Article dispenser

The present invention is an article dispenser comprising an alarm reminder device having an alarm, a clock and resettable electronic circuitry means for controlling the alarm and the clock, a medicine cup, a substantially hollow housing having a base attached to the alarm reminder device, the housing rotatably coupled to the base, the base having a means for transferring medicine including a pill slide formed therethrough and a foundation having an orifice formed therein adjacent to and below the pill slide, the aperture sized to receive the medicine retainer cup in a secure relationship, and electromechanical circuitry means for controlling the electronic circuitry means disposed upon the exterior surface of the base within the orifice, the electromechanical circuitry means for controlling in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry means, the medicine cup engaging the electromechanical circuitry means for controlling when the cup is disposed within the aperture, the three-way switch being disengaged when the cup is not disposed within the orifice. The present invention dispenses articles, such as medicinal tablets at a predetermined time every day while simultaneously audibly alerting a person to take the medicine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to an automatic dispenser, and more
 particularly, to a medicine dispenser such as for medicine, namely pills,
 which provides audible alerts throughout the day to persons who require
 medicine in a timely fashion.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 When required, persons take medication (in the form of capsules, pills or
 the like) on a set schedule over some period of time. In some cases, the
 schedule and time of ingesting medication is given by a doctor or
 pharmacist, whereas in other situations, the schedule and time of
 ingestion is dictated by the medication's directions. These types of
 persons may include persons who are chronically ill (who require
 medication to alleviate or assist in the recovery of the illness), women
 on birth control pills and other persons who require dietary, supplemental
 or hormonal therapy.
 Initially, most people purchase medication which comes in a single
 compartment pill container (such as those provided in a pharmacy). Such
 pill containers, however, do not provide for orderly dispensing of the
 medication, and further, do not alert the user to take the medication in a
 timely, scheduled manner. Other pill containers are formed of a
 rectangular shaped box with individual compartments for the days of the
 week. Generally, these types of containers are elongated structures having
 a plurality of compartments, or boxes, that open up for receiving and
 storage of pills. Each compartment is labeled with each day of the week.
 However, these types of boxes do not remind the person requiring
 medication to physically ingest the medicine, but rather, only shows the
 person which days of the week they forgot to take the medicine.
 To resolve this problem, several devices exist on the market today which
 alert a user to take medication. Some of these devices typically employ a
 programmable alarm which is connected to a medicinal container. Typical of
 such devices include disclosures in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,091 to Daneshvar,
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,952 to Bowden and U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,422 to Springer.
 Some devices, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,912 to Cousin,
 require the user to program the alarms based on a complex programming
 routine.
 Moreover, devices, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,921,806,
 3,261,455 and 2,953,242 disclose medication dispensing units which have a
 large surface area. Such devices employ complex parts with elaborate
 designs to move pills into a pill dispensing area, which increases the
 likelihood that the medication will be broken or damaged. These types of
 units are believed to be difficult to store, difficult to access and
 overall, increases the complexity of a product which should not require
 complex tasks for the problem solved.
 There are also devices which teach an alarm for the sole purpose of
 reminding a user to take the medicine. Typical of such disclosures include
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,021 to Perrone. These devices, however, are not
 connected to a medicinal container, and as such, merely serve as
 conventional alarm units. In all, most of these devices are believed
 costly, or at the very least, technically complicated to manufacture
 and/or use in operation. In this regard, persons who require medication on
 a timed interval may not be in a position to purchase costly reminder
 systems or be prepared to program or use complicated reminder systems.
 As such, an article dispenser is desirable which is economical to make and
 easy to program by known, conventional standards, with fewer piece parts,
 less complexity and at a lower cost. Further, it is desirable that such an
 article dispenser be connected directly to a conventional programmable
 alarm unit (such as a low-cost alarm clock device found at local retail
 stores) for cost-efficiency, ease of use and convenience. In this manner,
 it is desirable that the existing electrical circuitry, which is already
 built in to the conventional alarm unit, control the alarm notification
 and dispensing of the articles from the article container, thereby
 eliminating the expense of a newly designed alarm unit, and also control
 the alarm notification to the patient. It is also desirable that the
 article dispenser be accessible to all types of persons, including
 children, the elderly, persons who are visually or hearing impaired,
 persons with failing memory and persons with other handicaps. Finally, it
 may be desirable to have an article dispenser capable of not only
 dispensing medicine, but other articles such as candy, gum or like small
 items.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to a single article dispenser, and more
 particularly to a medicinal dispenser controlled by electrical circuitry
 on an attached conventional alarm reminder device (such as an alarm
 clock). The present invention includes a means for dispensing medicine
 attached to an alarm reminder device (such as an alarm clock). The present
 invention utilizes the alarm circuitry of an alarm clock, which controls
 the engagement of the alarm on the alarm reminder device, to also control
 the operation of the means for dispensing medicine. The alarm circuitry
 preferably allows a patient to set the alarm reminder device to produce an
 alarm signal times at least once during each 24 hour period. Preferably,
 the alarm reminder device is commercially available and low cost. At a
 minimum, the alarm reminder device must have a three-way alarm switch for
 use with the present invention.
 The present invention is highly useful for those persons who do not take
 their medicine as prescribed by medical professionals or as directed on
 the medicine's container. The present invention is intended to provide an
 apparatus which is simple to use and manually operated by the user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 As seen in FIGS. 1-5, the present invention is an article dispenser 10
 having an alarm reminder device 11 electronically connected to a means for
 dispensing medicine 21.
 The alarm reminder device 11 is preferably a conventional, low cost clock
 or clock/radio component found at retail stores. As such, alarm reminder
 device 11 includes an alarm reminder device 11 (such as a digital clock
 having audio alarm capabilities in electrical communication with a
 built-in audio speaker or a visual means). Those of skill in the art will
 realize that alarm reminder device 11 is powered by conventional
 electrical line current through power cord 15 or can be operated by
 another power source such as a battery-powered clock. In this regard,
 conventional electrical line-powered alarm reminder devices with built-in
 battery back up are preferred, because power failure can inactivate the
 alarm reminder device causing patients to become frustrated or anxious
 when they are uncertain when they will receive the medication and at the
 proper time. Thus, employing an alarm reminder device with built-in
 battery back up source will allow a patient to receive medication from the
 alarm reminder device on time, whether conventional electricity is
 available for the alarm reminder device or not.
 The means for dispensing medicine 21 includes a substantially cylindrical,
 but hollow, housing 23 of predetermined height rotatably attached to the
 alarm reminder device 11 through base 22. Base 22 is a rigid structure for
 secure attachment to the alarm reminder device 11 by any conventional
 means (such as, for example, glue or by a conventional nut and bolt
 coupling) which will allow housing 23 to rotate upon base 23.
 Within base 22 is formed a hollow cavity 24 (as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11) in
 which a means for transferring medicine 26 is placed. Means for
 transferring medicine 26 is a substantially solid structure securely
 fittable within cavity 24 which includes a pill slide 28 formed
 therethrough. Pill slide 28 is of predetermined diameter to allow
 medicine, such as pills, capsules, caplets or tablets, to travel from
 compartment 31.sub.n within housing 23 to medicine retainer cup 33.
 Coupled to the exterior surface of base 22 is protruding foundation 24
 having a circular aperture 35 formed therein adjacent to and below pill
 slide channel 28. Aperture 35 is sized to receive medicine retainer cup 33
 in a secure relationship. Further, three-way switch 53 (such as
 subminiature lever switch 275-016A sold by Radio Shack), whose function is
 described below, is disposed upon the exterior surface of base 22 but
 within aperture 35 for engagement with medicine retaining cup 33.
 Preferably, housing 23 is formed of a clear or translucent material which
 will allow the user to determine the contents placed within housing 23.
 Within housing 23 is placed rim 25. While rim 25 fits within housing 23,
 rim 25 is preferably structured of lower height than housing 23 and is
 defined by a rigid vertical hub 27 which is attached to a plurality of
 outwardly-projecting spokes 29.sub.n. The length of each spoke 29.sub.n
 depends on the interior diameter of housing 23 so that when rim 29.sub.n
 is securely placed within or integrally attached with housing 23, hub 27
 is located substantially in the center of hollow cylinder housing 23 as
 illustrated in FIG. 6.
 Further, when rim 25 is placed within housing 23, a plurality of
 compartments 31.sub.n are defined between spokes 29.sub.n within housing
 23, each compartment 31.sub.n defined to retain a plurality of small
 articles, preferably medicinal pills, capsules, caplets and the like. As
 seen in FIGS. 5-6, a maximum of seven compartments are formed to
 correspond to the seven days in a Gregorian calendar week, however those
 of skill in the art will realize that added (or less) compartments can be
 formed depending on the end use application. Upon the top of housing 23 is
 attached lid 39. Lid 39, in the preferred embodiment, is a child proof
 safety cap that attaches to the top of housing 23 securely.
 As an option which can be incorporated into the preferred embodiment, the
 circumferential space occupied by one of the compartments can be labeled
 "fill" and is different from all the other compartments. In particular,
 the fill compartment would occupy only thirty-eight degrees (38.degree.)
 of interior circumferential space within housing 23, whereas the remaining
 compartments occupy an equal forty-six degrees (46.degree.) of interior
 circumferential space.
 As those of skill in the art will appreciate, the rotation of means for
 dispensing 21 can be controlled by different means, such as manually,
 mechanically or electronically. In the preferred embodiment, the rotation
 of means for dispensing is controlled manually, which provides the user
 with control over the operation of the present invention. In this fashion,
 a user can have the present invention dispense pills from selected
 compartments at selected time intervals as notified. However, as those of
 skill in the art will appreciate, base 23 could be designed to include an
 electromechanical means (not shown) placed within cavity 24 which
 interfaces with alarm reminder device 11 for electromechanically rotating
 housing 23. While this embodiment may cost more to implement, it may be
 preferable for use by patients who have trouble with manual dexterity.
 Preferably, the exterior of housing 23 is labeled Fill, Sunday, Monday,
 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. These markings should
 be raised plastic and used to indicate the day of the week for the pills
 that one has been taking. Directional arrows on the cap showing the
 rotation of the cylinder necessary to dispense the pills can also be built
 into the unit.
 Optionally, as seen in FIG. 9, filler cap 37 can be employed within housing
 23. Filler cap 37 is a substantially rigid structure fittable within
 housing 23 and having an offset aperture formed therein of predetermined
 diameter. The aperture's diameter, of course, is sized and shaped to
 accommodate the size and shape of medicine to be dispensed, and assists
 with loading medicine into the housing's compartments 31.sub.n.
 As seen in FIGS. 7a and 7b, many conventional resettable alarm reminder
 devices are believed to work in the following fashion, employing
 electromechanical circuitry means. Each reminder device employs a
 three-way switch 51 which is electrically connected to a toggle switch 52
 on the exterior of the device. When toggle switch 52 is placed in the
 alarm position (or, "on" position), three-way switch 51 electrically
 controls and engages the alarm circuitry in the device (such as Sanyo's
 digital alarm integrated circuit chip LM8560N) as seen in FIG. 7a,
 providing power to the alarm, which in turn, powers the clock. When toggle
 switch 52 is placed in the alarm disarm position (or, "off" position),
 three-way switch 51 electrically disconnects from and disengages the alarm
 circuitry in the device as seen in FIG. 7b while simultaneously continuing
 to provide power only to the clock while resetting the alarm. This type of
 alarm circuitry is low cost and inexpensive to incorporate into a reminder
 device 11.
 The present invention relies on the resettable alarm circuitry described
 above or substantially similar circuitry means. For example, as seen in
 FIGS. 8a-8b, the present invention utilizes the steady-state status of
 circuit 51 to control the arming and disarming of an alarm. When toggle
 switch 52 is placed in the alarm position (or, "on" position), three-way
 switch 51 (disposed upon exterior surface of base 22 and within aperture
 35 as seen in FIG. 6) electrically connects to three-way lever switch 53
 as seen in FIG. 8a, which in turn, provides providing power to the alarm
 and clock. As implied from FIG. 6, the only time three-way lever switch 53
 is short circuited (or closed) is when medicine retainer cup 33 is sitting
 within aperture 35, thereby engaging (or closing) switch 53. When a
 patient removes medicine retainer cup 33 from aperture 35, switch 53 is
 disengaged (or, open circuited). Thus, in this fashion as seen in FIG. 8b,
 even though toggle switch 52 is set in the "on" position, when switch 53
 is disengaged, only the clock is powered, yet the alarm will be turned off
 and reset. In this fashion, the alarm in the present invention will disarm
 and reset only after medicine retainer cup 33 from aperture 35, thereby
 indicating that a patient has affirmatively taken the action of removing
 the medicine retainer cup 33 to ingest the medication.
 Those skilled in the art will realize that the present invention can be
 used to dispense articles other than medicine. For example, the present
 invention could be employed to dispense candy such as gum balls. In
 particular, the present invention could dispense various sized gum balls.
 Other variations and modifications of the present invention will be
 apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and it is the intent of
 the appended claims that such variations and modifications be covered. The
 particular values and configurations discussed above can be varied, are
 cited to illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention and
 are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is contemplated
 that the use of the present invention can involve components having
 different characteristics as long as the principle, the presentation of a
 dispenser, is followed.