Pill dispenser with disposable magazine and indicia

Claim 2

A dispensing device for a plurality of pills comprising an elongated hollow member having a bore open at one end and closed at the opposite end and having a lateral exit opening adjacent the closed end; a disposable magazine defining an opening open at opposite ends and having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of one of said pills, said magazine having a plurality of said pills within said opening; cooperating means on said hollow member and said magazine for maintaining one end of said magazine in a location adjacent said exit opening; a plunger in said opening engaging said pills; releasable retaining means on said one end of said magazine for maintaining said plurality of pills in said magazine; actuator means for moving said plunger in said opening and forcing a pill from said magazine into a position from which it can be removed through said exit opening, said actuator means extending substantially the length of said bore and having a pill support in said bore adjacent said closed end; and biasing means normally maintaining said actuator means in a first position in which said pill support blocks said exit opening and said one end of said magazine, said actuator being movable to a second position where said pill support is spaced from said exit opening and said one end of said magazine to provide communication between said one end and said exit opening and accommodate removal of only one pill.

Claim 3

A dispensing device as defined in claim 1, in which said cooperating means comprises means defining a lateral recess in said bore with said bore having a cross-sectional configuration substantially equal to the cross-sectional configuration of said magazine; and a projection integral with said magazine and disposed in said recess.

Claim 4

A dispensing device as defined in claim 1, in which said releasable retaining means includes a first and second opposed resilient arms adjacent said one end of said magazine, said arms each having an inwardly directed portion normally disposed in the path of said pills.

Claim 5

A dispensing device as defined in claim 1, including the further improvement of indicia of periodicity on said magazine comprising a strip having a plurality of indicators serially arranged at intervals corresponding to the thickness of said pills, said plunger being visible through said magazine and said plunger and strip being visible through said hollow member whereby the position of said plunger will serve as a reminder of whether a pill has been taken for any given period.

Claim 6

A dispensing device as defined in claim 1, in which said actuator means includes a button and a pair of spaced legs depending from said button and which includes the further improvement of guide means on said hollow member receiving said legs; and means respectively on said hollow member and one of said legs and cooperating with said plunger to (1) move said plunger relative to said hollow member when said button is moved in one direction and (2) maintain said plunger fixed relative to said hollow member when said button is moved in an opposite direction.

Claim 7

A dispensing device as defined in claim 5, in which said last means includes first and second ratchet teeth respectively on said hollow member and said one of said legs, and first and second resilient portions on said plunger resPectively engaging said ratchet teeth.

Claim 8

A dispensing device for a plurality of pills comprising an elongated hollow member defining an elongated bore having a closed end and an open end, said hollow member having a lateral aperture defining a pill exit adjacent said closed end; an actuator member including a button extending from said open end, a pill support adjacent said closed end and a pair of legs interconnecting said pill support and said button; a disposable magazine in said bore, said magazine having an elongated chamber open at both ends with a plurality of pills in stacked relation therein; cooperating means on said magazine and said hollow member for supporting one end of said magazine adjacent said pill exit; biasing means normally maintaining said actuator member in a first position in which said pill support blocks communication between said pill exit and said end of said magazine and accommodating movement to a second position providing communication between said pill exit and said one end of said magazine; a plunger in said chamber engaging said stack of pills, said plunger having first and second resilient portions extending from said chamber; and means defining first and second ratchet teeth respectively on said hollow member and one of said legs, said resilient portions respectively cooperating with said first and second ratchet teeth to move said plunger relative to said magazine when said actuating member is moved from the first to the second position and maintain said plunger fixed relative to said magazine when said plunger is moved from the second to the first position.

Claim 9

A dispensing device for a plurality of pills comprising an elongated hollow member defining an elongated bore having a closed end and an open end, said hollow member having a lateral aperture defining a pill exit adjacent said closed end; an actuator member including a button extending from said open end, a pill support adjacent said closed end and a pair of legs interconnecting said pill support and said button; a disposable magazine in said bore, said magazine having an elongated chamber open at both ends with a plurality of pills in stacked relation therein; cooperating means on said magazine and said hollow member for supporting one end of said magazine adjacent said pill exit; biasing means normally maintaining said actuator member in a first position in which said pill support blocks communication between said pill exit and said end of said magazine and accommodating movement to a second position providing communication between said pill exit and said one end of said magazine; a plunger in said chamber engaging said stack of pills, said plunger having first and second resilient portions extending from said chamber; and means defining first and second ratchet teeth respectively on said hollow member and one of said legs, said resilient portions respectively cooperating with said first and second ratchet teeth to move said plunger relative to said magazine when said actuating member is moved from the first to the second position and maintain said plunger fixed relative to said magazine when said plunger is moved from the second to the first position.

Claim 10

A dispensing device as defined in claim 7, including the further improvement of transparent indicia of periodicity on said magazine, said indicia being visible through said hollow member and comprising a strip having a plurality of indicators for successive days of the week equal in number to the number of pills in said magazine, said indicators being arranged at intervals corresponding to the thickness of a pill, said plunger being visible through said magazine and cooperating with said strip to serve as a reminder of whether a pill has been taken for any given day.

Claim 11

A dispensing device as defined in claim 7, in which said hollow member has first and second lateral recesses on opposite sides of said bores, said recesses, respectively, defining guide means for said legs and in which said first ratchet teeth are defined on said hollow member adjacent the recess guiding said one of said legs.