US4057145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compliance dispenser for oral medication
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-03-19
•
Granted: 1977-11-08
•
Expires: 1996-03-19
Abstract
Abstract A dispenser for oral medication which promotes patient compliance with prescribed treatment and dosage regimens. A housing has an opening formed therein through which may be viewed a plurality of individually defined compartments or wells within each of which are placed tablets or capsules corresponding to desired individual dosages. The plurality of compartments are arranged in a regular, preferably matrix, form so as to define a plurality of columns and rows of compartments which may respectively correspond to and be labeled with the particular day and time of day at which the individual dosages are desired to be dispensed. Means are provided for preventing manual accessability to all but a single day's worth of dosages. Each day's dosages may be successively selected by means of a child-proof advancing mechanism. The individual dosages within each day's dosages may be selected by the patient via a plurality of individual manually pivotable preferably transparent lids. The patient, pharmacist, and/or doctor may ascertain at a glance whether the desired treatment regimen has been complied with.
Inventors
- 👤 Betty B. Wray
- 👤 Peter F. Stager
- 👤 Charles W. Linder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D83/00; B65D83/04; B65D83/0445; B65D2583/00; B65D2583/04; B65D2583/0404; B65D2583/0409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A compliance dispenser for oral medication, which comprises: means for containing a plurality of individual dosages of oral medication which includes dosage compartments arranged in groups, each group including a plurality of dosage compartments; means for selecting one group of said dosage compartments from among said groups of compartments for allowing dispensation of said dosages therefrom, said selecting means comprising belt means movably disposed across said plurality of dosage compartments, said belt means having an opening formed therein which permits access only to one selected group of dosage compartments at a time; and manually operable lid means for selectively permitting access to an individual dosage compartment within said selected group of dosage compartments, said lid means positioned over said opening in said belt means and connected to said belt means so as to be moveable therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A compliance dispenser for oral medication, which comprises: means for containing a plurality of individual dosages of oral medication which includes dosage compartments arranged in groups, each group including a plurality of dosage compartments; means for selecting one group of said dosage compartments from among said groups of compartments for allowing dispensation of said dosages therefrom, said selecting means comprising belt means movably disposed across said plurality of dosage compartments, said belt means having an opening formed therein which permits access only to one selected group of dosage compartments at a time; and manually operable lid means for selectively permitting access to an individual dosage compartment within said selected group of dosage compartments, said lid means positioned over said opening in said belt means and connected to said belt means so as to be moveable therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for selectively moving said belt means so as to individually render successive ones of said groups accessible to a user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for selectively moving said covering means includes child-proof means for substantially impeding the operation thereof by an average child.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lid means comprises a plurality of individually operable lids corresponding in number to the number of dosage compartments in a group of said dosage compartments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said individually operable lids is pivotally mounted to a pivot support connected to said belt means adjacent said opening means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lid means includes hinge means positioned along an edge of said opening about which each of said lids is pivotable, and snap-fit means positioned along an opposite edge of said opening for retaining said lids in a normally closed compartment-covering position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for moving said belt means comprises rotatable means for engaging said belt so as to cause same to move therewith, and wherein said child-proof means includes manually actuable handle means for selective engagement with said rotatable means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rotatable means comprises a shaft which includes at least one sprocketed wheel formed thereabout; said belt including a plurality of sequentially positioned conforming perforations for cooperable engagement with said sprocketed wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shaft is hollow and has said handle means positioned therein, said handle means including a pin formed therein for selective engagement with a similarly sized slot formed in said rotatable means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 9 wherein said child-proof means further comprises spring means positioned within said hollow shaft for normally biasing said pin out of engagement with said slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shaft is elongate and has said at least one sprocketed wheel integrally formed at one end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a second sprocketed wheel connected to said shaft at its distal end so as to be rotatable therewith to engage a second series of sequentially positioned perforations along said belt means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 1, further comprising child-proof means for normally substantially impeding the movement of said opening in said belt means from one group of dosage compartments to another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The compliance dispenser as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a housing for enclosing said containing means and said belt means, said housing having an access aperture which defines the limits of movement of said lid means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
171 words
A compliance dispenser for oral medication, which comprises: means for containing a plurality of individual dosages of oral medication which includes a plurality of separate compartments arranged in m rows and n columns throughout which said plurality of individual dosages of oral medication may be distributed in accordance with a desired treatment regimen; means for selecting one column of compartments from said n columns for allowing dispensation of said individual dosages from the m compartments within said one column, said selecting means comprising movable means for covering all but one of said n columns of compartments and child-proof means for normally substantially impeding the movement of said movable covering means from one of said columns to another; a plurality of manually operable lid means for selectively permitting access to one of said m compartments within said one selected column of compartments; and a housing for enclosing said containing means and having an opening therein within which said plurality of compartments are made selectively accessible by movement of said movable covering means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
171 words
A compliance dispenser for oral medication, which comprises: means for containing a plurality of individual dosages of oral medication which includes a plurality of separate compartments arranged in m rows and n columns throughout which said plurality of individual dosages of oral medication may be distributed in accordance with a desired treatment regimen; means for selecting one column of compartments from said n columns for allowing dispensation of said individual dosages from the m compartments within said one column, said selecting means comprising movable means for covering all but one of said n columns of compartments and child-proof means for normally substantially impeding the movement of said movable covering means from one of said columns to another; a plurality of manually operable lid means for selectively permitting access to one of said m compartments within said one selected column of compartments; and a housing for enclosing said containing means and having an opening therein within which said plurality of compartments are made selectively accessible by movement of said movable covering means.
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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) | 1980-11-07 | 1981-05-09 | 1981-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-11-07 | 1985-05-09 | 1985-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-11-07 | 1989-05-09 | 1989-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |