Methods, systems and apparatuses for management and storage

• US 10,403,396 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2018
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deborah Adler LLC
• Original Assignee: Deborah Adler LLC
• Inventors: Adler, Deborah, Sawyer, Duane, Wolf, Michael, Stewart, Joshua, Huang, Yayun
• Primary Examiner(s): Kanaan, Maroun P
• Application Number:
  US16/230,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20190122754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 256 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0252 associated with a leaflet
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0272 Labels for containers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0273 Labels for bottles, flasks
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0289 Pull- or fold-out labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses for the management, distribution, dispensing, and administration of consumer products, including over-the-counter and prescription medications through use of a product container labeling system and an optional integrated computer-based or online management system. In certain aspects, the invention relates to a product container comprising a hollow body, a child-resistant cap, and a specialized information label affixed to the hollow body.

Claims

1. A product container comprising:

a hollow body having a top portion, a bottom portion and side portions extending between the top and bottom portion to enclose the hollow body, wherein the top portion of the hollow body further includes a neck having threads;

a specialized information label affixed to the hollow body, wherein the specialized information label comprises medication-identifying information and at least one information panel, wherein at least one information panel has visual, pictorial administration instructions, and wherein the information panel having visual, pictorial administration instructions comprises;

(i) a representation of the timeframe in which a medication may be administered, and (ii) a representation of the amount of medication to be taken during that particular timeframe, wherein each representation of the timeframe is selected from the group consisting of an icon, a pictorial representation, an alpha-numerical representation, and a combination thereof, and wherein each representation of the amount of medication is selected from the group consisting of an icon, a pictorial representation, an alpha-numerical representation, and a combination thereof; and

wherein the information panel is configured to display visual alignment of the amount of the medication taken in each timeframe across a next product container having a specialized information label comprising different medication-identifying information when the product container and the next product container are arranged with the information panel facing outwards in the same direction, and wherein each timeframe is aligned horizontally or vertically.

2. The product container of claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a rectangular cross-section.

3. The product container of claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a square cross-section.

4. The product container of claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a circular cross-section.

5. The product container of claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a triangular cross-section.

6. The product container of claim 1, wherein the specialized information label is affixed to the hollow body so as to leave at least part of the hollow body visible.

7. The product container of claim 1, wherein the specialized information label is single-sided.

8. The product container of claim 1, wherein the specialized information label is double-sided.

9. The product container of claim 1, wherein the specialized information label further comprises a fold-out information panel.

10. The product container of claim 9, wherein the specialized information label includes one or more inner panels configured to display information when the fold-out portion of the label is in a fold-out configuration.

11. The product container of claim 10, wherein the fold-out information panel may be observed in a fold-out configuration, and then reattached to the product container in a fold-in configuration.

12. The product container of claim 1, wherein the product is a medication.

13. The product container of claim 10, wherein the specialized information label further includes one or more outer panels configured to display information.

14. The product container of claim 13, wherein at least two of the one or more outer panels are releasably secured to conceal said one or more inner panels.

15. The product container of claim 9, wherein the fold-out information panel folds along a direction selected from the group consisting of top of the specialized information label, bottom of the specialized information label, and a side of the specialized information label.

16. The product container of claim 1, further comprising a cap having a top portion, a bottom portion and side portions extending between the top and bottom portions, wherein the cap is configured so as to correspond in cross-sectional shape with the hollow body when the cap is secured to the hollow body, and wherein the cap includes a socket having threads generally corresponding to the threads of the neck of the hollow body so as to engage and secure closure of the cap to the neck of the hollow body.

17. The product container of claim 16, wherein the side portions of the hollow body are configured such that one or more corners, edges, or select portions of the cross-sectional form are cut-off at an angle to create one or more longitudinal flat portions, and wherein the cap includes one or more longitudinal flat portions that align with the one or more longitudinal flat portions of the hollow body when the cap is secured to the hollow body.

18. The product container of claim 16, wherein the hollow body and the cap further include interlocking tab portions to provide a child-resistant closure mechanism.

19. The product container of claim 18, wherein the interlocking tab portions of the cap and hollow body are configured and located such that the tab portions may be disengaged to release the cap from the hollow body by pressing on the longitudinal flat portion of the cap.

20. The product container of claim 1, wherein the representation of the timeframe in which a medication may be administered is applied to the specialized information label.

21. The product container of claim 1, wherein the representation of the amount of medication to be taken is applied to the specialized information label.

22. The product container of claim 1, wherein both the representation of the timeframe in which a medication may be administered and the representation of the amount of medication to be taken are applied to the specialized information label.

23. The product container of claim 1, wherein the representation of the timeframe in which a medication may be administered is pre-printed on the specialized information label.

24. The product container of claim 1, wherein both the representation of the timeframe in which a medication may be administered and the representation of the amount of medication to be taken are pre-printed on the specialized information label.

25. The product container of claim 1, wherein the information panel having visual, pictorial administration instructions is separated into one or more subareas, where each of the one or more subareas indicates (i) a representation of the timeframe in which a medication may be administered, and (ii) a representation of the amount of medication to be taken during that particular timeframe.

26. The product container of claim 25, wherein all of the one or more subareas are divided form each other by printed lines or boxes.

27. The product container of claim 25, wherein some of the one or more subareas are divided from each other by printed lines or boxes.

28. A product container comprising:

a hollow body having a top portion, a bottom portion and side portions extending between the top and bottom portion to enclose the hollow body, wherein the top portion of the hollow body further includes a neck having threads;

a specialized information label affixed to the hollow body, wherein the specialized information label comprises medication-identifying information and at least one information panel, wherein at least one information panel has visual, pictorial administration instructions, and wherein the information panel having visual, pictorial administration instructions comprises;

an area separated into one or more subareas, each of the one or more subareas indicating (i) a representation of the timeframe in which a medication may be administered, and (ii) a representation of the amount of medication to be taken during that particular timeframe, wherein each representation of the timeframe is selected from the group consisting of an icon, a pictorial representation, an alpha-numerical representation, and a combination thereof, and wherein each representation of the amount of medication is selected from the group consisting of an icon, a pictorial representation, an alpha-numerical representation, and a combination thereof; and

wherein the area is configured to display visual alignment of the amount of the medication taken in each timeframe across a next product container having a specialized information label comprising different medication-identifying information when the product container and the next product container are arranged with the area facing outwards in the same direction, and wherein each timeframe is aligned horizontally or vertically.

29. The product container of claim 28, wherein all of the one or more subareas are divided from each other by printed lines or boxes.

30. The product container of claim 28, wherein some of the one or more subareas are divided from each other by printed lines or boxes.