Pill cases with a retractable display assembly

A pill case includes a pill holding portion having at least one pill holding compartment for receiving and retaining a pill, and a retractable display assembly in operative association with the pill holding portion, wherein the retractable display assembly includes a retractable card having at least one surface defining a display area for displaying indicia which can be read by a user, the retractable card is being movable to a non-retracted position in which the retractable card is at least substantially uncovered with respect to the pill holding portion and an assembly for preventing the retractable card from disengaging from the retractable display assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is relates to a pill case, and more particularly a pill case having a retractable display or indicating assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pill cases, also known as pill boxes, are compact containers for housing medications such as pills, tablets, or capsules. Such personal pill cases are known in the art, and are typically designed to be small and unobtrusive so that they can be carried by the user in a purse or in a shirt pocket or other convenient location. They allow users to pack limited individualized dosages of one or more medications, and thus enable convenient short-term carry.

Personal pill cases typically include multiple compartments, which are generally individually accessible by the user through a corresponding closure. Each compartment is adapted to receive and retain a single grouping or dose of one or more medications to be taken at a particular time, which may be individually identified by indicia printed on the closure or in proximity to the compartments. In this manner, the personal pill cases can be implemented to enable users to take their medication at the appointed times.

Since the number or amount of dosages held in such personal pill cases is normally limited, the user must periodically refill the case typically from the standard pill containers supplied by the pharmacist. Such small, pocket-sized pill cases, which have been used for years, allow the user to pre-fill the container with medication to be dispensed for that day, and to conveniently carry it with them. These personal pill cases have been found to enhance the ease and regularity of administration by reminding the user of the proper time for dispensing of pills in a more consistent manner. In addition, their small size and compact profile make them especially convenient for individuals needing to take medications at scheduled intervals.

In writing out prescriptions, physicians typically include instructions pertaining to the frequency of ingestion of prescribed medication in specific time intervals (e.g. once a day or after every meal). Such intervals may range from a matter of hours to days depending on the medication and the condition being treated. Prescription medications are typically filled for the patient with the necessary drug information supplied by the pharmacist. Many over-the-counter medications include packaging printed with necessary drug information such as administration instructions and dosing, symptoms and conditions to be treated, warnings, ingredients, and the like to inform patients of proper dispensing. The drug information accompanying such medications is important to ensure compliance on the part of the patient and that the patient is properly informed about the particulars of the corresponding drug regimen.

Some examples of pills that are prescribed in a set dose and periodic time regimen include those that are administered for birth control, for regulating blood pressure, for regulating blood lipids, as antibiotics, and for treating a variety of other ailments such as diabetes. Failure to properly follow the physician's instructions often results in ineffective treatment, possible injury or even death. Thus, it is important to ensure patient compliance with prescription medications and other medications as well.

Such drug information, however, may not be readily accessible for patients who choose to use personal pill cases to store and carry their pills. While traditional personal pill cases facilitate the use and transportation of medications, such cases have been found to be inadequate when the user is needs to access or carry information regarding the medication contained therein. In such an instance, the user often may not be able to retrieve the information in a timely manner, and thus, may inadvertently take the medications in an improper manner.

Accordingly, there is a need for pill cases, which are capable of accommodating one or more dosable ingestible products typically in the form of pill medications which may be administered at the same or different time intervals and/or groupings during the day, while maintaining ease of use and storage and carry convenience. There is a further need for providing pill cases that comprise a retractable display or indicating means to permit access to information useful to the patient including medication instructions or details such as dosage regimen. It would be a still further advantage in the art if the pill case is designed to be compact, capable of providing easy access to the pills contained therein, and convenient to carry and store in a purse, shirt pocket or the like, while at the same time promoting compliance and safety for patients by substantially reducing confusion, uncertainty or forgetfulness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a pill case having multiple compartments or slots designed to hold several groupings or doses of one or more pills as broadly defined herein which may or may not contain an active ingredient such as a medications, and the like, for convenient storage and when in the form of a personal pill container, easy to carry. Each of the multiple compartments is designed to form a single area for holding a single pill or grouping of pills. The multiple compartments may further include indicia to assist the user in identifying the pills contained therein and when in the form of a personal pill container, which dosages are to be administered at a particular scheduled time. The pill case of the present invention permits the user to visually determine whether a particular grouping or dose had been taken. The present invention provides the user with a simple tool to organize, store, and remember the proper schedule for administering medication, all within a personal pill container that is compact so that is may be readily carried in a pocket, purse or the like.

The pill case of the present invention further includes compliance features useful for facilitating proper medication dosing and usage over the period of time. In particular, the pill case includes a housing with a pill holding portion, and a retractable display or indicating assembly in operative engagement with the housing. The retractable display assembly includes a retractable tab or card slidably movable between a retracted position and an extended, non-retracted position with at least one surface defining a display area having indicia applied thereto, which may be viewed by the user in the non-retracted position. The pill holding portion includes a plurality of pill holding compartments or slots arranged in a discrete layout, and a cover or multiple individual covers for reversibly enclosing the compartments or slots.

The pill holding portion may be adapted to receive and accommodate any number of pills depending on the maximum capacity of the case for matching with a particular dosage regimen particularly suited for the patient. For example, if the patient requires a 7-day medication regimen or a 14-day regimen, then the pill holding portion of the pill case may be filled to accommodate the required number of pills. The pill case of the present invention can therefore accommodate short- and long-term prescriptions and is thus not limited to dosage regimens that are multiples of seven.

It will be understood that reference to the term “pill” as used herein shall include not only pills of a variety of shapes and sizes but all forms of dispensable solid products or articles of manufacture such as chewing gums, confectionery products (e.g., hard candies) which may include an active agent such as a medication, vitamin, nutraceutical and the like which can effectively be housed in the device of the present invention. Examples of “pills” as used herein include any solid ingestible product that can be carried in a pill case, including tablets, capsules, lozenges, caplets and the like. Likewise, all reference to a “pill case” shall mean a container which can accommodate the dispensable product or article of manufacture.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pill case comprising:

a pill holding portion having at least one pill holding compartment for receiving and retaining at least one pill therein; and

a retractable display assembly in operative association with the pill holding portion, said retractable display assembly comprising a retractable card having at least one surface defining a display area for displaying indicia which can be read by a user, said retractable card being reversibly movable to a non-retracted position in which the retractable card is at least substantially uncovered with respect to the pill holding portion, and prevention means for preventing the retractable card from disengaging from the retractable display assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a pill case that includes compliance features which facilitate proper medication dosing over a regimen period. The pill case includes a housing having a pill holding portion composed of a plurality of pill holding compartments or slots arranged in a discrete layout, and a cover or multiple individual covers for reversibly enclosing the pill holding portion. The pill case further includes a retractable display assembly in operative engagement with the housing for supporting a retractable display area for easy access and viewing by the patient. The display indicia may contain indicia suitable for communicating any form of information to the patient including, but not limited to drug information, administration instructions and dosing, symptoms and conditions to be treated, warnings, ingredients, and the like, to inform patients of proper dispensing. In addition, the pill case of the present invention greatly enhances the privacy of the patient by enabling any personal drug information that the patient may prefer to keep undisclosed to be discretely hidden away from public view.

The indicia may communicate other forms of information or graphical communication depending on the application and/or product contained in the pill case of the present invention. In one form of the present invention, the retractable display area may be replaceable and/or interchangeable with other display areas as may be required by the purpose, application or product contained therein.

The pill case of the present invention is ergonomically designed to assist and enhance medication compliance for the patient and is sufficiently compact for easy carry and storage in one's pocket, purse or tight space. The pill case of the present invention includes features that enable the patient to properly follow a medication regimen, and is capable of accommodating any number of doses. This feature reduces the time and expense associated with packaging and dispensing pills.

It will be understood that the present invention can be used to store and dispense a variety of solid, edible articles including, but not limited to, gums, confections, vitamins, nutraceuticals and the like as previously described. For illustrative purposes, reference hereinafter will be to a pill case for dispensing pills, typically containing an active agent. Although rectangular pills slots and housing are shown, it is to be understood that the present pill case may be modified to encompass a range of shapes and sizes as required.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 5, there is shown a pill case10in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Typically, a pharmacist or pharmaceutical supply vendor will load or fill the pill case10with medication prior to sale. However, the pill case10may be loaded or filled by the patient or end user from a standard pill container. The pill case10may be pre-packaged in a tamper resistant pouch to allow a pharmacist to apply an Rx label. The pill case10may be constructed of any durable material including plastic, and molded into any size, shape, or color for easy identification and association with a specific medication.

In the present embodiment as shown, the pill case10is adapted to accommodate up to 7 daily doses. It will be understood, however, that a greater or lesser number of daily doses may be accommodated by the present device in a modified form.

The pill case10includes a housing12including a pill holding portion18defining a plurality of pill holding compartment or slots16(seeFIG. 6), and a cover14adapted for reversibly enclosing the slots16. The cover may be in the form of multiple individual covers each enclosing one of the corresponding pill holding compartments. The pill case10is designed to accommodate and retain a plurality of pills in a discrete arrangement for secure storage and dispensing. The cover14includes a latch20operatively engaged to a latch slot21(shown best inFIG. 6) for reversibly securing the cover14to the pill holding portion18, and a living hinge22(shown best inFIGS. 3,5and6) for allowing the cover14to move pivotably between the closed and open positions during access and re-securement.

The pill case further includes a retractable display assembly24which is preferably positioned beneath the pill holding portion and is operatively associated with the housing12as will be described hereinafter. The retractable display assembly24comprises a carriage26including a card receiving cavity38(seeFIG. 7) accommodating a retractable indicating card28, and an opening30in the carriage26through which the card28can be accessed from the cavity38as will be described hereinafter. The retractable display assembly24include a card retaining mechanism43(seeFIG. 9B), which operates to securely maintain the card28in operative engagement to the carriage26and prevent its entire removal from the carriage26as will be described hereinafter in connection withFIGS. 8A,8B,10and11.

Referring toFIG. 6, the card28is movably slidable from the carriage26through the opening30between the retracted position in which the card is essentially fully contained within the cavity and thereby covered by the pill holding portion18out of the cavity38to a non-retracted position in which the retractable card is substantially moved out of the cavity so that it is not covered by the pill holding portion18thereby enabling the user to read the indicia printed on the retractable card. The retractable display assembly24may be adapted to retain the card28in operative engagement to the carriage26, while facilitating free movement of the card28between the retracted and non-retracted positions through the opening30. The card28further includes at least one surface32upon which indicia34such as alphanumeric characters, computer readable codes including barcodes, and the like, may be displayed to the patient and/or a scanner. The indicia34may communicate to the patient any information including, but not limited to drug information, administration instructions and dosing, symptoms and conditions to be treated, warnings, active ingredients, and the like.

Alternatively, the surface32may provide a base on which an adhesive label containing specific information such as Rx information can be applied thereon for future reference as well as provide privacy when the card28is retracted and hidden from public view.

The card28may be composed of any suitable material capable of receiving or supporting indicia in printed, embossed, etched or engraved forms on the surface thereof, including, but not limited to paper, cardboard, plastic, foil, laminated composites, and the like.

The pill holding compartments16each can accommodate one or more pills for carry and storage. The cover14can be urged to an open position by disengaging the latch20from the latch slot21and lifting the cover14. The patient can pull the card28out through the opening30to view or read the indicia34. The card28may be imprinted with the indicia34on one side or both sides thereof as needed. Alternatively, the surface32of the card28may also be adapted to receive handwritten information (e.g., writing notes, checking off dates, making personal reminders, and the like).

Referring toFIG. 7, the housing12of the pill case10is adapted for secure attachment to the carriage26of the retractable display assembly24to form a single unitary device. The housing12may be removably attached to the carriage26to permit replacement of the card28as needed. Alternatively, the housing and carriage may be fabricated as a single component. Thus, in one embodiment, the housing12may be mounted permanently to the carriage26. The housing12and the carriage26may be composed of any suitable rigid container material including, and not limited to, plastic molded or extruded, metal, and the like.

As shown inFIG. 7, the housing12includes a lower base portion36that is dimensioned to fit into the cavity38of the carriage26. The carriage26further includes a support area40on which the card28is carried, and a pair of grooved guides42each located along the corresponding side periphery of the support area40. The opening30is configured to expose a portion of the card28in the retracted position for the patient to grasp, thus allowing the patient is to pull the card28out from the carriage26with ease.

The card retaining mechanism43of the pill case10prevents the card28from accidentally leaving the carriage26. The card retaining mechanism43further comprises in the embodiment specifically shown inFIG. 7, a pair of detents44located on the corners of the interior end of the card28, and a pair of stops46located at the interior side portions of the grooved guides42proximate the opening30as will be further described hereinafter. The card28is generally located between the lower base end36of the housing12and the support area40of the carriage26. The support area40of the carriage26acts as a bearing surface and allows the card28to slide over the support area40of carriage26.

During implementation, the pill case10can be used by a pharmacist to dispense medication to the patient, and includes a card28containing drug information associated with the dispensed medication. The patient may subsequently return the pill case10to the pharmacist for refilling the same or different medication. If a different medication is dispensed, the pharmacist may replace the old card28by disengaging the carriage26from the housing12and removing the old card28from the support area40. The new card28containing the corresponding information is then placed in the support area40prior to re-engaging the carriage40to the housing12.

Referring toFIG. 8A, the retractable display assembly24is shown with the card28in the retracted position. The grooved guides42of the carriage26cooperate with the corresponding detents44of the card28to facilitate sliding movement of the card28within the carriage26.

Referring toFIG. 8B, the retractable display assembly24is shown with the card28in the fully extended position. The card retaining mechanism43is formed in combination by the detents44of the card28and the stops46proximate the opening30. When the card28is in the extended position, the card retaining mechanism43limits movement of the card28, and prevent its removal from the carriage26. The detents44of the card28abut against the stops46, thus preventing further movement.

FIG. 9is a top plan view of the pill holding portion18of the housing12. The pill holding compartments16are suitably dimensioned to accommodate one or more pills in a spaced apart arrangement. As previously mentioned, the number, grouping and size of the compartments16may be modified according to the needs of the patient.

Referring toFIG. 10, a retractable display assembly50is shown for an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The retractable display assembly includes a carriage52with an opening54, a retractable card56, and a retractable card retaining mechanism58. In this embodiment, the card retaining mechanism58comprises at least one, preferably a pair of spring biased spools60attached to carriage52, a pair of cables62each extending from a spool60, and a pair of cable fasteners64attached to the card56. The cable fasteners62secure the card56to the cables62, respectively.

The cables62are operatively engaged to a corresponding spool60, and the spools60are spring biased to draw the card56through the opening54into the carriage52. During usage, the patient can pull the card56out through the opening54in the same manner as previously described. Upon release, the card56is automatical drawn back into the carriage52by the action of the spring biased spools60, which also operated to prevent the card56from being removed.

Referring toFIG. 11, a retractable display assembly70is shown for a third embodiment of the present invention. The retractable display assembly includes a carriage72with an opening74, a retractable card76, and a retractable card retaining mechanism78. In this embodiment, the card retaining mechanism78comprises at least one, preferably a pair of springs80securely attached between the carriage72and the card76. The springs80are operatively engaged to the card56to limit its movement through the opening74, and prevent its removal from the carriage72. During usage, the patient can pull the card76out through the opening74in the same manner as previously described. Upon release, the card76is automatically drawn back into the carriage52by the action of the springs80.