Alarm pill box

An alarm pill box (11) has an alarm cancelled by the opening of a lid (12) to provide access to at least one medication compartment (16,17). An electronic memory is responsive to the cancellation of the alarm and records each cancellation. An associated indicator display (23) provides a visual indication of each record. Additionally, or alternatively, timer adjustment controls are inactive to adjust instant or alarm times when the lid (12) is closed, thereby requiring the lid (12) to be open in order to adjust the times.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
This application relates to an improvement made upon the subject matter 
disclosed in the applicant's own earlier U.S. patent application Ser. No. 
06/905,420, now abandoned. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a medication container of such dimensions as to 
permit it to be carried readily on the person e.g. in a pocket or handbag. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Many people need to take medication at regular intervals and must have a 
supply readily available and must remember, or be reminded, when the time 
comes to take the medication. It is known to provide a medication 
container which incorporates an alarm operated by a timer. For example, 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,688 of Machamer discloses a timed medication container 
comprising a case and a lid hinged thereto for movement between open and 
closed positions. A time-operated alarm is provided including a cancel ing 
switch actuated by release of a latching membe which normally retains the 
lid in its closed position. When the alarm is sounded, it continues until 
cancelled by opening of the lid, thereby releasing the latching member and 
actuating the cancelling switch. Although it is envisaged that the alarm 
could be set to sound several times each day, the container primarily is 
intended for use with birth control pills and the like medication 
requiring administration at daily or greater intervals. 
GB application No. 2179919 of Raven discloses a timed medication container 
similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,688 but intended primarily for use 
with medication requiring administration several times a day. In this 
container, the alarm cancellation switch can be actuated by movement of 
the lid relative to the cover and a manually operable switch can be 
provided for single or multiple deferment or repetition of the alarm. 
These prior art timed medication containers are not entirely satisfactory 
in that confused or infirm patients are often uncertain as to when they 
last took their medication. Further, such uncertainty also can arise when 
a patient anticipates the programmed dosage regimen and opens the 
container to take medication in advance of the relevant alarm signal. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to improve these 
containers to provide a clear and unambiguous record of each opening of 
the container during a programmed alarm sequence. 
It is another object of the invention to improve timed medication 
containers by preventing accidental adjustment of the instant or alarm 
settings of the timer. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In one aspect, the present invention provides in a timed medication 
container comprising: 
a hand-held portable case having at least one medication compartment 
therein; 
a lid hingedly connected to said case for manual movement between an open 
position providing access to the said compartment and a closed position 
denying access to said compartment; 
an electronic timer programmable to provide a sequence of alarm signals at 
variable intervals; 
manually operable switch means connected to said timer for setting instant 
and alarm times thereof; 
alarm means responsive to said alarm signals, 
an alarm cancelling switch responsive to opening of the lid to cancel an 
ongoing alarm signal; and 
display means for displaying information from said electronic timer; the 
improvement consisting in that the container further comprises: 
electronic memory means responsive to said alarm cancelling switch to 
record each cancellation of an alarm signal in said programmable sequence; 
and 
indicator means included in said display means and responsive to said 
electronic memory means to provide a visual indication of said record. 
In another aspect, the invention provides in a timed medication container 
comprising: 
a hand-held portable case having at least one medication compartment 
therein; 
a lid hingedly connected to said case for manual movement between an open 
position providing access to the said compartment and a closed position 
denying access to said compartment; 
an electronic timer programmable to provide a sequence of alarm signals at 
variable intervals; 
manually operable switch means mounted externally of the container and 
connected to said timer to set instant and alarm times thereof; 
alarm means responsive to said alarm signals. 
an alarm cancelling switch responsive to opening of the lid to cancel an 
ongoing alarm signal; and 
display means for displaying information from said electronic timer, 
the improvement consisting in that the container further comprises: 
electrical circuit means interconnecting said alarm cancellation switch, 
said electronic timer, and said switch means to prevent adjustment of the 
timer by said switch means when the lid is in its closed position. 
In a third aspect, the invention provides in a timed medication container 
comprising: 
a hand-held portable case having at least one medication compartment 
therein; 
a lid hingedly connected to said case for manual movement between an open 
position providing access to the said compartment and a closed position 
denying access to said compartment; 
an electronic timer programmable to provide a sequence of alarm signals at 
variable intervals; 
manually operable switch means mounted externally of the container and 
connected to said timer to set instant and alarm times thereof; 
alarm means responsive to said alarm signals. 
an alarm cancelling switch responsive to opening of the lid to cancel an 
ongoing alarm signal; and 
display means for displaying information from said electronic timer; 
the improvement consisting in that the container further comprises: 
electronic memory means responsive to said alarm cancelling switch to 
record each cancellation of an alarm signal in said programmable sequence; 
indicator means included in said display means and responsive to said 
electronic memory means to provide a visual indication of said record; and 
electrical circuit means interconnecting said alarm cancellation switch, 
said electronic timer, and said switch means when the lid is in its closed 
position. 
Usually, the alarm means will provide an audible alarm but other types of 
alarm, for example optical or vibratory, can be used instead of, or in 
addition to an audible alarm. 
The lid preferable is strongly resiliently urged towards its closed 
position, in order to maintain the container firmly closed. If required, 
latching or locking means can be provided to maintain the lid in its 
closed position. Advantageously, such latching or locking means are made 
"child-proof", e.g. by the provision of a movable latch or lock member 
requiring relatively complex motions and/or requiring adult manual 
strength to move them. 
The display means preferable is an LCD or similar display. Suitably it will 
display in its normal mode the instant time, preferably in digital form. 
Advantageously, the instant time display includes a symbol, especially a 
diagrammatic representation of an analogue clock face, indicating that the 
display means is in its instant time mode. The display means preferably 
also has a sequence of alarm modes selected by manually operable 
mode-selection means, usually a push button. In each alarm mode, the 
selected alarm time is displayed together with a symbol, suitably a 
diagrammatic representation of a bell indicating that the display means is 
in an alarm mode. An additional symbol, for example a diagrammatic 
representation of a capsule, can be provided to indicate, in the alarm 
mode, that the alarm time has been set. 
In the first and third aspect of the invention, the display means includes 
indicator means recording each cancellation of an alarm in the programmed 
alarm sequence Suitably, the indicator is a series of symbols, for example 
squares, other geometrical shapes or numerals, which are sequentially, or 
preferably accumulatively, displayed after each respective ongoing alarm 
signal of the programmed sequence has been cancelled. Advantageously, 
these symbols also will be displayed in the respective alarm mode of the 
display means in order to indicate the position in the programmed sequence 
of the alarm to which the display relates. 
In the second and third aspects of the invention, the manually operable 
switch means for setting the electronic timer are provided externally of 
the container. Usually, said means will be a bank of two or more switches 
located on the lid but it can be located on the case. Suitably, said bank, 
or the individual switches thereof, are at least partially recessed into 
the lid or case in order to limit the extent to which they protrude 
therefrom. In order to prevent accidental adjustment of the timer when the 
closed container is being handled. circuit means are provided 
interconnecting said switch means, the alarm cancellation switch, and the 
electronic timer to render the switch means inactive for adjustment of the 
timer when the lid in its closed position. However, when the lid is in its 
closed position the switch means can serve an alternative function, such 
as switching the display means between the various modes. Additionally, or 
alternatively, the switch means can act, when the lid is in its closed 
position, to provide for single or multiple deferment or repetition of the 
alarm. However, it is essential that the alarm signal cannot be cancelled 
unless and until the lid has been opened to provide access to the 
medication compartment(s) of the case.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a timed medication container in accordance with the 
presently preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a case 113 and 
lid 12 hinged to the case 11 by a hinge 13 (FIG. 3 only) which strongly 
biasses the lid 12 into its closed position. Complementary finger 
nail-receiving recesses 14, 15 are provided in the adjacent front edges of 
the case 11 and lid 12 to facilitate opening of the lid 12. 
The case 11 has three small compartments 16 and a large compartment 17 
shown in FIG. 3 and is provided with a shallow surface recess 18 to 
receive a label. The lid 12 has a compartment 19 complementary to 
compartment 17 and an enclosed compartment 20 incorporating a cover 21 
that provides access for replacement of a battery within the enclosed 
compartment 20. Compartment 20 also contains the electrical components of 
the container, including, as shown in FIG. 5, an electronic timer 22, an 
LCD display unit 23 an alarm cancellation switch 24, an audible alarm 25, 
a visual alarm 26, and associated, electrical circuitry. As shown in FIG. 
3, the alarm cancellation switch 24 incorporates a push button 27 which 
extends through the inner wall of the compartment 20 in a position aligned 
with a wall 28 separating two of the compartments 16 so that, as the lid 
12 is closed, abutment of the push button 27 with the wall 28 depresses 
the push button 27. Conversely, upon opening the lid 12, the push button 
27 is released. When an alarm is ongoing, release of the push button 27 
upol opening the lid 12 cancels the alarm. 
As shwon in FIG. 2, the lid 12 has a shallow label recess 29 in its outer 
surface. The outer surface also incorporates as shwon in FIG. 1, a window 
for the LCD display unit 23, an indicator lamp 30 of the visual alarm, and 
a bank 31 of three partially recessed push button switches 32, 33 and 34. 
The LCD display is described in detail below. The indicator lamp 30 
flashes when an alarm is ongoing to provide a visual indication of the 
alarm signal. The switches 32, 33 and 34 constitute the manually operable 
switch means of the container. Switches 32 and 33 are for advancing the 
hours and minutes respectively of the timer 22 of FIG. 5 when setting the 
instant or alarm times. Switch 34 controls the timer mode or, when there 
is an ongoing alarm signal, acts as a "snooze" control to defer the alarm 
for a short period of, for example, one minute. 
Switches 32 and 33 are in an electrical circuit with the alarm cancellation 
switch 24 and timer 22 of FIG. 5, whereby the switches 32 and 33 are 
ineffective until the lid 12 is opened sufficiently far for the push 
button 27 to be released. The switch 34 also is in circuit with the alarm 
cancellation switch 24 whereby the function of the control button 34 when 
the lid 12 is closed differs from that when the lid 12 is opened, as will 
be described below. 
The LCD display 23 normally displays the instant time in digital form. As 
shown in FIG. 4, there is display of "AM" or "PM" to indicate whether the 
time is ante meridiam or post meridiam. A diagrammatic representation 35 
of an analogue clock face is provided to indicate that the display 23 is 
in its instant time mode. As and when alarm signals in a programmed 
sequence are cancelled by opening of the lid 12, the instant time mode 
further includes an accumulative row of squares or blocks 36 at the bottom 
of the display 23. Thus, before the first alarm signal is cancelled, there 
are no blocks 36 displayed in the instant time mode; when the lid 12 has 
been opened in response to the first alarm signal, the left hand of the 
blocks 36 is displayed; when the lid 12 has been opened in response to the 
second of the alarm signals, the first two left hand blocks 36 are 
displayed; and so on with the addition of a further block 36 for each 
opening of the lid 12 in response to cancellation of an alarm signal until 
the alarm sequence has been completed and a complete row of the blocks 36 
is displayed. In the present embodiment, there is a maximum of nine alarm 
settings and accordingly a row of nine blocks 36. 
When the lid 12 opened, a first depression of button 34 in FIG. 1 places 
the timer 22 of FIG. 5 in a set-time mode in which the instant time can be 
adjusted by pressing push buttons 32 and 33. This mode is indicated by 
flashing of the clock symbol 35 in FIG. 4. Subsequent depression of button 
34 sets the adjusted time and moves the timer 22 to a first alarm mode 
indicated on the LCD display 23 by a first flashing bell 37 and by the 
flashing of the first block 36 in the row of indicator blocks 36. The 
first alarm time is set by depression of buttons 32 and 33 until the 
required alarm time is displayed. Subsequent depression of button 34 sets 
the first alarm time and moves the timer 22 into its second alarm mode. 
The second alarm mode is distinguished from the first alarm mode on the 
LCD display 23 by display of the first two of the indicator blocks 36. The 
alarm is set in the same manner as in the first alarm mode and the 
procedure continues until the required alarm sequence has been completed. 
As mentioned previously, there is a maximum of nine alarm settings in the 
sequence of the presently described container. If less than nine alarm 
settings are required, button 34 is pressed the requisite number of times 
until the ninth alarm mode is reached. 
The chronological order in which alarm times are set is unimportant because 
the electronic timer sorts the alarm times into chronological order. 
Further, adjustment of the instant time leaves the alarm times unaffected. 
Thus, an alarm time of, say, 2 pm will remain as 2 pm local time as and 
when the instant time is changed on entry into another time zone. 
Depression of the button 34 in the ninth alarm mode causes the LCD display 
23 to automatically sequentially display the programmed alarm sequence. 
The displays in this sequence are distinguished from the alarm setting 
displays in that representation 38 of a capsule is included in the right 
hand corner of the display 23 in FIG. 4. After displaying the alarm 
sequence, the LCD display 23 returns to the normal instant time mode. 
If the lid 12 is closed when the timer 22 is in a mode other then the 
instant time mode, depression of the push button 27 in FIG. 27 which 
depression occurs upon closure of the lid 12, automatically returns the 
timer to the instant time mode. 
When the lid 12 is closed, depression of button 34 in FIG. 1 causes the LCD 
display 23 in FIG. 4 to automatically sequentially display the programmed 
alarm sequence with both the bell 37 and capsule 38 symbols and the 
relevant number of indicator blocks 36. An exception occurs when there is 
an ongoing alarm signal, in which case the button 34 acts as a snooze 
button to defer the alarm signal. 
When there is an ongoing alarm signal, the first bell symbol 37 alternates 
with a second bell symbol 39 which, together with the flashing of the 
indicator lamp 30, provides visual indication of the alarm. The alarm 
cannot be cancelled until the lid 12 is opened but can be deferred by 
pressing push button 34. After subsequent closure of the lid 12, the 
relevant number of indicator blocks 36 is displayed to provide a 
continuous indication of the number of alarms cancelled that day in the 
programmed sequence. resetting the time to 0.00 while the lid 12 is open. 
All alarm times can be cancelled by maintaining both push buttons 32 and 
33 depressed simultaneously for a period of 2 seconds immediately 
following depression of push button 34 with the lid 12 closed. 
It will be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the 
presently preferred embodiment described above and that numerous 
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.