Abstract:
A medication compliance cap system, cap assembly, and associated methodology enhance compliance of a user&#39;s prescribed or scheduled medication regimen. Central to these specifications is a “smart” or intelligent medication cap assembly that basically functions to communicate wirelessly with a remote medication compliance application or software executable via a personal computing device. A power source and signal-generating circuitry are housed within an inner cap housing and an outer cap housing, which circuitry is selectively switched on and/or off via engagement with an upper container rim of a medication container. The medication compliance application schedules medication-taking events and alerts the user when a medication-taking event is due. The user may stop the alert by removing the medication cap assembly from a medication container, at which time an alert cessation signal is transmitted to the medication compliance application.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to the field of medication container assemblies, and more particularly to a medication cap assembly having means for wirelessly communicating with remote personal communication or computing devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is primarily designed to enable users to follow an on-time and correct medication prescription regimen as may typically be the case with patients or the elderly. The system may preferably include or comprise (1) a smart medication cap assembly having wireless communication means for transmitting a (radio) signal when it is removed from a medication container, (2) a device that can receive this radio signal and/or send this signal to a smart phone or similar other mobile or personal computing device (e.g. through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi), and (3) a mobile application on a such a personal computing device that operates to remind patients or the elderly via an alert or alarm to adhere to their prescribed medication regimen, which alert or alarm may be stopped or ceased by a signal transmitted from the medication cap assembly when the same is removed from a medication container. 
     The system according to the present invention basically operates as follows: specific types of medications in the form of pills are placed in a medication container and the container is outfitted with the medication cap assembly according to the present invention. These types of medication containers may be typically distributed to the patient by way of a medication dispensary. A medication compliance mobile application may then be used to link the medication cap assembly to the particular medication housed within the medication container. 
     The medication compliance mobile application may then be programmed to set up a medication schedule, including days and times for taking the medication. According to the programmed schedule, the personal computing or communications device via the medication compliance application, will alarm or alert the patient or senior that the time has arrived to take his or her medication. The alarm may be provided until the patient opens the medication container, at which time a signal is sent to the device, and the alert or alarm is prompted to cease via the transmitted signal. 
     Other features and objects of our present invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings submitted in support of these specifications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention attached to or assembled with a medication container and shown in a closed condition. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention attached to or assembled with a medication container and shown in an open condition. 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention in exploded relation to a medication container. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of an outer cap housing of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention showing a series of ribs and skirts for providing a childproof function of the cap assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the Printed Circuit Board assembly of the medication cap assembly for generating wireless communication signals according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a first top exploded perspective view of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a first bottom exploded perspective view of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a first longitudinal cross-sectional view of the medication cap assembly assembled to a medication container showing the cap assembly in a closed position with the switch button of the Printed Circuit Board assembly in a depressed configuration. 
         FIG. 10  is a first enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the medication cap assembly attached to an upper portion of the medication container in the closed position showing skirt portions of the outer cap housing contacting a post portion of the inner cap housing. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic type drawing to show communication capabilities among the medication cap assembly, an Internet gateway, the Internet, and a personal computing or communications device. 
         FIG. 12  is a second enlarged top exploded perspective view of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention, the view being enlarged from  FIG. 6  to show in greater detail structures associated therewith. 
         FIG. 13  is a second enlarged bottom exploded perspective view of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention, the view being enlarged from  FIG. 7  to show in greater detail structures associated therewith. 
         FIG. 14  is a second enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the medication cap assembly assembled to a medication container showing the cap assembly in a closed position with the switch button of the Printed Circuit Board assembly in a depressed configuration, the view being enlarged from  FIG. 8  to show in greater detail structures associated therewith. 
         FIG. 15  is a second enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the medication cap assembly attached to an upper portion of the medication container in the closed position, the view being enlarged from  FIG. 9  to show in greater detail structures associated therewith. 
         FIG. 16A  is a sequentially first enlarged fragmentary depiction of the button assembly of the Printed Circuit Board assembly of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention showing the switch button in an actuated depressed configuration as depressed by the upper rim of the medication container. 
         FIG. 16B  is a sequentially second enlarged fragmentary depiction of the button assembly of the Printed Circuit Board assembly of the medication cap assembly according to the present invention showing the switch button in a relaxed configuration as the medication container disengages the switch button for initiating signal generation. 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged anterior plan view of a generic personal computing or communications device showing a date and time and generic alert signal emanating therefrom. 
         FIG. 18  is a simplified flowchart type diagram of certain medication compliance methodology according to or associated with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now the drawings with more specificity, the preferred embodiment of the present invention basically provides a so-called “smart” cap or medication container cap assembly as referenced at  1 , which cap assembly  1  is communicable with a medication compliance mobile application supported or operated by a mobile computing device as exemplified by a user&#39;s “smart” phone or similar other mobile computing device as generically depicted and referenced at  30  communicable with the Internet as at cloud  51  or an Internet gateway as at box  52  via certain wireless technology including local wireless networks and/or cellular type communications as generically referenced at arrows  110 . 
     Viewed or considered systemically, the present invention may thus be said to provide a medication compliance system for enhancing compliance of a user&#39;s prescribed medication regimen, which medication compliance system comprises, in combination, a medication compliance mobile application and a medication container assembly  31 . The mobile medication compliance application is preferably operable via a mobile computing device as generically depicted and referenced at  30 . 
     The medication container assembly  31  according to the present invention is believed to preferably comprise a medication container as referenced at  2  and the smart cap assembly  1 . The medication container  2  may be preferably provided by medication dispensaries such as pharmacies and the like. To be operable with the smart cap assembly  1  according to the present invention, the medication container  2  may essentially comprise an upper container portion  34  for engaging the cap assembly  1  and a lower container portion  33  for housing medication(s). The upper container portion  34  may preferably comprise an upper container rim as at  32 , and external threads as at  12  for threadably engaging internal threads as at  11  formed on an inner cap housing construction as at  5 . The cap assembly  1  is thus rotatable about cap axis  100  for threadably attachment to the medication container  2 . 
     Notably, the smart cap assembly  1  according to the present invention preferably and essentially comprises certain wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating with the medication compliance mobile application. The wireless communication means according to the present invention may be preferably exemplified by a Printed Circuit Board or PCB assembly as referenced at  4 . 
     The medication compliance mobile application operable via the mobile computing device  30  basically functions to alert (e.g. visually, audibly or via tactile sensation (e.g. vibration)) the user when medication is to be retrieved from the medication container  2  assembly via an alert (e.g. visual, audible or tactile) as generically and diagrammatically depicted at arrow  101 . The alert may be continuously or periodically provided until the smart cap assembly  1  is removed from the medication container  2 . 
     When removed from the medication container  2 , the smart cap assembly  1  (radio) transmits an alert cessation signal (as at arrow  102 ) via the wireless communication means the medication compliance mobile application to prompt an alert cessation or to otherwise cease the alert  101 . In other words, when the alert  101  is perceived, the user may thus proceed to comply with the prescribed medication regimen by taking medication from the medication container  2  by first removing the cap assembly  1 , which wireless alert cessation signals or triggers the medication compliance application to cease the alert  101 . 
     The smart cap assembly  1  preferably comprises an outer cap housing as referenced at  3 , the PCB assembly as referenced at  4 , and an inner cap housing as referenced at  5 . The PCB assembly  4  is preferably mounted on the topside of or in adjacency to an upper housing surfacing  35  of the inner cap housing  5  by via a plurality of post constructions  13 , which post constructions preferably comprise an upper post portion as at  36  and a lower or basal spacer portion as at  37 . 
     The smart cap assembly  1  may further preferably comprise a cap-to-container fastener assembly  60  comprising a tether element as at  61  and a neck-encircling ring construction as at  62 . The tether element  61  extends from the ring construction  62 , and is integrally formed with the outer cap housing  3  for tethering the smart cap assembly  1  ring construction  62 . The ring construction  62  encircles the container neck in inferior adjacency to threads  12  for connecting the assembly  60  to the container  2 . Thus, it is believed that assembly  60  functions to prevent inadvertent disassembly or loss of the smart cap assembly  1  relative to the container  2 . 
     The upper post portions  36  of the post constructions  13  are preferably matable with peripherally located and substantially equally and circumferentially spaced apertures  10  formed in or through a PCB board or body portion  22  of the PCB assembly  4 . In other words, the apertures  10 , preferably numbering four, are spaced at 90 degree intervals around the perimeter  39  of a circular portion  40  of the board portion  22 . A projected portion  41  preferably extends outward radially from the circular portion  40  for mounting a button assembly having a spring-biased button  6  and a button-centering housing  42 . 
     The button  6  is resiliently depressed and thus actuated via a spring element as at  43  as engaged by the upper container rim  32  as generally and comparatively depicted in  FIGS. 16A and 16B . PCB assembly  4  may thus be said to preferably comprise PCB body or board portion  22 , a switch button  6 , a battery contact plate as at  7 , a power source as exemplified by a button cell battery as at  8 , a signal-transmitting Integrated Chip or IC as at  9  (for preferably generating (a radio type) signal  102 ) and other components (not specifically illustrated). 
     The inner cap housing  5  is assembled into the outer cap housing  3  with the cooperative engagement of a rim hook  20  formed on the outer cap housing  3  and a flange element  21  formed on the inner cap housing  5 . The inner cap housing  5  is able to rotate inside the outer cap housing  3 . The inner cap housing  5  is rotatable relative to the upper container portion  34  as threads  11  and  12  engage one another for axially displacing the upper container rim  32  into (as at arrow  103 ) and out of (as at arrow  104 ) engagement with button  6 . 
     The outer cap housing  3  preferably comprises a group of ribs as at  16  and a series of four skirts as at  18  formed on the top inner side of the housing  3 . The inner cap housing  5  preferably comprises a series of four post constructions  13 , a button-letting aperture as at  14  for receiving an enabling axial displacement of the switch button  6 , a group of gears as at  15 , and a center post as at  17 . Together the ribs  16 , skirts  18 , gears  15 , and center post  17  function to provide a childproof function to the cap assembly according  1  to the present invention. 
     The switch button  6  of the button assembly of the PCB assembly  4  preferably protrudes and is axially displaceable through the button-letting aperture  14  on the inner cap housing  5 . The skirts  18  formed on the outer cap housing  3  preferably mate with the post  17  formed on the inner cap housing  5  to create a spring force. The medication container  2  preferably comprises a container neck or upper container portion  34  having an upper container rim  32 . As earlier described, the upper container rim  32  engages and disengages the switch button  6  for activating a signal  102  via the IC  9  of the PCB assembly  4 , which preferably exemplifies the wireless communication means according to the present invention. 
     While the foregoing specifications set forth certain specificity, the same should not be construed as setting forth limits to the invention but rather as setting forth certain preferred embodiments and features. For example, as prefaced hereinabove, it is contemplated that the present invention essentially provides a so-called “smart” cap assembly for enhancing or supporting a medication compliance system or for generally enhancing compliance of a user&#39;s prescribed medication regimen. 
     Viewed systemically, the medication compliance system according to the present invention may be said to comprise in combination a medication compliance (mobile) software application executable, operable or supportable via a (mobile) computing device such as a “smart” phone, personal computing tablet or notebook computer, or similar other mobile computing device as at  30 , and a medication cap assembly as at  2 . 
     The medication container cap assembly, the medication container cap assembly preferably and essentially comprises certain wireless communication means as exemplified hereinabove for wirelessly communicating with the medication compliance mobile application. The medication compliance mobile application basically functions to alert the user when medication is to be retrieved from a medication container outfitted with the “smart” or intelligent cap assembly  2  or cap assembly  2  having means for communicating remotely with a personal computing device. 
     The alert may be preferably provided (singularly, periodically, or continuously) via the mobile application and the device  30  until the “smart” cap assembly is removed from the medication container  1 . The “smart” cap assembly  2  preferably signals (as at  102 ) via the wireless communication means the medication compliance mobile application operable via the device  30  to cease or stop the alert  101  when the cap assembly  1  is made selectively interactive with the medication container  2 . 
     Stated more particularly, the wireless communication means preferably signal or prompt an alert cessation via the medication compliance mobile application when the cap assembly is removed from the medication container  1 . In this regard, it will be recalled that the medication container  1  preferably comprises an upper container portion having a container rim  32 , which container rim  32  is engageable with the wireless communication means (e.g. via switch button  6 ) or resetting the cap assembly  1  when the medication container  2  is outfitted with the cap assembly  1 . 
     In other words, the wireless communication means engages the medication container  2  or rim  32  when the cap assembly  1  is attached to the medication container  2 . The cap assembly  1  preferably comprises an inner cap housing  5  and an outer cap housing  3 . The inner cap housing  5  and the outer cap housing  3  are preferably cooperable to position portions of the wireless communication means relative to the medication container  2  for engagement and disengagement of the certain portions of the wireless communications means via the mediation container  2 . The wireless communication means preferably engage the medication container via an aperture  14  formed the inner cap housing  5  when the cap assembly  1  is attached to the medication container  2 . 
     The medication cap assembly may thus be said to enhance compliance of a user&#39;s (prescribed) medication regimen. To achieve this primary object, the medication cap assembly  1  according to the present invention essentially comprises wireless communication means for (a) wirelessly communicating with a medication compliance mobile application, and (b) signaling the medication compliance mobile application when selectively the cap assembly is selectively interactive with (e.g. placed into engagement with or disengaged from) a medication container  2 . 
     The wireless communication means preferably signal an alert cessation via the medication compliance mobile application when the cap assembly  1  is removed from the medication container  2 . The inner cap housing  5  of the cap assembly  1  is rotatable relative to the outer cap housing  3 , and the wireless communication means are preferably rotatably fixed relative to the inner cap housing  5 . 
     The inner cap housing  5  preferably comprises lower housing surfacing as at  44  and upper housing surfacing as at  45  with the button-letting aperture  14  extending intermediate the lower and upper housing surfacing  44 - 45 . The lower housing surfacing preferably comprises internal threads as at  11 . The upper housing surfacing  45  preferably comprises at least one, but preferably a series of post construction(s)  13 . Each post construction is preferably matable with at least one post-receiving means (e.g. aperture(s)  10 ) cooperably associated with the wireless communication means for preventing rotation of the wireless communication means relative to the inner cap housing  5 . 
     Each post construction  13  preferably comprises an upper post portion as at  36  and a lower spacer portion as at  37 . The spacer portion(s)  37  basically function to engage planar portion  46  of the upper housing surface  45  and space portions of the wireless communications means therefrom. In this regard, it will be noted that the IC  9  comprises a certain thickness as at  105 . The thickness  105  is preferably less than the height  106  of the spacer portions  37 , and thus the spacer portions  37  help maintain a uniform distance between (planar) board portion  38  and the planar portion  46 . 
     The four post constructions  13  are preferably equally circumferentially spaced from each other at 90 degree intervals at a periphery  39  of the upper housing surface  45 . The upper housing surface  45  further preferably comprises at least two pocket constructions, which pocket constructions include a button-assembly-receiving pocket  47  and a power source-receiving pocket  48 . The pocket constructions are preferably and respectively spaced intermediate a select three of the four post constructions for pocket-receiving assembly portions (i.e. the button assembly and/or the power source assembly) of the wireless communications means. 
     The foregoing structural specifications are further believed to support certain medication compliance methodology for enhancing compliance of a user&#39;s (prescribed) medication regimen as generally diagrammed in  FIG. 18 . In this regard, the medication compliance method according to the present invention may be said to comprise the step (as at step or routine  111 ) of providing a medication compliance mobile application or certain medication compliance software, which medication compliance application or software is executable, operable, or supportable via a mobile or personal computing device as generically referenced at  30 . 
     A medication cap assembly  1  is also provided (as at step or routine  112 ), which cap assembly comprises certain wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating (as at step or routine  113 ) (via signal transmission  102 ) with the medication compliance application once linked therewith (as at subroutine  114 ). 
     The medication compliance method may further preferably comprise the steps of outfitting a medication container  2  with the medication cap assembly  1  (as at step or routine  115 ) (thereby depressing switch button  6  and activating or re-setting the cap assembly  1  (as at step or subroutine  116 )); and programming the medication compliance application with prescription medication regimen information (as at step or routine  117 ) (such as scheduling days and times the medication is to be taken) as typically provided to the user from labeling on the mediation container  1 . 
     In other words, the step of programming the medication compliance application with prescription medication regimen information from the mediation container may further preferably comprise the step of programming a medication schedule (as at step or subroutine  118 ), the medication compliance mobile application comprising or otherwise being cooperable with a clock function upon the device  30 , which clock function provides day and time information as at day information (e.g. Sunday)  49  and time information (e.g. 10:00 am)  50 , respectively in  FIG. 17 . 
     The medication compliance method may further preferably comprise the step of alerting the user to a scheduled medication event via an alert (e.g. a visual, an audible, and/or a tactile alert as generically depicted at arrow  101 ) according to the medication schedule (as at step or subroutine  119 ). The methodology may further preferably comprise the step of transmitting an alert cessation signal  102  to the medication compliance application for ceasing the alert signals  101  (as at step or routine  120 ) by removing the medication cap assembly  1  from the medication container  2  (as at step or subroutine  121 ). 
     The step of ceasing the alert by removing the medication cap assembly  1  from the medication container may further comprise the step of axially displacing the upper container rim  32  away from the wireless communication means as at arrow  104  thereby disengaging the wireless communication means from the mediation container  2  (as at step or subroutine  122 ). 
     Accordingly, although the invention has been described by reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments, and methodology, it is not intended that the novel arrangements or methods be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures, the appended claims and drawings.