Tablet Dispenser

Abstract

A child resistant tablet product dispenser provides a container with a lid. The lid may be rotated along a first path in a first configuration which does not permit alignment of a window in the lid with a slot in the container. Upon activation of a latch mechanism, the lid can be moved vertically to permit rotation along a second path where the window and the slot align sufficiently to discharge product from the container.

1 . A tablet product dispenser comprising:
 a cylindrical container having a slot towards an upper end of the container;   a lid operably coupled to the container at the upper end of the container, said lid having a window;   a first configuration wherein said lid is rotatable about a first path relative to lid without permitting the window to align with the slot, at least in part by having a portion of the lid as prevented by a first stop on the lid contacting a second stop of a latch mechanism while in the first path rotating in a first direction, and the lid is restrained to move in the first path when in the first configuration; and   wherein upon operation of the latch mechanism transitioning the dispenser to a second configuration, the second stop is displaced relative to the first stop thereby permitting movement of the lid relative to the container including the vertical displacement of the lid to rotate about a second path in the first direction, said second path spaced apart from the first path, wherein when rotated to a sufficient degree about the second path, the window of the lid aligns sufficiently with the slot permitting dispensing of product from the dispenser in a dispense configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the first path is parallel to the second path. 
     
     
         3 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the first path circumnavigates a portion of an exterior of the cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the first path is perpendicular to a vertical axis of the cylinder colinearly disposed with a rotation axis of the lid in the first path. 
     
     
         5 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the container has at least portions of a first satellite ring assisting in restraining rotation of the lid to the first path in the first configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the first satellite ring has at least one gap intermediate portions of the first satellite ring. 
     
     
         7 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the lid has at least one lug directed inwardly towards the container, and when in the second configuration, the lug moves vertically through the gap permitting rotation of the lid relative to the container along the second path. 
     
     
         8 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 7  wherein the lid has multiple lugs which pass through multiple to transition from the first path to the second path. 
     
     
         9 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 5  wherein an upper surface of the first satellite ring is upwardly angled and a lower surface of the at least one lug is downwardly angled permitting the lid to be downwardly pushed onto the container into the first configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 9  further comprising a second satellite ring assisting in restraining rotation to one of the first and second paths, and the second satellite ring has an angled upper surface permitting the lid to be downwardly pushed onto the container into the first configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 10  wherein the at least one lug is located between the first and second satellite rings when rotating in the second path. 
     
     
         12 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 10  wherein with the second stop disengaged from the first stop, further rotation along the first path is required before vertical movement can occur to move the lid to the second path. 
     
     
         13 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a tamper indicator covering the at least a portion of the window of the lid until removed. 
     
     
         14 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the latch mechanism is connected to the container and the second stop extends radially outwardly relative to the container. 
     
     
         15 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the latch mechanism has a shoulder extending from the container and the second stop is located between an arm and the shoulder, wherein movement of the arm directs the second stop radially inwardly thereby disengaging the second stop from the first stop. 
     
     
         16 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  wherein when the window and slot are sufficient aligned in the second configuration, the container may be turned upside down and a product may be discharged from the tablet product dispenser in a hands-free manner. 
     
     
         17 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the product is a plurality of tablets having a short cylindrical shape having a greater diameter than height. 
     
     
         18 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of tablets are provided in a cylindrical arrangement within the container. 
     
     
         19 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the slot in the container extends downwardly from an upper edge of the container. 
     
     
         20 . The tablet product dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the lid is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction along the second path, and then vertically moved to the first path, and then continued in the second direction along the first path thereby rearming the lid relative to the container so that unless the latch mechanism sufficiently disengages the second stop, the tablet product dispenser remains in the first configuration.