Pill dispensing assembly
First Claim
1. A pill dispensing, assembly for dispensing a pill from a pill bottle, comprising:
- a first layer including a first surface and a second surface, an extension engaged to and centrally positioned on said first surface, and a pill exit passage through which said pill becomes accessible to the user;
a second layer including a central opening for receiving the extension whereby engagement of first layer and second layer through extension prevents rotation of first layer with respect to second layer so that the entire second layer is fixed, and a pill entry passage that is offset from the exit passage; and
a pill dispensing layer positioned between the first and second layers and rotationally movable with respect to the pill bottle and first and second layers during a typical dispensing operation by a user, the pill dispensing layer comprising a central opening for receiving the extension whereby engagement of first layer and pill dispensing layer through extension promotes rotational movement of pill dispensing layer, and a holding chamber sized to receive the pill, the holding chamber being rotationally movable from a first loading position in which the holding chamber is aligned with the entry passage and is offset from the exit passage to receive the pill, to a second dispensing, position in which the holding chamber is aligned with the exit passage and is offset from the entry passage to dispense the pill through the exit passage; and
a controller configured to sense alignment of said holding chamber with said said exit passage and to record the time that the pill is dispensed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pill dispensing assembly for dispensing a pill from a pill bottle includes a first layer having a pill exit passage. A second layer is operatively connected to the first layer, and includes a pill entry passage horizontally offset from the exit passage. A pill dispensing layer is positioned between the first and second layers, is movable with respect to the first and second layers, and includes a holding chamber sized to receive the pill. The holding chamber is horizontally movable from a first loading position in which the holding chamber is aligned with the entry passage and is horizontally offset from the exit passage to receive the pill, to a second dispensing position in which the holding chamber is aligned with the exit passage and is horizontally offset from the entry passage to dispense the pill through the exit passage. Pill dispensing may be timed or time monitored.
47 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A pill dispensing, assembly for dispensing a pill from a pill bottle, comprising:
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a first layer including a first surface and a second surface, an extension engaged to and centrally positioned on said first surface, and a pill exit passage through which said pill becomes accessible to the user; a second layer including a central opening for receiving the extension whereby engagement of first layer and second layer through extension prevents rotation of first layer with respect to second layer so that the entire second layer is fixed, and a pill entry passage that is offset from the exit passage; and a pill dispensing layer positioned between the first and second layers and rotationally movable with respect to the pill bottle and first and second layers during a typical dispensing operation by a user, the pill dispensing layer comprising a central opening for receiving the extension whereby engagement of first layer and pill dispensing layer through extension promotes rotational movement of pill dispensing layer, and a holding chamber sized to receive the pill, the holding chamber being rotationally movable from a first loading position in which the holding chamber is aligned with the entry passage and is offset from the exit passage to receive the pill, to a second dispensing, position in which the holding chamber is aligned with the exit passage and is offset from the entry passage to dispense the pill through the exit passage; and a controller configured to sense alignment of said holding chamber with said said exit passage and to record the time that the pill is dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification