US3558003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tablet dispenser with calendar index
Assignee: Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp
•
Filing: 1969-04-28
•
Granted: 1971-01-26
•
Expires: 1989-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A tablet dispenser having a continuous tablet channel is provided, the channel terminating in a tablet dispensing aperture. Rotation of the cover of the dispenser with respect to the base exerts pressure on a tablet follower disposed at the tablet channel and thus urges the tablet towards and into the tablet dispensing aperture.
Inventors
- 👤 Edmund A Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:03
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/04; B65D83/0409; B65D2583/00; B65D2583/04; B65D2583/0404; B65D2583/0409; B65D2583/0445; B65D2583/0459; B65D2583/0472; B65D2583/0477; B65D2583/049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A tablet dispenser comprising a base and a Cover rotatably mounted on said base, said cover defining a tablet channel therein, said tablet channel terminating in a tablet dispensing aperture, said base defining a slit which intersects at least once the locus of every circle which can be drawn around the axis of rotation of said cover with respect to said base which is also intersected by said tablet channel, said dispenser also comprising a tablet follower slidably disposed in said tablet channel and in said slit, whereby the forward pressure of said follower resulting from the rotation of said cover with respect to said base urges tablets in the tablet channel toward and into said tablet dispensing aperture, said dispenser further comprising calendering means, said calendering means comprising a series of indicia, at least one indicia representing each moment in time at which a tablet is to be taken, arranged in chronological order, and a time reference indicator with which any of said indicia may be associated, and rotation of said cover with respect to said base to move a tablet into the tablet dispensing aperture causing activation of the calendering means to register the next indicia in said series of indicia with said time reference indicator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A tablet dispenser comprising a base and a Cover rotatably mounted on said base, said cover defining a tablet channel therein, said tablet channel terminating in a tablet dispensing aperture, said base defining a slit which intersects at least once the locus of every circle which can be drawn around the axis of rotation of said cover with respect to said base which is also intersected by said tablet channel, said dispenser also comprising a tablet follower slidably disposed in said tablet channel and in said slit, whereby the forward pressure of said follower resulting from the rotation of said cover with respect to said base urges tablets in the tablet channel toward and into said tablet dispensing aperture, said dispenser further comprising calendering means, said calendering means comprising a series of indicia, at least one indicia representing each moment in time at which a tablet is to be taken, arranged in chronological order, and a time reference indicator with which any of said indicia may be associated, and rotation of said cover with respect to said base to move a tablet into the tablet dispensing aperture causing activation of the calendering means to register the next indicia in said series of indicia with said time reference indicator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The dispenser of claim 1 in which said tablet channel defines a spiral.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
The tablet dispenser of claim 2 in which said calendar means is a spoked wheel rotatably mounted adjacent said tablet channel, the spokes of said wheel projecting into said tablet channel, said wheel having said series of indicia disposed circularly on a major surface of the same, each indicia being associated with a spoke of the wheel, said cover of said dispenser defining a time reference window located radially from the point of rotation of said wheel a distance equal to the distance of said indicia from the point of rotation of said wheel, and whereby the rotation of the cover of said dispenser with respect to the base, to move the tablets through and along the tablet channel, causes the wheel to rotate one position for each tablet that passes the point in said tablet channel at which the spokes of the wheel project into said channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tablet dispenser of claim 3 wherein said rotatably mounted spoked wheel is mounted immediately adjacent the tablet dispensing aperture whereby passage of each tablet into the tablet dispensing aperture causes the wheel to rotate one position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The tablet dispenser of claim 4 in which said wheel is mounted in a chamber adjacent the tablet dispensing opening, said chamber also representing a portion of the tablet channel, said spoked wheel and the portion of said tablet channel constituting the walls of said chamber cooperating to define a series of movable tablet positions, each tablet position being defined by two spokes of the wheel and the wall of said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-25 | 1974-07-27 | 1975-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-25 | 1978-07-27 | 1979-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-25 | 1982-07-27 | 1983-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |