PILL DISPENSER HAVING CLOCKWORK FOR PERIODIC DISPENSING

• US 3,722,739 A
• Filed: 03/22/1971
• Issued: 03/27/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin Blumberg
• Original Assignee: Martin Blumberg
• Inventors: Blumberg, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Application Number:
  US05/126,526
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 221/15,16,3 222/70 116/121
• US Class Current: 221/3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0454 the whole forming a circular container with rotating parts B65D83/0463 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to a pill dispenser which is convenient to carry in a pocket or handbag. The dispenser is generally circular and has internally an annular ring of pockets for the pills. Two annular members cover the ring of pockets and have windows which register to expose any one pocket. A device controlled by a clockwork timing mechanism prevents movement of the inner of the members into register with a further pocket until a pre-set time interval has expired.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising a plurality of containment means for one or more items;

exposure means operable to expose successively the containment means, so that the item in each said containment means may be successively removed therefrom, operation prevention means which when in the one position prevents the operation of the exposure means while when in a second position allows such operation to take place, and a timing mechanism, which is arranged to allow the operation prevention means to move into the second position after the passage of the time interval;

wherein the exposure means comprises a pair of members which are relatively movable when the operation prevention means is in the first position and which are connectable for movement together when the operation prevention means is in the second position, and wherein the members have windows movable into register with one another to expose the containment means.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 in which the said members are rotatable and comprise annular portions lying one above the other.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 in which the containment means each comprise a pocket, the pockets being arranged in a ring lying below the annular portions of the said members.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 in which the operation prevention means comprises a detent operatively connected to one of the members and being movable from a retracted first position to a projecting second position in which it may engage an abutment on the other of the members.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a latch member movable between an operative and a release position, the latch member, when in the operative position, holding the detent in its first position and, when in its release position, allowing the detent to move into its second position, the latch member being operatively connected to the timing mechanism to be moved thereby into its release position after the passage of the said time interval.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 comprising a spring biassing the detent towards its second position and a spring biassing the latch member in a direction opposite to the direction in which the detent is biassed, the spring biassing the latch member being stronger than the spring biassing the detent.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 in which the latch member is biassed towards its operative position and is held in the release position by engagement with the detent.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a cam member and, on the latch member, a cam follower, the cam member lifting the cam follower when the said one of the pair of members is moved relative to the containment means to move the latch member out of engagement with the detent.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a signalling device connected to the timing mechanism to be operated thereby after the passage of the said interval of time.

10. A dispenser comprising a plurality of containment means for one or more items;

exposure means operable to expose successively the containment means, so that the item in each said containment means may be successively removed therefrom;

operation prevention means which when in the one position prevents the operation of the eXposure means while when in a second position allows such operation to take place;

a clockwork timing mechanism, which is arranged to allow the operation prevention means to move into the second position after the passage of the time interval; and

energizing means for the timing mechanism, which energizing means are actuated on exposure or occultation of the containment means.