Pill dispenser with top rotatable relative to base

Claim 2

A dispensing container for small objects comprising; separable cover and bottom means having interengaging head and groove portions holding said cover and bottom means in juxtaposition and snap fit rotational relationship to each other, outer circumferential wall means extending from said bottom means and having a peripheral outlet; an inner wall means extending from said bottom means defining a space with said cover means to retain said objects; a portion of said inner wall means being concentrically offset from said outer circumferential wall and defining an arcuate space therebetween; an opening in said concentric portion and radially offset from said peripheral outlet; object retainer means carried by said cover means having an arcuate wall segment in guided relationship within said arcuate space and facing said opening; a retainer wall carried by said cover means and radially spaced from said arcuate wall segment defining an object receiving space therebetween; a stop member depending from said cover member and circumferentially spaced from said inner wall means; radially disposed subwalls extending from said bottom means and defining an arcuate recess circumferentially disposed from said peripheral outlet; and said cover means and said bottom means fitting together with said arcuate wall and object retainer means within said arcuate space and with said stop member within said arcuate recess whereby rotation of said cover means and bottom means in relation to each other within the circumferential limits of the movement of said stop member within said arcuate recess moves said object receiving space to and from registry with said openings in the arcuate space and the peripheral outlet of said outer wall, and in the open position of the latter said arcuate wall closes the former.

Claim 3

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: separable flat cover means and flat bottom means; an arcuate wall segment depending from the underside of said cover means having outwardly directed radial wall portions at each end defining an object retainer means; a second radial wall portions spaced from one of said radial wall portions of said retainer means to define therebetween an objeCt passageway, said second radial wall portion having the same radial depth as the radial depth of said object retainer means; bead members on the outer corners of said wall portions; a depending stop member on the underside of said cover means at a point circumferentially spaced from said retainer means; an outer circular wall extending upwardly from said flat bottom means having a circumferential recess at its inside base, said circular wall having an outlet at one point in its periphery; an inner wall member extending upwardly from said bottom means and having an arcuate portion concentric with said outer circular wall along a portion of its circumference including said outlet; a second outlet in the arcuate portion of said inner wall circumferentially spaced from the outlet in said outer wall; an arcuate pocket on the inside of said outer wall opposite said second outlet; and said cover member and bottom member fitting against each other in a releaseable rotatable snap-fit relationship due to the mating of said beads with said circular recess, whereby said object retainer means is slidably engaged between the concentric arcuate spaced walls of said inner and outer walls and whereby the rotation of said cover and bottom members in relation to one another alternately places the inner surface of the arcuate wall of said object retainer means across said second outlet and said object passageway open to said first outlet, and to place said object passageway into registry with said second outlet and an object can be admitted to said object passageway in said second position to be carried thereby to said first outlet upon rotation of said cover and bottom to said open position.

Claim 4

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: separable flat cover means and flat bottom means; an arcuate wall segment depending from the underside of said cover means having outwardly directed radial wall portions at each end defining an object retainer means; a second radial wall portions spaced from one of said radial wall portions of said retainer means to define therebetween an objeCt passageway, said second radial wall portion having the same radial depth as the radial depth of said object retainer means; bead members on the outer corners of said wall portions; a depending stop member on the underside of said cover means at a point circumferentially spaced from said retainer means; an outer circular wall extending upwardly from said flat bottom means having a circumferential recess at its inside base, said circular wall having an outlet at one point in its periphery; an inner wall member extending upwardly from said bottom means and having an arcuate portion concentric with said outer circular wall along a portion of its circumference including said outlet; a second outlet in the arcuate portion of said inner wall circumferentially spaced from the outlet in said outer wall; an arcuate pocket on the inside of said outer wall opposite said second outlet; and said cover member and bottom member fitting against each other in a releaseable rotatable snap-fit relationship due to the mating of said beads with said circular recess, whereby said object retainer means is slidably engaged between the concentric arcuate spaced walls of said inner and outer walls and whereby the rotation of said cover and bottom members in relation to one another alternately places the inner surface of the arcuate wall of said object retainer means across said second outlet and said object passageway open to said first outlet, and to place said object passageway into registry with said second outlet and an object can be admitted to said object passageway in said second position to be carried thereby to said first outlet upon rotation of said cover and bottom to said open position.

Claim 5

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: separable cover and bottom means having interengaging head and groove portions holding said cover and bottom means in juxtaposition and snap-fit rotational relationship to each other; depending inner wall means extending between said cover means and said bottom means defining a space for said objects; an outlet through said wall means; depending outer wall means between said cover and bottom means having a second outlet therein; a part of said inner wall means defining an arcuate wall segment spaced inwardly from said second outlet; object retainer means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced divider segments arranged around and spaced inwardly from the periphery of said bottom member; said divider segments having an arcuate outer wall contiguous to the inner wall of said cover member and spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the width of said outlet opening; and said divider segments having inner resilient edges spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the circumferential length of said wall segment whereby registry of a pair of said divider segments with the ends of said arcuate wall interior registers the space between that pair of divider segments with said outlet.

Claim 6

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: separable cover and bottom means having interengaging head and groove portions holding said cover and bottom means in juxtaposition and snap-fit rotational relationship to each other; depending inner wall means extending between said cover means and said bottom means defining a space for said objects; an outlet through said wall means; depending outer wall means between said cover and bottom means having a second outlet therein; a part of said inner wall means defining an arcuate wall segment spaced inwardly from said second outlet; object retainer means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced divider segments arranged around and spaced inwardly from the periphery of said bottom member; said divider segments having an arcuate outer wall contiguous to the inner wall of said cover member and spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the width of said outlet opening; and said divider segments having inner resilient edges spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the circumferential length of said wall segment whereby registry of a pair of said divider segments with the ends of said arcuate wall interior registers the space between that pair of divider segments with said outlet.

Claim 7

A dispensing container for small objects comprising; separable cover and bottom means having interengaging head and groove portions holding said cover and bottom means in juxtaposition and snap-fit rotational relationship to each other; said cover means having a depending outer wall with an outlet opening herein; an elongated opening in said outer wall opposite said outlet opening; said bottom means is provided with an upward extending outer wall having an outlet on one side and an elongated opening opposite thereto; said outer wall of said bottom means fitting concentrically within said outer wall of said cover member and rotatable with respect to each other to register the respective outlet openings and said elongated openings in a first position; an inner circumferential wall extending from said bottom means concentric with and spaced within said outer wall and having an opening toward one portion of said outer wall; a circular impeller rotatably received within and substantially filling the space between the concentric inner and outer walls of said bottom means; and said impeller having an object receiving passageway on one side and a tab on the other side extending into and held by the registered elongated openings in said cover means and bottom means to define the limits of rotation whereby in said first position of said cover and bottom means said impeller is rotatable to register the object receiving passageway with the opening in the inner wall of said bottom means to receive a selected object and in turn rotatable to a second position opposite the outlet in said outer wall to dispense said object.

Claim 8

A dispensing container for small objects comprising; separable cover and bottom means having interengaging head and groove portions holding said cover and bottom means in juxtaposition and snap-fit rotational relationship to each other; said cover means having a depending outer wall with an outlet opening herein; an elongated opening in said outer wall opposite said outlet opening; said bottom means is provided with an upward extending outer wall having an outlet on one side and an elongated opening opposite thereto; said outer wall of said bottom means fitting concentrically within said outer wall of said cover member and rotatable with respect to each other to register the respective outlet openings and said elongated openings in a first position; an inner circumferential wall extending from said bottom means concentric with and spaced within said outer wall and having an opening toward one portion of said outer wall; a circular impeller rotatably received within and substantially filling the space between the concentric inner and outer walls of said bottom means; and said impeller having an object receiving passageway on one side and a tab on the other side extending into and held by the registered elongated openings in said cover means and bottom means to define the limits of rotation whereby in said first position of said cover and bottom means said impeller is rotatable to register the object receiving passageway with the opening in the inner wall of said bottom means to receive a selected object and in turn rotatable to a second position opposite the outlet in said outer wall to dispense said object.

Claim 9

A dispensing container in accordance with claim 4 in which: the inner periphery of said impeller is provided with an outwardly inclined cam surface engageable with an object following the selected object and carry same inwardly from said opening in said inner wall and block said opening.

Claim 10

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: a cover member having a depending outer wall with an outlet therein and a circumferential groove at the inside base of said outer wall; an elongated opening in said wall opposite said outlet; a bottom member having an upwardly extending outer wall having a bead around the outer top edge thereof; said outer wall of said bottom member having an outlet therethrough and an elongated opening on the side opposite said outlet; said outer wall of said bottom member fitting concentrically within said outer wall of, said cover member with said respective groove and bead mating so that said members are fitted together in a snap-fit rotatable relationship and said outlets and openings thereof come into mutual coextending registry in one position; an inner circular wall extending from said bottom member concentric with and spaced from said outer wall thereof and having an opening toward one portion of said outer wall thereon; a flat circular impeller receivable within and substantially fill the space between the concentric inner and outer walls of said bottom member; and an object receiving pocket in said impeller registerable with said respective openings in the inner and outer walls of said bottom member to select and dispense an object therethrough.

Claim 11

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: a cover member having a depending outer wall with an outlet therein and a circumferential groove at the inside base of said outer wall; an elongated opening in said wall opposite said outlet; a bottom member having an upwardly extending outer wall having a bead around the outer top edge thereof; said outer wall of said bottom member having an outlet therethrough and an elongated opening on the side opposite said outlet; said outer wall of said bottom member fitting concentrically within said outer wall of, said cover member with said respective groove and bead mating so that said members are fitted together in a snap-fit rotatable relationship and said outlets and openings thereof come into mutual coextending registry in one position; an inner circular wall extending from said bottom member concentric with and spaced from said outer wall thereof and having an opening toward one portion of said outer wall thereon; a flat circular impeller receivable within and substantially fill the space between the concentric inner and outer walls of said bottom member; and an object receiving pocket in said impeller registerable with said respective openings in the inner and outer walls of said bottom member to select and dispense an object therethrough.

Claim 12

A dispensing container in accordance with claim 6 in which: said impeller is provided with a radial tab extending into both coextending elongated openings of the outer walls of said cover and bottom members; said impeller being discontinuous at a point opposite said tab to define said object receiving pocket; and the inner circular wall of said impeller having an outwardly inclined cam surface terminating at said pocket whereby said tab is locked between the opposing opposite ends of said coextending elongated slots of said outer walls in one relative position of rotation of said cover and bottom members with said inner surface of said impeller closing the opening in the inner wall of said bottom member and rotation of said cover and bottom members in relation to each other brings said elongated openings into complete registry and closes the opening in said inner wall of said bottom member and further rotation of said impeller moves an object in said pocket to the now registered outlets in the outer walls of said cover and bottom member.

Claim 13

A container and dispenser for small objects comprising: a cover member having a depending wall with an outlet therethrough and a circumferential groove on the inside base thereof; an arcuate concentric wall member spaced inwardly from and opposite to said outlet, said wall member having recesses at the outer corners thereof; a bottom member having a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced divider segments thereon, said segments having converging sidewalls defining inner resilient edges and an outer arcuate wall with a bead at the top edge thereof; said cover and bottom memBers fitting with each other with the depending wall of said cover member encompassing the outer arcuate walls of said divider segments and with the beads thereon snap fitting into said circular groove; whereby said divider segments are rotatable between said depending wall and said arcuate concentric wall to a first position wherein the space between a pair of said segments is open to the interior of the container and to a second position whereby the space between said segments is open to said outlet and the resilient edges of said segments register with the recesses at the ends of said concentric wall member to provide a restraint each time a pair of said divider segments moved a distance equal to their arcuate spacing.

Claim 14

A container and dispenser for small objects comprising: a cover member having a depending wall with an outlet therethrough and a circumferential groove on the inside base thereof; an arcuate concentric wall member spaced inwardly from and opposite to said outlet, said wall member having recesses at the outer corners thereof; a bottom member having a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced divider segments thereon, said segments having converging sidewalls defining inner resilient edges and an outer arcuate wall with a bead at the top edge thereof; said cover and bottom memBers fitting with each other with the depending wall of said cover member encompassing the outer arcuate walls of said divider segments and with the beads thereon snap fitting into said circular groove; whereby said divider segments are rotatable between said depending wall and said arcuate concentric wall to a first position wherein the space between a pair of said segments is open to the interior of the container and to a second position whereby the space between said segments is open to said outlet and the resilient edges of said segments register with the recesses at the ends of said concentric wall member to provide a restraint each time a pair of said divider segments moved a distance equal to their arcuate spacing.

Claim 15

A container and dispenser in accordance with claim 8 in which: said bottom member has a planar interior surface recessed below the bottoms of said segments to provide an edge between said resilient points over which an object must pass to the space therebetween.

Claim 16

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: separable cover means and bottom means rotatably mounted with respect to each other on a central axis; means adapted to hold said cover means and bottom means in juxtaposition to each other in a snap-fit rotatable relationship; inner wall means extending between said bottom means defining a space for said objects; an opening through said inner wall means; depending outer wall means extending from said bottom means having a second opening therein; object retainer means comprising a wall segment of said cover means having a notched opening therethrough positionable radially within the space between said inner and outer walls to register said notched opening to and from said wall openings; said cover means and bottom means each having flat diverging tangential opposite sides, the flat sides on one of said members diverging at a greater angle than the flat sides of the other whereby to overlap on both sides of said axis; and a tab member extending from one of said sides to engage the corresponding flat side of the other member whereby to limit the relative rotation of wall segment from a position of registry of said notch with said inner opening to a position of registry of said notch with the outer opening.

Claim 17

A dispensing container for small objects comprising: separable cover means and bottom means rotatably mounted with respect to each other on a central axis; means adapted to hold said cover means and bottom means in juxtaposition to each other in a snap-fit rotatable relationship; inner wall means extending between said bottom means defining a space for said objects; an opening through said inner wall means; depending outer wall means extending from said bottom means having a second opening therein; object retainer means comprising a wall segment of said cover means having a notched opening therethrough positionable radially within the space between said inner and outer walls to register said notched opening to and from said wall openings; said cover means and bottom means each having flat diverging tangential opposite sides, the flat sides on one of said members diverging at a greater angle than the flat sides of the other whereby to overlap on both sides of said axis; and a tab member extending from one of said sides to engage the corresponding flat side of the other member whereby to limit the relative rotation of wall segment from a position of registry of said notch with said inner opening to a position of registry of said notch with the outer opening.

Claim 18

A dispensing container in accordance with claim 10 in which: said cover means and bottom means are rotatably joined on an axis extending from one of said members; said axis having an enlarged head at its extended end; and a bore in the other of said members mating with said head in a snap-fit rotational relationship.