US3095085A

US3095085A - Pocket containers for the selective dispensing of tablets

Info

Publication number: US3095085A
Application number: US846656A
Authority: US
Inventors: Meijer Leo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-10-15
Filing date: 1959-10-15
Publication date: 1963-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-25

Description

June 25, 1963 L. MEIJER POCKET CONTAINERS FOR THE SELECTIVE DISPENSING OF' TABLETS Filed Oct. l5. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INvEN-roR Leo M lJER June 25, 1963 l.. MEIJER 3,095,085

POCKET CONTAINERS FOR THE SELECTIVE DISPENSING OF TABLET-S Filed Oct. l5, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTY.

June 25, 1963 L. MEIJER 3,095,085

POCKET CONTAINERS FOR THE SELECTIVE DISPENSING OF TABLETS Filed Oct. l5, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3545/@ sez INVENTOR. Lao Mel ER.

ATTY.

United States Patent O 3,0%,085 POCKET CGNTAINERS FUR 'II-1E SELECTIVE DSPENSEN G F TABLETS Leo Meijer, 4990 N. Marine Drive, Chicago 40, Ill. Filed Oct. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,656 2 Claims. (Ci. 20o-42) The improved pocket container comprising the present invention has been designed for use primarily in connection with the selective dispensing of medical tablets, pills, capsules, losenges, and the like having therapeutic value. 'Ille invention is, however, capable of other uses and containers constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be employed for holding and dispensing other small articles such as mints, candy coated gum, sweetening aids and a wide variety of other edibles of tablet size. I-rrespective of the particular use to which the present invention may be put, the essential features thereof are at all times preserved.

Modern medicine has made available a large variety of health aids, pain Irelievers, dietary supplements, sleep inducing substances, energy producing substances, weight reduction remedies and the like, all of which are available in pill or tablet form for administering by mouth. Many individuals, particularly those who are occupied and away from home during the day, iind it necessary, in order to satisfy their daily requirements for a variety of these medicines and other tablets, to carry with them a wide assortment of such tablets, usually in separate containers or sometimes in a single container Where it is necessary for the individual to make the proper selection by the size, color or shape characteristics of the tablets. Where individual containers are concerned, the pocket or pocketbook is apt to become overly cluttered Whereas when the tablets are mixed, proper selection is not always made, nor is it possible in the absence of illumination.

'the present invention is designed to overcome the 4above-noted limit-ation that is attendant upon the selection of different tablets from a varied supply thereof carried on the person of the user and, toward this end, it contemplates the provision `of novel and convenient dispensing container whereby, by a simple dialing action, and other manipulation of the container, a single tablet of the proper selection may be made and the tablet ejected from the container .to the exclusion of any other tablets which may yform the contents of the container.

The provision -of a dispensing container of the character briey outlined above being among the principal objects of the invention, it is a further object to provide such a container having associated ktherewith visual means whereby the dialing action is facilitated and also having associated therewith illuminating means operable, upon energization thereof, to illuminate the dial indicia of the container so that proper dialing operations may be elected at night or when external illumination is insuiiicient to illuminate the dial.

Briefly, in carrying out the above-mentioned objects, the invention -in one form thereof contemplates the provision of an `outer cylindrical shell within which there is disclosed for both sliding and rotational movements relative to the shell, a central compartmented or recessed core having side pockets which cooperate with the surrounding shell to provide a series of individual bins for the various types of tablets, pills or the like. The shell is provided with a side opening adjacent one end thereof capable of being brought into selective longitudinal register with the various compartments or bins provided in the core upon relative rotation between the core and shell and capable of being brought into actual or operable register with the side opening when the core is slid forwardly within the shell. Interlocking means are provided on the core and shell respectively and this means becomes elective 'ice when the core is slid forwardly to lock the core and shell against further relative rotational movement so that during the dispensing of a tablet, there can be no further rotational movement which might cause misalignment of the side opening with the selected bin during discharge of the tablet from the container or obstruction to the free movement of the tablets through the discharge opening. Relative movement between the core and shell is made possible by the provision of an end closure which is fixed to and moves bodily with the core and which is so designed and constructed that, by its rotational manipulation, selective longitudinal register of the discharge 'opening and bins may be effected and by its axial manipulation the side opening may be covered or uncovered at will. The closure member is `also constructed so that when the discharge .opening is thus covered, the adjacent rims of the closure member and shell meet in edge-toedge relationship thus sealing the container. 'I'he closure member, in effect, constitutes tan extension of the core and it is provided with a central socket therein which, in one embodiment of the invention, constitutes an auxiliary compartment or pocket Within which a series of special tablets, for example, tablets which are too large to be accommodated in the various bins, or tablets which have a special significance and require extra precaution so that they may not inadvertently ybe consumed in place of other intended tablets, may be disposed. The auxiliary compartment may also be employed for the storage of a written paper prescription which may 'be rolled into cylindrical form.

:In one of the several modiied forms of the invention, the auxiliary compartment may be employed for enclosing a small illuminating lamp and a battery for energization thereof, novel means being provided whereby the lamp will automatically become energized when the core is slid forwardly within the shell. Illumination of the lamp will send .captive light rays through the interior of the translucent core extension whereupon the latter will become uniformly iridescent thus .rendering a series of indicia on the'extension visible for selective register with a pointer on the shell.

'In another modified form of the invention, the recessed core, instead lof cooperating with the surrounding shell to provide the various pill or tablet compartment, is itself fully compartmented so that ythere will be no danger of inter-contamination between tablets of differing composition in the various compartments. In this form of the invention, the tablets are maintained out of physical contact with the Wall of the shell so that tablets of one variety will not leave any deposition of material on the wall of the shell or other part of the container assembly which might have a chemical reaction with tablets of a dilerent composition. In this form of the invention, means are further provided whereby each compartment associated with the core has an individual discharge opening of a size commensurate with the size of tablet contained in such compartment so that .there will be no danger of simultaneous plural discharge of tablets from any one compartment.

In a further modified form of the invention, individual and single discharge of tablets from a common discharge opening provided in the `shell is assured by the expedient of eifecting variable control of the size of the discharge opening, novel means being provided whereby each ydischarge opening is capable of partial register with such opening, the Vdegree of register being automatically attained to a degree which is commensurate with the size of the tablet undergoing dispensing from its respective compartment. Y

The provision of a dispensing container possessing several or all of the various features of novelty outlined dotted lines;

3 above constitutes a further and important object of the invention.

The provision of a dispensing container for the selective dispensing of tablets and the like which is extremely compact in its design; one in which .the various types of tablets can be used as a merchandising package by druggists in place of the usual m tiple boxes or bottles; one in which the Vprincipal componentsY thereof are only four in number and which may be manufactured as' inexpensive thermoplastic or thermosetting moldable resinous parts; one in which such are capable of being easily :assembled, thereby further contributing towards economy `of manufacture; one which is comprised of a minimum number of moving parts and which, therefore, is unlikely -to get out of order; one which is rugged and durable and which, therefore, will withstand rough usage; one which is comparatively easy to load; one which, when in its closed condition, presents a smooth unbroken exterior; one which after initial assembly of the constituent parts thereof cannot be taken apar-t `so that it is unlikely to become inadvertently damaged; one which is attractive in its .appear-ance and pleasing in its design; and one which otherwise is well adapted -to perform the services required of it are fur-ther desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the pres` ent invention.

Numerous other objects and advantages of Ithe invention, not at this time enumerated, will become more read- -ily apparent as the :following description ensues.

'In the accompanying three sheets of Idrawings forming a part of this specication, several illustrative embodi# ments of the invention have been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a dispensing container constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. l; FIG. 3 is 4a side elevational View similar to FIG. 1, showing the container in its dispensing condition; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

lFIG. 6 is ia sectional view' similar @to FIG. 4 showing lthe component parts of the dispensing container in their condition of tablet discharge;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view the line 7 -7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 yis a sectional view taken substantially along the line S-J- S of FIG. 6; Y v F-IG. 9 is a sectional line 9 9 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10is a sectional view line 10-10 of FIG. 5;

g FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the outer shell of the container; A A' FIG. l2 is a perspective view of the container core;

FIG, 13 is a perspective view of the'manipulative clo- 'sure member; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a closure disk or end cap ,employed4 in connection with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a pivoted lamp holder and actuator employed in connection with the present invention; Y

FIG. 16 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing a taken substantially along view taken substantiallyalong the taken substantially along the Vslightly modified formof the invention wherein the illuminating means has been omitted, the closure disk of this form of the mvention being shownrin exploded fashion in FIG. 17 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 17--17 of FIG. 16; Y

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective View similar to FIG. 11 showing the outer shell of a modified form of 4 dispensing container embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 12 showing the inner core which is associated with the shell of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to FIG. 16 showing the core and shell assembly of FIGS. l18 and 19;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of the core and shell associated with a still further modified form of the invention; and FIG. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIGS. 16 and 20 showing the core and shell assembly of FIG. 22.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there has been illustrated in FIGS. l to 15, inclusive, an embodiment of the invention wherein, as previously mentioned, provision `is made for illuminating the dial associated with the container and by means of which the various kinds of pills or tablets storedwithin the container may be manually selected. In FIGS. 16 and 17, there has been illustrated another embodiment of the invention wherein this illuminating means is dispensed with and the compartment ordinarily employed for receiving the illuminating means is used as a storage container. In FIGS. 18 to 20, inclusive, a further embodiment of the invention makes provision for complete isolation of the various tablet-containing compartments from one another so that there will be no inter-contamination of tablets `of differing chemical composition, while at the same time each compartment is provided with a discharge opening of a size commensurate with the size of the tablets contained in such compartment. In FIGS. 2l and 22, a dispensing container having an adjustable discharge opening common to all of the tablet-containing compartments has been shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 15, inclusive, the dispensing container assembly has been designated in its entirety at 110. This container is, in the main, comprised of ,four principal parts and a iifth functional part, al1 of which parts may be formed of molded material such as lphenoliccondensation product either of the thermoplastic .onthermosetting type. While the invention is particularly applicable to a container made of such moldable material it is not necessarily `so limited and, if desired, it may -be made of a metal, as, for example, sheet metal which is fashioned by Irolling, bending, spot welding and the like to produce the desired shape characteristics. The four principal parts are an outer container shell 12, `shown in detail in FIG. 11; a compartmented core or inner body 14, shown in detail in FIG. 12; a combined dial and closure member 16, shown in detail in FIG. 13; and a closure cap 18 shown in detail in FIG. 14. 'I'he functional part is in the form of a lever 20, useable in connection with the illumination means, and shown in detail in FIG. 1 5.

The outer shell 12 represents the body of the container and it is in the form of a hollow tubular cylindrical member open at both ends. The forward rim of the container is formed with an inwardly extending annular flange 22 presenting a central circular opening 24. The rear rim 26 of the shell is not lianged. The forward end region of the shell is reduced as at 28 and this reduced region is formed with a generally rectangular tablet-dispensing or discharge opening 30. The reduced portion 28 of the shell affords a forwardly facing annular shoulder 32. An

indicia mai-k V34 which may be in Ithe form of a scribed line'or an arrow is provided on the outside face' ofthe shell in the vicinity of the opening 30, and a second indiera mark 36 is provided ton the shoulder v32. in alignment the opening 30. These indicia marks 34 and'36 are associated with the dial mechanism and the function 'thereof :will be s et forth in detail presently.

The compartmented body -or core 14 is of generally cylindrical design and it is disposed within the shell 12 with a fairly snug fit, although it is capable of rotational movement within the shell in either direction throughout a full 360 extent and it is capable of limited axial sliding movement -Within the shell. The core 14 is of unitary construction, it being made in one piece fwhen molded, and for convenience of description, it may be said to be divided into three longitudinally aligned sections including a rear section 40 fitting frictionally within the shell 12, an intermediate section 42 vof reduced diameter, and a front section y44 'or extension of relatively small diameter (see FIG. 12).

The core 14 is compartmented in the sections 40 and 42, ythe compartmentation being made in a suitable manner to accommodate tablets having diiferent size and shape characteristics. Asbest seen in FIG. 8, the various compartments formed in the core are in the form of elongated troughs -or grooves some of which are three-sided and others of which are ytwo-sided, but all of which open 4radially :outwardly 'of the core and are adapted to have their open sides closed by the telescopic iit of the core within the shell 12. While various forms of compartmentation are contemplated, it has been found that the compartmentation illustrated in FIG. 8 will best serve or accommodate a lwide variety of tablets such as are currently being manufactured by the various leading drug manufacturers. Accordingly, describing the compartmentation as it appears in the cross sectional view of FIG. 8, a series of partitions 48 extend along the core 14 longitudinally thereof. These partitions dividing the core into seven compartments labelled a, b, c, d, e, f, g. rIhe compartments a, c, d and g are two-sided compartments, While `the compartments b, e and f are three-sided compartments.

'l'he various compartments a, b, c, d, e, f and g will accommodate a vwide variety of pills, tablets, lozenges, capsules or similar small articles and it should be understood that for convenience of description herein and to avoid confusion, the -term tablet has been applied to all of them both in this specification and in the appended claims.

-The compartments a and d are relatively large and may be used to contain tablets of the more massive variety, particularly spherical, elliptical or cylindrical tablets. The compartments b, e and f are designed to contain tablets which have at sides and are either circular or rectangular. The compartment cis a small compartment and may be employed as a receptacle for extremely small tablets such as phenobarbital or saccharine tablets. Various forms 'of compartmentation other than that illustrated herein are contemplated within the scope of the present invention, and the assortment of tablets to be purveyed by any given drug manufacturer or seller will dictate the character of the various compartments.

The compartments a, b, c, d, e, f, and g terminate near the extreme rear Iend of the core 14 so that each compartment is provided with a rear end wall 50, the various rear end walls, in combination, constituting in effect a disk-like end closure for the outer shell 12 capable of limited telescopic sliding movement Within the shell bodily with the core 14 for purposes that will be made clear presently.

The various compartments a, b, c, d, e, f and g span substantially the entire longitudinal extent of the sections 40 and 42 and terminate short of the section 44, thus providing a front wall 52 for each compartment, the various front walls likewise constituting in effect a generally circular disk. A series of semi-circular notches 54 one `of which is :in register with each compartment are formed in the disk. These notches serve a locking function which will be described in detail subsequently.

The reduced section 42 of the core 14 exists by virtue of a series of cut-away or relieved area 56 provided in the front regions of the various partitions or walls 48. These relief areas 56 atford a series of forwardly facing shoulders 58, one on each parti-tion, and the various shoulders 58 are designed for engagement with a rearwardly facing internal shoulder 60 formed on the shell in the forward regions thereof at the juncture between the shell proper and its forwardly extending reduced portion 28.

The member 16 is in the form of a slidable and rotatable closure member of double wall construction and it includes an outer cylindrical wall 62 and inner reentrant wall 64 and a connecting front wall 66 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). The inner reentrant cylindrical wall 64 is adapted to be cemented as at 68 or otherwise permanently aixed to the front section or extension 44 of the core 14 so that the closure member 16 moves bodily as a unit with the core. The member 16 is formed of transparent, translucent or other light-conducting material for a purpose that will be made clear presently. The core and attached closure member are movable from a retracted position wherein the disk-like end wall structure S0 is flush with the rim 26 of the shell 12 and wherein the rim 70 of the outer cylindrical wall 62 of the closure member 16 abuts against the forwardly facing shoulder 32 with the rear regions of the wall 62 telescopically tting over the extension 28 of the shell and effectively closing the discharge or dispensing opening 36 as shown in FIG. 4, and an advanced position wherein the various shoulders 58 on the partition walls 48 engage the rearwardly facing internal shoulder 60 and the opening 30 is uncovered by the wall 62 as shown in FIG. 6. In this latter condition of the parts, the core body is slid forwardly to such an extent that the section 42 thereof registers radially with the opening 30 and any given compartment a, b, c, d, e, f or g which may be in register with the opening will present to the opening the foremost tablet in the compartment for discharge through the opening 30 when the container as a whole is properly tilted or inverted for fall by gravity of the tablet through the opening into the hand of the user.

According to the present invention, novel means are provided for effectively locking the core 14 and shell 12 against relative rotation when the core and closure member are in their advanced position described above. Accordingly, the wall of the extension 28 of the shell 12 is formed with a small radially inwardly extending locking lug 74 immediately behind the inturned flange 22 (see FIG. 9). This locking lug is designed for selective register with and reception in the various notches 54 so that when the core and closure member are in their extended Vposition they cannot be turned relative to the shell. In

the retracted position, or in any intermediate position of the core and closure member, the lug 74 will be out of register with the various notches 54 so that such relative rotation may be effected for tablet selection purposes.

The closure cap 18 is in the form of a circular disklike body (FIG. 14) having a central closure plug 80 formed thereon and adapted to tit into the bore provided by the inner reentrant wall 64 of the closure member 16.

The arrangement of parts thus far described is common to both forms of the invention, i.e., the form shown in FIGS. l to l5, inclusive, and the form shown in FIGS. 16 and l7. In the form of the invention just described, the cylindrical wall 64 aicrds a compartment 82 for a battery and bulb assembly, as will be described presently, while in the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, it forms a storage comparement, as will also be described presently.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and ll, the outer wall 62 of the closure member 16 may have a series of scribe marks or indicia 84 arranged in circumferential fashion therearound, and having associated therewith various legending 86 corresponding to the character of tablets contained in the various compartments a, b, c, d, e, f, and g. Each indicia 84 is in longitudinal register with one of the compartments. The indicia 84 are designed for selective register with the arrow 34 to assist in visual dialing opera- Yilluminate the indicia 36 (FIG. ll).

' age purposes.

tion's when there is suicient light Vthat the arrow and indicia may be viewed. The indicia mark 36 is provided for use when internal illumination of the dialing system is employed.

The illumination system is best illustrated in FIGS. 4, and 6. This system involves in its general organization a lamp 90 and a battery 92 of the 11/2 volt penlight variety, the lamp and the battery being disposed within the cylindrical compartment 82 in axial alignment. An involute helical spring 91 maintains the lamp 90 and battery physically separated from each other and it also serves to electrically connect the outside terminal of the lamp to the positive shell of the battery. When the lamp is forced rearwardly so that the center terminal makes contact with the center negative terminal of the battery 92, a circuit is completed through the lamp filament in the conventional manner of operation of certain penlight constructions.

The lamp 90 has a glass press aiording a lens tip 96 of generally conical design. This tip extends through an opening i) of the previously mentioned pivoted lever and holder 20 (see also FIG. 15) and the lens portion of the tip 96 may be coated with aluminum paint or other reliecting substance to reflect the filament light back into the glass press.

The lever 2l) is of angular design and it is formed with a laterally turned lever arm 102 and a pair of fulcrum hinge pins or trunnions 104 (see also FIG. 5) adapted to be received in sockets 106 which are formed in the side edges of a slot 108 formed longitudinally in the reentrant inner cylindrical wall of the closure member 16. Normally, the spring 91, acting through the lamp Y9430, maintains the lever in the inclined position in which it is shown in FIG. 4. However, when the closure member is slid to its open or advanced position as shown in FIG. 4, the inturned flange 22 at the forward open end of the shell 12 will slide over the lever arm, thus swinging the lever 20 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 and forcing the lamp and battery into physical and electrical contact to complete the electrical circuit through the lamp filament.

It is to -be noted that the filament of the lamp 90 is in lateral or radial register with the edge of the hole or opening 16) provided in the lever arm 'i101 so that light issuing from the iilament will enter the translucent material of the lever and flow through the trunnion pins 104 and thus into the material of the closure member so as to permeate the entire translucent or other light conducting member and cause the same to glow and become luminous. The various indicia 84 will thus become visible, as will the legending S6. A small amount of light will issue `from the forward edge of the outer wall cylindrical wall 62 of the closure member and form an annular ring of light which will strike the shoulder 3-2 and Y Upon restoration of the closure member 16 to its retracted or closed position over the discharge opening 30, the liange 22 Will move away from the lever arm 102 and the spring 101 will restore the lamp and battery to their electrically isolated positions and cause the lamp to become deenergized.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is similar to the form described in connection with FIGS. l to 15, inclusive, and to avoid needless repetition of description, similar reference characters but of a higher order have been employed in connection with these latter views to designate similar or corresponding parts. In this latter form of the invention, the battery lamp 90, battery 92, spring 91 and lever 20 have been omitted, as has the slot -108 for the lever hinge pins or trunnions l104. The compartment 182 Within the inner reentrant wall 164 of the closure member 116 is thus available for stor- Among the articles which may be stored within the compartment y182 are special tablets for which precautions against too frequent use must be taken so that they are Yunlikely to vbe confused with anyof the Ytablets undergoing dispensing so partment may bear labeling tablets in theother compartments a, b, c, d, e, fandg. The compartment 182 also alords a convenient space for Ithe storage of a written paper prescription such as has been shown at P in FIGS. 16 and 17 Vand which may be rolled in the manner of a scroll and inserted in the compartment, after which the end cap 18 may be applied to the open end of the compartment.

y The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 18 to 2l, inclusive, also is similar to the previously described forms so that the application of corresponding reference numerals of a still higher order will suffice to eliminate such needless description. In this latter form of the invention, several advantageous features, not illust-rated in the previously described forms, have been `incorporated in the tablet -dispensing container. Complete compartment isolation, a more adequate system of indicia for tablet identifying purposes, and the provision of individual discharge openings for tablets having different chemical content fare among these advantageous features.

In FIG. 18, the shell 212 retains the outside shoulder 232. for seating of the rim 270 of the closure member 216 (FIG. 20), but the inner rearwardly facing ,shoulder 60 associated with the shell 12 has been omitted, as have also the various shoulders 58 associated with the compartmented core 14 (FIG. 19).-y The shell 212 is pro,- vided with a narrow elongated longitudinally extending transparent window portion 213 which constitutes a viewing opening for selected portions of the core and the tablet contents thereof, as will be made clear presently.

The core 214 which, as previously stated, vis devoid of shoulders 58, Yhas Xedly received thereover a sleeve or cylinder 215 which may be formed of a suitable plastic material and which preferably, but not necessarily, is transparent and which may be secured in position over the core by a `suitable adhesive or by heat sealing. The cylindrical sleeve 215 serves to completely close the outwardly facing open sides of the various compartments a, b, c, d, e, f, and g so that the tablets contained in these compartments are effectively isolated from one `another Aand also to isolate the compartments from the shell wall so that there can be no deposition of tablet-.derived Ypowder particles on the inner wall of the shell which would cause inter-contamination of tablets during relative rotation between the core and shell.

Each compartment is provided with its own individual ldischarge opening, the various discharge openings being in the form of a series of holes 217 which are formed in the sleeve 215 in register with the forward region of the various compartments respectively. The holes 217 Vare designed for selective register with the common discharge lopening 230 of the shell '212 ias the various compartments are yselectively brought into longitudinal regi-ster /with the common discharge opening. It is contemplated that thesize and cross sectional shape of the various holes 217 vvill con-form to the size vand shape of the as toV avoid plural `'discharge ofgtablets Ifromthe container. All of the holes 217 are, however, of less overall size than the size of the common discharge opening 230 so that there will be no particle deposition by the tablets on the -rimof the opening 230 as the various tablets nally issuefrom the container assembly.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. lS'to 20, inclusive, presently undergoing description, ythe viewing window 213 is in longitudinal alignment with the common discharge opening Y20 and `due to the transparency of the sleeve 215 and window 213, the tablets in any Yselected compartment from which a tablet is being discharged are visible. If desired, eac-h yportion of the sleeve 2115 which is in radial alignment with a-given com.- indicia such as has been lindicated at v219 to identify the `contents of the compartment. In such an instance, it is not'essential that Vthe sleeve 215 be transparent.

-A further modied form Vof the invention .has .been

shown in FIGS. 22 and 23. Again, the application of reference numerals of a still higher order to the corresponding parts, as compared to the structure of FlGS. l to 14, inclusive, will eliminate needless repetition of description. The avoidance of plural tablet discharge from the container assembly is attained in this instance by selectively varying the position of the core 314i relative to the shell 312 which surrounds it. In this form of the invention, the outer shell 312 remains unchanged from the shell 212. The core 314 also remains substantially the same as the core 12 with the exceptions that the thickness of the front wall 352 for the various compartments a, b, c, d, e and f has been increased to such an extent that the notches 354 may be cut to dierent longitudinal depths without passing completely through the wall 352, and that the openings 317 are of equal size, this size being no less than the size of the largest tablet which it is contemplated shall be dispensed. The longitudinal extent of each notch controls the extent to which the core 314 may be slid forwardly in the shell 312 and the notches are so formed that for a compartment such as the compartment c, for example (FIG. 8), which is of small size and is intended to accommodate tablets of small size, a notch of shallow longitudinal depth will present a forwardly facing surface which will engage the internal lug 374 while the core is only partially extended toward its fully advanced position. Thus, the position of the front wall 352 will bear a relation to the common discharge opening 33t) wherein the opening is only in partial register with the compartment c, the extent of such register being commensurate with the width or diameter of the tablets in the compartment. In this manner, the depth of each notch in a longitudinal direction will be made commensurate with the width or diameter of the tablets in the compartment associated with such notch. Additionally, the extent to which the rear rim 370 of the closure member 316 uncovers the common discharge opening 33t) will vary in direct proportion to the longitudinal depth of the various notches 354.

From the above description, it is thought that the nature, construction, use and many advantages of the herein illustrated pocket dispensing container will be apparent. The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification since many changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the appended claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a container for the selective dispensing of medical tablets and similar small articles, an elongated outer cylindrical shell having its forward end open, a generally cylindrical compartmented core mounted for rotation and limited sliding movement within said shell and delining a series of elongated, longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced compartments, each adapted to contain a plurality of tablets, there being a discharge opening in the wall of said shell adjacent the forward end of the latter and designed for selective register with the said compartments upon relative rotation between the shell and core, a generally cylindrical closure member for said common discharge opening having an outer cylindrical wall telescopically and slidably received over the open end of the shell, means constraining said closure member and core to move bodily as a unit between a rear retracted position wherein the cylindrical wall of the closure member at least partially covers said common discharge opening and a series of forward advanced positions wherein such wall at least partially uncovers said latter opening, said core being formed with a series of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending elongated recesses therein, each recess providing a forwardly facing shoulder at the rear end thereof, and an inwardly extending locking lug carried by said shell and designed for selective locking register with said recesses when said core and closure member are moved toward their forward advanced positions, each forwardly facing shoulder being engageable with said locking lug when its respective recess is in register with the lug `to limit the extent of forward movement of the core and closure member relative to the shell to limit, in turn, the extent to which the common discharge opening is uncovered by said wall of the closure member.

2. In a container for the selective dispensing of medical tablets and similar small articles, an elongated outer cylindrical shell having its forward end open, a generally cylindrical compartmented core mounted for rotation and limited sliding movement within said shell and, in combination with the inner surface of the shell, defining a series of elongated, longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced compartments having open outer sides, each compartment being adapted to contain a plurality of tablets, there being a discharge opening in the wall of said shell adjacent the forward end of the latter and designed for selective and at least partial register with said compartment upon relative rotation between the shell and core, a generally cylindrical closure member for said common discharge opening having an outer cylindrical wall telescopically and slidably received over the open end of the shell, means constraining said closure member and core to move bodily as a unit between a rear retracted position wherein the cylindrical wall of the closure member covers said common discharge opening and a series of forward advanced positions wherein such wall at least partially uncovers said latter opening, said core being formed with a series of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending elongated recesses therein of different longitudinal extent, each recess providing a forwardly facing shoulder at the rear end thereof, and an inwardly extending locking lug carried by said shell and designed for selective locking register with said recesses when the core and closure member are moved to their advanced positions, each forwardly facing shoulder being engageable with said locking lug when its respective recess is in register with the lug to limit the extent of forward movement of the core and closure member relative to the shell to, in turn, limit the extent of register of the compartments with said discharge opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,508,820 Fraley May 23, 1950 2,771,182 Messmer Nov. 20, 1956 2,919,796 Pressl Jan. 5, 1960 2,928,534 Winton Chuen Chiu Mar. 15, 1960

Claims

1. IN A CONTAINER FOR THE SELECTIVE DISPENSING OF MEDICAL TABLETS AND SIMILAR SMALL ARTICLES, AN ELONGATED OUTER CYLINDRICAL SHELL HAVING ITS FORWARD END OPEN, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL COMPARTMENTED CORE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION AND LIMITED SLIDING MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID SHELL AND DEFINING A SERIES OF ELONGATED, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING, CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED COMPARTMENTS, EACH ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A PLURALITY OF TABLETS, THERE BEING A DISCHARGE OPENING IN THE WALL OF SAID SHELL ADJACENT THE FORWARD END OF THE LATTER AND DESIGNED FOR SELECTIVE REGISTER WITH THE SAID COMPARTMENTS UPON RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN THE SHELL AND CORE, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CLOSURE MEMBER FOR SAID COMMON DISCHARGE OPENING HAVING AN OUTER CYLINDRICAL WALL TELESCOPICALLY AND SLIDABLY RECEIVED OVER THE OPEN END OF THE SHELL, MEANS CONSTRAINING SAID CLOSURE MEMBER AND CORE TO MOVE BODILY AS A UNIT BETWEEN A REAR RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN THE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF THE CLOSURE MEMBER AT LEAST PARTIALLY COVERS SAID COMMON DISCHARGE OPENING AND A SERIES OF FORWARD ADVANCED POSITIONS WHEREIN SUCH WALL AT LEAST PARTIALLY UNCOVERS SAID LATTER OPENING, SAID CORE BEING FORMED WITH A SERIES OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ELONGATED RECESSES THEREIN, EACH RECESS PROVIDING A FORWARDLY FACING SHOULDER AT THE REAR END THEREOF, AND AN INWARDLY EXTENDING LOCKING LUG CARRIED BY SAID SHELL AND DESIGNED FOR SELECTIVE LOCKING REGISTER WITH SAID RECESSES WHEN SAID CORE AND CLOSURE MEMBER ARE MOVED TOWARD THEIR FORWARD ADVANCED POSITIONS, EACH FORWARDLY FACING SHOULDER BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LOCKING LUG WHEN ITS RESPECTIVE RECESS IS IN REGISTER WITH THE LUG TO LIMIT THE EXTENT OF FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CORE AND CLOSURE MEMBER RELATIVE TO THE SHELL TO LIMIT, IN TURN, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COMMON DISCHARGE OPENING IS UNCOVERED BY SAID WALL OF THE CLOSURE MEMBER.