Bottle cap reminder device and method

• US 6,424,599 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert F. Ditzig
• Original Assignee: Albert F. Ditzig
• Inventors: Ditzig, Albert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US09/457,270
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/223, 368/281, 368/282
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container

Abstract

The bottle cap reminder device has a cap with an electronic counter means disposed within the cap. The electronic counter means progressively counts the time when activated and resets the time when deactivated. A power source preferably a battery provides the energy to run the electronic counter means. The power source is preferably housed within the electronic counter means and connected in circuit to the electronic counter means. A switching means is employed to activate and deactivate the electronic counter means. The switching means is comprised of a conductive contact lever connected in circuit to and extending from the electronic counter means, a conductive contact spring in conductive contact with the power source, and a conductive contact plate in conductive contact with the conductive contact spring.

Claims

1. A medicine prescription bottle cap reminder device for use with a prescription bottle, the medicine prescription bottle cap reminder device comprising:

a cap, the cap having a generally circular planar end with an aperture therethrough and a skirt extending circumferentially around the generally circular planar end, the skirt having an interior and an exterior surface;

an electronic counter means, the electronic counter means disposed within the cap and having a time counter display, the time counter display positioned coextensively with the aperture in the cap, the electronic counter means progressively counting the time when activated and resetting the time when deactivated;

a conductive contact lever, the conductive contact lever connected in circuit to and extending from the electronic counter means;

a battery, the battery housed within the electronic counter means;

a conductive contact spring, the conductive contact spring having a first end and a second end, the first end in conductive contact with the battery, the conductive contact spring disposed within the cap to allow the spring to compress and decompress longitudinally within the cap; and

a conductive contact plate, the conductive contact plate disposed within the cap overlaying and in conductive contact with the second end of the conductive contact spring, the conductive contact plate moving longitudinally towards the contact lever and contacting the conductive contact lever when the cap is secured onto a bottle and moving longitudinally away from the contact lever breaking contact with the contact lever when the cap is not secured onto a bottle, contact between the contact lever and the contact plate completing a conductive pathway between the battery and the electronic counter means activating the electronic counter means, the electronic counter means deactivating when the contact plate and the contact lever are not in contact.

2. The medicine prescription bottle cap reminder device of claim 1 further comprising a conductive battery contact, the battery contact having a contact tongue in conductive contact with the battery and a spring retaining lip, the spring retaining lip disposed within the first end of the conductive contact spring.

3. The medicine prescription bottle cap reminder device of claim 1, further comprising a bottle sealing means disposed within the cap overlaying the contact plate and capable of longitudinal movement within the cap, the cap having a retaining means on the interior surface of the skirt for retaining the bottle sealing means within the cap.

4. The medicine prescription bottle cap reminder device of claim 1, wherein the time-counter display is a liquid crystal display, a lens being constructed of a clear polycarbonate material being attached to and spanning across the aperture in the cap.

5. The medicine prescription bottle cap reminder device of claim 1, wherein the conductive contact lever is a thin conductive strip extending from the electronic counter means in a circumferential and longitudinal direction towards the contact plate.

6. The medicine prescription bottle cap reminder device of claim 1 wherein the electronic counter means progressively counts time from 0 hours, 0 minutes to 23 hours 59 minutes, the time flashing and remaining on 23 hours 59 minutes until the electronic counter means is reset.

7. A bottle cap reminder device, the bottle cap reminder device comprising:

a cap, the cap having a generally circular planar end with an aperture therethrough and a skirt extending circumferentially around the generally circular planar end, the skirt having an interior and an exterior surface;

an electronic counter means, the electronic counter means disposed within the cap and having a time counter display, the time counter display positioned coextensively with the aperture in the cap, the electronic counter means progressively counting the time when activated and resetting the time when deactivated;

a power source, the power source connected in a stationary manner to the electronic counter means; and

switching means, the switching means disposed within the cap and completing a circuit between the power source and the electric counter means activating the electronic counter means when the cap is secured onto a bottle, and opening the circuit between the power source and the electronic counting means when the cap is not secured onto a bottle, deactivating the electronic counter means.

8. The bottle cap reminder device in claim 7 further comprising a conductive contact lever connected in circuit to and extending from the electronic counter means, the conductive contact plate moving longitudinally toward the contact lever and contacting the contact lever completing a conductive pathway between the power source and the electronic counter means activating the electronic counter means when the cap is secured onto a bottle and moving longitudinally away from the contact lever breaking contact with the contact lever when the cap is not secured onto a bottle.

9. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 8, wherein the conductive contact lever is a thin conductive strip extending from the electronic counter means in a circumferential and longitudinal direction towards the contact plate.

10. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 9, wherein the power source is a battery.

11. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 10 further comprising a conductive battery contact, the battery contact having a contact tongue in conductive contact with the battery and a spring retaining lip, the spring retaining lip disposed within the first end of the conductive contact spring.

12. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 11, further comprising a bottle sealing means disposed within the cap overlaying the contact plate and capable of longitudinal movement within the cap, the cap having a retaining means on the interior surface of the skirt for retaining the bottle sealing means within the cap.

13. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 12, wherein the time-counter display is a liquid crystal display, a lens being constructed of a clear polycarbonate material being attached to and spanning across the aperture in the cap.

14. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 13 wherein the electronic counter means progressively counts time from 1 second to 23 hours 59 minutes.

15. A prescription drug container with a reminder device, the prescription container comprising:

a bottle, the bottle having cap engagement lip structures;

a cap, the cap having a generally circular planar end with an aperture therethrough and a skirt extending circumferentially around the generally circular planar end, the skirt having an interior and an exterior surface, the interior surface having a plurality of corresponding engaging structures to interlock with the cap engagement lip structures on the bottle;

an electronic counter means, the electronic counter means disposed within the cap and having a time counter display, the time counter display positioned coextensively with the aperture in the cap, the electronic counter means progressively counting the time when activated and resetting the time when deactivated; and

a switching means disposed within the cap, the switching means including a conductive contact spring closing the switching means activating the electronic counter means when the cap is secured onto a bottle and opening the switching means deactivating the electronic counter means when the cap is unsecured from a bottle and a conductive contact plate disposed within the cap overlaying and in conductive contact with the conductive contact spring.

16. The prescription drug container in claim 15 further comprising a power source and wherein the switching means is comprised of a conductive contact lever connected in circuit to and extending from the electronic counter means, the contact plate moving longitudinally toward the contact lever and contacting the contact lever completing a conductive pathway between the power source and the electronic counter means activating the electronic counter means when the cap is secured onto a bottle and moving longitudinally away from the contact lever breaking contact with the contact lever when the cap is not secured onto a bottle.

17. The prescription drug container of claim 16, further comprising a bottle sealing means disposed within the cap overlaying the contact plate and capable of longitudinal movement within the cap, the cap having a retaining means on the interior surface of the skirt for retaining the bottle sealing means within the cap.

18. The prescription drug container of claim 17 wherein the power source is a battery and further comprising a conductive battery contact, the battery contact having a contact tongue in conductive contact with the battery and a spring retaining lip, the spring retaining lip disposed within the first end of the conductive contact spring.

19. The prescription drug container of claim 18, wherein the conductive contact lever is a thin conductive strip extending from the electronic counter means in a circumferential and longitudinal direction towards the contact plate.

20. The prescription drug container of claim 19, wherein the time-counter display is a liquid crystal display, a lens being constructed of a clear polycarbonate material being attached to and spanning across the aperture in the cap.

21. The prescription drug container of claim 20 wherein the electronic counter means progressively counts and displays time from 0 hours, 0 minutes, the time counter display remaining at 23 hours 59 minutes until the cap is removed and the electronic counting means is reset.

22. The prescription drug container of claim 16 wherein the power source is a battery and further comprising a conductive battery contact, the battery contact having a contact tongue in conductive contact with the battery and a spring retaining lip, the spring retaining lip disposed within the first end of the conductive contact spring.

23. The prescription drug container of claim 16, wherein the conductive contact lever is a thin conductive strip extending from the electronic counter means in a circumferential and longitudinal direction towards the contact plate.

24. The prescription drug container of claim 16, wherein the time-counter display is a liquid crystal display, a lens being constructed of a clear polycarbonate material being attached to and spanning across the aperture in the cap.

25. The prescription drug container of claim 16 wherein the electronic counter means progressively counts and displays time from 0 hours, 0 minutes, the time counter display remaining at 23 hours 59 minutes until the cap is removed and the electronic counting means is reset.

26. A method of using a bottle cap reminder device with a prescription bottle, the method comprising the steps of:

securing a bottle cap reminder device onto a prescription bottle, the bottle cap reminder device comprising a cap, an electronic counter means with a time display disposed within the cap, the time counter display positioned coextensively with an aperture in the cap, the electronic counter means progressively counting the time when the cap is secured onto the prescription bottle, the electronic counter means having switching means activating the time counting means when the bottle cap is secured to the prescription medicine bottle, said switching means deactivating and resetting the time counting means when the bottle cap is not secured to the prescription medicine bottle, the switching means comprising an electrically conductive contact lever which extends from the electronic time counting means, and an electrically conductive contact plate which extends from the power source, the contact lever is not electrically connected to said contact plate when said bottle cap is not secured to said prescription medicine bottle resulting in deactivation of the electronic time counting means, the contact lever electrically connected to said contact plate when said bottle cap is secured to said prescription medicine bottle resulting in a closed circuit and activation of said electronic time counting means;

waiting until a sufficient amount of time has elapsed until another dosage of medication is to be taken;

periodically monitoring the visual display on the bottle cap reminder device in order to determine if there has been a sufficient amount of time elapsed to take a dosage of medication;

removing the bottle cap reminder device when a sufficient time has elapsed for a dosage of medication, the removal of the cap resetting the electronic counter means;

removing the dosage of medication from the prescription bottle; and

resecuring the bottle cap reminder device onto the prescription bottle causing the electronic counter means to progressively count the time.

27. A bottle cap reminder device, the bottle cap reminder device comprising:

a cap, the cap having a generally circular planar end with an aperture therethrough and a skirt extending circumferentially around the generally circular planar end, the skirt having an interior and an exterior surface;

an electronic counter means, the electronic counter means disposed within the cap and having a time counter display, the time counter display positioned coextensively with the aperture in the cap, the electronic counter means progressively counting the time when activated and resetting the time when deactivated;

a power source, the power source connected in a stationary manner to the electronic counter means; and

switching means, the switching means disposed within the cap and completing a circuit between the power source and the electric counter means activating the electronic counter means when the cap is secured onto a bottle, and opening the circuit between the power source and the electronic counting means when the cap is not secured onto a bottle, deactivating the electronic counter means,

wherein the switching means is comprised of a conductive contact lever, the conductive contact lever connected in circuit to and extending from the electronic counter means, a conductive contact spring with a first end and a second end, the first end in conductive contact with the power source, the conductive contact spring disposed within the cap to allow the conductive contact spring to compress and decompress longitudinally within the cap, and a conductive contact plate, the conductive contact plate disposed within the cap overlaying and in conductive contact with the second end of the conductive contact spring, the conductive contact plate moving longitudinally towards the contact lever and contacting the conductive contact lever when the cap is secured onto a bottle and moving longitudinally away from the contact lever breaking contact with the contact lever when the cap is not secured onto a bottle, contact between the contact lever and the contact plate completing a conductive pathway between the power source and the electronic counter means activating the electronic counter means, the electronic counter means deactivating when the contact plate and the contact lever are not in contact.

28. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 27, wherein the conductive contact lever is a thin conductive strip extending from the electronic counter means in a circumferential and longitudinal direction towards the contact plate.

29. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 28, wherein the power source is a battery.

30. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 29, further comprising a conductive battery contact, the battery contact having a contact tongue in conductive contact with the battery and a spring retaining lip, the spring retaining lip disposed within the first end of the conductive contact spring.

31. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 30, further comprising a bottle sealing means disposed within the cap overlaying the contact plate and capable of longitudinal movement within the cap, the cap having a retaining means on the interior surface of the skirt for retaining the bottle sealing means within the cap.

32. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 31, wherein the time-counter display is a liquid crystal display, a lens being constructed of a clear polycarbonate material being attached to and spanning across the aperture in the cap.

33. The bottle cap reminder device of claim 30 wherein the electronic counter means progressively counts time from 0 hours and 0 minutes to 23 hours and 59 minutes.

36. The prescription drug container of claim 31 wherein the power source is a battery and further comprising a conductive battery contact, the battery contact having a contact tongue in conductive contact with the battery and a spring retaining lip, the spring retaining lip disposed within the first end of the conductive contact spring.

37. The prescription drug container of claim 36, wherein the conductive contact lever is a thin conductive strip extending from the electronic counter means in a circumferential and longitudinal direction towards the contact plate.

38. The prescription drug container of claim 37, wherein the time-counter display is a liquid crystal display, a lens being constructed of a clear polycarbonate material being attached to and spanning across the aperture in the cap.

39. The prescription drug container of claim 38 wherein the electronic counter means progressively counts and displays time from 0 hours, 0 minutes, the time counter display remaining at 23 hours 59 minutes until the cap is removed and the electronic counting means is reset.

34. A prescription drug container with a reminder device, the prescription container comprising.

a bottle, the bottle having cap engagement lip structures;

a cap, the cap having a generally circular planar end with an aperture therethrough and a skirt extending circumferentially around the generally circular planar end, the skirt having an interior and an exterior surface, the interior surface having a plurality of corresponding engaging structures to interlock with the cap engagement lip structures on the bottle; and

an electronic counter means, the electronic counter means disposed within the cap and having a time counter display, the time counter display positioned coextensively with the aperture in the cap, the electronic counter means progressively counting the time when activated and resetting the time when deactivated;

a switching means disposed within the cap, the switching means closing, activating the electronic counter means, when the cap is secured onto a bottle, and opening, deactivating the electronic counter means, when the cap is not secured, and

a power source,

wherein the switching means is comprised of a conductive contact lever, the conductive contact lever connected in circuit to and extending from the electronic counter means, a conductive contact spring with a first end and a second end, the first end in conductive contact with the power source, the conductive contact spring disposed within the cap to allow the conductive contact spring to compress and decompress longitudinally within the cap, and a conductive contact plate, the conductive contact plate disposed within the cap overlaying and in conductive contact with the second end of the conductive contact spring, the conductive contact plate moving longitudinally towards the contact lever and contacting the conductive contact lever when the cap is secured onto a bottle and moving longitudinally away from the contact lever breaking contact with the contact lever when the cap is not secured onto a bottle, contact between the contact lever and the contact plate completing a conductive pathway between the power source and the electronic counter means activating the electronic counter means, the electronic counter means deactivating when the contact plate and the contact lever are not in contact.

35. The prescription drug container of claim 34, further comprising a bottle sealing means disposed within the cap overlaying the contact plate and capable of longitudinal movement within the cap, the cap having a retaining means on the interior surface of the skirt for retaining the bottle sealing means within the cap.

40. A bottle cap time counting device for use with prescription medicine bottles, the bottle cap time counting device comprising

a bottle cap with bottle sealing means,

an electronic time counting device housed within said bottle cap and comprising an elapsed time display, said elapsed time display located on an upper surface of said bottle cap,

a power source which is disposed within said bottle cap and which provides power for the electronic time counting device, and

longitudinally extending switching means for activating, and for deactivating and resetting to zero the electronic time counting device wherein said switching means comprises a conductive contact lever, a conductive contact spring, and a conductive plate, the conductive contact lever extending from said electronic time counting device, the conductive contact lever oriented generally longitudinally within said bottle cap, and spaced apart from said conductive plate when the bottle cap is not secured to a prescription medicine bottle, the conductive contact spring is in conductive contact with said power source, the conductive plate lies within an upper portion of said bottle cap, and is longitudinally movable within said bottle cap when the bottle cap is secure to a prescription medicine bottle, said longitudinal motion of said conductive plate first compressing said conductive contact spring and then making conductive contact with said conductive contact lever, this conductive contact between said conductive contact lever, said conductive contact spring, and said conductive plate forming a closed circuit and activating said bottle cap counting device.