US3601250A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispensing cap for pill bottles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-06-05
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1989-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing cap for pill bottles having a hollow pill chamber with first and second passages communicating respectively with the interior of said bottle and with the exterior atmosphere, means normally maintaining said first passage open and said second passage closed, at which time any desired number of pills may be shaken from said bottle into said cap chamber, and operating means for simultaneously closing said first passage and opening said second passage, whereupon the pills in said chamber may be shaken into the palm of the hand.
Inventors
- 👤 John B Merila
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:12
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/04; B65D83/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A dispensing cap for a pill bottle comprising: a. a base member having an end wall adapted to be rigidly associated with said bottle, to cover the neck of said bottle, and a cylindrical wall extending outwardly from said end wall, said end wall having a hole formed therethrough eccentrically to, but within the confines of, said cylindrical wall, whereby to communicate with the interior of said bottle, said cylindrical wall being interrupted to form a radial passage from the interior thereof, b. a crown member of cup shape including an end wall and a cylindrical skirt engaged rotatably about the cylindrical wall of said base member, the space between said base and crown end walls, and within said cylindrical walls, constituting a pill chamber, said crown skirt being interrupted to form a passage capable by rotation of said crown member to be moved into or out of registry with the passage of the base cylindrical wall, said crown end wall having a plug member affixed thereto and depending eccentrically therefrom within said pill chamber, and operable by rotation of said crown member to be moved into or out of obstructing relationship with the hole of said base end wall, and c. means securing said base and crown members in assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A dispensing cap for a pill bottle comprising: a. a base member having an end wall adapted to be rigidly associated with said bottle, to cover the neck of said bottle, and a cylindrical wall extending outwardly from said end wall, said end wall having a hole formed therethrough eccentrically to, but within the confines of, said cylindrical wall, whereby to communicate with the interior of said bottle, said cylindrical wall being interrupted to form a radial passage from the interior thereof, b. a crown member of cup shape including an end wall and a cylindrical skirt engaged rotatably about the cylindrical wall of said base member, the space between said base and crown end walls, and within said cylindrical walls, constituting a pill chamber, said crown skirt being interrupted to form a passage capable by rotation of said crown member to be moved into or out of registry with the passage of the base cylindrical wall, said crown end wall having a plug member affixed thereto and depending eccentrically therefrom within said pill chamber, and operable by rotation of said crown member to be moved into or out of obstructing relationship with the hole of said base end wall, and c. means securing said base and crown members in assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A dispensing cap as recited in claim 1, with the addition of means limiting the rotation of said crown member relative to said base member to movement between a first position in which said cylindrical wall passage is obstructed by said crown skirt and said base end wall hole is not obstructed by said crown plug and a second position in which the passages of said cylindrical base wall and said crown skirt are angularly registered, and said base end wall hole is obstructed by said crown plug.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A dispensing cap as recited in claim 2, with the addition of resilient means yieldably biasing said crown member toward said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A dispensing cap as recited in claim 3, wherein said means holding said base and crown members in assembly, and biasing said crown member toward said first position, comprises a helical compression spring contained in a torus-shaped chamber formed conjointly in the confronting cylindrical faces of said cylindrical base wall and said crown skirt, the opposite ends of said spring bearing against angularly spaced apart shoulders formed respectively in said base and crown members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A dispensing cap as recited in claim 1, for use in connection with a pill bottle having a threaded neck, and wherein said cap base member includes a threaded portion adapted to be engaged on said bottle neck.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A dispensing cap as recited in claim 1, wherein said cap base member is formed integrally with said pill bottle said bottle being provided with an auxiliary filling cap at a point distal from said dispensing cap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A dispensing cap as recited in claim 1, with the addition of latch means resisting movement of said crown member away from the position thereof at which said second passage of said base member is obstructed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
127 words
A dispensing cap as recited in claim 4, wherein said means limiting rotation of said crown member constitutes a pin fixed in said base member and extending parallel to the cap axis into the passage of said crown member skirt, the edge of said crown skirt normally held against said pin by said spring having a notch formed therein adapted to receive the free end of said pin as said crown is turned from said first position in a direction opposite its movement toward said second position, said notch having a recess into which the end of said pin can enter only by axial movement of said crown member relative to said base member, said axial movement of said crown member being yieldably resisted by said spring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |