Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
12S~S1~4
The present inve~tion is directed to a programmable
caddy or dispenser with a number of containers for diff-
erent types o~ items which may be required at different
periods of time .
One type of dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent
4,572,376 which describes a dial pill bo~ in the form
of a circular container with a plurality of arcuate storage
compartments separated hy radial walls , the walls forming
sectors with each sector correspondi~g to the day of a
week with storage compartments formed by sub-dividing the
radial walls by ~nnular walls . A lower rotatable circular
lid is positioned aboYe the container and has a single
radial sector storage compartme~t access opening correspond-
ing in shape to one of the sectors so that this opffning
can be positioned over one of the sectors ~ An upper
rotatable lid is positioned over the lower lid and has a
plurality of radial and circumferentially spaced arcuate
access openings corresponding in shape to a storage compar-
tment .Each of the openings i~ the upper lid correspond to
a particular time of a day so that as the upper lid is
rotated , the access openings i~ the upper and lower lid
overlap to provide access to one particular storage compar-
tment .
Another type of dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent
4,617,557 which describes a multicompartment container for
housing an individual dose of a medici~e i~ each compart-
ment . A timer means is shown for timing a desired time
period between dispensing of doses of the medicine which
timing means generates a signal at the end of a time
period to sound an alarm , A setting means is provided
for setting the desired time period . This dispenser also
includes a scanning and memory means to scan the compart-
~Z~15t~,4
ments and record whether the individual doses of medicinehave been dispensed .
An object of the present invention is to provide an
improved dispenser which is programmahle and has a numher
of containers , each container bein~ intended to hold an
amount of a particular item , the dispenser having means to
record informatio~ pertai~in~ to said item in a memory and
means to display said ir,formatior, when said container is
removed rom a closed position .
A urther ohject of the inve~tion i5 to provide a
means to record the amount of said item left in said
container , mear,s to display said amount a~d means to
charLge this amou~t by a prescrihed amour,t each time said
container is moved to or from a first position .
A further object of the irLvention is to provide means
to insert information pertai~i ng to the items ir, each of
the containers into said memory , said information being a
prescription for the items and ircludes said prescribed
amount and prescrihed times for the items , said memory
including mear,s to provide a signPl to activate an alarm
when a container is not removed from the closed position
withirL a predetermined period of time prior to a prescribed
time for that particular container .
A further object of the ir,vention is to provide
a further signal from said memory to activate a signal
device when the amount of an item left in one of the
containers is less than a predetermined amount for that
container .
A preerred embodiment o the invention consists of
a progra~mable dispenser having a number o~ openings , a
container being located in each of the openings wherein
each container is movable betwee-n a closed position and
a first position which provides access to said container ,
lZ~15t~4
the dispenser including first means to insert information
into a memory and to display this information for one of
the containers when said one container is moued away fro~
said closed position , the in~ormation including the amourt
o~ an item in said one container and a prescribed amount
for that item , a secon~ means heing provided to rev~ise
said. amourt by said prescribed amount when said one cont-
ainer is moved to or from. said first position and to
insert this revised amour,t into said memor~ .
A further embodiment of the invention is characterized
in that the irst means includes at least one activator
~or each container , the activator for said one container
operating a ~irst electrical switch when said one container
is moved away from said closed position to activate said
display , a further electrical switch being operated when
said one container is moved to said first position , said
further electrical switch activating a subtraction means which
subtracts said prescribed amount from the displayed amount
A further emhodiment is characterized in that said
subtraction means is a subtraction circuit and said further
electrical switch sets said subtraction circuit to said
prescribed amount when said one container is moved to
said first position a~d subtracts this prescribed amount
from the amount of an item left in said one container
providing a revised amount. which is inserted into said
memory .
A further embodiment is characterized in that each
container fits onto a movable slide mounted in said
dispenser which slide is movable out of and into one of the
openings as said one container is moved from said closed
position to said first position and back to said closed
- position respectively , a further activator being located
on said slide and positioned to activate said further
12~S~4
electrical switch when said one container and associated slide
is moved to or ~rom said first position .
A further embodiment i5 characterized in that a~ additi-
onal means is provided to prevent any other container being
removed from a closed position after one of the containers
has been removed from a closed position .
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is for a
container for a programmable dispenser which container includes
an upper contairLer portion. ~itted i~to a base portion in a
lC telescoping manrer 9 a ri~ on the upper part o~ the base
portio~ co-acting with a rim on the lower part of the
upper container portion to prevent said upper container portion
being separated from said base , a resilient means. being
located between said base and said upper container portio~
to press these portions apart to a limit allowed by the
rims , an activator ~or an electrical switch. being located
on said upper container portion .
A further embodime~t of said container is characterized
in. that said activator is provided on a projection extending
from a surface o~ the upper container ar~d said upper
container is movable to a limited e~tent in a direction at
right angles to the direc.tion of movement when said upper
container is pressed against said resilient means towards a
lower part of said base .
A further embodiment of said container is characterized
in that said projection is shaped to interlock with. a
surface of a recess inside the dispenser when said container
is in a closed positio~ in the dispenser and said upper
container portion is spaced apart from the lower part of
the base by the ma~imum amount allowed by the rims , said
projection being removable from said recess by pressing the
upper container portion against said resilient means towards
a lo~rer part of the base .
lZ~5~
~ nother embodiment of the invention is directed to a
keyboard for activating a display which display consists of
a number of character displays , each character display being
formed by an array of a number ~ of display elements
located in positiona so that a number of characters can he
formed by activating particular ones of the elements , the
keyhoard having N activator buttons which are arranged in
the same type of array aa the display elements and at
least one further activator button to advance the diaplay
from one character to the ne~t wherein each of the N
activator buttons activatea a corresponding display element
in their array .
The invention will now be described in more detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :
Fig. 1 shows a programmable diapenser illustrating ,
in particular , a front of the dispanaer ;
Fig. 2 shows a side view of a contai~er for a
dispenser as shown in Fig. 1 including a slide on which
the container is located ;
Fig. 3 showa a front view of the container shown in
Fig. 2 ;
Fig. 4 shows a top view of the container shown in
Fig. 2 , and
Figures 5 to 7 illustrate the positions of a
a projection on one of the containers and its interaction
with internal parta of the dispenser as a container is
removed from its closed position .
12~1S~4
An embodiment of on~ type of dispenser 1 is shown in
Fig. 1 which illustrates , in particular , a front panel ha~ing
a number of ope~ings 3 or 3' in which containers 2 or 2'
( 1 to ~) are located . The containers are fitted onto slidab-
le trays 4 or 4' which are movable from a closed positionoutwards to a position where medication in a container is
accessible . The opening 3" is shown without its assocaated
container and tray . The container 2' is shown as heing
larger than the others a~d i5 ir,tended to hold liquid
medication in a bottle whereas the other containers 2 are
intended to hold medication i~ the for~ of pills . ~his
front panel is provided with an array of push buttons or
bars 6 labelled a,b~---k~l for inserting in~or~atio~ i~to a
memory and a number of liquid crystal display panels lahel--
ed 8 or 9 are provided to displa~ this ;nformation as itis being e~tered and to display this information ohtained
from a memory whe~ required . This ~ro~t pa~el also has a~
array of push butto~s 7 for co~trol of the displays as
information is heing provided and for inserting this inform-
ation ir,to the memory .
Fig. 1 also shows a lock 10 for the dispenser anda speaker 13 located on the right side of the dispenser .
This speaker ( heeper or buzzer ) is intended to sound a~
alarm when one of the medications is not taken within a
prescribed period of time .
The array o~ huttons 6 , which are shown in this
case as bars , are prcvided so that elderly people with
limited mobility of their fingers can mora easily enter
information into the memory . The bars 6 are arranged in
the same pattern as that used in a liquid crystaL or
L~D display for a single letter or number so that when
one of the bars is activated ar, equivalent portion ( line )
of one of the display symbols is activated . Therefore , if
a person wished to display the number 6 , bars g,e,c,a,k,i
3 i~SlStj~
and d Yould be pushsd and to display the letter 1~ bars
c,eSf,h,i and k would he activated . ~nce one of the requ-
ired symbol is formed on a display , this display can be
advanced to the next symbol hy means o~ one of the push
buttons i~ array 7 . In this manner ir~formation with regard
to a particular type of medication in one of the contain-
ers can be displayed , This in~ormation can the~ be entered
into a memory by activating another one o~ the huttors in
array 7 . Ohviously a standard keyboard could be utilized
when the spacing bet~een the keys is not a li~iting factor
~or the user of t~e dicpe~ser .
Furctio~s which ca~ he controlled by the huttons in
array 7 could include a cancel hutton ~or the laat symhol
in case an error is made ar,d a button to advance the
display from , for instance , the top display panel 9 to the
other display panel 9 and similarly ~or the other display
panels 8 .
In the case where the displays 8 and 9 are activated
in a particular sequence , each of the displays shown on the
panel would be advanced in a particular order . Thus , the
name of a medication for one of the containers could be
entered an~ shown in the top display 9 , then the timea
this medication is to be taken could be e~tered a~d shown
in the other display 9 , then the amount of ~edication
placed in that container in the r.ext display 8 on the
let side of the panel a~ the display immediately belo~
could indicate the amount of medicatio~ to be taken at a
particular time . A further display 8 on the Ieft side
could display the date at which this particular container
would be empty and a refiII of the medici~e would be
required . The date when a refill is required can be
obtained from a calendar in an i~ternal memory ~ the pre-
- sent date and the amount of medication in the container
12S~4
along with t~e amount to be taken each day . The lower
display 8 on the right side of the panel could indicate
the number of days left hefore a re~ill is required for
the medication in a particular container and provide a
warning signal by a flashiri~ display when the n~m~er o~
days left is below Q predetermined amour,t ~ for instance
days . A further signal or signals such as from sEeaker
13 or a signal light could additionly he activated when
the number of days le~t is below another predetermi~ed
smaller~ amount . In this ~nn Pr , a clear i~dication is
provided for a perso~ as to whe~ a r~fill of each
medication is required an~ hy pro~idi~g a display o~ the
date by which a refill is required it is possible to
make certai~ that any of the medications which require a
new prescription would not run out hefore a next appoint-
ment with a doctor ~
A side view of one embodi~ent of a container 2 and
a slidable tray 4 is shown in Eig. 2 with Fig. 3 showing
a front view and Fig. 4 showing a top view of co~tainer
2 ~ Referring to Fig. 2 , the contai~er 2 consists of a
top container portion 20 with a lower portion 21 of
smaller dimensions joined to the top portion 20 by a step
as shown in Figures 2 and 3 . This smaller lower portion
21 is pro~ided at its bottom with an outwardly extending
flange 22 which is located inside a separate bottom part
23 and held in this botto~ 23 by an inwardly exte~ding
flange 24 o~ the top of part 23 so that the top cont-
ainer portion 20 and bottom part 23 are held together in
a telescoping manner and pre~ented from separating by rims
22 and 24 . The top container portion 20 and hottom 23
are resiliently pushed apart to the limits allowed by
rims 22 and 24 by a resilient foam plastic pad 25 loca-
ted between the botto~ of the top container portion 20
l;~S~S~
and a bottom of a recess in bottom part 23 . Any type
of resilient means could be used such as leaf springs .In
addition ~ the top portion is provided at its front surface
with a handle 27 so that the container 2 can be moved
from a closed position ir,side an opening 3 in dispenser
outwards to a position where medication in the top container
portion 20 is accessible by an user . The top container
portion 20 is shown in this case as having a removable
cover 28 and 29 for illustration purposes only . Various
types of covers could he used . Furthermore ~ the rear
sur~ace o~ the top container portion is provid~d with a
rearwardly projecting part 26 as show~ in Figures 2 and 4
whose purpose will be further explained with re~erence to
Fi~ures 5 to 7 .
The bottom part 23 of container 2 is removable
fitted into a top recess 41 of a front upper part 40
of a tray 4 which is slidable fro~ a closed positio~ in
an opening 3 in dispenser 1 outward~ to an outer position.
The outward movement of tray 4 is limited by a stop
which is not shown . The tray 4 has a central lower
guide rail 43 which slides in a lower opening 14 in the
bottom o~ opening3 as shown in ~ig. 1 . The opening 14
and guide rail 43 are shown with sloped sides so that
their upper dimensions are smaller than their lower to
prevent movement of the tray 4 in an upward direction .
The previously mentioned stop could be formed by a proje-
cting portion at the rear of guide rail 43 which abuts
against the front panel as the tray 4 is mo~ed outward .
Tne slidable tray 4 can be supported by rearwardly
extending walls located at the sides of openings 3 which
walls contain a groove in which the sides and top arAd
bottom edges of the tray 4 fits . In this case the guide
rail 43 need only extend a short distance beyond the
~i156~
depth of the container 2 while , at least , the sides o~
the tray 4 extend rearwardly a further distance ir. order
to provide the necessary support in the groo~es for the
tray as it is slid to an outer position . ~lternati~ely
the guide rail 43 could be e~tended rearwardly as shown
in Fig. 2 . In the latter case , the extended guide rail
43 is supported hy an opening ( not shown ) in a~ inter-
nal wall in the dispenser which wall is parallel to the
front panel . Preferahly the e~tensio~ of guide rail 43 is
pro~ided with top horizontal projectiors 42 on each side
to strengthen t'ne guide rail 43 in. a horizontal direction
and t.o provide a more solid hearing sur~ace in the opening
i~ the internal wall ~ These horiæontal proiection~ 42 pro~ide
a T shaped cross-sectio~ for the extended portion o~ the
guide rail 43 and the opening in the internal wall .
The purpose of projection 26 on the rear surface of
a lower part of the top portion o~ container 2 w;ll now
he explained in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 7 .
This short projection 26 has a similar shape to that of
guide rail 43 in that , i~. top view as shown in Fig. 4 ,
the projection 26 has. sloped sides so that the portion
of projection 26 most remote from container 2 has a
larger width tha~ the portior. of projection 26 which is
attached to and integral with the rear surface of the
top contairer portion 20 . An interDal wall 30 ir. the
dispenser is parallel to the front panel ard at each
opening 3 or 3' contains a forwardly projecting part 31
( see the empty opening 3" in Fig. 1 ) containing a recess
31' in which the projection 26 fits in the closed positi-
ons of the containers 2 as shown in Fig. 5 .The recess31' and projectio~s 26 ha~e similar shaped sloped sides
with the left side of recess 31' being located so that
it is perpendicular to the front panel .
~S~5~j~
~ mo~ahle panel 32 ( shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 )
is located in front of wall 30 and contains opening,s 33
which surround the projections 31 with the tops of openings
33 heing slidable along the top surface of projections 31 .
The height of openings 33 are only slightly larger than
that of proiections 31 whereas the width of openings 33 are
larger than that of projections 31 as shown in Fig. 5 .
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the position of one of the
openings 33 as an associated container 2 is moYed fro~ a
clos~d position to a position at which that container can
be re~o~ed ~ro~ the dispenser .Eig. 5 shows the w~l 30 ,
pa~el 32 and projection 26 in a horizontal cross-sectior,
~iew with the proiection 26 heing located in the recess
31' so the sloped walls of the projection 26 and recess
31' pre~ent the container 2 ~rom being mo~ed outwardly .
The opening 33 has a lower opening 34 as showr~ in Figures
6 and 7 which opening is locate~ directly helou the recess
31' when the container is in a closed position as shown
i~ Fig. 6 . By mo~ing the upper portion of the container
downwards against the resilient means 25 , the projections
26 can be lowered from the recess 31' and placed ir, the
opening 34 . The opening 34 is just wide enough to allow
the widest part of projection 26 to pass outwardly .
The projection 26 is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7
by a cross-section ~ie~ at a narrower portion of the pro-
jection identified as 26' . The le~t side of projection
31 extends downward iust to the top of opening 34 where-
as the right side of this projection extends further
do~nward , as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 , to a dist
ance where the right side wall of the recess 31' and
projection 26 can still preYent outward mo~e~ent o~ a
container 2 . By twisting the upper portion of container 2
l~SlS~
12
so that the projection 26 is moved to the left results
in the panel 32 also bein~ moved to the le~t at which
position the container can be moved outwardly . This places
at least part of the right botto~ edge of opening 33
beneath the recess 31' , the downwardly extending right side
of proiection 31 being spaced rearwardly a short distance
to allow the right edge o~ opening 34 to pass ir, ~ront
of it . This places alL of, the openings, 33 in, positions
beneath the recesses 31' which blocks and pre~ents ar~y o~'
the other containers fr,om being removed _ As the container
which is located in the ~eft position ( see Fig. 7 ) is
pulled outwardly , the le~t side o~ proiec:tio~ 26 pushes
against the le~t sid~ of openin~ ~4 to move the panel 32
further to the left at whic.h position it- is held by a
detent ~eans which is only generally ilIustrated in Eig~ 1
by a lea~ spring 15 with, a cam surface 16 which can fit
into a notch 17 in the top surface on panel 32 . The
- panel 32 is held in. its e~treme right position by another
notch 17' . ~his downward and twisting mo~emer.,t o~ the top
portion,, of container 2 pro~ides a mov~eme~t which makes it
difficult for children to remove a co~tainer ~
A reed switch, 18 located in the projection 31 co-op-
erates with a~ activater magnet 18' in the proiection 26 so
that as projection 26 is removed from recess 31' , this act-
ivates switch 18 to retriev.e and display data from a m.emory(R~M) with re~ard to the medication ir, that particular cont-
ainer . Preferably , the switch 18 activates a ROM which acce-
sses specific locations in the RAM to ob,tain the data for
the display and during insertion of the data directs data
to those locations when that container has been removed from
its closed position . The data obtained ~rom the R~M also
contains the amount of medication to be taken ( 1 or 2
pills ) and resetts a subtraction circuit to that amount .
13 ~;Z515~4
A further reed switch 19 is located in the front
panel and co-operatas with an activator magnet 19' in the
rail 43 . ~fter th0 downward and twisting movement of. the
top portion o~ container 2 , the container 2 and slide 4
are pulled outwardly so that the medication in that cont-
ainer is accessihle . This outward movement of the tray 4
activates switch 19 ,. by magnet 19' , which acti~ates the
suhtractor circuit to subtract t~e amou~t to which this
subtractor circuit is set from the. amount o~ ~edicatio~ i~
that container . This provides a revised amount which is
entered into the P~. either by switch 19 or 18 as the
co~tai~er 2 is returned to its closed position . The return
of container 2 to its closed position is accomplished by
the reverse mo~ements previousl.~ described .
The arrangements and locations of switches 18 and 19
ar,d activator mag~ets. ca~ be i~ other locations tha~ those
show~ and , furthermore , the use of reed switches is for
only a preferred embodiment . Other types of electrical
switches could be used .In addition , the front panel , internal
wall 30 and proiections 31 can be molded in one piece by
forming rectangular shaped recesses e~tending rearwardly from
the front panel at the locations of openings 3 (3') with
openings provided in the rear and bottom as well as the
sides of these recesses for the guide rail 43 and movable
panel 32 . The panel 32 can then have an additional opening
extending upwardly and outwardly from opening 33 and surroun~
the molded recess with the top of the additional opening
sliding in a groove along the top surface of the molded
recess .
A simpler embodiment of the embodiment already described
could be used such as one where the twisting movement of
the top contai~er portion is dispensed with . In this case ,
15~
14
the projection 26 is only moved downwardly and has a wedge
shaped bottom cam sur~ace with a vertical right edge which
fits into a similar wedge shaped recess in the movable
panel 32 as the projectior. 26 is moved downwardly . This
would again move the panel 32 to the let ~o bl~ck the
removal of any other container . Furthermore , this projection
26 could be extended rearwardly and the extension provided
with a cam surface which would hold the parel 32 in its
left position as the tray 4 is pulled outwardly . This type
of design would eliminate the need for the deter,t means 15
to 17 described for the pre~ious e~bodi~e~t . ~owever , it
would necessitate an additionaL opening heing prese~t in the
inner wall 30 for the extension of 26 and uould require
proiectior~ on the top portion 20 of cor,tainer 2 which
would slid ir, grooves ir, side walls of the moulded recess
for container 2 in order to hold the top portior, in its
lower position in the base 23 as the tray 4 is pulled
outwardly . This latter item is a feature which is aLso
preferred for the perviously described embodime~t .
In this last embodime~t , a mechanical lock 10 car. be
provided in the top sur~ace of the dispenser 1 which
consists of a rod projectir,g downwardly with a wedge shaped
cam bottom , similar to that for proiection 26 , which fits
into a wedge shaped recess in the top of movable panel
32 to hold this panel in its left position . ~hen the lock
is unlocked , the wedge shaped cam bottom is removed
from the recess and the panel can then be moved to the
right ~y a spring means which is not shown . This would
then place the panel 32 in a position where one of the
containers 2 can be removed from its closed position . ~n
electrical type lock could also be used which is operated
by using a particular combination of butto~s in arrays 6
a~d 7 .
~lS~j~
A similar electro-mech~ical lock is preferred for a
dispenser which is intended for hospital use , one which is
activated by a magnetically or optical card which can be
carried by nurses . The lock 10 can then consist o~ a
reader for this er,coded card . As a result , the dispenser
ca~ only be operated by designate~ people and , ~hen the
R~ is a magretic tape , the time , medication used and
person operating the dispenser ca~ he recorded on a separate
trac~ on the magnetic tape for a period of time such as
24 hours . In this manner , any errors in the dosage given
to a patient ca~ ~e verified .
Although these dispensers have been designed to discour-
age the removal of more than one container at a time , it
is still possible to remove 2 of the containers if their
top portions are moved downward at the same time . Therefore ,
it is desirable that the last activated reed switch 18
clears the display and presents the display for the contain-
er associated with this last activated switch 18 . The inform-
ation for other containers which are not in their closed
positions at this time is retained. in a memory for further
processin~ . I~ order to prevent one of the containers being
re-located on a wrong tray , the base 23 can be provided
with a projection 47 which fits into a corresponding opening
48 in the upper portion. 40 o~ tray 4 . Each tray 4 has
an opening 48 w~ich is located at a diferent position fro~
that of the other trays . This is illustrated by openings 48'
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 . For ease of manu~acture ,
the bases 23 can be provided with all the projections and
then these can be removed , with the exception of the single
required projection for that container , by grinding .
? ~ D S~
The embodiments prcviGu~lc described have shown containers
2 which are removable ~rom trays 4 for ease of cleaning .
~owever , the containers 2 and trays 4 may be assembled as
12S15~4
one item . In this case , the base 23 and the upper part
of a tray 4 are formed as a single inseparable unit
The embodiments already described have used two reed
switches and two activator magnets ~ However , by locatinO a
magnet in a projection on a side of top portion 20 which
slides in a groove in one of the side walls of the molded
recess for contai~er 2 , then a single activator magnet can
be used to ac.tivate two reed switches ~hich ara approiately
spaced adjacent a surface of this groov~e . In this case , the
projections 26 , 31 and recesses 31' can be replaced by an
upward extension on the. projection o~ the side o~ top por-
tion. 20 and hy a ~er,tical recess located at the rear of
the groove in which this upward extension is loc~ted when
a container is in. its closed position _
With regard to the dispenser 2' which is intended for
liquid medication in a bottle , the amour,t of liquid medica-
tion in. that bottle and total number of dosages could
originally be calculated . The calculated amount , total number
of dosages , left in the bottle can be checked each time
this container is removed by a weight scale ( piezoelectric )
in the base of container 2' ~
~ n additional feature which, may he incorporated in
these types of dispensers is an automatic: telephone call to
a friend's telepho~e or crises center if a particular critical
type of ~edication is not taken with;n a predetermined period
of time . These dispensers may also have an access code
which can be carried by a person. along with their telephone
number on a medic-alert bracelet so that information for the
type of medication which is taken by that person can he
obtained in the cafie of an accidient .
