Patent Publication Number: US-2004045978-A1

Title: Dispenser

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE  
     [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/407,806, filed Sep. 4, 2002, and titled “Controlled Pill-Dispensing Insert”, which application is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by reference thereto. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to the field of dispensers. More particularly, the present invention relates to dispensers adapted to dispense medicines such as pills, tablets, pellets, caplets, capsules; food items such as candy, nuts, gum or other edible items; vitamins; pet foods; hardware items such as screws, bolts, nuts or the like; office supply items; even liquids, or other physical items in which it is desired to limit the amount dispensed per each act of dispensation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Standard prescription and over the counter medication bottles are almost always designed in such as way as to render it very difficult to dispense one or two pills from the bottle as needed. This is generally true whether the medication is in pill form, tablet form, capsule form, caplet form or any other currently popular shape or delivery design that the medication is formed in. The openings of the medication bottles are generally too small to reach into, but are sufficiently large such that when the bottle is tilted to dispense the medication, a large number of pills, tablets, or whatever form the medication takes, are dispensed into the hand of the user or onto the table.  
       [0004] Since there is no effective control mechanism to positively dispense only the needed amount of medication, the excess pills must then be returned to the bottle. This repetitive act of dispensing and returning pills that are not needed for the current dose not only increases the possibility of contaminating the medication as it is returned to the bottle, but the necessity of such is inconvenient, aggravating and also increases the chances of spilling the medication onto the floor or other unsanitary surface, as well as losing a portion of the medication. With the ever increasing costs of medication, better dispensing mechanisms are needed to ensure that a patient can dispense accurately only the amount of medication that is needed for the current dose.  
       [0005] The problems associated with the current dispensers are exacerbated with regard to older or disabled patients who may have arthritis, or even just decreased motor skills or use of only one arm or hand. Further, such patients may have difficulty seeing the pills to count them to the correct dosage. A dispenser that could positively dispense a single pill, tablet, caplet, etc. would have the further benefit that a sight challenged patient could count the number of pills he or she were taking by simply counting the number of times that the dispensing bottle is tilted, as it positively dispenses one pill with each tilt.  
       [0006] Further, such a single dosage dispenser can be a valuable deterrent to overdosing a patient intentionally or especially unintentionally.  
       [0007] Similar problems exist with regard to certain candies, mints, and the like which are sold loosely in a container of individual pieces of an item which is dispensed when it is desired to be eaten. Likewise, a jar of nuts or bolts often makes it difficult to remove only one or two of such items without pouring out a significant portion of the contents of the jar and then having to replace those which were not intended to be dispensed. Similar situations are presented across many fields, where a plurality of items are stored in a container, but do not have an effective dispensation mechanism to accurately control dispensation of only the number of those items needed by the user at any particular time.  
       [0008] There have been previous attempts to provide a dispenser for dispensing one pill at a time. U.S. Pat. No. 2,838,204 to Snyder discloses a pill dispenser having a single piece design. The dispensing portion is a flat-walled tube of resilient material having a longitudinal slit through which individual pills are manually manipulated therethrough. The pill dispenser provides protection from moisture or other forms of contamination. However, a substantial amount of manipulation is required to dispense a pill, which could be a drawback for physically challenged patients, such as arthritics and elderly patients.  
       [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,029 to Snyder describes a pill dispenser having a two piece design adapted to engage the neck of a pill container. The user is required to rotate one piece of the design with respect to another to effect dispensing of a pill by a series of successive rotative movements while the container is held upside down. This design also requires a significant amount of coordination for operation, together with holding the bottle in an upside down orientation while the manipulations are being carried out.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,908 to Thomas et al. discloses a pill dispensing cap assembly adapted for mounting on the neck of a pill container. The cap assembly includes a plurality of different components, including a rotor member to pick up a pill from the container and transfer it to a dispensing end. The design of the cap was directed towards nitroglycerin tablets and others of similar shape and size, and would have to be adapted for use with pills of different shapes and/or sizes. Also, the fairly complex arrangement of moving mechanical parts makes this a complicated and likely expensive design.  
       [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,668 to Gibilisco et al. discloses a container for storing and disposing objects, such as capsules or pills containing medicament, one at a time. The container comprises a receptacle containing, within itself, a delivery mechanism including a funnel-shaped exit port for capsules and a capsule or pill delivery tube at the end of said funnel-shaped exit designed to accommodate no more than one pill or capsule. The funnel divides the outer receptacle into an upper storage compartment and a lower delivery compartment. The receptacle also contains between the exit end of the receptacle and the delivery tube resilient gate members positioned to prevent or allow escape of a capsule or pill from the delivery tube. The inner end of the receptacle is pressed or twisted in the user&#39;s hand to move the resiliently mounted gate members so as to open them to allow passage of a single pill through the delivery tube. Upon releasing the pressure or twisting force, the resilient members resume their closed position. The delivery operation for this mechanism requires two-handed operation, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
       [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,738 to Jennings et al. discloses an article dispenser comprising a container portion in coaxial contiguous engagement with a dispenser control member for selective relative slidable motion therebetween. A flexible member is mounted to a dispenser portion of the container portion for engagement with the interior surface of the dispenser Pressure from the user&#39;s hand or other body surface is applied to actuate the sliding mechanism for release of a single pill.  
       [0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,515 to Khan et al. discloses a one-at-a-time pill container and dispenser having a mechanism which allows for use of the device with existing containers. A child-proof lock is provided. The device has a mechanism for ensuring that only a single pill is brought into the dispensing chamber as a consequence of a partial rotation of the cap with respect to the bottle body. A reverse partial rotation of the cap then allows the pill to fall by gravity into the user&#39;s hand.  
       [0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,265 to Issa discloses a pill dispenser having a conical shaped dispenser cavity that is hinged for rotation into alignment with the contents of a pill container and then for rotation out of alignment with the container after a pill is received within the conical shaped cavity. Upon rotation out of alignment, the conical shaped cavity is exposed for delivery of the contents to the hands of a user. Two hands are generally required in order to manipulate the conical shaped cavity between the “in” and “out of” alignment configurations.  
       [0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,295 to Weisman discloses a prescription cap with a transparent daily dosage compartment. This is a replacement cap for replacing the cap of a standard pill bottle, and has a pair of through holes which can be rotated into alignment to allow pills to pass into the transparent compartment. Upon rotation out of alignment, pills cannot pass between the upper transparent compartment and the lower pill bottle.  
       [0016] While the prior art teaches effective means for dispensing pills one at a time, there are a number of inherent drawbacks in the disclosed designs, whether being overly difficult to operate for physically challenged users, overcomplicated making them unnecessarily expensive and not practical for universal use; requiring two hands to effectively operate; or restricted for only one style or size of compartment or pill.  
       [0017] Furthermore, in some instances the pill container requires modifications to mount the dispensing assembly. It is desirable to provide a dispensing mechanism which is readily useable with typical off-the-shelf containers and/or those provided at most pharmacies, or to provide a mechanism which may be effectively incorporated in existing containers and sold therewith. In general, there is a need to provide a dispenser that is less expensive to manufacture and/or assemble, is easy to use, and which involves only the simplest of motion by the user to gain access to the articles contained therein and in a quantity that is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018] An item dispensing device for controllably dispensing a predefined number of items at a time (or a predefined amount of liquid or flowable material, such as powder or the like) is provided, to include an outer container configured to contain a plurality of the items; a capture portion contained within the outer container and dividing the outer container between a reservoir space, where the plurality of items are stored, and a capture space, of appropriate size and shape where individual items (or predefined volumes of liquid or flowable substance) are captured for controlled dispensing; a connector contained within the outer container and defining a delivery channel from said capture portion to an opening in the outer container from which items are dispensed; a first end portion of said connector extending into an opening in said capture portion and defining a predetermined gap dimension through which only the predetermined number of items of certain size or volume may pass at one time; and a barrier connecting with a second end portion of said connector and preventing release of the plurality of items from the reservoir space when the predetermined number of items is dispensed from said connector.  
       [0019] Preferred examples of the present invention are configured to dispense only one item at a time.  
       [0020] The connector may be adjustable to adjust the predetermined gap dimension of the dispenser, to adapt it for dispensation of a different size of item. Alternatively, adjustment of the gap dimension may be carried out to controllably and accurately dispense two or more items at a time. Still further, a kit of connectors may be provided, each having a different length end portion, and which may be interchanged with one another to vary the predefined gap dimension.  
       [0021] The capture portion may include at least one funnel-shaped portion for focusing the flow of items into the capture space. The funnel-shaped portion may also serve as a separator which divides the reservoir from the capture space.  
       [0022] Items are gravitationally fed into the capture space, and are gravitationally dispensed, e.g., one at a time, upon executing a tilting motion of the container in which the dispensing components are contained. This tilting motion may be easily carried out, using only one hand, and is a natural and intuitive motion associated with dispensing.  
       [0023] The present invention may be manufactured together with a container, or may be manufactured as an assembly that is configured to be inserted into an existing container. In either case, the container may be cylindrical or other shape, including square and rectangular cross-sections, or any other predefined cross sectional shape forming a container having parallel or near parallel inner walls. The assembly may be manufactured as separate components such as separate connector and capture portions, or as separate barrier and connector/capture portions, or may be manufactured integrally.  
       [0024] The assembly is configured to be completely received within the container, so that a convention container cap can still be used to close the container to aid in preventing contamination as well as inadvertent dispensation of items.  
       [0025] Such an assembly includes a capture portion adapted to be contained within the container and positioned to divide the container between a reservoir space, where a plurality of items can be stored, and a capture space, where individual items (or predefined volumes of liquid or other flowable substance) are captured for controlled dispensing; a connector adapted to be contained within the item container and configured to define a delivery channel from the capture portion to an opening in the container from which items are dispensed. A first end portion of the connector is configured to extend into an opening in the capture portion to define a predetermined gap dimension through which only the predetermined number and size or volume of items may pass at one time. A barrier connects with a second end portion of the connector and is adapted to interface with inner walls of the container to prevent release of items from the reservoir space when the predetermined number of items is dispensed from the connector.  
       [0026] The preferred configuration of the assembly is for dispensation of only one item at a time. Successful capture is determined by a dynamic relationship between the capture portion size and shape and the gap to the connector. Optionally, the connector may be adjustable to adjust the predetermined gap dimension to allow more than one item to be dispensed with each tilting act and/or to dispense items of different size than the items for which the assembly was previously set up to dispense.  
       [0027] The capture portion may include a funnel-shaped separator.  
       [0028] The barrier and connector and the capture portion may be integrally formed, or each or any of these components may be formed separately and later assembled.  
       [0029] The assembly is adapted to be fitted within a container in a way that allows items to be gravitationally fed to the capture space. Further, the assembly is configured to dispense items by gravitational feed resultant from a simple tilting motion that may be accomplished by one hand of a user.  
       [0030] A method of dispensing items controllably, so that a predefined number of items is released at one time is disclosed to include the steps of: providing a dispensing device having a reservoir space, where a plurality of items are stored, and a capture space, where individual items are captured for dispensing; capturing an item by the force of gravity; and dispensing the item by a single tilting motion, while preventing items in the reservoir space from being dispensed.  
       [0031] The items may also be captured by gravity by the single tilting motion, prior to dispensation, which may be driven by the same tilting motion.  
       [0032] The dispensing and tilting may be accomplished by only one hand of a user.  
       [0033] The predefined number for dispensation is preferably one at a time. The predefined number of items released at one time is governed by a gap interfacing with a specifically designed capture space and having a predefined dimension. The predefined dimension of the gap and the capture space may be altered to dispense a different size item or change the predefined number of items to be dispensed at a time.  
       [0034] These and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading the details of the invention as more fully described below. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0035]FIG. 1A is a sectional view of an example of an item dispensing device according to the present invention.  
     [0036]FIG. 1B is a view of the device of FIG. 1 shown tilted in the process of dispensing an item.  
     [0037]FIG. 1C shows the device of FIG. 1C as it is tilted further to dispense and item  
     [0038]FIG. 1D illustrates prevention of the dispensation or spilling of additional items from the reservoir during a dispensation according to the present invention.  
     [0039]FIG. 2A is an isolated view of a connector according to the present invention.  
     [0040]FIG. 2B is an isolated view of a capture portion of a dispensing mechanism according to the present invention.  
     [0041]FIG. 3A is a view of an example of an item dispensing device which employs a funnel shaped separator having multiple reliefs.  
     [0042]FIG. 3B is a view of an example of an item dispensing device which includes a series of funnel-shaped features functioning as a separator.  
     [0043] FIGS.  4 A- 4 D are a series of figs showing reinsertion of an item through a reinsertion feature.  
     [0044] FIGS.  5 A- 5 C show an example of assembling a dispenser assembly, together with loading items into a container in which the assembly is placed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0045] Before the present dispenser and methods are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular configurations, materials or items described, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.  
     [0046] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.  
     [0047] It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a capture mechanism” or “a funnel” includes a plurality of such capture mechanisms or funnels, and reference to “the shaft” includes reference to one or more shafts and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.  
     [0048] The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.  
     [0049] The present invention provides dispensing mechanisms for simply controlling the release of a predefined number of items. The mechanisms are preferably designed for release of one item at a time, although they may be designed, for example, to release two or more items at a time. Here forward, reference to an “item” is used not only to refer to a solid item of predefined size, shape and volume, but also to a predefined volume of liquid or other flowable material, such as powder, pellets and the like.  
     [0050] The mechanisms described are configured to be inserted into existing containers, so that they are more universally applicable to a wide variety of products. For example, a manufactured assembly (mechanism) according to the present invention may be configured to be slid into an existing medication bottle. Alternatively, the assembly (mechanism) according to the present invention may be manufactured as an integrated part of a bottle, where a cap, lid or closure is still employed to close off the entire assembly. Thus, the mechanisms described may be manufactured in their own containers and later filled by a product (item) manufacturer. Further alternatively, the mechanisms described, or a portion of any such mechanism, may be integrated with closures or other configurations. For example, a barrier (lid) as described herein, which prevents items from escaping from the reservoir as an item is being dispensed, may be integrated with a closure, lid or cap of a bottle. In such an example, the closure, lid or cap may be simply twisted e.g., unthreaded from the bottle) to reveal the channel opening through which items are dispensed. Thus, there is a good deal of flexibility in the way in which the present invention can be manufactured. Container  110 , capture portion  122 , connector  140 , and lid or barrier  150  may all be manufactured integrally as a single mechanism, or capture portion  122 , connector  140 , and lid or barrier  150  may be manufactured integrally and configured to be subsequently slid into a container, or capture portion  122  and connector  140  may be manufactured separately for subsequent assembly with lid  150  and container  110 , or all components may be manufactured separately and subsequently assembled, among other alternatives such as those discussed above.  
     [0051] The mechanisms are designed to dispense items or substances controllably, e.g., one item at a time, or a predefined volume each time, with a simple, single tilting motion. Such a motion is the most intuitive motion to a user who is acting to dispense or release an item or volume from a container, and as such, there is no learning requirement for use of the present invention. Capture of an item to be dispensed is accomplished through gravity feed of items from a reservoir within the container into a capture mechanism. An item may be dispensed by one-handed actuation, through a simple tilting motion, as referred to above.  
     [0052] Although described herein primarily with reference to medical items such as capsules, caplets and the like, the present invention is useful for dispensation of a wide variety of items such as hardware items (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.), candies and gums, office supplies (e.g., paper clips, tacks, etc.), nuts or other food or cooking items, ammunition, other physical items that typically come packaged in a container having a plurality of such items, only one or a portion of which are generally desired to be dispensed by a user at any one time, and even liquids.  
     [0053] Referring now to FIG. 1A, a sectional view of an example of an item dispensing device  100  according to the present invention is shown. In the example shown, a dispensing mechanism  120  is provided within an existing container  110 , which in this case is an off the shelf (either over-the-counter or prescription) “pill bottle” which is cylindrical and typically may be made of either glass or plastic. Alternatively, as noted above however, the dispensing mechanism may be manufactured together with a container already surrounding it. In the instant example, the dispensing mechanism is inserted into an existing container, and may be press fit, for example to maintain a fixed position within the container  110 , although certainly, other methods for maintaining the dispensing mechanism  120  within the container  110  could be devised (e.g., heat bonding, adhesives, threads, or other know fixation techniques) and would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
     [0054] Dispensing mechanism  120  includes a capture portion  122  which divides the interior of the outer container  110  between a reservoir space  112  and a capture space  114 . Since the container  110  is cylindrical in FIG. 1A, the capture portion  122  is also formed to have a generally cylindrical shape in order to be press fit into container  110 . However, the present invention is not limited to cylindrical containers, and may be applied to containers having square or rectangular cross-sections, or other shapes. In such instances, capture portion  122  is formed to have a similar cross-section shape, overall, although an opening is provided in the perimeter of the capture portion, as discussed below.  
     [0055] A connector  140  is provided to define a delivery channel from the capture portion  122  to an opening  142  for dispensation of items out of the container  110 . For ease of manufacturing, connector  140  and capture portion  122  may be separately manufactured, such as by injection molding, for example. However, connector  140  and capture portion  122  could be manufactured integrally, by injection molding, or otherwise. For use with pharmaceuticals or food products, connector  140  and capture portion  122  should be made from food grade, FDA approved materials, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like. However, in general, the components of the present invention may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including high volume manufacturing materials, such as, but not limited to plastics, thermoplastics, metals, etc.  
     [0056] In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 2B, capture portion  122  includes a funnel-shaped separator  124  which functions both to separate reservoir space  112  from capture space  114 , as well as to guide items  102  into the capture space  114  to be controllably dispensed. Although shown as funnel-shaped, separator  124  is not limited to the shape shown, but may alternatively be formed as angular ramps, an irregularly shaped funnel, an asymmetric funnel or a series of funnels or multiple parallel funnels and openings. Additionally, each funnel shape (or alterative thereto), rather than leading to a single opening, may contain multiple reliefs (e.g., see reliefs  123   a , 123   b  in FIG. 3A) that lead to a single or multiple openings at the apical end thereof. The depth of each funnel may vary from deep to very shallow depending upon the size and shape of the items to be dispensed. The example of FIG. 3B shows a series of funnels, wherein separator  124  includes a first funnel-shaped member  125   a  oriented with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of container  110  and above a second funnel-shaped member  125   b  which is oriented with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular or transverse to the longitudinal axis of container  110 .  
     [0057] Although the main axis L of the funnel-shape of separator  124  is shown to be substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of container  110 , axis L may be provided at any angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of container  110 , from parallel to perpendicular. Further, funnel-shaped separator  124  may be inverted with respect to what is shown in FIG. 1A, in which case, the step of capturing an item is carried out when tilting container  110 , which is described in more detail below.  
     [0058] Separator  124  focuses items  102  into capture space  114  where items are positioned in ready for dispensation. Capture portion  122  is provided with an opening or recess  126  which connects with capture space  114  and through which items are dispensed through connector  140  and out of container  110 . A capture channel  128  connecting separator  124  and capture space  114  may optionally be provided, and may be also be longer or shorter than that shown. While lengthening the capture channel  128  allows for more pre-alignment of items at a time, and may be desirable for a dispenser designed to dispense two or more times at a time, such lengthening also has the effect of reducing the volume of reservoir  112 . Thus, for single item dispensation, a short capture channel  128 , as shown in FIG. 1A, or no capture channel at all may be desirable to maximize the capacity of reservoir  112 . Capture space  114  may be of variable shape and size and relationship to related openings to provide for sizes and shapes or variations in volumes sizes desired to be predefined for dispensation.  
     [0059] Items  102  pass into capture space  114  under the force of gravity. Thus, for the example shown in FIG. 1A, when container  110  is an upright position as shown, items are channeled into position in the capture space  114 , as shown. Capture portion  122  provides a support  129  which maintains item  102  in an orientation to be dispensed upon tilting the container  110  as shown in FIGS. I BID.  
     [0060] Upon tilting container  110 , which may be accomplished by a simple hand motion of the user (only a single hand is required to perform this motion) in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1B, item  102  falls into alignment with a dispensation channel  144  formed by connector  140  and the inner wall of container  110 . Connector  140 , when manufactured separately from capture portion  122 , includes a recessed end portion  146  which is configured and sized to engage with recess  126  of capture portion  122 , and extend into capture space  114  as shown in FIGS.  1 A- 1 B, for example. The length of end portion  126  determines the distance by which it extends into capture space  114 , and, together with the bottom of container  110 , defines a gap having a predefined dimension G that prohibits more than a predefined number of items from entering the gap and being dispensed at one time. A dynamic relationship between capture portion  122  and the gap help determined both the number and size of items (or amount of a substance) to be released into the channel. In the example shown, the dimension of gap G is arranged to allow only a single item at a time to be dispensed. However, it would be possible to form a gap G to controllably dispense two items at a time, for example, or more.  
     [0061] When connector  140  and capture portion  122  are constructed integrally, end portion  146  is permanently fixed to form a predefined gap dimension G. However, when connector  140  and capture portion  122  are separately manufactured, capture portion may be provide so as to adjust the degree of insertion of end portion  146  into recess  126 , so as to vary the dimension G. This feature allows use of mechanism  120  for controlled dispensation of items having a first size, and then adaptation of the mechanism so as to change the dimension G for use in controlled dispensation of items having a larger or smaller size than the first items. The degree of adjustment may be provided to be great enough to switch between dispensing items one at a time to two at a time, for example. Adjustment mechanisms may include détentes into which protrusions at locations along various lengths of the end portion  146  may be snap-fitted, or other equivalent snap fit adjustment means, threading, or the like. As another alternative, mechanism  112  may be provided as a kit, having a plurality of connectors  140  each having a different length of recessed end portion  146 .  
     [0062] Upon continuation of the tilting motion as shown in FIG. 1C, the captured item  102  slides down dispensation channel  144  by the force of gravity, out of opening  142  and out the open end of container  110 . The other item  102  shown in the capture portion  122  in FIG. 1B is prevented from passing through gap G in this example, and returns into reservoir  112  under the force of gravity during the tilting procedure, as shown in FIG. 1C. A barrier, such as lid  150 , for example, extends from connector portion  140  and prevents the escape or dispensation of any items  102  from reservoir  112  when container  110  is tilted, as shown in FIG. 1D. Barrier  150  may be formed separately, or integrally with one or more of the other components described above.  
     [0063] Barrier  150  may be provided with an access feature  152  that allows a user to reinsert an item  102  or refill the reservoir with items  102  without the need to remove the entire connector  140  or entire dispensation mechanism  120  as the case may be. For example, FIG. 2A shows a hinged portion (in this example the actuation is through a living hinge, although alternative mechanisms may be employed)  152  which may be opened by the user to insert one or more items into reservoir  112 . Upon completion of the insertion, hinged portion  152  may be snapped closed to maintain the integrity of the barrier during dispensation of items. Although the example of FIG. 2A employs a living hinge to permit an opening for access to reservoir  112 , the use of an inherently malleable material for portion  52 , in conjunction with making lid  150  of structurally rigid material may be used to provide the same functionality without the use of a living hinge.  
     [0064] Alternatively, access feature  152  may be provided as a one way opening that requires intervention on the part of the user to reinsert an item  102 . An alternative barrier design may employ an entry gate  154  through which an item  102  may be reinserted. Further alternatively, access feature  152  may be formed as an opening with a recessed ledge  154 , as illustrated in FIGS.  5 A- 5 D Opening  155  is designed to be only slightly larger than an item  102  which it is designed for use with, so that no more than one item  102  can be placed onto ledge  153  at a time, see FIGS.  5 A- 5 B. Likewise, an opening  156  through which item  102  passes when traveling from ledge  153  to reservoir  112  is dimensioned only slightly larger than the dimensions of item  102  (see FIGS.  5 C- 5 D), which greatly reduces the chances of items  102  escaping from reservoir and out of opening  155  during a dispensation, particularly, since the assembly is tilted toward opening  142 , so that ledge  153  effectively shields opening  156  from allowing items to pass therethrough, even if an entry gate is not employed.  
     [0065] Optionally, entry gate  154  may be provided to further prevent unwanted passage of items  102  from reservoir  112 .   of the container  110 . Entry gate  154  may be designed such that light force must be applied to the item against the gate in order to force an item  102  through an opening that entry gate  154  covers when no force is applied. The applied force causes a slight expansion of the material of the barrier or a bending open of the material, thereby enlarging the opening at the entry gate to a size that allows the item to pass through, thereby reentering the reservoir  112 .  
     [0066] FIGS.  5 A- 5 C illustrate stages of adapting an existing medication bottle for use with a dispensing mechanism  120  according to the present invention. In this example, capture portion  122  is first inserted into container  110  (FIG. 5A) and is fixed at the bottom portion of container  110  either by press fitting or other equivalent fixation technique. Items  102  are next loaded (FIG. 5B) into container  110  through opening  116  of container  110 , on top of capture portion  122  to occupy reservoir  112  created by the insertion of capture portion  122 . Of course, one or more items  102  may pass into the capture portion  122  under gravity. At FIG. 5C, it is shown that connector portion  140  is next installed by connecting end portion  146  with recess  126  by a press fit, or other connection technique. Additionally, barrier  150  may be dimensioned to form a press fit with the inner wall of container  110 . Optionally, openable portion  152  may be recessed slightly so as not to form a part of the press fit, for easier opening and closing. Further, the openable portion  152  may be provided with additional securement features of its own for securing the closed position, such as a detent or other “snap fitting” feature.  
     [0067] It is also to be noted that the steps described in FIGS.  5 A- 5 C are non-limiting, since the connector portion  140  can be installed prior to loading items  102  into the reservoir, and this would be the steps actually taken for an assembly having an integral mechanism  120 . Also, containers  120  may be manufactured to have an integral capture portion  122  or integral mechanism  120 . Further alternatively, the barrier lid  150  may be formed separately, while the channel portion of connector portion  140  and capture portion  122  are formed integrally. In any case, the entire mechanism  120  may be received within container  110 , so that a conventional cap (not shown) can be closed over the open end  116  of container  110  to help prevent contaminants of the contents, as well as to prevent inadvertent dispensation. Alternatively, mechanism  120  may be partially or entirely integrated with a cap or closure for a container (standard or otherwise) for functioning therewith.  
     [0068] By eliminating occurrences of excess dispensation and spilling, the present invention reduces items to exposure and contamination, as well as waste of items due to loss or contamination upon spilling. Since the present invention is easily operable with only one hand, it also provides an ease of use for controlled dispensation which has heretofore not been available.  
     [0069] While the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, process, process step or steps, to the objective, spirit and scope of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto.