Medication dosage timing apparatus

• US 5,751,661 A
• Filed: 08/12/1996
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tri-Continent Scientific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tri-Continent Scientific, Inc.
• Inventors: Walters, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US08/695,728
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/276, 368/278, 368/204, 368/88, 206/531, 206/594, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• 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 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28

Abstract

A medication dosage timing apparatus which measures and displays time in response to the opening and closing of a medication bottle or container. A timing circuit and display are mounted on a circuit board and attached to a container cap. A battery is mounted on a disk which slidably moves within the container cap between a first position wherein electrical contacts on the circuit board engage the battery and activate or power the timing circuit and display, and a second position wherein the electrical contacts are disengaged from the battery and the timing circuit and display are deactivated. When the container cap is attached to the container, the battery and disk are held in the first activating position, and when the container cap is removed from the container, the battery and disk slide down into second, deactivating position. Each time a user opens and closes the medication container, the timing circuit and display are reset and re-started. By observing the display on the cap of the closed container, the user can ascertain the time elapsed since the container was last opened to remove medication.

Claims

1. A medication dosage timing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a container cap;

(b) timer means for measuring elapsed time;

(c) display means for displaying said elapsed time, said display means operatively coupled to said timer means;

(d) coupling means for coupling said timer means and said display means to said container cap; and

(e) battery carrier means slidably coupled to said container cap for automatically moving a battery between a first position when said container cap is coupled to a container and a second position when said container cap is removed from said container;

(f) said timer means and said display means responsive to movement of said battery carrier means as a result of removal and replacement of said container cap.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a circuit board, said timer means and display means mounted on said circuit board, said coupling means included with said circuit board.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said circuit board includes electrical contacts, wherein said electrical contacts on said circuit board engage said battery when said battery carrier means is in said first position, and wherein said electrical contacts on said circuit board are disengaged from said battery when said battery carrier means is in said second position.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said battery carrier means comprises a disk positioned within said container cap and structured and configured to carry a battery.

5. A medication dosage timing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a timer;

(b) a display operatively coupled to said timer;

(c) power supply means for supplying power to said timer and said display; and

(d) a container cap, said timer and said display coupled to said container cap;

(e) said power supply means movably mounted within said container cap, said power supply means moving between a first position wherein said power supply means provides power to said timer and said display, and a second position wherein said power supply means is disconnected from said timer and said display;

(f) wherein said power supply means automatically moves into said first position when said container cap is attached to a medication container, and said power supply means automatically moves into said second position when said container cap is unattached to a medication container.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising a circuit board, said circuit board coupled to said container cap, said timer and said display mounted on said circuit board, said circuit board including electrical contacts, said electrical contacts electrically interfaced with said timer and said display, said electrical contacts structured and configured to electrically coupled to said power supply means when said power supply means is in said first position.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising a disk, said disk movably mounted in said container cap, said power supply means included on said disk.

8. A medication dosage timing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a timer;

(b) a display operatively coupled to said timer;

(c) a circuit board, said timer and said display mounted on said circuit board, said circuit board including electrical contacts, said electrical contacts electrically interfaced with said timer and said display;

(d) a container cap, said circuit board attached to said container cap; and

(e) a battery, said battery movably mounted in said container cap;

(f) said battery moving between a first position wherein said electrical contacts on said circuit board are connected to said battery, and a second position wherein said electrical contacts on said circuit board are disconnected from said battery;

(g) wherein said battery automatically moves into said first position when said container cap is attached to a medication container, and said battery automatically moves into said second position when said container cap is unattached to a medication container.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, further comprising a disk, said disk movably mounted in said container cap, said battery included on said disk.