Tablet dispenser

Claim 2

A tablet dispenser comprising; a. an open-fronted housing including a top wall, side walls running longitudinally of the housing and at least a partial bottom wall, the top wall being formed with an opening intermediate the side walls and a domed section longitudinally spaced from and in line with the opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the housing and defined by an upwardly facing front cavity section and a rear latch section integral with the front cavity section, the latch section comprising across the top thereof a resilient panel having an upstanding operating button formed therein intermediate the side walls of the housing and moving up into latch position in the opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a dispensing position in which the button moves up into the domed section, the shape of the domed section and button being such that the drawer may be forceably closed from dispensing position as the button is cammed downward by the domed section.

Claim 3

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein a partial block is fixedly positioned in the front of the drawer making accessible for removal only a single tablet.

Claim 4

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch section is provided with a rear wall portion and the resilient panel is integral with and hinged to the rear wall and extends forward therefrom and is supported from below at the side edges thereof by other structure of the latch section.

Claim 5

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein the latch section at the front thereof is formed with nibs which hold down the front of the panel.

Claim 6

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch section comprises connected frame members and the resilient panel is a separate element secured to one or more of the frame members.

Claim 7

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein both the button and the front of the domed section have vertical sections which mutually abutt to block farther movement of the drawer toward the front of the housing.

Claim 8

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opening has a chamfer at its lower end and the button has a fillet at its lower end, the chamfer and fillet serving to center the button in the opening as it moves up when the drawer closes.

Claim 9

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cavity section has a cavity in the form of a zig-zag canal and the top wall of the housing is transparent and bears indicia overlying the canal when the drawer is closed to indicate the number of tablets in the canal.

Claim 10

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cavity section has one extension accessible to tablets in the cavity section through a passage in a side wall of the cavity section and the top wall of the housing has a depending partition which, when the drawer is open, closes the passage, the extension holding only a given number of tablets.

Claim 11

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the button is formed with a lateral recess toward the front of the dispenser and the opening has a lateral tongue aligned with the recess when the button is in its up position.

Claim 12

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom wall of the housing is only partial, exposing a portion of the bottom wall of the drawer, the latter being provided with ribs.

Claim 13

A tablet dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing including a top wall, side walls running longitudinally of the housing and at least a partial bottom wall the top wall being formed with an opening intermediate the side walls and a domed section longitudinally spaced from and in line with the opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the housing and including across the top thereof a resilient panel having an upstanding operating button formed therein intermediate the side walls of the housing and moving up into latch position in the opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a dispensing position in which the button moves up into the domed section, the shape of the domed section and button being such that the drawer may be forceably closed from dispensing position as the button is cammed downward by the domed section.

Claim 14

A tablet dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing including a top wall, side walls running longitudinally of the housing and at least a partial bottom wall the top wall being formed with an opening intermediate the side walls and a domed section longitudinally spaced from and in line with the opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the housing and including across the top thereof a resilient panel having an upstanding operating button formed therein intermediate the side walls of the housing and moving up into latch position in the opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a dispensing position in which the button moves up into the domed section, the shape of the domed section and button being such that the drawer may be forceably closed from dispensing position as the button is cammed downward by the domed section.

Claim 15

A tablet dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing including a top wall, side walls and at least a partial bottom wall, one wall being formed with a button opening and a relief zone formed toward the front in said one wall of the housing in alignment with the button opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by an upwardly facing front cavity section and a latch integral with the front cavity section, the latch comprising a resilient panel parallel to and inward from the said one wall and having an operating button formed therein and moving into latch position in the button opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable from said button opening as the panel flexes to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a dispensing position whereat the button moves up in the relief zone such that it is no longer depressed, to relieve stress on the resilient panel.

Claim 16

A tablet dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing including a top wall, side walls and at least a partial bottom wall, one wall being formed with a button opening and a relief zone formed toward the front in said one wall of the housing in alignment with the button opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by an upwardly facing front cavity section and a latch integral with the front cavity section, the latch comprising a resilient panel parallel to and inward from the said one wall and having an operating button formed therein and moving into latch position in the button opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable from said button opening as the panel flexes to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a dispensing position whereat the button moves up in the relief zone such that it is no longer depressed, to relieve stress on the resilient panel.

Claim 17

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 13 wherein the button opening and relief zone are on the top wall and the relief zone is in the form of a dome.

Claim 18

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 14 wherein the resilient panel is under the top wall and the button faces upward and the panel is supported by side walls of the drawer parallel to the side walls of the housing.

Claim 19

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 13 wherein the drawer is a single part of molded plastic.

Claim 20

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drawer is a single part of molded plastic.

Claim 21

A tablet dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing including a top wall, side walls running longitudinally of the housing and inward drawer retaining means extending inward from the side walls and spaced down from the top wall, the top wall being formed with a button opening intermediate the side walls and a relief zone spaced toward the front from and in line with the opening, b. an integrally molded drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by an upwardly facing front cavity section and a rear latch section integral with the front cavity section, the latch section comprising a latch wall across the top thereof, a resilient panel portion in the latch wall defined by spaced elongate parallel slots in the latch wall, the panel having an upstanding operating button formed therein between the slots and moving up into latch position in the button opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a dispensing position in which the button moves up into the relief zone.

Claim 22

A tablet dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing including a top wall, side walls running longitudinally of the housing and inward drawer retaining means extending inward from the side walls and spaced down from the top wall, the top wall being formed with a button opening intermediate the side walls and a relief zone spaced toward the front from and in line with the opening, b. an integrally molded drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by an upwardly facing front cavity section and a rear latch section integral with the front cavity section, the latch section comprising a latch wall across the top thereof, a resilient panel portion in the latch wall defined by spaced elongate parallel slots in the latch wall, the panel having an upstanding operating button formed therein between the slots and moving up into latch position in the button opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a dispensing position in which the button moves up into the relief zone.

Claim 23

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 18 wherein the relief zone is a domed section and the shape of the domed section and button is such that the drawer may be forceably closed from dispensing position as the button is cammed downward by the domed section.

Claim 24

A tablet dispenser as claimed in claim 19 wherein the latch section comprises connected frame members and the latch wall is secured to said frame members.

Claim 25

A medicine dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing defined by a plurality of connected walls and including a first wall extending rearward from the front, the first wall being formed with a button opening and a relief zone spaced toward the front from the opening and in line with the opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by a forward medicine-containing section and a rear latch section integral with the medicine-containing section, the latch section supporting a resilient latch panel parallel to and closely adjacent the first wall, the panel having an upstanding operating button therein biased by the resilient latch panel up into latch position in the button opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a medicine-dispensing position in which the button moves up into the relief zone.

Claim 26

A medicine dispenser comprising: a. an open-fronted housing defined by a plurality of connected walls and including a first wall extending rearward from the front, the first wall being formed with a button opening and a relief zone spaced toward the front from the opening and in line with the opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by a forward medicine-containing section and a rear latch section integral with the medicine-containing section, the latch section supporting a resilient latch panel parallel to and closely adjacent the first wall, the panel having an upstanding operating button therein biased by the resilient latch panel up into latch position in the button opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a medicine-dispensing position in which the button moves up into the relief zone.

Claim 27

A medicine dispenser as claimed in claim 21 wherein the button and the relief zone have on their respective front surfaces means to block the drawer from further opening movement beyond the dispensing position.

Claim 28

A medicine dispenser as claimed in claim 21 wherein the resilient latch panel is molded plastic integral with the latch section, and the medicine-containing section.

Claim 29

A medicine dispenser as claimed in claim 21 wherein the rear of the button and the relief zone are shaped so that the button is automatically cammed inward when the drawer is forced into the housing from the dispensing position.

Claim 30

A medicine dispenser as claimed in claim 21 wherein the drawer has a front wall having outward extensions protruding respectively laterally beyond the sides of the housing to assist in the opening of the drawer.

Claim 31

A medicine container comprising: a. an open-fronted housing defined by a plurality of connected walls and including a first wall extending rearward from the front, the first wall being formed with an opening and a relief zone spaced toward the front from the opening and in line with the opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by a forward medicine-containing section and a rear latch section integral with the medicine-containing section, the latch section supporting a resilient latch panel parallel to and closely adjacent the first wall, the panel having an upstanding operating button therein biased by the resilient latch panel up into latch position in the opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a medicine-dispensing position in which the button moves up into the relief zone, the medicine-containing section comprising a rigid floor having a plurality of spaced openings therein, the floor containing a bubble-pack card having a frangible base and a cover sheet comprising spaced collapsible pockets laminated thereto, the pockets each containing a tablet, the card carrying an indicator of periodicity for each pocket, the pockets and tablets being aligned respectively over the openings in the rigid floor.

Claim 32

A medicine container comprising: a. an open-fronted housing defined by a plurality of connected walls and including a first wall extending rearward from the front, the first wall being formed with an opening and a relief zone spaced toward the front from the opening and in line with the opening, b. a drawer slideably fitting into the open front of the housing and defined by a forward medicine-containing section and a rear latch section integral with the medicine-containing section, the latch section supporting a resilient latch panel parallel to and closely adjacent the first wall, the panel having an upstanding operating button therein biased by the resilient latch panel up into latch position in the opening when the drawer is in closed position, the button being manually depressable to a release position so that the drawer may be opened to a medicine-dispensing position in which the button moves up into the relief zone, the medicine-containing section comprising a rigid floor having a plurality of spaced openings therein, the floor containing a bubble-pack card having a frangible base and a cover sheet comprising spaced collapsible pockets laminated thereto, the pockets each containing a tablet, the card carrying an indicator of periodicity for each pocket, the pockets and tablets being aligned respectively over the openings in the rigid floor.

Claim 33

A medicine container as claimed in claim 26 wherein the card may be slid into the drawer from the rear thereof to rest on the rigid floor, sidewalls in the drawer, and retaining means on the drawer holding the card in position in the drawer.

Claim 34

A medicine container as claimed in claim 27 wherein the retaining means comprises ribs along sides of the drawer spaced above the floor and adapted to overlie the card, and a rear lock section comprising a bridge across the drawer between the sides and bowing down in its central section and, after assembly, the central section can be pushed up to snap upward to lock the card from being slid back out of the drawer.

Claim 35

A medicine dispenser as claimed in claim 28 wherein the latch panel also bridges between the sidewalls and is disposed above the lock.

Claim 36

A medicine dispenser as claimed in claim 26 wherein the relief zone is a second opening.

Claim 37

A medicine dispenser as claimed in claim 30 wherein the drawer has a front wall having outward extensions protruding respectively laterally beyond the sides of the housing to assist in the opening of the drawer.