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Tablet dispenser for athletes

  • US 9,932,166 B2
  • Filed: 08/11/2016
  • Issued: 04/03/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A portable tablet dispensing device comprising:

  • an elongate magazine body having an upper end, lower end, and a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area along a length of the elongate magazine body, the elongate magazine body including;

    a tablet follower positioned within the magazine body, the tablet follower including a surface area and having a rectangular cross-sectional area that conforms to a cross-sectional area of the magazine body, the tablet follower being slidable along a vertical length of the magazine body between a lower position adjacent the lower end of the magazine body and an upper position adjacent the upper end of the elongate magazine body anda spring positioned between the tablet follower and lower end of the magazine body, the spring configured to urge the tablet follower towards the upper end of the elongate magazine body;

    a hollow dispensing head slidably mounted to the open top end of the elongate body, the hollow dispensing head horizontally slidable between a first position and a second extended position, the hollow dispensing head including;

    an aperture formed through a front of the hollow dispensing head, the aperture having a cross-sectional area corresponding to a shape of a tablet stored within the elongate magazine body,a cavity within the hollow dispensing head and aligned with the aperture formed through the front of the hollow dispensing head, the cavity shaped to receive a tablet from the elongate magazine body within hollow the dispensing head, anda tablet pickup comprising an inclined wedge extending downwardly, shaped to contact a tablet within the cavity of the hollow dispensing head and urge the tablet partially towards a front of the tablet dispensing device when the hollow dispensing head moves from the first position to the second extended position, the inclined wedge positioned at a center of the cavity within the hollow dispensing head at a rear of the tablet follower;

    a tablet retainer attached to the upper end of the elongate magazine body, the tablet retainer having a pair of upright members extending above the upper end of the elongate magazine body and into the hollow dispensing head and a top member extending between the pair of upright members;

    wherein the tablet within the cavity of the dispensing head is partially exposed from the portable tablet dispensing device through the aperture formed in the front of the dispensing head after the dispensing head returns to the first position; and

    wherein the tablet retainer substantially traps a tablet between the pair of upright members, top member, and tablet follower until the dispensing head urges the tablet towards a front of the tablet dispensing device.

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