Child-resistant dispenser, method of dispensing a unit of product from a dispenser

Abstract

A child-resistant dispenser includes a housing having a first moveable member disposed on a first side of the housing; and a slider disposed in the housing and configured to slide from a closed position to a dispensing position, the slider comprising a first engagement portion that engages a first stop on the housing, wherein the engagement between the first engagement portion and the first stop restricts movement of the slider to the dispensing position and the first moveable member is configured to disengage the first engagement portion from the first stop in response to a first release force applied to the first moveable member.

1 . A child-resistant dispenser comprising:
 a housing comprising a first moveable member disposed on a first side of the housing; and   a slider disposed in the housing and configured to slide from a closed position to a dispensing position, the slider comprising a first engagement portion that engages a first stop on the housing,   wherein the engagement between the first engagement portion and the first stop restricts movement of the slider to the dispensing position and the first moveable member is configured to disengage the first engagement portion from the first stop in response to a first release force applied to the first moveable member.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the slider is configured to slide to the dispensing position in response to application of a dispensing force applied to the slider when the first engagement portion is disengaged from the first stop, and the slider is restricted from sliding to the dispensing position in response to application of the dispensing force to the slider when the first engagement portion is engaged with the first stop. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a second moveable member disposed on a second side of the housing that is opposite to the first side, the slider comprises a second engagement portion that engages a second stop on the housing, and the second moveable member is configured to disengage the second moveable member from the second stop in response to a second release force applied to the second moveable member. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second moveable members are configured to disengage the first and second engagement portions by flexing inwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the slider comprises a dispensing chute, and the dispenser is configured to dispense a single unit of product from the dispensing chute when the slider is in the dispensing position. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises a protrusion that restricts product from exiting the dispenser when the slider is in the dispensing position. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the dispensing chute comprises a recess for accommodating a single unit of product, and the recess is aligned with the protrusion when the slider is in the dispensing position. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the slider comprises a first sloping side that intersects the dispensing chute at a first location and a second sloping side that intersects the dispensing chute at a second location and the first location and the second location are offset. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an open end to provide user access to an end of the slider. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the end of the slider is configured to close the open end of the housing when the slider is in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is a handheld dispenser. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is configured for single-handed dispensing. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser is configured to dispense in response to a squeezing force applied to the housing by a hand and a simultaneous press applied to an end of the slider by the hand. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is configured to dispense a single unit of product during each dispense. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member that acts against movement of the slider from the closed position to the dispensing position. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising an interlock between the slider and the housing that is configured to permit movement of the slider from the closed position to the dispensing position and to prevent withdrawal of the slider from the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A prefilled child-resistant dispenser comprising:
 a housing comprising a first moveable member disposed on a first side of the housing; and   a slider disposed in the housing and configured to slide from a closed position to a dispensing position, the slider comprising a first engagement portion that engages a first stop on the housing; and   product contained within the dispenser for dispensing by the dispenser,   wherein the engagement between the first engagement portion and the first stop restricts movement of the slider to the dispensing position and the first moveable member is configured to disengage the first engagement portion from the first stop in response to a first release force applied to the first moveable member.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A child-resistant dispenser comprising:
 a housing; and   a slider disposed in the housing,   wherein an engagement between the housing and the slider is configured to prevent the slider from moving to a dispensing position, and a release is configured to release the engagement between the housing and the slider in response to a pressing force on the release.   
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 20 , wherein at least a portion of the release is configured to move in a first direction to release the engagement between the housing and the slider and the slider is configured to move to the dispensing position in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. 
     
     
         22 .- 46 . (canceled)