Medication holding and dispensing system

Abstract

A product delivery and/or dispensing system is realized by providing a housing or holding zone constructed for securely retaining any desired product or item which a user or gift-giver wishes to be delivered or dispensed with the housing or holding zone being automatically activated or moved from a first, fully retained position into a second, outwardly extending position whenever a slider panel is moved in a direction which is opposite from the direction of the movement of the housing or holding zone. By moving the slider in a first direction, the housing or holding zone moves in an opposite direction, typically to the surprise and excitement of the user. Furthermore, the slider is constructed to enable any desired information to be placed thereon thereby allowing a particular message or product information to be communicated to the user.

1 . A product retaining and delivering system constructed for enabling any product to be distributed in a sealed and locked manner, said system comprising:
 A. a housing having an upper panel, a lower panel, and side edges interconnecting the upper panel with the lower panel and establishing an interior zone therebetween;   B. an interior partition mounted in the housing in spaced relationship with the upper panel and the lower panel;   C. an endless loop band mounted to the interior partition in peripheral surrounding relationship therewith for being continuously movable about the interior partition;   D. a sliding panel mounted in the housing on one side of said partition and affixed to a portion of the endless loop band;   E. a product holding panel/container mounted in the housing on the opposed side of said partition and affixed to a portion of the endless loop band whereby longitudinal movement of the sliding panel causes the simultaneous longitudinal movement of the holding panel/container in an opposite direction; and   F. a lock system cooperatively associated with the sliding panel and the housing for preventing longitudinal movement of the sliding panel unless the lock system has been disabled;   
     whereby a lockable product retaining and delivering system is realized which requires positive disengagement of the lock system in order to enable the product holding panel/container to be accessible. 
   
   
       2 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 1 , wherein the lock system is further defined as comprising two cooperating members constructed for being movable between a first engaged and locked position wherein movement of the slider panel relative to the housing is prevented, and a second, disengaged, released position wherein the slider panel is freely movable relative to the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 2 , wherein the two cooperating members forming the lock system are further defined as comprising a first member movably mounted to the slider panel and a second member cooperatively associated with the housing and positioned for cooperative, locking interengagement with the first member when the slider panel is fully engaged in the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 3 , wherein the locking interengagement of the first member with the second member occurs automatically whenever the slider panel is placed in a fully retained, stowed position in the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 3 , wherein the first member comprises an upstanding flap movably mounted to the slider panel and the second member comprises a cutout zone formed in the upper panel of the housing in cooperating, associated relationship with the flap of the slider panel, with said cutout zone being constructed for preventing movement of the slider panel whenever the flap is engaged in the cutout zone while allowing free movement of the slider panel relative to the housing when the flap is disengaged from the cutout zone. 
   
   
       6 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 5 , wherein the cutout zone is further defined as comprising a first, enlarged, substantially circular portion cooperatively associated with a second, narrow portion, extending from the first portion to the terminating edge of the housing, and said flap is further defined as being dimensioned for preventing movement of the flap through the second, narrow portion. 
   
   
       7 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 3 , wherein said first member comprises a flexible arm movably mounted to the slider panel and extending therefrom, and the second member comprises a plate affixed to the inside surface of the upper panel of the housing with said plate forming an abutment stop positioned for locking interengagement with the arm, whereby the flexible arm engages the abutment stop thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the slider panel relative to the housing when in the first, locked position. 
   
   
       8 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 7 , wherein said plate forming the abutment stop is further defined as comprising a separate, substantially flat panel member affixed to the inside surface of the upper panel of the housing. 
   
   
       9 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 7 , wherein said plate forming the abutment stop is further defined as being integrally formed with the upper panel of the housing as an elongated extension thereof, and is folded relative to the upper panel of the housing for forming the abutment stop on the inside surface of the upper panel. 
   
   
       10 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 7 , wherein the flexible arm is further defined as comprising an extension panel or plate affixed to the slider panel and incorporating at least one folded portion integrally formed therein and constructed for radially extending upwardly from the slider panel for engaging the abutment stop. 
   
   
       11 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 10 , wherein the upper panel of the housing is further defined as incorporating a preformed, movable designated zone positioned in vertical alignment with the flexible arm for enabling the flexible arm to be disengaged from the abutment stop when desired, thereby enabling the slider panel to be longitudinally moved outwardly from the housing. 
   
   
       12 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 11 , wherein the movable designated zone is further defined as comprising a cutout area formed in the upper panel of the housing and incorporating at least one portion affixed to the upper panel of the housing with the remainder thereof being independent of the housing, thereby enabling the cutout area to be flexible relative to the upper panel of the housing for moving the arm member out of engagement with the abutment stop. 
   
   
       13 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 10 , wherein the extension panel or plate is further defined as being formed along the side edge of the slider panel and positioned for enabling the extension panel or plate to be removed in its entirety from the slider panel when the slider panel is fully extended outwardly from the housing, thereby enabling the user to disengage the lock assembly in its entirety. 
   
   
       14 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 10 , wherein the flexible arm is further defined as being mounted to the distal end of the slider panel in position for enabling the flexible arm to be removed in its entirety from the slider panel in order to disengage the lock assembly in its entirety. 
   
   
       15 . The product retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 7 , wherein the slider panel is further defined as comprising a finger receiving cavity formed along one edge thereof and positioned for easy access by the user when longitudinal movement of the slider panel is desired. 
   
   
       16 . A medication retaining and delivering system constructed for enabling any medication to be distributed in a sealed and locked manner for providing a child resistant configuration, said system comprising:
 A. a housing having an upper panel, a lower panel, and side edges interconnecting the upper panel with the lower panel and establishing an interior zone therebetween;   B. an interior partition mounted in the housing in spaced relationship with the upper panel and the lower panel;   C. an endless loop band mounted to the interior partition in peripheral surrounding relationship therewith for being continuously movable about the interior partition;   D. a sliding panel mounted in the housing on one side of said partition and affixed to a portion of the endless loop band;   E. a medication holding panel/container mounted in the housing on the opposed side of said partition and affixed to a portion of the endless loop band whereby longitudinal movement of the sliding panel causes the simultaneous longitudinal movement of the holding panel/container in an opposite direction; and   F. a lock system cooperatively associated with the sliding panel and the housing for preventing longitudinal movement of the sliding panel unless the lock system has been disabled simultaneously with the longitudinal movement of the slider panel;   
     whereby a lockable medication retaining and delivering system is realized which requires positive disengagement of the lock system simultaneously with the movement of the slider panel in order to enable the medication holding panel/container to be accessible, thereby achieving a child resistant construction. 
   
   
       17 . The medication retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 16 , wherein the slider panel and medication holding panel/container comprises indicia printed thereon for assisting the user in achieving proper medication usage and compliance. 
   
   
       18 . The medication retaining and delivering system defined in  claim 17 , wherein said medication is further defined as being separately retained on the medication holding panel/container in sealed zones thereby providing a further deterrent to access by children.