IP Library Granted Patent US 11,667,460
Granted Patent B2
US 11,667,460 · App. 17/166,139 · Granted Jun 6, 2023

Pill dispenser

Inventors: Jordan French (Evansville, IN); Jason A. Rowe (Evansville, IN)
Assignee: Berry Plastics Corporation
B65D83/0427A61J1/00A61J1/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,667,460
App. No.
17/166,139
Granted
Jun 6, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A package includes a container formed to include an interior product-storage region and a closure. The closure is coupled to the container selectively to allow access to the product stored in the interior product-storage region.

Claims (34)

1. A pill dispenser comprising

a container formed to include an interior pill-storage chamber therein, the container including a body defining a portion of the interior pill-storage chamber and a neck coupled to the body to define a remaining portion of the interior pill-storage chamber,

a container closure coupled to the container, and

a neck insert coupled to the neck of the container and arranged to extend downwardly away from the container closure into the interior pill-storage chamber,

wherein a pill-dispensing outlet is formed in the neck insert and the pill-dispensing outlet is arranged to open into a pill-transfer chamber formed between the container closure and the neck insert,

wherein the neck insert includes a platform formed to include at least a portion of the pill-dispensing outlet, a pill-receiver dish, and a ramp arranged to extend between and interconnect the platform and the pill-receiver dish,

wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is the only opening formed in the neck insert,

wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is located radially offset from a central vertical axis of the insert so that the central vertical axis intersects the ramp.

2. The pill dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is formed in the platform, the platform is generally horizontal, and the pill-receiver dish is concave.

3. The pill dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the platform and the ramp are generally flat.

4. The pill dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the neck insert includes a retaining lip located between the neck and the container closure and the pill-receiver dish coupled to the retaining lip and arranged to extend from the retaining lip into the interior pill-storage chamber away from the container closure.

5. The pill dispenser of claim 4 , wherein the pill-receiver dish is arranged to open upwardly away from the container to face toward an underside of the container closure.

6. The pill dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the container further includes exterior threading coupled to the neck to locate the neck between the exterior threading and the neck insert.

7. The pill dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the container closure includes a rim arranged to extend around and surround the neck, a cap coupled to the rim and arranged to overlie the neck, and interior threading located between the rim and the neck and arranged to engage the exterior threading of the container to couple the container closure to the container.

8. The pill dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the container further includes exterior threading coupled to the neck to locate the neck between the exterior threading and the neck insert, the container closure includes a rim arranged to extend around and surround the neck, a cap coupled to the rim and arranged to overlie the neck, and interior threading located between the rim and the neck and arranged to engage the exterior threading of the container to couple the container closure to the container, and the cap engages the neck insert to trap a portion of the neck insert between the cap and the neck of the container.

9. The pill dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the neck insert includes a retaining lip providing the portion of the neck insert trapped between the cap and the neck and a pill-receiver dish coupled to the retaining lip and arranged to extend from the retaining lip into the interior pill-storage chamber away from the container closure.

10. The pill dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the cap has an underside arranged to face toward the neck insert and the underside has a concave surface arranged to extend upwardly away from the neck insert.

11. The pill dispenser of claim 10 , wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is formed in the platform, the platform is generally horizontal, and the platform and the ramp are generally flat.

12. The pill dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the neck insert includes a retaining lip located between the neck and the container closure, an insert side wall coupled to the retaining lip and arranged to extend downwardly away from the retaining lip and into the interior pill-storage chamber, and a ceiling coupled to the insert side wall and located in spaced-apart relation to the retaining lip so as to be located in the interior pill-storage chamber.

13. The pill dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the pill-receiver dish is coupled to the ceiling and to the insert side wall and arranged to lie in spaced-apart relation to the retaining lip so as to be located in the interior pill-storage chamber.

14. The pill dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the ceiling is located between the pill-receiver dish and the retaining lip.

15. The pill dispenser of claim 14 , wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is formed in the ceiling.

16. The pill dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the ceiling includes a horizontal platform formed to include the pill-dispensing outlet and a ramp arranged to extend between and interconnect the pill-receiver dish.

17. The pill dispenser of claim 16 , wherein the ramp extends downwardly from the horizontal platform to the pill-receiver dish.

18. The pill dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is formed in the ceiling.

19. The pill dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the pill-dispensing outlet has a generally oval shape.

20. A pill dispenser comprising

a container formed to include an interior pill-storage chamber therein, the container including a body defining a portion of the interior pill-storage chamber and a neck coupled to the body to define a remaining portion of the interior pill-storage chamber,

a container closure coupled to the container, and

a ceiling coupled to the container closure,

wherein a pill-dispensing outlet is formed in the ceiling and the pill-dispensing outlet is arranged to open into a pill-transfer chamber formed between the container closure and the ceiling,

wherein the ceiling includes a platform formed to include at least a portion of the pill-dispensing outlet, a pill-receiver dish, and a ramp arranged to extend between and interconnect the platform and the pill-receiver dish,

wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is the only opening formed in the ceiling,

wherein the pill-dispensing outlet is located radially offset from a central vertical axis of the container so that the central vertical axis intersects the ramp.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 5, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071168/0495 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded May 5, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH), AS TERM LOAN COLLATERAL AGENT; BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ABL COLLATERAL AGENT
To: AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS, LLC (F/K/A AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.); BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL, INC.; BERRY PLASTICS CORPORATION; BERRY PLASTICS FILMCO, INC.; BERRY PLASTICS HOLDING CORPORATION; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; COVALENCE SPECIALTY ADHESIVES LLC; FIBERWEB, INC.; FIBERWEB, LLC; KERR GROUP, LLC; LETICA CORPORATION; LETICA RESOURCES, INC.; PLIANT, LLC; ROLLPAK CORPORATION; F&S TOOL, INC.
Reel/Frame 071168/0009 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071165/0753 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071165/0634 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071165/0365 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; PRIME LABEL & SCREEN, INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PRIME LABEL & SCREEN INCORPORATED; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071165/0464 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS, LLC (F/K/A AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; F/K/A POLYMER GROUP, INC.); FIBERWEB, LLC.; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.
Reel/Frame 069306/0067 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2024
From: BERRY GLOBAL, INC.; BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS, LLC; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC; LETICA CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 067589/0371 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: BERRY GLOBAL, INC.; BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 066354/0346 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BERRY GLOBAL, INC.; FIBERWEB, LLC; LETICA CORPORATION
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH; BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ABL COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064067/0413 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056759 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 21, 2023
From: BERRY GLOBAL, INC.; BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064050/0377 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2023
From: BERRY GLOBAL, INC.; BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC; PRIME LABEL & SCREEN, INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PRIME LABEL & SCREEN, INCORPORATED; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 063348/0639 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2021
From: BERRY GLOBAL, INC.; BERRY FILM PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC.; BPREX HEALTHCARE PACKAGING INC.; AVINTIV SPECIALTY MATERIALS INC.; PLIANT, LLC; FIBERWEB, LLC; BERRY GLOBAL FILMS, LLC; PROVIDENCIA USA, INC.; LETICA CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056759/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2021
From: FRENCH, JORDAN; ROWE, JASON A.
To: BERRY PLASTICS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055144/0896 →