Our first product is a pill dispenser, the universal-pill dispenser. It is named the universal-pill dispenser because it works for all pills regardless of the size and shape of the pill. The solution is simple and therefore is a projection of IC UC.
A simple conical shape is used to isolate one pill out of many. The cone concept, then, is incorporated in various dispensers designs.
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The Two_Pieces_Cap design is the first design to incorporate the cone concept within the cap. One would turn the bottle upside down then give it a small shake. One pill will be wedged in the cone. The pill is then released by pressing on the red button on the top of the cap.
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| Two_pieces_Cap design |
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| Wheel_Cap design |
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The Wheel_Cap is a subsequent design. It incorporates the cone in a wheel and thus eliminating the need to open the cap altogether.
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The Flat_Wheel_Cap design is the same as the wheel design but flat. It is easier to carry and more compact.
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| Flat_Wheel_Cap design |
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There are many other designs but the above are the illustrious ones. The idea is so simple that it could be incorporated in any design. The child_resistant mechanism is developed but does not show in the designs above.
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The existing Child-resistant containers prove to cause difficulty for 32% of all adults and this percentage increases with age to reach 50% for those who are 75 years and older. Some of the existing containers are difficult to grasp and hold, others require high amount of torque, and some are difficult to operate due to older consumers with diminished eyesight (arrow alignment).
The unique competitive advantages of the Universal-Pill dispenser can be summarized in the following points:
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It is a dispenser and not only a container.
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It works for all pills regardless of the size and shape of the pill. This is important because the mold does not need to be changed if a company decides to change its pills or introduce a new one. This is a considerable long-term gain because molds are very expensive.
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The concept is simple and therefore it is feasible to manufacture at a low cost.
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It is easy to use yet child-resistant. Some of the designs eliminate the compromising act that must be balanced between ease of use vs. childproof.
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Some of the designs take the childproof concept to a more abstract level by eliminating the need to open the cap altogether. In other words, a child does not have access to all pills at once given that he/she could beat the child-resistant (CR) mechanism.
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The Innovation Centre conducted research on direct and indirect competitors of the Universal-Pill dispenser. In their Market Preview report, direct competitors are defined as companies or individuals with a product/products which provide similar features and benefits as the Universal-Pill dispenser.
Such products include dispensers and containers currently designed with flip caps. Other directly competing products that fall into this category include traditional pill containers and blister packs, as these will continue to be an alternative for consumers and manufacturing firms.
The following table summarizes the differences between the Universal-Pill dispenser and the other competing products in terms of features and advantages:
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Traditional Containers |
Blister Packs
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Universal-Pill Dispenser
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It is a Container
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N/A
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It is a Dispenser
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N/A
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Works for all pills
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Low cost
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•a
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•a
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Easy to use
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Child resistant
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No compromise between child-resistant and ease-of-use
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N/A
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Pills can not all be accessed at one time
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a Low cost is relative to added features.
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