BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to a device for inhibiting the removal of an article from a
blister package-type container and, more particularly, to a child-resistant device
for inhibiting removal of an article from a blister package, in which the device's
ability to inhibit removal can be deactivated.
[0002] Each year, thousands of children are injured by ingesting articles such as pharmaceutical
products. For example, pills, tablets, and capsules of pharmaceutical products are
often shaped, sized, and colored for the convenience of adults, yet represent an attractive
hazard to young children unaware of the danger of ingesting such products. Young children
may also be injured by playing with other pharmaceutical products, such as syringes.
[0003] Many pharmaceutical products, such as pills, tablets, capsules and syringes and other
such articles, are packaged in so-called blister-type packages or containers to facilitate
removal but to inhibit contamination and product tampering. With such packages or
containers, the article is typically sandwiched between a layer of transparent or
translucent plastic in the form of an outward extension, cavity or blister, and a
rupturable or puncturable layer. Force applied to the blister is transmitted to the
article, which ruptures or punctures the puncturable layer for removal of the article
by the user.
[0004] To comply with government regulations that require child-resistant caps on bottles
and vials of many pharmaceuticals, there has been developed at least one device which
inhibits the removal by children of articles such as pills, syringes, etc., from blister-type
containers, disclosed in
U.S. Patents 5,150,793 and
5,244,091 (
Tannenbaum), the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. However, some
users of child-resistant packaging may lack the manual dexterity to open and close
the package, leading to annoyance and frustration. In particular, in the case where
the packaging is used for dispensing pharmaceutical products, such as medication,
adult users who do not have children in their household may prefer to use packaging
that is not child-resistant. Often such users will request non-child-resistant packaging
to avoid such difficulties. While such a request may be accommodated by the pharmacist
dispensing drugs in non-child-resistant packaging at the point of sale, it is often
not easy to repackage blister-packaged drugs which come in standard sized dosage formats.
The user can choose to accept the child-resistant package from the pharmacist or have
the contents of the blister container transferred to another container that does not
have the feature of being child-resistant. Another solution to the problem would be
for a manufacturer or supplier to produce or sell two differently packaged products.
Such product differentiation, however, involves higher cost and difficulty of meeting
demand for the product based solely on packaging preference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Briefly stated, the present invention comprises an improvement for a device that
inhibits removal of an article from a blister-type container in order to protect a
child from the package contents, but which has means to bypass the child-resistant
feature. In particular, a lock is provided which locks open access to remove articles
which are contained in the blister package.
[0006] According to one aspect of invention, there is provided a locking apparatus for a
device housing a container that contains articles. The inhibiting device includes
a layer movable between two positions with respect to at least a portion of the container.
The layer is configured to at least partially inhibit removal of articles from the
container when in one position and to permit removal of articles when in the other
position. When moved into the former position, thus, the layer serves as a blocking
element to interfere with the easy removal of the articles from the container. The
locking apparatus also has a lock that can be operated to lock the layer in the latter
position, where removal of the articles from the container is permitted, and to prevent
movement of the layer to the other position, where removal of the articles is inhibited.
[0007] Another aspect of the invention is a device that includes a container, a layer like
that just mentioned, retaining means, biasing means, and a housing. The container
may be a blister container, such as is well-known in the art and is specifically described
in the above-mentioned
Tannenbaum patents, but one of skill in the art will recognize that the device described above
may include other types of containers. The container (if it is a blister container)
includes a first generally flat sheet having at least one cavity or blister formed
therein for accommodating an article. The container also comprises a puncturable and
generally flat second sheet having a first side that faces one side of the first sheet.
The article can be removed from the container by applying pressure to the exterior
surface of the blister to force the article against and through the second sheet.
[0008] The device comprises a layer moveable with respect to the container between a first
position and a second position. The layer is between the first and second sheets,
and has at least one opening that is substantially aligned with the blister when the
housing is in the first position, and that is of such a size as will permit passage
of the article therethrough.
[0009] The device also includes biasing means, arranged to bias the layer into the second
position, where the opening in the layer is no longer aligned with the blister, and
thus inhibits removal of the article from the container. The layer is arranged so
that it can be moved against the bias of the biasing means into the first position,
bringing the blister substantially into alignment with the layer opening to permit
removal of the article as mentioned above.
[0010] The device also includes retaining means, operable when the layer is in the first
position, for retaining the layer in the first position. In addition the device can
include a housing surrounding at least a portion of the container and in communication
with the biasing means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with
the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown
in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred, it being understood, however,
that the invention is not limited to the specific instrumentalities disclosed. In
the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front view of a device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, in a position in which removal of an article from the container is inhibited;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the container is in a position
that permits removal of an article from the container;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1, with the container in a position that
permits removal of an article from the container;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the device of FIG. 1, in which the container
is in a position that permits removal of an article from the container;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along the dotted line in FIG.
5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a component of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a portion of the component shown in FIG. 7.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along line 1--1 of FIG. 1, but
with the device in a position that permits removal of an article from the container;
and
[0021] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a variation of the component of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and
is not limiting. In particular, the words "outwardly", "right" and "left" designate
directions in the drawing to which reference is made.
[0023] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 10, which can be a package for a container 14, such as
a blister-type container used in pharmaceutical packaging. The device 10 may include
a housing 34 that at least partially surrounds the container 14. The device 10 is
provided with a hole or window 36 into which a user can insert a finger from either
the front or the back of the housing 34. The hole 36 may assist the user in handling
the package during use, but is provided for a particular purpose, as described below.
The housing 34 also includes openings visible from the front through which portions
of the container 14 protrude. These protruding portions are constructed as blisters
22 in a first sheet 16 (more readily seen in FIG. 9) that is made of a flexible material,
such as included in those containers described in the
Tannenbaum patents mentioned above and as described below.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the back of the device 10 shown in FIG. 1. As viewed from the back,
the housing 34 also includes openings 60 which are aligned with the corresponding
openings on the front of the housing 34 and the blisters 22, shown in FIG. 1. Through
the openings 60 in FIG. 2 can be seen small portions of a second sheet 24 of the container
14. The second sheet 24 may be a layer of foil, such as aluminum foil, sealed to the
first sheet to seal the articles 12 in the blisters 22. By virtue of the placement
of the openings 60 in the back of the housing 34, the user can dispense an article
from a blister 22 by pressing on the blister 22 to push the article 12 through the
second sheet 24 through the opening 60 in the housing 34.
[0025] To prevent inadvertent or otherwise undesired dispensing of articles from the device
10, a layer 32 is provided in the device 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, to inhibit
removal of articles 12. Layer 32 is in part a sheet of a material that, unlike the
foil sheet 24, cannot easily be punctured even if a person presses quite hard on a
blister. The layer 32 is provided with holes 48 which, in this embodiment, are of
the same shape and size as the openings 60 in the back of the housing, and which are
arranged the same as the latter openings, other than the openings 60 in the left-most
column. Layer 32 is movable between two positions. In a first position (shown in FIGS.
3 and 4), the holes 48 are aligned with the openings 60 in the housing, except as
mentioned those farthest to the left. The layer 32 is made short enough that in this
position, its left edge is to the right of that column of openings 60, which thus
are also unblocked. With the layer 32 in this position, the user can easily press
an article through the puncturable material of sheet 24 and through the opening 60.
In the second position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), the holes 48 are not aligned with
the openings 60 in the housing 34, and thus block any attempt the user may make to
press an article from a blister 22 out of the package. The layer 32 is of course made
long enough to block all the openings 60, even though it does not extend to the left-most
column thereof when in the open position.
[0026] To move the layer 32 between these two positions the layer is provided with a trigger
11. When the layer is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trigger 11 extends
partway into the opening of the window 36. A user can move the layer 32 into the position
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 by inserting a finger into the window 36 and sliding the layer
32 to the right (as shown in FIGS. 1-4).
[0027] In the preferred embodiment, the layer 32 is biased into the second position (that
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). To remove an article 12 from the container 14, therefore,
the user might simply keep his or her finger in the window 36 to hold the layer 32
in the right-ward position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, keeping the holes 48 in the layer
32 aligned with the openings 60 in the housing and permitting the user to extract
an article by pushing on the blister 22 housing it. Removing the finger then permits
the layer 32 to return to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the layer
blocks removal of articles from the container.
[0028] For users suffering from reduced coordination, or arthritis, however, this may not
be practical, or may be painful. Accordingly, the preferred embodiment is provided
with a tab 42 on the layer 32 so as to be revealed extending into the window 36 from
the left when the trigger 11 is pressed to the right. The tab 42 is coplanar with
the layer 32. In order to retain the trigger 11 and the layer 32 in the first (open)
position the user can bend or fold the tab 42 out of the plane of the layer 32 and
into the window 36, as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the tab 42 is able to move in a hinged manner relative
to the layer 32, the axis 52 of the hinged movement lying in the plane of layer 32,
along the dotted line in FIG. 5. As long as the tab 42 is bent or folded so that portion
50 of the tab extends into the window 36, the layer 32 cannot be returned to the second
(closed) position. To lock the layer 32 still more securely in place, the tab 42 is
provided with a portion 54 that is located at the hinging of the tab 42 to the layer
32. Portion 54 is shaped so that when the tab 42 is bent or folded into the window
36, portion 54 is thereby also moved out of the plane of layer 32, but extending away
from the hinge position in a direction opposite to that of the main portion 50 of
the tab 42. The portion 54 is long enough to engage an edge of the window 36 so that
some portion of the package housing is held between the portion 54 and the layer 32,
as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In particular, when the trigger 11 is in the first position,
the disabling tab 50 can be deflected with respect to the plane of the container 14
and the housing 34 into or out of the openings 36 and 38 around the axis 52, which
will deflect the disabling tab 54, also, away from the housing 34 and the container
14. When the disabling tab 50 and the retaining tab 54 rotate a predetermined amount,
such as, for example, between sixty and ninety degrees, the retaining tab 54 can engage
either an edge 62 of the window 36 or an edge 64 of the container 14, or both. (The
portions 50 and 54 may be termed a disabling tab and a retaining tab, respectively.)
This arrangement aids in holding layer 32 in the first (open) position, unless and
until the user decides to return it to the second (closed) position by manually returning
the tab 42 to its original orientation, in the plane of layer 32.
[0030] The disabling tab 50 and the retaining tab 54 are formed of a material that permits
them to be flexed about the axis 52.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows layer 32 removed from the rest of the child-resistant device and container.
In this embodiment, the layer 32 is integral with the trigger 11, which in fact is
simply the right-hand edge 56 of window 38 in layer 32. The layer 32 is movable in
the directions parallel to the arrow in this Figure to bring the layer 32 into the
first (open) position and the second (closed) position described above. In this embodiment
the layer 32 is made of a material that has a fair degree of resilience, and is formed
with portions 44 at the right-hand end and a portion 46 at the left-hand end that
serve to bias the layer into the closed position. The layer 32, including resilient
portions 44 and 46, is shaped such that when the resilient portions are in their relaxation
positions (shown in FIG. 7), the layer is in the second (closed) position.
[0032] As can be seen from FIG. 7, the user moves the layer 32 to the right (toward the
first position), the resilient portions 46 at the left edge of the layer 32 is extended,
and the two springs formed by the resilient portions 44 in communication with the
right edge of the layer 32 are compressed. As a result, the layer 32 will remain in
the first (open) position only as long as the user holds it in that position, or uses
the locking effect of tab 42 as described above. If the layer 32 is released, such
as, for example, by the user removing his or her finger from the window 36 of the
housing and the finger hole 38 of the layer 32, the compressed resilient portions
44 and 46 relax and move the layer 32 back into the second (closed) position, preventing
further removal of the articles 12 from the container 14.
[0033] In this embodiment, as can be seen, the lock (formed of the tab 42) is itself formed
as a part of layer 32, and in fact, those elements as well as the resilient portions
44 and 46, and the surrounding frame or base are all formed from a single piece of
material, for example by stamping. The layer 32, tab 42, and biasing means 44, 46
are preferably made from a flexible plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride or
polypropylene. Moreover, the layer 32 and biasing means 44, 46 can be integrally formed,
from the same or different materials, or can be separate elements. However, one of
skill in the art will appreciate that those components may also be formed from other
suitable materials, all of which are within the scope of the present invention.
[0034] While the layer 32 is in this embodiment configured to slide relative to container
14, it is within the broad scope of the invention to make the layer 32 translationally
or rotationally movable with respect to the container 14.
[0035] The article 12 is typically a pill, tablet, capsule, or a syringe or the like, although
one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the article 12 may be any article
or product that it is convenient to package in a blister-type package or container
14. One of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that the article 12 need
not be restricted to pharmaceutical articles, but may be any article, such as a screw,
nut, bolt, razor blade, etc.
[0036] Preferably, the blister-type container 14 comprises a conventional blister package,
best shown by the cross-sectional view in FIG. 9, which is a cross-sectional view
of the device along line 1--1 in FIG. 1. However, one of ordinary skill in the art
will understand that the blister-type container 14 may take any shape or form in accordance
with the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the container may
have a generally circular or disc shape, and the layer that serves as a blocking element,
like layer 32 in the preferred embodiment, may be arranged to slide rotationally rather
than laterally, using torsion provided in any convenient way as a biasing force.
[0037] In the preferred embodiment, the container 14 comprises a first generally flat sheet
16. The first sheet 16 is formed from a generally compressible, formable material
which would allow pressure applied to the first sheet 16 to be transmitted to the
article 12 to remove the article 12 from the container 14.
[0038] The first sheet 16 is preferably formed from a formable polymeric material, such
as one selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, styrene, polypropylene,
barrex, aclar, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol
(PETG), and amorphous polyethylene terephthalate APET including laminations or co-extrusions
thereof in accordance with the chemical and/or mechanical characteristics of the article
12 and which may be formed to accommodate the size and shape of the article 12. One
of ordinary skill in the art will understand, however, that the first sheet 16 may
be formed from any other generally compressible, formable material such as aluminum.
[0039] The first sheet 16 has a first side 18 and a second side 20. The first sheet 16 also
has at least one and typically several generally outwardly extending blisters 22 for
accommodating the articles 12. The interior dimensions of the blisters 22 preferably
conform to the size and shape of the article 12. One of ordinary skill in the art
will understand that the first sheet 16 need not be flat, and may have blisters 22
of any size and shape in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0040] The container 14 includes a rupturable or puncturable generally flat second sheet
24. The second sheet 24 is preferably generally rupturable by the article 12 in the
area of the blister 22 when force is applied to a blister 22 of the first sheet 16
and thereby to the article 12. The force may be generated by the pressure of one or
more fingers of an individual, for example.
[0041] Preferably, the second sheet 24 is a metallic foil, such as aluminum foil. However,
one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any other rupturable or puncturable
material, such as a plastic material of the type described above in connection with
the first sheet 16 or a paper material, may be used for the second sheet 24.
[0042] One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the second sheet 24 need not
be generally flat, but may have ridges or indentations, etc. Preferably, the second
sheet 24 generally conforms in size to the first sheet 16, but one of ordinary skill
in the art would understand that the second sheet 24 may be larger or smaller than
the first sheet 16, as desired.
[0043] The second sheet 24 has a first side 26 and a second side 28. The first side 26 of
the second sheet 24 sealingly engages a portion 30 of the first side 18 of the first
sheet 16. The portion 30 generally does not include the area of the blisters 22. Preferably,
the first side 26 of the second sheet 24 is heat sealed or adhesively engaged to the
portion 30 of the first sheet 16. For purposes of clarity in the drawing, the adhesive
or heat seal coating is not shown. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand
that the first side 26 of the second sheet 24 may be engaged with the portion 30 of
the first sheet 16 by some other means.
[0044] The blister package or container 14 as described above is a typical blister package
well known to those skilled in the art. An article 12 may be removed from the container
14 by applying pressure to an outside surface 23 of a blister 22 to force the article
12 to rupture or puncture the second sheet 24. One of ordinary skill in the art will
understand that the pressure necessary to puncture the second sheet 24 with the article
12 is, among other criteria, a function of the shape and compressibility of the article
12, as well as the compressibility, thickness and type of material from which the
first sheet 16 and second sheet 24 are formed. The pressure is generally that which
is capable of being generated by one or more fingers of an individual.
[0045] FIG. 10 shows a variant structure for the layer 32. In this alternative structure,
one resilient portion (portion 46) is omitted, and a more compact structure is obtained.
[0046] In another alternative structure, the finger hole 38 may be replaced with a gripping
surface (not shown) or gripping tab exposed through the window 36 so that the exposed
portion 40 of the layer 32 positioned within in the window 36 can be manipulated or
moved with at least one finger positioned at least within the interior 68 of the housing
34 and within the window 36. The gripping surface or tab may be configured to at least
partially fill the area defined by the window 36, and may be at least partially solid
(i.e., free of apertures). The gripping surface or gripping tab may be configured
with a texture suitable to be engaged or manipulated by a finger of a user of the
device 10. Such an exposed gripping surface within the window 36 can be coplanar with
the surrounding portions of the layer 32, or may be a raised or indented surface (e.g.,
a detent or indent), or have another configuration to facilitate gripping with a finger.
Moreover, such a gripping surface or gripping tab may be completely contained within
the interior 68 of the housing 68, or may protrude outwardly through the window 38
from within the interior 68 of the housing 34 such that the user can grip the surface
of the tab without passing a finger through the window 36.
[0047] The housing 34 shown in FIGS. 1-4 can be constructed from a flexible plastic or paper
material. Of course, other suitable materials known to one of skill in the art may
be used to construct the housing, and are within the scope of the invention. The housing
34 may be configured to be resistant to tearing, by for example, the application of
twisting or bending forces exerted by the hands of the user. The housing 34 can at
least partially surround a portion of the container 14, and may include a plurality
of openings 66 in the front of the housing 34 through which the blisters 22 of the
container 14 may protrude.
[0048] The biasing means 44, 46 shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 are configured to bias the layer
32 into the second (closed) position to inhibit the removal of articles 12 from the
container 14. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the springs 44 and 46 are planar and are
co-planar with the layer 32, but they may instead take other forms, such as, for example,
coil springs or flexible bellows, without deviating from the broad scope of the invention.
It should be noted that the biasing means may be integral with or joined to a portion
of the housing 34, and the housing and the biasing means may be constructed from the
same material.
[0049] The locking tab 42 is shown in FIG. 7 as being formed in the layer 32 along an edge
of finger hole 38 in the layer 32. The tab 42 and the layer 32 may be integrally formed,
from the same or different materials, or may be separate elements. An enlarged view
of the tab 42 and the finger hole 38 of FIG. 7 is provided in FIG. 8. The finger hole
38 is configured to permit a finger of a user of the device to pass therethrough.
[0050] In order to prevent an undesired return of the layer 32 from the first position to
the second position, the tab 42 can be used to lock the layer 32 into the first position.
Thus the locking apparatus of the invention assists a user who does not need or wish
to use a self-closing, or other similar child-resistant feature, of the device 10.
By virtue of the locking tab 42, the layer 32 can be retained in the first position
to disable any return (automatic or otherwise) of the layer 32 to the second position,
unless and until the tab 42 is manually moved to the unlocking position.
[0051] The layer 32 can be returned to the second position by deflecting the disabling tab
50 back toward the layer 32. In addition, the layer 32 may be configured to require
a user to move the layer 32, through pulling on the disabling tab 50, a further predetermined
amount in the direction shown of the arrows in FIGS. 1, 3, and 7 prior to being able
to move the disabling tab 50 back into a position which is co-planar with the remainder
of the layer 32.
[0052] It is to be understood that the locking apparatus is not limited to the embodiment
described above, and one of skill in the art will recognize that the retaining tab
54 and the disabling tab 50 may be replaced with other structures within the scope
of the invention. For example, the disabling tab 50 and retaining tab 54 may be replaced
with one or more snap closures so as to connect a portion of the layer 32 to a portion
of the container 14 to inhibit any relative movement between them when the layer 32
is in the first position. Such snap closure can be performed while the layer 32 is
in the first position, for example, by applying pressure through the exterior of the
housing 34 at a location corresponding to the location of the snap closure within
the housing 34.
[0053] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes can be made to the
embodiments described herein without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof.
It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular
embodiments disclosed, but is intended to cover all modifications which are within
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
1. A locking apparatus for a device (10) including a container (14) that contains at
least one article (12), the locking apparatus comprising:
a blocking element (32) positionable with respect to at least a portion of the container
(14), the blocking element (32) being movable between a first position and a second
position and configured to at least partially inhibit removal of articles (12) from
the container (14) when in the second position and to permit removal of articles (12)
when in the first position; and
a lock (42) that optionally locks the blocking element (32) in the first position
to inhibit movement of the blocking element (32) into the second position.
2. A locking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock (42) optionally unlocks
the blocking element (32) to permit the blocking element (32) to return to the second
position.
3. A locking apparatus according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the blocking element
(32) is a planar layer.
4. A locking apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the lock (42) is configured
to engage at least a portion of the container (14).
5. A locking apparatus according to any one of claims 14, wherein the device (10) includes
at least one opening configured to receive and engage the lock (42).
6. A locking apparatus according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the lock (42) is formed
of the same piece of material as the blocking element (32).
7. A locking apparatus according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the lock (42) is formed
as a tab that is hingedly connected to the blocking element (32).
8. A locking apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the blocking element
(32) is slidable with respect to the container (14) to move between the first and
the second positions.
9. A locking apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the blocking element
(32) is rotationally positionable with respect to the container (14) to move between
the first and the second positions.
10. A device (10) for inhibiting removal of an article (12) from a blister-type container
(14), the container (14) comprising a first generally flat sheet (16) having a first
side (18) and a second side (20) and a blister (22) for accommodating the article
(12) and a puncturable generally flat second sheet (24) having a first side (26) and
a second side (28), the first side (26) of the second sheet (24) engaging a portion
of the first side (18) of the first sheet (16), whereby the article (12) may be removed
from the container (14) by applying pressure to an outside surface (23) of the blister
(22) to cause the article (12) to puncture the second sheet (24), and the device (10)
further comprising a base (32) moveable with respect to the container (14) between
a first position and a second position, the base (32) being positioned facing the
second side (28) of the second sheet (24), the base (32) having at least one base
opening (48) substantially in alignment with the blister (22) when the base (32) is
in the first position, and the base opening (48) being configured to permit passage
of the article (12) therethrough,
characterized in that:
a lock (42), optionally operable when the base (32) is in the first position, to inhibit
movement of the base (32) with respect to the container (14).
11. The device (10) according to claim 10, wherein the lock (42) comprises a planar surface
hingedly connected to the base (32).
12. The device (10) according to any one of claims 10-11, wherein the lock (42) includes
a snap closure.
13. The device (10) according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the base (32) includes
an opening (38) through which a person's finger can pass to move the base (32) to
the first position from the second position.
14. The device (10) according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein the device (10) further
comprises a retaining means (54) arranged to retain the lock (42) in a locked position,
and wherein the base (32) and the retaining means (54) are integrally formed with
each other.
15. The device (10) according to claim 14, wherein the device (10) further comprises a
biasing means (44, 46) arranged to bias the base (32) into the second position, and
wherein the base (32), the retaining means (54), and the biasing means (44, 46)are
coplanar with each other.
16. The device (10) according to claim 15, wherein the device comprises a housing (34)
surrounding at least a portion of the container (14) and in communication with the
biasing means (44, 46).