Dispensing cartridge
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of items;
a chute coupled to the reservoir, the chute including a chute path to direct at least one of the items into a position for dispensing;
a housing about the reservoir and the chute;
a cap for the housing, the cap including a dispensing hole, and the cap movably coupled relative to the chute to permit the dispensing hole to move into and out of alignment with the position for dispensing;
an agitator positionable within the reservoir;
an actuator mechanically coupled to the agitator and the cap, the actuator configured to concurrently move the agitator within the reservoir to agitate the items and move the cap relative to the chute to align the dispensing hole with the position for dispensing;
a first sleeve of the housing, the first sleeve including first sleeve walls and a base comprising the cap, the first sleeve further including the agitator;
a second sleeve of the housing including second sleeve walls and a top, the second sleeve slidably engaged with the first sleeve such that, when a pressing force normal to the cap is applied to an end of the device, the first sleeve and the second sleeve slide relative to one another along the first and second sleeve walls thereby creating a compressed state for the device where the base and the top are separated by a smaller distance than a distance between the base and the top when the device is in an uncompressed state; and
a dispenser tube protruding through the base of the first sleeve and including an item seat, wherein the item seat is concealed by the base of the first sleeve when the device is in the uncompressed state, and wherein the item seat is exposed when the device is in the compressed state,wherein the chute is disposed within the second sleeve, and wherein the chute includes an item hole and an agitator hole,wherein the dispenser tube is situated below the item hole, andwherein, when the first sleeve and the second sleeve slide relative to one another to create the compressed state for the device, the agitator protrudes through the agitator hole of the chute thereby agitating the items and directing one of the items through the item hole and onto the item seat of the dispenser tube such that one of the items is exposed when the device is in the compressed state.
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Abstract
A dispensing cartridge may be improved by the inclusion of an actuator and an agitator. Specifically, activation of the actuator may move the agitator within the cartridge to agitate the items and to direct one of the items into a position for dispensing. Concurrently, activation of the actuator may move a cap of the cartridge to align a dispensing hole with the position for dispensing, thereby allowing for the dispensing of a single item.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of items; a chute coupled to the reservoir, the chute including a chute path to direct at least one of the items into a position for dispensing; a housing about the reservoir and the chute; a cap for the housing, the cap including a dispensing hole, and the cap movably coupled relative to the chute to permit the dispensing hole to move into and out of alignment with the position for dispensing; an agitator positionable within the reservoir; an actuator mechanically coupled to the agitator and the cap, the actuator configured to concurrently move the agitator within the reservoir to agitate the items and move the cap relative to the chute to align the dispensing hole with the position for dispensing; a first sleeve of the housing, the first sleeve including first sleeve walls and a base comprising the cap, the first sleeve further including the agitator; a second sleeve of the housing including second sleeve walls and a top, the second sleeve slidably engaged with the first sleeve such that, when a pressing force normal to the cap is applied to an end of the device, the first sleeve and the second sleeve slide relative to one another along the first and second sleeve walls thereby creating a compressed state for the device where the base and the top are separated by a smaller distance than a distance between the base and the top when the device is in an uncompressed state; and a dispenser tube protruding through the base of the first sleeve and including an item seat, wherein the item seat is concealed by the base of the first sleeve when the device is in the uncompressed state, and wherein the item seat is exposed when the device is in the compressed state, wherein the chute is disposed within the second sleeve, and wherein the chute includes an item hole and an agitator hole, wherein the dispenser tube is situated below the item hole, and wherein, when the first sleeve and the second sleeve slide relative to one another to create the compressed state for the device, the agitator protrudes through the agitator hole of the chute thereby agitating the items and directing one of the items through the item hole and onto the item seat of the dispenser tube such that one of the items is exposed when the device is in the compressed state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification