GB2249300A

GB2249300A - Container for dispensing pills at timed intervals

Info

Publication number: GB2249300A
Application number: GB9119793A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Warren Allman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-09-19
Filing date: 1991-09-17
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Also published as: GB9119793D0; GB9020481D0

Abstract

A medicine container, of plastics materials, for pills, tablets or capsules includes a base 12 containing a timing mechanism and a battery-operated piezoelectric audible alarm. The timing mechanism, which may be an integrated circuit, controls operation of the alarm to cause it to operate at predetermined intervals. The base 12 may be rotatable, through predetermined angular portions, relative to the main body 10 of the bottle to effect adjustment of the intervals of operation of the alarm. The angular positions are indicated by a arrow 14 on the main body and Roman numeral II, III, IV, on the base 12, when the arrow 14 is aligned with one of the numerals the alarm operates a predetermined number of times corresponding to the prescribed dose. The arrow and numerals are formed integrally with their corresponding container components and stand proud thereof for long use by blind persons. A indexing mechanism is provided which acts between the base and main body. The container may have a non-rotatable base and a alarm set at fixed time intervals, the number of time intervals may be indicated by colour coding the bases. <IMAGE>

Description

MEDICINE CONTAINERS Field of the Invention This invention relates to medicine containers and, in particular, to containers for medicines in the form of pills, tablets or capsules.

Many medicines which are prescribed have a very reduced effectiveness if they are not taken at specific, regular intervals. However, the people for whom such medicines are prescribed may, for one reason or another, be uncertain as to when they last took the medicine or they may forget that it is time to take the next pill.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a medicine container which includes means for providing an indication as to when the next dose of medicine is to be taken.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a medicine container for the storage of pills, tablets or capsules, said container having a base which includes a timing mechanism and an audible alarm operable under the control of the timing mechanism, the timing mechanism being such as to ensure operation of the alarm at predetermined regular intervals.

The timing mechanism may be such that the alarm is operated at fixed time intervals. Provision may, however, be made for effecting adjustment of the time intervals between successive operations of the alarm.

The base of the container may be arranged for rotation relative to the main body of the container between predetermined relative angular positions such that, by appropriate rotation of the base, the alarm can be set so as to operate at, for example, intervals of three, four or six hours.

Brief Description of the Drawing The single figure of the drawing is a diagrammatic representation of a medicine bottle.

Description of the preferred Embodiment The bottle shown in the drawing is for the storage of medicines in the form of pills, tablets or capsules and comprises a main body 10, a cap 11 and a base 12, each formed as plastic mouldings of a suitable plastic material having the required strength and flexibility characteristics.

The cap 11 is internally threaded so that it can be tightened on to and released from the neck 13 of the bottle.

The circumference of the cap 11 is serrated or milled to facilitate manual gripping thereof and the design of the cap 11 may be such as to incorporate any of the 'safety' release features which are currently available.

The base 12 of the bottle contains an integrated circuit timing mechanism which can be set to operate an acoustic alarm, in the form of a battery-operated piezoelectric "bleeper", at predetermined time intervals in dependence on the angular position of the base 12 relative to the main body 10 of the bottle. The main body 10 carries an arrow 14 and the base 12 is marked with the Roman numerals "II", "III" and "IV".

The arrow 14 is formed as part of the side wall of the bottlke but stands proud thereof. Similarly, the numerals "II", "III" and "IV" are formed as part of the base 12, but are moulded so that they stand proud of the surrounding area of the base 12. Thus, if the bottle is to be used by a blind person, the position of the base 12 relative to the main body 10 can be felt manually by sensing the position of the arrow 14 relative to the numerals. The base 12 can then be moved into the required position.

If the person for whom the medicine has been prescribed is to take the pills twice per day, the base 12 will be rotated so that the numeral "II" is in line with the arrow 14 and the alarm will then operate twice per day, for example, at 9.00 a.m. and 9 p.m.

If, instead, the person for whom the medicine has been prescribed is required to take the pills three times per day, the base 12 will be rotated so that the numeral "III" is in line with the arrow 14 and the alarm will then operate three times per day, for example, at 9.00 a.m., 3.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m.

Again, if the person for whom the medicine has been prescribed has to take the pills four times a day, the base 12 will be rotated so that the numeral "IV" is in line with the arrow 14 and the alarm will then operate four times per day, for example, at 9.00 a.m., 1.00 p.m., 5.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m.

An indexing mechanism (not shown) is provided which acts between the base 12 and the main body 10 to ensure that a predetermined torque has to be applied to effect rotation of the base 12 relative to the main body 10 and to ensure that a positive indication, for example, a "click'1 is given, when the base 12 is positioned so that one of the numerals is in line with the arrow 14.

The alarm may be arranged for operation for a relatively short time interval, for example, 30 seconds so that the drain on the battery is kept as low as possible. For, therefore, a course of pills or capsules lasting a week or ten days, a small low voltage battery can be used and the circuitry can be such that the cost of the timing circuit may be low enough to enable the bottle to be a throw-away item.

As an alternative to having a timing circuit which can be set to operate at different time intervals, the circuitry may be such as to operate the alarm at fixed time intervals. The base 12 may then be non-rotatably attached to the main body 10 of the container. A chemist or dispenser will be provided with a range of bottles, with colour-coded bases, with the time interval for which the alarm is set to operate being indicated by the colour code of the base of the bottle.

Claims

Claims:

1. A medicine container for the storage of pills, tablets or capsules, said container having a base which includes a timing mechanism and an audible alarm operable under the control of the timing mechanism, the timing mechanism being such as to ensure operation of the alarm at predetermined regular intervals.

2. A medicine container according to Claim 1, in which the timing mechanism is such that the alarm is operated at fixed time intervals.

3. A medicine container according to Claim 1, which includes provision for effecting adjustment of the time intervals between successive operations of the alarm.

4. A medicine container according to Claim 3, which includes a main body and a base which is rotatable relative to the base between predetermined relative angular positions such that, by appropriate rotation of the base, the alarm can be set so as to operate at selected time intervals.

5. A medicine container according to Claim 4, in which a mark is provided on the main body of the container and the base of the container is provided with markings corresponding to the number of times per day at which the medicine is to be taken, the base being rotatable relative to the main body to bring a selected marking into register with the mark on the main body.

6. A medicine container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the alarm is a battery-operated piezoelectric device.

7. A medicine container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the timing mechanism includes an integrated circuit.

& A medicine container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.