Self-contained, programmable, time interval alarm reminder device for eyedrop medication administration and a means for affixing such to eyedrop/medication container

• US 5,724,021 A
• Filed: 07/09/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wayne Trail Technologies, Incorporated (Lincoln Electric Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Stephen C. Perrone
• Inventors: Perrone, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIEU, JULIE BICHNGOC
• Application Number:
  US08/676,544
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/573, 340/309.4, 340/309.5, 368/10, 368/2, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 604/295, 604/300, 222/420
• US Class Current: 340/309.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00

Abstract

A programmable time interval alarm that has a plurality of switches or buttons to set the alarm interval. Each button corresponds to a different time interval setting. In this manner, the alarm is simply programmable by actuating a single button corresponding to the desired interval. The alarm has a housing with a resilient element such as a rubberized inner surface to compress against containers of different dimensions and be clamped into position to move with the container.

Claims

1. A self-contained programmable time interval alarm device for medication administration, comprising:

a wrap-around housing having a resilient element and a clamp with releasably mating elements, said wrap-around housing being movable to wrap around a periphery of a container of medication, said clamp being movable in unison with said wrap-around housing between a clamping position, which mates said releasable mating elements and secures the container of medication to said housing, and a released position that frees said releasable mating elements and releases the container from said wrap-around housing, said resilient element compressing into a compressed condition in response to said clamp entering into said clamping position and thereby being movable in unison with said container, said resilient element leaving said compressed condition in response to said clamp entering into said released position;

alarm circuitry supported by the housing and being responsive to passage of a set time interval to make an indication; and

a plurality of switches supported by the housing each associated with a different time interval, said alarm circuitry being responsive to actuation of any of said switches individually to set to the different time interval that is associated with the switch so that the alarm circuitry makes the indication in response to passage of the different time interval.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said housing has an inner facing side, said resilient element being secured to said inner facing side to press against the periphery of the container to hold onto the same.

3. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a color coding neighboring said switches so that each has a different color.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein said alarm circuitry includes clock circuitry, further comprising a display responsive to the clock circuitry for displaying a time of day.

5. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a door panel connected to the housing, said door panel being movable between an open position to allow access to said switches and a closed position to prevent inadvertent manipulation of said switches.

6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said housing has a top defining an opening and a bottom that is closed so that the housing shrouds the container as the container is inserted through the opening and is moved toward the bottom until the container sits on a topside of the bottom.

7. A device as in claim 1, wherein said alarm circuitry includes at least one of an audible indicator, a visual indicator and a vibratory indicator each actuated in response to passage of the time interval.

8. A device as in claim 1, wherein said alarm circuitry includes clock circuitry, further comprising a time key actuated to designate an hour of a day as clocked by said clock circuitry, said corresponding one of said time intervals commencing from the hour of the day designated by actuation of the time key.

9. A device as in claim 1, wherein said alarm circuitry includes remote setting circuitry to change the selected one of the plurality of different time intervals remotely to another time interval and set the same in response to the change.

10. A device as in claim 1, wherein said releasable mating elements of said clamp are mating ratchet teeth.

11. A device as in claim 1, wherein said switches are part of a panel, said panel having legible markings associated with each of the switches that signifies different time intervals.

12. A device as in claim 4, wherein said display makes an indication of the time interval set.

13. A device as in claim 4, wherein said alarm circuitry is programmed to cause said display to make a visual indication of counting any one of time remaining and time elapsed in the time interval.

14. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing has a gap through which access to the periphery of the container is provided through the housing to dispense the medication by squeezing the container.

15. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing defines a well into which the container is insertable, further comprising a spacer removably inserted in the well.

16. A device as in claim 1, wherein said housing is color coded to correspond with standard colors assigned to caps of eyedrop containers to signify medication contained within.

17. A device as in claim 1, wherein said switches are pushbuttons.

18. A method of reminding to take medication, comprising the steps of:

wrapping a housing about a periphery of a medication container,

compressing a resilient element between the housing and the container in response to the step of wrapping,

moving a clamp in unison with the wrap-around housing into a clamped position by mating releasable mating elements of the clamp together to secure said housing to said medication container so that the housing is movable together with the container;

selecting one of a plurality of switches and actuating the same to set a time interval, the switches being supported by the housing and each being associated with a different time interval;

in response to actuation of the switch, clocking the set time interval with clock circuitry that is supported by the housing; and

making an indication upon completion of passage of the set time interval being clocked.

19. A method as in claim 18, further comprising the step of changing the time interval set by actuating a further switch.

20. A method as in claim 18, further comprising squeezing the container by accessing the container through a gap in the housing.

21. A method as in claim 18, wherein the step of making an indication includes making sensory stimulation with at least one of visual, auditory and vibratory stimuli.

22. A method as in claim 18, further comprising the step of selecting the alarm housing based on matching a color of the housing with a color of a cap of the medication container and then carrying out the step of holding with the housing and the cap whose color coding matches.

23. A method as in claim 18, wherein said clamp includes mating ratchet teeth that mate with each other to enter into said clamping position.