Dosage indicator

• US 6,003,467 A
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paige Shelton-Ferrell
• Original Assignee: Paige Shelton-Ferrell
• Inventors: Shelton-Ferrell, Paige, Bova, Anthony J., Valencia, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfeld, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Richard A
• Application Number:
  US08/888,475
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 116/308, 116/309, 116/318, 116/316, 116/311, 116/312, 116/315, 206/459.1, 206/459.5, 215/230, 215/232, 215/235
• US Class Current: 116/309
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 11/23 the advertising or display material forming part of rotating members, e.g. in the form of perforations, prints, or transparencies on a drum or disc

Abstract

A medication dosage indicator having two portions, a body portion and a cap portion. The body portion includes a circular top wall and a plurality of raised indicator tabs spaced apart in a circular fashion that have indicia corresponding to the day of the week or other unit of time. The cap portion includes a circular upper wall with a plurality of apertures sized and spaced apart to fit in a mating relationship with the indicator tabs.

Claims

1. A medication dosage indicator comprising:

a body portion having a circular top wall, a plurality of raised indicator tabs spaced apart in a circular fashion on said top wall, an annular side wall extending from and below the periphery of said top wall, and an annular rib extending laterally from said annular side wall; and

a cap portion having a circular upper wall with a plurality of apertures sized and spaced apart to fit in a mating relationship with said raised indicator tabs, an annular edge extending from the periphery of said upper wall to a lower end, said annular edge at least partially encloses and abuts said annular side wall of said body portion, and an annular ridge disposed at said lower end of said annular edge and extending laterally inward therefrom, said annular ridge forming a stop against said annular side wall for securing said cap portion to said body portion;

said cap portion is movable between a closed position wherein said indicator tabs are disposed within said apertures and said annular rib and said annular ridge are spaced apart, and an open position wherein said indicator tabs are disposed beneath said apertures and said annular rib abuts said annular ridge,

said cap portion being rotatable about said body portion in said open position.

2. The medication dosage indicator of claim 1 wherein said upper wall of said cap portion having an identification mark to identify a particular raised indicator tab corresponding to one of said apertures.

3. The medication dosage indicator of claim 1 wherein said body portion includes a bottom wall having an adhesive outer surface.

4. The dosage indicator of claim 1 wherein each of said indicator tabs having indicia to identify a day of the week.

5. The dosage indicator of claim 1 wherein said body and cap portions are integrally formed.

6. The dosage indicator of claim 1 wherein said body portion is suitable for use as a cap for a pill bottle.

7. A method for reminding a person when to take medication using a medication dosage indicator, said medication dosage indicator including a body portion having a circular top wall, a plurality of raised indicator tabs each identifying a day of the week spaced apart in a circular fashion on said top wall, and a bottom wall opposite said top wall;

and a cap portion having a circular upper wall with a plurality of apertures sized and spaced apart to fit in a mating relationship with said raised indicator tabs, and an identification mark to identify a particular raised indicator tab corresponding to one of said apertures, said cap portion is movable between a closed position wherein said indicator tabs are disposed within said apertures and an open position wherein said indicator tabs are disposed beneath said apertures, said cap is rotatable about said body portion in said open position, said method comprising;

identifying the day of the week on said indicator tab corresponding to said identification mark;

dispensing the proper medication on the day of the week on said indicator tab corresponding to said identification mark;

moving said cap portion from said closed position to said open position;

rotating said cap portion to identify the next day for dispensing medication; and

moving said cap portion from said open position to said closed position.

8. A medication dosage indicator comprising:

a body portion having a circular top wall with an opening therein, a plurality of raised indicator tabs spaced apart in a circular fashion on said top wall, a cylindrical wall extending from said top wall about the periphery of said opening, and a pawl extending inwardly from said cylindrical wall; and

a cap portion having a circular upper wall with a plurality of apertures sized and spaced apart to fit in a mating relationship with said raised indicator tabs, and a ratchet mechanism attached to said upper wall disposed to engage said pawl;

said cap portion is movable between a closed position wherein said indicator tabs are disposed within said apertures and an open position wherein said indicator tabs are disposed beneath said apertures,

said cap portion being rotatable about said body portion in said open position.

9. The medication dosage indicator of claim 8 wherein, said ratchet mechanism and pawl restrict rotation of said cap portion to one direction.

10. The medication dosage indicator of claim 8 wherein said cap portion and said body portion are each integrally formed.

11. The medication dosage indicator of claim 8 wherein said body portion is suitable for use as a cap for a pill bottle.