Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
  • A61J7/02—Pill counting devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
  • A61J3/02—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of powders
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
  • A61J3/06—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of pills, lozenges or dragees
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
  • A61J3/10—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of compressed tablets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
  • A61J7/0076—Medicament distribution means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
  • G06M1/08—Design features of general application for actuating the drive
  • G06M1/083—Design features of general application for actuating the drive by mechanical means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
  • G06M1/28—Design features of general application for zeroising or setting to a particular value
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06M1/00—Design features of general application
  • G06M1/28—Design features of general application for zeroising or setting to a particular value
  • G06M1/286—Design features of general application for zeroising or setting to a particular value with dials, pointers, or similar type indicating means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
  • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
  • A61J1/03—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for metering or counting objects, such as granules for example.
• Said device comprises a handle and a tip in which are arranged individual housings for receiving each object, in a plurality of parallel rows.
• the number of individual housings available to the device is thus of the order of 5 to 100.
• the device comprises a cover system capable of sliding in a direction perpendicular to the rows, comprising telescopic sections.
• Such a system thus makes it possible to cover a defined number of rows of individual dwellings.
• the device can only take a number of objects that is a multiple of the number of slots of each row. Therefore, if the user wants a different number of objects, he must put back into the container or objects in excess. This therefore implies that the user counts the objects, and this also causes hygiene problems when objects extracted from the container must be placed there.
• An object of the invention is therefore to design a device for metering or counting objects contained in a container, which, while having a reduced size and being simple to use, allows to take within said container the exact number desired objects, in order to allow the user to know immediately the quantity removed, and to avoid having to put in the container supernumerary objects
• the invention proposes a device for metering or counting objects, comprising:
• a plate provided with a plurality of housings adapted to receive each a single object, said housings being arranged in at least two series of at least two rows arranged in parallel along a longitudinal axis so that, in the same series, the first row dwellings are longitudinally offset from the second row dwellings by a non-zero pitch;
• a pull tab slidably arranged with respect to the plate along said longitudinal axis, said pull tab comprising at least two adjacent tongues, each adapted to cover or reveal a series of respective rows, said tabs being arranged in relative sliding relative to each other; the other of a distance equal to said pitch and coupled by a drive mechanism configured so that a sliding of the zipper along the longitudinal axis by a distance greater than said pitch causes a simultaneous movement of the two tongues.
• housing size is meant in this text the dimension of said housing along the longitudinal axis. In the case where the dwellings have a circular outline, said size is the diameter of the circle. Similarly, the length of an element is along the longitudinal axis.
• the device is much shorter than a device having a single row of housing that can be selectively covered or discovered by a single zipper.
• the device is particularly simple to use insofar as the actuation of the zipper by the user automatically moves one tab or both to define the desired dose.
• the drive mechanism comprises a longitudinal notch formed in at least one of the tongues and an abutment extending in the notch from another tongue, the difference between the length of the notch and the length of the stop being substantially equal to said pitch.
• the housings are arranged in the form of two pairs of two parallel rows and the pull tab comprises two tabs facing each pair of rows.
• the drive mechanism is advantageously configured to provide the following positions of the pull tab relative to the plate: a closed position in which each of the tongues covers all the housings of the respective pair of rows;
• the plate comprises two lines of graduations, each graduation indicating a unique number of objects
• the pull tab comprises two windows arranged next to a respective line of graduations so that the total number of housings discovered by the zipper appears through one of the two windows.
• the graduations of one of said lines indicate even numbers of objects and the graduations of the other line indicate odd numbers of objects.
• each tongue comprises a respective first window arranged opposite the line of graduations indicating the odd numbers of objects, and a second respective window arranged opposite the line of graduations indicating the even numbers of objects, the first and second window of one tongue being longitudinally aligned while the first and second windows of the other tongue are offset longitudinally by a distance equal to said pitch.
• an odd number of one line is substantially longitudinally aligned with the next higher even number of the other line.
• the housings are arranged in the form of three sets of three parallel rows and the pull tab comprises three tabs.
• each tab cooperates with the plate by a notched slide, the distance between two adjacent notches being equal to said not.
• the plate has a tooth extending transversely and engaging in a notch of a respective slide.
• the device may further comprise a cap rigidly connected to the plate, the pull being arranged between the plate and the cover.
• the plate comprises between ten and thirty housings.
• each housing has a circular contour.
• the pitch is smaller than the size of said housing.
• the plate has a curved concave end forming a spoon.
• the device further comprises a cap extending around the plate to form with the plate a volume for receiving objects, said cap comprising a tip adapted to be secured to a container containing the objects to be counted or assayed.
• the cap comprises a transparent portion facing the plate to allow a user to check if an object is present in each housing discovered.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to one embodiment of the invention, in closed configuration
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1, the hood being removed;
• FIG. 3 is an exploded view from above of said device
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the pull tab comprising a drive stop
• FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views of the device in a configuration respectively for dosing an odd number and an even number of objects;
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of said device, in a use configuration for dosing a single object
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of said device, in a use configuration for dosing two objects
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of said device, in a use configuration for dosing sixteen objects
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of said device, in a usage configuration for assaying seventeen objects
• FIG. 10 is an exploded view from above of another embodiment of the device.
• FIG. 11 is an exploded view from below of the tabs forming the pull tab of the device of FIG. 10;
• FIGS. 12 to 18 illustrate various configurations of use of the device of FIG. 10;
• FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a device further comprising a cap
• FIG. 20 is a partial sectional view of the device of Figure 19;
• FIG. 21 illustrates the device of Figures 19 and 20 connected to a container containing the objects to be dosed.
• the invention proposes a device for metering or counting objects comprising two main parts.
• the first main part is a plate in which are arranged a plurality of housings, the number of housings being equal to the maximum number of objects to be dosed or counted by said device.
• the number of dwellings can be between ten and thirty.
• Each dwelling is sized to receive a single object.
• the shape of the housing can be adapted to the shape of the objects to be dosed or counted.
• each housing has a circular contour.
• the housings are arranged in rows arranged parallel to each other along a longitudinal axis of the device (denoted by X in the figures) which, as will be seen below, is the axis of opening and closing of the device. .
• the housings are arranged in the form of two pairs each consisting of two adjacent rows.
• the housing for example in the form of three series each consisting of three parallel rows, without departing from the scope of the present invention. This particular embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 18.
• the housings are arranged in staggered rows, that is to say that the housings of a first row of the pair are offset longitudinally (along the X axis) relative to the dwellings of the second row of the pair, a determined step (noted P in the figures).
• the step is defined as the distance, along the X axis, between the center of a dwelling of a row and the center of a dwelling immediately adjacent to the other row of the same pair.
• the pitch is smaller than the size of the housing, while being non-zero.
• the housings of a row of the first pair are advantageously aligned (along the X axis) with the housings of the adjacent row of the second pair.
• the second main portion is a pull tab having two adjacent tabs, each adapted to cover a pair of rows of housing of the plate.
• Said pull tab is slidably arranged with respect to the plate along the X axis, so that a displacement of a tongue along the X axis makes it possible to discover or cover one or more housings of the respective pair of rows.
• the two tongues are able to slide relative to each other along the axis X, and are furthermore coupled by a drive mechanism configured so that a sliding of the pulling along the X axis by a distance greater than the pitch P causes a simultaneous movement of the two tongues.
• the zipper advantageously has a means for facilitating its manipulation by a user, for example a raised pin actuated by a finger of the user.
• the device further comprises a cap rigidly secured to the plate, which makes it possible to hold the pull tab sliding relative to the plate.
• the cover can be fixed to the plate by any suitable means (welding, gluing, screwing, snapping, etc.).
• the hood has a longitudinal opening giving access to the pull tab for its actuation by a user.
• Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of the device, respectively with and without the cover to allow better visualization of the arrangement of the different parts.
• the device is shown in the closed position, that is to say that all the housing are covered by the two tabs, so can not receive any object.
• Figure 3 is an exploded view from above of the various components of the device.
• the plate 1 has a generally rectangular and substantially flat shape.
• the plate comprises three main zones, namely (from right to left in FIG. 3):
• first end zone comprising four rows R1-R4 of housings 10 (the rows R1-R2 forming a first pair and the rows R3-R4 forming a second pair, as also represented in FIG. 8).
• the length of this first end zone is sufficiently long for the arrangement of all the housings necessary to allow the determination of the desired maximum number of objects.
• In the direction of the width extend on both sides of the two pairs of rows two longitudinal grooves 13 in which slide a longitudinal rib of the tongues (the rib 204 of the tongue 20 is visible in Figure 4; 21 has a similar rib);
• a central zone comprising two lines of graduations G extending along the axis
• This central zone further comprises two teeth 1 1, 12 which extend transversely to the axis X and which, as will be seen below, cooperate with the pull to form an indexing mechanism;
• the pull tab 2 is formed of a first tongue 20 and a second tongue 21, able to slide relative to each other along the axis X.
• the pull tab is also slidably arranged along the axis X relative to the plate 1.
• Each tab has two main areas, namely (from right to left in Figure 3):
• a first zone called the shutter zone, the length and width of which are chosen to completely cover a respective row (R1-R2 or R3-R4) when the pull tab is in the extreme closed position as illustrated in the figures 1 and 2 ;
• a second zone comprising a mutual drive mechanism for the tongues.
• the pull tab is assembled by superimposing the zone of actuation of the tongue 20 on the zone of actuation of the tongue 21 (the zone of actuation of the tongue 21 being arranged between the plate 1 and the zone of actuation of the tongue 20).
• the closure area is offset in a direction transverse to the X axis relative to the actuation zone.
• the closing zone can be offset relative to the actuating zone in the direction of the thickness of said tongues. The value of these offsets is chosen so that, when the pull tab 2 is assembled, the closing areas of the two tabs 20, 21 extend side by side along their length, in the same plane parallel to the plane of the plate 1.
• the pull tab has an actuating pin 22 enabling a user to slide it in an opening or closing direction with one of his fingers.
• this lug 22 extends directly from the upper tongue 20.
• the drive mechanism of the tongues 20, 21 relative to each other comprises a longitudinal notch 210 (formed for example in the lower tongue 21) and a longitudinal stop 200 (extending by example from the lower face of the upper tongue 20, as shown in Figure 4), having a length less than that of the notch 210 and arranged in said notch 210 when the pull tab is assembled.
• the difference between the length of the notch 210 and the length of the stop 200 is substantially equal to the pitch P. Therefore, the maximum sliding stroke of one tongue relative to the other in a given direction is substantially equal to step P. Beyond this stroke, the stop is in contact with the edge of the notch and a sliding of a tongue in the same direction causes the simultaneous sliding of the other tongue.
• the existence of this relative sliding play of the two tongues makes that, according to the configuration of the pull tab, the ends 20a, 21a of the two tongues can be either aligned (that is to say at the same longitudinal position ), or shifted by a distance substantially equal to the pitch P along the X axis.
• these relative positions are put to advantage depending on whether the desired number of objects to be dosed or counted is even or odd.
• Figures 5A and 5B are sectional views of the device in a configuration respectively for dosing an odd number and an even number of objects.
• the housings are arranged in the right part of the plate 1.
• the opening direction is oriented from the right to the left, and the closing direction from left to right.
• the abutment 200 is in contact with the left end of the notch 210.
• a displacement of the lug 22 in the opening direction will initially cause a sliding of the tongue 20 only, a distance equal to the pitch P, then, once the stop 200 will be in support against the left edge of the notch 210, a simultaneous sliding of the two tongues, while a displacement of the lug in the closing direction immediately cause a simultaneous sliding of the two tabs.
• the pull tab comprises two windows arranged opposite a line of respective graduations G on the plate, so that the total number of dwellings discovered by the zipper appears through one of the two windows.
• each tongue comprises in fact two windows, one of which is opposite a window of the other tongue, and the other is closed by a surface full of the other tongue.
• the windows 201, 202 of the upper tongue 20 are aligned longitudinally.
• the windows 211, 212 of the lower tongue 21 are offset longitudinally by a distance substantially equal to the pitch P.
• the windows 201 and 21 1 are facing one of the another, exposing a graduation of the odd numbered line of plate 1 (see Figures 6 and 9).
• the window 202 faces a solid surface of the lower tongue 21, so that no graduation of the line of even numbers is exposed.
• the windows 202 and 212 are facing each other, exposing a graduation of the even number line of the plate 1 (see Figures 7 and 8).
• the window 201 on the other hand, faces a solid surface of the lower tongue 21, so that no graduation of the odd number line is exposed.
• an odd number of one line of graduations is aligned with the next even number of the other line of graduations; however, depending on the games that may exist between the two tabs in the direction of opening or closing, it may be preferable to slightly shift said numbers.
• each tongue 20, 21 cooperates with the plate 1 by a longitudinal rib (designated by the reference 204 in Figure 4) engaged in a respective groove 13 of the plate.
• the device advantageously comprises a mechanism for indexing the pull tab relative to the plate.
• This mechanism comprises a notched slide 203, 213 formed on each of the tongues, the distance between two adjacent notches being equal to the pitch P.
• the notched slide is arranged on the longitudinal edge of each tab opposite to the rib which slides in the groove 13.
• the indexing mechanism also has two teeth January 1, 12 arranged on the plate 1 and extending transversely to the direction of sliding. Each tooth cooperates with the notches of a respective slide, the pull being in a stable position relative to the plate when each tooth is engaged in a respective notch.
• Each tooth January 1, 12 advantageously has a certain flexibility in the transverse direction in order to retract sufficiently to allow the sliding of the zipper from one configuration to another.
• the tabs 20, 21 advantageously have a retaining means 205, 215 projecting outwards and adapted to abut against the respective tooth 1 1, 12 if a user attempts to slide the pull tab in the closing direction beyond the completely closed configuration, which prevents the tabs can be extracted from the device.
• the device may further comprise a cover 3 which keeps the pull tab 2 on the plate.
• the cover 3 advantageously comprises a longitudinal opening 30 which allows a user to access the actuating pin 22 of the pull tab.
• the length of the opening 30 is adapted to the total travel of the lug 22 between a fully closed configuration and an open configuration.
• the device can be made by plastic injection of the plate, each zipper and hood, then assembly of the zipper on the plate and closing the hood. This manufacturing process therefore involves a limited number of parts and simple molding and assembly techniques.
• Figures 2 and 6 to 9 illustrate different configurations of the metering device or counting objects (the hood is not shown to allow viewing the indexing mechanism of the zipper).
• FIG. 2 shows the device in complete closure configuration.
• each of the tongues 20, 21 covers all the housings of the row pair R1-R2; R3-R4 respectively, so that no object can be received in a housing.
• FIG. 6 shows the device with the pull tab in a position making it possible to discover a single housing 10.
• the end 20a of the tongue 20 is offset by a distance equal to the pitch P with respect to the end 21a. of the tongue 21 in the opening direction of the device.
• the adjacent housing of the row R1 is covered by the tongue 20 and the row seats R3 and R4 are completely covered by the tongue 21.
• the user To move from the configuration of Figure 2 to that of Figure 6, the user must move the lug 22 of a distance equal to the pitch P in the opening direction, which induces a shift of one notch of the teeth 1 1, 12 with respect to the slides 203, 213.
• the window 201 of the tongue 20 is next to the window 21 1 of the tongue 21, thus leaving the number 1 corresponding to the single open housing, while the window 202 of the tongue 20 is opposite a solid surface of the tongue 21 , so no even number is visible.
• FIG. 7 shows the device with the pull tab in a position making it possible to discover two housings 10.
• the end 20a of the tongue 20 is aligned longitudinally with the end 21a of the tongue 21.
• a housing of row R2 and a slot of row R3 are discovered; the adjacent housing of the row R1, respectively R4 remains covered by the tongue 20, respectively 21.
• the user To move from the configuration of Figure 6 to that of Figure 7, the user must move the pin 22 by an equal distance step P in the opening direction, which, thanks to to the drive mechanism, causes a simultaneous sliding of the two tongues along said distance (the tongues thus remaining offset with respect to each other, thus discovering three housings: the first housing rows R1 and R2 and the first housing of row R3); then, the user must move the lug 22 in the closing direction by a distance equal to the pitch P, which, thanks to the actuating mechanism, induces a sliding only of the tongue 20.
• the ends 20a and 21a of the two tabs are aligned longitudinally and discover only the first housing of the row R2 and the first housing of the row R3.
• an odd number of housings is obtained with the ends 20a, 21a of the tongues offset longitudinally by a distance at pitch P. From a complete closure configuration of the device, such a configuration is obtained by moving the pin in the opening direction until the windows 201, 211 appear in the desired number. With the drive mechanism, the displacement of the lug is equal to the distance of the pitch P, only the tongue 20 moves, the tongue 21 remains stationary; then as soon as the lug is moved a distance greater than the pitch P, the two tongues slide simultaneously in the opening direction.
• An odd number of housings is obtained with the ends 20a, 21a of the tongues aligned longitudinally. From a configuration of complete closure of the device, such a configuration is obtained by moving the pin in two opposite directions: a first displacement in the opening direction until appearing in the windows 201, 211 a number odd higher than the desired number, then a second movement in the closing direction until appear in the windows 202, 212 the desired even number.
• Figure 10 schematically illustrates the plate 1 comprising the housing 10 and three tabs 2001, 2002, 2003 which together form the zipper 2.
• the cover has been omitted but it can naturally be present.
• the housings are organized in series of three parallel rows, respectively R1 1-R13 (corresponding to the tab 2001), R21-R23 (corresponding to the tab 2002) and R31-R33 (corresponding to the tab 2003).
• a housing of a row is shifted longitudinally by a pitch P relative to an immediately adjacent housing on an adjacent row.
• a housing of the row R13 is shifted by a distance equal to the pitch P of the nearest housing to the row R12, which itself is shifted by a distance equal to the pitch P of closest housing row R1 1. Therefore, said row R13 housing is shifted longitudinally of the double pitch P vis-à-vis said housing row R1 1.
• housings of a given row of a series are aligned longitudinally with the housings of the corresponding row in the other series (that is to say, to continue the example, the rows R21 and R31).
• the zipper is formed by successive superimposition of the tabs 2001, 2002, 2003
• the tongue 2001 also comprises an actuating pin 22.
• the tabs 2001, 2002 and 2003 are coupled by a drive mechanism comprising, on the tongue 2001, a stopper 2006; on the tongue 2002, a notch adapted to receive the abutment 2006, the length of the notch 2006 being greater than a length equal to the pitch P to the length of the abutment 2006; on the tongue 2003, a notch 2004 adapted to receive the abutment 2006, the length of the notch 2004 being greater than a length equal to the pitch P to the length of the notch 2005, and a length greater than one length equal to twice the pitch P to the length of the abutment 2006.
• a displacement of the actuating pin 22 in a direction of opening or closure causes the tongue 2001 to slide and, if the abutment 2006 is in contact with the edge of the notch 2005 and / or the edge of the notch 2004 in the direction of actuation, a sliding of the tongue 2002 and / or the tongue 2003.
• the graduations are, in the embodiment with three tabs, distributed over four lines G1-G4, being noted that certain numbers are present twice in these graduations (in particular 3, 6, 9).
• Each tab therefore has four openings (designated by the reference sign of the tongue followed by the letters b, c, d or e) opposite each of the graduation lines. It will be noted that, depending on the tongue considered, the openings may be aligned or offset by a distance equal to P or twice the P. The arrangement of these openings is defined in relation to the position of the numbers on the graduation lines and different possible configurations of the zipper. Those skilled in the art are able to determine this arrangement as a function of the total number of objects to be dosed or counted by the device.
• the device also comprises an indexing mechanism similar to that previously described, namely a toothed slide arranged on at least the tongue 2001, and preferably on the three tongues, cooperating with two teeth opposite of the plate.
• FIGS 12 to 18 illustrate different configurations of the device.
• the device is in closed configuration, the three tabs 2001 - 2003 covering all of the housing of the plate 1.
• the ends 2001a, 2002a, 2003a of the three tabs are aligned longitudinally.
• the tongue 2001 is shifted in the direction of the opening of a pitch P, thus revealing a housing 10 of the row R1 1.
• the tongues 2002 and 2003 remain in the position of FIG. 12.
• the tongue 2001 is shifted in the direction of the opening of a pitch P with respect to its position in FIG. 13 (ie twice the pitch P with respect to its position in FIG. 12), and the tongue 2002 is also shifted by a pitch P in the direction of opening, thanks to the drive mechanism.
• the tongue 2003 remains in its position of Figures 12 and 13.
• a new displacement of a pitch P of the tongue 2001 in the opening direction has the effect of driving the tongues 2002 and 2003 sliding, leading to the configuration of Figure 18, where six slots are discovered.
• the device which has just been described can be used in particular for dosing or counting drugs which are in the form of granules, micro-granules, tablets, etc.
• the device is particularly advantageous for small objects (for example of the order of 0.5 mm to 5 mm), because it allows, by immersing the plate in a container containing said objects, to simply take the exact number of objects. objects, without the user having to manipulate the objects.
• the plate may have a convex curved end (not shown) forming a spoon, adjacent to the area comprising the housing. This spoon makes it easier to recover the last objects contained in a pot.
• the device further comprises a cap 4 extending around the plate 1 and comprising a tip 40 adapted to be secured to a container containing the objects to be counted or assayed.
• the tip 40 has a tubular shape that can be inserted into the neck of a container.
• the tip is advantageously provided with a flange 41 extending radially and forming a stop during the engagement of the tip in the neck of the container.
• Figure 21 illustrates the device of Figures 19 and 20 after connection to a container 5 containing the objects to count or dose.
• the container 5 comprises a neck 50 inside which is mounted the tip 40 of the cap, preferably with a slight tightening to allow sufficient mechanical strength of the device on the container for subsequent manipulations which are described below.
• the flange 41 of the cap is in abutment against the edge of the neck 50.
• this connection method is given for illustrative purposes only and the person skilled in the art can use any other means to connect the cap to a container.
• the tip of the cap could be mounted outside the neck of the container instead of the inside; moreover, instead of a frictional attachment, the tip could be screwed on or in the neck of the container.
• the cap 4 thus makes it possible to form, with the plate 1, a volume for receiving the objects taken from the container. Thanks to this cap, the removal of objects in the container is facilitated, especially when there are only a few objects to take to the fade of the container. Indeed, once the tip 40 of the cap has been connected to the container (see FIG. 21), it suffices to tilt the container 5 to transfer the objects into the cap 4. bring the plate 1 in a substantially horizontal position to allow each housing 10 discovered to receive an object, then, by slightly inclining the plate 1, transfer the objects in excess in the container. The user can then extract the objects retained from their housing by tilting the plate 1 more strongly, and by pushing the objects through the endpiece 40.
• the mechanical connection between the cap 4 and the plate 1 is designed to avoid any dead zone in which an object could remain stuck.
• the cap has at least one transparent portion facing the plate 1, thus allowing the user to check whether all the housing 10 discovered has been filled by an object.
• the cap may be integrally made of a transparent material or comprise only a transparent window.

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• 2018
  • 2018-01-31 FR FR1850772A patent/FR3077200A1/fr active Pending
  • 2018-03-07 FR FR1851986A patent/FR3077199B1/fr active Active
• 2019
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  • 2019-01-29 US US16/966,352 patent/US11135134B2/en active Active
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