BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to a portable medicine dispenser and more particularly to
a novel and highly effective dispenser of liquid medicine or of pills plus a liquid
to aid in taking the pills.
Description of the Prior Art
[0002] A major problem of physicians in managing their patients and of those with illnesses
in managing their own medication with or without the supervision of a physician is
ensuring that the prescribed medicine is taken at the prescribed times.
[0003] It is often of the utmost importance that medicine prescribed by a physician be taken
on schedule. If taken at intervals that are too lengthy, the medicine may not have
its intended curative effect. If taken at intervals that are too brief, the medicine
may produce dangerous side effects. A common side effect is drowsiness that can make
it hazardous to drive a car or to operate other heavy machinery. The list of side
effects resulting from the misuse of prescription medicines is virtually endless and
includes potential damage to every organ of the body and even the death of the patient.
Over-the-counter medicines are generally less dangerous but can also easily produce
serious side effects including death if taken at intervals so brief as to result in
a massive overdose. Often medicine is taken at intervals that are alternately too
lengthy and too brief. This can cause both less-than-optimum efficacy and dangerous
side effects.
[0004] A prime reason for failure to take medication at intended intervals is simple forgetfulness.
Another reason is that either the medication or some liquid to aid in swallowing it
is not at hand at the prescribed time.
[0005] Various attempts have been made heretofore to overcome the problem of forgetfulness
mentioned above. In the case of a prescription medicine, a label is typically applied
to its container directing that it be taken every so many hours, or with meals, or
at bedtime, for example. In the case of an over-the-counter medicine, there may be
a label bearing directions to take it as often as desired, but, for example, not more
often than once every four hours. The problem is that one tends to forget to take
the medicine at, say, 2:00 p.m. as prescribed by a physician or, in the case of an
over-the-counter medicine, as intended by the patient, but remembers and takes it
at, say, 4:00 pm. By the next scheduled time, say 6:00 p.m. one may forget whether
the medicine was last taken at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., or 4:00 p.m. Even if one remembers
clearly that it was 4:00 p.m., there may be doubt whether to meet the 6:00 p.m. schedule
or to delay it by two hours or perhaps by less than that, in view of the earlier delay.
[0006] Another conventional attempt to deal with the problem of forgetfulness involves asking
a spouse or companion for help in remembering. This can improve the odds that the
medicine will be taken at proper intervals but it is certainly not a total solution
and moreover burdens the memories of two persons and requires that the second person
be present or make a phone call, etc., at the time the medicine is to be taken.
[0007] A conventional attempt to deal with the problem of the unavailability of the medicine
or of some liquid to aid in swallowing it at the prescribed time involves the use
of portable pill boxes and flasks. However, pill boxes and flasks can become separated,
require separate handling, and can be inconvenient to use.
[0008] It is believed that no ideal solution to the problems outlined above has been found
heretofore.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An object of the invention is to provide a remedy for the problems outlined above
and more particularly to provide a novel and highly effective dispenser of liquid
medicine or of pills and a liquid to aid in taking the pills. The term "pills" is
used generically herein to include all medicines that are not in liquid form, including
pills, tablets, capsules, caplets and powders.
[0010] The foregoing and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention by
providing a pill dispenser comprising a housing, a compartment formed within the housing
for containing a quantity of pills, and a timer contained within the housing for indicating
when the pills should be taken.
[0011] In accordance with an independent aspect of the invention, adapted particularly for
dispensing a liquid medicine, a medicine dispenser is provided comprising a housing,
a reservoir formed within the housing for containing a quantity of liquid medicine,
and a timer contained within the housing for indicating when the medicine should be
taken.
[0012] In accordance with another independent aspect of the invention, a pill dispenser
is provided comprising a housing, a compartment formed within the housing for containing
a quantity of pills, and a reservoir formed within the housing for containing a quantity
of liquid to assist in taking the pills.
[0013] In accordance with the best mode known to the inventor for practicing the invention,
there is provided a pill dispenser comprising a housing, a compartment formed within
the housing for containing a quantity of pills, a reservoir formed within the housing
for containing a quantity of liquid to assist in taking the pills, and a timer contained
within the housing for indicating when the pills should be taken.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0014] A better understanding of the objects, features and advantages of the invention can
be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment thereof, in conjunction with the appended figures of the drawing, wherein
a given reference character always refers to the same element or part, and wherein:
Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a preferred embodiment of a medicine dispenser
constructed in accordance with the invention;
Fig. 2 is a view in right-side elevation of the medicine dispenser of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the medicine dispenser;
Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Fig. 5 is a left-side elevation thereof;
Fig. 6 is a rear elevation thereof;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view thereof;
Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a cap and straw removed for adding liquid
to a reservoir formed in the medicine dispenser;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the cap open and the straw extended for drinking
liquid from a reservoir;
Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the dispenser with the cap open;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the dispenser with a pill compartment thereof in
an extended position and a lid of the pill compartment closed;
Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing the lid of the pill compartment open;
Fig. 13 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 11 but showing the dispenser from the
rear;
Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are sectional views showing the operation of the pill compartment
and its lid; and
Fig. 17 is a sectional view on a larger scale taken in a direction at right angles
to the views of Figs. 14-16.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The figures show a medicine dispenser 10 constructed in accordance with the invention.
It comprises a housing 12, a compartment 14 formed within the housing 12 for containing
a quantity of pills 16 (Fig. 12), a reservoir 18 (Fig. 9) formed within the housing
12 for containing a quantity of liquid (either liquid medicine or a plain liquid such
as water to assist in taking the pills 16), and a timer 20 contained within the housing
12 and including a display for indicating when the pills should be taken.
[0016] The housing 12 plus at least two of the three elements 14, 18 and 20 are included
in a dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention as broadly conceived.
Preferably, all three of the elements 14, 18, and 20 are included in the dispenser.
[0017] As the figures show, the housing 12 is flattened so as to be conveniently carried
in a pocket or purse. The reservoir 18 holds a quantity of liquid at least sufficient
to facilitate the swallowing of as many pills 16 as are intended to be taken at a
predetermined time.
[0018] The timer 20 is preferably digital, though an analogue timer can be employed in accordance
with the invention. The timer 12 can be either a 12-hour timer or a 24-hour timer
that in either case can be set to show local time. Alternatively, or in addition,
the timer 20 may count up from zero to a predetermined indication or down from a predetermined
indication to zero. For example, if medicine is to be taken every four hours, the
timer 20 may be constructed to count from 0 to 4 hours. On the other hand, the timer
can also be constructed to count down from a predetermined indication to zero. That
is, 4 hours may be set manually into the timer 20 and its display by means of an hour
button 22 and a minute button 24, and the timer may count from that value down to
0.
[0019] Whether the counter counts up or down, it can preferably be cleared manually by a
clear button 26. Alternatively, it can be reset automatically upon completing its
count.
[0020] Preferably, the medicine dispenser 10 also includes means responsive to the timer
20 for generating a signal to indicate when the pills should be taken. Ideally, a
sound signal such as a tone or beep is generated. A sound opening 28 comprising for
example perforations in the housing 12 is provided to facilitate the propagation of
the sound from the housing 12.
[0021] A straw 30 extends through an aperture 32 in a cap 34 and into the reservoir 18 to
facilitate drinking water or another liquid including a liquid medicine. The cap 34
is articulated and includes a top portion 34a hinged at 34b. When the top portion
34a of the cap 34a swings to the closed position, the straw 30 is bent over and forms
a seal so that the liquid in the reservoir 18 cannot leak out.
[0022] As Fig. 8 shows, the straw 30 extends through a fitting 36 having a plurality of
projections such as lugs 38. The lugs 38 are adapted to pass through corresponding
recesses 40 formed in a retainer 42 secured in an aperture formed in the housing 12.
With the straw 30, cap 34 and fitting 36 withdrawn as in Fig. 8, a liquid can be poured
into the reservoir 18. When the lugs 38 are moved down to the underside of the retainer
42 in which the recesses 40 are formed and the cap 34 is then oriented to the position
shown for example in Fig. 7, the lugs 38 are out of alignment with the recesses 40
and are held by the retainer 42 to form a watertight seal. An o-ring can be added
to ensure that the seal is absolutely watertight.
[0023] The articulated top portion 34a of the cap 34 includes a latch 44 (Fig. 9) adapted
to latch under an undercut ledge 46 (Fig. 10) when the top portion 34a is in the closed
position shown for example in Fig. 7. The distal end 44a of the latch 44 extends through
an opening 48 in the lid 34 (Fig. 10) and enters a recess 50 (Fig. 8), thereby preventing
accidental pivoting of the lid 34 and fitting 36 with respect to the housing 12 when
the dispenser 10 is being carried in a pocket or purse.
[0024] The dispenser 10 can thus safely be carried in a pocket or a purse without the risk
of spilling the liquid contained in the reservoir 18.
[0025] The pill compartment 14 is formed with a lid 52 that can be moved between a closed
position shown for example in Figs. 11, 14 and 15 and an open position shown in Figs.
12 and 16. The entire compartment 14 can be extended from the housing 12 as shown
in Figs. 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16. To this end, the drawer or compartment 14 is formed
with an incurved runner 54 (Fig. 17) that cooperates with an inverted T guide 56 at
either side of the drawer or compartment 14 to facilitate sliding of the drawer 14
between the closed position illustrated in Fig. 14 and the open position illustrated
in Fig. 15 for example. The lid 52 is formed with a tab 58 that can be accommodated
in either or both of slots 60 (Fig. 11 for example) and 62 (Fig. 12 for example).
When the compartment 14 is closed, the tab 58 is accommodated in both the slot 60
and the slot 62. A boss 68 snaps past the rear wall 70 of the compartment 14 when
the lid 52 is in the closed position shown in Fig. 15, thus keeping the drawer 52
in the closed position until it is intentionally opened.
[0026] Ridges 64 (see Figs. 5 and 6 for example) formed on the bottom of the drawer or compartment
14 facilitate a grip that enables the drawer or compartment 14 to be opened by hand.
The tab 58 of the lid 52 is retained in the slot 62 so that when the drawer 14 is
initially opened the lid 52 is in the closed position, preventing accidental spilling
of the pills 16. Also, in this position, as Fig. 13 indicates, a screw 66 closing
a battery compartment is exposed, enabling changing of the battery that powers the
timer 20.
[0027] In order to open the lid 52, the tab 58 is engaged by a finger as indicated in Fig.
11 and the lid 52 is pushed to the rear so that the rear wall 70 moves to the rear
of the boss 68. The lid 52 can then be moved further to the rear until the tab 52
is engaged in the slot 60, thereby exposing the pills 16 so that one or more can be
withdrawn as required. When the compartment 14 is closed, the lid 52 abuts a wall
70, which prevents it from moving further to the rear. The outside wall of the compartment
14 on the other hand slides over a ledge 72. This automatically moves the lid 52 to
its closed position, thereby safeguarding the pills 16 against spilling the next time
the compartment 14 is opened.
[0028] Thus there is provided in accordance with the invention a novel and highly effective
portable medicine dispenser that can be used to dispense a liquid medicine, or to
dispense pills plus a liquid to aid in taking the pills. Many modifications of the
preferred embodiment of the invention described above will readily occur to those
skilled in the art upon consideration of this disclosure. Accordingly, the invention
is not limited except by the appended claims.
1. A pill dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a compartment formed within the housing for containing a quantity of pills; and
a timer contained within the housing for indicating when the pills should be taken.
2. A medicine dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a reservoir formed within the housing for containing a quantity of liquid medicine;
and
a timer contained within the housing for indicating when the medicine should be
taken.
3. A pill dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a compartment formed within the housing for containing a quantity of pills; and
a reservoir formed within the housing for containing a quantity of liquid to assist
in taking the pills.
4. A pill dispenser comprising:
a housing;
a compartment formed within the housing for containing a quantity of pills;
a reservoir formed within the housing for containing a quantity of liquid to assist
in taking the pills; and
a timer contained within the housing for indicating when the pills should be taken.
5. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the housing is flattened so as to be conveniently
carried in a pocket or purse.
6. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the reservoir holds a quantity of liquid
at least sufficient to facilitate the swallowing of as many pills as are intended
to be taken at a predetermined time.
7. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the timer is digital.
8. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the timer is a 12-hour timer that can be
set to show local time.
9. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the timer is a 24-hour timer that can be
set to show local time.
10. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the timer counts up from zero up to a predetermined
indication.
11. A dispenser according to claim 10 wherein the timer is manually resettable.
12. A dispenser according to claim 10 wherein the time is automatically reset to zero
upon reaching the predetermined indication.
13. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the timer counts down from a predetermined
indication to zero.
14. A dispenser according to claim 13 wherein the timer is manually resettable.
15. A dispenser according to claim 13 wherein the timer is automatically reset to the
predetermined indication upon reaching zero.
16. A dispenser according to claim 4 further comprising means responsive to the timer
for generating a signal for indicating when the pills should be taken.
17. A dispenser according to claim 16 wherein the signal is audible.
18. A dispenser according to claim 4 further comprising a straw extending into the reservoir
to facilitate drinking liquid from the reservoir.
19. A dispenser according to claim 18 further comprising an articulated cap movable between
an open position and a closed position, the cap in the closed position bending the
straw to form a seal therein for preventing the liquid in the reservoir from spilling.
20. A dispenser according to claim 19 further comprising a fitting, the straw extending
through the fitting, and the housing being formed with an aperture in which the fitting
is received, the fitting being formed with lugs removably engageable with the housing
so that the fitting can be withdrawn together with the straw and cap for permitting
a liquid to be poured into the reservoir and can be inserted so that the lugs engage
the housing and secure the cap and straw in position with the straw extending into
the reservoir.
21. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the compartment is movable with respect to
the housing so that it can be extended therefrom.
22. A dispenser according to claim 21 further comprising a lid for the compartment constructed
so that, when the compartment is moved to the extended position, the lid is normally
in a closed position preventing spilling of pills contained within the compartment.
23. A dispenser according to claim 22 wherein the lid is constructed os that it can be
manually engaged for movement from a position in which it closes the compartment to
a position in which it provides access to pills contained within the compartment.
24. A dispenser according to claim 23 wherein the lid is constructed so that when the
compartment is moved to the closed position with respect to the housing the lid is
automatically moved to its closed position with respect to the compartment.