Child Resistant Dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser ( 10 ) includes a container ( 12 ) and a dispensing cap ( 14 ) that is attached to an open end ( 30 ) of the container ( 12 ). The dispensing cap ( 14 ) includes a base portion ( 40 ) that defines a compartment ( 74 ) for receiving a quantity of items from the container ( 12 ) and a rotating portion ( 42 ) that includes an ejecting fin ( 92 ). The rotating portion ( 42 ) can rotate such that the ejecting fin ( 92 ) can contact a quantity of items in the compartment ( 74 ) so as to dispense the quantity of items through an open end of the compartment ( 74 ).

1 . A dispenser ( 10 ), comprising:
 a container ( 12 );   a dispensing cap ( 14 ) attached to an open end ( 30 ) of the container ( 12 ), the dispensing cap ( 14 ) comprising:
 a base portion ( 40 ) that defines a compartment ( 74 ) for receiving a quantity of items from the container ( 12 ); and 
 a rotating portion ( 42 ) that includes a wedge element ( 92 ), wherein the rotating portion ( 42 ) can insert the wedge element ( 92 ) into the compartment ( 74 ) to isolate and dispense at least one item through an open end ( 59 ) of the compartment ( 74 ). 
   
   
   
       2 . The dispenser ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , the rotating portion ( 42 ) further comprising a cover portion ( 112 ) that can cover the open end ( 59 ) of the compartment ( 74 ). 
   
   
       3 . The dispenser ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating portion ( 42 ) is rotated by pressing a contact portion ( 110 ) of the rotating portion ( 42 ). 
   
   
       4 . The dispenser ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , the rotating portion ( 42 ) including a safety cantilever ( 114 ) that contacts an edge (E 3 ) of the dispenser ( 10 ) such that the position of the rotating portion ( 42 ) is fixed. 
   
   
       5 . The dispenser ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the compartment ( 74 ) is at least partially defined by a separation wall ( 70 ) that is offset from at least one of the walls of the container ( 12 ). 
   
   
       6 . The dispenser ( 10 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the separation wall ( 70 ) extends into the container ( 12 ) to define a path in which items are aligned prior to entering the compartment ( 74 ). 
   
   
       7 . The dispenser ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , the ejecting fin ( 92 ) comprising a first edge ( 94 ) and a second edge ( 96 ), wherein the first edge ( 94 ) functions to contact a quantity of items in the compartment ( 74 ) to eject the items from the dispenser ( 10 ) and the second edge ( 96 ) functions to obstruct items remaining in the dispenser ( 10 ) from entering the compartment ( 74 ). 
   
   
       8 . The dispenser ( 210 ) of  claim 1 , the dispensing cap ( 214 ) further comprising an indexing ring ( 244 ) that is slideably engaged with the base portion ( 240 ). 
   
   
       9 . The dispenser ( 210 ) of  claim 8 , further comprising means for fixing the position of the indexing ring ( 244 ). 
   
   
       10 . The dispenser ( 210 ) of  claim 9 , wherein means for fixing the position of the indexing ring ( 244 ) comprises at least one depression ( 272 ) formed in the dispensing ring ( 244 ) and a locking structure ( 282 ) that extends from the rotating portion ( 242 ), wherein the locking structure ( 282 ) can be lockably received in the at least one depression ( 272 ) as the indexing ring ( 244 ) is positioned such that the at least one depression ( 272 ) is aligned with the locking structure ( 282 ). 
   
   
       11 . A method for dispensing an article from an article dispenser ( 10 ), the method comprising:
 aligning a first tablet ( 16 ) in a path;   urging the first tablet ( 16 ) along the path into a compartment ( 74 );   inserting a wedge element ( 92 ) into the compartment ( 74 ) to isolate the first tablet ( 16 );   opening a cover ( 112 ) of a dispenser ( 10 );   dispensing the first tablet ( 16 ) from the compartment ( 74 ).   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of releasing a safety feature ( 114 ). 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of blocking a second tablet ( 16 ) from migrating into the compartment ( 74 ). 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of closing the cover ( 112 ) of the dispenser ( 10 ), removing the wedge element ( 92 ) from the compartment ( 74 ), and urging said second tablet ( 16 ) into the compartment ( 74 ). 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the steps of inserting, opening, and dispensing are completed in a single pivotal action. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the steps of removing and closing are completed in a single pivotal action. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of rotating an indexing ring from a first position to a second position. 
   
   
       18 . A dispenser ( 10 ), comprising:
 a container ( 12 );   a dispensing cap ( 14 ) attached to an open end ( 30 ) of the container ( 12 ), the dispensing cap ( 14 ) comprising:
 a compartment ( 74 ) for receiving a quantity of items from the container ( 12 ); 
 means for inserting a wedge element ( 92 ) into the compartment ( 74 ) to contact and isolate at least one item through an open end ( 59 ) of the compartment ( 74 ); 
 means for opening and closing the open end ( 59 ) of the compartment ( 74 ); 
 means for blocking an opening ( 57 ) between the container ( 12 ) and the compartment ( 75 ). 
   
   
   
       19 . The dispenser ( 10 ) of  claim 18 , wherein means for inserting a wedge element ( 92 ) comprises a moving portion ( 42 ) of the dispensing cap ( 14 ) and the dispensing cap ( 14 ) further comprises means for fixing the position of the moving portion ( 42 ).