Dispensing cap
First Claim
1. A dispensing cap for a container to enable a single item to be dispensed from the container, said dispensing cap comprising an inner cap adapted to be non-rotatably connected to the container, an outer cap rotatably associated with the inner cap and container, a rotor positioned between the inner cap and outer cap and rotatable in relation to each of the caps and the container, said inner cap including a discharge port, said outer cap including a discharge port, said rotor including a chamber movable between positions in alignment with and misalignment with the ports in the inner and outer caps with the chamber in the rotor being of a size to receive only a single item to be discharged, and means interconnecting the inner cap, rotor and outer cap to rotate the rotor in response to rotational movement of the outer cap with the rotating movement of the rotor being at a different speed than the rotating movement of the outer cap for moving the rotor from a position with its chamber in alignment with the port in the inner cap to a position in alignment with the port in the outer cap upon rotational movement of the outer cap through a predetermined arc.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing cap for medication containers and the like enabling a single dosage of such medication to be dispensed from the container in response to each cycle of movement of an external movable component forming a portion of the cap. The cap includes a stationary inner cap attached to the mouth or neck of the container, an outer cap rotatably connected to the inner cap and a rotor disposed between the inner and outer caps and geared thereto in a manner which will cause the rotor to rotate in a direction opposite to rotational movement of the outer cap. The inner cap, rotor and outer cap each have a discharge port therein which are movable between aligned and misaligned positions so that a single pill, capsule, dosage of medication or other item will be discharged by gravity from the dispensing cap for each cycle of operation thereof.
29 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A dispensing cap for a container to enable a single item to be dispensed from the container, said dispensing cap comprising an inner cap adapted to be non-rotatably connected to the container, an outer cap rotatably associated with the inner cap and container, a rotor positioned between the inner cap and outer cap and rotatable in relation to each of the caps and the container, said inner cap including a discharge port, said outer cap including a discharge port, said rotor including a chamber movable between positions in alignment with and misalignment with the ports in the inner and outer caps with the chamber in the rotor being of a size to receive only a single item to be discharged, and means interconnecting the inner cap, rotor and outer cap to rotate the rotor in response to rotational movement of the outer cap with the rotating movement of the rotor being at a different speed than the rotating movement of the outer cap for moving the rotor from a position with its chamber in alignment with the port in the inner cap to a position in alignment with the port in the outer cap upon rotational movement of the outer cap through a predetermined arc.
- 8. In combination with a pill bottle having an open mouth, a dispensing cap mounted securely on the pill bottle for dispensing one pill for each cycle of operation of the dispensing cap by gravity when the container and dispensing cap are oriented with the dispensing cap positioned downwardly in relation to the bottle, said dispensing cap including an inner cap engaged with the mouth of the bottle for mounting the dispensing cap on the bottle with the inner cap being non-rotative in relation to the bottle, a rotor rotatably mounted on the inner cap and engaged with the outer surface thereof, an outer cap enclosing the rotor and rotatably secured to the inner cap for rotational movement in relation thereto during each dispensing cycle, of the inner cap and outer cap including a port and the rotor including a chamber for selective alignment and misalignment in relation to each other and means interconnecting the inner cap, rotor and outer cap to rotate the rotor in relation to the inner cap and in relation to the outer cap when the outer cap is rotated during a dispensing cycle to move the chamber in the rotor from a position aligned with the port in the inner cap to a new position displaced arcuately therefrom and to enable the port in the outer cap to move from an original position out of alignment with the chamber on the rotor to a new position arcuately spaced therefrom in alignment with the chamber in the rotor when in its new position.
Specification