Patent US4047620A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4047620A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pill and capsule counter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-10-10
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Granted: 1977-09-13
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Expires: 1995-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A counter for discrete objects such as pills and capsules having a tray with pill and capsule receiving sides in back to back relationship, each side having a movable slider for selecting the number of recesses in said side to be filled, said tray being pivotable to dispense the counted objects.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren L. Deininger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J7/00; A61J7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A counter for pills and capsules having a tray with pill and capsule receiving sides in back to back relationship, each side having a movable slide for selecting the number of recesses in said side to be filled, said tray being elongated and rotatable within a housing about a central axis to dispense the counted pills or capsules into said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A counter for pills and capsules having a tray with pill and capsule receiving sides in back to back relationship, each side having a movable slide for selecting the number of recesses in said side to be filled, said tray being elongated and rotatable within a housing about a central axis to dispense the counted pills or capsules into said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The counter according to claim 1 wherein the tray is supported at its opposite ends by a shaft which is rotatably journaled in a housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The counter according to claim 2 wherein the housing is arcuate in cross-section and has first and second end walls, said tray being journaled in said first and second end walls and wherein the first end wall is formed adjacent one edge of the housing at an acute angle to the long axis thereof, said first end wall having an aperture forming a pouring spout.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The counter according to claim 3 wherein the tray has side flanges, an end flange and is open at one end, said side and end flanges bending toward the pill and capsule receiving sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The counter according to claim 4 wherein the recesses on the pill and capsule receiving sides are arranged in ranks and files.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The counter according to claim 5 wherein the tray is resiliently biased between said first and second end walls and is reciprocated by an operator member associated with one end of the shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The counter according to claim 6 wherein the tray is resiliently biased by a coil spring fitted over the shaft opposite the operator member, said spring received in a recess provided in the first end wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The counter according to claim 7 wherein the tray is reciprocated between the first and second end walls so that a gap is selectively provided between the open end of the tray and the second end wall sufficiently large to eject excess pills and capsules when the first end wall of the tray is elevated with respect to the second end wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The counter according to claim 8 wherein the sliders have sloping sides which are cooperatively fitted between the sloping side flanges of the tray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The counter according to claim 9 wherein the sliders have resiliently biased wires attached to their sloping sides for cooperative receipt in a longitudinal groove provided in each side flange of the tray.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The counter according to claim 10 wherein the sliders have movable fingers frictionally fitted in apertures provided therein, said fingers being in alignment with the recesses for selective blocking thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The counter according to claim 11 wherein a leg is provided adjacent the second end wall to support the counter upright in rest position on a horizontal surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The counter according to claim 12 wherein the tray is arcuate in cross-section and dimensioned to exclude a pill or capsule in the space between the tray and the housing.
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) | 1980-09-12 | 1981-03-14 | 1981-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-12 | 1985-03-14 | 1985-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-12 | 1989-03-14 | 1989-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |