Medication reminder key chain

• US 6,351,207 B1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anna Sobrero, Cynthia J. Mik
• Original Assignee: Anna Sobrero, Cynthia J. Mik
• Inventors: Sobrero, Anna, Mik, Cynthia J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/614,246
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/309.4, 340/309.5, 206/37, 206/37.1, 206/38, 206/38.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 15/005 Fobs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/026 acting at a number of different times

Abstract

Medication Reminder Key chain with a key chain sized housing enclosing a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board supporting an integrated circuit providing timing functions and control for a piezo electric sound emitting device and a plurality of LED'"'"'s, the printed circuit board also supporting a momentary switch, the printed circuit board also supporting a battery holder and associated battery. A preferred embodiment includes in said timing functions the actuation of said sound emitting device at regular intervals.

Claims

1. A medication reminder key chain, comprising:

a piezo electric sound emitting device,

a momentary switch,

a printed circuit board having a timing function and a control for said piezo electric sound emitting device,

said timing function configured to have a plurality of alarm cycles preset to activate the piezo electric sound emitting device at a plurality of preset times, said timing function also configured to;

when said momentary switch is pressed for more than a first preselected period of time, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device until a subsequent alarm cycle,

when said momentary switch is pressed for less than a second preselected period of time, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device for a third preselected period of time after which said piezo electric sound emitting device is reactivated,

and a housing enclosing said printed circuit board and said piezo electric sound emitting device, said housing having said momentary switch located on an exterior surface thereof, the housing sized and configured to act as a key chain.

2. The medication reminder key chain of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED that is activated when said piezo electric sound emitting device is activated.

3. The medication reminder key chain of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED that is activated only when said piezo electric sound emitting device is activated.

4. The medication reminder key chain of claim 1, further comprising a battery holder and a battery connected with said printed circuit board.

5. The medication reminder key chain of claim 4, further comprising a flat tab having a first end and a second end, said first end located between the battery and a battery contact, said second end extending out of said housing, and wherein said timing function is initiated by the user when the user pulls said flat tab, thereby allowing electrical contact between said battery and said battery contact.

6. The medication reminder key chain of claim 1, further comprising a flat graphic area sized and configured to allow a user to record medications being taken.

7. The medication reminder key chain of claim 1, wherein said housing is octagonal.

8. A medication reminder key chain, comprising:

a piezo electric sound emitting device,

a momentary switch,

a printed circuit board having a timing function and a control for said piezo electric sound emitting device,

said timing function configured to have a plurality of alarm cycles preset to activate the piezo electric sound emitting device at a plurality of preset times,

a housing enclosing said printed circuit board and said piezo electric sound emitting device, said housing having said momentary switch located on an exterior surface thereof, the housing sized and configured to act as a key chain,

and a first LED, a second LED, a third LED and a fourth LED,

wherein said plurality of alarm cycles are four alarm cycles,

wherein said plurality of preset times is four preset times,

and wherein said first LED is activated at said first preset time, said second LED is activated at said second preset time, said third LED is activated at said third preset time and said fourth LED is activated at said fourth preset time.

9. The medication reminder key chain of claim 8, wherein said timing function is configured to:

when said momentary switch is pressed for more than a first preselected period of time, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device until a subsequent alarm cycle,

when said momentary switch is pressed for less than a second preselected period of time, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device for a third preselected period of time after which said piezo electric sound emitting device is reactivated.

10. A medication reminder key chain, comprising:

a piezo electric sound emitting device,

a first LED,

a second LED,

a third LED,

a fourth LED

a momentary switch,

a printed circuit board having a timing function, a control for said piezo electric sound emitting device, a battery holder and a battery,

said timing function configured to have four alarm cycles, the first alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said first LED at a first preset time, the second alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said second LED at a second preset time, the third alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said third LED at a third preset time and the fourth alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said fourth LED at a fourth preset time,

said timing function configured to;

when said momentary switch is pressed for more than a first preselected period of time, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device and the LED corresponding to the current alarm cycle until a subsequent alarm cycle,

when said momentary switch is pressed for less than a second preselected period of time, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device and the LED corresponding to the current alarm cycle for a third preselected period of time after which said piezo electric sound emitting device and the current LED is reactivated,

a housing enclosing said printed circuit board and said peizo electric sound emitting device, said housing having said momentary switch and said first, second, third and fourth LED'"'"'s located on an exterior surface thereof, the housing sized and configured to act as a key chain.

11. The medication reminder key chain of claim 10 wherein said LED'"'"'s are activated only when said piezo electric sound emitting device is activated.

12. The medication reminder key chain of claim 10, further comprising a battery holder and a battery connected with said printed circuit board.

13. The medication reminder key chain of claim 12, further comprising a flat tab having a first end and a second end, said first end located between the battery and a battery contact, said second end extending out of said housing, and wherein said timing function is initiated by the user when the user pulls said flat tab, thereby allowing electrical contact between said battery and said battery contact.

14. The medication reminder key chain of claim 10, further comprising a flat graphic area sized and configured to allow a user to record medications being taken.

15. The medication reminder key chain of claim 10, wherein said housing is octagonal.

16. A medication reminder key chain, comprising:

a piezo electric sound emitting device,

a first LED,

a second LED,

a third LED,

a fourth LED

a momentary switch,

a printed circuit board having a timing function, a control for said piezo electric sound emitting device, a battery holder and a battery,

said timing function configured to have four alarm cycles, the first alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said first LED at a nine AM, the second alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said second LED at one PM, the third alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said third LED at five PM and the fourth alarm cycle activating said piezo electric sound emitting device and said fourth LED at nine PM,

said timing function configured to;

when said momentary switch is pressed for more than two seconds, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device and the LED corresponding to the current alarm cycle until a subsequent alarm cycle,

when said momentary switch is pressed for less than one second, turn off said piezo electric sound emitting device and the LED corresponding to the current alarm cycle for ten minutes after which said piezo electric sound emitting device and the current LED is reactivated,

a generally flat, octagonal housing enclosing said printed circuit board and said peizo electric sound emitting device, said housing having said momentary switch and said first, second, third and fourth LED'"'"'s located on a front surface thereof, the housing sized and configured to act as a key chain,

a raised area of said housing surrounding said momentary switch,

a flat graphic area sized and configured to allow a user to record medications being taken, said graphic area located on a back surface of said housing,

a flat tab having a first end and a second end, said first end located between the battery and a battery contact, said second end extending out of said housing,

wherein said timing function is initiated by the user when the user pulls said flat tab, thereby allowing electrical contact between said battery and said battery contact.