WO2000063087A1

WO2000063087A1 - Distinguishable medicament container

Info

Publication number: WO2000063087A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/009299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leon Sturman
Original assignee: Leon Sturman
Priority date: 1999-04-16
Filing date: 2000-04-08
Publication date: 2000-10-26
Also published as: AU4212300A

Abstract

Touch-distinguishable containers (40), touch-distinguishable collars (62) and caps (42) for containers (40), and touch-distinguishable fastenable tactile markers are described, having one or more protrusions (50), depressions (66), or symbols located on one or more surfaces thereof which are readily recognizable by touch; having adherent, adhesive, or encircling portions for securing to a surface of a container (40) or of a cap (42) for a container (40); optionally incorporating one or more cap-retaining tethers (74); optionally incorporating one or more container-clustering links which may optionally be enlarged or stiffened; optionally being formed of a transparent material; optionally incorporating visual markings including color or pattern for further facilitating identification of the marked article; optionally incorporating a removably attached, hole-punched duplicate marker useful for filing or carrying in a wallet.

Description

DISTINGUISHABLE MEDICAMENT CONTAINER

This application is a continuation-in-part of pπor copending U S Application Ser No 60/129.822. filed April 16. 1999. the pπoπtv of which is claimed

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to markers for contamers and other articles, and more particularly to tactile markers for marking medicine bottles and the like in a personalized manner Description of the Related Art

Most prescπption medicines in the form of tablets, pills, or capsules are dispensed in uniform cylindrical containers with standardized caps In recent years, many pharmacies provide a container-cap combination that is deemed "child-proof so that children would not have read-, access to potentially dangerous drugs and medications Conventionally, the container includes a label bearing the name of the patient, the name of the medication and the quantity and frequency of the dosage The prior art has provided examples of containers which were specially configured to signal the presence of poisons or otlier dangerous substances Other containers of the pπor art had features that could signal the frequency of dosage Yet others provided an indication of the quantity of pills or the like to be taken at each dose U S Patent No 4.883,180 describes a medicine container which uses a colored label and raised identification dots or nubs to represent the number of times that a medicine is to be taken per da>

In households where more than one family member is being treated with prescription medications, the onl> way to tell for which patient the medicine is intended is to read the label Labels are generally typed or printed with relatively small type which may be difficult to read. especially if the lighting is poor or the container has become stamed Further, m the case of older patients, their vision is less than optimum and there may be difficulty m reading the label to determine the identity of either the medication or the patient for whom it is prescπbed

The problem is especially acute when there are adults and children concurrently taking prescription medications or where older adults are on different medications or different strengths of the same medication In these situations, one must rely entirely on the ability to read a label to determine what the medication is. the proper dosage and the patient for whom it is intended The consequences of a mistake can be severe

There is also the problem of family members who would like to be able to telephone home from work or from travel to remind a patient to take a medication If the patient has impaired eyesight or is otherwise only marginally able to distinguish between medicme containers on the basis of pnnted words and numbers, the family member may have little confidence in the patient's ability to act as reminded, much less report back after domg so Thus, there is also a need for a way to add distinguishing features to a medicament container to make it easier to distinguish and easier to describe It would serve the needs of the visually impaired to be able to identify individual medicines or at least to be able to distinguish as between medicines mtended for themselves and those intended for others Pharmacies and other dispensers of medication are rarely equipped to create labels that include information in Braille What is needed, in addition to visually distinguishable features such as color and pπnted indicia, is a medicament container which can be configured so as to be readily identified and correlated, by the sense of touch, to a particular patient in a household of more than one patient

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a container which can be readily associated with a particular patient in a household with more than one patient, preferably by sight or by touch, but at least by touch It is a related object to provide a contamer which includes on its surface one or more tactile symbols which are commonly understood as signifying male and female, so that couples can conveniently distinguish their medicme containers It is a related object to provide a medicme container that can be readily associated with children rather than adults on the basis of a surface feature indicative of whose medications are contained It is another object of mvention to provide a medicme container that can be associated with a particular patient m a household without relying on words and numbers pπnted on a label It is an additional object of the present invention to provide such tactile distinguishing information either on a container, on a cap thereof, or on a collar or adherent pad which may be secured to a contamer or to a cap thereof

It is an additional object to provide such tactile distinguishing information while also keeping a cap physically associated with a container, while keeping several containers clustered together, or both

It is an additional object to provide such tactile distinguishing information while also providing an easily grasped surface attached to the container or other article

It is an additional object to provide such tactile distinguishing information in combmation with conspicuous visual features to provide an easily perceived, easily recognized, easilv remembered, and easily descπbed marking system for one or more medicament containers or similar articles

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a means by which a persons communicating orally, as by telephone, for example, can make better use of their senses to have higher confidence that they have a correct mutual understandmg of which of several similar tangible objects they are referring to

It is an additional object to provide such tactile distinguishing information while also helpmg to block the contamer or containers from fallmg mto narrow spaces from which they might be difficult to retπeve In accordance with these objects and with others which will be descπbed and which will become apparent, an exemplary embodiment of a touch-distinguishable container m accordance with the present invention includes a contamer having an inner volume, a closure, and a tactile marker defined m an outer surface of the container and closure

In another exemplary embodiment, the tactile marker defines a symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch, such as, for example, a triangle, a rectangle, a circle, or a commonly understood symbol for male or female gender This embodiment is well suited for couples sharmg a bedside table In another exemplary embodiment, the tactile marker is impressed m the outer surface In another exemplary embodiment, the tactile marker may compπse one or more depressions or protrusions Also m accordance with the same objects, an exemplary embodiment of a touch-distm- guishable collar for a contamer m accordance with the present mvention compπses a collar having a surface and bemg so constructed as to fit snugly about a container, the surface having a tactile marker placed thereon The collar may be secured to a bottle of medicme, thereby identifymg the bottle and distinguishing it from others until it is discarded, at which time the collar may be transferred to another bottle In another exemplary embodiment, that surface defines a symbol capable of being perceived by touch, such as. for example, a tπangle, a rectangle, and a circle In another exemplary embodiment, the tactile marker is placed on a peπpheral surface of the collar

In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable collar mcludes an associated cap which also mcludes the same tactile marker m its surface as that defined on the collar, makmg it easy to keep caps correctly associated with bottles In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable collar has a tether attached to it and a cap attached to the tether, reducing the chance that the cap will be lost or confused with other caps

In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable collar mcludes a tether attached to the collar and a cap collar attached to the tether, the cap collar bemg so constructed as to fit snugly about a cap of the contamer, providing a convenient, re-usable way of not only identifymg a particular contamer, but also keeping the cap with the retamer In another exemplar)' embodiment, the touch-distmguishable collar is formed of a transparent matenal, makmg it possible to read a label through the collar even if the collar covers part of the label

In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable collar has a tactile marker placed on a surface of the tether so that it is possible to identify a particular bottle of medicine by feeling the tether In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable collar includes a link projectmg from the collar and a companion collar attached to the link This embodiment keeps several bottles together and, to some extent, guards against the frustrating expeπence of dropping a small bottle of pills into a narrow space behind a bed or bedside table In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable collar includes a link projectmg from the collar, a companion collar attached to the link, a companion tether attached to the companion collar, and a companion cap collar attached to the companion tethei This embodiment keeps several bottles and their caps together

Also in accordance with the same objects, an exemplary embodiment of a touch-distin- guishable cap for a container compπses a container-fitting closure body having a surface and a tactile marker on the surface capable of being recognized by touch In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable cap defines a symbol capable of being perceived by touch, such as, for example, a tπangle, a rectangle, and a circle

In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distmguishable cap further compπses a tether attached to the cap and a collar attached to the tether, the collar bemg so constructed as to fit snugly about the container to keep the cap with the contamer In another exemplary embodiment, the touch-distinguishable cap mcludes a tether attached to the cap and a collar attached to the tether, the collar being so constructed as to fit snugly about the contamer, the collar having a surface defining a symbol capable of being perceived by touch, the symbol bemg the same symbol as that on the cap, thereby more clearly associating cap and bottle

Also in accordance with the same objects, an exemplary embodiment of a fastenable tactile marker for marking an article compπses an adherent portion adapted to be securable to an article and a tactile marking portion attached to the adherent portion, the tactile marking portion bemg capable of being recogmzed by touch This embodiment may be attached to a bottle or other article previously acquired In another exemplary embodiment, the tactile marking portion defines a symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch, such as, for example, a tπangle, a rectangle, and a circle In another exemplary embodiment, the adherent portion compnses an adhesive surface which may be stuck onto the article to be marked

In another exemplary embodiment, the fastenable tactile marker has a tether attached to the adherent portion and a second adherent portion attached to the tether The second adherent portion can be used, for example, to attach a second bottle of medicme to the first, or to attach a cap to the bottle In a related exemplary embodiment, a second tactile marking portion is attached to the second adherent portion, the tactile marking portion and the second tactile marking portion each defining a symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch, the same symbol bemg defined in both, thereby not only identifymg several bottles with one person but also keepmg them together

In another related embodiment, the tactile marking portion is located on the tether to permit identification by merely feeling the tether

In another exemplary embodiment, the adherent portion compπses a collar, the collar being so constructed as to fit snugly about the article so that the tactile marker may be mstalled on and removed from a previously-acquired bottle In another exemplary embodiment, the fastenable tactile marker is formed of a transparent material so that a label may be read through the tactile marker

In another exemplary embodiment, the fastenable tactile marker having a tether further compπses a link attached to the adherent portion, a companion adherent portion attached to the link, a companion tether attached to the companion adherent portion, and a companion second adherent portion attached to the companion tether This embodiment keeps several bottles and caps clustered together and identifies them with one person In another exemplary embodiment, the adherent portion and second adherent portion define a first symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch and the companion adherent portion and companion second adherent portion define a second symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch, the second symbol bemg distmguishable by touch from the first symbol This embodiment clusters several bottles of medicme together while making them distinguishable from one another by touch

Also in accordance with the same objects, a plurality of touch-distmguishable containers each has an inner volume, a closure, and a tactile marker defined m an outer surface of the contamer and closure Each of the plurality of containers has a tactile marker which is distinguishable from the tactile markers of every other of the plurality of containers and closures by touch, makmg it convenient to tell the bottles apart by touch

Also in accordance with the same objects, an exemplary contamer, collar, cap and fastenable tactile marker, or plurality of same in accordance with the present invention compπses an associated buddy marker which may be kept by a family member or health care worker or which may be placed m a chart or earned in a wallet Optionally, the associated buddy marker is initially attached to the tactile marker and easily separable therefrom

The present mvention provides, among other things, a medicament contamer which can be configured so as to be readily identified with a particular patient m a household of more than one patient A plurality of embossed, stamped or engraved patterns and styles and/or colors can be employed to make a contamer either sex specific or unique in other characteristics so that a member of the household can immediately distinguish the medicines of one patient from all of the medicines intended for others in the household, either by sight or by touch, and especially by touch

It is an advantage of the present mvention that it provides a means by which a family member can orally identify a particular article (such as a medicme container) to a patient by specifying a feature of that article which is conspicuously perceptible via a first sensory modality and the patient can report having acted with respect to that article and, additionally, report a feature of that article which is conspicuously perceptible via a second sensory modality This provides a means by which the family member can test the correctness of the patient's response to the instructions by challenging the patient to report a feature which the family member has not mentioned and which the patient can learn only by touching or looking at the conect article This advantage is better provided by those exemplary embodiments of the present invention that associate each of one or more conspicuously different visual features with only one of one or more conspicuously different tactile markers Indeed, this advantage might be best provided by those exemplary embodiments in which the visual and tactile markers applied to a particular article m accordance with the present mvention have dissimilar verbal descπptions

While the problem might be ameliorated if medicaments could be stored m individual medicine cabinets, the problem is exacerbated if a smgle medicme cabinet serves an entire family or, if travelmg, all medicmes are packed together The problem of determimng whose medication is whose can be a serious one and one with potentially dangerous consequences if mistakes are made

Conventionally, the colors pink and blue have been associated with female and male children, respectively Accordingly, a pink or blue cap on a medicme contamer could be used to visually distinguish medicme intended for females or males In addition, tactile identifiers can be provided, such as engraved or embossed letters For example, an "X" or "0" could be utilized Other, easily recognizable shapes or patterns could be employed, as well

In a preferred embodiment, the cap of the container is individualized with a color or a tactile pattern In alternative embodiments, the body of the contamer can contain the tactile patterns although it is believed that the use of the cap is preferred in that the cost of providing a plurality of individualized containers and the problems of inventorying an assortment would present problems of cost and complexity to the dispensary At the present time, alternative caps are provided when a "childproof closure is not desired

In another embodiment, distinctive overlays could be provided which fit over a standard cap Such overlays could be colored and could mclude tactile elements One possibility is usmg a seπes of concave elements for the female patient and convex elements for the male In addition, the universal shapes currently bemg used to distinguish public bathrooms - the circle for women and the tnangle for men could also be employed

In yet another, alternative embodiment, a collar or πng could be provided to fit over the body of the contamer and which would have the distinctive colors or tactile shapes that would identify the medicmes of one family member from those intended for a different family member The dispensary could inventory an assortment of unique collars or bands from which a selection could be made BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the objects and advantages of the present mvention, reference should be had to the following detailed descπption, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are given like reference numbers and wherem Figs 1-4 are side views of touch-distinguishable containers in accordance with the present mvention,

Fig 5 is a side view of a touch-distinguishable collar in accordance with the present mvention,

Fig 6 is a top sectional view of a touch-distinguishable collar in accordance with the present mvention,

Fig 7 is a side view of a touch-distinguishable collar m accordance with the present mvention,

Fig 8 is a side view of a touch-distinguishable collar m accordance with the present mvention, Fig 9 is a side view of a touch-distinguishable collar m accordance with the present mvention,

Fig 10 is a top view of a touch-distmguishable collar in accordance with the present mvention,

Fig 11 is a side view of a touch-distinguishable collar m accordance with the present mvention,

Fig 12 is a side view of a touch-distinguishable collar in accordance with the present mvention.

Fig 13 is a side view of a touch-distinguishable collar m accordance with the present mvention. Figs 14-16 are top views of touch-distinguishable caps m accordance with the present mvention.

Fig 17 is a side sectional view of a touch-distinguishable cap m accordance with the present invention,

Fig 18 is a side view of a fastenable tactile marker m accordance with the present mvention, Fig 19 is a side view, as seen m plane with an edge, of a fastenable tactile marker in accordance with the present invention, showing a front view of a second tactile marker tethered thereto,

Fig 20 is a side view of a fastenable tactile marker m accordance with the present mvention, showing a face view of a second tactile marker tethered thereto and an edge view of a tactile marking portion located on a tether surface.

Fig 21 is a front view of a fastenable tactile marker in accordance with the present mvention. showing a companion tactile marker linked thereto, and

Fig 22 is a front view of a fastenable tactile marker in accordance with the present mvention. showing a companion tactile marker linked thereto

Fig 23 is a front view of a fastenable tactile marker in accordance with the present mvention, showing a companion tactile marker linked thereto

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The mvention will now be descπbed with reference to Fig 1, which illustrates m side view a preferred embodiment of a touch-distinguishable contamer m accordance with the present mvention shown generally by the reference number 40 The distinguishable medicament contamer has a cap 42 and a surface 44 A raised tactile marker 46 is formed m the surface 44 A person graspmg the container 40 the dark can readily feel and recogmze the tactile marker The tactile marker 46 of Fig 1 defines a tnangle Fig 2 illustrates another prefened embodiment of a touch- distinguishable container m accordance with the present invention in which the tactile marker 46 defines a circle Because the shapes are not only conspicuous to the touch but also easil) distinguishable from one another by touch, couples sharmg a bedside table may, for example, adopt the convention of labelmg one partner's medicme bottles with a tπangle and the other's with a circle With reference to Figs 3 and 4, additional prefened embodiments of a touch-distmguish- able container employ a tactile marker 46 defimng an array of protrusions 50 (Fig 3) or depressions 52 (Fig 4) These arrangements can cover a large portion of the area of the container, thus makmg it possible to recognize them at nearly any pomt on its surface

With reference to Figs 5 through 7, a prefened embodiment of a touch-distmguishable collar accordmg to the present invention, shown generally at 60, has a collar body 62. a collar peπpheral surface 64 defi ng depressions 66 (Fig 5) or protrusions (Figs 6 and 7). and a collar inner surface 70 The collar inner surface 70 has a diameter somewhat smaller than that of a range of diameters of bottles for which the collar 60 is intended The collar body 62 is formed of a material having the appropπate elasticity and surface properties that, once stretched onto the contamer surface 44, the collar body 62 will securely grip the container surface 44 and remain there until forcibly removed Polymers, paper products, fabrics, and composites of these can be designed with appropπate characteπstics The prefened embodiment shown in Fig 7 mcludes a cap tactile marker 72 having a plurality of protrusions 50 identical to those located on the collar peπpheral surface 64, makmg it easy for an individual to associate the cap with the container and collar by touch

With reference to Fig 8, a preferred embodiment of a touch-distinguishable collar m accordance with the present invention mcludes a tether 74 attached to the collar body 62 and to the cap 42 Figs 9 and 10 show a related preferred embodiment including a cap collar 76 attached to the tether 47 The cap collar 76 is designed to be removably secured over the cap 42 in much the same way as the collar body 62 is secure on the container surface 44 The cap collar 76 may be made slightly larger m diameter than the collar body 62 m order to accommodate the larger diameter of the cap 42 By applying this prefened embodiment of the touch-distinguishable collar to a container and cap, an individual can readily identify the contamer by touch and avoid losmg the cap or confusing the cap with caps from other containers Fig 11 shows a related prefened embodiment m which the protrusions 50 are located on the tether 74 that attaches the cap 42 to the collar body 62 An individual can identify the marked contamer by feeling the tether With reference to Fig 12, another prefened embodiment of a touch-distmguishable collar m accordance with the present mvention mcludes a link 78 attached to the collar body 62 A companion collar 80 is attached to the link 78 The companion collar is designed to be attached to a contamer surface m the same manner as is the collar body 62 This prefened embodiment is touch-distinguishable and enables an individual to keep several containers clustered together Clustered containers are not only less likely to be lost, but also less likely to fall mto small spaces from which they are difficult to retneve Fig 13 shows a related prefened embodiment in which a lmk 78 joms two collar bodies 62. each of which has a tether 74 to which is attached a cap collar 76 This embodiment is touch-distinguishable, clusters several containers together, and keeps the. caps with the containers This particular preferred embodiment employs the same protrusions 50 to mark both collar bodies 62 and both cap collars 76 An alternative embodiment, not shown in

Fig 13. would employ a second, distinguishable marker (depressions or parallel ndges. for example) on surfaces of the collar body 62 and cap collar 76 that are to be placed on each containers, thereby enablmg an individual to distinguish between the containers that are clustered together With reference to Figs 14 and 15, a preferred embodiment of a touch-distmguishable cap for a container is shown generally by the reference number 90 and mcludes a cap surface 92 having a tactile marker 94 The tactile marker 94 defines a symbol 96 (Fig 14), 98 (Fig 15) capable of being recogmzed by touch Figs 16 (top view) and 17 (side sectional view) show another preferred embodiment of a touch-distinguishable cap m accordance with the present invention in which the cap surface 92 defines an array of depressions 52 which are readily recognizable by touch

With reference to Fig 18. a prefened embodiment of a fastenable tactile marker in accordance with the present invention is shown generally by the reference number 110 and mcludes an adherent portion 112 adapted to be securable to a surface 44 of an article such as the medicme contamer that is illustrated Attached to the adherent portion 112 is a tactile marking portion 1 14 which defines an anay of depressions 52 which are readily recognizable by touch Fig 19 illustrates a related prefened embodiment of a fastenable tactile marker m accordance with the present invention which includes an adherent portion 112 (shown as viewed from an edge thereof), a tactile marking portion 114 defimng a plurality of protrusions 50, and a tether 74 which attaches the adherent portion 112 to a second adherent portion 116 (shown as viewed from the top or face thereof) Attached to the second adherent portion 116 is a second tactile marking portion 118 which defines a plurality of protrusions 50 The adherent portion 112 is attachable to a surface of a container, such as a medicme contamer The second adherent portion 116 is attachable to a surface of a container closure, such as a cap of a medicme contamer This preferred embodiment marks the closure and the container and keeps them together An adhesive coatmg is an exemplary means of attaching the adherent portions 112 and 116 to surfaces Other examples include a collar which fastens tighth enough about a container surface to remain there until forcibly removed, and alternative grasping, clamping, or tying arrangements Fig 20 illustrates another preferred embodiment of a fastenable tactile marker m accordance with the present invention, in which the adherent portion 112 is formed of a transparent material which permits an individual to read print on a contamer surface after fastening the marker Also illustrated in Fig 20 is a related preferred embodiment m which a plurality of protrusions 50 are defined on the tether 74 Especially if the shape of the tactile marking portion 114 is such as to cause optical distortion, it might be preferable to locate the tactile marking portion 114 on the tether 74 as shown in Fig 20

Fig 21 illustrates another prefened embodiment of a fastenable tactile marker m accordance with the present mvention, in which a link 78 is attached to the adherent portion 112 and a compamon adherent portion 120 is attached to the link 78 To each of the adherent portions 112 and 120 is attached a tether 74 A second adherent portion 116 is tethered to adherent portion 112 A companion second adherent portion 122 is tethered to companion adherent portion 120 A tactile marking portion 114 is located on each tether 74 The adherent portion 112 and companion adherent portion 120 are attachable to surfaces of first and second containers (not shown m Fig 21), while the second adherent portion 116 and compamon second adherent portion 122 are attachable to the caps of the respective containers In this prefened embodiment, each of the tactile marking portions 114 defines a plurality of protrusions 50 which are readily recognizable by touch It will be appreciated that a tactile marking portion may be located on any of the adherent portions 112. 116. 120, and 122 as well Also in this prefened embodiment, both of the tactile marking portions 114 define the same plurality of protrusions 50

In a related alternative embodiment, shown in Fig 22, the tactile marking portions located on adherent portions 120 and 122 define a symbol (triangle) different from that defined by the tactile marking portion located on adherent portions 112 and 116 (circle), enablmg an mdividual to distinguish by touch between the two contamer s that are linked together by installation of the adherent portion 112 on one contamer and the installation of compamon adherent portion 120 on the other Additionally, m the embodiment shown m Fig 22 (and other embodiments), the link 78 may be elongated or stiffened Either elongation or stiffenmg, or both in combination, can provide an enlarged surface for a physically impaired mdividual to grasp, and can also make it more difficult for the containers to fall mto a nanow space from which an individual with physical impairments might not be able to retneve them

It will now be po ted out that in certain exemplary embodiments of a touch-distrnguish- able contamer. cap, collar or fastenable tactile marker in accordance with the present mvention. color or color patterns may be employed to further some of the objects of the invention Such exemplary embodiments involving colors are perhaps more aptly descπbed verbally here than represented m black and white m the Drawing Figures As an example, suppose that a family member, who is caπng for a house-bound patient and is temporanly away from home, telephones the patient to remind the patient to take one of several medications which are within the patient^'s ready access Suppose further that, because the patient's cognition or communicative abilities are unpaired, the family member seeks added assurance that the patient has retπeved the conect medication

In this situation, an exemplary embodiment of the tactile marker or tactile marking portion in accordance with the present mvention includes a plurality of readily palpable protrusions and is also colored bright yellow The family member can instruct the patient, "Pick up the yellow bottle " When the patient reports havmg picked up a yellow bottle, the family member can then say. "Feel the side of the bottle." or "Feel the stπng on the bottle," or. simply, "Feel the bottle ^"' The family member can then ask the patient. "What does it feel like⁷" The patient might be m a forgetful state and might make a confused, passive attempt to accommodate the family member by parroting back. "Yes, OK, the yellow bottle" even when actually handling a different bottle or no bottle at all However, if the patient is highly this forgetful or confused, he or she will not likely be able to conectly report the tactile features of the bottle without first handling it and feelmg those features Thus, the family member can use the color of the marker in accordance with the present mvention m combination with its tactile features to challenge and confirm the patient's compliance with oral instructions This advantage is better provided where the visible and tactile features that are to be associated with a smgle marked article do not share a common verbal descriptor such as

"striped" or "polka dotted " The present example, which employs the color bπght yellow in combination with a tactile pattern of a plurality of protrusions, satisfies this cπteπon In order to conectly report feelmg the protrusions that the family member already knows are on the bπght yellow bottle, the patient will either have to see the yellow bottle, handle it, feel the protrusions, and report what he or she feels, or else will have to remember that the yellow bottle has the protrusions While the family member might not be able to know which of these conditions accounts for the patient's reply consistent with the patient's handling the bπght yellow bottle with the protrusions, such a consistent reply does give the family member an mdication that at least one of these has occuned, thereby providing a degree of added confidence that the patient has complied with the instruction

The same principle can be applied as between an adult and a small child In the case of the child, sensory abilities are typically most acute, while verbal abilities, and m particular the ability to accurately report having followed an oral instraction, might not yet have developed to a reliable degree A related exemplary embodiment of a fastenable tactile marker in accordance with the present invention mcludes an associated buddy marker which may be provided physically separate from the tactile marker or which may alternatively be provided physically attached but easily separable Fig 23 shows such an exemplary embodiment in which the associated buddy marker 124 is attached to the tactile marker by a frangible connector 126 The associated buddy marker bears the same tactile feature, visual feature, or both, as on the marker that is affixed to the marked article This exemplary embodiment has the advantage that the tactile marker and the associated buddy marker can be provided together to the user, who can then further mark or label both as he or she sees fit and can then tear off the associated buddy marker and keep it for quick reference Optionally, the associated buddy marker also displays a copy of pπnted verbal information also displayed on the tactile marker or on the marked article, such as the nature of the article, the name of the patient, the patient's telephone number, and the like In the exemplary embodiment shown m Fig 23, the associated buddy marker is approximately the size of a business card or credit card which may easily be earned in a wallet, and is punched with one or more holes 128 for easy attachment to a chart or ring bmder

While the foregomg detailed descπption has descnbed several embodiments of a touch- distinguishable container and cap and a fastenable tactile marker accordance with the present mvention, it is to be understood that the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention For example, more than two articles or contamers may be joined by an embodiment of the present invention Indeed, it will be appreciated that the embodiments discussed above and the virtually infinite embodiments that are not mentioned could easily be within the scope and spiπt of the present invention Thus, the present mvention is to be limited only by the claims as set forth below

Claims

What is claimed is

1 A touch-distinguishable container, compnsing a contamer having an inner volume, a closure, and a tactile marker defined in an outer surface of said container and closure

2 A touch-distinguishable contamer as set forth in claim 1, wherem said tactile marker defines a symbol capable of being perceived by touch

3 A touch-distinguishable contamer as set forth in claim 1. wherem said tactile marker is impressed in said outer surface and is capable of being perceived by touch 4 A touch-distinguishable contamer as set forth m claim 1, wherem said tactile marker compnses a protrusion

5 A touch-distmguishable contamer as set forth m claim 1, wherem said tactile marker compnses a depression

6 A touch-distinguishable contamer as set forth m claim 2, wherem said symbol is selected from the group consistmg of a tπangle, a rectangle, a circle, and the commonly understood symbols for male and female

7 A touch-distinguishable container as set forth in claim 1. wherem said tactile marker compπses a plurality of depressions

8 A touch-distinguishable contamer as set forth in claim 1. wherem said tactile marker compπses a plurality of protrusions

9 A touch-distinguishable collar for a contamer. compπsmg a collar havmg a surface and being so constructed as to fit snugly about a contamer. said surface havmg a tactile marker placed thereon

10 A touch-distinguishable collar for a container as set forth in claim 9, wherem said surface defines a symbol capable of being perceived by touch

11 A touch-distinguishable collar for a container as set forth in claim 10. wherein said symbol is selected from the group consisting of a triangle, a rectangle, and a circle

12 A touch-distinguishable collar for a container as set forth m claim 9, wherem said surface is a peπpheral surface of said collar 13 A touch-distinguishable collar for a contamer as set forth m claim 10, further comprising a cap, said cap having a surface, said cap surface includmg a tactile marker defining the same symbol as that defined on said collar

14 A touch-distinguishable collar for a container as set forth m claim 9, further compnsing a tether attached to said collar and a cap attached to said tether

15 A touch-distinguishable collar for a contamer as set forth m claim 9, further compπsmg a tether attached to said collar and a cap collar attached to said tether, said cap collar bemg so constructed as to fit snugly about a cap of the container

16 A touch-distinguishable collar for a contamer as set forth in claim 9, wherein said collar is formed of a transparent material

17 A touch-distinguishable collar for a container as set forth in claim 15, wherem a tactile marker is placed on a surface of said tether

18 A touch-distinguishable collar for a contamer as set forth m claim 9, further compπsmg a link projectmg from said collar and a compamon collar attached to said link 19 A touch-distinguishable collar for a container as set forth in claim 15, further compnsing a link projectmg from said collar, a compamon collar attached to said link, a companion tether attached to said companion collar, and a compamon cap collar attached to said companion tether

20 A touch-distinguishable cap for a contamer, compnsing a container-fitting closure body havmg a surface, and a tactile marker on said surface capable of being recognized by touch

21 A touch-distinguishable cap for a container as set forth m claim 20. wherem said surface defines a symbol capable of being perceived by touch

22 A touch-distinguishable cap for a contamer as set forth m claim 21. wherem said symbol is selected from the group consistmg of a tπangle. a rectangle, and a circle

23 A touch-distinguishable cap for a contamer as set forth in claim 20, further compnsing a tether attached to said cap and a collar attached to said tether, said collar being so constructed as to fit snugly about the container

24 A touch-distinguishable cap for a container as set forth in claim 21, further compns- ing a tether attached to said cap and a collar attached to said tether, said collar bemg so con- structed as to fit snugly about the container, said collar having a surface defimng a symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch, said symbol being the same symbol as that on said cap

25 A fastenable tactile marker for markmg an article, compnsmg an adherent portion adapted to be securable to an article, and a tactile marking portion attached to said adherent portion, said tactile markmg portion being capable of bemg recogmzed by touch

26 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 25, wherein said tactile marking portion defines a symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch

27 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 26, wherem said symbol is selected from the group consisting of a tπangle. a rectangle, and a circle

28 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 25. wherem said adherent portion compnses an adhesive surface

29 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth m claim 25, further compnsmg a tether attached to said adherent portion and a second adherent portion attached to said tether 30 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth m claim 29, further compnsmg a second tactile markmg portion attached to said second adherent portion, said tactile marking portion and said second tactile markmg portion each defining a symbol capable of being perceived by touch, the same symbol bemg defined in both

31 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth m claim 29. wherem said tactile marking portion is located on said tether

32 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 25, wherein said adherent portion compπses a collar, said collar being so constructed as to fit snugly about the article

33 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 25, wherem said fastenable tactile marker is formed of a transparent matenal 34 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth m claim 29. further compnsmg a link attached to said adherent portion, a companion adherent portion attached to said link, a compamon tether attached to said companion adherent portion, and a companion second adherent portion attached to said compamon tether

35 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 34. wherem said adherent portion and second adherent portion define a first symbol capable of bemg perceived by touch and said compamon adherent portion and companion second adherent portion define a second symbol capable of being perceived by touch, said second symbol being distinguishable by touch from said first symbol

36 A pluraht) of touch-distinguishable containers, comprising a plurality of containers each having an inner volume, a closure, and a tactile marker defined in an outer surface of said contamer and closure. each of said pluraht) of containers having a tactile marker which is distinguishable from said tactile markers of every other of said plurality of containers and closures by touch

37 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth m claim 25, further compnsmg a link attached to said adherent portion and a companion adherent portion attached to said link, said link being rigid

38 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 25. further comprising a link attached to said adherent portion and a compamon adherent portion attached to said link, said fastenable tactile marker being sized to fit articles of a predetermined size range, said ling link being enlarged so as to have at least one dimension greater than the greatest dimension of the largest of said articles in said size range

39 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 1. further comprising a conspicuous visual marker which does not comprise a geometric symbolic representation of the tactile marker

40 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 1. further comprising a detachable associated buddy marker which comprises at least one of a tactile feature and a visual feature also possessed by said tactile marker

41 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 9. further comprising a conspicuous visual marker which does not comprise a geometric symbolic representation of the tactile marker

42 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 9. further comprising a detachable associated budd) marker which comprises at least one of a tactile feature and a visual feature also possessed by said tactile marker

43 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 20. further comprising a conspicuous visual marker which does not comprise a geometric symbolic representation of the tactile marker

44 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 20. further comprising a detachable associated buddy marker which compπses at least one of a tactile feature and a visual feature also possessed by said tactile marker 45 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 25. further comprising a conspicuous visual marker which does not comprise a geometric symbolic representation of the tactile marker

46 A fastenable tactile marker as set forth in claim 25. further compnsing a detachable associated buddy marker which comprises at least one of a tactile feature and a visual feature also possessed b\ said tactile marker