Unit-dose medication dispenser and multiple-dispenser frame therefor

• US 5,489,025 A
• Filed: 03/01/1994
• Issued: 02/06/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capsa Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Artromick International, Inc. (Capsa Solutions LLC)
• Inventors: Romick, Jerome M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US08/203,554
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 206/528-540, 206/461-465, 206/467-471
• US Class Current: 206/531
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00

Abstract

A medication dispenser for dispensing unit doses of medication from blister comprises a top plate having a face area and a back area with at least one aperture for receiving a blister of a blister pack, a bottom plate adapted to engage the back area of the top plate to confine the blister pack between the top plate and the bottom plate and having at least one dispensing aperture in register with the blister of the blister pack, a bridge spanning at least a portion of the face area of the top plate which carries a label-receiving surface having an area less than the area of the top plate, and supported above the face area of the top plate by support members a distance great enough to avoid interference with the blisters of the blister pack. One or more of the medication dispensers can be held in a frame which confines the dispensers between side walls having bosses which cooperate with retaining tabs on the medication dispensers to retain the dispensers within the frame.

Claims

1. A medication dispenser for containing a blister pack of unit doses comprising:

a top plate having a face area and a back area with at least one aperture for receiving the blister portion of a blister pack,

a bottom plate adapted to revceive said blister pack and to engage said back area of said top plate so as to confine said blister pack between said top plate and said bottom plate, said bottom plate having at least one dispensing aperture a register with said blister of said blister pack,

a bridge spanning at least a portion of said face area of said top plate, said bridge comprising,

a label-receiving surface having an area less than the area of said face area of said top plate and being located between blisters of said blister pack, and

support members extending between said label receiving surface and said face area of said top plate,

said label-receiving surface being spaced above said face area of said top plate a distance sufficient to avoid interference with said blisters of said blister pack.

2. The medication dispenser of claim 1 wherein said aperture in said top plate is a single aperture shaped to confine said blister pack.

3. The medication dispenser of claim 1 wherein said top plate and said bottom plate are connected by a hinge.

4. The medication dispenser of claim 3 wherein said dispenser is molded from plastic and said hinge is a thin, flexible section of plastic integrally molded with said dispenser.

5. The medication dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least one of said top plate and said bottom plate are provided with retaining tabs extending laterally in the plane of said plate.

6. A medication dispenser for containing a blister pack of unit doses comprising:

a top plate having a face area and a back area with at least one aperture for receiving the blister portion of a blister pack;

a bottom plate adapted to receive said blister pack and to engage said back area of said top plate so as to confine said blister pack between said top plate and said bottom plate, said bottom plate having at least one dispensing aperture in register with said blister of said blister pack,

a bridge spanning at least a portion of said face area of said top plate, said bridge comprising,

a label-receiving surface having an area less than the area of said face area of said top plate, and

support members extending between said label receiving surface and said face area of said top plate,

said label-receiving surface being spaced above said face area of said top plate a distance sufficient to avoid interference with said blisters of said blister pack, and being provided with label-retaining tabs.

7. A medication dispenser for containing a blister pack of unit does comprising:

a top plate having a face area and a back area with at least one aperture for receiving the blister portion of a blister pack;

a bottom plate adapted to receive said blister pack and to engage said back area of said top plate so as to confine said blister pack between said top plate and said bottom plate, said bottom plate having at least one dispensing aperture in register with said blister of said blister pack;

a bridge spanning at least a portion of said face area of said top plate, said bridge comprising,

a label-receiving surface having an area less than the area of said face area of said top plate, and

support members extending between said label receiving surface and said face area of said top plate, said bridge support members include a longitudinal rib,

said label-receiving surface being spaced above said face area of said top plate a distance sufficient to avoid interference with said blisters of said blister pack.

8. A medication dispenser-holding frame comprising

a generally rectangular planar base,

longitudinal side walls extending upward from two opposite sides of said rectangular base,

bosses on the interior of said side walls for cooperation with retaining tabs on said medication dispenser to retain said dispenser within said frame, and

at least one interior longitudinal wall parallel with said side walls and located centrally therebetween on said base, said interior longitudinal wall being provided with bosses for cooperation with retaining tabs on said medication dispenser to retain said dispenser within said frame.

9. In combination, a frame for holding a medication dispenser and a medication dispenser held in said frame,

said medication dispenser comprising

a top plate having a face area and a back area and at least one aperture for receiving a blister of a blister pack,

a bottom plate adapted to engage said back area of said top plate thereby confining said blister pack between said top plate and said bottom plate, said bottom plate having at least one dispensing aperture in register with said blister of said blister pack, at least one of said top plate and said bottom plate having retaining tabs extending therefrom in the plane of said top plate or said bottom plate,

a bridge spanning at least a portion of said face area of said top plate, said bridge comprising,

a label-receiving surface having an area less than the area of said face area of said top plate, and

support members extending between said label receiving surface and said face area of said top plate,

said label-receiving surface being spaced above said face area of said top plate a distance sufficient to avoid interference with said blisters of said blister pack,

said medication dispenser being held within a frame comprising

a generally rectangular planar base,

longitudinal side walls extending upward from two opposite sides of said rectangular base,

bosses on the interior of said side walls for cooperation with said retaining tabs on said medication dispenser to retain said dispenser within said frame.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said base is provided with apertures for dispensing unit doses from said medication dispenser held in said frame.