With Means To Remove Articles From Point Of Use Patents (Class 221/28)
  • Patent number: 11651851
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method performed by at least one apparatus, the method comprising: Obtaining release information representative of a release of a medical module of a medical kit comprising one or more medical modules; and releasing or triggering release of the medical module of the medical kit. The invention further relates to a method performed by at least one apparatus, the method comprising obtaining a user input of a user indicating the release of a medical module of a medical kit comprising one or more medical modules; and providing release information representative of the release of the medical module of the medical kit. The invention also relates to corresponding apparatuses, computer program products and computer-readable storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: m.Doc GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Huber, Thomas Simon, Wolfgang Goetzke, Admir Kulin, Stefanie Berger, Phillip Panzau
  • Patent number: 11626204
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method performed by at least one apparatus, the method comprising: Obtaining release information representative of a release of a medical module of a medical kit comprising one or more medical modules; and releasing or triggering release of the medical module of the medical kit. The invention further relates to a method performed by at least one apparatus, the method comprising obtaining a user input of a user indicating the release of a medical module of a medical kit comprising one or more medical modules; and providing release information representative of the release of the medical module of the medical kit. The invention also relates to corresponding apparatuses, computer program products and computer-readable storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: m.Doc GmbH
    Inventors: Gerald Huber, Thomas Simon, Wolfgang Goetzke, Admir Kulin, Stefanie Berger, Phillip Panzau
  • Patent number: 10913594
    Abstract: An ejection tray is provided for use in combination with a medication container including a medication-containing cell. The tray includes a frame configured to receive at least a portion of the medication container. An actuator is movably associated with the frame to eject the medication from the cell. A switch is associated with the frame and configured to change from a first state to a second state upon the actuator being moved to eject the medication from the cell. A host processor is associated with the frame and is electrically coupled or selectively coupled to the switch. The host processor is programmed to detect a change in the state of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services, LLC
    Inventor: Ian James Forster
  • Patent number: 9760691
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for providing a pill dispensing device with adherence monitoring and alerting features, as well as communication capabilities. A pill pack may be integrated within a housing of the pill dispensing device, where removal of each pill in the pill pack may be monitored through a conductive trace or comparable mechanism. Timing of the removal, remaining pills, and similar information may also be detected by the pill dispensing device and provided along with additional information such as health status of the consumer monitored by one or more sensors to a health care provider or similar entity over wired and/or wireless networks. The pill dispensing device may include audio and/or visual output device(s) to provide alerts and health/medication related information to the consumer. A display technology may employed enabling continuous display with low power usage such as ink display while providing color and/or video capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Mark Elard Seeger
  • Patent number: 8640916
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrochemical sensor dispensing methods and apparatus. The sensors dispensers can include an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal, the elongate body including a proximally positioned dispensing surface with an opening for dispensing a sensor. A storage chamber having a series of connected sensors is positioned distally and can feed a proximally positioned sensor feeder mechanism. The feeder mechanism includes an elongate member having a first end and second end, the second end adapted to pivot between a sensor engaging position and a sensor feeding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: LifeScan, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry T. Pugh
  • Patent number: 8251572
    Abstract: A food mixing machine (16) includes an agitator (15) for mixing food in a cup (C). The cup (C) is received in a flexible boot (22) which is carried by a cup holder (21). The cup holder (21) also carries a cup release assembly (23) which is biased away from the cup by springs (24). At the end of the mixing cycle, a release initiating assembly (60) engages the cup release assembly (23) which overcomes the bias of the springs (24) and allows the cup release assembly (23) to engage the boot (22) which in turn releases the cup (C) from the cup holder (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Corporation
    Inventor: Eugene J. Kozlowski
  • Publication number: 20090108016
    Abstract: A portable medication dispensing system is described. In some embodiments, the system includes a portable medication tote comprising a securable compartment configured to hold medication, and a controller, responsive to access information, configured to assign a patient to the securable compartment such that medications for the patient are authorized for placement into the securable compartment. The controller is also configured to selectively permit a user access to the medications for the patient in the securable compartment when the access information indicates the user has access to the securable compartment, and restrict access to retrieval of the medications for the patient in the securable compartment when the access information indicates the user does not have access to the securable compartment. The system also includes an information output module configured to output usage information regarding access to the securable compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: CARDINAL HEALTH 303, INC.
    Inventors: Barry Arthur Brown, Duane E. Veach, James David DeFreece
  • Publication number: 20080093376
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser is disclosed and claimed. The unit comprises a housing, within which is mounted an impeller for engaging and urging beverage containers such as cans or bottles toward a housing opening. The impeller and the beverage containers are urged toward the housing by a biasing means such as a spring. Curved restraining formations such as fingers are located near the housing opening so as to engage the sides of the beverage containers and restrain them from movement out of the container until they are pulled out through a housing opening by the beverage dispenser unit operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Craig Balkin
  • Patent number: 7252208
    Abstract: A compact, portable tablet dispenser is particularly adapted for carrying aspirin tablets for ingestion as therapy upon the onset of a suspected heart attack. The tablets are in a blister within the dispenser, which includes actuators aligned with the tablets to eject the tablets through an aperture in the dispenser. Upon operation, the actuators provide a permanent indication that a tablet has been ejected. The dispenser may include electronic circuitry to provide reinforcement and/or guidance, for its use and may include means for alerting a third party, such as by a 911 call, of its activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Advent Consumer Heathcare LLC
    Inventors: Frank J. Alvino, Michael L. Turini, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7178688
    Abstract: A medication dispensing system (10) includes a portable securable container (42), and a mechanism (12, 13, 14, 16, 19) for dispensing a dosage of solid medication. The system further comprises a processor (11) interfacing with the mechanism and further programmed to await (402) an authorization code from an authorized user among a plurality of authorized users, dispense (404) a dosage of medication while maintaining remaining dosages of medication secure in the portable secure dispenser upon receipt of at least the authorization code and optionally a patient's name, and store (406) a code representative of the authorized user, a code representative of the patient's name, and a date and time of dispensation of the dosage of medication in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventors: Naji C. Naufel, Ghadir Naufel
  • Patent number: 7108154
    Abstract: An apparatus for assisting an individual in installing shoe coverings. The apparatus comprises a shoe covering casing and an outer casing in which the shoe covering casing is placed. A plurality of shoe coverings are placed within the shoe covering casing and are mounted so that an individual merely needs to place their foot down into the shoe covering casing and move their foot forward, causing a shoe covering to envelop the foot (preferably with a shoe on it). A mounting mechanism within the shoe covering casing continually sets the top shoe covering on the stack of shoe coverings into a position readily capable of accepting shoes so that the shoe coverings can easily envelop these shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Dennis Thompson
  • Patent number: 6913149
    Abstract: A unit dose package formed from the combination of a flexible portion, preferably of paperboard, which houses unit dose materials, and a rigid molded plastic locking mechanism comprising a child resistant trigger release mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: MeadWestvaco Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Gelardi, Todd H. Huffman, Brad A. Jones, William R. Rigby, Keshav Sharma
  • Patent number: 6743314
    Abstract: Disclosed is a registration system and a method useful for controlling and correcting the phase and position of simultaneously advancing webs having pre-printed objects spaced at a pitch length characterized by small but significant pitch variation to a target web. Also disclosed are consumer products, such as disposable absorbent articles including the preprinted objects which were previously included in the webs phased before combining with a target web by utilizing the instant registration system. The pre-printed objects may include pre-printed, pre-bonded, pre-applied, pre-cut, or pre-glued objects or elements of disposable absorbent articles or registration marks produced on a separate independent process not control-linked to the instant registration method. The registration marks may be visible or normally invisible to the human eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Douglass Scott Henry, Toshiyuki Matsuda, Charles Phillip Miller, Alton Henry Stephens, Paul Kevin King, II, Michael S. Kolodesh
  • Patent number: 5511689
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for dispensing an adhesive-backed article. An adhesive-backed article has a first adhesive disposed on at least a portion of its bottom surface. The bottom surface of the adhesive-backed article is bonded to the top surface of a backing layer by a bond formed by the first adhesive. The top surface of the adhesive-backed article is bonded to the bottom surface of the support layer by a bond formed by a second adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the bottom surface. The bond formed between the top surface of the adhesive backed article and the bottom surface of the support layer is stronger than the bond between the bottom surface of the adhesive-backed article and the top surface of the backing layer such that when the support layer is separated from the backing layer, .the adhesive-backed article remains affixed to the support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventor: Richard D. Frank
  • Patent number: 5505334
    Abstract: A storage rod for temporarily supporting liners for a container is mounted by one end of the rod to the bottom side of a wall having a slot for passing the liners through the wall from the bottom side to the top side of the wall. The attachment to the wall supports the rod with the other end of the rod unsupported for receiving the liners. The end of the rod receiving the liners is unobstructed, for access to the rod coaxially with the rod by a roll of liners for sliding them on the rod. A handle is at one end of the slot and generally normal to the slot to avoid uncontrolled twist of an operator's fingers when handling the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Modern Technological Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Benito Triglia
  • Patent number: 5458259
    Abstract: A magazine for dispensing liner bags from a supply roll through an aperture in the bottom of a trash receptacle includes an upwardly open base having a horizontal cross-sectional shape adapted to receive the trash receptacle, a hinge for connecting the base to the trash receptacle along a horizontal pivot axis extending along one side of the base, whereby the receptacle can be tilted away from the base to provide access to the base. The base has a seat formed by an inwardly protruding flange to limit the depth of penetration of the trash receptacle into the magazine, so that it does not bear against or otherwise interfere with the liner bag supply. Two parallel dividers in the base form three compartments. The outer compartments are useful for storing addition supply rolls or supplies, while the central one contains the active supply roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Inventor: Lee R. Falk
  • Patent number: 5301831
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a one-at-a-time dispensing assembly for newspaper racks of tetrahedral shape in which the assembly is positioned within and spans the walls of the rack. The dispensing assembly of the invention includes a fixed support base subassembly fixedly positioned--in a vertical sense--adjacent to the lower edge of the rack opening, and a shaker subassembly. The base subassembly supports both a stack of newspapers and a planar member of the shaker subassembly. The shaker subassembly also includes a lever extending exterior of the rack below the lower edge of the rack opening actionably connected to the planar member. Purpose: to permit to-and-fro movement of the planar member supporting the stack of newspaper via corresponding movement of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Harold D. Messner
    Inventor: Woodi N. Holmes
  • Patent number: 5248060
    Abstract: A theft deterrent device restricts the number of newspapers or other periodicals that can be retrieved from a newspaper vending machine at one time. The device includes a cover gate forming a generally T-shaped opening with a vertical passageway and a horizontal slot opening. The cover gate mounts over an access opening of the vending machine behind a hinged door that closes against the vending machine. The cover gate restricts the number of periodicals that can be withdrawn at one time from a storage cabinet portion of the machine after the hinged door is opened and lowered by a customer. The deterrent device is easily installed on existing newspaper vending machines by way of an engagement member that securely engages a fixed part of the vending machine in the region of the access opening. A lock mechanism on the cover gate serves to lock the cover gate to the dispensing machine and firmly hold the gate in place over the access opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: EB Metal Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Evelyn Friedman, William Carswell, Howard Shames, Martin Borho