Wrist Mounted Pill Box

Abstract

A convenient container for medication is provided which has time indicating means associated therewith and the container is adapted to be attached to a wrist band such as a wrist watch strap. As medication is taken, the time indicating means is advanced to show when the next dose is to be taken. The device is very simple and inexpensive.

Description

This invention relates to a wrist mounted timing pill box which comprises a thin shallow container for pills, capsules and other dosage forms which container is approximately the size of a wrist watch and can be worn like one so that it is convenient for use without being unduly bulky to carry on the wrist. The container may be a round or square plastic receptacle having sufficient capacity for medication for a given period of time such as one day or one week depending on the nature of the medication and the container has associated therewith a watch face dial which is either rotatable with a cut-out to show the time for the next dose or has a pointer or hand which can be moved as required. The container is mounted on a wrist band which may be of any suitable type or alongside a conventional wrist watch.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention shown in position for use;

FIG. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the container and part of the wrist band of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-- 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the underside of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a wrist band of any suitable type and material such as an extensible metal link band or a leather strap which is adapted to fit over the hand and remain in position on the wrist of the wearer so that the presence thereof is realized by the wearer so as to remind him of its presence and of the necessity of taking the medication in the container mounted thereon as prescribed by the physician. The container 11 is relatively thin and shallow and preferably, although not necessarily, round so as to be approximately the size of an ordinary wrist watch. The container is composed of plastic with a lower portion 12 and an upper portion 13 hinged or otherwise connected to the lower portion 12 at 14. A suitable latch 15 of any desired nature keeps the container shut while permitting easy opening in a manner per se known. Disposed upon upper portion 13 is a watch face dial 16 rotatable about a rivet or the like 17 and member 16 may be composed of any inexpensive material such as thin transparent or translucent plastic having a rectangular cut-out 18 through which can be observed a numeral imprinted or otherwise marked on the upper surface of the container portion 13 as will be seen best from FIG. 2. The container 11 is shown in FIG. 3 as containing a number of tablets or pills 19, but it is to be understood that any suitable medication in any usual dosage form may be used such as capsules. The underside of container 11 is provided with a clip 20 adapted to clamp over the wrist band 10 and to hold the container 11 in convenient position.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the container 11' has a lower portion 12' over which upper portion 13' fits frictionally, the upper edge of the lower portion 11' being cut away to provide an annular shoulder 11" to receive the lower edge 13" of upper container portion 13'. Centrally disposed in the top of container upper portion 13' is a rivet or other suitable pivoting means 17' for the mounting of a watch band 21 which is adapted to be moved manually over the numerals printed or otherwise marked on the upper surface of portion 13' as will be clear from FIG. 5. In this form of the invention two flexible extensions 22 are secured to the lower container portion 12' so that they can be bent under the wrist band or strap 10' and will remain in position while permitting easy removal as desired when the container is to be removed or its use discontinued.

According to the invention the simple, inexpensive container and time indicating means shows when the next dose of medication is to be taken by a patient and each time a dose is ingested, the time indicating means is advanced according to directions from the physician whether that be one dose every 1, 2 or 4 hours or other time intervals. Having the container and the time indicating means on the wrist is a constant reminder to take the medication as directed and avoids the necessity of carrying a separate container with the risk of forgetting to take the medication. It is understood that the foregoing is intended as illustrative only and that variations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A wrist mounted pill box consisting of a thin shallow empty container having a hollow lower receptacle portion for the reception of medication in unit dosage form and a latched upper hollow cover portion manually openable to provide access to the receptacle portion and serving as a closure for the lower receptacle portion, indicia on the upper portion and a disc having a cut-out axially mounted and manually rotatable with respect thereto to show the hour through the cut-out for taking the next dose of medication and means for removably mounting the container on a continuous wrist encircling band the presence of which acts as a reminder.

2. A wrist mounted pill box according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower container portions have a frictional fit and the lower portion has a pair of opposed flexible extensions which can be bent to extend under the wrist encircling band.

3. A wrist mounted pill box consisting of a thin shallow empty plastic container having a hollow lower receptacle portion for receiving medication in unit dosage form and an upper hollow cover portion serving as a closure and manually openable to provide access to the medication and hinged to the lower receptacle portion and both portions have a latch diametrically opposite the hinge, the cover portion having time indicia on its upper surface and a pointer axially mounted on the said upper surface and manually movable to indicate the hour for the next dose, the pill box being removably mounted on a wrist encircling band the presence of which serves as a reminder.