Dispensing container

A method of dispensing a product from a container, comprising:

• providing a container in a closed and locked position, the container comprising:
• an outer casing body having a cavity therein, the outer casing body having first and second portions cooperatively configured such that the outer casing body is capable of moving between a closed and locked position and a dispensing position, wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the outer casing body include an interior wall facing the interior of the cavity;
• a dispensing tray inserted within the cavity of the outer casing body and having an outer peripheral portion configured to conform to the shape of the interior wall of the outer casing body, the dispensing tray comprising an internal storage compartment adapted for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed;
• a cover plate removably secured to the dispensing tray and defining at least one dispensing aperture through which a stored unit of product is accessible from the internal storage compartment of the dispensing tray when the outer casing body is in the dispensing position;
• a sealing member operably engaged with one of the interior wall of the outer casing body and the dispensing tray, the sealing member comprising a rib structure configured to form a seal between the interior wall of the outer casing body and the outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray when the outer casing body is in the closed and locked position, the interior wall of the outer casing body and the outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray extending substantially parallel to one another with the rib structure extending substantially perpendicularly therebetween in the closed and locked position;
• and
• a locking mechanism operably engaged with the outer casing body and configured to releasably lock the outer casing body in the closed and locked position, wherein the locking mechanism is spaced apart from the outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray;
• releasing the locking mechanism so as to effectuate separation of the first and second portions of the outer casing body to the dispensing position;
• and
• removing at least one unit of product from the internal storage compartment.

A method of sealing a product in a container, comprising:

• providing a container in a dispensing position, the container comprising:
• an outer casing body having a cavity therein, the outer casing body having first and second portions cooperatively configured such that the outer casing body is capable of moving between a closed and locked position and a dispensing position, wherein at least one of the first and second portions of the outer casing body include an interior wall facing the interior of the cavity;
• a dispensing tray inserted within the cavity of the outer casing body and having an outer peripheral portion configured to conform to the shape of the interior wall of the outer casing body, the dispensing tray comprising an internal storage compartment adapted for storage of a plurality of units of a product to be dispensed;
• a cover plate removably secured to the dispensing tray and defining at least one dispensing aperture through which a stored unit of product is accessible from the internal storage compartment of the storage tray when the outer casing body is in the dispensing position;
• a sealing member operably engaged with one of the interior wall of the outer casing body and the dispensing tray, the sealing member comprising a rib structure configured to form a seal between the interior wall of the outer casing body and the outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray when the outer casing body is in the closed and locked position, the interior wall of the outer casing body and the outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray extending substantially parallel to one another with the rib structure extending substantially perpendicularly therebetween in the closed and locked position;
• and
• a locking mechanism operably engaged with the outer casing body and configured to releasably lock the outer casing body in the closed and locked position, wherein the locking mechanism is spaced apart from the outer peripheral portion of the dispensing tray;
• and
• engaging the locking mechanism such that the first and second portions of the outer casing body enclose the dispensing tray and the sealing member seals the outer casing body to the dispensing tray.