Abstract:
A calendar/dispenser apparatus comprises a tray and cover. The tray has a plurality of recesses and a sufficient thickness such that a consumable and/or gift may be contained within a respective recess. The cover is arranged above the tray and has a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of polygonal die cuts within the cover defines a plurality of doors. Each door is moveable between a normally closed position which conceals the bottom surface of the cover as defined by the door and an opened position which reveals the bottom surface of the cover as defined by the door. The bottom surface of the cover includes a plurality of printed indicia providing health related information with each respective printed indicium printed within an area defined by a respective door. Opening of a respective door permits access to the consumable and/or gift contained with its respective recess.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/894,700 filed on Oct. 23, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a combination calendar and pill holder/dispenser, and more particularly, to a calendar and pill holder/dispenser which holds a desired consumable product such as vitamins, for example. Specifically, the present invention relates to a pill holder/dispenser of vitamins or other consumable or gift designed generally as an advent-type calendar wherein subject related information is displayed while promoting the daily intake of a vitamin. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Advent calendars which hold a daily piece of candy are known. What is needed is an advent-type calendar for other subject-specific purposes and which include an incentive to use the calendar each day. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In general, one embodiment the present invention is directed to a pill holder/dispenser of vitamins designed generally as an advent-type calendar wherein a particular subject information is displayed while promoting the daily intake of the vitamin. The subject can be prenatal, toddler, or any other desired age group of child or adult (e.g., seniors). 
         [0004]    Preferably, the pill holder/dispenser is arranged to have four rows each having seven columns. This arrangement generally corresponds to each row equating to one week (7 days with each row&#39;s respective columns representing one day) with all four rows generally equating to one calendar month. In one embodiment the subject comprises a prenatal calendar. Although generally referred to as 9 months of pregnancy, full term is generally regarded as 40 weeks. Using 40 weeks for full term, this would require ten “monthly” calendars (4 weeks per calendar time 10 calendars equals 40 total weeks). However, an embodiment of the present system generally includes provision of nine “monthly” calendars. Only nine calendars are required as the 40 week start date begins at the start date of the last menstrual cycle prior to becoming pregnant. Ovulation (and likely fertilization) generally occurs two weeks later, with most pregnancy tests confirming pregnancy requiring an additional two weeks following fertilization before being able to quantitate a protein indicating pregnancy. Thus, many pregnant women first become aware of, or are ensured of, their pregnancy only after at least four weeks, thereby obviating the need for one “monthly” calendar. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, a calendar/dispenser apparatus comprises a tray and cover. The tray has a plurality of recesses and a sufficient thickness such that a pharmaceutical agent may be contained within a respective recess. The cover is arranged above the tray and has a top surface and a bottom surface. A plurality of polygonal die cuts within the cover defines a plurality of doors. Each door is moveable between a normally closed position which conceals the bottom surface of the cover as defined by the door and an opened position which reveals the bottom surface of the cover as defined by the door. The bottom surface of the cover includes a plurality of printed indicia providing health related information with each respective printed indicium printed within an area defined by a respective door. Opening of a respective door permits access to the pharmaceutical agent contained with its respective recess. 
         [0006]    The embodiments of the present invention are well-suited to promote the taking of a daily vitamin while simultaneously engaging the target of the subject with subject related information/activities. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the subject and vitamins are directed and appropriate for a toddler. The vitamins can take any form (e.g., gummy vitamins) and may alternately be another other consumable or gift/toy or any combination thereof. The written material and images on the calendar are also directed to the subject matter (e.g., toddler growth and health). This of course can be tailored to any desired age group including seniors. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the indicia and/or pictures on the calendar are directed to a comic series (e.g., SUPERMAN or SPIDERMAN) and/or a card collecting game (e.g., similar to the YUGIO or POKEMON card games) wherein each door comprises a card of the collection and is removable from the calendar (e.g., by clean tear off perforations). A single collection may be one or more months provided by each single monthly calendar, for example. Each card may further include indicia telling part of a story (e.g., as in a comic) that continues with each daily card. 
         [0009]    The embodiments of the present invention are well-suited to promote the taking of a daily vitamin (or other consumable or gift) while simultaneously engaging the target of the subject with subject related information/activities. 
         [0010]    Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and will in part become apparent to those in the practice of the invention, when considered with the attached figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, wherein like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views, and wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a calendar and pill holder/dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a calendar and pill holder/dispenser according to second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a calendar and pill holder/dispenser tray according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the tray and pharmaceutical agent as taken along line  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second calendar and pill holder/dispenser tray according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a third calendar and pill holder/dispenser tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings in detail, and specifically to  FIG. 1 , a calendar and pill holder/dispenser  100  is generally comprised of a cover  110  positioned atop a tray  150 . Cover  110  includes a plurality of polygonal die cuts each defining a door  120 . In a preferred embodiment, the doors are generally constructed as an advent-style calendar, and are more preferably arranged in a grid pattern having four rows of seven columns. In this manner, each row would represent one week with each column representing a specific day of the week. While shown as generally rectangular in shape, the die cuts may be made in any desired size and shape. The die cuts creating a single door are intermittently placed around the circumference defining such door so that the panel constituting door  120  is not completely severed from cover  110  upon manufacture. An additional, optional die cut  130  may be added so as to provide a convenient finger access point for lifting, and if desired removing, the door  120  from cover  110  to create cover opening  140 . 
         [0019]    The top surface of each door  120  is provided with printed indicia  125 . Printed indicia  125  associates its respective door with a respective day so as to enable a user to open doors within the proper sequence. The reverse, or bottom, surface of door  120  includes printed indicia  128 . Printed indicia  128  provide relevant health related information to the user or any other information that is relevant to the subject matter of the calendar. For instance, in a preferred embodiment of a prenatal calendar, printed indicia  128  may contain information such as, but not necessarily limited to, fetal development information, maternal health information, an inspirational message, advice on parenting, discount offers, coupons and journal questions. In this example, fetal development information may include pictures, drawings and/or text describing the typical growth progress of a fetus according to the specific day within the gestation period indicated by door  120 . Similarly, maternal health information may relate to typical emotional states or hormone levels experienced by expectant mothers at the door-specified time. Each door  120  may be further designed with die cuts so as to be removable from the cover and thereby define a cover opening  140 . In this manner, each detached door  120  can be separately added to a journal or scrapbook so that an expectant mother can revisit her pregnancy some later time in the future, perhaps with her child once the child is old enough to understand and appreciate the gift of birth. 
         [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, the information provided by printed indicia  128  is arranged such that the leftmost door (A) of each row presents a drawing or photo representing the development stage of the fetus along with a brief description of fetal size and one or two facts about this stage. Moving left to right along a row, the next column (B) provides an inspirational message, factual information regarding this stage of the pregnancy or a fun anecdote about the feelings or concerns experienced by other pregnant women. The third column from the left (C) provides a question designed to cause the expectant mother to reflect upon her pregnancy and upcoming motherhood. Expectant mothers are encouraged to journal these reflections so that these mothers may later read and reminisce upon their pregnancies. The middle column (D) is similar to the second column and again provides an inspirational message, factual information regarding this stage of the pregnancy or a fun anecdote about the feelings or concerns experienced by other pregnant women. The fifth column (E) provides some money saving tips and may further include discounts or coupons for purchasing relevant merchandise (e.g. baby clothes, diapers, cribs and other furniture). The sixth column (F) is similar to the second and fourth columns while the seventh (and last) column (G) re-asks the question of the third column so that the expectant mother can readdress her feelings and reflect upon completing another week in her pregnancy. As can be seen by one skilled in the art, printed indicia  128  may be any desired information and is not specifically limited to the above recitation. The above recitation is merely exemplary and any suitable information or messages are contemplated by the present invention. 
         [0021]    Tray  150  is formed to include a plurality of recesses  160 . Ideally, the locations of recesses  160  correspond to locations of doors  120  formed on the cover  110 . Each recess  160  is adapted to contain one or more pharmaceutical agents  170 . Thus, the overall size of the recess is dictated by the volume required to hold a desired one or more pharmaceutical agents. The length and width of the recess may be limited by the physical dimensions of door  120 , but the recess depth may be varied to provide the necessary space. It should be understood that the length and width of the recess (and door  120 ) must be sufficient such that any pharmaceutical agent(s) stored within tray  150  will pass through cover opening  140 . 
         [0022]    Pharmaceutical agents may be either individual agents packaged within a blister pack or be loose pharmaceuticals having no additional packaging. Preferably, the pharmaceutical agents are solid (pills, capsules, caplets) or semi-solids (chews, gummies, gels). In embodiments for use with loose pharmaceutical agents, tray  150  is fabricated of a suitable plastic material, and more preferably of a plastic material that is gas- and water-tight. For embodiments for storing and dispensing pharmaceutical agents that are packaged within blister packs, tray  150  may be fabricated from cardboard or other suitable card stock materials. Examples of such embodiments will be discussed in more detail below with regard to  FIGS. 3-5 . 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical agent is a prenatal vitamin, and more preferably is a prenatal vitamin within a blister pack. Using prenatal vitamins in blister packs enables more efficient loading of the vitamins within the tray while minimizing the potential of contaminating the vitamin during assembly of the holder/dispenser. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an example of a first embodiment  100  of the present invention has a cover  110  laminated directly to tray  150 . That is, a bottom surface cover  110  and/or a top surface of tray  150  has an adhesive coated thereon such that once sufficient pressure is applied to the cover the adhesive serves to bond the cover and tray together as a single unit. Adhesive material should not be located proximate doors  120  to minimize the possibility that a particular door would not be openable. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , one or more of the recesses  160  in tray  150  is filled with the desired pharmaceutical agent(s)  170  (whether loose or within blister packaging) prior to bonding the cover and tray together. Therefore, additional care should be taken to minimize the possibility of applying adhesive to the pharmaceutical agent(s) or any blister packaging that may be present. It is furthermore noted that any desired means may be used to attach cover  110  to tray  150  which may not require the use of an adhesive (e.g., ultrasonic welding). 
         [0025]    Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an example of a second embodiment  100 ′ of a calendar and pill holder/dispenser of the present invention is shown. Calendar and pill holder/dispenser  100 ′ generally comprises a cover  110 ′ and tray  150 ′. Tray  150 ′ is similar to that described above with regard to tray  150 . Cover  110 ′ further includes a base (not shown) disposed in a plane generally parallel with cover  110 ′ with the circumferential ends of the cover and base joined by respective sidewalls  112 ′ thereby forming a cavity. One of sidewalls  112 ′ is adapted to function as a foldable flap  114 ′. Foldable flap  114 ′ is provided along one edge of cover  110 ′ and is adapted to fold over so as to enclose the cavity formed by the cover, base and sidewalls. Prior to enclosing the cavity with flap  114 ′, tray  150 ′ is inserted into the cavity (as indicated generally by arrows  155 ′) such that each recess  160 ′ (being prefilled with one or more pharmaceutical agents) corresponds with a respective door  120 ′. Preferably, sidewalls  112 ′ and flap  114 ′ are sized so as to be slightly larger than the thickness of tray  150 ′ such that the tray fits snuggly within the cavity formed by the cover, base and sidewalls. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 through 5  illustrate various tray configurations which may be employed as a tray  150  or  150 ′ within embodiments of the calendar and pill holder/dispenser  100  or  100 ′, respectively, as described above. Tray  150 / 150 ′ may be constructed as a solid plastic unit through any suitable forming process such as thermoforming or injection molding. The plastic tray preferably has a thickness greater than that of a pharmaceutical agent (either loose or within a blister package) to be stored within the recess(es) of the tray. Alternatively, tray  150 / 150 ′ may be constructed from cardboard or other suitable card stock. The card stock tray may generally comprise a top panel  151   a  (see  FIG. 3A ) with at least one pair of opposing sidewalls  152   a.  An optional base  154   a  (see  FIG. 3A ) may be employed to improve rigidity of the tray or to assist in preventing dislocation of the pharmaceutical agent(s) from its respective recess. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , tray  150   a  is configured to have a plurality of voids  160   a  defined by tray edges  150   a ′. Voids  160   a  are proportioned to conform generally to the size and shape of the particular pharmaceutical agent  170  (i.e., prenatal vitamin) to be inserted within the void so that a snug fit between the tray and the pharmaceutical agent holds the pharmaceutical agent in place until being accessed through cover opening  140 . The pharmaceutical agent may be inserted into the void without any additional packaging. 
         [0028]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3A  through an example of a card stock style tray, the pharmaceutical agent may be stored within its own blister packaging  172  such that the agent  170  along the portion of blister enclosing the agent  172 ′ may be inserted into the void with the remainder of the blister packaging  172 ″ lying flat along the surface of tray  150   a.  Again, a snug fit is created within the void  160   a  through the friction created by the blister package  172 ′ and tray edge  150   a ′. Should the pharmaceutical agent be packaged within a blister pack, it is to be understood that the cover door  120 / 120 ′ be proportioned such that the individual blister pack be removable from the tray through its respective cover opening. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows an alternative tray configuration  150   b.  Tray  150   b  is configured to have a plurality of wells  160   b  defined by sidewalls  162   b  and tray base  154   b.  Wells  160   b  are generally proportioned to match the length and width of a door  120 / 120 ′ of a cover  110 / 110 ′. Wells sidewall depth is determined by the size of the pharmaceutical agent to be stored within the well in that it should be slightly larger than the corresponding dimension of the agent. Tray width  152   b  is slightly larger than sidewall depth  162   b  such that tray  150   b  has a continuous base along its bottom. Stored within wells  160   b  are free (non-blister packed) pharmaceutical agent(s)  170  and/or a pharmaceutical agent  170  within its blister pack  172 . Utilizing a tray  150   b  with wells  160   b  allows for placing of multiple agents within a single well thereby allowing, if desired, more than one agent to be dispensed upon opening of a single door. 
         [0030]    Directing attention to  FIG. 5 , a third example of a tray  150   c  is shown. Tray  150   c  is similar to tray  150   b  described previously in that tray  150   c  is configured to have a plurality of wells  160   c  formed therein; the wells defined by a sidewall  162   c  and tray base  154   c.  Well sidewall  162   c  depth is determined by the size properties of the desired pharmaceutical agent  170  and blister packaging  172  to be store within the well  160   c . Well  160   c  has a width W selected to be slightly wider than the width of blister packaging  172  such that blister packaging  172  fits snuggly within the well. Tray  150   c  further possesses a channel  164   c  defined by channel walls  166   c  and tray base  154   c.  Each channel  164   c  runs between and connects adjacent wells  160   c  along a single axis, for instance along the y-axis as shown and referenced in  FIG. 5 . Channel sidewalls  166   c  preferably have a similar sidewall depth as sidewall  162   c  of well  160   c.  Channels  164   c  have a width W′ which is smaller than width W (and the width of blister packaging  172 ) such that a blister pack stored within a well cannot migrate within the channel. The blister pack is constrained within the well where it can be accessed through cover opening  140  after opening (and if desired removal) of a door  120 / 120 ′ as discussed previously. 
         [0031]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain aspects thereof, other versions are possible as described above. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the aspects contained herein. 
         [0032]    All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.