PILL BOTTLE TIME INDICATOR LID

Improvements in a pill bottle time indicator lid is presented. The pill bottle time indicator lid allows a user or care giver to set an indicator for the next time medication should be taken. When a user takes the medication they can simply reset the next time that the medication can be taken. Typically medications are taken at fixed time intervals. The interval can be as small as 30 minute increments to allow a user who takes medications outside of hour indicators or sleeps past an hour indicator to adjust the time in smaller time increments than an hour. A user can remove the provided lid and replace the standard lid with the time indicator lid. The time indicating lid can include security locks to prevent removal by children, but can also be made simple to remove by an elderly patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the pill bottle time indicator lid10installed on an existing pill bottle11or on a custom pill bottle designed to work with the pill bottle time indicator lid. Pill bottles come in a variety of sizes and threads. The pill bottle time indicator can be made to operate with some common bottle sizes and threads and can be configured to operate with a custom bottle that works with the pill bottle time indicator lid. If the pill bottle time indicator is configured to fit on a currently available bottle a user can remove the provided lid and replace the standard lid with the time indicator lid. In the preferred embodiment the majority of the components that form the pill bottle time indicator are made from plastics including but not limited to ABS, PVC, polyester nylon high density polyethylene or polypropylene. The components are further preferably made from a molding process where post processing such as, but not limited to, printing, snapping together, bonding or other post processes are performed to create the finished pill bottle time indicating lid10as shown assembled inFIG. 1.

FIG. 2shows a perspective exploded view of the pill bottle time indicator lid. The pill bottle time indicator lid is configured with an inner ring40that is configured for securing onto a medication container11, as shown inFIG. 1. An outer ring20that is configured for engagement onto said inner ring40and allows for at least a portion of the inner ring40to protrude through an opening23in the outer ring20. The outer ring20has a series of gripping ridges21to allow a person to grip the pill bottle time indicator lid10with greater ease. The outer edge of the outer rim may show instructions32to set the time on the lid. While the instructions are shown in the outer ring, the instructions are optional, and can also be placed at alternative locations on the lid and or the bottle. A bottom lip22on the outer ring20allows a user to tactfully identify the operable end of the pill bottle in the dark or without looking. Inside the outer cap20there can be a small ring33(shown inFIG. 3B) that goes around the inner cavity. This allows a limit to how far the outside cap20can be lifted so the outside cap20cannot be lift so far up that it damages the AM/PM retainer70. The inner ring40is further shown having a recess43for an AM/PM slider60indicator. The inner ring40is further shown having another recess for the AM/PM retainer70, shown inFIG. 4Aas items54and55.

The AM/PM slider60indicator is configured to engage into the inner ring40in a pocket43. The AM/PM slider60is retained under an AM/PM retainer70. The AM/PM indicator slider60allows a person to set a time interval of equal to or greater than 12 hours. Often medication must be taken in the morning and in the evening. The AM/PM indicator slider60allows a user to simply slide the AM/PM indicator slider60from one setting to another to change from morning to evening or vice versa without requiring the lid to be rotated. The outer ring20with a series of angled, straight or a combination of angled and straight teeth26that engage onto said inner ring40with a series of angled, straight or a combination of angled and straight teeth44that provide a time indication for a medication that is retained within said medication container11, as shown inFIG. 1. The AM/PM indicator slider60fits into the inner ring40where it is essentially flush with the top42of the inner ring to reduce accidental displacement of the AM/PM indicator slider60. An air tight cushion or seal80allows the inner ring40to seal with the medication container11. The AM/PM retainer70fits on top of the AM/PM tab60and into the recess on the inner ring40where it is essentially flush with the face of inner ring42.

FIG. 3A-3Eshows various views of the outer ring20. The outer ring20is created with an outer cylindrical wall with one open end and one partially closed end. The outside of the cylindrical wall has a series of gripping ridges21to allow a person to grip the pill bottle time indicator lid10with greater ease. A bottom lip22on the outer ring20allows a user to tactfully identify the operable end of the pill bottle in the dark or without looking. The outer top surface shown inFIG. 3Dshows indicia that is molded printed or otherwise marked or formed into the top of the outer ring20. These indicia provides basic instructions for rotating directions for opening24and closing28the outer ring20on a medication bottle. The marking indicia are shown for reference and could be as shown, as a variation or absent from the lid and or bottle. The outer edge of the outer rim also shows instructions32to set the time on the lid and also this marking indicia are shown for reference and could be as shown, as a variation or absent from the lid and or bottle. A pointer27provides an indication of the time for the time a medication was administered or the next administration of the medication. This indicator27points to time indicia, such as49fromFIG. 4A, that is visible through the central opening23of the outer ring20. Inside the outer cap there can be a small ring33that goes around the inner cavity. This allows there to be a limit to how far the outside cap can lift so it cannot lift so far up and damage the AM/PM retainer. Within the inside of outer ring20a series of tabs29exist. The innermost ring34on the top of the outer ring20is where each end of the AM/PM retainer70sits on top of said outer ring20to hold the outer ring20in place.

The tab(s)29or notches or teeth can be at an angle on one side (child-resistant), straight on either side (non-Child-Resistant), or both. The tab(s) may have a small straight side(s) with an angle depending on how inner cap teeth are manufactured can be either child or non-child resistant. The tabs29have a bottom surface26, a clockwise or left surface31and a counter-clockwise or right surface30. These tabs29engage onto teeth located in the inner ring as shown and described inFIGS. 4A to 4D. The inner and outer rings are configured with these teeth to engage upon each other to provide time setting increments of between 15 minutes and 4 hours, but more preferably between 30 minutes (in the embodiment shown) and 2 hours. While increments of 30 minutes are shown, shorter or longer time increments are contemplated. The inner ring40sits under outer ring20, but all the 3 components (20,40, and60) are being retained by the AM/PM retainer70. The AM/PM retainer70attaches to inner cap40by welding, glue, prongs of some sort, or some other binding agent. The holder tab holds the AM/PM tab in place, but also lays on top of the inner ring34that is located on the outer cap. Therefore it is also holding the outer cap together with the AM/PM tab onto the inner cap.

FIG. 4A-4Dshows various views of the inner ring40. The inner ring40is configured to a bottom41fits within the recess in the outer ring20. The outer cap can have a small ring on the inside of it to help prevent lifting the outer cap too far up and damaging AM/PM Retainer70. It just allows for some pressure if lifted too high. The outer side52of the inner ring40is configures to fit within the inside diameter of the outer ring20. An outer rim44of the inner ring40has a series of teeth51that are configured with a straight side45and an angled side46. The tabs51or notches or teeth can be at an angle on one side (child-resistant), straight on either side (non-Child-Resistant), or the tabs may have a combination of a straight side with an angle. The straight side45allows a person to close the lid without changing the set time. A person pushes down on the outer lid and turns to open the child-resistant feature. Rotating the lid in the opposite direction allows the angled side46teeth to slip with notches in outer ring20for the child resistant mechanism. If the angled sides46are not at an angle, but instead are straight, it allows the bottle to open without the child resistant mechanism. To set the time, the outer cap is lifted where none of the notches are now engaged, and turned to the right or left. Then the lid is set down when it is on the correct time to re-engage.

The inside of the inner ring40has threads50for engaging the inner ring40onto an existing or in a custom medication bottle. The inside of the inner ring40has a flat surface where the inner ring can seal the lid10with the cushion or seal80, fromFIG. 2against the upper rim of a medication bottle11. The AM/PM retainer70holds the AM/PM tab60in place, but also lays on top of the innermost ring34(shown inFIG. 3) that is located on the outer cap. The AM/PM retainer70can attach to the inner cap40with a variety of methods including but not limited to glue, ultrasonic welding, prongs, or any other equivalent retention mechanism or some other binding agent.

On the top42of the inner ring40there are indicia that indicate the time in hours49. A user can set the indicator on the hour of on the half hour. The top42of the inner ring40also has a recess43for the AM/PM indicator60(not shown) as well as other recesses

another recess54and55is for securing AM/PM retainer70to lock the inner ring to the outer ring and then retains the AM/PM indicator. The AM/PM retainer70can be attached with prongs, notches, tabs or equivalent into the retainer in recesses54and55. The AM/PM retainer70can also be attached by removing notch73and the holes on recesses54and55and bond with glue, welding, or any other equivalent retention mechanism or some other binding agent onto inner ring40. Within this recess the AM/PM retainer70holds the AM/PM indicator60.

The AM47/PM48indication allows a person to set a time interval of equal to or greater than 12 hours. Often medication must be taken in the morning and in the evening. The AM47/PM48indicator60allows a user to simply slide the AM47/PM48indicator60, from one setting to another to change from morning to evening or vice versa without requiring the lid to be rotated. The AM/PM indicator60is shown and described in more detail inFIG. 6.

FIG. 5shows a perspective view of the AM/PM retainer70. The retainer70bridges the recess opening43in the inner ring40. The AM/PM retainer70also bridges the AM/PM slider60. The AM/PM retainer70is essentially a long slender member with a notch73where the AM/PM slider60can move under the AM/PM retainer70. The notch73can be removed and the AM/PM retainer70can be attached to the inner cap40by welding, glue, prongs of some sort, or some other binding agent or design. On the sides of the AM/PM retainer70are flat areas71and72that rest in the recesses54and55(shown inFIG. 4. The very ends of the flat areas71and72lay on top of the innermost ring34that is located on outer ring20. The flat areas71and72holding the outer ring20on that innermost ring34to secure the outer ring20to the inner ring40. The recess73in the AM/PM retainer70is sized74for clearance of the AM/PM slider60. The AM/PM retainer70is planar from71all the way to72. The notch73can be removed completely and changed from a notch to tabs, prongs, glue, welding to be attached in any way around the AM/PM indicator60. In another contemplated embodiment the holes and the notches securing mechanism can be removed and the AM/PM indicator70can be bonded to the inner ring40.

FIG. 6shows a perspective view or the AM/PM slider60andFIG. 7shows a perspective view of the AM/PM retainer70and slider60. The AM/PM slider60is essentially “U” shaped with two vertical64edges61that bridges the flat bottom of the AM/ PM slider60. The width62of the AM/PM slider60is sized to fit within the recess43in inner ring40. The length63of the AM/PM slider60allows the AM/PM slider60to cover either the AM47or the PM48in the recess43in the inner ring40by sliding80the AM/PM slider60to one side or the other. The AM/PM retainer70is secured or bonded to the inner ring40to retain the lid10as a single unit. Under AM/PM indicator60are two indentation areas65and66that fit into two bumps on the recess43to keep AM/PM indicator60from sliding back and forth on its own.

Thus, specific embodiments of a pill bottle time indicator lid has been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.