Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a tablet dispenser comprising an elongate container ( 10 ) for tablets ( 12 ) and a dispensing device for discharging tablets out of the container ( 10 ). The dispensing device includes an operating unit ( 11 ) for manual action, a joint mechanism ( 14 ) connected to the operating unit ( 11 ), and a slide ( 15 ) projecting from the joint mechanism ( 14 ) for accommodating and dispensing a tablet ( 12 ). The operating unit ( 13 ), the joint mechanism ( 14 ) and the slide ( 15 ) are of one piece manufacture.

Description:
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/959,490, filed Dec. 7, 2001, now abandoned, which is a 371 national stage filing of PCT/SE99/00691, filed Apr. 28, 1999, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a tablet dispenser comprising an elongate container for tablets and a dispensing device for dispensing tablets out of the container. The term tablets is here taken to signify both tablets containing medicines and other types of tablets. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   A dispenser for tablets is put into use in, for example, the dosing of medicines. In such instance, the commonest version of dispenser is in the form of a box with one or more projecting slides. Such a slide normally consists of a plurality of compartments. A dispenser in the form of a box in accordance with the foregoing consists of several components which are manufactured separately and must then be assembled to form a finished unit. As a result, manufacturing costs will be high. 
   There is a need in the art for a dispenser which may be manufactured at low cost, which is small in size and easy to carry and which makes possible the advancement of one tablet at a time. Such a dispenser would also be usable in other contexts, for example for sweets (candies) in tablet form. 
   OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION 
   One object of the present invention is to realise a dispenser which satisfies the above-outlined needs. This object is attained in that the present invention has been given the characterizing features as set forth in appended Claim  1 . 
   Further advantages and characterizing features of the present invention are apparent from the appended specification, Drawings and subclaims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow, with the aid of preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation, partly in section, from the line I—I in  FIG. 4 , of an embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation, partly in section, of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 , seen from another angle; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view from the line III—III in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view from the line IV—IV in FIG.  1 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  of a dispenser according to the present invention, all included components are disposed in an elongate housing  16 . The housing  16  is of substantially rectangular cross section (see  FIG. 4 ) and wholly encloses a container  10  in the form of a tube of circular cross section or a cross section formed to accommodate the tablets  12  which are to be located in the container. In the container  10 , there are shown in  FIG. 1  a plurality of objects in the form of tablets  12 . The container  10  and the dispenser may also be employed for other types of objects which are stackable in this manner. In  FIG. 1 , the dispenser is shown in the normal position of use with the container  10  extended in the substantially vertical position. 
   In  FIG. 1 , a dispensing device projects up out of the housing  16  with an upper member in the form of an operating unit  11 . The operating unit  11  is designed as a button which, on depression, dispenses a tablet  12  out of an aperture at the bottom of the housing  16  (see FIG.  2 ). The operating unit  11  includes a lid or a closure member  13  which, in the removed state, exposes an aperture for replenishment of tablets  12  or the like. The operating unit, or the button  11 , is pivotally connected to a joint mechanism  14  for transferring the movement on depression of the button to a reciprocating slide  15 . The joint mechanism  14  includes a first arm  18  connected to the operating unit  11  and a second arm  20  connected to the slide  15 . The first arm  18  is connected to the operating unit  11  by the intermediary of a first pivot  17  and to the second arm  20  by the intermediary of a second pivot  19 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, the first arm  18  is an elongate rod of rectangular, T-shaped or other suitably formed cross section and extends through the housing  16  together with the container  10 . In its position of rest, the slide  15  is placed directly beneath the lower aperture of the container  10  so that the lowermost of the tablets  12  accommodated in the container  10  may fall down into the slide  15 . Suitably, the slide  15  is therefore designed as a scoop or the like with cup-shaped inner walls. Alternatively, the slide may have a through-going aperture so that the lowermost tablet  12  rests on the inside of the bottom of the housing  16 . The height of the slide in this version corresponds to the thickness of one tablet. 
   The button  11  is designed with outer dimensions which correspond to the inner dimensions of the housing  16  for guiding the movement of the button  11 . In that portion of the housing where the button  11  moves, the housing  16  is flared somewhat so as to permit free movement of the button  11  outside the container  10 , see also FIG.  3 . Beneath the button  11 , and particularly beneath the lid  13 , there is disposed a first spring  21 . The spring  21  extends partly inside the container  10  and rests against a lid  23  located in the container  10  and in its turn resting on the uppermost tablet  12 . The spring.  21  serves for advancement of the tablets and return on depression of the button  11 . The container  10  rests at the bottom against an abutment  24  beneath which the slide  15  is movable in a reciprocating movement transversely of the longitudinal direction of the container. 
   The first spring  21  exercises a certain bias on the button  11 . Further spring bias is exercised by a second spring  22  which departs from the first arm  18  and, in one preferred embodiment, constitutes and integrated part thereof. As will be apparent from  FIG. 1 , the second spring  22  is of S-configuration and abuts with its free end against the inside of the housing  16 , possibly against a heel mounted thereon. 
   The second arm  20  merges in a first end in a portion  25  which is flexible and foldingly connected to the slide  15  and which constitutes a flexible power transmission means which converts a pivotal movement (see below) of the arm  20  into a linear movement in the slide  15 . In a second end, the second arm  20  has a transverse stub shaft  26  about whose centre axis the arm is pivotal. On pivoting of the second arm  20  about the stub shaft  26 , the pivot  19  is bent and the folded portion  25  is straightened out and imparts to the slide  15  a linear movement. In its opposing ends, the stub shaft  26  is journalled in bushings secured on or of one piece manufacture with the insides of the housing  16  (see FIGS.  1  and  3 ). 
   In  FIG. 1 , the button  11  has been depressed from a position shown by ghosted lines, whereby the slide  15  has been partly shifted out of the housing  16 . On further depression of the button  11 , the slide  15  will be displaced further, so that the tablet  12  will be accessible. In the alternative with a through-going aperture in the slide, the tablet  12  falls down through the slide as soon as the tablet is free from the bottom of the housing  16 .  FIG. 2  shows the elongate housing  16  with a hole  27  made at the bottom, through which the slide  15  may be displaced. It will further be apparent that the second spring  22  projects out at a right angle from the first arm  18  and extends beside the container  10 . 
   The cross sectional view in  FIG. 3  shows that lid  23  and the first spring  21  abutting thereon. The second spring  22  extends beneath the button  11  at the side of the container  10 . 
     FIG. 4  shows the container  10  with tablets  12  placed therein and the partly projecting slide  15 . The slide  15  also holds a tablet  12 . It will further be clearly apparent how the opposing ends of the stub shaft  26  are accommodated in bushings, whereby the arm  20  and the stub shaft are pivotally journalled in the housing  16 . 
   The container  10  may be designed in different manners and with a different cross sectional configuration to that shown. However, it is appropriate that its configuration be adapted to the configuration of the tablets which are to be placed therein. 
   Preferably, both the housing  16  and the container  10  are manufactured from plastic material. This also applies to the operating unit  11 , the joint mechanism  14 , the slide  15  and the second spring  22 . In addition, these units are suitably injection moulded in one piece. 
   The present invention should not be considered as restricted to that described above and shown on the Drawings, many modifications being conceivable without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.