Medicament container with timer top

• US 4,367,955 A
• Filed: 05/13/1980
• Issued: 01/11/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald H. Ballew
• Original Assignee: Donald H. Ballew
• Inventors: Ballew, Donald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US06/149,492
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/12, 368/97, 368/98, 368/101, 368/215, 368/89, 340/390.1, 340/390.4, 215/DIG. 3, 221/2
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/04 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one B65D55/02 takes precedence; caps or covers secured by rotation with bayonet cams B65D41/06, B65D41/36
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 23/00 Arrangements producing acoustic signals at preselected times indicating the time by optical means G04B19/00, G04C17/00; indicating the time by acoustic means G04B21/00; indicating the time by means other than acoustic or optical, or by a combination of means G04B25/00; acoustic time signals produced electrically G04C21/00; coin-freed alarm clocks G07F17/0007; acoustic signalling means G08B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/127 used as containers or cartridges means for incorporating a battery in the case G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 3/022 using mechanical signalling device

Abstract

A combined timer and container for dispensing medicaments is provided wherein a predetermined timer cycle set to coincide with dosage intervals is utilized to activate an audible signal and a visible signal in the cap of the container. The container and cap coact to initiate the timer cycle upon interengagement of the cap and container.

Claims

1. A timing and alarm device for signalling a medicine user at the prescribed time for self-administration of medicine from a medicine container, comprising:

a medicine container means having attachment means thereon for receiving and holding a cap;

a cap for said container means having a timing and alarm signalling means therein, said timing and alarm signalling means being activated to time then signal a predetermined elapsed time by means initiated by relative rotation between said container and said cap;

said cap having winding means pivotally mounted on a first shaft means, said winding means operatively connected to a timer mainspring means and mounted in said cap for engagement with said container means, whereby rotation of said cap with respect to said container means applies torque to wind said mainspring for operating said timer and alarm signalling means.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the alarm signalling means comprises:

a center wheel having circumferentially positioned gear teeth positioned around a major portion thereof with a gap in said gear teeth extending around a minor portion of said wheel;

a first pinion wheel engaged for rotation with said circumferentially positioned gear teeth said pinion wheel being operatively connected to a clock escapement means to regulate rotation thereof;

an alarm wheel means driven by said center wheel and alarm arms attached to said alarm wheel means, said arms located within striking distance of an alarm bell means such that disengagement of the first pinion wheel with said gear teeth at said gap permits rapid and unrestrained rotation of said center wheel and rapid rotation of the alarm wheel carrying said alarm arm means to centrifugally fling said alarm arm means out to strike said alarm bell.

3. The timing and alarm device of claim 1 further comprising:

visual indicator arm means rotatively attached to the arbor of the center wheel means; and

window means to view said visual indicator arm at a predesignated time such that the disengagement of the center wheel means from the first pinion wheel means causes the visual indicator arm to turn rotatively about the axis of the center wheel means and become revealed in said window means.