Abstract:
A dual compartment prescription pill container is provided. A first compartment that can function as a traditional prescription pill bottle has a closure that is engaged by a second, smaller compartment of a second container. The interior volume of each container can be accessed independently. The second container provides a receptacle in which a daily or weekly dosage of medicine may be housed to make it easier for a patient to determine if the day&#39;s dose was taken. Optionally, the second compartment can be removed to make it easier for a smaller quantity of medicine to be carried by a patient.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is directed to a dual compartment container which may be used as a prescription bottle as typically dispensed from a pharmacy. The dual compartment bottle defines a second compartment that engages the safety lid of a conventional prescription bottle providing an accessory compartment that may be used to hold a smaller amount of pills or capsules. In this manner, the accessory compartment may be used to hold a smaller amount of pills or capsules to make it easier for the user to determine whether a recent dosage of medicine has been taken or not. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known in the art to provide containers having multiple compartments and storage recesses. For instance, various dual compartment storage containers can be seen in reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,654; 4,634,011; 5,850,919; 6,478,155; 7,055,709; and published application US 2003/0111467, the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0003]    While a variety of dual compartment containers are known in the art, such containers have not achieved acceptance in the marketplace. It is believed that there remains a need for a low-cost and easy to manufacture multiple compartment container and which can be adapted for use with conventional commercially used prescription pill bottles. Accordingly, there remains room for improvement and variation within the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is one aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide a prescription pill container having dual compartments in which an upper compartment is designed to engage with a closure portion of a lower compartment. 
         [0005]    It is yet another aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide for a pill storage container having a child-proof closure and a floor in which the floor is designed to interengage with a closure of a first pill storage bottle. 
         [0006]    It is yet a further and more particular object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide for a dual compartment pill storage container in which the first container houses an initial dispensed supply of medicine while a second compartment is positioned on and supported by a closure of the first compartment, the second compartment having a smaller volume which may be used to hold a single day&#39;s supply of medicine and having a closure similar to the closure of the first compartment. 
         [0007]    It is yet a further and more particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide for a dual compartment storage container in which the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment may be accessed independently of the other. 
         [0008]    It is yet a further and more particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide for a medicinal pill storage compartment having a child proof closure, a storage area adapted to be reversibly secured by the child proof closure and a circumferential rim extending beyond the floor of the storage compartment, the circumferential rim adapted for engagement with a closure portion of a prescription pill bottle which when so engaged provides for a container having dual storage compartments. 
         [0009]    It is a further more particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide for a dual compartment storage container in which a first compartment comprises a cylindrical container having a first child proof closure and a second container having a child proof closure, wherein a bottom portion of the second container is adapted for reversible engagement with the first closure. 
         [0010]    It is yet a further and more particular aspect of at least one embodiment of the present invention to provide for a child resistant pill bottle having a first storage unit and a second storage unit the first and the second storage units each being adapted for receiving identical caps for securing pills within said respective compartments. 
         [0011]    It is yet a further and more particular object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide for a container for medicine in the form of pills, tablets, and capsules comprising: a first container having a receptacle and a closure, the closure engaging said receptacle in a reversible fashion; and, a second container having a receptacle and a closure, the receptacle further defining a base, the base adapted for reversibly engaging an exterior of the closure of the first container. 
         [0012]    It is yet a further and more particular object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a prescription pill bottle comprising: a first container defining an interior volume; a closure adapted for securing to the first container, the closure further defining an upper surface defining a circumferential rim; and, a second container defining an interior volume, the second container having a base adapted for engaging the circular rim of the closure of the first container, the second container having a closure. 
         [0013]    It is yet a further and more particular object of at least one embodiment of the invention to provide a prescription pill bottle comprising: a first receptacle having a floor, a cylindrical body wall, and an opening; a closure for engaging the opening of the first receptacle, the closure defining at least one circumferential exterior rim when the closure is operatively engaged to the first receptacle; a second receptacle having a floor, a cylindrical body wall, and an opening, the opening adapted for receiving a closure and the floor being positioned within an interior of the receptacle so as to define an enclosure between the floor and the opening, the floor further defining a cavity between the floor and a portion of the cylindrical body wall and opposing the enclosure, the interior wall of the cavity adapted for reversibly engaging the at least one circumferential exterior rim of the closure of the first receptacle. 
         [0014]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    A fully enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying drawings. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded view showing the separate compartments of the dual compartment container. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view showing the two compartments positioned in a tandem arrangement. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is an exploded sectional view showing the component parts of the dual compartment container. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a sectional view taken along line  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 1  illustrating the joined components of the dual compartment container. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions. 
         [0022]    In describing the various figures herein, the same reference numbers are used throughout to describe the same material, apparatus, or process pathway. To avoid redundancy, detailed descriptions of much of the apparatus once described in relation to a figure is not repeated in the descriptions of subsequent figures, although such apparatus or process is labeled with the same reference numbers. 
         [0023]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , a dual compartment pill storage container is set forth in which there is a first container  20  seen here in the form of a cylindrical container having a closure  30  seen in the form of a child resistant cap. Container  20  and closure  30  may be of conventional design such as the container seen in reference to U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,442, which is incorporated herein by reference. As is well known in the art, the conventional container as seen by container  20  and closure  30  has a child proof closure system which, when closure  30  is reversed is adapted for threading into the interior of container  20  in a conventional, non child proof feature. 
         [0024]    For the purposes of illustration, closure  30  is depicted as being engaged with compartment  20  in the protective child proof orientation. A second smaller container comprising the compartment  40  and a closure  50  is designed to interengage with the top of closure  30 . Ideally, closure  30  and closure  50  may be of identical construction. Likewise, the engagement threads between closure  50  and compartment  40  may be identical to the closure engagement means between closure  30  and compartment  20 . 
         [0025]    As best seen in reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the relationship and orientation between the first lower container comprising closure  30  and the compartment  20  is designed to interengage in an axial fashion with an upper compartment comprising compartment  40  and closure  50 . As seen in reference to  FIG. 2B , a recessed floor  46  within the compartment  40  allows an outer rim  48  to define a cavity  44  positioned within rim  48  and opposite floor  46 . The cavity  44  is designed to engage with an upper portion  32  of closure  30 . 
         [0026]    As best seen in references to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the interengagement between the first container comprising the compartment  20  and closure  30  can be seen with respect to the interengagement of the second compartment  40  having closure  50 . As best seen in reference to  FIG. 3B , the resulting dual compartment container allows for medicines such as pill “P” to be removed from compartment  20  such that a smaller quantity, such as a single day&#39;s or week&#39;s dosage, may be placed within the interior housing  42  of the compartment  40 . As seen, both the upper compartment and the lower compartment have respective lids to keep the contents safe. Either compartment can be accessed independently of the other. 
         [0027]    One advantage of the dual compartment container described herein is that by placement of a single day&#39;s dosage of medicine within compartment  42 , an individual may quickly ascertain if a required dosage has been taken or not. Frequently, it is difficult to remember if a pill was taken at a scheduled interval or not. Having a smaller quantity such as a single day&#39;s dosage placed in compartment  42 , the user may readily ascertain if the medicine was taken at a required interval or not. For instance, if a pill is to be taken three times a day at meals, if, following lunch, a patient is unable to recall if the medicine was taken with his meal, a visual determination of the number of pills remaining in the compartment  42  will indicate if a dosage was skipped or not. Absent the easier to track system provided by the dual compartments, a person would have to count all the remaining pills in a typical container and calculate from the initial quantity and the remaining days if a dosage had been skipped. Such calculations are tedious, prone to error, and may be beyond the skill of some patients may lack the alertness to carry out such a calculation. 
         [0028]    As seen in reference to  FIG. 3A , in its simplest design, compartment  40  can be adapted to friction fit the upper portion  32  of closure  30 . As seen in reference to  FIG. 3A , multiple portions of the exterior surface of closure  30 , as seen in reference to  34 A and  34 D may define circumferential rims that may be used as a basis for interengagement with an appropriately sized rim portion  48  upper compartment. As illustrated, rim portion  48  is designed to interengage with the exterior rim  34 B of closure  30  such that both the lower container  20  and the upper container  40  have circular edge walls of substantially identical diameter. 
         [0029]    While the illustrated embodiment sets forth a friction fit connection, the interior portion of rim  48  could be threaded to interengage with a corresponding mated threaded portion defined by an exterior of closure  30 . The friction fit can be of sufficient tolerance that the respective compartments will not casually disengage. 
         [0030]    One feature of the present embodiment seen in  FIG. 3A  is that the closure  50  and compartment  40  may be removed from the lower compartment comprising closure  30  and compartment  20 . In this way, the smaller compartment having a limited supply of pills may be more easily carried in a person&#39;s pocket, handbag, etc. In this way, the user does not have to carry around a larger container but can carry only a day&#39;s worth of medicine as he or she goes about their day&#39;s activities. The limited number of pills present within the housing  42  allows the user to monitor whether the proper dose has been taken and avoids having to carry a larger supply of pills than needed. 
         [0031]    While not illustrated, it is well within one of ordinary skill in the art to allow for the rim portion  48  and cavity  44  to define threads or other securement structures such that the upper and lower compartments can be matedly joined for a more secure connection. Such an arrangement still allows for the respective compartments to be separated without compromising the integrity of the respective upper and lower compartments each having their own closure. Alternatively, the rim portion  48  and cavity  44  could be permanently affixed to the closure of a lower compartment by use of an adhesive or sonic welding. 
         [0032]    While not required, it is believed desirable that the material used to construct the upper compartment  40  may be identical to the materials used to construct compartment  20 . Such materials are typically a plastic or polycarbonate which is tinted to reduce the amount of potentially damaging light that may adversely affect the contents of the enclosures. 
         [0033]    While the illustrated embodiment is directed to one possible construction using a prescription pill body of a conventional design, the concept may be easily adapted for other types of prescription pill bottles. For instance, rim  48  and cavity  44  could be adapted for securing to any conventional closure by having a shape and dimensions sufficient to interengage with the closure mechanism. For instance, rim  48  and cavity  44  could be of any size and shape so as to interengage an exterior of any shaped conventional prescription bottle closure or lid. By so doing, the resulting second compartment when placed in operative engagement with the conventional prescription pill bottle, now provides for a dual compartment pill bottle. While not required, it is believed beneficial if the closure  50  of the small upper compartment is identical to the closure  30  of the conventional prescription pill bottle. While not believed as advantageous, it is also possible to have the compartment  40  adapted for engaging a bottom portion of container  20 . In addition, it is also possible to have the upper compartment define a substantially flush bottom in which an adhesive tab is used to secure to the cap of a conventional pill container. Alternatively, an adhesive tab can be used on the upper surface of closure  50  which could then be positioned to a bottom portion of container  20 . 
         [0034]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, devices, and methods, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged, both in whole, or in part. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.