Dispenser for flattened articles

US7919060B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Tom Funke · Carmel, US
• Abner D. Joseph · Carmel, US
• Peter L. Arnold · Heppenheim, DE
• James Meador · Houston, US
• Thomas R. Miller · Endwell, US
• Randy E. Yoder · Noblesville, US
• Daniel Paul Casler · Fishers, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 14, 2009
• Grant date: Apr 5, 2011
• Expiry date: Jul 14, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61J7/0076
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A substantially moisture-proof, airtight dispenser for both storing and dispensing several flattened articles such as diagnostic test strips. The inventive dispenser includes a novel pivotable housing that a user need merely grab and squeeze to eject a test strip. Independent movement of the user's fingers to push a button or turn a knob is unnecessary to dispense a strip, which makes the present invention well suited for diabetics suffering from nerve damage in their extremities and other complications resulting from the disease. The invention includes a novel flexible arm member and pusher head that engage and push an article from the dispenser as the two parts of the housing are pivoted together. The articles are dispensed through an exit that is configured with a novel flexible seal that maintains the dispenser substantially airtight. Several inventive seal embodiments and methods of making the same are disclosed.