Two-part combination container and tablet dispenser

Abstract

Abstract A two-part combination container and tablet dispenser wherein the container portion is integrally molded, having a base, top, and front and side walls. The top is hingedly formed in the open position on the upper edge of the front wall and is adapted to move freely toward the rear wall to a closed position secured by closure means formed in the top with mating closure means on the upper edge of the rear wall. A flange is integrally formed on the upper edge of the top and depends therefrom for mounting the container to any suitable support when the top is in the closed position. The container is molded with the base having an upstanding tapered stud formed thereon, with a tablet discharge slot formed at the front edge of the base, with recess defined by the lowermost portion of the front wall and the front edge of the base, and with a projecting shield spaced over said recess. The tablet dispenser portion comprises a molded rotatable disc having a plurality of spaced tablet receiving openings and a central tapered hub therethrough which mates and locks onto the upstanding stud in the base. In this position, a portion of the periphery of the disc extends through the recess for easy manual rotation whereby a tablet-receiving opening is brought into registry with the tablet discharge slot to discharge a tablet therethrough. The projecting shield prevents tablets from clogging or accumulating at a tablet-receiving opening as the disc is rotated so that a single tablet is discharged at each rotation of the dispenser disc. Efficient and economical tablet dispensers assume an increasing importance as improved technology provides a great variety of substances in tablet form. Some substances which are provided in this form are candy, medicinals, vitamins, salt, disinfectants, and plant nutrients, to mention a few. Diverse tablet dispensers have been provided by the prior art with the objective of dispensing tablets conveniently and efficiently with a minimum of handling, breakage and/or contamination. Combined tablet containers and dispensers have been devised to minimize handling expense and to reduce chances for contamination. One such dispensing container is described by U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,200 which provides a cardboard blank which can be folded into the shape of a box with the walls being secured in their assembled relation by suitable adhesive. Inserted into the formed box is a dispenser unit comprising a base plate, a dispenser wheel and means for mounting said wheel onto the base-plate.

Inventors

• 👤 Connor D O

Bibliographic Details