Capsule dispenser having chambers rotatable relative to a dispensing outlet

Claim 2

A capsule dispenser comprising: a first cartridge defining a plurality of annularly disposed bottomless and bottom discharging chambers, said chambers each sized to contain multiple and variously shaped capsules, and including a hollow concentric post having internal and external surfaces about the post's internal and external circumference permitting the internal surfaces on the first such cartridge to rotationally but removably engage at least one other cartridge; a receptacle base supporting the cartridge and having a receiving tray, an annular surface providing a bottom to the cartridge chambers but with a perforation above the receiving tray, and a top and bottom design to facilitate removably stacking the receptacle base supporting said at least one other cartridge, and means to rotate the first cartridge relative to the receptacle base and, when the first cartridge is rotationally but removably engaged to said at least one other cartridge, similarly situated chambers from each cartridge will simultaneously rotate over the perforation in each said receptacle base, whereby each said cartridge will discharge its contents into its corresponding receiving tray.

Claim 3

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 1 which further comprises: an annular cover plate removably connected to the top of the receptacle base to cover the cartridge chambers, with an aperture through which protrudes the means to rotate the cartridge relative to the base receptacle.

Claim 4

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 1 which further comprises: a base plate removably connected to the bottom of the receptacle base.

Claim 5

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 1 which further comprises: means to interlock the cartridge and receptacle base including a flange on one of these parts and resilient interlocking means on the remaining such part, said interlocking means allowing rotation of the cartridge relative to the receptacle base.

Claim 6

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein the cartridge further comprises: means to display sequential time related indicia disposed in concentric and fixed relation to the chambers of the cartridge.

Claim 7

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 1 which further comprises: a ratchet between the cartridge and receptacle base, said ratchet having a position corresponding to the center of each cartridge chamber, thereby preventing reverse rotation and centering each chamber in turn with respect to the receiving tray.

Claim 8

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 1 which further comprises: sequential time related indicia in concentric relationship with the cartridge chambers, and a convex lens on the receptacle base to magnify the sequential time related indicia.

Claim 9

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 1 wherein the receptacle base further includes: at least one flat side to facilitate mounting the invention on a vertical surface.

Claim 10

A capsule dispenser comprising a first rotatable cartridge and at least a second similar rotatable cartridge disposed in a removable interlocked stacked relation thereto for simultaneous manual rotational movement; each of the cartridges including a plurality of annularly disposed bottomless chambers, each chamber being sized and shaped to contain any of a wide variety of capsules; a first and at least a second receptacle base to support the respective cartridges, each of the receptacle bases providing a receiving tray and a portion defining an annular surface disposed in close proximity to the underside of the chambers defining a bottom wall therefor; a perforation in each bottom wall, sized and shaped in general conformity with one of the chambers, being in an aligned relationship with respect to each other, and being in close proximity to the receiving tray of each of the receptacle bases; means to fix the receptacle bases against rotational movement with the receiving trays in an aligned relation; and means to interlock the cartridges relative to the receptacle bases in a manner to permit simultaneous manual rotational movement of the cartridges relative to the receptacle bases for sequential alignment of successive chambers in each of the interlocked cartridges with the aligned receiving trays.

Claim 11

A capsule dispenser comprising a first rotatable cartridge and at least a second similar rotatable cartridge disposed in a removable interlocked stacked relation thereto for simultaneous manual rotational movement; each of the cartridges including a plurality of annularly disposed bottomless chambers, each chamber being sized and shaped to contain any of a wide variety of capsules; a first and at least a second receptacle base to support the respective cartridges, each of the receptacle bases providing a receiving tray and a portion defining an annular surface disposed in close proximity to the underside of the chambers defining a bottom wall therefor; a perforation in each bottom wall, sized and shaped in general conformity with one of the chambers, being in an aligned relationship with respect to each other, and being in close proximity to the receiving tray of each of the receptacle bases; means to fix the receptacle bases against rotational movement with the receiving trays in an aligned relation; and means to interlock the cartridges relative to the receptacle bases in a manner to permit simultaneous manual rotational movement of the cartridges relative to the receptacle bases for sequential alignment of successive chambers in each of the interlocked cartridges with the aligned receiving trays.

Claim 12

The capsule dispenser of claim 9 which further comprises: means to rotate the cartridges relative to the receptacle bases.

Claim 13

The capsule dispenser of claim 10 which further comprises: an annular cover plate removably connected to the top of the uppermost receptacle base to cover the uppermost cartridge chambers, with an aperture through which protrudes the means to rotate the cartridges relative to the receptacle bases.

Claim 14

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 10 wherein the means to rotate the cartridges relative to the receptacle bases comprises: a concentric post connected to the uppermost cartridge and having external off-round surfaces about the post's circumference.

Claim 15

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 9 which further comprises: a base plate removably connected to the bottom of the lowermost receptacle base.

Claim 16

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 9 wherein the means to interlock the respective cartridges and receptacle bases comprises an upwardly outwardly angled flange on each of the cartridges having a predetermined outer diameter, and an upwardly inwardly angled flange on each of the receptacle bases having a predetermined inner diameter somewhat less than the outer diameter.

Claim 17

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 9 wherein the cartridges further comprises: means to display sequential time related indicia disposed in concentric relation to the chambers of each of the cartridges.

Claim 18

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 9 wherein the means to interlock the cartridges comprises: a hollow concentric post having internal and external surfaces about the post's internal and external circumference such that the internal surfaces on the first cartridge engage cooperating external surfaces and a second cartridge.

Claim 19

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 9 which further comprises: a ratchet between each cartridge and base, said ratchet having a position corresponding to the center of each cartridge chamber, thereby preventing reverse rotation and centering each chamber in turn with respect to the receiving tray.

Claim 20

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 9 which further comprises: sequential time related indicia in concentric relationship with the cartridge chambers, and a convex lens on each base to magnify the sequential time related indicia.

Claim 21

The capsule dispenser as recited in claim 9 wherein the means to interlock the cartridges comprises: coaxially extending central posts, providing like off-round external surfaces in first portions thereof, and like off-round internal surfaces in second portions, each of said external surfaces being sized and configured relative to said internal surfaces for axial sliding reception therein in a non-rotational relation thereto, and to permit unitary rotational movement of said first and second cartridges.