Package for holdinmg articles

Abstract

A package holds and stores articles such as drug delivery devices. An inner slide card ( 100 ) with a tray ( 110 ) is loaded with drug delivery devices ( 116 ) and inserted into an outer sleeve ( 200 ). Receiving slots ( 114 ) and apertures ( 118 ) secure the drug delivery devices in a tray. Elements such as catches ( 122 ) associated with the slide card cooperatively engage elements such as catches ( 240 ) associated with the outer sleeve ( 200 ). The cooperative engagement of the respective catches provides a child-resistant feature and a spill-resistant feature. A release button ( 224 ) disengages the child-resistant feature. The horizontal orientation of the injectables provides easy access for a user who has limited dexterity as well as sufficient area to apply graphics.

1 . A package for holding articles, comprising an outer sleeve, a slide card slidingly received in the outer sleeve, a single tray affixed to the slide card to receive at least one article and a child-resistant feature for locking the slide card in a fully received position where the slide card and tray are fully received within the outer sleeve,
 the outer sleeve having a closed end and an opposed open end, the outer sleeve comprising a release button and an internal panel, the release button being disposed adjacent to the closed end,   the slide card comprising a base panel having a front and a back and a pair of first and second opposed end edges, the back of the slide card facing an inside surface of the internal panel of the outer sleeve, the first end edge being dispose adjacent to the closed end of the outer sleeve when the slide card is in the fully received position,   the tray being affixed to the front of the base panel,   the child-resistant feature comprising an engaging edge provided by the internal panel of the outer sleeve and a first engaging tab hingedly connected to the first end edge of the base panel so as to be releasably engageble with the engaging edge of the internal panel, the first engaging tab being folded about the first end edge and disposed proximate the back of the base panel directly behind the tray.   
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tray has first and second opposed ends, the first end of the tray being disposed alongside the first end edge of the base panel, the first engaging tab extending from the first end edge to a leading end edge of the first engaging tab, the leading end edge being disposed between the first and second ends of the tray. 
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the first end of the tray is disposed closer to the closed end of the outer sleeve than the leading end edge of the first engaging tab. 
   
   
       4 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the first end edge of the base panel is disposed substantially along the first end of the tray. 
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first end edge extends entirely across a width of the base panel, and the first engaging tab is connected to the base panel entirely along the first end edge. 
   
   
       6 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is disposed over substantially the entire area of the front of the base panel. 
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve further comprises first and second opposed outer panels interconnected by a pair of opposed side panels to form a sleeve structure, the first outer panel being in a face-contacting relationship with the internal panel, the release button is formed from part of the first outer panel, and the first engaging tab is disposed between the first outer panel and the back of the base panel when the slide card is in the fully received position. 
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the tray is disposed between the second outer panel and the front of the base panel. 
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve further comprises an extension tab hingedly connected to the open end of the outer sleeve so as to engage the first engaging tab to prevent the slide card from being completely removed from the outer sleeve. 
   
   
       10 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the distance between the first and second ends of the tray is substantially equal to the distance between the first and second end edges of the base panel. 
   
   
       11 . A package for holding articles, comprising an outer sleeve, a slide card slidingly received in the outer sleeve, and a child-resistant feature for locking the slide card in a fully received position where the slide card is fully received within the outer sleeve,
 the outer sleeve having a closed end and an opposed open end, the outer sleeve comprising a release button and an internal panel, the release button being disposed adjacent to the closed end,   the slide card comprising a base panel having a front and a back, a pair of first and second opposed side edges and a pair of first and second opposed end edges, the back of the slide card facing an inside surface of the internal panel of the outer sleeve, the first end edge being dispose adjacent to the closed end of the outer sleeve when the slide card is in the fully received position, the slide card further comprising a first extension panel hingedly connected to the first side edge of the base panel along a first fold line and affixed to the front of the base panel to form a first sidewall structure, the first end edge extending from the first fold line to the second side edge,   the child-resistant feature comprising an engaging edge provided by the internal panel of the outer sleeve and a first engaging tab hingedly connected to the first end edge of the base panel so as to be releasably engageble with the engaging edge of the internal panel, the first engaging tab being folded about the first end edge and disposed proximate the back of the base panel directly behind the first sidewall structure.   
   
   
       12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the slide card further comprising a second extension panel hingedly connected to the second side edge of the base panel along a second fold line and affixed to the front of the base panel to form a second sidewall structure, the first end edge of the base panel extending entirely between the first and second fold lines, and the first engaging tab is disposed directly behind the first and second sidewall structures. 
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall structure has first and second opposed ends, the first end of the first sidewall structure being disposed at a position along the first end edge of the base panel, the first engaging tab extending from the first end edge to a leading end edge of the first engaging tab, the leading end edge being disposed between the first and second ends of the first sidewall structure. 
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the first side wall structure is disposed closer to the closed end of the outer sleeve than the leading end edge of the first engaging tab. 
   
   
       15 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall structure extends substantially entirely between the first and second end edges of the base panel. 
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the outer sleeve further comprises first and second opposed outer panels interconnected by a pair of opposed side panels to form a sleeve structure, the first outer panel being in a face-contacting relationship with the internal panel, the release button is formed from part of the first outer panel, and the first engaging tab is disposed between the first outer panel and the back of the base panel when the slide card is in the fully received position. 
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the first sidewall structure is disposed between the second outer panel and the front of the base panel. 
   
   
       18 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the outer sleeve further comprises a first extension tab hingedly connected to the internal panel at the open end of the outer sleeve so as to engage the first engaging tab to prevent the slide card from being completely removed from the outer sleeve, the outer sleeve further comprises a second extension tab hingedly connected to one of the opposed side panels at the open end of the outer sleeve, and the slide card further comprises a second engaging tab hingedly connected to the first sidewall structure to engage the second extension tab to assist the first engaging tab in preventing the slide card from being completely removed from the outer sleeve. 
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the first side wall structure comprises an outside sidewall panel, a top panel, an inside sidewall panel, and a securing panel, wherein the top and sidewall panels are folded and the securing panel is secured to the base panel to form an open-channel structure having at least one article receiving element. 
   
   
       20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the first sidewall structure further comprises a second engaging tab configured to engage an extension tab associated with the outer sleeve to prevent the slide card from being completely removed from the outer sleeve.