Container useful for holding multiple articles of manufacture

Abstract

A container for holding multiple articles of manufacture which includes at least one storage area for holding the multiple articles of manufacture, a first cover portion operatively associated with a second cover portion wherein the first and second cover portions are adapted to reversibly enclose the at least one storage area therebetween; and a locking mechanism for releasably securing the first and second cover portions together to block access to the at least one storage area. The locking mechanism includes at least one first member located on the first cover portion wherein the at least one first member is adapted for reversible locking engagement with corresponding at least one second member located on the second cover portion and at least one movable stop abutting against at least one of the first and second members to maintain the respective locking engagement therebetween whereby at least one movable stop is adapted to move to a non-abutting position to allow the at least one of the first and second members to be disengaged from the other to open access to the at least one storage area.

1 . A container for holding multiple articles of manufacture, the container comprising:
 at least one storage area for holding the multiple articles of manufacture;   a first cover portion operatively associated with a second cover portion; said first and second cover portions reversibly enclosing the at least one storage area therebetween; and   a locking mechanism for releasably securing the first and second cover portions together, said locking mechanism comprising:
 at least one first member located on the first cover portion, said at least one first member in reversible locking engagement with corresponding at least one second member located on the second cover portion; and 
 at least one movable stop abutting against at least one of said first and second members to maintain the respective locking engagement therebetween, said at least one movable stop adapted to move to a non-abutting position to allow the at least one of said first and second members to be disengaged from the other, whereby the first and second cover portions are released to open access to the storage area. 
   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one storage area is defined by at least one article holding tray. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the article holding tray is configured to hold a blister pack. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  further comprising means for reversibly fastening the blister pack to the article holding tray. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the fastening means comprises:
 a clip hingedly connected to the article holding tray, said clip being movable between a fastened position within the storage area and a release position; and   at least one fastening tab extending from storage area of the article holding tray, said at least one fastening tab releasably engaged to the clip in the fastened position for retaining the blister pack in place.   
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first cover portion is hingedly connected to the at least one article holding tray; and   the second cover portion is hingedly connected to the at least one article holding tray and disposed at the opposed side from the first cover portion.   
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the first and second cover portions are configured to moved to a position abutting one another to yield a hand holdable portion comprised of bother the first and second cover portions. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7  further comprising means for releasably binding the first and second cover portions in the abutting position. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the binding means comprises:
 a pair of projections on the first cover portion; and   a corresponding pair of recesses disposed in the second cover portion, said recesses being configured for receiving and reversibly retaining the projections through a snap-in engagement therebetween.   
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 6  wherein:
 the first member of the locking mechanism comprises a pair of flexible spring latches each movable to an unlatched position;   the second member of the locking mechanism comprises a pair of keeps each adapted to cooperate with the respective flexible spring latch in a latched position for releasable engagement therebetween, wherein the engagement is released upon urging the flexible spring latches from the latched position to the corresponding unlatched position; and   the movable stop comprises an abutting member having opposed end portions each abutting a corresponding flexible spring latch engaged to the respective keep to prevent movement to a corresponding unlatched position, said abutting member hingedly movable to the non-abutting position in which the end portions of the abutting member disengage from the flexible spring latches to allow movement from the latched position.   
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the pair of flexible spring latches are normally biased away from one another in the latched position, said pair of flexible spring latches being resiliently movable toward one another to the unlatched position and effect disengagement from the corresponding keeps. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the end portions of the abutting member includes opposed projections extending therefrom each configured for contact with the corresponding spring latches. 
   
   
       13 . A container for holding multiple articles of manufacture, the container comprising:
 at least one storage area for holding the multiple articles of manufacture, each of said at least one storage area defined by at least one article holding tray for holding a blister back; and   means for reversibly fastening the blister pack to the article holding tray.   
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13  wherein the fastening means comprises:
 a clip hingedly connected to the article holding tray, said clip being movable between a fastened position within the storage area and a release position; and   at least one fastening tab extending from storage area of the article holding tray, said at least one fastening tab releasably engaged to the clip in the fastened position for retaining the blister pack in place.   
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first cover portion hingedly connected to the at least one article holding tray; and   a second cover portion hingedly connected to the at least one article holding tray and disposed at the opposed side from the first cover portion.   
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the first and second cover portions are configured to moved to a position abutting one another to yield a hand holdable portion comprised of bother the first and second cover portions. 
   
   
       17 . The container of  claim 16  further comprising means for releasably binding the first and second cover portions in the abutting position. 
   
   
       18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the binding means comprises:
 a pair of projections on the first cover portion; and   a corresponding pair of recesses disposed in the second cover portion, said recesses being configured for receiving and reversibly retaining the projections through a snap-in engagement therebetween.   
   
   
       19 . A container for holding multiple articles of manufacture, the container comprising:
 at least one storage area for holding the multiple articles of manufacture;   a first cover portion operatively associated with a second cover portion; said first and second cover portions reversibly enclosing the at least one storage area therebetween wherein the first and second cover portions are configured to moved to an open position abutting one another to yield a hand holdable portion.   
   
   
       20 . The container of  claim 19  further comprising means for releasably binding the first and second cover portions in the abutting position. 
   
   
       21 . The container of  claim 20  wherein the binding means comprises:
 a pair of projections on the first cover portion; and   a corresponding pair of recesses disposed in the second cover portion, said recesses being configured for receiving and reversibly retaining the projections through a snap-in engagement therebetween.