U.S. patent application number 12/120310 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-19 for item dispenser with multi-section wells.
This patent application is currently assigned to AstraZeneca AB. Invention is credited to Karen Angelucci, Peter K. Bates, Michael L. Forehand, Adele Gulfo, Janice Jackson, Brian D. Johnson, Juliet McQuillan, Kathy Monday, Alan Mudd, David Trapani, Dean Whitney.
Application Number | 20090283437 12/120310 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41319667 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090283437 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Angelucci; Karen ; et
al. |
November 19, 2009 |
ITEM DISPENSER WITH MULTI-SECTION WELLS
Abstract
A solid dosage form dispenser, and methods for its manufacture.
The dispenser may include at least one well having a first section
and a second section; at least one well support configured to
support the well; and an enclosure element for enclosing the well
and the support. The first section may be deeper than the second
section; and the well may be configured to dispense one solid
dosage form.
Inventors: |
Angelucci; Karen;
(Bridgeport, PA) ; McQuillan; Juliet; (Wilmington,
DE) ; Johnson; Brian D.; (Landenberg, PA) ;
Forehand; Michael L.; (Avondale, PA) ; Whitney;
Dean; (Newton, MA) ; Bates; Peter K.;
(Framingham, MA) ; Mudd; Alan; (Beverly, MA)
; Jackson; Janice; (Chaddsford, PA) ; Trapani;
David; (West Chester, PA) ; Gulfo; Adele; (New
York, NY) ; Monday; Kathy; (Glen Mills, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Weiss & Arons, LLP
1540 Route 202, Suite 8
Pomona
NY
10970
US
|
Assignee: |
AstraZeneca AB
Sodertalje
SE
|
Family ID: |
41319667 |
Appl. No.: |
12/120310 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/530 ;
206/532 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0463 20130101;
B65D 2575/3245 20130101; A61J 1/03 20130101; B65D 75/327 20130101;
A61J 1/035 20130101; A61J 7/04 20130101; A61J 7/0084 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/530 ;
206/532 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Claims
1. A solid dosage form dispenser comprising: a solid dosage form
well suspended from a well support member; and a peelable lid
affixed to the well support member and covering the well, the
peelable lid including a handle for peeling the lid off of the well
support member to open the well.
2. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 1 wherein the handle is
an extension of the lid.
3. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 2 wherein the extension
is folded onto the lid.
4. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 1 wherein the handle
comprises a loop for grasping by a user of the dispenser.
5. The solid dosage form of claim 1 wherein the well includes a
first section and a second section, the second section being deeper
than the first section; a fulcrum at a junction between the first
section and the second section; and a lid for enclosing the well;
wherein, when a first end of a solid dosage form is retained in the
first section of the well, a second end of the solid dosage form is
suspended above a base of the second section.
6. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 5 wherein, when a solid
dosage form is present in the well and the lid seals the well, the
lid retains the first end of the solid dosage form in the first
section.
7. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 5 wherein, when a solid
dosage form is present in the well and the lid is removed from the
well: the second end of the solid dosage form descends in the
second section of the well; and the first end of the solid dosage
form rises in the first section of the well.
8. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 7 wherein: the well
comprises a rim; and, when the lid is removed from the well, a
portion of the first end of the solid dosage form rises above the
rim.
9. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 8 wherein: the rim has
a first width at the first section; the rim has a second width at
the second section; and the first width is greater than the second
width.
10. A solid dosage form dispenser comprising: at least one well
having a first section and a second section, the second section
being deeper than the first section; a fulcrum at a junction
between the first section and the second section; and a lid for
enclosing the well; wherein, when a first end of a solid dosage
form is retained in the first section of the well, a second end of
the solid dosage form is suspended above a base of the second
section.
11. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 10 wherein, when a
solid dosage form is present in the well and the lid seals the
well, the lid retains the first end of the solid dosage form in the
first section.
12. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 10 wherein, when a
solid dosage form is present in the well and the lid is removed
from the well: the second end of the solid dosage form descends in
the second section of the well; and the first end of the solid
dosage form rises in the first section of the well.
13. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 12 wherein: the well
comprises a rim; and, when the lid is removed from the well, a
portion of the first end of the solid dosage form rises above the
rim.
14. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 13 wherein: the rim
has a first width at the first section; the rim has a second width
at the second section; and the first width is greater than the
second width.
15. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 13 further comprising
a handle that extends from the rim.
16. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 15 wherein the handle
is folded onto the lid.
17. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 10 wherein the handle
comprises an aperture for grasping by a user of the dispenser.
18. A solid dosage form dispenser comprising: at least one well
having a first section, a second section comprising a base, and a
third section, the second section being between the first section
and the third section; and a well support member comprising a top
plane, the top plane of the well support member being substantially
parallel to the base of the second section; wherein a line
intersecting the junction of the well support member and the first
section and the junction of the first section and the second
section forms an angle of between 35 degrees and 65 degrees with
respect to the base of the second section, and a line intersecting
a junction of the well support member and the third section and a
junction of the third section and the second section forms an angle
of between 35 degrees and 65 degrees with respect to the base of
the second section.
19. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 18 further comprising
a lid that seals the well.
20. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 19 wherein the lid
comprises a handle.
21. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 20 wherein the handle
is folded onto the lid.
22. The solid dosage form dispenser of claim 20 wherein the handle
comprises an aperture for grasping by a user of the dispenser.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This application relates to an item dispenser in which items
are contained in wells and may be extracted from the wells for use
by an individual. In particular, the application relates to a
dispenser for pills, compacts, capsules (which may contain a solid,
a granulated powder, a gel, a liquid or any other suitable
substance) and/or caplets, which may be referred to herein as
"solid dosage forms."
[0002] Individuals with limited or compromised dexterity, with
limited or compromised faculties, or with a combination thereof,
may have difficulty administering solid dosage forms to themselves.
Solid dosage forms are often provided in bottles in which many
doses are stored in an aggregate. Whereas such bottles may have
sufficiently wide mouths to provide easy access to multiple
fingers, the doses must be administered individually. Also, such
aggregates do not provide a means of keeping track of dosing
information.
[0003] In contrast, individualized packaging, such as blister packs
or egg-carton style dispensers, which may include partitions for
storing different dosage forms for administration at different
times, often require dexterity to extract the dosage forms and may
provide for only limited access by an individual's fingers.
[0004] It would be desirable, therefore, to provide apparatus and
methods for dispensing solid dosage forms in a manner that
facilitates extraction of solid dosage forms.
[0005] It also would be desirable, therefore, to provide apparatus
and methods for dispensing solid dosage forms in a manner that
facilitates compliance with a therapeutic regimen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus and
methods for dispensing solid dosage forms in a manner that
facilitates extraction of the solid dosage forms. A solid dosage
form dispenser, and methods for manufacturing the dispenser, are
provided in accordance with the principles of the invention.
[0007] A solid dosage form dispenser according to the invention is
provided. The dispenser may include a solid dosage form well
suspended from a well support member. The dispenser may also
include a peelable lid affixed to the well support member and
covering the well. The peelable lid may include a handle for
peeling the lid off of the well support member to open the
well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent
upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of enclosure apparatus in
accordance with the principles of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of dispensing apparatus,
inside the enclosure apparatus of FIG. 1, in accordance with the
principles of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the dispensing
apparatus of FIG. 2 inside a different embodiment of the enclosure
apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view such as the view along line
3-3, shown in FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the enclosure
apparatus of FIG. 1 when the enclosure apparatus is open;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of other apparatus in
accordance with the principles of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a partial front perspective view of selected
apparatus in accordance with the principles of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 shows a side view of another embodiment of a well
according to the invention; and
[0017] FIGS. 9A and 9B show right and left perspective views,
respectively, of the well shown in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Solid dosage form dispensers and methods for manufacturing
the same are provided. An exemplary dispenser may include a
plurality of wells for holding the solid dosage form. Each well may
include a first section and a second section. In certain
embodiments of the invention, each well may include a peelable
lid.
[0019] Each well may be configured to hold the dosage form and
provide surfaces to cause a portion of the dosage form to rise out
of the well when an individual peels the lid off of the well. The
first section of each well may be deep enough to contain the dosage
form and may have a base that slopes upward toward a second section
which may be shorter, wider and shallower than the first
section.
[0020] The reduced length, the extra width and the reduced depth of
the second section may cause a portion of the pill to rise above
the plane of the well support member following the removal of the
peelable lid. After the peelable lid is removed, and a portion of
the dosage form rises above the well support member, an individual
may be assisted in at least two ways as he attempts to grasp the
dosage form with his fingers. First, a portion of the dosage form
is now above the well support member and may be grasped without
having to reach inside the well. Second, even if the individual may
have to reach inside the well, the greater width of the second
section allows an individual to grasp the raised portion of the
dosage form more easily because of the greater clearance about the
raised portion of the dosage form.
[0021] The dispenser may include one or more sheets of the wells.
The sheets may be provided in an enclosure, which may be hinged
such that the wells may be enclosed for containing the dosage forms
or exposed for dispensing the dosage forms.
[0022] FIGS. 1-7 show illustrative embodiments and features of the
invention. FIG. 1 shows illustrative clam-shell enclosure 100,
which may include half-shell 102 and half-shell 104, which may be
joined at a hinge (not shown). The hinge may be a pin hinge, a
living hinge or any other suitable hinge. Half-shell 102 and
half-shell 104 may include, as appropriate, receptacles 108 and 110
and corresponding pressure grips 112 and 114, which may include
tabs 116 and 118, respectively, for snap-locking enclosure 100 in a
closed configuration. An individual may depress grips 112 and 114
to release tabs 116 and 118, respectively, from receptacles 108 and
110.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows enclosure 100 in an open configuration, in
which half-shells 102 and 104 are hingedly attached by hinge 105.
Enclosure 100 may also include pressure grip 120, tab 122 and
receptacles 124, which correspond to pressure grip 112, tabs 116
and receptacles 108.
[0024] FIG. 2 also shows wells 124 supported by well support member
126. In some embodiments of the invention, each of the wells is
configured to dispense one solid dosage form. Lids of the wells may
be formed from flap 128 and base 125. Base preferably seals the
dosage form within the package. Flap 128 may be an extension of
base 125. Each one of the lids may preferably correspond to each of
wells 124.
[0025] Each base may be fixed to well support member 126. Each lid
may also bend at the juncture between base 125 and flap 128.
Accordingly, each flap 128 may extend back at least partially over
the well. Free end 128 is movable and may be pulled to sever base
125 from the package, thereby providing access to a solid dosage
form stored in the well.
[0026] Windows 130 may be present in one or more of flaps 128 to
provide visual information about the contents of the corresponding
well. Flaps 128 (or, alternatively, base 125) may be labeled with
the days of the week, as shown, or with any other suitable
information. Windows 130 may also allow an individual to see
through flap 128 and base 125 (assuming an embodiment of the
invention wherein base 125 is formed from a see-through
material).
[0027] Well support member 132 may be present underneath well
support member 126 and may support an additional set of wells for
dispensing solid dosage forms.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows illustrative enclosure 300 with transparent
half-shells 302 and 304 closed. Half-shells 302 and 304 correspond
to half-shells 102 and 104 (shown in FIG. 1), but may be
transparent to provide visual information about the contents of
wells 124. FIG. 3 shows well support member 132 underneath well
support member 126.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view such as the view of
enclosure 300 taken along line 3-3 (shown in FIG. 3), but including
half-shells 102 and 104, which are not transparent, instead of
transparent half-shells 302 and 304. FIG. 4 shows that well support
member 126 may include well 124 (also shown in FIGS. described
above) and reinforcement structure 134. Other reinforcement
structures may be present elsewhere in well support member 126,
such as between wells 124.
[0030] Well support member 132 may include solid dosage form well
424 and reinforcement structure 434. Other reinforcement structures
may be present elsewhere in well support member 132, such as
between wells 434. Well support member 126 may include frame 402
and well support member 132 may include frame 404. Extension 403 of
frame 402 may be present to secure frame 402 to enclosure 100
adjacent hinge 105. Extension 403 may be fastened to enclosure 100
by any suitable method. Slots 406 and 410 may be present,
respectively, above well support member 126 and below well support
member 132. Patient information articles 408 and 412 may be present
in slots 406 and 410, respectively. Flaps 128 and 426 and bases 125
and 425 may be seen above wells 124 and 424, respectively. Fulcrums
461 and 427 may be seen in wells 124 and 424, respectively.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows that well 124 includes sections 450 and 460.
Section 450 includes sloped base 452. Section 450 is deeper and
shorter than section 460. Section 460 includes sloped base 462.
Section 450, together with section 460, is configured to contain a
solid dosage form.
[0032] Upon removal of flap 424, Sloped base 452 encourages the
solid dosage form to pivot on fulcrum 461. As a result, a portion
of the solid dosage form drops to rest in well bottom 454, which
raises a portion of the solid dosage form out of section 460, and
over the top plane of well support member 132. The raising of a
portion of the solid dosage member out of section 460 and above the
top plane of well support member 132 may facilitate manual
acquisition of the solid dosage form by the user. For example, when
an individual attempts to extract the solid dosage form from
section 450, he can grab the exposed and raised portion of the
solid dosage form.
[0033] In some embodiments of the invention, section 460 may be
wider in the transverse ("T," see arrow) direction than section
450. The width of section 460 may provide additional access to the
solid dosage form. The individual is further enabled to grasp the
raised portion of the solid dosage form by the relatively greater
width of section 460 with respect to the T direction. Moreover, the
solid dosage form is stabilized in position by the narrow width of
section 460 so the solid dosage form does not move about
substantially when the individual is grasping the solid dosage
form.
[0034] Top wall 464 of sloped base 462 may provide resistance to
the solid dosage form as the user moves the solid dosage form along
sloped base 462. This reduces the likelihood that the user will
push the solid dosage form out of well 124 before gaining a grip on
the solid dosage form. (If the solid dosage form is pushed out of
well 124 before the user gains a grip on the solid dosage form, the
solid dosage form may be dropped.)
[0035] As described above, once flap 424 has been removed, the
solid dosage form may then be grasped between the fingers and the
thumb. FIG. 4 shows that top wall 464 is offset from front edge 490
of frame 402 by angle A, whereas sloped base 462 is offset from
front edge 490 by angle B. Angle A is smaller than angle B and
therefore allows the user to coordinate the fingers and thumb in
close proximity to each other and more easily manipulate the solid
dosage form.
[0036] Some embodiments of the invention may include a blister-pack
dispenser with wells that have features corresponding to those of
well 124 (shown in FIG. 2).
[0037] FIG. 5 shows enclosure 100 with half-shells 102 and 104
opened about hinge 105, which is illustrated in FIG. 5 as a living
hinge.
[0038] FIG. 6 shows illustrative frame 604, which includes
extension 603. Frame 604 may operate to support wells such as 124
(see FIG. 1) as part of a well support member such as 126 or 132
(see FIG. 2, e.g.). Frame 604 may be integral to the well support
member or may be an attachable component of the well support
member. Frame 604 is configured for attachment to the well support
member. Extension 603 is configured for attachment to an enclosure
such as 100, e.g.
[0039] FIG. 7 shows an illustrative arrangement of wells 724
arranged in well support member 780, which may be a sheet that may
be attachment to frame 704 via studs 782 and corresponding holes
784 or by any suitable method. Well support member 780 is shown as
being substantially transparent, so features interior to frame 704
are visible through well support member 780. Studs 786 may extend
downward from frame 704 to fasten frame 704 to plate 788. Plate 788
may support bosses such as bosses 790. Bosses 790 may extend upward
from plate 788 and may provide mechanical stability to frame 704
and well support member 780. It will be understood that the number
and arrangement of wells and bosses shown in FIG. 7 are
illustrative and that any suitable number of wells, any suitable
number of bosses and any suitable pattern of wells and bosses may
be present in embodiments of the invention.
[0040] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a well 800 according to
the invention. Well 800 may include preferably two ramp sections
802 and 803. Because the friction between a finger and the solid
dosage form 804 is greater than the friction between the solid
dosage form and the blister material, the pill may slide up either
one of ramp sections 802 or 803 in response to pressure along the
longitudinal axis of the solid dosage form. When the pill has slid
up either ramp, the portion of the pill that is above the well
support member 806 is easy to grasp.
[0041] The angles T1 and T2 representing the angles formed between
the base of well 800 with respect to the bases of ramp sections 802
and 803, respectively, may preferably be between about 35 to about
65 degrees. Angle T1 may be taken from an angle formed by the
substantially flat base of well 800 with respect to a line formed
from point P1--i.e., the point of intersection of ramp section 802
with the base of well 800--to point P2--i.e., the point of
intersection of ramp section 802 with well support member 806.
Angle T2 may be taken from an angle formed by the substantially
flat base of well 800 with respect to a line formed from point
P3--i.e., the point of intersection of second ramp section 803 with
the base of well 800--to point P4--i.e., the point of intersection
of ramp section 803 with well support member 806.
[0042] While angles T1 and T2 appear from FIG. 8 to be equal,
nevertheless, it should be noted that angles T1 and T2 may be
different in order to make solid dosage form 804 more accessible
from a selected one of ramp sections 802 and 803.
[0043] FIGS. 9A and 9B show perspective views of the embodiment of
the invention shown in FIG. 8. FIGS. 9A and 9B also include ramp
sections 902 and 903, solid dosage form 904, and well support
member 906. As it can be seen from FIGS. 9A and 9B, solid dosage
form 904 is capable of being slid up either of ramp sections 902 or
903.
[0044] Thus, systems and methods for providing item dispensers with
multi-section wells according to the invention have been provided.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present
invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments,
which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of
limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims
which follow.
* * * * *