US3688945A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recording tablet dispenser
Assignee: Bristol Myers Co
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Filing: 1970-10-12
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1990-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A disposable tablet dispenser which is also capable of indicating the time at which a tablet was dispensed, is provided. The dispenser is formed of at least two concentrically aligned cylinders. The innermost cylinder is provided with a means for dispensing a tablet therefrom into a tablet receptacle. The tablet receptacle is located in a dispensing means, which means when moved to a position from which a tablet may be dispensed, simultaneously moves the outermost cylinder about the innermost cylinder. By providing the outermost cylinder with spaced printing, such as the days of the week, the time at which a tablet was dispensed is indicated when the dispenser means moves the printed time to a designated location.
Inventors
- 👤 Arlington Raymond Harman Jr
- 👤 Alphonse Peter Granatek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/04; B65D83/0409; B65D83/0418; B65D2583/00; B65D2583/04; B65D2583/0472; B65D2583/0477; B65D2583/049; B65D2583/0495
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A tablet dispenser comprising: a. concentrically aligned inner and outer cylinders, said inner cylinder having therein means for dispensing at least one tablet into a tablet receptacle; b. said tablet receptacle being located in a means for receiving the tablets to be dispensed and, upon movement of said means, carrying said tablets to a position from which they may be dispensed, said tablet receiving and carrying means comprises a carrying wheel having therein said tablet receptacle, gear means for interconnecting said tablet receiving and carrying means with said outer cylinder, axle means connecting said carrying wheel and said gear means, and means for rotating said carrying wheel and gear wheel about said axle means; c. said outer cylinder being connected to said tablet receiving and carrying means of (b) above, such that upon movement of said tablet receiving and carrying means from its receiving position to its dispensing position, said outer cylinder is caused to revolve about said inner cylinder; and d. recording means, located at least in part on said outer cylinder, for recording the movement of said tablet receiving and carrying means from its receiving position to its dispensing position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A tablet dispenser comprising: a. concentrically aligned inner and outer cylinders, said inner cylinder having therein means for dispensing at least one tablet into a tablet receptacle; b. said tablet receptacle being located in a means for receiving the tablets to be dispensed and, upon movement of said means, carrying said tablets to a position from which they may be dispensed, said tablet receiving and carrying means comprises a carrying wheel having therein said tablet receptacle, gear means for interconnecting said tablet receiving and carrying means with said outer cylinder, axle means connecting said carrying wheel and said gear means, and means for rotating said carrying wheel and gear wheel about said axle means; c. said outer cylinder being connected to said tablet receiving and carrying means of (b) above, such that upon movement of said tablet receiving and carrying means from its receiving position to its dispensing position, said outer cylinder is caused to revolve about said inner cylinder; and d. recording means, located at least in part on said outer cylinder, for recording the movement of said tablet receiving and carrying means from its receiving position to its dispensing position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for dispensing at least one tablet into a tablet receptacle is comprised of a cylindrical passageway longitudinally located in said inner cylinder, a coil spring, and a tablet platform, said coil spring being located in abutting fashion with a lower terminal wall of said cylindrical passageway and extending longitudinally upwardly therein, said tablet platform being located, at least in part, at the upper end of said coil spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cylindrical passage is longitudinally located in a tablet cartridge threadedly engaged and longitudinally located in said inner cylinder, and wherein said lower terminal wall comprises a flexible wall spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom of said passageway, said flexible wall being movable toward the said bottom of said passageway in response to pressure applied against said wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gear means comprises a gear wheel having teeth therein and wherein said outer cylinder comprises teeth on one end thereof which intermesh with the teeth of said gear wheel to interconnect said outer cylinder and said tablet receiving and carrying means such that when said gear means is rotated in the direction of mesh said outermost cylinder is revolved a predetermined distance about said inner cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 4 further including a cover means concentrically located about said outer cylinder, said cover means having a predisposed view-window such that a predetermined portion of said recording means will be viewable through said view window when said tablet receiving and carrying means is in its receiving position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 5 which also includes a base plate, said base plate being attached to a portion of said inner cylinder and being so located as to define a circumferential space between a surface thereof and a portion of said outer cylinder, and spring means located circumferentially in said space for forcing the teeth of said outer cylinder into meshing relationship with the teeth of said gear means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 5 further including a tablet cartridge threadedly engaged and longitudinally located in said inner cylinder, said cartridge including said cylindrical passageway, cap means fixedly connected to the lower end of said cartridge, said cap means comprising a flexible bottom wall spaced a predetermined distance from said lower end of said cartridge for supporting said coil spring and tablet platform, each of said inner and outer cylinders having an enlarged diameter section at their respective lower ends to define a circumferential space between an outer surface of said inner cylinder and an inner surface of said outer cylinder, and spring means located circumferentially in said space for forcing the teeth of said outer cylinder into meshing relationship with the teeth of said gear means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 6 further including counter-rotation means for preventing the rotation of said outer cylinder about said inner cylinder when said gear means is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of mesh.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 7 further including coUnter-rotation means for preventing the rotation of said outer cylinder about said inner cylinder when said gear means is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of mesh.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 8 wherein said counter-rotation means comprises a pin located in a wall of said cover means, said pin extending longitudinally therefrom into at least a portion of a recess defined by the teeth of said outer cylinder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 9 wherein said counter-rotation means comprises a pin located in a wall of said cover means, said pin extending longitudinally therefrom into at least a portion of a recess defined by the teeth of said outer cylinder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 10 wherein said inner cylinder includes a laterally extending groove in its upper surface into which said cylindrical passageway terminates, said inner cylinder also including clamp means for holding and aligning said axle means which connects said gear means with said carrying wheel in such a manner that when said tablet receiving and carrying means is in its receiving position, said tablet receptacle is aligned over the terminal end of said cylindrical hole, said laterally extending groove being larger in width than the diameter of said cylindrical hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 11 wherein said inner cylinder includes a laterally extending groove in its upper surface into which said cylindrical passageway terminates, said inner cylinder also including clamp means for holding and aligning said axle means which connects said gear means with said carrying wheel in such a manner that when said tablet receiving and carrying means is in its receiving position, said tablet receptacle is aligned over the terminal end of said cylindrical hole, said laterally extending groove being larger in width than the diameter of said cylindrical hole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 12 wherein a portion of said lateral groove is provided with a second groove generally perpendicularly disposed relative to said lateral groove and to the longitudinal axis of said inner cylinder, said second groove extending to the periphery of said inner cylinder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 13 wherein a portion of said lateral groove is provided with a second groove generally perpendicularly disposed relative to said lateral groove and to the longitudinal axis of said inner cylinder, said second groove extending to the periphery of said inner cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 10 wherein said recording means records a different day of the week through said view-window each time a tablet is dispensed therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tablet dispenser in accordance with claim 11 wherein said recording means records a different day of the week through said view-window each time a tablet is dispensed therefrom.
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) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |