Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/388,831, filed July 13, 2022, and entitled “Pill Dispenser and Methods of Use,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Background

[0002] The embodiments described herein relate to devices and methods for dispensing a pill, such as a supplement or medication in, for example, a tablet, capsule, softgel, or any other pill form. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a dispenser for dispensing a single pill that provides easy actuation and delivery of the pill to a user.

[0003] There are various known devices for containing and dispensing pills, such as vitamin supplements, capsules with medication, etc. For example, some known devices rely solely on gravity to allow for the pills to be delivered through an opening of the device. Such devices may require the user to shake and agitate the device to get the pill to dispense. Other known devices use a removable cartridge that requires the pills to be provided in cartridge form, which limits the use of the device. Other known devices have an actuation button to release a pill from the dispenser but may also require shaking and agitation of the device to get the pill to a delivery position. Some known devices are provided with electronic actuation mechanisms. Such devices can be complicated and require the use of batteries or electrical cords to operate.

[0004] Although there are many known pill dispensing devices, as described above, such devices may have shortcomings that do not provide for ease of use by a user. Such devices can also be limited to a particular form of pill and/or presentation of the pills to be inserted into the device such as a cartridge or other removable component. Many known devices can also damage or break the pills, which can result in incomplete dosing as well as jamming or clogging of the device. [0005] Thus, there is a need for an improved pill dispenser that can be easily loaded with multiple pills and easily actuated by the user to dispense a single pill at a time, without the user having to manually shake or agitate the device and without the use of electronics.

Summary

[0006] This summary introduces certain aspects of the embodiments described herein to provide a basic understanding. This summary is not an extensive overview of the inventive subject matter, and it is not intended to identify key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of the inventive subject matter.

[0007] In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing defining an interior volume configured to contain a plurality of pills. An actuator is coupled to the housing and a shuttle is coupled within the housing and operatively coupled to the actuator. A loader is operatively coupled to the shuttle and includes a loading cavity configured to hold a first pill from the plurality of pills. The shuttle is configured to translate within the housing when the actuator is actuated such that the shuttle receives the first pill from the loading cavity and delivers the first pill through an exit opening of the housing, and the loader is rotated such that a second pill from the plurality of pills is moved into the loading cavity of the loader.

[0008] In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing defining an interior volume configured to contain a plurality of pills. An actuator is coupled to the housing. A loader is coupled within the housing and has a loading cavity, a deflector, and a paddle. The loading cavity is defined in part by an angled entry portion of the loader. The deflector is configured to guide at least one pill from the plurality of pills into a loading region within the interior volume. The paddles are disposed within the interior volume of the housing. The loader is configured to rotate when the actuator is actuated such that a pill from the plurality of pills is moved into the loading cavity, and the paddle stirs the remaining pills from the plurality of pills within the interior volume.

[0009] In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing having an interior conical surface in part defining an interior volume configured to contain a plurality of pills. A loader is coupled within the housing. The loader includes a deflector, a loading cavity configured to receive a pill from the plurality of pills, and at least one slot through which a pill from the plurality of pills can pass through and into the loading cavity. The deflector is angled downward and disposed within the interior volume of the housing above the interior conical surface. The deflector and the interior conical surface of the housing are collectively configured to guide a pill from the plurality of pills through the at least one slot and into the loading cavity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] FIG. l is a side perspective view of a pill dispenser, according to an embodiment.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded top perspective view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lid of the pill dispenser of FIG. I showing the inside of the lid.

[0014] FIGS. 5 and 6 are each a different partial exploded views of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1, showing the dispenser in a ready to dispense position and a pill within a loading cavity of the dispenser.

[0016] FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1, showing the dispenser in an actuated position (an actuator button depressed) with the pill from FIG. 7A moved to a shuttle of the dispenser and another pill moved into the loading cavity of the dispenser.

[0017] FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1, showing the dispenser in a dispensing position, with the pill from the shuttle ready to be released out of a bottom opening of the dispenser.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a side perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of the pill dispenser shown in FIG. 7.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a top perspective cross-sectional view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 7 with the two pills removed. [0020] FIG. 10 is a side perspective cross-sectional view taken offset from a centerline of the pill dispenser shown in FIG. 1 showing one pill within a loader of the pill dispenser.

[0021] FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective cross-sectional view taken offset from the centerline of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1 showing one pill within a shuttle of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 1, shown disposed on a support base, according to an embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 13 A is a perspective view of the support base of FIG. 12.

[0024] FIG. 13B is a side view of the support base of FIG. 12.

[0025] FIG. 14 is a partial exploded view of the support base of FIG.12.

[0026] FIG. 15 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken through magnets within the base support of FIG. 12.

[0027] FIG. 16 is a partial exploded view of a pill dispenser, according to another embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 17 is a partial exploded view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 16.

[0029] FIG. 18 is another partial exploded view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 16.

[0030] FIG. 19 is a bottom perspective view of the pill dispenser of FIG. 16.

[0031] FIG. 20 is an exploded view of a portion of a dispenser according to an embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 21 is a top perspective view of the portion of a dispenser of FIG. 20.

[0033] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an actuator assembly according to another embodiment.

Detailed Description

[0034] The apparatus described herein can be used to store multiple pills and to deliver a single pill at a time to a user in an easy to use dispenser. A pill as used herein can be in the form of, for example, a tablet, a caplet, a lozenge, a capsule, a softgel, or any other suitable form and can be solid or semi solid. For example, a semi-solid pill can be a capsule having a liquid or gel encapsulated within an outer casing. A pill can have an oblong shape, oval, elliptical, round, rectangular, square, etc. A pill can include a dietary supplement (e.g., a vitamin), a medicinal component (e.g., prescription or non-prescription form medicine). The apparatus (also referred to herein as “dispenser”) can be operated to dispense a pill without the use of, for example, electronics, replacement cartridges or requiring shaking and agitating to dispense the pill.

[0035] The dispensers described herein can include a housing defining an interior volume that can contain multiple pills and have interior surfaces that in part define the interior region that assist in routing the pills to a loading region of the dispenser. The dispensers can include an actuator assembly that includes an actuator button that is easily actuated by a user to cause a pill from within the interior region to be dispensed through a bottom opening of the dispenser as described in more detail below.

[0036] The dispensers described herein include a shuttle that can be actuated by the actuator button and can translate perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the dispenser. In turn, the shuttle causes a loader operatively coupled to the shuttle to rotate to move a pill from within the interior region of the housing to a loading cavity of the loader, and move a pill that is staged in the loading cavity through a delivery passage of the shuttle and out through an exit opening at the bottom of the dispenser.

[0037] The dispensers described herein can be easily refilled without the need to arrange the pills within a cartridge or other ordered manner to ensure repeatable, accurate delivery of the pills. As described herein, the dispenser described herein can include a cap that can be removed to expose an interior volume for storing the pills. A user can simply pour or otherwise place a plurality of pills within the interior volume, and the components and features of the dispensers described herein can produce repeatable delivery one pill at a time. Thus, the dispensers described herein can be reusable and are easily refilled as part of an environmentally friendly pill delivery system.

[0038] In some embodiments, the dispenser can be matingly supported on a support base as described herein. In some embodiments, the support base can include a first base portion and a second base portion that can be releasably coupled to each other and each of the first base portion and the second base portion can support a different dispenser. The first base portion and the second base portion can be magnetically coupled as described herein. In some embodiments, a kit can be provided that includes a dispenser as described herein and a support base.

[0039] As used herein, the term “about” when used in connection with a referenced numeric indication means the referenced numeric indication plus or minus up to 10 percent of that referenced numeric indication. For example, the language “about 50” covers the range of 45 to 55. Similarly, the language “about 5” covers the range of 4.5 to 5.5.

[0040] Similarly, geometric terms, such as “parallel”, “perpendicular”, “round”, or “square”, are not intended to require absolute mathematical precision, unless the context indicates otherwise. Instead, such geometric terms allow for variations due to manufacturing or equivalent functions. For example, if an element is described as “round” or “generally round,” a component that is not precisely circular (e.g., one that is slightly oblong or is a many-sided polygon) is still encompassed by this description.

[0041] In addition, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “includes”, “has”, and the like specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, components, etc. but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups.

[0042] FIGS. 1-12 illustrate a dispenser according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a dispenser 100 includes an outer top cap 120 (also referred to herein as “top cap”), an outer bottom cap 122 (also referred to as “bottom cap”), and an actuator button 124. The bottom cap 122 has a bottom surface 126 that defines an exit opening 128 as shown, for example, in FIG.3, through which a single pill 110 can be dispensed, as described in more detail herein. The top cap 120 and the bottom cap 122 can each be formed with, for example, a plastic material or a metal material, such as aluminum. Positioned at least partially within the bottom cap 122 is an interior lower housing 135 (also referred to herein as “lower housing”). The lower housing 135 can be formed with, for example, a suitable plastic or metal material. The bottom cap 122 defines a side opening 115 and the lower housing 135 defines a side opening 117 aligned with the side opening 115 and through which the actuator button 124 extends. The lower housing 135 also defines an exit opening 129 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) that is aligned with the exit opening 128 of the bottom cap 122 (see, e.g., FIG. 29). Thus, a pill 110 can pass through the exit opening 129 and the exit opening 128 to be dispensed to a user.

[0043] An interior upper housing 132 (also referred to herein as “upper housing”) is coupled to the lower housing 135 via protrusions 121 on the upper housing 132 that can be snap-fit into slots 123 in the lower housing 135 as shown, for example, in FIG. 6. The upper housing 132 can be formed with, for example, a suitable plastic or metal material. In some embodiments, the upper housing 132 and the lower housing 135 can be formed as a single housing. The top cap 120 can be removably coupled to the upper housing 132 via a threaded coupling 131 between the top cap 120 and the upper housing 132. In some embodiments, the threads on the upper housing 132 can include a stop lock 133 that allows for the top cap 120 to be positioned in a desired orientation relative to the bottom cap 122. A ring gasket 130 is disposed within a top portion of the interior of the top cap 120 as shown in FIG. 4. The gasket 130 provides a freshness seal to the contents of the dispenser 100 when the top cap 120 is coupled to the bottom cap 122. The removable top cap 120 allows for the dispenser 100 to be easily refilled with pills for multiple uses.

[0044] As shown, for example, in FIGS. 3, 7A-7C, 9 and 10, the upper housing 132 includes an interior conical surface 134 that collectively with the wall of the upper housing 132 defines an interior volume 137 that can receive and hold multiple pills. The interior conical surface 134 can include axial contours 157 that can assist in directing the pills within the interior volume 137 toward a loading region 155 within the interior volume 137 near an angled entry portion 151 of a loading cavity 152 of the loader 144 described below. As described above, a pill can be in the form of, for example, a tablet, a caplet, a lozenge, a capsule, or any other suitable form and can be solid or semi-solid. For example, a semi-solid pill can be a capsule having a liquid or gel encapsulated within an outer casing. A pill can have an oblong shape, oval, elliptical, round, rectangular, square, etc. A pill can include a dietary supplement (e.g., a vitamin), a medicinal component (e.g., prescription or non-prescription form medicine).

[0045] The loader 144 includes a receptacle 136 that includes a protrusion 149 that can be snap-fit into a receiving portion 147 of the loader 144. The receptacle 136 includes a deflector 150 that is angled downward and disposed within the interior volume 137. The angled deflector

150 assist in guiding the pills within the interior volume 137 downward toward the interior conical surface 134 and the loading region 155. The deflector 150 can be at any suitable angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser. For example, in some embodiments, the deflector 150 can be angled downward forming an acute angle of between about 30 and 75 degrees with the longitudinal axis. An insert 138 is optionally removably coupled within an opening in the top part of the receptacle 136. The insert 138 can include an ingredient such as a scent, a flavor or a desiccant. The insert 138 can be used to add properties to the interior volume 137 and the pills disposed therein and that may be desirable to the user. As described above, the loader 144 defines the loading cavity 152 and includes the angled entry portion 151 that leads into the loading cavity 152. The loader 144 also includes two paddles 148 that extend between the angled entry portion

151 and the receptacle 136. The paddles 148 define slots 153 between them through which a pill from within the interior volume 137 can pass through and into the loading cavity 152. The paddles 148 are also used to stir or agitate the pills within the interior region 137 as described in more detail below. Although two paddles 148 are shown, in alternative embodiments, a dispenser can include one paddle or more than two paddles and a corresponding different number of slots 153 for the pills to pass through and into the loading cavity 152. The loader 142 also includes a plurality of teeth 146 (see, e.g., FIG. 6) that are used to rotate the loader 142 as described below.

[0046] The dispenser 100 also includes an actuator assembly 140 that includes the actuator button 124 (also referred to as “actuator”) and a shuttle 142 operatively coupled to the actuator button 124. The actuator assembly 140 is coupled to the lower housing 135 such that the actuator button 124 extends through the openings 115 and 117. The actuator button 124 is operatively coupled to the shuttle 142 and a spring 143 biases the shuttle 142 in a first position in which the actuator button 124 extends outwardly from the bottom cap 122 and the dispenser 100 and actuator assemblyl40 is in a ready-to-dispense position, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 7A and 7C. The shuttle 142 is also operatively coupled to the loader 144. More specifically, the shuttle 142 includes a plurality of teeth 145 (see FIG. 6) that engage the plurality of teeth 146 of the loader 142. The shuttle 142 also defines a delivery passage 154 through which a pill 110 can pass to deliver the pill 110 out of the dispenser 100. [0047] To use the dispenser 100, the user removes the top cap 120 (see, e.g., FIG. 3) and loads the interior region 137 with multiple pills, then places the top cap 120 back on the dispenser 100 and tightens the top cap 120 with the threaded coupling 131. Referring to FIGS. 7A-7C, to operate the dispenser 100 to dispense a single pill, the user places the dispenser 100 in an upright orientation (as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 7A-7C) and then may optionally shake the dispenser to cause a first pill 110 to move into the loading cavity 152 of the loader 144, as shown in FIG. 7A. This places the dispenser 100 in a ready -to-dispense position, in which the shuttle is in a first position, with the delivery passage 154 of the shuttle 142 aligned with the exit opening 128 of bottom cap 122 and the exit opening 129 of the lower housing 135 (see, e.g., FIG. 8).

[0048] When the user is ready to dispense a single pill 110, the user depresses the actuation button 124 (e.g., pushes the actuation button 124 inward in the direction of arrow A), as shown in FIG. 7B). The shuttle 142, which his operatively coupled to the actuation button 124, will translate relative to the lower housing 135 in a direction of arrow A to a second position as shown in FIG. 7B, in which the delivery passage 154 of the shuttle 142 is aligned with the loading cavity 152 of the loader 144. In this second position, the first pill 110 within the loading cavity 152 will move into the delivery passage 154 of the shuttle 142 via gravity force. Further, the loader 144 will rotate in a direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 7B. More specifically, when the shuttle 142 translates in the direction of arrow A, the plurality of teeth 145 of the shuttle 142 engage with the plurality of teeth 146 of the loader 144 and cause the loader 144 to rotate in the direction of arrow B. When the loader 142 rotates, the paddles 148 of the loader 144 will rotate and stir or agitate the remaining pills within the interior region 137 and a second pill 110’ will move through one of the slots 153 and into the loading cavity 152 of the loader 154. In other words, as the first pill 110 moves into the delivery passage 154 of the shuttle 142, a second pill 110’ moves into the loading cavity 152 of the loader 144. Thus, the agitation caused by the paddles 148 helps move the pills toward the loading region 155 within the interior volume 137 such that another pill 110 can move through the slots 153 and into the loading cavity 152 of the loader 144.

[0049] When the user releases the actuation button 124, the shuttle 142 is biased back to the ready -to-dispense position in the direction of arrow C, shown in FIG. 7C, in which the delivery passage 154 of the shuttle 142 is aligned with the exit opening 129 of the lower housing 135 and the exit opening 128 of the bottom cap 122. The first pill 110 can move out of the delivery passage 154 through the exit opening 129 and exit opening 128 by gravity force. At the same time, the loader 144 will rotate in a direction D (opposite direction B) and the paddles 148 of the loader 144 will agitate or stir the remaining pills in the interior region 137 to ensure that the second pill 110’ moves into the loading cavity 152 as described above. In other words, when the user depresses and then releases the actuation button 124, the loader rotates back and forth (in the directions of arrow B and arrow D), which agitates the pills within the interior region 137 and causes the second pill 110’ to move into the loading cavity 152. The second pill 110’ is now staged to be dispensed the next time the user actuates the dispenser 100 (i.e., depresses the actuation button 124).

[0050] In addition to the agitation by the paddles 148, the axial contours 157 also direct the pills towards the loading cavity 152. Specifically, the contours 157 include a series of peaks and valleys (which can also be referred to as protrusions and recessed grooves), with a longitudinal center line CL2 of the valleys being aligned with a longitudinal center line CLi of the loading cavity 152 in at least one plane (i.e., a plane through which each center line passes); see FIG. 7A. This arrangement can facilitate aligning pills that are oblong or cylindrical (e g., similar to the pill 110 shown) during their movement towards the loading cavity 152 to ensure that the smallest pill dimension (i.e., the diameter of a generally cylindrical pill) is aligned with the opening into the loading cavity 152. In this manner, the contours 157 can limit the likelihood of jamming or clogging due to a larger pill dimension (i.e., a length of the pill) being aligned with the opening into the loading cavity. Although shown as including the contours 157, in other embodiments, a dispenser need not include contours. A dispenser without contours may be used, for example, in a dispenser used for spherical shaped pills.

[0051] As described above, in some embodiments, the dispenser 100 can be used together with a base support 160 as shown in FIG. 12. The base support 160 can include a first base 161 and a second base 162 that can each support a different dispenser 100 (only the dispenser 100 is shown in FIG. 12 for illustration purposes. As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the first base 161 includes a housing 163, a bottom pad 166, and a receiving portion 164 in which a dispenser 100 can be supported. The second base 162 includes a housing 165, a bottom pad 167, and a receiving portion 166 in which a dispenser 100 can be supported. The first base 161 and the second base 162 can be removably coupled together such that the first base 161 and the second base 162 can be used independently of each other or joined together as single unit. As shown in the partially exploded view of second base 162 in F G. 14, the bottom pad 167 can be coupled to a base plate 168 that is coupled to the housing 165. In alternative embodiments, the housing 165 and the base plate 168 can be monolithically constructed. The first base 161 can be similarly constructed.

[0052] As shown in FIGS 14 and 15, the base 161 can be coupled to the base 162 via magnets 169. More specifically, a first magnet 169 can be disposed within the housing 165 of the second base 162 behind an exterior indentation 171 in the housing 165 of the second base 162 and a second magnet 169 can be disposed within the housing 165 of the second base 162 behind an exterior raised portion 170 of the housing 165 of the second base. Similarly, a third magnet 169 can be disposed within the housing 163 of the first base 161 behind an indentation (not shown) in the housing 163 and a fourth magnet (not shown) can be disposed within the housing 163 of the first base 161 behind an exterior raised portion (not shown) of the housing 165 of the second base 162. The raised portion 170 of the second base can be magnetically coupled to the indentation (not shown) of the first base 161 and the indentation portion 171 of the second base 162 can be magnetically coupled to the raised portion (not shown) of the first base 161.

[0053] FIGS. 16-19 illustrate another embodiment of a dispenser for dispensing pills. A dispenser 200 can be constructed the same as or similar to the dispenser 100 and therefore some components are not described in detail relative to this embodiment. The dispenser 200 can be used to hold multiple pills and dispense a single pill at a time to a user in the same manner as described above for dispenser 100.

[0054] The dispenser 200 includes an outer top cap 220 (also referred to herein as “top cap”), an outer bottom cap 222 (also referred to as “bottom cap”), and an actuator button 224. Positioned at least partially within the bottom cap 222 is an interior lower housing 235 (also referred to herein as “lower housing”). The bottom cap 222 defines a side opening 215 and the lower housing 235 defines a side opening 217 aligned with the side opening 215 and through which the actuator button 224 extends. In this embodiment, the lower housing 235 has a bottom surface 226 that defines an exit opening 228 as shown, in FIGS. 17 and 19, through which a single pill 210 (see FIG. 19) can be dispensed, in the same manner as described above for dispenser 100. As shown in FIG. 19, the bottom surface 226 is visible through an opening 219 defined by the bottom cap 222. [0055] As shown in FIG. 16, in this embodiment, the dispenser 200 includes a top insert 225 that fits within the top cap 220. In some embodiments, the top cap 220 and the bottom cap 222 are formed with a metal material, such as an aluminum, and the top insert 225 can be formed with a plastic material. As with the previous embodiment, an interior upper housing 232 (also referred to herein as “upper housing”) is coupled to the lower housing 235 via protrusions 221 on the upper housing 232 that can be snap-fit into slots 223 in the lower housing 235 in the same manner as described above for dispenser 100. The top cap 220 can be removably coupled to the upper housing 232 via a threaded coupling 231 between the top cap 220 and the upper housing 232. A ring gasket (not shown) can be disposed within the top insert 225 to provide a freshness seal to the contents of the dispenser 200 when the top cap 220 is coupled to the bottom cap 222.

[0056] The upper housing 232 includes an interior conical surface 234 that collectively with the wall of the upper housing 232 defines an interior volume 237 that can receive and hold multiple pills. The interior conical surface 234 can include axial contours 257 that can assist in directing the pills within the interior volume 237 toward a loading region (not shown) within the interior volume 237. As described above, a pill can be in the form of, for example, a tablet, a caplet, a lozenge, a capsule, a softgel, or any other suitable form and can be solid or semi-solid. For example, a semi-solid pill can be a capsule having a liquid or gel encapsulated within an outer casing. A pill can have an oblong shape, oval, elliptical, round, rectangular, square, etc. A pill can include a dietary supplement (e g., a vitamin), a medicinal component (e g., prescription or non-prescription form medicine).

[0057] The dispenser 200 includes a loader 244 and an actuator assembly 240 that includes the actuator button 224 (also referred to as “actuator”) and a shuttle 242. The actuator assembly 240 can include the same components and function in the same manner as described for actuator assembly 140. The loader 244 includes a receptacle 236 that that includes a deflector 250 that is angled downward and disposed within the interior volume 237. The angled deflector 250 can assist in guiding the pills within the interior volume 237 downward toward the interior conical surface 234 as described above. An insert 238 is optionally removably coupled within an opening in the top part of the receptacle 236. The insert 238 can include an ingredient such as a scent, a flavor or a desiccant. [0058] FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a receptacle for holding an insert that can be incorporated into a dispenser described herein. A receptacle 336 includes a ring frame that can fit within the interior volume 337 of an upper housing 332 of a dispenser described herein. The upper portion of the receptacle 336 includes a top receiving portion to hold an insert 338 for an ingredient in the same manner as described and shown for previous embodiments.

[0059] FIG. 22 is an alternative embodiment of an actuator assembly 440 that can be incorporated within a dispenser as described herein. The actuator assembly 440 includes an actuator button 424, a loader 444 and a shuttle 442. In this embodiment, an internal conical surface 434 is provided as part of the actuator assembly and coupled to the loader 442. Also in this embodiment, the loader 442 includes paddles that extend upwardly through a center of the internal conical surface 334. In this embodiment, the loader does not include a receptable with a deflector or with features to hold an insert.

[0060] While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Where methods and/or schematics described above indicate certain events and/or flow patterns occurring in certain order, the ordering of certain events and/or operations may be modified. While the embodiments have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made.

[0061] Although various embodiments have been described as having particular features and/or combinations of components, other embodiments are possible having various combinations or subcombinations of any features and/or components from any of the embodiments described herein. For example, any of the embodiments of a dispenser (e.g., 100, 200) may or may not include an insert (e.g., 138, 238, 338) for providing an ingredient (e.g., scent, flavor, desiccant), and can include any of the receptacles (138, 238, 338) for holding an insert. Any of the embodiments of dispenser (100, 200) can be used with a support base 160 described herein or provided in a kit with a support base 160. Further, any of the embodiments of a dispenser described herein can include an internal conical surface (e.g., 134, 234, 434) that is part of the upper housing, coupled to the upper housing, or part of the actuator assembly.