Patent US2199828A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3612349A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pill dispenser having ratchet-action follower
Assignee: National Patent Development Corp
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Filing: 1969-09-05
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A device for dispensing pills and the like and including a hollow member having an exit opening at one end thereof with an actuator slidable in the hollow member. The actuator has a pill support on one end thereof and is biased to normally block the exit opening while being movable to expose the exit opening. A plunger engages one end of a group of pills to maintain the other end of the pills in engagement with the pill support. The plunger cooperates with the actuator and hollow member to move relative to the hollow member when the actuator is moved to expose the exit opening and is fixed relative to the hollow member when the actuator is returned to close the exit opening. Indicia are normally packed with the device and the indicia comprises a strip having indicators serially arranged and corresponding to the respective days of the week. There are seven more indicators than there are pills in the device so that the starting date for taking the pills may be aligned with the plunger and serve as a reminder as to whether a pill has been taken for any given day.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/04; B65D83/0409; B65D2583/00; B65D2583/04; B65D2583/0404; B65D2583/0409; B65D2583/0431; B65D2583/0472; B65D2583/0477; B65D2583/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A device for dispensing pills and the like comprising an elongated hollow member having a pill receiving bore therein and a transversely extending exit opening at one end thereof; an actuating member movable between first and second positions in said hollow member, said actuating member having a pill support defined thereon and received in said bore; biasing means normally maintaining said actuating member in said first position where said pill support closes said opening; a plunger spaced from said support, said plunger adapted to engage an opposite end of a group of pills, said plunger having first and second portions respectively engageable with said hollow member and said actuating member; and means respectively on said hollow member and said actuating member, said means cooperating with said portions for (1) maintaining said plunger fixed relative to said actuating member when said actuating member is moved from the first to the second position and (2) maintaining said plunger fixed relative to said hollow member when said actuating member is moved from the second to the first position, said movement of said actuator to the second position exposing said exit opening in said hollow member whereby a pill is free to be removed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
200 words
A device for dispensing pills and the like comprising an elongated hollow member having a pill receiving bore therein and a transversely extending exit opening at one end thereof; an actuating member movable between first and second positions in said hollow member, said actuating member having a pill support defined thereon and received in said bore; biasing means normally maintaining said actuating member in said first position where said pill support closes said opening; a plunger spaced from said support, said plunger adapted to engage an opposite end of a group of pills, said plunger having first and second portions respectively engageable with said hollow member and said actuating member; and means respectively on said hollow member and said actuating member, said means cooperating with said portions for (1) maintaining said plunger fixed relative to said actuating member when said actuating member is moved from the first to the second position and (2) maintaining said plunger fixed relative to said hollow member when said actuating member is moved from the second to the first position, said movement of said actuator to the second position exposing said exit opening in said hollow member whereby a pill is free to be removed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device as defined in claim 1, in which said last means comprises ratchet means respectively on said hollow member and said actuating member; said ratchet means each comprising ledges interconnected by inclined walls, said walls being inclined in one direction on one of said members and in an opposite direction on the other of said member, said portions of said plunger respectively cooperating with said ledges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A device as defined in claim 1, including the further improvement of indicia adapted to be connected to said device, said indicia comprising a strip having a plurality of indicators serially arranged and corresponding to respective days of the week, said indicators being equal in number to the original number of pills in said device plus seven, whereby the day of the week for the initial pill may be aligned with said plunger and said indicia attached to said device, thereby serving as a reminder of whether a pill has been taken at any given day.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as defined in claim 3, in which said bore has a closed end adjacent said exit opening and a slot communicating with said bore and extending the length thereof; and said actuating member has a leg slidable in said slot with said pill support on the remote end thereof and received in said bore; and an actuator button on the opposite end of said leg and normally extending beyond said hollow member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as defined in claim 4, in which said means respectively on said hollow member and said actuating member includes first ratchet means on said leg adjacent said bore and second ratchet means on the hollow member adjacent said bore, said first and second portions comprising resilient fingers extending towards said actuator button and respectively engageable with said first and second ratchet means.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
206 words
A device for dispensing pills and the like comprising an elongated hollow member having a bore closed at one end and a transverse exit opening adjacent said closed end; a plunger adapted to engage one end of a plurality of pills disposed in end-to-end relation in said bore, said plunger being movable towards said exit opening to align respEctive pills with said exit opening; an actuator movable between first and second positions, said actuator having a pill support located in said bore between opposite ends thereof closing said exit opening when the actuator is in said first position; cooperating means between said plunger and said actuator to move said plunger toward said exit opening in response to movement of said actuator; and indicia adapted to be attached to said hollow member, said indicia comprising a strip having a plurality of indicators serially arranged and indicating respective days of a week, said indicators being equal number to said pills plus an additional seven, said indicia being applied to said hollow member with the date corresponding to the starting day for the taking of pills aligned with said plunger whereby said indicia will serve as a reminder of whether a pill has been taken for any given day.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
206 words
A device for dispensing pills and the like comprising an elongated hollow member having a bore closed at one end and a transverse exit opening adjacent said closed end; a plunger adapted to engage one end of a plurality of pills disposed in end-to-end relation in said bore, said plunger being movable towards said exit opening to align respEctive pills with said exit opening; an actuator movable between first and second positions, said actuator having a pill support located in said bore between opposite ends thereof closing said exit opening when the actuator is in said first position; cooperating means between said plunger and said actuator to move said plunger toward said exit opening in response to movement of said actuator; and indicia adapted to be attached to said hollow member, said indicia comprising a strip having a plurality of indicators serially arranged and indicating respective days of a week, said indicators being equal number to said pills plus an additional seven, said indicia being applied to said hollow member with the date corresponding to the starting day for the taking of pills aligned with said plunger whereby said indicia will serve as a reminder of whether a pill has been taken for any given day.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
A device as defined in claim 6, in which said bore is open at its opposite end and in which said actuator includes a button received in the opposite open end of said bore and a leg extending substantially the length of said bore, said leg interconnecting said pill support and said button, further including biasing means between said hollow member and said actuator for normally maintaining said actuator in said first position, and guide means on said hollow member receiving said leg and guiding said actuator during movement between said positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
A device as defined in claim 7, in which said cooperating means comprises a pair of resilient fingers on said plunger extending towards said button; and means defining a ratchet teeth on said leg and said hollow member, said ratchet teeth being respectively aligned with said resilient fingers and cooperating therewith to (1) move said plunger relative to said hollow member when said actuator is moved to expose said exit opening and (2) maintain said plunger fixed relative to said hollow member when said actuator is moved to close said exit opening.
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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) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |