Medication organizing system

• US 20040217038A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James B. Gibson
• Original Assignee: James B. Gibson
• Inventors: Gibson, James B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 67/04 Devices facilitating the insertion of articles or materials into bags , e.g. guides or chutes sack holders B65B67/12

Abstract

An improved medication organizing system for allowing patients to rapidly and easily prepare hermetically sealed dosage packages to set up their medication regime for a week, month, or longer period of time. The device includes seven hoppers to allow the patient to prepare a set of hermetically sealed medication packages for a given time for each day of the week. After being filled, each package in the set of seven packages is hermetically sealed simultaneously by simply loading the set into a sealing unit and pulling a lever. Sealing of the packages does not require manual manipulation of the individual packages by the user, such as would be required for medication organizers utilizing individual packages with zip-lock seals. The medication organizing system allows patients who lack manual dexterity, such as elderly patients, to easily prepare medication dosages for an extended period of time. The medication organizing system enables the preparation of small, easily transportable packages of medication that can be quickly and easily filled, sealed, handled, and reopened by any user, including the elderly.

Claims

1. A multi-compartmented container, said container consisting of:

seven packages arranged side by side in a linear arrangement;

said packages being of a size and alignment to allow said container to be lifted onto and envelop seven nozzles;

said packages marked on their front surface with the days of the week;

said front surface of said packages capable of accepting ink from a pen or marker;

said packages including a space on said front surface for the date to be written;

said front surface of said packages including check blocks for marking the medication period of the day;

said packages providing a sealing area for sealing;

said packages having a transparent rear wall which allows viewing of any medications within said packages; and

said container having tear areas between said packages to permit their separation from the remainder of said container.

2. The multi-compartmented container of claim 1 wherein the front surfaces of said packages preferably include an inner layer of clear Surlyn®

and an outer layer of aluminum foil and said rear wall includes a single layer of Surlyn®

.

3. The multi-compartmented container of claim 1 wherein the bottom of said packages include a gusset.

4. The multi-compartmented container of claim 1 wherein said packages are preferably 1.625 inches wide and 2.75 inches deep.

5. The multi-compartmented container of claim 1 wherein the front surfaces of said packages have a U-shaped area removed to enable easier opening of said packages.

6. The multi-compartmented container of claim 1 wherein said packages include tear notches below said sealing area to enable easy opening of said packages.

7. A multi-compartmented container comprising:

seven packages arranged side by side in a linear arrangement, the packages being of a size and alignment to allow the container to be mounted onto and envelope seven nozzles;

the packages comprising a front wall and a rear wall;

wherein the front wall is adapted to be written on and the rear wall is substantially transparent; and

further wherein one of the walls is wider than the other.

8. A multi-compartmented container as described in claim 7, further comprising perforations between the packages.

9. A multi-compartmented container as described in claim 7, further comprising tear notches in the packages.

10. A multi-compartmented container as described in claim 7, wherein the front wall comprises two layers.

11. A multi-compartmented container as described in claim 7, wherein the front wall and rear wall are comprised of Surlyn®

.

12. A multi-compartmented container as described in claim 7, wherein the front layer displays printed characters to designate the day of the week.

13. A multi-compartmented container as described in claim 7, wherein the front layer displays date and time of dosage information.

14. A multi-compartmented container as described in claim 7, wherein the front walls of the packages each comprise a U-shaped notch.