Apparatus, system and method for a pill dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10683160-B2
Application number	US-201715433788-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2017
Priority date	Feb 15, 2017
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

The disclosure provides at least an apparatus, method and system for a pill dispenser. The pill dispenser may be capable of dispensing a predetermined number of pills, and may include a push button; a container capable of containing a plurality of pills and including, at substantially an end portion thereof, a pill exit, and, on an inner circumference thereof, a threaded track; a cap that removably connects the push button and the container; and a dispenser fittedly positioned within the container. The dispenser may include a spring; threads capable of being rotatably received by the threaded track upon actuation of the push button; at least one pill stop at a portion thereof substantially adjacent to the pill exit; and a ramp therewithin capable of guiding ones of the plurality of pills to the pill stop upon compression of the spring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pill dispensing bottle capable of dispensing a predetermined number, other than one, of pills, comprising:
a push button;
a container capable of containing a plurality of the pills and including, at substantially an end portion thereof, a pill exit, and, on an inner circumference thereof, a threaded track;
a cap that removably connects the push button and the container;
a dispenser fittedly positioned within the container and comprising:
a spring;
threads capable of being rotatably received by the threaded track upon actuation of the push button;
at least one pill stop; and
a ramp capable of guiding the predetermined number of pills to the pill stop upon compression of the spring;

wherein the rotatable reception of the threads by the threaded track upon actuation of the push button compresses the spring, rotates the pill stop into alignment with the pill exit to block the pill exit, and delivers the predetermined number of pills to the pill stop via the ramp, and wherein an inverse rotatable reception of the threads upon release of the push button decompresses the spring and rotates the pill stop out of alignment with the pill exit to release the predetermined number of pills from the pill exit.

2. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises a tamper-proofing.

3. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 1 , wherein the cap and the push button together comprise a safety alignment mechanism.

4. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 3 , wherein the safety alignment mechanism comprises an orientation limiter.

5. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 4 , wherein the orientation limiter comprises a ridge on one of the outer surface of the push button or an inner surface of the cap, and a corresponding groove on one of the inner surface of the cap or an outer surface of the push button, respectively.

6. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 1 , wherein the push button has a circular or ovular cross section.

7. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 1 , wherein the push button comprises a button lip extending outwardly from a center axis of the bottle at least partially about a portion of the push button, and wherein the cap has a corresponding cap lip extending inwardly toward the center access for engaging the button lip to maintain the push button integral with the cap.

8. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 1 , wherein the pill stop comprises a tab.

9. The pill dispensing bottle of claim 1 , wherein the pill ramp is operable irrespective of a gravitational orientation of the pill ramp.

Assignees

• Nypro Inc

Inventors

• Petit Robert G

Classifications

• A61J7/0076 Primary

  Medicament distribution means (with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00) · CPC title

• A61J7/02

  Pill counting devices · CPC title

• A61J1/03

  for pills or tablets (containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04) · CPC title

• B65D83/0409

  the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation (B65D83/0445 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61J7/0053

  Syringes, pipettes or oral dispensers · CPC title