GB2155446A - Medicine container with automatic dose time indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

An indicator disc 20 has the dose times of a particular dose cycle printed on its face. The disc fits onto a lid 10, such that the dose times appear in order as the disc is rotated. The lid and disc assembly is attached to the container body 30 by a bayonet type fixing. Whenever the container is opened and closed, the indicator disc is rotated one step so that the next dose time appears. The lid has ears 12 to enable arthritics to grasp it more easily. A child proofing feature involves co-ordinating twisting the lid with pressing one or more tabs 35 when opening the container. Another feature ensures the container is fully opened before closing can commence and vice-versa. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Medicine container with automatic dose indicator This invention relates to a medicine container which has an integral, automatic, time of dose indicator.

A major problem with prescribing medicines, particularly with the elderly, is ensuring that the patient does, in fact, take the prescribed dose. This problem, termed non-compliance, is particularly significant where courses of treatment must be taken as prescribed, for example, antibiotics. Other problems associated with non-compliance are over and under dosing. There is a need for a low cost container capable of holding a course of treatment, for example, 48 tablets, which will inform the patient automatically when the next dose is due. The Pharmaceutical Society recommends that all medicine containers have child resistant properties.

According to the present invention there is provided a medicine container with automatic dose time indicator comprising a container body, a lid which closes the body and an indicator disc which is secured to the lid. The lid can be removed and reattached to the body by a "bayonet" or similar type of fixing, and in doing so the indicator disc rotates through an angle in relation to the lid. The disc is divided by the same angle, and each division has the time or day of each dose marked. The lid may have a window through which one of the dose times on the disc appears, and whenever the lid is removed and replaced (when taking a dose) the next dose is indicated. The invention embodies a child proofing feature which inhibits opening the container unless two or more separate actions are co-ordinated.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the container assembled Figure 2 shows a perspective, exploded view of the container's three components: lid (tilted to show underside); indicator disc and main body.

Figure 3 shows a sectional view through the indicator disc and lid boss, A) with tooth engaged in notch B) with tooth not engaged, disc rotating.

Figure 4 shows a plan view of the container assembly with the lid only outlined for clarity.

Figure 5 shows a sectional elevation of the container assembly sectioned along lines shown in Figure 4 with bayonet lug integral with body.

Figure 5A shows inset view of bayonet lug integral with lid.

Figure 6 shows typical sequence of operation.

Figure 7 shows sequence of operation of a feature which ensures opening and closing actions are not corrupted.

Referring to the drawings, the lid 10 is moulded in plastic which is opaque except for a transparent window 11 through which the dose time appears as in Figures 1 and 6. A method of achieving this is by using a block co-polymer polypropalene with 10% rubber, which is opaque in standard thicknesses but transparent in thin sections. The top surface of the lid has instructions describing how to open and close the container and 'Next Dose Due' embossed or raised and printed. In order that the lid can be easily grasped, even by arthritics, there are several raised ears, 12, around the circumference. To attach the indicator disc 20 to the lid 10 and allow it to rotate there is a boss 13. The boss has several non-return tangs 14 which allow the disc to be easily snapped into place, say by the pharmacist, but do not allow easy removal.In order to make each dose time shown on the indicator disc 20 stop precisely when required to indicate next dose due (in this example under window 11) one of the non-return tangs 14 has a tooth 15 which engages with notches 31 on the indicator disc (Figure 3). A lip seal 19 seals against the body rim when the container is closed.

The indicator disc 20 is moulded in plastic, its surface is divided radially into 4,5,6 or 7 divisions, depending on the dose cycle. The dose cycle shown in the illustrations is 4 times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, bed). In order to use the container for a wide range of dose cycles, several discs would be available. In this way the container can be used to indicate any dose time or cycle, the only limiting factor being that the maximum number of divisions on the disc is 7. For example, a disc for one dose per day is divided into 7 (marked Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc,), a disc for 2 doses per day is divided into 4 (possibly marked Morning, Evening, Morning, Evening). In order to cater for unusual dose cycles, the dose times may be handwritten on a blank disc, or printed labels may be attached.For blind patients the disc may have Braille on its surface in which case the window 11 would be a hole through the lid. To reduce the number of discs required, discs may have different dose cycles printed on each side. The disc 20 has several tabs 22 around its circumference; these are angled as shown in Figure 4. The tabs are elastic and can flex a small amount without yielding.

The body of the container 30 is moulded in plastic. In order to see the contents it is semi-transparent and amber tinted to avoid sunlight damage to the contents. In order to remove and re-attach the lid 10 from the body 30 these parts have integrally moulded features which form a bayonet type fixing. Figures 2 and 5A illustrate an arrangement of the fixing where the bayonet lugs 16 are on the lid. On closing the container the lid is rotated with lugs 16 in contact with lip 31 of the body until the lugs reach gaps 32 which allow the lid to drop further onto the body; the lid is then fastened in place by rotating it clockwise, relative to the body, until lugs 16 reach stops 33. The positions of stops 33 are such that the angle through which the lid turns is 90 . To remove the lid these steps are reversed.Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate an alternative arrangement of the bayonet type fixing where the lugs are on the body and their corresponding features are on the lid. The action of opening and closing the container is the same.

The body 30 has serrations 34 on the inside face of its rim. When closing the container the disc tabs 22 clear the serrations 34 until bayonet lugs go through gaps 32 and the lid/disc assembly drops into the lower position. In this lower position the disc tabs 22 engage the body serrations 34 such that the torque that the body can transfer to the disc via the tabs 22 is much larger in one direction than the other. In the example illustrated the large torque is generated when the body effectively turns the disc ciockwise.

Considering the torques transmitted between body 30, disc 20 and lid 10, the following relationship exists: BODYiDlSC(CLOCK) > DlSC/UD(MAX) > BODYiDlSC(ANTlCLOCK) > DlSC/LlD(MlN) Where the torque DISC/LID(MAX) is when a disc notch 21 engages tooth 15 on boss 13 of lid, and torque DISC/LID (MIN) is when a notch 21 does not engage (as in Figure 3).

Referring to Figure 6, which shows an example of the principle of operation. A) At Breakfast time the lid is turned through 90 to open the container; B) As this happens disc tabs 22 engage body serrations 34, which hold the disc relative to the body, thus the turning force (torque) overcomes the disc notch 21 and the window 11 effectively moves from Breakfast to Lunch. C) The lid assembly is now removed and dose taken.

D) The lid is replaced and is turned back through 90" to close the container, as this happens tooth 15 is engaged with disc notch 21 thus lid 10 and disc 20 rotate together. in this direction the disc tabs 22 ratchet past the serrations 34. E) The container is now closed and the next dose due is indicated.

Where a dose cycle requires the use of a 5, 6 or 7 division disc the angle between divisions is less than 90", thus when opening the container (90" twist) the disc is moved past the next dose time but as it is not a whole division past the tooth 15 does not engage a disc notch 21. When the lid assembly is replaced, the disc is first rotated back until the next dose time shows through the window 11 where a disc notch 21 is engaged. The disc is held in this position, the disc tabs then ratchet past serrations 34 and the next dose is indicated.

In order to make the container child proof a spring tab 35 (or several) may be integrally moulded with either the body or the lid; in either case when the container lid is fully closed a tooth 36 on the tab engages a slot 17 in the lid or the body. This makes an audible, tactile 'click' which reassures that the container is fully closed. To open the container the tab (or several tabs) is pressed and simultaneously the lid is twisted. The child proofing is effective because two or more actions have to be co-ordinated to open the container.

Figure 7 shows a feature which if integrally moulded with the lid and the body would ensure opening and closing actions are not corrupted. This ensures the automatic dose time indicator is not accidentally moved on. Once the opening action has been started (B), the non-return leaf 37 is bent over in the direction of twist without yielding and ratchets past serrations 18, this stops the direction of twist being reversed. Once the container is open (C), the leaf springs back to its original position. This works in the same way as the container is closed, (D) the leaf springing back once fully closed (E). This feature could be mounted in several alternative positions between the lid and body.

The container described above is intended for use dispensing tablets and capsules, however, it can also be used for several other applications, for example, non-medical, where containers need to be opened at regular times.

Claims (8)

1. A dose indicating container comprising at least two members, one being a receptacle for substances and the other a cover adapted to be secured thereto, indicating means being provided on one of the two members.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the indicating means is on the cover.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the indicating means is in the form of a disc secured to the cover.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the cover is secured to the receptacle by a bayonet type fitting.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3, in which the cover has a slot through which the indicating means is adapted to be displayed.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the indicating means comprises a plurality of index marks each associated with a tab adapted to engage a stop.

7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which opening of the cover with respect to the receptacle is inhibited without two co-ordinated separate actions.

8. A dose indicating container constructed and arranged to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.