Dispenser For An Orally Dissolvable Strip

Abstract

A dispenser for an orally dissolvable strip sandwiched between two layers of wrap material includes first and second generally parallel receiving spools for receiving the respective layers of wrap material, said receiving spools being spaced apart for the orally dissolvable strip and the layers of wrap material to pass therebetween. The first and second spools may be coupled to portions of the first and second layers of wrap material, respectively. A force transfer apparatus is configured to rotate the second spool when the first spool rotates. The dispenser includes a housing containing the first and second receiving spools, the force transfer apparatus, the orally dissolvable strip, and the layers of wrap material, the housing having a slot sized for the orally dissolvable strip to pass through, the means for rotating the spools being accessible from outside the housing.

1 . A dispenser for an orally dissolvable strip sandwiched between two layers of wrap material, the dispenser comprising:
 first and second generally parallel receiving spools for receiving the respective layers of wrap material, said receiving spools being spaced apart for the orally dissolvable strip and the layers of wrap material to pass between;   means for rotating said first spool;   a force transfer apparatus configured to rotate said second spool when said first spool rotates; and   a housing containing said first and second receiving spools, said force transfer apparatus, the orally dissolvable strip, and the layers of wrap material; said housing having a slot sized for the orally dissolvable strip to pass through;   wherein said means for rotating is accessible outside said housing.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said means for rotating said first spool includes a rotatable knob operatively coupled to said first spool. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said force transfer apparatus includes at least one of a gear train, a pulley system, or a chain and sprocket system. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective cap movably coupled to said housing to selectively expose and conceal said housing slot. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein said housing is airtight when said cap conceals said housing slot. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first and second spools rotate only in opposed directions; and   said force transfer apparatus is configured to rotate said second spool at generally the same speed as said first spool.   
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second guide rollers in said housing adjacent said housing slot to direct the orally dissolvable strip outwardly through said housing slot, and wherein:
 a respective layer of wrap material passes over said first guide roller before reaching said first receiving spool;   the other layer of wrap material passes over said second guide roller before reaching said second spool; and   said first and second guide rollers are positioned to cause generally adjacent points of the two layers of wrap material to separate from the orally dissolvable strip at generally the same time.   
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , further comprising a protective cap movably coupled to said housing to selectively expose and conceal said housing slot, and wherein:
 said means for rotating said first spool includes a rotatable knob operatively coupled to said first spool; and   said force transfer apparatus includes at least one of a gear train, a pulley system, or a chain and sprocket system   
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first wedge positioned between said first guide roller and the orally dissolvable strip for separating one of the layers of wrap material from the orally dissolvable strip; and   a second wedge positioned between said second guide roller and the orally dissolvable strip for separating the other layer of wrap material from the orally dissolvable strip;   wherein said housing includes a coupling element for selectively coupling said housing to a housing of another dispenser.   
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein:
 said first and second spools rotate only in opposed directions; and   said force transfer apparatus is configured to rotate said second spool at generally the same speed as said first spool.   
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first wedge positioned between said first guide roller and the orally dissolvable strip for separating one of the layers of wrap material from the orally dissolvable strip; and   a second wedge positioned between said second guide roller and the orally dissolvable strip for separating the other layer of wrap material from the orally dissolvable strip.   
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein said orally dissolvable strip includes at least one of a medication, a breath freshener, or a nutritional supplement. 
     
     
         13 . An orally dissolvable strip and dispenser, comprising:
 an orally dissolvable strip sandwiched between first and second layers of wrap material;   first and second generally parallel receiving spools for receiving the respective layers of wrap material, said first and second spools being spaced apart for said orally dissolvable strip and said layers of wrap material to pass between, said first spool being operatively coupled to said first layer of wrap material, said second spool being operatively coupled to said second layer of wrap material;   a rotatable knob operatively coupled to said first spool for causing said first spool to rotate;   a force transfer apparatus operatively coupled to said first and second spools and configured to rotate said second spool when said first spool rotates, said first and second spools and said force transfer apparatus being configured so that said first and second spools each receive a generally equivalent length of said wrap material when said first and second spools rotate;   a housing containing said first and second receiving spools, said force transfer apparatus, said orally dissolvable strip, and said layers of wrap material; said housing having a slot sized for said orally dissolvable strip to pass through; and   wherein said rotatable knob is accessible outside said housing.   
     
     
         14 . The orally dissolvable strip and dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein said force transfer apparatus includes at least one of a gear train, a pulley system, or a chain and sprocket system. 
     
     
         15 . The orally dissolvable strip and dispenser of  claim 14 , further comprising a protective cap movably coupled to said housing to selectively expose and conceal said housing slot. 
     
     
         16 . The orally dissolvable strip and dispenser of  claim 15 , further comprising first and second guide rollers positioned in said housing adjacent said housing slot to direct said orally dissolvable strip out said housing slot, and wherein:
 said first layer of wrap material passes over said first guide roller before reaching said first receiving spoo, said first layer of wrap material being received by said first spool upon reaching said first spool;   said second layer of wrap material passes over said second guide roller before reaching said second spool, said second layer of wrap material being received by said second spool upon reaching said second spool; and   said first and second guide rollers are positioned to cause generally adjacent points of the two layers of wrap material to separate from the orally dissolvable strip at generally the same time.   
     
     
         17 . The orally dissolvable strip and dispenser of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a first wedge positioned between said first guide roller and said orally dissolvable strip for separating said first layer of wrap material from said orally dissolvable strip; and   a second wedge positioned between said second guide roller and said orally dissolvable strip for separating said second layer of wrap material from said orally dissolvable strip;   wherein said housing includes a coupling element for selectively coupling said housing to a housing of another dispenser.   
     
     
         18 . The orally dissolvable strip and dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising first and second guide rollers in said housing adjacent said housing slot to direct said orally dissolvable strip outwardly through said housing slot, and wherein:
 said first layer of wrap material passes over said first guide roller before reaching said first receiving spool;   said second layer of wrap material passes over said second guide roller before reaching said second spool; and   said first and second guide rollers are positioned to cause generally adjacent points of the two layers of wrap material to separate from the orally dissolvable strip at generally the same time.   
     
     
         19 . The orally dissolvable strip and dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein said orally dissolvable strip includes at least one of a medication, a breath freshener, or a nutritional supplement. 
     
     
         20 . The orally dissolvable strip and dispenser of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a release material situated between said orally dissolvable strip and said first layer of wrap material; and   a release material situated between said orally dissolvable strip and said second layer of wrap material.