Child-resistant pill dispenser
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing, comprising:
- a chassis having a closed surface includinga reservoir for holding items anda pathway extending from the reservoir including a chute for holding and guiding at least one item; and
an item conveyor including a pocket for receiving at least one item mounted within said chassis adjacent said chute pivotable betweena first, closed position wherein said chute and said pocket are aligned with one another and wherein said pocket is not accessible exteriorly of said chassis, anda second, open position wherein said closed surface is breached to expose said pocket at an acute angle with respect to said chute.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A child-resistant dispenser for dispensing items, including a chassis (12) having a reservoir (40) for holding items (16) and a conveyor (14) including a conveyor pocket (18) for receiving an item (16a). The conveyor (14) is pivotably mounted within chassis (12) between a closed position in which the conveyor pocket (18) is inaccessible from outside the dispenser (10), and an open position, in which the conveyor pocket (18) is accessible from outside of the dispenser (10). The dispenser further includes a pathway positioned between the reservoir (40) and the conveyor pocket (18) when the conveyor (14) is closed. The pathway is blocked by the conveyor (14) when the conveyor (14) is open. A locking mechanism (20, 22) is provided for releasably locking the pill conveyor (14) in a closed position. A user must simultaneously apply pressure to both the conveyor (14) and the locking mechanism (20, 22) in order to open the conveyor (14).
76 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing, comprising:
a chassis having a closed surface including a reservoir for holding items and a pathway extending from the reservoir including a chute for holding and guiding at least one item; and an item conveyor including a pocket for receiving at least one item mounted within said chassis adjacent said chute pivotable between a first, closed position wherein said chute and said pocket are aligned with one another and wherein said pocket is not accessible exteriorly of said chassis, and a second, open position wherein said closed surface is breached to expose said pocket at an acute angle with respect to said chute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 26, 27)
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12. A method for packaging items in a child-resistant dispenser, said method comprising the steps of:
- pivotably mounting an item conveyor to a chassis, said item conveyor including a pocket for holding at least one item;
configuring a pathway between a reservoir and said pocket where said pathway includes a chute for holding at least one item, said chute correspondingly aligned with said pocket for guiding said at least one item into said pocket loading a plurality of items into said reservoir;
attaching an end cap to said chassis for securely holding said plurality of items within said reservoir;
attaching a bottom plate to said chassis; and
releasably locking said item conveyor in a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
- pivotably mounting an item conveyor to a chassis, said item conveyor including a pocket for holding at least one item;
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24. A method of dispensing an item from a child-resistant dispenser comprising the steps of:
- sealing a plurality of items within a reservoir of a chassis guiding an item from said reservoir through a chute and into a pocket of an item conveyor, said item conveyor being pivotably mounted to said chassis;
unlocking the item conveyor by applying pressure to a resiliently deformable strap affixed to said item conveyor, said pressure causing the resiliently deformable strap to flatten against a rear plate of said item conveyor away from a ledge of said chassis;
pivoting the item conveyor from a closed position in which the pocket is inaccessible from outside the dispenser to an open position in which the pocket is accessible from outside the dispenser; and
removing an item from the pocket of said item conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (25)
- sealing a plurality of items within a reservoir of a chassis guiding an item from said reservoir through a chute and into a pocket of an item conveyor, said item conveyor being pivotably mounted to said chassis;
Specification