U.S. patent application number 14/237827 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-24 for date display cap for medicine bottle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jae Il HWANG. Invention is credited to Jae Il Hwang.
Application Number | 20140202978 14/237827 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48697866 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140202978 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hwang; Jae Il |
July 24, 2014 |
DATE DISPLAY CAP FOR MEDICINE BOTTLE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a date display cap for a
medicine bottle, which includes: an outer cap (10, 110) configured
to be rotated forwardly or reversely by a user and having a display
window (11, 111); an inner cap (20, 120) having a screw unit (20a,
120a) screw-coupled to a mouth (B1) of a medicine bottle (B) on an
inner peripheral surface thereof and rotatably installed at an
inside of the outer cap (10, 110); and a date display unit (30,
130) installed between the outer cap (10, 110) and the inner cap
(20, 120), for displaying a changed date through the display window
(11, 111) when the outer cap (10, 110) is rotated forwardly and
reversely with respect to the inner cap (20, 120).
Inventors: |
Hwang; Jae Il; (Incheon,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HWANG; Jae Il |
|
|
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48697866 |
Appl. No.: |
14/237827 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
December 20, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2012/011196 |
371 Date: |
February 7, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/230 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 7/04 20130101; B65D
41/00 20130101; A61J 1/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/230 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/00 20060101
B65D041/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0142491 |
Sep 20, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0104339 |
Claims
1. A date display cap for a medicine bottle, comprising: an outer
cap (10, 110) configured to be rotated forwardly or reversely by a
user and having a display window (11, 111); an inner cap (20, 120)
having a screw unit (20a, 120a) screw-coupled to a mouth (B1) of a
medicine bottle (B) on an inner peripheral surface thereof and
rotatably installed at an inside of the outer cap (10, 110); and a
date display unit (30, 130) installed between the outer cap (10,
110) and the inner cap (20, 120), for displaying a changed date
through the display window (11, 111) when the outer cap (10, 110)
is rotated forwardly and reversely with respect to the inner cap
(20, 120).
2. The date display cap of claim 1, wherein a display window (11)
is formed at an upper portion of the outer cap (10), and the date
display unit (30) has a rotation display end (31) for displaying a
plurality of dates exposed through the display window (11) at an
upper portion thereof.
3. The date display cap of claim 2, wherein the outer cap (10)
comprises a boss (12) formed at a side of an inner peripheral
surface thereof, and a resilient boss (13) formed at an upper
portion of an inside thereof, the inner cap comprises a boss recess
(22) into which the boss (12) is inserted to form a space in which
the boss (12) moves on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and the
date display unit (30) comprises a plurality of partitioning ends
32 for partitioning the rotation display end (31) and a plurality
of resilient boss catching ends (33, 33') into which the resilient
boss 13 is inserted and circumferentially formed between the
partitioning ends (32).
4. The date display cap of claim 3, wherein the boss (12) further
comprises an inclined insertion surface (12a) for allowing the
inner cap (20) to be inserted into the boss recess (22) while the
inner cap (20) is pushed outwards when the inner cap (20) is
coupled to the outer cap (10).
5. The date display cap of claim 3, wherein the resilient boss (13)
comprises: a fixed end (13a) fixed to an upper portion of an inside
of the outer cap (10), a resilient end (13b) extending from the
fixed end (13a) to one side, and a pressing insertion end (13c)
connected to the resilient end (13b) to be selectively caught by a
specific resilient boss catching end (33, 33').
6. The date display cap of claim 2, further comprising a separation
preventing boss (15) formed at a lower end of the outer cap (10) to
support a lower end of the inner cap (20).
7. The date display cap of claim 6, further comprising an inclined
surface (15a) formed in the separation preventing boss (15) and
formed in a direction in which the inner cap (20) is inserted into
the outer cap (10).
8. The date display cap of claim 1, wherein the display window
(111) is formed at a side of the outer cap (110), and the date
display unit (130) has a rotation display end (131) on which a
plurality of dates exposed through the display window (111) are
exposed on an outer peripheral surface of a side thereof.
9. The date display cap of claim 8, further comprising: a first
catching unit (140) formed on an outer peripheral surface of the
inner cap (120); a second catching unit (150) formed on an inner
peripheral surface of the outer cap (110), for providing a space by
which the first catching unit (140) is caught to be limitedly
moved; a plurality of first latch ends (160) formed at an inside of
the outer cap (110) and having an inclined surface in one
direction; a plurality of second latch ends (170) formed on an
outer peripheral surface of the date display unit (130) and having
an inclined surface in the same direction of the first latch end
(160); a plurality of third latch ends (180) formed on an inner
peripheral surface of the date display unit (130) and having an
inclined surface in an opposite direction of the second latch end
(170); and a plurality of fourth latch ends (190) formed on an
outer peripheral surface of the inner cap (120) and having an
inclined surface in the same direction of the third latch end
(180).
10. The date display cap of claim 9, wherein a tubular insertion
pipe (112) is formed at an upper end of an inside of the outer cap
(110), an insertion boss (132) rotatably inserted into the
insertion pipe (112) is formed in the date display unit (130), the
first latch end (160) is formed on an inner peripheral surface of
the insertion pipe (112), and the second latch end (170) is formed
on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion boss (132).
11. The date display cap of claim 9, wherein the first latch end
(160) has a wing form slanted in one direction on an inner
peripheral surface of the outer cap (110), and the third latch end
(180) has a wind form slanted in an opposite direction on an inner
peripheral surface of the date display unit (130).
12. The date display cap of claim 9, wherein the inner cap (120)
has a first inner cap part (121) and a second inner cap part (122),
the first catching unit (140) is formed on an outer peripheral
surface of the first inner cap part (121), and the fourth latch end
(190) is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the second inner
cap part (122).
13. The date display cap of claim 12, wherein the second inner cap
part (122) is stepped such that a diameter of the second inner cap
part (122) is smaller than a diameter of the first inner cap part
(121).
14. The date display cap of claim 12, wherein the first catching
unit (140) is realized by a boss protruding from an outer
peripheral surface of the first inner cap part (121), and the
second catching unit (150) is realized by a circumferential recess
circumferentially formed on an inner peripheral surface of a mouth
of the outer cap (110), and provides a space in which the first
catching unit (140) limitedly moves between a front end (150a) and
a rear end (150b) of the second catching unit (150) that has a
circumferential recess form when the outer cap (110) is
rotated.
15. The date display cap of claim 9, further comprising a desiccant
cap (210) fixed to the inner cap (120).
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a national stage application of
International Application No. PCT/KR2012/011196, filed Dec. 20,
2012, which claims the benefit of Korean Application No.
10-2011-0142491, filed Dec. 26, 2011, and Korean Application No.
10-2012-0104339, filed Sep. 20, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office. All disclosures of the document(s) named above are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a date display cap for a
medicine bottle, and more particularly to a date display cap for a
medicine bottle by which dates are automatically changed whenever a
cap is opened to take out a medicine.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Due to industrial development of the modern society, various
forms of diseases are generated by various solutions and business
stresses so that the population of patients who should take various
medicines for a long time continuously increases, and the society
becomes aged, the population of the aged people who take medicines
for a long time increases. Then, patients who require a long-term
treatment or suffer from various diseases need to take medicines
every day.
[0006] However, a patient may not remember whether he or she took a
medicine, may not take a medicine sometimes, and may frequently
take medicines repeatedly due to busy life. The phenomenon
frequently occurs particularly to aged patients, and accordingly,
performance of a medicine can be achieved fully and a proper
treatment cannot be realized.
[0007] In order to solve the problems, patients often directly
checks whether a medicine has been taken every day from a calendar
or a scheduler or take medicines after writing dates when to take
medicines on a prescribed medicine bag in advance, but cannot keep
the rule due to busy business or lowering of memory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0008] The present invention has been made in an effort to solve
the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to
provide a date display cap for a medicine bottle by which a
displayed date is automatically changed to allow a user to
accurately recognize whether a medicine is taken when the user
opens a cap from a medicine bottle to take a medicine.
Technical Solution
[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a date display cap for a medicine bottle, including: an
outer cap 10 and 110 configured to be rotated forwardly or
reversely by a user and having a display window 11 and 111; an
inner cap 20 and 120 having a screw unit 20a and 120a screw-coupled
to a mouth B1 of a medicine bottle B on an inner peripheral surface
thereof and rotatably installed at an inside of the outer cap 10
and 110; and a date display unit 30 and 130 installed between the
outer cap 10 and 110 and the inner cap 20 and 120, for displaying a
changed date through the display window 11 and 111 when the outer
cap 10 and 110 is rotated forwardly and reversely with respect to
the inner cap 20 and 120.
[0010] A display window 11 is formed at an upper portion of the
outer cap 10, and the date display unit 30 has a rotation display
end 31 for displaying a plurality of dates exposed through the
display window 11 at an upper portion thereof. Then, the outer cap
10 includes a boss 12 formed at a side of an inner peripheral
surface thereof, and a resilient boss 13 formed at an upper portion
of an inside thereof, the inner cap includes a boss recess 22 into
which the boss 12 is inserted to form a space in which the boss 12
moves on an outer peripheral surface thereof, and the date display
unit 30 includes a plurality of partitioning ends 32 for
partitioning the rotation display end 31 and a plurality of
resilient boss catching ends 33 and 33' into which the resilient
boss 13 is inserted and circumferentially formed between the
partitioning ends 32.
[0011] The boss 12 further includes an inclined insertion surface
12a for allowing the inner cap 20 to be inserted into the boss
recess 22 while the inner cap 20 is pushed outwards when the inner
cap 20 is coupled to the outer cap 10.
[0012] The resilient boss 13 includes: a fixed end 13a fixed to an
upper portion of an inside of the outer cap 10, a resilient end 13b
extending from the fixed end 13a to one side, and a pressing
insertion end 13c connected to the resilient end 13b to be
selectively caught by a specific resilient boss catching end 33 and
33'.
[0013] The date display cap further includes a separation
preventing boss 15 formed at a lower end of the outer cap 10 to
support a lower end of the inner cap 20.
[0014] The date display cap further includes an inclined surface
15a formed in the separation preventing boss 15 and formed in a
direction in which the inner cap 20 is inserted into the outer cap
10.
[0015] The display window 111 is formed at a side of the outer cap
110, and the date display unit 130 has a rotation display end 131
on which a plurality of dates exposed through the display window
111 are exposed on an outer peripheral surface of a side thereof.
The date display cap further includes: a first catching unit 140
formed on an outer peripheral surface of the inner cap 120; a
second catching unit 150 formed on an inner peripheral surface of
the outer cap 110, for providing a space by which the first
catching unit 140 is caught to be limitedly moved; a plurality of
first latch ends 160 formed at an inside of the outer cap 110 and
having an inclined surface in one direction; a plurality of second
latch ends 170 formed on an outer peripheral surface of the date
display unit 130 and having an inclined surface in the same
direction of the first latch end 160; a plurality of third latch
ends 180 formed on an inner peripheral surface of the date display
unit 130 and having an inclined surface in an opposite direction of
the second latch end 170; and a plurality of fourth latch ends 190
formed on an outer peripheral surface of the inner cap 120 and
having an inclined surface in the same direction of the third latch
end 180.
[0016] A tubular insertion pipe 112 is formed at an upper end of an
inside of the outer cap 110, an insertion boss 132 rotatably
inserted into the insertion pipe 112 is formed in the date display
unit 130, the first latch end 160 is formed on an inner peripheral
surface of the insertion pipe 112, and the second latch end 170 is
formed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion boss
132.
[0017] The first latch end 160 has a wing form slanted in one
direction on an inner peripheral surface of the outer cap 110, and
the third latch end 180 has a wind form slanted in an opposite
direction on an inner peripheral surface of the date display unit
130.
[0018] The inner cap 120 has a first inner cap part 121 and a
second inner cap part 122, the first catching unit 140 is formed on
an outer peripheral surface of the first inner cap part 121, and
the fourth latch end 190 is formed on an outer peripheral surface
of the second inner cap part 122.
[0019] The second inner cap part 122 is stepped such that a
diameter of the second inner cap part 122 is smaller than a
diameter of the first inner cap part 121.
[0020] The first catching unit 140 is realized by a boss protruding
from an outer peripheral surface of the first inner cap part 121,
and the second catching unit 150 is realized by a circumferential
recess circumferentially formed on an inner peripheral surface of a
mouth of the outer cap 110, and provides a space in which the first
catching unit 140 limitedly moves between a front end 150a and a
rear end 150b of the second catching unit 150 that has a
circumferential recess form when the outer cap 110 is rotated.
[0021] The date display cap of claim 9, further including a
desiccant cap 210 fixed to the inner cap 120.
Advantageous Effects
[0022] According to the present invention, when a patient opens or
closes a date display cap to take a medicine, an automatically
changed date is displayed through a display window of an outer cap.
Thus, it can be accurately recognized whether a medicine has been
taken on a specific date without directly checking whether the
medicine has been taken from a calendar or a scheduler.
Accordingly, since a medicine can be accurately taken at a
predetermined timing, performance of the medicine can be
sufficiently achieved and a proper treatment can be realized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings of which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a date
display cap for a medicine bottle according to a first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the date display cap for a
medicine bottle of FIG. 1.
[0026] FIGS. 3A to 3C are views for explaining an operation of the
date display cap for a medicine bottle of FIG. 2.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the date display
cap for a medicine bottle of FIG. 1 is coupled to a bottle
body.
[0028] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a date
display cap for a medicine bottle according to a second embodiment
of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 6A is a side view showing a bottle body of FIG. 5, and
FIG. 6B is a top view showing the bottle body of FIG. 6A.
[0030] FIG. 7A is a side sectional view showing an outer cap of
FIG. 5, and FIG. 7B is a view for explaining a first latch end
formed at an inside of the outer cap of FIG. 7A.
[0031] FIG. 8A is a side view showing an inner cap of FIG. 5, and
FIG. 8B is a top view showing the inner cap of FIG. 8A.
[0032] FIG. 9A is a side view showing a date display unit of FIG.
5, FIG. 9B is a view for explaining a second latch end of the date
display unit of FIG. 9A, FIG. 9C is a view for explaining that a
slide preventing end is connected to the second latch end of FIG.
9B, and FIG. 9D is a view for explaining a third latch end formed
at an inside of the date display unit of FIG. 9A.
[0033] FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which the date display
cap of FIG. 5 is coupled to the bottle body.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI' of FIG.
10.
[0035] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII' of
FIG. 10.
[0036] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII' of
FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0037] Hereinafter, a date display cap for a medicine bottle
according to the present invention will be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
[0038] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a date
display cap for a medicine bottle according to a first embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the date
display cap for a medicine bottle of FIG. 1. FIGS. 3A to 3C are
views for explaining an operation of the date display cap for a
medicine bottle of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in
which the date display cap for a medicine bottle of FIG. 1 is
coupled to a bottle body.
[0039] As shown, the date display cap for a medicine bottle
according to the first embodiment of the present invention
includes: an outer cap 10 configured to be rotated forwardly or
reversely by a user (patient) and having a display window 11, an
inner cap 20 having a screw unit 20a screw-coupled to a mouth B1 of
a medicine bottle B on an inner peripheral surface thereof and
rotatably installed at an inside of the outer cap 10; and a date
display unit 30 installed between the outer cap 10 and the inner
cap 20, for displaying a changed date through the display window 11
when the outer cap 10 is rotated forwardly and reversely with
respect to the inner cap 20.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 1, the outer cap 10 includes a display
window 11 formed at an upper side thereof, a boss 12 formed at a
side of an inner peripheral surface thereof, and a resilient boss
13 formed at an upper portion of an inside thereof.
[0041] The display window 11 is a hole through which a date formed
in a rotation display end 31 that will be described below. Then,
the display window 11 has a size large enough to display only one
date.
[0042] The boss 12 is inserted into a boss recess 22 of the inner
cap 20 that will be described below. Then, an inclined insertion
surface 12a is formed at a lower end of the boss 12, and the boss
12 is inserted into the boss recess 22 while being pushed outwards
when the inner cap 20 is coupled to the outer cap 10 by the
inclined insertion surface 12a. If the inclined insertion surface
12a is not formed, the boss 12 is caught by an upper end of the
inner cap 20 when the inner cap 20 is inserted into and assembled
in the outer cap 10, and thus assembly performance severely
deteriorates.
[0043] The resilient boss 13 is adapted to rotate the date display
unit 30 that will be described below when the date display cap is
rotated in one direction or in an opposite direction to take out a
medicine from the medicine bottle B. As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and
3C, the resilient boss 13 includes a fixed end 13a fixed to an
upper portion of an inside of the outer cap 10, a resilient end 13b
extending from the fixed end 13a to one side, and a pressing
insertion end 13c connected to the resilient end 13b to be
selectively caught by specific boss catching ends 33 and 33'.
[0044] An inclined surface is formed in the pressing insertion end
13c, and the pressing insertion end 13c is connected to the
resilient end 13b extending from the fixed end 13a to one side.
Thus, if the outer cap 10 is rotated in one direction with respect
to the inner cap 20 after being caught by the resilient boss
catching end 33 as shown in FIG. 3A, the outer cap 10 ascends to an
upper portion of a partitioning end 32 of the date display unit 30
as shown in FIG. 3B, and if the outer cap 10 is rotated further,
the outer cap 10 is caught by the resilient boss catching end 33'.
Further, if the user rotates the outer cap 10 in an opposite
direction, the pressing insertion end 13c pushes the portioning end
32 in an opposite direction, and thus rotates the date display unit
30.
[0045] The inner cap 20 is rotatably inserted into the outer cap
10, and a separation preventing boss 15 is formed at a lower end of
the outer cap 10 to prevent the inner cap 20 from being separated
from the outer cap 10. Then, an inclined surface 15a is formed in
the separation preventing boss 15 in a direction in which the inner
cap 20 is inserted. Thus, since the inner cap 20 is easily inserted
into the outer cap 10 by pushing the inner cap 20 into the outer
cap 10, assembly performance is excellent. Further, since a lower
end of the inner cap 20 is supported by the separation preventing
boss 15, the inner cap 20 is prevented from being separated from
the outer cap 10.
[0046] The inner cap 20 is rotatably installed within the outer cap
10, and as shown in FIG. 1, a boss recess 22 is formed on an outer
peripheral surface of the inner cap 20 to form a space in which the
boss 12 is inserted into the boss recess 22 to be moved by a
predetermined separation. The boss recess 22 is formed lengthily
along an outer peripheral surface of the inner cap 20, and provides
a space in which the boss 12 is moved between a front end 22a and a
rear end 22b of the boss recess 22 when the outer cap 10 is
rotated.
[0047] The date display unit 30 includes a disk-shaped rotation
display end 31 rotatably installed at an upper portion of the inner
cap 20, for displaying a plurality of dates exposed through the
display window 11, a plurality of partitioning ends 32 for
partitioning the rotation display end 31, and a plurality of
resilient boss catching ends 33 and 33' on which the resilient boss
13 is fitted and formed between the partitioning ends 32 to form a
circumference.
[0048] The rotation display end 31 is disk-shaped and have a
through-hole 34 at the center thereof to be rotatably mounted on
and coupled to a shaft 24 formed at an upper end of the inner cap
20. Then, it will be appreciated that a shaft may be formed in the
rotation display end 31 and a through-hole into which the shaft is
inserted is formed at an upper end of the inner cap 20 so that the
rotation display end 31 may be rotatably coupled to an upper end of
the inner cap 20. Dates and days when a medicine is taken are
displayed in the rotation display end 31, and seven letters for
displaying a week are formed circumferentially.
[0049] The partitioning ends 32 partition the rotation display end
31 such that seven dates may be displayed, and are pushed by the
pressing insertion end 13c of the resilient boss 13.
[0050] The number of the resilient boss catching ends 33 and 33' is
the same as the number of dates displayed between the partitioning
ends 32, and seven resilient boss catching ends 33 and 33' are
formed in the embodiment of the present invention. The resilient
boss catching ends 33 and 33' are circumferentially formed at an
outside or inside of the rotation display end 31, and the pressing
insertion end 13c of the resilient boss 13 is selectively caught by
the resilient boss catching ends 33 and 33' when the date display
cap is rotated in one direction or in an opposite direction to take
out a medicine from the medicine bottle B. The resilient boss
catching ends 33 and 33' may be realized in various forms. For
example, the resilient boss catching ends 33 and 33' may be
recessed from a surface of the rotation display end 31, or may be
variously realized in a form such as a latch gear having an
inclined surface in one direction. In the embodiment of the present
invention, it is described that the resilient boss catching ends 33
and 33' are recessed from a surface of the rotation display end 31
between the partitioning ends 32.
[0051] Meanwhile, friction ends 25 and 35 for preventing the
rotation display end 31 from moving in the inner cap 20 easily is
formed between the inner cap 20 and the rotation display end 31.
The friction ends 25 and 35 generate frictional forces for
preventing the rotation display end from moving when the resilient
boss 13 cross the partitioning ends 32 between the resilient boss
catching ends 33 and 33'. The friction ends 25 and 35 may be
realized in various forms, and are a plurality of recesses formed
at a portion where the rotation display end 31 and the inner cap 20
contact each other in the embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] Next, an operation of the date display cap for a medicine
bottle will be described.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 3A, the boss 12 is inserted into the boss
recess 22 while the inner cap 20 is assembled in the outer cap 10.
Then, the pressing insertion end 13c of the resilient boss 13 is
inserted into the resilient boss catching end 33.
[0054] Thereafter, if the outer cap 10 is rotated in one direction
so that the user may take out a medicine stored in the medicine
bottle B, the boss 12 is moved rightwards as shown in FIG. 3B, and
the pressing insertion end 13c also ascends along the partitioning
ends 32 of the rotation display end 31 while moving rightwards.
Then, since the friction ends 25 and 35 are formed between the
inner cap 20 and the rotation display end 31, the rotation display
end 31 is not moved while the pressing insertion end 13c ascends
along the partitioning ends 32.
[0055] Thereafter, if the outer cap 10 is rotated further, the boss
12 is completely moved rightwards to stop at the rear end 22b, and
then the pressing insertion end 13c is inserted into the next
resilient boss catching end 33'.
[0056] If the date display cap for a medicine bottle, strictly, the
outer cap 10 is rotated in an opposite direction to close the
medicine bottle B after taking out a medicine from the medicine
bottle B, the inner cap 20 is completely coupled to a mouth B1 of
the medicine bottle while being rotated, in which state if the
outer cap 10 is rotated further, the pressing insertion end 13c
rotates the rotation display end 31 while pushing the portioning
ends 32 leftwards and overcoming frictional forces of the friction
ends 25 and 35. Accordingly, a date displayed through the display
window 11 is automatically changed.
[0057] That is, when the user opens and closes the date display cap
for a medicine bottle according to the present invention, the date
displayed through the display window is automatically changed.
[0058] Next, a date display cap for a medicine bottle according to
a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0059] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a date
display cap for a medicine bottle according to a second embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a side view showing a bottle
body of FIG. 5, and FIG. 6B is a top view showing the bottle body
of FIG. 6A. FIG. 7A is a side sectional view showing an outer cap
of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7B is a view for explaining a first latch end
formed at an inside of the outer cap of FIG. 7A. FIG. 8A is a side
view showing an inner cap of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8B is a top view
showing the inner cap of FIG. 8A. FIG. 9A is a side view showing a
date display unit of FIG. 5, FIG. 9B is a view for explaining a
second latch end of the date display unit of FIG. 9A, FIG. 9C is a
view for explaining that a slide preventing end is connected to the
second latch end of FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9D is a view for explaining a
third latch end formed at an inside of the date display unit of
FIG. 9A.
[0060] As shown, the date display cap for a medicine bottle
according to the second embodiment of the present invention
includes: an outer cap 110 configured to be rotated forwardly or
reversely by a user (patient) and having a display window 111, an
inner cap 120 having a screw unit 120a screw-coupled to a mouth B1
of a medicine bottle B on an inner peripheral surface thereof and
rotatably installed at an inside of the outer cap 110; and a date
display unit 130 installed between the outer cap 110 and the inner
cap 120, for displaying a changed date through the display window
111 when the outer cap 110 is rotated forwardly and reversely with
respect to the inner cap 120.
[0061] The date display cap according to the second embodiment of
the present invention includes: a first catching unit 140 formed on
an outer peripheral surface of the inner cap 120, a second catching
unit 150 formed on an inner peripheral surface of the outer cap
110, for providing a space by which the first catching unit 140 is
caught to be limitedly moved; a plurality of first latch ends 160
formed at an inside of the outer cap 110 and having an inclined
surface in one direction; a plurality of second latch ends 170
formed on an outer peripheral surface of the date display unit 130
and having an inclined surface in the same direction of the first
latch end 160; a plurality of third latch ends 180 formed on an
inner peripheral surface of the date display unit 130 and having an
inclined surface in an opposite direction of the second latch end
170; a plurality of fourth latch ends 190 formed on an outer
peripheral surface of the inner cap 120 and having an inclined
surface in the same direction of the third latch end 180; a
catching boss 200 formed on an inner peripheral surface of the
inner cap 120 and caught by the latch boss B2 formed in the mouth
B1 of the bottle body B; and a desiccant cap 210 fixed to the inner
cap 120.
[0062] The bottle body B accommodates a medicine, and a mouth B1
having a screw thread is formed at an upper end thereof. Then, as
shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a latch boss B2 is formed at an upper end
of the mouth B1 of the bottle body B and an inclined surface B2' is
formed in the latch boss B2 in one direction.
[0063] As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the outer cap 110 has a
substantially cylindrical shape, and is rotated in a clockwise or
counterclockwise direction. The display window 111 formed at a side
of the outer cap 110 allows a date displayed on the rotation
display end 131 that will be described below to be viewed from the
outside.
[0064] A tubular insertion pipe 112 is formed at an upper end of an
inside of the outer cap 110, and as shown in FIG. 5, an insertion
boss 132 rotatably inserted into the insertion pipe 112 is formed
in the date display unit 130. In this case, the first latch end 160
is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the insertion pipe 112,
and the second latch end 170 is formed on an outer peripheral
surface of the insertion boss 132.
[0065] As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the inner cap 120 has a first
inner cap part 121 and a second inner cap part 122 that have a
substantially cylindrical shape. Then, the first and second inner
cap parts 121 and 122 are stepped, and the diameter of the first
inner cap part 121 is larger than the diameter of the second inner
cap part 122. The first catching unit 140 is formed on an outer
peripheral surface of the first inner cap part 121, and the fourth
latch end 190 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the
second inner cap part 122.
[0066] As shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D, the date display unit
130 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The date display unit
130 has a cylindrical rotation display end 131 in which a date
viewed through the display window 111 is displayed, and a date and
a day when a medicine is taken is displayed on the rotation display
end 131. In the embodiment of the present invention, seven letters,
that is, days that means Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday,
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are displayed along a circumferential
direction. However, it will be appreciated that fourteen letters
may be displayed to indicate mornings and evenings of the days or
twenty one letters or days may be displayed to indicate mornings,
daytimes, and evenings. That is, since the date display unit 130
has a display space that is cylindrical and large, a large number
of letters may be displayed.
[0067] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8B, the first catching unit 140 is
realized in a form in which a boss protrudes from an outer
peripheral surface of the first inner cap part 121 of the inner cap
120.
[0068] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7A, the second catching unit 150 is
realized by a circumferential recess circumferentially formed on an
inner peripheral surface of the mouth of the outer cap 110 by a
predetermined angle. Since the second catching unit 150 has a
circumferential recess, the first catching unit 140 in the form of
a boss provides a space in which the first catching unit 140
limitedly moved between a front end 150a and a rear end 150b of the
second catching unit 150 as shown in FIG. 11 when the outer cap 110
is rotated. That is, a rotation angle of the outer cap 110 with
respect to the inner cap 120 is limited by the first and second
catching units 140 and 150 when the outer cap 110 is rotated in a
clockwise or counterclockwise direction.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 5, 7A, and 7B, the first latch ends 160
are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the insertion pipe 112
of the outer cap 110. The first latch end 160 have a structure in
which an inclined surface is formed in one direction, and in more
detail, is realized in a wing form slanted toward a central axis
thereof.
[0070] As shown in FIGS. 5, 9A, 9B, and 12, the second latch ends
170 are selectively caught by the first latch ends 160, and are
formed on an outer peripheral surface of the insertion boss 132 to
have an inclined surface in the same direction as the first latch
end 160. Thus, the first latch ends 160 ascend along the second
latch ends 170 according to a rotation direction of the outer cap
110, or are caught by the second latch ends 170 to move the second
latch ends 170. The number of the second latch ends 170 is the same
as the number of dates, and seven second latch ends 170 are formed
since the number of dates is seven.
[0071] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 9C, a slide preventing end 170a
having a function of preventing the first latch end 160 from
excessively sliding between a second latch end 170 and another
second latch end may be connected to the second latch end 170.
Since the slide preventing end 170a limits a space in which the
first latch end 160 may freely move to a very small range, the
first latch end 160 does not deviate from a determined range when a
force of a predetermined magnitude or larger is not applied to open
the medicine bottle, and accordingly, a date of the date display
unit 130 is accurately located within the display window 111.
[0072] If the slide preventing end 170a is not employed, the first
latch end 160 is slid even by a small external force in a
relatively wide range space between a second latch end 170 and an
immediately adjacent second latch end 170, in which case a date of
the date display unit 130 cannot be accurately located in the
display window 111.
[0073] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 9D, the third latch ends 180 are
formed on an inner peripheral surface of the date display unit 130.
The third latch end 180 have a structure in which an inclined
surface is formed in an opposite direction, and in more detail, as
shown in FIG. 9D, are realized by a wing form slanted toward a
central axis thereof.
[0074] As shown in FIGS. 5, 8A, 8B, and 13, the fourth ends 190 are
formed on an outer peripheral surface of the second inner cap part
122. As shown in FIG. 13, the fourth latch ends 190 are formed to
have an inclined surface having the same direction as the third
latch end 180. Thus, the third latch ends 180 ascend along the
fourth latch ends 190 according to a rotation direction of the date
display unit 130, or are caught by the fourth latch ends 190 to
move the fourth latch ends 190.
[0075] That is, the direction of the inclined surfaces of the first
and second latch ends 160 and 170 face an opposite direction of the
inclined surfaces of the third and fourth latch ends 180 and
190.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 5, a catching boss 200 is formed on an
inner peripheral surface of the first inner cap part 121. The
catching boss 200 is selectively caught by or separated from the
latch boss B2 formed in the bottle body B of the mouth B1 shown in
FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0077] The desiccant cap 210 is inserted into and fixed to the
inner cap 120 as shown in FIG. 5, and a desiccant is filled in the
desiccant cap 210.
[0078] Generally, a desiccant such as silica gel for removing
moisture is filled in the medicine bottle. Thus, when a medicine is
to be taken out, a desiccant should be grasped by a hand and then
should be put into the bottle body again. Then, since the desiccant
is grasped by a hand, it may be contaminated by foreign substances
or germs stuck to the hand, in which case the medicine may be
contaminated by foreign substances or germs by the desiccant
again.
[0079] However, according to the present invention, since the
desiccant cap 210 filled with the desiccant is fixed to the inner
cap 120, it can be taken out from the bottle body B without being
grasped by a hand when a cap is separated from the bottle body B.
Thus, a possibility of contaminating a desiccant with foreign
substances or germs stuck to the hand may be excluded.
[0080] The first, second, third, and fourth latch ends 160, 170,
180, and 190, and the catching boss 200 are formed toward the
central axis C to be injection-molded, and are formed together when
the outer cap 110, the inner cap 120, and the date display unit 130
are injection-molded. That is, the outer cap 110, the inner cap
120, the date display unit 130, the first, second, third, and
fourth latch ends 160, 170, 180, and 190, and the catching boss 200
may be structurally injection-molded.
[0081] FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which the date display
cap of FIG. 5 is coupled to the bottle body. FIG. 11 is a sectional
view taken along line XI-XI' of FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a sectional
view taken along line XII-XII' of FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is a sectional
view taken along line XIII-XIII' of FIG. 10.
[0082] The first latch end 160 and the second latch end 170 are
coupled to each other as shown in FIG. 12, the date display unit
130 is rotated according to a rotation direction of the outer cap
110. In the embodiment of the present invention, the first latch
160 cross the second latch 170 when the outer cap 110 is rotated in
a counterclockwise direction, and the first latch end 160 rotates
the insertion boss 132 to rotate the date display unit 130 when the
outer cap 110 is rotated in a clockwise direction.
[0083] The third latch end 180 and the fourth end 190 are coupled
to each other as shown in FIG. 13, and the second inner cap part
122 of the inner cap 120 is rotated according to a rotation
direction of the rotation display end 131 of the date display unit
130.
[0084] Next, an operation of the date display cap will be
described.
[0085] The date display unit 130 is inserted into the outer cap
110, and the inner cap 120 is inserted into the date display unit
130 to completely assemble the date display cap. If the date
display cap is coupled to the bottle body B, the catching boss 200
is caught by the latch boss B2.
[0086] If the user rotates the outer cap 110 forwardly or reversely
to take out a medicine stored in the medicine bottle, the first
catching unit 140 caught by the second catching unit 150 is
selectively attached to a front end 150a or a rear end 150b of the
second catching unit 150 as shown in FIG. 11 so that the mouth B1
of the bottle body B is opened or closed while being rotated
together with the outer cap 110.
[0087] Then, whenever the outer cap 110 is rotated in a
counterclockwise or clockwise direction, the first latch end 160
crosses or rotates the second latch end 170 or the third latch end
180 having an inclined surface having an opposite direction to the
first and second latch ends 160 and 170 crosses or rotates the
fourth latch end 190 to rotate the date display unit 130 according
to a date. Accordingly, the date displayed through the display
window 11 is automatically changed. That is, when the user opens
and closes the date display cap for a medicine bottle according to
the present invention, the date displayed through the display
window 111 is automatically changed.
[0088] In this way, in the date display cap for a medicine bottle
according to the second embodiment of the present invention, since
the display window 111 is located at a side of the outer cap 110, a
date can be identified even from a relatively long distance while
the medicine bottle is erected so that it can be easily confirmed
whether a medicine is taken. In particular, it can be confirmed
whether a medicine is taken even by viewing a place where the
medicine bottle is located without causing a troublesomeness of
moving a human body, going to the place of the medicine, and
raising and confirming medicine bottles one by one by a person who
frequently take medicines or a patient whose behavior is
inconvenient.
[0089] Further, the display window 111 is located on a side surface
of the outer cap 110 to secure a wider space of the display window
111. Thus, aged people having bad eyesight can confirm a date more
easily, and a date can be confirmed from a relatively long distance
due to the large letters of the date. In particular, since the
display window 111 is located on a side surface of the outer cap
110, the shape of the display window 111 can be selected more
freely.
[0090] Further, since the rotation display end 131 for displaying a
date through the display window 111 is cylindrical, a large display
space can be provided. Thus, fourteen letters (mornings and
evenings for respective days) or twenty one letters (mornings,
daytimes, and evenings for respective days) can be displayed on the
rotation display end 131, so that a date display cap for people who
take medicines two or three times a day as well as people who take
a medicine one a day can be manufactured. That is, an on-demand
date display cap for consumers having various medicine taking
patterns can be manufactured.
[0091] In this way, in the date display caps for a medicine bottle
according to the first and second embodiments of the present
invention, an automatically changed date is displayed through the
display windows 11 and 111 when the date display caps are opened
and closed to allow a patient to take a medicine. Thus, a user
(patient) can accurately recognize whether a medicine has been
taken on a specific date without directly checking whether a
medicine has been taken from a calendar or a scheduler.
Accordingly, since a medicine can be accurately taken at a
predetermined timing, performance of the medicine can be
sufficiently realized and a proper treatment can be realized.
[0092] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, the embodiments
are merely exemplary, and it will be appreciated that those skilled
in the art to which the present invention pertains can variously
modify the present invention and carry out the equivalent
embodiments.
* * * * *