US3773215A - Pill dispenser with resilient, integral, extended wall portion forming a sliding gate - Google Patents

Pill dispenser with resilient, integral, extended wall portion forming a sliding gate Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3773215A
US3773215A US00153663A US3773215DA US3773215A US 3773215 A US3773215 A US 3773215A US 00153663 A US00153663 A US 00153663A US 3773215D A US3773215D A US 3773215DA US 3773215 A US3773215 A US 3773215A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
wall
dispenser
end portion
strip
box
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00153663A
Inventor
G Makarevitz
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TIROS PLASTICS CORP
Original Assignee
TIROS PLASTICS CORP
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by TIROS PLASTICS CORP filed Critical TIROS PLASTICS CORP
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3773215A publication Critical patent/US3773215A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B65D83/0409—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2583/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D2583/04—For dispensing annular, disc-shaped or spherical or like small articles or tablets
    • B65D2583/0472—For dispensing annular, disc-shaped or spherical or like small articles or tablets characterised by the dispensing action
    • B65D2583/0477—For dispensing annular, disc-shaped or spherical or like small articles or tablets characterised by the dispensing action the container is maintained in the same position during the dispensing of several successive articles or doses
    • B65D2583/0481—One reciprocating action, e.g. to or from

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A dispenser for tablets or like items in the form of a covered box, a portion of the wall of the box being resilient and deflectable inwardly to open a dispensing passage for one or more items while restraining the remainder of the contents.
  • the present invention relates to a dispenser package for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules, lonzenges, candies, chewing gum pieces, coins, tokens, small parts and similar items which are. desiredtobe dispensed singly or in small groups.
  • the dispenser is a simple plasticmolding in one or two pieces and. has no separate moving parts. It can be manufactured at a cost low enough to compete with nondispensing tablet packages or the like and is particularly suited to pocket orpurse size an.- algesic or alkalizer tablet packaging.
  • the dispenser canbe operated with one hand. with no risk of spillage of the remainder of the contents while providing excellent protection of the contents from; contamination. It requires no assembly during manufacture other than closing the cover.
  • the dispenser of the present invention comprises a box portion and a cover portion, the box portion including a member in the form. of a strip which, in the closed or nondispensing condition,.is a continuation of. the wall with which it is integral, and. in the dispensing. position is resiliently deflected to open an exit passage for one or a few tablets while restraining theremainder.
  • FIG. I is a plan view of the dispenser'of the. present invention shown with a transparent cover for clarity
  • FIG. 2 is an elevational view in section taken along line 2-2 of.
  • FIG. 1
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cover
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dispenser as molded
  • FIG. 5' is. an elevational' view in section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
  • the pill dispenser as illustrated is in the form. ofan' integrally molded box and aseparate'cover 20'.
  • The. cover is shown in transparent: plastic to better reveal the interior details.
  • the box is preferably. molded of a plastic such as polypropylenehaving. great resistance to: flexure fatigue.
  • the cover I0 may be molded of 'any of several plastic materials but ispreferably molded of styrene if transparency is desired.
  • An upstanding peripheral wall. 1 3 is molded. integral with a generally flat floor 11 to form the box 10tInFIG. l, the wall extends clockwise from the. dispensing opening region 5 around the periphery of thebox to a point near the opposite side of the dispensing zone.
  • Strip I5 is an integralextension of wall 13- and is free to be. deflected inwardly of the box.
  • a fixed? interior wall segment 16 extends inwardly of the box from the region where. the strip and wall- 13 merge.
  • a further interior wall or baffle 14: is molded. integral. with the floor and wall generally opposite to the wall segment 16.
  • the strip 15 includes agroove 1.7 to constitute a hinge joint of the variety often calleda living. hinge.
  • the portion 18' of the strip beyond the'hinge. I7 is surmounted by a finger'tab or buttonshown as being in the shape of an arrow 19 and connected to. the strip by a neck 12.
  • the resilientproperties of the plastic of the box are used to cause the: strip 15 to-tendto lie in the position shownin FIG. I- when unstressed: to assume the appearance of acontinuouswall.
  • the cover 20 is flat with a rabbeted edge 24 which slides in a groove on the interior of box wall 13 in a manner well known for covers.
  • the cover 20 may be permanently atfi'xed to the box 10 by solvent or thermal welding or the like if refilling of the dispenser is to be prevented.
  • the cover and box can be molded integrally witha living hinge.
  • the cover in cludesia slot 23, which forms a track for guiding sliding movement. of the neck 12 which connects the tab 19 and strip. I5.
  • the strip 15 and finger tab 19 occupy the closed position shown in FIG. 1 thereby closing the dispensing opening 5.
  • the strip 15' assumes a shape which is a continuation of the wall. of the dispenser to present a neat appearance and to exclude foreign matter from the dispensing opening region: 5.
  • the portion 18 of the strip beyond hinge 17, in the relaxed or closed. position, forms a barrier across thetablet passage leadingto the dispensing opening region.
  • the tablets are retained behind barrier 18 a substantial distance: from the dispensing opening.
  • twobarriers are presented tothe ingress of foreign matter and the tablets are kept remote from the entrance as-a further precaution against contamination.
  • the tab 19 is moved along the-track defined by cover slot 23 toward the center of the dispenser in the direction suggested by the arrow shape of the tab 19..
  • Barrier portion 18'and the remainder' of strip- 15 move with'the tab 1 9 tounblock the discharge opening 5..
  • the strip is deflected to the position shown in FIG. 4 in dotted lines. Any tablets which are resident in the exit passage are thus freed to slide out of the opening.
  • barrier portion 18 of strip 15- is moved to block the entrance tothe exit passage by obstructing the region between baffle 14 and the wall segment 16' thereby preventing the remaining tablets from escaping.
  • the spacing and position. of baffle l4and'wall segment 16 in relation to the size; of the tablets assures that they move in single file toward the exit.
  • the number of tablets simultaneously dispensed is determined by the room available in the exit: passage behind barrier portion 18. As illustrated,
  • a dispenser for tablets or like items comprising a resilient plastic box and a cover, the box having a flat floor and an integral peripheral wall, a portion of said wall' being free of attachment to said floor to constitute a resilient strip, said strip terminating in a free end portion, the free end portion being integrally hingedly attached to the remainder of the strip, said free end portion including a finger tab and intervening neck portion, the cover including a slot in which said neck portion can slide with the finger tab external of the cover, the strip being deflected inwardly of the box as the finger tab and neck slide inwardly of the cover slot to provide a dispensing opening in the peripheral wall, said box including an integral interior wall extending from the peripheral wall adjacent the attached end of the strip toward the dispensing opening to guide items dispensing opening.

Abstract

A dispenser for tablets or like items in the form of a covered box, a portion of the wall of the box being resilient and deflectable inwardly to open a dispensing passage for one or more items while restraining the remainder of the contents.

Description

United States Patent Makarevitz Nov. 20, 1973 PILL DISPENSER WITH RESILIENT, INTEGRAL, EXTENDED WALL PORTION FORMING A SLIDING GATE [75 Inventor: George Makarevitz, East White Plains, NY.
[7 3 Assignee: Tiros Plastecs Corporation, White Plains, NY.
[22] Filed: June 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 153,663
[52] US. Cl. 221/64, 221/289 51 Int. Cl B65d 83/04 [58] Field of Search 221/64, 243, 246, 221/289; 206/42 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,348,449 5/1944 Chandler 206/42 X 3,554,366 1/1971 Corll 206/42 Primary Examiner-Robeit B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E Kocovsky AttorneyDavis, Hoxie, Faithful! & Hapgood ABSTRACT A dispenser for tablets or like items in the form of a covered box, a portion of the wall of the box being resilient and deflectable inwardly to open a dispensing passage for one or more items while restraining the remainder of the contents.
7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PILL DISPENSER WITH? RESILl-ENT, INTEGRAL, EXTENDED WALL PORTION FORMING A SLIDING. GATE The present invention relates to a dispenser package for dispensing pills, tablets, capsules, lonzenges, candies, chewing gum pieces, coins, tokens, small parts and similar items which are. desiredtobe dispensed singly or in small groups. The dispenser is a simple plasticmolding in one or two pieces and. has no separate moving parts. It can be manufactured at a cost low enough to compete with nondispensing tablet packages or the like and is particularly suited to pocket orpurse size an.- algesic or alkalizer tablet packaging. The dispenser canbe operated with one hand. with no risk of spillage of the remainder of the contents while providing excellent protection of the contents from; contamination. It requires no assembly during manufacture other than closing the cover.
The dispenser of the present invention comprises a box portion and a cover portion, the box portion including a member in the form. of a strip which, in the closed or nondispensing condition,.is a continuation of. the wall with which it is integral, and. in the dispensing. position is resiliently deflected to open an exit passage for one or a few tablets while restraining theremainder.
In the drawings:
FIG. I is a plan view of the dispenser'of the. present invention shown with a transparent cover for clarity,
FIG. 2 is an elevational view in section taken along line 2-2 of. FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cover,
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dispenser as molded, and
FIG. 5' is. an elevational' view in section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.
The pill dispenser as illustrated is in the form. ofan' integrally molded box and aseparate'cover 20'. The. cover is shown in transparent: plastic to better reveal the interior details. The box is preferably. molded of a plastic such as polypropylenehaving. great resistance to: flexure fatigue. The cover I0 may be molded of 'any of several plastic materials but ispreferably molded of styrene if transparency is desired.
An upstanding peripheral wall. 1 3 is molded. integral with a generally flat floor 11 to form the box 10tInFIG. l, the wall extends clockwise from the. dispensing opening region 5 around the periphery of thebox to a point near the opposite side of the dispensing zone. The wall there merges with a. strip l5'which is not afi'ixedto the box floor l 1. Strip I5 is an integralextension of wall 13- and is free to be. deflected inwardly of the box. A fixed? interior wall segment 16 extends inwardly of the box from the region where. the strip and wall- 13 merge. A further interior wall or baffle 14: is molded. integral. with the floor and wall generally opposite to the wall segment 16. The strip 15 includes agroove 1.7 to constitute a hinge joint of the variety often calleda living. hinge. The portion 18' of the strip beyond the'hinge. I7 is surmounted by a finger'tab or buttonshown as being in the shape of an arrow 19 and connected to. the strip by a neck 12. The resilientproperties of the plastic of the box are used to cause the: strip 15 to-tendto lie in the position shownin FIG. I- when unstressed: to assume the appearance of acontinuouswall.
The cover 20 is flat with a rabbeted edge 24 which slides in a groove on the interior of box wall 13 in a manner well known for covers. The cover 20 may be permanently atfi'xed to the box 10 by solvent or thermal welding or the like if refilling of the dispenser is to be prevented. Alternatively, the cover and box can be molded integrally witha living hinge. The cover in cludesia slot 23, which forms a track for guiding sliding movement. of the neck 12 which connects the tab 19 and strip. I5.
Until dispensing of tablets A is desired, the strip 15 and finger tab 19 occupy the closed position shown in FIG. 1 thereby closing the dispensing opening 5. The strip 15' assumes a shape which is a continuation of the wall. of the dispenser to present a neat appearance and to exclude foreign matter from the dispensing opening region: 5. The portion 18 of the strip beyond hinge 17, in the relaxed or closed. position, forms a barrier across thetablet passage leadingto the dispensing opening region. The tablets are retained behind barrier 18 a substantial distance: from the dispensing opening. Thus, twobarriers are presented tothe ingress of foreign matter and the tablets are kept remote from the entrance as-a further precaution against contamination.
To operate the dispenser, the tab 19 is moved along the-track defined by cover slot 23 toward the center of the dispenser in the direction suggested by the arrow shape of the tab 19.. Barrier portion 18'and the remainder' of strip- 15 move with'the tab 1 9 tounblock the discharge opening 5.. The strip is deflected to the position shown in FIG. 4 in dotted lines. Any tablets which are resident in the exit passage are thus freed to slide out of the opening. In the dispensing position just described and shown. in dotted: lines in FIG. 4, barrier portion 18 of strip 15- is moved to block the entrance tothe exit passage by obstructing the region between baffle 14 and the wall segment 16' thereby preventing the remaining tablets from escaping. The spacing and position. of baffle l4and'wall segment 16 in relation to the size; of the tablets assures that they move in single file toward the exit. The number of tablets simultaneously dispensed is determined by the room available in the exit: passage behind barrier portion 18. As illustrated,
' twotablets are dispensed simultaneously.
I width: of one item to bar the remaining items from. the
passage.
2. The dispenser of claim 1' wherein at least the said end portion of the wall is a resilient plastic.
3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the end portion of the wall includes a further portion hingedly attached to the. remainder of said end wall portion and said further portion-extends across said interior passage when the wall is deflected;
4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cover includes aslot for guiding the motion of the end portion.
5. The. dispenser of claim 4 wherein an exterior finger tab is connectedto the end portion.
6. A dispenser for tablets or like items comprising a resilient plastic box and a cover, the box having a flat floor and an integral peripheral wall, a portion of said wall' being free of attachment to said floor to constitute a resilient strip, said strip terminating in a free end portion, the free end portion being integrally hingedly attached to the remainder of the strip, said free end portion including a finger tab and intervening neck portion, the cover including a slot in which said neck portion can slide with the finger tab external of the cover, the strip being deflected inwardly of the box as the finger tab and neck slide inwardly of the cover slot to provide a dispensing opening in the peripheral wall, said box including an integral interior wall extending from the peripheral wall adjacent the attached end of the strip toward the dispensing opening to guide items dispensing opening.

Claims (7)

1. A dispenser for tablets or like items comprising a box having a floor and an integral peripheral wall, an end portion of the wall being free of attachment to the floor and adapted for inward deflection to form a dispensing opening, a passage interior of the box to lead the items toward the opening, the end portion of the wall when deflected extending across said passage at a distance remote from said opening at least equal to the width of one item to bar the remaining items from the passage.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least the said end portion of the wall is a resilient plastic.
3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the end portion of the wall includes a further portion hingedly attached to the remainder of said end wall portion and said further portion extends across said interior passage when the wall is deflected.
4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the cover includes a slot for guiding the motion of the end portion.
5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein an exterior finger tab is connected to the end portion.
6. A dispenser for tablets or like items comprising a resilient plastic box and a cover, the box having a flat floor and an integral peripheral wall, a portion of said wall being free of attachment to said floor to constitute a resilient strip, said strip terminating in a free end portion, the free end portion being integrally hingedly attached to the remainder of the strip, said free end portion including a finger tab and intervening neck portion, the cover including a slot in which said neck portion can slide with the finger tab external of the cover, the strip being deflected inwardly of the box as the finger tab and neck slide inwArdly of the cover slot to provide a dispensing opening in the peripheral wall, said box including an integral interior wall extending from the peripheral wall adjacent the attached end of the strip toward the dispensing opening to guide items toward the dispensing opening.
7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the box includes a further integral interior wall portion extending from the peripheral wall generally opposite to the other interior wall to define therebetween a passage, the cover slot extending to guide the free end portion of the strip to a position obstructing the passage between the interior wall portions when the strip is deflected to open the dispensing opening.
US00153663A 1971-06-16 1971-06-16 Pill dispenser with resilient, integral, extended wall portion forming a sliding gate Expired - Lifetime US3773215A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15366371A 1971-06-16 1971-06-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3773215A true US3773215A (en) 1973-11-20

Family

ID=22548179

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00153663A Expired - Lifetime US3773215A (en) 1971-06-16 1971-06-16 Pill dispenser with resilient, integral, extended wall portion forming a sliding gate

Country Status (12)

Country Link
US (1) US3773215A (en)
AR (1) AR194944A1 (en)
AU (1) AU454618B2 (en)
BR (1) BR7201175D0 (en)
CA (1) CA952868A (en)
CH (1) CH535681A (en)
DE (1) DE2209185A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2127837A5 (en)
GB (1) GB1313279A (en)
IT (1) IT953464B (en)
NL (1) NL7202342A (en)
ZA (1) ZA721190B (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040094567A1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2004-05-20 Neil Pollock Tablet dispenser for dispensing individual tablets
US20050155873A1 (en) * 2004-01-16 2005-07-21 Harris Cohen Combined toothpick and mint dispenser
US20060049202A1 (en) * 2003-03-14 2006-03-09 Martin Presche Tablet dispenser
US20060251779A1 (en) * 2005-05-09 2006-11-09 Rathbone Jonathan E Comestible product dispenser including a tensioned cover and method of using same

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2348449A (en) * 1941-03-28 1944-05-09 Chandler Alfred John George Container delivering articles singly
US3554366A (en) * 1969-01-13 1971-01-12 James A Corll Child-safe actuating device for normally sealed containers

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2348449A (en) * 1941-03-28 1944-05-09 Chandler Alfred John George Container delivering articles singly
US3554366A (en) * 1969-01-13 1971-01-12 James A Corll Child-safe actuating device for normally sealed containers

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040094567A1 (en) * 2000-10-13 2004-05-20 Neil Pollock Tablet dispenser for dispensing individual tablets
US20060049202A1 (en) * 2003-03-14 2006-03-09 Martin Presche Tablet dispenser
US20050155873A1 (en) * 2004-01-16 2005-07-21 Harris Cohen Combined toothpick and mint dispenser
US7066349B2 (en) 2004-01-16 2006-06-27 Harris Cohen Combined toothpick and mint dispenser
US20060251779A1 (en) * 2005-05-09 2006-11-09 Rathbone Jonathan E Comestible product dispenser including a tensioned cover and method of using same
WO2006122135A1 (en) 2005-05-09 2006-11-16 Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Comestible product dispenser including a tensioned cover and method of using same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AR194944A1 (en) 1973-08-30
CA952868A (en) 1974-08-13
NL7202342A (en) 1972-12-19
ZA721190B (en) 1972-10-25
BR7201175D0 (en) 1973-05-17
AU454618B2 (en) 1974-10-04
IT953464B (en) 1973-08-10
GB1313279A (en) 1973-04-11
DE2209185A1 (en) 1972-12-21
CH535681A (en) 1973-04-15
AU3938572A (en) 1973-10-25
FR2127837A5 (en) 1972-10-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4610371A (en) Tamper evident dispensing closure assembly
US3782584A (en) Pill box having safety sliding closure
US8281930B2 (en) Child-resistant medicate container
US2853206A (en) Dispensing tablet container
US4475654A (en) Storage and individualized dosage container
US3638830A (en) Pill dispenser with top rotatable relative to base
US5386795A (en) Combination pill bottle cap and indicator device
US5782359A (en) Child proof pill container
US3678884A (en) Dispensing and recording container
CA1161400A (en) Tamper indicating closure
US4262802A (en) Packaging and dispensing pill box
US4420083A (en) Pill bottles
US4917253A (en) Container-closure with fold over projections
US3581885A (en) Blister package
US3964609A (en) Dispensing container assembly
US2886208A (en) Special dispensing package
EP0151242A2 (en) Tamper-evident dispensing closure
ES2040469T3 (en) DISPENSER CLOSURE.
BR9907504A (en) Dispensing packaging for fluent products and manufacturing methods
US20130075418A1 (en) Pill Dispenser
EP0531394A4 (en) Dispensing container for tablets
US3871551A (en) Pill dispenser with pill actuated time indicator
US4741433A (en) Child resistant box
US3773215A (en) Pill dispenser with resilient, integral, extended wall portion forming a sliding gate
US3586208A (en) Dispenser