Extended use reminder device

• US 20050183982A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harry Giewercer
• Original Assignee: Harry Giewercer
• Inventors: Giewercer, Harry
• Granted Patent: US 7,263,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2583/0409 of dates or follow-numbers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/04 for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills

Abstract

An extended use reminder device (100) operable on the exterior flat or curved surface of an article includes a selectable member (102) including a plurality of individually selectable positions. The selectable member comprises a deformable plastic structure (110) or plurality of plastic structures attached to a deformable sheet member (112). A movable pointer or selector (106) securely interlocks with the plastic structure at one of the selected positions to form a reminder. A single device fits a great variety of containers and allows for a high degree of customization. The device is suitable for manual or automated assembly and application to a container.

Claims

1. A reminder device comprising:

a. a rib member, said rib including a structurally defined area for retentive engagement;

b. a longitudinal channel member, said channel defined between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and said channel including therein a structurally defined area adapted to receive retentive engagement therewith said area of said rib member;

c. a channel entry opening along the longitude of said channel communicating the outside of said channel with said channel;

d. said area of said rib retentively engageable with said area of said channel, by pressing said members together after locating said retentively unengaged rib member over said channel longitude at said channel entry opening;

e. at least one of said members resiliently deforming during said pressing together;

f. at least one of said members engageably moveable along said channel longitude to each of a plurality of selectable reminding positions.

2. The device of claim 1 and further including anti-displacement means for holding said least one of said engageably moveable members at one of said selectable positions.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said anti-displacement means is one chosen from a list which includes, anti-pivoting means, anti-rotation means, anti-sliding means, an aperture, a bump, a coated surface, a crushed portion, a cut member portion, a deformable member, a dé

tente, an extension, friction, a groove, a heat seal, independently deformable proximate profile portions, material memory, a notch, an obstruction, pressure on a moveable member, a projection, a protrusion, a recess, a restriction, a ridge, a stop, a stressable member, a structural segment, a tab, tack, a texturized surface, a tooth, a treated surface.

4. The device of claim 1 and further including attachment means for attaching said device to an article.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said attachment means is one chosen from a list which includes, an adhesive, a chemical, a container lid, a deformable sheet, heat, a magnet, a mechanical coupler, a fastener, a static cling, a suction, a surface tension, a tape, welding.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said channel member is snappingly engageable with said rib member.

7. The device of claim 1 including a channel entry opening restricting access of said rib area to said channel area.

8. The device of claim 1 including a channel exit opening restricting the exit of said rib area from said channel.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said channel exit opening includes a portion of said channel entry opening.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said rib member is automatically assembled with said channel member.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said members is attached to an article chosen from a list which includes, a bag, a blister card, a board, a bottle, a card, a carton, a container, a deformable sheet, a flexible bag, a notice board, a pharmacy container, a pouch, a sheet, a vial.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said members is deformed during retentive engagement of said rib in said channel.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said moveable member, retentively engaged at a first selected position, is digitally moveable to a second selectable position by contacting said moveable member with less than two digits.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said members is automatically attached to an article.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of said members includes an extruded profile.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein said extruded profile is located on the front of a deformable sheet.

17. A reminder device comprising:

a. a rib member, said rib including a structurally defined area for retentive engagement;

b. a longitudinal channel member, said channel including therein a structurally defined area adapted to receive retentive engagement therewith said area of said rib member and said channel member including a channel entry opening;

c. said channel entry opening communicating the outside of said channel with said channel and said channel entry opening restricting access of said rib area to said channel area;

d. at least one of said members resiliently deforming to overcome said restriction;

e. at least one of said members engageably moveable along said channel longitude to each of a plurality of selectable reminding positions;

f. said retentive engagement area of said member engageable with said least one moveable member, projecting from a surface, the material forming said surface including a deformable sheet material.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein a portion of said channel member proximate said channel entry opening engages said rib member during entry of said rib into said channel.

19. The device of claim 17 including a channel exit opening, said channel exit opening restricting exit of said rib area from said channel.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said channel exit opening includes a portion of said channel entry opening.

21. A reminder device comprising:

a. a rib member, said rib including a structurally defined area for retentive engagement;

b. a longitudinal channel member, said channel including therein a structurally defined area adapted to receive retentive engagement therewith said area of said rib member and said channel member including a channel entry opening and a channel exit opening;

c. said channel entry opening communicating the outside of said channel with said channel and said channel entry opening restricting access of said rib area to said channel area;

d. said rib area entering said channel by moving forward along an entry path passing said restriction;

e. at least one of said members resiliently deforming to overcome said restriction;

f. said channel exit opening communicating said channel with the outside of said channel and said channel exit opening restricting access of said rib area entered in said channel to the outside of said channel back along said entry path;

g. at least one of said members engageably moveable along said channel longitude to each of a plurality of selectable reminding positions.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein said channel exit opening includes a portion of said channel entry opening.