The present invention relates to a medicament dispensing device for dispensing medicament packages, such as blister packs, containing vitamins and other tablets/capsules.
Vitamin supplements, such as multi-vitamins, and mineral supplements are pharmaceutical preparations that are intended to supplement a person's diet with vitamins, dietary minerals and other nutritional elements that may be lacking in their regular diet. These supplements are typically packaged in bottles or packets containing a bulk supply of a particular supplement product.
Given the vast array of supplement products on the market and each person's differing supplement needs depending on their lifestyle, age, sex and other characteristics, it is typical for a person to require many different supplement products in order to meet all of the diet supplement needs. The supplements also often need to be taken two, three or more times a day.
Consumers of such supplement products are often deterred by the significant expense of purchasing the supplement products in bulk. Those that do purchase the supplement products may forget to take them, may not need a full bottle or packet of supplement products, or may allow the supplement products to go beyond their expiry date.
As a consequence, consumers can get out of the habit of taking supplement products and may stop purchasing supplement products at all.
It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative.
In a first aspect, the present invention provides a medicament dispensing device comprising:
In a preferred embodiment, the internal configuration of the first compartment is a loading aperture having a shape that corresponds to a peripheral shape of the first type of medicament package and the internal configuration of the second compartment is a loading aperture having a shape that corresponds to a peripheral shape of the second type of medicament package.
Preferably, the shape of the loading aperture is the cross-sectional shape of each compartment.
Further preferably, the first and second compartments comprise a peripheral wall that is generally rectangular in cross-section and at least one of the first and second compartments includes a key block arranged against the peripheral wall.
In a preferred embodiment, the key block is removable and comprises one of a plurality of key blocks in a key block system, the key block system comprising:
In a preferred embodiment, the medicament packages each have a generally rectangular base panel with a cutout corresponding to the shape and position of the key block in the corresponding compartment.
Optionally, the medicament packages are blister packs enclosed in a box. Alternatively, the medicament packages are blister packs secured to a base panel.
In a second aspect, the present invention provides a medicament dispensing device comprising:
Preferably, the first compartment has a loading aperture having a shape that corresponds to a peripheral shape of a base of the first type of dispenser cartridge and the second compartment has a loading aperture having a shape that corresponds to a peripheral shape of a base of the second type of dispenser cartridge.
Preferably, the shape of the loading aperture is the cross-sectional shape of each compartment.
Further preferably, the first and second compartments each comprise a peripheral wall that is generally rectangular in cross-section and at least one of the first and second compartments includes a key block arranged against the peripheral wall.
In a preferred embodiment, the key block is removable and comprises one of a plurality of key blocks in a key block system, the key block system comprising:
In another preferred embodiment, the first compartment includes a first slot that guides the first type of medicament package within the first compartment and the second compartment includes a second slot that guides the second type of medicament package within the second compartment.
Preferably, the first slot is provided along a wall of the first compartment and in transverse cross-section, the first slot is offset from perpendicular to the wall of the first compartment and the second slot is provided along a wall of the second compartment and in transverse cross-section, the second slot is offset from perpendicular to the wall of the second compartment. Further preferably, the angular offset of the first slot differs in degree to the angular offset of the second slot. Further preferably, the length of the first slot differs to the length of the second slot.
In another preferred embodiment:
Preferably, each slot is provided in a removable guide block that is mounted in the respective compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, the first compartment includes a first removable guide block that defines a first cavity, the dimensions of the first cavity being adapted to receive the first type of medicament package; and
Preferably, each guide block is slidably mounted on a respective bracket arrangement and each bracket arrangement is identical such that different guide blocks are interchangeable between different compartments.
Optionally, the medicament dispensing device further comprises an electronic information display screen on the front of the medicament dispensing device. The medicament dispensing device may also optionally further comprise a disposable cup dispenser and a tap.
In a third aspect, the present invention provides a blister pack assembly comprising:
In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a blister pack tab attachment comprising:
In a preferred embodiment, the connector is a slot adapted to retain the end of a blister pack by interference fit. Further preferably, the connector comprises a pair of resilient, opposing clamp members that clamp the end of a blister pack.
In a fifth aspect, the present invention provides a blister pack cartridge comprising:
In a preferred embodiment, the blister pack cartridge is assembled from:
Preferably, the base member is substantially perpendicular to the backing sheet and the spacer member is substantially perpendicular to the base member and substantially parallel to the backing sheet. Further preferably, the base member and spacer member are rectangular plates. Further preferably, the base member and spacer member are faces of a rectangular box.
Alternatively, the base member extends at an acute angle to the backing sheet and the spacer member extends at an acute angle to the base member so that the backing sheet and the spacer member converge as they extend away from the base member.
Preferably, the blister pack cartridge further comprises a fluid receptacle.
In a sixth aspect, the present invention provides a blister pack attachment comprising:
In a preferred embodiment, the connector is a slot adapted to retain the end of a blister pack by interference fit. Preferably, the connector comprises a pair of resilient, opposing clamp members that clamp the end of a blister pack.
Preferably, the spacer member is substantially perpendicular to the base member. Further preferably, the base member and spacer member are rectangular plates. Further preferably, the base member and spacer member are faces of a rectangular box.
Alternatively, the spacer member extends at an acute angle to the base member so that when a blister pack is received in the connector, the spacer member converges toward the blister pack as it extends away from the base member.
Preferably, the blister pack attachment further comprises a fluid receptacle.
In a seventh aspect, the present invention provides a dispensing machine having:
In a preferred embodiment, the medicament packages are contained within removable cartridges, each cartridge being loaded in one of the compartments, wherein an empty removable cartridge can be replaced by a full removable cartridge to restock the machine.
Preferably, the dispensing machine further comprises a touch screen computer display arranged on a front surface of the dispensing machine, the touch screen computer display being adapted to provide information relating to the medicaments stored in the dispensing machine.
Further preferably, the medicaments are provided in blister packs, each blister pack storing one or more tablets or capsules.
Further preferably, the liquid source is a water tank.
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of specific example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
A medicament dispensing device 10 for dispensing medicament packages, is depicted in
Each compartment 14 has two openings 16 arranged at the base of the compartment 14. The openings 16 are provided in the front of the main body 12. In alternate embodiments, a single opening 16 is arranged at the base of each compartment 14.
An information screen 18, which is preferably a touch control computer screen, is depicted on the front of the main body 12.
A cross section of a first compartment 14 and a second compartment 15 is depicted in
A first blister pack 21 comprises a generally flat base 24, three blister compartments 26 and an inclined tab 28 projecting from an edge of the base 24. The tab 28 has a predetermined length and is inclined to the base 24 by a predetermined angle β.
A second blister pack 22 comprises a generally flat base 30, two blister compartments 32 and an inclined tab 34 projecting from an edge of the base 30. The tab 34 has a predetermined length and is inclined to the base 30 by a predetermined angle γ.
A first slot 40 is provided along a wall 42 of the first compartment 14 and a second slot 44 is provided along a wall 46 of the second compartment 15.
The first slot 40 is inclined to the wall 42 of the first compartment 14 by the same angle β as the tab 28 of the first blister pack 21, such that when the tab 28 of the first blister pack 20 is arranged in the first slot 40, the base 24 of the first blister pack 21 extends generally perpendicular to the wall 42 of the first compartment 14.
The second slot 44 is inclined to the wall 46 of the second compartment 15 by the same angle γ as the tab 34 of the second blister pack 22, such that when the tab 34 of the second blister pack 22 is arranged in the second slot 44, the base 30 of the second blister pack 22 extends generally perpendicular to the wall 46 of the second compartment 15.
As the angle β of the first slot 40 and the tab 28 of the first blister pack 21 differs from the angle γ of the second slot 44 and the tab 34 of the second blister pack 22, the first blister pack 21 can not be inserted in the second compartment 15 via the second slot 44. Similarly, the second blister pack 22 can not be inserted in the first compartment 14 via the first slot 40. This ensures that each different blister pack 20 can only be inserted into the correctly corresponding compartment 14, 15.
The first and second slots 40, 44 are provided on removable guide blocks 48 that can be interchanged within the compartments 14, 15. The guide blocks 48 are installed on brackets 50 on the walls 42, 46 of the first and second compartments 14, 15. The brackets 50 are T-shaped in cross-section and fit within a corresponding T-shaped groove 52 in the guide blocks 48, so that the guide blocks 48 can be selectively installed, removed and interchanged by sliding the guide blocks 48 along the brackets 50.
As each of the different guide blocks 48 have the same groove 52, different guide blocks 48 can be substituted for one another in order to change the slot configuration in each compartment 14, 15. In this way, each compartment 14, 15 can be selectively configured to receive particular blister packs 20.
As depicted in
Where multiple blister packs 120 are provided in a single compartment 114, the first and second slots 140, 144 are provided on a first wall 142 and a second wall 146 of the compartment 114, respectively.
In this arrangement, the shape of the guide blocks 148 can also be varied to accommodate different lengths of blister pack 120. The blister packs 120 can be provided with predetermined lengths as shown in
As shown in
In another arrangement, shown in
In this arrangement, differing lengths of the blister packs 150 and corresponding distances between the slots 154 cooperate to allow only the correctly corresponding blister pack 150 to be loaded into the compartment 158.
In another arrangement, shown in
Similarly in this arrangement, differing lengths of the blister packs 166 and corresponding sizes of the cavities 164 cooperate to allow only the correctly corresponding blister pack 166 to be loaded into the compartment 162.
In another arrangement, shown in
In this arrangement, differing lengths and widths of the blister packs 176 and corresponding lengths and widths of the cavities 172 cooperate to allow only the correctly corresponding blister pack 176 to be loaded into the compartment 174.
As depicted in
As also depicted in
In another arrangement, shown in
In this arrangement, the position of the keyway 198 on the medicament package 196 ensures that medicament packages 196 can only be inserted into compartments 192 having the corresponding key 194 preventing the medicament package 196 from being inserted into the wrong compartment 192.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
Medicament packages 214 are designed to stack flat within the compartment 202 and are provided with a base panel 216 sized to correspond to the shape of the compartment 202. In the embodiment shown, the base panel 216 has a keyway cutout 218 on one corner corresponding to the position of the key block 210 in the compartment 202.
By arranging key blocks 210 in different configurations within different compartments 202 of the medicament dispensing device 200 and providing different medicament packages 214 with base panels 216 corresponding to each configuration, a system is provided in which only a corresponding medicament package 214 can be loaded into a given compartment 202.
In the embodiment shown, the medicament package 214 comprises the base panel 216 and a blister pack (not shown), which is secured to the underside of the base panel 216. Alternatively, the medicament package 214 could be provided in any of various forms including a box, a sachet attached to a base panel 216, a blister pack with a keyway cutout in the base.
In order to provide an endless number of different configurations for the key and keyway arrangement, a range of key blocks could be provided with various different shapes instead of the generally rectangular key block depicted. By providing different shaped key blocks in different compartments, as well as in different configurations, the number of different configurations (and hence, the number of individually shaped compartments) is limitless.
In an alternative embodiment to that shown, the slots may be provided in the walls of the compartments rather than by way of a removable insert. Further alternatively, the key blocks may be integrally formed in the compartment or fixed in the compartments by other means. In another alternative, keys may be provided on the medicament package and keyways provided in the walls of the compartments. In other embodiments, the width and length dimensions of the compartments and the corresponding medicament packages can be varied to provide a further geometric variable in addition to the key and keyway system.
An alternative embodiment is depicted in
In order to ensure that the cartridges 224 are placed in the appropriate compartments 222, the compartments 222 and corresponding dispenser cartridges 224 have complementary mating formations 226, 227 and different compartments 222 have different mating formations 227 such that each dispenser cartridge 224 can only be successfully loaded into the corresponding compartment 222 with a complementary mating formation 226, 227. A key and keyway system similar to that described above may be used to provide the mating formations. The cartridges 224 are provided with a unique mating formation 226 which corresponds to a mating formation 227 provided on a wall of the corresponding compartment 222.
Similar to the embodiment depicted in
An alternative embodiment is shown in
The dispensing device 250 further includes a liquid source, depicted in this embodiment as a water tank 258, and a tap 260 associated with the water tank 258 arranged within the main body 252. A disposable cup dispenser (not shown) is provided either on or near the dispensing device 250.
An interactive touch screen computer display 262 is arranged in or on the front surface 264 of the main body 252. The interactive display 262 is able to receive touch commands from the user to query or purchase a medicament package 255. In response to a query command, the interactive display 262 provides information on the medicaments. In response to a purchase command, the medicament package 255 is delivered from one of the compartments 254 to the associated opening 256 for the user to retrieve.
As depicted in
In use, a user selects a medicament package 255 on the interactive display 262 and makes the appropriate payment. Payment would typically be made by cash, credit/debit card or mobile phone. The selected medicament package 255 is then delivered from the respective compartment 254 to the associated opening 256 for the user to retrieve. The user then takes a disposable cup and fills it with water from the tap 260. The user is then able to consume the medicament using the cup of water to assist swallowing the medicament.
The medicaments offered in the dispensing device 250 are typically vitamins and other dietary supplements provided in a blister pack. Multiple tablets or capsules may be provided in a single blister pack.
The medicament packages 255 may be stored individually in the compartments 254 in a vertical stack, rather than in a cartridge. Alternatively, the medicament packages 255 may be stored in a separate storage container within the main body 252 and delivered to a common opening.
The tap 260 may be connected via a hose or pipe directly to a water supply rather than the water tank 258 depicted in
In an alternative embodiment, a blister pack assembly 620 is employed, as depicted in
Once assembled, the blister pack assembly 620 can be used in the same way as described above in the blister pack dispenser 10 of
As shown in more detail in
The blister pack dispenser 10 provides a convenient outlet for obtaining single dose blister packs 20 of vitamin and mineral supplements that a person may require. It allows consumers to make individual dose purchases rather than buying a bulk amount of the supplements. It is convenient for consumers of supplements who forget to take a dose of supplements and are not able to access their bulk supply of the supplements.
The blister pack dispenser 10 also prevents incorrect loading of blister packs 20 in the compartments 14 by allowing only specifically configured blister packs 20 to be loaded into each compartment 14.
A blister pack cartridge 710 for a standard spiral vending machine is depicted in
As depicted in
The connector 832 can be in the form of a pair of resilient, opposing clamp members that are adapted to clamp onto one end of the backing sheet 812 in the same manner as depicted in
By providing a blister pack attachment 830, a blister pack cartridge 810 can be assembled from a standard blister pack 800. This avoids the need to manufacture a specific blister pack cartridge 810 as an integral unit and allows the blister pack attachment to be retro-fitted to a standard blister pack 800.
As depicted in
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
In this embodiment, the blister pack 900, when received in the connector 932 is offset from perpendicular to the base member 916 and the spacer member 918 is also offset from perpendicular to the base member 916. This creates a blister pack cartridge 910 that has a wide base member 916 with the standard blister pack 900 and the spacer member 918 inclined inwardly towards each other as they extend from the base member 916.
The connector 932 can be in the form of a pair of resilient, opposing clamp members that are adapted to clamp onto one end of the backing sheet 912 in the same manner as depicted in
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
In this embodiment, an end of the blister pack 950 is clamped between the intermediate T-shaped member 976 and the clamp member 972. The fluid receptacle 974 is arranged with its base supported between the support member 968 and the intermediate T-shaped member 976. This creates a compact blister pack assembly 960 that securely holds a blister pack 950 and a fluid receptacle 974.
In use, the blister pack assembly 960 is adapted to fit between the spirals of a spiral vending machine. The flat base member 966 allows the blister pack assembly to sit upright and slide as it is moved forward by the spiral vending machine. Once purchased, the user simply removes the medicaments from the blister pack 950 opens the fluid receptacle 974 and drinks the contents to assist in swallowing the medicaments.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2010905096 | Nov 2010 | AU | national |
2011900706 | Mar 2011 | AU | national |
2011100967 | Aug 2011 | AU | national |
2011903100 | Aug 2011 | AU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/AU2011/001419 | 11/4/2011 | WO | 00 | 5/3/2013 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2012/065210 | 5/24/2012 | WO | A |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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