Add-on medicine dispenser timer

• US 6,845,064 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Add-On Timer LLC
• Original Assignee: William K. Hildebrandt
• Inventors: Hildebrandt, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US10/124,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20030198134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 215/200, 215/228, 228/230, 228/231, 368/10, 368107-110, 221/2, 221/3, 221/215, 340/309.15, 340/309.16, 340/309.8, 340/309.9
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis

Abstract

An improved device for timely medication administration that attaches to any original container cap and that measures and displays elapsed time in response to opening or closing of said original container cap is disclosed. Physical, chemical and labeled characteristics of the original medication vessel are thus preserved as dispensed. This device includes a timing unit, a compression reset switch and a thermoplastic housing for the above with a resilient, flexible, circumferential wall that permits operation of the enclosed compression reset switch. The thermoplastic housing also features a rigid lower lip that allows adhesive attachment to the original lid.

Claims

1. An add-on medicine dispensing timer which can be affixed to an original medicine vial having a closure cap comprising:

a timer housing having an upper wall;

a circumferential wall integral with said upper wall;

a lower attachment surface having an attachment lip extending inwardly from said circumferential wall a distance less than said first diameter and generally parallel to said upper wall for attaching to the cap of the medicine vial; and

a timing mechanism carried by said housing and being displaceable relative to at least said circumferential housing wall so that downward force on one of said upper wall and timing mechanism causes said timing mechanism to be reset and actuated to indicate the instantaneous time elapsed since said timing mechanism was reset.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said upper wall of said timer housing carries said timing mechanism and said circumferential wall flexes wherein when said downward force is exerted upon said upper wall of said housing said timing mechanism is deflected downward so that said compression switch is engaged by one of said vial cap and lower attachment surface of said housing whereby said timing mechanism is reset and actuated.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said attachment lip of said lower attachment surface extends inwardly toward but terminates short of said timing mechanism;

said attachment lip being constructed and arranged for attachment to said vial cap whereby said compression switch engages said vial cap to be reset and actuated.

4. The device of claim 1 including an adhesive layer carried by said attachment lip for affixing said attachment lip to said vial cap.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said flexible, circumferential wall includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion, said first and second wall portions flexing about a flex line so that said upper wall and timing mechanism are displaced downwardly in the direction of said vial cap when pressed upon manually to remove or replace the cap.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said upper wall of said housing includes a retention aperture in which said timing mechanism is pressed and retained, and said timing mechanism includes a digital readout seen through said aperture for displaying the time since said vial cap was reset.

7. An add-on medicine dispensing timer for use with an original medicine vial in which dry or liquid medicine was dispensed or sold to a consumer, said add-on medicine dispensing timer comprising:

a timer housing having an upper wall and a circumferential side wall integral with said upper wall said circumferential side having first and second wall portion interconnected with a flex line;

a timing mechanism having a display for indicating an appropriate time for a medicine dose carried by said housing;

an attachment element carried by said housing for attaching said timer housing to said closure cap; and

said timer mechanism including a motion switch which detects downward movement of said timing mechanism relative to said timer housing wherein when down force is applied to one of said timer upper wall and timer mechanism in response to one of removing and replacing said closure cap.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said upper wall of said housing includes a retention aperture in which said timing mechanism is pressed and retained, and said timing mechanism includes a digital readout seen through said aperture for displaying the time since said vial cap was reset.

9. An add-on medicine dispensing timer which can be affixed to an original medicine vial having a closure cap comprising:

a timer housing having an upper wall;

a flexible circumferential wall integral with said upper wall;

an attachment mount for attaching said timer housing to the said closure cap of the medicine vial; and

a timing mechanism carried by said upper wall of said housing in a displaceable manner so that downward force on one of said upper wall and timing mechanism causes said flexible circumferential wall to flex causing said timing mechanism to engage by a stationary surface to be reset and actuated to indicate the instantaneous time elapsed since said timing mechanism was reset.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said timer mechanism includes a compression switch, said compression switch being engaged by said vial cap when said downward force is exerted upon said upper wall of said housing deflecting said timing mechanism downward resetting and activating said timing mechanism.

11. The device, of claim 9 wherein said attachment mount includes a circumferential attachment lip constructed and arranged for attachment to said closure cap and an adhesive layer carried by said attachment lip for affixing said attachment lip to said vial cap.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein said flexible, circumferential wall includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion, said first and second wail portions flexing about a flex line so that said upper wall and timing mechanism are displaced downwardly in the direction of said closure cap when pressed upon manually to remove or replace the cap.

13. The device of claim 9 wherein said upper wall of said housing includes a retention aperture in which said timing mechanism is pressed and retained, and said timing mechanism includes a digital readout seen through said aperture for displaying the time since said vial cap was reset.