Dispenser

Abstract

A hand-held dispenser ( 1 ) for dispensing a multiplicity of unit products ( 3 ) having a storage area ( 100 ) for storing the unit products, an outlet opening ( 311 ) through which the unit products are dispensable from the dispenser and a dispensing mechanism ( 350 ) adapted to dispense a predetermined number of said unit products through the outlet opening per actuation thereof. The dispenser is adapted such that the dispensing mechanism is actuable by pushing the dispenser into a palm of a user and such that the associated predetermined number of unit products is dispensed into that palm.

1 . A hand-held dispenser for dispensing a multiplicity of unit products having a storage area for storing the unit products, an outlet opening through which the unit products are dispensable from the dispenser and a dispensing mechanism adapted to dispense a predetermined number of said unit products through the outlet opening per actuation thereof, the dispenser being adapted such that the dispensing mechanism is actuable by pushing the dispenser into a palm of a user and such that the associated predetermined number of unit products is dispensed into that palm.  
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispenser has a dispensing end in which the outlet opening is provided, and the dispensing mechanism has an actuator at the dispensing end engagable by the palm for actuating the dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the actuator is displaceable into the dispenser for actuating the dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the actuator protrudes from the dispensing end.  
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the actuator is a nozzle which provides the outlet opening.  
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the nozzle has a tubular configuration with the outlet opening being provided by the lumen thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 2  further having a closure which is releasably engageable on the dispensing end to close the outlet opening.  
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 7  wherein when the closure is engaged on the dispensing end the actuator is unable to actuate the dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the closure is a cap.  
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the closure and dispensing end have co-operable retaining features.  
   
   
       11 . The dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the co-operable retaining features are screw thread profiles.  
   
   
       12 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the dispensing mechanism has a gate mechanism which, on actuation of the dispensing mechanism, moves from a closed configuration, in which it closes the outlet opening, to an open configuration, in which it allows the predetermined number of unit products to be dispensed from the outlet opening.  
   
   
       13 . The dispenser of  claim 12  in which the gate mechanism has a biasing structure for biasing the gate mechanism to its closed configuration.  
   
   
       14 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein when the dispensing mechanism is actuated the gate mechanism moves to the open configuration to enable the predetermined number of unit products to be dispensed and moves back to the closed configuration behind the dispensed unit products.  
   
   
       15 . The dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the actuator is displaceable into the dispenser for actuating the dispensing mechanism, and wherein the actuator provides at-least a part of the gate mechanism.  
   
   
       16 . The dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the gate mechanism has a first part, on the actuator, and a second part, and wherein inward movement of the actuator causes the first part to move relative to the second part and the gate mechanism to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration.  
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 16  wherein in the closed configuration the first and second parts co-operate to form a gate across the outlet opening and in the open configuration the gate is opened.  
   
   
       18 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the first part provides a first section of the gate and the second part provides a second section thereof, inward movement of the actuator causing the first and second sections to be separated to form an aperture through which the predetermined number of unit products are able to pass through.  
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 12  which has an internal channel extending towards the outlet opening in which the unit products are, in use, formed into a queue and the gate mechanism in use selectively opens and closes the channel to enable dispensing of the predetermined number of unit products at the front of the queue.  
   
   
       20 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the nozzle has a tubular configuration with the outlet opening being provided by the lumen thereof, and wherein the channel is disposed in the lumen of the nozzle.  
   
   
       21 . The dispenser of  claim 19  wherein the gate mechanism is adapted such that on actuation it pushes the portion of the queue behind the predetermined number at the front backwards in the channel.  
   
   
       22 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the gate mechanism has a first part, on the actuator, and a second part, and wherein inward movement of the actuator causes the first part to move relative to the second part and the gate mechanism to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration, and wherein the first part of the gate mechanism pushes the queue portion backwards on actuation of the actuator.  
   
   
       23 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the storage area is in a first dispenser part and the dispensing mechanism and the outlet opening are in a second dispenser part attached to the first dispenser part.  
   
   
       24 . The dispenser of  claim 23  in which the first and second dispenser parts are releasably attached.  
   
   
       25 . The dispenser of  claim 23  in which the first dispenser part has an access opening through which the unit products are transferable from the first dispenser part to the second dispenser part and the closure is releasably engagable with the first dispenser part, when detached from the second dispenser part, to close the access opening.  
   
   
       26 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the dispensing mechanism is a pump-action dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       27 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the predetermined number of unit products is one.  
   
   
       28 . The dispenser of  claim 1  containing the multiplicity of unit products.  
   
   
       29 . The dispenser of  claim 28  wherein the unit products are pharmaceutical dosage forms.  
   
   
       30 . The dispenser of  claim 28  wherein the unit products are pills.  
   
   
       31 . The dispenser of  claim 1  adapted such that the unit products are gravity-fed to the outlet opening.  
   
   
       32 . A dispensing module adapted for attachment to a container for a multiplicity of unit products in the form of the second dispenser part of  claim 23 .  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . (canceled)