Improvements in a dispenser for medical preparations

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser for medical preparations in tablet form, of the type that shall be taken at certain times on the day and over one week.

Prior art

[0002] In US Patent US-A-3,537,422 there is disclosed such a dispenser having a body in which a plurality of compartments are defined, covers for covering and uncovering said compartments, and detent means for retaining the cover in successive positions sequentially covering and uncovering said compartments.

[0003] The medical preparations such as tablets are placed in the compartments corresponding to the day of the week and the time of the day the relevant tablet or tablets should be taken.

[0004] In German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-27 34 664 there is disclosed a development of the above-mentioned dispenser, the improvement being that the tablets etc are placed in a plastic insert, which in turn is placed in a drawer, which is inserted in the body. Such insert and drawer replaces the compartments in the body according to US-A-3,537,422 and makes it possible to package the insert at the drug-store, whereupon the user inserts the insert and drawer in the body for the relevant week. The insert is assymetrical for preventing insertion thereof in the wrong direction.

[0005] US-A-4062445 discloses a dispenser for medical preparations, such as in tablet form, of the type that shall be taken at certain times on the day and over some days, such as week. This dispenser comprises a rectangular body having two longitudinal sides, two transversal sides, a bottom and an upper surface, said upper surface comprising several recesses each covered by a cover, which is slidable in grooves in the upper surface to be extractable in one direction; an insert placed in a drawer (tray) and having several rows of compartments, each row being positioned below a corresponding recess in the body, each compartment housing said medical preparations. The body comprises an opening in one of the sides of the body for allowing insertion and removal of said drawer and insert through said opening in said side of the body. In addition, the body comprises a locking means for locking all of said covers in the closed positions thereof, and for unlocking all covers at the same time.

[0006] Said dispenser is unnecessary expensive, while the drawer only perform the function of enclosing the insert during the insertion thereof in the body. Such a drawer seems to be superfluous.

Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and provide an improved dispenser of the type mentioned above.

[0008] Thus, there is provided a dispenser for medical preparations, such as in tablet form, of the type that shall be taken at certain times on the day and over some days, such as a week. The dispenser comprises a rectangular body having two longitudinal sides, two transversal sides, a bottom and an upper surface. The longitudinal and transversal sides are inclined so that the bottom surface is somewhat smaller than the upper surface. Said sides and bottom surface may be transparent while the upper surface carries time indications. The upper surface comprises several recesses each covered by a cover, which is slidable in grooves in the upper surface to be extractable in one transverse direction. Moreover, the dispenser comprises an insert having several rows of compartments, each row being positioned below a corresponding recess in the body and housing said medical preparations.

[0009] According to the invention, the body comprises a cap closing an opening in one of the transversal sides. The cap is removable for allowing insertion and removal of an insert through said opening in the transversal side of the body. The body further comprises a locking means for locking all of said covers in the closed positions thereof, and for unlocking all covers at the same time.

[0010] The cap comprises a shoulder at each end thereof. Moreover, the transversal side of the body comprises two edges adapted for retaining the cap by the shoulders thereof in the closed position and the cap being elastic for being pressed inwards, a fulcrum means being provided to assist the bending of the cap, so that the corresponding shoulder can pass inside the edge and the cap can be pushed in the transverse direction for making the other shoulder at the other end of the cap free from the corresponding other edge for removal of the cap. The fulcrum means may consist of two rest posts for cooperation with the cap and assisting in bending the cap for removal thereof.

[0011] Preferably, the locking means is a longitudinal beam comprising several shoulders, one for each cover, cooperating with a corresponding recess of each cover, said beam being movable in the longitudinal direction for moving the shoulders from said cooperation with said recesses and thereby releasing the covers from their locked position. Each cover may comprise a chamfered portion, which upon pushing the cover into the closed position cooperates with the beam for allowing the beam to pass the cover to the closed position and locking it there.

Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The present invention is described more in details below by means of a preferred embodiment and by reference to the enclosed drawings.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention partially exploded.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a plan view partially in cross-section of a portion of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1.

[0015] Fig. 3 is a cross-section view according to line III-III in Fig. 2.

[0016] Fig. 4 is a plan view in cross-section of another portion of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1.

[0017] Fig. 5 is plan view in cross-section of the cap shown in Fig. 1.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

[0018] In Fig. 1 there is shown a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser 1 comprises a body 2 having a generally rectangular form and having two longitudinal sides 3, two transversal sides 4, a bottom 5 and an upper surface 6. The upper surface comprises seven recesses 7 each covered by a cover 8. Each cover 8 is slidable in grooves 9 in the upper surface 6 to be extractable in the transverse direction as shown for the right cover in Fig. 1. Each cover 8 has detent means on the underside thereof in the form of projections, which ride on longitudinal ridges 26 between the compartments. So far, the dispenser according to the invention corresponds to the dispenser according to prior art.

[0019] Inside the body 2 there is positioned an insert 10, which is completely enclosed by the body 2 and is inserted therein from one of the transversal sides shown to the right in Fig. 1, which side comprises a removable cap 11 shown removed in Fig. 1.

[0020] The insert comprises compartments 12 arranged in seven rows with four compartments in each row located under each recess 7, when inserted in the body 2. The insert 10 has two edges 23, 24 at the top surface, one of which 24 is wider than the other.

[0021] The cap 11 is made of an elastic material, such as polycarbonate, and comprises a projection or shoulder 14 at each end thereof. One of the shoulders 14 may be provided with serrations, as shown in Fig. 5, or an area adjacent said shoulder may be serrated, as shown in Fig. 1, which facilitates the operation of the cap.

[0022] A locking means 13 is located immediately below the covers 8 for locking the same in their closed positions. The locking means 13 comprises a longitudinal beam 17 having shoulders 18, one for each cover, for engagement with a corresponding recess 19 in each cover 8.

[0023] The locking beam 17 is biased to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, into the locking position by a resilient means 20. In this embodiment the resilient means is a piece of compressible rubber or elastomer, but it is understood that other means are possible, such as coil or leaf springs. The locking beam 17 is pushed to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, to the release position by depressing a push button portion 25 projecting on the outside of the body 2.

[0024] The sides 3, 4 of the body 2 are inclined, as may be seen in Fig. 3, and the corners are rounded, so that the dispenser is more comfortable to hold. Moreover, the sides 3, 4 and the bottom 5 are transparent, so that cards containing information of the identity of the user, prescriptions etc are readable through the sides 3, 4 and the bottom 5. Said cards (not shown) are accomodated between the insert 10 and said sides 3, 4 and bottom 5, respectively.

[0025] The covers 8 and the longitudinal beam 17 are made of polycarbonate, which is an elastic, transparent and low friction material. The covers 8 and the longitudinal beam 17 are slidable in grooves in the upper surface 6, which is made of styrene that is a harder material than polycarbonate. Thus, it is the covers 8 and the beam 17 that are subjected to abrasive wear, which parts are available as spare parts. The remainder of the body 2, i.e. the sides 3, 4 and the bottom 5, is made of transparent material, preferably polycarbonate.

[0026] The operation of the dispenser in accordance with the invention is as follows. The insert 10 is supplied with tablets in accordance with the relevant medical treatment in a conventional manner, each compartment 12 corresponding to a certain time of day, and each row of compartments corresponding to one day of the week. The days and times are indicated on the upper surface 6 of the body (not shown in the drawings). The insert 10 is then pushed into the body 2 through the opening 21 in the short side with the edges 23, 24 sliding in grooves in the body (the left narrow groove 27 shown in Fig. 1). Because of the differently dimensioned edges 23, 24 of the insert 10 it is impossible to insert it the wrong way. If the insert 10 is oriented the wrong way the rest posts 16 will not register with the spaces between the compartments and the wide edge 24 will not fit in the narrow groove 27.

[0027] After the insert 10 is positioned in the body 2 the removable cap 11 is applied by inserting one end thereof into the opening with the shoulder 14 entering behind the edge 15 of the body and then bending the cap 11 with one of the rest posts as a fulcrum, so that the other end of the cap 11 passes by the other edge 15 of the body 2, cf Fig. 5. The cap 11 is then moved transversely so that the shoulder 14 snaps out from behind the edge 15 and the tip of the other end of the cap is located inside the other edge of the body. The cap is now in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 5, and the dispenser is ready for use.

[0028] When it is time for the tablets to be taken the push button portion 25 of the locking beam 13 is depressed to release the covers 8 and the proper cover is simultameously pulled out with the detent means (not shown) riding over the longitudinal ridges 26 between the compartments to uncover the desired compartment, cf Fig. 4. When the tablets have been taken the cover 8 is simply pushed back without having to depress the push button portion since a chamfered portion 22 of the cover engages the shoulder 18 and moves the beam 17 against the resistance of the resilient means 20. The cover is pushed further until the shoulder 18 snaps into the recess 19 in the cover 8 and the cover is again locked.

[0029] After a week, when the tablets are finished, and the dispenser is to be refilled, the cap 11 is removed by depressing one end and moving it transversely, so that one of the shoulders 14 enters inside the edge 15 at one side of the body and the tip of the other end of the cap 11 is released from the other edge 15 and swings out of the opening 21. Then the first end may be withdrawn from inside the edge 15 and the cap 11 completely removed. The insert 10 now can be extracted and refilled.

[0030] Preferably, the shoulder 14 having serrations is entered inside the edge 15. The body may be asymmetric and having said edge 15 positioned at a longer distance from the longitudinal side compased to the other edge 15. However, the edges may also be symmetrically positoned.

[0031] The dispenser in accordance with the invention has several adavantages over the prior art as disclosed in US-A-3,537,422 and DE-A-27 34 664.

[0032] Firstly, the novel removable cap 11 makes the drawer of DE-A-27 34 664 redundant. The insert 10 is retained in its proper position by this simple and reliable cap, thus eliminating the need of a special drawer and substantially reducing the manufacturing cost (about 25%).

[0033] Secondly, the novel locking means 13 substantially eliminates the risk of the dispenser being accidentally opened. This might occur with the prior art dispensers when handled carelessly or when in the hands of children. Thus, the security is greatly improved and the dispenser in accordance with the present invention is child-proof.

[0034] Thirdly, in the present dispenser the sides 3, 4 are transparent. This provision facilitates the handling of dispensers stacked in shelves or the like, as it is possible to identify the dispenser from the sides as well as from the bottom, which further enhances the security.

[0035] Furthermore, it is possible to use the spare parts of the dispenser according to the present invention, namely the cover 8 and the insert 10, with the prior art dispensers. Thus, some of the old spare parts do not have to be manufactured when the production is switched to the new model.

[0036] Several modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the design and the position of the recesses 19 in the covers 8 and the shoulders 18 on the beam 17 can be modified. Also, the covers 8 may be oriented longitudinally and the lockings means 13 transversely.

[0037] Thus, the invention is only limited by the claims below.

Claims

1. A dispenser for medical preparations, such as in tablet form, of the type that shall be taken at certain times on the day and over some days, such as a week, comprising a rectangular body (2) having two longitudinal sides (3), two transversal sides (4), a bottom (5) and an upper surface (6), said upper surface comprising several recesses (7) each covered by a cover (8), which is slidable in grooves (9) in the upper surface (6) to be extractable in one direction; an insert (10) having several rows of compartments (12), each row being positioned below a corresponding recess (7) in the body (2), each compartment housing said medical preparations, said body (2) comprising an opening (21) in one of the sides (4) of the body (2) for allowing insertion and removal of said insert (10) through said opening (21) and further comprising a locking means (13) for locking all of said covers (8) in the closed position thereof, and for unlocking all covers (8) at the same time, characterized in that the body (2) comprises a cap (11) closing said opening (21), said cap (11) being removable for allowing insertion and removal of said insert (10) through said opening in said side (4) of the body; in that the cap (11) at each end thereof comprises a shoulder (14) and in that said side (4) of the body (2) comprises two edges (15) adapted for retaining the cap in a closed position and the cap being elastic for being pressed inward at one side, a fulcrum means being provided to assist the bending of the cap, so that the corresponding shoulder can pass inside the edge and the cap can be pushed in the transverse direction for making the other shoulder at the other end of the cap free from the corresponding other edge of the body for removal of the cap.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) is provided with two rest posts (16) serving as said fulcrum means for cooperation with the cap (11) and assisting in bending the cap (11) for removal thereof.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, characterized in that the two rest posts (16) assist in guiding the insert in the correct direction.

4. A dispenser according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the shoulders (14) of the cap (11) is serrated for providing a better finger grip.

5. A dispenser according to any one of the prededing claims, characterized in that the locking means is a longitudinal beam (17) comprising several shoulders (18), one for each cover, cooperating with a corresponding recess (19) of each cover, said beam being movable in the longitudinal direction of the body for moving the shoulders (18) from said cooperation with said recesses (19) and thereby releasing the covers from their locked position.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that the longitudinal beam (17) is biased by a resilient means (20) to the position locking the covers (8).

7. A dispenser according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each cover (8) comprises a chamfered portion (22), which upon pushing the cover into the closed position cooperates with the longitudinal beam (17) for allowing the beam (17) to pass the cover to the closed position and locking it there.

8. A dispenser according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert (10) is unsymmetrical (23, 24) for preventing insertion in the wrong direction.

9. A dispenser acording to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom (5) and the transversal and longitudinal sides (3, 4) are transparent, so that information and identification cards are readable through the bottom (5) and at least one of said sides (3, 4).

Ansprüche

1. Abgabevorrichtungen für medizinische Zubereitungen, beispielsweise in Form von Tabletten, die zu gewissen Tageszeiten und über einige Tage, wie beispielsweise eine Woche, einzunehmen sind, wobei die Abgabevorrichtung aufweist:
einen rechtwinkligen Körper (2), der zwei Längsseiten (3), zwei Querseiten (4), einen Boden (5) und eine obere Oberfläche (6) aufweist, wobei die obere Oberfläche mehrere Vertiefungen (7) aufweist, die jeweils mit einem Deckel (8) bedeckt sind, der in der oberen Oberfläche (6) in Nuten (9) verschiebbar ist, um in einer Richtung herausziehbar zu sein;
einen Einsatz (10) mit mehreren Reihen von Abteilen (12), von denen jedes unter einer entsprechenden Vertiefung (7) im Körper (2) angeordnet ist, wobei jedes Abteil die medizinischen Zubereitungen aufnimmt, wobei der Körper (2) in einer der Seiten (4) des Körpers (2) eine Öffnung (21) aufweist, um das Einsetzen und Entfernen des Einsatzes (10) durch die Öffnung (21) zu ermöglichen und weiter eine Verriegelungseinrichtung (13) aufweist, um alle Deckel (8) in deren geschlossener Lage zu verriegeln und gleichzeitig alle Deckel (8) zu entriegeln,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
der Körper (2) eine die Öffnung (21) verschließende Kappe (11) aufweist, wobei die Kappe (11) entfernbar ist, um das Einsetzen und Entfernen des Einsatzes (10) durch die Öffnung in der Seite (4) des Körpers zu erlauben;
daß die Kappe (11) an jedem ihrer Enden eine Schulter (14) aufweist und daß die Seite (4) des Körpers (2) zwei Kanten (15) aufweist, die zum Zurückhalten der Kappe in geschlossener Lage eingerichtet sind, und daß die Kappe elastisch ist, um an einer Seite nach innen gedrückt zu werden, wobei zum Unterstützen des Biegens der Kappe eine Hebeleinrichtung vorgesehen ist, so daß die entsprechende Schulter innerhalb der Kante passieren kann und die Kappe in die Querrichtung geschoben werden kann, um die andere Schulter am anderen Ende der Kappe von der entsprechenden anderen Kante des Körpers zum Entfernen der Kappe freizumachen.

2. Abgabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Körper (2) mit zwei Anschlagsstützen (16) versehen ist, die als die Hebeleinrichtung zum Zusammenwirken mit der Kappe (11) wirken und das Biegen der Kappe (11) zu dessen Entfernen unterstützen.

3. Abgabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die zwei Anschlagsstützen (16) die Führung des Einsatzes in der richtigen Richtung unterstützen.

4. Abgabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mindestens eine der Schultern (14) der Kappe (11) zum Bereitstellen eines besseren Fingergriffs gezahnt ist.

5. Abgabevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Verriegelungseinrichtung ein Längsbalken (17) ist, der mehrere Schultern (18) aufweist, eine für jeden Deckel, die mit einer entsprechenden Vertiefung (19) jedes Deckels zusammenwirken, wobei der Balken (19) in der Längsrichtung des Körpers bewegbar ist, um die Schultern (18) aus der Zusammenwirkung mit den Vertiefungen (19) zu bewegen und dadurch die Deckel aus ihrer verriegelten Lage freizusetzen.

6. Abgabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennnzeichnet, daß der Längsbalken (17) mit einem Federelement (20) in die Lage vorgespannt ist, die die Deckel (8) verriegelt.

7. Abgabevorrichtung nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jeder Deckel (8) einen abgeschrägten Teil (22) aufweist, welcher bei Schieben des Deckels in die geschlossene Lage mit dem Längsbalken (17) zusammenarbeitet, um dem Balken (17) das Passieren des Deckels in die geschlossene Lage zu gestatten und ihn dort zu verriegeln.

8. Abgabevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Einsatz (10) unsymmetrisch (23, 24) ist, um das Einsetzen in der falschen Richtung zu verhindern.

9. Abgabevorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Boden (5) und die Längs-  und Querseiten (3, 4) transparent sind, so daß Informations- und Identifikationskarten durch den Boden (5) und an mindestens eine der Seiten (3, 4) lesbar sind.

Revendications

1. Distributeur pour préparations médicales, notamment sous forme de comprimés, du type qui doivent être absorbés à certaines heures du jour et pendant plusieurs jours, par exemple une semaine, qui comprend un corps parallélépipédique (2) comportant deux faces longitudinales (3), deux faces transversales (4), un fond (5) et une surface supérieure (6), ladite surface supérieure présentant plusieurs évidements (7) recouverts chacun par un couvercle (8) qui peut coulisser dans des rainures (9) de la surface supérieure (6) de manière à pouvoir être retiré dans une seule direction ; un insert (10) comportant plusieurs rangées de compartiments (12), chaque rangée étant située au-dessous d'un évidement correspondant (7) dans le corps (2), chaque compartiment contenant les dites préparations médicales, ledit corps (2) présentant une ouverture (21) dans une des faces (4) du corps (2) pour permettre l'insertion et l'extraction dudit insert (10) à travers ladite ouverture (21) et comportant en outre des moyens de verrouillage (13) pour bloquer tous les dits couvercles (8) dans leur position fermée et pour libérer tous les couvercles (8) en même temps, caractérisé en ce que le corps (2) comprend un chapeau (11) fermant ladite ouverture (21), ledit chapeau (11) pouvant être enlevé pour permettre l'insertion et l'extraction dudit insert (10) à travers ladite ouverture de ladite face (4) du corps ; en ce que le chapeau (11) comporte, à chacune de ses extrémités, un épaulement (14) ; et en ce que ladite face (4) du corps (2) comporte deux bords (15) capables de retenir le chapeau dans une position fermée, le chapeau étant élastique de manière à être pressé vers l'intérieur d'un côté, des moyens formant point d'appui étant prévus pour faciliter la flexion du chapeau, de sorte que l'épaulement correspondant peut passer à l'intérieur du bord et le chapeau peut être poussé dans la direction transversale afin que l'autre épaulement, à l'autre extrémité du chapeau, se libère de l'autre bord correspondant du corps, pour enlèvement du chapeau.

2. Distributeur suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le corps (2) comporte deux bossages d'appui (16) servant de moyens de point d'appui pour coopération avec le chapeau (11), et facilitant la flexion du chapeau (11) pour l'enlèvement de celui-ci.

3. Distributeur suivant la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les deux bossages d'appui (16) aident au guidage de l'insert dans la direction correcte.

4. Distributeur suivant la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'au moins un des épaulements (14) du chapeau (11) est strié afin de procurer une meilleure prise des doigts.

5. Distributeur suivant une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de verrouillage comprennent une barre longitudinale (17) comportant plusieurs épaulements (18), un pour chaque couvercle, qui coopèrent avec un logement correspondant (19) prévu dans chaque couvercle, ladite barre étant déplaçable dans la direction longitudinale du corps pour éloigner les épaulements (18) de ladite coopération avec lesdits logements (19) et libérer ainsi les couvercles de la position verrouillée.

6. Distributeur suivant la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que la barre longitudinale (17) est rappelée par des moyens élastiques (20) à la position de verrouillage des couvercles (8).

7. Distributeur suivant la revendication 5 ou 6, caractérisé en ce que chaque couvercle (8) comporte une partie chanfreinée (22) qui coopère, lorsqu'on poussele couvercle vers la position fermée, avec la barre longitudinale (17) afin que la barre (17) laisse passer le couvercle vers la position fermée et le bloque dans cette position.

8. Distributeur suivant une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'insert (10) est asymétrique (23,24) pour empêcher l'insertion dans la direction incorrecte.

9. Distributeur suivant une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le fond (5) et les faces transversales et longitudinales (3,4) sont transparentes, de sorte qu'on peut lire les cartes d'information et d'identification à travers le fond (5) et au moins une desdites faces (3,4).

Drawing