US20050258054A1

US20050258054A1 - Container for pills and drink

Info

Publication number: US20050258054A1
Application number: US10/709,632
Authority: US
Inventors: Roger Arquilla
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-18
Filing date: 2004-05-18
Publication date: 2005-11-24

Abstract

An elongated container, rectangular in cross-section has a single first compartment for holding a drink, at least one second compartment, separate from the first compartment, for holding pills, and caps for separately accessing and sealing each compartment. All the compartments are linearly aligned. The container may have only two compartments, one for holding the drink and the other for holding pills, or it may have 2 or more compartments for holding pills. In the latter case, there are at least three separable sub-containers, a first sub-container for holding a liquid, and at least two second sub-containers, each for holding pills.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to container for carrying pills and a drink for swallowing the pills. In particular, it relates to a container that is rectangular in cross-section, has a single sealable compartment for a drink, and one or more compartments for pills.
Many people take medicine or other types of pills at least once a day. If they are travelling or away from home, they may not have access to a drink to aid in swallowing the pills. While they could carry the pills and drink in separate containers, containers for drinks tend to be too large to carry comfortably in a purse or pocket and the containers may become separated. Also, many containers are round in cross-section, which may present problems for example, on an airplane, where the container may roll off a tray during turbulence.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

I have invented a container that will hold pills in one compartment and a drink for taking the pills in a separate compartment. The container may have more than one compartment for the pills, so that different types of pills can be separately stored and will not be mixed up, which creates a problem when different types of pills appear to be identical. The container is square in cross-section and will not roll, regardless of the position it is placed in. The container is small enough to fit into a purse, handbag, pocket, or glove compartment of a car. It may be disposable or re-usable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating a certain presently preferred embodiment of a container according to this invention.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the container shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating an alternative presently preferred embodiment of a container according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1 and 2, container 1 has two separate compartments, a first compartment 2 in which a drink 3 is stored and a second compartment 4 in which pills 5 are stored. Each compartment is separately accessible by means of threaded caps 6 and 7, one at each end of container 1. Caps 6 and 7 seal the compartments, preventing the entrance of germs and contaminants and preventing the pills and drink from exiting. As shown in FIG. 2, when both caps are on and form a seal, container 1 is seen as a square from the end so that it will not roll. The square end view may also be a rectangle, but a square end is preferred. The ends of the container are preferably flat, as shown in the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 3, container 8 is comprised of four separate containers, a single container 9 in which a drink may be stored and three containers 10, 11, and 12 in which pills may be stored. Each container is held to the other containers by means of threads 13 at one or both ends and may be separated from the other containers by unscrewing them. Containers 10 and 11 are identical and have threads 13 at both ends, while container 12 has threads 13 at only one end. Threads 13 are made so that when all the containers are screwed together and sealed, the sides of each container line up so that the end view will appear square, as shown in FIG. 2. Containers 10, 11, and 12 are preferably of the same internal capacity, but some may be larger than others, if desired. Any number of sub-containers for storing pills may be used, but preferably there are only 2 or 3 sub-containers. Preferably, the sub-containers may be written on to note the type of drink or pill contained therein or other information, such as when medicine should be taken. This may be accomplished by means of labels or an area on the surface that is roughened.
The pill containers may store any type of pill, including medicines, vitamins, supplements, breath fresheners, etc. The pills may be in the form of capsules, tablets, or other forms. The chambers for holding the pills preferably have a capacity of about 25 to about 40 ml, but may be larger or smaller if desired. The drink that is stored may be water, a fruit drink, coffee, tea, or other type of drink, as desired. The chamber for holding the drink is larger than the pill chambers and should have a capacity sufficient to hold enough drink to enable an average person to take all of the pills; about 90 to about 100 ml is preferred for the container of FIG. 1, where there is a single pill compartment, and about 120 to about 150 ml is preferred when there are multiple pill compartments, e.g., the container of FIG. 3. The containers are preferably made of plastic, such as acrylic, as plastics are inexpensive, light weight, and safe, but other materials such as glass, ceramic, and various metals may also be used. The containers are preferably transparent so that their contents may be viewed without opening them. They may also be colored or have designs on them. A typical container according to this invention may have widths of about ½ to about 1¼ inches and be about 3 to about 6 inches long; other sizes are also contemplated. The edges of the container are preferably beveled, as shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. An elongated container, rectangular in cross-section having

(A) a single first compartment for holding a drink;

(B) at least one second compartment, separate from said first compartment, for holding pills; and

(C) means for separately accessing and sealing each compartment, where said first and second compartment are linearly aligned:

2. An elongated container according to claim 1 that is made of plastic.

3. An elongated container according to claim 1 that is transparent.

4. An elongated container according to claim 1 wherein said container is square in cross-section and has flat ends.

5. An elongated container according to claim 4 that has widths of about ½ inches to about 1½ inches wide and about 3 to about 6 inches long.

6. An elongated container according to claim 1 wherein said means are screw on caps.

7. An elongated container according to claim 1 wherein the edges of said container are beveled.

8. An elongated container according to claim 1 wherein said elongated container can be written on.

9. An elongated container according to claim 1 wherein said container has a single second compartment.

10. An elongated container according to claim 9 wherein the capacity of said first compartment is about 25 to about 40 ml and the capacity of said second compartment is about 90 to about 100 ml.

11. An elongated container according to claim 9 wherein means for sealing said compartments is a threaded cap on each end of said elongated container.

12. An elongated container according to claim 1 wherein said elongated container comprises at least three separable sub-containers, each forming a compartment, a first sub-container for holding a liquid, and at least two second sub-containers, each for holding pills.

13. An elongated container according to claim 12 having 2 or 3 second sub-containers.

14. An elongated container according to claim 12 wherein the capacity of said first sub-container is about 120 to about 150 ml and the capacity of each of said second sub-containers is about 25 to about 40 ml.

15. An elongated container according to claim 12 wherein one of said sub-containers screws into said first subcontainer and said second sub-containers screw into other sub-containers.

16. A method of taking pills comprising opening said first compartment of a container according to claim 1 and placing a drink therein, opening at least one second compartment and placing pills therein, removing at least one pill from at least one second compartment, opening said first compartment, and swallowing said at least one pill with said drink.

17. An elongated container, square in cross-section, having

(A) a single first compartment for holding a drink;

(B) a single second compartment, separate from said first compartment but attached thereto, for holding pills; and

(C) a cap threadedly attached to each end of said elongated container, for separately accessing and sealing said first and second compartments, where said first and second compartments are linearly aligned.

18. An elongated container according to claim 17 wherein the capacity of said first compartment is about 90 to about 100 ml and the capacity of said second compartment is about 25 to about 40 ml.

19. An elongated container, square in cross-section, comprising at least three sub-containers, a first subcontainer for holding a drink, having a threadedly attached cap at one end, and at least two second subcontainers, each for holding pills, where one of said second sub-containers screws into said first sub-container and the remaining second sub-containers screw into other sub-containers.

20. An elongated container according to claim 19 wherein the capacity of said first compartment is about 120 to about 150 ml and the capacity of said second compartment is about 25 to about 40 ml.