US2378003A - Dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

June 12, 1945. c, M DUELL www DI SPENSING CONTAINER Filed July 3, 1944 Patented June 12, 19415 UNITED STATES PATENT oFElcE 2,378,003 nlsPENsING CONTAINER Charles H. Duell, Sharpsburg, Pa.

Application July 3, 1944, Serial No.4543,266

l (ci. 20s-42) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing containers of the type wherein a. pre-determined number of medicinal tablets contained within a shallow box-like container are adapted to be isolated in a dispensing pocket located at one end of the container which pocket is opened or exposed by relatively sliding movement between the container and a cover with which it is provided, the cover being provided with an obstructing flange or bar-l rier which separates the pre-determined number of tablets located within the dispensing pocket from the remaining contents of the container when the cover is in opened position. the present invention relating generally to the type of containers disclosed in my prior United States Patent No. 1,962,860.

Dispensing containers of the type to which the present invention relates have been adopted as an essential part of the rst-aid kits furnished. to all the members of the combat forces of the United States. These containers are lled with a pre-determined number of sulfa tablets and definite instructions are given that if any man is Wounded and medical aid is not immediately available he should promptly administer selfmedication. Due to the fact that these particular containers can be very readily manipulated by the fingers of one hand in order to expose a pre-determined number of the tablets for selfmedication without spilling the entire contents of the container, there have been numerous incidents where otherwise severely wounded men have been able to administer selfmedication oi sulfa drugs thereby avoiding serious and perhaps fatal consequences of their injuries had not such self-medication been rendered possible by the use of this type of dispensing container.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of a container of the type set forth in which the dispensing container and cover are so `constructed and arranged that the container is provided with dispensing pockets at each end ,thereof and so that the cover may be slid in veither direction longitudinally of the box to expose a pre-determined number of medicinal tablets contained in either of the dispensing pockets.

A further object of the present invention is to provide acontainer with a dividing or' separating barrier by means of which thel tablets are not only maintained in separated rows, but are also held or restricted against undue movement or rattling around within the container which would tend to break the capsules and reduce them to apowdered mass.

Another object is to provide the slidable cover of the container with a depending ange or barrier which separates the dispensing pocket portion of the container from the main body of the container when the cover is slid to open position, and which barrier preferably engages the end of said longitudinal partition for limiting the movement of the cover from closed to its fully opened position.

A further object is to provide the dispensing pocket portion of the container with. separate pockets or recesses which serve to hold the tablets which are in the dispensing poclret portion of the container out of contact with each other and to prevent undue movement of such tablets and their striking against one another thereby to prevent breaking and disintegration of the tablets.

Another object is to provide the slidable cover with means which tend to facilitate movement of the tablets from the non-dispensing portion of the container into the dispensing pocket portion thereof.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a construction for a dispensing .container oi the type set forth that will be neat and attractive in appearance, extremely emcient in operation, while at the same time being of marhed simplicity of. construction whereby manufacturing costs thereof will be greatly reduced.

The above and other objects of the present in- "vention will appear more fully from the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanymg drawing forming a bart hereof and. wherein:

Fig. i is a perspective view of a container constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 showing the container with, the cover thereof in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the cover slid in one'direction to open the dispensing pocket at one end of the container;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line ii-,t of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the container.

As shown in the drawing, the container consists of an elongated substantially rectangular shallow box or container portion i0 which is provided with the end walls H and i2 and the side walls i3 and I4 and a bottom l5. Each of the side walls i3 and I4 are provided, as shown in Fig. 4, with a laterally projecting rib or ange I6 extending Valong the top edge of said side wall.

The flanges i6 serve as a means to retain a cover on the contianer I in sliding relation thereto, the cover l1 being provided with downwardly depending, inwardly turned flanges I8 which embrace the ribs I6, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Each of the end walls ||,'I2 of the container is provided at its central portion with a cut-out recess I9 which serves to form a clearance for a depending flange or barrier 20 located at the central part of. each end oi' the slidable cover I1.

The bottom Wall I of the container is provided at each end thereof with a pair of depressed recesses 2|, preferably shaped to conform to the size and shape of the tablets to be dispensed. Extending longitudinally along the central part of the container l0 and projecting upwardly from the bottom wall thereof is a partition 22 having a raised central portion which terminates at its ends immediately adjacent to the recesses 2| provided at each end of the container. This raised central portion oi the partition 22 is preferably of the same height as the side walls I3 and I4 so that the lower face of the cover l1 rests on the top of said partition in sliding contact therewithso that the partition serves as a bracing means for said cover. The partition, however, extends the full length of the box, the end portions 22-a thereof being of much less height than the central -portion but 0f sufllcient height to restrict movement of the tablets within two adjacent recesses 2|.

The slidable top of the container is also provided at each end thereof with a pair of small rounded projections 23 which, when the cover is located in its fully closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, are located substantially in alignment with the center of the capsules or tablets 2| contained within the dispensing pockets at each end of the container.

Any suitable means such as the raised letter V 25 is provided on the upper face of the cover to furnish a friction .grip to faciliate) the opening movement of the cover. The manner in which the device operates is as follows: -The shallow box 'portion I0 of the container is completely filled with a number oi capsules 24 `as indicated in dotted lines in the perspective view in Fig. 1. As will be seen from Fig. 2 of the drawing, the two tablets 24 at each end of the box are seated within the two depressions 2| provided at each end. The two tablets at each end of the box are held from movement towards each other and from striking against each other by being seated within the recesses and also by the lowered prolongated edge 22--a of the central partition 22. The projections 23 which depend from the lower face of the cover are also of such a size that even if the container would be inverted the tablets within the recesses 2| will not strike against each other or move against the central portion of the box,

If it is desired to dispense the tablets, the box may be held in either hand of the user with either end of the box towards the users finger tips. The construction of the box is such that when one wishes to dispense the contents, the box is instinctively supported by the first two fingers of the users hand and the cover 22 is slid longitudinally by engaging the raised projection shown in the formof the letter V with the ball of the users thumb. The cover may be readily slid longitudinally in either direction to open either end of the box. If the cover is so slid longitudinally of the box, the depending flange 20 at each end of the cover'will engage with the end of the central partition 2| thus limiting the opening of the box to a position such that only the two tablets which are contained in the recesses 2| at either end of the box will be exposed for dispensing. As will be seen from an inspection of the drawing and particularly Fig. 1 thereof, the flange 20 is of such width as to engage the tablets which remain in the uncovered portion of the box substantially at the center thereof so as to eifectually prevent any movement of these tablets into the dispensing pocket portions of the box. The two tablets in the opened dispensing pocket may then be readily tossed into the mouth of the user by bringing the box up to the users mouth and merely inverting it so that the tablets in the exposed dispensing pocket will readily drop out of the box. After the two tablets have been thus so dispensed, the cover may be slid back to closed position, and, during the sliding movement of the cover back to the closed position, the two projections 23 will serve, particularly when pressure is put on the top of the cover by the users thumb, to tend to move these two tablets into the now emptied dispensing pocket.

As it will be understood 'from the foregoing description, the raised gripping ribs, such as the letter V, on the cover provides sufficient indicating means to enable the user to inmediately distinguish the top of the container from the smooth bottom thereof in pitch darkness and so that when self-medication is required, the container may always be held in proper position so that the contents thereof will not spill out upon the ground, when the cover is slid to open position. The construction and arrangement whereby the cover may be slid in either direction to opened position also makes it possoible for the user to hold the container in either hand and slide the cover rearwardly to uncover the dispensing pocket which is located towards the foreflnger of the users hand.

As the cover is of relatively thin material, it may be readily sprung to detach the side flanges thereof from the ribs I8 to remove it from or replace it on the box. The central partition, however, being of the same height as the side walls serves to brace the cover and prevent distortion thereof in the ordinary use or manipulation of the box.

The constructional details of the container shown and described are such that due to the separation of the tablets by the central partition, which is so spaced from the side walls as to permit but a very limited movement of the tablets, although a container filled with tablets may be subjected to considerable shaking and jarring in transportation and in the soldiers kit, the tablets will not be crushed or broken but will remain intact until used. Furthermore, these constructional details are also such that the container may be very readily and cheaply manufactured of transparent plastics or any other suitable material by the use of comparatively simple and inexpensive molding dies. y

As the container herein disclosed is one wherein the cover may be slid in either direction for dispensing purposes, either end wall could be considered the front wall of the box depending upon how the box may be held in the users hand. It will, therefore, be understood that the term rear as used in the claims is merely relative and is intended to refer to that side of the cover projection 20 which faces inwardly towards the transverse center line of the box. It will likewise be understood that the description and definition of the depressed recesses as being shaped to conform to the size and shape of the tablets to be dispensed is, of course, intended to refer to the cross sectionalv contour of the tablets considered in the horizontal plane of the drawings and not to the size and shape of the tablets considered vertically.

While I have shown a satisfactory constructional example, it will, of course, be understood that many changes, variations and modifications in the constructionai details thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

f' Iclaim: l

1. A dispensing container consisting of a' shallow box adapted to contain a plurality of substantially at medicinal tablets arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows, a partition projecting upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of said box for separating 'the tablets in one row from those in an adjacent row, a cover slidably secured to said box and having on each end wail thereof a depending flange projecting inwardly towards the bottom of said box, the central part of said partition being of a height such as to be engaged by either of said cover flanges to act as a stop to limit the opening movement of said cover as. it is slid longitudinally of said box.

2. A dispensing container consisting of a shallowbox adapted to contain a plurality of substantially flat medicinal Atablets arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows, a partition projecting upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of said box for separating the tablets in one row from those in an adjacent row, a cover slidably secured to said box and having on each end Wall thereof a depending flange projecting inwardly towards the bottom of said box, said partition having a pair of portions thereof which project upwardly beyond the lower edges of said anges and each of which portions are spaced from vthe adjacent end wall of said box a disktance substantially equal to the width of a tablet to be dispensed whereby each of said portions of said partition will be engaged by the ange on the adjacent end wall of said cover to limit the l opening movement of said cover as it is slid in either direction from closed to open position thereby to expose a pre-determined number only of the tablets within said box for dispensing purposes.

3. A dispensing container comprising, a shallow box adapted to.contain a plurality of substantially flat medicinal tablets --arranged in 4a plurality of longitudinal rows, said box having a. bottom, a pair of side walls and a pairof end walls, a longitudinally extending partition projecting upwardly'and inwardly from the bottom of said box for separating the tablets in-one row from those in an adjacent row and for, restricting movement of said tablets transversely of said box, said partition adjacent the central portion of said box being of substantially the same height as lthe side walls of said box, a cover mounted for longitudinal slidable movement on said box and having on each end thercofa projection which extends inwardly of said cover towards the bottom of said box and transversely of said box on each. side of said partition to engage the ends of the tablets on each side of said partition, the bottom of said box adjacent each end wall thereof having a recess of a depth such that the tops of the tablets seated within said recess will lie below the projection on said cover, whereby said projection will clear the tablets in said recess as said cover is slid from closed to opened position and said projection will act as a barrier Ato prevent tablets within said box to the rear of said projection from passing into said recess, the ends of said central portion of said partition being spaced from the end walls of said box 'a distance substantially equal to the width of the tablets to be dispensed whereby said partition will act as a stop to limit the opening movement of said cover as it is slid from closed to opened position thereby to expose for dispensing only those tablets seated within one of said recesses.

4. A dispensing container comprising, a shallow box adapted to contain a plurality of substantiallyfiat medicinal tablets arranged in a plurality of longitudinal rows, said box having a bottom, a pair of side walls and a pair oil-end walls, a longitudinally extending partition projecting upwardly and inwardly from the bottom of said (box for separating the tablets in one row from those in an adjacent row and for restricting movement of said tablets transversely of said box, said partition adjacent the central portion of said box being of substantially the same height as the side walls of said box, a cover mounted for longitudinal slidable movement on said box and having on each end thereof a projection which extends inwardly of said dover towards the bottom of said box and transversely of said box on each side of said partition to engage the ends of the tablets on each side ofA said partition, the bottom of said box adjacent each end wall thereof having a recess of a depth sufficient such that the tops of the tablets seated Within said recess will lie below the projection on said cover whereby said projection will clear the tablets in said recess as said cover is slid from closed y,to opened position and said projection will act as a barrier to prevent tablets within said box rto the rear of said projection from passing into said recess, the

ends of said central portion of saidpartition being spaced from the end Walls of said box a distance substantially equal to the width oi' the tablets to be dispensed whereby said partition will act as a stop to limit the opening movement of said cover as it is slid from closed to opened position thereby to expose i'or dispensing only those tablets seated within said recess,and means carried bysaid cover and projecting inwardly o1' said box for frictionally engaging the tops of the tablets located immediately to the rear of said projection when said cover is in opened position and tending to move said tablets into said recess when said cover isslid from opened to closed position.

,f CHARLES H. DUELL.

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