Patent ID: 6138866
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: A61J,B65D

Abstract:
A tablet dispenser component system comprising:as a first component, a rotatable substantially circular unidirectional knob having indicators of periodicity thereon wherein the knob is encircled with a notched skirt comprising a plurality of notches spaced substantially equally apart, said knob having unidirectional ratchet means comprising a ratchet track with a plurality of ratchet stops whereby each successive positive engagement of said ratchet stops corresponds to a single space of each notch of the notched skirt;as a second component, a substantially flat support with a cover attached, said support having a single tablet dispensing aperture therein and a rising wall portion protruding therefrom to form an interior cup-like portion thereon, a first engagement means whereby said rotatable knob is rotatably joined to said flat support, a fixed center axis means around which said rotatable knob is rotated in a circular fashion, and a second engagement means interposed with said unidirectional ratchet means to form a functional system therewith;as a third component, a separate and removable tablet package adapted to fit over the rotatable knob said package further including means to positively engage the notched skirt such that the two components rotate in unison, said tablet package comprising a plurality of collapsible tablet pockets each containing a tablet, said pockets arranged substantially circularly about the package whereby the spacing of the tablet pockets corresponds to each stop of the ratchet means such that a new tablet is placed over the tablet dispensing aperture upon the positive engagement of each stop on the ratcheted rotatable knob, said tablet pockets being covered with a frangible membrane which is interposed between said pockets and the single tablet is dispensed from the package by collapsing the pocket which is in registry with said aperture thereby urging said tablet to fracture said membrane and pass through said aperture; anda wherein the tablet dispenser contains at least one leverage point comprising an exposed area useful to open said dispenser, said leverage point contained on one of said support or said cover, and wherein said leverage point is accessible through an access area contained on the opposite of said support or cover.