HK1145962B - Weekly dispenser for medicaments - Google Patents

Description

Weekly dosator for medicine

Technical Field

The invention relates to a medicine storage device according to the preamble of claim 1, which is particularly suitable for fixed prescriptions adapted to the administration rhythm individualized for the medical prescription of the respective patient, pre-sorted and prepared for daily dosing, so that the correct dose can be administered smoothly over 7 working days.

Background

The weekly dosator is a reliable auxiliary appliance for all patients taking medicine regularly. The weekly dosator arranges its 7 compartments at a glance and is thus convenient to use. All parts of the weekly dosator are made of plastic.

A lockable sorting container is known from DE19911995C2, which has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape with a flat bottom face and a top cover face. In order to form the sorting container, an attachment piece is used which can be inserted into a shell-like housing and consists of a plurality of cells arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction. Each cell has a small width (B) and a width (A) which exceeds the small width (B), and the cells are mutually arranged such that a cell is arranged with its small width (B) beside the width (A) of a cell which exceeds the small width (B). Finally, each cell has a separate cover element independent of the other cells, wherein the cover elements are respectively hinged on the side of the cells having the smaller width (B). For the kinematic connection of the cover part to the attachment part, a film hinge is used.

The disadvantage of such weekly dispensers is that the compartments do not have a clear design and layout and the cover has an alternating opening direction. Another disadvantage is the lower double-walled structure.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from this prior art, the object of the invention is to develop a new weekly dispenser which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, i.e. which is simple and clear to see and which can be used reliably.

The solution to the above technical problem according to the present invention is given in claim 1. Some further developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

According to the solution of the invention, the rectangular and flat lower part of the weekly dispenser in plan view has 7 compartments of the same size, which are separated by intermediate walls and can be closed by separate lids of the same curvature. The weekly dosator is bounded on both end sides by end walls.

The upper edges of all the partitions have the same curvature in the longitudinal direction thereof; the radius of curvature R is preferably about 45 to 55 mm.

At least one longitudinal side of the lower part, i.e. the dispensing side, has an outwardly curved wall, whereby the tablets or the like can be easily removed from the compartment.

The 7 lids covering and locking the 7 cells are stable in shape and elastic. They have adapted radii of curvature R', wherein the longitudinal edges of the cover, which extend parallel to the partition, each cover approximately half of the intermediate wall, and the cover, in the locked state, does not come into contact with or rest on the intermediate wall. The two end walls extend up to the height of and along the outer contour of the curved cover. They have a step on the inside up to the height of the inner wall, approximately half the thickness of the inner wall and the same curvature. For fixing and locking the 7 movable covers, corresponding hinge and locking parts are arranged on the narrow transverse side of the cover and on the two lower longitudinal sides or along the two longitudinal sides in the region of 7 cells, respectively. The hinge parts a, which are located outside the cells on one of the longitudinal sides of the lower part, each consist of two horizontal pins which are arranged parallel to the longitudinal side of the lower part along an imaginary straight line and which act in pairs, i.e. on both sides of the intermediate wall in the upper region of the partition wall, which is raised above the cells, and individually on the inner sides of the two end walls of the lower part.

The locking part C on the other longitudinal side of the lower part is formed as an externally open recess comprising an upper locking edge in the center of the upper edge region of each cell.

The 7 covers bent with a radius R' have a rectangular cross section in the projected bottom surface and have complementary hinge portions B and locking portions D. The hinge part B of each cover consists, according to a first embodiment, of two fingers which are formed on the narrow sides of the cover edge, i.e. on the transverse edge of the cover. The fingers are spaced from the longitudinal edge of the cover by a distance of substantially half the thickness of the intermediate wall and enclose respective latches of the hinge part a at a circumferential angle of greater than 180 deg., preferably about 200 to 220 deg..

A reinforcing rib of constant cross section extends on the underside of the cover parallel to the longitudinal sides of the cover, along the extension of the fingers and with the thickness of the fingers, and the reinforcing rib appears to be interrupted in order to form a finger opening. The reinforcing rib forms an inner side of the claw opening facing the lower side of the cover at the end of the claw side.

In order to be able to mount the cover on the plug without losing the cover by means of the catch, the catch has, on the one hand, the diameter of the plug and, in addition, the claw mouth has a sector angle of approximately 140 to 160 °. With such a less than semicircular segment angle, a certain resistance must be overcome when the cover fingers are pushed onto the lower pins. In the second embodiment of hinge part B, the reinforcing ribs likewise have a constant width, but their depth in the hinge region is enlarged to the extent that the claws and claw openings can be formed as desired, the claw openings having a sector angle of approximately 140 to 160 ° for the purpose of fitting over the respective pin of hinge part a. In the case of fitting the hinge part B over the hinge part a, a certain resistance must be overcome, similar to the first embodiment.

A complementary locking portion D is arranged on the side of the cover opposite the hinge portion B. They consist of a flap which has an inner detent edge arranged at the end of the flap and which, for example during closing, is guided past a complementary detent edge into the lower part and engages in the recess.

With the lid of the new design and the interlocking mechanism by the locking portion C, D, it is desirable to obtain an effect that the lid can be easily opened only by a prescribed opening method.

The lid is pressed slightly inwards by applying a pressure, for example an index finger, to the general centre of the curve of the elastic lid. Thereby lifting the locking portion D and causing the two clamping edges to start sliding away from each other. At this stage the selected lid can easily be lifted on the locking side at the same time as desired by the user. Thus, the described latch structure works to avoid inadvertent opening. Only by pressing a finger on the desired lid can the blocking element be brought into a position in which the lid can be lifted a small amount starting from the opening side by flattening the curvature of the lid.

Drawings

Further details, features and advantages of the invention are provided in the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings. Wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the novel weekly dispenser with the first three lids open;

fig. 2 shows different views of the lower part of the weekly dosator, i.e. fig. 2.1 shows a perspective view, fig. 2.2 shows a top view and fig. 2.3 shows a side view;

fig. 3 shows three views of the cover with a hinge finger according to a first embodiment, wherein fig. 3.1 shows a perspective view, fig. 3.2 shows a side view and fig. 3.3 shows an end view;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the hinge structure in a stowed condition; and

fig. 5 shows a general perspective view of the cover, wherein the hinge fingers are designed according to a second embodiment.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the weekly dosimeter of the invention. The lower part (see also fig. 2) consisting of 7 compartments 1 for successive use has six intermediate walls 2.1 and two outer end walls 2.2 for the arrangement of compartments 1 of the same size with a rectangular plan view. The upper edges 2.3 of all the partitions 2 are designed in their longitudinal direction with a curvature of radius R46. The wall 4.3 on the dispensing side of the lower part 4 is bent outwards in order to facilitate the gripping of tablets or the like from the respective compartment 1, see also fig. 2. The lid 3 has an adapted curvature R' and in the closed state the lid does not rest on the intermediate wall 2.1 or on a step 2.4 inside the end wall 2.2. For fixing and locking the cover 3, on the one hand on the transverse edge 3.2 of the cover 3 and on the other hand on both longitudinal sides 4.1, 4.2 of the lower part 4, see also fig. 2, the relevant hinge parts 5 and locking parts 6.1 to 6.4 are arranged in the region of 7 cells 1, respectively.

Fig. 2 shows, in addition to the above, the structure of the hinge part 5.1 on the lower part 4, and fig. 3 and 5 show the structure of the hinge part and the locking part on the cover 3. The pins 5.1 (hinge parts a) on the hinge side and longitudinal side 4.1 of the lower part 4, which are located outside the cell 1, are arranged in pairs in a simple embodiment on the middle wall 2.1, which is raised above the cell 1, and on the inner side of the end wall 2.2. The locking portion C on the opposite longitudinal side 4.2 of the lower part 4 consists of a recess 6.1 with an upper locking edge 6.2 (see fig. 1), the recess 6.1 opening out from the outside and in each case centrally in the upper edge region of the cell.

Fig. 3 and 5 show the locking portion D on the cover 3, i.e. the stop 6.3 and the rib 6.4 in the same embodiment. In fig. 3 and 5, the hinge part B has a different design. According to a first embodiment shown in fig. 3, two hooks 5.2 are provided on the lateral edge 3.2 of the lid 3, which are spaced apart from the longitudinal edge 3.1 of the lid by a distance of approximately half the thickness of the intermediate wall 2.1. These fingers 5.2 extend along the extension of the respective reinforcing rib 3.3. The fingers 5.2 grip around the associated pin 5.1 on the lower part 4 of the hinge part a at a circumferential angle of about 220. When the cover 3 is mounted on the lower part 4, the claw 5.2 is placed in a clamping manner on the bolt 5.1 via a claw opening 5.3 which is significantly smaller than the diameter of the bolt 5.1. In a second embodiment of the finger 5.2 according to fig. 5, the finger 5.2 and the finger grip 5.3 are formed in a respective reinforcing rib 3.3, the depth of which is correspondingly increased.

Fig. 4 shows the hinge parts a and B illustrated in fig. 1 to 3 in an assembled state.

As materials for the components of the weekly dosator, for example, use can be made of: acrylic-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) was used for the lower part and Polycarbonate (PC) was used for the lid.

List of reference numerals

1 medicine small grid, check

2 partition board

2.1 intermediate wall

2.2 end wall

2.3 Upper edge

2.4 step on inside of end wall

3 cover

3.1 longitudinal edge

3.2 transverse edges

3.3 reinforcing Ribs

4 lower part

4.1 longitudinal side hinge

4.2 longitudinal-lateral-locking/dispensing

4.3 lateral outward bending wall for taking medicine

5 hinge part

5.1 latch, hinge part A

5.2 claw, hinge part B

5.3 claw, hinge part B

6 locking part

6.1 notches, locking portions C

6.2 Ribs, locking portions C

6.3 stop piece, locking part D

6.4 Ribs, locking portions D

Claims (9)

1. A weekly dosator for pharmaceutical products comprising a rectangular lower part with 7 compartments (1) separated by partitions (2) and each having its own flap (3), so that each compartment (1) can be used independently, characterized in that: the 7 compartments (1) in the lower part (4) of the peripheral dispensing apparatus are designed with rectangular plan views of the same size, and at least one longitudinal side (4.2), i.e. the dispensing side, of the lower part (4) has outwardly curved walls (4.3), the upper edges (2.3) of all the compartments (2) have the same curvature with a radius R in the longitudinal direction thereof, 7 covers (3) for covering and locking the 7 compartments (1) are dimensionally stable and elastic, the covers (3) have an adapted curvature R', wherein the longitudinal sides (3.1) of the covers (3) extending parallel to the compartments (2) cover the intermediate walls (2.1) to approximately half, respectively, in the locked state do not rest on the intermediate walls, and, for fixing and locking the 7 covers (3), on the one hand, the narrow transverse sides (3.2) of the covers (3) and on the other hand the two longitudinal sides (4.1, 4.2) of the lower part (4) or along the two longitudinal sides (4.1, 1), 4.2) in the region of the 7 cells (1) respectively, corresponding hinge sections (5) and locking sections (6) are arranged, wherein the locking sections (6) begin to disengage from each other when pressure is applied in the central or rear region of the curved elastic cover (3).

2. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the radius of curvature R of the upper edges (2.3) of all partitions (2) is 45 to 55 mm.

3. A weekly dosator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hinge parts a on one of the longitudinal sides (4.1) of the lower part (4), which are situated outside the cell (1), consist of two horizontal pins (5.1) arranged parallel to the longitudinal side of the lower part (4) along an imaginary straight line, which act in pairs, i.e. on both sides of an intermediate wall (2.1) in the upper region of the partition (2) which is raised above the cell (1), and individually on the inside of the rise of the two end walls (2.2) of the lower part (4).

4. A weekly dosator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking part C (6) on the other longitudinal side (4.2) of the lower part (4) is formed as an externally open recess (6.1) with an upper blocking edge (6.2) in the centre of the upper edge region of each cell (1).

5. A weekly dosimeter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that 7 covers (3) bent with a radius R' have a rectangular cross section in the projected bottom surface and complementary hinge parts B (5.2, 5.3) and locking parts D (6.3, 6.4) on the transverse sides (3.2).

6. A peripheral dosage unit according to claim 5, characterised in that the hinge part B of each cover (3) consists of two fingers (5.2) formed on the narrow sides of the cover edges, i.e. the transverse edges (3.2), wherein the fingers (5.2) are located at a distance from the longitudinal edges (3.1) of the cover (3) of substantially half the thickness of the intermediate wall (2.1) and engage the corresponding pins (5.1) of the hinge part A at a circumferential angle of 200 ° to 220 °.

7. A weekly dosator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that parallel to the longitudinal edge (3.1) of the cover (3) on the underside of the cover (3), along the extension of the fingers (5.2) and with the thickness of the fingers (5.2), there is provided a reinforcing rib (3.3) of constant cross-section, which is interrupted in order to form the jaw opening (5.3), wherein the end of the reinforcing rib (3.3) on the side of the fingers forms the inside of the jaw opening (5.3) facing towards the underside of the cover.

8. A weekly dosator according to claim 5, characterized in that the reinforcing ribs (3.3) of the hinge part B likewise have a constant width, but their depth in the hinge area is enlarged to form the catches (5.2) and catch openings (5.3) as required, the catch openings (5.3) having a fan angle of 140 ° to 160 ° for fitting over the respective pins (5.1) of the hinge part A.

9. A weekly dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that the complementary locking portion D arranged on the side of the cover (3) opposite the hinge portion B consists of a flap (6.3) with an inwardly located catch edge (6.4) at the end of the flap.