for preventing access to the item or blister pack and a second (or open) position 52 (FIG. 2) in which the tray 20 extends through the at least one open side 32 of the housing 18 for exposing a drawer 80 and the item or blister pack, as described in more detail hereinafter. The tray 20 has at least one side 54 that extends upwardly along a first portion 56 of the perimeter 58 of the tray 20 and that corresponds to the at least one open side 32 of the housing 18. The perimeter 58 forms a hollow space 59 at the mid-portion of the tray 20. Those having ordinary skill in the art will understand from this disclosure that the at least one side 54 preferably, but not necessarily, extends around the entire perimeter of the tray 20.
The tray 20 further includes a retention or restraint bar 90 extending over the drawer 80 for restricting movement or securing a blister pack as will be described below. The retention bar 90 is substantially centered within the hollow space 59 and extends from a first portion top 56a to a rear portion 57. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the location and orientation of the retention bar 90 could vary so long as the blister pack is capable of being properly secured. In addition, the tray 20 includes top and bottom ridges 96, 98 located on inside sidewalls 47 of the tray 20. The top and bottom ridges 96, 98 form a channel 91 on each side of the tray 20 and each channel 91 is aligned with keyholes 94 that extend through the rear portion 57 and the perimeter 58 of the tray 20. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the channel 91 could be formed in other ways or could be eliminated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 6, the latch 22 comprises a flexible member 64 associated with the tray 20 and a notch 66 associated with the housing 18. The flexible member 64 has a first end 64a that is integral with the at least one side 54 of the tray 20 and a second end 64b that has an outwardly projecting tang 68. The flexible member 64 is elastically biased outwardly. The notch 66 is in an inwardly facing surface of the at least one closed side 30 of the housing 18. The notch 66 is proximal to the first corner 18a of the housing and is positioned for releasably engaging the tang 68 when the tray 20 is in the first position 50 (FIG. 1). The outwardly facing surface of the latch 22 preferably, but not necessarily, is a textured surface. Those skilled in the art will understand from the present disclosure that the latch 22 may be one of a variety of well known latching devices, such as a slider or a snap without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 4, the child-resistant container 10 also includes a removable drawer 80 sized to fit within the tray 20. The drawer 80 includes a front wall 84, a rear wall 88 and two opposing sidewalls 86. The walls 84, 86, 88 surround a center portion 83 having access holes 60 for individual blisters of the blister pack. In the preferred embodiment, four rows and six columns of access holes 60 are present but one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the quantity and locations of the access holes 60 could vary depending on the configuration of the blister pack. The walls 84, 86, 88 extend sufficiently above the center portion 83 such that individual blisters would be at equal height or lower than the walls 84, 86, 88. The rear wall 88 includes an opening 89 at or near the center for the retention bar 90 to fit within. The center portion 83 includes open space 81 aligned with the opening 89 between the front and rear walls 84, 88 to accommodate the retention bar 90 and prevent the retention bar 90 from interfering with individual blisters. Side extensions 87 extend from each sidewall 86 along the entire length of the outside portions of the sidewalls 86. Each side extension 87 includes a distal end consisting of a triangular shaped latch 82. Each latch 82 is sized to fit within the keyholes 94. The side extensions 87 are shaped and sized so that they are slidably engageable with the channels 91 of the tray 20. The drawer 80 further includes inwardly extending ribs 85 that extend from the rear wall 88 and the front wall 84. The ribs 85 are sufficiently spaced from the center portion 83 top surface so that the base of a blister pack can fit underneath the ribs 85. One with ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the quantity and location of the ribs 85 could vary so long as the blister pack could be secured properly.
In operation, the drawer 80 is loaded with a blister pack by placing the blister pack in the center portion 83 of the drawer 80 and securing the blister pack by placing the edges of the blister pack underneath the ribs 85. The drawer 80 is then inserted into the tray 20 by placing the latches 82 of the side extensions 87 into the channel 91 and pushing the drawer 80 through the channels 91 and into the keyholes 94 until the latch 82 engages pins 92 (FIG. 8) within the keyhole 94 of the tray 20. The drawer 80 is capable of being loaded into the tray 20 when the tray 20 is in both the first and second positions 50, 52. In the preferred embodiment, the pins 92 are cylindrical and extend from the tray 20. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other shapes could be substituted. In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the latches 82 could extend beyond the tray 20 and engage with pins that extend from the top 28 or base 26 instead of the tray 20.
Referring to FIG. 8, the drawer 80 is releasably interlocked to the tray 20 by at least one latch via engagement of the latches 82 to the pins 92. The drawer 80 is releasable from the tray 20 by engaging a drawer key 100 through the keyholes 94 into the housing 18 to release the latches 82 from the pins 92. The drawer key 100 includes a main body or base 102 having a first side 106a and a second side 106b sized to fit at least partially around two opposing closed sides 30 of the child-resistant container 10. The main body 102 also includes at least a first extension 104a and preferably a second extension 104b for engagement with the keyholes 94. The first extension 104a and the second extension 104b are tapered such that the tapered ends match the tapered ends of the latches 82. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the first and second extensions 104a, 104b could be shaped in other ways so long as sufficient force could be transferred to the tapered surfaces of the latches 82.
In operation, the drawer 80 is released from the tray 20 by applying the drawer key 100 to the child-resistant container 10. The first and second extensions 104a, 104b are aligned with the keyholes 94 and pushed toward the container 10 so that the first and second extensions 104a, 104b contact the tapered portions of the latches 82. This causes elastic deformation of the latches 82 and removes the latches 82 from the pins 92, thereby forcing the drawer 80 out of the tray 20. The drawer 80 may then be quickly replaced by a substitute drawer having a new blister pack if needed.
Referring to FIGS. 1-5 and 7, the lock assembly 24 is connected to the housing 18 and preferably comprises a flexible upper tab 24a. The upper tab 24a is preferably formed from a partial cutout in the top 28 and has a first end 72a integral with the top 28 of the housing 18 and a second free end 72b. The upper tab 24a is elastically biased outwardly and displaceable inwardly. Referring to FIG. 7, the lock assembly 24 is movably mounted to the top wall 28 of the housing 18 and includes an arm 25 that extends downwardly from an upper tab 24a with a hook-shaped member 25a at a distal end. The lock assembly 24 is movable between a locking position and a release position. The lock assembly 24 engages and locks the tray 20 within the housing 18 when the tray 20 is in the retracted position and the lock assembly 24 is in the locking position. The lock assembly 24 further includes a cam surface 25b and a shoulder 25c on the tray 20. In the preferred embodiment, the cam surface 25b and shoulder 25c are integrally molded into the side 54 of the tray 20 adjacent a corner of the tray 20. Those skilled in the art will understand from the present disclosure that other methods may be used to lock the tray 20 in the first position 50 such an outwardly biased bolt slideable within a bore in the top 28 of the housing 18 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
In operation, the cam surface 25b moves the lock assembly 24 from the locking position to the release position as the tray 20 pivots from the exposed position toward the retracted position. The lock assembly 24 engages the shoulder 25c when the tray 20 is in the retracted position, thereby locking the tray 20 in the retracted position. To release the tray 20 from the retracted position, the upper tab 24a is depressed toward the tray 20, thereby moving the hook-shaped member 25a out of engagement with the shoulder 25c, the latch 22 is actuated and the tray 20 is released to pivot toward the open position upon the application of a torque to the tray 20. When returning the tray 20 to the retracted position from the open position, the cam surface 25b contacts the hook-shaped member 25a, moving the upper tab 24a from the locking position to the release position. When the hook-shaped member 25a clears the cam surface 25b, the resilient upper tab 24a urges the hook-shaped member 25a to the locking position, thereby engaging the hook-shaped member 25a with the shoulder 25c and locking the tray 20 in the retracted position.
The upper tab 24a of the lock assembly 24 may include an ornamental design such as a star or a target applied to its outer surface to direct the user's attention to the location of the upper tab 24 on the container 10. Additionally, preferably, but not necessarily, the top 28 of the container 10 may bear other markings to provide guidance to the user regarding how to operate the device. The ornamental design on the upper tab 24a is not limited to a star or target and may take on nearly any ornamental shape or pattern that provides an indication to a user for actuating the locking assembly 24.
Those having ordinary skill in the art will understand from the above disclosure that the tray 20 is secured in the first position 50 by the latch 22 and the lock assembly 24 and is angularly displaceable from the first position 50 toward the second position 52 upon the simultaneous application of an inwardly directed force to the flexible member 64 of the latch 22 and the upper tab 24a of the lock assembly 24 and a torque to the tray 20.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the above-disclosed components of the container 10 are fabricated from die-formable polymeric materials. However, a wide variety of well-known materials including but not limited to metals such as aluminum or stainless steel may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
The container 10 is preferably ergonomically designed for simplicity of use as follows. The container 10 with the tray 20 in the first or closed position 50 is grasped in the left hand with the at least one closed side 30 facing the palm of the user's hand, the top 28 facing upwardly and the left thumb placed over the upper tab 24a of the lock assembly 24. The index finger of the user's right hand is placed on the flexible member 64 of the latch 22. To open the container 10, the user simultaneously applies with the left thumb and right index finger an inwardly directed force to the upper tab 24a and the flexible member 64 respectively and a torque to the tray 20. The force applied to the upper tab 24a causes the upper tab 24a to be displaced inwardly and thereby transfer the force to the arm 25 which, in turn, is displaced downwardly and outwardly to withdraw the arm 25a from the shoulder 25c and unlock the tray 20.
The application of the inwardly directed force to the flexible member 64 causes an inward displacement of the flexible member 64, which in turn causes the withdrawal of the tang 68 from the notch 66 in the at least one closed side 30 of the housing 18. The simultaneous withdrawal of the arm 25a and the tang 68 frees the tray 20 for angular displacement about the pivot 46. With both the upper tab 24a and the flexible member 64 inwardly displaced, the application of the torque to the tray 20 pivots the tray 20 from the first (closed) position 50 to the second (open) position 52.
When the tray 20 is in the open position 50, the user may remove a tablet from a blister of an already contained blister pack. The application of a reverse torque to the tray 20 returns the tray 20 to the closed position 50. When the tray 20 is returned to the closed position 50, in the absence of the force applied to the upper tab 24a and the flexible member 64, the tang 68 is inserted in the notch 66 and the arm 25a is inserted in the shoulder 25c due to the biased positioning of the latch 22 and the lock assembly 24.
Referring to FIGS. 9-13, a second preferred embodiment of a child-resistant container 11 is shown. The child-resistant container 11 includes parts that are identical to the child-resistant container 10 of the first embodiment and will not be discussed in detail for convenience. The container 11 includes a housing 18 that is identical to the container 10 of the first embodiment except that the rear of the housing does not include cutouts for circular keyholes but instead includes a triangular keyhole 132 on the base 26.
Referring to FIG. 11, a removable tray 20′ is sized to fit within the housing 18. The tray includes a front wall 140, a rear wall 142, a left wall 144 and a right wall 146 that surrounds a center portion 148 having access holes 60′ for use with blister packs. In the preferred embodiment, seven columns and four rows of evenly spaced access holes 60′ are present but one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the quantity and locations of the access holes could vary depending on the configuration of the blister pack. The walls 140-146 are of sufficient height such that the center portion 148 lies beneath the peaks of the walls 140-146 and such that individual blisters would be at equal height or lower than the walls 140-146. The front and rear walls 140, 142 include ribs 85 that are identical to those described in the first embodiment. The tray 20′ also includes a pivot member 164 located at the corner that joins the front wall 140 and the left wall 144. A portion of the left wall 144 extends inwardly to form a first section 120. A second section 122 having a distal end contact surface 122a extends outwardly from the left wall 144 and forms a first gap 150 between the first section 120 and the second section 122. The second section contact surface 122a is sufficiently concave to form an arc of a circle and faces the front wall 140. A third section 124 having a curved surface 124b extends from the front wall 140 and is sufficiently curved such that a distal end 124a of the third section 124 substantially faces the rear wall 142 and forms a substantially triangular second gap 152 between the second section 122 and the third section 124. The curved surface 124b of the third section 124 has an arc substantially equal to the arc of the contact surface 122a. A substantially cylindrical pivot hole 48′ is formed between the curved surface 124b of the third section 124 and the contact surface 122a of the second section 122 and is sufficiently sized to fit a first cylindrical structure 46a of the housing 18.
Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the base 26 of the housing 18 includes a keyhole 132 substantially aligned with the second gap 152. The keyhole 132 is sized to fit a key 130 having a handle 130a, an extension 130b and a contact portion 130c having a distal end 134. The keyhole 132, as well as the cross-section of the contact portion 130c of the key 130, are identically substantially triangular and sized such that the contact portion 130c would fit within the keyhole 132. Referring to FIG. 13, the key contact portion 130c is sized such that the cross-section of the contact portion 130c is slightly larger than the triangular second gap 152.
In operation, the movable tray 20 is inserted into the housing 18 and the pivot member 164 is snap-fitted onto the first cylindrical structure 146 into a first (closed) position 50′. During the snap-fitting process, the cylindrical structure 46a travels through the second gap 152 and expands the space within the gap 152 until the cylindrical structure 46a rests within the pivot hole 48′ at which time the gap 152 returns to its original dimensions. The removable tray 20′ is capable of being pivotably removed from the housing 18 into a second (open) position 52′. Referring to FIG. 13, to remove the tray 20′, the key 130 is inserted through the keyhole 132 and the second gap 152 while the tray 20′ is in the first position 50′. The key 130 expands the space of the second gap 152 between the second and third members 122, 124 such that the second member 122 moves toward and within the first gap 150 and the contact surface 122a of the second member 122 disengages from the cylindrical structure 46. A user then engages the lock assembly 24 and latch 22 as described in paragraphs [0043] and [0044] to pull the tray 20′ so that the cylindrical structure 46 travels through the expanded second gap 152 and the tray 20′ is removed from the housing 18. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the keyhole 132, the key contact portion 130c and the second gap 152 could take on other shapes and sizes so long as the key contact portion 130c is capable of fitting in and expanding the second gap 152. In the preferred embodiment, the material of the second and third sections 122, 124 is sufficiently flexible such that the second gap 152 is expandable but also sufficient in strength such that the stress applied to the members 122, 124 by the key 130 does not cause fracture of the sections 122, 124.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070045150
