Dispensers for packaging solid unit dosage forms, e.g., tablets, are described herein, the dispensers employing a deformable elastomeric wiper seal between a cover and a base. The cover is linearly or rotatably slidable relative to the base to seal and/or expose the compartments of the base.
1. A dispenser for packaging tablets, comprising:
a base having spaced-apart hollow compartments for containing tablets;
a cover connected to said base in a manner permitting said cover to slide relative to said base, said compartments of said base having openings and said cover extending over said openings of said compartments; and
a deformable elastomeric seal extending between confronting surface of said base and cover and being in a compressed state therebetween for tightly sealing said compartments;
said cover having a row of flip-up dispensing caps, said compaitinents of said base being provided in a series of rows, and said cover being slidable across said base to align said caps over each of said series of rows one row at a time such that, when said row of flip-up dispensing caps is aligned with one of said series of rows of spaced-apart hollow compartments, contents of said row of spaced-apart hollow compartments may be dispensed.
2. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said row of flip-up dispensing caps are hinged to said cover.
3. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said base further comprising at least two flange segments for slideably engaging said cover against said elastomeric seal and said compartments.
4. The dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism preventing sliding of said cover relative to said base and an unlocking mechanism that, when actuated, permits sliding of said cover relative to said base, whereby said locking and unlocking mechanisms provide the dispenser with child-resistance.
5. The dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein said cover has an underside formed with a pair of recessed cam tracks with a series of cams formed therein corresponding to rows of spaced-apart hollow compartments provided by said base, said cam tracks extending along opposed side edges of said cover parallel to a direction of sliding of said cover relative to said base, and wherein said cam tracks and cams from part of said locking mechanism.
6. The dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein said base comprises a pair of flexible and resilient tabs extending along sides of said base parallel to the direction of sliding of said cover relative to said base, wherein each tab includes a latch extending within one of said cam tracks and engagable with said cams to prevent the cover from sliding relative to said base in at least one direction, and wherein each tab can be resiliently pushed inward to cause said latch to disengage from said cams within said cam track and permit sliding of said cover relative to said base in said at least one direction.
7. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said base comprises at least one raised front stop preventing sliding of said cover beyond a fully closed position of the dispenser in a direction opposite an intended direction for dispensing.
8. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein said base is of one-piece construction and is molded partly of substantially rigid plastic and partly of an elastomeric material forming said elastomeric seal, and said cover is of one-piece construction and is molded of substantially rigid plastic.
9. A child-resistant rectangular slide dispenser for packaging and dispensing pills, comprising:
a one-piece molded base connected to a separate one-piece molded plastic cover;
said base forming one side of the dispenser and having at least one row of spaced-apart hollow compartments for containing pills, and a deformable elastomeric seal located on a surface of said base between and surrounding said openings of said compartments and confronting said cover in a compressed state such as to tightly seal said compartments with said cover;
said cover forming an opposite side of the dispenser and being connected to said base in a manner permitting said cover to slide relative to said base, said compartments of said base having openings and said cover extending over said openings of said compartments, said cover comprising at one end thereof a row of flip-up dispensing caps corresponding to said at least one row of spaced-apart hollow compartments;
wherein when said row of flip-up dispensing caps is aligned with said at least one row of spaced-apart hollow compartments, contents of said at least one row of spaced-apart hollow compartments may be dispensed.
10. The dispenser according to claim 9 , wherein said base further comprises at least two flange segments for slideably engaging said cover against the surface of said compartments.
11. The dispenser according to claim 9 , further comprising a locking mechanism preventing sliding of said cover relative to said base in at least one direction and an unlocking mechanism that, when actuated, permits sliding of said cover relative to said base in said at least one direction, whereby said locking an unlocking mechanisms provide the dispenser with a child-resistant dispensing property.
12. The dispenser according to claim 11 , wherein said cover has an underside having an opposed pair of recessed cam tracks in which a series of separate spaced-apart cams are located, and wherein said cam tracks and cams focus parts of said locking mechanism.
13. The dispenser according to claim 12 , wherein said base comprises a pair of tabs located in opposed sides of said base, wherein each of said tabs includes a latch engagable with one of said cams, wherein each of said tabs can be resiliently pushed inward to cause said latch to disengage from said cams and permit sliding of said latch within said cam track beyond an adjacent cam so that said cover is permitted to slide relative to said base.
14. The dispenser according to claim 9 , wherein said row of flip-up dispensing caps are hinged to said cover.
15. The dispenser according to claim 9 , wherein said base comprises at least one raised front stop preventing sliding of said cover from a fully-closed, compact storage position opposite an intended direction for dispensing.
16. A method of manufacturing a child-resistant dispenser for packaging and dispensing pills, comprising the steps of:
injection molding a cover from a plastic material and separately injection molding a base having a plurality of spaced-apart hollow compartments from a plastic material, wherein one of said injection molding steps including injection molding an elastomeric material via a dual shot injection molding operation such that a deformable elastomeric seal is molded integrally on a surface of one of said cover or base for forming a confronting surface with an opposite one of said cover or base;
loading pills in the compartments of the base; and
after said loading step, connecting said cover to said base to form a dispenser in which the elastomeric seal is in a compressed state and provides a tight seal of said compartments via connection of said cover to said base.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein, during the step of injection molding the cover, the cover is formed with a pair of recessed cam tracks having cams formed therein; wherein during said step of injection molding the base, the base is formed with at least two flange segments for slideably engaging said cover against the surface of said compartments and a pair of flexible and resilient tabs in opposed side edges of the base, wherein each tab includes a latch engaging one of said cams to prevent sliding of the cover relative to the base in at least one direction, wherein each tab can be resiliently pushed inward to cause said latch to disengage from said cam thereby permitting sliding of said cover relative to said base in said at least one direction.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the dispenser is a rotary dispenser in which said cover is rotatable relative to said base or a slide dispenser in which said cover is linearly slidable relative to said base.