Sport Nutritional Supplement Dispenser

Abstract

A nutritional supplement dispenser for attachment to a bicycle frame or to a runner's belt has a hollow case with an openable top for placing tablets in the case and an inclined bottom tending to urge tablets forward under the influence of gravity. A dispenser located at a low point of the case dispenses a single tablet into an athlete's hand when manually depressed. VELCRO® brand fastener-equipped straps attach the case to the top tube and down tube of a bicycle or to a belt worn by a runner. Magnetically biased and spring biased dispensing mechanisms are described. A push-button dispensing mechanism is described. Bicycle-frame-conforming aerodynamic wings and a holster are described.

1 . A nutritional supplement tablet dispenser, comprising:
 a case, having an enclosing front, back and sides adapted to contain a plurality of approximately cylindrical tablets; a bottom inclined lowermost proximate said front, and a dispensing component located lowermost on said bottom,   said dispensing component being manually operable to dispense said tablets serially, from within said case,   said case being securable between a top tube, a front tube and a down tube of a bicycle frame with clearance below said dispenser and above said down tube.   
   
   
       2 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a window is formed in said case and said window renders contents of said case visible from outside said case. 
   
   
       3 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a liner is applied within said case to at least one of said sides, front, back and bottom, said liner having noise-limiting or motion-limiting properties. 
   
   
       4 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a flap so disposed within said case as to rest upon tablets contained therein, said flap tending to restrict movement of the tablets within said case. 
   
   
       5 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said dispensing component is operable between a closed position and an open position relative to said case,
 said dispensing component being capable of receiving a tablet from within said case when in said closed position and of dispensing a tablet when in said open position.   
   
   
       6 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said dispensing component is rotatable between said closed position and said open position. 
   
   
       7 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said dispensing component is translatable between said closed position and said open position. 
   
   
       8 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said dispensing component is spring-biased toward said closed position. 
   
   
       9 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said dispensing component further comprises a substantially hemi-cylindrical body, rotatably held between said sides of said case and alternately facing (a) in said closed position, upward and inwardly relative to said case and capable of receiving a tablet from therein, and (b) in said open position, downwardly and forwardly relative to said case and capable of releasing a tablet; and a spring so engaged to said body and to said case as to bias said body in said closed position. 
   
   
       10 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said dispensing component is magnetically biased toward said closed position. 
   
   
       11 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein a first magnetic body is disposed on said case and a second magnetic body is disposed on said dispensing component and is attracted by said first magnetic body, thereby biasing said dispensing component in said closed position. 
   
   
       12 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said dispensing component further comprises a substantially hemi-cylindrical body, rotatably held between said sides of said case and alternately facing (a) in said closed position, upward and inwardly relative to said case and capable of receiving a tablet from therein, and (b) in said open position, downwardly and forwardly relative to said case and capable of releasing a tablet;
 a first magnetic body is disposed on said case; and   a second magnetic body is disposed on said dispensing component and is attracted by said first magnetic body, thereby biasing said dispensing component in said closed position.   
   
   
       13 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said dispensing component is configured to receive a tablet from above when in said closed position and to release a tablet downwardly when in said open position. 
   
   
       14 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said dispensing component further comprises:
 a button face  112  having an upper edge  114  and a lower edge  116 ;   an upper frame  118  projecting from said upper edge  114  and forming an upper gate  120  dimensioned to pass a tablet;   a lower frame  124  projecting from said lower edge  116  and forming a lower gate  126  dimensioned to pass a tablet;   said upper frame  118  and said lower frame  124  being so engaged with said sides and bottom of said case as to be fixed laterally and vertically and translatable forwardly and rearwardly relative to said case.   
   
   
       15 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one eyelet located proximate said top of said case and adapted to be strapped to a bicycle frame top tube, and at least one bar located proximate said bottom of said case and adapted to be strapped to a bicycle frame down tube. 
   
   
       16 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said bottom, back and top approximate the angles described by the top tube, front tube and down tube of a bicycle frame and the back, sides and front are is dimensioned to provide clearance between said dispenser and said down tube. 
   
   
       17 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of substantially planar wings approximately bridging the distance between said sides of said case and the front tube and the down tube of a bicycle frame, thereby presenting a substantially continuous lateral surface from approximately the sides of the front tube and down tube to said sides of said case. 
   
   
       18 . A dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a rail formed on said top of said case and a bicycle-frame-mountable holster having a guide formed thereon and adapted for engagement with said rail.