PILL DISPENSER CANISTER HAVING DUAL RESERVOIRS

• US 20110278319A1
• Filed: 05/11/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QEM Incorporated
• Original Assignee: QEM Incorporated
• Inventors: Knoth, Norman D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,261,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 221/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills includes a dispensing reservoir and a backup reservoir. Pills (solid medications such as pills, capsules and caplets) are stored in both reservoirs but dispensed only from the dispensing reservoir until the dispensing reservoir is empty, at which time, the dual-reservoir canister is tilted to pour the pills from the backup reservoir into the dispensing reservoir. An access door is provided to refill the backup reservoir and, in some embodiments, the access door includes an extension that prevents pills from accidentally falling into the dispensing reservoir while the backup reservoir is refilled.

Claims

1. A dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills, the canister comprising:

a dispensing reservoir for holding a first supply of pills;

a backup reservoir for holding a second supply of pills;

a partial partition separates the dispensing reservoir from the backup reservoir and provides a passageway for transferring pills from the backup reservoir to the dispensing reservoir;

a pill dispensing mechanism that releases a desired quantity of the first supply of pills from the dispensing reservoir at a target location;

an access door for filling the backup reservoir; and

a passageway between the backup reservoir and the dispensing reservoir for transferring pills from the backup reservoir to the dispensing reservoir.

2. The dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills of claim 1, further comprising a canister identification device, the identification device externally readable.

3. The dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills of claim 2, wherein the canister identification device is an RFID.

4. The dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills of claim 2, wherein the canister identification device is a bar code.

5. The dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills of claim 1, wherein the access door is hingedly coupled to the dual-reservoir canister.

6. The dual-reservoir canister for dispensing pills of claim 1, wherein the access door includes an access door extension whereby the access door extension at least partially blocks the passageway when the access door is open.

7. A method for dispensing pills, the method comprising:

providing a device for dispensing pills comprising;

a plurality of dual-reservoir canisters, each having;

a dispensing reservoir for holding a first supply of pills;

a backup reservoir for holding a second supply of pills;

a partial partition separating the dispensing reservoir from the backup reservoir and providing a passageway for transferring pills from the backup reservoir to the dispensing reservoir;

a pill dispensing mechanism that releases a desired quantity of the first supply of pills from the dispensing reservoir at a target location;

an access door for filling the backup reservoir;

a passageway between the backup reservoir and the dispensing reservoir for transferring pills from the backup reservoir to the dispensing reservoir;

selecting one of the dual-reservoir canisters;

dispensing pills from the dispensing reservoir until the dispensing reservoir is empty;

transferring pills from the backup reservoir through the passageway and into the dispensing reservoir; and

continuing with dispensing pills from the dispensing reservoir.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

opening the access door; and

filling the backup reservoir with a supply of pills.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the dual-reservoir canisters includes a canister identification device, the identification device externally readable.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the canister identification device is an RFID.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the canister identification device is a bar code.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the access door is hingedly coupled to the dual-reservoir canister.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the access door includes an access door extension whereas the step of opening the access door includes the step of at least partially blocking the passageway.

14. A canister for dispensing medications, the canister comprising:

at least one reservoir for holding medications;

an access door for filling one of the at least one reservoirs with medications; and

a canister identification device, the identification device is externally readable.

15. The canister for dispensing medications of claim 14, wherein the canister identification device is an RFID.

16. The canister for dispensing medications of claim 14, wherein the canister identification device is a bar code.

17. The canister for dispensing medications of claim 14, wherein the medications are in pill form and the at least one reservoir comprises:

a dispensing reservoir for holding a first supply of the medications;

a backup reservoir for holding a second supply of the medications; and

a partial partition separating the dispensing reservoir from the backup reservoir and providing a passageway for transferring pills from the backup reservoir to the dispensing reservoir;

wherein the access door is interfaced with the backup reservoir for filling the backup reservoir with medications.

18. The canister for dispensing medications of claim 14, wherein the medications are in sheets.

19. The canister for dispensing medications of claim 14, wherein the medication is liquid.

20. The canister for dispensing medications of claim 14, wherein the medication is powder.