Pharmaceutical package

• US 4,318,477 A
• Filed: 09/22/1980
• Issued: 03/09/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stase Z. Kerpe
• Original Assignee: Stase Z. Kerpe
• Inventors: Kerpe, Stase Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pollard, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US06/189,506
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 206/534, 206/528, 206/538, 206/569, 206/570, 116/308
• US Class Current: 206/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• 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: G09F 3/00 Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40; Seals; Postage or like stamps

Abstract

A pharmaceutical package having a plurality of containers mounted on a support device and arranged in groups. Day indicia are arranged on the face of the support means opposite each one of the groups of containers for determining the containers to be emptied during each day. Each one of the containers has a receptacle which has an opened mouth for receiving and storing pharmaceutical items. A closure covers over the open mouths to retain the items therewithin, and a hinge connects the closure and the support for enabling the closure to swing between a closed position over the receptacle to retain the pharmaceutical items therein and the open position to permit access thereto. Time indicia are disposed on the outer faces of the closures for each one of the containers of each group for determining when the containers of each group are to be emptied by the user during certain times of the day and to indicate when selected ones of the closure means are disposed in their open position. Each one of the containers is sufficiently large to receive a plurality of different kinds of medication to be taken at one time. Each one of the receptacles includes a concave inner well to facilitate removal of the pharmaceutical items therefrom. Each closure may be opened readily.

Claims

1. A package adapted to store pharmaceutical items, comprising:

support means having a face thereon;

a plurality of containers mounted on said support means and arranged in groups;

day indicia means on said face arranged opposite each one of the groups of containers for determining which ones of said containers to be emptied during each day;

each one of said containers including receptacle means having open mouths for receiving and storing the pharmaceutical items, closure means having an outer face for covering the open mouths to retain removably the items therewithin, and hinge means for connecting said closure means and said support means for enabling said closure means to swing between a closed position over the respective mouths of said receptacle means to retain the pharmaceutical items therein, and an open position with said closure means disposed substantially in a plane transverse to said face to permit access thereof and to obscure from view the face of the open closure means;

time indicia means disposed on the outer faces of said closure means of each one of said container means of each group for indicating when said container means are to be emptied by the user thereof during certain times of the day and for indicating when selected ones of said container means are empty by having its closure means disposed in its open position with its time indicia being obscured from view, thereafter determining clearly that the items have been administered therefrom;

each one of said receptacle means includes a concave inner well to facilitate removal of the pharmaceutical items therefrom; and

each one of said time indicia being in the form of a symbol.

2. A package according to claim 1, further including a second set of time indicia individually associated with each one of said container means.

3. A package according to claim 2, wherein said time indicia means includes a morning time symbol in the form of a representation of the rising sun.

4. A package according to claim 2, wherein said time indicia means includes a noon time symbol in the form of a representative of a noon time sun.

5. A package according to claim 2, wherein said time indicia means includes an afternoon time symbol in the form of a representation of the setting sun.

6. A package according to claim 2, wherein said time indicia means includes a night time symbol in the form of a representation of the moon.

7. A package according to claim 2, wherein said hinge means is in the form of a web to enable its closure means to hang suspended from said support means.

8. A package according to claim 7, wherein each one of said closure means includes a depending annular flange for snapping into engagement with the mouth of its receptacle means.

9. A package according to claim 8, wherein said day indicia includes the names of the days of the week.