Patent US4574954A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4574954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pill dispenser
Assignee: MEDICATION SERVICES Inc A COROP OF CA
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Filing: 1984-12-07
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2004-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A pill dispenser of the type having a plastic bubble containing each pill with frangible foil backing, has an improved construction enabling easier release of the pill through the foil. Each clear plastic bubble includes a raised circular blister at its top, on an otherwise generally planar plateau area. When the pill is forced out by the finger or thumb of the user, the raised blister is pushed inside out and assists in providing the required depth and force to push the pill out through the foil.
Inventors
- 👤 Grahame W. Reid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:52
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D75/00; B65D75/28; B65D75/30; B65D75/32; B65D75/325; B65D75/327; B65D2585/00; B65D2585/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a bubble-type pill dispenser of the kind including at least one plastic pill-containing bubble closed at the back by a sheet of frangible material such that the bubble can be pushed inwardly and deformed to force the pill through the frangible material, the improvement comprising: a peripheral plateau area in the front of the clear plastic bubble; and a rounded blister extending convexly forward from the peripheral plateau area and integrally formed with the bubble, generally centrally located in the front of the bubble and positioned to engage the contained pill when pushed inwardly, the blister meeting the peripheral plateau area in a sharp generally circular break line defining the periphery of the blister; the plastic material of the bubble being thinner at the break line than in the blister; whereby the blister can be pushed inwardly by the finger or thumb of a user with relatively little force, causing it to pop into an inside-out configuration, bending along the break line, assisting in easily pushing the pill through the frangible material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a bubble-type pill dispenser of the kind including at least one plastic pill-containing bubble closed at the back by a sheet of frangible material such that the bubble can be pushed inwardly and deformed to force the pill through the frangible material, the improvement comprising: a peripheral plateau area in the front of the clear plastic bubble; and a rounded blister extending convexly forward from the peripheral plateau area and integrally formed with the bubble, generally centrally located in the front of the bubble and positioned to engage the contained pill when pushed inwardly, the blister meeting the peripheral plateau area in a sharp generally circular break line defining the periphery of the blister; the plastic material of the bubble being thinner at the break line than in the blister; whereby the blister can be pushed inwardly by the finger or thumb of a user with relatively little force, causing it to pop into an inside-out configuration, bending along the break line, assisting in easily pushing the pill through the frangible material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein the plastic bubble is drawn from a sheet of material in a thermoforming process, whereby the material naturally thins out where it is stretched over the sharp break line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein the blister is shaped generally as a portion of a sphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein the bubble has a radiused shoulder at the periphery of the peripheral plateau area, the plastic material being somewhat thinner at the radiused shoulder than in the blister, whereby the shoulder also bends inwardly when the blister is pushed in, further assisting in dispensing the pill through the frangible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement of claim 4, wherein the plastic material in the peripheral plateau area is also somewhat thinner than in the blister, whereby the plateau area first deflects inwardly through bending in the plateau area and in the radiused shoulder, then the blister pops into inside-out configuration as the shoulder and plateau area bend further.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 1, wherein the pill dispenser includes a plurality of clear plastic pill-containing bubbles, and further including a window card with openings through which the pill-containing bubbles protrude.
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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) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |