AU5431001A - Dosage label - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 -1-

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

APPLICANT:

NUMBER:

FILING DATE: ANGORA LANE PTY. LIMITED KERRIE LEE NOMINEES PTY. LIMITED PQ 8726/00 12/ 7/2000 Invention Title: DOSAGE LABEL The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: DOSAGE LABEL Technical area This invention relates to the area of labels for packaging and in particular to labels which indicate the dosage regimen required for some particular substance contained within the relevant package.

Background to the invention Many substances sold to the public are recommended or required to be ingested at certain times and in certain doses. This applies to prescription drugs as well OV. 0: .00 as to medication for animals and includes all manner of non prescription items such as vitamin tablets and the like.

0. 0 Many people however experience difficulty reading labels and consequently may 0 ingest incorrect dosages of medication. This difficulty may arise from poor eyesight but quite often can result from deterioration in the clarity of type on a label after handling thereof has caused general deterioration of the label.

Outline of the Invention It is an object of this invention to provide a label for use in indicating the preferred dosage of a substance which label provides a pictorial indication of the dosage WP51\SPEC\ANGORA LANE.CAP\BV\11 July, 2001 regimen either in addition to, or alternately to, a written label in accordance with whatever regulatory requirements may be in force in any particular area.

The invention is a label for use on a substance container, which substance is intended to be used in a dose related form, which label includes a pictorial representation of a required dosage regimen.

Preferably the pictorial representation would be used in conjunction with a written form of the dosage regimen which would also be present on the label.

It is also preferable that the pictorial representation of the dosage regimen take the form of symbols indicating time of day which can be used in association with numbers indicating the number of units of the substance to be ingested or otherwise used at each particular time. The particular symbols used to depict a *go. time of day may vary however these should preferably be easily recognisable.

It is envisaged also that the concept of the invention apply also to a visual representation of doses which are not necessarily used every day and apply to oooo capsules, tablets, ointments and unguents or the like which are required to be used on a dose related basis.

*0000: In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe by way of non limiting example a specific embodiment thereof in relation to the accompanying drawing.

WP51\SPEC\ANGORA LANE.CAP\BV\11 July, 2001 Brief Description of the Drawing Figure Fig. 1 shows an example of the label of the invention; Fig. 2 shows an example of the label of Figure 1 as it may appear in use; In one embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 1 a label 10 for medication, such as tablets or capsules and the like, dispensed on prescription is provided which label provides the dosage details in a written form as required which may be supplied over the bulk of the label 11.

In the embodiment of the invention shown a label is provided which shows four possible times of day at which medication may need to be taken. Adjacent the written instructions 11, and in this case to the left of them, is a vertical panel 12 divided into four compartments each containing a symbol representing the time of day. To the left of this panel again, and adjacent to it, is a further panel with four compartments 15 into each of which a number may be placed to indicate the number of units of medication to be used at the time of day indicated by the adjacent symbol.

In this embodiment of the invention morning is indicated by a cock with the sun just rising over the horizon. Lunchtime is indicated by a scene with the sun at its zenith. Dinnertime or evening is depicted by a setting sun and bedtime is depicted by a scene showing moon and stars against a dark sky.

WP51\SPEC\ANGORA LANE.CAP\BV\1l July, 2001 The exact symbol used is not particular to the invention however it should be readily recognisable as indicating a time of day and be used in association with a number indicating the numbers of units of medication to be used.

In the example shown provision is made for medication to be taken 4 times daily however the number in the left hand panel could be marked adjacent any one or more of the symbols. Alternatively if medication were to be taken 3 times daily it may be preferable to have 3 symbols such as sunrise, midday and sunset or whatever was required however in the example shown in Figure 2 three capsules are to be taken daily and this is indicated on a label which will accommodate 4 time indications.

loll The concept of the invention is in fact quite versatile in its application and conceivably medication which needs to be taken on different days of the week could utilise letters or other devices representing days of the week rather than symbols where this is appropriate.

The precise location of the diagrammatic system of the invention is not restricted 0. 0. to any particular area of the label and it is envisaged that this system could be used where any dose related use of a substance is required.

It is thus envisaged that such a dosage indication could be used on vetinary prescriptions and products, on containers of vitamins and the like and it is envisaged that the concept of the invention could apply to use on any label indicating a recommended dosage of a substance. This type of labelling would WP51\SPEC\ANGORA LANE.CAP\BV\1l July, 2001 not be restricted to tablets and capsules but could also be used to indicate the times at which ointments, unguents and the like should be applied.

It is usual for prescription medications to be provided with a customised label when dispensed however it is envisaged that the labelling of the invention could also be printed onto the packaging of over the counter products.

In addition further embodiments of the invention could indicate dosages which are to be used on different days of the week or even dosages which are to be used on a monthly basis and the like. The precise dosage regimen required is not germane to the invention except that it may be depicted in a readily recognised pictorial or diagrammatic fashion either in addition to, or instead of, written instructions.

ooo• Whilst we have described herein several specific embodiments of the invention It is envisaged that other embodiments of the invention will exhibit any number of and any combination of the features previously described and it is to be understood that variations and modifications in this can be made without oo departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

i *el WPS1\SPEC\ANGORA LANE.CAP\BV\11 July, 2001

Claims (9)

1. A label for use on a substance container, which substance is intended to be used in a dose related form, which label includes a pictorial representation of a required dosage regimen.

2. A label as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pictorial representation is used in conjunction with a written form of the dosage regimen which is also present on the label.

3. A label as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the pictorial representation of the dosage regimen takes the form of symbols indicating time of day.

4. A label as claimed in claim 3 in which the symbols are used in association with numbers indicating the number of units of the substance to be ingested or otherwise used at any particular time as indicated by any of the symbols.

A label as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dosage regimen relates to medication to be ingested by a human.

6. A label as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dosage regimen relates to doses of capsules, tablets, ointments or unguents.

7. A label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to claim 6 wherein the dosage regimen relates to at least one dose per day. WP51\SPEC\ANGORA LANE.CAP\BV\11 July, 2001 8

8. A label as claimed in any one of claims 1 to claim 6 wherein the dosage regimen does not relate to dosage on a daily basis.

9. A label substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. DATED THIS 12TH DAY OF JULY 2001 0 0000 0 0 0 Angora Lane Pty. Limited and Kerrie Lee Nominees Pty. Limited By their Patent Attorneys A. TATLOCK ASSOCIATES WP51\SPEC\ANGORA LANE.CAP\BV\11 July, 2001