Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Latchable Package
This invention relates to a latchable package such as a box, which may be used
in the
packaging of items. In particular, though not exclusively, the invention
relates to a child-
resistant package for storing potentially hazardous materials such as, for
example,
pharmaceuticals, which must be kept safe from children or irresponsible
adults.
The safe storage of potentially hazardous materials such as pharmaceuticals
has long
been a problem for families with young children. Whilst parents desire access
to a wide
range of pharmaceuticals in order to be able to treat illnesses promptly and
easily, the
natural curiosity of children can cause them to seek out and ingest such
materials when
unsupervised. This can have serious consequences. For example, an overdose of
virtually any pharmaceutical is injurious to health. Indeed some
pharmaceuticals are
entirely unsuitable for children and have an adverse effect on the health of
children even
if handled or ingested in very small quantities.
For the sake of simplicity, potentially hazardous materials such as those
described above
will hereinafter simply be referred to as "hazardous materials". Additionally,
the problems
described above are not limited to children and can also arise in respect of
irresponsible
or forgetful adults, such as for example some mentally ill or mentally
disabled patients, or
the elderly who may be prone to confusion as to the contents of a package.
Whilst the
focus of this specification is on children, it will be appreciated that the
majority of what is
described herein applies analogously to irresponsible or forgetful adults. All
such
analogies are within the scope of this specification, even where reference is
made only to
children.
In light of their dangerous nature, hazardous materials must be kept out of
the reach of
children. This is an established practice that is of fundamental importance
and which
may be augmented, but can never be replaced, by child resistant closures
(CRCs).
CRCs make it harder for children to extract hazardous materials from a
package, if they
do manage gain access to them in packaged form.
Many CRC designs have been suggested in the past. However, such CRC designs
are
often complicated in structure and expensive to manufacture. In particular,
assembly
processes are typically longer and more complex for child-resistant packages,
which
results in a costlier manufacturing process. Since the cost of packaging is
generally
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passed on to consumers, this leads consumers to buy products in non-resistant
packaging where available, thereby increasing the risk of accidental
poisonings and the
like. Minimising complexity of a CRC design and its manufacturing process, and
hence
minimising its cost, is therefore crucial in providing a successful CRC.
It is important to balance the child-resistance of a CRC with reasonable ease
of opening
for adults wishing to access the contents of the package. For example, adults
needing to
take medication housed in the package may be physically impaired.
A further design consideration is that once a CRC has been opened, it is
important that it
can be easily and perceptibly returned to a secured position. If the mechanism
for
returning the CRC to a secured position is too complicated, the user may omit
to return
the CRC to the secured position, thereby leaving the hazardous material more
easily
accessible. If it is not obvious to the user that the CRC has been returned to
the secured
position, the user may inadvertently fail to secure the package correctly
before it is
returned to its storage place, negating the child-resistant design.
Many CRCs incorporate plastics components. In particular, in CRC designs that
incorporate a latch feature for child resistance, the latch feature is often
formed of plastic
material, so as to provide the high degree of durability that is desirable for
a CRC.
However, such plastics components are not environmentally-friendly, and it
would be
desirable to provide a plastics-free option that provides the required level
of rigidity and
child resistance.
It is an object of this invention to address at least one of the problems
described above.
Statements of the invention
Against this background, the invention resides in a latchable package
comprising a
structure and a support for supporting one or more items, the support being
movable in
an opening direction between a first position in which the structure blocks
access to the
one or more items and a second position in which the one or more items are
accessibly
clear of the structure, the structure and support comprising complementary
latch
members configured to engage when the support is arranged in the first
position to
prevent movement of the support in the opening direction, the latch member of
the
support being moveable in a latching direction transverse to the opening
direction to
engage with the latch member of the structure. The support comprises a latch
region
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having a latch wall, the latch wall being subject to a biasing force that
biases the wall
outwardly in the latching direction, wherein a first portion of the latch wall
is constrained
against the biasing force, and wherein a second portion of the latch wall
comprises a
discontinuity configured to release the constraint in the second portion of
the wall to allow
the second portion to flare outwardly in the latching direction under the
biasing force to
act as the latch member on the support.
The second portion of the latch wall may comprise a free edge that defines an
abutment
surface.
The second portion may terminate in the free edge at a forward end of the
second
portion with respect to the opening direction.
The biasing force may be a tensile force.
The tensile force may be an inherent force in the latch wall, for example as a
result of
material properties of the wall. For example if the wall is a moulded wall,
the inherent
tensile force may be molded into the wall. Alternatively, the biasing force
may be present
as a result of the structure of the latch region and/or support.
The latch region may comprise a fold arranged to subject the latch wall to the
biasing
force. The fold may extend substantially parallel to the opening direction.
The fold may define an edge of the latch wall. The latch region may be
provided as part
of a folded sheet. The folded sheet may define the support.
The extent of flare of the second region may increase moving from the fold to
the
discontinuity. The extent of flare may be substantially zero immediately
adjacent to the
fold. The extent of flare may be between 0.5 and 5 mm immediately adjacent to
the
discontinuity.
The latch region may comprise a pair of folds. The latch wall may extend
between the
folds.
The discontinuity may be arranged between the folds. Alternatively, the
discontinuity may
be arranged at one of the folds.
The first portion of the latch wall may be constrained by means of adhesion
between
panels of the folded sheet. The first portion of the latch wall may be adhered
directly to
another portion of the latch region to constrain the first portion of the
latch wall.
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The discontinuity may be arranged to divide the second portion into two latch
members
where one latch member is provided at each side of the discontinuity.
The discontinuity may be elongate and extend substantially along the opening
direction.
The discontinuity may be an opening, such as a slit, cut, or aperture in the
wall of the
support.
The latch region may comprise a further opening that extends in a direction
transverse to
the first opening. Both openings together may define a T-shape.
The further opening may define a border of the second portion. The second
opening may
define the free edge of the second portion.
The latch wall may be provided with at least one termination aperture located
adjacent to
the opening. The termination aperture may have at least one dimension that is
greater
than a corresponding dimension of the opening.
The termination aperture may be provided at a base of the opening, at a
position
rearward of the opening with respect to the opening direction. The termination
opening
may be substantially circular.
The latch region may be integral with a main body of the support, such that a
wall of the
main body defines that latch wall. The latch region may be defined on a side
wall or
base wall of the support, such that the respective side wall or base wall of
the support
defines the latch wall.
The latch region may be provided on a latch element that is coupleable to a
main body of
the support, such that the latch region overlies a portion of the main body of
the support.
The support may comprise a band that encircles the main body of the support
and the
latch region may be provided on the band. Alternatively, the support may
comprise an
insert that is coupleable to an external wall of the main body of the support
and the latch
region may be provided on the insert.
The latch region of the support may comprise an inner wall and an outer wall.
At least
one opening may be provided in the outer wall.
The inner wall may form a base for supporting the one or more items.
The package may comprise a withdrawal stop structure for limiting movement of
the
support in the opening direction. The withdrawal stop structure on the support
may be
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defined by a further latch region which is arranges rearward if the latch
region in the
opening direction.
The structure may comprise an access feature arranged to permit access to the
support
when the support is in the first position.
5 The structure may comprise and unlatching region arranged to overlie the
latch region of
the support when the support is arranged in the first position. The unlatching
region may
be configured to allow the latch member of the support to be moved in an
unlatching
direction via the unlatching region of the support.
The unlatching region may comprise a slit, cut or opening in a wall of the
structure that
allows a portion of the wall adjacent to the slit or cut or opening to be
depressed to
depress the latch member of the support. The unlatching region may comprise an
aperture through which the latch region of the support can be accessed.
The latch member of the structure may comprise a flap extending rearwardly
from a wall
of the structure with respect to the opening direction.
A rearward facing edge of the flap defines an abutment surface against which
the latch
member of the support can abut if a user attempts to move the support in the
opening
direction without moving the latch member in the unlatching direction. Where
the latch
region is provided on a base wall of the support, the flap may be provided on
a base wall
of the structure. Where the latch region is provided on a side wall of the
support, the flap
may be provided on a corresponding side wall of the structure.
The first portion of the latch wall may be constrained to define a plane and
the latching
direction may be substantially perpendicular to the plane.
The first portion of the latch wall may be arranged rearwardly of the second
portion with
respect to the opening direction. The discontinuity may be arranged forwardly
of the first
portion with respect to the opening direction.
The invention also extends to a support for use in the latchable package of
any
preceding claim, the package comprising a structure and a support for
supporting one or
more items, the support being movable in an opening direction between a first
position in
which the structure blocks access to the one or more items and a second
position in
which the one or more items are accessibly clear of the structure, and the
structure and
support comprising complementary latch members configured to engage when the
support is arranged in the first position to prevent movement of the support
in the
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opening direction, the latch member of the support being moveable in a
latching direction
transverse to the opening direction to engage with the latch member of the
structure, and
the support comprising a latch region having a latch wall, the latch wall
being subject to a
biasing force that biases the wall outwardly in the latching direction,
wherein a first
portion of the latch wall is constrained against the biasing force, and
wherein a second
portion of the latch wall comprises a discontinuity configured to release the
constraint in
the second portion of the wall to allow the second portion to flare outwardly
in the
latching direction under the biasing force to act as the latch member on the
support.
From another aspect, the invention resides in a latchable package comprising a
structure
and a support for supporting one or more items, the support being movable in
an
opening direction between a first position in which the structure blocks
access to the one
or more items and a second position in which the one or more items are
accessibly clear
of the structure, the structure and support comprising complementary latch
members
configured to engage when the support is arranged in the first position to
prevent
movement of the support in the opening direction, the latch member of the
support being
moveable in a latching direction transverse to the opening direction to engage
with the
latch member of the structure. The support comprises a latch region having a
latch wall,
the latch wall comprising: a first portion that is constrained in the latching
direction; a
second portion arranged forwardly of the first portion in the opening
direction, the second
portion comprising a free edge defining the latch member on the support; and
an opening
arranged forward of the first portion in the opening direction and adjacent to
the second
portion to permit movement of the second portion relative to the first portion
in the
latching direction. The second portion is biased to flare outwardly in the
latching direction
so as to bias the free edge into engagement with the latch member on the
structure
when the support is in the first position.
The invention also extends to a latch element for use in a latchable package,
the
package comprising a structure and a support for supporting one or more items,
the
support being movable in an opening direction between a first position in
which the
structure blocks access to the one or more items and a second position in
which the one
or more items are accessibly clear of the structure, and the structure and
support
comprising complementary latch members configured to engage when the support
is
arranged in the first position to prevent movement of the support in the
opening direction,
the latch member of the support being moveable in a latching direction
transverse to the
opening direction to engage with the latch member of the structure. The latch
element
comprises a latch region having a latch wall, the latch wall being subject to
a biasing
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force that biases the wall outwardly in the latching direction, wherein a
first portion of the
latch wall is constrained against the biasing force, and wherein a second
portion of the
latch wall comprises a discontinuity configured to release the constraint in
the second
portion of the wall to allow the second portion to flare outwardly in the
latching direction
under the biasing force to act as a latch member. The latch element is
couplable to a
support or to a structure of the package to define a latch member of the
support or
structure, respectively.
The latch element may comprise a coupling feature to facilitate coupling to
the support or
structure. The coupling feature may be an adherable surface. The coupling
feature may
comprise a tab for engagement with an opening in the support to couple the
latch
element to the support or structure. The coupling feature may comprise an
opening into
which a part of the support or structure can be inserted to couple the latch
element to the
support or structure. The latch element may comprise a band that may encircle
the
support or structure.
The invention extends further to a latchable package comprising a structure;
and a
support for supporting one or more items, the support being movable in an
opening
direction between a first position in which the structure blocks access to the
one or more
items and a second position in which the one or more items are accessibly
clear of the
structure, the structure and support comprising complementary latch members
configured to engage when the support is arranged in the first position to
prevent
movement of the support in the opening direction, the latch member of the
support being
moveable in a latching direction transverse to the opening direction to engage
with the
latch member of the structure. The support comprises a latch region having a
latch wall,
the latch wall comprising: a fold extending parallel to the opening direction,
the fold
providing a biasing force that biases the wall outwardly in a latching
direction; a
constraining feature configured to constrain a first portion of the latch wall
against the
biasing force of the fold; an opening in a second portion of the wall
configured to allow
the biasing force to act on the second portion to cause the second portion to
flare
outwardly in the latching direction, such that the second portion acts as the
latch member
on the support.
The invention also extends to a latchable package comprising a structure and a
support
for supporting one or more items, the support being movable in an opening
direction
between a first position in which the structure blocks access to the one or
more items
and a second position in which the one or more items are accessibly clear of
the
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structure, the structure and support comprising complementary latch members
configured to engage when the support is arranged in the first position to
prevent
movement of the support in the opening direction, the latch member of the
support or
structure being moveable in a latching direction transverse to the opening
direction to
engage with the corresponding latch member of the structure or support. The
support or
structure comprises a latch region having a latch wall, the latch wall being
subject to a
biasing force that biases the wall in the latching direction, wherein a first
portion of the
latch wall is constrained against the biasing force, and wherein a second
portion of the
latch wall comprises a discontinuity configured to release the constraint in
the second
portion of the wall to allow the second portion to flare in the latching
direction under the
biasing force to act as the latch member on the support or structure.
Optional and preferred features of one aspect of the invention may be used
alone, and in
appropriate combination, with other aspects of the invention also.
Brief description of the figures
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now
be made,
by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a latchable package according to an
embodiment of the invention in a first or secured configuration;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the latchable package of Figure 1 in a
second or
access configuration;
Figures 3a and 3b are perspective views of the latchable package of Figure 1
in
the first or secured configuration, showing the underside of the package,
where
Figure 3b shows internal features of the package;
Figure 3c is a perspective view of the latchable package of Figure 1 in a
second
or access configuration, showing the underside of the package and internal
features of the package;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a support forming part of the package of
Figure
2;
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Figure 5 is a plan view of a blank that can be folded to form the support of
Figure
2;
Figure 6a is a perspective view of the support of Figure 4, showing the
underside
of the support;
Figure 6b is a partial enlarged view of a latch formation forming part of the
support of Figure 5a;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a structure forming a part of the package of
Figure 1, showing the underside of the structure;
Figures 8a to 8d are cross-sectional views of the package of Figure 1 at
different
stages in the process of opening the package;
Figure 9 is a plan view from below of the package of Figure 1 in an open
configuration;
Figures 10a, 11a and 12a are underside plan views and Figures 10b, 11b and
12b are corresponding underside perspective views respectively, of other
latchable packages having the same support as the package of Figure 1 but with
different structures;
Figure 13 is a perspective view of a latchable package according to another
embodiment of the invention in a first or secured configuration;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the latchable package of Figure 13 in a
second
or access configuration;
Figure 15 is a perspective view of the latchable package of Figure 13 in the
first
or secured configuration, showing internal features of the package;
Figure 16 is a perspective view of the latchable package of Figure 32 in a
second
or access configuration, showing internal features of the package;
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Figure 17 is a plan view of a blank that can be folded to form the support of
Figure 13;
Figures 18a and 18b are partial cross-sectional and perspective views
respectively showing a close up of a latch region of the support of the
package of
Figure 13;
Figures 19a and 19b are partial cross-sectional and perspective views
respectively showing a close up of a latch region of an alternative support
for use
in a package;
Figure 19c is a perspective view of a latch element forming part of a support
on
an alternative embodiment of a package;
Figure 20 is a perspective view of an alternative support, comprising a main
body
and a latch element couplable to the main body;
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the latch element of Figure 20;
Figures 22a to 22d are perspective views of alternative embodiments of a
sleeve;
Figures 23a and 23b are perspective views of an alternative embodiment of a
latch region of a support, in which the latch region is defined by a different
opening arrangement;
Figures 24 and 25 are perspective views of alternative embodiments of a latch
element for use with a support; and
Figures 26 a to h illustrate alternative opening arrangements defining
alternative
latch constructions of the support.
Detailed description of embodiments of the invention
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a child resistant package 100 comprises a
support 200 for
storing hazardous materials (not shown), and a structure, in the form of a
sleeve 300 for
blocking access to the hazardous materials. The package 100 comprises a rear
end 102,
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a front end 104, a left side 106, a right side 108, an upper side 110, and a
lower side 112
(visible in Figures 3a and 3b).
The package 100 is moveable by a user in an opening direction X between a
fully-closed
or secured position, shown in Figure 1, in which access to the hazardous
materials is
blocked by the sleeve 300, and a fully-open or access position, shown in
Figure 2, in
which access to the hazardous materials is permitted.
As can be seen in Figures 3a, 3b and 3c, the sleeve 300 and the support 200
comprise
co-operating latch members or features, indicated generally at 120 in Figure
3b. The
latch members 120 are configured to engage when the support 200 and the sleeve
300
are arranged in the secured position.
The components of the latchable package will now be described with reference
to
Figures 4 to 6.
Referring to Figure 4, the support 200 comprises a main body that defines a
tray 202.
The tray 202 comprises a rear end 204, a front end 206, a left side 208, a
right side 210,
and a base 212.
The base 212 of the tray 202 is defined by a generally planar base wall 214.
Left and
right side walls 216, 218 are upstanding from the base wall 214 at respective
left and
right sides 208, 210 of the tray 202. The front end 206 of the tray 202 is
provided with a
front blocking means 220 that defines a front wall 222 of the tray and a front
blocking
surface 224 that lies perpendicular to the front wall 222 and that extends a
short distance
from the front wall 222 into the tray 202. The rear end 204 of the tray 202 is
provided with
a similar rear blocking means 226 that defines a rear wall 228 of the tray 202
and a rear
blocking surface 230 that lies perpendicular to the rear wall 228 and that
extends a short
distance from the rear wall 228 into the tray 202.
At the rear end 204 of the tray 202, the support 200 is provided with a
withdrawal stop
formation in the form of a withdrawal stop latch 236. The withdrawal stop
latch 236 is a
flap that is cut into the rear blocking surface 230 and extends forwardly from
an upper
rear edge of the tray 202. The withdrawal stop latch 236 comprises a fold or
crease 238
where the flap 236 meets the edge of the tray 202, and a front edge 240
opposite the
crease 238.
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In the embodiment shown, the support 200 is made of cardboard, and is formed
by
folding a flat blank in the configuration shown. However, the support 200 may
be formed
from any suitable material and by any suitable method. For example, the
support 200
may be formed from a plastics material such as impact styrene by vacuum
forming or
injection moulding.
Figure 5 shows the flat blank 200a that is folded to form the support 200. The
flat blank
200a comprises a plurality of panels 202a joined by a plurality of folds or
creases 201.
Figure 5, together with Figure 6a, which shows the underside of the support
200, reveals
that the base 212 of the support 200 is defined by a double base wall,
comprised of two
panels lying one on top of the other. To this end, the support 200 comprises a
first or
outer base wall 214a, which defines the external-facing base wall of the
support 200, and
a second or internal base wall 214b, which defines an internal-facing base
wall of the
support 200. Similarly, each left or right side wall 216, 218 is defined by a
double wall,
comprised of two panels lying next to other, and to this end, the support 200
comprises a
first or outer side wall 216a, 218a which defines the external-facing side
wall of the
support 200, and a second or internal side wall 216b, 218b which defines an
internal-
facing side wall of the support 200.
The external and internal side walls 216a, 218a, 216b, 218b are joined by
folds 217. The
external facing base wall 214a is joined to external left and right side walls
216a, 218a by
creases or folds 215a, 215b. In this way, the external base wall 214a is
bounded by a
fold 215a, 215b at its left and right sides, and each external side wall 216a,
218a is
bounded by a fold 217, 215a, 217, 215b at its upper and lower sides.
Referring to Figure 6a, the support 200 comprises a latch region 250. In this
example,
the latch region is provided on an underside of the base 212 of the tray 202
and is
integral with the external side wall 214a of the support 200; however, in
other
embodiments that will be later described, the latch region is provided 250 on
other areas
of the support 200, and/or may be provided as a separate piece that can be
attached to
and removed from the tray 202.
The latch region 250 of the support 200 comprises a latch wall 252 that in
this case is
defined by the external base wall 214a of the support 200. In this way, the
latch wall 252
defines an external-facing wall of the support 200.
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A part of the latch wall 252 defines a latch formation 254 of the support 220.
The latch
formation 254 is biased to flare or protrude in a latching direction L that is
transverse to
the opening direction X (transverse meaning a direction that is not parallel
to the opening
direction X). In this way, the latch formation 254 protrudes away from the
base 212 of the
support 202 in the latching direction L. In Figure 6a, the latch is shown in a
latched or
engaged configuration, with the latch formation 254 biased outwardly in the
latching
direction L. In use, a user can move the latch formation 254 in an unlatching
direction,
opposite to the latching direction L, into an unlatched or disengaged
configuration, by
applying an inward force to the latch formation 254. When the user releases
the inward
force, the latch formation 254 will move in the latching direction L as a
result of the
biasing force acting upon it, and hence will automatically move back into the
latching
configuration of Figure 6a.
The latch formation 254 is defined in the latch wall 252 by features that are
configured to
induce a biasing force in the wall 252, constrain the wall against the biasing
force in a
first portion 252a of the latch wall 252, and release the constraint in a
second portion
252b of the latch wall 252 by virtue of a discontinuity 253 in the wall 252,
as will now be
described in detail.
The latch wall 252 is subject to a biasing force by virtue of biasing features
present in the
latch region 250. In the example of Figure 6a, the biasing features are
constituted by the
two folds 215a, 215b arranged at left and right sides of the wall 252. In this
example,
because the blank from which the support 200 is folded is initially formed as
a flat sheet,
and the folds 215a, 215b act to bend the sheet out of that plane, the folds
215a, 215b
create an elastic biasing force in the wall 252. As a result of this force, a
central portion
of the wall between the folds 215a, 215b is subject to a force that tends to
bias the wall
outwardly in the latching direction.
In the first portion 252a of the latch wall 252, remote from the latch
formation 254, the
latch wall 252 is continuous between the folds 215a, 215b. Because at least
some of the
panels of the support are fixed to one another (for example by an adhesive),
the latch
wall 252 is constrained between the folds 215a, 215b, against the biasing
force, so that
the wall 252 cannot be displaced in the latching direction, but instead lies
substantially
flat against the inner baser wall 214b of the support 200. Thus the first
portion 252a is
constrained to lie substantially in the plane of the base 212. In this
example, the first
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portion 252a is constrained by the corners defined by folds 215a, 215b that
join the first
portion 252a of the base wall 214a to the side walls 216a, 218a at the left
and right sides
of the support 200. As a result of the constraint of these folds 215a, 215b, a
first portion
252a of the latch wall 252 that lies between the folds 215a, 215b, is
constrained within
the plane of the base 212, such that the first portion 252a cannot project in
the latching
direction L. In this way, the folds 215a, 215b act as constraining features.
The second portion 252b supports the latch formation 254, and is at least
partially
unconstrained. In this case, in the second portion 252b, constraint of the
wall between
the folds 215a, 215b has been partially released by virtue of the
discontinuity 253. In this
example, the discontinuity 253 takes the form of one or more openings 255,
which in this
case comprises a first opening 256 in the base wall 214a of the support 200.
The
opening here is defined by a slit or cut 256 in the wall 214a, provided
between the
creases 215a, 215b, that extends substantially parallel to the opening
direction. In this
example, the latch formation 254 comprises left and right latch formations
254a, 254b
that are defined as the portions of the latch wall 214a that lie between the
creases 215a,
215b and the first opening 256, respectively.
A second opening 258 is provided in the latch wall 252 at a position forward
of the first
opening 256. The second opening 258 is defined by an elongate slit or cut that
extends
between the folds 215a, 215b in a direction that is transverse to the opening
direction X.
In this case, the slit of the second opening 258 extends perpendicularly to
the opening
direction X, such that the first and second openings 256, 258 together define
a T-shape.
The slits of the first and second openings 256, 258 meet at a junction 257,
which in this
case is a T-junction.
The slit of the second opening 258 separates the latch region 252 from a
remainder 214c
of the base wall 214a.
At a rear end of the slit of the first opening 256 is a third opening 260. The
third opening
takes the form of a hole or aperture: in this case a circular hole.
The first opening 256 releases constraints on the latch wall 252 in the
portion between
the folds 215a, 215b. With the constraint at least partially released, the
inherent biasing
stress in the latch wall 252 can act on the latch wall 252 to cause a
resulting strain. In
this case, the inherent biasing stress will tend to cause the wall 252 to
flare outwardly, in
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
15
the latching direction L, such that the latch formations 254a, 254b are
correspondingly
biased to flare outwardly in the latching direction. The region of greatest
flare is the
region in the immediate vicinity of the junction 257 between the first and
second
openings 256, 258.
The third opening 260 at the rear of the first opening 256 serves two
functions. Firstly,
the third opening 260 acts as a relaxation opening that aids the release of
constraint and
hence flaring of the latch member 254. Secondly, the third opening 260 acts as
a
blunting opening, that blunts the end of the slit of the second opening 256.
Blunting the
slit in this way makes it more difficult to propagate the slit into a tear by
pulling the latch
member 254, and thus improves the tear-resistant properties and durability of
the
package.
At the front of each latch formation 254a, 254b, adjacent to the second
opening 258, and
hence adjacent to the remainder 214c of the base wall 214a, each latch
formation 254a,
254b comprises a free edge 262 that faces generally forwardly in the opening
direction
X.
The free edges 262 flare upwardly to an increasing extent moving from the
respective
fold 215a, 215b towards the first opening 256. At the junction 257 the free
edges 262
flare to their greatest extent, protruding upwardly in the latching direction
L above the first
portion 252a of the latch wall 252, and above the remainder 214c of the base
wall 214a.
In this way, the free edges 262 can act as abutment edges that can abut a
corresponding
abutment edge on a latch feature of the structure to perform a latching
function, as will
be described later.
In this way, the latch formation 254 is naturally and resiliently biased
outwardly in a first,
engaged position in which the free edge 262 is raised above the level of the
first portion
252a of the latch wall 252, and above the level of the remainder 214c of the
base wall
214a. Upon application of an inward force to the latch formation 254 in an
unlatching
direction by a user, the latch formation 254 can be resiliently moved in the
unlatching
direction to a second, disengaged position, in which the free edge 262 of the
latch
formation 254 lies substantially flush with the first portion 252a of the
latch wall 252, and
the remainder 214c of the base wall 214a. When the inward force is removed,
the latch
formation 254 returns to the first, engaged position once more.
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
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Turning now to the sleeve 300 of the package 100, and referring to Figure 7,
the sleeve
300 comprises a main body 302 in the form of a shell that defines an interior
space 303.
The sleeve has a rear end 304, a front end 306, a left side 308, a right side
310, a base
312 and a top 314.
The base 312 and top 314 of the sleeve 300 are defined respectively by a
generally
planar base wall 316 and a generally planar upper wall 318. Left and right
side walls 320,
322 join the base wall 316 to the upper wall 318 at respective left and right
sides 308,
310 of the sleeve 300.
The front end 306 of the sleeve 300 is open. At the front end 306, the base
wall 316 is
provided with a latch member 120 in the form of a flap 324. The flap 324
extends
rearwardly from a front edge 326 of the base wall 316 into the interior space
303. In use
in the assembled package 100, the flap 324 lies against and parallel to the
base wall
316, though in Figure 7 the flap is shown for illustration purposes as
projecting at an
acute angle to the base wall 316.
The flap 324 comprises a crease 325 where the flap 324 meets the front edge
326 of the
base wall 316, and a rear edge 327 opposite the crease 325. In use, the rear
edge 327
defines an abutment edge that abuts against the corresponding abutment edge
262 on
the latch formation 254 of the support 200, thereby preventing movement of the
support
200.
The sleeve also comprises an access formation 340 that facilitates access to
the support
200 in the assembled package 100. In this example, the access formation 340 is
provided at the front end 306 of the sleeve 300 and takes the form of a cut
away.
In particular, the top wall 318 of the sleeve 300 extends further forward than
the base
wall 316 of the sleeve 300, such that the top wall 318 overhangs the base wall
316. At
the front 306 of the sleeve 300, the top wall 318 and base wall 316 are joined
by front
edges 321, 323 of the side walls. To accommodate the overhang, the front edges
321,
323 are sloped so as to taper rearwardly and downwardly when the package 100
is
arranged for use, as best seen in Figure 1.
As also best seen in Figure 1, when the package 100 is assembled and in the
secure
state, the cut away 340 defined by the access formation 340 reveals a lower
front portion
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
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,
17
207 of the support 200, such that a user can grip the lower front portion 207
at left and
right sides 208, 210 of the support 200.
The rear end 304 of the sleeve 300 is at least partially closed by a rear end
wall (not
visible in Figure 7).
On the underside of the sleeve 300, the base wall 316 is provided with an
unlatching
region 330 in the form of an aperture 331. The aperture 331 is located in a
position that,
when the flap 324 lies flush against the base wall 316, is immediately
rearward of a rear
edge 327 of the flap 324. In this way, when the support 200 is arranged in the
sleeve
300, the aperture 331 generally aligns with the region of greatest flare of
the latch
formation 254 of the support 200, as best shown in Figure 3b. In use, the
unlatching
region 330 facilitates depression of the latch formation 254 of the support
200 through
the structure 300: in this case, by providing direct access to the latch
formation 254
through the aperture 331. In some examples, a peripheral edge 332 of the base
wall 316
surrounding the aperture 331 may act as an abutment edge instead of, or as
well as, the
abutment edge defined by the rear edge 327 of the flap 324.
In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 300 is made of cardboard, and is formed by
folding
a flat blank in the configuration shown. However, the sleeve 300 may be formed
from any
suitable material and by any suitable method. For example, the sleeve 300 may
be
formed from a plastics material such as impact styrene by vacuum forming or
injection
moulding.
The construction and operation of the fully-assembled package will now be
described in
more detail with reference to Figures 3a to 3c, and Figure 8.
Referring to Figure 3a, in the assembled package 100, the support 200 is
slidably
arranged inside the interior space 303 defined by the sleeve 300 so that the
support 200
can be moved back and forth together between the access configuration shown in
Figure
3c and the secure configuration shown in Figures 3a and 3b.
In the secure configuration, the blocking means 220, 226 on the tray 202 of
the support
act to block the ends of the package 100 to make it difficult for a child to
access the
contents of the tray 200 when the package is secured. In particular, the front
wall 222
blocks the open end at the front of the package 100, and the blocking surfaces
224, 230
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
18
lie flush against the upper wall 318 of the sleeve 300 to prevent a child
accessing the
tray by working a finger over the front or rear wall 222, 228.
As best seen in Figure 3a, when the support 200 is arranged in the secure
position, the
latch formation 254 on the support 200 is accessible through the aperture 331
on the
sleeve 300.
Referring to Figure 8a, if a user attempts to push or pull the support 200 in
the opening
direction X, while the latch formations 254a, 254b of the support 200 are in
the latched
configuration (i.e. while a part of the latch wall 252 is flared outwardly),
the abutment
edge 262 of the latch formation 254 of the support 200 will be moved into
contact with
the abutment edge 327 on the flap 324 of the structure 300, such that the
abutment
edges 262, 327 abut when moved in an abutment direction generally parallel to
the
opening direction X, thereby arresting any further movement of the support 200
in the
opening direction X.
To move the support 200 in the opening direction X, and hence move the package
100
into the access configuration of Figure 3c, the user must first move the latch
formations
254a, 254b into an unlatched configuration. To do this, the user must apply an
unlatching
force in an unlatching direction substantially opposite to the latching
direction L. With the
package 100 oriented for use, as shown in Figure 8b, the latch formations
254a, 254b
are arranged on the base 214 of the support 200, and thus the unlatching
direction is a
substantially upward direction.
When a user applies an upward force to the latch formation 254, for example by
pushing
the latch formation 254 through the aperture 331 with their thumb or finger,
the latch
formation 254 is resiliently deformed in the unlatching direction. The latch
formation 254
then lies flat, or almost flat, so that it is flush, or almost flush, with the
base wall 214a of
the support 200.
With the unlatching force still applied, the user can then begin to move the
support 200 in
the opening direction X. To do so, the user accesses the support 200 via the
access
formation 340 to grip the lower front region 207 of the support 200, and pulls
the support
200 in the opening direction.
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With the latch formation 254 in the unlatching configuration, the abutment
edge 262 of
the latch formation 254 of the support 200 is now depressed below the level of
the flap
324 of the structure 300. Thus, as the support 200 is moved in the opening
direction X,
the abutment edge 262 of the latch formation 254 of the support 200 will no
longer come
into contact with the abutment edge 327 on the flap 324 of the structure 300,
but will
move past the flap 324 into the configuration shown in Figure 8c.
Once the latch formation 254 of the support 200 has past the latch formation
324 of the
structure 300, movement in the opening direction can continue, as shown in
Figure 8d.
Referring to Figure 3c, further movement of the support 200 in the opening
direction X
brings the package 100 into the fully-open state. As best seen in Figure 9, in
this fully-
open state, the flap 324 on the sleeve 300 and the withdrawal stop latch 236
of the
support 200 engage with one another to prevent further movement of the support
200 in
the opening direction.
In particular, the front edge 240 of the withdrawal stop latch 236 on the
support 200
abuts against the crease 325 of the lflap 324 on the sleeve, and/or the rear
edge 327 of
the flap 324 on the sleeve 300 abuts against the crease 238 of the withdrawal
stop latch
236 on the support 200.
In this way, the flap 324 on the sleeve 300 and the withdrawal stop latch 236
on the
support 200 act to limit movement of the support 200 in the opening direction,
so that the
support 200 cannot be easily removed from the sleeve 300. It should be noted
that the
withdrawal stop latch 236 of the support 200 could take a different form in
other
embodiments. For example, the withdrawal stop latch 236 could simply comprise
a small
protrusion from the base wall 214 or the rear wall 228 of the support 200,
that extends
generally perpendicularly with respect to the base wall 214. In such an
embodiment, the
protrusion functions in a similar manner to the latch 236, by engaging with
the rear edge
327 of the flap 324 on the sleeve 300 to limit movement of the support 200 in
the
opening direction. In other embodiments, one or more protrusions may extend
from one
or more of the side walls 216, 218 of the support 200, and engage with
complementary
withdrawal stop features of the sleeve 300 in a similar manner to that already
described.
To return the support 200 from the fully-open state to the secured state, the
user simply
pushes the support 200 back into the sleeve 300. As the support 200 is pushed
into the
sleeve 300, the flap 324 of the sleeve 300 initially pushes the latch
formation 254 of the
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
20
support 200 into the disengaged state. However, when the latch formation 254
on the
support 200 moves past the flap 324 on the sleeve 300, they are unconstrained
by the
wall of the flap 324 and hence are biased into the engaged state. When the
support 200
has been moved into the fully-closed state, the latch formation 254 is visible
through, and
protrudes into, the aperture 331 on the sleeve 300. In this secured state, the
package
100 can be stored safely.
Embodiments of the package 100 are envisaged in which the unlatching region
330
takes different forms other than an aperture 331. In particular, the
unlatching region 330
need not provide direct access to the latch members 120 of the support 200,
but may
instead allow for depression of the latch members 120 of the support 200 by
indirect
application of a force. To this end, the unlatching region 330 may be defined
by a feature
on the sleeve 300 that increases flexibility of the sleeve wall in the region
of the latch
member 120 of the support 200. For example, the unlatching region 330 may be
defined
by a discontinuity 353 in the sleeve wall. Some possible alternatives are
shown in
Figures 10 to 13.
Figures 10a and 10b illustrate an embodiment in which the unlatching region
330
comprises a slit 350 in the base wall 316 of the sleeve 300 in the region of
the latch
feature. The slit 350 extends transverse to the opening direction X, and in
this particular
case is perpendicular to the opening direction X. The slit 350 is arranged so
as to lie
above the rear edge of the flap 324 that defines the latch member 120 of the
sleeve 300.
By virtue of the slit 350, the base wall 316 of the sleeve 300 can be easily
depressed in
the region of the latch formation 254, thereby allowing a user to apply a
localised force
above the latch formation 254 that enables movement of the latch formation 254
in the
unlatching direction.
In the embodiment of Figure 10a and Figure 10b, the slit 350 extends a short
distance
left-to-right, having a length that corresponds to less than half a width of
the sleeve 300.
The embodiment of Figures 11a and 11b, is similar to the embodiment of Figures
10a
and 10b, except that the slit 352 extends across the entire width of the
package 100,
from left to right.
In the embodiment of Figures 12a and 12b, the discontinuity 353 takes the form
of a slot
or elongate aperture 354. Similar to the slit 350 of the embodiment of Figures
10a and
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
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=
=
21
10b, the slot 354 extends transverse to the opening direction X, and in this
particular
case is perpendicular to the opening direction X.
Figures 13 to 18 illustrate another embodiment of a package 1100, in which the
latch
features of the support 1200 and sleeve 1300 are located on the left and right
sides of
the package 1100, rather than the base wall of the package 1100.
Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the package 1100 comprises a support 1200 and
a
sleeve 1300, and is moveable by a user in an opening direction X between a
fully-closed
or secured position, shown in Figure 13, in which access to the hazardous
materials is
blocked by the sleeve 1300, and a fully-open or access position, shown in
Figure 14, in
which access to the hazardous materials is permitted.
As in previous embodiments, the support 1200 of this embodiment comprises a
main
body that defines a tray 1202, the tray 1202 comprising a base 1212 defined by
a
generally planar base wall 1214 and left and right side walls 1216, 1218. The
left and
right side walls 1216, 1218 are upstanding from the base wall 1214, so as to
extend from
the base wall 1214 generally perpendicularly. In this embodiment, the support
comprises
a latch formation 1254 on the left side wall 1216 and a latch formation 1254
on the right
side wall 1218.
As in the embodiment of Figure 1, each of the left and right side walls 1216
and 1218 is
defined by a double wall, comprised of two panels lying next to other. Thus,
the support
1200 comprises first or outer side walls which define external-facing side
walls of the
support 1200, and second or internal side walls which define internal-facing
side walls of
the support 1200. More specifically, the support 1200 comprises left and right
outer side
walls 1216a, 1218a and left and right internal side walls 1216b, 1218b.
The support 1200 is symmetrical about its central longitudinal axis.
Therefore, the latch
formations 1254 on the left and right side walls 1216, 1218 are mirror images
of each
other and function identically but in opposite directions. Furthermore, the
form of the
latch formations 1254 is essentially the same as the latch formations 254 of
the first
embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.
Thus, for convenience we will consider only the latch formation 1254 on the
left side wall
1216 in the following discussion, and only briefly, since all features of its
construction are
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
22
substantially the same of the latch formation 254 already described above. The
latch
formations 1254 are shown in particular detail in Figures 18a and 18b.
A latch region 1250 is provided on the left side wall 1216. The latch region
1250
comprises a latch wall 1252 defined by the left outer side wall 1216a. The
latch region
1250 comprises the latch formation 1254 that is defined by a part of the latch
wall 1252,
that is biased to flare or protrude outwards in a latching direction L that is
transverse to
the opening direction X, and in this case that is generally perpendicular to
the plane of
the left side wall 1216a. In this way, the latch formation 1254 protrudes
outwards in the
latching direction L, away from the left internal side wall 1216b. The latch
region 1250 is
provided towards the front of the package 1100 in this embodiment, although it
may be
provided at different positions along the left side wall 1216 in other
embodiments.
The latch wall 1252 comprises a first constrained portion 1252a remote from
the latch
formation 1254, and a second partially unconstrained portion 1252b that
supports the
latch formation 1254. The first portion 1252a is constrained to lie
substantially in the
plane of the left side wall 1216. In this example, the first portion 1252a is
constrained by
a folded edge 1215a that joins the first portion 1252a of the left outer side
wall 1216a, to
the base wall 1214, and by a folded edge 1217 that joins the first portion
1252a of the left
outer side wall 1216a to the left inner side wall 1216b. The edges 1215a, 1217
are
defined by folds, and the first portion 1252a of the latch wall 1252 that lies
between these
folds is constrained within the plane of the left outer side wall 1216a, such
that the first
portion 1252a cannot project in the latching direction.
In the second portion 1252b, the constraint of the wall 1252 between the folds
is
released by an arrangement of openings 1255 that is essentially the same as
that of the
first embodiment. That is, the second portion 1252b includes first, second and
third
openings, 1256, 1258, 1260 arranged in the same manner with respect to one
another
as in the first embodiment, but provided in the left outer side wall 1216a of
the support,
rather than in the base wall.
Figure 17 illustrates the flat blank used to form the support of the package
of Figures 13
to 16. The flat blank is substantially the same as the blank of Figure 5, but
the latch
formations 1254 are formed in the outer sidewall panels 1216a, 1218a of the
blank,
instead of the base wall of the support.
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
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23
The sleeve 1300 of this embodiment is essentially identical to the sleeve 300
of the first
embodiment, apart from the position and form of the latch members 120.
The latch members 1120 of the sleeve 1300 are positioned on left and right
sides of the
sleeve 1300 such that, when the structure 1200 is provided in the sleeve 1300
in the first
position, the latch members 1120 of the sleeve 1300 and the latch formations
1254 of the
support 1200 are aligned with one another.
The latch members 1120 of the sleeve 1300 comprise flaps 1324 provided at the
front
end of the package 1100, on left and right side walls 1320, 1322 of the sleeve
1300.
Specifically, the sleeve 1300 comprises a left flap 1324a that extends
rearwardly from a
front edge of the left side wall 1320 into an interior space of the sleeve,
and a right flap
1324b that extends rearwardly from a front edge of the right side wall 1322
into the
interior space of the sleeve. The flaps 1324a, 1324b each comprise a rear edge
1327a,
1327b that defines an abutment edge that abuts against a corresponding
abutment edge
of the corresponding latch formation 1254 of the support 1200, to prevent
movement of
the support 1200 in the opening direction.
The sleeve 1300 also comprises unlatching regions 1330 that facilitate
depression of the
latch formation 1254 of the support 1200 through the sleeve 1300. In
particular, the
sleeve 1300 comprises a left unlatching region 1330a provided on the left side
wall 1320
of the sleeve 1300, and a right unlatching region 1330b provided on the right
side wall
1322 of the sleeve 1300.
As with the support 1200, the sleeve 1300 is symmetrical about its central
longitudinal
axis, such that the left and right unlatching regions 1330a, 1330b are mirror
images of
each other and function identically but in opposite directions. Thus, for
conciseness, only
the left unlatching region 1330a will be described.
The left unlatching region 1330a comprises an unlatching opening 1331a in the
left side
wall 1320 of the sleeve 1330. In this example, the unlatching opening 1331a is
provided
in the form of an elongate slit or cut in the left side wall 1320 of the
sleeve 1300, that
extends in a direction that is transverse to the opening direction X of the
package 1100.
The left unlatching opening 1331a is located in a position that, when the left
flap 1324a of
the sleeve 1300 lies flush against the interior side wall of the sleeve 1300,
is immediately
rearward of the abutment edge 1327a of the left flap 1324a.
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
24
In the example of Figure 13, the unlatching opening 1331a extends
perpendicularly with
respect to the opening direction X. Also in this example, the unlatching
opening 1331a
extends across approximately half of the width of the left side wall 1320, and
is
positioned centrally along the width of the left side wall 1320. However, the
shape,
position and extent of the unlatching opening 1331a may vary in other
embodiments.
The unlatching opening 1331a creates a region of the left side wall 1320 of
the sleeve
1300 that can be depressed more readily than a remaining portion of the left
side wall
1320, when the support 1200 is assembled in the sleeve 1300 in the first
position. That is
to say, the unlatching opening 1331a creates a wall region that can be more
easily
deflected out of the plane of the wall 1320. This unlatching region 1330a lies
adjacent to
and rearward of the unlatching opening 1131a, and extends rearwardly from the
unlatching opening 1131a to an unlatching region perimeter. The portion of the
unlatching region 1330a directly adjacent the unlatching opening 1331a is most
easily
deflected out of the plane of the left side wall 1320. The unlatching region
perimeter
defines the distance from the unlatching opening 1331a at which deflection out
of the
plane of the side wall 1320 is no longer facilitated by the presence of the
unlatching
opening 1131a. As the skilled person will understand, the shape and extent of
the
unlatching region 1330a is dependent on, for example, the size and shape of
the
unlatching opening 1331a, and the form and material properties of the side
wall 1320 on
which the unlatching region 1330a is provided.
When the support 1200 is arranged in the sleeve 1300 in the first position,
the unlatching
openings 1331 of the sleeve 1300 generally align with the latch formations
1254 of the
support 1200, and are positioned a small distance rearward of the abutment
edges 1327
of the flaps 1324 of the sleeve 1300. The latch formations 1254 of the support
1200 are
in the latched configuration, such that the latch formations 1254 flare
outwardly in the
latching direction, and the abutment edges 1262 of the latch formations 1254
abut with
the abutment edges 1327 of the flaps 1324 of the sleeve 1300. In this
embodiment, the
outward flare of the latch formations 1254 is enabled by means of a small
space between
inner surfaces of the side walls 1320, 1322 of the sleeve 1300 and outer
surfaces of the
side walls 1216a, 1218a of the support 1200. This small space is created at
least by the
presence of the flaps 1324 of the sleeve 1300, which lies sandwiched between
the side
wall 1216a, 1218a of the support 1200 and the side wall 1320, 1322 of the
sleeve 1300.
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
25
To open the package 1100, the user must apply unlatching forces to the latch
formations
1254 of the support 1200 in an unlatching direction. The unlatching direction
is
substantially opposite to the latching direction and, in this embodiment in
which the latch
formations 1254 are provided on side walls of the support 1200, is
substantially sideways
and inwards towards the interior of the package 1100.
The unlatching forces are applied to the latch formations 1254 of the support
1200 via
the unlatching regions 1330 of the sleeve 1300. When the user applies an
inwards force
to the unlatching regions 1330, for example by squeezing the left and right
unlatching
regions 1330 between their thumb and middle finger, the walls of the
unlatching regions
1330 are deflected in the unlatching direction. Deflection of the unlatching
regions 1330
in the unlatching direction deflects, in turn, the latch formations 1254 of
the support 1200
in the unlatching direction. In this way, the latch formations 1254 of the
support 1200 are
resiliently deformed in the unlatching direction to lie flat or flush with the
side walls 1216,
1218 of the support 1200. The latch formations 1254 of the support 1200 are
now
disengaged with the flaps 1324 of the sleeve 1300, and the support 1200 can be
moved
out of the sleeve 1300 in the opening direction in the same manner as already
described
with respect to the embodiment of Figure 1.
In the embodiments of Figures 1 to 12 and 13 to 18, the latch members 120;
1120 of the
support 200; 1200 have been integral with a main body 202; 1202 of the support
200;
1200. However, embodiments are also envisaged in which the support comprises a
main
body and a latch element that is couplable to the main body to provide the
latching
function. Examples of such embodiments are shown in Figures 19 to 23 and 25 to
27.
Turning now to Figure 19a to 19c, Figure 19c illustrates an embodiment of the
invention
in which the latch formations 2254 of the support 2200 are provided on a latch
element
2280 taking the form of a band 2282. The latch formations 2254 can be seen in
close up
in Figures 19a and 19b.
When the support 2200 is assembled for use in the package 2100, the band 2282
encircles the main body 2202 of the support 2200 widthwise to form a closed
loop
around the width of the main body 2202. The band 2282 is dimensioned such that
it
forms a close fit with the main body 2202 of the support 2200 when the support
2200 is
assembled. In this way, the band 2282 may be held in place by friction between
the
surfaces of the band 2282 and the surfaces of the main body 2202 that are in
contact
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
'
,
t.
26
when the support 2200 is assembled. Alternatively or additionally, the band
2282 may by
attached to the main body 2202. For example, the band 2282 may be adhered to
the
main body 2202 at one or more adherence locations. Of course, such attachment
must
not affect the proper functioning of the latch formations 2254.
In this embodiment, the band 2282 is configured to provide the support 2200
with left and
right latch formations 2254, in a similar manner to the support 1200 of the
embodiment of
Figures 13 to 18. However, it should be noted that a similar band 2282 could
be used to
provide the support with a latch member on its base, as in the embodiment of
Figure 1.
The band 2282 comprises an upper wall 2284, a lower wall 2286, a left side
wall 2288
and a right side wall 2290. The left and right walls 2288, 2290 of the band
2282 are each
provided with a latch region 2250 that comprises a latch wall 2252 defining a
latch
formation 2254 in the manner described above. When the support 2200 is
assembled for
use in the latchable package 2100, the band 2282 encircles the main body 2202
of the
support 2200 such that the left side wall 2288 of the band 2202 overlies a
portion of the
left side wall 2216 of the main body 2202 and the right side wall 2290 of the
band 2282
overlies a portion of the right side wall 2218 of the main body 2202. In this
way, the latch
regions 2250 of the band 2282 form external-facing left and right side walls
2216a,
2218a of the assembled support 2200.
As in previous embodiments, the latch formation 2254 is biased to flare or
protrude
outwards in a latching direction L that is transverse to the opening direction
when the
band 2282 is assembled on the main body 2202 of the support 2200 for use.
Also as in previous embodiments, the latch wall 2252 comprises a first
constrained
portion 2252a and a second partially unconstrained portion 2252b. The first
portion
2252a is constrained to lie substantially in a plane that is perpendicular to
the plane of
the left side wall 2216 of the main body 2202 when the support 2200 is
assembled for
use. The first portion 2252a is constrained by an edge 2215b that joins the
left or right
side wall 2288, 2290 of the band to the upper wall 2284 of the band 2282, and
an edge
2215a that joins the left or right side wall 2288, 2290 of the band 2282 to
the lower wall
2286 of the band 2282.
The constraint of the latch wall 2252 is released in the second portion 2252b
by means
of a first opening 2256 that extends rearwardly from a front edge 2262 of the
side wall
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2288, 2290, and that comprises an elongate slit or cut in the side wall 2288,
2290. A
second opening 2258 is provided in the side wall 2288, 2290 at a position
forward of the
first opening 2256. At the rear or base of the slit of the opening is a
further opening 2260
in the form of a circular aperture, which performs the same function as the
third opening
260 of the first embodiment of Figure 1, and therefore will not be described
in any further
detail here.
In an alternative but similar embodiment to that of Figure 19, the band 2282
terminates at
the front edge 2262. In other words, in this embodiment the front edge 2262
forms a front
most edge of the band 2282, and the latch formations 2254 are formed at the
portion of
the band 2282 that is furthest forward when the band 2282 is assembled on the
main
body 2202 of the support 2200.
A support 2200 comprising the band 2282 of Figure 19 coupled to a main body
2202
may be used in combination with a sleeve 2300 having unlatching regions, for
example,
in the form of apertures or unlatching regions, although it is not limited as
such.
Operation of a package 2300 comprising a support 2200 including the band 2282
of
Figure 19 is identical to operation of a package comprising a support having
integral
latch members, as has already been described.
Turning now to Figures 20 and 21, these figures show an embodiment of the
package
3100 in which latch formations 3254 of the support 3200 are provided on latch
elements
3280 that are coupled to the main body 3202 of the support 3200 when assembled
for
use. In particular, the support 3200 of this embodiment includes left and
right latch
elements 3280a, 3280b that are coupled to left and right side walls 3216, 3218
of the
support 3200, to provide the support 3200 with left and right latch formations
3254a,
3254b.
The latch elements 3280 of this embodiment, one of which is shown in Figure
20, are
each formed by folding a substantially planar sheet, illustrated in Figure 21.
Once
formed, each latch element 3280 comprises an inner wall 3282 that lies against
an outer
side wall 3216a, 3218a of the main body 3202 of the support 3200 when the
support
3200 is assembled, and an outer wall 3284 that forms part of an external-
facing wall of
the support 3200 when the support 3200 is assembled. The outer wall 3284
comprises a
first portion 3284a (in this case an upper portion) that joins to the inner
wall 3282 at a first
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edge 3286 defined by a first fold, and a second portion 3284b (in this case a
lower
portion) that joins to the inner wall 3288 at a second edge 3288 defined by a
second fold.
An opening or channel 3256 is defined between the first and second portions
3284a,
3284b of the outer wall 3284. The opening 3256 extends rearwardly from a front
edge of
the outer wall 3284, to define an unconstrained portion 3252b of the latch
element 3280,
and to define latch formations 3254 of the latch element 3280. At a rear
portion 3252a of
the latch element 3280, the outer wall 3284 is adhered to the inner wall 3282
to define a
constrained portion 3252a of the latch element 3280, which is constrained to
lie in a
plane that is parallel to the plane of the side wall 3216, 3218 of the main
body 3202 to
which the latch element 3280 is coupled in use. In this example, rearward
regions of the
first and second portions of the outer wall 3284 are adhered to the inner wall
3282 by
means of an adherence strip 3285 provided on the inner wall 3282. To this end,
before
folding the sheet that forms the latch element 3280, a protective strip may be
provided
over the adherence strip 3285, to protect and prevent contamination of the
adherence
strip 3285 before use.
The latch elements 3280 further comprise coupling portions 3290 that allow the
latch
elements 3280 to be coupled to the main body 3202 of the support 3200. Each
latch
element 3280 includes two coupling portions; a first coupling portion 3290a
that extends
forwardly from a front edge of the inner wall 3282, and a second coupling
portion 3290b
that extends rearwardly from a rear edge of the inner wall 3282. In this
example, each of
the coupling portions 3290 has a generally semi-circular shape. In use, each
coupling
portion 3290 of the latch element 3280 is received in a coupling opening 3292
provided
in the side wall 3216, 3218 of the main body 3202 of the support 3200 (see
Figure 20)
and, in this way, the latch elements 3280 are coupled to the main body 3202.
The
coupling openings 3292 are provided in the form of elongate cuts or slits in
the side wall
of the main body 3200.
In other embodiments, the latch elements 3280 may be coupled to the main body
3202 in
a different manner. For example, the latch elements 3280 may be adhered to the
main
body 3202 by directly gluing the inner wall 3282 of the latch element 3280 to
the side
wall of the main body 3202.
A support 3200 comprising latch elements 3280 as shown in Figures 20 to 21 may
be
used in combination with a sleeve of the sort described above, which may have
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
29
unlatching regions, for example, in the form of apertures or other unlatching
regions as
described above, although it is not limited as such.
Operation of a package 3100 comprising a support 3200 including the latch
elements
3280 of Figures 20 and 21 is identical to operation of a package comprising a
support
having integral latch members, as has already been described.
Now referring to Figures 22a to 24d, these show variants of the unlatching
region of the
sleeve.
Figure 22a shows a sleeve 4300 having an unlatching region 4330 similar to
that of the
sleeve shown in Figure 13, but that differs in that the unlatching opening
4331 extends
across the entire width of the side wall 4320 in the sleeve 4300 of Figure
24a, rather than
across just a portion of the width of the side wall 4320.
Figure 22b shows a variant 5300 in which the unlatching opening 5331 extends
with
respect to an axis perpendicular to the opening direction at an angle of
approximately 30
degrees. The unlatching opening 5331 extends across the entire width of the
side wall
5320, extending in a rearward direction from an upper edge 5323 of the side
wall 5320 to
a lower edge 5325 of the side wall 5320.
Figure 22c shows a variant 6300 in which the unlatching opening 6331 is an
elongate
cut-out that extends perpendicularly with respect to the opening direction,
across more
than half of the width of the side wall 6320. The cut-out has a length to
width ratio of
around 10:1 in this example, although this ratio may vary in other
embodiments. The cut-
out includes rounded edges that help to prevent tearing of the unlatching
opening 6331
at its edges.
In embodiments in which the unlatching opening is a slit or cut in the wall of
the sleeve, it
would be possible to include one or more circular openings to reduce the
likelihood of
tearing. Such a further opening would provide essentially the same function as
the third
opening 260 described in relation to the support 200 of the embodiment of
Figures 1 to
12.
Figure 22d shows a variant 7300 in which the unlatching region 7330 is an
aperture 7331
that provides direct access to the latch members 7120 of the support 7200,
through the
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
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aperture 7331 of the sleeve 7300. The aperture 7330 of the sleeve 7300 of
Figure 22d
has the same shape as the aperture 330 of the sleeve 300 of Figures 1 to 9,
but in this
case is provided in a side wall 7320 of the sleeve 7300 rather than in the
base of the
sleeve. Thus, the sleeve 7300 of Figure 22d is for use in a package 7100
having latch
members provided on the or each of the left and right sides.
Figures 23a and 23b show another embodiment of the support 8200 of the package
8100, having an integral latch region 8250 having a different form to those
already
described.
The latch region 8250 of this embodiment is provided on a left side wall 8216
of the
support 8200. The side walls 8216, 8218 of the support 8200 are each defined
by a
double wall comprising an internal side wall 8216b, 8218b and an external side
wall
8216a, 8218a, and the latch wall 8252 of the latch region 8250 is formed by a
portion of
the external side wall 8216a, 8218a of the support 8200.
The latch wall 8252 comprises a first opening 8256 and a second opening 8258,
each
defined by an slit or cut in the external side wall of the support 8200. The
first opening
8256 is provided at or adjacent the fold 8215a between the external side wall
8216a,
8218a and the base wall 8214 of the support 8200, and extends along the
opening
direction. The second opening 8258 is provided at a position forward of the
first opening
8256, and extends perpendicularly to the opening direction (and the first
opening 8256),
such that the first and second openings 8256, 8258 together define an L-shape.
The
second opening 8258 extends across the full width of the external side wall
8216a,
8218a to separate a latch region 8250 from a remainder of the side wall 8216,
8218
forward of the second opening 8258.
As in previous embodiments, the first opening 8256 at least partially releases
the
constraints on the latch wall 8252 in a portion between the folds that join
the external
side wall to the base wall and the internal side wall, 8215a, 8217, to define
an
unconstrained portion 8252b. Also as in previous embodiments, a region of the
latch wall
8252 rearward of the first opening 8256 forms a constrained portion 8252a that
is
constrained to lie substantially in the plane of the side wall 8216a, 8218a.
Although in the embodiment of Figures 23a and 23b the latch wall 8252 is
formed as a
part of the external side wall 8216a, 8218a of a double-walled support 8200,
this latch
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
31
configuration could also be provided in a support 8200 having only a single-
walled
structure. That is, the latch region 8250 could be formed as a folded flap
extending from
a top edge of the single side wall of the support. In this case, a rear
portion of the flap
could be adhered to an outer surface of the side wall to form the constrained
portion. The
unconstrained portion may be defined by the front and lower edges of the flap
that are
forward of the constrained portion. Alternatively, the flap may be provided
with a cut or
slit that extends perpendicularly to the opening direction, and that is
located on the flap at
a position rearwardly from its front edge. In this case, the portion of the
flap forward of
the opening may be adhered to the outer surface of the single side wall.
Figure 24 shows another embodiment of a latch element 9280 that is coupleable
to the
main body 9202 of the support 9200, and that carries the latch regions 9250 of
the
support 9200.
The latch element 9280 includes an upper wall 9284, left and right side walls
9288, 9290,
and front and rear flaps 9292, 9294. The left and right side walls 9288, 9290
each
comprise an outer side wall 9288a, 9290a that defines a part of the external-
facing side
wall of the support when the support is assembled, and an internal side wall
9288b,
9290b that is bonded to an outer surface of a side wall of the main body 9202
of the
support 9200 when the support 9200 is assembled.
The latch regions 9250 are provided on the outer side walls 9288a, 9290a of
the latch
element 9280. In this embodiment, a latch region 9250 is provided on the left
outer side
wall 9288a and a latch 9250 region is provided on the right outer side wall
9290a. The
latch regions 9250 are similar in form to those shown in the embodiment of,
for example,
Figure 14, apart from that the openings 9255 of the discontinuity 9253
together form a Y-
shaped opening rather than a T-shaped opening.
When the support 9200 of this embodiment is assembled, the latch element 9280
is
provided in or on the main body 9202 such that the upper wall 9284 of the
latch element
9280 forms a cover for a portion of the tray 9202 defined by the main body
9202. The left
and right side walls 9288, 9290 of the latch element 9280 are positioned to
overlie outer
surfaces of the left and right side walls of the main body 9280, such that the
outer side
walls 9288a, 9290a of the latch element 9280 form external-facing walls of the
support
9200. The left and right internal side walls 9288b, 9290b are attached or
adhered to the
left and right outer surfaces, respectively, of the side walls of the main
body 9202. The
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latch element 9280 is dimensioned such that its length is a fraction of the
length of the
main body 9202, such that articles supported in the main body 9202 can be
accessed
without removal of the latch element 9280.
The front and rear flaps 9292, 9294 of the latch element 9280 may meet the
base wall of
the main body of the support 9200 at an approximately 90 degree angle, to
define a
closed-off portion of the tray that is not intended to support items in use.
Alternatively, the
front and rear flaps 9292, 9294 may be folded against a lower surface (not
visible in
Figure 24) of the upper wall 9284 of the latch element 9280, such that items
stored in the
main body 9202, below the latch element 9280, may be accessed without removing
the
latch element 9280. As a further alternative, the front flap 9292 may be
adhered to an
inner front wall of the main body 9202, to retain the latch element 9280 in
place in the
main body 9202. In this case, the rear flap 9294 may either be arranged to
meet the
base wall of the main body 9202, or to lie parallel against the lower surface
of the upper
wall 9284 of the latch element 9280.
A support comprising the latch element 9280 of Figure 24 may be used in
combination
with any suitable sleeve having suitable unlatching regions. Operation of a
package 9100
including a support 9200 comprising the latch element 9280 of Figure 24 is
identical to
operation of a package comprising a support having integral latch members,
such as has
already been described.
Figure 25 illustrates an embodiment of the support 10200 that includes a
hinged lid
10280 that carries a latch region 10250. The hinged lid 10280 comprises an
upper wall
10284 and a side flap 10288. The upper wall 10284 joins to a right side wall
10218 of the
main body 10202 at an edge of fold 10215b. The upper wall 10284 forms a lid or
cover
for at least a portion of the main body 10202, that blocks access to articles
stored in the
main body 10202 when the lid 10280 is in a closed position as shown in Figure
25. The
side flap 10288 comprises a latch region 10250 having a latch wall 10252. The
latch wall
10252 comprises an arrangement of openings 10255 that define an at least
partially
unconstrained portion 10252b of the wall 10252, these openings having the same
general form as those of the latch region of the embodiment of Figure 24.
When the support 10200 is received in a sleeve 10300 for use, the lid 10280 is
in the
closed position and the flap 10288 lies substantially parallel to a left side
wall 10216 of
the main body 10202, against an outer surface 10217 of the left side wall
10216 of the
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33
main body 10202, so as to form a part of the external-facing wall of the
support 10200. In
this case, when the support 10200 is received in the sleeve 10300 and the
package
10100 is in the first position, a first portion 10252a of the latch wall 10252
is constrained
by the sleeve 10300 itself. The flap 10288 of the hinged lid 10280 is not
attached to the
side wall 10216 of the main body 10202, as this would prevent opening of the
hinged lid
10280 when the package 10100 is in the second position.
As with the support 9200 of the embodiment of Figure 24, the support 10200 of
Figure 25
may be used with any suitable sleeve 10300 having suitable unlatching regions,
and the
operation of a package 10100 including the support 10200 of Figure 25 is
essentially the
same as the operation of the packages already described in the preceding
embodiments.
Many variants of the package are possible within the scope of the inventive
concept.
The discontinuity of the second, at least partially unconstrained, portion may
be provided
in various different forms. The discontinuity may be provided by one or more
openings,
cuts or slits in the latch wall of the support, or in the form of one or more
channels
provided between, for example, two folded portions of the latch wall.
The one or more openings may be arranged in numerous different ways. For
example,
the openings may be arranged to together define a T or L shaped opening in the
wall of
the support, as already described in the preceding embodiments.
Many other arrangements of the openings are also envisaged within the scope of
the
claims. For example, the openings may be arranged to define a generally U-
shaped
opening 255a such as those shown in Figure 26a and 26b, or a generally V-
shaped
opening 255b such as those shown in Figures 26c-e. As illustrated in Figures
26f-h, the
openings may include a cut-out portion of the wall 255c in combination with an
elongate
slit 255d.
The access formation of the sleeve may take many suitable forms. For example,
the
access formation may be a cutaway of a different shape, allowing access to a
lower front
portion of the support, or a central front portion of the support. In addition
to, or in place
of, the access formation, the package may further include a pull tab, ribbon,
or other
similar feature on the support, to aid or enable the support to be pulled out
of the sleeve.
CA 3057927 2019-10-07
= 34
In other embodiments the access opening may be provided at a rear end of the
package.
For example, the rear end of the package may be fully or partially open to
permit access
to a rear end of the support to push the support out of the sleeve. In other
embodiments,
an opening may be provided in the base, top, or side of the sleeve, and a
gripping
feature may be provided on the support, with the opening permitting access to
the
gripping feature to allow the support to be pushed out of the sleeve using the
gripping
feature.
In the embodiments shown, the child resistance provided by the latches is
augmented by
the fact that the spacing between the latch formations is great enough that a
child could
not easily depress both latch formations simultaneously with one hand.
However, this
width of the package merely augments the child resistance, and is not a
necessary
feature. For example, in relatively small packages, the width of the package
may not be
large enough to augment the child resistance in this manner, and in such small
packages
the presence of the latches is sufficient to provide ample child resistance.
Although in the embodiments described the package is provided with either one
or two
sets of co-operating latch members, it will be appreciated that in some
embodiments
more sets of co-operating latch members may be provided. In other embodiments,
each
side of the support may have two latch regions, each configured to engage with
the latch
member of the sleeve at different degrees of opening of the package, to
provide multiple
latching points.
Embodiments are also envisaged in which a single sleeve comprises multiple
supports.
The supports may for example be stacked one-on-top-of-another, in which case
the
sleeve may be provided with multiple latch members, with each latch member on
the
sleeve being arranged to co-operate with a different latch member of the set
of supports.
In other embodiments the support may be arranged side-by-side in succession in
the
opening direction. In this case, a single set of latch members on the sleeve
may be
arranged to co-operate with latch members of different supports in turn, as
different
supports are brought into the vicinity of the latch region on the sleeve.
Although the described embodiments of the package envisage access of articles
stored
in the support from the top of the support, it would be possible in other
embodiments for
the support to be configured such that articles stored within can be accessed
from
different directions, for example from the side of the support. In this case,
the support
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=
may include, for example, an access opening in one or more side of the
support, which
may take the form of a fully open side of the support.
It should be appreciated that various other modifications and improvements can
be made
5 without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims.
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