US2194009A

US2194009A - Medical tablet container

Info

Publication number: US2194009A
Application number: US209741A
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin F Conner
Original assignee: Colts Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Colts Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1938-05-24
Filing date: 1938-05-24
Publication date: 1940-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1957-03-19

Description

Mrch 19, 1940. CQNNER 2,194,009 I MEDICAL TABLET CONTAINER Filed May 24, 1938 INT/E172: 0r Berg 5min F Conner j 'mtz'zarngy Patented Mai-.19, 1940 Permit caries I 2,194,009 MEDICAL TABLET conremnn Benjamin F. Conner, West Hartford, Conn, assignor to Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company, Hartford, Conn, a corpora- 7 tion of Connecticut Application May 24, 1938, Serial No. 209,741

3 Claims.

The invention relates to a medical tablet container, and more particularly to a tablet container which may be conveniently carried in a mans pocket or ladys handbag.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tablet container of attractive design comprising a minimum of parts which may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled, and which is so constructed that it can be easily held in and opened and closed with one hand.

A further object is to provide a tablet container which is so constructed as to hold a predetermined number of tablets in substantially abutting relationship with one tablet in alignment with a dispensing opening in the container.

From the following disclosure other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown the embodiment of the invention which I now deem preferable but it will be understood that the drawing is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not to be relied upon as limiting or defining the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for this purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a container embOdying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the container.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the container, certain portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction.

Fig. 4 isa cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing the tablets in the container.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the container can be opened and closed with one hand.

, A container made in accordance with the principles of the invention preferably comprises a base member I and a cover member 2, but it should be understood that these terms are used merely to facilitate description and not in a limiting manner. These members are preferably molded from a material of the synthetic resin class as certain of the constructional features of the invention are particularly adapted to be incorporated in a molded container.

The cover member includes a depending circular flange 3 having a dispensing opening 4 therethrough. The molded base member is shallow and open-topped and is preferably so dimensioned as to receive only a single layer of (Cl. 206 l2) tablets. It comprises animpericrate circular bottom and integrally molded means 5 upstanding from the bottom forming a low-side wall,

and in the now preferred form the side wall is cylindrical.

internal surface of the flange on the cover membeer to form mutual bearing surfaces. When the base'and cover members are assembled as shown they constitute a thin container and one of the A dispensing opening 5 is provided in the side wall and it extendsthe full height membersmay be rotated relatively to the other so as to align the dispensing openings 3 and 6 or to completely misalign them, in which latter case a portion. of the upstanding means on the base member serves to close the opening 4.- The base and cover members are preferably serrated adjacent their edges as indicated at 'I. As shown in Fig. 6, the container may be easily held between the thumb and first two fingers of one hand due to. its thinness and it may be easily opened and closed while being so held, the serrations I serving to increase the friction between the fingers and the container.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the base and cover members are provided with shoulders which interlock when the members are in assembled relationship. These shoulders prevent relative movement of the members in a separative direction and may constitute the sole means for preventing disassembly of the members. In the form shown the depending flange 3 has a groove 8 formed in its inner surface, the upper side wall of groove ii forming a shoulder which interlocks with a shoulder or bead 9 provided on the outer surface of'the upstanding flange 5. This construction for holding the base and cover members assembled is particularly desirable when the members are formed from molded synthetic resin because there is a suificient flexibility to the flanges so that they can be assembled by simply forcing them together. I

The cover and base members are preferably provided with cooperating shoulders for limiting their relative rotation between a position in which the dispensing openings dand t are aligned (as in Fig. 4) and a position in which they are completely misaligned (as in Fig. 5). As shown, a lug it may be provided which is engageable with the end walls of a groove l l in the flange 5.

The tablet container is primarily intended to be used by tablet manufacturers as an original container for holding a predetermined number of tablets, such as aspirin. If the tablets are allowed any substantial relative movement they tend to powder during shipment due to rough handling. In order to prevent this the upstanding means on the base member may be so constructed as to allow only a predetermined number of tablets to be placed in the container and so as to hold these tablets in substantially abutting relationship. In the now preferred construction the upstanding means includes projections I2. As shown in Fig. 5, these projections hold the tablets against any substantially relative movement and also cause them to assume a definite pattern in the container so that one tablet is in alignment with the dispensing opening 6. From Fig. 5 it will be apparent that the first tablet may be easily removed from the container and that shaking the container will then break up the tablet pattern so that the remaining tablets may be removed.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a medical tablet container, the combination of a molded shallow open-topped member adapted to receive only a single layer of tablets and comprising a molded imperforate circular bottom and integrally molded means upstanding from the bottom forming a side wall having a dispensing opening therethrough from top to bottom, said means including portions positioned to confine a predetermined number of tablets within said open-topped member in substantially abutting relationship with one tablet in alignment with said dispensing opening, and a molded cover member having a depending flange with a dispensing opening therethrough and telescopically receiving said upstanding means in closely fitting relationship to form mutual bearing surfaces so that said members may be relatively rotated between positions in which said dispensing openings are completely aligned or misaligned, said open-topped member and depending flange being provided with interlocking shoulders for preventing their relative movement in the separative direction and constituting the sole means for preventing their disassembly.

2. In a. medical tablet container, the combination of a molded shallow open-topped member adapted to receive only a single layer of tablets and comprising a molded imperforate circular bottom, an integrally molded cylindrical flange upstanding from the bottom forming a side wall having a dispensing opening therethrough from top to bottom, and a plurality of integrally molded projections upstanding from the bottom positioned to confine a predetermined number of tablets within said open-topped member in substantially abutting relationship with one tablet in alignment with said dispensing opening, with a molded cover member having a depending cylindrical flange with a dispensing opening therethrough and telescopically receiving said side wall in closely fitting relationship to form mutual bearing surfaces so that said members may be relatively rotated between positions in which said dispensing openings are completely aligned or misaligned, said members being provided with interlocking shoulders for preventing their relative movement in the separative direction and constituting the sole means for preventing their disassembly.

3. In a medical tablet container, the combination of a molded shallow open-topped member adapted to receive only a single layer of tablets in substantially abutting relationship and comprising a molded imperforate circular bottom, an integrally molded cylindrical flange up-standing from the bottom forming a side wall having a dispensing opening therethrough from top to bottom, and two integrally molded ribs upstanding from the bottom and converging toward said dispensing opening to position a tablet in alignment with said dispensing opening, with a molded cover member having a depending cylindrical flange with a dispensing opening therethrough and telescopically receiving said side wall in closely fitting relationship to form mutual bearing surfaces so that said members may be relatively rotated between positions in which said dispensing openings are completely aligned or misaligned, said members being provided with interlocking shoulders for preventing their relative movement in the separative direction and constituting the sole means for preventing their disassembly.

BENJAMIN F. CONNER.