Dispensers for medication tablets are generally known in the art. People taking medication on a regular basis (for example, daily or weekly) often use dispensers to organize and store the tablets until they are used. There are various configurations of tablet dispensers, each generally designed to hold a sufficient number of tablets for a desired medication period. For example, a dispenser may be configured to hold a one month supply of tablets and be arranged so that each tablet is stored in, and accessible from, an individual compartment. Alternatively, a tablet dispenser might hold a supply of tablets in one large compartment (enough for one month, for example) or several compartments (enough for a week in each compartment), and release one tablet at a time as necessary. A tablet dispenser may also be capable of holding more than one type of tablet, and be capable of dispensing one or multiple types of those tablets in regular or semi-regular intervals. An exhaustive list of the numerous types of tablet dispensers is omitted here for convenience only, and should not be considered limiting.
Tablet dispensers generally known in the art are also designed to be child resistant, to discourage children from opening the dispenser and gaining access to the medication. Child resistant features generally focus on making it difficult for the child to remove the cap covering the medication dispenser. Dispensers and containers are made child resistant in a variety of ways, including snap tabs, squeeze tabs and rotatable push lids. The particular type of child resistant mechanism used on a given tablet dispenser usually depends on the exact form and function of the tablet dispenser itself. Thus, there are numerous tablet dispensers having child resistant features which are generally known in the art, which are eliminated here for convenience only, and should not be considered limiting.
Tablets are often sold and distributed in blister packs containing individual sealed compartments. Each individual compartment usually contains one tablet sealed therein by a thin membrane (such as foil or cellophane). To remove the tablet from the blister pack, the consumer must push hard enough on the compartment to break the membrane and force the tablet through, into the consumer's hand. Blister packs are popular with consumers since they allow visual inspection of the remaining tablets. Evidence of tampering can be easily observed since each compartment is individually sealed and obviously broken open upon use.
Blister packs have been used in combination with tablet dispensers, by inserting a blister pack into a dispenser designed to correspondingly receive blister packs containing a particular number of tablets. The blister pack's individual compartments usually fit into tablet holes in the tablet dispenser. Even if a particular blister pack is too large to fit into a tablet dispenser, a blister pack is usually made of material which can be easily trimmed to reduce the number of tablet compartments in the blister back to correspond to the number of tablet holes in the tablet dispenser.
The goal of tablet dispensers in any of the numerous configurations known in the art is to enable the consumer to more easily organize, dispense and remember to use the medication as required. To this end, tablet dispensers usually have organizational labeling on the container to help remind the consumer when to take the next tablet. For example, a daily dispenser organizing the tablets into individual compartments might label those compartments with days of the week so the consumer knows to take the tablet(s) in that compartment on the specified day. However, despite the organizational and dispensing capabilities of tablet dispensers, the consumer must himself still remember to dispense and take the tablets. The tablet dispensers known in the art do not provide for a reliable way of actively reminding the consumer when to take the next dose of medication.
Accordingly, the present invention incorporates the features of tablet dispensers, blister packs and child resistant features generally known in the art with an alarm unit which makes it easier for consumers to remember to take their medication by actively alerting the consumer to dispense a tablet at the next prescribed dosage time.
Briefly stated, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a tablet dispenser includes a housing formed by first and second shells defining a cavity therebetween. A blister tray configured to receive a plurality of tablets therein is rotatably attached to the housing. The blister tray is moveable between a closed position in which the blister tray is releasably contained within the cavity, and an open position in which at least a portion of the blister tray extends out of the cavity. An alarm unit activates at least one alert signal upon completion of a cycle period. The alarm unit is reset after the blister tray is accessed to dispense at least one tablet.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, a tablet dispenser includes a housing formed by first and second shells defining a cavity therebetween. The cavity is configured for receiving one or more tablets therein. The second shell is rotatably attached to the first shell and is moveable between an open position in which at least a portion of the cavity is accessible, and a closed position in which the second shell closes the cavity and is releasably secured to the first shell. An alarm unit activates at least one alert signal upon completion of a cycle period. The alarm unit is reset after the cavity is accessed to dispense at least one tablet.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method of dispensing one or more tablets from a tablet dispenser having a housing, a blister tray rotatably attached to the housing and a cavity for receiving a blister tray therein, includes storing the tablets in the blister tray and releasably closing the blister tray within the cavity. An alarm unit is set for a cycle period corresponding to the time between prescribed doses of the tablets. The method further includes activating at least one alert signal upon completion of the cycle period. The blister tray is accessed to dispense at least one tablet, and the alarm unit is reset for the cycle period. The method repeats the steps of activating the alert signal, accessing the blister tray and resetting the alarm unit for a medication period.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
In the drawings:
Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the tablet dispenser and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
The present invention provides a tablet dispenser which actively reminds the consumer to dispense the next tablet from the dispenser after each cycle period, while still maintaining a compact design. The tablet dispenser of the present invention is designed to be used for one medication period only, and disposed of after all of the tablets have been dispensed. As used herein, the term “medication period” refers to the total length of time to use a prescribed number of tablets. The term “cycle period” refers to the amount of time between individual prescribed doses of tablets within a medication period.
Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in
The tablet dispenser 10 further includes a blister tray 12 for receiving a blister pack (not shown) containing a plurality of tablets therein. Blister packs are generally known in the art, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here for convenience only and should not be considered limiting. The blister tray 12 includes a series of tablet holes 14 which complimentarily receive the individual tablet compartments of the blister pack. The tablet dispenser 10 shown in
The blister pack is preferably attached to the back side (not shown) of the blister tray 12, such that the individual compartments containing each of the tablets in the blister pack project upwardly through the tablet holes 14, and are seen on the front face 13 of the blister tray 12. The blister pack is securely attached to the backside of the blister tray 12 in any child resistant manner commonly understood by those skilled in the art. Since the tablet dispenser 10 is disposable, and is not to be used beyond the initial medication period, there is thus no need to affix the blister pack to the blister tray 12 in a manner which allows the blister pack to be easily removed from the blister tray 12. Additionally, depending on the medication, government regulations require that the blister pack be non-removably attached to the blister tray 12. Thus, the blister pack is attached to the blister tray 12 by bonding, snap fitting, being secured to projections extending from the backside of the blister tray 12, or any other manner known to those skilled in the art. To the extent that the blister pack is more strongly secured to the backside of the blister tray 12, a more effective child resistant tablet dispenser 10 is achieved.
The blister tray 12 is rotatably attached to the housing 18 between the first and second shells 19, 21 by a hinge 22 located in the upper right corner of the housing 18. The blister tray 12 is preferably sized such that, when a blister pack is inserted therein, the blister tray 12 may be received within the housing 18, and rotated into the cavity of the housing 18 through the opening 25. The blister tray 12 rotates on the hinge 22, such that the blister tray 12 moves between a closed position (see
A hook 16 projects from the blister tray 12 as shown in
As shown in
The alarm unit 24 includes a visual alert device 26 for providing a visual alert signal to the consumer and/or an audible alert device 28 for providing an audible alert signal to the consumer. Activation of either of the alert devices 26, 28 indicates that it is time to dispense the next tablet. The visual alert device 26 is preferably an LED which lights and/or blinks when it is activated by the alarm unit 24. The visual alert device 26 projects through the top half 19 of the housing 18, so that the consumer may be informed by a visual alert signal from the alarm unit 24 that the cycle period has expired. The audible alert device 28 is preferably a piezo-electric horn which sounds and/or beeps when activated by the alarm unit 24. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the alert devices 26, 28 may be any electrical components capable of performing similar visual and audible alert functions, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the alarm unit 24 may include any number and/or combination of alert devices for providing one or more alert signals to the consumer.
A timer reset contact 30, located on the perimeter of the alarm unit 24, is used to reset the alarm unit 24 after the blister tray 12 has been accessed to dispense one or more tablets. When the blister tray 12 is in the closed position, a switch projection 17 on the cut out 15 engages the timer reset contact 30 on the alarm unit 24. Contact between the switch projection 17 and the timer reset contact 30 occurs when the blister tray 12 is in the closed position. The location of the switch projection 17 and timer reset contact 30 may vary depending on the precise location of the alarm unit 24 and cut out 15.
A battery 32 provides power to the alarm unit 24 and is preferably located in the blister tray 12, although it may be located in or on the housing 18. The battery 32 is preferably powerful enough to power to the alarm unit 24 for the duration of the medication period. Stated differently, the battery 32 should have enough power to operate the alarm unit 24 for the time of one cycle period multiplied by the number of tablets to be dispensed. The battery 32 preferably provides power to the alarm unit 24 through wire connections irregardless of the location of the battery 32 and the alarm unit 24.
During assembly, a blister pack, containing a number of tablets no greater than the number of tablet holes 14 in the blister tray 12, but having enough tablets to complete the medication period, is loaded and secured in a child resistant manner to the blister tray 12. The tablets in the blister pack are dispensed by the consumer at regular intervals, according to the prescribed dosage. The cycle period (i.e., the time between each tablet delivery) is preset at the factory or by the pharmacist, and preferably cannot be adjusted by the consumer. To complete assembly, the blister tray 12 is rotated into the closed position in the housing 18 and locked in place by engagement of the hook latch 23 with the housing 18 and the target tab 20 with the blister tray 12.
To dispense a tablet, the consumer unlocks the blister tray 12 by simultaneously depressing the hook 16 and the target tab 20, and rotating the blister tray 12 into the open position. The contact projection 17 is thus disengaged from the timer reset contact 30. The consumer then dispenses a tablet from the blister pack by pushing on an individual compartment of the blister pack in the blister tray 12 to break the membrane holding the tablet in the blister pack.
After dispensing a tablet, the blister tray 12 is rotated back into the closed position in the housing 18. As the cut out 15 on the blister tray 12 engages the alarm unit 24, the contact projection 17 contacts the timer reset contact 30 and resets the alarm unit 24. The alarm unit 24 then begins to wait for the next cycle period to expire before alerting the consumer to dispense the next tablet. When the cycle period elapses, the alarm unit 24 alerts the consumer by activating one or more alert signals through the visual alert device 26 and/or the audible alert device 28.
Whenever the blister tray 12 is opened and subsequently re-closed in response to an alert signal from the alarm unit 24, the alarm unit 24 is reset. This process repeats for each cycle period until the end of the medication period, when all of the tablets have been dispensed. If, however, the blister tray 12 is opened prematurely (before expiration of a given cycle period), the alarm unit 24 does not reset, but rather continues to wait until the cycle period has fully elapsed, at which point the alarm unit 24 alerts the consumer as described above. Thus, the alarm unit 24 is resettable only after expiration of a cycle period.
Referring to the schematic block diagram of
The activation timers 38, 39 generate individual alert signals using the visual alert device 26 and the audible alert device 28, respectively. The activation timers 38, 39 each have a pre-set activation period, for which the respective alert signals using the respective alert device 26, 28 are activated. The activation period for the two activation timers 38, 39 need not be equal. Accordingly, the visual alert device 26 and audible alert device 28 may be active for different lengths of time depending on the pre-set activation periods of the activation timers 38, 39. When the activation timers 38, 39 are activated, as indicated to the consumer by activation of the alert devices 26, 28, the consumer knows that it is time to open the tablet dispenser 10 and dispense the next tablet from the blister pack.
The activation timers 38, 39 each send enabling signals to short interval timers 40, 41, respectively, for the duration of their activation periods. Each short interval timer 40, 41 is connected to the visual alert device 26 and the audio alert device 28, respectively. Each short interval timer 40, 41 thus produces an alert signal for the activation period corresponding to the activation timer 38, 39 to which it is connected. The short interval timers 40, 41 are preferably pulse timers such as multivibrators or flip-flops which provide the pulse signals to the respective alert devices 26, 28 to create the visual and/or audible alert signals. For example, if the visual alert device 26 is an LED, the short interval timer 40 defines (based on a pre-set pulse width) how long each blink of the LED is. The short interval timer 40 continues to provide a pulse signal to the LED for as long as the visual activation timer 38 provides an enabling signal to the short-interval timer 40. Thus, the visual alert device 26 blinks on and off at a rate determined by the short interval timer 40 for a duration determined by the preset activation period of the visual activation timer 38. Similarly, the audible alert device 28 beeps at a rate determined by the short interval timer 41 for a duration determined by the preset activation period of the audible activation timer 39. Thus the visual signal device 26 blinks and the audible signal device 28 sounds for the duration of the short interval time preset in the short interval timers 40, 41 for as long as they are actuated by the respective visual activation timer 38 and audible activation timer 39.
The settings of the four timers 38, 39, 40, 41 may all be different. For example, the visual activation timer 38 may have a preset activation period of five minutes, while the audible activation timer 39 may have a preset activation period of ten minutes. Further, the short interval timer 40 may have a preset pulse signal (i.e., pulse width) of two seconds, while the short interval timer 41 may have a pulse signal of one second. In such a configuration, the visual alert device 26 blinks every two seconds for five minutes and the audible alert device 28 beeps every second for ten minutes. It will be easily understood by one skilled in the art that these settings may be conveniently adjusted to numerous configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the alarm circuitry may include only a single activation timer which controls operation of both short interval timers 40, 41, and thus both alert signals. Similarly, only a single short interval timer may be used to control operation of the alert devices 26, 28.
The alarm circuitry 34, and thus the alarm unit 24, may be reset by the consumer at any point after the activation timers 38, 39 have been activated following a given cycle period. Resetting of the alarm circuitry 34 is accomplished by opening and re-closing the switch 42, i.e., rotating the blister tray between the open and closed position. Upon re-closing the switch 42, the one shot timer 36 resets and begins to time a new cycle period. The one shot timer 36 waits until the next cycle period has elapsed before activating the visual activation timer 38 and audible activation timer 39 to alert the consumer that it is once again time to dispense a tablet. Resetting the alarm circuitry 34 thus deactivates the visual activation timer 38 and the audible activation timer 39, and their corresponding alert signals, until the next cycle period expires.
If the cycle period of the one shot timer 36 has not completely elapsed, the alarm circuitry 34 cannot be reset by opening and subsequently re-closing the switch 42. Rather, if the switch 42 is prematurely opened (i.e., by opening the blister tray 12), the one shot timer 36 continues to wait until the cycle period terminates. In the event of a premature opening, the time elapsed since the last tablet dispensing is not lost, and the consumer is still reminded to dispense a tablet at the end of the current cycle period—even if the switch 42 remains open. When the cycle period of the one shot timer 36 has finally elapsed, the visual activation timer 38 and the audible activation timer 39 generate their respective alert signals by activating their corresponding alert devices 26, 28. The alarm circuitry 34 may then be reset as described above by opening (if necessary) and re-closing the switch 42.
If the alarm circuitry 34 is not reset during the activation period of the activation timers 38, 39, the activation timers 38, 39 nonetheless still disable the visual alert device 26 and the audible alert device 28 after their respective activation periods have expired. Additionally, the one shot timer 36 waits to be reset (e.g., by opening and closing the switch 42) before commencing a new cycle period. The alarm circuitry 34 exists in this state indefinitely until it is finally reset, at which point the next cycle period of the one shot timer 36 commences. Alternatively, the alarm circuitry 34 may continually remind the consumer that the cycle period has elapsed, even after the alert devices 26, 28 have been deactivated. For example, a periodic signal to the consumer could indicate that a tablet has not yet been dispensed and/or that the alarm circuitry 34 still must be reset. This could be accomplished by the one shot timer 36 sending a pulse directly to the short interval timers 40, 41 (after the initial activation period of the activation timers 38, 39 has expired) to activate the visual alert device 26 and/or the audible alert device 28 for a short duration (one or two blinks and/or beeps) to remind the consumer. This brief activation of the alert devices 26, 28 may continue indefinitely at a preset regular interval, for a designated “reminder period” or until the alarm circuitry 34 is properly reset to begin a new cycle period.
The alarm circuitry 34 is powered by the battery 32. As discussed above, the battery 32 has sufficient power to operate the alarm unit 24 for the number of cycle periods equal to the number of tablets in the blister tray 12, or the medication period. Since the alarmed tablet dispenser 10 is designed to be disposed after all of the tablets have been dispensed, the battery 32 need not last longer than the medication period.
The components and the combination thereof which comprise the alarm circuitry 34, may be combined differently or substituted with other components in a manner easily understood by those skilled in the art to effectuate the alarm unit 24 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In another preferred embodiment, the alarm circuitry 34 of the alarm unit 24 is imbedded onto a single chip or printed circuit board using VLSI logic. Using VLSI to form the alarm circuitry 34 allows for a more compact, efficient design of the alarm unit 24 and the tablet dispenser 10. In the VLSI embodiment, the alarm unit 24 may be placed in a wider variety of locations within the housing 18. Furthermore, the housing 18 and blister tray 12 may also be smaller due to the decreased size of the alarm unit 24.
Used with the tablet dispenser 10, resetting the alarm unit 24 begins by moving the blister tray 12 from the closed position to the open position, thereby disengaging the contact projection 17 from the timer reset contact 30. The timer reset contact 30 (a mechanical switch) corresponds to the switch 42 (an electrical switch) of the alarm circuitry 34. Whenever the cut out 15 of the blister tray 12 is moved away from the alarm unit 24, the switch 42 is opened since the contact projection 17 has moved away from the timer reset contact 30. Accordingly, after the consumer has opened the blister tray 12 (which opens the switch 42) to dispense a tablet, subsequently moving the blister tray 12 into the closed position closes the switch 42 and resets the alarm unit 24, assuming that the current cycle period has terminated. As described above, if the blister tray 12 is opened prior to the end of the current cycle period, subsequently re-closing the blister tray 12 does not reset the alarm unit 24.
Referring now to
The second shell 118 is rotatably attached to the first shell 112 by two hinges 122, such that the first shell 112 and the second shell 118 are pivotable end to end with respect to each other between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the second shell 118 is preferably releasably secured over the first shell 112, such that the cavity is closed and the tablets therein cannot be accessed. In the closed position, the individual tablets within the blister pack are preferably visible through the tablet holes 114 from the outer, exposed side of the first shell 112. When the second shell 118 is secured to the first shell 112 in the closed position, the engagement of the second shell 118 with the first shell 112 preferably closes the tablet dispenser 110 in a child resistant manner. In the open position the second shell 118 is released from the first shell 112 such that at least a portion of the cavity, and the tablets therein, are accessible.
The first shell 112 includes deflectable tabs 121 located on opposite sides of the first shell 112. Tab projections 120 are attached to each of the deflectable tabs 121, and project outwardly from the side walls of the first shell 112. The tab projections 120 preferably have a ribbed gripping surface so that a consumer may easily grip and/or squeeze the tab projections 120 with the fingers. The second shell 118 contains notches 116 located on opposite sides of the second shell 118 in locations corresponding to the locations of the deflectable tabs 121 in the first shell 112. When the second shell 118 is rotated into the closed position, the deflectable tabs 121 engage and lock into the notches 116 to secure the second shell 118 to the first shell 112. The second shell 118 is unlocked from the first shell 112 by squeezing inwardly simultaneously on the tab projections 120 which moves the deflectable tabs 121 inwardly toward the center of the first shell 112 and out of engagement with the notches 116. The second shell 118 may then rotate into the open position. It will be easily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the deflectable tabs 121 and the corresponding notches 116 may be positioned in places other than those shown in
An end tab 123 located in the end wall 134 of the second shell 118 assists in opening the second shell 118. The end tab 123 preferably includes a ribbed gripping surface (not shown) which allows the consumer to grip the end tab 123 to rotate the second shell 118 away from the first shell 112. A cut out 125 located in the end wall 127 of the first shell 112 allows the consumer to access the gripping surface of the end tab 123 when the second shell 118 is in the closed position. As an additional child resistant feature, the end tab 123 may include a deflectable hook (not shown) to engage a notch (not shown) in the end wall 127 of the first shell 112 when the second shell 118 is rotated into the closed position to further secure the second shell 118 to the first shell 112. The deflectable hook can be released from the notch by depressing inwardly on the gripping surface of the end tab 123 and simultaneously pulling up on the second shell 118. If this feature is included with the child resistant features described above, the consumer must simultaneously squeeze both the tab projections 120 as well as the end tab 123 to unlock the second shell 118 from the first shell 112. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the tablet dispenser 110 may include various combinations of the deflectable tabs 121, the end tab 123, and other child resistant mechanisms generally known in the art, for securing the second shell 118 to the first shell 112 in a child resistant manner without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The tablet dispenser 110 also includes an alarm unit 124, preferably located in the bottom wall 113 of the first shell 112 near the hinges 122. The alarm unit 124 alerts the consumer at the completion of the current cycle period that it is time to dispense the next tablet. The alarm unit 124 of the tablet dispenser 110 generally has substantially the same structure and functions in substantially the same manner as the alarm unit 24 described above with respect the tablet dispenser 10. The alarm unit 124 also comprises substantially similar alarm circuitry 34. The alarm unit 124 is powered by a battery 132 which includes enough power for the duration of the medication period, as described above with respect to the tablet dispenser 10. The alarm unit 124 includes a visual alert device 126 to provide a visual alert signal similar to the visual alert device 26 discussed above. An opening 136 in the top wall 119 of the second shell 118 at the end closest to the hinges 122 allows the visual alert device 126 to project through the second shell 118 when the cover 118 is closed on the first shell 112. This enables the consumer to watch the alarmed child resistant tablet dispenser 110 for a visual signal from the alarm unit 124. An audible alert device 128, similar to the audible alert device 28 of the tablet dispenser 10, provides an audible signal from the alarm unit 124 when the cycle period expires.
The alarm unit 124 of the tablet dispenser 110 is reset using a foot 130 adjacent to the opening 136 in the upper wall 119. When the second shell 118 is closed on the first shell 112, the foot 130 closes the switch 42 in the alarm circuitry 34, similar to the contact projection 17 of the tablet dispenser 10. When the second shell 118 is opened, the foot 130 is removed from the alarm unit 124 and the switch 42 opens. If the cycle period has expired, opening and subsequently re-closing of the second shell 118 opens and closes the switch 42, thereby resetting the alarm circuitry 34. If the second shell 118 is opened prior to the expiration of the cycle period, subsequently closing the second shell 118 will not reset the alarm circuitry 34. Thus, the alarm unit 124 may be reset only after the cycle period of the alarm circuitry 34 has elapsed. In all other aspects, the alarm circuitry 34 provides the same features to the alarm unit 124 of the tablet dispenser 110 as described above with respect to the tablet dispenser 10 of
Alternative structures and constructions of tablet dispensers may be used to house an alarm unit similar to the alarm units 24, 124 described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, a tablet dispenser having the form of a traditional dial pack container (not shown) may utilize the alarm unit 24 as described above with respect to
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/395,134 filed Jul. 11, 2002 and entitled “Alarmed Child Resistant Tablet Dispenser.”
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040108322 A1 | Jun 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60395134 | Jul 2002 | US |