Dispenser

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing unit products comprises a container for containing the unit products having an access opening and a dispensing module which is adapted to be connected to the container over the access opening by a first type of child resistant closure connection. A closure is adapted to be connected to the dispensing module by a second type of child resistant closure connection.

1 . A dispenser for dispensing unit products comprising: 
 a container for containing the unit products having an access opening;    a dispensing module releasably connectable by a first type of child resistant closure connection to the container over the access opening and having an internal volume for receiving products form the access opening in the container and from which said unit products can be dispensed via an outlet opening in the dispensing module; and    a closure releasably connectable to the dispensing module by a second type of child resistant closure connection to close said outlet opening.    
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing module further comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the container.  
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the dispensing module.  
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the connector structure comprises a screw thread.  
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing module further comprises a locking element configured to prevent unidirectional disengagement of the dispensing module from the container.  
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the locking element is a tab adapted to engage a recess on the container.  
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the locking element is a recess adapted to engage a tab on the container.  
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the container further comprises a locking element configured to prevent unidirectional disengagement of the dispensing module from the container.  
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein 
 the dispensing module comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the container, and/or    the container comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the dispensing module;    wherein the locking element and one or more of said connector structures are arranged to permit disengagement of the dispensing module from the container by a squeeze and turn action.    
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing module further comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the closure.  
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the dispensing module.  
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 10 , wherein the connector structure comprises a screw thread.  
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing module further comprises a locking element configured to prevent unidirectional disengagement of the dispensing module from the closure.  
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the locking element is a tab adapted to engage a recess on the closure.  
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the locking element is a recess adapted to engage a tab on the closure.  
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises a locking element configured to prevent unidirectional disengagement of the dispensing module from the closure.  
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein 
 the dispensing module comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the container, and/or    the container comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the dispensing module;    wherein the locking element and connector structure are arranged to permit disengagement of the dispensing module from the closure by a push and turn action.    
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 17  wherein the dispensing module comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the container,  
       wherein the closure further comprises a clutch and the connector structure of the closure is free to rotate in the closure and is prevented from rotating in the connector structure on engagement on the clutch by application of a force on the closure in a direction towards the dispensing module.  
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the locking element is operable to permit disengagement of the closure and dispensing module in a different manner to that required for disengagement of the dispensing module and container.  
     
     
         20 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the container comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the dispensing module, and    wherein the closure comprises a connector structure adapted to releasably engage the dispensing module, and    wherein the connector structures are complementary to one another, such that the closure is also connectable to the container in place of the dispensing module.    
     
     
         21 . The dispenser of  claim 1  including the unit products.  
     
     
         22 . The dispenser of  claim 21  in which the unit products are pharmaceutical products.  
     
     
         23 . The dispenser of  claim 22 , wherein the pharmaceutical products are oral dosage forms.  
     
     
         24 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a tamper-evident structure to show whether the dispensing module is subsequently disconnected from the container.  
     
     
         25 . The dispenser of  claim 24 , wherein the tamper-evident structure is applied across a boundary between the dispensing module and the container.  
     
     
         26 . The dispenser of  claim 25 , wherein the tamper-evident structure is a label.  
     
     
         27 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second types of child resistant closure connection is of the push-and-turn variety and/or the other type is of the squeeze-and-turn variety.  
     
     
         28 . A dispenser for dispensing unit products comprising: 
 a container for containing the unit products having an access opening;    a dispensing module releasably connectable to the container over the access opening and having an internal volume for receiving products from the access opening in the container and from which said unit products can be dispensed via an outlet opening in the dispensing module; and    a closure releasably connectable to the dispensing module;    wherein the container and the dispensing module are releasably connectable through respective first connector structures, the dispensing module and the closure are releasably connectable through respective second connector structures, and the first and second connector structures are of different connector types such that removal of the closure from the dispensing module does not effect removal of the dispensing module from the container.    
     
     
         29 . The dispenser of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and second connector structures effect a child resistant connection.  
     
     
         30 . A dispensing module for connection to a container for unit products and for connection to a closure as set forth in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         31 . The dispensing module according to  claim 30 , further comprising a dispensing mechanism which operates to dispense a predetermined number of unit products from the outlet opening on actuation thereof.  
     
     
         32 - 33 . (canceled)