Trigger lock for pill calendar

Abstract

According to one aspect of invention, a locking apparatus for a device including a container that contains at least one article is provided. The locking apparatus includes a blocking element positionable with respect to at least a portion of the container, the blocking element being movable between a first position and a second position and configured to at least partially inhibit removal of articles from the container when in the second position and to permit removal of articles when in the first position. The locking apparatus also includes a lock that optionally locks the surface in the first position to inhibit movement of the blocking element into the second position.

1 . A locking apparatus for a device including a container that contains at least one article, the locking apparatus comprising:
 a blocking element positionable with respect to at least a portion of the container, the blocking element being movable between a first position and a second position and configured to at least partially inhibit removal of articles from the container when in the second position and to permit removal of articles when in the first position; and   a lock that optionally locks the blocking element in the first position to inhibit movement of the blocking element into the second position.   
   
   
       2 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock optionally unlocks the blocking element to permit the blocking element to return to the second position. 
   
   
       3 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking element is a planar layer. 
   
   
       4 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock is configured to engage at least a portion of the container. 
   
   
       5 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the device includes at least one opening configured to receive and engage the lock. 
   
   
       6 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lock is formed of the same piece of material as the blocking element. 
   
   
       7 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the lock is formed as a tab that is hingedly connected to the blocking element. 
   
   
       8 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking element is slidable with respect to the container to move between the first and the second positions. 
   
   
       9 . A locking apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the blocking element is rotationally positionable with respect to the container to move between the first and the second positions. 
   
   
       10 . In a device for inhibiting removal of an article from a blister-type container, the container comprising a first generally flat sheet having a first side and a second side and a blister for accommodating the article and a puncturable generally flat second sheet having a first side and a second side, the first side of the second sheet engaging a portion of the first side of the first sheet, whereby the article may be removed from the container by applying pressure to an outside surface of the blister to cause the article to puncture the second sheet, and the device further comprising a base moveable with respect to the container between a first position and a second position, the base being positioned facing the second side of the second sheet, the base having at least one base opening substantially in alignment with the blister when the base is in the first position, and the base opening being configured to permit passage of the article therethrough, the improvement comprising:
 a lock, optionally operable when the base is in the first position, to inhibit movement of the base with respect to the container.   
   
   
       11 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the lock comprises a planar surface hingedly connected to the base. 
   
   
       12 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the lock includes a snap closure. 
   
   
       13 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the base includes an opening through which a person's finger can pass to move the base to the first position from the second position. 
   
   
       14 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of pills, tablets, and capsules. 
   
   
       15 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the first sheet is a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       16 . An improvement according to  claim 15 , wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, styrene, polypropylene, barrex, aclar, PET, PETG and APET. 
   
   
       17 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the second sheet is a metallic foil. 
   
   
       18 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the housing is selected from at least one of a thermoplastic material and a material comprising paper. 
   
   
       19 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises a retaining means arranged to retain the lock in a locked position, and wherein the base and the retaining means are integrally formed with each other. 
   
   
       20 . An improvement according to  claim 19 , wherein the device further comprises a biasing means arranged to bias the base into the second position, and wherein the base, the retaining means, and the biasing means are coplanar with each other. 
   
   
       21 . An improvement according to  claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises a housing surrounding at least a portion of the container and in communication with the biasing means.