Electronic programmable multiple alarm timing device and record

• US 4,490,711 A
• Filed: 12/21/1981
• Issued: 12/25/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert W. Johnston
• Original Assignee: Zircon International Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnston, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US06/332,573
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.4, 340/309.5, 368/246, 368/262, 368/10, 368/41, 368/43, 368/327
• 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 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/02 at preselected times, e.g. alarm clocks

Abstract

Structure ir provided for assisting a person in keeping track of appointments, times for taking medication or the times for turning on electrical equipment or such. The structure comprises an electronic circuit capable of generating signals representing up to N different pre-set times at which specific events are to occur where N is a selected positive integer such as 20. Switches are then provided, each switch corresponding on a one-to-one basis to a unique pre-set time, such that the user can set those switches corresponding to the pre-set times at which the user desires events to take place. An alarm is provided to indicate in sequence when the actual time corresponds to the pre-set time corresponding to each set switch. The user can only shut off the alarm when the alarm is sounding and the system will then automatically record the number of times during which the alarm has come on and the user has responded to the alarm by silencing it thereby to provide a cumulative count of total events to which the user has responded. A doctor can then check the cumulative count to ensure that a patient has presumptively taken medicines prescribed at selected times in accordance with the programmed schedule on the structure. Because the alarm can only be silenced when it is sounding, accidental silencing of the alarm at any time is prevented.

The structure of this invention combines the convenience and ease of an electronic alarm system with the simplicity and permanence of a written record of events.

Claims

1. A structure for assisting in keeping track of the times at which events are to occur which comprises:

means for generating signals representing up to N different times at which specified events are to occur, where N is a selected positive integer;

means for setting selected times at which certain events are to occur, said means for setting said selected times comprising switch means for indicating that a selected number n of said N times are times at which selected events should occur, where n is an integer given by 1<

n<

N;

alarm means for indicating the occurrence of each of said n times at which selected events should occur; and

means for silencing said alarm means once said alarm means indicate the occurrence of one of said n times, said means for silencing being operative only while said alarm means indicates the occurrence of one of said n times, thereby to prevent the accidental silencing of said alarm means before or between the occurrence of each of said n times.

2. Structure as in claim 1 wherein said alarm means for indicating any one of up to N selected times comprises:

a plurality of N conductive switch means corresponding on a one-to-one basis to said N different times; and

means for disabling selected ones of said switch means, thereby to prevent said alarm means from sounding at the times corresponding to said selected ones of said switch means.

3. Structure as in claim 1 including means for displaying the time of day.

4. Structure as in claim 1 wherein said switch means comprises a plurality of N switches, corresponding on a one-to-one basis to said N times, each switch being suitable for setting said alarm means to indicate the occurrence of the corresponding time.

5. Structure as in claim 4 including means for recording the events which are to occur at selected times, said means for recording said events being located in said structure adjacent said plurality of N switches so that the events which are to occur at a given time are described on said means for recording adjacent said switch corresponding to the time at which the events should occur.

6. Structure as in claim 5 wherein said structure includes means for disabling said alarm means in response to said means for recording indicating that no events are to occur or in response to said means for recording indicating that all switch means are set to indicate events, thereby to prevent said structure from operating in an erroneous mode.

7. Structure as in claim 1 in combination with container means for containing medication to be taken at the selected times indicated by said means for setting selected times at which certain events are to occur.

8. Structure as in claim 7 including

means for indicating which particular medicament is to be taken at each of said selected times, the means for indicating providing a means for selecting up to K different medicaments to be taken at any one selected time;

and

wherein said container comprises up to K different compartments thereby to provide means for storing up to K different medicaments separately in said up to K separate compartments in said container, wherein K is a positive integer representing the maximum number of compartments in said container.

9. Structure as in claim 7 including means for counting the number of times said alarm means indicates the occurrence of one of said n times while said means for silencing said alarm means is simultaneously pressed thereby to provide a cumulative count of the total number of times the user of said structure has been warned to take a medication.

10. Structure as in claim 9 including means for recording said cumulative count.

11. Structure as in claim 1 including in combination therewith means for indicating the events which are to take place at each of said selected times, thereby to provide a permanent record of said events, said means for indicating being adjacent to said switch means such that the particular switch means set to operate alarm means have adjacent to them the particular events which are to occur at the times corresponding to those switch means.

12. Structure as in claim 11 including means for preventing said alarm from being activated in the absence of said means for indicating being placed in said structure thereby to prevent incorrect operation of the alarm.

13. Structure as in claim 3 including means for setting the time displayed by said means for displaying.

14. Structure as in claim 10 including means for resetting to zero the number of events displayed by said means for recording said cumulative count.

15. Structure as in claim 9 wherein said cumulative count is automatically reset at zero at a selected time each day.

16. Structure as in claim 9 wherein said cumulative count is set to zero whenever said cumulative count reaches a selected number.