U.S. patent number 3,651,927 [Application Number 04/868,173] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-28 for tablet dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Cambridge Research and Development Group. Invention is credited to James E. Richardson, Lawrence M. Sherman.
United States Patent |
3,651,927 |
Richardson , et al. |
March 28, 1972 |
TABLET DISPENSER
Abstract
A dispenser for solid dosage form pharmaceutical preparations
which are administered on a regular chronologic schedule.
Typically, the dispenser is used for the storage and dispensing of
oral contraceptive drugs. The dispenser comprises a base disk
having a plurality of circumferentially spaced tablet dispenser
apertures, an intermediate table disk, having a corresponding
plurality of frangible tablet receptacles, and an overlying locator
disk. The locator disk also has a corresponding plurality of
apertures and, when the three disks are assembled in superposed,
operative relation, each tablet receptacle extends upwardly through
one of the apertures in the locator disk. Each tablet is oriented
in a vertical position within its own tablet receptacle.
Appropriate chronologic indicia are positioned on the base disk to
permit alignment of the tablet and locator disks to the particular
menstrual cycle of the user. Locking means are provided to secure
the tablet and locator disks in the desired orientation and
superposed relation with respect to the base disk.
Inventors: |
Richardson; James E. (Weston,
CT), Sherman; Lawrence M. (Westport, CT) |
Assignee: |
Cambridge Research and Development
Group (Westport, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
25351194 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/868,173 |
Filed: |
October 21, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/5; 116/308;
206/534; 221/302; 206/531; 221/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/0463 (20130101); B65D 2583/0409 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/04 (20060101); B65d 083/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/42 ;116/121
;221/4,5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Summer; Leonard
Claims
Having described in detail a number of preferred embodiments of our
invention, what we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent of
the United States is:
1. A dispenser for dispensing tablets in a predetermined
chronological sequence comprising:
A base member having
at least 21 circumferentially spaced tablet dispensing apertures;
and a corresponding plurality of chronological daily indicia
located around the periphery of and aligned with the tablet
dispensing apertures, said indicia covering at least 21 consecutive
days of the week;
A tablet disk comprising:
a planar circular closure member having a plurality of frangible,
circumferentially spaced portions therein,
a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially aligned, erect,
deformable blisters positioned over and secured to the frangible
portions of the closure member, said blisters each defining a
tablet receptacle, and,
a corresponding plurality of tablets positioned vertically on edge
within the tablet receptacles with the plane of each tablet being
radially aligned and normal to the plane of said circular closure
member;
A locator disk having
a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures which are of a
sufficient size to permit the tablet disk blisters to extend
upwardly through the apertures when the tablet and locator disks
are assembled in superposed relation;
Means for holding the tablet and locator disks in rotatable,
superposed relation on said base member so that said disks can be
rotated to position the tablet containing blisters over the base
member tablet dispensing apertures and in radial alignment with the
chronological daily indicia; and,
Means for releasably locking the tablet and locator disks to
prevent rotation with respect to the base member, said locking
means cooperating with said tablet disk to eject one tablet from
the dispenser when the locking means is actuated.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 further characterized by said locking
means being carried on and rotatable with said locator disk.
3. The dispenser of claim 1 further characterized by said locking
means being carried on and rotatable with said locator disk and, a
beginning of menstrual cycle index positioned on said locator disk
with respect to said locking means so that when the index is
aligned with the daily indicia representing the day of the week on
which the menstrual cycle began, the locking means will eject the
tablet that is aligned with the daily indicia which occurs four
consecutive days later.
4. The dispenser of claim 1 further characterized by said tablet
disk blisters being circumferentially spaced apart by a distance
such that the user's forefinger normally covers at least two of the
blisters.
5. A dispenser for dispensing tablets in a predetermined
chronological sequence comprising:
A base member having
at least 21 circumferentially spaced tablet dispensing apertures, a
corresponding plurality of chronological daily indicia located
around the periphery of and aligned with the tablet dispensing
apertures, said indicia covering at least 21 consecutive days of
the week; and at least 21 circumferentially spaced daily beginning
of menstrual cycle indicia positioned inwardly from said tablet
dispensing apertures;
A tablet disk comprising
a planar circular closure member having a plurality of frangible,
circumferentially spaced portions therein,
a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially aligned, erect,
deformable blisters positioned over and secured to the frangible
portions of the closure member, said blisters each defining a
tablet receptacle, and,
a corresponding plurality of tablets positioned vertically on edge
within the tablet receptacles with the plane of each tablet being
radially aligned and normal to the plane of said circular closure
member;
A locator disk having
a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures which are of a
sufficient size to permit the tablet disk blisters to extend
upwardly through the apertures when the tablet and locator disks
are assembled in superposed relation;
Means for holding the tablet and locator disks in rotatable,
superposed relation on said base member so that said disks can be
rotated to position the tablet containing blisters over the base
member tablet dispensing apertures and in radial alignment with the
chronological daily indicia; and,
said tablet and locator disks each having an aperture through which
one of the beginning of cycle daily indicia is visible when the
disks are assembled in superposed relation on said base member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to pharmaceutical preparation dispensers in
general and, more particularly, to a dispenser for dispensing
tablets in chronological sequence.
The introduction of solid form oral contraceptives which must be
taken in accordance with a predetermined chronological order has
stimulated the dispensing industry to produce a wide variety of
tablet dispensers. Representative examples of such dispensers are
found in the U.S. Pats. No. to Wagner, 3,143,207, Ruoss et.al.,
3,199,489, Kaufman et.al., 3,276,573, Finkelston, Jr., et.al.,
3,302,775 and Ballard, 3,303,927.
Ideally, any dispenser for solid form oral contraceptives should
conform to a number of easily defined, but collectively difficult
to implement, parameters. For example, the dispenser should provide
a chronological or calendar indication of the time cycle within
which the drugs are to be taken. Means should be provided for
adjusting the tablet container with respect to the chronological or
calendar indicia to synchronize the drug regimen to the user's
particular menstrual cycle. In order to minimize the total cost to
the consumer over a number of contraceptive drug administration
cycles, the basic dispenser should be refillable and, preferably,
refillable by the user. Suitable indexing means should be provided
to insure correct positioning of a replacement tablet container.
From an aesthetic standpoint, the overall size of the dispenser
should be kept to a minimum and the configuration of the dispenser
should resemble a ladies' compact.
It is accordingly a basic object of present invention to provide a
solid form oral contraceptive dispenser which generally fulfills
the above-defined parameters.
It is a specific object of the invention to provide such a
dispenser at a reasonable cost to the consumer.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a dispenser
in which accidental or inadvertent dispensing of a tablet out of
sequence is substantially precluded and, if it does occur, it
readily apparent to the user.
In the accomplishment of these objects, we provide a dispenser
comprising a base disk having a plurality of circumferentially
spaced tablet dispensing apertures, a replaceable overlying tablet
disk, and a locator disk positioned above the tablet disk. The
tablet disk has a plurality of circumferentially spaced,
upstanding, frangible tablet receptacles each containing one tablet
dosage of the oral contraceptive. Each tablet is placed within the
receptacle in a vertical position to minimize the size of the
dispenser and to facilitate ejection of the tablet through the
frangible material of the tablet disk. A rotatable locator disk
having a corresponding plurality of apertures is positioned over
the tablet disk so that the tablet receptacles extend upwardly
through and beyond the locator disk apertures. The locator disk and
tablet disk can be rotated together as a unit to orient a beginning
of cycle index on the locator disk to the appropriate chronologic
or calendar indicia on the face disk. The rotatable orientation
operation is necessary to adjust the dispenser to the user's
particular menstrual cycle. Locking means are provided to lock the
base tablet and locator disks in superposed relation after the
correct orientation has been obtained for the user's current
menstrual cycle.
These objects and other objects and features of the present
invention will best be understood from a detailed description of a
preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of
illustration, and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tablet dispenser constructed in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dispenser base and cover shown in the
open position;
FIG. 3 is a view in cross-section taken along line 3--3 in FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tablet disk for a 20-day regimen;
FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section of the tablet disk taken along
line 5--5 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a 20-day regimen locator disk and
associated disk locking mechanisms;
FIG. 7 is a view in cross-section of the locking mechanism taken
along line 7--7 in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the tablet
disk for a 21-day regimen;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the locator disk and associated locking
mechanism for a 21-day regimen;
FIGS. 10 through 12 are views in cross-section showing the ejection
of a tablet from the tablet disk by depressing the locking
mechanism;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the
dispenser base;
FIG. 14 is a view in cross-section taken along line 14--14 in FIG.
13;
FIG. 15 is a plan view of a 20-day regimen tablet disk for use in
the dispenser base shown in FIG. 13;
FIG. 16 is a plan view of a locator disk and locking mechanism for
use in the dispenser base shown in FIG. 13;
FIG. 17 is a view in cross-section taken along line 17--17 in FIG.
16 showing the locking mechanism;
FIGS. 18 and 19 show in cross-section the operation of the locator
disk locking mechanism;
FIG. 20 is a side elevation of a portion of the dispenser base
showing the relationship of the locator disk locking mechanism to
the base disk apertures; and
FIG. 21 is a view in partial section showing the locking mechanism
in the locked position.
Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1
thereof, there is shown in perspective view a compact styled tablet
dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention and
indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. For aesthetic
reasons, the tablet dispenser 10 is constructed to resemble a
ladies' cosmetic compact with a generally circular base member 12
and a correspondingly shaped hinged cover 14. Although a separate
hinge can be used to join the base and cover, in the preferred
embodiment the base and cover are molded as a single unit from
plastic with an integral plastic "living" hinge 16. A frictionally
fitted mirror 18 is located within the cover 14 so the dispenser
can serve both as a makeup mirror and a tablet dispenser. Since the
dispenser is approximately 23/4 inches in diameter, the user's hand
will hide the tablets so that the dispenser can be used as a hand
mirror without causing embarrassment.
The relatively small size of the dispenser 10, compared to many
other oral contraceptive dispensers, is made possible by the novel
vertical positioning of the tablets within the dispenser. This
feature of the invention also produces other significant advantages
which will be discussed below in connection with the description of
the major operative components of the tablet dispenser.
The tablet dispenser 10 can be divided into three major operative
components. Looking at FIGS. 2 through 7, the first component is
the previously mentioned base member or disk 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3),
the second major component is a tablet disk 20 which contains a
plurality of ejectable tablets 22 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and, finally, the
third major component is a locator disk 24 (FIGS. 6 and 7). The
base member 12 has a generally round shape with a circular central
recess 26. Within the recess 26 are at least 21 circumferentially
spaced tablet dispensing apertures 28. If more than 21 tablet
dispensing apertures are used, the total number of apertures should
be divisible by seven to provide proper administration of the oral
contraceptive dosage cycle.
A corresponding plurality of chronologically arranged daily indicia
30 are located around the periphery of the dispensing apertures on
the shoulder 32 of the base disk. Each daily indicia 30 is radially
aligned with one of the tablet dispensing apertures 28, as shown in
FIG. 2. The chronologically arranged daily indicia 30 cover at
least 21 consecutive days of the week which are identified by
standard abbreviations e.g. "MON," "TUE," etc. Various methods can
be employed for placing the daily indicia 30 on the base disk
shoulder 32. For instance, suitable methods include printing,
screening, embossing, hot stamping, engraving, and molded raised or
depressed letters.
The remaining elements of the base member 12 can best be understood
by relating them to the tablet disk 20 and the locator disk 24.
Accordingly, we will now described in detail the second and third
major components of our tablet dispenser. Referring to FIGS. 4 and
5, the tablet disk 20 is depicted in plan view and cross-section,
respectively. The tablet disk comprises a planar circular closure
member 34, a plurality of tablet receptacle defining, deformable
blisters 36, and a corresponding plurality of tablets 22 positioned
within the blisters. In the preferred configuration, the tablet
disk 20 is manufactured as a conventional "blister" package having
a thermo or vacuum formed blister sheet 38 and a frangible closure
layer 40, such as, thin aluminum foil sealed thereto. Prior to
sealing the closure layer to the blister sheet, the pharmaceutical
preparation tablets are machine loaded into the blister formed
tablet receptacles 42. Although conventional "blister" packaging is
preferred for obvious economic reasons, the invention is not
limited to this particular form of packaging.
Conceptually, the tablet disk 20 can have a plurality of
individual, erect, deformable blisters which are secured to the
planar, circular closure member 34. The closure member must be
frangible at least under the areas covered by the deformable
blisters to permit ejection of the tablet from the blister. Given
these requirements, separate blisters and separate frangible
closure layer areas can be used, but a single blister sheet and a
single frangible closure layer are certainly much more
desirable.
The blisters 36 are arranged in a spaced, circumferential
configuration with the axis of each blister aligned with a radius
of the tablet disk. The erect, deformable blisters define the
previously mentioned tablet receptacles 42. Looking at FIGS. 1, 4
and 5, it can be seen that the tablets are positioned vertically on
edge within the blisters. The plane of each tablet is radially
aligned and normal to the plane of the closure member 34. The
vertical positioning of the tablets produces a number of
significant advantages.
It has already been mentioned that this arrangement permits a
reduction in the overall size of the tablet dispenser. The size
reduction is particularly effective with respect to the "diameter"
of the generally round dispenser. Another important advantage of
the vertical positioning of the tablets is that much less force is
required to rupture the frangible, blister closure material. With
the tablet positioned vertically on edge, the force exerted by the
user's finger in deforming the blister is transmitted to the edge
of the tablet. Since the area of the tablet in contact with the
frangible closure material is considerably smaller than if the
tablet were lying flat in a horizontal position, substantially
greater pressure is applied to the frangible material. Thus, for a
given closure material rupture pressure, less force has to be
exerted upon the blister and tablet to eject the tablet if the
tablet is positioned vertically on edge in the blister.
A concomitant advantage of this relationship is the reduction in
accidental cracking of the tablet during ejection. It has been
found that tablets are more susceptible to cracking if they are
pressed on the generally flat surface of the tablet than if they
are pressed on the narrow edge. This difference is attributable to
the shape of the tablet and to a certain extent to the
manufacturing processes employed in forming the tablet. However,
regardless of the cause, the differential directional strength of
the tablet is a factor to be considered in designing an effective
dispenser. The tablet dispenser as an invention utilizes the
greater tablet strength in the plane of the tablet by blister
packing the tablets in a vertical on-edge position, as shown in
FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.
The particular vertically mounted, side profile of the tablets is
not especially significant. For instance, the tablets shown in
FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 are circular. However, this configuration is
merely illustrative and other tablet shapes can be employed. At the
present time, some oral contraceptive tablets have relatively
straight sides, and when viewed in the plan, resemble a pentagon or
hexagon. Such tablets, if mounted vertically on edge, can be used
with equal benefit in the tablet disk of the present invention.
Referring back now to the drawings and specifically to FIGS. 6 and
7, the locator disk 24 is depicted in plan view and cross-section,
respectively. Preferably, the locator disk is molded from plastic
although other materials can, of course, be used to construct the
disk. Arranged around the circumference of the locator disk are
radially aligned apertures 44 which are designed to receive the
tablet disk blisters 36 when the two disks are assembled in
superposed relation, as shown in FIG. 1. Looking at FIG. 1, it can
be seen that the blisters 36 extend upwardly through and beyond the
locator disk apertures 44 and with a snug fit therein. Thus, in the
assembled position, the two disks will rotate as a single unit.
The locator disk 24 has an integrally formed, downwardly depending
shaft 46 that is aligned with the axis of the locator disk. The
shaft axis is the center of rotation for both the locator and
tablet disks when the disks are assembled in superposed
relationship and fitted within the central recess 26 of the base
member, as shown in FIG. 1.
Looking at FIGS. 4 and 5, the tablet disk 20 has a central, axially
aligned aperture 48. The diameter of the tablet disk aperture 48 is
slightly greater than the normal outside diameter of the locator
disk shaft 46 and slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the
shaft shoulders 50. Thus, the tablet disk can be force-fitted over
the shaft shoulders 50 and then will be free to rotate with the
locator disk. The now assembled locator and tablet disks are placed
within the central recess of the base member and the shoulders of
the locator disk shaft 46 are forced through a central aperture 52
in the base member. After being forced through the base member
aperture 52, the locator disk shaft shoulders 50 spring back to
their normal diameter and hold the tablet and locator disks in
rotatable, superposed relation with respect to the base member. The
assembled relationship of the three major components of the tablet
dispenser 10 can best be seen in the tablet ejection sequence
depicted in FIGS. 10 through 12.
With the two disks assembled in rotatable, superposed relation
within the base member central recess, the tablet and locator disks
can be rotated to set the dispenser for the user's particular
menstrual cycle. Cycle synchronization is achieved by referencing
the rotatable disks to the day on which the current menstrual cycle
began. In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 through 7,
the disks are rotated until the correct beginning of cycle daily
indicia 54 is visible through the aligned windows 56 and 58 in the
tablet and locator disks, respectively. When this is done, a first
tablet indicator 60 locates the first tablet to be taken and the
base member daily indicia 30 identifies the particular day of the
week upon which the first tablet is to be taken.
The presently used oral contraceptive regimens call for medication
to begin on the 5th day of the cycle, counting the day the cycle
began as day 1. Looking at FIG. 1, it can be seen that the
beginning of cycle indicia "FRI" appears in the windows and the
first tablet indicator points to "TUE" which is day 5 of the
cycle.
Two additional features are provided in the tablet dispenser to
facilitate setting the dispenser in synchronism with the user's
particular cycle and to prevent accidental rotation of the disks
once they have been set to the correct position. Referring to FIGS.
1, 6 and 7, the locator disk is provided with a handle 62 which is
curved to conform to the shape of the user's finger. The curved
shape of handle 62 indicates to the user that the disk should be
rotated in a clockwise direction. However, unlike many existing
contraceptive tablet dispensers, the disks can be turned backwards
if the user goes too far in rotating the disk to set the dispenser
to her particular menstrual cycle.
Once the dispenser has been set, it is desirable to prevent
subsequent rotation of the disks. A suitable tablet-locator disk
locking mechanism is provided in each embodiment of the invention
to prevent such rotation. Looking at FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, it can be
seen that a locking lever 64 extends outwardly from the upper
extension of the locator disk shaft 46. The junction between the
locking lever and the shaft permits downward deflection of the
locking lever during the locking operation. Sufficient flexibility
at the junction can be obtained by undercutting a portion of the
locking lever as shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 10-12. In the preferred
embodiment, the locking lever is molded from plastic as an integral
unit with the locator disk 24 and handle 62. With this type of
construction, sufficient flexibility and resiliency can be achieved
to allow downward deflection of the locking lever to the locked
position while providing an upward force to maintain the lever in
the locked position. The locking operation is accomplished by means
of a downwardly depending latch 66 located near the distal end of
the locking lever. The latch extends downwardly through apertures
68 and 70 in the locator and tablet disks, respectively. In the
unlocked position, the latch does not engage the base member and
the two disks are free to rotate about the common axis of the base
member tablet disk and locator disk. The operation of the latch can
best be understood from the sequential views of the latching
movement shown in FIGS. 10-12. It should be noted that although
FIGS. 10-12 illustrate another embodiment of the tablet and locator
disks, the latch construction and latching operation are the same
as for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7. When the disks have been
positioned to synchronize the dispenser to the user's menstrual
cycle, the disks are locked by pushing down on the locking lever
which in turn causes the latch to project downwardly through the
latch aperture in the base member. The release of the downward
pressure causes the lever and latch to spring back in an upwardly
direction thereby locking the latch shoulder 74 against the bottom
surface of the base member.
With the dispenser set to the correct position for the user's cycle
and locked in this position, the dispenser is now ready to dispense
the first sequential tablet. The user presses down on the blister
containing the first tablet i.e., the blister aligned with the
first tablet indicia 60 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Further
deformation of the blister forces the tablet 22 down against the
closure material 34 until the material ruptures thereby releasing
the tablet which drops out of the dispenser through the base member
tablet dispensing aperture 28. On the following day the user ejects
the next tablet and, thereafter, proceeds in a clockwise direction
until all 20 tablets in the tablet disk have been used.
One feature of the present invention is that it is extremely
difficult for a woman to eject a single tablet in the wrong
sequence. This feature is a concomitant of the close tablet spacing
that is obtained by vertically mounting the tablets on their edges.
The spacing of the tablets around the circumference of the tablet
disk is such that a woman's forefinger normally covers at least two
of the blisters. It is therefore only possible to eject one tablet
if that tablet is positioned immediately adjacent to a deformed,
empty blister or is adjacent to the locking lever 64. Thus, if the
woman ejects the first tablet, the spacing of the tablets will
thereafter force her to eject tablets in the correct clockwise
sequence.
The preceding description has been directed to a 20 -day regimen
for the oral contraceptive tablets. However, other regimens can be
used with the tablet dispenser of the present invention. Currently,
oral contraceptive regimens include a 21 day administration cycle.
The dispenser 10 can be adapted for a 21 day regimen by changing
the tablet disk 20 and the instructions on the locator disk 24.
Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown in plan view a tablet disk 76
having 21 tablets 22 positioned within the blisters 36. The 21 day
tablet disk 76 has the same locking lever aperture 70 as the 20 day
tablet disk 20, but without the beginning of cycle indicia window
56. Synchronization of the assembled 21 day tablet disk 76 and the
locator disk 24 is accomplished by rotating the disks until a
beginning of cycle index 78 on the locator disk is aligned with the
base member daily indicia 30 which corresponds to the beginning day
of the woman's menstrual cycle. The beginning of cycle index 78 is
positioned 4 days counterclockwise from the first tablet indicator
80, in this case, located on the locking lever 64. Thus, the first
tablet will be taken on day 5 of the cycle, counting the beginning
day of the cycle as day 1.
In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8 through 12, the locking lever
64 performs a dual function upon depression: first, it ejects the
first day tablet located under the lever; and, second, it locks the
tablet and locator disks with respect to the base member. The
tablet ejection and locking sequence is depicted in cross-section
in FIGS. 10 through 12.
FIGS. 13 through 18 illustrate another embodiment of the invention
for a 20 day regimen. This embodiment utilizes a different locking
mechanism and provides a "click" stop rotation for the tablet and
locator disks. Referring to FIG. 13, the base member 12 is the same
as the base member shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, with the omission of the
locking latch apertures 72. Similarly, the tablet disk 82 shown in
FIG. 15 resembles the tablet disk 20 illustrated in FIG. 4 with
certain exceptions. In particular, the tablet disk 82 has an
inwardly extending slot 84 located in the position formerly
occupied by one of the tables 22. A beginning of cycle indicia
window 86 is oriented on the tablet disk to display one of the
beginning of cycle indicia 54 printed on the underlying base member
12.
A slightly different locator disk 88 is used in conjunction with
the 20 day tablet disk 82. Looking at FIG. 16, the locator disk 88
has a beginning of cycle indicia window 90 and a first tablet
indicator 92. The angular disposition of the window 90 with respect
to the first tablet indicator 92 is selected to position the first
tablet indicator four days after the beginning of the cycle day
shown through window 90. Thus, the first tablet indicator will
indicate medication to be taken on day 5 of the user's cycle.
The locking mechanism for this particular embodiment of the tablet
dispenser is depicted in FIGS. 16 through 21. The locking mechanism
comprises a flexible stop member 94 which is preferably formed as
an integral part of the locator disk 88. Flexibility of the stop
member 94 with respect to the plane of the locator disk 88 is
achieved by removing some of the material at the junction of the
stop member and disk, as shown in FIGS. 17, 18 and 19. The stop
member 94 has a downwardly depending latch 96 with an outwardly
extending latch shoulder 98 located at the distal end thereof. When
the stop member is depressed, the latch 96 extends downwardly
through the slot 84 in the underlying tablet disk 82 and into the
base disk tablet dispensing aperture 28. Further downward travel of
the stop member causes the latch shoulder 98 to clear the bottom
surface of the base member. At this point, the latch springs
outwardly locking the latch shoulder 98 against the base member
12.
It has already been mentioned that "click" stop rotation of the
tablet and locator disks is provided in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 13 through 21. This type of incremental rotation is achieved
by having the stop member 94 ride upwardly and over the base member
web 100 between each tablet dispensing aperture 28. Looking at FIG.
20, it can be seen that the rounded bottom of the stop member
extends below the upper surface of the base member central recess
26 in the unlocked position. Thus, as the two disks are rotated,
the user will feel some rotational resistance as the rounded
portion of the stop member rides up and over the base member web
100. When the stop member moves over and beyond the web, it will
drop back down into the next tablet dispensing aperture 28 thereby
causing a "click." It should also be noted that the seating of the
stop member, within the base member aperture 28, accurately aligns
both the locator and tablet disks to the base member.
* * * * *