Medication reminder device

• US 6,545,592 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steven L. Weiner
• Original Assignee: Steven L. Weiner
• Inventors: Weiner, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/850,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/309.4, 340/825.17, 368/10, 368/107, 368/109, 368/278
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis

Abstract

A medication reminder device having a cap unit with a timer dial for selecting a period between alarm signals and a start and reset button with a light, the cap unit having internal electronics with a power supply to generate an alarm signal that is preferably visible, using the button light; audio, using a sound generating circuit; and physical, using a vibrator mechanism; the cap unit being connected to a compact container with a compartment for storage of pills, the compact container having an adaptor cap for connecting the assembled device to a standard prescription container.

Claims

1. A medication reminder device comprising:

a compact pill container having a pill compartment sized to contain a relatively small supply of pills for storage of pills the compartment the compact pill container having an open top providing access to the compartment for deposit and removal of one or more pills and having a bottom;

an electronic cap unit connectable to the open top of the compact pill container at the open top for closure of the compartment when the electronic cap unit is connected to the compact pill compartment, the electronic cap unit having an LCD display; and

an adaptor cap having a top and a bottom, wherein the compact container has a bottom and the top of the adaptor cap is connectable to the bottom of the compact pill container, and wherein the adaptor cap has a mechanism at the bottom of the adaptor cap engageable with a conventional pill supply container sized to contain a large supply of pills relative to the compact pill container, wherein the compact container and electronic cap unit are connectable to the conventional pill supply container using the adaptor cap, or separable from the conventional pill supply container and adaptor cap for use of the compact pill container as a travel container for pills with the adaptor cap remaining with the pill supply container covering the conventional pill supply container.

2. The medication reminder device of claim 1, wherein the electronic cap unit has an internal electronics compartment with timer and alarm electronics and has a signal means for generating a signal indicating when a pill is to be taken.

3. The medication reminder device of claim 2, wherein the timer and alarm electronics have means for setting the time an alarm signal is generated.

4. The medication reminder device of claim 2, wherein the signal means includes a button switch for terminating a generated alarm signal.

5. The medication reminder device of claim 4, wherein the button switch includes a light that is activated when the alarm signal is generated.

6. The medication reminder device of claim 5, wherein the button switch resets an alarm period.

7. The medication reminder device of claim 4, wherein the button switch comprises a push button.

8. The medication reminder device of claim 1, having means for selecting a plurality of times for generating an alarm signal.

9. The medication reminder device of claim 8, wherein the means for selecting a plurality of times for generating an alarm signal comprises at least one programming button.

10. The medication reminder device of claim 8, wherein the means for selecting a plurality of times for generating an alarm signal comprises a pair of programming buttons.

11. The medication reminder device of claim 8, wherein the pair of programming buttons additionally selects one of a plurality of selectable alarm modes.

12. The medication reminder device of claim 11, wherein the selectable alarm modes include signal light, signal light and audible alarm, and, signal light and vibrator.

13. The medication reminder device of claim 12, wherein the LCD display includes display means for indicating the selected mode.

14. The medication reminder device of claim 1, in combination with the pill supply container connectable to the adaptor cap and electronic cap unit.

15. The medication reminder device of claim of claim 1, wherein the electronic cap unit includes a processor and accompanying microcircuitry wherein the electronic cap unit is programmed for a method of signaling an alarm comprising the steps of,

providing a clock means for determining the time of day,

providing a clock setting means for setting the clock means to the correct time of day,

providing an alarm setting means associated with the clock means having means for selecting one of a plurality of predetermined multiple alarm intervals during a day,

providing an alarm means associated with the alarm setting means for signaling an alarm at a pre-set start time during the day,

providing an alarm termination means wherein an alarm terminated by a user activates the next interval for the next alarm wherein the alarm means signals an alarm for a predetermined time before automatically ceasing and activating the interval for the next alarm and wherein at a second pre-set time late at night, all interval timing stops until activated at the pre-set start time during the day.

16. A medication reminder device comprising:

a compact pill container having a pill compartment sized to contain a relatively small supply of pills for storage of pills the compartment the compact pill container having an open top providing access to the compartment for deposit and removal of one or more pills and having a bottom;

an electronic cap unit connectable to the open top of the compact pill container at the open top for closure of the compartment when the electronic cap unit is connected to the compact pill compartment, the electronic cap unit having an LCD display; and

an adaptor cap having a top and a bottom, wherein the compact container has a bottom and the top of the adaptor cap is connectable to the bottom of the compact pill container, and wherein the adaptor cap has a mechanism at the bottom of the adaptor cap engageable with a conventional pill supply container sized to contain a large supply of pills relative to the compact pill container, wherein the compact container and electronic cap unit are connectable to the conventional pill supply container using the adaptor cap, or separable from the conventional pill supply container and adaptor cap for use of the compact pill container as a travel container for pills with the adaptor cap remaining with the pill supply container covering the conventional pill supply container, wherein the electronic cap unit has an electronic reminder device in the electronic cap unit with a method of signaling an alarm comprising the steps of,

providing a clock means for determining the time of day,

providing a clock setting means for setting the clock means to the correct time of day,

providing an alarm setting means associated with the clock means having means for selecting one of a plurality of predetermined multiple alarm intervals during a day,

providing an alarm means associated with the alarm setting means for signaling an alarm at a pre-set start time during the day,

providing an alarm termination means wherein an alarm terminated by a user activates the next interval for the next alarm wherein the alarm means signals an alarm for a predetermined time before automatically ceasing and activating the interval for the next alarm and wherein at a second pre-set time late at night, all interval timing stops until activated at the pre-set start time during the day.

17. The medication reminder device of claim 16, wherein the alarm means includes multiple alarm signals and the user selects at least one of the multiple alarm signals.

18. The medication reminder device of claim 16, wherein the alarm means associated with the alarm setting means for signaling an alarm at a pre-set start time during the day includes a second different alarm signal at a second set time after the pre-set start time.

19. The medication reminder device of claim 18, wherein the two alarm signals continue for a predetermined time and then cease and a next dose reminder will start at a programmed time.