IL150614A - Tablet dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Tablet Dispenser Avraham Yakoel C. 161845.3 FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to pellet containers integrated with dispensing means.

A variety of containers fitted with pellet dispensers are known, most of which being capable of dispensing a single pellet at a time. Such devices typically comprise a compartment in the form of a container or bottle for storing a stock of pellets, a dispensing mechanism activated by the user for selectively dispensing a single pellet at a time. Some devices also include a cover member for opening and sealing the container, thus making the apparatus reusable.

An example of a dispensing mechanism is disclosed in FR2625982 directed to a dispenser making it possible to remove, whilst counting them, objects such as pellets contained in a tube constituting a container. Dispensing of the pellets is facilitated by rotating a lid (fitted at a bottom portion) which in turn drives a cap, whereby a cross-shaped assembly agitates the pellets causing them to be displaced into fixed cells. Each half-turn of the lid entails one of the arms of the cross-shaped assembly to deflect whilst sounding a 'click' whenever a protruding tooth on a fixed base portion engages therewith. This arrangement facilitates generation of an audio signal corresponding with each dispensed pellet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a pellet dispenser device capable of sensitive, reliable and controlled dispensing of a single pellet at a time.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pellet dispenser device comprising a housing, a base fitted to the housing, and a rotor mounted on the base, having at least one recess, designed to accommodate a single pellet. 01618453X8-01 The housing has an open base portion in which the base is fitted, sealing the underside of the housing, allowing pellets to be stored therein. The bottom portion of the base has formed therein an aperture, of sufficient size to allow a pellet to traverse there through, for dispensation of pellets. The rim of the base has formed therein a slot enabling external access to the rotor. The base further consists of a barrier, integrally formed with the base and located above the aperture, the size of which being sufficient to prevent a pellet, disposed in the housing, from entering the aperture. During operation the edge of the rotor traverses the space between the barrier and the aperture. The edge of the rotor further consists of at least one recess that can accommodate a single pellet. The pellets stored inside the housing are guided down the rotor's inverted conical top to a track formed with the edge of the rotor and the base. The track serves to orient and position the pellets in such a way that when the vacant recess is thrust under the pellets positioned in the track, due to rotation of the rotor, it is filled rapidly and primed for dispensation. A protrusion located on the side of the rotor projects through the slot in the base to enable external rotation of the rotor. The rotational movement of the rotor is restricted by the boundaries of the slot providing two limits to rotational movement thereof. The translational movement of the rotor may be restricted by a fastener mounted on the upper inside rim of the base.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the operation of the pellet dispenser device may cause a rotational displacement of the rotor from one of the limits of rotation to the alternate limit. When the rotor is positioned at one of the limits of rotation a recess may be positioned above the aperture and thus any pellet located in the recess may fall there through. After an additional rotational displacement of the rotor the recess may be positioned such that it is exposed to the housing enabling a pellet to be deposited therein.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the rotor further comprises a second recess designed to accommodate a single pellet. The first recess and the second recess are alternately disposed so that a rotational displacement of the rotor, to the aforementioned limits of rotation, positions one recess above the aperture and below the barrier and exposes the alternate recess to pellets inside the housing, facilitating the dispensation of a single pellet in the recess above the aperture whilst enabling the 01618453\8-01 alternate recess to be refilled contemporaneously. The small rotational action required to dispense each pill, coupled with the contemporaneous reloading aspect, may result in fast, accurate and easy dispensation.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the device may comprise a removable cover, secured to the top open portion of said housing for sealing and reopening the device making it refillable.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the device may also include an external rotational means, mounted on said housing and engaging said protrusion, whose rotational movement is restricted by slot limits. The external rotational means may also comprise a non-slip design. The external rotational means may facilitate grip and comfort of operation of the device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the device may also provide a physical indication that a single pellet has been dispensed. If during operation of the external rotational means there is a cessation of rotation, for example, due to contact with a slot limit, the operator is thus alerted to the cycle completion and the requirement to alternate the direction of rotation for an additional dispensation. This physical signal may be helpful, for example, to those with limited motor control of their extremities and further as an aid to the counting process.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the device may also provide an audio signal for indicating to the operator that a single cycle of the operation of the device has been completed. This audio signal may be helpful to those that cannot place full reliance on visual confirmation such as a blind user further as an aid to the counting process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, an embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a front view of a pellet dispenser device; Fig. la shows a cross-sectional view taken along section line e-e of the device shown in Fig. 1 ; 01618453X8-01 Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing taken along section line e-e of the device in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotor taken along section line e-e of the device in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3a shows a cross-sectional view of the rotor taken along section line a-a of the device in Fig. 3; Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the external rotational means taken along section line e-e of the device in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4a shows a cross-sectional view of the external rotational means taken along section line b-b of the device in Fig. 4; Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the base taken along section line e-e of the device in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of the external rotational means taken along section line c-c of the device in Fig. 5; Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the fastener taken along section line e-e of the device in Fig. 1 ; and Fig. 6a shows a cross-sectional view of the fastener taken along section line d-d of the device in Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a pellet dispenser device 10. The pellet dispenser device 10 comprises a housing 12 for storing pellets. The housing 12 has an approximately cylindrical body and is open at both the top and bottom portions (not shown). There is a removable cover 14 secured to the top open portion of the housing 12. The removable cover 14 facilitates opening and sealing of the pellet dispenser device 10, thus enabling it to be refilled. Visible at the lower end of the housing 12 is an external rotational means in the form of a ribbed ring 16. Rotation of the ribbed ring 16 causes a pellet to be dispensed by the pellet dispenser device 10. Both the housing 12 and the ribbed ring 16 are large enough to be easily gripped by a user.

Fig. la shows a cross-sectional view of the pellet dispenser device as generally indicated 10, taken along section line e-e of the device in Fig. 1. The removable cover 01618453X8-01 14 is shown secured to the housing 12 sealing the top portion therein. The base 18 is shown fitted to the housing 12, sealing the bottom portion of the housing 12. The ribbed ring 16 is shown to be mounted on the housing 12 and restricted from translational movement by the base 18. Some pellets 20 are shown contained within the housing 12. The pellets 20 may be dispensed through an aperture 22 in the lower end of the base 18 and emerge from the pellet dispenser device 10 as shown by 24. The dispensation of the pellets 20 is accomplished by a rotation of the ribbed ring 16 that is engaged with and rotates the rotor 26 via a slot 28 in the housing 12. The rotation of the rotor 26 causes the pellets 20 to be guided into a track 30 formed with the edge of the rotor 26 and the base.18. When the rotor 26 has been rotated appropriately a single pellet from the track 30 will be displaced into a recess (not shown) and be dispensed when the recess is positioned above the aperture 22. A fastener in the form of a circular ring 32 is mounted on the base and may engage the rotor 26 to restrict non-rotational movement there from. Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing 12 taken along section line e-e of the pellet dispensing device 10 in Fig. 1. The bottom portion of the housing 12 has a rim 34 of slightly smaller outer diameter than the immediate upper section in order to accommodate the mounting of the ribbed ring 16. In order to facilitate contact between the ribbed ring 16 and the rotor 26, a notch 36 exists at the lower end of the housing 12. Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotor generally indicated by 26, taken along section line e-e of the pellet dispensing device 10 in Fig. 1. The rotor 26 has an inverted conical top 38 that leads to an edge 40 that is level. The edge 40 has a protrusion 42 that can be used to facilitate rotational movement of the rotor 26. A first projection 44 is shown on the inside of the top of the rotor 26. The first projection 44 is utilized during operation to create an audio signal to indicate to the operator that a single cycle of the operation of the pellet dispenser device 10 has been completed Fig. 3 a shows a cross-sectional view of the rotor 26, taken along section line a-a of the rotor 26 in Fig. 3. The rotor consists of an outer edge 40 which is level and can be more clearly seen from this view to form the underside portion of a track 30 in conjunction with the base 18 (not shown) that serves as an outer wall to the track 30. The inner wall of the track 30 is indicated by 46. The edge 40 has formed therein two recesses 48 that are symmetrical and can each accommodate a single pellet 20. The 01618453\8-01 track 30 provides a site in which the pellets 20 may queue, with the appropriate orientation for being deposited into the recesses, after they have been guided from the inverted conical top 38 therein. When the pellets 20 stored inside the housing 12 are guided down the inverted conical top 38 to the track 30 they are orientated to a rolling position and arranged in a queue such that when a vacant recess 48 is thrust under the pellets 20 positioned in the track 30, by rotation caused by a force applied to the rotor 26, it is filled rapidly and primed for dispensation.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the ribbed ring, generally indicated by 16, taken along section line e-e of the pellet dispensing device 10 in Fig. 1. A U-shaped guiding element 50 is disposed on the inner surface of the ribbed ring 16.

Fig. 4a shows a cross-sectional view of the ribbed ring, generally indicated by 16, taken along section line b-b of the ribbed ring 16 in Fig. 4. The U-shaped guiding element 50 can be fitted to the protrusion 42 on the rotor 26 that projects through the slot 28 in the housing 12. If a rotational force is applied to the ribbed ring 16 the rotor 26, which is located inside the housing 12, will thus be also rotated. The rotational movement of the rotor 26 is thus restricted by the boundaries of the slot providing two limits to rotational movement. The outer ribbing 52 of the ribbed ring 16 can also be seen from this view. The outer ribbing 52 provides a non-slip exterior for operation in which, for example, the operators hand is not dry.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the base, generally indicated by 18, taken along section line e-e of the pellet dispensing device 10 in Fig. 1. The base 18 is concentric with the rotor 26 mounted therein. The base 18 consists of a barrier 54 integrally formed within the inside rim there of. The size of the barrier 54 is sufficient to prevent a pellet 20, disposed in the housing 12, from entering the aperture 22. When the rotor 26 is rotated the edge 40 of the rotor 26 passes between the barrier 54 and the aperture 22. When the recesses 48, located on the edge 40 of the rotor 26, pass under the barrier 54, a pellet 20 disposed therein may exit the pellet dispenser device 10 via the aperture 22. The position of the slot 28 can be seen to be located at the far end of the base 18 from the aperture 22. The base 18 further consists of a second projection 56 integrally formed with the foundation of the base 18. The rotation of the rotor 26 causes the first projection 44 to impact the second projection 56 creating an audio signal that 01618453X8-01 indicates to the operator that a single cycle of the operation of the pellet dispenser device 10 has been completed.

Fig. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of the base, generally indicated by 18, taken along section line c-c of the base 18 in Fig. 5. The boundaries 58 of the slot 28 can be seen from this view.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the fastener, generally indicated by 32, taken along section line e-e of the device in Fig. 1. The fastener 32 is rigidly mounted to the base 18 and engages the rotor 26 to prevent unwanted translational motion.

Fig. 6a shows a cross-sectional view of the fastener, generally indicated by 32, taken along section line d-d of the device in Fig. 6. The fastener 32 has formed therein a notch 56 for insertion of the barrier 54 when the fastener 32 is mounted to the inside upper rim of the base 18.

In operation the housing 12 of the pellet dispenser device 10 is grasped in one hand and the ribbed ring 16 is grasped in the other. The ribbed ring 16 is rotated, causing the rotor 26 to rotate proportionately. The rotation cycle is completed when the boundaries 58 of the slot 28 have been reached by the protrusion 42. In this position a recess 48 has been positioned above the aperture 22 and a single pellet 20 disposed therein, is dispensed there through. A second, vacant, recess 48 is contemporaneously displaced from above the aperture 22 and positioned underneath any pellets 20 that may have been disposed on the track 30 in close proximity to the barrier. A single pellet 20 may then fall into the second recess 48. Hence for each completed cycle of rotation one recess 48 is loaded and one recess is vacated. The rotation also causes the inverted conical top 38 of the rotor 26 to move, thus agitating the pellets disposed thereon guiding them into the track 30. The rotation further causes the first projection 44 and the second projection 56 to impact resulting in an audio signal. For each additional dispensation of a single pellet 20, the user must reverse the direction of rotation of the ribbed ring 16. 01618453\8-01

Claims (18)

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1. A pellet dispenser device comprising: a housing, for storage of pellets; Γ an aperture, formed at the bottom of said base, of sufficient size to allow a pellet to traverse there through; J a base, fitted to said housing;/ said base further comprising an integrated barrier extending above the aperture, the size of which being sufficient to prevent a pellet, disposed in the housing, from entering the aperture; a rotor, mounted on said base, having at least one recess designed to accommodate a single pellet; the device characterized in that it further comprises an external rotational member wherein rotation thereof in one direction entails dispensing a single pellet and dispensing another single pellet is facilitated by rotating the external rotational member in an opposite direction.

2. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, wherein said rotor, comprising only two recesses, is positioned at one of the limits of rotation in either direction aligns said barrier above one recess only, and rotation the rotor in an opposite direction until the next limit of rotation the barrier is repositioned above alternate recess only, thus each rotational movement positions one recess above the aperture and below the barrier and exposes the alternate recess to the pellets inside the housing, facilitating the dispensation of a single pellet that may be disposed in said recess, whilst enabling the alternate recess to be refilled contemporaneously.

3. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, wherein said base further comprises a slot formed at the rim of said base, enabling external elements access to the rotor.

4. The pellet dispenser device of claim 3, wherein said rotor further comprises a protrusion on said rotor, accessible to external elements through said slot by which said rotor can be rotated.

5. The pellet dispenser device of claim 3, wherein the external rotational member further comprises a non-slip exterior surface portion for increased grip. - 9 - 150614/2

6. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, wherein an external rotational member, mounted on the housing and engaging a protrusion, whose rotational movement is restricted by the edges of a slot.

7. The pellet dispenser device of claim 4, wherein the external rotational member is a U-shaped guiding element rigidly connected to the protrusion.

8. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the rotor further comprises an inverted conical top for guiding pellets to the edge of said rotor.

9. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the rotor further comprises a track, formed at edge of said rotor, in conjunction with the base, for orienting and positioning pellets for efficient transition into said recess.

10. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the rotor is concentric with said base.

11. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, further comprising a fastener, mounted on the base and engaging said rotor, restricting the non-rotational displacement of the rotor relative to said base.

12. The pellet dispenser device of claim 11, wherein the fastener is a circular ring.

13. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, further comprising a removable cover, secured to the top open portion of said housing for opening and sealing the device thus enabling it to be refilled.

14. The pellet dispenser device of claim 1, further comprising a first projection formed integrally with the rotor and a second projection formed integrally with the base.

15. The pellet dispenser device of claim 14, wherein the rotation of the rotor may cause an impact of said first projection and the second projection resulting in an audio signal for indicating to the operator that a single cycle of the operation of the device has been completed.

16. The pellet dispenser device of claim 3, wherein rotation of the rotor is halted by contacting a boundary of the slot, resulting in a physical indication to the operator that a single pellet has been dispensed and causing the operator to alternate the direction of rotation for every additional dispensation.

17. A pellet dispenser device as disclosed hereinabove in the specification and in the claims. - 10 - 150614/2

18. A pellet dispenser device as disclosed in the drawings.