Pill dispensing container elements and methods
First Claim
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1. A pill dispensing apparatus defining one element of a pill container for holding a quantity of pills, said apparatus comprising:
- a base having first and second oppositely oriented funneling structures defined therein, a first opening providing a gravity fed outlet from said first funneling structure and a second opening providing a gravity fed outlet from said second funneling structure, said first funneling structure configured to open to the contained quantity of pills; and
a rotatable structure including at least a first pill acceptor for receiving a gravity fed pill through said first opening, said rotatable structure rotatably connectable with said base for moving a pill received at said pill acceptor to a position in register with said second funneling structure.
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Abstract
A pill dispenser apparatus embodied in a pill container element, and method of dispensing one pill at a time from a container, are disclosed. The user may dispense a pill from the container by inverting the container, rotating the top, and returning the container to its upright position. A pill will then exit the apparatus under the force of gravity via a discharge opening.
60 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pill dispensing apparatus defining one element of a pill container for holding a quantity of pills, said apparatus comprising:
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a base having first and second oppositely oriented funneling structures defined therein, a first opening providing a gravity fed outlet from said first funneling structure and a second opening providing a gravity fed outlet from said second funneling structure, said first funneling structure configured to open to the contained quantity of pills; and
a rotatable structure including at least a first pill acceptor for receiving a gravity fed pill through said first opening, said rotatable structure rotatably connectable with said base for moving a pill received at said pill acceptor to a position in register with said second funneling structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A pill dispensing apparatus for dispensing pills from a container, said apparatus comprising:
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a rotatable cover including locating means for rotatably locating said cover, and first and second pill acceptors defined at an inwardly facing surface thereof, said acceptors located oppositely one another at each side of said locating means; and
a base associated with the pill container and including an outer wall having an opening therethrough and an inner volume, said inner volume segmented to provide first and second side by side oppositely oriented funneling structures, said first funneling structure opening to the pill container and funneling to an outlet and said second funneling structure funneling to said opening through said outer wall, said base having support means associatable with said locating means of said rotatable cover for rotatably supporting said rotatable cover;
wherein said outlet from said first funneling structure is positionable adjacent to said inwardly facing surface of said rotatable cover when said locating means and support means are associated so that said outlet can be selectively brought into register with said pill acceptors when said cover is rotated. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A pill dispensing method for dispensing pills through an element of a pill container that holds a quantity of pills, said method comprising the steps of:
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inverting the pill container so that the element is located below the quantity of pills;
funneling pills to a pill acceptor;
rotating the pill acceptor having a pill therein to a drop location;
turning the pill container to an upright position so that the pill drops from the pill acceptor; and
funneling the dropped pill to an outlet opening at a side of the element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification