Tablet dispensing cap

• US 6,112,942 A
• Filed: 02/03/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Deacon, Gordon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bocanegra, Jorge
• Application Number:
  US09/018,109
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 221/5, 221/263, 221/264, 221/265, 221/266, 221/155, 221/277, 222/368
• US Class Current: 221/266
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2583/049 One rotational action of a cylindrical, disc-like or sphere-like element around its own axis, e.g. step-by-step, reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence

Abstract

A tablet dispensing cap that allows an individual who is elderly, infirm, handicapped or visually impaired to dispense a single, non-liquid form through a single-handed operation.

Claims

1. A cap for dispensing a single non-liquid form comprising:

a circular base having a mouth and a channel, the mouth narrowing into said channel, which is located in the center of the base, the channel being larger in size than the single non-liquid form;

two cantilevered spring arms annularly protruding from the base, away from the mouth, each spring arm terminating in a hooked end;

a circular shaped hub having a plurality of cavities formed on the periphery of the hub, each cavity having rounded edges, said cavity being larger in size than the single, non-liquid form, the hub fitting securely within the annularly positioned spring arms such that the hub and spring arms lie in the same plane and the cavity can be aligned with the channel in the base, the cavity being locked into place when the rounded edges of the cavity are secured by the hooked ends of the spring arms;

two discs, each disc having multiple scallops along the entire periphery of the disc, the discs having a larger diameter than the hub, the center of each disc being attached to the center of one side of the hub such that the disc is parallel to the hub and spring arms and, together, the discs sandwich the hub and the spring arms.

2. The cap, as stated in claim 1, wherein the discs are transparent.

3. The cap, as stated in claim 2, wherein a threaded insert is affixed to the inside of the base.

4. The cap, as stated in claim 2, wherein internal screw threads are on the inside of the base.

5. A process for dispensing a single non-liquid form which comprises using the cap as described in claim 1.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the non-liquid form is selected from the group consisting of drugs, vitamins, candy or other suitable non-liquid forms whose shape can be accommodated by the cap.