Abstract:
The instant application relates to a portable dose form organizer and display wallet. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet encompasses a wallet body, at least one clear dose form pocket positioned on the inside or outside surface of the wallet body, and at least one clear information pocket corresponding to and positioned next to the at least one clear dose form pocket on the inside or outside surface of the wallet body. The wallet body has: an inside surface; an opposed outside surface; and two opposed ends.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/043,765, filed Apr. 10, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The instant disclosure relates generally to organizers for regular users of prescription and non-prescription medications. It would be desirable to have an organizer readily available, e.g., to respond to questions from a health care provider/clinician about his/her medications. Such organizers may be especially valuable if the person is elderly or otherwise has physical or memory limitations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    Features and advantages of embodiments of the instant disclosure will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings, in which like reference numerals correspond to similar, though perhaps not identical, components. For the sake of brevity, reference numerals or features having a previously described function may or may not be described in connection with other drawings in which they appear. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of the portable dose form organizer, shown in its closed position according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet in its closed and fastened position according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable dose form organizer in the open position, and showing the inside surface according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a cutaway front view of four clear dose form pockets and their corresponding clear information pockets on the inside surface of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, cutaway front view of two of the clear dose form pockets on the inside surface of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the top pocket showing the dose form about to be inserted, and the bottom pocket showing the dose form 518 already inserted; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged, cutaway view of a clear ID pocket, including an ID information card in the process of being inserted, on the outside surface of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area in box  7 A of  FIG. 1 , showing a “living hinge” hinge member; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7B  is an enlarged, cutaway perspective view of a “butterfly hinge” hinge member according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7C  is an enlarged, cutaway perspective view of a “piano hinge” hinge member according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, cutaway front view showing an alternate embodiment of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet, without a hinge member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    People who take prescription and non-prescription medication on a daily basis are often expected to know and communicate on the spot about specific details related to their daily regimen of pill-taking. For example, when consulting with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, a person is often asked: the names of specific medications, the exact prescribed/recommended dosages of these medications including the number of milligrams of a specific pill (also referred to herein as a dose form), and which conditions are being treated by a specific pill/dose form. 
         [0015]    To address this problem, some people resort to packing all their pill bottles in a bag that they can take with them each time they go to a doctor or pharmacist. By this means, the person has access not only to samples of the medication but also to a written label on the bottle recording the name and dosage of the medication. However, this can be a cumbersome and inefficient method with the person having to root through a bag containing many pill bottles. Also, if the person has vision problems, the labels on the bottles are often hard to read and interpret. Another method of dealing with this situation is for the person to prepare a handwritten or printed list of all his/her medications with the corresponding dosages and other relevant information. However, such a list can be hard to interpret especially if there are no samples of the pills to correspond with the information. 
         [0016]    People with vision problems, for example, elderly people, often can best associate their medication by its appearance, especially its color, even if they cannot remember its name. Thus, if a person were to combine both a detailed list as described above with a bag of pill bottles or even a pill box that holds just the particular pills taken regularly, he/she would have all the relevant information in one place. However he/she would likely still have a difficult time organizing such updated information and paraphernalia together at the time it was needed, carrying it in a manageable form, and accessing it in a way that he/she could efficiently use it at the visit to the doctor or pharmacist. Also, such a system would often require completely re-doing the list and collection of pills each time any of the prescriptions change. 
         [0017]    For such circumstances, there is a need for a medication information organizer which is simple to prepare and use, inexpensive, lightweight and easily carried; but which contains all the information reasonably needed in a form that can be accessed and understood by a person with possible physical, sensory or memory limitations. Such an organizer would prove valuable to the public in general, but especially to that growing portion of the population who are elderly and/or physically limited, yet function relatively independently, often living alone. Such people want and need to personally know about, control and communicate accurately about their medications which in so many ways are affecting their daily lives. 
         [0018]    The present inventor has advantageously developed a medication information organizer in the form of a portable dose form organizer/display wallet which addresses the concerns expressed above. In relation to this, the inventor has also developed a method of making and using the organizer. In further relation to this, the inventor has developed a system of organizing, displaying and referencing information about an individual&#39;s current medications. Embodiments of the organizer/display wallet and the method of using it are described below. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown in a closed and fastened position. The portable dose form organizer/display wallet includes a wallet body  110  (described further below) having: an inside surface  112 ; an opposed outside surface  114 ; and two opposed ends  116   a,    116   b.  A hinge member  118  may be disposed between the two opposed ends  116   a,    116   b.  As shown in  FIG. 1 , the hinge member  118  is configured to enable the wallet body  110  to close in a manner sufficient to cause the two opposed ends  116   a,    116   b  to be proximate to each other. The organizer/display wallet is sized to be fit into a user&#39;s pocket, purse, briefcase, etc. and thus is easily carried. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of one outside surface  114  of a closed and fastened portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown. A selective fastening means  122  is shown in a closed position. By the selective fastening means  122 , the two opposed ends  116   a,    116   b  may be fastened together when the wallet body  110  is closed. 
         [0021]    An embodiment of the selective fastening means  122  shown in  FIG. 1  is a hook and loop fastener (commercially available under the tradename Velcro® from Velcro USA Inc., Manchester, N.H.). Other fastening means can also function as the selective fastening means. Non-limiting examples can be snap and grommet fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, zippers, buckles, laces, or combinations thereof. 
         [0022]    Also in the embodiment of the selective fastening means  122  shown in  FIG. 1 , there is shown an alternate embodiment wherein the fastening function of the hook and loop selective fastening means  122  may be reversible. In this embodiment, an additional hook portion  126  (shown in phantom) is operatively disposed on the reverse surface of the end of the selective fastening means  122 ; and a corresponding loop portion  130  (shown in phantom) is operatively disposed on the reverse (inside) surface  112  of the end of the wallet body  110 . By using alternatively either the hook portion  124  and the loop portion  128 , or the additional hook portion  126  and the additional loop portion  130 , the two opposed ends of the wallet body  110  can be brought proximate to each other either with the inside surface  112  in the closed position inside the wallet body  110  or the inside surface  112  outside of the wallet body  110  in an alternative closed position. Thus, the inside surface  112  may be configured to be positionable as either inside or outside the wallet body  110 . In some embodiments, it may be desirable to position the inside surface  112  so that the individual dose forms  416  and the corresponding information  418  about the dose forms  416  can be displayed for a desired time on the outside of the wallet body  110  while the opposing ends  116   a,    116   b  are fastened together by the selective fastening means  122 . 
         [0023]    It is to be understood that the hook and loop configuration  126 ,  130  may be disposed on the wallet body  110  in addition to, or as an alternate to the hook and look configuration  124 ,  128 . 
         [0024]    Furthermore, it is contemplated as being within the purview of the present disclosure that the portrayal of the hook and loop embodiment of fastening means  122  which has the hook portion  124  attached to the end of the selective fastening means  122  with the loop portion  128  attached to the opposed end  116   a  can be switched. In this further alternate embodiment, the loop portion  128  can be attached to the end of the selective fastening means  122  while the hook portion  128  is attached to the opposed end  116   a.  It is to be understood that the portrayal of the additional/alternate hook portion  126  (shown in phantom) and the additional loop portion  130  (shown in phantom) is also a non-limiting embodiment which can likewise be switched so that the additional loop portion  130  (shown in phantom) is attached to the reverse surface of the selective fastening means  122  while the additional hook portion  128  (shown in phantom) is attached to the reverse (inside) surface  112  of the opposed end  116   a.    
         [0025]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the structure of the portable dose form organizer/ display wallet is formed of the wallet body  110 , as mentioned above. In a non-limiting embodiment, the wallet body  110  has the inside surface  112  and the outside surface  114  formed of a plastic or fabric material which forms an enveloping layer around both sides of a substantially flat, board-shaped stiffening member  120  for each of the front cover  132  and the back cover  134  of the wallet body  110 . It is to be understood that the material forming the inside and outside surfaces  112 ,  114  may be any suitable material and thickness, as desired. In an embodiment, the inside and outside surfaces are formed from about 0.012″ thick opaque flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC). In another embodiment, expanded vinyl may be used. 
         [0026]    The stiffening members  120  give the wallet body  110  its book-like shape, the wallet body  110  having a front cover  132  and a back cover  134  connected together with a hinge member  118 . The stiffening members  120  also maintain the stiffness of the wallet body  110  against bending forces. 
         [0027]    It is to be understood that the stiffening member  120  can be chosen from various materials and thicknesses. As non-limiting examples, the materials used for the stiffening member  120  can include heavy cardstock, paper board, fiber board, card board, particle board, polycarbonate sheet, and rigid plastic sheet. In an embodiment, the stiffening member  120  is formed from about 0.020″ thick recycled chipboard. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the hinge member  118  of the wallet body  110  of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet can use various types of hinges. The hinge member  118  shown in  FIG. 1  and as more closely shown in  FIG. 7A  is a “living hinge” hinge member  118 . A “living hinge” hinge member  118  is a flexible hinge, usually made of plastic. Typically, the flexible plastic hinge of the “living hinge” hinge member  118  joins two relatively rigid plastic parts together. It is often manufactured by injection molding to create at one time the flexible hinge  118  and the two rigid parts  132 ,  134  connected by the hinge  118 . 
         [0029]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 7B and 7C , respectively, other possible non-limiting examples of suitable hinges that may be used are butterfly hinges  118 ′ and piano hinges  118 ″. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the inside display surface  112  of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown. According to this non-limiting embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , eight clear dose form pockets  312  are disposed in a vertical column along the left edge of the inside surface  112 . Parallel and proximate to the vertical column of eight clear dose form pockets  312  is a vertical column of a desirable number (e.g., four) of clear information pockets  314  toward the right edge of the inside surface  112 . In the non-limiting embodiment shown, each clear information pocket  314  horizontally lines up with and directly corresponds to two consecutive clear dose form pockets  312 . There is one clear information pocket  314  for each two clear dose form pockets  312 , thus making four clear information pockets  314  and eight clear dose form pockets  312 . As discussed above, in another embodiment, this inside display surface  112  can be positioned in reverse so that the inside display surface  112  actually becomes the outside surface of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective close-up view of an upper portion of the inside display surface  112  of the portable dose form organizer/ display wallet is shown. Two clear dose form pockets  312  are positioned vertically along the left edge of the inside surface  112 . Proximate to the two clear dose form pockets  312  is the corresponding clear information pocket  314 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , each of the two clear dose form pockets  312  contain a dose form  416  (e.g., a capsule) fastened firmly (but releasably when desired for removal) in each dose form pocket  312  for display. Directly to the right of the two clear dose form pockets  312  and toward the right side of the inside surface  112  is the clear information pocket  314 . The clear information pocket  314  firmly (but releasably when desired for removal) fastens and displays from the pocket  314  a card  418  including written information corresponding to and easily referable to each of the two dose forms  416  in each of the two corresponding clear dose form pockets  312 . In one embodiment, the written information on the card  418  (in the two corresponding clear dose form pockets  312 ) includes as written information: the medication name, the medication dose, and the medication use about each of the dose forms  416 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a close-up view of the upper right hand corner of the inside display surface  112  of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown. Specifically, the uppermost two clear dose form pockets  512 ,  514  are shown. In the lower pocket  514 , the dose form  518  (e.g., a capsule) is firmly fastened inside the pocket  514 . However, the upper clear dose form pocket  512  is empty but shows a dose form  516  positioned to the right and just outside of the opening  520  of the pocket  512 . Positioned as shown, the dose form  516  can be inserted into or removed out of the opening  520  of the pocket  512 . Thus, besides firmly fastening a dose form  416  or information card  418  in a clear pocket  312 ,  314 , a dose form  416  or card  418  can be both easily inserted and easily removed from a clear pocket  312 ,  314 . By this means, when one or more of the patient&#39;s medications changes, the display of medications in the portable dose form organizer/display wallet can be easily modified. 
         [0033]    Referring still to  FIG. 5 , the clear dose form pockets  512 ,  514  are configured as patch pockets  512 ,  514  so that all but one edge of the total edges of the patch pocket  512 ,  514  of a transparent material are attached to the area of the surface  112  on which the pockets  512 ,  514  are disposed. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the patch pockets  512 ,  514  are rectangularly shaped, with the right edge  520  of the rectangle being unattached from the inside display surface  112  to form an opening  520  into and out of which the dose form  416  can be transferred. In  FIG. 4 , the clear information pocket  314  is similarly configured as a rectangularly shaped patch pocket  314  with the right edge  420  of the rectangle being unattached from the inside display surface  112  to form an opening into and out of which the information card  418  can be transferred. 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a close-up view is shown of an area of the outside surface  114  of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet on which a clear ID pocket  612  may be attached if desired. Firmly (but removably, when desired) fastened inside the clear ID pocket  612  is a patient identification (ID) card  614 . Thus, in an embodiment, the ID card  614  is displayed on the outside surface  114  which is the reverse surface or, in other words, as discussed with reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , on the opposite side of the inside surface  112 . 
         [0035]    This embodiment of the clear ID pocket  612  is a rectangularly shaped patch pocket  612  with the top edge  616  of the rectangle being unattached from the outside surface  114  to form an opening  616  into and out of which the ID card  614  can be transferred. Thus, as with the clear dose form pockets  312  and clear information pocket  314  on the inside surface  112 , the clear ID pocket  612  on the outside surface  114  functions to firmly fasten the ID card  614  in the clear pocket  612 . The clear ID pocket  612  allows the ID card  614  to be both easily inserted and easily removed from the pocket  612 . By this means, if any of the patient&#39;s ID information changes, the display of the ID card  614  on the outside surface  114  of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet can be easily modified. 
         [0036]    In another embodiment, the patient identification information can be written with a marker, machine printed, embossed or otherwise directly recorded on the outside surface  114  of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet without the need of a clear ID pocket  612  and ID card  614  containing the written ID information. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , an embodiment of the dose form organizer/display wallet is shown which does not have a hinge member  118 ,  118 ′,  118 ″. In this embodiment, the wallet is substantially flat and does not close. As such, the stiffening member  120  may be formed from one continuous member; whereas in the other embodiment(s) described herein, there may be two stiffening members  120 , one for each of the front cover  132  and the back cover  134 . However, e.g., in the embodiment including a “living hinge” hinge member  118 , it is contemplated as being within the purview of the present disclosure that one continuous stiffening member  120  may be used that suitably accommodates a living hinge at or about the center thereof. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that any of the pockets discussed herein may be made of any suitable transparent material and of any suitable thickness. In an embodiment, the dose form pockets  312 ,  512  are formed from about 0.008″ thick clear flexible PVC, grade S2 (soft) hand; and the ID pocket  612  and card pockets  314  are formed from about 0.0075″ thick clear flexible PVC, grade 3H (firm) hand. 
         [0039]    It is to be further understood that any of the materials used for the organizer/display wallet as disclosed herein may be formed from recycled materials. 
         [0040]    Further, it is to be understood that the embodiments shown herein are non-limiting, and that it is contemplated as being within the purview of the present disclosure that the orientation/configuration and number of the dose form/information/ID pockets may be any orientation/configuration and number suitable to organize, display and identify prescription and non-prescription dose forms. 
         [0041]    While several embodiments have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting.