Portable medicine cabinet with timer

• US 4,275,384 A
• Filed: 06/04/1979
• Issued: 06/23/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brenda G. Hicks, Thurmond A. Hicks
• Original Assignee: Brenda G. Hicks, Thurmond A. Hicks
• Inventors: Hicks, Brenda G., Hicks, Thurmond A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US06/045,275
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 221/2, 340/309.4, 340/309.1
• US Class Current: 340/309.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis

Abstract

A portable medicine cabinet with timer for private use by an individual taking several different medicines and which may be carried from the home to the office or the like so as to assure that an individual does not either become confused and forget to take doses of certain prescribed medicines, or take doses of the prescribed medicine too often so as to endanger his health. The disclosed apparatus comprises a cabinet having a plurality of freely accessible compartments therein and time computer means into which a plurality of predetermined time intervals for taking a dose of the respective medicines may be entered. An indicator means is electrically connected to the time computer means and indicates the predetermined time intervals and which of the medicines should be removed from its respective compartment.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for private use by an individual taking several different medicines, said apparatus being adapted for storing a plurality of different medicine bottles and indicating at certain predetermined times that a dose of each medicine should be taken, comprising:

a cabinet defining a plurality of open-ended, freely accessible cylindrical compartments, each of said compartments being adapted for receiving a bottle of medicine and having a hinged door pivotally secured to said cabinet for closing said compartment and securing the bottle of medicine therein;

time computer means contained within said cabinet for determining the time for taking a dosage of each of the respective medicines, said time computer means having entry means for entering a plurality of predetermined time intervals for taking a dose of each of said respective medicines contained within said respective compartments and means for providing output signals at said predetermined time intervals; and

a signal light positioned adjacent each of said compartments so as to be clearly visible when energized by said output signals and being electrically connected to said time computer means for indicating upon receipt of said output signals the respective medicine which should be removed and a prescribed dose thereof taken;

whereby an individual who is taking several different medicines which require that prescribed doses be taken at different times can assure that he does not become confused and forget to take certain doses or take the prescribed doses too often and endanger his health.

2. A portable apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said time computer means includes a first light emitting diode readout screen for displaying the time and a second light emitting diode readout screen designating the digital number of the particular compartment containing the medicine to be taken when the output signal relating to said compartment is generated by said time computer means.

3. A portable apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said time computer means includes means for clearing the plurality of predetermined time intervals entered into said time computer means.

4. A portable apparatus according to claim 1 including an electronic buzzer which emits an electronic tone when energized by said output signals.