EP3153132A1

EP3153132A1 - Pill dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP3153132A1
Application number: EP15189207.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Herman Van Der Vegt
Original assignee: NPK Design BV
Current assignee: NPK Design BV
Priority date: 2015-10-09
Filing date: 2015-10-09
Publication date: 2017-04-12

Abstract

Pill dispenser (1) comprising:
- a dispensing head (2) for holding a pill (34), the dispensing head having an outlet;
- a plunger guide (4) in line with said outlet, the plunger guide having a dispensing end (6) connected to the dispense head;
- a plunger (8) movable within the plunger guide between a retracted position and a dispensing position, wherein the plunger extends into the dispense head in the dispensing position;
- a bellows (3) connected to the plunger guide and/or the dispensing head.

Description

The present invention relates to a pill dispenser, in particular for pets or other animals.
Pets are usually reluctant to swallow a pill. Dispensers have been proposed to deliver the pill together with an amount of water to promote swallowing of the pill. An example of such a dispenser is disclosed in GB 2 484 074 A . This pill dispenser for pets consist of a syringe with a plunger ejecting the pill together with an amount of water.
US Patent 6,960,183 discloses a veterinary pill dispenser with a dispensing head attached to the end of a syringe. The syringe includes a rod to be pushed into the dispensing head to eject the pill from the dispense head. Simultaneously, water is jetted from openings near the dispensing head.
These pill dispensers do not provide a possibility to accurately dose the amount of water. Animals, particularly cats, are sensitive for larger amounts of water. Furthermore, while a user should hold the pet with one hand he only has a single hand to actuate the syringe.
It is an object of the invention to provide a pill dispenser which is easier to use and allows more accurate dosing of water.
The object of the invention is achieved with a pill dispenser comprising:

a dispensing head for holding a pill, the dispensing head having an outlet;
a plunger guide in line with said outlet, the plunger guide having a dispensing end connected to the dispense head;
a plunger movable within the plunger guide between a retracted position and a dispensing position, wherein the plunger extends into the dispense head in the dispensing position;
a reservoir formed by a bellows connected to the plunger guide and/or the dispensing head.

Using a bellows allows accurate dosing and easy actuation by a simple squeeze action. The plunger moves freely within the plunger guide. The bellows, the plunger and the plunger guide can be designed such that a moderate squeeze action results in a relatively large translation of the plunger, e.g., larger than the 1:1 translation provided by prior art syringe dispensers. The dispenser can easily be actuated by a single hand, while the user's other hand is holding the pet. The use of a bellows makes it possible to have a more ergonomic design and a more ergonomic and comfortable posture of fingers, hand and wrist while retaining the animal and handling the pill dispenser.
With the same squeezing movement a user can dispense water and suck water into the dispenser, using one hand only.
During actuation the dispenser is held in a single closed hand and hidden from the pet's view which may calm the pet.
The dispensing end of the plunger guide is connected to the dispense head. For example, the plunger guide and the dispense head may jointly form a single part or they may be formed by different parts connected with each other.
In order to define the retracted position and/or the dispensing position, the plunger guide may comprise one or more stops. The stop may for instance include an annular rim at the inner wall of the plunger guide. The plunger may comprise a middle section between a first and a second end section, the middle section having a diameter forming a sliding fit with the annular rim, while the first and second end sections are provided with a larger diameter. In such a configuration the first section abuts the rim when the plunger is in the dispensing position and the second end abuts the rim when the plunger is in the retracted position.
In a specific embodiment the plunger may have a hollow section extending into the bellows. Air will be trapped within this hollow section and act as a buoy forcing the plunger upwardly into the retracted position when a user holding the dispenser releases the bellows.
To facilitate easy water dispensing, the plunger and the plunger guide can be profiled to form a dispensing channel between the dispense end and the reservoir end of the plunger guide. To form the dispensing channel, the first end of the plunger may comprise one or more cutouts bypassing the annular rim when the plunger is in the dispensing position. In a specific embodiment of the plunger the first end may be a cylindrical section with a cut out radial segment forming the cutout bypassing the annular rim.
To allow easy refill if the dispenser with fresh water, the second end may also comprise one or more cutouts bypassing the annular rim when the plunger is in the retracted position. If for example the second end of the plunger comprises walls, the cutout is formed by the space between the walls, which may for example be radial walls with ridges or projections engaging the annular rim when the plunger is in the retracted position. With these embodiments, the plunger geometry determines the air and liquid communication between the bellows and the exterior. Except for the inner stop, the inner surface of the plunger guide does not need to be provided with additional recesses or projections but may be smooth and uninterrupted.
In an exemplary embodiment the first end and the middle section of the plunger may be tubular, the middle section having a closed end where it is connected to the second end section of the plunger.
The dispense head may for example be an elastically flexible sleeve with an outlet in line with the plunger guide. A pill can be pushed into the dispense head and hold in the elastically flexible sleeve until it is pushed out of the dispense head by the plunger. The sleeve may for example comprise a sleeve end which fits elastically over the dispensing end of the plunger guide to form a leak tight connection. To anchor such a connection the dispensing end of the plunger guide may for example be flared. Optionally, the bellows may comprises a socket fitting over the sleeve end of the sleeve.
To optimize effectiveness of squeezing in one direction, the bellows may comprise a recess along its contour, more particular its contour in side view, the recess extending in a plane through a longitudinal axis of the pill dispenser.
Optionally, the bellows may be transparent. Such a transparent bellows may be provided with a markings to indicate the amount of water contained within the bellows. Also the dispense head may be transparent, so the user can see if the pill is in the right position.
The pill can be any type of medicament, such as a capsule.
Instead of water other liquids may be used, such as liquids with a taste particularly appreciated by the pet or a medicinal liquid.
The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings showing an exemplary embodiment of a pill dispenser.

Figure 1: shows an exemplary pill dispenser in perspective view;
Figure 2: shows a perspective cross section of the pill dispenser of Figure 1 without the bellows;
Figure 3: shows the pill dispenser of Figure 1 in cross section with the plunger in the retracted position;
Figure 4: shows the pill dispenser of Figure 1 in cross section with the plunger in the dispensing position;
Figure 5: shows the pill dispenser of Figure 1 in use;
Figure 6: shows four consecutive steps of using the pill dispenser of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a pill dispenser 1 for dispensing a pill to a pet or other animal. The pill dispenser 1 comprises a dispensing head 2 for holding a pill and a bellows 3.
The interior of the dispenser 1 is shown without the bellows 3 in Figure 2. The dispenser 1 comprises a plunger guide 4 with a bellows end 5 extending into the bellows 3 and a flared dispensing end 6 connected to the dispense head 2. A plunger 8 is movable within the plunger guide 4 between a retracted position (Figure 3) and an dispensing position (Figure 4).
The plunger guide 4 comprises an inner annular rim 10 near the dispensing end 6 of the plunger guide 4. The plunger 8 comprises a cylindrical hollow middle section 12 having a diameter forming a sliding fit with the annular rim 10. A hollow cylindrical first end section 14 of the plunger 8 is provided with a larger diameter and abuts the annular rim 10 when the plunger 8 is in the dispensing position (Figure 4). The cylindrical first end 14 is provided with a quarter-cylindrical cutout 16 forming a channel bypassing the annular rim 10 when the plunger 8 is in the dispensing position.
At the opposite side of the middle section 12 the plunger 8 comprises a second end section 18 with two crossing radial walls 19, 20 provided with ridges 22 abutting the annular rim 10 when the plunger 8 is in the retracted position. In this position of the plunger 8 the quarter-cylindrical cutouts 24 between the crossing radial walls 19, 20 form four channels bypassing the annular rim 10 when the plunger 8 is in the retracted position. The end of the middle section 12 is closed by an end wall 26 (see cross section in Figures 3 and 4) where the middle section 12 is connected to the second end section 18 of the plunger 8.
The dispense head 2 is an elastically flexible sleeve with an outlet 28 in line with the plunger guide 4 and the second end section 18 of the plunger 8. The dispense head 2 narrows down to its outlet 28 and is split into two mouth parts 29, 30 by a slit 32 extending from the outlet 28 of the dispense head 2 to a point near the dispense end 6 of the plunger guide 4. The two mouth parts 29, 30 can be moved apart to position a pill 34 within the dispense head (Figure 3). The flexible mouth parts 29, 30 will close and hold the pill 34 until it is pushed outside by the plunger 8.
The sleeve 2 comprises a sleeve end 36 elastically fitting over the flared dispensing end 6 of the plunger guide 4. The bellows 3 comprises a socket 38 (Figures 3 and 4) fitting over the elastic sleeve end 36 of the sleeve 2.
When a user wishes to administer a pill 34 to a pet he can hold the pill dispenser in a single hand as shown in Figure 5 and squeeze the bellows 3. Subsequently, he dips the dispense head 2 into an amount of water such that the complete split 32 is under water. Releasing the bellows 3 (second step in Figure 6) will reduce the pressure in the bellows 3. This will retract the plunger 8 until the second end 18 of the plunger 8 abuts the annular rim 10 in the plunger guide 4. Water is then sucked into the bellows 3 via the four channels 24 between the crossing radial walls 19, 20 bypassing the annular rim 10. The user can squeeze one or more times until sufficient water is collected in the bellows 3. The user may then position a pill 34 between the flexible mouth parts 29, 30 of the dispense head 2 (third step in Figure 6). The user may then hold the pill dispenser 1 in his closed hand to hide it for the pet. The outlet 28 of the dispense head 2 can then be inserted into the pet's mouth. If the user gently squeezes the bellows 3, water in the bellows will push the plunger 8 into the dispensing position. In turn the plunger 8 will push the pill 34 into the pet's mouth (final step in Figure 6). Dispensed water will promote swallowing of the pill by the pet. When the bellows 3 is released, air is drawn into the bellows, initially via the bypass channel formed by the cutout 16 in the first end section of the plunger 8. The air flow moves the plunger 8 back into the plunger guide 4.
The tip cut-out geometry, the volume of the middle section and the geometry of the plunger guide jointly determine the timing and volume of the water passage. When the bellows 3 is squeezed once the amount of water dispensed is limited to prevent that an excess of water is administered to small animals, such as cats. Activating the bellows 3 creates a pressure on the plunger 8. The diameter and mass of the plunger 8 define the speed of the plunger moving to the dispensing position. Air trapped within the interior of the hollow section 12 of the plunger 8 acts like a buoy during dispensing or intake of water. As a result, the plunger 8 will move upwardly when the bellows 3 is released and move into the retracted position where the hollow end section 14 seals against the rim 10 to block water passage.
The bellows 3 is provided with a recess 39 extending along the contour of the bellows 3. In a plane through the recess 39 the resiliency and squeezability of the bellows 3 will be less than in a direction perpendicular to that plane. A user will hold the bellows 3 in such a way that the user squeezes in a direction of maximum resiliency, i.e., perpendicular to the plane through the recess 39. This increases the effectiveness of the squeezing action.
The bellows is also proved with markings 40 indicating the amount of water present within the bellows 3.

Claims

Pill dispenser (1) comprising:
- a dispensing head (2) for holding a pill (34), the dispensing head having an outlet;

- a plunger guide (4) in line with said outlet, the plunger guide having a dispensing end (6) connected to the dispense head;

- a plunger (8) movable within the plunger guide between a retracted position and a dispensing position, wherein the plunger extends into the dispense head in the dispensing position;

- a reservoir connected to the plunger guide and/or the dispensing head;
wherein the reservoir is a bellows (3).
Pill dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the plunger (8) and the plunger guide (4) are profiled to form a channel between the dispense end of the plunger guide and the reservoir end (5) of the plunger guide.
Pill dispenser according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the plunger guide (4) comprises one or more stops (10) to define the retracted position and/or the dispensing position.
Pill dispenser according to claim 3, wherein the stops include an annular rim (10) at the inner wall of the plunger guide (4), and wherein the plunger (8) comprises a middle section (12) between a first (14) and a second (18) end section, the middle section having a diameter forming a sliding fit with the annular rim, while the first and second end sections are provided with a larger diameter, the first section (14) abutting the rim when the plunger is in the dispensing position and the second end section (18) abutting the rim when the plunger is in the retracted position.
Pill dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the first end section (14) comprises one or more cutouts (16) bypassing the annular rim (10) to form the channel when the plunger (8) is in the dispensing position.
Pill dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the second end section (18) comprises one or more cutouts (24) bypassing the annular rim (10) when the plunger is in the retracted position.
Pill dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the second end section (16) comprises walls, e.g., radial walls (19, 20) with ridges (22) engaging the annular rim (10) when the plunger (8) is in the retracted position.
Pill dispenser according to any one of claims 4 - 7, wherein the first end section (14) is a cylindrical section with a cut out radial segment (16) forming the cutout bypassing the annular rim (10).
Pill dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the first end section (14) and the middle section (12) are tubular, the middle section (12) having a closed end where it is connected to the second end of the plunger (8).
Pill dispenser according to any preceding claim,
wherein the dispense head (2) is an elastically flexible sleeve with an outlet (32) in line with the plunger guide (4).
Pill dispenser according to claim 10, wherein the sleeve comprises a sleeve end (36) elastically fitting over the dispensing end of the plunger guide (4).
Pill dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the dispensing end (6) of the plunger guide (4) is flared.
Pill dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the bellows (3) comprises a flexible socket (38) elastically fitting over the sleeve end of the sleeve.
Pill dispenser according to any preceding claim,
wherein the dispense head comprises a split extending from an outlet of the dispense head (2) to form at least two flexible mouth parts (29, 30).
Pill dispenser according to any preceding claim, the bellows (3) comprising a recess (39) along its contour.
Pill dispenser according to any preceding claim,
wherein squeezing the bellows over a squeeze distance results in a movement of the plunger over a larger distance.