Apparatus for the Controlled Dispensing of Tablets From Multiple Containers

This invention relates to apparatus for receiving and supporting a number of tablet containers while permitting the dispensing of tablets from each container to be readily controlled by the user. Thus, the invention provides for the dispensation of single tablets from one or a number of the containers received therein.

At present, the increasing awareness of the general population to the mineral and other nutritional needs of the human body along with the need to periodically replenish the body's reserve of a number of different elements has generated an increasing demand for nutritional supplements. These supplements, normally in tablet form, are frequently necessary for individual health and well-being even though the individual has attempted to maintain the traditional balanced diet.

The analysis of the nutritional needs of an individual is now sufficiently well-developed so as to be capable of being adapted to specific needs. The nutrition industry has responded to this public recognition of specific individual needs by providing a large number of need-specific supplements which are often combined with one or more other supplements according to the requirements of the individual.

All these different specific supplements result in an individual number of containers. Each container is individually opened, a tablet withdrawn, then closed and replaced in a storage area. For the individual needing to combine three, four or five different nutritional supplements on a daily basis, it is a time consuming task. However, there is a recognized tendency on the part of many people to limit their daily activities to what they perceive to be only the necessary functions which provide satisfaction of immediate needs. After the initial enthusiasm of obtaining better nutritional well-being has resulted in improved well-being, the average person begins to view the daily ritual of opening, closing and stowing a number of bottles as a task. At that point, regularity of consuming the needed nutritional supplements is interrupted and an erratic consumption pattern begins to the detriment of the individual.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to the provision of apparatus for receiving and storing a number of tablet containers in a readily accessible position while providing easy access to the contents. This invention facilitates the dispensing of individual tablets from a plurality of sources. Also, the invention provides user access to individual original tablet containers without requiring removal from the apparatus to effect dispensing of the tablets but each container can be individually replaced without disturbing other containers thereon. Further, tablet dispensing takes place via channels oriented within the apparatus so as to promote the dispensation of single tablets for each single movement of a container.

The present invention provides access to and controlled dispensing from a number of containers maintained thereon in an inverted position during normal operation.

The apparatus includes a planar support member which is maintained above the basal surface, such as a countertop, by appropriate means for engaging the surface. The support member is preferably rotatably mounted to permit the user to have ready access to all containers. In addition, the upper surface of the support member contains a plurality of recesses therein. A recess is provided for each of the containers to be utilized in a particular embodiment.

A receiving means, dimensioned to removably fit within a recess on the upper surface of the support member, is provided for affixation to a container in place of its conventional cap. Thus, replacement of a container cap with a corresponding receiving means enables the user to place the containers in inverted position on the support member without requiring the manipulation of an open and filled container.

Channel means are formed in the base of each receiving means for providing a passageway from the container through the receiving means. The channel means comprises a plurality of diametrically located passages through the end of each receiving means. Each passage is angularly disposed from the central axis of the receiving means and is provided with an adjacent inclined surface which contacts the edge of a passage. The channel means promotes the siting of a tablet within the passage of the receiving means prior to rotation of the combination of container and receiving means within the support member.

In addition, feed means is located in each of the recesses formed in the top surface of the support member. The feed means communicates between the bottom of the recess and the underside of the support means and is angularly disposed to the plane of the surface of the support means so as to be in substantial alignment with the channel means contained in the receiving means.

As noted, the upper surface of the support means is provided with a plurality of recesses, each of which has a combination of container and receiving means placed therein. The container is inverted with the feed means obtaining a tablet from the supply in the container via a passage in the receiving means. As the container and receiving means are rotated, the tablets become oriented in the channel means for dispensing through the feed means in the support member and appear therebelow

The support member is rotatably mounted on the means which maintain it above the basal surface and preferably angularly disposed in relation to the basal surface to both facilitate the movement of tablets within the receiving means and container combination and on through the feed means of the support member and also to aid the user in viewing the containers and grasping same for rotation.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1, showing the attachment of the receiving means to a container;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing the rotational mounting of the support member;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 2, showing the receiving means for the container;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a channel means and recess formed in the support member;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C show a sequence of steps in the dispensing operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the receiving means for different size containers.

Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the invention 10 is shown comprising a circular support member 11 having six recesses formed in the upper surface thereof. The recesses are equally spaced about the peripheral region of the support member and each is shown containing a receiving means 14 dimensioned to fit therein. Each recess 12 is formed a sufficient distance into the surface of the support member so as to provide a firm seat for the receiving means placed therein.

As shown in FIG. 2, the receiving means 14 are provided with internal threads to permit the insertion and securing of a container 15 therein. One such container 15 is shown in its normal operating inverted position in bold outline in FIG. 1, while the two adjacent containers are shown by means of dashed lines. For reasons which will later be more fully explained, each receiving member 14 is removably contained within its corresponding recess. Also, when a container is threaded into the corresponding receiving means, the container rotates along with the corresponding receiving means. Thus, the operator of the tablet dispenser which is the subject of the present invention, need only grasp the end of a container 15 and rotate it to impart relative rotation to the combination of container and receiving means while the support member is stationary.

The planar support member 11 is maintained above a basal surface by stand 17, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, having a central vertical member 18 extending upwardly therefrom. The upper most portion of member 18 is provided with a transverse slot 28 and a hole perpendicular to the long dimension of the slot which accomodates bolt 25 and and wing nut 26. A narrowed section of adjustable element 24 contains a hole about its lower end through which bolt 25 extends. The adjustment of wing nut 26 permits the angle of element 24 to be varied as desired by the user since the side surfaces of the notched portion of the central vertical member 18 frictionally engage the lower extremity of element 24 when the nut is tightened. This enables the angle between the axis of rotation of support member 11 and the basal surface upon which the embodiment is place to be changed as desired.

The opposing end of element 24 is provided with a central section 35 having a reduced cross-sectional area to thereby form adjacent shoulders 34. The support member having a central opening therein 27 is positioned over the reduced cross-section portion 35 of element 24 so that it is supported and also freely rotated about the axis of the adjustable element. Rotation of the support member is obtained by the user grasping one of the containers 15 and imparting force in either direction to change the position of the support member.

Referring to FIG. 2, the container 15 is shown positioned for insertion into the corresponding receiving means 14. In practice, the recess member is removed from support member 11 and threaded upon the open end of the container when the container is in its upright position. Following assembly, the combination of receiving means and container is inverted and inserted into one of the recesses 12 formed in the upper surface of the support member.

The basal region of a receiving means 14 is shown in FIG. 4 as containing a pair of diametrically spaced passages 20, 20' therethrough. The thickness of the basal region is substantially equal to the thickness of the tablets to be dispensed. If made greatly in excess of the tablet thickness, multiple tablet dispensing is likely to occur while a relatively thin basal region makes it difficult for tablets to become seated during rotation.

Each passage in the receiving means has at least one corresponding inclined surface 23, 23' adjacent each passageway. It should be noted that each of the passageways 20, 20' is angled outwardly from the central region of the base. In manufacture, this is obtained by drilling these passageways at an acute angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the receiving means. The combination of adjacent inclined surface and angularly disposed passageway comprises the channel means which form the path for individual tablets as they are dispensed from the container. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 shows more clearly the outward angle of the passageway and its relationship to the adjacent nclined surface. The use of a single inclined surface as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 limits the direction of rotation of the container and receiving means for effective dispensing. The surfaces 23, 23' should encounter the tablet to be dispensed prior to its reaching the adjacent passage and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 this limits dispensing to clockwise rotation but it is advantageous to utilize two channels per passage so that rotation to effect dispensing can be in either direction.

In FIG. 6, a recess 12 formed in the planar support member 11 is shown containing the feed means 21 which communicates between the passageway in the receiving means 14 and the underside of the support member 11. When these elements are in alignment due to rotation of the receiving means within its recess in the support member, a tablet contained therein will drop through the support member and be available to the consumer. Referring to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, the feed means 21 is shown angularly disposed in an outward direction from the recess. This angle is substantially equal to the angle of the channel means opening formed in the receiving means. It should be noted that the angle is directed toward the central region of the support member.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C show the steps in the dispensing of an individual tablet from a container 15 threadedly engaged within the receiving means 14. FIG. 8A shows a tablet 31 residing within the region of the inclined surface and resting thereagainst prior to entering into the channel opening 20. A multiplicity of tablets 30 overly this individual tablet 31 and tend to urge it to the lowest position in the container. At this point in time, the channel opening is spaced from the feed means opening and the tablet cannot be discharged.

The rotation of the combination of receiving means 14 and container 15 result in movement of the tablets within the combination and, in particular, the movement of tablet 31 down the inclined surface and into channel opening 20. The opposing channel opening 20' is shown having a tablet moving along its inclined surface 23' in preparation for the dispensing of a subsequent tablet. Further rotation of the combination of receiving means and container results in the movement of tablet 31 from the channel opening 20 into the feed means 21 whereupon it is discharged into the hand of the user below the support member The support member and receiving means are each provided with indicia 38 shown in FIG. 1 which when aligned indicate to the user that the channel and feed means are not aligned thereby preventing uncontrolled dispensing of tablets.

The ability to change the angle of the support member 11 by use of the threaded fastener 25 and wing nut 26 permitting movement of element 24 in the vertical member 18 has been found to substantially reduce the tendency of multiple tablets to be discharged by a single rotation of the combination of container and receiving means. In addition, the tilting of the support member facilitates the user keeping his hand in one location while he rotates the containers and support means to receive a series of tablets from different containers. By tilting the support member so that the tablet containers 15 are not vertical, the major force exerted by tablets above the individual tablet to be dispensed is directed at the lowermost portion of the receiving means. The combination of channel means and feed means is intentionally located above the lower edge of the container and angularly disposed so that the force of the overlying tablets is not directed to urging multiple discharge of tablets through the combined aligned passageways.

The rotation of the combination of container and its receiving means results in a movement of the tablets within the container and the enhanced opportunity for each tablet to become substantially parallel to the inclined surface adjacent each channel opening. This feature also aids in the orientation of the tablet for discharge and reduces the possibility of multiple tablets being discharged when the passageways are in alignment as shown in FIG. 8C.

In order to accomodate containers of different cap-size, the double threaded reducing members 35 are provided. For example, the container 15 and receiving member 14 shown in FIG. 9 are in alignment for placement within the recess 12 of the support member. As shown, the container 15' having a different diameter cap-size is provided with a reducing section 35 to be threaded on the container 15' and within the receiving means 14. Once threaded in place upon the container 15', a receiving means 14 is threaded thereover prior to placing the combination within the appropriate recess in the support member 11. While the above description has referred to a specific embodiment of the invention it will be recognized that many modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.