EP0084119A1 - Medicine dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Medicines dispenser made of plastic, with a one piece container (1), preferably of a longitudinal design, containing several in series arranged compartments (2) shaped by depressions for holding the medicines, the basic shape being rectangular, with one of these compartments (2) having a closing and releasing cover at its outlet side (compartment opening), as well as a sliding cover (3) encompassing and opening all compartments (2) in sequence, or individual covers (4 to () held in way of the compartments (2), characterised in that each compartment (2) has on one side wall (2a) an outlet and grip depression (9) at least in a partial sector of the side wall width.

Description

The invention relates to a medication dispenser made of plastic, with a one-piece, several spaced-apart, recessed compartments for the medication receptacle, in the basic form angular, preferably elongated containers and one closing these compartments on their removal side (compartment opening) and releasing cover, such as a sliding cover that overlaps all compartments and opens one after the other, or individual covers held on the compartments and removable from the compartment opening.

Such drug dispensers, which have become known in various versions, have a relatively good handling and give a certain security for the correct medication withdrawal, but they are for one. to improve optimal use and safe use.

For these reasons, it is an object of the invention to improve the medication dispenser designed according to the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it simple construction and inexpensive manufacture enables extremely easy and safe medication withdrawal; the medication compartments are to allow, directly or indirectly, a very convenient removal of the medication, and the cover closing and releasing the compartments should be inexpensively designed and operable to increase the removal security.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the features of the individual patent claims, the subject matter of the invention not only relating to the features of the individual claims, but also to their combination.

By equipping the medication compartments with the spout and handle recess, removal by hand or by tilting the dispenser has been made very easy and, in particular, easier for sick or elderly patients.

The additional introduction of separate bowls containing the medication into the compartments results in further security in the loading of the dispenser and also an easier removal of the respective medication.

The special clamping movement of the sliding lid on the edges of the container simplifies the manufacture of the sliding lid and compensates for any tolerances, and secondly ensures a secure, hermetic seal of the compartment openings, since the clamping connection pulls the sliding lid firmly against the side of the container that shows the compartment openings.

The displaceable, tear-open or pivotable arrangement of the individual lids assigned to each compartment on the sliding lid or on the container is also of great advantage for handling and safe medication removal.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf einen Medikamentenspender mit einem in Reihe angeordnete Fächer aufweisenden Behälter und daran angeordnetem Schiebedeckel sowie an den Fächern vorgesehenen Auslauf- und Griffmulden;
• Fig. 2 einen Querschnitt durch denselben Medikamentenspender;
• Fig. 3 Querschnitte durch ein Fachbereich mit Aus-und ⁴ lauf- und Griffmulde in zwei Ausführungen sowie behälterrandseitiger Klemmkante für eine Klemmverschiebung des Schiebedeckels;
• Fig. 5 einen Querschnitt durch einen Teilbereich eines Faches mit behälterrandseitiger keilförmiger Klemmkante und Schiebedeckel;
• Fig. 6 eine Seitenansicht eines Teilbereichs des Behälters mit keilförmiger Klemmkante gemäß _Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 eine Draufsicht auf einen Teilbereich eines Medikamentenspenders mit in der Grundform kreisförmigen Fächern;
• Fig. 8 einen Querschnitt durch den Medikamentenspender nach Fig. 7 mit in das Fach eingesetztem separatem Medikamentenschälchen;
• Fig. 9 eine Draufsicht auf einen Teilbereich des Medikamentenspenders mit in ein Fach eingesetzten Schälchen gemäß Fig. 8;
• Fig. 10 einen Querschnitt durch ein in ein Fach eingesetztes Schälchen mit abnehmbaren Deckel;
• Fig. 11 einen Querschnitt durch ein Medikamentenschälchen mit angelenktem, hochschwenkbaren Deckel;
• Fig. 12 eine Draufsicht auf einen Medikamentenspender mit im Schiebedeckel für jedes Fach querverschiebbar gelagertem Schieber;
• Fig. 13 eine Draufsicht auf einen im Schiebedeckel gelagerten Schieber in der das Fach teilweise öffnenden Stellung;
• Fig. 14 einen Querschnitt durch ein Fach mit Schiebedeckel und querverschiebbaren Schieber;
• Fig. 15 eine Draufsicht auf einen Teilbereich eines Schiebedeckels mit äufreißbarem Einzeldeckel;
• Fig. 16 einen Querschnitt durch den Schieber mit Einzeldeckel gemäß Fig. 15 in teilweise aufgerissener öffnungsstellung;
• Fig. 17 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Medikamentenspenders mit an einer Längsseite des die Fächer aufweisenden Behälters angeformten, aufschwenkbaren Einzeldeckeln für jedes Fach.

The individual features of the medicament dispenser according to the invention, namely the outlet and handle recess on each compartment, the separate medication bowls inserted into the compartments; the clamping displacement of the sliding lid, the slide mounted transversely on the sliding lid as a single lid, the individual lid which can be torn open on the sliding lid, the individual lid pivotally formed on the container and the blind aids assigned to each subject each represent an independent inventive concept, but result in the combination of one or more Features an optimal medication dispenser with a high utility value. From be below _f based uer drawings ührungs- of the invention according to examples described in more detail. It shows:

• Figure 1 is a plan view of a medicament dispenser with a container arranged in a row and having a sliding lid arranged thereon as well as outlet and handle recesses provided on the compartments.
• 2 shows a cross section through the same medication dispenser;
• 3 cross sections through a specialist area with a run-out and ⁴ running and grip troughs in two designs and a clamping edge on the side of the container for a sliding displacement of the sliding cover;
• 5 shows a cross section through a partial area of a compartment with a wedge-shaped clamping edge on the container edge and a sliding cover;
• Fig. 6 is a side view of a portion of the container with a wedge-shaped clamping edge as shown in _FIGS. 5;
• 7 shows a plan view of a partial area of a medicament dispenser with compartments which are circular in the basic shape;
• FIG. 8 shows a cross section through the medicament dispenser according to FIG. 7 with a separate medication dish inserted into the compartment;
• FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a partial area of the medicament dispenser with bowls according to FIG. 8 inserted into a compartment; FIG.
• 10 shows a cross section through a bowl with a removable lid inserted into a compartment;
• 11 shows a cross section through a medication dish with a hinged, pivotable lid;
• 12 shows a plan view of a medicament dispenser with a slide which is mounted in the sliding cover for each compartment and can be displaced transversely;
• 13 shows a plan view of a slide mounted in the sliding cover in the position partially opening the compartment;
• 14 shows a cross section through a compartment with a sliding cover and a sliding slide;
• 15 shows a plan view of a partial area of a sliding cover with a tearable individual cover;
• 16 shows a cross section through the slide with individual cover according to FIG. 15 in the partially opened position;
• 17 shows a perspective view of a medicament dispenser with pivotable individual lids for each compartment, which are molded onto a longitudinal side of the container having the compartments.

The medication dispenser according to the invention for the storage and distribution of medications of the most varied types, such as tablets, pills, powders or the like, has a container 1 made in one piece from plastic, which has an angular, such as square or rectangular, preferably elongated basic shape, and which shows several compartments 2 arranged in a row next to each other for the reception of one medicament each, these compartments 2 being formed by depressions.

The compartments 2 are all the same distance apart and are open at the top of the container for loading and removing the medication.

The compartments 2 preferably have a rectangular basic shape, with the larger rectangular extension being arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the container 1 (cf. FIGS. 1; 12; 13; 15; 17).

In a further preferred embodiment, the compartments have a circular basic shape (cf. FIGS. 7 to 10).

In the height direction, the compartments 2 are cylindrical or slightly widening upwards.

The loading and removal opening (compartment opening) of the compartments 2 can be closed by a cover made of plastic and opened if necessary; this cover can either be formed by a slide cover 3 that overlaps all compartments 2 together and opens one after the other, or individual covers 4 to 8 are provided for the compartments 2, which can be removed on compartment 2, pivoted on slide cover 3 or on container 1 or slidably on Sliding cover 3 are arranged.

The sliding cover I 3 and the individual covers 4 to 8 are preferably made of a transparent (clear) plastic, whereas the container 1 can consist of an opaque (colored) plastic.

Reference is now made to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the invention.

In this medication dispenser, the compartments 2 have a rectangular, rounded corner version and run with their compartment longitudinal direction transverse to the loading container longitudinal direction and parallel to each other. Each compartment 2 has, on a side wall 2a, an outlet and grip recess 9 which takes up at least a partial area of the side wall width and occupies the entire compartment height (side wall height) and is inclined (FIG. 3) and / or curved, preferably concave (FIG. 4), runs up to the compartment opening and outwards.

In plan view, this trough 9 is preferably arch-shaped and has a width that corresponds to a normal finger width of a user - for example, the trough 9 takes up half the compartment width (see FIG. 1), but it can also cover the entire compartment width (in Seen in the longitudinal direction of the container) and be designed in the form of an arc or prism in plan view.

With this compartment 9, the medication can be easily removed with the finger when the compartment 2 is open, or the medication can simply be poured out by tilting the container 1.

The sliding cover 3 is flat in itself and has on its two long sides downward and towards the center bent edge flanges 3a, with which it encompasses the two longitudinal edges la of the container 1 and is thus slidably guided and held on the container 1.

In order now to lock the sliding lid 3 in each compartment opening position against unwanted further displacement in the opening direction, projections 10 are formed on the container edges 1a and corresponding recesses 11 are recessed in the sliding lid 3, so that in the. a congruent position, an interlocking of these parts 10, 11 takes place and the sliding cover 3 is fixed in position. To open it further, this snap connection must be overcome by a certain amount of force in the sliding direction. There is of course the possibility to also form the projections 10 on the sliding cover 3 and to provide the longitudinal edges la aes container 1 with the recesses or depressions 11. In order to now also lock the sliding cover 3 with partial or half opening of the compartment 2 against further displacement, so that preferably only the trough 9 is exposed for the medication removal, there are additionally locking means on the sliding cover 3 and that between the entire compartment opening position Container 1 same locking means 10, 11 is provided. This partial opening arresting also brings the advantage that, in the case of tablets or pills of different sizes in a compartment 2, only the smaller medications can first be removed or tipped out through the partial compartment opening, and the larger medications can only be distributed when the compartment is fully opened. This ensures a safe and inevitable dispensing of chemicals.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 to 6, the container 1 is provided on the underside of one or both longitudinal edges 1a with an integrally formed clamping edge 12, 13, which as an integrally formed narrow strip 12 (FIGS. 2 to 4) or as of free longitudinal edge toward the compartment wall downward wedge 13 (FIG. 5). This clamping edge 12, 13 extends almost over the entire length of the container and is equipped at one end of the length, namely the sliding lid push-on side, with an oblique una / or curved push-on surface (end) 14 (FIG. 6). Due to this conical runout of the clamping edge 12, 13, the sliding cover 3 can be easily pushed onto the longitudinal edges 1a with its edge flanges 3a, but after a short push-on movement, the clamping edges 12, 13 create a sliding brake and the cover 3 is then difficult to move. which leads to a secure and firm hold of the sliding lid 3 on the container 1. Furthermore, these clamping edges 12, 13 bring about a flat and thus hermetic closure of the top of the container showing the compartment openings by slightly expanding the edge conveyors 3a through the clamping edges 12, 13 and thereby pulling the sliding cover 3 with its upper cover region firmly and tightly against the top of the container. In addition, these clamping edges 12, 13 can be used to achieve production advantages in the manufacture of the sliding cover 3, since the cover 3 does not have to be manufactured with extreme precision, since tolerances are compensated for by the clamping edges 12, 13 and the expandable hand flanges 3 a - this makes one possible reject rate greatly reduced.

The latching means 10, 11 for reducing the opening position of the sliding cover 3 are preferably provided in the design of the container 1 with the clamping edges 12, 13 in the region of the clamping edges 12, 13 and the edge flanges 3a by the clamping edges 12, 13 and the edge flanges 3a have the cooperating as counterparts projections 10 and recesses or recesses 11, so that the top of the sliding cover is flat and without deformation or recess.

The recesses 11 or deformations 10 can be provided both in the edge flanges 3a and in the clamping edges 12, 13.

Reference is now made to the further embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 7 to 11.

Here, the container 1 is equipped with circular compartments 2 in the basic shape and a separate medication bowl 15 is removably stored in each compartment 2, so that the individual compartments 2 are equipped with the bowls 15 holding the specific medication.

The bowls 15 are preferably form-fitting, and are held loosely or clampingly in the compartments 2. For easy removal of the respective bowl 15, the shelf 2b has a push-out recess 16 in the form of a central hole or the like, so that the bowl 15 can be pressed out from below by a finger. As can be seen from FIGS. 8 and 9, the small bowls 15 are equipped without a cover and all small bowls 15 accommodated in the compartments 2 are closed on their open side by the sliding cover 3 and by moving the cover 3 the compartments 2 are used to remove the pot-like small bowls 15 opened in succession.

Such bowls 15 can also be used with a rectangular basic shape in a form-fitting and removable manner in the container 1 according to FIG. 1.

Furthermore, according to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is the possibility of designing the medication dispenser without a sliding cover and thereby equipping the bowls 15 with a cover 4, 5 each, so that the medication dispenser is provided with individual covers.

According to FIG. 10, each bowl 15 has a removable cover 4, which is detachably held in the bowl 15 by a clamping edge 4a and is provided with a handle 4b.

According to 'Fig. 11, the bowl 15 has a molded-on cover 5, which is pivotally connected to the bowl 15 via a hinge 5a formed by the material connection and is held in a fixed position in the bowl 15 with a clamping edge 5b and is provided with a molded grip tab 5c; the grip tab 5c can also act as a latching part and the clamping edge 5b can thus be dispensed with.

According to the further embodiment of the medicament dispenser according to FIGS. 12 to 14, the sliding cover 3 for each compartment 2 is equipped with a slide 6 as a single cover, which is slidably mounted on the sliding cover 3 transversely (at right angles) to the direction of displacement of the sliding cover 3 for opening and closing the compartment 2 . The slider 6 is flat ausgefünrt as plate or sheet in part and bordered with its two Längsrän- _d ren in the sliding cover 6 molded guides 16 a. These guides 16 are formed by raised angular strips or material thickenings, each with a guide groove, which run alongside a compartment opening 3b in the slide 3. To limit the displacement of the slide 6, it is equipped with at least one molded stop 17 which projects into the compartment 2 and thus limits the closed and open position of the slide 6 by abutting the opposing, upright compartment walls. Furthermore, the slider 6 has a molded grip tab 6a at one end of the length or a molded handle bar.

The slide 6 of the medicament dispenser can all be moved to the same long side of the sliding cover 3 in the open position.

15 and 16 show a medicament dispenser in which the sliding cover 3 is provided in a further embodiment for each compartment 2 with an individual cover 7 which is provided on the sliding cover 3 in a tearable manner. Here, the sliding cover 3 for forming the individual covers 7 in each specialist area is equipped with at least two perforation lines 18 which run in parallel and run transversely (at right angles) to the sliding cover displacement direction, which run from one long side of the lid over the sliding lid 3 and end at a distance from the other long side. Furthermore, each individual cover 7 shows a grip tab 7a on the tear-open longitudinal side of the sliding cover 3. By grasping this grip tab 7a, each individual cover 7 can be pulled up on the sliding cover 3 by partially separating the individual cover 7 from the sliding cover 3 through the perforations 18 to release the compartment 2.

By equipping the sliding cover 3 with the slides 6 or the tear-open individual covers 7, the clinic staff can open the medication dispenser by means of the sliding cover 3 and insert the appropriate medication into the compartments 2. Then the dispenser is closed by the sliding cover 3. Patients have the option of opening individual compartments 2 and taking the medication. If a patient wants to take the medication from the "evening" or "night" compartment, which is assigned to compartment 2 by means of a label, a sticker or the like, only this one compartment 2 needs to be opened because the entire compartment Sliding cover 3 does not have to be moved. Since the other compartments 2 remain closed, it is not possible for medication to fall out of one of the other compartments 2 if handled improperly. This type of dispensing is also much more hygienic.

In terms of production technology, care is taken in the sliding cover 3 with slides 6 that the sliding cover 3 is more difficult to move than the individual slides 6.

Furthermore, the individual covers 6 and .7 can be provided with one or four point-like elevations and / or depressions 19 (cf. FIG. 12) or be provided in terms of manufacture, so that even blind patients can use the dispenser without problems and the removal of wrong medication is excluded.

Fig. 17 shows a further embodiment of a medicament dispenser without a sliding lid, but with individual lids 8. Here, the individual lids 8 are integrally formed on one long side of the container 1 and are fixed to the container 1 by a material connection acting as a hinge 20, but relative to the container 1 open and close the compartments 2 pivotally connected by about 180 °. These individual lids 8 are pivoted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the container about the longitudinal edge of the container 1 and are latched by means of latching means, preferably a latching or clamping projection 21 molded onto each lid 8 and engaging in the compartment 2, by latching cams or terminal strips or the like. detachably held in the closed position.

A recessed grip 22 or a grip tab for gripping the cover 8 is formed on the free opening side of each pivotable individual cover 8. These pivotable individual covers 8 can also be equipped with the elevations and / or depressions 19 for use by blind people.

This medication dispenser is preferably intended as a disposable item and consists of a lighter plastic material than the conventional dispenser. However, it can also be reused if the pivoting covers 8 can be closed again.

Claims (18)

1. medication dispenser made of plastic, with a one-piece, several, spaced-apart, recessed compartments for the medication receptacle, in the basic form angular, preferably elongated container and a cover closing and releasing these compartments on their removal side (compartment opening), like a sliding cover that overlaps all compartments and opens one after the other, or individual covers held on the compartments and removable from the compartment opening, characterized in that each compartment (2) on a side wall (2a) occupies at least a portion of the side wall width ) having. 2. Medicament dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet and grip recess (9) occupies the entire side wall height of the compartment (2) and inclined and / or arcuate, preferably concave, directed upwards and outwards and in the top view arc - Or prism-shaped (Fig. 1 to 4). 3. Medicament dispenser according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the outlet and recessed grip (9) occupies half or the entire compartment width (Fig. 1). 4. medicament dispenser, in particular according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container (1) is equipped at least on one, preferably on both longitudinal edges (la) with a molded clamping edge (12/13) through which the sliding lid (3rd ) with its two edge flanges (3a) overlapping the longitudinal edges (la) of the container lying flat on the top of the container showing the open compartment sides and the edge flanges (3a) being held on the container (1) so that it can be widened and clamped. 5. Medicament dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping edge (12) is formed by a on the underside of the container longitudinal edge (la) projecting, in cross-section angular or arcuate bar (Fig. 3 and 4). 6. Medicament dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping edge (13) from a on the underside of the container longitudinal edge (la) projecting from the free longitudinal edge to the compartment (2) is formed in cross-section wedge (Fig. 5th ). 7. Medicament dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that the molded, strip or wedge-shaped clamping edge (12, 13) is provided in the push-on direction of the sliding cover (3) with an oblique and / or curved push-on end (14). and extends almost over the entire length of the container (Fig. 6). 8. medication dispenser, in particular according to claim 1 and 4, characterized in that the container (1) and the sliding lid (3) in the region of the container longitudinal edge (la) interacting as counterparts, from molded projections (10) and recesses ( 11) formed locking means for locking the sliding cover (3) in partial and / or complete open position for each compartment (2) are equipped (Fig. 1 and 2). 9. Medicament dispenser, in particular according to claims 1, 4 and 8, characterized in that in the compartments (2) which have an angular or round basic shape, a separate medication bowl (15) is removably inserted (FIGS. 8 to 11). 10. Medicament dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the medication bowl (15) is positively and preferably clamped in the compartment (2) and the compartment (2) and the medication bowl (15) preferably have a cylindrical shape. 11. Medicament dispenser according to claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the bottom (2b) of each compartment (2) is equipped with an opening (1b) for pushing out the bowl (15) used. 12. Medicament dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the medication bowl (15) is designed without a cover and is closed by the sliding cover (3) (Fig. 8) and / or that the separate medication bowl (15) with a clamping and detachably held cover (4th ) are equipped (Fig. 10). 13. Medicament dispenser according to claim 9, characterized in that the medication bowl (15) with a molded, by a material connection (5a) hinge-like with the bowl (15) connected swivel lid (5), which is provided by latching and / or clamping connection ( 5b) can be locked with the bowl (15) in the closed position (FIG. 11). 14. Medicament dispenser, in particular according to claims 1, 4 and 9, characterized in that on the sliding cover (3) for each compartment (2) a crosswise to the sliding cover sliding direction slide (6) is provided as a single cover (Fig. 12 to 14). 15. Medicament dispenser according to claim 14, characterized in that the sliding cover (6) in the region of each compartment (2) integrally formed, perpendicular to its direction of movement guides (16), such as angle strips or material thickening with grooves, for the sliding mounting of the plate or film-like Slider (6) has (Fig. 13 and 14), which correspond on both sides of the compartment size Breakthrough (3b) in the sliding cover (3), and that each slide (6) is equipped with at least one molded or molded, in the compartment (2) protruding limit stop (17) for the displacement size of the slide (6) (Fig. 12 and 13) and that each slide (6) is equipped with a grip tab (6a) or a handle bar for carrying out the displacement (FIGS. 13 and 14). 16. Medicament dispenser, in particular according to claims 1, 4 and 9, characterized in that the sliding cover (3) for each compartment (2) with a perforation (18) from the sliding cover (3) separable, transverse to the sliding cover sliding direction to open pull-up cover (7) is provided, which is connected to the sliding cover (3) in a separable manner by two perforation lines (18) that run parallel to one longitudinal edge of the sliding cover (3) and end at a distance from the opposite sliding cover longitudinal edge and a molded grip tab ( 7a) (Fig. 15 and 16). 17. Medicament dispenser, in particular according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that on the container (1) on one long side for each compartment (2) a pivotable, on or in the compartment opening area fixable lid (8) is formed (Fig. 17), which is pivotally mounted on the container (1) so that it can be swung open transversely to the longitudinal direction of the container and is integrally connected to the container (1) by a material connection (20) acting as a hinge and by a clamping projection (21), Clamping cams or strips are held in place in the compartment (2) and are provided with a molded-in recessed grip (22) or a molded grip tab. 18. Medicament dispenser, in particular according to claims 1, 4, 9, 14, 16 and 17, characterized in that the individual covers (6 to 8) are provided with molded-on elevations (19) and / or depressions as opening aids for the blind (Fig. 12).

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