U.S. patent number 3,817,372 [Application Number 05/179,132] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-18 for pocket pill box.
Invention is credited to Gerald R. Smith.
United States Patent |
3,817,372 |
Smith |
June 18, 1974 |
POCKET PILL BOX
Abstract
A rectangular receptacle provided with a pair of rows of
medication-holding compartments or cavities that are transversely
aligned. The bottom ends of the rows of the pair of cavities are
joined together in a unitary construction. A sliding cover for the
first row of cavities and a sliding cover for the second row of
cavities oppositely positioned to that of the first row for
maintains the medication in place in the cavities. When either
cover is slid to one side or another, the exposed cavity readily
dispenses the medication therein. At least one of said cavities in
said row being of a different size to hold medication other than
that taken in a normal sequence or alternatively to hold medical
data in case of emergency.
Inventors: |
Smith; Gerald R. (Columbus,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
22655351 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/179,132 |
Filed: |
September 9, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/539; 217/7;
220/507; 206/232; 220/504; 220/525 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/0445 (20130101); B65D 25/04 (20130101); B65D
43/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
43/02 (20060101); B65D 43/12 (20060101); B65D
83/04 (20060101); B65D 25/04 (20060101); B65d
001/24 (); B65d 043/12 (); B65d 083/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/20,41,21 ;206/42,3
;217/7,18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dixson, Jr.; William T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Connamo, Kremblas & Foster
Claims
I claim:
1. A container for capsules or the like arranged to dispense a
given amount of capsules over a fixed period of time,
comprising:
a four walled boxlike structure,
a dividing wall fixedly positioned in said box in an intermediate
position to define upper and lower sections,
a first series of walls fixedly positioned in said box at cross
direction to that of said intermediate wall,
a complementary second series of walls,
said first and second series of walls defining a first and second
series of compartments, corresponding in number to the days of the
week, said compartments of an area to retain a capsule of a given
size,
at least one of said series of walls displaced in position relative
to said other walls in said series to define an additional
compartment of a different size to retain a capsule of a size
different than said other capsules,
a first and second enclosure means positioned at the open ends of
said boxlike structure to enclose said series of walls including
means for retaining said enclosure means in position.
2. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said enclosure means
is movable in a bi-direction.
3. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pair of said walls
defining said boxlike structure has a length in a direction of said
series of walls that extends beyond that of said other two
walls.
4. A container as set forth in claim 3 wherein said extended length
has a groove therein adapted to retain in slidably engagement said
enclosure means.
5. A container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compartment of
different size is larger than said other compartment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medical preparations in the pill tablet or capsule form are taken
at certain times and in certain proportions by a majority of the
population. This includes the oral contraceptives -- but many other
drugs are prescribed for sequential dosage over periods of time.
The period of time may be within a day, a week, or a month. The
dosage prescribed may be hourly, daily or weekly -- or, as needed.
This presents the problem to the consumer of whether or not the
proper dosage has been consumed at the proper time over the entire
period. Record keeping, at its best, is most incomplete,
essentially valueless. The improper dosages results in defective
drug treatment.
A great number of persons obtaining drug treatment require the
taking of more than one drug. By coincidence the timing for the
taking of different could be the same but in all probability it is
vastly different. With other persons the drug taking may be as
needed -- such as with heart patients, or for other emergency
treatment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is for container for pills, capsules, tablets
or the like. The container comprises a first series of compartments
and a second series in oppositely positioned relationship. Each
compartment is square or rectangular and of a size to accommodate
one or more of the standard sizes of pills, tablets, or capsules.
The number of compartments in the series is a fixed number having a
direct relationship to the frequency of intake of a given drug. The
size of the compartment may be for a single pill or a plurality of
pills that may be typical of a daily dosage. One or more of the
compartments in either or both series is of a different size or
shape to accommodate the pill, tablet or capsule either at a
different frequency or taken in emergencies. The odd compartment(s)
may also be used for purposes of medical treatment information in
the event of an emergency.
OBJECTS
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a
container for medication for a pill, capsule, or tablet having a
ready access compartment of a proper size.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
container for medication that has one or more compartments adapted
to retain a medication for intake at other than regular intervals
or at infrequent intervals.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
container for medication that has an opening that exposes one
compartment at a time.
Further and other objects will become apparent when taken in
conjunction with the drawings, in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view or bottom view of the container of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a flat side view of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the container of the present invention
having a first slidable opening partially removed to show the top
of the series of compartments;
FIG. 5 is a side view such as FIG. 2 but with a portion of the wall
removed therefrom to show a side of the compartments; and
Fig. 6 is a side view such as FIG. 3 with the wall removed
therefrom to show a second side of the compartments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The receptacle shown in the FIGS. 1 through 6 comprises parallel
slightly rectangular sidewalls 6 and 12, a pair of parallel
rectangular end walls 8 and 10. A pair of slidable ends 2 and 16
cooperate with the sidewalls 6 and 12 and ends walls 8 and 10 to
form an enclosed boxlike structure.
The structure is compartmentalized first in an upper section and in
a bottom section, and secondly compartmentalized into a series of
compartments in the upper and bottom sections. The bulkheads or
walls in parallel relationship 20, 22, 24, 26, etc. define the
series of compartments in the upper section and the bulkheads or
walls 34, 36, 38, etc. define the series of compartments in the
lower section.
The cross wall or bulkhead 42 is in a direction at right angles to
the upper and lower series walls and also at right angles to the
sidewalls 6 and 12 and the end walls 8 and 10. The wall 42 is
positioned intermediate the sidewalls 6 and 12 and the end walls 8
and 10 and intersects the upper and lower series of walls. In this
way, wall 42 closes the ends of the upper and lower series of
compartments and defines the upper series and the lower series of
compartments.
The sidewalls 12 and 6 are of a length somewhat greater than that
of the upper and lower series walls together (with the intermediate
wall 42 therebetween). The portion of the sidewalls 6 and 12 that
is greater in length, is equally divided above 11 and 13 and below
15 and 17 of the compartment walls.
The upper extended portions 11 and 13 of the sidewalls 12 and 6,
each have a slot formed therein at approximately its intermediate
portion. Similarly, there is a slot formed in the lower extended
portions 15 and 17. Slidably positioned within the slots in the
lower 15 and 17 and upper 11 and 13 portions are the lids 2 and 16.
That is, the lids 2 and 16 have a cross-dimension somewhat greater
than the inside spacing between the walls 6 and 12, but less than
the outside spacing of the walls 6 and 12. In this wall the lids 2
and 16 are retained in position but may be slid back and forth
using the raised portions 4 and 18.
It is to be appreciated that the lids 2 and 16 closes the upper and
lower series of compartments. The end to end series of compartments
when closed retain the medication therein; and when the lid 2 or 16
is slided away in either, each compartment is sequentially opened
to permit access to the medication. As a matter of fact, the entire
package may be turned upside down to permit the medication to drop
out of the next opened compartment. The knob 4 fixedly positioned
on lid 2 and the knob 18 fixedly positioned on lid 16 facilitate
the movement of the lids 2 and 16.
As pointed out above, it is quite common for most persons to
require more than a single medication. Also, in all probability,
the medications are to be taken at different times; or in some
instances, the other medications is taken in emergencies.
The dual series compartment medication container of the present
invention provides within one or both of the series of compartments
a compartment having a different size than that of the remainder of
the series. That is, as pointed out above, the series of
compartments have a size to accommodate a standard tablet or pill.
Whereas the one compartment having a different size will be of a
size to accommodate the less frequently taken medication.
In the figures shown, the less frequently taken medication
compartment 40 is shown being larger -- approximately twice the
size of the other compartments. It is to be appreciated, of course,
that the odd compartment 40 can be smaller or of any other
size.
Another useful purpose of compartment 40 is to keep a medical
record on the person at all times for emergency purposes.
* * * * *