US2251405A - Dispensing box - Google Patents

Description

Aug 5, 1941.

w, "r. HOLLAND DISPENSING BOX Filed Nov. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 5, 1941- w. T. HOLLAND 2,251,405

DISPENSING BOX Filed NOV. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 5, 1941 ETE STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING BOX William '1. Holland, Stockton, Calif.

Application November 9, 1939, Serial No. 303,696

11 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of receptacles and pertains particularly to dispensing receptacles.

The present invention is directed to improvements in receptacles or boxes designed for merchandizing of pills and tablets and has for its primary object to provide such a receptacle or box having a' novel and improved form of means iacilitating the dispensing of tablets or pills individually therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pill or tablet box having a novel dispensing means by means of which one tablet or one pill at a time may be dispensed and another tablet or pill held in readiness for dispensing by a novel means which is adapted to be shifted through a prescribed manipulation of the box so that such pill or tablet may be moved up into position where it may be discharged or dispensed from the box. Another and further object of the invention is to provide in a dispensing box for pills and tablets, means whereby the number of such articles in the box may be readily ascertained at the same time that the box cover or lid is shifted to the necessary position to permit the discharge of one of the pills or tablets therefrom, thereby enabling the user of the box to tell at a glance whether the box is full or, if some of the contents have been previously removed, how many of the pills or tablets remain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel means associated with a dispensing I receptacle or box for controlling the flow of the articles in the box toward the portion from which such articles may be discharged whereby the discharge of the articles singly is easily governed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention a Fig. 1 shows in top plan one form of tablet or pill box constructed in accordance with the present invention, a portion of the sliding top of the same being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in edge elevation and partly in longitudinal section showing a modified construction of the tablet or pill guard shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in plan of another form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a View in plan of still another modification of the invention wherein the box top is provided with a sliding closure member for a discharge opening.

Fig. 7 is a view looking toward the inner side of that side of the modified form shown in Fig. 6, to which the sliding closure is attached, showing the means for controlling the individual movement of articles toward the discharge opening.'

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-3 of Fig. '7.

- Fig. 9 is a view illustrating a modified form of the article guide bar.

Fig. '10 is a View illustrating another modification or the article guide bar.

Fig. 11 is a detailed sectional View of a guide bar showing a method of forming a guide for the stop pin carried by the bar.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the guide bar showing another methodof controlling the movement of the stop pin. I

Fig. 13 is a sectional View on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View of a guide bar showing still another-method of controlling the movement of the stop pin.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 15-45 of Fig. 14.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that although several forms of boxes have been illustrated showing different modifications of the pill or tablet dispensing means, each form includes as an essential detail an element hereinafter more specifically described and referred to as a stop pin by which the pills or tablets in the boxes are-allowed to move singly toward the discharge opening.

In Fig. 1, the numeral l designates a flat box of the type ordinarily employed for marketing flat tablets such as tablets of aspirin or the like, this box consisting broadly of a bottom portion 2 and a sliding top 3 which is shifted longitudinally of the bottom portion to uncover the contents of the latter. While this box I and those shown in Figs. 2 to5 inclusive have been illustrated as containing tablets, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the use of boxes designed for tablets but may be used also in association with boxes in which pills are dispensed.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, one end wall of the bottom portion of the box is provided with an integral plate 4 which is bent inwardly to lie within the upper part of the bottom portion of the box in the plane of the top edge of this portion and spaced from the lower Wall of the bottom portion so as to permit the tablets 5, or pills, to lie therebeneath. This plate 4 constitutes a guard plate which prevents the tablets or pills from escaping from the box when the lid 3 is shifted a prescribed distance for the opening of the box. The plate 4 is provided with a number of apertures 6 of any suitable form through which the user of the box may determine approximately the number of tablets remaining therein.

It will be observed that the guard plate 4 has one end in close proximity to a side Wall of the bottom portion 2 while its opposite end is spaced from the opposite side wall. Adjacent the said opposite end of the guard plate there is fixed a guide bar I which extends across the width of the guard plate 4 and shuts off the space between this plate and the bottom wall of the lower portion 2 of the box, thus providing the area 8 between the guide bar and the nearest side wall of the lower portion 2 of the box through which tablets may be discharged when the lid or cover 3 is drawn back to a position where the edge nearest the guard plate 4 approximately alines with the free inner edge of this plate.

The guide bar I is in the form of a flat strip of material, the width of which is substantially equal to the depth of the lower portion 2 of the box between the bottom wall of the latter and the top edge of its side walls and while this guide bar may be attached in any suitable manner to the adjacent end wall of the lower portion, it is here shown as having a laterally extending foot or angled portion 9 which is riveted to the adjacent wall so that it will hold the bar rigidly in position and extending longitudinally of the box. This bar I is preferably of a length equaling the combined diameters of two tablets or pills so that as shown in Fig. 1, two such tablets may take up a position between the guide bar and the adjacent side wall of the box.

The guide bar I has an aperture formed therethrough at a distance from the end which is attached to the end wall of the box, substantially equaling the diameter of one tablet or pill and in this aperture there is loosely engaged a short stop pin I I] which has a head upon each end which permits it to shift transversely of the guide bar 1.. When this pin has been shifted toward the side of the box remote from the guide bar I, it will be out of the way of a tablet moving between the guide bar and the nearest side wall of the box, thus permitting such tablet to move all the way through the elongated area 8 to a position against the end wall, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that when the cover 3 has been drawn back or shifted away. from the plate 4runtil it uncovers the major portion of the plate 4 and the tablet which is located in the end of the discharge space 8, this tablet may be discharged or dumped out of the box into the hand.

It will be obvious that when the box is used by a right-handed person, it will be held in the right hand and the tablet will be discharged into the left hand. Consequently the side of the box nearest the guide bar I will be down or below the opposite side when the box is tipped over to discharge the tablet and this will result in the movement of the stop pin I0 back, so that its major portion extends into the area 8 in the manner in which it is shown in Fig. 1. This will prevent the next tablet from sliding down along the area 8 toward the nearest end wall of the box and thus only the tablet which had been initially placed in the end of the area 8 can be discharged. If a second tablet is desired, then the user will tip the box so as to bring the side nearest the guide bar I uppermost, thus causing the stop pin to shift back in the direction of the guard plate 4, at the same time tipping the box in a direction to cause the tablets to slide toward the end to which the guide bar I is attached. Thus a second tablet will move into discharge position and by then reversely tipping the box or moving it back to its original position where the side wall nearest the bar 1 is lowermost, the tablet can be discharged into the hand. During these movements of the box, it will be seen that the guard plate 4 will prevent tablets from falling out of the box on what might be termed the upper side of the guide bar I which is the side directed toward the remote side wall of the box.

In Fig. 1, the cover 3 of the box is shown as having an inpressed button H which will engage the end wall of the box remote from the guard plate 4 and limit the movement of the cover so that it will at no time completely uncover the guard plate 4.

In Fig. 3, the box indicated is generally designated by the numeral I2. This box carries a guard plate l3 which is of exactly the same character as the plate 4 and cooperates with a guide bar and stop pin, not shown, which are of the same character. and secured to the end wall in the same way as those shown in Fig. 1. In this form, however, the guard plate I3 instead of being an integral inturned part of the end wall of the box is separately formed and is provided with a flanged edge I4 which is disposed against the inner side of the box end wall and secured thereto by rivets I5 or in any other suitable manner. All other features of this box I2 are exactly the same as those shown in connection with box I.

Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly modified form of the invention wherein the box indicated generally by the numeral I6 and having the bottom portion I1 and slidable top portion I8, has the top portion provided with a rivet or pin I 9 which slidably engages in a guide slot 20 formed in the guard plate 2|. This guard plate M is here shown as forming an inturned portion of the end wall of the box like the plate 4, but it may be separately formed and riveted to the end Wall of the box like the plate I3. This movement limiting means for the box top or cover I8 takes the place of the button II of Fig. 1 and couples the slide or top with the guard plate. It will be understood that in the use of these forms of the means for limiting the sliding movement of the box cover, the parts will be assembled or connected together by the manufacturer of the commodity to go into the box after the box has been filled.

Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive illustrate still another form or application of the invention. In this form the box is indicated generally by the numeral 22 and is of the type in which two portions are tightly joined together after the box has been filled, one of such portions being indicated by the numeral 23 and having means associated therewith for opening a discharge outlet or opening 24 which is formed through the wall of this portion in one corner of the box. This face'of the portion 23 of the box is provided with the inpressed guides 25 which support a gate or sliding closure member 26 which,'when extended longitudinally toward the apertured corner of the box, closes the discharge opening 24. Within the box, the end wall adjacent the closure 26 has secured thereto a guide bar 21 which extends longitudinally through a portion of the length of the box in spaced relation with the side wall nearest the opening 24 so as to provide an elongated receiving area 28, corresponding to the area 8 of Fig. 1 into which tablets or pills may gravitate for discharge through the opening 24. This guide bar carries the shiftable stop pin 29 which is located the proper distance from the nearest end wall of the box to permit only a single tablet or pill to move into position where it can be discharged through the opening 24 when the closure or gate 26 is retracted. The operation of the guide and stop of this box structure is exactly the same as described in connection with box I.

In each of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 7, the guide bar for the pill or tablet has its free end straight. However, it may be desirable to form this bar with the terminal.

portion angularly extended as, for example, in Fig. 9 the guide bar shown and indicated by the numeral 30 has an angular or obliquely extending terminal portion 3| which, when the bar is used in the position of bar 1 in Fig. 1, would be directed away from the area 8 and would operate to guide the tablets into position in this area.

In Fig. 10, the guide bar which is indicated by the numeral 32, has the obliquely directed terminal portion 33 extending in the opposite direction from the bar shown in Fig. 9, and when this bar 32 is used in place of the bar 1' in Fig. 1, this terminal portion will function to keep the second one of the two tablets which are located in the area 8 from rolling out of this area when the box is tipped in the direction to cause the stop pin to move out of the way so that the second tablet might be rolled forward into discharging position. In other words, in the use of the box, the user might accidentally raise that end to which the guard plate 4 is attached, instead of lowering it, when tipping the box away from him in order to shift the pin l0 out of the way for the second tablet to move into discharging position, in which case if the turned portion 33 is not present and directed toward the area 8, the second tablet would roll back toward the end of the box remote from the plate 4.

As previously stated, the guide bars are preferably formed of a strip of ribbon or band-like material, therefore, they would be relatively thin and it will be obvious that the aperture through which the stop pin passes would not provide the most satisfactory guide means for the pin as the pin would be apt to assume a slightly angular position with respect to the length of the guide bar and jam instead of shifting smoothly. In

order to avoid this, several diiTerent methods might be employed, such methods for avoiding the catching of the stop pin or for causing the stop pin to shift smoothly, being shown in Figs. 11 to 15 inclusive.

In Fig. 11, the guide bar 34 is provided with a thickened portion 35 of solder or other suitable material through which the aperture 36 is formed for the stop pin 31.

In Figs. 12 and 13, the desired additional thickness for the area of the guide bar through which the stop pin aperture is formed, is provided by securing across the bar 38a plate 39, the ends of which are turned under as shown in Fig. 13, to maintain the plate in position and the guide opening 40 for the stop pin 4| is formed through this plate 39 and the bar 38.

In Figs. 14 and 15, the desired additional thickness for the guide bar is obtained by providing the guide bar 42 with an integral edge lip 43 which is turned over against one side of the guide bar and the aperture 44 for the pin 45 is then iormed through this lip and the guide bar in the manner shown.

. proper discharge opening is made for the tablet or pill, there is no danger of a second tablet slipping out through the discharge opening after the first one has been discharged as the shiftable pin immediately moves into stopping position for the next tablet as the box is tipped into the position necessary for the discharge of the tablet or pill therefrom.

While in the several forms of the invention shown, the guide bar has been illustrated as being of a length to cover two tablets only, it will be understood that this bar may be made of additional length if desired, so that three or more tablets may be run into the discharge area between the guide bar and the nearest side of the box, which leads to the discharge opening.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing receptacle for round objects of the nature of tablets and pills, a shiftable member forming a part of the receptacle and when moved to one position uncovering a discharge opening of a size to permit a single object to pass out of the receptacle, a guide member within the receptacle between two spaced walls thereof and forming in association with one of the said walls a receiving area for a number of said objects, and a gravity actuated shiftable stop member carried by said guide for controlling the advance of said objects singly through said area to said discharge opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a receptacle adapted to contain round objects in the nature of tablets and pills, shiftable means forming a part of the receptacle for providing an object discharge opening, an elongated guide member secured within the receptacle to one wall thereof and extending in spaced parallel relation with an adjacent wall to provide an elongated object receiving area leading to said opening, the said area being of a width slightly greater than the diameter of the object and of a length at least as great as twice the diameter of the object, and a shiftable gravity controlled member carried by said guide member and operable to permit only a single one of said objects to move at one time through said area to said discharging opening.

3. A dispensing receptacle of the character described, comprising a fiat box body having a slidable cover, means limiting the sliding movement of said cover to provide an open area through which objects may be discharged from the box, a guide bar secured within the box in spaced parallel relation with a side wall thereof and extending across said open area to form in association with the said side wall an object receiving space, means disposed between said bar and the other side wall of the box forming a guard to prevent objects from escaping from the box, and a stop pin carried by said bar and shiitable transversely thereof and positioned to prevent more than one of the objects moving through said space into the discharge area.

4. In a container for round articles of the nature of tablets and pills, a shiftable member forming a part of the container which when moved to one position provides an opening for the discharge of articles from within the container, a fixed means within the container and forming a part thereof, coacting with a wall of the container to form an article receiving area of fixed dimensions leading to said opening, and.

gravity controlled movable stop means-joined to said first means and facilitating the regulation of movement of the articles individually to said discharge opening.

5. In a dispensing container for round bodies of the nature of tablets and pills, a box having a sliding top and having a bottom wall and side walls, a guard plate joined to one of said side walls and extending in spaced relation with the bottom wall toward the opposite side wall, the guard plate extending transversely of the box from one adjacent side wall toward and stopping short of the other adjacent side wall, a guide member secured at one end to the side wall to which the plate is attached and extending toward the said other side wall in spaced parallel relation with the said adjacent sidewall to form with the latter an article receiving area, a portion of which is uncovered by said top to form a discharge opening when the top is shifted a predetermined distance away from said plate, and a gravity actuated stop pin carried by the guide member and adapted when in one position to project into said area, said pin functioning to facilitate regulation of the movement of the bodies to the discharge opening.

6. In a dispensing receptacle for round bodies of the nature of tablets and pills, a box of elongated rectangular form having a bottom portion including end and side walls and a sliding top connected with said side walls means limiting the movement of said top in one direction longitudinally of the box whereby a narrow transversely extending portion of the bottom is uncovered, a plate secured to the end wall to extend inwardly in spaced relation with the bottom of the box and to partially cover the said portion which is opened by the top, said plate extending from one side wall toward and terminating short of the other side wall, an elongated bar secured to the same end wall as said plate and extending longitudinally of the box adjacent to the end of the plate nearest the s'aidother side wall and forming with the said other'side wall an area extending longitudinally of the box for the reception of said bodies, and a pin' member carried by said bar and shiftable transversely thereof and located on the bar a distance from the adjacent end wall at least equal to the diameter of one of the bodies, said pin member having limited movement transversely of the bar and when in one position with respect thereto permitting the objects to pass through said area toward the adjacent end wall and when in another position checking the movement of the objects through the area toward the adjacent end wall.

7. In a dispensing receptacle for round bodies of the nature of tablets and pills, a box of elongated rectangular form having a bottom portion including end and side walls and a sliding top connected with said side walls, means limiting the movement of said top in one direction longitudinally of the box whereby a narrow transversely extending portion of the bottom is uncovered, a plate secured to the end wall to extend inwardly in spaced relation with the bottom of the box and to partially cover the said portion which is opened by the top, said plate extending from one side wall toward and terminating short of the other side wall, an elongated bar secured to the same end wall as said plate and extending longitudinally of the box adjacent the end of the plate nearest the said other side wall and forming with the said other side wall an area extending longitudinally of the box for the reception of said bodies, and a pin member carried by said bar and shiftable transversely thereof and located on the bar a distance from the adjacent end wall at least equal to the diameter of one of the bodies, said pin member having limited movement transversely of the bar and when in one position with respect thereto permittin the objects to pass through said area toward the adjacent end wall and when in another position checking the movement of the objects through the area toward the adjacent end wall, said bar member having the end thereof remote from the end wall to which it is attached formed to provide an obliquely directed terminal portion.

8. In a dispensing receptacle for round bodies of the nature of tablets and pills, a box of elongated rectangular form having a bottom portion including end and side walls and a sliding top connected with said side walls, means limiting the movement of said top in one direction longitudinally of the box whereby a narrow tranversely extending portion of the bottom is uncovered, a plate secured to the end wall to extend inwardly in spaced relation with the bottom of the box and to partially cover the said portion which is opened by the top, said plate extending from one side wall toward and terminating short of the other side wall, an elongated bar secured to the same end wall as said plate and extending longitudinally of the box adjacent the end of the plate nearest the said other side wall and forming with the said other side wall an area extending longitudinally of the box for the reception of said bodies, and a pin member carried by said bar and shiftable transversely thereof and located on the bar a distance from the adjacent end wall at least equal to the diameter of one of the bodies, said pin member having limited movement transversely of the bar and when in one position with respect thereto permitting the objects to pass through said area toward the adjacent end wall and when in another position checking the movement of the objects through the area toward the adjacent end wall, said bar member being built up to provldeanarea of increased thickness around said pin member forming a guide means for the pin member by which the straight movement of the latter transversely of the bar is assured.

9. In a dispensing container for round bodies of the nature of tablets and pills, a box having a bottom portion including side and end walls and a sliding top, a guard plate secured to one end wall and extending in a longitudinal direction in the box in spaced relation with the bot-.

tom wall and extending transversely of the box from one side wall toward and terminating short of the opposite side wall, a bar member secured at one end to the same end wall as said plate and extending longitudinally of the body in spaced parallel relation with the said other side wall to form therewith an elongated receiving area for said bodies by which the bodies are guided in a row toward the adjacent end wall, a sliding coupling between said top and said plate by which movement of the top away from the plate is limited to uncover a portion of said area to provide a discharge opening, and a pin member carried by the bar and having limited movement transversely thereof and transversely of the box for extension into and away from said area for the control of the movement of the bodies through the area to the discharge opening.

10. In a dispensing container for round bodies of the nature of tablets and pills, a box having a bottom portion including side and end walls and a top portion, said top portion having an opening therethrough in a corner of the box, a slidable closure member carried by the top portion and adapted to cover said opening, an arm secured at one end to the end wall of the box adjacent said opening and extending in a longitudinal direction in the box in spaced parallel relation with the side wall adjacent to said opening to form with said side wall a receiving area for the bodies leading to the discharge opening, and a shiftable stop pin carried by the bar and having limited movement transversely thereof into and out of said body receiving area, said stop pin being spaced from the adjacent end wall a distance sufficient to permit one only of the bodies to enter the end of the area between the pin and the adjacent end wall for discharge through the opening.

11. A dispensing receptacle for round objects of the nature of tablets and pills, a shiftable member forming a part of the receptacle and when moved to one position uncovering a discharge opening of a size to permit a single object to pass out of the receptacle, a guide member disposed within the receptacle between two spaced side walls thereof and forming in association with one of the walls a receiving area designed to receive a number of said objects in an alined relation, and a gravity actuated shiftable stop member carried by said guide and movable on the guide in a line extending transverse ly of the receiving area for controlling the advance of said objects singly through said area to said discharge opening.

WILLIAM T. HOLLAND.

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