US3061082A

US3061082A - Dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3061082A
Application number: US765448A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack E Schenker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-10-06
Filing date: 1958-10-06
Publication date: 1962-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1979-10-30

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 J. E. SCHENKER DISPENSER Filed Oct. 6, 1958 United States Patent Olice.

Bhlg Patented Oct. 30, 1962 spsnasz DISPENSER .lach E. Schenker, 2301 Wabansia Ave., Chicago, Ill. Fiied Get. 6, 1953, Ser. No. 765,448 s claims. (ci. 20e-42) The invention relates generally to containers and dispensers and more particularly to a dispenser for small pellets and the like.

The invention has particular application to containers or dispensers for pellets or pills, such as aspirin and other medicinal preparations, which are so designed that only a single pellet may be discharged from the container at one time, and in which one of the pellets may be utilized as a part of the actuating means for opening the container to discharge a pellet, the arrangement preferably being such that the pellet utilized to actuate the structure is the second pellet in the discharge line whereby only the leading pellet can thus be discharged from the container.

Another object of the invention is the production of a dispensing container having the above features which may be readily fabricated from plastic or the like, formed as a one-piece structure and which is exceedingly simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and presents an attractive appearance.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a dispenser which is so designed that it may be readily operated and at the same time normally retain the contents in a clean, protected condition.

Many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

IIn the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pellet dispenser embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken approximately on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view simliar to FIG. 2 but with the structure illustrated in a pellet discharging position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 4 4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 of a method form of construction;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 6 6 of FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but with the structure illustrated in pellet discharging position;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 8--8 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a modified form of wall structure.

The present invention contemplates the use of a structure wherein the discharging mechanism may be actuated through one of the pellets, preferably the second pellet in the discharge line thereby insuring that only the leading pellet will be discharged when the structure is open. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, this is accomplished by utilizing a container structure which has an internal depth of approximately the thickness of hte pellets to be dispensed with the discharge opening being formed by movement of a portion of one Wall of the structure by applying pressure to the opposite wall thereof which pressure is transmitted through one of the pellets to the opposite wall.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a container having a pair of generally rectangular shaped walls 2 and 3 connected byrelatively

narrow edge walls

4 and 5, the construction being such that the container may be readily fabricated out of light plastic, with the desired Wall portions, or a part thereof being molded therewith or otherwise formed. While the shape of the container. may be varied, it is believed that the rectangular shape illustrated is particularly suitable with respect to simplicity, ease in manufacture, use, etc.

Positioned in the container is a partition wall 6 which is spaced from the adjacent side wall 4 a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the pellets which are to be contained therein, with the partition wall 6 extending from the adjacent end Wall 5 to a point beyond the center of the container as indicated at 7, operative to receive a plurality of pellets in seriatim relation.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the bottom lwall 3 of the container is provided with a slot 8 therein which extends substantially parallel to the adjacent side wall 4 to form an elongated tongue-like member 9, the outer edge of which is not secured to the edge wall 4 so that the only connection of the tongue is that formed at the base thereof with the wall 3. Consequently, the member 9 may be sprung to a position similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 with the member being bent outwardly from or adjacent its junction with the wall 3 to form a discharge opening for the pellets, the adjacent portions of the partition wall 6 and edge wall 4 forming a stop for the member 9 when the latter is in a closed position.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper wall 2 is provided with a U-shaped slot 11 therein, the leg portions of which terminate as indicated at 12 generally adjacent the end 13 of the slot 8. The slot 11 thus defines an actuating member 14 which is connected to the Wall 2 solely at its base whereby it may be moved inwardly by applying pressure thereto .as indicated in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the end of the actuating portion 14 is set back from the inner face of the adjacent edge wall 5 a distance greater than the diameter of a single pellet so that upon applying pressure to the member 14, it may engage the second pellet in the `discharge line. To facilitate the actuation of the member 14, a suitable button or knob 15 may be provided thereon, the latter being formed of suitable material as, for example, plastic; and cemented or other-wise attached thereto.

The device may be filled with pellets in any suitable manner as, for example, having pontions of the container either removable or detachable and effecting, following the loading operation, the nal assembly of the container. To discharge a pellet, the operator merely tilts the container to till the passageway between the partition 6- and the adjacent wall 4 with pellets, the container being held with the discharge end lowerrnost preferably at an angle, and pressure is applied to the button 15 to move the latter inwardly which will result in the member 14 engaging the second pellet in the discharge line, and upon additional movement of the member 14, such movement will be transmitted through the second pellet to the member 9 to spring the latter about its connection with the wall 3 substantailly as illustrated in FIG. 3. Upon suiiicient movement to spread the bottom edge of the member 9 as viewed in FIG. 3, a distance greater than the thickness of a pellet, the leading pellet will be discharge from the container. Obviously, as the next pellet is under compression between the

members

9 and 14 and is in fact the actuating means for opening the member 9, it will not be discharged. Upon release of the member 14, the originally second pellet may slide to the edge wall 5, thus becoming the leading pellet so that each time the button 15 is actuated only a single pellet will be discharged from the container.

Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that in the embodiment illustrated the member 14 is relatively narrow compared with the member 9, as a result of which it would be ditiicult to depress the member 114, in the absence of the button 1S. Consequently, the height of the knob or button may 'determine the limits of inward movement of the member 14 as the operators thumb or linger normally will be larger in thickness than the width of the member 14, so that such thumb or Vlinger will be restricted by the adjacent face of the wall 2 and lthe button will be depressed only 'to an amount to bring the top face thereof approximately flush with the plane of the wall 2.

It will be apparent that the present construction provides an extremely simple yet highly eiicient container and dispenser for pellets and the like, and which may be manufactured at very low cost, utilizing, if desired, plastics, etc.

Obviously, if desired more ornate arrangements could be employed utilizing the Vsame `general combination of elements.

FIGURES through 8 illustrate a modiue'd form of the invention, vthe construction being generally similar in operation but utilizing a centrally positioned discharge structure. The particular 'embodiment illustrated also utilizes a generally rectangular-shaped container having an upper wall 2 and a lower wall 3 connected by the

edge walls

4 and 5, and like the construction illustrated in FIGS. l to 4, readily adapts itself for fabrication from plastic or the like.

In this construction, the elongated partition wall 6 is generally U-shaped having a pair 4of leg portions `16 connected by an intermediate portion 17 with one of the leg portions, as indicated at 18, extending to the upper edge wall 5 as viewed in FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, the wall 3' is formed with a U-shaped slot S which, as illustrated in FIG. 5, is operative to form an elongated tongue-like member 9 connected to the wall 3' adjacent the free ends Vof the U-shaped slot 8'. In similar manner, the top wall 2' is provided with a generally U-shaped slot 11' which is operative to form an inwardly movable portion 14', the slot 11 having a semi-circular portion 19 of a size to permit the end of the member 14' to be engaged by the operators thumb. Y

In this construction, the pellets may be brought into the channel betweenthe legs 16 of the U-shaped wall 6' as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 8, and with the free end of the member 9 extending downwardly as illustrated in FIG. 5, by applying pressure to the member 14', the member 9' maybe moved outwardly as illustrated in FIG.

7 whereby a pellet may be discharged therefrom. As in 1 the case of the construction illustrated in FIGS. l through 3, the member 14 preferably is of a length to engage the second pellet in the discharge line whereby only a single pellet will be discharged each time the device is actuated. Ii desired, the member 9' may be provided with longitudinally extending shoulders ZI for retaining the pellets thereon as illustrated in FIG. 8.

While the containers may be suitably wrapped in a protective coating or the like to protect the same until usage, means may be provided directly on the container to form a sealed, or if desired, a partially sealed package, such a construction being illustrated in FIG. 9.

The Walls of the container may bel suitably formed, as for example, by a molding process or the like with a thin web 22 across th'e respective slots, that illustrated in FIG. 9 being indicated as the slot 8' between lthe tongue 9' and the wall 3. The web 22 preferably is so formed that it may be' readily fractured by pressure on the tongue 9 to sever the latter along the slot from the wall, or in some applications may b'e designed to bei fractured by applying pressure to the web with a knife blade orV other fiat, thin instrument. Y

In the oase of the construction illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, all of the slots 8' and 11', including the portion 19 may be so formed to effectively seal the container. IIn

the construction illustrated in FIGS. l to 4, such web may be limited to the slot 11, as the tongue 9 is illustrated as abutting the walls `4, 6 and 5 along its respective edges, without any open spaces, although if desired, a similar construction could be provided for the slot 8, and even for the other edges ofthe tongue in particular applications.

It will be appreciated that the dispensing mechanisms illustrated may also be employed with other containers, as for example, bottles and similar shaped containers having filler necks and the like, in which case the dispensing portion of the structure illustrated could be suitably designed for attachment to the ller structure of the container, as for example, by screw on threads, etc.

It will beV apparent from the above description that I have provided a very simple yet highly efficient dispenser which may have no separate parts and which may be very inexpensively manufactured. In some cases, the `container may be constructed as a reusable item in which case a filler opening could be placed in one wall of the structure and closed by a suitable cap member or the like.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and cornbination or parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a dispenser for pellets and the like, the combination of a generally rectangular shaped container structure adapted to receive generally disc-shaped pellets, said container having a depth slightly greater than the thickness of the pellets to be contained, forming a pair of oppositely disposed faces connected by relatively narrow edge walls, one of said face 'walls being formed to provide an elongated tongue-like member joined at one end to the wall body, the free end of said member being movable outwardly from the plane of the associated Wall to provide a discharge opening for the discharge therethrough of the contained pellets, said container having internal wall means operative to divide the container into a plurality of sections, one of which is substantially coextensive with said member, the width of the latter section being such that pellets therein will be in seriatim relation with respect to said discharge opening, the wall opposite said member being formed to provide an inwardly movable portion, the latter being adapted to engage the next to the leading pellet therebelow andl move the latter therewith and thereby to move said member to a position to discharge the leading pellet therefrom.

-2. A dispenserras defined in claim l wherein any edges of the movable elements and 'adjacent opposed wall edges, which are normally separated by a space, are initially joined by an integral web structure which is constructed for fracturing prior to dispensing operations, to operatively sever the movable elements from said walls.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim l, wherein one longitudinal edge of saidm'ember is defined by an edge of the wall t'o which it is connected, with said internal wail extending substantially parallel t0 edge Wall adjacent said edge of the member, and the erid edge of the latter being dened by another edge of the container.

4. A dispenser as dened in clair'irl, wherein said member is formed wholly within the contines' of the wall from which it is formed, `with said internal wall being generally U-'shaped and having one leg portion thereof connected to the adjacent edge wall of the container, said member having a shoulder along each longitudinal edge.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, wherein said inwardly movable portion is arranged to bear onthe second pellet with respect to said discharge opening, whereby only the leading pellet will be discharged.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein said inwardly movable portion is arranged to bear on the second pellet with respect to said discharge opening, whereby only the leading pellet will be discharged.

7. In a dispenser for pellets and the like, the combination of a pellet container structure having a pair of oppositely disposed walls between which a plurality of pellets may successively pass, said walls having oppositely disposed portions which are formed for movement transversely with respect to the normal planes thereof to expose a pellet discharge opening through which the pellets may be successively discharged, one of said portions being constructed for the manual application of force thereto to move the same transversely into engagement with a pellet disposed between said portions, the latter being so spaced that movement of said first mentioned portion will be transmitted through the engaged pellet to the other portion to expose the pellet discharge opening whereby another pellet disposed between said portions may be discharged through such opening, said first mentioned pellet being retained in the container by the frictional engagement thereof with said portions incident to eiecting movement of the latter into pelletdischarging relation.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 7, wherein the container is provided with internal wall means for guiding pellets into the dispensing structure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,035,246 Rea Mar. 24, 1936 2,415,859 Ancker Feb. 18, 1947 2,766,763 Shough Oct. 16, 1956 2,834,456 Langer May 13, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 170,094 Austria June 15, 1951 898,580

Germany Dec. 3, 1953