DESC:DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a tablet dispensing mechanism. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dispensing assembly for dispensing single tablet.
BACKGROUND
Solid orals/tablets are packed in blister packs as well as in bottles. In blister packs, it is easy to dispense a single tablet. However, in bottles where multiple tablets or pills are filled, it is difficult to dispense a single tablet. A user has to open the cap, tilt the bottle, and shake the bottle for a tablet to fall down. Most of the times, more than one tablet is dispensed in the hands of the user which needs to be transferred back to the bottle. This is quite tedious and difficult, especially for elderly patients or patients having arthritis. Sometimes the tablets can fall down too which leads to contamination of the tablets. Also while transferring the additional tablets back into the bottle, the contents of bottle are exposed to outside environment. Further, the extra tablets contaminated by hand and outside environment, when reintroduced into the bottle, may contaminate remaining tablets in the bottle.
Prior art discloses presence of dispensing devices which dispense metered quantity of tablets or single table from the bottle. By way of example, US2683554A describes a dispenser body fitted to the bottle by threaded feature and incorporates a central funnel like feature which directs the tablet to the opening. It consist of a slide which has a traverse motion, it collects the tablet from the funnel opening and when moved ahead it intercepts the flow of tablet from the funnel and a slider which when pressed moves the single tablet aligned to the opening dispensing a single tablet at a single press.
By way of another examples, US6948634, US5657901, and US4492316 describes a specialized rectangular container in which the tablets are filled from the top lid and are aligned by either taper or slope which acts like the funnel to narrow down and to allow single tablet to be passed through the opening and a slider which when pressed moves the single tablet aligned to the opening dispensing a single tablet at a single press.
By way of another example, US7988016 describes a pill dispensing cap that secures to a conventional pill container. The pill dispensing cap has a lower cap, a pill discharge port, and a spring loaded rotatable and slidable upper cap. The pills are aligned due to the U-shaped slope that makes the pills to fall in the cap container department which again has a U-shaped slope that aligns the tablet to the opening. Pills are dispensed one at a time, and the remaining pills are isolated from external contamination. A child resistant lock prevents small children and/or mentally handicapped individuals from easily accessing medicine inside the container. The child resistant lock uses a vertically slidable upper cap that is slidably and rotatably attached to the lower cap. A child safety lock uses a key in the upper cap that must be aligned with a slot in the lower cap to allow a pill to be dispensed. When the key and slot are aligned, the upper cap is vertically compressed against the lower cap. As the upper cap moves toward the base cap, a gravity fed pill discharge port is exposed which releases a single pill.
By way of another example, US20160145031 describes a device having two components, namely, a segregating unit and a singularizing unit. This device is for micro granules pills which are quite difficult to take precise plural doses. In this design the principle is to tilt the bottle and the granules fill in the individual cavities which can accommodate a single granule. The segregator separates the extra granules from those seated in the cavity. A rotary knob when rotated moves the singular cavity to an opening where the pills get collected and is visible to the user. Hence, the patient on rotating the knob can control the pills to be consumed. After the pill is collected on tilting the lock the pills gets dispensed from the opening.
However, as can be gathered from above, such dispensing devices have complicated designs of dispensing single tablet that necessitate the use of customized bottles. Further, such complicated designs require specialized machineries to be introduced to the production lines. Both the above-mentioned features add to the cost of the dispensing device which is passed on to the user. Apart from the cost aspect, such dispensing devices are difficult to handle as they require complicated process steps for dispensing the tablets such as specific orientations in which tablets have to be dispensed.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a simple and economic solution that overcomes above deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the purposes of the invention, the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein, provides for a dispensing assembly for dispensing single tablet from a storage container having a neck portion and a body portion.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, the dispensing assembly comprises a tablet tilter being mounted on the neck portion to sealingly engage with the neck portion. The tablet tilter comprises a central shaft disposed within the neck portion and a guide passage located on an outer surface of the central shaft. The dispensing assembly further comprises a sliding member being disposed inside the tablet tilter. The sliding member comprises a blocking member. The dispensing assembly further comprises a top cover being mounted on the tablet tilter and forming a sealing engagement with tablet tilter. The top cover includes an orifice and a stop portion being disposed inside the tablet tilter.
Further, a movement of the sliding member from an initial position to a final position in a radially outward direction displaces the blocking member in the radially outward direction to create a storage area in the tablet tilter. The storage area is adapted to accommodate a single tablet. The single tablet is aligned within the storage area via the guide passage and the central shaft. Thereafter, a movement of the sliding member from the final position to the initial position in a radially inward direction displaces the blocking member in the radially inward direction to align the single tablet with the orifice for dispensing the single tablet.
Further, the tablet tilter and the neck portion have same cylindrical cross-section that enables the tablet tilter to fit with neck portion when being mounted on the neck portion.
The advantages of the present invention include, but not limited to, a simple dispensing assembly that is easy to operate. The tablet is aligned by through the guided passage and the central shaft in the storage area. This ensures that tablet is not damaged while being dispensed unlike using funnel principle. In addition the dispensing of the tablet is very easy as compared to present cumbersome process since only a movement of the slider in two directions is required to dispense the tablet.
Further, the design and manufacturing of the dispensing assembly and does not require a customised bottle. The dispensing assembly can be mounted on any bottle having same cross-section. This reduces an overall manufacturing cost and enables a mass production of the dispensing assembly at affordable costs.
These and other aspects as well as advantages will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in conjugation with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
To further clarify advantages and aspects of the invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a dispensing assembly for a storage container having a neck portion and a body portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2(a) to 2(c) illustrates perspective views of a tablet tilter of the dispending assembly, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate isometric views of the dispensing assembly disposed on the storage container, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 4(a) to 4(n) illustrate steps for dispensing a tablet from the storage container through the dispensing assembly, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 5(a) to 5(d) illustrate movement of tablet along a guide passage of the tablet tilter, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
It may be noted that to the extent possible, like reference numerals may have been used to represent like elements in the drawings. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of aspects of the invention. Furthermore, one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein.
The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments, to one embodiment, to several embodiments, or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the invention.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do not specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do not exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must not be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “must comprise” or “needs to include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do not preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there needs to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is required.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the invention fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Figure 1 illustrates an exploded view of a dispensing assembly 100 for a storage container 101 having a neck portion 102 and a body portion 103, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In an example, the neck portion 102 and a body portion 103 have a cylindrical cross-section. The body portion 103 is of predetermined volume and may store a plurality of tablets. As would be understood, tablet may be defined as a solid unit dosage having different shapes.
The dispensing assembly 100 comprises a tablet tilter 104 adapted to be mounted on the neck portion 102 to sealingly engage with the neck portion 102. The tablet tilter 104 comprises a central shaft (not shown in the figure) disposed within the neck portion 102 and a guide passage (not shown in the figure) located on an outer surface of the central shaft. Further, the tablet tilter 104 and the neck portion 102 have same cylindrical cross-section that enables the tablet tilter 104 to fit with neck portion 102 when being mounted the neck portion 102.
The dispensing assembly 100 further comprises a sliding member 105. The sliding member 105 is disposed inside the tablet tilter 104. The sliding member 105 comprises a blocking member (not shown in the figure). The dispensing assembly 100 further comprises a top cover 106 being mounted on the tablet tilter 104 and forming a sealing engagement with tablet tilter 104. The top cover 106 includes an orifice 107 and a stop portion (not shown in the figure) being disposed inside the tablet tilter 104.
In operation, a movement of the sliding member 105 from an initial position to a final position in a radially outward direction displaces the blocking member in the radially outward direction to create a storage area (not shown in the figure) in the tablet tilter 104. The storage area is adapted to accommodate a single tablet such that the single tablet is aligned within the storage area via the guide passage and the central shaft. Thereafter, the movement of the sliding member 105 from the final position to the initial position in a radially inward direction displaces the blocking member in the radially inward direction to align the single tablet with the orifice 107 for dispensing the single tablet. The aforementioned movement is a linear movement and the radially outward/inward direction is a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (A-A) of the storage container 101.
The dispensing assembly 100 further comprises a spring member 108 adapted to be disposed within the tablet tilter 104. Examples of the spring member 108 include, but not limited to, helical spring and leaf spring. The sliding member 105 is in communication with the spring member 108 inside the tablet tilter 104. The sliding member 105 comprises an actuating member 109 to enable a movement of the spring member 108 such that the sliding member 105 reciprocates the movement of the spring member 108. At the initial position of the sliding member 105, the spring member 108 is in a contracted position within the tablet tilter 104. Thus, the actuating member 109 moves the spring member 108 from the contracted position to an expanded position thereby causing linear movement of the sliding member 105 in the radially outward direction. The linear movement of the sliding member 105 in the radially inward direction moves the spring member 108 from the expanded position to the contracted position.
The top cover 106 further comprises a recess 110 to receive and accommodate the actuating member 109 of the sliding member 105. The top cover 106 further comprises a locking member 111 to sealing engage with a slot 112 provided on the tablet tilter 104. In a similar manner, the sliding member 105 includes projection(s) 113 that sealingly engage with corresponding slot(s) 114 on the tablet tilter 104. Additionally, the tablet tilter 104 provides a space to receive and accommodate the actuating member 109 of the sliding member 105 in a manner similar to the recess 110 of the top cover 106.
Further, a protective cover 115 covers the dispensing assembly 100. The protective cover 115 has a cylindrical cross-section and is adapted for being disposed on an outer surface of the tablet tilter 104. The protective cover 115 protects the dispensing assembly 100 from the outside environment when the storage container 101 is not in use. The protective cover 115 includes internal threading to form a sealing engagement with the external threading of the tablet tilter 104 when the protective cover 115 is disposed on the tablet tilter 104. As would be understood, the cylindrical cross-section of the protective cover 115 would be similar to the cylindrical cross-section of the tablet tilter 104 to enable the protective cover 115 to be disposed on the tablet tilter 104.
It would be understood that the dispensing assembly 100, storage container 101, and the protective cover 115 are manufactured of materials suitable for storing and transporting tablets for human consumption. Further, it would be understood that, in some cases, such materials can allow transparency such that the tablets within the storage container 101 can be easily seen by the human eye.
Figures 2(a) to 2(c) illustrates perspective views of the tablet tilter 104 of the dispensing assembly 100, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2(a) illustrates perspective external view of the tablet tilter 104 in an up-right position. Figure 2(b) illustrates perspective internal view of the tablet tilter 104 in an up-right position. Figure 2(c) illustrates perspective view of the tablet tilter 104 in an inverted position.
Referring to Figure 2(a) and Figure 2(b), the tablet tilter 104 comprises a first part 200 disposed on the neck portion and comprising a central shaft 201 (such as the central shaft mentioned in the Figure 1). The central shaft 201 has a cylindrical cross-section and is closed at both ends. A guide passage 202 (such as the guide passage mentioned in the Figure 1) is located on an outer surface of the central shaft 201. The guide passage 202 creates a path between the central shaft 201 and the neck portion 102. The path has a width to accommodate one of: the single tablet and a single chain of abutting tablets. The guide passage 202 is one of a spiral passage and a helical passage. The guide passage 202 is designed in accordance with a shape of the tablet, which will follow the path created by the guide passage 202. In an example, as illustrated in the figure, the guide passage 202 is spiral passage for a disc-shaped tablet. However, the shape of the guide passage is not to be construed as limiting in any sense and other guide paths may be used.
The first part 200 is in form of a wall/over cap that covers the neck portion 102. Thus, a height of the first part 200 is equal to a height of the neck portion 102. The first part 200 includes internal threading (not shown in the figure) to form a sealing engagement with the external threading (as shown in the figure 1) of the neck portion 102 when the tablet tilter 104 is disposed on the neck portion 102. As indicated earlier, the tablet tilter 104 and the neck portion 102 have same cylindrical cross-section. As such, the cylindrical cross-section of the first part 200 would be similar to the cylindrical cross-section of the neck portion 102 to enable the tablet tilter 104 to be mounted on the neck portion 102.
Referring to Figure 2(a) and Figure 2(b), the tablet tilter 104 further comprises a second part 203. The second part 203 extends above the neck portion 102. The tablet tilter 104 further comprises a collar portion 204 dividing the first part 200 and the second part 203.
Referring to Figure 2(c), the second part 203 is a housing that houses the sliding member 105 and the spring member 108. Further, the storage area is created within the second part 203. Thus, the tablet tilter 104 can be hollow part with the collar portion 204 creating two storage spaces, i.e., the first part 200 to accommodate the central shaft 201 and the second part 203 to accommodate the sliding member 105, the actuating member 109, and the spring member 108.
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) illustrates isometric views of the dispensing assembly 100 disposed on the storage container 101, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3(a) illustrates isometric view of the dispensing assembly 100 with the protective cover 115. As shown, the dispensing assembly 100 is disposed or mounted on the storage container 101 in a sealing engagement. The protective cover 115 is sealingly engaged with the dispensing assembly 100.
Figure 3(b) illustrates isometric view of the dispensing assembly 100 without the protective cover 115. As shown, the dispensing assembly 100 comprises the top cover 106, the orifice 107, and the actuating member 109.
Figures 4(a) to 4(n) illustrates steps for dispensing a tablet from the storage container 101 through the dispensing assembly 100, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. As would be observed, the Figures 4(a) to 4(n) illustrates solid views of the storage container 101 and the dispensing assembly 100.
Figure 4(a) illustrates the removal of the protective cover 115 by rotating the protective cover 115.
Figure 4(b) and Figure 4(c) illustrate front isometric view and sectional view, respectively, of the dispensing assembly 100 sealing engaged with the storage container 101 prior to actuation of actuating member 109. As shown in Figure 4(c), the sliding member 105 includes a blocking member 400 (such as the blocking member mentioned in figure 1). The top cover 106 includes a stop portion 401 (such as the stop portion mentioned in figure 1). Prior to actuation of the actuating member 109, i.e., an initial position, the blocking member 400 of the sliding member 105 blocks a passage 402 between the central shaft 201 and inner surface of the neck portion 102 of the storage container 101. Owing to blocking of the passage 402 by the blocking member 400, a flow communication between the first part 200 and the second part 203 of the tablet tilter 104 is prevented and no tablet enters the second part 203 from the body portion 103 of the storage container 101. In addition, the actuating member 109 in the sliding member 105 in this initial position does not block the orifice 107 of the top cover 106.
Figure 4(d) and Figure 4(e) illustrate the front isometric view and sectional view, respectively, of the dispensing assembly 100 sealing engaged with the storage container 101 subsequent to actuation of the actuating member 109, i.e., a final position. In an example, the actuating member 109 is actuated by pressing down the actuating member 109. As shown by the arrow, the sliding member 105 moves in a radially outward direction. Due to movement of the sliding member 105 in the radially outward direction, the blocking member 400 is also displaced in the radially outward direction. Consequently, the blocking member 400 moves to unblock the passage 402 between the central shaft 201 and the inner surface of the neck portion 102. Consequently, the flow communication between the first part 200 and the second part 203 of the tablet tilter 104 is allowed and a storage area is created in the second part 203 of the tablet tilter to accommodate a single table. In addition, the actuating member 109 in the sliding member 105 blocks the orifice 107 of the top cover 106 in this final position.
Figure 4(f) and Figure 4(g) illustrate the dispensing assembly 100 sealing engaged with the storage container 101 in inverted position in a position subsequent to the actuation of the actuating member 109, i.e., the final position. As shown, a single tablet 403 enters the storage area created by the displacement of the blocking member 400. The storage area is the same space as occupied by the blocking member 400 during the initial position.
Thereafter, in order to dispense the single tablet 403 from the storage container 101 in inverted position, the sliding member 105 is moved in a radially inward direct (represented by the arrow) back to the initial position i.e. the position prior to actuation of the actuating member 109. Such a movement is achieved by pressing the sliding member 105. Figure 4(h), Figure 4(i), Figure 4(j) and Figure 4(k) illustrate the said position. The movement of the sliding member 105 back to the initial position displaces the blocking member 400 in the radially inward direction. Consequently, the blocking member 400 pushes the single tablet 403 in an area just below the orifice 107. As the sliding member 105 is in the initial position, the blocking member 400 does not block the orifice 107 and the single tablet 403 is dispensed from the dispensing assembly 100. As indicated earlier, in this initial position, the blocking member 400 prevents the flow communication between the first part 200 and the second part 203, and therefore no further tablet is allowed into the second part 203.
As illustrated in Figure 4(l), the actuating member 109 returns to its original position when the sliding member 105 is moved from the final position to the initial position. In case another tablet is to be dispensed from the storage container 101, the actuating member 109 needs to re-actuated, in a manner as described earlier. Figure 4(m) and Figure 4(n) illustrate replacing the protective cover 115 after dispensing of tablet.
Figures 5a to 5d illustrates the movement of tablets along the guide passage 202 of the tablet tilter 104, in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5(a) illustrates an isometric view of the dispensing assembly 100 sealing engaged with the storage container 101 illustrating the alignment and spiral movement of the tablets through the guide passage 202 and the central shaft 201. Figure 5(b) illustrates the final position of the sliding member 105 and entry of only the single tablet 403 in the storage area occupied by the blocking member 400 during the initial position. As can be gathered, the guide passage 202 allows only single chain of abutting tablets to be formed and only one single tablet to pass through. Figure 5(c) and Figure 5(d) illustrate the pushing of the sliding member 105 from the final position to the initial position. When the sliding member 105 is back to its initial position, the blocking member 400 pushes the single tablet 403 in an area just below the orifice 107. As the sliding member 105 in the initial position does not block the orifice 107, the single tablet 403 is dispensed from the dispensing assembly 100.
Thus, in absence of the guide passage 202, a plurality of tablets may enter the passage between the central shaft 201 and the inner surface of the neck portion 102 of the storage container 101. As a result, the passage will be blocked and no tablet will reach the dispensing assembly 100 for further dispensing. Hence, the guide passage 202 is provided on the outer surface of the central shaft 201, which aligns and guides the movement of the tablets such that only one tablet enters the dispensing assembly 100 at a time.
While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Clearly, the invention may be otherwise variously embodied, and practiced within the scope of the complete specification to follow.
,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A dispensing assembly for a storage container having a neck portion and a body portion, the dispensing assembly comprising:
- a tablet tilter being mounted on the neck portion to sealingly engage with the neck portion, the tablet tilter comprising a central shaft disposed within the neck portion and a guide passage located on an outer surface of the central shaft;
- a sliding member being disposed inside the tablet tilter, the sliding member comprising a blocking member; and
- a top cover being mounted on the tablet tilter and forming a sealing engagement with tablet tilter, the top cover having an orifice and a stop portion being disposed inside the tablet tilter;
- wherein:
- movement of the sliding member from an initial position to a final position in a radially outward direction displaces the blocking member in the radially outward direction to create a storage area in the tablet tilter adapted to accommodate a single tablet, the single tablet being aligned within the storage area via the guide passage and the central shaft; and
- movement of the sliding member from the final position to the initial position in a radially inward direction displaces the blocking member in the radially inward direction to align the single tablet with the orifice for dispensing the single tablet.

2. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide passage creates a path between the central shaft and the neck portion, the path having a width to accommodate one of: the single tablet and a single chain of abutting tablets.

3. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide passage is one of a spiral passage and a helical passage.

4. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the single tablet is aligned within the storage area when the storage container is in an inverted position.
5. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tablet tilter further comprises:
- a first part disposed on the neck portion and comprising the central shaft; and
- a second part extending above the neck portion and housing the sliding member and a spring member.

6. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the storage area is created within the second part.

7. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sliding member is in communication with the spring member inside the tablet tilter.

8. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sliding member comprises an actuating member to enable a movement of the spring member, the movement of the spring member being reciprocated by the sliding member.

9. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the top cover comprises:
- a recess to accommodates the actuating member; and
- a locking member to sealingly engage with a slot in the tablet tilter.

10. The dispensing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tablet tilter and the neck portion have same cylindrical cross-section.