Pharmacy bottle system including label

• US 7,311,205 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CVS Pharmacy Incorporated (CVS Health Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Brands Inc. (Target Corporation)
• Inventors: Adler, Deborah B., Rosburg, Klaus, Douglas, Patrick L., Grisik, Matthew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US11/042,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 206/534, 206/540, 206/459.5, 215/DIG.3, 283/81, 403/10, 403/06, 116/308, D9550-551, D9521-522
• US Class Current: 206/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/00 Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/06 Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/28 by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 3/18 to container necks B65C3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0223 characterised by shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0081 Bottles of non-circular cross-section

Abstract

A prescription pharmacy bottle comprises a container including a generally planar front portion having a generally rectangular shape and a generally planar back portion spaced from the front portion. The back portion has a generally rectangular shape and generally faces away in an opposite direction from the front portion. The container also comprises a pair of side portions opposite to and spaced from each other, with each side portion extending between the front portion of the container and the back portion of the container. Each side portion comprises at least one of a generally rectangular shape and a generally trapezoidal shape. The front portion and the back portion are configured for adhesive placement of a medication-related label on the front portion and the back portion of the container.

Claims

1. A prescription pharmacy bottle comprising:

a container including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the container comprising;

a generally planar front portion having a generally rectangular shape and extending from the first end of the container to the second end of the container;

a generally planar back portion spaced from the generally planar front portion, the generally planar back portion having a generally rectangular shape and generally facing away in an opposite direction from the generally planar front portion, the generally planar back portion extending from the first end of the container to the second end of the container;

a pair of side portions opposite to and spaced from each other, with each side portion extending between the generally planar front portion of the container and the generally planar back portion of the container, each side portion comprising a generally trapezoidal shape to position the generally planar front portion of the container and the generally planar back portion of the container to diverge away from each other at the first end of the container and to converge toward each other at the second end of the container;

a spine portion defining the second end of the container, the spine portion extending from, and interposed between, the generally planar front portion and the generally planar back portion of the container, the spine portion also extending from the respective side portions of the container;

an opening at least partially defining the first end of the container and extending between the generally planar front portion and the generally planar back portion of the container, the opening spaced from and opposite to the spine portion of the container, wherein the opening is adapted to removably receive a cap to cover the opening;

a recess portion defined by the generally planar back portion of the container, wherein the generally planar front portion is characterized by an absence of any recess; and

a medication-related label extending over and in contact with the generally planar front portion, the spine portion, and the generally planar back portion;

wherein each respective front portion and back portion of the container is configured for adhesive placement of the medication-related label on at least one of the front portion and the back portion of the container.

2. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein each respective side portion includes a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the respective side portions having a length less than a length of the bottom portion of the respective side portions, the bottom portion of the respective side portions being disposed adjacent the first end of the container.

3. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein the spine portion of the container comprises a generally curved shape.

4. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 3 and further comprising a cap removably securable to the opening of the container, wherein the cap defines a base of the prescription pharmacy bottle configured to contact a support surface and to support the container to extend generally vertically upward from the support surface with the spine portion of the container disposed vertically above the cap.

5. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein a size and a shape of the generally planar front portion of the container and a size and a shape of the generally planar back portion of the container are generally symmetrical relative to each other and wherein a size and a shape of the respective side portions of the container are generally symmetrical relative to each other.

6. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein the recess portion has a generally rectangular shape and extends laterally partially across the generally planar back portion of the container, the recess portion having at least one outer edge adjacent one of the respective side portions of the container and an inner edge defining a lateral boundary of the recess portion;

and wherein the generally planar back portion comprises;

a contact portion that generally surrounds the recess portion and being sized and shaped to receive adhesive placement of the medication-related label on the contact portion.

7. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein the recess portion has a generally rectangular shape and extends laterally across the entire generally planar back portion of the container, and the recess portion including two outer edges with each outer edge adjacent one of the opposite side portions of the container;

and wherein the generally planar back portion comprises;

a contact portion that generally surrounds the recess portion and being sized and shaped to receive adhesive placement of the medication-related label on the contact portion.

8. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein the generally planar front portion of the container and the generally planar back portion of the container have a width that is substantially greater than the opening of the container.

9. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 and further comprising:

a colored ring removably securable about the opening of the container, wherein the colored ring is selected from a plurality of colored rings with each respective colored ring defining a different color.

10. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein the container comprises:

at least one protrusion disposed on at least one of the respective side portions of the container.

11. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 10 wherein the at least one protrusion comprises an array of protrusions.

12. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 10 wherein the at least one protrusion is raised from a surface of the at least one respective side portion and defines a recessed surface within the protrusion.

13. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 1 wherein the medication-related label extends over and is spaced from the recess portion to define a slot between the medication-related label and the recess portion.

14. A prescription pharmacy bottle comprising:

a container including;

a generally planar front portion having a generally rectangular shape;

a generally planar back portion spaced from the front portion with the back portion having a generally rectangular shape and generally facing away in an opposite direction from the front portion, wherein the front portion and the back portion are configured for adhesive placement of a medication-related label, the back portion including;

a recess portion having a generally rectangular shape and extending laterally at least partially across the back portion of the container, the recess portion defining a recessed surface; and

a contact portion generally surrounding the recess portion and being sized and shaped to receive adhesive placement of the medication-related label,

wherein the recess portion and the contact portion of the back portion of the container are configured relative to each other to cause a portion of the medication-related label to extend over and be spaced from the recess portion of the back portion of the container; and

a pair of side portions opposite to and spaced from each other, with each side portion extending between the front portion of the container and the back portion of the container,

wherein the recess portion includes at least one outer edge adjacent one of the side portions of the container; and

a label adhered to the front portion of the container and the contact portion of the back portion, wherein the label extends over and is spaced from the recessed surface of the back portion to form a slot between the label and the recessed surface of the back portion.

15. The pharmacy bottle of claim 14 wherein the recess portion extends entirely across the back portion of the container, and the at least one outer edge of the recess portion comprises two outer edges of the recess portion with each outer edge adjacent one of the opposite side portions of the container.

16. The pharmacy bottle of claim 14 wherein the recess portion extends only partially across the back portion of the container and includes an inner edge defining a lateral boundary of the recess portion.

17. The pharmacy bottle of claim 16 wherein the container comprises a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the container comprising an opening disposed between the front portion and the back portion of the container, wherein each respective side portion comprises a generally trapezoidal shape to position the front portion and the back portion of the container toward convergence with each other adjacent the second end of the container and toward divergence from each other adjacent the first end of the container.

18. The pharmacy bottle of claim 17 wherein the container comprises:

a generally curved spine portion disposed adjacent the second end of the container, the generally curved spine portion extending from, and interposed between, the front portion and the back portion of the container, the generally curved spine portion defining a junction of the front portion and the back portion of the container at the second end of the container.

19. The pharmacy bottle of claim 18 and further comprising:

a colored ring removably securable onto the container via slidable engagement about the opening of the container, the colored ring selectable from a plurality of colored rings with each colored ring comprising a different color.

20. The pharmacy bottle of claim 19 wherein the front portion and the back portion of the container each have a width that is substantially greater than the opening of the container.

21. The pharmacy bottle of claim 18 wherein the label is adhered to the generally curved spine portion of the container.

22. A prescription pharmacy bottle comprising:

a container including;

a generally planar front portion having a generally rectangular shape and extending from a first end of the container to a second end of the container;

a generally planar back portion spaced from the front portion, the back portion having a generally rectangular shape and generally facing away in an opposite direction from the front portion, the generally planar back portion extending from the first end of the container to the second end of the container; and

a pair of side portions opposite to and spaced from each other, with each side portion extending between the generally planar front portion of the container and the generally planar back portion of the container, each side portion comprising at least one of a generally rectangular shape and a generally trapezoidal shape positioned such that the generally planar back portion and the generally planar front portion diverge away from each other at the second end of the container;

an opening defined near the second end of the container;

a label positioned over the generally planar front portion, the first end, and the generally planar back portion of the container, the label being adhered to at least the first generally planar front portion and the second generally planar back portion; and

a prescription medication held by the container, wherein the label includes information about the prescription medication.

23. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 22, wherein the generally planar back portion defines a recess surrounded by a contact portion, the label extending over and being spaced from the recess to define a slot between the label and the recess.

24. The prescription pharmacy bottle of claim 23, wherein the container defines a threaded neck at the second end around the opening, the prescription pharmacy bottle further comprising a colored ring made of resilient, elastomeric material, the colored ring being removably securable on the container via slidable engagement over the threaded neck about the opening of the container, the colored ring being selectable from a plurality of colored rings with each colored ring comprising a different color and each different color of the plurality of colored rings corresponding to at least one of a family member identification and a medication-type identification.

25. A prescription pharmacy bottle comprising:

a prescription medication;

a container holding the prescription medication, the container including;

a generally planar front portion having a generally rectangular shape and extending from a first end of the container to a second end of the container,

a generally planar back portion spaced from the front portion, the back portion having a generally rectangular shape and generally facing away in an opposite direction from the front portion, the generally planar back portion extending from a first end of the container to a second end of the container,

a pair of side portions opposite to and spaced from each other, with each side portion extending between the generally planar front portion of the container and the generally planar back portion of the container, each side portion comprising at least one of a generally rectangular shape and a generally trapezoidal shape positioned such that the generally planar back portion and the generally planar front portion diverge away from each other at the second end of the container, and

a recessed surface formed by the generally planar back portion; and

a label related to the prescription medication adhered to the front portion and the back portion of the container, wherein the label extends over and is spaced from the recessed surface to define a slot between the label and the recessed surface.