US3143207A - Medication dispensing means - Google Patents

Description

1954 D. P. WAGNER 3,143,207

MEDICATION DISPENSING MEANS F'iIed July 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 4, 1964 Filed July 27, 1962 D. P. WAGNER 3,143,207

MEDICATION DISPENSING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

fizz/4&2 11/97147 Aug. 4, 1964 o. P. WAGNER 3,143,207

MEDICATIGN DISPENSING MEANS Filed July 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 110 4 116- mm sn sun Km TUE FR SAT 5"" MUN 056 W 'INUR Fm srr SUN MON TUE5- WED flwx FRI an UN MON ---c: Z-" TUES WED THUR Fm 5hr sun INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,143,207 MEDICATION DESPENSHNG MEANS David P. Wagner, 27 6 Elmhurst Ava, Elmhnrst, Ill. Filed July 27, 1962, Ser. No. 212,970 6 Claims. (Q1. 206-42) The present invention is concerned with the taking of a medication on an irregular daily schedule, and relates more particularly to the taking of a contraceptive medication by Women on an irregular schedule which must be properly synchronized with the menstrual cycle of the individual.

One object of the invention is to provide new and improved means which serves as a most convenient and effective aid to the taking of a medication by an individual on a schedule which is irregular.

Another object is to provide new and improved means, for use in the dispensing of a medication, which can be readily synchonized with the menstrual cycle of the user, and which serves after synchronization with the menstrual cycle to provide to the user a means of effectively and advantageously assuring that a medication is taken on certain days but not on other days, in accordance with a predetermined daily schedule which varies during the menstrual cycle.

Another object is to provide new and improved pill dispensing means which can be readily synchronized with a physiological cycle of the user and which after synchronization provides to the user upon inspection of the dispensing means on any day an unmistakable visual indication as to whether the individual should take a pill in order to adhere to an irregular schedule for medication predetermined by the pill dispensing means.

Another object is to provide pill dispensing means of the character recited in the preceding objects which serves as an incident to synchronization of the dispensing means with the personal physiological cycle of the user to pro- Vide a record of the beginning of each physiological cycle, which record may be conveniently referred to by the user.

Another object is to provide pill dispensing means which can be readily synchronized with the personal physiological cycle of the user and which serves after synchronization to dispense pills only one dose at a time, in accordance with a predetermined irregular daily schedule.

Another object is to provide pill dispensing means of the character recited in the preceding objects which has the physical form of a novel device that can be conveniently loaded manually with pills by the user and reused indefinitely.

Another object is to provide a pill dispensing means of the character recited having a novel construction that is incorporated for convenient accessibility into a case indistiinguishable from a ladys cosmetic compact and adapted to be carried among the personal effects of a lady in a purse, or the like, without giving a visible clew as to matters which are of no concern to others.

Another object is to provide pill dispensing means capable of dispensing pills on the irregular schedule that can be readily synchronized with the personal physiological cycle of the user, and having a novel construction which is inherently well suited to be manufactured so economically that production of the dispensing means loaded with pills for use on a throw away basis is economically feasible and highly advantageous.

Another object is to provide new and improved medication packaging means which is sufficiently economical to be used commercially in the packaging of a medication for sale, and which serves as a most convenient and efficicnt means of dispensing the medication one dose at a time, in accordance with an irregular schedule which is readily synchronized with the personal physiological cycle of the user.

3,143,20 Patented Aug. 4, 1954 Another object is to provide pill dispensing means of the character recited having a new and improved construction which facilitates the manual removal of individual pills for use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a pill dispensing device forming the first illustrated embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the dispensing device on an enlarged scale, taken with reference to theline 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View, on a scale similar to that used in FIG. 1, taken with reference to the line 33 of FIG. 2;

Fig 4 is a perspective view of a pill holder disk used within the dispensing device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the calendar disk ele ment of the dispensing device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dispensing disk element used in the dispensing device;

FIG. 7 is a medial sectional view of a modified pill dispensing device which visually simulates a cosmetic container;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the dispenser partially open to illustrate the manner in which access is provide into the case for loading pills;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view, taken with reference to the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a simplified pill dispensing device embodying the invention;

FIG. 11 is a transverse sectional view, taken with reference to the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view on a much enlarged scale, taken with reference to the line 12-12 of FIG. 10, and illustrating the manner in which a pill is removed from the device by the fingers of the user;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view on a much enlarged scale, taken with reference to the line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14- is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of the invention generally in the form in which it may be supplied to the user;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the pill holder structure of the device of FIG. 14 before the paper calendar element packaged with the device is applied to the holder structure by the user;

FIG. 16 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken with reference to the line 16-16 of FIG. 15

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating the application of the pill holder structure to the calendar element at a position along the calendar element which corresponds to the beginning of the personal physiological cycle of the user; and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the device is employed by the user to dispense pills one at a time.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the first illustratedembodiment 18 of the invention, FIGS. 1 to 6, comprises a medicationschedule defining element 20 and acalendar element 22 which are adjustably associated with each other so that the medication schedule as defined by the element 29 can be synchronized with the physiological cycle of the user by physical adjustment of themedication schedule element 20 in relation to thecalendar element 22.

As shown, thecalendar element 22 has the physical form of a generally flat disk disposed in concentric relation to themedication scheduling element 20, which also has the physical form of a generally fiat disk. The twodisks 2t 22 are normally disposed in confronting relation to each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The face of thecalendar disk 22 which confronts thedisk 20 bears twenty-eight successivecalendar day indications 24 arranged in an annular pattern in which the radial spacing between successive days is uniform. Thecalendar day indications 24 are in the form of visible abbreviations of successive days in the week. The twentyeightcalendar day identifications 24, arranged in an annular series on thecalendar element 22, correspond to the normal twenty-eight day duration of the menstrual cycle of a woman.

To minimize the diameter of thecalendar disk 22, while at the same time providing a substantial spacing between successivecalendar day indications 24, the calendar day indications are arranged in two concentric circles, as illustrated. Eachcalendar day indication 24 in theinner row 26, FIG. 5, is equally spaced from the two adjacent calendar day indications in theouter row 28. Zig-zag lines 30 connect the indications of successive calendar days in the two rows, to aid in directing the users attention to the fact that the indications of successive calendar days appear in the inner and outer rows alternately.

Themedication schedule disk 20 bears a conspicuous timereference indicator line 32 disposed in a radial position for extending across both rows of calendar day.indications 24. To synchronize the schedule of medication with the menstrual cycle of the user, the user turns theschedule disk 20 so that thereference line 32 immediately overlies acalendar day indication 24 corresponding to the day of the week on which the menstrual period begins. Thedisk 20 is preferably constructed from a transparent plastic material through which thecalendar day indications 24 on thedisk 22 can be seen.

After thedisk 20 is adjusted rotatably with reference to thedisk 22, as described, the twodisks 20, 22 are held in their adjusted positions against rotation relative to each other by suitable holding or retaining means which preferably comprises, as shown, a serrated orsplined protuberance 36 integrally formed on the center of thedisk 22 to fit slidably into a correspondingly serrated or splinedcentral opening 38 in thedisk 20.

Themedication scheduling disk 20 is constructed to define a plurality ofmedication day positions 40 which are positionally located with reference to each other, and with reference to saidindicator line 32, in a pattern which is so related to the pattern ofcalendar day indications 24 on thecalendar element 22 that after rotary adjustment of the twodisks 2t 22 relative to each other in the manner described, themedication day positions 40 in thedisk 20 individually register in a circumferential direction with thecalendar day indications 24 on which medications are to be taken. After mutually adjusting the twodisks 20, 22 as described, the user dispenses and takes a medication on each ensuing calendar day which registers with one of themedication day positions 40 definedby thedisk 20.

As previously intimated, themeans 18 is used in the dispensing of a contraceptive medication. Normally, this medication is taken daily, starting on the fourth day after the beginning of the menstrual period and continuing with a daily dosage for twenty days. The taking of the medicine is'stopped four days before the beginning of the next menstrual period, which is normally twenty-eight days.

The contraceptive medication dispensed with the aid of themeans 18 described normally has the physical form of pills, each containing a one-day dose of medication. Themedication scheduling disk 20 is preferably designed, as illustrated, to contain the pills to be dispensed in the medication day positions 49 on thedisk 20. Thus, as illustrated, thedisk 20 is formed so that thepositions 40 in thedisk 20 define pill receivers (also denoted by the number 46) for convenience) which open through the side of thedisk 20 opposite from thecalendar disk 22. As shown, thereceivers 40 have suflicient depth to con- 4 tain thepills 42, FIG. 2, but do not extend all the way through thedisk 20.

As previously intimated, there normally is a period of eight days within the menstrual cycle in which no medication is taken. The areas on the medication schedule disk 2% which register with the calendar days on which no medication is taken are preferably marked by brokencircular lines 44, FIGS. 3 and 4, or any other suitable manner which permits the user to visualize the irregular medication schedule.

By referring to the adjusteddisks 20, 22, the user can determine immediately on any day Whether a pill is scheduled for that day and whether the pill remains to be taken. For three days following the beginning of the menstrual period, the blank spaces or areas encircled by the lines 4 on thedisk 20 indicate to the user that no pill is to be taken. On the fourth day following the beginning of the menstrual period, the user notes that there a is a pill in theposition 40 circumferentially registering with the day of the week, as indicated by thecalendar disk 22. Noting this, the user removes the pill from thedisk 20 and takes the pill, whereupon the next pill in thedisk 20 indicates by its registration with the nextcalendar day indication 24 on thedisk 22 that the pill is not to be taken until the following day. If the user is uncertain on any day as to whether the pill for that day has been taken, she has merely to refer to the dispensing means to see whether thereceiver 40 for that calendar day contains a pill.

Removal ofpills 42 one at a time from thepill holder disk 20 is facilitated by adispensing disk 46 rotatably supported in concentric relation to the assembleddisks 20 and 22. Thedispensing disk 46 defines a pill dispensing aperture oropening 48 which is moved by rotation of thedisk 46 into circumferential alinement with thepill 42 to be dispensed. As shown, theaperture 48 radially spans both of the two rows of pills, but is restricted, in width to allow dispensing of only onepill 42 at a time. The user turns the device so that the pill to be dispensed drops out through theaperture 48.

As illustrated, thepill holder disk 20 is sandwiched between thedisks 46 and 22 which are releasably secured together by means which provides for rotation of thedisk 46 on thedisk 22. In the preferred construction illustrated, acircumferential flange 50 integrally formed on thedisk 46 axially overlaps acircumferential flange 52 integrally formed on thedisk 22 and defines an inwardly projecting annular protuberance 54 which extends behind aradial ledge 56 on theflange 52 to slidably hold theflanges 50 and 52 in overlapping relation to each other. Thedispensing disk 46 is held in any rotary position to which it is turned on thecalender disk 22 by frictional engagement with theflange 52 of theflange 50 and protuberance 54.

The protuberance 54 andledge 56 are shaped and dimensioned in relation to each other so that the overlappingdisk fianges 50, 52 can be separated by pulling in opposite axial directions on the peripheries of the twodisks 46, 22 which extend beyond theflanges 50, 52

as illustrated.

Thedispensing disk 46 is made of a transparent plastic material which allows the user to see thepills 42 and the pill holder disk '20, which itself is transparent.

While the pill dispensing means 18 may be supplied loaded with pills, it is contemplated that the user may, if she so desires, reload thepill holder disk 20 with pills at the beginning of each menstrual cycle so that the dis pensing means is reused indefinitely.

Thepill dispensing device 60 forming the modified embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9 is designed to be carried in a purse, if desired, and visibly simulates a cosmetic compact to the extent that it cannot be distinguished when closed from a compact. Structural components of the modifiedembodiment 60 of the invention which form counterparts of components of the previously describedembodiment 18 are identified with the same reference numbers with the addition of the suffiX Gia.!

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, thecalendar disk 22a is adapted to form the bottom of acircular case 62, and has an integralperipheral wall 64 which extends upwardly to form the circular side wall of the carrying case. Thedispensing disk 46a is rotatably supported in asupport ring 66 that is pivotally supported on thewall 64 by ahinge 68 for swinging movement toward and away from a normal position in which thedispensing disk 46a immediately overlies thepill holder disk 20a, as shown in FIG. 7. Thering 66 is releasably retained in its normal position parallel to the pi l holder disk 29a by suitable detent means, or the like, which, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, comprises an inwardly protrudinglip 74 on thecase wall 64 past which thering 66 is cammed as the ring swings into and out of its normal position.

A circular case cover 72 is supported on thecase wall 64 by a hinge 74- for swinging movement toward and away from a closed position, illustrated in FIG. 7, in which thecover 72 is parallel to thedisk 46a. The cover is releasably held in its closed position by retaining means which, as illustrated, comprises an outwardly protrudinglip 76 on thecase wall 62 which engages a downturnedperipheral fiange 78 on the cover.

To minimize the thickness of the pill holder disk Zita, the pill receivers dda are extended all the way through the disk, as illustrated.

To use the dispensingdevice 60, the user opens thelid 72 and swings up thedispensing disk 46a, thus providing access to the pill holder disk 2% for adjusting the disk ila in relation to the lower disk or case bottom 22a to produce the desired synchronization of the medication schedule with the menstrual cycle. After this adjustment is made and the disk 29a is loaded with pills as necessary, thedispensing disk 46a is swung to its normal position and the case closed. Opening of thelid 72 provides access to thedisk 46a for rotating the disk to a position for dispensing a pill as required.

FIGURES to 13 illustrate a simplified embodiment 8% of the invention in which component elements forming counterparts of components of embodiments previously described are identified with the same reference numbers with the use of the sufix b.

The modifiedembodiment 80 comprises essentially a circular calendar disk 22b held by acenter retaining element 82 in ashallow well 64 formed in the central portion of the pill holder disk 26b. The calendar disk 22b is rotatable within the well 84 for rotary adjustment in relation to the disk 2%. The disk Zfib is retained in its adjusted position in any suitable manner. The construction illustrated provides a force of friction on the disk 22b sufficient to hold it in its adjusted position. Thecenter retaining element 82 is formed by a screw which can be tightened to produce any desired degree of friction on the disk 22b.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, thecalendar day indications 24!) on the calendar disk 22b are arranged in a single circular row in a pattern which registers circumferendally with the pattern of pill receivers 46b for different positions of adjustment of the disk 22b.

The pill receivers 4912 have a special shaping designed to facilitate removal of pills from the receivers by thefingers 86, 88 of the user, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

Normally, each pill 421) is supported on a generallyflat surface portion 90, on the bottom of a coacting pill receiver 4%, PEG. 12. A recess 92 formed in one side of the bottom of each pill receiver 401) provides a clearance below a pill supported on theadjacent surface 90 to allow the pill to be tipped downwardly into the recess 92 about a fulcrum 94 formed on the bottom of the receiver 4012 at the juncture of the surface with the recess 92. Downward tipping of a pill into an underlying recess 92 by the pressure of onefinger 88 applied to one side of the pill, as illustrated in FIG. 12, tips the opposite side of the pill to a position extending above theholder disk 20b where the pill can be engaged by anotherfinger 86 for removal.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, each receiver 4% preferably has a slightly elliptical or oblong sham, elongated perpendicularly to the fulcrum 94 in the bottom of the receiver. The Width of the receiver along its minor axis is substantially equal to the diameter of a circular pill, thus permitting the pill to be held firmly in the receiver. The elongation of each receiver 46b in a direction perpendicularly to thefulcrum 94 provides clearance for tipping of a circular pill, as described.

In another modified embodiment 1% of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 18, component elements forming counterparts of components of embodiments previously described are identified with the same reference numbers with the use of the sufiix c.

The pill holder 29c is rectangular in form and defines a plurality of pill receivers 49c arranged in a plurality of parallel juxtaposedrows 192, 194, 196, 108. The number of pill receivers 490 in each of the rows of receivers differs from the number of days in a week. Preferably, theholder 20c defines twenty receivers 46c arranged in threerows 104, 166, N8 of six receivers each and one row 162 of two receivers, as illustrated in FIG. 17.

The area of the rectangular holder Ziic defining the two receivers 490 in the row 162 includes fourblank spaces 11! 112, 11 and 116 alined transversely with receivers in the adjacent row 164 and corresponding to the first four days of the menstrual cycle during which no pill is to be dispensed. The two receivers tile in the row @072 are disposed at one end of the row ofblank spaces 110, 112, 114 and 116, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The blank space 119 corresponding to the first day of the menstrual period is encircled by a conspicuous reference line 328.

The pill holder Zfic is packaged with a rectangular calendar element 220 formed preferably of paper. The rectangular paper calendar element has a width corresponding generally to the length of the pill holder element 29c and has printed on one face consecutivecalendar day indications 24c arranged in parallel rows of six days each having a pattern which is designed to register with the rows of pill receivers tlc in the pill holder Zilc. Thus, each successive row of calendar day indications 240 on the calendar element 220 starts with a different day of the week.

The user adjustably positions the calendar element 220 on the back side of the holder 2&0 so that acalendar indication 24c corresponding to the day of the week on which the menstrual period begins is visible through the blank area of the holder 2G0 encircled by thereference line 32c. The holder 2&0 is made of a transparent plastic material through which the calendar element can be seen. The calendar element 220 has a length and provides a number of rows ofcalendar day indications 24c suflicient to provide coverage of the back side of the holder 200 withcalendar day indications 24c registering with the several rows ofpill receivers 40c for all necessary positions of adjustment of the pill holder and calendar element relative to each other.

After adjustment of thepill holder 20c and the calendar element 220 relative to each other, the calendar element is secured in its adjusted position to the back side of the pill holder. This is done preferably by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive 12%). The adhesive can to advantage be placed on the back side of the pill holder 200 by means oftransfer tape 122, which is pulled oil by the user who subsequently presses the calendar element against the adhesive to hold the calendar element in place.

Portions of the adjusted calendar element 220 which extend beyond the rectangular pill holder 290 are torn 01f. This is facilitated by lines of perforations124, FIG. 17, formed in the calendar element between adjacent rows of day indications 240.

The embodiment 109 is especially well adapted to be manufactured and sold with the holder 29c preloaded withpills 42c. Thepills 42c are held in thereceivers 40c by suitable means which provides for dispensing of the pills one at a time. As illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 13, the fourrows 102, 194, 106 and 108 of pill receivers are covered with fourseparate strips 126 of transparent tape stuck to the holder 200 by pressure sensitive adhesive.

To remove a pill from the holder 26c, the user pulls up an appropriate one of thestrips 126 of tape, as indicated in FIG. 18, until the pill to be taken is uncovered. Each pill tends to adhere to the adjacent tape strip and is easily picked off the tape after the pill is pulled out of its receiver 46c. Eachtape strip 126 is returned to engagement with the holder 260 after removal of each adjacent pill until all the pills adjacent the tape strip have been removed. When all the twenty pills have been taken, the pill dispensing structure can be discarded. This is justified by the extremely low cost of manufacturing the dispensing structure which can be used for packaging the pills in place of conventional packaging means.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not necessarily limited to the use of the structure specifically illus trated, but includes the use of alternatives and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A pill dispensing device for dispensing pills on a non-uniform daily schedule which must be synchronized with the personal physiological cycle of the user, comprising, in combination, a calendar disk bearing a multiplicity of readable day-of-week identifications of successive days, said identifications being physically arranged in an annular pattern and continuing chronologically over a plurality of weeks, a pill disk disposed in concentric relation to said calendar disk and defining a pattern of pill receivers, said. pill disk defining a time reference indicator and being adjustable rotatably with reference to said calendar disk to move said time reference indicator into circumferential registration with any one of a plurality of said day-of-week identifications, said pattern of pill receivers in said pill disk and said pattern of day-of-week identifications being related to each other to effect an alinement of the pill receivers with a set of the day-ofweek identifications for each adjusted position of the pill disk in which said time reference indicator is alined with one of said day-of-week identifications, said pill receivers having a positional relationship to each other and to said time reference indicator which corresponds with reference to said pattern of day-of-week identifications on said calendar element to a predetermined daily schedule for dispensing pills, means for holding said pill disk and said calendar disk in adjusted positions relative to each other, a dispensing disk rotatably disposed in covering relation to said pill disk to retain pills in said pill receivers, and said dispensing disk defining a pill dispensing aperture therein adjustable upon rotation of the dispensing disk into alinement with successive ones of said pill receivers for dispensing pills from said receivers.

2. For dispensing pills on a non-uniform daily schedule in synchronization with the personal physiological cycle of the user, a pill dispensing device comprising, in combination, a calendar disk bearing a multiplicity of day-of-week identifications of successive days, said identifications being physically arranged in an annular pattern and continuing chronologically over a plurality of'weeks, a pill disk disposed in adjacent relation to said calendar disk and defining a pattern of pill receivers, said pill disk defining a time reference indicator and being adjustable rotatably with reference to said calendar disk to move said time reference indicator into circumferential registration with any one of a plurality of said dayof-week identifications, said pattern of pill receivers in said pill disk and said pattern of day-of-week identifications being related to each other to effect an alinement of the pill receivers with a set of the day-of-week identifications for each adjusted position of the pill disk in which said time reference indicator is alined with one of said day-of-week identifications, and said pill receivers having a positional relationship to each other and to said time reference indicator which corresponds with refer? ence to said pattern of day-of-week identifications on said calendar element to a predetermined daily schedule for dispensing pills. V

3. A pill dispensing device for dispensing pills on a non-uniform daily schedule which must be synchronized with the personal physiological cycle of the user, comprising, in combination, a calendar element bearing thereon a plurality of readable day-of-week identifications of successive days, said day-of-week identifications extending chronologically over a plurality of successive weeks and being arranged in chronological succession in a pattern on said calendar element, a pill holder disposed in adjacent relation to said calendar element and defining a pattern of pill receivers, said pill holder defining a time reference indicator and being adjustable with reference to said calendar element to move said time reference indicator into alinement with any one of a plurality of said day-of-Week identifications, said pattern of pill receivers in said pill holder and said pattern of day-of-week identifications being related to each other to efiect an alinement of the pill receivers with a set of the day-of- Week identifications for each adjusted position of the pill holder relative to said calendar element in which said time reference indicator is alined with one of said day-of week identifications, said pill receivers having a positional relationship to each other and to said time reference indicator which corresponds. with reference to said pattern of day-of-week identifications on said calendar element to a predetermined daily schedule for dispensing pills, and means for holding said pill holder and said calendar element in adjusted positions relative to each other.

4. For dispensing pills on a non-uniform daily schedule in synchronization with the personal physiological cycle of the user, a pill dispensing device comprising, in combination, a calendar disk bearing a multiplicity of day-of-week identifications of successive days, said identifications being physically arranged in an annular pattern and continuing chronologically over a plurality of weeks, a pill disk disposed in'adjacent relation to said calendar disk and defining a pattern of pill receivers and a time reference indicator, said pill disk being adjustable rotatably with reference to said calendar disk to move said time reference indicator into'circumferential registration with any one of a plurality of said day-of-week identifications, said pattern of pill receivers and said pattern of day-of-week identifications being related to each other to efiect for each adjusted position of the pill disk in which the time reference indicator is alined with one of said day-of-week identifications an alinement of the pill receivers with a plurality of said day-of-week identifications, said pill receivers having a positional relationship to each other and to said time reference indicator which corresponds with reference to said pattern of dayof-week identifications to a predetermined schedule for dispensing pills, and a cover hingedly connected to said calendar disk to form therewith a case which when closed encases said pill disk.

5. Medication dispensing means comprising a first dispensmg element defining a plurality of medication receivers disposed in a predetermined pattern in relation to each other for containing doses of medication, said first dispensing element including structure connecting all of said medication receivers to hold said receivers against displacement out of said pattern in relation to each other, a second dispensing element coacting with said first dispensing element to retain doses of medication in said receivers, said second dispensing element being movable in relation to said first dispensing element to a succession of dispensing positions in relation to said first dispensing element to open said receivers in succession for dispensing doses of medication from successive receivers in conjunction With movement of said second dispensing element to successive ones of said dispensing positions in relation to said first dispensing element, a calendar element movable in relation to both or" said dispensing elements to occupy diiferent positions of adjustment on one of said dispensing elements, said calendar element bearing thereon a plurality of readable day-of-Week identifications of days extending chronologically over a plurality of successive Weeks, said day-of-weelr identifications being arranged successively in a pattern arranged to register With said pattern of medication receivers upon movement or" the calendar element into any one of said positions of adjustment of said calendar element on said one dispensing element, means for securing said calendar element in any of said diflferent positions of adjustment of the calendar element on said one dispensing element, and reference means on the dispensing element other than said one disensing element cooperable with said calendar element to indicate for each of said dispensing positions of said second dispensing element in relation to said first dispensing element the one of said day-of-Week identifications that corresponds to the receiver which is opened for dispensing upon movement of said second dispensing element into the corresponding dispensing position in relation to said first dispensing element.

6. Medication dispensing means comprising a first dispensing element defining a plurality of medication receivers held by said first dispensing element in a predetermined pattern in relation to each other for containing doses of medication, a second dispensing element coacting With said first dispensing element to retain doses of medication in said receivers, said second dispensing element being movable in relation to said first dispensing element to a succession of dispensing positions in relation to said first dispensing element to open said receivers in succession for dispensing doses of medication from successive receivers in conjunction with movement of said second dispensing element to successive ones of said dispensing positions in relation to said first dispensing element, a calendar element movable in relation to both of said dispensing elements to occupy different positions of adjustment on one of said dispensing elements, said calendar element bearing thereon a plurality of readable day-ofweek identifications of days extending chronoiogically over a plurality of successive Weeks, said day-of-Week identifications being arranged in a pattern corresponding to said respective dispensing positions of said second dispensing element in relation to said first dispensing element, means for securing said calendar element in any of said difi erent positions of adjustment of the calendar element on said one dispensing element, and reference means on the dispensing element other than said one dispensing element cooperable With said calendar element to indicate for each of said dispensing positions of said second dispensing element in relation to said first dispensing element the one of said day-of-Week identifications that corresponds to the receiver in which is opened for dispensing upon movement of said second dispensing element into the corresponding dispensing position in relation to said first dispensing eiernent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Attesting Officer UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,143,207 August 4, 1964 David P Wagner It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 19, for "synchonized" read synchronized line 58, for "the irregular" read an irregular column 2, l":'.ne 28, for "is provide" read is provided column 5,

line55, for "Thedisk 20b" read The disk 22b column 10, line 25, for "receiver in which" read receiver which Signed and sealed this 7th day of February 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWlDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. A PILL DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING PILLS ON A NON-UNIFORM DAILY SCHEDULE WHICH MUST BE SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE PERSONAL PHYSIOLOGICAL CYCLE OF THE USER, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CALENDAR DISK BEARING A MULTIPLICITY OF READABLE DAY-OF-WEEK IDENTIFICATIONS OF SUCCESSIVE DAYS, SAID IDENTIFICATIONS BEING PHYSICALLY ARRANGED IN AN ANNULAR PATTERN AND CONTINUING CHRONOLOGICALLY OVER A PLURALITY OF WEEKS, A PILL DISK DISPOSED IN CONCENTRIC RELATION TO SAID CALENDAR DISK AND DEFINING A PATTERN OF PILL RECEIVERS, SAID PILL DISK DEFINING A TIME REFERENCE INDICATOR AND BEING ADJUSTABLE ROTATABLY WITH REFERENCE TO SAID CALENDAR DISK TO MOVE SAID TIME REFERENCE INDICATOR INTO CIRCUMFERENTIAL REGISTRATION WITH ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF SAID DAY-OF-WEEK IDENTIFICATIONS, SAID PATTERN OF PILL RECEIVERS IN SAID PILL DISK AND SAID PATTERN OF DAY-OF-WEEK IDENTIFICATIONS BEING RELATED TO EACH OTHER TO EFFECT AN ALINEMENT OF THE PILL RECEIVERS WITH A SET OF THE DAY-OFWEEK IDENTIFICATIONS FOR EACH ADJUSTED POSITION OF THE PILL DISK IN WHICH SAID TIME REFERENCE INDICATOR IS ALINED WITH ONE OF SAID DAY-OF-WEEK IDENTIFICATIONS, SAID PILL RECEIVERS HAVING A POSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID TIME REFERENCE INDICATOR WHICH CORRESPONDS WITH REFERENCE TO SAID PATTERN OF DAY-OF-WEEK IDENTIFICATIONS ON SAID CALENDAR ELEMENT TO A PREDETERMINED DAILY SCHEDULE FOR DISPENSING PILLS, MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID PILL DISK AND SAID CALENDAR DISK IN ADJUSTED POSITIONS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, A DISPENSING DISK ROTATABLY DISPOSED IN COVERING RELATION TO SAID PILL DISK TO RETAIN PILLS IN SAID PILL RECEIVERS, AND SAID DISPENSING DISK DEFINING A PILL DISPENSING APERTURE THEREIN ADJUSTABLE UPON ROTATION OF THE DISPENSING DISK INTO ALINEMENT WITH SUCCESSIVE ONES OF SAID PILL RECEIVERS FOR DISPENSING PILLS FROM SAID RECEIVERS.

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