An object of the present invention is to provide a medicament dispenser which solves the problem of finding a container and/or fluid to consume a medicament/dietary supplement. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser that can be stored in flat pack form prior to use and therefore present a convenient and space-conscious option to carrying a bottle of medicament and a glass on one's person. Another object of the invention is to provide either a disposable one-dose medicament dispenser and/or a dispenser that that be used indefinitely by refilling the medicament or substance to be ingested into the dosing mechanism.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a medicament dispenser comprising a container body having an opening from which to access the contents of said body, the exterior of said body having at least one pressure point for communication with a blister containing a medicament and/or a dietary supplement, such that application of pressure to the pressure point breaks the blister and so liberates the medicament and/or dietary supplement into the interior of said container body.

The pressure point can in one embodiment form part of the blister and the applied pressure act such as to rupture the blister. In another embodiment, the blister has a pelable seal such that access thereto is by application of peeling pressure. Other variations are envisaged comprising other known blister pack types.

In one embodiment, the dispenser may be in the form of a flat-pack for assembly into a container body.

Therefore, it can be envisaged that a consumer would have a dispenser on his/her person, or buy such a dispenser, assemble it into a container body, fill with liquid for aiding ingestion of the medicament or dietary supplement, liberate the contents of the blister pack supplied on the container body and consume the resulting mixture.

Preferably, the container body is filled with a beverage.

For example, the beverage may be selected from water, mineral water, fruit juice, a soft drink or tonic. The tonic may be a high energy tonic possibly including a stimulant such as caffeine or taurine; or a soluble vitamin such as vitamin C.

In this embodiment, a consumer would have a quick and convenient way of taking a medicament/dietary supplement at any time and at any place, for example, whether on public transport, in an elevator or during a business meeting.

Typically, the container body further comprises a removable lid.

Preferably, the at least one pressure point is located on the removable lid.

The blister may comprise a single independent dose of medicament and/or dietary supplement in a single blister.

Suitably, the blister may form part of a blister pack comprising a plurality of blisters so that the dispenser comprises a plurality of independent doses of medicament and/or dietary supplement, that is, one dose is disposed in each blister.

Typically, each blister in a blister pack may contain a dose of medicament and a dietary supplement such as one or more vitamins and/or caffeine and/or taurine.

The medicament and/or dietary supplement may be in tablet, capsule, powder or liquid form. Preferably, the medicament and/or dietary supplement are in tablet form.

In another embodiment, the container body has a neck member about which the removable lid fits thereover.

Typically, the blister may have an adhesive backing suitable for attachment to the neck of the container body.

In one embodiment, the removable lid is rotatable about the neck member and container body.

Alternatively, the lid may comprise an annulus rotatable about an axis central to the lid, neck and container body, on which the at least one pressure point is located, such that the at least one pressure point is rotatable relative to the lid, the neck and the container body.

In these embodiments, the consumer would be able to rotate the lid and/or annulus relative to the container body in order to align a pressure point with the next full blister.

Preferably, the blister is on the dispenser, either as an integral part thereof or add-on feature thereto.

The removable lid may be securable to the container body by a clip-on, and/or snap- fit, and/or thread and bore (screw-on), and/or bayonet arrangement.

Typically, the opening for access to the contents of the container body is in situ on the removable lid.

Preferably, the access opening is removably salable with a cover member.

The cover member may be securable to the lid by a clip-on, and/or snap-fit, and/or thread and bore (screw-on), and/or bayonet arrangement.

In a preferred embodiment, the cover is attached to the lid by a flexible linkage.

In another aspect, the invention a container body for use with the medicament dispenser as described hereinabove.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides a kit of parts comprising a container body, a dose of medicament and a beverage in which to mix the medicament.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a flat pack medicament dispenser in accordance with one aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows a disposable water-filled medicament dispenser in accordance with another aspect of the invention; Figure 3 shows a refillable medicament dispenser in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention; and, Figures 4a and 4b shows a variation of the flat pack medicament dispenser of Figure 1.

Referring now to the figures, a flat-pack version of the dispenser 2 is illustrated in Figure 1. The flat-pack is simply squeezed (in the direction of the arrows) to open out the carton material into the shape of a beverage container. A pressure point 4 is located on the side of the exterior of the container. By pushing the pressure point with a thumb or finger, a tablet of medicament housed inside a blister pack (not shown) on the other side of the pressure point, expels the tablet into the interior of the container. By filling the container body with water or another liquid of choice, the medicament can be consumed quickly and easily.

The medicament dispenser 6 illustrated in Figure 2 is a disposable unit. The container body 8 is already filled with a beverage, such as mineral water 10. A pressure point 12 on the exterior of the unit is linked to a single blister pack 14 housing one dose of medicament 16. It should be noted that the blister pack 14 housing is located at a position somewhat above the normal fluid fill position of the container body 8 to minimise the time of fluid immersion before consumption.

Release of the medicament into the beverage by the application of pressure to the pressure point results in a single dose for consumption. This unit is especially useful for people who may suffer from ailments such as colds, influenza, hayfever and so on and can be seen as an instant remedy for people with busy lives.

Figure 3 illustrates a refillable, reusable medicament dispenser 20. By attaching an adhesive-backed blister pack 22 containing a plurality of discrete doses, one in each blister, to the dispenser and filling it with a liquid of choice, the unit may be used throughout the day, for example, when regular doses of pain-killers are required.

The container body 24 is interchangeable in this embodiment so that different dosages and configurations can be adopted to suit the consumer.

The dispenser 20 comprises the container body 24 having a neck 26 for attachment of the strip of blisters 22 containing the medicament of choice. Around and on top of the neck is fitted a lid 28 which clips snugly onto the container body.

On the exterior surface of the lid at points directly opposite each other are two pressure points 30. Application of pressure at these points when the lid is in position on the container body, results in the breaking of two blisters of medicament into the interior of the container body.

A protective cover 32 can then be removed from the top of the lid and the medicament and liquid be consumed by the user.

Figures 4a and 4b respectively show front and back unfolded (i. e. disassembled) views of a medicament dispenser 2 of a type similar to that shown in Figure 1. It may be appreciated that when assembled by folding and adhesive joining at respective join portions 3a, 3b and 3c a flat-pack beverage container is formed.

Pressure point 4 may be clearly seen on the front of the dispenser pack as may the blister pack 5 on the other side of the pressure point 4. Access to the blister pack is by application of user pressure to the pressure point 4 to expel the medicament (e. g. in tablet form) therein into the container body.

Appropriate medicaments for dispensing may be selected from, for example, analgesics, e. g., codeine, dihydromorphine, ergotamine, fentanyl or morphine; anginal preparations, e. g., diltiazem ; antiallergics, e. g., cromoglycate (eg s the sodium salt), ketotifen or nedocromil (eg as the sodium salt) ; antiinfectives e. g., cephalosporins, penicillins, streptomycin, sulphonamides, tetracyclines and pentamidine; antihistamines, e. g., methapyrilene ; anti-inflammatories, e. g., beclomethasone (eg as the dipropionate ester), fluticasone (eg as the propionate ester), flunisolide, budesonide, rofleponide, mometasone eg as the furoate ester), ciclesonide, triamcinolone (eg as the acetonide) or 6a, 9a-difluoro-11 3-hydroxy-16a- methyl-3-oxo-17a-propionyloxy-androsta-1, 4-diene-17p-carbothioic acid S- (2-oxo- tetrahydro-furan-3-yl) ester; antitussives, e. g., noscapine; bronchodilators, e. g., albuterol (eg as free base or sulphate), salmeterol (eg as xinafoate), ephedrine, adrenaline, fenoterol (eg as hydrobromide), formoterol (eg as fumarate), isoprenaline, metaproterenol, phenylephrine, phenylpropanolamine, pirbuterol (eg as

acetate), reproterol (eg as hydrochloride), rimiterol, terbutaline (eg as sulphate), isoetharine, tulobuterol or 4-hydroxy-7- [2- [ [2- [ [3- (2- phenylethoxy) propyl] sulfonyl] ethyl] amino] ethyl-2 (3H)-benzothiazolone ; adenosine 2a agonists, eg 2R, 3R, 4S, 5R)-2-[6-Amino-2-(1S-hydroxymethyl-2-phenyl-ethylamino)- purin-9-yl]-5-(2-ethyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-tetrahydro-furan-3, 4-diol (e. g. as maleat) ; a4 integrin inhibitors eg (2S)-3- [4- ( { [4- (aminocarbonyl)-1- piperidinyl] carbonyl} oxy) phenyl]-2- [ ( (2S)-4-methyl-2- { [2- (2-methylphenoxy) acetyl] amino} pentanoyl) amino] propanoic acid (e. g as free acid or potassium salt), diuretics, e. g., amiloride ; anticholinergics, e. g., ipratropium (eg as bromide), tiotropium, atropine or oxitropium; hormones, e. g., cortisone, hydrocortisone or prednisolone ; xanthines, e. g., aminophylline, choline theophyllinate, lysine theophyllinate or theophylline ; therapeutic proteins and peptides, e. g., insulin or glucagon ; vaccines, diagnostics, and gene therapies. It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that, where appropriate, the medicaments may be used in the form of salts, (e. g., as alkali metal or amine salts or as acid addition salts) or as esters (e. g., lower alkyl esters) or as solvates (e. g., hydrates) to optimise the activity and/or stability of the medicament.

It may be appreciated that any of the parts of the dispenser may be coated with materials such as fluoropolymer materials which reduce the tendency of medicament to adhere thereto.

It will be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and the invention extends to modifications, variations and improvements thereto.

The application of which this description and claims form part may be used as a basis for priority in respect of any subsequent application. The claims of such subsequent application may be directed to any feature or combination of features described therein. They may take the form of product, method or use claims and may include, by way of example and without limitation, one or more of the following claims :