Patent Publication Number: US-2005133383-A1

Title: Attachable medicinal container

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is related to a pill container. More specifically, the present invention relates to an attachable pill container.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In some instances, a person desires to carry a medication with them so that the medication is readily available. For example, a person with a medical history of heart attacks in a family may desire to carry aspirin. It is known that chewing an aspirin during the initial stages of a heart attack can be helpful. An Federal Drug Administration (FDA) study concluded that if a person chews an aspirin during the initial stages of a heart attack, the risk of vascular death is reduced by 23%. Therefore, as some adults reach an age where there is a higher risk of heart attack they may desire to carry aspirin so that it is readily available. Adults having a family history of heart attacks may have a very strong desire to carry aspirin in a place where it is readily available.  
      Other medications must be readily available to a person and carried with the person at all times. The availability of the medication can be a life or death matter. For example, a person who has angina pectoris needs to carry nitroglycerin pills in the case of an angina attack. The angina sufferer must immediately take a nitroglycerin pill orally when an attack occurs, and may need to take additional pills if the first is not successful in quelling the attack. Further, although not related to a condition causing an incapacitating attack, many people carry medication with them that must be taken regularly for convenience sake. There are many instances where persons must have a medication available or face grave health risks when the medication is not available. The nitroglycerin pill or capsule is just one instance. It is anticipated that other medications will become available for certain health conditions that users and physicians feel the patient must carry with them.  
      There are still instances where patients would find it convenient and advantageous to carry a medication with them. For example, relatively mild allergy sufferers that take dosages of allergy medications as needed would like to have one or more doses of the medication readily available. This occurrence may also become more common in the future. In short, there are many instances where a person may be required to carry a medication and other instances where the person desires to carry medication for the purpose of convenience.  
      All such emergency medications need to be current so they are effective when the patient needs them. Therefore, it is important to include a way to inform the patient of the effective date of a medication so that the patient can change the medication if it should become outdated. For example, aspirin expires over time and breaks down to acetic acid. With the breakdown acetic acid, aspirin becomes ineffective. The benefit of chewing the medicine vanishes if the medicine breaks down and is rendered ineffective. Other medications also may be rendered ineffective or less effective after the expiration date of the medication. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention is pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, a more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar items throughout the figures and:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an attachable medicinal container attached to a key chain according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates the attachable medicinal container of  FIG. 1  in an open position according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of an attachable medicinal container of  FIG. 1  in a closed position according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of an attachable medicinal container in a closed position according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates the attachable medicinal container of  FIG. 4  in an open position according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a sealed attachable medicinal container according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a sealed attachable medicinal container having a portion formed as a loop according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a sealed attachable medicinal container attached to a key chain according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 9  illustrates a sealed attachable medicinal container having a plurality of sealed containers attached to a key chain according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of a kit including a package with an attachable medicinal container attached to the exterior of the package according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of a kit including a package with an attachable medicinal container attached to the exterior of the package according to another embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of a kit including a package with an attachable medicinal container provided within the package according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 13  is a front elevation view of a package including a plurality of attachable medicinal containers according to an embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 14  is a top view of a blister pack type of package including a plurality of attachable medicinal containers according to an embodiment of this invention. 
    
    
      The description set out herein illustrates the various embodiments of the invention and such description is not intended to be construed as limiting in any manner.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       FIG. 1  illustrates an attachable medicinal container  100  that is attached to a key ring  110 , according to an embodiment of this invention. The key ring is in turn attached to a key  112 . It should be noted that the attachable or wearable medicinal container  100  could also be attached to other items, such as a necklace, bracelet, watch chain or the like. In some embodiments, the medicinal container includes an attachment device, such as a key ring or plastic loop, or the like. All dimensions of an attachment device are contemplated, including attachment devices that include a fastener sufficiently thin to be thread though an opening in the tab of a zipper or in a button hole. Such an embodiment is attachable to a wide range of apparel and accessories carried by a patient.  
      The attachable medicinal container also includes a media display area  120  which can be used to carry advertising or instructions related to the medicinals held by the attachable or wearable medicinal container  100 . For example, the message display area  120  could contain an advertisement for a doctor&#39;s office, a pharmacy or a particular drug or drug manufacturer. The message display area  120  could also have an expiration date related to the medicinal held by the attachable medicinal container  100  written on the message display area  120 . The message display area  120  is also made of a material, in some embodiments, that can receive ink and remains permanently marked after a message is written on to the message display area  120 . In other embodiments, the message display area is made of a material capable of receiving a printing.  
      Placing the expiration date on the attachable medicinal container informs the patient and others that the emergency medications is current so they are effective when the patient needs them. Including the expiration date on the display area alerts the patient or other caretakers when the medicine within the attachable medicinal container either expires or is about to expire. The patient or caretaker is alerted to change the medication for another current dosage before, or on, or after the expiration date With the expiration date in clear view, the patient is more likely to have effective medication when the medicine is needed.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates the attachable medicinal container  100  of  FIG. 1  in an open position according to an embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 3  is a side view of the attachable medicinal container of  FIG. 1  in a closed position, according to an embodiment of this invention. Now referring both to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , the attachable or wearable medicinal container  100  will be further detailed. It should be noted that in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the attachable or wearable medicinal container  100  does not include medicinals or pills. These figures are illustrated without pills for the sake of clarity and simplicity. That attachable medicinal container  100  includes a sheet  210  having at least one compartment  212  therein. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sheet  210  has three compartments  212 ,  213 , and  214 . A lid  230  is movably attached to the sheet  210 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lid  230  is attached to the sheet  210  by a narrow hinged area  220 . It should be noted that as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hinged area  220  necks down between the lid  230  and the sheet  210 . It is contemplated that in other embodiments of the invention the hinge area  220  would not have to be necked down but could be of the same width as the lid  230  and the width of the sheet  210 .  
      The lid  230  includes at least one cover  232 , which engages and covers the compartment  212  in the sheet  210 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , there is more than one compartment  212 ,  213 ,  214  and, therefore, there is a corresponding number of covers  232 ,  233 ,  234  in the lid  230  for the compartments  212 ,  213 ,  214  in the sheet  210 . Each of the compartments  212 ,  213 ,  214  and the corresponding covers  232 ,  233 ,  234  are constructed in substantially the same way. As a result, only one compartment  212  and the corresponding lid  232  will be further discussed with the understanding that the other compartments  213 ,  214  and the corresponding lids  233 ,  234  have substantially the same construction. The compartment  212  includes a compartment wall  240 . Within the compartment wall are a first detent  241  and a second detent  242 . The compartment  212  has a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the cover  232  on the lid  230 . The cover  232  also has a wall  250 . The wall  250  is provided with a first locking feature  251  and a second locking feature  252 . The outside diameter of the cover  250  is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the compartment  240 . Therefore, the cover fits within the inner diameter of the compartment  212 . The features  251  and  252  associated with the wall  250  are sized to engage the detents  241 ,  242  within the wall  240  of the compartment  212 . Thus, the cover  232  mates with the compartment  212  to form an enclosure for a medicinal or pill (not shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ).  
      The features  251 ,  252  engage the detents  241 ,  242  to secure the cover  232  to the compartment  212 . The features  251 ,  252  and corresponding detents  241 ,  242  are designed so that the cover  232  stays in place with the respect to the compartment  212  until the pill or medicinal housed within the enclosure formed by the compartment  212  and cover  232  are needed. The user is then able to place a sufficient force on to the sheet  210  and the lid  230  so that the cover  232  is removed from the compartment  212  and access can be gained to the medicinal inside. It should be noted that  FIGS. 2 and 3  show a circularly shaped compartment  212 ,  213 ,  214  and circularly shaped covers  232 ,  233 ,  234  and that in other embodiments of the invention the shapes could be different for different types of medicinals. For example, it is contemplated that the compartments  212 ,  213 ,  214  and the corresponding covers  232 ,  233 ,  234  could also be more oval-shaped to accommodate medicinals in the form of capsules. Compartments can be made in any desired shape.  
      Materials used in various embodiments of the invention may differ. For example, in one embodiment of the invention plastic is used to form the sheet  210  and the lid  230 . The plastic can be either opaque or clear. Advantageously when the clear plastic is used, the medicinal within an enclosure formed by a compartment, such as  212 , and a cover, such as  232 , can be easily viewed. In this way a user can determine whether or not a medicinal is within the attachable or wearable medicinal container  100 . If a medicinal is not within the attached or wearable medicinal container  100 , the user can load an appropriate medicinal within the enclosures formed by the attachable or wearable medicinal container  100 . Furthermore, if a clear plastic is used, the user is able to determine what type of medicinal is currently held within the wearable or attachable medicinal container  100 . It should be noted that many types of medicinals can be held within the wearable or attachable medicinal container  100 , such as allergy medications, aspirin, nitroglycerin, insulin-controlling medications, pain medications, and the like.  
      Also, the hinged area  220  can be a living hinge which is formed by folding a plastic. With a living hinge forming the hinged area  220 , there is no need for additional hardware to movably attach the lid  230  to the sheet  210 . The attachable or wearable medicinal container  100  is also provided with a fastener. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the fastener is a key ring  110 . In other embodiments of the invention, the fastener  110  may be a loop of plastic which can be then attached to a necklace, bracelet or key ring. In still further embodiments, the fastener  100  can include a belt clip which includes a loop passing through the attachable or wearable medicinal container  100 .  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of an attachable medicinal container  400  in a closed position according to an embodiment of this invention.  FIG. 5  illustrates an attachable medicinal container  400  in an open position according to an embodiment of this invention. Now looking to both  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the attachable or wearable medicinal container  400  will be further detailed. The attachable medicinal container  400  includes a sheet  410  having a first compartment  412  and a second compartment  413 . It should be noted that at least one compartment is formed on the sheet  410  and that any number of compartments can be formed on the sheet  410 . Attached to the sheet  410  is a first cover  432  and a second cover  433 . The cover  432  is attached to the sheet  410  by hinge  422 . The cover  433  is attached to the sheet  410  by hinge  423 . Cover  433  covers the compartment  413 . Cover  432  covers the compartment  412 .  
      Each of the chambers  412 ,  413  has a similar construction and therefore only one chamber  412  will be discussed. Similarly, each of the covers  432 ,  433  has a similar construction and therefore only cover  432  will be discussed. The cover  432  has an inside diameter that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the chamber  412 . The cover  432  includes a first feature  441  and a second feature  442  in the wall  440  of the cover  432 . The chamber  412  also includes a wall  450 . Within the wall  450  is a first detent  451  and a second detent  452 . The features  441  and  442  engage the detents  451 ,  452  within the wall  450  of the chamber  412 . The features  441 ,  442  and the corresponding detents  451  and  452  are dimensions so that the cover  432  engages the chamber  412 , yet can be removed by the user. The detents  451  and  452  and the features  441 ,  442  are dimensions so that the cover  432  will stay in place on the compartment during normal wear and tear of the attachable medicinal container  400 .  
      The attachable medicinal container  400  also includes a message display area  460 . Further contemplated that messages could be displayed upon the backside surface of the wearable, attachable medicinal container  400 . The backside surface is not shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The sheet  410  includes an opening  415  therein. A fastening device  410 , such as a key ring  110  or other fastener, is passed through the opening  415 . The attachable wearable medicinal container  400  can then be attached to a key ring, necklace, bracelet, or the like. In one embodiment of the invention, a portion of a hook and loop fastener  417  can be attached to the fastening device  110 . A corresponding portion or mating portion of a hook and loop fastener can then be attached to the person so that the attachable medicinal container  400  is wearable at an particular spot on the user&#39;s person. In one embodiment, the hook and loop fastener  417  that is used is a material called Velcro.  
       FIGS. 6, 7 , and  8  are directed to an attachable medicinal container  600 .  FIG. 6  shows a top view of a sealed attachable medicinal container  600  according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 7  is a side view of the sealed attachable medicinal container  600  having a portion formed as a loop according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 8  illustrates a sealed attachable medicinal container  600  attached to a key chain according to an embodiment of the invention.  
      The sealed attachable medicinal container  600  includes a substrate  610  including at least one compartment  612 . A medicinal  614  is sealed within the at least one compartment  612 . A sealing layer  620  seals the compartment  612 . One of the substrate  610  and the sealing layer  620  include a portion  630  adapted to receive a fastener  110 . In one embodiment, the substrate  610  that includes the compartment  612  and the sealing layer  620  is a blister pack. One of the substrate  610  and the sealing layer  620  includes a tail  640 . The portion adapted to receive a fastener  110  is an opening formed by looping the tail  640 . The tail  640  includes an opening  641 . The tail also includes a peg  642  with an enlarged head  643 . A loop is formed by placing the peg  642  and specifically the enlarged head  643  of the peg into the opening  641 . The enlarged head  643  prevents the peg  642  from dislodging from the opening  641 . In other words, the enlarged head  643  of the peg  642  stops or prevents the end of the tail, and specifically the peg  642 , from being removed from the opening  641 . Placing the peg  642  into the opening  641  forms a loop  630  from the tail  640  of the substrate  610  in the sealing layer  620 . The attachable medicinal container  600  also includes a message display area  660 , which can be used to display advertising or an expiration date or other information about the medicinal  614  carried within the compartment  612 . Advantageously, the medicinal  614  is sealed within the compartment  612  at the time of manufacture. Therefore, an expiration date can be placed on the message display area  660  so that the user can easily ascertain if the medicinal  614  has become dated. When the medicinal  614  expiration date has been passed, the user can then discard the sealed attachable medicinal container  600  and purchase a new one or substitute a new sealed attachable medicinal container  600  for the outdated one. The substrate  610  and the sealing layer  620  are selected so that the sealed attachable medicinal container  600  is sufficiently rugged to withstand normal wear and tear from being worn on the person and yet weak enough so that a patient is able to remove the medicinal  614  from the compartment  612  with a force that most patients could apply to the compartment  612 , or to the sealing layer  620 .  
       FIG. 9  illustrates a sealed attachable medicinal container  900  having a plurality of sealed containers  912 ,  914  that carry a first medicinal  922  and a second medicinal  923 . It should be noted that the medicinals housed within the compartments  912  and  913  need not necessarily be the same type of medicine. Different types of medicinals  922 ,  923  can be housed within the compartments  912 ,  913 . The sealed attachable medicinal container  900  also includes a message display area  960 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the message display area  960  is larger than the message display area shown on the sealed attachable medicinal container  600 . A substrate  910  of the sealed, attachable medicinal container  900  has an opening  930  therein. A fastener or key ring  110  can be placed directly through the opening.  
       FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of a kit  1000  including a package  1010  having an attachable medicinal container  1020  attached to the exterior of the package  1010 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The package  1010  can carry a multiplicity of dosages of the same type as carried by the attachable medicinal container  1020 . It should also be noted that the package  1010  need not carry medicinals at all. For example, the package  1010  could include a device to monitor health. Attached to the package could be the attachable and wearable medicinal container  1020  that includes a medicinal related to the product. For example, the product  1010  could be a glucose monitor and the medicinal contained within the wearable, attachable medicinal container  1020  could be a dosage of a medicine that could be used to control blood sugar. Therefore, the product  1010  need not necessarily by a medicine or a medicine bottle or a container for individual doses of a medication. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the wearable, attachable medicinal container  1020  is connected to the product  1010  with a band  1030 . The band  1030  wraps around a portion of the product  1010  and also connects to the wearable, attachable medicinal container  1020 .  
       FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of a kit  1100  including a package  1110  with an attachable medicinal container  1120  attached to the exterior surface of the package  1110 , according to another embodiment of this invention. As shown in this embodiment of the invention, the package  1110  is a box. The box  1110  contains the product or may contain a container that includes any type of product. The wearable, attachable medicinal container  1120  is attached to the product  1110  using a shrink wrap  1130 . The shrink wrap is a transparent plastic that allows the labeling on the product  1110  to be clearly viewable or remain clearly viewable. The transparent shrink wrap also allows the wearable, attachable medicinal container to be viewed. Of course, promotional material regarding the package may include a promotion about the key chain or wearable, attachable medicinal container  1120  which is attached to the package  1110 .  
       FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of a kit  1200  which includes a package  1210  with an attachable medicinal container  1220  provided within the package  1210 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the wearable, attachable medicinal container  1220  is shown in phantom since the wearable, attachable medicinal container  1220  is within the package  1210 . It should be noted once again that the package  1210  need not contain medicinals but can actually contain any type of product.  
      A kit includes a package including an item, and an attachable medicinal container associated with the package. In one embodiment, the attachable medicinal container is removably attached to the exterior of the package. In another embodiment, the attachable medicinal container is within the package. The first item can be a plurality of pills. In one embodiment, the attachable medicinal container includes a sheet having at least one compartment therein, and a lid movably attached to the sheet. The lid includes a cover for the at least one compartment, and at least one feature for releasably locking the lid and the sheet. In another embodiment, the attachable medicinal container includes a substrate having at least one compartment, a medicinal within the at least one compartment, a sealing layer sealing the compartment. At least one of the substrate and the sealing layer include a feature adapted to receive a fastener.  
       FIG. 13  is a front elevational view of a package  1300  that includes a plurality of attachable medicinal containers. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the package  1300  includes four wearable, attachable medicinal containers  1320 .  1321 ,  1322 , and  1323 . The container or package that includes the attachable medicinal containers  1320 ,  1321 ,  1322 ,  1323  may be semi-open to feature the wearable, attachable medicinal containers. In another embodiment, the package  1300  can totally contain the wearable, attachable medicinal containers  1320 ,  1321 ,  1322 ,  1323 .  
       FIG. 14  is a top view of a blister pack type of package  1400  including a plurality of attachable medicinal containers  1420 ,  1421 ,  1422 ,  1423 ,  1424 ,  1425 , according to an embodiment of this invention. The package  1400  includes a plurality of attachable medicinal containers  1420 ,  1421 ,  1422 ,  1423 ,  1424 ,  1425 . Each attachable medicinal container  1420 ,  1421 ,  1422 ,  1423 ,  1424 ,  1425  includes a substrate  1410  having at least one compartment  1430 . A medicinal  1440  is contained within the compartment  1430 . A sealing layer  1450  seals the compartment  1440 . At least one of the substrate and the sealing layer include a feature  1460  adapted to receive a fastener. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the feature  1460  is an opening in the substrate  1410 . The opening  1460  is remotely located from the compartment  1430  in the substrate  1410 .  
      In another embodiment, the feature adapted to receive a fastener is a tail as shown and discussed with respect to  FIGS. 6-8 .  
      In one embodiment of the invention, the package is a blister pack and each of the plurality of attachable medicinal containers is separatable from the package.  
      The substrate  1410  of the entire package has perforation lines  1470 ,  1471 ,  1472 ,  1473 ,  1474 ,  1475 . When a user desires a new wearable, attachable medicinal compartment, the next one can be removed from the package  1400  by tearing along one of the perforation lines  1471 ,  1472 ,  1473 ,  1474 ,  1475 . Each of the wearable, attachable containers includes a message area  1480 .  
      The foregoing description of the specific embodiments reveals the general nature of the invention sufficiently that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt it for various applications without departing from the generic concept, and therefore such adaptations and modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.  
      It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.