Pill storage receptacle for use in an automated pill dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A pill storage container is provided and includes a housing having an open first end and a closed second end with a first locking feature being formed proximate the open first end. The pill storage container also includes a removable lid assembly positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position with respect to the housing. The lid assembly includes an outer cover; a first part having depressable locking tabs; and a second part rotatably coupled to the outer cover. The second part includes first locking slots for receiving the locking tabs to prevent rotation of the second part in the locked position and the second part further includes a second locking feature which releasably mates with the first locking feature in the locked position, wherein depressing the locking tabs and rotation of the second part results in the second locking feature disengaging from the first locking feature and the lid assembly being removable in this unlocked position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pill storage container comprising: 
 a housing having an open first end and a closed second end with a first locking feature being formed proximate the open first end; and    a removable lid assembly positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lid assembly including: 
 an outer cover;  
 a first part having depressable locking tabs; and  
 a second part rotatably coupled to the outer cover and including first locking slots for receiving the locking tabs to prevent rotation of the second part in the locked position, the second part including a second locking feature which releasably mates with the first locking feature in the locked position, wherein depressing the locking tabs and rotation of the second part results in the second locking feature disengaging from the first locking feature and the lid assembly being removable in this unlocked position.  
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid assembly further includes a lid bottom part that is non-rotatably coupled to the outer cover and includes a pair of cut-outs formed along a peripheral edge thereof for receiving the second locking features in the locked position, wherein rotation of the second part causes the second locking feature to contact the peripheral edge of the lid bottom part and disengage from the first locking feature, thereby permitting the lid assembly to be removed.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the outer cover is coupled to the lid bottom part by two central hubs that extend therebetween and are securely connected to one another.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the lid bottom part comprises a ring member having a floor with a vertical side wall extending upwardly therefrom, the vertical side wall having two cut-outs formed at upper edges of the vertical side wall, the floor including a first central hub member that mates with a second central hub member formed as part of the outer cover to couple the outer cover to the lid bottom part.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the two cut-outs are formed opposite one another.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking feature is at least one locking slot formed in the housing such that the locking slot opens into an inner cavity defined by the housing where pills can be stored.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the first locking feature comprises two locking slots formed in the housing opposite one another.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second part comprises a plate structure having the first locking slots formed therein and the second locking feature comprises a pair of resilient fingers that extend radially around a section of the plate, wherein in the locked position, each resilient finger is in a relaxed condition with a distal section thereof received within one of the second locking slots that comprise the first locking feature and rotation of the second part causes the resilient fingers to flex inwardly and be disengaged from the second locking slots.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first part is disposed below the second part so that the locking tabs extend upwardly into the first locking slots in the locked position and when the locking tabs are depressed so that they clear the first locking slots, the locking tabs are free to travel along an underside of the second part which is free to rotate relative to the outer cover and the first part.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the lid bottom part includes a floor with an annular flange extending upwardly therefrom around a periphery thereof, the annular flange having two cut-outs formed at upper edges of the vertical side wall, the floor including a first hub member that mates with a second hub member formed as part of the outer cover, wherein the second part has a central opening that receives the second hub member in a manner that permits the second part to rotate about the second hub member and the first part includes a central opening that receives the first hub member in such a manner that prevents the first part from rotation about the first hub member.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first hub member has an irregular shape and the central opening of the first part has a complementary irregular shape so that rotation of the first part is prevented.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first hub member is coupled to the second hub member in a snap-fit manner so as to securely attach the outer cover to the lid bottom part.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first hub member is mechanically fastened to the second hub member.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a plate having a main section and a pair of resilient arcuate shaped arms that extend outwardly therefrom, one locking tab being formed at a distal end of one of the resilient arcuate shaped arms.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the first part is generally S-shaped and the resiliency of the arcuate shaped arms causes the arms to flex downwardly toward the lid bottom part when a downward force is applied against the locking tabs resulting in the locking tabs disengaging from the first locking slots.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cover has one or more access openings formed therein for providing access to the depressable tabs of the first part which is disposed below the outer cover.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first locking slots formed in the second part comprises an opening formed through the second part, each first locking slot having a channel section that has increased dimensions at one end to receive one depressable locking tab in the locked position such that remaining portions of the channel section have dimensions smaller than the locking tab to prevent receipt thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein each resilient finger includes a beveled section near a distal end thereof that releasably interlocks with an edge of one of a pair of second locking slots that are formed in the housing and comprise the first locking feature.  
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second part includes one or more openings formed therein for receiving a tool for rotating the second part, the first locking slots being opposite one another and the one or more openings being formed radially between the first locking slots.  
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the lid bottom part includes a pair of stoppers, each stopper being formed adjacent one cut-out for restricting the rotation of the second locking feature in the unlocked position.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20 , wherein each stopper is a tab that extends outwardly from the peripheral edge and extends upwardly from a floor of the lid bottom part, the tab limiting the radial movement of one resilient locking finger that forms a part of the second locking feature so as to prevent over-rotation of the second part.  
     
     
         22 . A pill storage container comprising: 
 a housing having an open first end and a closed second end with a first locking feature being formed proximate the open first end; and    a removable lid assembly positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lid assembly including: 
 an outer cover;  
 a lid bottom part that is connected to the outer cover; and  
 a locking mechanism disposed in a space between the outer cover and the lid bottom part such that access thereto from the outer cover and the lid bottom part is restricted, the locking mechanism including a second locking feature that releasably interlocks with the first locking feature in the locked position and a release feature that permits disengagement of the second locking feature from the first locking feature for placing the lid assembly in the unlocked position and permitting removal thereof.  
   
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the first locking feature comprises a first pair of locking slots formed in the housing and the second locking feature comprises a pair of resilient locking fingers that interlock with the locking slots in the locked position and are disengaged therefrom in the unlocked position.  
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the locking mechanism includes: 
 a first part having depressable locking tabs that function as the release feature; and    a second part rotatably coupled to the outer cover and including a pair of second locking slots for receiving the depressable locking tabs to prevent rotation of the second part, the second locking feature being in the form of resilient locking fingers that extend radially outward from a main section of the second part, wherein depressing the locking tabs and rotation of the second part disengages the resilient locking fingers from a pair of first locking slots that are formed in the housing and represent the first locking feature.    
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the outer cover includes a plurality of access slots that permit access to the locking tabs, a length of each access slot defining a degree of rotation of the second part when a tool is used to rotate the second part.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the second part includes at least one opening formed therein for receiving a tool to effectuate rotation of the second part once the locking tabs are disengaged from the first part.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the lid bottom part comprises a ring member having a floor with a vertical side wall extending upwardly therefrom, the vertical side wall having a plurality of cut-outs formed at upper edges of the vertical side wall, the second locking feature extending through the cut-outs and lockingly engaging the first locking feature in the locked position.  
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the first part is rotatable about a first hub member that extends from an underside of the outer cover and the second part is non-rotatably coupled to the lid bottom part by being received on a second hub member that extends from an inner surface of the lid bottom part.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 24 , wherein the first part comprises a plate structure having a variable thickness and having the main section and a pair of resilient arcuate shaped arms that extend outwardly therefrom, one locking tab being formed at a distal end of one of the arms, each arm having a thickness less than a thickness of the main section to permit flexing of the resilient arms to free the locking tabs from the second locking slots.  
     
     
         30 . A method of locking and unlocking a pill storage container having a housing including a first locking feature and a removable lid assembly positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lid assembly including an outer cover and a locking mechanism including a first part having depressable locking tabs and a second part rotatably coupled to the outer cover and including first locking slots that receive the locking tabs in the locked position and a second locking feature, the method of unlocking the lid assembly comprising the steps of: 
 inserting a tool through access openings formed in the outer cover so that the tool engages the locking tabs as well as the second part;    depressing the locking tabs so that they disengage the first locking slots and the second part is free to rotate relative to the outer cover and the first part;    rotating the second part in a first direction relative to the outer cover so that the second locking features disengage the first locking feature resulting in the lid assembly being in the unlocked position and being removable from the housing; and    the method of locking the lid assembly includes the step of:    rotating the second part in a second direction relative to the outer cover so that the second locking features interlock with the first locking feature while the locking tabs are received within the first locking slots to prevent rotation of the second part relative to the outer cover and the first part.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of inserting a tool comprises the steps of: 
 inserting first prongs through access openings of the outer cover and into the first locking slots so that the first prongs engage the locking tabs;    inserting at least one second prong through at least one access opening formed in the outer cover and into a tool opening formed in the second part; and    holding the first prongs stationary in engagement with the locking tabs while the at least one second prong is rotated clockwise to cause clockwise rotation of the second part.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein lengths of the access openings and the first locking slots define a degree of rotation of the second part.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein rotation of the second part in the first direction relative to the outer cover causes the resilient locking fingers that define the second locking feature to flex inwardly due to contact with an annular side wall of a lid bottom part that is attached to the outer cover and this inward flexing disengages the resilient locking fingers from the locking slots formed in the housing that define the first locking feature.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the tool comprises a base section with the first prongs fixed to the base section in a stationary manner, the second prongs being rotatably mounted to the base section.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the second prongs are disposed through slots formed in the base section, each slot having a first end where the respective second prong is situated in the locked position and a second end where the second prong is situated in the unlocked position, the length of the slots defining a degree of rotation for the second prongs.  
     
     
         36 . A computer controlled medication cart comprising: 
 a cart housing including a plurality of compartments and means for locking the plurality of compartments to prevent unwanted access or tampering, at least of the compartments comprising a drawer having a pill container bed defined by a plurality of receiving slots;    at least one pill storage container for reception in one of the receiving slots in a releasably interlocking manner, the pill storage container including: 
 a housing having an open first end and a closed second end;  
 a removable lid assembly positionable between a locked position and an unlocked position relative to the housing, the lid assembly including a locking mechanism for locking the lid assembly to the housing; and  
 a first locking feature disposed along an outer surface of the housing and engaging a complementary second locking feature associated with the pill container bed so that the container sufficiently engages one of the receiving slots to resist axial displacement of the container housing when the lid assembly is removed.  
   
     
     
         37 . The medication cart of  claim 36 , wherein one of the first and second locking features comprises a locking tab disposed at a prescribed location along the outer surface of the housing and projecting at least a predetermined amount therefrom and the other of the first and second locking features comprises a recess formed in one of the receiving slots of the pill container bed, the projecting tab releasably engaging the recess so as to locate and lock the container in place within the pill container bed.  
     
     
         38 . The medication cart of  claim 36 , wherein the lid assembly includes an exterior cover that is irrotatable relative to the housing and the locking mechanism is disposed below the exterior cover.