Patent Publication Number: US-2018044060-A1

Title: Pill container kit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to pill containers and, more particularly, to a pill container kit having a retainer element adapted so that when the pill container kit is in an open configuration, each of the plurality of daily doses are contained in their respective dosage cup a user can easily remove and use. 
     Currently pill containers are designed to be compact, easily portable, and so that daily dosages need not be remembered by providing an individual compartment for each day. As a result, current pill containers are difficult to use, often times requiring one to have to pry open a small plastic lid, typically with one&#39;s finger nail, for each individual compartment when filling a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. pill compartment for the coming week or two. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a pill container kit having a retainer element adapted so that when the pill container kit is in an open configuration, each of the plurality of daily doses are contained in their respective dosage cup a user can easily remove and use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a pill container kit includes a main body defining a body interior; a lid defining a lid interior; a hinge pivotally connecting to the main body and the lid so the lid moves relative to the main body between a closed condition and an open condition; a body retaining element substantially filling the body interior, wherein the body retaining element forms a plurality of dosage cavities arranged in a grid; and a plurality of time markings adjacent to the plurality of dosage cavities. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the pill container kit includes a main body defining a body interior; a lid defining a lid interior; a hinge pivotally connecting to the main body and the lid so the lid moves relative to the main body between a closed condition and an open condition; a body retaining element substantially filling the body interior, wherein the body retaining element forms a plurality of dosage cavities arranged in a grid; a plurality of time markings adjacent to the plurality of dosage cavities, wherein each of the plurality of time markings indicates either a day of the week or a portion of the day; a dosage cup disposed in each dosage cavity so that an opening of each dosage cup faces the lid in the closed condition; an elongated bottle cavity formed by the body retaining element so as to extend substantially the full length thereof; a lid retaining element substantially filling the lid interior, wherein the lid retaining element forms a plurality of dispenser cavities; a dispenser box removably secured in each of the plurality of dispenser cavities; and a dispenser box slidably secured in each dispenser cup. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in a closed condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in an open condition; and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a pill container kit having a retainer element adapted so that when the pill container kit is in an open configuration, each of the plurality of daily doses are contained in their respective dosage cup a user can easily remove and use. The pill container kit provides a lid pivotally connected to a main body for moving between a closed condition and the open condition. The body and lid define body and lid interiors, respectively, wherein a respective retaining element substantially fills said interiors but for a plurality of cavities the retaining elements form. Dosage cups are provided in the cavities so that an opening of each dosage cup is accessible in the open configuration. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the present invention may include an exemplary pill container kit  10  providing a housing in the form of a relatively rigid case having a main body  14  and a lid  12 . The main body  14  and the lid  12  each have an interior adapted to receive, hold, and maintain the pills  26  and/or desired paraphernalia for the dispensing of said pills  26 , namely, a plurality of dosage cups  24 , a bottle  30 , a plurality of dispenser boxes  36  and dispenser cups  34 . It will be appreciated that the main body  14  and the lid  12  define a body interior and a lid interior, respectively, each preferably dimensioned and shaped to substantially yet economically retain typical pills and related paraphernalia so as to provide the interior of sufficient volume. Of course, the housing (and thus the lid  12  and the main body  14 ) may take any shape so long as it functions within the scope of the present invention. 
     A hinge  16  may pivotally connect the lid  12  to the main body  12  so that the lid  10  moves relative to the main body  12  between a closed condition and an open condition providing access to the interior. 
     The lid  12  and main body  14  may provide cooperating handles  18  for manipulating and moving the pill container kit  10 , wherein the cooperating handles  18  align in the closed condition. Latches  20  may be connected to the main body  12  and/or the lid  10  so as to move between an unlocked and a locked engagement in the closed condition. Though it should be noted that the latches  20  may be any type of mechanism known in the art used to maintain the lid  12  in the closed condition. 
     At least one retaining element  22 , such as a foam insert, is provided to maintain one or more desired paraphernalia in place within the interior, wherein the retaining element(s)  22  fills the interior but for a plurality of cavities the retaining element  22  forms. The plurality of cavities may include a bottle cavity  28 , a plurality of dispenser cavities  32 , and a plurality of dosage cavities  38 . Such formed cavities of the retaining elements  22  are dimensioned and adapted to enable sliding removal and snug retention of said paraphernalia, while being beneficial in maintaining the predictable order within the interior and reducing any damage that may result from shifting of the desired paraphernalia. 
     The plurality of dosage cavities  38  may be formed along the body interior in a general grid pattern, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Each dosage cavities  38  may be dimensioned and adapted to slidably receive and snugly retain a respective dosage cups  24 . The retaining element(s)  22  may provide time markings  40  adjacent to the plurality of dosage cavities  38 . The time markings  40  may indicate the days and times of the week associated with each of the adjacent dosage cavities, taking advantage of the grid pattern arrangement. For example, along a first grid axis the time markings  40  may indicate the day of the week, while along an orthogonal second grid axis the time markings  40  may indicate the time period of day, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     In certain embodiments, the retaining element  22  along the body interior may form the elongated bottle cavity  28  extending substantially the full length of the body interior, wherein the dimensions (width and depth) of the elongated bottle cavity  28  may be adapted so as to secure at least one bottle  30  therein, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     In certain embodiments, the plurality of dispenser cavities  32  may be formed along the lid interior, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Each dispenser cavity  32  may be dimensioned and adapted to snugly receive and secure a slidably removable dispenser box  36 . Each dispenser box  36  may be dimensioned and adapted to snugly receive and secure a slidably removable a dispenser cup  34 . The dispenser cavities  32  may be associated with pills/medicaments that a user may need to take the current day, wherein daily time markings  42  are associated with at least two time portions of the current day, each daily time markings adjacent to a spaced apart dispenser cavity  32 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. The pill container kit  10  disclosed above is provided. With the pill container kit  10  in the open condition, a user may remove the dosage cups  24  from its dosage cavity  38  associated with the predetermined day and time period as indicated by the time markings  40  so as to dispensing the pill(s) contained therein. In certain embodiments, the user may use one of the dispenser cups  34 . Alternatively, the user may reverse these steps to fill the appropriate dosage cups  24  for future dispensing. Then the user may move the pill container kit  10  to the closed condition, and store and/or transport the pill container kit  10  in the locked engagement. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.