Patents by Inventor Dean T. Upton

Dean T. Upton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6155454
    Abstract: A first embodiment of a pill dispenser includes a pill carrier and dispenser housing. The pill carrier has a plurality of pill chambers, each of which initially holds a pill that is sealed from the outside environment by a pair of membranes. The dispenser housing has a pill carrier slot into which the pill carrier is disposed and an opening forming a pathway from the slot to the exterior of the housing. In addition, the dispenser housing has an integrated plunger disposed adjacent the slot and opposite the opening. This plunger has a projecting punch head capable of extending into a pill chamber to push a pill out of dispenser housing opening whenever the plunger is depressed by a user. The pill chamber is first placed in alignment with the punch head and housing opening by displacing the pill carrier within the pill carrier slot. An indexing mechanism is preferably used to ensure the necessary alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Donald C. George
    Inventors: Donald C. George, Dean T. Upton
  • Patent number: 5915560
    Abstract: This invention relates to a compartmentalized pill dispenser that is small enough to be carried with the user at all times, seals the pills against moisture and other degrading elements, protects the pills against vibration and is easy to use by an impaired person in an emergency situation. The dispenser has a protective outer case which encases the internal pill carrier which having compartments for pills on one side thereof. The pill carrier is sealed within the sheath by a water-tight mechanism. The pill carrier is extended out of the case in one pill compartment increments to expose a pill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventors: Donald C. George, Dean T. Upton, Arthur S. Chapman
  • Patent number: 5909822
    Abstract: A pill dispenser including a pill carrier having multiple through-holes forming pill chambers. Each of these pill chambers holds, at least initially, a pill which is sealed from the outside environment and completely contained within the pill chamber. The dispenser also has a housing with a pill carrier slot into which the pill carrier resides. There is a pill dispensing channel forming a pathway from the slot to the exterior of the dispenser housing. The pill carrier is displaceable within the slot which allows each pill chamber to be sequentially aligned with the channel. A plunger apparatus is positioned adjacent the slot and opposite the channel and is extended into a pill chamber, then in alignment with the channel, so as to push a pill contained within the pill chamber into the channel for dispensing. In an alternate embodiment, the pill dispenser includes a pill carrier similar to the first embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventors: Donald C. George, Dean T. Upton