Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ . ~
4~ 6
' ~ This application lS directed to improvements over the
, ~
.
medicine dispensers and methods disclosed in my U.S. Patents
3,537,422, issued November 3, 1970 and 3,618,559, issued November 9,
1971; the latter being a division of the former.
With the poliferation of new and different types of medi-
i~ cines to be taken by patients at definite different prescribed
times, the need for taking the correct medicine at the correct
~; time, in many cases, has become just as important as the medicine
~i itself. The dispensing method disclosed in my prior U.S. patents,
identified above, has fulfilled the need in providing programmeddispensing of medicines that can be used by the patient without
supervision from a physician or nurse. According to this method,
-~ medicines are prearranted in a portable, easy to use, dispenser
according to the time in which the medicines should be taken as
prescribed by a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
The present invention improves the method and structure
by which the medicines are charged into the dispenser and stored
s~ there in a highly efficient and sanitary manner. To this end, the
present invention provides improved dispenser structure and meth-
3 20 ods by which medicines can be inserted and stored in a dispenser
in an organized, programmed manner which is highly sanitary as well
i as efficient.
;,..... .
Included herein is the provision of an improved medicine
dispenser case and associated tray received therein whi¢h can be
~.1 ..
utilized to dispense medicine in accordance with the latter objects
as well as the methods disclosed, for example, in my U.S. patent
3,618,559, identified above.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a disposable tray insert which can be filled by a doctor or
.... . , . ;
. , .
6~;6
pharmacist with the prescribed dosage in prearranged positions to
be taken by a patient according to the precise prescribed times,
and which ins-ert can be easily placed into a dispenser case by the
patient and used until exhausted of its medicine contents at which
time the insert can be discarded a~d replaced by another insert
containing the proper dosage for the next weekly period or another
sui.table period.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
such a tray insert whose medicine contents are sealed for sanitary
purposes prior to insertion into an associated dispenser case.
Included herein is such a tray insert that is automatically unsealed
or opened for dispensing its contents, upon placement o~ the tray . .
insert înto the ass:oci.ated dispenser case. .:
In summary, the preferred embodiment of the present inven- .
tion includes a medicine or dosage tray and a disposable tray insert
havîng medicine compartments or receptacles corresponding to the
times each day when the medicine contents thereof are to be taken
over the course of a period, such as a week. The tray insert may -
be charged by a pharmacist or doctor or the patient himsel~, a~ter .
whîch it îs inserted into the ass:ociated tray, after which the tray
with the tray insert therein is inserted into a box-like dispenser ;
case.
The tray and its insert are designed so that the insert ..
can only be inserted in the tray in the proper position, that is,
with the medicine arranged according to the prescribed time the
medicine is to be taken. To this end, the tray iæ provided with
. .
a pluralîty of positioning elements or stops that are to be received
between th.e insert compartments to properly position the insert in
:: the support tray. Once the insert is positioned in the tray, the
~, , .
, . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . .
-
- 10~6466
..:;
'~ tray can only be inserted in the dispenser case in the correct
' position.
,~ The dispenser case which'receives the tray with its
insert, has a plurality of transparent cover slats or strips which
are movable from a closed position closing the tray insert compart-
ments to an open position to expose any of the compartments to per-
mit the'ir contents to be taken by the patient.
- In one preferred embodiment of the' invention, the tray ' '
,, insert is provided with a sealing cover that is placed over its ,~
, 10 medicine compartments ater they are filled with medicine, for
~ example, by a pharmacist. When the tray with its insert are in- '
-' serted into the case, the sealing cover is automatically stripped ~ -
- from the tray insert to expose the medicines in the insert com-
', partments for dispensing when the overlying cover strips of the
~ 15 case are moved to open position.
c` Other features~, objects and advantages of the present
'`, invention will become apparent from the following more detailed
description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in
,,, which,~
.. .~
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an improved medicine dis- --`
~, 20, penser embodying the present invention and shown with one of its
'~ cover strips in an open position;
,~ Fig. 2 is a plan view of the dispenser of Fig. l;
, Fig. 3 is a cross-se¢tional view taken generally along
', li,nes 3--3 of Fig. 2;
- Fig. 4 is a cross-s,ectional view taken generally along
lines 4--4 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the dispenser
.:. ,
'' parts with'certain omissions, illustrating how the parts are
. . ,
,. ,
466
assembled;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a tray insert with a
sealing cover ~shown partially ren~oved) in accordance with a pre-
ferred modification of the invention;
Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken general-
ly along lines 7--7 of Fig. 6 but with the sealing cover in proper
position closing all of the medicine compartments of the tray in
sert;
Fig. 8 is an enl-arged cross-sectional view taken general-
. - :
- 10 ly along lines 8--8 of Fig. 6;
Fig. 9 is an elevational, assembly view in cross section
illustrating how the preferred tray insert of Fig. 8 is installed
in the tray which is positioned to be inserted in the case, the
; latter being shown in fragment; and
Figs. 10 and 11 are elevational views similar to Fig. 9
... ; ,
showing sequential stages of insertion of the tray with its insert
into the case and removal of the sealing cover from the tray insert.
f,'~ Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially
.. . .
-~ Figs. 1 and 5, there is shown, for illustrative purposes only, an -
:.,
improved medi¢ine dispenser generally designated 6 (Fig. 1) embody-
` ing the present invention. As shown in Fig. 5, the dispenser in-
cludes three basic parts, namely, a case generally designated 8, a
tray generally designated 40 receivable in the case, and a tray
insert generally designated 50 receivable in the tray.
. , .
Case 8 includes a base 11 which is rectangular in the
`~ shown embodiment, and opposite side walls 12 and 14 and one end
.: .
wall 11 upstanding from the base with the opposite end of the case
being open for receiving the tray 40 as will be described. On
side wall 12, 14 and end wall 11, is a top including opposite end
, .
- 4 -
,:, .
., :
: ~ .
1~ 4~
,.
pieces 16 joined by side pieces 20. Extending between side pieces
20 in parallel to the end pieces 16,'~are'a plurality of ribs 18
having a generally T-shaped cross section de~ining recesses 22 for
slidably receiving and guiding transparent cover slats or strips
3Q to be described further beIow. Extending transversely of ribs ,
- 18 throughout the top of the case are a plurality of support ribs
` 24 for supporting transparent cover strips 30 for sliding movement
'~ in recesses 22. Parts of the case including the base, side walls,
' end wall and top may be formed from any suitable material, prefer-
'" 10 ably plastic with'the parts being individually formed and joined
together, such as by bonding. Of course, other materials and con-
, structions may be employed.
,` It will be seen that the top of case 8 forms a rectangu-
~ lar grid pattern defining a plurality of rows of apertures which,
. -
, in the specific embodiment, are seven rows corresponding to seven
days in a week with four apertures in each row corresponding to
'' four times a day for the taking of medicines from the dispenser as
will be further described. It is preferred that the top of the
! case be provided with indicia of the days of the week on the side
'' 20 piece 20 and the different dosage times of each day on the end
pieces 16, as shown in Fig. 2. It is also preferred that braille
b be applied at these areas for blind people. In addition, it is
" preferred that numerals 1, 2,3'and ~ be placed along the top of
,~ ribs 18, as ~hcwn in Fig. 2 to indicate the sequence of the dosage
,' time during each day.
As noted above, a plurality of transparent cover strips
3Q in the'form of flat elongated, rectangular pieces are slidably
,', received for slidable movement in reces'ses 22 formed by ribs 18 of
the case top. There are seven cover strips 30 corresponding to the
~ 5 ~
: -; - .
~0~6~66
- seven days of the week and the seven rows in the top of the case.
In order to control the opening and closing of the apertures in the
top of the case, stop elements in the form of projections 38 are
formed on the under side of the cover strips 30 to be engageable
with support ribs 24 to provide engagement to inhibit movement of
the strips in the top of the case. In addition, an elongated stop
36 is provided to project from the underside of strips 30; the
length of stop 36 being approximatelv equal to the length of an
aperture in the top wall of the case. Projections 36 and 38 con-
trol movement of the cover strips 30 during ~pening and closing of
. . .
an aperture in the top of the case. Furthermore, once the aperture
is open, stops 36 and 38 are located between and are engageable
with ribs 24 to prevent further accidental movement of the strips
30 during dispensing of the contents. Cover strips 30 are made -~
from transparent material, preferably plastic. In addition, it is
preferred that the ends of strips 30 be formed with finger recesses
32 and flanges 34 (see Fig. 1) to facilitate handling.
As best shown in Fig. 5, tray 40 includes a base 41 shown
as rectangular, upstanding side walls 40 and 42 and end walls 46
and 48 defining an open-top box~ e structure dimensioned to be
slidably received in case 8 through the open end thereof. During
insertion in the case, end 46 of tray 40 leads the opposite end 48
which is provided with a pair of laterally projecting flanges 48a
which engage the side walls 12 of the case at the open end when
the tray is fully inserted. The length of tray end wall 48, in-
cluding flanges 48a is such that end 48 cannot be inserted in the
opening of the ¢ase. Thus, tray 40 can only be inserted in the i~
i . .. .
case in the~proper position. In order to provide a square fit
without any projecting edges, base 11 of the case projects slightly
,,, ';; ' .
6 --
~, .
~ . . . . .
~, . ~ . , . , . . ~
- 10~6~;
at lla from the adjacent end walls 12 of the case to provide a
;~" ledge which receives end wall 48 of tray 40. If desired, any one
, .
of the side or end walls, such as side wall 44 may be provided with
- a recess 48 to xeceive labeLing material, or other information.
he medicine which ma~ be in tablet, pill or capsule form
is held in a plurality of compartments which, in the preferred em-
, .
bodiment, are formed in the tray insert generally designated 50.
Preferably, tray insert 50 is manufactured so as to be disposable
.; after a week's dosage and to this end, it may be formed from a one-
...... .
piece molded plastic, including opposite marginal side flanges 54
X and 56 and end flanges 60 and 62 wlth a plurality of depending com-
~ partments each formed by walls 52 and 52a and bottom wall 52b for
.:,
receiving the medicine. Since in the preferred embodiment shown,
the dispenser is for use over a week's period, there are seven rows
of compartments in the insert tray 50 corresponding to the seven
days in the week. Similarly, each row includes four compartments.
The dimensions of tray insert 50 and its compartments
are designed so that tray insext-50 can only be inserted in the
proper position within tray 40; that is, with the first row (on
the left as viewed in Fig. 5) located adjacent end wall 46 of the
~, ,
tray. To this end, base 41 of tray 40 is provided with position- -~
ing means in the form of a plurality of studs 53 fixed to and pro-
` jecting upwardly therefrom to be received in the spaces 53a ~see
. . .
Fig. 5) between the rows of compartments in tray insert 50. In
addition, base 41 of the tray is provided with one or more elongated
.;
flanges 50 which, in the shown embodiment, extend throughout the
longitudinal extent of base 41 so as to be receivable in the spaces
62 between the compartments in each of the rows. Although only one
set of studs 53 and flanges 50 are shown, it will be understood
.,
~ -- 7 --
.,
. .
,.,-:, , ,' ~ ' :
. ..
.,
: ~46~66
that a plurality of sets of flanges and studs may be employed
; throughout the base 41 of the tray 40. Tray insert 50, including
its compartments is designed relati.ve to tray 40 and the position-
ing studs 53 and flange 50'such that should tray insert 50 be in-
serted in improper position in the tray 40, tray insert 50 will
not become seated against tray base 41 but rather studs 53 and :'
.~ flange 5Q will engage against the bottoms 52b of the tray insert
compartments to prevent proper seating. This will inform the
patient to reverse tray insert.5a to permit the positioning studs
53 to be received in spaces 53a between the tray insert compart-
`' ments and similarly to permi.t flange 50 to be received in space 62
between the insert compartments. When tray insert 50 is properly
' seated within tray 40, not only will the studs 53 and flange 50 be
; properly located, but furthermore the marginal flanges 54, 56, 58
and 60 of tray insert 5Q will lie f.lush with the upper edges of the
side and end.walls 40, 42, 46, 48 of tray 40. If, on the other ;~:
. . ,
hand, tray insert 50 is not properl~ positioned, not only will posi- :.
-~ tioning studs 53 and flange'50 indicate this, but furthermore mar- ~
ginal flanges 54, 56, 58 and 60 will not lie flush with the upper ~. :
' 2Q. edges of.the tray. ;.
The correct position of tray insert 50 relative to tray
40 is illustrated in Fig. 5 where the widest marginal flange 54 is ' '
; posi.tioned to overlie si:de wall 42 of tray 41. The arrows indicated
in the'bottom of Fig. 5 indicate'how tray insert 50 is lowered into :~
tray 40 in proper position. When in this position, each of the com-
partments of tray insert.50 wiill correspond in.position to the
apertures in the top o~ case 8 so that when tray 40 with its insert
50 is inserted in case 8, each of the tray insert compartments will
be:positioned di.rectly below the apertures in the top of the case.
. -- 8 --
.
~. . . . . . . .
.: . . . . .
~6~66
Starting from the left as viewed in Fig. 5, the first row of four
compartments will correspond to Sunday, the second row to ~onday,
the third row to Tuesday and so on through Saturday, completing
~- ~he period of a week. The four compartments in each row correspond
^ i
to four different times during the day that the pills are to be
~aken. These four times could correspond to morning, noon, after-
noon and evening and the times may be indicated on the top pieces
16 and 18 of the case, as shown in Fig. 2 and described above.
When the week's dosage of medicine has been taken, the
patient may remove tray 40 by pushing end wall 46 thereof through
aperture 14a formed in end wall 14 of the case as shown in Fig. 1.
Tray insert 50 may then be removed and discarded or may be replen-
ished with medicines for the next week. If tray insert 50 is dis-
carded, the patient may obtain another one from his doctor or phar-
macist. Moreover, the doctor or pharmacist may fill the tray in-
sert 5Q with the proper medicine to be taken at the prescribed
times throughout the course of a week. In order to aid the person
filling the tray insert with a new week'~s supply of medicine, it is
preferred that the tray insert be suitably marked. For example/
i 20 the bottoms 52b of the first row on the left (Sunday) are with the
indicia 1, 2, 3 and 4. In this instance, numeral 1 would indicate
:
that the time for taking the medicine from that compartment would
~, ,
be in the morning or the first time period for the given day, the
numeral 2 would indicate noon, 3 afternoon and 4 evening. Through
this indicia, the person filling the tray will know how to hold the
tray and which rows correspond to which day in the week and which
compartments withln each row correspond to the proper time period
for that day. In addition, through usage, the person filling the
tray will recognize that the wider marginal flange 54 of tray
.,"~ ,
, _ g _
:...................................................................... '
. . . . . .
,,~
:, ,:
: ^
~0~6466
insert 50 should be at the head or top thereof when the tray insert
is in the proper position. Of course, any other indicia may be
used to indicate which compartments rows correspond to a day in the
week and which compartment in each row corresponds to a daily dosage
time.
- After the tray insert 50 is replenished with another
week's dosage, it is positioned in tray 40 with the positioning
stops 53 and flange 50 located between the compartments of the tray
insext; and then tray 40 is inserted into the case to complete the
charging of the case. When the dispenser is not being used, all
of the cover strips 30 will, of course, be in closed position,
that is, covering all of the medicine compartments in the associated
row. When it is desired to dispense medicine from any of the com-
. .
partments, the particular cover strip 30 is slid along recesses 22
~; to open the desired compartment. After the medicine is dispensed
from that compartment, the cover strip 30 is returned to closed
; I .
position, closing all of the compartments.
i; RefQrring to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, there is shown a preferred
.. .
.:i
modification of the present invention wherein a sealing cover 70having a generally rectangular configuration conforming to the
generally rectangular configuration of the tray insert 50 is uti-
lized to seal the medicine in the tray insert compartments after
the compartments are initially charged with medicine and prior to
the time that the tray insert is inserted into the dispenser case.
In the particular embodiment shown, sealing cover 70 is a sheet
member made from a suitable seIf-supporting material, such as
plastic, and having inturned side edges 80 to be receivable about
the marginal flange portions 54 and 56 of the tray insert 50 as
shown in ~ig. 8. In addition, one end of sealing cover 70 i5 .'
-- 1 0
, ~ .
'`;, ' . , ' . ' '
~0~;46~i
; formed with inturned portions 76 which.may extend continuously
across sealing cover 70 or may rllerely be one or two individual in-
turned portiQns 76 receivable ab:o.ut marginal flange 60 of tray in-
sert 5Q as shown in Fig. 7.
~- However, the opposite encL of sealing cover 70 is formed
wi.th. an offset portion 72 located below the main plane of sealing
cover 70 so as to be receivable below the top piece 16 of the case
during insertion of the tray into the case. Fig. 6 shows sealing
cover 7Q only partially positioned on the tray insert 50 for pur-
poses of illustration. However, after tray insert 50 is charged
with a week's dosage of medicine, sealing cover 70 is placed on tray
insert 50 to completely close all of the compartments, for example,
as shbwn in FigO 7. In this way, the medicine is kept in sealed
and sanitary condition until it-is safely charged into the dispen-
ser case.
After tray insert 50 is provided with a sealing cover 70,
it is lowered into tray 4Q as indicated by the arrows in the right-
hand side of Fig. 9. Tray 40 with. insert 50 therein is then intro- .:
duced in the open end of case 8 and with the offset portion 72 of
sealing cover 70.received beIow top piece 16 of the case, as shown
in Fig. lO. Because o~ offset portion 72 on sealing cover 70, a
lip or ridge 72a is formed along the leading end of sealing cover
70.which enga~es top piece 16 of the dispenser case as shown in
Fig. lO so that as the tray 40 is pushed into the case, sealing
cover 70 will be prevented from moving into the case with tray 40
by means of top end piece 16 of the case. Thus, sealing cover 70
!
. will be:stri.pped from the top of tray insert 40.as the tray is
being inserted in the case. When the tray is fully inserted,
cover 70 will have been completely separated from the tray ins~rt
- 11-
.. . . . ... . ..
;. ~046~66
50 as shown in Fig. ll. It is preferred that sealing cover 70 be
. made from a suitable plastic mater:ial. Also, it is preferred that
the plastic material be susceptible to printing or writing so that
the prescription may be written or printed directly on the sealing
cover by the pharmacist or physician. However, a thin label may
- also be attached to the sealing cover with the prescription written
on the label. of course, any other suitable material may be
. employed for the sealing cover 70.
Although one specific sealing cover 70 has been shown
.`. 10 and described, others may be employed, for example, thin sheet ~;
. material with adhesive along the marginal edges adhering to the
peripheral flange portions of the tray insert in a manner which
; may be disrupted by pressure imposed against lip 72 of the seal-
ing cover 70 during insertion of tray 40 into the case 8, as de-
~ scribed above. It is also contemplated that a sealing cover may
.: be employed which may be stripped from the tray insert 50 by hand,
that is, prior to insertion of the tray 40 in the case.
. .
"''
:~'.', . ',.
,~, '.
."..................................................................... .
.~ , .
,~.
- 12 -
"
