US20060124491A1

US20060124491A1 - Separator for and medication dosage container

Info

Publication number: US20060124491A1
Application number: US11/009,473
Authority: US
Inventors: Maurus Logan
Original assignee: Logan Maurus C
Current assignee: CABLE-MATES Inc
Priority date: 2004-12-10
Filing date: 2004-12-10
Publication date: 2006-06-15

Abstract

A medication dosage container having an open mouth, a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to the mouth has an insert disposed therein, in the container and comprising a floor, a separator and spacing structure spacing the separator from the floor, the insert defining with the container sidewall a compartment for dosage containment, the compartment being inaccessible when the insert is resident in the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to medication dosage control and pertains more particularly to a separator for a medication dosage container having facility for dosage control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly-assigned, copending U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,570 B2 (the '570 patent), which issued on Aug. 3, 2004, addresses the so-called “secondary” drug problem, i.e., medication usage errors. As noted therein, this problem is heightened when one considers that the vast majority of medication users are elderly and may have vision and memory difficulties and that many thereof are required to take different medicines with different dosages over different time periods.
The '570 patent provides a medicine container, comprising an upstanding body having an open mouth and a hollow interior bounded by a sidewall and a separator secured in the body and defining upper and lower compartments, the upper compartment opening into the body open mouth, the lower compartment being accessible while the separator is secured in the body. In one embodiment, the separator is insertable into a standard medicine container and has a separating portion defining both a floor for the upper compartment and a ceiling for the lower compartment. The separating portion is pivotally supported to move between positions opening and closing the lower compartment.
In use of the above-described container of the '570 patent, a multiple time period dosage, e.g., a one-week's supply, of a given medication is inserted into the lower compartment. A lesser time period dosage, e.g., a one-day's supply, of the given medication is now withdrawn from lower compartment and is inserted into the upper compartment. A closure member is thereupon applied to the container and the container is thus set for a one-week supply of medication, removable daily from the upper compartment. This procedure applies on a weekly basis until the supply of medication in the lower compartment is depleted.
As noted in the '570 patent, the prior art evidences various approaches seen to address the secondary drug problem. Noted particularly in the '570 patent, with remarks distinguishing the same, are U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,106, U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,387, U.S Pat. No. 4,420,083, U.S Pat. No. 4,475,654 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,705 B1.
The '570 patent also notes, as prior art, a commercially-available medicine container having a cup member defining an upper compartment and removable from the container to permit access to a lower compartment containing medication.
Copending, commonly-assigned patent application Ser. No. 10/285,163, filed on Oct. 31, 2002, adds to the structure shown in the container of FIGS. 18 and 19 of the '570 patent the feature of releasably latching the hinged separator into its closed position, i.e., wherein it defines the upper and lower compartments.
More than one year prior to the filing of the subject application, the Assignee hereof publicly divulged the structure shown in the container of FIGS. 18 and 19 of the '570 patent along with the feature of releasably latching the hinged separator into its closed position, i.e., wherein it defines the upper and lower compartments as shown above-referenced copending, commonly-assigned patent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of further embodiments of medicine dosage containers adapted to address the “secondary drug” problem.
In attaining this and other objects, the present invention provides, in one aspect, an insert for a medication dosage container having an open mouth, a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to the mouth, the insert comprising a floor, a separator (ceiling) and spacing structure spacing the separator from the floor, the insert defining with the container sidewall a compartment for dosage containment when the insert is inserted into the container, the compartment being inaccessible when the insert is resident in the container.
The compartment is accessible for dosage removal or insertion upon movement of the insert such that the separator is disposed outwardly of the container mouth. The insert floor and the insert separator are mutually spaced by a distance less than the spacing between the container floor and the container mouth, the insert defining with the container sidewall a further compartment for dosage containment when the insert is inserted into the container, the further compartment opening into the container mouth.
In another aspect, the present invention provides, in combination: (a) a medication dosage container having an open mouth, a floor and a sidewall extending from the floor to the mouth; and (b) an insert disposed in the container and comprising a floor, a separator and spacing structure spacing the separator from the floor, the insert defining with the container sidewall a compartment for dosage containment, the compartment being inaccessible when the insert is resident in the container. The insert floor and the insert separator are mutually spaced by a distance less than the spacing between the container floor and the container mouth, the insert defining with the container sidewall a further compartment for dosage containment, the further compartment opening into the container mouth and being accessible upon removal of a container closure member.
The foregoing and other features of the invention will be further understood from the ensuing detailed description of preferred embodiments and practices and from the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like components throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a first embodiment of an insert in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan elevation of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan elevation of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a right side elevation of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the insert of FIG. 1 as would be seen from plane V-V of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an assembly of a medication dosage container and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 as would be seen from plane VI-VI of FIG. 7.
FIG. 7 is a top plan elevation of an assembly of a medication dosage container and the insert of FIGS. 1-5.
FIG. 8 is a bottom plan elevation of an assembly of a medication dosage container and the insert of FIGS. 1-5.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an assembly of a medication dosage container and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 as would be seen from plane IX-IX of FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a full sectional view of an assembly of a medication dosage container and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 as would be seen from plane X-X of FIG. 6.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an assembly of a medication dosage container and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 with medication loaded therein and a container closure member in place.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an assembly of a medication dosage container and the insert of FIGS. 1-5 with medication loaded therein and with the closure member removed and the insert moved upwardly in the container.
FIG. 13 is a front elevation of a second embodiment of an insert in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 14 is a top plan elevation of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a bottom plan elevation of FIG. 13.
FIG. 16 is a right side elevation of FIG. 13.
FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the insert of FIG. 13 as would be seen from plane XVII-XVII of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND PRACTICES

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, insert 10 includes floor 12 and separator (ceiling) 14, each secured to and mutually spaced by spacing structure 16. Open compartment 18 is defined between floor 12 and separator 14 and, in this embodiment, spacing structure 16 defines a partial perimetric sidewall of compartment 18. Insert translating member 20 includes a gripping member 22 secured to separator 14 by shaft 24. Further, in this embodiment, floor 12 and separator 14 are circular and spacing structure 16 defines a semi-circular sidewall.
Insert 10 may be comprised throughout as a one-piece body of plastic material molded into the illustrated configuration.
Referring now to FIGS. 6-10, medicine dosage container 26 includes floor 28 and sidewall 30 extending upwardly of floor 28 to open container mouth 32. Assembly A is reached by inserting insert 12 through mouth 32 into the interior hollow of container 26, until insert floor 12 is supported atop container floor 28.
Insert spacing structure 16 is selected to be of a height less than the height of container sidewall 30, such that a further compartment 34 exists atop separator 14, opening into container mouth 32.
Compartment 18 will be seen to be bounded by insert spacing structure 16 jointly with container sidewall 30. Further compartment 34 will be seen to be fully bounded by container sidewall 30.
Referring now to FIG. 11, assembly A is closed by container closure member 36 and contains supplies of medication dosages (pills) 38 and 40 respectively in compartment 18 and further compartment 34. This loaded state of assembly A is attained by (1) translating insert 10 upwardly from its disposition in FIG. 6 such that the opening into compartment 18, i.e., the perimeter thereof not bounded by insert spacing structure 16, is at least in part above container sidewall 30, as is shown in FIG. 12, (2) inserting medication dosage 38 into compartment 18 (lower compartment), (3) returning insert 10 to its FIG. 6 disposition and inserting medication dosage 40 through container mouth 32 into further compartment 34 (upper compartment) and (4) applying closure member 36 to the container. Medication dosage 38 is typically a one-week dosage or other multiple day dosage. Medication dosage 40 is a one-day dosage.
The container bears a label with printed indication of the periodicity of taking and dosage to be contained in the upper compartment, e.g., four pills to be taken one each six hours. The patient or patient caretaker administers one pill by removing the closure member and withdrawing such one pill from the upper compartment and replacing the closure member. In the example under discussion, this procedure is repeated at six hour intervals. If the medication has been properly administered, the upper compartment will be empty at the close of the twenty-four period. If medication is present in the upper compartment at the close of the twenty-four period, it is apparent to the patient or patient caretaker that a medication administration error has occurred and correction may be effected by administrating the remaining contents of the upper compartment to the patient.
Assuming either the propriety of administration of the medication or such correction in administration thereof, the insert is translated to its FIG. 12 disposition and a second one-day medication dosage is withdrawn from the lower compartment and inserted in the upper compartment. The closure member is reapplied, whereby the container is readied for the second day of medication dispensing. It is to be appreciated that, with the closure member applied to the container, the container may be inverted without transfer of medication from the lower compartment to the upper compartment.
While the step of translating the insert is conveniently performed by use of gripping member 22 of insert 10, it will be appreciated that the gripping member is optional. Thus, the loaded container may simply be inverted in uncapped state when the upper compartment is empty the insert will slide by gravity to open the lower compartment.
Turning to the insert embodiment of FIGS. 13-17, insert 42 includes floor 44 and separator 46, each secured to and mutually spaced by spacing structure 48. Open compartment 50 is defined between floor 44 and separator 46. In this embodiment, compartment 50 is fully perimetrically open, to be closed by the sidewall of a container into which insert 42 is inserted. Insert translating member 52 includes a tab 54, hingedly secured to the upper surface of separator 46. As in the case of the first embodiment, floor 44 and separator 46 are circular.
Insert 42 may be comprised throughout as a one-piece body of plastic material molded into the illustrated configuration.
As in the case of the first embodiment, insert spacing structure 48 is selected to be of a height less that the height of the sidewall of a container into which the insert is inserted, such that a further compartment then exists atop separator 46, opening into the mouth of the container, such further compartment being fully bounded by the container sidewall.
Various changes may be introduced in the disclosed preferred embodiments and practices without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that the true spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An insert for a medication dosage container having an open mouth, a floor and a sidewall extending from said floor to said mouth, said insert comprising a floor, a separator and spacing structure spacing said separator from said floor, said insert defining with said container sidewall a compartment for dosage containment when said insert is inserted into said container, said compartment being inaccessible when said insert is resident in said container.

2. The insert claimed in claim 1, wherein said compartment is accessible for dosage removal or insertion upon movement of said insert such that said separator is disposed outwardly of said container mouth.

3. The insert claimed in claim 1, wherein said insert floor and said insert separator are mutually spaced by a distance less than the spacing between said container floor and said container mouth, said insert defining with said container sidewall a further compartment for dosage containment when said insert is inserted into said container, said further compartment opening into said container mouth.

4. The insert claimed in claim 1, wherein said insert floor is coextensive with said container floor.

5. The insert claimed in claim 4, wherein said insert separator is coextensive with said insert floor.

6. The insert claimed in claim 1, wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed perimetrically of said insert floor and said insert separator.

7. The insert claimed in claim 1, wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed interiorly of perimeters of said insert floor and said insert separator.

8. The insert claimed in claim 1, wherein said insert further includes a member for imparting translatory movement to said insert.

9. The insert claimed in claim 8, wherein said movement-imparting member is secured perimetrically to said insert separator.

10. The insert claimed in claim 8, wherein said movement-imparting member is secured to said insert separator interiorly of the perimeter of said insert separator.

11. In combination:

(a) a medication dosage container having an open mouth, a floor and a sidewall extending from said floor to said mouth; and

(b) an insert disposed in said container and comprising a floor, a separator and spacing structure spacing said separator from said floor, said insert defining with said container sidewall a compartment for dosage containment, said compartment being inaccessible when said insert is resident in said container.

12. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein said compartment is accessible for dosage removal or insertion upon movement of said insert such that said separator is disposed outwardly of said container mouth.

13. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein said insert floor and said insert separator are mutually spaced by a distance less than the spacing between said container floor and said container mouth, said insert defining with said container sidewall a further compartment for dosage containment, said further compartment opening into said container mouth.

14. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein said insert floor is coextensive with said container floor.

15. The invention claimed in claim 14, wherein said insert separator is coextensive with said insert floor.

16. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed perimetrically of said insert floor and said insert separator.

17. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed interiorly of perimeters of said insert floor and said insert separator.

18. The invention claimed in claim 11, wherein said insert further includes a member for imparting translatory movement to said insert.

19. The invention claimed in claim 18, wherein said movement-imparting member is secured perimetrically to said insert separator.

20. The invention claimed in claim 18, wherein said movement-imparting member is secured to said insert separator interiorly of the perimeter of said insert separator.

21. An insert for a medicine dosage container, comprising a floor, a ceiling and spacing structure spacing floor from said ceiling and defining a compartment between said floor and said ceiling and a member for imparting translatory movement to said insert, the translatory movement-imparting member being secured to an exterior surface of said ceiling.

22. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein said insert floor is coextensive with insert ceiling.

23. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed perimetrically of said insert floor and said insert ceiling.

24. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein said insert spacing structure is disposed interiorly of perimeters of said insert floor and said insert ceiling.

25. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein said movement-imparting member is secured perimetrically to said insert ceiling.

26. The insert claimed in claim 21, wherein said movement-imparting member is secured to said insert separator interiorly of the perimeter of said insert ceiling.