Medicine cap timing apparatus

• US 7,408,843 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dennis Brandon
• Original Assignee: Dennis Brandon
• Inventors: Brandon, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W
• Application Number:
  US11/457,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20070014191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/278, 206/528, 206/534, 215/201, 215/214, 215217-223, 215329-335, 215/341, 215342-346
• 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 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset

Abstract

A medicine cap with a timing mechanism that automatically resets upon the removal of the cap from a medicine bottle. A timing device is housed within a medicine camp, with a diaphragm housed below the timing device. The diaphragm has a rod extending upward from a central location, and fastening the cap onto a bottle or container causes the rod to be pushed up into contact with, and activate, the timing device. Upon removal of the cap from the bottle or container, the rod loses contact with the timing device, and the timer is reset. The cap may comprise multiple pieces, so the cap may be used in child-proof mode by the engagement and disengagement of splines on the cap housing and a cap insert. Means are supplied for enabling the constant engaging of the splines.

Claims

1. A medicine container timing apparatus, comprising:

a container cap with a top end and an open end;

electronic timing means, said electronic timing means disposed within the cap and progressively tracking the time when activated;

a diaphragm disposed within the container cap, said diaphragm having a rod extending generally perpendicular from at or near the center of the diaphragm, wherein said rod is pushed into contact with the electronic timing means and activates said timing means when the container cap is placed on a container; and

a sealing disk disposed within the container cap between the diaphragm and the open end of the container cap, wherein said sealing disk is adapted to push the diaphragm and rod towards the top end of the container cap when the container cap is placed on a container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further wherein the electronic timing means is disposed between the top end of the container cap and the diaphragm, and the diaphragm forms a bowl with a convex and concave side, the concave side facing the electronic timing means, and with the rod extending from the center of the concave side.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one battery disposed within or adjacent to the electronic timing means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further wherein the top end of the container cap has one or more apertures therethrough.

5. A medicine container timing cap, comprising:

a cap top housing having an open end, a generally circular top end with a circular aperture therethrough with an interior edge, and a sidewall extending circumferentially around the generally circular top end, the cap top housing sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface;

a cap top insert housed within the cap top housing, said cap top insert having a generally circular end with a raised center portion with a top side and a vertical sidewall adapted to fit into or through the circular aperture of the cap top housing, and one or more sidewall flanges extending circumferentially around the generally circular end of the cap top insert;

electronic timing means for measuring elapsed time when activated; and

a second insert housed with the cap top housing, said second insert having a generally circular top end with a sidewall extending circumferentially around the generally circular top end, the second insert sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the generally circular top end comprising a flexible diaphragm with a concave side and a convex side, the convex side extending down and into the second insert, the concave side having a rod extending upward generally perpendicular from at or near the center of the diaphragm, wherein said rod is pushed into contact with the electronic timing means and activates said electronic timing means when the cap is placed on a container.

6. The cap of claim 5, further comprising

a sealing disk housed with the cap top housing between the diaphragm and the open end of the cap top housing, wherein said sealing disk is adapted to push the diaphragm and rod towards the electronic timing means when the cap is placed on a container.

7. The cap of claim 5, further comprising at least one battery disposed within or adjacent to the electronic timing means.

8. The cap of claim 5, further comprising display means for displaying information from the electronic timing means.

9. The cap of claim 5, further comprising control means for controlling the electronic timing means.

10. The cap of claim 5, further comprising audible or visual alarm means, or both.

11. The cap of claim 5, wherein the rod is metal or a conductive material in whole or in part.

12. The cap of claim 5, wherein the top side of the raised center portion of the cap top insert has one or more apertures.

13. The cap of claim 5, further wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of the raised center portion of the cap top insert has a plurality of splines adapted to engage matching splines located on at least a portion of the interior edge of the circular aperture of the cap top housing.

14. The cap of claim 13, wherein the cap top housing can be moved longitudinally relative to the cap top insert so that the splines of the raised center and the interior edge can be selectively engaged and disengaged.

15. The cap of claim 14, wherein the cap can be removed from a container only when the splines are engaged.

16. The cap of claim 13, wherein the cap cannot be removed from a container unless the splines are engaged.

17. The cap of claim 14, further comprising means to press the cap top housing away from the cap top insert so that the splines cannot be engaged absent the application of sufficient pressure.

18. The cap of claim 17, further wherein said pressing means comprises one or more spring tabs located on top of the cap top insert.

19. The cap of claim 14, further comprising a retaining ring adapted to engage a circumferential groove located in the sidewall of the raised center portion of the cap top insert, wherein the splines are constantly engaged when the retaining ring is in place.

20. The cap of claim 14, further comprising arounded protrusion extending from the sidewall of the raised center portion of the cap top insert, adapted to engage a matching groove located above a protrusion located on the interior edge of the circular aperture of the cap top housing.

21. The cap of claim 5, further comprising one or more inwardly-extending ridges located along the inside bottom edge of the sidewall flanges, said ridges adapated to engage a matching groove located on the exterior sidewall of the second insert to secure the cap top insert to the second insert.

22. The cap of claim 21, further wherein the interior sidewall of the second insert has means to engage the top of a container.

23. The cap of claim 22, further wherein said engaging means comprise a plurality of threads.