Orally operable dispenser and associated methods
AssigneeMethods, Inc.
InventorJames L. Hardy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser for pills, candy or other items includes one or more pods that are configured to hold an item, such as a pill, a piece of candy or the like, to be inserted into an individual's mouth and to enable the individual to remove the item by squeezing the item out of the pod with his or her mouth or otherwise. Such a dispenser may be configured to be worn by an individual or secured to an object that is readily accessible to an individual or his or her mouth. Methods for providing, dispensing and taking (i.e., consuming) items, such as pills or candy, are also disclosed.
Claims21
A dispensing device, comprising:
- at least one pod, each pod including:
- an outer wall comprising a compliant, resilient material;
- a hollow interior defined by the outer wall, the hollow interior configured to receive an item;
- a slit defined through the outer wall, the slit having:
- a closed position in which access to the hollow interior of the pod is limited;
- and
- an open position in which the hollow interior of the pod and any contents within the hollow interior are exposed, the open position of the slit configured to enable insertion of the item into the hollow interior and removal of the item from the hollow interior;
- and
- a base for carrying the at least one pod, each pod protruding from the base in a manner that enables placement of a mouth of an individual around the pod, the slit and the outer wall of the pod being oriented to enable the mouth of the individual to open the slit and to move a item from the hollow interior of the pod into the mouth of the individual, and the outer wall of the pod being configured to close the slit upon removal of the pod from the mouth of the individual.
A dispensing method, comprising:
- securing a dispenser to a location on a body of an individual that can be accessed by a mouth of the individual or that can move to the mouth of the individual, the dispenser including at least one pod containing an item, the pod configured to protrude from a remainder of the dispenser in a manner that enables introduction of the pod into the mouth of the individual, the pod oriented for introduction into the mouth of the subject;
- introducing the pod into the mouth of the individual;
- and
- squeezing the item from the pod while the pod is present within the mouth of the individual.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.