US3289885A - Tamper proof tablet dispenser - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 6, 1966 J. W. VILLAVECES TAMPER PROOF TABLET DISPENSER Filed Aug. 10, 1964 FIG INVENTOR.

James 14 Vidal/666s.

United States Patent 3,289,885 TAMPER PROOF TABLET DISPENSER James W. Viliaveces, 1532 Prospect, San Gabriel, Calif. Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,527 1 Claim. (Cl. 221288) This invention relates to tablet dispensers and, more particularly, to a tamper proof tablet dis-penser for dispensing individual pills or tablets which Wlll prevent access thereto by children and infants.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe, tamper proof and tablet dispenser which requires considerable manual dexterity for the removal of the contents, thus providing a safe and effective container for storing drugs and medicines in the presence of children which lack the dexterity required to remove the'contents therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attractive and convenient pill and tablet dispenser which will effectively dispense single tablets whenever required, but which requires a predetermined method of operation and dexterity beyond the skills of young children and infants, whereby such can be safely stored in the piesenoe of children.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tamper proof tablet dispenser made in accordance with one form of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of construction;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of still another form of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a left end elevational view of the embodiment ilustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURES l and 2 thereof, a tamper proof tablet dispenser 10 made in accordance with one form of the present invention is shown to include a main housing 12 having an interior tablet storage compartment 13 at the lower end thereof and an upwardly protruding neck 14 at the opposite upper end, upon which a closure cap 16 is normally threaded ly supported. Intermediate the storage compartment 13 and the outlet neck 14, is a laterally extending bafile plate 18 in spaced proximity with an upper baflie plate 29 and defining a narrow passageway 22 therebetween, through which a single/tablet is receivable. The upwardly inclined baffie plate 24) defines a narrow space 24 with one side of the neck 14 for receiving the tablet further upwardly into the upper compartment 26 in the neck 14.

It will thus be recognized that upon inverting the main housing 12, a single tablet can be manipulated through the spaces 22, 24 defined by the baffles 18, 20, to place a single tab-let within the discharge portion of the neck 14, so that upon removal of the closure cap 16, the single tablet may be conveniently removed. However, because of the manual dexterity required to manipulate the tablet through the baffie arrangement, such is beyond the usual skills of young children.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawing, a slightly modified form of construction 36 is shown to include a main housing 32 having an interior tablet storage compartment 33 at the lower end and a closure wall 34 at the opposite upper end. A closure 36 is rotatably mounted upon the closure wall 34 by means of a self contained pivot structure 38. The closure 36 includes an aperture 40 which is rotatable into communication with similar aperture 42 in the closure wall 34, through which a single tablet may be removed. Intermediate the discharge aperture 42 and the tablet storage portion 33, the main housing 32 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending baflle plates 48, 50. The upper bafile plate 48 defines an upper compartment 44 into which a single tablet is receivable through a restricted opening 46 formed between the end of the baffle plate 48 and the side wall of the main housing 32. In spaced relation ship beneath the upper baffie plate 48, a lower baffle plate 50 defines a restricted passageway 52 with an opposite side of the main housing 32.

It will thus be recognized that a single tab-let may be conveniently dispensed from this dispenser 30 by inverting the main housing and manipulating a single tablet through the restricted passageways 52, 46 into the upper compartment 44, upon which rotation of the closure member 36 to align the aperture 40 thereof with the discharge aperture 42 in the closure wall 34 will permit convenient removal of the tablet.

In FIGURES 5 to 7 of the drawing, a further embodiment 60 of the present invention is shown to include a main housing 62 having a lower tablet storage compartment 63 and an upper discharge aperture 64. A combination bafiie member and closure device in the form of a V-shaped valve member 66 is pivotally supported within the interior of the main housing 62 upon .pintles 68. The innermost portion of the valve member 66 includes a leg 70 having a marginal flange 71 defining a tray 72 for receiving a single tablet 74. The edge of the flange 31 defines a restricted passageway with the upper wall of the main housing 62, allowing only a single tablet 74 into the tray 72. The other leg of the valve member 66 includes an enlarged closure member 76 that normally overlies and seals the discharge aperture 64 of the main housing. However, by pulling outwardly upon the tab 76 after a tablet has been positioned in the tray 72, the outlet aperture 64 may be opened to permit discharge of the tablet 72 therethrough. In this embodiment, a considerable amount of manual dexterity is also required to first position a single tablet within the tray 72, 'and then to open the valve member 66 to allow the discharge of the tablets 74- through the outlet opening 64.

It will thus be recognized that in all embodiments of the present invention, at least several manual movements are required to first position and then discharge the tablets through the respective baflie and discharge means, and that such dexterity is normally beyond that of small children and infants. In each embodiment, the main housing is preferably constructed of a molded plastic material, which will absorb high impact, thus preventing breakage or forced opening thereof by such children. Of course, the size and external shape of the main housing may be varied to suit convenience and purpose, and the size of the respective portions varied to accommodate tablets and pills of ditferent sizes and shapes.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A tamper proof tablet dispenser comprising a hollow medicine bottle having a main bottom housing, a vertical upper hollow neck open at its throat, shoulder means connecting said housing to said neck, said neck and h-ousing being integral, a cap detachably securable to the throat of said neck for detachably sealing same, a first horizontal bafile plate in the top of said housing and sealing a major portion of said housing from said neck while leaving a small first horizontal opening through which a pill positioned in said housing can fall toward said neck when said dispenser is inverted, and a second upwardly inclined baffie plate inserted in the bottom of said neck and extending over said first opening, said second plate sealing a major portion of said neck while leaving a small second horizontal opening above said first plate, said second plate being vertically separated from the first plate and positioned thereabove, said second opening permitting said pill to fall therethrough after falling through said first opening and guided by said second plate to said second opening when said dispenser is inverted.

References Cited by the Examiner ROBERT B.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/ 1929 Smith 2223 64 X 10/ 1935 Garfein 222-364 5/1938 Smith 221288 12/1941 Roemmele 221288 6/1949 Williamson 221269 X 3/1952 Rhodes 222364 X 12/1955 Galli 222-456 5/ 1959 Sinclair 22 FOREIGN PATENTS 2/ 1947 France. 4/ 1950 France. 4/ 1920 Great Britain.

REEVES, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner.

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