Serially Connected Packets with Grasping Portion

Abstract

A dispensing assembly includes a container and a strip. The container has an interior and an opening. The strip has a first end and a second end, and a portion of the strip is disposed in the interior of the container. The strip includes a plurality of packets connected in a series, and the plurality of packets include at least one filled packet that is filled with a medication. The plurality of packets includes an empty first packet at the first end. The strip extends at least in part through the opening of the container such that at least a portion of the first packet is disposed outside of the container to aid a user in grasping the strip.

1 . A dispensing assembly, comprising:
 a container with an interior and an opening;   a strip having a first end and a second end, a portion of the strip disposed in the interior of the container, the strip comprising a plurality of packets connected in a series, the plurality of packets including at least one filled packet that is filled with a medication,   wherein the strip extends at least partly through the opening of the container such that at least a portion of a first packet of the strip is disposed outside of the container to aid a user in grasping the strip;   a first pair of tabs extending into the opening of the container; and   a second pair of tabs extending into the opening of the container and resiliently bearing against the first pair of tabs to retain the strip at least partly extending through the opening, wherein the first pair of tabs oppose the second pair of tabs such that a force between the first and second pairs of tabs pinch the strip to retain the strip at least partly extending through the opening.   
   
   
       2 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , the container including an exterior surface, wherein the first packet is adhered to the exterior surface. 
   
   
       3 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first packet is adhered to the exterior surface by tape, glue, elastic band, or a polymer film tightly wrapped about the container. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a front edge of a packet of the strip is disposed between the first pair of tabs and the second pair of tabs. 
   
   
       6 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , the container having a top side and a bottom side, the opening closer to the top side than the bottom side, the strip including a set of empty packets at the second end, wherein the set of empty packets support the filled packet from beneath. 
   
   
       7 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filled packet includes indicia that indicates a date a user is to ingest the medication, wherein the first packet bears no indicia. 
   
   
       8 . A dispensing assembly, comprising:
 a container with an interior and an opening;   a strip having a first end and a second end, a portion of the strip disposed in the interior of the container, the strip including grasping means and a plurality of packets, the grasping means associated with the first end of the strip for aiding a user to grasp the strip, the plurality of packets connected in a series and including at least one filled packet that is filled with a medication;   a first pair of tabs extending into the opening of the container; and   a second pair of tabs extending into the opening of the container and resiliently bearing against the first pair of tabs,   wherein the strip extends at least partly through the opening of the container such that the grasping means is disposed outside of the container and a force between the first and second pairs of tabs retains the strip at least partly extending through the opening.   
   
   
       9 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , the container including an exterior surface, wherein the grasping means is adhered to the exterior surface. 
   
   
       10 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the grasping means is adhered to the exterior surface by tape, glue, or a polymer film tightly wrapped about the container. 
   
   
       11 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first pair of tabs oppose the second pair of tabs, and the strip is disposed between the first pair of tabs and the second pair of tabs. 
   
   
       12 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a front edge of a packet disposed adjacent the grasping means is disposed between the first pair of tabs and the second pair of tabs. 
   
   
       13 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , the container having a top side and a bottom side, the opening closer to the top side than the bottom side, the strip including a set of empty packets at the second end, wherein the set of empty packets support the filled packet from beneath. 
   
   
       14 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the filled packet includes indicia that indicates a date a user is to ingest the medication, wherein the first packet bears no indicia 
   
   
       15 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the grasping means is a first packet at the first end, the first packet being empty. 
   
   
       16 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the grasping means is one of a tab, a string, a sheet, a loop, or a clip coupled to a packet of the strip. 
   
   
       17 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator disposed adjacent the second end of the strip for indicating to a user that the dispensing assembly is almost out of packets. 
   
   
       22 . The dispensing assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an indicator disposed adjacent the second end of the strip for indicating to a user that the dispensing assembly is almost out of packets.