Abstract: An article dispenser having a container or container mating portion and a dispenser control member, the former being in coaxial contiguous engagement with the latter for relative slideable motion therebetween. In the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, the slideable motion is in a vertical direction substantially parallel to the access of the container. A flexible member is provided which may be made integral to either the container portion or the dispenser control member and provides positive locking control for opening and closing the dispenser and provides means for making a substantially permanent engagement between the container portion and the dispenser control member. In addition, the dispenser control member provides a plurality of channels one of which includes a bead or rise and the upper ring portion of the container member provides an undercut or wedge-shaped tab which is designed to reside in these channels.

Abstract: An easy-to-open article dispenser preferably made of readily moldable plastic and comprising a container member having a chamber for containing a plurality of articles such as vitamin pills and having a dispenser portion, the article dispenser also comprising a dispenser control member adapted for slideable engagement with said dispenser portion whereby to selectively place a first dispenser aperture in communication with a port or second aperture for opening said dispenser. A plurality of embodiments are disclosed. Some embodiments provide for axial motion and some provide for rotational motion of the dispenser control member relative to the dispenser portion of the container member.

Abstract: An article dispenser especially advantageous for dispensing pills of the prescription drug or over-the-counter type, comprises three components including a container member, a dispenser control member and a flexible member. The container member provides a dispenser portion through which the articles are passed in a serial array whereby one article reaches an exit aperture while the remaining articles are restrained at gate apertures within the dispenser portion by the flexible member and the control member. The dispenser components are preferably made of low-cost molded plastic and when assembled provide an easy access dispenser not requiring two hands for activation.

Abstract: An article dispenser discloses a vessel for storing at least one of the articles. Such dispenser has a sphere pivotally suspended from the vessel for rotation in only one direction about a singular first axis that is offset from a second axis and which second axis passes through the center of gravity of the sphere. The first axis lies in a plane that bisects the sphere into a pair of hemispheres where one of the hemispheres is heavier than the other hemisphere. The lesser heavy hemisphere has a cavity overlying and adjacent to the first axis and also adjacent to one of the pivotal suspension points. The article is conveyed from its stored location within the vessel into the cavity and from the cavity to a location external to the vessel by impelling the sphere. A variation of the disclosure includes a sphere that has an axis at which the sphere is pivotally rotated and which axis passes through the center of gravity of the sphere.