Bottle cap reminder device and method

• US 6,667,936 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albert F. Ditzig
• Original Assignee: Albert F. Ditzig
• Inventors: Ditzig, Albert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lindinger, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US10/281,001
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 368/101, 368/107-113, 368/204
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers

Abstract

An adherent timer device for mounting upon a prescription medicine bottle cap. The device comprises a cover having an aperture through the cover and a skirt extending from the cover with a lip portion inwardly protruding from the skirt. An electronic counting means having an electronic display viewable through the aperture of the cover resides within the skirt. A battery powering the electronic counting means is springably engaged with the electronic counting means. A reset post for breaking engagement of the battery with the electronic counting means extends from the cover. An insulating pull tab is placed between the battery and a spring contact plate interrupting flow of energy from the battery to the electronic counting means. A mounting face has structure for snap fit engagement with the inner lip of the skirt and an adhesive backing for securing the mounting face to a prescription medicine bottle cap.

Claims

1. A timer device for disposition atop of a prescription container cap on a drug container comprising;

a. a timer device having an electronic timer circuit;

b. means for securing the timer device on the prescription container cap;

c. an electric battery for activating the electronic timer circuit;

d. the timer device having a housing with the electronic timer circuit and the battery stored therein;

e. a start timer insulated pull tab located between the electric battery electrode and the electrical timer circuit for maintaining the timer device in a deactivated condition;

f. the start timer insulated pull tab being releasably mounted and when the start timer insulated pull tab is pulled to expose the battery electrode, the battery then makes electrical contact with the timer electrical circuit to activate the electrical timer circuit.

2. The timer device of claim 1 wherein the pull tab when in a deactivated position extends radially outwardly beyond an outer perimeter of said device.

3. The timer device of claim 2 wherein the timer device has a timer means enabling the timer to be reactivated by pushing down on the electronic timer device toward a drug container to reactivate the timer during removal of the cap from the drug container.

4. A timer device for disposition atop of a prescription container cap on a drug container comprising:

a. a timer device having an electronic timer circuit;

b. means for securing the tinier device on the prescription container cap;

c. a battery for activating the electronic timer circuit;

d. the timer device having a housing with the electronic timer circuit and the battery stored therein;

e. a start timer insulated pull tab located between an electrical battery electrode and the electrical timer circuit for maintaining the timer device in a deactivated condition and with pull tab portion of the start timer insulated pull tab extending beyond the housing when the battery is in a deactivated state;

f. the start timer insulated pull tab being releasably mounted and when the pull tab portion is pulled moving the start timer insulated pull tab away to expose the battery electrode, the battery then making electrical contact with the timer electrical circuit to activate the electrical timer circuit; and

g. the timer device having a bottom surface sized and shaped for mated engagement with a top surface of a prescription container cap, said means being attached to said bottom surface.

5. A timer device for disposition atop of a prescription container cap on a drug container comprising:

a. a timer device having an electronic timer circuit;

b. means for securing the timer device atop of the drug container;

c. an electric battery for activating the electronic timer circuit;

the timer device having a housing with the electronic timer circuit and the battery stored therein;

d. a start timer insulated pull tab located between an electrical battery electrode and the electrical timer circuit for maintaining the timer device in a deactivated condition;

the start timer insulated pull tab being releasably mounted and when the start timer insulated pull tab is pulled to expose the battery electrode, the battery then makes electrical contact with the timer electrical circuit to activate the electrical timer circuit;

e. the timer device having a bottom surface sized and shaped for mated engagement with a top surface of a prescription container cap, said means being attached to said bottom surface; and

f. the means for securing the timer device comprising a double stick adhesive and a removable adhesive cover to expose the double stick adhesive to enable the double stick adhesive to connect the timer device to the cap on a drug container.

6. A timer device for disposition atop of a prescription container cap on a drug container comprising:

a. a timer device having an electronic timer circuit;

b. means for securing the timer device atop of the drug container;

c. a battery for activating the electronic timer circuit;

d. the timer device having a housing with the electronic timer circuit and the battery stored therein;

e. the timer device having a bottom surface sized and shaped for mated engagement with a top surface of a prescription container cap, said means being attached to said bottom surface;

f an insulated pull tab releasably mounted between the battery and the timer circuit maintaining the timer device in a deactivated condition, the pull tab activating the timer circuit when removed to expose the battery to the timer circuit.

7. The timer device of claim 6 said means for securing the timer device comprising a double stick adhesive and a removable adhesive cover to expose the double stick adhesive to enable the double stick adhesive to connect the timer device to a cap on a drug container.

8. An adherent timer device for mounting upon a prescription medicine bottle cap of a prescription medicine bottle, the device comprising:

a deflectable cover having a first side and a second side;

an aperture through the cover;

a skirt extending perpendicularly from the cover adjacent the second side of the cover;

a lip portion inwardly protruding from the skirt;

an electronic counting means having an electronic display residing within the skirt, the electronic display viewable through the aperture of the cover;

a battery for powering the electronic counting means having a first face adjacent the electronic counting means and a second face;

a spring contact plate engaged with the second face of the battery springably engaging the first face of the battery with the electronic counting means;

a reset post extending perpendicularly from the second side of the cover for breaking the engagement of the first face of the battery with the electronic counting means, the reset post contacting the first face of the battery deflecting the spring contact plate when the cover is deflected;

an insulating pull tab between the second face of the battery and the spring contact plate interrupting flow of energy from the battery to the electronic counting means, placement of the insulating pull tab between the battery and the electronic counting means preventing operation of the electronic counting means so that energy stored in the battery will not be depleted before use of the device;

a substantially flat mounting face sized and shaped to be affixed to a prescription medicine bottle cap parallel to the cover having structure for snap fit engagement with the inner lip of the skirt; and

an adhesive backing attached to the mounting face for securing the mounting face to a prescription medicine bottle cap.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the reset post is axially aligned with the battery.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the insulating pull tab extends beyond the skirt providing a gripping surface for users of the device to remove the insulating pull tab from between the battery and the timing means.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a soft open cell sponge like material disposed between the cover and the timing means.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the timing means progressively counts time from 1 second to 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display protected by a clear lens attached within the aperture of the cover.

14. An adherent timer device for mounting upon a prescription medicine bottle cap of a prescription medicine bottle in combination with a prescription medicine bottle cap, the combination comprising:

a prescription medicine bottle cap;

an adherent timer device, the device comprising;

a deflectable cover having a first side and a second side;

an aperture through the cover;

a skirt extending perpendicularly from the cover adjacent the second side of the cover;

a lip portion inwardly protruding from the skirt;

an electronic counting means having an electronic display residing within the skirt, the electronic display viewable through the aperture of the cover;

a battery for powering the electronic counting means having a first face adjacent the electronic counting means and a second face;

a spring contact plate engaged with the second face of the battery springably engaging the first face of the battery with the electronic counting means;

a reset post extending perpendicularly from the second side of the cover for breaking the engagement of the first face of the battery with the electronic counting means, the reset post contacting the first face of the battery deflecting the spring contact plate when the cover is deflected;

an insulating pull tab between the second face of the battery and the spring contact plate interrupting flow of energy from the battery to the electronic counting means, placement of the insulating pull tab between the battery and the electronic counting means preventing operation of the electronic counting means so that energy stored in the battery will not be depleted before use of the device;

a substantially flat mounting face sized and shaped to be affixed to a prescription medicine bottle cap parallel to the cover having structure for snap fit engagement with the inner lip of the skirt; and

a double sided adhesive backing having a first face adhered to the mounting surface and a second face adhered to the prescription medicine bottle cap.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the reset post is axially aligned with the battery.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the insulating pull tab extends beyond the skirt providing a gripping surface for users of the device to remove the insulating pull tab from between the battery and the timing means.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a soft open cell sponge like material disposed between the cover and the timing means.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the timing means progressively counts time from 1 second to 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display protected by a clear lens attached within the aperture of the cover.

20. An adherent timer device for mounting upon a prescription medicine bottle cap of a prescription medicine bottle, the device comprising:

a deflectable cover;

an electronic counting means having an electronic display viewable through the cover;

at least two contact arms connected to the electronic counting means;

a power source having a first face adjacent the two contact arms and a second face opposite the first;

a spring contact plate engaged with the second face of the power source pushing the power source toward the two contact arms activating the electronic counting means;

a temporary insulating pull tab between the second face of the power source and the spring contact plate preventing activation of the electronic counter means prior to use of the electronic counting means;

a reset post extending from the cover between the two contact arms, the reset post contacting the first face of the power source deflecting the spring contact plate when the cover is deflected creating a gap between the two contact arms and the power source deactivating the electronic counting means;

a base connected to the top face;

an adhesive backing connected to the base for mounting to a prescription medicine bottle cap.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the reset post deflects the spring contact plate from about 0.020 inches to about 0.030 inches.

22. The device in claim 21 wherein the temporary insulating pull tab extends beyond an outer edge of the cover.

23. The device of claim 22 further comprising a soft open cell sponge like material disposed between the cover and the electronic timing counting means.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the electronic counting means progressively counts time from 1 second to 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display protected by a clear lens attached within the aperture of the cover.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the reset post has a long axis that is axially aligned with a center point of the power source.

27. A timer device for disposition atop of a container cap of a drug container, the timer device comprising:

a housing sized for placement atop a container cap for drug containers;

an electronic timer circuit within the housing;

a battery within the housing for activating the electronic timer circuit;

means for securing the housing atop a container cap for drug containers; and

an insulated pull tab releasably mounted between the battery and the timer circuit maintaining the timer device in a deactivated condition, the pull tab activating the timer circuit when removed to expose the battery to the timer circuit.

28. The timer device of claim 27 further comprising a reset means for resetting the timer circuit.

29. The timer device of claim 28 wherein the means for securing the housing atop a container cap for drug containers is adhesive.