FORM - 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)


DISPENSER FOR SOLID PRODUCTS
HITECH PLAST LIMITED
an Indian Company of C/130, Solaris 1, Opp. L&T Gate No.6, Powai, Mumbai 400 072,
Maharashtra, India
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.


Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dispenser for solid products.
Background of the Invention
Many attempts have been made in the past to design a dispenser for solid pharmaceutical products such as tablets, capsules, pills, pellet, lozenges, and pastilles, confectionary and edible articles.
In general, two piece dispensers are available to dispense pills in which consumer normally removes the closure or a lid with a screwing movement and then inverts the container to pour out pills. This frequently results in a greater number of pills being poured into the hand of the user than is desired. This also destroys the sterility of the pills. Another type of dispenser with some modification is available such as a container of the portable type for storing pastilles and similar confectionery products which is adapted in such a way as to be capable of being held, opened and closed by the user with the use of only one hand. This dispenser generally comprises a container having a bottom, side walls and a lid connected pivotally to the container. The lid or cover is formed integrally with the upper part of the container and can be pivoted upwardly so that individual pastilles can be taken from the dispensing opening.
Further, these dispensers are modified by designing different lids and container assemblies in order to dispense one or a plurality of pills at a time. Containers of this type are prepared by means of injection moulding and are provided with an aperture closed by a flap hinged to the wall at the top of the container by means of an integral hinge formed during the injection moulding of the container itself. The end of the flap remote projects slightly over the side of the container and constitutes a gripping projection for

engagement by the thumb and a snap engagement means are provided for maintaining the flap in its closed position.
Many of these units are workable for the purpose intended. However, most of them are complicated and expensive. Few of them are simple enough to be practical from a commercial standpoint but have serious deficiencies in terms of failing to perform their intended function.
The various types of materials used in manufacturing of dispenser include polymeric material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate and the like.
Polypropylene or polypropene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer, used in a wide variety of applications, including packaging, textiles, stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes. Melt processing of polypropylene can be achieved via extrusion and molding. The most common shaping technique is injection molding. The related techniques are blow molding and injection-stretch blow molding , which involve both extrusion and molding. The large number of end use applications for potypropytene is often possible because of the abiJJry to tailor grades with specific molecular properties and additives during its manufacture. Most commercial polypropylene is isotactic and has an intermediate level of crystallinity between that of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) and its Young's modulus is also intermediate. Through the incorporation of rubber particles, polypropylene can be made both tough and flexible, even at low temperatures. This allows polypropylene to be used as a replacement for engineering plastics. Polypropylene is rugged, often somewhat stiffer than

some other plastics, reasonably economical, and can be made translucent when uncolored. Polypropylene has a very good resistance to fatigue and because of this property , most of the plastic living hinges, that join two rigid plastic parts together, allow plastic parts to get bent along the line of the hinge, e.g. flip-top bottles.
Details of Prior-Art
US Patent No.3991908 discloses a pill dispensing cap assembly adapted for mounting on the neck of a pill container. The cap assembly includes a plurality of different components, including a rotor member to pick up a pill from the container and transfer it to a dispensing end.
In US Patent No. 4653668, there is disclosed a container for storing and disposing small objects, such as capsules or pills containing medicament, one at a time. The container comprises a receptacle containing, within itself, a delivery mechanism including a funnel-shaped exit port for capsules and a capsule or pill delivery tube at the end of said funnel-shaped exit designed to accommodate not more than one pill or capsule.
US Patent No.4538731 discloses a small flip-top container which can be opened and shut using one hand, is closed at one end by a stopper having a skirt which grips the inside of the container resiliently and a rectangular end wall with an aperture which extends for a certain distance from one of the minor sides. The aperture is closeable by a flap which is hinged integrally to the end wall at the inner end of the aperture.
US Patent No.4905867 discloses a dispenser for pharmaceuticals and edible articles comprising a container with side walls and a removal opening , a lid pivotally connected to the container for closing the removal opening and a

bottom of the container displaceable in the direction towards the removal opening.
US Patent No.6267265 discloses one at a time pill dispenser which comprises a cavity, said cavity having an exposed end and shaped to form conical surface their in. The conical shape of the dispenser cavity allows pills to be engaged therein and dispensed there from, one at a time.
A one at a time pill dispenser in which pills are dispensed by actuation of a plunger mechanism that operates by engagement to a helical cut or thread in a tube is disclosed in US Patent No. 7204391.
US Patent No.5071033 discloses a dispenser having a cylindrical case and a spring biased plunger therein for urging a stack of tablet within the case upwardly. A closure cap is pivotally mounted on the case and includes a lifting arm that extends into the case to fit underneath the top tablet in the stack to pivot it upwardly and outwardly while preventing movement of the next tablet out of the case until the cap is reclosed.
US Patent application No. 2007/0186924 discloses a pack comprising a container defining a containment volume containing pastilles or the like, a lid closing off the said containment volume and dispensing means for the said pastilles or the like.
US Patent No.7124909 discloses a container including a receptacle with a closed bottom, an interior space, and an open top encircled by a top receptacle edge, a lid for closing the top of the receptacle where the lid is pivotably attached at a portion of the top receptacle edge.

US Patent No. 3872996 discloses a dispensing container comprising a flat parallelepipedic body having an open end into which a generally rectangular plug or cover is inserted. The cover is moulded of plastics integrally with an elongate closing flap the free end of which protrudes beyond the perimeter of the cover for actuation by the thumb of a hand sizing the container.
While the prior art teaches effective means for dispensing pills one at a time, there are a number of inherent drawbacks in the disclosed designs.
One of the drawbacks is that most of these designs are too complicated for mass-production. In fact, there is an unmet demand for a low cost, easy to manufacture one-at-a-time pill dispenser, which requires little or no assembly. Thus, it is highly desirable to devise a pill dispenser with a limited number of components to reduce the manufacturing and assembly costs.
Further, much of the prior art teaches rotative manipulation of the pill dispenser, while other prior art requires a considerable amount of manual manipulation. Many users, who have acute restrictions in opening dispenser , require a pill dispenser that does not involve rotative motions and that also requires limited manual manipulation. Furthermore, many users have great difficulty in determining as to how one-at-a-time pill dispensers operate, thus limiting the extent to which prior art devices can be used.
Accordingly, it is desirable to produce an easy to use pill dispenser, which dispenses one pill at a time with limited manual manipulation and/or rotation of the user's hands.

Objects of the Invention:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for solid confectionary products, pharmaceuticals and edible articles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispenser which makes possible the advancement of one tablet or pill at a time.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a dispenser with a simple manufacturing design.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispenser which is simple, effective and easy to operate.
It is still further object of the present invention to provide a dispenser which is easy to manufacture and cost effective.
Definitions:
The term "solid products" in the context of the present invention includes tablets, capsules, pills, pellets, lozenges, pastilles, granules and powders.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispenser for solid products such as tablets, capsules, pills, pellets, lozenges, pastilles, confectionary and edible articles.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a product dispenser comprising:
a container having a closed bottom , an open top, defining an interior volume wherein product to be dispensed is stored,

a lid assembly having top and bottom surface for closing the open top of the container, the lid being pivotably fitted on the open top edge of the container,
said lid assembly further comprising a rectangular sleeve having an aperture connected to a fixed arm , adapted to receive a free sliding arm , the sliding arm pivotably fitted at one end of said fixed arm and adapted to close said aperture,
said sliding arm provided with a resilient hump at one end and an aperture at the other end,
aperture of said sleeve and sliding arm being not aligned in a normal in¬operative position,
said resilient hump adapted to be deformed when depressed whereby aligning said aperture of the sliding arm with the aperture of sleeve and dispense the product,
said resilient hump adapted to regain its original shape when pressure on the hump is released.
Typically, the lid assembly is adapted to be removably fitted on said container.
Typically, the fixed arm, sliding arm and sleeve are integral forming the lid
assembly.
Alternatively, the fixed arm, the sliding arm and the sleeve are discrete elements connected together to form the lid assembly.
Typically, the container, in accordance with the present invention is made from a material selected from a group consisting of metal, wood and polymers.

Typically, the lid assembly is made from a material selected from a group consisting of metals and polymers.
Typically, the lid assembly is made from a polymer material selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene , polyvinyl chloride and polyester.
Preferably, the lid assembly is made from polypropylene.
Typically, the shape of the container is selected from a group consisting of rectangular, circular, oval and elongated.
Typically, the lid assembly has a shape adapted to the shape and the dimensions of the container.
Typically, the shape of the aperture of said lid assembly is selected from a group consisting of disc, oval, oblong, round, square, capsule, triangle, almond, peanut, parallelogram, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal.
Typically, the dimensions of the aperture of said lid assembly are slightly larger than the dimensions of the product to be dispensed.
Typically, the lid assembly and container are made by injection molding method.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser;
FIG. 2 is a front view of a dispenser;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the lid assembly for the container of FIG. 1;
and
FIG. 4 shows folding and insertion of the sliding arm into the sleeve.
Detailed Description:
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispenser for solid products such as tablets, capsules, pills, pellet, lozenges, and pastilles, confectionary and edible articles.
Further characteristic features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description referring to accompanying drawing given by the way of a non limiting example.
As shown in figures 1 and 2 the dispenser according to the present invention for solid pharmaceuticals , confectionary product, edible article and the like comprises a container 12 defining an interior space wherein product to be dispensed is stored. The container 12 is provided with a wall 14 and a mouth at the other end. Mouth is closed by a lid assembly 16.
Typically, the container 12 and lid assembly 16 are made by injection molding method.
Typically, the container 12 can be made from material selected from a group of materials consisting of metals, woods and polymers.
Typically the container 12 has different shapes such as rectangular, circular, oval, elongated and the like.

Typically, lid assembly 16 consist of rectangular sleeve 18, fixed arm 24, sliding arm 22 and resilient hump 28.
Typically, the lid assembly 16 is made from a material selected from a group consisting of metals and polymers.
Typically, the lid assembly 16 is made from a polymer material selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyester.
Typically, the lid assembly is removably fitted on the container 12.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the fixed arm, sliding arm and sleeve are integral parts of the lid assembly 16.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the fixed arm, sliding arm and sleeve are discrete elements connected together to form a lid assembly 16.
Typically, the lid assembly has a shape adapted to the shape and the dimensions of the container 12.
The operative exposed surface of the lid forms a rectangular sleeve 18 with an aperture 20, intergraily attached to one end of a fixed arm 24 and adapted to receive a free sliding arm 22. The sliding arm is pivotably fitted at one end 26 of said fixed arm and adapted to close said aperture 20. The sliding arm 22 is provided with a resilient hump 28 at one end and an aperture 30 at the other end. Accordingly aperture 20 of said sleeve and aperture 30 of sliding arm are not aligned in a normal in- operative position.

A resilient hump 28 is provided which is adapted to deform when pressed and thus aligning the aperture of sliding arm with the aperture of the sleeve and dispense the product.
Typically, the shape of aperture of the lid assembly made in accordance with the present invention is selected from a group consisting of disc, oval, oblong, round, square, capsule, triangle, almond, peanut, parallelogram, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal.
In order to dispense the product from the dispenser in accordance with the present invention, the dimensions of the aperture of the lid assembly are slightly greater than the dimensions of the product to be dispensed.
Thus in order to dispense product from space of the container 12 the hump 28 present on one end of sliding arm 22 is pressed to thereby deform and aligning the aperture 30 of sliding arm with the aperture 20 of the sleeve.
FIG. 3 shows a lid assembly wherein the sliding arm is in unfolded position. The lid assembly comprising rectangular sleeve 18 with an aperture 20 at top surface integrally attached to one end of the fixed arm and adapted to receive a free sliding arm 22. A sliding arm hinged at a region 26 adapted to close said aperture of the sleeve. The sliding arm 22 is provided with a resilient hump 28 at one end nearby hinge region 26 and an aperture 30 at the other end.
FIG.4 shows operative folding and inserting of sliding arm into the sleeve. The lid assembly is formed with sleeve 18, fixed arm 24 and folding arm 22.

The folding arm 22 integrally hinged at region 26 to fixed arm 24 is folded in a direction as shown in FIG.3 and inserted through region 32 into the sleeve 18 in order to form operative lid assembly.
The container is operated as follows.
The container 12 is filled with the solid product to be dispensed, having dimensions less than the dimensions of the aperture 20 of the lid assembly 16. The precaution is to be taken while filling the container i.e. container should not be completely filled; there should be some space in the container for free movement of solid product in order to dispense the product easily.
In the non operative condition, the sliding arm 22 is in a position such that the aperture 30 present on the sliding arm is not aligned with the aperture 20 of the sleeve of the fixed arm 24 and hence the opening for dispensing the product is in closed position. In order to dispense the product, the hump portion 28 of the sliding arm 22 is depressed which results in deformation of the hump and the sliding arm 22 gets extended to align its aperture 30 with the aperture 20 of the sleeve. The product is dispensed by gravity by turning over the dispenser. As soon as the product is dispensed the pressure on the hump 28 is released and the hump 28 reverses to its original position. Thus there is misalignment of the aperture 20 of the sleeve and aperture 30 of the sliding arm and thereby closing the aperture 20 of the sleeve 18 and blocking the mouth of container.
In the state, when the dispenser is shifted from factory to retailer before it reaches to consumer, the mouth of the container 12 is further sealed with air tight membrane in order to provide reasonably air tight condition to the product packed inside the container. The membrane may be removed by user for dispensing the product.

Technical Advance:
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dispenser that does not involve rotative motions and requires limited manual manipulation. Furthermore, it is simple and easy to operate portable type dispenser, adapted in such a way as to be capable of being held, opened and closed by the user with the use of only one hand. A number of pills are retained and protected in a container and one pill at a time is dispensed by simply depressing resilient hump of the sliding arm of the lid.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the specific features of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

We Claim:
1. A product dispenser comprising:
a container having a closed bottom , an open top ,defining an
interior volume wherein product to be dispensed is stored,
a lid assembly having top and bottom surface for closing the open
top of the container, the lid being pivotably fitted on the open top
edge of the container,
said lid assembly further comprising a rectangular sleeve having
an aperture connected to said fixed arm , adapted to receive a free
sliding arm , the sliding arm pivotably fitted at one end of said
fixed arm and adapted to close said aperture,
said sliding arm provided with a resilient hump at one end and an
aperture at the other end,
aperture of said sleeve and sliding arm being not aligned in a
normal in-operative position,
said resilient hump adapted to be deformed when depressed
whereby aligning said aperture of the sliding arm with the aperture
of sleeve and dispense the product,
said resilient hump adapted to regain its original shape when
pressure on the hump is released.
2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid assembly adapted to be removably fitted on said container.
3. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed arm, the sliding arm and the sleeve are integral forming the lid assembly.

4. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed arm, the sliding arm and the sleeve are discrete elements connected together to form lid assembly.
5. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is made from a material selected from a group consisting of metals, woods and polymers.
6. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lid assembly is made from a material selected from a group consisting of metals and polymers.
7. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lid assembly is made from a polymer material selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyester.
8. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the container is selected from a group consisting of rectangular, circular, oval and elongate.
9. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lid assembly has a shape adapted to the shape and the dimensions of the container.
10. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the aperture
of the said lid assembly is selected from a group consisting of disc,
oval, oblong, round, square , capsule, triangle, almond, peanut,
parallelogram, trapezoidal, pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal.

11. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the aperture of the said lid assembly are slightly larger than the dimensions of the product to be dispensed.
12. The dispenser as substantially herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of January 2009.