Patent ID: 12213950

Common element numbers represent common features, even if the appearance of a feature varies slightly between the figures.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be further described. In the following passages, different aspects of the invention are defined in more detail. Each aspect so defined may be combined with any other aspect or aspects unless clearly indicated to the contrary. In particular, any feature indicated as being preferred or advantageous may be combined with any other feature or features indicated as being preferred or advantageous.

For purposes of this application, the term pill or pills is used to generically and collectively refer to one or more pills, capsules, soft gels, caplets, tablets, chewables, medication, vitamins, minerals, supplements, homeopathic substances and remedies, and the like.

FIGS.1and2illustrate an example of a modular dispenser10with a removable and, optionally, refillable cartridge12configured to hold a plurality of pills. A dispensing base14is configured to removably receive the cartridge12. The dispensing base includes a drawer16slidably received within the dispensing base14. The drawer16is configured to receive at least one pill500in a well18of the drawer16as illustrated in the example inFIGS.3A and3B.

FIGS.4A-8Cillustrate examples of a left panel or left side20and a right panel or right side22of the dispensing base14. The left side20and the right side22typically are mirror images of each other except for various complementary engagement features as will become apparent in the following discussion. In addition, the example of the left side20and the right side22illustrated inFIGS.4A and4Bincludes many common elements with the left side20and the right side22illustrated inFIG.5A-8C, with any differences identified in the text and/or apparent from the drawings. Any of the features illustrated inFIGS.4A and4Bmay be used in addition to or alternatively to any of the features illustrated inFIGS.5A-8Cand vice-versa. Consequently, while most features will be illustrated and discussed within the context of the left side20, the same feature optionally may exist on the right side22of the dispensing base14.

The left side20and right side22may be formed of any material, such as metal, wood, and plastic. Typically, a molded or cast plastic is used to form the left side20and right side22.

The left side20may include at least one pair of ribs24upon an interior portion of each side20,22. The ribs24are configured to receive a platform102of the funnel78as discussed below. The ribs24optionally may project inward or away from the left side20in a direction towards the right side22.

The left side20of the dispensing base14optionally includes a drawer ceiling26configured to at least partially cover the well18of the drawer16when the drawer16is fully received within the dispensing base14. The drawer ceiling26is sized and shaped to at least partially cover the well18to reduce the risk that a pill or pills500might escape from the well18or overflow the well18and fall into the interior of the dispensing base14from which it might be difficult to retrieve the pill500. The drawer ceiling26may include one or more supports or mounts27that help stiffen and/or couple the drawer ceiling26to the left side20. The drawer ceiling26optionally may project inward or away from the left side20towards the right side22. In some examples, the drawer ceiling26of the left side20extends towards a complementary drawer ceiling (not illustrated) of right side22, such that both drawer ceilings26at least partially cover and, in some instances, fully cover the well18when the drawer16is received within the dispensing base14. The drawer ceiling26may be positioned below the ribs24.

The left side20of the dispensing base14optionally includes at least one guiding rail28configured to engage with and to guide the drawer16into and out of the dispensing base14. The guiding rail18optionally may project inward or away from the left side20towards the right side22and support the drawer16atop the guiding rail28. The guiding rail28may assist in limiting the travel of the drawer16without any yaw, which is a rotation about a vertical axis (not illustrated) of the drawer16(plus or minus 10 degrees). The guiding rail28may be positioned below the drawer ceiling26. The guiding rail28may include a plurality of guiding rails28, wherein each guiding rail28is spaced vertically apart from an adjacent guiding rail28. The guiding rail28may include one or more supports or mounts29that help stiffen and/or couple the guiding rail28to the left side20. The supports or mounts29may extend above or below a guiding rail28or the support or mount29may span the distance between adjacent guiding rails28.

The left side20may include at least one travel stop30configured to engage with and prevent the drawer16from being removed from the dispensing base14. The travel stop30should be positioned on the left side sufficiently towards a front portion21of the left side20so that when the drawer16is withdrawn from the dispensing base14a user is able to use her fingers and/or thumb to retrieve a pill500from the well18. The travel stop30can be any shape. For example, inFIG.4Athe travel stop30is planar while inFIGS.5A and6the travel stop is triangular in shape.

The left side20may include at least one roller32positioned about a pin34as illustrated inFIGS.5A,6,7A,7C,8A,8C,15A and15B. The roller32may be a hollow cylinder configured to rotate about the pin34. The pin34may extend entirely through the interior of the roller32or it may extend partially into the roller32. The drawer16is configured to be at least partially supported by and to roll into and out of the dispensing base14on the roller32. The roller32and the pin34may be formed of any material, such as plastic, metal, and the like.

The dispensing base14may include a ballast36as illustrated inFIG.22. The ballast36may help maintain the modular dispenser10in an upright position or otherwise reduce the risk that the modular dispenser10might tip during use. The ballast36may be made of any material, including metal or plastic, and is typically denser than the material out of which the modular dispenser10and its subcomponents are made. The ballast36may be made of aluminum, stainless steel, and other similar metals. The left side20may include a ballast retention structure38configured to retain the ballast36in position within the dispensing base14. The ballast retention structure38may include one or more planar surfaces40that extend away from the dispensing base14, ballast ribs42that extend away from the dispensing base, and/or alignment features44on a bottom19of the left side20.

The dispensing base14may also include one or more alignment features44with complementary structures on the left side20and the right side22. The alignment features44may be snap fit structure, key and slot, recesses configured to receive flexible tabs/fingers, and so forth.

The dispensing base14may include complementary coupling structures46on an exterior of the left side20and the right side22. The coupling structures46may allow a user to couple and decouple adjacent dispensing bases14to each other to allow for easy and convenient storage of multiple dispensing bases14together. The coupling structures26may be of any type, including a key and slot—as illustrated, the heart is a key that fits into a complementary slot—snap fit structures, and so forth.

The dispensing base14may include a front, front side, or front cap48configured to couple to one or both of the front and/or the top of the left side20and the right side22. The front side or front cap48may be formed of any material, such as metal, wood, and plastic. Typically, a molded or cast plastic is used to form the front side48. The front side48may include a front cap opening, drawer opening, or hole50through which the drawer16is configured to be received into and out of the dispensing base14. The front side48may include a depression52configured to provide sufficient space for a user's finger to manipulate the drawer16when the drawer16is positioned fully within the dispensing base14. The depression52may be at least partially concave in shape, although any shape is permissible. The front side48may also include one or more alignment features54with complementary structures on the left side20and the right side22. The alignment features54may be snap fit structure, key and slot, recesses configured to receive flexible tabs/fingers, and so forth.

The drawer16is best illustrated inFIGS.13A-13C,14,15A and15B. The drawer16may be formed of any material, such as metal, wood, and plastic. Typically, a molded or cast plastic is used to form the drawer16. The drawer16may include a removable cap56to provide a tactilely pleasing surface for a user's finger to engage. The drawer16may be of any shape, although as illustrated it has a rounded rear portion58and parallel sides60.

The well18may be of any shape. For example, the well18may have a first width62proximate a top61of the well18that is greater than a second width64proximate a bottom63of the well18. The first width62should be wide enough to travel proximate to and/or engage at least one guiding rail28without significant lateral movement in the drawer16as it travels into and out of the dispensing base14and without causing binding or difficult opening or closing of the drawer16. The second width64may be maximized within the overall width of the dispensing base14, typically at least the width of a user's finger. The well18may also include a front slope67and/or a rear slope69. The front slope67and the rear slope69may be different or they may be the same. The front slope67may be greater than the rear slope69. The front slope67may be relatively steeper to allow a user to slide a pill500up the front slope67and retrieve the pill500with her finger or fingers. The rear slope69may be relatively shallower than the front slope67, although it should be steep enough that pills500may overcome any surface friction and slide down the rear slope69towards the front of the drawer16where the pills500will be more easily reached by the user. The front slope67and the rear slope69may be defined by an angle or a radius of curvature. For example, the front slope67may have a radius of curvature with a range between 5 millimeters to 30 millimeters or 10 millimeters to 20 millimeters. As another example, the rear slope69may have a radius of curvature with a range between 10 millimeters to 40 millimeters or 15 millimeters to 30 millimeters.

The well18also has a depth71. For example, the depth71may be deep enough to hold one or more pills500without causing the drawer16to jam in the dispensing base14as a user attempts to open or close the drawer16. The depth71of the well may have a depth that is a function of a dimension, such as width or length of the pill500. For example, the depth71may be several millimeters deeper than a width of the pill500. As an example, if a width of a pill is 10 millimeters, the depth71of the well18might be 15 millimeters. The depth71might have a range of depths relative to a dimension of the pill500. For example, the depth71may range from 1 millimeter to 10 millimeters deeper than the width or length of the pill500or from 3 millimeters to 7 millimeters deeper than the width or length of the pill500.

The drawer16may include one or more ribs66on a lower surface65of the drawer16. The ribs66may increase the structural rigidity of the drawer16while keeping the drawer16low in mass. The lower surface65may include a stop surface68configured to engage with the roller32when the drawer16is fully inserted into the dispensing base14as illustrated inFIG.15A.

The lower surface65of the drawer16may also include a drawer detent70as illustrated inFIG.13and in operation inFIG.15A(opening the drawer16) andFIG.15B(closing the drawer16). The drawer detent70may provide a user with tactile feedback while she opens and closes the drawer16. The drawer detent70may also reduce the risk that the drawer16unintentionally opens if the dispensing base14is tipped forward. The drawer detent70includes a slope angle72(or0) and a height74configured to provide a minimum amount of force for the user to open the drawer16while still minimizing the risk of the drawer16unintentionally opening. For example, the force to open may be relatively low due to a small interaction area of the height74and a relatively shallow slope angle72while the force to close may be relatively higher, suggesting a more rapid decrease in the height74of the drawer detent70. For example, a force to open the drawer16may range from 1 Newton to 10 Newtons or from 2 Newtons to 7 Newtons, while a force to close the drawer may range from 2 Newtons to 12 Newtons or from 4 Newtons to 8 Newtons.

The dispensing base14may include a bottom grip76on one or both of a portion or an entirety of a bottom of the left side20and the right side22as illustrated inFIG.24. The bottom grip76may be configured to improve the stability of the dispensing base14during normal use as the dispensing base14rests upon a countertop or other surface. The bottom grip76may be made of rubber, silicone, elastomer, or other material that has a coefficient of friction higher than a coefficient of friction of the material from which the dispensing base14is formed. The bottom grip76may include a self-adhesive, glue, mechanical connector (hook-and-loop fastener, for example) or other layer (not illustrated) configured to adhere the bottom grip76to one or both of the bottom of the left side20and the right side22.

The dispensing base14may include a funnel78, illustrated atFIGS.1,10A,10B,11A, and11B, configured to receive and convey the pill or pills500from the cartridge12through the dispensing base14and into the well18of the drawer16. The funnel78may be formed of any material, such as metal, wood, and plastic. Typically, a molded or cast plastic is used to form the funnel78, which may be made as an integral component or may be formed of two or more subcomponents coupled together via complementary alignment features (not illustrated), such as snap fittings (e.g., pin and snap, elastic fingers configured to be received in recesses, key and slots, and the like), adhesives, welding of any type, and the like. The surface of the funnel78may be relatively smoother and/or glossier than the surfaces of the dispensing base14and other components to reduce a coefficient of friction of the surface of the funnel78.

The funnel78may have a funnel height79that should be relatively smaller than a height131of the cartridge12, which could permit a user to better view the number of pills500remaining in the cartridge12. The funnel height79may be a function of a funnel slope angle100(discussed) below to ensure the funnel slope angle100falls within a desired range to ensure the pills500slide or flow properly down the funnel78.

The funnel78may include a funnel inlet80configured to be positioned proximate a cartridge opening130when the cartridge12is coupled to the dispensing base14. Optionally, the funnel inlet80may be positioned within the cartridge opening130when the cartridge12is coupled to the dispensing base14, which may reduce the risk a pill500could become stuck or jammed within the cartridge12. The funnel inlet80may have an inlet width82and an inlet length84sized similarly to a cartridge opening width132and a cartridge opening length134.

The funnel78may include an alignment feature or engagement mechanism86, such as snap fittings (e.g., pin and snap, elastic fingers configured to be received in recesses, key and slots, and the like), configured to removably couple to a funnel latch interface142proximate the cartridge opening130of the cartridge14as described below. The alignment feature or engagement mechanism86is flexible enough to permit a user to easily insert the dispensing base14/funnel78into the cartridge opening130and to also easily remove the dispensing base14/funnel78from the cartridge opening130while being rigid enough to prevent the dispensing base14/funnel from being unintentionally removed from the cartridge opening130in the event the modular dispenser10is unintentionally overturned or upset.

The funnel78also includes a funnel outlet88spaced apart from the funnel inlet80as best illustrated inFIG.10B. The funnel outlet82is configured to be positioned proximate the well18of the drawer16when the drawer16is positioned within the dispensing base14. The funnel outlet88includes an outlet width90and an outlet length92, which individually and collectively may be sized and shaped to enable a pill or pills500to flow easily through the funnel outlet88without the pill or pills500jamming or otherwise occluding the funnel outlet88.

A front portion94of the funnel78may be vertical within plus or minus 10 degrees. A funnel slope96proximate a rear interior portion98of the funnel78may have a slope angle100relative to horizontal sufficient to permit a pill or pill500to overcome any friction of the funnel slope96and move down the funnel slope96under the influence of gravity. For example, a coefficient of friction for a polypropylene material from which the funnel78may be made may range from 0.23 to 0.44 and the slope angle100may increase as the coefficient of friction increases. As examples, the slope angle100may range from 20 degrees to 70 degrees, from 30 degrees to 60 degrees, and from 40 degrees to 50 degrees, or any ranges between and overlapping these ranges.

The funnel78may include a funnel platform102that extends laterally away from the funnel78. The funnel platform102may extend partially or wholly around the funnel78. The funnel platform102may optionally be sized and shaped to be received upon or between one or more of the pair of ribs24of the dispensing base14.

The funnel78also optionally includes a funnel parapet104extending away from the funnel78towards the opening130of the cartridge12when the cartridge12is coupled to the dispensing base12/funnel78. At least one of the funnel parapet104and the perimeter136of the opening130of the cartridge includes an alignment feature or engagement mechanism86configured to engage the other of the funnel parapet104and the perimeter136of the opening130of the cartridge12. As discussed above, the alignment feature or engagement mechanism86may include a snap-fitting configured to engage a ridge or tapered surface146on the perimeter136of the opening130of the cartridge12.

The funnel78optionally includes at least one and, in some examples, at least a pair of brackets or a flap retainers106. The bracket106optionally may be coupled to the funnel78proximate a rear portion98of the funnel78and/or along an exterior of the funnel slope96. The bracket or flap retainer106may flex apart to receive a pin124of a flap or flapper108. While the bracket or flap retainer106as illustrated provides for pivotable rotation of the flapper108, other examples of brackets may provide for sliding movement (such as a drawer), clamshell operation, any variety of valves, and so forth.

The dispensing base14may also include a metering flap, flap, or flapper108as illustrated inFIGS.12A and12B. The metering flap108may be formed of any material, such as metal, wood, and plastic. Typically, a molded or cast plastic is used to form the metering flap108. The metering flap108may optionally be flexible.

The metering flap108optionally may be movably positioned between the funnel outlet88and the well18of the drawer16. The metering flap108may be pivotably coupled to at least one of the funnel78, as illustrated, or in another example it could be pivotably coupled to the dispensing base14. The metering flap108could be of any shape and/or size that is configured to one of a) at least partially block and b) fully block the funnel outlet88when the drawer16is slidably extended away from the dispensing base14. For example, the metering flap could have a flap width110and a flap length112, a radius, multiple foci, or other such dimensional parameters. The flap width110may be less than or equal to one or both of the first width62and the second width64of the well18of the drawer16. The metering flap108may be configured to be at least partially received within the well18when the drawer16is slidably moved into the dispensing base14.

The metering flap108may be planar over at least a portion of the metering flap108as illustrated with an upper surface116spaced apart a height117from a lower surface118. A front portion114of the metering flap108may be rounded or have a radius of curvature. A rear portion120of the metering flap108may include a coupling mechanism122, such as a pin124, hinge, flap, or other mechanism. The coupling mechanism122may be spaced apart from the metering flap108via an extension126that provides horizontal and/or vertical distance between an axis of rotation128or other axis about which the metering flap108might move.

A rear lip59of the drawer16(FIG.13A) may be configured to engage the lower surface118of the metering flap108when the drawer16is slidably extended away from the dispensing base14, thereby causing the metering flap106to pivot and to at least partially block the funnel outlet88.

In practice, as illustrated atFIGS.3A,3B,15A,15B, and22, a user opens the drawer16causing several interactions to occur. First, gravity previously has acted on the pills500present in the funnel78so that at least one pill500or more likely a plurality of pills500is present proximate the funnel outlet88and in the well18of the drawer16. The user pulls open the drawer16by applying enough force to the drawer cap56of the drawer16to cause the roller32to overcome the friction of the drawer detent70. As the drawer16is withdrawn from the dispensing base14, the rear lip59of the well18may interact with the lower surface118of the metering flap108, causing the metering flap108(if present) to pivot upward and at least partially blocking the funnel outlet88to prevent any further pills500from entering the well18of the drawer16and/or minimizing the risk that a pill or pills500may jam the drawer16in position. The user may withdraw the drawer16sufficiently far so that she may then remove one or more pills500from the well18of the drawer16. After the user removes the desired pill or pills500from the well18, the user may then proceed to push the drawer16closed within the dispensing base14. As the drawer16enters further into the dispensing base14, the rear lip59moves rearward and gravity causes the metering flap108to pivot downward about the pin124, thereby exposing the funnel outlet88to the well18of the drawer16and permitting a pill or pills500to travel from the funnel outlet88into the well18under the influence of gravity. The user may then apply a nominal force to the drawer cap56and the drawer16so that the roller32overcomes the drawer detent70. The well18of the drawer16may now be filled again with pills and be ready to be withdrawn again by the user.

The cartridge12may be formed of any material, such as metal, wood, and plastic. Typically, a molded or cast plastic is used to form the cartridge12. The plastic optionally may be transparent, semi-transparent, or translucent to allow a user to view the pills500within the cartridge12.

The cartridge12may include an opening or cartridge opening130through which the pills500may be initially loaded and from which the pills500may descend under the influence of gravity when the cartridge12is coupled to the funnel78and/or dispensing base14. The cartridge opening includes an opening width132and an opening length134. The opening130may also include a perimeter136that surrounds the opening130. Optionally, the cartridge12may be of any shape. For example, the shape of cartridge12may be keyed to the shape of the dispensing base14/funnel78so that the proper orientation of the cartridge12relative to the dispensing base14/funnel78is visually and/or tactilely apparent.

An interior surface137of the cartridge12may be vertical or sloped to improve the ability of the pills500to move through the cartridge12and into the funnel78under the influence of gravity and to reduce the risk that any pill500would become stuck or retained within the cartridge12under normal use.

One or more radii140may be present about an exterior surface139of the cartridge12. The radii140may provide a smooth intersection of two surfaces rather than a sharp corner. The cartridge12may also include at least one recess141in the exterior surface139. The recess141may be concave and/or hemispherical in shape and be configured to allow a user to use her finger to gain purchase under the lid152when the lid152is positioned upon the cartridge so as to reduce the effort required to remove the lid152from the cartridge12.

The opening130may include a funnel latch interface142configured to engage with the alignment mechanism or engagement mechanism86of the funnel78as illustrated inFIG.18B. The funnel latch interface142may include a vertical portion144and/or a tapered portion146configured to engage with the alignment feature or engagement mechanism86and/or a latch87of the engagement mechanism86. The configuration of the engagement mechanism86and the funnel latch interface142should reduce the risk that a pill or pills500might become lodged or stuck against the engagement mechanism86and the funnel latch interface142. The funnel latch interface142may also include a tapered surface148. The tapered surface148may be spaced apart from the vertical surface144. The tapered surface148of the funnel latch interface142may be configured to engage with a latching mechanism154of the lid152.

The cartridge perimeter136may include a lip148configured to receive a removable tamper evident seal150. The tamper evident seal150may include a pull-tab (not illustrated) to allow a user a surface to grasp when removing the tamper evident seal150prior to inserting the cartridge12into the dispensing base14.

The cartridge12optionally also includes a lid152configured to be coupled to the cartridge12and to removably cover the opening130. The lid152may be formed of any material, such as metal, wood, and plastic. Typically, a molded or cast plastic is used to form the lid152. The lid152may optionally be flexible. The lid152may be symmetrical about a long axis and/or or a short axis. The lid152may include a latching mechanism154configured to engage with the funnel latch mechanism142. For example, a flexible snap156of the latching mechanism154may engage with the tapered surface148of the funnel latch mechanism142as illustrated inFIG.18C.

An example of assembling a modular dispenser10for pills500is illustrated inFIG.20-24. The method includes partially inserting the drawer16into the front cap, drawer opening, or hole50of the front side or front cap48of the dispensing base14. The method may also include positioning the funnel78adjacent to one of the left side or left panel20and the right side or right panel22of the dispensing base14. The method may include coupling the left side or left panel20to the right side or right panel22of the dispensing base14. The method may also include coupling the front side or front cap48to the left side or left panel20and the right side or right panel22. The method may also include pivotally coupling the metering flap108to one of the dispensing base14and the funnel78.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that additional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the inventive concepts described herein, and, accordingly, other examples are within the scope of the following claims.