Hand operated pill dispenser

Abstract

A hand operated pill dispenser for dispensing a pill from a blister pack, comprises a base and a dispensing handle pivotally mounted at a pivot at one end of the base. At least one of the base and handle can be provided with a pill retaining cavity, and the other of the base and handle can be provided with a pill dispensing protrusion adjacent the pivot. A blister pocket locator can be provided between the cavity and the protrusion. The handle can comprise a hand grip distal from the pivot and the pill dispensing protrusion. The dispenser in one form is operative such that the locator locates a blister pack pocket adjacent the protrusion by engaging the blister pack pocket, depression of the handgrip moving the handle such that the protrusion engages the blister pack pocket to dispense a pill from the blister pack pocket into the cavity. The relative spacing of the hand grip and protrusion from the pivot can be established such that the force applied by the user to the hand grip results in an increased force at the protrusion.

1 . A hand operated pill dispenser for dispensing a pill from a blister pack, the dispenser comprising a base, and a dispensing handle pivotally mounted at a pivot at one end of the base, at least one of the base and handle being provided with a pill retaining cavity, the other of the base and handle being provided with a pill dispensing protrusion adjacent the pivot, the dispenser further comprising a blister pocket locator between the cavity and the protrusion, the handle comprising a hand grip distal from the pivot and the pill dispensing protrusion, the dispenser being operative such that the locator locates a blister pack pocket adjacent the protrusion by engaging the blister pack pocket, depression of the handgrip moving the handle such that the protrusion engages the blister pack pocket to dispense a pill from the blister pack pocket into the cavity, the relative spacing of the hand grip and protrusion from the pivot being such that the force applied by the user to the hand grip results in an increased force at the protrusion. 
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the protrusion is mounted on a first portion of the handle, adjacent the pivot, the pill retaining cavity being provided on the base. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the handle is provided with an aperture to enable the locator and any blister pocket engaged by the blister pocket locator to be viewed through the aperture when looking down on the top of the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the handle is curved when viewed from the side, that is, in a direction aligned with the pivot axis. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the handle is curved when viewed from above, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the handle comprises a scalloped waist portion separating two bulbous ends, when viewed from above. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the handle is biased away from the base by a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the pill retaining cavity is provided in a drawer, removably mounted on the base. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the drawer is arranged to be removed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the drawer is removable from either side of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the drawer is provided with a cover operative to close the drawer such that the drawer comprises a portable pill container. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 8  comprising a plurality of drawers, each comprising indicia indicative of a particular pill dosage required. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the blister pocket locator is provided with a cut-out adapted to engage with a blister pack pocket in use. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the cut-out is ‘V’ shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the blister pocket locator comprises an arm projecting from the base to a position spaced above the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the protrusion is mounted on a first portion of the handle, adjacent the pivot, the pill retaining cavity being provided on the base; and wherein the handle is provided with an aperture to enable the blister pocket locator and any blister pocket engaged by the locator to be viewed through the aperture when looking down on the top of the handle. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 16  wherein the handle is curved when viewed from the side, that is, in a direction aligned with the pivot axis; wherein the handle is curved when viewed from above, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis; wherein the handle comprises a scalloped waist portion separating two bulbous ends, when viewed from above; and wherein the handle is biased away from the base by a spring. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the pill retaining cavity is provided in a drawer, removably mounted on the base; wherein the drawer is arranged to be removed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base; wherein the drawer is removable from either side of the base; wherein the drawer is provided with a cover operative to close the drawer such that the drawer comprises a portable pill container; and comprising a plurality of drawers, each comprising indicia indicative of a particular pill dosage required. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the blister pocket locator is provided with a ‘v’ shaped cut-out adapted to engage with a blister pack pocket in use; and wherein the blister pocket locator comprises an arm projecting from the base to a position spaced above the cavity. 
     
     
         20 . A hand operated pill dispenser for dispensing a pill from a blister pack, the dispenser comprising a base, and a dispensing handle pivotally mounted at a pivot at one end of the base, at least one of the base and handle being provided with a pill retaining cavity, the other of the base and handle being provided with a pill dispensing protrusion adjacent the pivot, the dispenser further comprising a blister pocket locator between the cavity and the protrusion, the handle comprising a hand grip distal from the pivot and the pill dispensing protrusion, the dispenser being operative such that the locator locates a blister pack pocket adjacent the protrusion by engaging the blister pack pocket, depression of the handgrip moving the handle such that the protrusion engages the blister pack pocket to dispense a pill from the blister pack pocket into the cavity, the relative spacing of the hand grip and protrusion from the pivot being such that the force applied by the user to the hand grip results in an increased force at the protrusion;
 wherein the protrusion is mounted on a first portion of the handle, adjacent the pivot, the pill retaining cavity being provided on the base;   the handle being provided with an aperture to enable the locator and any blister pocket engaged by the locator to be viewed through the aperture when looking down on the top of the handle;   the handle being curved when viewed from the side, that is, in a direction aligned with the pivot axis;   the handle being curved when viewed from above, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis;   the handle comprising a scalloped waist portion separating two bulbous ends, when viewed from above;   a spring operable to bias the handle away from the base;   the pill retaining cavity being provided in a drawer, removably mounted on the base; the drawer being arranged to be removed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base and the drawer being removable from either side of the base;   the drawer being provided with a cover operative to close the drawer such that the drawer comprises a portable pill container; and   a plurality of said drawers, each comprising indicia indicative of a particular pill dosage required;   wherein the blister pocket locator is provided with a ‘v’ shaped cut-out adapted to engage with a blister pack pocket in use and the blister pocket locator comprising an arm projecting from the base to a position spaced above the cavity.