Dispensing device for holding and dispensing strip-like objects

• US 9,823,234 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2014
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airnov, Inc. (Colorcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Clariant Production SAS (Clariant AG)
• Inventors: Logel, Valere, Bois, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): OJOFEITIMI, AYODEJI T
• Application Number:
  US14/765,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20150377855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2583/082 Details relating to containers for dispensing thin flat articles in succession
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0829 by means of an actuator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/487 of liquid biological material
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48757 Test elements dispensed from a stack
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48778 Containers specially adapted therefor, e.g. for dry storage

Abstract

A dispensing device for holding and dispensing strip-like objects, like test strips for analyzing a sample of bodily fluid, wherein the dispensing device holds a stack of strips. The dispensing device includes a container portion for holding the stack of strips and a dispenser portion for dispensing strips from the dispensing device, one at a time. The dispenser portion includes a movable element for applying a rotation motion to a strip to be dispensed from a first orientation, in which the strip is enclosed in the dispensing device, to a second orientation, in which the strip is at least partially exposed.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for holding and dispensing strip-like objects, like test strips for analyzing a sample of bodily fluid, wherein the dispensing device is configured to hold a stack of strips and comprises

a container portion for holding the stack of strips;

and

a dispenser portion for dispensing strips from the dispensing device, one at a time;

wherein the dispenser portion comprises a movable element for applying a rotational motion to the strip to be dispensed from a first orientation, in which the strip is enclosed in the dispensing device, to a second orientation, in which the strip is at least partially exposed,

wherein the dispenser portion further comprises a clear space configured for containing a portion of the strip to be dispensed in its second orientation and allowing the strip to rotate into the second orientation,

wherein the dispenser portion further comprises a fulcrum for the rotational motion of the strip, wherein the rotational motion of the strip is the result of two forces applied to the strip, namely a first force of the movable element on the strip pushing the strip using a longitudinal side of the strip, and

a second force of the fulcrum defined in the dispenser portion on an opposed longitudinal side of the strip, and

wherein the container portion is of a cylindrical shape and wherein the dispenser portion is situated at one of two axial ends of the container portion.

2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotational motion applied by the dispenser portion to the strip is parallel to a plane of the strip, wherein the rotational motion of the strip is about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the plane of the strip and is situated on a longitudinal side of the strip.

3. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser portion is configured for exposing only a part of the strip.

4. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser portion further comprises a recess for facilitating grabbing of the strip in the second orientation.

5. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the container portion further comprises a spring for applying a spring force to the stack of strips in a spring force direction toward the dispenser portion.

6. The dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the dispenser portion is configured for applying a rotational motion to the strip about an axis of rotation which is oriented in parallel to the spring force direction.

7. The dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the container portion further comprises a piston pressing against the spring toward the stack of strips.

8. The dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the piston further comprises a desiccant material.

9. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the container portion further comprises a stack of 25 to 50 strips.

10. The dispensing device according to claim 1 further comprising a spare cartridge containing a stack of strips.

11. A cartridge containing the stack of strips configured for the dispensing device according to claim 10, comprising a clear space containing a portion of the strip and allowing the strip to rotate into the second orientation.

12. The cartridge according to claim 11, further comprising a window configured to allow passing of a portion of the movable element for rotating the strip contained in the cartridge.

13. The dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the piston contains a desiccant material.