Medication dispenser and method of dispensing medication
First Claim
1. A dispenser for pills or the like comprising:
- a receptacle having an interior compartment normally containing pills or the like, having an exit compartment in communication with the exterior of the receptacle, and having a pill selection compartment disposed intermediately to and in communication with the interior compartment and the exit compartment whereby a pill may be dispensed from said receptacle by passing from the interior compartment, through the pill selection compartment, and to the exit compartment;
a first gate selectively extensible between the interior compartment and the pill selection compartment, such that a pill can pass from the interior compartment to the pill selection compartment when said first gate is not so extended and such that a pill can not pass from the interior compartment to the pill selection compartment when said first gate is so extended;
means for selectively varying the configuration of the pill selection compartment such that at any instant only a single pill can be disposed within the pill selection compartment; and
means for preventing a pill from passing from the pill selection compartment to the exit compartment when said first gate is not extended and for permitting a pill to pass from the pill selection compartment to the exit compartment when said first gate is extended.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medication dispenser includes a container having a main compartment, a selection compartment, and an exit compartment whereby a pill or the like is dispensed from the container by passage from the main compartment, through the selection compartment, and to the exit compartment. The configuration of the pill selection compartment may be selectively varied and adjusted into a preselected configuration substantially conforming to the shape and size of a pill contained in the main compartment. A flexible first gate selectively extends between the selection compartment and the main compartment, a second gate selectively extends between the selection compartment and the exit compartment, and a third gate selectively extends across the exit compartment, near the container exterior. Initially, the second gate is in an extended position, and the first and third gates are in nonextended positions. A single pill is then maneuvered from the main compartment to the selection compartment and positioned adjacent to the second gate. Thereafter, the second gate is moved to a nonextended position, and substantially simultaneously the first and third gates are each moved to an extended position whereby the pill can pass from the selection compartment to the exit compartment and whereby the pills in the main compartment cannot move into the pill selection compartment. The pill interrupts a light beam located in the exit compartment as it passes from the selection compartment to the exit compartment such that the interruption of the light beam indicates the dispensing of the pill.
144 Citations
86 Claims
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1. A dispenser for pills or the like comprising:
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a receptacle having an interior compartment normally containing pills or the like, having an exit compartment in communication with the exterior of the receptacle, and having a pill selection compartment disposed intermediately to and in communication with the interior compartment and the exit compartment whereby a pill may be dispensed from said receptacle by passing from the interior compartment, through the pill selection compartment, and to the exit compartment; a first gate selectively extensible between the interior compartment and the pill selection compartment, such that a pill can pass from the interior compartment to the pill selection compartment when said first gate is not so extended and such that a pill can not pass from the interior compartment to the pill selection compartment when said first gate is so extended; means for selectively varying the configuration of the pill selection compartment such that at any instant only a single pill can be disposed within the pill selection compartment; and means for preventing a pill from passing from the pill selection compartment to the exit compartment when said first gate is not extended and for permitting a pill to pass from the pill selection compartment to the exit compartment when said first gate is extended. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A dispenser for pills or the like comprising:
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a receptacle having an interior compartment normally containing pills or the like, having an exit compartment in communication with the exterior of the receptacle, and having a pill selection compartment disposed intermediately to and in communication with the interior compartment and the exit compartment whereby a pill may be dispensed from said receptacle by passing from the interior compartment, through the pill selection compartment, and to the exit compartment; a first gate selectively extensible between the pill selection compartment and the exit compartment such that a pill can pass from the pill selection compartment to the exit compartment when said first gate is not so extended and such that a pill can not pass from the pill selection compartment to the exit compartment when said first gate is so extended; means for selectively varying the configuration of the pill selection compartment such that at any instant only a single pill can be disposed within the pill selection compartment; and means for preventing a pill from passing from the interior compartment to the pill selection compartment when said first gate is not extended and for permitting a pill to pass from the interior compartment to the pill selection compartment when said first gate is extended. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A dispenser for pills or the like comprising:
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a main compartment normally containing pills or the like, said main compartment being at least partially defined by a floor upon which the pills in said compartment normally rest when said dispenser is oriented substantially in a first position. a ledge capable of supporting a plurality of pills simultaneously when said dispenser is oriented substantially in the first position, said ledge exposed to and in communication with said main compartment, said ledge disposed vertically higher than said floor when said dispenser is oriented substantially in the first position; a pill selection compartment in communication with said ledge and said main compartment, whereby a pill deposited on said ledge may be maneuvered into said pill selection compartment; an exit compartment in communication with said pill selection compartment and the exterior of the dispenser; means for selectively varying the configuration of said pill selection compartment such that at any instant only a single pill can be disposed within said pill selection compartment; a first gate selectively extensible between said pill selection compartment and said exit compartment such that a pill can pass from the pill selection compartment when said first gate is not so extended and such that a pill can not pass from said pill selection compartment to said exit compartment when said first gate is so extended; and means for preventing a pill from being maneuvered from said ledge into said pill selection compartment when said first gate is not so extended. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A dispenser for pills or the like comprising:
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a receptacle having an interior compartment normally containing pills or the like and having a passageway extending from the interior compartment to the exterior of said receptacle through which a pill contained in said interior compartment may be dispensed from said receptacle; a pill selection compartment in said passageway; means for adjusting the configuration of said pill selection compartment such that at any instant only a single pill can be disposed within said pill selection compartment; a gate selectively extensible across the passageway such that when said gate is so extended, a pill is prevented from passing from said pill selection compartment to the exterior of said receptacle, and when said gate is not so extended, a pill may pass from said pill selection compartment to the exterior of said receptacle; and means for preventing a pill from entering said pill selection compartment when said gate is not extended across the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A dispenser for pills or the like comprising:
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a main compartment normally containing pills or the like, said main compartment being at least partially defined by a floor upon which the pills in said compartment normally rest when said dispenser is oriented substantially in a first position; a ledge capable of supporting a plurality of pills simultaneously when said dispenser is oriented substantially in the first position, said ledge exposed to and in communication with said main compartment, said ledge disposed vertically higher than said floor when said dispenser is oriented substantially in the first position; a pill selection compartment in communication with said ledge and said main compartment and in communication with the dispenser exterior by a passageway, whereby a pill deposited on said ledge may be maneuvered into said pill selection compartment; a gate selectively extensible across said passageway such that when said gate is so extended a pill is prevented from passing from said pill selection compartment to the dispenser exterior, and when said gate is not so extended, a pill may pass from said pill selection compartment to the dispenser exterior; means for adjusting the configuration of said pill selection compartment whereby at any instant only a single pill can be disposed within said pill selection compartment; and means for preventing a pill from being maneuvered into said pill selection compartment when said gate is not extended. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A receptacle for storing and dispensing pills, the receptacle being oriented normally in an upright position, comprising:
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a chamber in which the pills may be contained in a loose and nonordered state; a ledge capable of supporting a plurality of pills simultaneously, exposed to and in communication with said chamber; a pill selection compartment in communication with said ledge and having a shape substantially conforming to the configuration of a pill along at least a portion of the perimeter thereof, whereby moving and orienting the receptacle permits a number of pills less than that needed to fill the ledge to be deposited on and supported by said ledge such that the pills deposited on said ledge are free to move on said ledge and whereby a single pill deposited on said ledge may be maneuvered into the pill selection compartment; means for altering the configuration of said pill selection compartment to substantially conform to the configuration of any pill; means for selectively removing from the rceptacle a pill that has been maneuvered into the pill selection compartment; and means for electronically sensing the pill as the pill is being removed from the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A receptacle for storing and dispensing pills or the like comprising:
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a main compartment normally containing pills;
a pill selection compartment in communication with said main compartment and into which a pill must be maneuvered in order to be dispensed from the receptacle, said pill selection compartment being defined by at least one wall, said at least one wall being selectively adjustably positionable;means for selectively adjusting the position of said at least one adjustably positionable wall whereby the configuration of said pill selection compartment may be selectively varied to permit only a single pill to be disposed therein at any instant; and means for preventing a pill from being maneuvered into said pill selection compartment until a pill previously maneuvered into said pill selection compartment has been dispensed from the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A medication dispenser comprising:
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an interior compartment normally containing the medication; a passageway extending from said interior compartment to the exterior of said dispenser through which the medication in said interior compartment may be removed from said dispenser said passageway including a medication selection compartment through which the medication must pass when passing through said passageway; means for selectively preventing the medication from passing from said interior compartment and into said medication selection compartment; means for selectively preventing the medication from passing from said medication selection compartment to the exterior of said dispenser; means for detecting the presence of the medication in said passageway; and means responsive to said detecting means for determining whether at least one selected condition is satisfied, said determining means operably interconnected to at least one of said preventing means such that said at least one of said preventing means prevents the passing of the medication whenever such condition is unsatisfied and permits the passing of the medication whenever such condition is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A method of dispensing medication comprising the steps of:
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providing a dispenser comprising; an interior compartment normally containing the medication; a passageway extending from said interior compartment to the exterior of said dispenser through which the medication in said interior compartment may be removed from said dispenser, said passageway including a medication selection compartment through which the medication must pass when passing through said passageway; a first gate selectively extensible across said passageway between said interior compartment and said medication selection compartment for preventing the medication from passing from said interior compartment and into said medication selection compartment when said first gate is so extended; a second gate selectively extensible across said passageway between said medication selection compartment and the exterior of said dispenser for preventing the medication from passing from said medication selection compartment to the exterior of said dispenser when said second gate is so extended; means for detecting the presence of the medication within said passageway; and means for determining whether at least one selected condition is satisfied and for retracting at least one of said gates only if said selected condition has been satisfied; placing the medication in the interior compartment;
retracting said first gate to a nonextended position and moving the medication from said interior compartment and into said medication selection compartment while said first gate is retracted;retracting said second gate to a nonextended position and moving the medication from said medication selection compartment to the exterior of said dispenser while said second gate is retracted; determining with said determining means whether said at least one selected condition has been satisfied and retracting with said determining means at least one of said gates only if said selected condition has been satisfied; and detecting the medication by the detection means as the medication passes through said passageway. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73)
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74. A method of dispensing medication comprising the steps of:
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providing a dispenser comprising;
an interior compartment normally containing the medication;a passageway extending from said interior compartment to the exterior of said dispenser through which the medication in said interior compartment may be removed from said dispenser, said passageway including a medication selection compartment through which the medication must pass when passing through said passageway; means for selectively preventing the medication from passing from said interior compartment and into said medication selection compartment; means for selectively preventing the medication from passing from said medication selection compartment to the exterior of said dispenser; means for detecting the presence of the medication in said passageway; and
means responsive to said detecting means for determining whether at least one selected condition is satisfied, said determining means operably interconnected to at least one of said preventing means such that said at least one preventing means prevents the passing of the medication whenever such condition is unsatisfied and permits the passing of the medication whenever such condition is satisfied;placing the medication in the interior compartment;
determining whether such condition is satisfied, and if so, then;moving the medication either from said interior compartment to said medication selection compartment and then to the exterior of said dispenser or from said medication selection compartment to the exterior of said dispenser; and detecting the medication by the detecting means substantially when the medication moves through said passageway. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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76. A dispenser for medication such as pills or the like comprising:
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an interior compartment normally containing the medication; a passageway extending from said interior compartment to the exterior of said dispenser whereby medication may be dispensed from said dispenser by travelling from said interior compartment, through said passageway, and to the exterior of said dispenser; and means for selectively varying the size of a portion of said passageway, said selective varying means comprising a series of bars arranged laterally side-by-side, wherein each bar is longitudinally translatable with respect to its laterally adjacent bar. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85)
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86. A medication dispenser for pills and the like comprising:
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an interior compartment normally containing the medication; a passageway extending from the interior compartment to the exterior of said dispenser through which medication contained in said interior compartment may be dispensed from said dispenser;
a medication selection compartment forming a part of said passageway through which the medication must pass when passing through said passageway;a first selective obstructing means for selectively obstructing said passageway, thereby selectively preventing the medication from passing from said interior compartment into said medication selection compartment;
a second selective obstructing means for selectively obstructing said passageway, thereby selectively preventing the medication from passing from said medication selection compartment to the exterior of said dispenser;
a detecting means for detecting the presence of medication in said passageway;a time determined means for determining when medication has been removed from said dispenser and when at least one selected condition has been satisfied; and a programmable computer responsive to said time determining means and said detecting means for selectively preventing more than a selected number of pills from passing to the exterior of said dispenser unless said at least one selected condition has been satisfied, said programmable computer controlling the operation of at least one of said selective obstructing means.
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Specification