Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/EP1595820A2/en
Timestamp: 2019-09-18 08:17:38
Document Index: 314981670

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 5', 'art 6', 'art 5', 'arts 5', 'art 6', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 5', 'arts 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5']

EP1595820A2 - Apparatus for dispensing pills, as well as dispenser and pill package for use therein - Google Patents
EP1595820A2
EP1595820A2 EP05104515A EP05104515A EP1595820A2 EP 1595820 A2 EP1595820 A2 EP 1595820A2 EP 05104515 A EP05104515 A EP 05104515A EP 05104515 A EP05104515 A EP 05104515A EP 1595820 A2 EP1595820 A2 EP 1595820A2
EP05104515A
EP1595820A3 (en
1999-08-16 Application filed by Akzo Nobel NV, Organon NV filed Critical Akzo Nobel NV
1999-08-16 Priority to EP19990940711 priority patent/EP1105324B1/en
2005-11-16 Publication of EP1595820A2 publication Critical patent/EP1595820A2/en
2006-02-15 Publication of EP1595820A3 publication Critical patent/EP1595820A3/en
The patent literature includes a great many publications relating to pocket dispensers with pill packages. Examples thereof are: US-A-4,667,845; US-A-3,651,927; EP-A-0 807 589; FR-A-2 538 791; US-A-5,409,132; US-A-4,015,717.
In order to further improve the known apparatus, in particular with respect to the ejection performance of the push-out means, the outwardly extending free end of said push-out means is beveled, such that each cavity is loaded off-center upon ejection of a pill.
Another advantageous aspect of the invention is the fact that the blister pack may be provided with means, which may for example be visible through the passage opening, for providing an indication as to the contents of the cavity in the blister pack that is positioned in line with the passage opening. Said means may for example consist of a color code, which indicates whether or not, in the case of an anti-conception pill, the omission to take a pill involves a risk of conception.
As is shown in particular in Fig. 1, the dispenser 1 comprises a lower, cup-shaped part 5 and a cover-like upper part 6 to be placed on top of said part 5. The two parts 5, 6 have mating edges, which make it possible to snap upper part 6 onto lower part 5 so as to close dispenser 1, wherein the upper part 6 remains rotatable relative to the lower part 5. The circumferential edge of upper part 6 projects beyond the circumference of lower part 5 (see Figs. 3 and 4) in order to make it easier to handle the dispenser for rotating it. The two parts 5 and 6 are substantially annular, having an opening in their centers and a circular circumference. Dispenser 1 is furthermore relatively flat, so that it can be readily carried along in a bag or in a pocket.
According to the invention, holder 4 of the blister pack 2 and the lower part 5 of the dispenser are to this end fitted with mating positioning means. The means of the lower part 5 consist of teeth 10, which are formed on the outer circumference of an elevation 11 on the bottom of lower part 5 (see Figs. 1 - 3), whilst the means present on holder 4 consist of at least substantially radially opposed teeth 12 and 13, which are formed on spring arms 14 and 15, respectively, so that the teeth 12 and 13 can move resiliently in radial direction and thus snap between the teeth 10 on the dispenser so as to hold the blister pack in a predetermined position relative to the lower part 5 of dispenser 1. The number of teeth 10 corresponds to the number of cavities 3 in the blister pack 2, so that a new cavity 3 can be positioned before the passage opening 7 upon movement of teeth 12 and 13 to a next position. Teeth 10 are not formed symmetrically, but the flank located on the side of the correct direction of rotation is less steep, thus making rotation in the correct direction easier than rotation in the opposite direction or even making rotation in the wrong direction altogether impossible.
Preferably, the foil F of blister pack 2 is provided with an indication, preferably a color code, which indicates whether or not the omission to take the pill present in the associated cavity in time involves a risk of conception. In the present case, the foil of blister pack 2 will have a clearly recognizable color or colors, for example red, which is visible through the passage opening 7 at the location of cavities 3 containing active pills P, whilst the foil will for example be green at the location of cavities 3 containing pills to be taken on days that the omission to take one involves only a small risk of conception, or none at all. In this way a user is immediately alarmed or reassured, as the case may be, when she has forgotten to take a pill.
Push-out means 8 is fitted with an ejector nose 32 for ejecting pills P, which nose fits in passage opening 7, which slightly tapers off in the ejecting direction and which includes a sloping ejection surface 33, which is capable of engaging each cavity 3 of blister pack 2 off-center and of deforming cavity 3 by pressure, pushing the pill P that is present in cavity 3 outwards through foil F and subsequently out of the dispenser 1 through passage opening 7. Cavity 3 can be easily deformed, without force peaks, by loading the cavity 3 off-center with a sloping ejection surface 33, as a result of which the pill P present in cavity 3 can be ejected in a controlled manner, which leads to pills P being dispensed in a reliable manner. As a result of the accurate positioning of the blister pack 2 relative to the lower part 5 of dispenser 1 by means of teeth 10 and teeth 12, 13, a cavity 3 will be accurately positioned at the same place before the ejector nose 32 of push-out means 8 at all times, so that each cavity 3 is identically loaded by the ejection surface 33 and dispensing of pills takes place in a constant manner. Thus, a reliable operation of the apparatus is obtained.
Push-out means 8 and operating element 9 may be shaped such that a transmission ratio higher than one is obtained, in which case a movement of operating element 9 will result in a greater movement of push-out means 8. This enables a further reduction of the size of the dispenser. Due to the advantageous ejection behavior and the relatively low ejection forces that are required, the large transmission ratio does not lead to uncomfortably large operating forces on operating element 9.
A pocket dispenser (1) for dispensing pills from a pill package (2) to be placed in a ring shape, in which cavities (3) containing pills (P) are so distributed that the openings of the cavities therein are directed outwardly, comprising a first part (5) for receiving the pill package (2) in a ring shape, a second part (6) fitting on said first part (5), which envelops the pill package (2) together with the first part (5), which first part (5) and/or which second part (6) comprise(s) at least one passage opening (7) with which a pill (P) to be dispensed can be aligned, and a push-out means (8) including an operating element (9), which can be positioned in line with the respective pills in the pill package and with the passage opening (7) and which can be operated by said operating element (9) to move in at least substantially radial direction for pushing out the pill (P) to be dispensed through the passage opening (7), characterized in that said operating element (9) is in the form of a pivoted push button, which is drivingly connected to the push-out means (8) which is slidably accommodated in a guide, whilst the part (5) of the dispenser (1) that supports the operating element (9) includes means (20, 29) for imposing the pivoting movement.
A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said operating element (9) is pivotally supported by the respective part (5) of the dispenser (1) and wherein said push-out means is accommodated in a radial guide (20) thereof.
A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein an attachment (20) is mounted in the respective part (5) of the dispenser (1), which functions as a guide for said push-out means (8) and as a support for said operating element (9), wherein the operating element (9) itself preferably includes a hinge (27) which allows it to pivot relative to said attachment (20).
A pocket dispenser for dispensing pills from a pill package (2) in the form of a blister pack, in which cavities (3) containing pills (P) are distributed, comprising a lower part (5) for supporting said package (2) in a ring shape, an upper part (6) fitting on said lower part (5), which envelops the pill package (2) together with the lower part (5), which dispenser comprises at least one passage opening (7) with which a pill (P) to be dispensed can be aligned, and a push-out means (8) which can be positioned in line with the respective pills in said package (2) and with the passage opening (7) and which can be operated to move in radial direction for pushing out the pill (P) to be dispensed through the passage opening (7), characterized in that the push-out means (8) includes an ejector nose (32) having a sloping ejection surface (33), such that each cavity (3) is loaded off-center upon ejection of a pill (P).
Apparatus for dispensing pills comprising a pill package (2) in the form of a blister pack, in which cavities (3) containing pills (P) are distributed, as well as a dispenser (1) which envelops the pill package (2) and which comprises at least one passage opening (7) with which a pill (P) to be dispensed can be aligned, and a push-out means (8) which can be positioned in line with the respective pills in said blister pack and with said passage opening (7) and which can be operated to push out the pill (P) to be dispensed through the passage opening (7), characterized in that said blister pack (2) comprises means which are visible through said passage opening (7) for providing an indication as to the contents of the cavity in the blister pack that is positioned in line with the passage opening (7).
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said visible means consist of a color code.
A blister pack for use in the apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a body provided with cavities (3) for receiving pills (P), as well as a frangible cover foil (F) covering said cavities, which cover foil is provided with a color code for each cavity (3), which code provides an indication relating to the respective underlying cavity.
EP05104515A 1998-08-17 1999-08-16 Apparatus for dispensing pills, as well as dispenser and pill package for use therein Withdrawn EP1595820A3 (en)
EP1595820A3 EP1595820A3 (en) 2006-02-15
EP05104515A Withdrawn EP1595820A3 (en) 1998-08-17 1999-08-16 Apparatus for dispensing pills, as well as dispenser and pill package for use therein
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