Abstract:
A carrying case  10  in the size of a credit card is disclosed. The carrying case  10  has a front panel  12  and a rear panel  14  when overlappingly joined has a size of about 86 mm (3.4 inches) or less in length by about 54 mm (2.1 inches) or less in width. This carrying case  10  is substantially therefore the same size as specified for a credit card, but can be up to two to three times thicker or about 9.0 mm or less, preferably the device is about the same thickness as a conventional credit card which is 3.0 mm or less. Medications  20  or breath fresheners are disposed between the two panels, preferably in flat sheets  22.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/278,838 filed on Apr. 4, 2006 entitled “Medicament Dispenser” and hereby claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its entirety the subject matter contained therein. 
     
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a carrying case for holding medicine more particularly to a carrying case small enough to be held in a wallet. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Currently the dispensing of orally taken drugs is in a tablet, capsule or other edible form. Generally these are collectively described as pills. 
         [0004]    Lately some medications are taken through the skin and are commonly referred to as patches. Other medications can be taken via liquids or even injections. 
         [0005]    A somewhat recent medical finding related to the heart has determined that an orally taken low dosage of about 80 milligrams of aspirin at the onset of chest pains can dramatically reduce the occurrence of a myocardial infarction or heart attack. 
         [0006]    The AHA recommends in a report entitled “Aspirin in Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention”: if you have any heart attack warning signs, call 911 immediately; after calling 911, take an aspirin—unless you have an allergy to aspirin. Research shows that taking as aspirin when heart attack symptoms start will significantly improve your chances of survival. 
         [0007]    The findings are so striking that in some cases doctors have directed patients to routinely take a daily low dosage of aspirin. 
         [0008]    Scientific studies have shown that aspirin has therapeutic benefits beyond relieving aches and pairs; aspirin helps inhibit the formation of blood clots and since many heart attacks and strokes result from a blood clot in a blocked or narrowed artery, aspirin has a therapeutic role in the prevention and management of heart disease. 
         [0009]    In the last decade, aspirin therapy has played an important role in the prevention of recurrent angina (chronic chest pains), heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin therapy also appears to have significant benefits if used within the 24 hours following a heart attack. The American Heart Association suggests that aspirin “should be administered routinely to virtually all patients” having a heart attack. 
         [0010]    As a result of these findings many people routinely carry a container or small bottle of aspirin with them at all times. What is preventing others from carrying a supply of aspirins all the time in case of a medical emergency is believed to be the packaging. 
         [0011]    To date no one has provided a convenient carrying case for medications generally and more specifically one directed to carrying medications like aspirin. 
         [0012]    Assuming an individual saw a person having a heart attack and he had a low dosage aspirin to administer immediately the person suffering the attack would dramatically increase his chances of survival. Accordingly it is a goal of the present invention to provide a medication carrying case so convenient that virtually anyone with a wallet with a slot for carrying credit cards could have one. 
         [0013]    It is therefore an objective to provide a medication carrying device low in cost, simple to open and very portable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    A carrying case in the size of a credit card is disclosed. The carrying case has a front panel and a rear panel when overlappingly joined has a size of about 86 mm (3.4 inches) or less in length by about 54 mm (2.1 inches) or less in width. This carrying case is therefore the same size or smaller as specified for a credit card, but can be up to two to three times thicker or about 3.0 mm (0.118 inches) or less, preferably the device is about the same thickness as a conventional credit card which is 1.0 mm (0.04 inches) or less. Medications or breath fresheners are disposed between the two panels. 
         [0015]    The preferred embodiment has the front panel made of a thin membrane or foil or plastic heat sealed or otherwise affixed to the rear panel and the rear panel has a plurality of medicant holding recesses that contain a tablet wherein the tablet can be removed from the rear panel recess by pressing on the bottom of the recess containing said tablet pushing the tablet through the front panel and thereby breaking the thin membrane or foil above the tablet to remove the tablet while the remaining tablets remain sealed. 
         [0016]    Preferably the carrying case may further optionally include a magnetic strip containing a user identification number which can be used to access a patient&#39;s medical history for use by emergency medical personnel or physicians. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the case includes medication or breath fresheners provided in edible flat sheets or films that are water soluble to permit rapid dissolving in the mouth when taken orally. Preferably each carrying case can carry 25 or less tablets or sheets of aspirin or other medications, more preferably 10 or less. Each sheet has a written identification label. 
         [0018]    In another embodiment the carrying case has a thin membrane that hinges two thin credit card shaped panels along the length or the width of the device. In opening the carrying case one simply pulls the carrying case out of a slot or envelope in a wallet and opens the hinged panels to access one or more sheets of medicine. After taking the medicine one simply closes the carrying case and reinserts it into the slot or envelope for holding credit cards. 
         [0019]    In that embodiment the carrying case is made of thin thermoplastic or laminated paper. Each carrying case can be further individually wrapped in clear cellophane with an easy open tear tab when sold at the retail counter. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the medicine carrying case according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the open medicine carrying case of  FIG. 1  showing the medication sheets. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the carrying case taken along lines  3 - 3  from  FIG. 2 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the closed third embodiment. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6A  is a enlarged end view of  FIG. 6  taken along the lines  6 A- 6 A showing the dove tail slide configuration. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a fourth embodiment of the invention showing a bi-fold upper panel in the closed position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is the fourth embodiment in an open position. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is the fourth embodiment with four medicament holders shown. 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is the fourth embodiment showing a plurality of circular medicament holders. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is the fourth embodiment showing a plurality of oval medicament holders. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a fifth embodiment of the invention showing a medicine carrying case for attachment to a key chain. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is the fifth embodiment showing the medicine carrying case open. 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a sixth embodiment of the invention showing a medicine carrying case for attachment to a key chain that is approximately the size of a standard car or house key. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is the sixth embodiment showing the medicine carrying case open. 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is the sixth embodiment of the invention showing a medicine carrying case attached to a necklace chain. 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  is a sixth embodiment showing the rear view of  FIG. 16  with a magnetic strip added. 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  is a seventh embodiment showing a medicine carrying case with a frangible front panel. 
           [0040]      FIG. 19  is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 20A  is a perspective view of a first medicant sheet having a written identification marking. 
           [0042]      FIG. 20B  is a perspective view of a second medicant sheet having a written identification marking. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0043]    With reference to  FIG. 1  the medicament carrying case  10  is shown with an upper panel  12  and a lower panel  14  connected by a thin membrane hinge  11  that allows the upper panel  12  and lower panel  14  to be folded together. As illustrated the two panels  12  and  14  approximate the size of a credit card and conveniently can fit within the slot or envelope of a wallet for carrying such credit cards. The outer surfaces of the carrying case  10  can be embossed or otherwise identified with the fact that this is a medication carrying case as indicated a red cross is placed on the white container and on the cross is indicated aspirins in this particular example. 
         [0044]    With further reference to  FIG. 2  the carrying case  10  when opened allows the top panel  12  to simply fold open exposing the underlying sheets  22  of medication  20  as indicated these sheets  22  are preferably aspirin laden and indicated so on the outer cover of the carrying case  10 . These sheets  22  of aspirin can be made using thermoplastic films as disclosed in US Patent Publication 2005/0208108 published on Sep. 22, 2005. These films are commonly used for making breath fresheners and are provided such that when placed on the tongue they will dissolve rapidly allowing for quick digestion. This is particularly useful when one uses the thin films such as this in the deployment of aspirin as quick dissolving and ingestion is necessary, particularly in the event of a heart attack or the onset of chest pains. As further shown in  FIG. 3  these sheets  22  can be placed in a depression  16  in the credit card sized panel  14  that creates a rather thin membrane backing  17  on the outside adjacent to the shallow depression  16  on the inside which contains the sheets  22 . The user when trying to remove a sheet  22  simply presses on the thin membrane  17  in the area as shown in the cross sectional view of  FIG. 3  and the sheets  22  will lift to project slightly above the remaining portion of the credit card sized panel  14  where they can easily be slipped or pulled out of the container  10 . A thin strap  21  can be used to hold the medicament sheets  20  in place and a semi-circular depression  23  may be used to facilitate removal. As shown the sheets  22  are relatively thin and therefore the container can hold upwards of 25 sheets depending on the thickness of the sheets. Preferably each container should contain about 10 or less thin film or sheet medications. 
         [0045]    The term film refers to a thin flexible sheet of material and is intended to encompass the coated film, the cooled coated film and the film product. The film has a thickness sufficient to be rigid enough so that film product pieces with a perimeter area of 2-15 square cm are self-supporting, so that they do not bend under their own weight when grasped at one part, typically, at least 0.01 mm thick. The film typically has a thickness of no more than 2 mm, more typically no more than 1 mm. A thickness of 0.03 to 0.5 mm is preferred, depending on the use of film  22 . For edible applications, a thickness of 0.03 to 0.1 mm is preferred. Larger perimeter areas are possible limited only by the size of the carrying case  10 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIG. 20 , each medicant  20  is in the form of a thin sheet  22  which preferably has an identifying descriptive word  21  and dosage strength such as, Aspirin 80 mg, written on or molded into the sheet  22 . Preferably the written markings  21  are of a contrasting non-toxic and edible colored ink. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 1  the carrying case  10  can be wrapped in a cellophane or other clear wrapper  13  if so desired such that the items are fresh when purchased and also to provide an indication that the medication sheets  22  have not been tampered with. This is important in the use of medications such that a tamper proof feature is desirable. Additionally the outer edges of the container can be heat sealed slightly such that its initial opening would require some force to initially pop open the carrying case  10 . Once popped open the carrying case  10  would ultimately remain in an open position, but for the fact that it is conveniently stored in the slot of a wallet. As such each container will be closed and be maintained in the closed position until removed from the credit card holder slot of the wallet. This has the added benefit of providing a convenient storage location for the medications  20  that will normally be on the person particularly males who carry wallets on their physical person or females who carry their wallets in their purse or generally have their purse with them at the time the medication  20  is most needed. 
         [0048]    As further shown on the lower panel  14  of the carrying case  10  a magnetic strip  15  may be provided such that personal information of the patient can be encoded onto the magnetic strip if so desired. In such a case these credit card sized carrying devices could provide valuable information to any emergency medical team or attending physicians in the event of a heart attack for example. As such these devices could be encoded at the physician&#39;s office with specific information as to the attending physician and any particulars as it relates to the individual. This can all be stored in a master data center as is commonly done. This will enable EMT&#39;s and physicians attending the patient to have a better first hand knowledge of the individual they are working with. This is added and ancillary to the convenient carrying case. The device could also be made with an internal hard drive capable of providing 100 MB to 5 GB of data as is currently available from StorCard or similar type device using a chip to create a smart card application if so desired. The StorCard cards have movable parts inside the thin shell which includes a spinning wheel of mylar that is engaged when the card is inserted into a StorReader, a USB connected drive or a PC card that can instantly display or download the data for use in a medical emergency. 
         [0049]    While the medications  20  are shown as thin films or sheets  22  which can be orally digested it is further understood that the medications or aspirins can also be provided in any edible form including tablet form. Accordingly the invention is not limited to thin film medications such as used in patent publication 2005/0208108, but further contemplates such medications  20  that can be provided in tablet form and also in small strips that can be perforated and torn such that the sheets  22  can be thicker individually, however, a sufficient amount of medication  20  can be provided within each strip or tablet. In the case of aspirin 80 mg is the most preferred low dosage in some other cases 40 mg dosages are preferred. The primary purpose of the medications size and shape is that it can be conveniently stored. Accordingly any sheet  22  or tablet whether it be on an edible paper or otherwise quickly soluble form is all that is necessary and the invention is not limited or restricted therefore to any films or any particular type of aspirin containing shape or any other medication containing shape other than it fits within the carrying case  10  and that the carrying case  10  preferably holds the medications  20  in a flat configuration. Therefore, the sheets  22  or film like shape of the medication is believed to be the most preferable. It is understood, however, that alternative forms of providing a medication  20  may be provided as long as they can fit within the convenient size of the credit card carrying case  10  they would fall within the scope of this present invention. 
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 4  an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein the hinge member  41  is located on the width side rather than the length side of the credit card size carrying case  40  connecting the upper panel  42  and the lower panel  44 . In such a fashion the invention is equally as easily accessible and openable and furthermore would be retained in the closed position using the same wallet sized credit shape that would permit the device to slip easily back into a slot provided in a wallet. As shown the medicaments  20  are in sheets  22  held in a depression  46  by the strap  21 . An end  45  protrudes from the panel  42  to seal the end of the depression  46  in the closed position. 
         [0051]    With reference to  FIGS. 5 ,  6  and  6 A another embodiment is shown wherein the medicament carrying case  50  is provided in such a fashion that the top panel  52  can be freely separated from the lower panel  54  in that the upper and lower panels are provided with dove tailed rails  55 A and  55 B which would permit either the top panel  52  or bottom panel  54  to slide relative to the other panel and therefore the underlying medications  20  could be maintained in the depression  56  as previously disclosed in  FIG. 1 , however, the top or bottom panel can be slipped away from the opposite panel to thereby expose the stored medications  20  which again are preferably provided in sheet like form  22  held in place by the strap  21 . Preferably the removable panel  52  as shown has a closed end  57  which covers the end of the depression  56  as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment the depression is in the shape of an open ended slot to permit easy removal of the sheet  22 . 
         [0052]    With reference to  FIG. 7  the medicine carrying case  70  is in a closed condition and as such the upper panel  72  is comprised of two portions  72   a  and  72   b , the portions meet at the center of the carrying case holder as shown and has a hinged member  71  attached at each opposing end. 
         [0053]    With reference to  FIG. 8  the medicine carrying case  70  when opened discloses two medicament holders showing the medicaments  20  in sheet form  22  held by the strap  21  and contained in depressions  76  as illustrated. To further assist on removing these medicament strips additional depressions  23  are provided such that one can get their finger into position to get the individual sheets  22  of medicaments  20  out of the assembly. Additionally in the center of the main panel  74  the provision for holes  25  are illustrated, these holes  25  are positioned such that when the upper panel portions  72 A and  72 B close, protruding portions  27  can be snapped into position to close the medicine carrying case. 
         [0054]    With reference to  FIG. 9 , an alternative carrying case  70 A has the upper panel  72 A and  72 B additionally holding medicaments  20  in sheet form  22  held by additional straps  21 . 
         [0055]    With reference to  FIG. 10  the medicament sheets  20  can be replaced by circular disks  20 A as shown and a plurality of depressions  76 A are provided such that the sheets  22 A can be held in these multiple depressions  76 A as such numerous small circular disks can be provided as illustrated the carrying case  70 B is virtually identical to the carrying case  70  with the exception of how the medicaments are held. 
         [0056]    With regard to  FIG. 11  another version of the medicine carrying case  70 C is shown wherein the depressions  76 B are shown in an oval shape holding the oval medicament sheets  22 B as illustrated. 
         [0057]    From the above embodiments it is seen that the medicament sheets can take virtually any shape that is desirable, the only important factor in the case of aspirin by way of example, the medicament must provide the sufficient dosage for a single dose treatment particularly in the event of an emergency onset of a heart attack. 
         [0058]    With reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a fifth embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the medicine carrying case  10 A is illustrated. The medicine carrying case  10 A is comprised of two panels  14 A and  12 A and has a hole opening  18  wherein keys or a key ring (shown in dashed lines) can be inserted and the medicine carrying case  10 A can be attached to the keys. With reference to  FIG. 13  by pivotably rotating the medicament holder upper panel  12 A the lower panel  14 A is exposed showing the medicaments  20  in sheet form  22  in the depression  16 A held by the strap  21 . As illustrated a finger depression  23  is provided to facilitate removing individual sheets of the medicament as illustrated. The hole opening  18  can have a rivet type attachment  19  passing therethrough the two panels  12 A,  14 A that will help affix the panels together in a secure manner and will allow for the pivotable rotation of the top panel  12 A relative to the bottom panel  14 A as illustrated. 
         [0059]    With reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a sixth embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the medicine carrying case  10 B is illustrated. The carrying case  10 B is similar in construction to the fifth embodiment shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , but is approximately the size of a standard house or car key. The medicine carrying case  10 B is comprised of panels  12 B and  14 B. Panels  12 B and  14 B have an opening  18  wherein key chain or a key ring (shown in dashed lines) can be inserted and the medicine carrying case  10 B can be attached to the keys. With reference to  FIG. 15 , by pivotally rotating the medicament holder upper panel  12 B, the lower panel  14 B is exposed, showing the medicaments  20  in sheet form  22  in the depression  16 B. The sheet forms  22  are shown held in place by the overlapping portion of the hinge area  29 . As illustrated, a finger depression  23  is provided to facilitate removing individual sheets of the medicament. The opening  18  can also have a rivet type attachment  19 . 
         [0060]      FIGS. 16 and 17  show the sixth embodiment of the invention wherein the medicine carrying case  10 B is used with a necklace chain (shown in dashed lines). A necklace chain would be useful for children and or adults who may not be carrying key chains, wallets or purses.  FIG. 17  shows a rear view of the sixth embodiment which may be provided with a magnetic strip  15 . 
         [0061]    With reference to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the medicant carrying case  10 C is shown wherein the front panel  12 C is made of a thin membrane or foil material that is heat sealed or otherwise adhesively affixed to the rear panel  14 C. The rear panel  14 C is made of a size and shape represented by a typical credit card adapted to conveniently slip into a card holding pocket of a wallet or purse. The rear panel  14 C has a plurality of recesses  16 C, each adapted to hold 1 tablet  22 C as shown. The recess bottom  18 C is thin and flexible such that the bottom  18 C when pushed will move the tablet  22 C into contact with the front panel  12 C breaking it locally about the recess enabling the tablet to be extracted. As shown the rear panel can be made of paper or plastic or alternatively could be made from a thermoformed or vacuum formed sheet to create the recesses  16 C or pocket like cavities holding the medicants  20 C. In such a case the rear panel may have a non flat outer or exterior surface as shown in  FIG. 19 , but rather a plurality of rounded protrusions or bubbles inside of which the tablets  22 C are contained. In any event the credit card sized medicant carrying case provides a low cost, tamper proof way to carry emergency medicines such as aspirin for heart attack intervention and treatment. 
         [0062]    While the present invention provides a needed solution to heart attack patients, it also is understood that it can be used as a carrying case for breath fresheners or throat lozenges as well. 
         [0063]    Variations in the present invention are possible in light of the description of it provided herein. While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the subject invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the subject invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that changes can be made in the particular embodiments described which will be within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.