Medicine bottle reminder attachment

• US 5,823,346 A
• Filed: 08/06/1997
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weiner, Steven L.
• Original Assignee: Weiner, Steven L.
• Inventors: Weiner, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jacob K.
• Application Number:
  US08/910,491
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 215/6, 215/230, 215/DIG. 3, 206/528, 206/534, 206/538, 206/459.1, 206/459.5, 116/306, 116/307, 116/308, 116/67 R
• US Class Current: 206/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers

Abstract

A medicine bottle with an integral medicine dosage reminder forming a medicine bottle unit, the unit has a medicine bottle with a bottom having a skirt extension with a window for viewing an indicator label on an indicator ring. The indicator ring is inserted in the skirt extension and pivotal therewith to position a selected label marking in the window of the extension skirt. In one embodiment a timer is included to signal the time to take medication by an audible alarm.

Claims

1. A medicine bottle dosage reminder comprising:

a cylindrical container with an open top, a recessed bottom and a circumferential wall with a container portion between the bottom and open top and a skirt portion extending from the bottom, the skirt portion having an aperture;

an indicator member having a ring portion with an indicator label with a pluralility of label markings around the circumference of the ring portion and grasping portion, wherein the skirt portion of the container wall has an inside circumference, the ring portion of the indicator member having an outside circumference substantially equal to the inside circumference of the skirt portion of the container wall;

and, retainer means for rotatably retaining the ring portion of the indicator member in the skirt portion of the container wall when the ring portion of the indicator member is inserted into the skirt portion of the circumferential wall with the grasping portion extending from the skirt portion, wherein label markings selectively appear in the aperture on rotation of the grasping portion of the indicator member.

2. The medicine bottle, dosage reminder of claim 1 wherein the ring portion of the indicator member has an inside circumference with a retainer rim and the recessed bottom has a plurality of spaced, flexible tabs with ends having capture elements, the capture elements engaging the retaining rim when the ring portion of the indicator member is inserted in the skirt portion of the container wall.

3. The medicine bottle, dosage reminder of claim 2 wherein the inside circumference of the ring portion of the indicator member has a band of detent notches adjacent the retaining rim, the detent notches being engaged by the capture elements of the flexible tabs for incremental rotation of the indicator member.

4. The medicine bottle, dosage reminder of claim 1 wherein the grasping portion of the indicator member has an outside circumference greater than the inside circumference of the skirt portion of the container wall.

5. The medicine bottle, dosage reminder of claim 4 wherein the grasping portion of the indicator member has a knurled grasping surface.

6. The medicine bottle dosage reminder of claim 1, wherein the indicator portion has a cavity and the medicine bottle dosage reminder includes an electronic alarm module mounted within the cavity wherein the electronic alarm module generates an audible alarm signal.

7. The medicine bottle dosage reminder of claim 6 wherein the electronic alarm module has a time selection means connected to the indicator member for selecting an alarm period corresponding to a time period indicated by a label marking in the aperture.

8. A medicine bottle dosage reminder comprising:

a cylindrical container with an open top, a recessed bottom with a skirt portion extending from the bottom forming a cavity; and

,

an electronic alarm module mounted in the cavity wherein the alarm module has a rotatable stem selection means for selecting a time period, and audible alarm means for generating an audible alarm upon expiration of the time period selected.