Patent Publication Number: US-8534220-B1

Title: Dosage cap assembly for standard prescription medicine containers

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority and benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/258,724, filed on Nov. 6, 2009, entitled “DOSAGE CAP ASSEMBLY FOR STANDARD PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE CONTAINERS”. This reference is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present embodiments generally relate to a dosage cap assembly for attaching to medicine containers, vitamin containers, supplement containers, standard prescription medicine containers, and other such containers to aid in patient compliance with a dosage regimen. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A need exists for a dosage cap assembly for tracking the last time that a dosage of medication was taken and is in compliance with federal law requiring a tight closure of a cap or lid to a medicine vial or container to ensure drug potency. 
     A need exists for a very simple dosage cap assembly that can be installed on existing medicine dosage containers from a drug store or pharmacy. 
     A need exists for a dosage cap assembly that can be easily rotated to record the taking of pills by a person, thereby providing people who easily forget with a way of remembering which dosages they have taken. 
     A need exists for a dosage cap assembly that can be easily transported. 
     A need exists for a dosage cap assembly that is small, lightweight, compact, and can be traveled with such that the user is in compliance with state law and federal law. 
     A need exists for indicating to paramedics which dosages of which medications have been taken by a patient. 
     The present embodiments meet these needs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a dosage cap assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a top closure. 
         FIG. 3  is a view of an assembled dosage cap assembly. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of another embodiment of an assembled dosage cap assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a clock face. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of another clock face. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of another embodiment of the dosage cap assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of a clear plastic kit. 
     
    
    
     The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the listed Figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the present apparatus and method in detail, it is to be understood that the apparatus and method are not limited to the particular embodiments and that the apparatus and method can be practiced or carried out in various ways. 
     The present embodiments relate to a dosage cap assembly for attaching to containers to aid in patient compliance with a dosage regimen using solid dosage units of medicine such as pills, capsules and tablets. 
     One or more embodiment provide a simple solution for recording the last dosage that has been taken. A representative clock and an indicator arrow can be disposed within or on a top of a closure. The indicator arrow can be manually turned to point to a time indicator on the representative clock that represents the time that the last dosage was taken. Thus, a record can be produced of the time that the last dosage was taken. In the art, the label of a medication bottle will inform a user when to take the medication, however, embodiments of the present invention can tell the user what the user has already taken. 
     For example, a registered pharmacist can install the dosage cap assembly onto medicine containers to ensure patient compliance with a dosage regimen. 
     In one or more embodiments the container can be a medicine container, an over-the-counter vitamin container, an over-the-counter supplement container, an over-the-counter non-prescription medicine container, or a standard prescription medicine vial. 
     In one or more embodiments an already existing container and an already existing closure for containers can be adapted to form the dosage cap assembly. 
     The medicine containers can contain pills, capsules, tablets, vitamins, supplements, or other forms of medication. 
     Embodiments of the dosage cap assembly enable users to see the original label on the original medicine container while simultaneously monitoring the status of the pills taken. Users of the dosage cap assembly, such as patients, can travel with the original medicine container. Traveling with the original medicine container, rather than another pill planner, allows users to travel with all of the information associated with the medication, including the name of the medication, the prescribing doctor, the dosage, the risks and dangers of the medication, refill information, as well as other information associated with the medication. 
     Furthermore, a person traveling with a prescription medication without documentation or other information that the prescription is theirs can be arrested or can have the prescription medication confiscated by police or other authorities; as the law requires that only those with a valid prescription can be in possession of certain medications. A user with the dosage cap assembly can have the prescription vial with them, thereby having proof that the prescription is theirs and avoiding arrest or confiscation of their medication. 
     The problem with taking medication is that a user forgets that they have already taken a particular dosage of the medication, causing that user to take a particular dosage of medication twice. 
     The dosage cap assembly can prevent a user from taking too much medication which can lead to overdose, stroke, death, or some other complication. 
     Embodiments of the dosage cap assembly enable users to be reminded of the time the last dosage was taken. The dosage cap assembly can be helpful to users with faulty memories and to elderly users. For example, on prescription medicine containers, labels tell a patient when to take a dosage of the medication, however the label does not tell the patient when the patient took a dosage of the medication. The dosage cap assembly can provide patients, paramedics, and other persons with an indication of the last dosage the patient has taken, thereby avoiding overdose and other such dangers. The dosage cap assembly can allow paramedics responding to an emergency situation to be able to identify the dosages of medications taken and not taken by a particular patient, thereby aiding in their assistance to the patient. 
     One or more embodiments can reduce the number of hospital and nursing home admissions associated with patients forgetting which dosages of which medications they have taken thereby saving money, improving health, and saving lives. 
     Embodiments of the dosage cap assembly can be useful for users taking prescription narcotic based medications and over-the-counter medications including pain killers and allergy medicines, as these medications can be dangerous and can cause bodily organ damage and other complications if taken in large quantities. 
     The closure can be a cap, a lid, or another closure of a commercially available container from a pharmacy. 
     In one or more embodiments, the closure can include a bottom closure. 
     The bottom closure can include a top segment and a bottom segment which can be integrally connected. 
     The top segment can include top segment threads disposed on the top segment. In embodiments, the threads on the top segment can be clockwise threads or counter-clockwise threads. 
     The bottom segment can include threads disposed on an inside surface of the bottom segment for engagement with a container. 
     Time indicators can be disposed on the bottom segment. For example, the time indicators can be disposed about a side perimeter of the bottom segment. 
     The time indicators can indicate times of day in any increment of time. For example, the time of day indicators can provide time indications in one hour increments, in two hour increments, or in daily increments. The time of day indicators can be imprinted on the closure. 
     In one or more embodiments the time indicators can include: a 6 am indicator, an 8 am indicator, a 10 am indicator, 12 noon indicator, a 2 pm indicator, a 4 pm indicator, a 6 pm indicator, an 8 pm indicator, a bed indicator, or combinations thereof. 
     The bed indicator can indicate an eight hour sleep period, thereby forming a 24 hour clock. 
     The time indicators can include: a Sunday indicator, a Monday indicator, a Tuesday indicator, a Wednesday indicator, a Thursday indicator, a Friday indicator, a Saturday indicator, or combinations thereof. 
     In one or more embodiments the closure can include a top closure engaged over the bottom closure. 
     The top closure can include an inner member with inner member threads formed on an inner portion of the inner member. The inner member threads can be threadably engaged with the top segment threads, thereby attaching the top closure to the bottom closure. In one or more embodiments, the thread on the inner portion can be clockwise threads or counter-clockwise threads. The inner member can be disposed within an inner portion of an outer member. 
     The top closure can include an outer member with a side portion. The outer member can be rotatably disposed about the inner member. 
     A ratcheting mechanism can be integral with the top closure. The ratcheting mechanism can include an inner member portion and an outer member portion. When a pressure is applied to the outer member, the outer member portion of the ratcheting mechanism can engage with the inner member portion of the ratcheting mechanism, thereby preventing the outer member from rotating in one direction with respect to the inner member. 
     The ratcheting mechanism can be disposed between the inner member and the outer member. The ratcheting mechanism can prevent the outer member from rotating counter-clockwise with respect to the inner member, while allowing the outer member to rotate clockwise with respect to the inner member. In embodiments, the ratcheting mechanism can prevent the outer member from rotating clockwise with respect to the inner member, while allowing the outer member to rotate counter-clockwise with respect to the inner member. 
     The ratcheting mechanism can provide a plurality of stopping points along the rotation of the outer member about the inner member. For example, inner teeth can be disposed on the inner member and outer teeth can be disposed on the outer member. The outer teeth can engage the inner teeth for holding the outer member in position about the inner member. The outer teeth and the inner teeth can be angled such that the outer teeth can only move in one direction with respect to the inner teeth. Each point wherein the outer teeth reside between the inner teeth can be a stopping point. 
     The ratcheting mechanism can be arranged such that each stopping point, which stops the rotation of the outer member about the inner member, corresponds to a time indicator. The above described ratcheting mechanism is for illustrative purposes only. The dosage cap assembly can include other ratcheting mechanisms. 
     An indicator can be disposed on the side portion of the outer member. A user can rotate the outer member about the inner member for pointing the indicator to the time indicators in series, thereby allowing a user to point the indicator to a time indicator associated with a last dosage that has been taken. 
     For example, as the outer member is rotated about the inner member, the indicator can rotate as well and can move from pointing to a time indicator associated with a previous dosage taken to pointing to a time indicator associated with the last pill taken. Therefore, upon taking each dosage, a user can point the indicator to a time indicator associated with the last pill taken, such that the next time the user looks at the medicine vial or medicine container with the dosage cap assembly the user will know that the user has already taken the last pill taken as indicated by the dosage cap assembly. 
     The top closure can be a universal closure such that the to top closure can engage and/or fit over a top portion of a commercially available bottom closure of a vial or container. 
     The outer member can include a top portion and a side portion extending from the top portion. The outer member can be rotatably engaged with the inner member. The outer member can therefore rotate about the inner member. 
     Child-resistant features of a medicine vial or medicine container can remain functional when the dosage cap assembly is installed on the medicine vial or medicine container. 
     In operation, a user can engage a bottom closure over a vial or container. The user can then engage a top closure over the bottom closure. The user can rotate the top closure about the bottom closure to point the indicator to the time indicator corresponding to the last dosage of the medication that the user has taken. Each time the user takes a dosage of medication, the user can rotate the top closure about the bottom closure until the indicator points to the time indicator that corresponds to the most recent dosage of medication taken by the user. The user can therefore keep track of which dosages the user has taken. 
     The dosage cap assembly can thereby record that a last pill has been taken at the time indicated by the time indicator. 
     In one or more embodiments, the closure can be made from a metal. The time indicators and the indicator can be formed in the metal. The metal can be sterling silver, gold, platinum, a precious metal, or another metal. 
     The closure can be made from a polymeric material resistant to deformation in the presence of heat. 
     One or more embodiments can include a closure for engaging directly over a vial or container. The enclosure can include an inner member and an outer member. 
     The outer member can be rotatably disposed about the inner member. The outer member can be formed as a ring shaped member. 
     A ratcheting mechanism can be integral with the closure. The ratcheting mechanism can include an inner member portion and an outer member portion. When a pressure is applied to the outer member, the outer member portion of the ratcheting mechanism can engage with the inner member portion of the ratcheting mechanism, thereby preventing the outer member from rotating in one direction with respect to the inner member. 
     A clock face can be disposed on a top surface of the inner member. Time indicators can be disposed on the clock face indicating times of day. The clock face can be white. The clock face can be a simple 24 hour clock face. 
     The top surface of the inner member can be viewable, as the inner member can be disposed within the circumference of the ring formed by the outer member. 
     An indicator, which can be an arrow, can be disposed on the outer member for pointing to the time indicators in series, thereby allowing a user to point the indicator arrow to a time indicator associated with a last dosage that has been taken. 
     The indicator can be formed on a circumference of the outer member for pointing to the time indicators when the outer member is rotated about the inner member. 
     A user can rotate the outer member to point the indicator to a correct time indicator, thereby recording that a last pill has been taken at the time indicated by the time indicator. 
     In one or more embodiments, the closure can engage directly over a medicine vial or medicine container. The closure can be a single closure rather than a two-part closure having a top closure and a bottom closure. 
     In one or more embodiments, the time indicators can be indicia formed on a top of the top closure indicating the times of day. The times of day can be indicated in various different time increments such as one hour increments, two hour increments, or daily increments. The indicia can be formed as black letters and/or black numerals. 
     In operation, a user can engage the closure over a vial or container. The user can rotate the outer member of the closure about the inner member of the closure to point the indicator to the time indicator that corresponds to the last dosage of the medication that the user has taken. Each time the user takes a dosage of medication, the user can rotate the outer member about the inner member until the indicator points to the time indicator that corresponds to the most recent dosage of medication taken by the user. 
     One or more embodiments can include a travel kit for containing one or more vials or containers. The travel kit can be a plastic container, which can be a clear plastic container. The travel kit can of a size such that standard prescription medicine containers disposed within the travel kit will remain in place without sliding about, falling over, or otherwise moving from a position that the standard prescription medicine vial is placed at. 
     The travel kit can allow a user to store and travel with the user&#39;s prescription medicines within the original prescription containers with the labels printed thereon. The travel kit can allow a user to store and travel with health information cards including information regarding diabetes, drug allergies, implants, pacemakers, transplants, medical insurance, the user&#39;s primary care physician, and the user&#39;s prescribing physician. 
     In one or more embodiments the dosage cap assembly can include a container and a closure engaged over the container. 
     The closure can include time indicators disposed on a side surface of the closure. 
     An indicator can be disposed on a side of the container for pointing to the time indicators in series, thereby allowing a user to point the indicator to a time indicator associated with a last dosage that has been taken. 
     In one or more embodiments, an open indicator can be disposed on the side surface of the closure, wherein when the open indicator is aligned with the indicator the closure can be attached or detached from the container. 
     In one or more embodiments, the time indicators can be disposed on a vial or container and the indicator can be disposed on a closure engaged over the vial or container such that a user can rotate the closure until the indicator points to a correct time indicator. 
     One or more embodiments relate to a method for tracking a last dosage that has been taken using a dosage cap assembly to aid in compliance of a dosage regimen using solid dosage units of medicine such as pills, capsules, or tablets. 
     The method can include engaging a bottom closure of a dosage cap assembly over a prescription medicine vile. 
     The method can include engaging a top closure of the dosage cap assembly over the bottom closure. 
     The method can include pointing the indicator to a time indicator associated with a last dosage that has been taken by rotating the outer member about the inner member, thereby allowing a user track the last dosage that has been taken in a dosage regimen. 
     In one or more embodiments, the method can include engaging a dosage cap assembly over a container. 
     In one or more embodiments, the method can include engaging a closure over a container. The method can include pointing the indicator to a time indicator associated with a last dosage that has been taken by rotating the closure about the container, thereby allowing a user track the last dosage that has been taken in a dosage regimen. 
     Turning now to the Figures,  FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the dosage cap assembly. 
     A bottom closure  10  can include a top segment  14  and a bottom segment  12 . The top segment  14  can have top segment threads  16 . 
     A top closure  8  can have a top  18 , a side  20 , and an indicator  30  disposed on the side. The indicator  30  can include an arrow. 
     The bottom closure  10  can be engaged over a container  32 , here shown as a prescription medicine vial. 
     The embodiment depicted is child resistant, wherein lever  13  can be held down, such as with a user&#39;s thumb, and then the bottom closure  10  can be turned counter clockwise about the container  32  to remove the bottom closure from the container. 
     In one or more embodiments, the container  32  and the bottom closure  10  can be a standard available prescription medicine vial and a standard available prescription medicine vial closure. 
     The top closure  8  with the indicator  30  can be disposed over the standard bottom closure  10 , thereby forming the dosage cap assembly. 
       FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of the top closure  8 . The top closure  8  can have an inner member  21 . Inner threads  22  can be disposed on an inner portion  24  of the inner member  21 . 
     The top closure  8  can have an outer member  25  which can be rotatably disposed about the inner member  21 . 
     A ratcheting mechanism can be disposed between the inner member  21  and the outer member  25 , or formed integrally with the inner member and the outer member. 
     The ratcheting mechanism can include an outer member ratcheting portion  36   a  and an inner member ratcheting portion  36   b.    
       FIG. 3  depicts an assembled view of an embodiment of the dosage cap assembly  6 . 
     The top closure  8  can be engaged with the bottom closure  10 , which can in-turn be engaged with the prescription medicine vial  32 . 
     Time indicators  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   c , and  17   j  can be disposed on the bottom segment of the bottom closure  10 . 
     Time indicator  17   a  is shown as “6 AM”, indicating a time of 6:00 am. Time of day indicator  17   b  is shown as an “8”, indicating at time of 8:00 am. Time of day indicator  17   c  is shown as a “10”, indicating a time of 10:00 am. Time of day indicator  17   j  is shown as “BED”, indicating “bedtime”. 
     The time indicators can include other numerals or symbols indicating other times of day. For example, the following indicators can be sequentially disposed about the bottom segment of the bottom closure  10  in a 360 degree clockwise orientation: “B” indicating bedtime, “8” indicating 8:00 pm, “6” indicating 6:00 pm, “4” indicating 4:00 pm, “2” indicating 2:00 pm, “12” indicating 12:00 noon, “10” indicating 10:00 am, “8” indicating 8:00 am, and “6” indicating 6:00 am. 
     The time indicators can be imprinted onto the standard bottom closure  10 . The top closure  8 , which can be referred to as a top indicator, can have an indicator arrow  1111 , The word “LAST”  1112  can be printed on the top closure  8  and aligned with the indicator arrow  1111 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an assembled view of another embodiment of the dosage cap assembly. 
     A closure  11  can be engaged with the container  32 . The closure  11  can be formed of an outer member  15  and an inner member  40 . The outer member  15  can be formed as a ring and can be rotatably disposed about the inner member  40 . A ratcheting mechanism, such as the one depicted in  FIG. 2 , can provide engagement between the outer member  15  and the inner member  40 . 
     An indicator  30  can be disposed along a side or a rim of the outer member  15 . A top surface  44  of the inner member can be seen. 
     The embodiment depicted is child resistant, wherein the closure  11  can be pushed down and the outer member portion of the ratcheting member can be engaged with the inner member portion of the ratcheting mechanism while simultaneously turning the closure  11  about the container  32  to remove the closure from the container. 
       FIG. 5  shows a top perspective view of an embodiment of the closure  11  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     A clock face  46  can be disposed on the top surface  44 . The indicator  30  can point to a time on the clock face. The indicator  30  can be rotated as part of the outer member to point to other times on the clock face  46 . The indicator  30  can be printed on the outer member. 
     The clock face  46  can include: time indicator  17   a , shown as “6 am”, indicating a time of 6:00 am; time indicator  17   b , shown as an “8”, indicating a time of 8:00 am; time indicator  17   c , shown as a “10”, indicating a time of 10:00 am; time indicator  17   d , shown as a “12”, indicating a time of 12:00 noon; time indicator  17   e , shown as a “2”, indicating a time of 2:00 pm; time indicator  17   f , shown as a “4”, indicating a time of 4:00 pm; time indicator  17   g , shown as a “6”, indicating a time of 6:00 pm; time indicator  17   h , shown as an “8”, indicating a time of 8:00 pm; time indicator  17   i , shown as a “10”, indicating a time of 10:00 pm; and time indicator  17   j , shown as “bed”, indicating bedtime. 
     Other numerals or symbols can be disposed on the time indicators indicating other times of day. 
       FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the clock face  46  shown in  FIG. 5  indicating time in daily increments. 
     The clock face  46  can include: time indicator  17   a , shown as “SUN”, indicating Sunday; time indicator  17   b , shown as “MON”, indicating Monday; time indicator  17   c , shown as “TUE”, indicating Tuesday; time indicator  17   d , shown as “WED”, indicating Wednesday; time indicator  17   e , shown as “THU”, indicating Thursday; time indicator  17   f , shown as “FRI”, indicating Friday; and time indicator  17   g , shown as “SAT”, indicating Saturday. 
       FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the dosage cap assembly. 
     A closure  19  can be engaged over a container  32 . Time indicators  17   a ,  17   b ,  17   i , and  17   j  can be disposed on the closure  19 . 
     Time indicator  17   a  is shown as “6 am”, indicating a time of 6:00 am. Time indicator  17   b  is shown as “8”, indicating a time of 8:00 am. Time indicator  17   i  is shown as “8” indicating a time of 8:00 pm. Time indicator  17   j  is shown as “bed” indicating bedtime. 
     An indicator  30  can be disposed on a side of the container  32  for pointing to the time indicators in series, thereby allowing a user to point the indicator to a time indicator associated with a last dosage that has been taken. 
     An open indicator  34  can be disposed on the side surface of the closure  19 . The open indicator  34  can be aligned with the indicator  30  for attaching or detaching the closure  19  from the container  32 . 
       FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of a plurality of dosage cap assemblies  6   a ,  6   b , and  6   c  disposed within a clear plastic travel kit  39 . 
     While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.