Hand-held dispenser for dispensing unit products

Abstract

A hand-held dispenser ( 1 ) for dispensing a multiplicity of unit products ( 3 ) comprises a container ( 100 ) for containing the unit products which has an access opening ( 107 ) through which the unit products are able to be removed from the container and a dispensing module ( 300 ) which is adapted to be connected to the container in an operational position in which the dispensing module covers the access opening. The dispensing module has an internal volume ( 307 ), into which the unit products are transferable from the container through the access opening when the dispensing module is in the operational position, an outlet opening ( 311 ) which communicates with the internal volume, and a dispensing mechanism ( 350 ) which operates to dispense a predetermined number of unit products from the outlet opening on actuation thereof.

1 . A hand-held dispenser for dispensing a multiplicity of unit products comprising: 
 a container for containing the unit products which has an access opening through which the unit products are able to be removed from the container; and    a dispensing module which is adapted to be connected to the container in an operational position in which the dispensing module covers the access opening, the dispensing module having: 
 an internal volume into which the unit products are transferable from the container through the access opening when the dispensing module is in the operational position;  
 an outlet opening which communicates with the internal volume; and  
 a dispensing mechanism which operates to dispense a predetermined number of unit products from the outlet opening on actuation thereof.  
   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further having a closure for closing the outlet opening.  
   
   
       3 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the closure is able to close the access opening of the container.  
   
   
       4 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the closure is a cap.  
   
   
       5 . The dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the closure is adapted to be releasably fitted to the dispensing module and/or the container.  
   
   
       6 . The dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the closure is able to be screw fitted to the dispensing module and/or the container.  
   
   
       7 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the dispensing mechanism is adapted in use to dispense the unit products one at a time from the outlet opening.  
   
   
       8 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the predetermined number is one.  
   
   
       9 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism is manually actuable by a user.  
   
   
       10 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism has a non-dispensing mode, in which it prevents the unit products from being dispensed from the outlet opening, and a dispensing mode, in which it dispenses the predetermined number of unit products from the outlet opening, the dispensing mechanism moving from the non-dispensing mode to the dispensing mode on actuation of the dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the dispensing mechanism is biased to the non-dispensing mode by a biasing structure in the dispensing module.  
   
   
       12 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism has a gate mechanism which moves from a shut state to an open state on actuation of the dispensing mechanism, the gate mechanism shutting the outlet opening in the shut state to prevent dispensing of the unit products therefrom and opening the outlet opening in the open state to enable dispensing of the unit products therefrom.  
   
   
       13 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism is adapted to cause the unit products to be conveyed to the outlet opening one at a time.  
   
   
       14 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the dispensing module internal volume has a channel along which the unit products are conveyable to the outlet opening, the channel adapted to cause the unit products to be conveyed to the outlet opening one at a time.  
   
   
       15 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism is adapted to cause the unit products to be conveyed to the outlet opening in a common predetermined orientation of the unit product.  
   
   
       16 . The dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the channel is further adapted to cause the unit products to be conveyed to the outlet opening in the common predetermined orientation.  
   
   
       17 . The dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the internal volume defines a funnel-like shape which comprises the channel at an outlet end thereof and a mouth of tapered construction at an inlet end thereof which communicates with the container access opening in the operational position of the dispensing module and operates in use to funnel the unit products into the channel.  
   
   
       18 . The dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the channel is of length sufficient that a queue of unit products is able to form therein.  
   
   
       19 . The dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the dispensing mechanism has a gate mechanism which moves from a shut state to an open state on actuation of the dispensing mechanism, the gate mechanism shutting the outlet opening in the shut state to prevent dispensing of the unit products therefrom and opening the outlet opening in the open state to enable dispensing of the unit products therefrom, and  
     wherein the gate mechanism blocks the channel in its shut state and unblocks the channel in its open state.  
   
   
       20 . The dispenser of  claim 18  wherein the gate mechanism is adapted to selectively release the predetermined number of unit products at the front of the queue when moved to its open state.  
   
   
       21 . The dispenser of  claim 20  wherein the gate mechanism is adapted such that in its shut state it blocks the channel in front of the queue and such that when it is moved from the shut state to the open state it unblocks the channel in front of the queue and blocks the channel behind the predetermined number of unit products at the front of the queue whereby the predetermined number of unit products is dispensed from the outlet opening.  
   
   
       22 . The dispenser of  claim 21  wherein the gate mechanism is further adapted such that as it moves from the shut state to the open state it displaces the portion of the queue disposed behind the predetermined number of unit products at the queue front backwards in the channel.  
   
   
       23 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the dispensing mechanism has a manually-engagable actuator for actuating the dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       24 . The dispenser of  claim 23  wherein the actuator protrudes from the dispensing module and is displaceable to actuate the dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       25 . The dispenser of  claim 24  wherein the actuator is displaceable into the dispensing module.  
   
   
       26 . The dispenser of  claim 23  wherein the actuator and outlet opening are so arranged on the dispensing module that the actuator is able to be actuated by a hand of a user so that the predetermined number of unit products is dispensed into that hand.  
   
   
       27 . The dispenser of  claim 26  wherein the actuator and outlet opening are provided in a surface of the module such that pushing the module surface into a user's palm is able to cause actuation of the actuator and dispensing into the palm.  
   
   
       28 . The dispenser of  claim 23  wherein the dispensing mechanism has a gate mechanism which moves from a shut state to an open state on actuation of the dispensing mechanism, the gate mechanism shutting the outlet opening in the shut state to prevent dispensing of the unit products therefrom and opening the outlet opening in the open state to enable dispensing of the unit products therefrom, and  
     in which the actuator forms at least a part of the gate mechanism.  
   
   
       29 . The dispenser of  claim 1  including the unit products.  
   
   
       30 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the unit products are pharmaceutical products.  
   
   
       31 . The dispenser of  claim 30  wherein the pharmaceutical products are oral dosage forms.  
   
   
       32 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the dispensing module further has a dispensing indicator which is adapted in use to indicate the number of unit products dispensed from, or remaining in, the dispenser.  
   
   
       33 . The dispenser of  claim 32  wherein the dispensing indicator has a display which in use represents graphically the number of unit products dispensed or remaining.  
   
   
       34 . The dispenser of  claim 33  in which the dispensing indicator is a counter and the display in use represents numerically the number of unit products dispensed or remaining.  
   
   
       35 . The dispenser of  claim 33  wherein the display is an electronic display.  
   
   
       36 . The dispenser of  claim 32  in which the dispensing indicator is an electronic indicator.  
   
   
       37 . The dispenser of  claim 32  wherein the dispensing indicator is operatively coupled to a detector which is adapted in use to detect actuation of the dispensing mechanism.  
   
   
       38 . The dispenser of  claim 32  wherein the dispensing indicator is operatively coupled to a detector which is adapted in use to detect dispensing of the predetermined number of unit products.  
   
   
       39 . The dispenser of  claim 37  wherein the display is an electronic display, and  
     wherein the dispensing indicator has an electrical control circuit for controlling the display and the detector(s) is a trigger(s) for the circuit.  
   
   
       40 . The dispenser of  claim 39  wherein the trigger(s) is a switch operable to trigger the circuit.  
   
   
       41 . The dispenser of  claim 40  wherein the dispensing indicator is operatively coupled to a detector which is adapted in use to detect actuation of the dispensing mechanism, and  
     wherein the dispensing mechanism is adapted to operate the switch when actuated.  
   
   
       42 . The dispenser of  claim 40  wherein the dispensing indicator is operatively coupled to a detector which is adapted in use to detect dispensing of the predetermined number of unit products, and  
     wherein the switch is positioned so as to be operated by the unit product(s).  
   
   
       43 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the dispensing module has a timing mechanism adapted in use to time the period since last dispensing of the predetermined number of unit products.  
   
   
       44 . The dispenser of  claim 43  in which the timing mechanism is adapted in use to indicate the time since last dispensing.  
   
   
       45 . The dispenser of  claim 44  having a display on the dispensing module forming part of the timing mechanism on which, in use, the time since last dispensing is graphically indicated thereon.  
   
   
       46 . The dispenser of  claim 43  wherein the timing mechanism has a controller programmed with a predetermined dispensing regime for dispensing of the unit products and the controller controls the timing mechanism so that it provides an alert when dispensing of the unit products is required in accordance with the dispensing regime.  
   
   
       47 . The dispenser of  claim 1  which is adapted such that in use the unit products are gravity-fed from the container to the dispensing module.  
   
   
       48 . The dispenser of  claim 47  which is adapted such that in use the unit products are gravity-fed to the outlet opening.  
   
   
       49 . The dispenser of  claim 1  in which the dispensing module is connected to the container and a tamper-evidence structure is provided to show whether the dispensing module is subsequently disconnected from the container.  
   
   
       50 . The dispenser of  claim 49  in which the tamper-evidence structure is applied across a boundary between the dispensing module and the container.  
   
   
       51 . The dispenser of  claim 50  wherein the tamper-evidence structure is a label.  
   
   
       52 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism is a pump-based mechanism.  
   
   
       53 . A dispensing module for connection to a container for unit products as set forth in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       54 . The dispensing module of  claim 53  having a first connector structure for connecting the dispensing module to the container and a second connector structure for enabling connection of a closure to the dispensing module to close the outlet opening, the first and second connector structures being complementary to one another whereby the closure is also connectable to the container in place of the dispensing module.  
   
   
       55 . (canceled)  
   
   
       56 . (canceled)