U.S. patent application number 12/137688 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for double side extended tab label with prescription information.
Invention is credited to Stacy R. Kaufman.
Application Number | 20080301982 12/137688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22782432 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080301982 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kaufman; Stacy R. |
December 11, 2008 |
DOUBLE SIDE EXTENDED TAB LABEL WITH PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION
Abstract
A pharmaceutical label for placement on a medicinal container,
the pharmaceutical label includes an elongated label having a front
face with an adhesive backing. The elongated label is formed from a
continuous strip with substantially planar surfaces. The label has
a first portion affixed by the adhesive around substantially an
entire perimeter of the container. The first portion has a first
front face portion, facing outward from the container. The label
has a second portion. The second portion has a border with the
first portion. The second portion projects from the container in
close proximity to the border and the second portion has a second
front face portion. The first front face portion and the second
front face portion have information thereon.
Inventors: |
Kaufman; Stacy R.; (Sunrise,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT M. SCHWARTZ, P.A.
P.O. BOX 221470
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022
US
|
Family ID: |
22782432 |
Appl. No.: |
12/137688 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11050337 |
Feb 3, 2005 |
7398999 |
|
|
12137688 |
|
|
|
|
10297262 |
Dec 3, 2002 |
6860513 |
|
|
PCT/US01/18713 |
Jun 8, 2001 |
|
|
|
11050337 |
|
|
|
|
60210321 |
Jun 8, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/310 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 3/0289 20130101;
Y10T 156/103 20150115; Y10T 428/1486 20150115; Y10T 156/1028
20150115; G09F 3/0288 20130101; B42D 15/00 20130101; Y10T 428/14
20150115; Y10T 428/1476 20150115; Y10T 156/1085 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
40/310 |
International
Class: |
G09F 3/00 20060101
G09F003/00 |
Claims
1. A pharmaceutical label for placement on a medicinal container
comprising: an elongated label defining a surface area and having a
front face and a rear face with an adhesive backing, said adhesive
backing substantially entirely covering said surface area of said
rear face of said elongated label; said label having a first
portion affixed by said adhesive around substantially an entire
perimeter of the container, said first portion having a first front
face portion, facing outward from said container; said label having
a second portion, said second portion having a border with said
first portion, said second portion projecting from the container in
close proximity to said border, and said second portion having a
second front face portion; said first front face portion and said
second front face portion have information thereon; said label
having a third portion folded back onto said second portion for
forming an information tab and said tab extending radially from
said container; and said label having a terminal end portion
attached to said second portion in close proximity to said
border.
2. A pharmaceutical label as in claim 1, wherein said elongated
label is a continuous strip of material with substantially planar
surfaces.
3. A pharmaceutical label as in claim 1, wherein said information
includes an image of said dispensed medicine.
4. A pharmaceutical label as in claim 1, wherein said information
includes warnings and interaction information for said dispensed
medicine.
5. A pharmaceutical label for placement on a medicinal container,
the pharmaceutical label comprising: an elongated label having a
front face with an adhesive backing, said elongated label being
formed from a continuous strip with substantially planar surfaces;
said label having a first portion affixed by said adhesive around
substantially an entire perimeter of the container, said first
portion having a first end and a first front face portion facing
outward from said container; and said label having a second
portion, said second portion having a border with said first
portion, said second portion projecting from the container in close
proximity to said border and said first end of said first portion,
and said second portion having a second front face portion; said
first front face portion and said second front face portion having
information thereon.
6. A pharmaceutical label as in claim 5, wherein said second
portion has information appearing on both sides thereof.
7. A pharmaceutical label as in claim 5, wherein said information
includes an image of said dispensed medicine.
8. A pharmaceutical label as in claim 5, wherein said information
includes warnings and interaction information for said dispensed
medicine.
9. A pharmaceutical label for placement on a medicinal container
comprising: an elongated label defining a surface area and having a
front face and a rear face with an adhesive backing, said adhesive
backing substantially entirely covering said surface area of said
rear face of said elongated label; said label having a first
portion affixed by said adhesive around less than an entire
perimeter of the container, said first portion having a first front
face portion, facing outward from said container; said label having
a second portion, said second portion having a border with said
first portion, said second portion projecting from the container in
close proximity to said border, and said second portion having a
second front face portion; said first front face portion and said
second front face portion have information thereon; said label
having a third portion bordering said second portion and said third
portion being folded back onto said second portion forming an
information tab and said tab extending radially from said
container; and said second portion and said third portion having
exposed adhesive backing and an entire adhesive portion of said
third portion adhering to an entire adhesive portion of said second
portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Non-Provisional
application Ser. No. 11/050,337 filed Aug. 28, 2003, entitled
VERIFICATION OF PRESCRIPTION INFORMATION AND WARNING LABEL, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No.
10/297,262 filed Dec. 3, 2002, which claims the benefit of
PCT/US2001/018713 filed Jun. 8, 2001, which claims the benefit of
U.S. Provisional application No. 60/210,321, filed on Jun. 8, 2000,
entitled VISUALLY ACCURATE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION LABEL.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the pharmaceutical industry, medicines and drugs are
dispensed by a pharmacist to consumers. Typically, these medicines
and drugs are made by a manufacturer. A physician generally writes
a prescription to the patient/consumer who takes the prescription
to the patient's pharmacist where the prescription is filled.
[0003] This invention is primarily directed to those medicines and
drugs that are ingestible, that are dispensed in a pill and tablet
form, or a liquid. Generally, pills and tablets come in a myriad of
shapes and colors, some with markings thereon from the
manufacturer, and liquids also come in colors. These markings
represent information and may include numbers, letters, color and
other indicia, etc.
[0004] Additionally, at the time of filling the prescription
additional information is provided to the patient/consumer
regarding information, warnings and directions regarding use of and
taking of the prescribed medicine (hereinafter information). It is
desirable to attach this information to the container for the
medication for the patient, and it has now become a requirement in
some states for this information to appear and be affixed to the
container of the medication. This information is specific to the
patient and to the dispensed medication. Therefore the information
can only be determined at the time of dispensing the medication to
the patient. The filler of the prescription, e.g. the pharmacist or
the pharmacist's technician, must make the determination of the
disclosed information at time of filling the prescription. However
there is more information required than there is space on the
container to place said information in a visually readable format
and manner to satisfy the current laws and/or regulations.
Additionally, new regulations will require laws and manufacturers
of medicines desire to place more information on the container
label.
[0005] These prescription labels are typically placed on a
cylindrical medicine container having a replaceable top which
typically screws on or snaps on to the container to seal it. The
containers are often called vials and are of a variety of sizes, a
common size is nine (9) drams. For this size vial a typical label
has an adhesive backing and is three and one quarter (31/4) inches
wide and two (2) inches tall.
[0006] Pharmacies are also verifying prescription medications more
often to reduce medical errors that occur in the fast paced world
of drug dispensing. It is believed that time constraints prevent
pharmacists from implementing more error-prevention procedures.
[0007] The present invention, a label format, offers an information
tab providing additional informational space that will allow the
pharmacist, pharmacy technicians and the consumer to visually
verify that the medication prescribed is exactly what it is
supposed to be. This provides the fastest, easiest system to reduce
errors where errors are unacceptable.
[0008] The present invention solves problems associated with drug
dispensing; wrong dosage, wrong drug given, wrong route of
administration, failure to warn patients of potential hazards and
proper instructions on use. This removes any inhibitions of
implementation of medication error-prevention procedures,
satisfying the work overload and constant time pressures in today's
pharmacies and hospitals.
[0009] The enlarged label format of the present invention provides
legibility of the medication specifics; visual verification for
accuracy in medication; visual representation may satisfy current
OBRA 90 laws (4) on verbally informing the patient of the
medication they are receiving; specific clock designation for
accurate use of medication; simplifies the Warnings and Indications
labeling required for each individual medication; flexibility for
multiple languages; NDC code number for obtaining all of the
specific properties of the medication; UPC bar code for confirming
drug medication for verification procedures as well as constant
inventory management for a controlled substance; enhances product
compliance features; and is a solution for error-prevention
procedures in medication dispensing.
[0010] Pharmacists use pharmacy systems to check, verify and
recheck that the proper medicine/drug prescribed is actually filled
into the container. These systems may be manual, written or have
been practiced for years and may be paper systems or computerized
systems. However, what is lacking is a way for a consumer,
typically the patient, to make their own verification that the
proper medicine has been dispensed.
[0011] In the prior art of pharmaceutical labels it is known to use
laser print forms such as those sold by Pharmex, of New Smyrna
Beach, Fla. These type of forms provide a pharmaceutical label
attached at the top of a sheet of paper, generally 81/2 inches by
11 inches, that is capable of being loaded into a sheet fed
printer, such as a laser printer or ink jet printer, known in the
art and which are sheet fed, one at a time from a stack of
preloaded sheets in the printer. The pharmaceutical label is then
printed on by the printer. Thereafter, the label contains the
prescription and other information. The label is then peeled off
and placed on a medicine container by the pharmacist or the
pharmacist's assistant. Typically, these labels are placed around
the circumference of the container and have, when attached to the
sheet of paper, a pressure sensitive backing to allow the label to
be peeled from the sheet of paper and then attached by the adhesive
to the container. However, the labels are limited to attachment
directly to the container and there is no provision for an
information tab as in the present invention.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,314 provides a label that requires
multiple folds and layers to be attached to the container.
Specifically, by removing the top face 22, record 26 is detached
for placement on a record keeping log and portion 28 is likewise
removable by the patient. This teaches away from the present
invention by not keeping all record information visible with the
container.
[0013] The present invention does not require multiple layers of
the label to be attached to the container as shown in FIG. 5.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,827 provides a manufactures' label for
use to be affixed by a drug manufacturer as a description and
instruction label for the pharmacist. It generally requires
pre-printing on both sides of the label sheet. It is intended to be
removed to leave space for affixing the pharmacy's own standard
type of prescription label. The present invention does not require
printing on both sides of the label which would require an extra
step. The '827 label is preassembled and pre-folded label by a
label machine and is not folded by hand.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,058, discloses a label for undersized
containers, that wraps around the container and adheres one end of
the label to the other end of the label, without regard to the
actual circumference of the container being used. This label
requires printing on the label to correspond to the container size.
It also requires an exact alignment of the two loose ends so that
there is no exposed adhesive. This patent requires a determination
of a middle point of the label for accurate alignment, not required
in the present invention. Likewise the present invention allows for
easier attachment of the label.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,523 discloses a pharmaceutical label,
having a pull tab 18 for tearing off a first and second detachable
section of the label. This is contrary to the present invention
which does not require removal of a part of the label.
[0017] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,645,300, 5,727,819, 5,263,743, Re. 34,366,
5,472,756, and 4,621,837 are all preprinted self adhesive labels,
printed one at a time, and are printed at or about the time of
dispensing the medicine in the container. U.S. Pat. No. 1,756,944
is a two sided label, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,077,684 a luggage tag
label, is similar to U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,058 that has a center
portion with no adhesive and two loose ends that must be placed
together.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,017 discloses a label bearing a visual
photographic image of a pill. However, Bayliss does not teach
extending his label for additional information as in the present
invention. Presumably because of space limitations he can not
include multiple views of the pill as in the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0019] The present invention is a unique prescription label that
allows a consumer to check and verify the accuracy of the
prescribed medication as well as to provide additional information
on the medication container by increasing the usable size and area
of the prescription label. Furthermore, the present invention
provides a means for easy application of the prescription label
onto the container. The present invention is an apparatus and
method to provide sufficient space on a label to allow a consumer
to be clearly informed and be able to recognize and validate the
image of prescribed medicine, the dosage amount, the prescribed
brand, how to take the medicine, when to take the medicine, the
drug manufacturer, possible side effects of the medicine,
information on the time to take the medication and to receive other
information and warnings about the prescribed medicine and the
prescription. The present invention provides an independent means
for the consumer to verify that the proper medicine has been
dispensed. Specifically, one part of the invention is that it
allows the consumer to visually verify that the type of pill or
tablet named on the prescription label has in fact been dispensed.
This visual verification uses an actual photograph of the medicine,
and/or an imprint or drawing or other facsimile to depict the
actual drug dispensed in the container. This will allow the
pharmacist and the consumer an easy means to verify that the proper
medicine has been dispensed to the patient. This additional
complete information and warnings can be placed on the prescription
label because of the increased size of the said label. The
pharmacist will receive information from the physician to fill the
prescription. This may be in the form of a written "prescription"
given to the pharmacist or the "prescription" may be delivered to
the pharmacist electronically or by some other method, outside the
scope of this invention. Typically the pharmacist will enter the
information from the prescription into the pharmacist's computer or
system. A label for placement on the medicinal container will be
created. The system computer will print out the label to be placed
on the container for the medicine. The present invention provides a
method for the consumer to visually compare the dispensed medicine
with written information and visual photographic or image
information of the dispensed medicine. The present invention
provides the space and unique location for written and visual
information to be placed on the label, for the consumer to visually
compare and verify that the proper medicine is within the
container, by comparing the actual dispensed medicine to the
identification of the medicine contained on the label.
Specifically, the pharmacist will enter information from the
prescription and the identification of the medicine to be
dispensed, to fill the prescription. This information will be used
for printing of the label and will be used to identify the
prescribed medicine. The pharmacist's database of information will
have separate information which may be obtained directly from the
manufacturer or provider or other information provider, regarding
the dispensed medicine. This said database will link the
description of the medicine that the pharmacist entered into the
pharmacist's computer with the information from the data base for
the prescribed medicine. Then on a separate portion of the label, a
written description of the dispensed medicine, e.g., the physical
format of the medicine and attributes of the physical
characteristics of the medicine, along with a photograph or image
of the medicine, will be printed on the label, preferably the tab
portion that extends from the container for the medicine.
Additionally, warning information and other information can now be
provided on the label and the information tab of the present
invention. It being understood that information and warnings can be
placed anywhere on the entire label. Additional information printed
on the label includes the doctor's instructions and information as
well as common information input by the pharmacist if desired based
on the pharmacist's professional responsibilities and according to
the patient's requirements. One piece of visual information may
include one or more clock icons, that show the specific time for
taking of the medication as prescribed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cylindrical medicine
container having the prescription label of the present invention
attached thereto.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 from FIG.
1.
[0022] FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment shown in a sectional view
similar to FIG. 2 that would be taken along lines 2-2 from FIG.
1.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a second alternate embodiment shown in a sectional
view similar to FIG. 2 that would be taken along lines 2-2 from
FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a third alternate embodiment shown in a sectional
view similar to FIG. 2 that would be taken along lines 2-2 from
FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a view of the front side of the label of the
present invention, corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the label of FIG. 6, with the top
side on the bottom of the view, corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the label of the first alternate
embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 3.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the label of the third alternate
embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 5.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a fourth alternate embodiment shown in a
sectional view similar to FIG. 2 that would be taken along lines
2-2 from FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a rear view of the label of the fourth alternate
embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 10.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a fifth alternate embodiment shown in a sectional
view similar to FIG. 2 that would be taken along lines 2-2 from
FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a rear view of the label of the fifth alternate
embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 12.
[0033] FIG. 14 is a front view of a laser dual-web form label
combination sheet.
[0034] FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 14.
[0035] FIG. 16 is a rear view of the label of the sixth alternate
embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 17.
[0036] FIG. 17 is a sixth alternate embodiment shown in a sectional
view similar to FIG. 2 that would be taken along lines 2-2 from
FIG. 1.
[0037] FIG. 18 is a seventh alternate embodiment shown in a
sectional view similar to FIG. 2 that would be taken along lines
2-2 from FIG. 1.
[0038] FIG. 19 is a rear view of the label of the seventh alternate
embodiment of the present invention corresponding to FIG. 18.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] Referring to FIG. 1 is a cylindrical medicinal container 10
with the label of the present invention. Container 11 is a vial for
containing medication such as pills and tablets dispensed by a
pharmacist or other dispenser of such medicines. Container 11
includes a removable closure in the form of a cap 12 which is
attached in ways known in the art. A prescription label 13 is
attached to container 11 and contains printed thereon typical
information about the patient and medicine. Label 13 is wrapped
around container 11, preferably along the length of label 13. A
typical label in the prior art is 31/4 inches wide and 2 inches
high. The label of the present invention is 83/8 inches wide and 2
inches high, providing additional label area to display printed
information. The additional label area is created by an
informational tab 14, that projects radially from the container 11.
Label 13 has a first portion 15, a second portion 16 and a third
portion 17. In the preferred embodiment, portion 15 is three and
one quarter inches (31/4) wide and two (2) inches in height.
Portion 16 is two inches nine sixteenth's (2 9/16) inches wide by
two (2) inches in height. Portion 17 is two inches nine sixteenth's
(2 9/16) inches wide by two (2) inches in height. A typical
prescription label as presently known in the art, is printed on a
laser dual-web form label combination sheet 18 that joins two
materials together, the label portion and the paper portion 19.
When joined together form an 81/2 inch by 11 or 81/2 by 14 inch
sheet. At the top of this sheet, as shown in FIG. 14 is the label
13. This blank label 13 includes a face sheet 21, an adhesive 22
and a backing sheet liner 23. Typically the material of face sheet
21 is for example 50 pound bond paper material. Backing sheet liner
23 is of 50 pound silicon lined or other material backing sheet
liner. Adhesive 22 is between face sheet 21 and silicon liner 23.
Adhesive 22 remains attached to the back of face sheet 21. The
present label sheet as described is eight and three eighths (83/8)
inches wide with a one sixteenth ( 1/16) inch margin on both sides.
In the present invention, vertical scoring lines 24 and 25 are
front scored on the front of face sheet 21. Referring to FIG. 14,
area 26 is a three sixteenth ( 3/16) inch overlap of pressure
sensitive and bond materials joined by a glue line, known in the
art. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the
circumferential width of first portion 15 is slightly less than the
entire circumference of container 11 and thus a gap 27 is created
between first end 28 of first portion 15 and second end 29 of first
portion 15. Gap 27 defines at least a circumferential portion of
container 11 without a portion of label 13 attached thereto.
Depending on the size of container 11, the circumference of each
container may vary. Thus gap 27 will vary based on the size of the
container. It is preferable that the first portion 15 of continuous
label 13 not overlap itself, so that first end 28 is not overlapped
by second end 29, which would either obliterate a portion of the
face of first portion 15 or otherwise make it inoperable. Between
first portion 15 and second portion 16 is a vertical score 24
substantially parallel to second end 29. It is preferred that score
24 and second end 29 are the same line. Likewise second portion 16
includes a second portion first end 30, which may be the same as
second end 29 and a second portion second end 31. A second vertical
score line 25 is between second end 31 and third portion first end
32. Third portion second end 33 is at the end of third portion 17.
Label 13 has a first end 34 and a terminal end or second end 35. A
preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 7,
where, first portion 15 is adhesively attached along a
circumferential portion of container 11. Score line 24, allows for
a fold of label 13 such that second portion 16 extends radially
from container 11. Third portion 17 folds back at score line 25
onto second portion 16. Third portion 17 can be adhesively attached
to second portion 16. In this embodiment, and referring to FIG. 7,
the back liner 23 of first portion 15 will have been removed to
expose adhesive 22, such that portion 15 will adhere to container
11. The back liner 23 portion of second portion 16 will remain in
place, providing stiffness to second portion 16 and to tab 14. In
addition, when back liner 23 remains on second portion 16, at score
24, an accurate line and fold is created between first portion 15
and second portion 16, so that the only portion of label 13 in the
vicinity of score 24 that adheres to container 11 is first portion
15. This allows for easy application of label 13 to container 11 by
the pharmacist or applicator, such that attention need not be
directed to where the fold at score 24 will occur on label 13,
since in the vicinity of score 24 no part of second portion 16 will
adhere to container 11 when said back liner 23 remains attached to
second portion 16. As shown in FIG. 7 back liner 23 portion of
third portion 17 extends a portion of said third portion 17 from
first end 32 to an intermediate distance 36 between the ends of
third portion 17. The remaining portion of back liner 23 attached
to third portion 17 provides stiffness to this said third portion
17 and to Tab 14. This exposes a portion of adhesive 22 on the back
of third portion 17. This adhesive portion attaches third portion
17 to the back liner 23 of second portion 16 as shown in FIG. 2.
This creates information tab 14 appearing to have information on
both sides of said tab 14. This arrangement displays information on
both sides of tab 14 even though the printing of said information
is printed on only the face sheet 21, the front side of label 13.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the information displayed in the
panel of first portion 15 is displayed circumferentially on
container 11, the information displayed in the panel of second
portion 16 is displayed on a first side of tab 14, and the
information displayed in the panel of third portion 17 is displayed
on a second side of tab 14 (best seen in FIG. 2). The embodiment
shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the embodiment described and shown in
FIG. 2, however the adhesive 22 of third portion 17 is attached to
container 11 preferably within gap 27. The back view of label 13
for this embodiment is also as shown in FIG. 7. The embodiment
shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the back view of label 13 shown in
FIG. 8. In this embodiment, back liner 23 remains intact on second
portion 16 and third portion 17. This provides stiffness to
information tab 14. In this embodiment, writing only appears on one
side of information tab 14. Depending on the manufacture of the
label portion 20 of dual web form 18, score 25 may be omitted. In
this embodiment, second portion 16 and third portion 17 may be
considered to merge as a single second portion 16. The embodiment
shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to the back view of label 13 shown in
FIG. 9. In this embodiment, back liner 23 has been removed from the
entire portion of label 13. Score lines 24 and 25 remain intact on
label 13. A Third portion 17 is folded back onto second portion 16
forming information tab 14. An element of stiffness is achieved by
the attachment of second portion 16 to third portion 17. As shown
if FIG. 5, and discussed above, information appears on both sides
of tab 14 though printing has been on only one side of label 13. In
use, after the pharmacist or technician enters the prescribed
medication for the patient into the pharmacist's system, a label
13, on a label sheet such as dual web form 18 or by other label
means outside the scope of this invention, is generated by a
printer. The label 13 is printed on one side, on the front of face
sheet 21. During printing the back liner 23 with a silicone
covering remains on label 13 by adhesive 22. After printing, label
13 is applied to container 11. First, a portion of removable back
liner 23, corresponding to first portion 15, is peeled off label
13, exposing adhesive 22 corresponding to first portion 15. In this
preferred embodiment, during the manufacture of the label portion
of form 18, back liner 23 is rear cut at vertical score line 24 and
at an intermediate distance 36, additional back cuts are
horizontally at top and bottom between 24 and 36 to first allow the
removal of liner 23 from the rear of first portion 15, while
leaving back liner 23 on second portion 16 and third portion 17.
During the manufacture of said form 18 a rear score is made at
score 25 to enable third portion 17 to fold easily back onto second
portion 16. Though outside the scope of this invention, as known in
the art, additional front cuts would be made around edge borders of
label 13. First portion 15 is applied circumferentially around an
on to container 11 so that first portion 15 adheres to container
11. Since back liner 23 remains on second portion 16, no part of
second portion 16 in the vicinity of score 24 will adhere to
container 11, thus creating a substantially straight and even fold
line between portion 15 and portion 16. Portion 16 will extend
radially from container 11 and portion 17 will fold at score 25
back onto portion 16. Prior to folding portion 17 onto portion 16,
the liner 23 will be removed at intermediate distance 36 to the end
35 of label 13 so that the exposed adhesive 22 of portion 17 will
adhere to back liner 23 of portion 16. The alternative embodiments
in FIGS. 11 and 10 and FIGS. 13 and 12, show alternate ways of
folding third portion 17 back on second portion 16. FIG. 13 shows
second portion 16 with back liner 23 in place as heretofore
described. FIG. 11 shows third portion 17 with back liner 23 in
place. In this embodiment, in order to allow the fold at score 24
to be even and to have first portion 15 fold even on said score 24,
third portion 17 is folded onto second portion 16 prior to
completing the application of first portion 15 to container 11.
FIG. 18 shows another alternate embodiment-where no parts of the
entire label 13 connect to one another. Further, there are two
informational tabs 14 and 14 prime, each extending radially from
the container 11. As seen in FIG. 19 the arrangement of the back
liner 23 is, that back liner appears once one first portion 15 and
third portion 17 and second portion 16 would have the liner 23
removed exposing adhesive 22. In this embodiment portion 15 and
portion 17 can be equal in size though it is not necessary. FIGS.
16 and 17 show alternative embodiment having a sliver 50 which is a
relatively thin vertical portion of back liner 23 in the vicinity
of score 24. Sliver 50 will act as a stop guide when applying first
portion 15 to container 11, when the back liner 23 is removed from
second portion 16. Sliver 50 would be back-cut 2 vertically 2
horizontally, in liner 23 during manufacture of the label sheet 18.
In the alternative embodiments described herein, similar steps are
taken to attach first portion 15 to container 11, and third portion
17 to second portion 16, where applicable. Referring to FIG. 6,
standard information would be included on first label portion 15 as
generally known in the prior art. FIG. 6 also includes additional
information not previously known, namely a pair of clocks, clock 37
and clock 38 shown in an icon-type format to indicate times of day
when the medicine should be taken. Additionally clocks can also be
used to show additional times during the day to take the
medication. Clocks 37 and 38 include an exterior circle 39, an
indication within said circle 39 to indicate "am" or "pm." Also
within each circle will be a specific number 40 to show the hour
the medicine is to be taken, where said number 40 appears within
the circle 39 at a relative corresponding location to the location
of that time on a clock. The clocks in FIG. 6 are 12 hour clocks.
It is intended as shown in FIG. 6 that second portion 16 contains
information from the manufacturer's database about the dispensed
medicine. This information appearing on the information tab 14
would be provided by the manufacturer and would be automatically
printed on label 13 based on the pharmacist's identification of the
medicine when the pharmacist enters said identification into the
pharmacist's computer system. The information on tab 14 is provided
directly by the manufacturer or other information source so that
the consumer (patient) can verify the information on label 13 to
identify and compare said information with the medicine actually
contained within container 11. This information will include
photographs or images of the dispensed medicine tablet for a visual
comparison by the patient as well as the pharmacist and those
working with the pharmacist. Typically, this photograph would be a
first side view 41 and a second side view 42 of the image of the
medicine. Other information may include, the NDCF numerical code
43, the product description (legal name) 44, the brand name of the
medicine 45, the logo on the medicine 46, the color of the
prescribed medicine 47, the shape of the prescribed medicine 48,
and the brand name and the dosage amount or quantity of each tablet
49. Additional information may include instructions from the
manufacturer regarding how the consumer should consume the
prescribed medicine which information would be included in one or
more blocks contained on label 13. The information on label 13 may
be provided directly by the manufacturer so that the consumer
(patient) can visually verify the physical attributes of the
medicine received to the manufacturer's physical description of the
attributes of the prescribed medicine by comparing the information
on the container label with the actual prescribed medicine.
* * * * *