Patent Publication Number: US-2015068947-A1

Title: Medicine dispenser with built-in dispensing schedule

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/110,870, filed May 18, 2011, which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/395,939, filed May 18, 2010 and Provisional Patent Application No. ______ filed May 10, 2013. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The current disclosure is related to medicine dispensers, including pill bottles, and, in particular, to a medicine dispenser that includes a mechanical dispensing schedule that indicates when a next dose is to be administered. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Failure to adhere to a prescribed medication-dosage regimen is a dangerous and ubiquitous problem. Missing a prescribed dosage of certain medications, such as blood-pressure medicine, may result in significant harm and even death. Accidental overdose of prescription medication often causes negative effects that are even more dangerous and immediate than missing a prescribed dosage. 
     According to the National Council on Patient Information, up to 60% of all prescribed medication is taken incorrectly. Physicians take only 75% of prescribed pills correctly. Non-compliance costs more than $300 billion a year in the USA, accounts for 13% of all hospital admissions, and causes 300,000 deaths. 
     In addition to prescribed medication, there are vitamins and other supplements that do not require a prescription from a doctor and that are also recommended for use according to a regular schedule. Failure to adhere to a recommended schedule may lessen the effectiveness of the vitamins and other supplements and may exposes a consumer to the risk of overdose. Pills prescribed by veterinarians for the care of animals are associated with similar risks and consequences when not used according to a prescribed dosing schedule. 
     Trying to determine whether or not a particular dose has already been taken or administered is, for many, an even more difficult aspect of adhering to a recommended administration schedule than remembering the times of scheduled doses. The repetitive nature of consuming pills on a daily basis can lead to confusion with regard to whether or not a particular dose that were scheduled for administration have, in fact, been administered. 
     Many different medicine dispensers and medicine-dispensing regimes have been proposed and developed in order to assist consumers in self-administration of drugs, vitamins, and other consumables. However, the fact that, according to current statistics, non-compliance with administration schedules continues to be a serious problem and represents a significant financial burden to consumers as well as to society, as a whole, indicates that the many proposed and currently-available regimes and dispensers have not effectively addressed problems associated with self-administration of pills by consumers. 
     SUMMARY 
     The current disclosure is directed to a medicine dispenser with a dispensing schedule. In one implementation, the medicine dispenser includes a cylindrical container and a disk-shaped cap having a cylindrical rim and an inner schedule display. An indication on or within the inner schedule display is displayed to a medicine consumer through an aperture in the cylindrical rim of the cap. Features included in the cap, schedule display, and cylindrical container interoperate to ensure that the displayed indication is advanced when the cap is removed from, and subsequently replaced on, the container. The displayed indication is relatively large and clear, to facilitate viewing by vision-impaired users, and the schedule-advancement mechanism is robust and reliable. In addition, the cap and inner schedule display include features that allow the displayed indication to be set to a particular indication. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first implementation of the medicine dispenser to which the current disclosure is directed. 
         FIG. 2  shows an enlarged exploded perspective of the first implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the cap of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the schedule display from the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the cap assembly of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-section of a portion of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  shows an enlarged unwrapped view of a portion of the cap ratchet wheel and the schedule-display ratchet wheel of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 9A-H  provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule-display, and cylindrical container components of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1  that illustrate step-by-step interaction of these components as the cap is mounted onto and removed from the pill bottle. 
         FIG. 10  shows an enlarged unwrapped view of an alternative implementation of the cap ratchet wheel and schedule-display ratchet wheel. 
         FIGS. 11A-D  illustrate a second example implementation of the medicine dispenser. 
         FIG. 12  shows a cross-section view of the second implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D . 
         FIG. 13  shows an enlarged unwrapped view of a portion of the cap ratchet wheel and the schedule-display ratchet wheel of the second implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D . 
         FIGS. 14  A-I provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule-display, and container components of the second implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D  that illustrate step-by-step interaction of these components as the cap is mounted onto, and removed from, the pill bottle. 
         FIGS. 15  A-I provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule display, and bottle components of a third implementation that illustrate step-by-step interaction of various components as the cap is mounted onto, and removed from, the pill bottle. 
         FIGS. 16A-J  provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule display, and bottle components of a fourth implementation that illustrate step-by-step interaction of various components and features as the cap is removed from, and remounted onto, the pill bottle. 
         FIGS. 17A-C  illustrate a fifth implementation of the medicine dispenser to which the current disclosure is directed. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a method of using a machine-readable code to improve pharmacy safety. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The current disclosure is directed to medicine dispensers, including pill-bottle-like medicine dispensers, that feature secure child-resistant containment of medicines within the medicine dispenser as well as a robust and reliable mechanism for display of an indication of the time and day when a next dose needs to be administered to, or self-administered by, a medicine consumer, such as a patient in a healthcare facility or an outpatient. Unlike currently-available medicine dispensers and medication-dispensing regimes, the medicine dispensers to which the current disclosure is directed feature relatively large, easy-to-read indications for time and day of next administration of a dose from the medicine dispenser as well as reliable advancement of the displayed indication within the medicine-dispensing schedule. In addition, the dispensing schedule can be initially set to an arbitrary one of the multiple indications included in the dispensing schedule. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first implementation of the medicine dispenser to which the current disclosure is directed. The illustrated implementation includes a cylindrical container  102  and a disk-shaped cap  104 , the plane of which is orthogonal to the long axis of the cylindrical container  102  when mounted onto the cylindrical container. The cap includes a cylindrical rim  106  of larger inner diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical container  102 . A schedule-display component, discussed below, is mounted within the cap to form a cap-and-schedule-display assembly, or indicating cap. A single indication, or schedule element  108 , is displayed to a user through a rectangular aperture  110  in the cylindrical cap rim  106 . In the example implementation shown in  FIG. 1 , the schedule element includes an indication of the time of day, “am,” and an indication of the day of the week, “Su,” when a next dose is to be administered to, or self-administered by, a medicine consumer. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the label “Next due”  112  is imprinted on the cap rim  106  as a further indication that the displayed indications of a time and day of the week indicate a next time and day when a next dose is to be administered to, or self-administered by, the medicine consumer. 
     Interior features of the cap, inner schedule display, and container interoperate to ensure that displayed indication is advanced by one element with respect to the schedule display when the cap is removed and remounted onto the container. The display indication is not advanced with respect to the schedule display unless the cap is successfully removed and replaced. Unlike in many currently-available devices, the displayed indication is displayed from the cap rim, ensuring that there is adequate available area to display a clear and easily read indication. The particular form of the indications for when a next dose is to be administered or self-administered may vary with different implementations of the medicine dispenser. In certain cases, the indication may include a particular hour and day of the week. In alternative implementations, the indication may only display a day of the week. In yet further implementations, the indication may display precise time and/or date information. The schedule display may include an essentially arbitrary number of different elements, or indications. In the example implementation discussed with reference to  FIG. 1 , the schedule display includes 14 schedule elements that include morning and evening administration times for each of the seven days of the week. 
     The medicine container and dispenser shown in  FIG. 1  can be inexpensively manufactured from commonly used polymeric materials. When manufactured according to currently-available precision, the three interoperating components of the example medicine-dispenser implementation provide for reliable advancement of the displayed schedule elements by one position only when the cap is successfully removed and remounted onto the cylindrical container. Implementations of the medicine dispenser are designed for rapid, reliable, and cost-efficient mass-manufacturing. Each of the three single-piece components, including the cap  104 , schedule display  202 , and cylindrical container  102  is shaped so that it can be quickly released from a mold. A single-piece component is a component that can be directly manufactured, without subsequent assembly from multiple subcomponents, such as a plastic object that is injection molded or a stamped, continuous metal object. 
       FIG. 2  shows an enlarged exploded perspective of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . In the exploded view, the three components of the example medicine-dispenser implementation shown in  FIG. 1  are clearly visible, as well as additional features of two of the three components. The cylindrical, schedule display  202  is shown disassembled from, and below, the cap  104 . As can be more clearly seen in  FIG. 2 , the schedule display includes 14 time-of-day and day-of-week elements or indications, such as the “pm/Sa” indication  204  from among 6 of the 14 schedule elements, or indications, visible along the outer cylindrical wall, or display surface,  206  of the schedule display. The schedule display also includes a schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  with ratchet teeth, such as ratchet tooth  210 , and a disk-like surface  212  orthogonal to the axis of the cylindrical wall  206 . On the outer surface of the cylindrical container  102 , seven boss features, including boss feature  220 , extend outward from the outer surface of the cylindrical container. The boss features are uniformly spaced along the circumference of the cylinder positioned at a uniform position with respect to the lip  222  of the cylindrical container  102 . Each boss feature includes a cam surface  224 , a ramp portion  226 , a leading edge  228 , a lug notch  230 , and a stop portion  232 . There is a significant space between each pair of boss features along the circumference of the cylinder, such as space  234  between boss  220  and preceding boss  236 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the cap is circular in a projection orthogonal to the plane of the disk-shaped cap. Line  302  in  FIG. 3  indicates the intersection of a plane orthogonal to the disk-shaped surface of the cap with the cap that defines a cross-section view of the example medicine-dispenser implementation shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the cap of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 4 , the cap component is viewed from below. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , the cap includes a cap ratchet wheel  402  with ratchet teeth, such as ratchet tooth  404  that protrude downward, orthogonal to the plane of the disk-shaped cap and parallel to the cylindrical cap rim  106 . The cap ratchet wheel is complementary to the schedule-display ratchet wheel ( 208  in  FIG. 2 ). At the base of the cap rim, seven lugs, such as lug  406 , uniformly spaced along the bottom edge of the cap rim, protrude inward in radial directions from the inner surface of the cap rim. Each lug features a leading edge  408  and an inside edge  410 . In the example implementation shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , there are seven uniformly spaced lugs complementary to the spacings between the seven boss features ( 220  and  236  in  FIG. 2 ) of the cylindrical container  102 . There are 14 ratchet teeth in both the cap ratchet wheel  402  and the schedule-display ratchet wheel ( 208  in  FIG. 2 ). These various features interoperate, together with the features described below, to provide both child-resistant locking of the cap to the cylindrical container as well as to provide for reliable advancement of the displayed schedule element by one element with each successful removal and replacement of the cap. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the schedule display from the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 5 , the schedule display  202  is shown from underneath. In addition to the schedule elements uniformly spaced on the display surface of the schedule display  206 , such as schedule element  204 , the schedule display additionally includes 14 triangular biasing features, such as biasing feature  502 , that extend inward, in radial directions, from the inner surface of the cylindrical wall of the schedule display. Each biasing feature includes a lower sliding surface  504 , an abutment surface  506 , and an inner side  508 . As discussed below, the biasing features interoperate with the boss features ( 220  and  236  in  FIG. 2 ) that extend from the outer surface of the cylindrical container  102  in order to facilitate advancement of the displayed schedule element upon successful removal and replacement of the cap onto the cylindrical container. In the example medicine-dispenser implementation of the medicine dispenser illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , there are 14 biasing features positioned uniformly along the inner circumference of the schedule display at uniform positions with respect to the lower edge  510  of the schedule display. In addition, the schedule display includes two grips  512  and  514  that extend downward from the inner surface of the disk-shaped top portion ( 212  in  FIG. 2 ) of the schedule display. These two grips allow for initial positioning of a particular schedule element below the display aperture ( 110  in  FIG. 1 ) of the cap rim to provide an initial administration-time indication for administration of a first dose. 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the cap assembly of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 6 , the schedule display  202  is shown inserted into the cap  104  to produce a fully assembled cap with schedule display. Note that the schedule display is pushed into the cap past the seven lugs, such as lug  406 , which snap the schedule display into position and hold the schedule display within the cap. Note also that the schedule display is rotatably mounted within the cap, although the cap ratchet wheel ( 402  in  FIG. 4 ) and schedule-display ratchet wheels are partially engaged, when the cap is not mounted onto the container, and this partial engagement prevents the schedule display from freely rotating within the cap, but allows the schedule display to be rotated in order to select a particular schedule element for display through the cap aperture ( 110  in  FIG. 1 ) by applying a rotational force to grips  512  and  514 . As discussed below, when the cap is mounted onto the cylindrical container, features of the schedule display, discussed below, apply pressure to the schedule-display ratchet wheel to fully mesh the schedule-display ratchet wheel together with the cap ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of the schedule display with respect to the cap. Thus, in general, the schedule display remains in a fixed position with respect to the cap, whether or not the cap is fastened to the container, but is relatively loosely held in position, when the cap is not mounted onto the container, allowing the schedule display to be manually rotated with respect to the cap in order to select a particular schedule element for display by applying pressure to grips  512  and  514 . 
     While the example medicine dispenser shown in  FIGS. 1-6  includes 14 ratchet teeth on each ratchet wheel, seven lugs, seven boss features, and 14 biasing features, the number of these features may be altered, in alternative implementations, in order to provide for a different number of schedule elements. In these alternative implementations, the ratio of two biasing features to one boss feature is preserved in order to facilitate advancement of the displayed schedule element by one element when the cap is removed from and remounted onto the container. However, in yet additional implementations, this ratio may also be altered. 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-section of a portion of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 . As mentioned above,  FIG. 7  shows a cross-section view of the medicine-dispenser implementation shown in  FIGS. 1-6  with respect to a plane that intersects the cap along line  302  in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 7  includes numeric labels used above, in  FIGS. 1-2  and  4 - 6 . The cross-sectional view shown in  FIG. 7  illustrates the medicine-dispenser implementation when the cap is firmly attached to the container.  FIG. 7  reveals an additional feature of the schedule display. As shown in cross-section, the schedule display features an inner rim  702  with a wedge surface  704  against which the upper edge, or lip, of the cylindrical container ( 222  in  FIG. 2 ) presses when the cap is mounted onto the cylindrical container. The pressure applied by the cylindrical container to the wedge surface  704  of the inner rim  702  forces the schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  upward to fully mesh together with the complementary cap ratchet wheel  402 , locking the position of the schedule display with respect to the cap as well as providing an air-tight, gasket-like seal to provide air-tight containment of medicine within the cylindrical container. When the cap is mounted onto the cylindrical container, as discussed further below, each lug ( 406  in  FIG. 4 ) is locked within the lug notch ( 230  in  FIG. 2 ) of a boss feature ( 220  and  236  in  FIG. 2 ). The cap isolates the contents of the container from the environment external to the container, preventing exchange of air, water vapor, liquids, and solids between the contents of the closed container and the environment external to the container. 
       FIG. 8  shows an enlarged unwrapped view of a portion of the cap ratchet wheel and the schedule-display ratchet wheel of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  illustrates how the cap ratchet wheel meshes together with the schedule-display ratchet wheel. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the cap ratchet wheel  402  includes a series of 14 teeth, such as tooth  804 . The teeth protrude from a cap ratchet-wheel base  808 . Each tooth includes an engaging side  805 , a tip  806 , and a sliding side  807 . Similarly, the schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  includes a series of 14 teeth, such as tooth  814 , each of which also includes an engaging side  815 , a tip  816 , and a sliding side  817 , with the teeth disposed along a schedule-display ratchet-wheel base  818 . 
     Mounting the cap-and-schedule-display assembly to, and removing the cap-and-schedule-display assembly from, the cylindrical container  102  is similar to mounting caps to, and removing caps from, commonly-available child-resistant pill bottles. First, cap  104  is placed onto the cylindrical container  102 . Then, pressure is applied to cap  104  and cap  104  is rotated clockwise. Lugs  406  slide into spaces  234  between boss features  220  and  236 . Each lug  406  encounters and slides around the cam surface  224  of one of the boss features  220 . Sliding of the lugs  406  around the cam surfaces  224  draws the cap  104  onto the cylindrical container  102  and compresses the schedule display  202 . Inner rim  702  of the schedule display  202  provides flexibility, enabling the schedule display to compress vertically. As the cap  104  draws onto cylindrical container  102 , the wedge surface  704  of the inner rim  702  presses into the lip  222  of the cylindrical container to provide an airtight seal. When the lugs  406  reach the stop portion  232  of boss features  220 , the cap  104  can no longer rotate. Compression of the schedule display  202  pulls lugs  406  up into lug notches  230 . The cap  104  is now mounted onto cylindrical container  102 . 
       FIGS. 9A-H  provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule display, and cylindrical container components of the implementation shown in  FIG. 1  that illustrate step-by-step interaction of these components as the cap is mounted onto and removed from the container.  FIGS. 9A-E  illustrate the process of mounting the cap to the cylindrical container and the interaction of the various features and components during this process. As shown in  FIG. 9A , prior to mounting the cap onto the container, the cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  are meshed together at least partially, fixing the position of the schedule display with respect to the cap. Moreover, the leading edge  408  of each lug  406  is aligned with an abutment surface  506  of a biasing feature. This alignment is imposed by the meshing of the cap ratchet wheel with the schedule-display ratchet wheel, the fixed positions of the lugs with respect to the cap ratchet wheel, and the fixed positions of the biasing features with respect to the schedule-display ratchet wheel. When the cap is placed onto the cylindrical container and rotationally adjusted as the cap is forced down, the lugs  406  slip into the spaces  905  between boss features  220  and  902 . Note that, during this process, meshing together of the cap ratchet wheel with the schedule-display ratchet wheel ensures that the schedule display turns with the cap and remains in a fixed position relative to the cap. Next, as shown in  FIG. 9C , when the cap is rotated in a clockwise direction, the abutment surface  506  and leading edge  408  of each aligned pair of biasing features and lugs comes into contact with the leading edge  228  of a boss feature  236 . As shown in  FIG. 9D , as the cap continues to be rotated in a clockwise position, the biasing features  502  are prevented from rotating along with the cap by the leading edge  228  of the boss features with which they contact while the lugs  406  extending from the cap continue rotating along with the cap in a clockwise direction along the cam surface  224  of the boss feature. Because the rotation of the schedule display is prevented while the cap continues to rotate, the sliding sides of the teeth of the cap ratchet wheel slide on the sliding sides  817  of the teeth of the schedule-display ratchet wheel as the cap rotates with respect to the schedule display. Flexibility in schedule display  202  provided by inner rim  702  allows schedule display  202  to compress so that cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  can slip over each other in the disengaged direction. As cap  104  rotates around schedule display  202 , aperture  110  moves from one schedule element  204  to the next. In the example implementation leading edges  228  are a flat abutment surface. In practice, cam surfaces  224  can be extended upwards to the top of ramp portion  226  thereby shortening leading edges  228  so that they are a shorter flat vertical surface or are pointed. Finally, as shown in  FIG. 9E , the lugs  406  slip into the lug notches  230  of the boss features  220  and  902  as the teeth of the cap ratchet wheel interlock again with the teeth of the cap ratchet wheel advanced clockwise by one tooth with respect to the schedule-display ratchet wheel. Thus, attaching the cap to the cylindrical container results in advancement of the displayed schedule element by one element along the sequence of schedule elements disposed along the circumference of the cylindrical schedule-display rim. 
       FIGS. 9F-H  illustrate components and features of the medicine-dispenser implementation discussed with reference to  FIGS. 1-9E  as the cap is removed from the container. As shown in  FIG. 9F , to remove the cap, a user initially pushes down on the cap, forcing the lugs  406  to disengage from the lug notches  230  of the boss features  220  and  902 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 9G , the cap is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, with each lug  406  traveling along the cam surface  224  of each boss feature  220  and  902  while the sliding surface  504  of each biasing feature  502  slides along the ramp portion  226  of the boss feature. As biasing features  502  slide over ramp portions  226 , the schedule display  202  is pushed upwards into cap  104 . This maintains both contact and pressure between cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  when lugs  406  move around cam surfaces  224  of boss features  220  and  902 , and cap  104  starts to move up and away from cylindrical container  102 . Finally, as shown in  FIG. 9H , the lugs  406  fully disengage from the boss features  220  and reside in the spaces  904  between successive boss features  220  allowing the cap to be vertically pulled away from the container. During the entire sequence of steps shown in  FIGS. 9F-H , the schedule display is affixed in position with respect to the cap as a result of intermeshing of the cap ratchet wheel and the schedule-display ratchet wheel. Human-applied pressure on cap  104  forces cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  together, further increasing friction so that they will not slide past each other and do not slip a single position. The schedule display  202  is thus compelled to rotate counterclockwise in lock-step with cap  104 . 
     In the example implementation cap and schedule-display ratchet wheels  402  and  208  form a biasing means in the counterclockwise direction. This function could also be provided by a variety of mechanisms connecting the top of the schedule display to the bottom of the cap, including prongs, pawls, or variety of projections, notches or grooves on one component and a complementary mechanism on the other. It is also conceivable that biasing means could be established anywhere between the outside of schedule display  202  and the inside of cap  104 . For example, biasing means could be located between cylindrical cap rim  106  and display surface  206  and can utilize any of the aforementioned means. In the example implementation biasing features  502  are wedge-shaped projections. However, a variety of shapes with a side to engage the boss features in one direction and a side to slide over ramp portions  226  in the other direction can be used. 
     In the example implementation after cap  104  is removed from cylindrical container  102 , compression in schedule display  202  created from mounting it inside cap  104  aids in increasing friction between cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  to prevent the schedule display  202  from unintentionally advancing. However compression is not necessary for sufficient friction when cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  are partially engaged. Alternatively, friction between the inner surface of the cylindrical cap rim  106  and the display surface  206  may also suffice. 
       FIG. 10  shows an enlarged unwrapped view of an alternative implementation of the cap ratchet wheel and schedule-display ratchet wheel. In this alternative implementation, an additional horizontal edge  1002  separates the engaging side  1004  of a first cap-ratchet-wheel tooth  1006  from the sliding edge  1008  of a successive cap-ratchet-wheel tooth  1010  and, similarly, a short horizontal edge  1012  separates the sliding edge  1014  of each schedule-display ratchet-wheel tooth  1016  from the engaging side  1018  of a successive schedule-display ratchet-wheel tooth  1020 . The purpose of the implementation shown in  FIG. 10  is to provide an alternative method for altering common ratchet-wheel teeth so that cap  104  snaps into place via the schedule display  202  before lugs  406  reach stop portion  232  of boss features  220 . This alternative implementation can replace ratchet wheels  402  and  208  in the example implementation or any modified implementation described in this document. In this alternative implementation, the ratchet-wheel teeth are shortened so that they are not contiguous, creating spaces along bases of the cap ratchet wheel and schedule-display ratchet wheel. When cap  104  is placed on cylindrical container  102  and rotated clockwise for the purpose of mounting the cap to the cylindrical container, the ratchet-wheel tips slip past one another before the leading sides  408  of lugs  406  reach stop portions  232  of boss features  220 . 
     Grips  512  and  514  on the schedule display  202  enable a person to manually adjust which schedule element is visible through aperture  110 . In the example implementation, grips  512  and  514  together compose a pair of raised tabs that can be engaged by fingers. However, a single tab as well as a variety of protrusions, indentations, and or holes can provide the same function in alternative implementations. These features can either be part of, or connected to, the underside of disk-shaped portion  212  of the schedule display  202 , the inner side of the cylindrical rim of the schedule display, or connected to both. 
     One feature of the design of the example implementation of the medicine dispenser is that the display surface  206  provides a space to print, imprint, emboss, deboss or adhere schedule elements, because the display surface provides sufficient space on schedule display  202  for large characters and symbols. Furthermore the height of the display surface  206  can be extended along with cylindrical cap rim  106  to accommodate even larger characters and symbols without widening cylindrical container  102 . 
     In alternative implementations, the schedule is instead located on the disc portion of the schedule display and the aperture is located on the top surface of the cap. In yet additional alternative implementations, the schedule elements are visible and the aperture is replaced with an indicator or arrow which designates or points to an individual schedule element. The placement of the indicator and schedule elements can be swapped so that the schedule elements are on the cap and the indicator is on the schedule display in certain implementations. 
     Implementations of the medicine dispenser do not require spring tension or bending of components which are likely to be manufactured out of plastic, nor do they require the use of spring fingers or other types of narrow extensions prone to wear and breakage. Furthermore, implementations of the medicine dispenser function without overly stressing any of the three components, facilitating the reduction and/or elimination of wear. Therefore, implementations of the medicine dispenser achieve a higher level of durability for safe dispensing of prescription medications. 
     The next section more specifically describes attributes of the example implementation that allow the example implementation to advance precisely one schedule element at a time, realign for each next cycle, work automatically and flawlessly, prevent human error, incur little wear, continue to work with some wear, function when some of the components are manufactured imperfectly, and be calibrated to various numbers of schedule elements. 
     Component proportions, ratios between the numbers of various components, and alignment of various components contribute to the proper functioning of the example implementation. Components of the example implementation described in this section are proportioned to control the degrees of relative rotation between cap  104 , schedule display  202 , and cylindrical container  102 . Therefore the length or proportion of various components as well as the spacing of various components is described in terms of the degrees of the central angle of their arc around the central axis of the example implementation rather than as a particular size or scale. The central axis is an imaginary vertical line through the center of the implementation. Lateral arcs are used to describe the rotational distance between two components that may differ in their vertical placement on the example implementation. 
     In the example implementation the central angle of the lateral arc from the leading edge  228  to the stop portion  232  of each boss feature  220  and the alignment of biasing features  502  with lugs  406  determines the number of degrees by which cap  104  rotates around schedule display  202  each time the cap is mounted to cylindrical container  102 . 
     Cap ratchet wheel  402  is rotationally positioned relative to lugs  406  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  is rotationally positioned relative to biasing features  502  so that, when cap ratchet wheel  402  is fully meshed with schedule-display ratchet wheel  208 , leading sides  408  of lugs  406  are vertically aligned with the abutment surfaces  506  of a portion of biasing features  502 . When cap  104  is mounted onto cylindrical container  102  and rotated clockwise, abutment surfaces  506  of a portion of biasing features  502  contact leading edges  228  of boss features  220 , preventing further rotation of the indicator while cap  104  continues to rotate until lugs  406  reach stop portions  232 . Cap  104  thus rotates around schedule display  202  the same number of degrees as the lateral arc from the leading edge  228  to the stop portion  232  of each boss feature  220 . 
     Boss features  220  are proportioned so that, when the cap  104  advances around the schedule display  202  through a predetermined number of mounting cycles, the cap rotates 360 degrees relative to schedule display  202  and re-centers aperture  110  over the starting schedule element. Aperture  110  on cap  104  is rotationally positioned relative to the cap ratchet wheel  402  on its underside and schedule elements are positioned around the display surface  206  relative to schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  so that when cap ratchet wheel  402  is meshed with schedule-display ratchet wheel  208 , aperture  110  is centered over one schedule element  204 . 
     The central angle of the lateral arc between the leading edge  228  and stop portion  232  of each boss feature  220  of the example implementation is a unit fraction (a fraction with numerator=1 and denominator=an integer) of 360 degrees. Therefore Cap  104  and thus aperture  110  advance a unit fraction of 360 degrees during each mounting cycle. When cap  104  is removed from and mounted onto cylindrical container  102  a number of times equal to the denominator of the unit fraction of the central angle between the leading edge  228  and the stop portion  232  of each boss feature  220 , the cap advances around schedule display by 360 degrees. 
     The proportions of boss features  220  are coordinated with the desired number of schedule elements. Schedule elements are evenly spaced around the schedule display  202  in increments of 360 degrees divided by the number of schedule elements. In the example implementation, boss features  220  are proportioned so that the central angle of the lateral arc from the leading edge  228  to the stop portion  232  is also equal to 360 degrees divided by the number of schedule elements. Therefore in each mounting cycle, aperture  110  accurately advances from the center of one schedule element to the center of the next schedule element. 
     In the example implementation, the proportions of boss features  220  and the spacing and number of biasing features  502  also are coordinated so that, at the end of each mounting cycle, each of the relevant components is realigned and the device is ready for the next mounting cycle. 
     Biasing features  502  of the example implementation are spaced in degree increments around the schedule display  202  equal to the central angle of the lateral arc between leading edge  228  and stop portion  232  of each boss feature  220 . This is also the number of degrees by which cap  104  rotates around the indicator during each cycle. When cap  104  is applied to cylindrical container  102  and rotated clockwise for mounting, the leading side  408  of each lug  406  starts in vertical alignment with abutment surface  506  of one biasing feature  502 . With biasing features  502  so spaced, at the end of each cycle, each lug  406  on cap  104  rotates into the same relative vertical alignment with the next sequential biasing feature  502 . Cap  104  and schedule display  202  thereby align for the next cycle. 
     The numbers of biasing features  502 , lugs  406 , and boss features  220  are also coordinated. Between cycles, each lug  406  is aligned relative to a biasing feature  502 . During each cycle, lugs  406  advance to each align relative to their next sequential biasing feature  502 . In future cycles, each lug  406  aligns relative to a biasing feature  502  previously aligned relative to preceding lugs. For this process to work indefinitely, the number of biasing features  502  is an integer multiple of the number of lugs  406 . 
     The number of biasing features  502  in the example implementation is an integer multiple of the number of lugs  406 . The number of lugs  406  is equal to the number of boss features  220 . The number of biasing features  502  is therefore also an integer multiple of the number of boss features  220 . 
     With each mounting cycle, aperture  110  rotates to center over the next schedule element  204  in the sequence of schedule elements while lugs  406  each rotate into alignment with the next sequential biasing feature  502 . Schedule elements  204  and biasing features  502  are therefore spaced in equal degree increments around schedule display  202  and are therefore also equal in number. The number of schedule elements  204  is therefore also an integer multiple of the number of boss features  220  on cylindrical container  102 . 
     The number of teeth  210  and  404  are also coordinated with the number of schedule elements  204  and biasing features  502  and the proportions of boss features  220 . The number of teeth  210  and  404  are each an integer multiple of the number of schedule elements  204  and biasing features  502 . At the beginning of each cycle, cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  are fully meshed. Because the number of teeth are an integer multiple of the number of biasing features  502 , when cap  104  advances through one cycle, cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  rotate by a whole number of teeth so that they finish each cycle in the fully meshed position. Aperture  110  is then centered over one schedule element  204 . Because they are in the fully meshed position, cap ratchet wheel  402  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  do not slip and rotate in relationship to each other when the cap  104  is rotated counterclockwise for the purpose of removing the cap from cylindrical container  102 . 
     The example implementation has one tooth on each ratchet wheel per schedule element for the purpose of preventing human error. When more than one tooth per schedule element is present, a user feels a bump each time the tips of the ratchet-wheel teeth slip over one another. The feeling of teeth slipping over each other is often confused with the sensation of completing the process of mounting the cap when the lugs snap into the lug notches. The cap and schedule-display ratchet wheels  402  and  208  are rotationally positioned relative to cap  104  and schedule display  202  so that, when mounting cap  104  to cylindrical container  102 , a person feels the cap and schedule-display ratchet wheels  402  and  208  slipping into place simultaneously with lugs  406  sliding into lug notches  230 . 
     Furthermore, when a person attempts but fails to affix cap  104  properly and lugs  406  fail to slide all the way into lug notches  230 , then teeth on the cap and schedule-display ratchet wheels  402  and  208  do not slip past each other, and cap  104  and aperture  110  do not inadvertently advance around schedule display  202 . Furthermore, compression in the inner rim  702  of schedule display  202  pushing cap and schedule-display ratchet wheel  402  and  208  together will cause the teeth to settle back into their original positions, preventing an inadvertent indication. Therefore, cap  104  only makes an indication if the cap is successfully and completely mounted onto cylindrical container  102 . It should be clear from this description that the example implementation functions automatically, accurately, and prevents human error. Furthermore, it should also be clear that no conscious human effort or control is needed for the example implementation to make its indications. Thus, unlike prior art, the example implementation is not prone to human error caused by failed attempts to adhere the cap to the cylindrical container. 
     The example implementation is also designed to make exactly one indication every time cap  104  is mounted onto cylindrical container  102  despite manufacturing imperfection and possible device wear. To ensure device accuracy despite these variations, the ratchet-wheel teeth in the example implementation are modified from common ratchet wheel-teeth. Common ratchet-wheel teeth are contiguous and the engaging side of each tooth is either 90 degrees with respect to its base or is slanted away from its sliding side. In the example implementation of the medicine dispenser, engaging sides  805  of the ratchet-wheel teeth are slightly slanted towards the sliding sides  807 . Because they are complementary, engaging sides  815  of the ratchet-wheel teeth are also slightly slanted toward sliding sides  817 . More precisely, the inside angle between engaging side  805  and base  808  as well as the inside angle between engaging side  815  and base  808  is acute. This slant reduces the distance cap  104  needs to rotate around schedule display  202  to advance the tips of the ratchet-wheel teeth past one another while still maintaining a desired number of teeth. 
     When cap  104  is mounted onto cylindrical container  102 , the ratchet wheel teeth tips pass one another and the cap  104  snaps into position with schedule display  202  momentarily before lugs  406  reach stop portions  232  of boss features  220  and pull into lug notches  230 . Sequentially advancing the motion of cap  104  snapping into position with schedule display  202  before lugs  406  snap into lug notches  230  reduces the precision required to ensure the example implementation correctly displays the next schedule element. This enables the medicine dispenser to function properly despite a range of user and manufacturing variations as well as potential wear from use. 
     The difference in timing between cap ratchet wheel  402  on cap  104  snapping into place with schedule-display ratchet wheel  208  on schedule display  202  and lugs  406  snapping into place with lug notches  230  on cylindrical container  102  is sufficiently slight so that it is imperceptible to a common user. The example implementation therefore maintains a desired and familiar tactile experience by which a user feels one click when mounting cap  104  to cylindrical container  102 . 
     The time interval between the above-mentioned events is sufficiently short so that, while mounting cap  104  to cylindrical container  102 , it is not generally possible for a common person to advance the ratchet-wheel teeth on the cap and schedule-display ratchet wheels  402  and  208  without completing the motion of rotating lugs  406  all the way to stop portion  232  of boss features  220 , completing the cycle. The example implementation therefore also maintains the desired property of advancing the displayed schedule element only when cap  104  is properly mounted onto cylindrical container  102 . Furthermore, the slant on engaging sides  805  and  815  of the ratchet-wheel teeth is sufficiently slight so as not to interfere with their locking function when the cap  104  is rotated counterclockwise and removed from cylindrical container  102 . 
     The mechanism utilized by the example implementation to make indications is also designed to conform to most common prescription drug regimens. Most prescriptions require the consumption of an exact number of pills each day. To help a user adhere to a daily schedule, the medicine dispenser should have one schedule element for each dose for each day of the week. The number of required schedule elements is therefore most often a multiple of seven days of the week. 
     The number of schedule elements  204  is an integer multiple of the number of boss features  220  on cylindrical container  102 . Accordingly, the example implementation is designed with seven boss features  220  and fourteen schedule elements  204 . The central angle of the lateral arc from the leading edge  228  to stop portion  232  of each boss feature  220  is one-fourteenth of 360 degrees. Thus, cap  104  advances one-fourteenth of the way around schedule display  202  in each cycle. Schedule display  202  shown in  FIG. 5  has schedule elements  204  calibrated for two doses per day, one for AM and a second for PM for each day of the week. An alternative implementation calibrated for one dose per day would have the same number of boss features  220 , lugs  406 , ratchet-wheel teeth, and schedule elements. However, the schedule elements would consist of two sequential seven day sequences each with one schedule element for each day of the week. 
     The mechanism utilized by the example implementation is designed so that the dimensions of boss features  220  and the coordinated number of biasing features  502 , ratchet-wheel teeth, and schedule elements  204  can be calibrated to accommodate other daily prescription schedules. For example, another implementation designed for three doses per day has 7 boss features and 21 schedule elements, one for each of the three doses for each day of the week. The boss features are proportioned so that the central angle of the lateral arc from the leading edge to the stop portion of each boss feature are 360 degrees divided by 21. To conform to schedules that are not correlated to seven days of the week, an alternative implementation may be created with a different number of boss features. For example, a cylindrical container with 6 boss features is calibrated to hourly and monthly schedules since hours of the day and months of the year are both multiples of 6. 
       FIGS. 11A-D  illustrate a second example implementation of the medicine dispenser.  FIG. 11A  shows a perspective view of the second implementation.  FIG. 11  B shows an exploded view of the second implementation shown in  FIG. 11A . The second implementation resembles the first example implementation shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , including a cylindrical container  1102  and a disk-shaped cap  1104  with an inner schedule-display component  1106 . A single schedule element, or indication,  1108  is displayed to a user through an aperture  1110  in the cylindrical rim  1112  of the cap. Similar to the first implementation, the indication displays the day of the week and time when a next dose is to be administered. The cylindrical container  1102  includes a tapered lip  1114  and seven boss features, such as boss feature  1116 , uniformly spaced around the outer circumference of the container. Each boss feature  1116  features a cam surface  1118 , a lug notch  1120 , a stop portion  1122 , a leading edge  1124 , and a ramp portion  1126 . There is a significant space  1128  between two successive boss features. Each of the three components, including the cap  1104 , schedule display  1106 , and cylindrical container  1102 , is shaped so that it can be quickly released from a mold. 
     As shown in the second implementation, an external, top portion of the bottle is tapered towards the bottle lip. In addition, the internal wall of the bottle is tapered outward, towards the opening, at a slight draft angle. The schedule-display and cap rims are also tapered outward, towards their respective openings, at a similar draft angle. The taper of the top, external portion of the bottle towards the bottle lip provides for a springy, snug fit of the bottle into the cap assembly and a tight seal. 
     Similar to the first implementation, the cap  1104  further includes a ratchet wheel  1130  with fourteen ratchet teeth, such as ratchet tooth  1132 . At the base of the cap rim, seven evenly placed lugs  1134  protrude inward in radial directions from the inner surface of the cap rim. Each lug features a leading side  1136  and a tapered side  1138 . The upper portion of the cylindrical rim of the cap also includes a set of evenly spaced holes, such as hole  1140 , directly above each lug  1134 . A shield  1142  is at the top of the aperture  1110  and recessed from the cap rim. Schedule display  1106  includes fourteen biasing features, such as biasing feature  1148 , that extend inward around the inner surface the cylindrical wall  1144 . Each biasing feature includes an engaging side  1150  and a tapered sliding side  1152 . 
       FIG. 11C  shows an alternative perspective view of the schedule display shown in  FIG. 11B .  FIG. 11C  reveals additional features, including schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  with fourteen ratchet teeth, such as ratchet tooth  1155 , which is complementary to cap ratchet wheel  1130 . The disk-shaped portion of the schedule display includes a set of evenly spaced holes, such as hole  1156 , each of which is located directly above each of biasing features  1148 , as well as slits, such as slit  1158 , that run between alternating pairs of holes. Schedule display  1106  also features a bevel  1160  around the top of cylindrical wall  1144 .  FIG. 11D  shows an enlarged bottom view of the schedule display  1106  revealing grips  1162  and  1164 , similar to the grips  512  and  514  shown in  FIG. 5 , which allow for manual advancement of the schedule display. 
     The tapered side  1138  of lugs  1134  in the cap as well as slits  1158  and bevel  1160  of the schedule display are created to facilitate assembly of the cap and the schedule display. When the schedule display is placed underneath the cap for insertion, the lugs  1134  with tapered sides  1138  and the bevel  1160  center the scheduled display and reduce the force required for the schedule display to slide into the cap. Slits  1158  allows schedule-display cylindrical wall  1144  to compress to further reduce the force required for insertion and to prevent damage to either component. In addition, the shape of cap and schedule-display ratchet teeth also facilitates assembly of the cap and the schedule display. The tips of the ratchet teeth are rounded, instead of pointed, such that when the two ratchet wheels  1130  and  1154  are pressed together, the tips of the teeth slip over one another and intermesh. 
       FIG. 12  shows a cross-section view of the second implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D .  FIG. 12  includes numeric labels used above in  FIGS. 11A-D  and shows the relative placement of each of the various features shown in  FIGS. 11A-D . The cross-sectional view illustrates the medicine dispenser when the cap is firmly attached to the container.  FIG. 12  reveals an additional feature of the schedule display. As shown in the cross-sectional view, the schedule display features a raised inner rim  1202  that presses against the taped lip  1114  of the cylindrical container  1102 . The pressure applied by the tapered lip  1114  to the inner rim  1202  forces the schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  to fully mesh together with the complementary cap ratchet wheel  1130 , locking the position of the schedule display with respect to the cap as well as providing an airtight and moisture-impermeable seal and springy resilience to pull the lugs into the lug notches for the purpose of securing the cap in a child-resistant manner. 
       FIG. 13  shows an enlarged unwrapped view of a portion of the cap ratchet wheel and the schedule-display ratchet wheel of the second implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D . Each of the cap ratchet teeth  1132  includes a leading end  1302 , an engaging side  1304 , a tip  1306 , a sliding-side shallow portion  1308 , a sliding-side steep portion  1310 , and a base  1312 . Similarly, the schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  includes a series of 14 teeth, such as tooth  1155 , each of which also includes a leading end  1314 , an engaging side  1316 , a tip  1318 , a sliding-side shallow portion  1320 , a sliding-side steep portion  1322 , and a base  1324 . Note that the tips  1306  and  1318  are moved back from leading ends  1302  and  1314 . As a result, the engaging sides  1304  and  1316  of the cap and schedule-display ratchet teeth are slanted slightly towards the sliding sides such that the inside angle between the engaging side  1304  and the base  1312  of the cap ratchet tooth  1132  and the inside angle between the engaging side  1316  and the base  1324  of the schedule-display ratchet tooth  1155  is acute. 
       FIGS. 14  A-I provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule display, and container components of the second implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D  that illustrate step-by-step interaction of these components as the cap is mounted onto and removed from the container.  FIGS. 14A-I  resemble  FIGS. 9A-H  of the first implementation.  FIGS. 14A-F  illustrate the process of mounting the cap to the cylindrical container and the interaction of the various features and components.  FIGS. 14  G-I illustrate the interaction of the various features and components as the cap is removed from the container. Mounting and removing the second implementation of the cap-and-schedule-display assembly to and from the container  1102  is similar to mounting and removing the first implementation of the cap-and-schedule-display assembly to and from the container  102  in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 14  A, prior to mounting the cap assembly onto the container, the cap ratchet wheel  1130  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  are meshed together, fixing the position of the schedule display with respect to the cap. Cap lugs  1134  are in alignment with biasing features  1148 . When the cap assembly is placed onto the container, pressed down, and rotated, lugs  1134  slip into the spaces  1128  between two neighboring boss features, as shown in  FIG. 14B . In  FIGS. 14C-D , when the cap assembly is rotated in a clockwise direction for the purpose of mounting it to the container, the engaging side  1150  of biasing feature  1148  comes into contact with the leading edge  1124  of boss feature  1116 , preventing schedule display  1106  from rotating with the cap while the lug  1134  continues to rotate along the cam surface  1118  of the boss feature  1116 . Cap ratchet wheel  1130  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  slip over each other in the disengaged direction. As the cap  1104  rotates around the schedule display  1106  and the container  1102 , aperture  1110  moves from one schedule element to the next in  FIG. 14  E. 
     It should be noted that the sliding side of the cap and schedule-display ratchet teeth has a steep portion near the base and a shallow portion near the top. As the contact area between the cap and schedule-display ratchet teeth transitions from the steep portions  1310  and  1322  to the shallow portions  1308  and  1320 , friction diminishes and mechanical advantage improves. This encourages a user to continue to rotate the cap until a mounting cycle is completed. Therefore, when a user applies sufficient torque to initiate the mounting process, the torque applied at the initiation of the mounting process is generally sufficient to carry through the mounting cycle until the next schedule element is reached. 
     In  FIG. 14E , aperture  1110  is almost centered over the next sequential schedule element  1402 . Tips  1306  of cap ratchet wheel  1130  have reached tips  1318  of schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154 . Note that the engaging sides  1304  and  1316  of the ratchet teeth are slanted and that the slant reduces the rotational distance the ratchet wheel tips need to travel to pass one another in order that the teeth reach their next position before aperture  1110  is centered over the next indication. The slant ensures that the aperture reliably reaches a next intended indication despite limitations in manufacturing tolerances, potential wear from use, and variations in use. However, the engaging sides of the ratchet teeth are not sufficiently slanted that they prevent the ratchet teeth from providing sufficient biasing when rotated in the engaging direction. The shape of the ratchet teeth allows for the number of teeth equal to the number of indications such that the cap advances precisely one tooth in each mounting cycle and is therefore rotationally realigned for the next cycle. 
     In  FIG. 14F , the lugs  1134  slip into the lug notches  1120  of the boss features  1116  as the teeth of the cap ratchet wheel  1130  interlock again with the teeth of the schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  advanced clockwise by one tooth with respect to the schedule-display ratchet wheel. Aperture  1110  is now centered over the next sequential indication  1402 . 
     When the cap is pushed down into the container, as shown in  FIG. 14G , the downward pressure applied to the cap forces the lugs  1134  to disengage from the lug notches  1120  of the boss features  1116 . When the cap with the schedule display is rotated counter-clockwise for removal, as shown in  FIG. 14H , each lug  1134  travels along the cam surface  1118  of each boss feature  1116  while the sliding surface  1152  of each biasing feature  1148  slides along the ramp portion  1126  of the boss feature. The schedule display does not rotate with respect to the cap as a result of intermeshing of the cap ratchet wheel  1130  and the schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  during the entire sequence of steps shown in  FIGS. 14  G-I. Finally, as shown in  FIG. 14I , the lugs  1134  fully disengage from the boss features  1116  and reside in the spaces  1128  between successive boss features, allowing the cap assembly to be vertically pulled away from the container. 
     It should be noted that proportions and positions of various components and features, ratios between the numbers of various components and features, and alignment of various components and features are the same as previously described with reference to the first implementation. The number of ratchet teeth of cap ratchet wheel  1130  and the complementary schedule-display ratchet wheel  1154  is an integer multiple of the number of schedule elements  1108 . The number of schedule elements  1108  is equal to the number of biasing features  1148  which is an integer multiple of the number of lugs  1134  and boss features  1116 . The central angle of the lateral arc from the leading edge  1124  to the stop portion  1122  of each boss feature  1116  is equal to the central angle from one indication  1108  to a next indication and is also equal to the central angle from one ratchet tooth to a next tooth. As previously discussed with reference to the first implementation, the proportions, number, and spacing of various features and components allow the device to start and stop each cycle with the same rotational alignment between features such that the device works in perpetuity and rotates exactly 360 degrees back to its original position. 
     The medicine dispenser can be set to a desired initial indication or rotationally adjusted to a particular indication during use. When the cap with the schedule display is removed from the container, a user can apply pressure to grips to rotate the schedule display with respect to the cap to a particular indication. Alternatively, a user can ratchet the cap assembly back and forth when the cap assembly is mounted onto the container. In the counter-clockwise motion, a set of biasing features slide up boss ramp portions and slide past the boss features. In the returning clockwise motion, the set of biasing features re-engage with the leading edges of the boss features and the indication is advanced to the next one as the motion is completed. This counter-clockwise and clockwise rotation can be repeated until a desired indication is reached. 
     Various previously-mentioned features and particular attributes enable rapid and cost effective manufacture and assembly of the medicine-dispenser implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D . For example, holes  1140  in the cap allow for effective manufacture of lugs  1134 . Because the lugs  1134  extend under the schedule display to engage with the container, compared to lugs on a conventional cap, the lugs  1134  shown in the second implementation of the medicine dispenser are slightly lengthened to extend over the open cavity of the cap. The mold for a generally cylindrical and closed-end cap includes a side that fills the void on the inside of the cap. Once the mold is filled with plastic, it separates into two pieces to release the new part inside. The first half of the mold that fills the cavity of the inside of the cap pulls out from a second half that creates a cavity around it to create a void in the shape of the cylindrical wall and closed end of the cap. However, a portion of the cap cavity is below the lugs, which could hinder separation of the first half of the mold from the second half of the mold, as the first half that fills the cavity pulls out from under the lugs. Holes  1140  in the cap enable the second half of the mold to fill the void directly under the lugs. When the mold separates, the portion of the second half of the mold that fills the portion of the cap cavity under the lugs can release through holes  1140 . Holes  1156  in the schedule display work in the same manner as holes  1140  in the cap, thus allowing a two-piece mold to create biasing features  1148  that extend around the inner wall of the schedule display. 
     The shape of cap aperture  1110  is also created for rapid and cost effective manufacture. While the aperture is a cavity, in a mold the aperture is a protrusion. A protrusion can affect the rapid release of a two-piece mold. As the mold is separated, a protrusion would pull through the plastic wall of the cap. To improve manufacturing efficiency and speed, the aperture extends through the top surface of the cap. The protrusion in the mold therefore does not pull through the cap wall because there is no wall in the direction the mold releases. Further, the aperture tapers outward towards the top. The protrusion in the mold therefore has a wedge shape that readily releases from the plastic that forms the cylindrical rim of the cap. 
       FIGS. 15  A-I provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule display, and container components of a third implementation that illustrate step-by-step interaction of various components as the cap is mounted onto, and removed from, the container.  FIGS. 15  A-I resemble  FIGS. 9A-H  of the first implementation.  FIGS. 15  A-F illustrate the process of mounting the cap to the cylindrical container and the interaction of various features and components.  FIGS. 15  G-I illustrate the interaction of the various features and components as the cap is removed from the container. This implementation utilizes an alternative method to ensure that the device makes a precise indication in each mounting cycle despite limitations in manufacturing tolerances and possible wear. 
     The three components of the third implementation, including a cap, a schedule display, and a container, resemble the three components  104 ,  202 , and  102  shown in the first implementation with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . Mounting and removing the third implementation of the cap-and-schedule-display assembly to and from the container is similar to mounting and removing the first implementation of the cap-and-schedule-display assembly to and from the container  102  in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15A , the cap includes cap ratchet wheel  1500  with ratchet teeth, such as ratchet tooth  1504 , intermeshing with the schedule-display ratchet wheel  1502  with ratchet teeth, such as ratchet tooth  1506 , when the schedule display is inserted into the cap. An aperture  1508  in the cylindrical rim of the cap displays a single indication  1510  to a user. Cap lugs  1512  are in alignment with schedule-display biasing features  1514 . In  FIG. 15B , the cap-schedule-display assembly is placed onto the container for the purpose of mounting the cap-schedule-display assembly to the container and rotated clockwise. Lugs  1512  slip into the spaces  1516  between two successive boss features  1518 . In  FIG. 15C , when the cap-schedule-display assembly is rotated clockwise, biasing features  1514  make contact with the leading edge  1520  of the boss features  1518 , preventing further rotation of the schedule display relative to the container. In  FIG. 15D , as the cap continues to rotate around the container, cap ratchet wheel  1500  slides over schedule-display ratchet wheel  1502  in the disengaged direction and aperture  1508  moves from one indication to the next, while lugs  1512  travel along the cam surface  1522  of the boss feature  1518 . As shown in  FIG. 15E , cap lugs  1512  have not reached the stop portion  1524  of lug notches  1526 , yet the tips of ratchet teeth  1504  and  1506  have passed over one another and ratchet wheels  1500  and  1502  are intermeshed again. In  FIG. 15F , lugs  1512  slide into lug notches  1526  and reach the stop portion  1524  of boss features  1518 . The cap with the schedule display is mounted onto the container and the aperture  1508  is now centered over the next sequential indication  1528 . Note that ratchet wheels  1500  and  1502  have continued to slide further, revealing gaps  1530  between the engaging sides of two engaging ratchet teeth. Thus, the central angle of the lateral arc from leading edges  1520  to stop portions  1524  of boss features  1518  is greater than the central angle from one indication to the next and the central angle from one ratchet tooth to the next. As a result, the tips of cap ratchet teeth rotate further past the tips of schedule-display ratchet teeth, ensuring that the cap only makes an indication if the cap is completely mounted onto the container. 
     To remove the cap with the schedule display from the container, as shown in  FIGS. 15G-H , a user applies pressure to the cap such that lugs  1512  disengage from the lug notches  1526 . When the cap with the schedule display is rotated counter-clockwise for removal, as the ratchet wheels  1500  and  1502  slip backwards to close gaps  1530 , aperture  1508  rotates slightly off the perfectly centered position above the indication  1528  until the engaging sides of the ratchet teeth make contact, fixing the position of the schedule display relative to the cap. As the cap-schedule-display assembly continues to rotate, lugs  1512  fully disengage from the boss features and slide into the spaces  1516  between two successive boss features, allowing the cap assembly to be pulled up from the container. 
     In the third implementation shown in  FIGS. 15A-I , because the central angle of the lateral arc along which the aperture travels from one indication to the next is greater than the central angle of the lateral arc between two successive ratchet teeth, the aperture starts slightly off-center from the indication and re-centers over the next indication when the cap is remounted. The position of the aperture in the cylindrical rim of the cap may be rotationally adjusted so that the discrepancy from the center position can be ameliorated. 
       FIGS. 16A-J  provide unwrapped views of cap, schedule display, and container components of a fourth implementation that illustrate step-by-step interaction of various components and features as the cap is removed from, and remounted onto, the container.  FIGS. 16A-E  illustrate the interaction of various features and components as the cap-schedule-display assembly is removed from the container.  FIGS. 16F-J  illustrate the interaction of the various features and components as the cap-schedule-display assembly is remounted onto the container. This implementation also resembles the third implementation shown in  FIGS. 15A-I . However, the fourth implementation shown in  FIGS. 16A-E  makes an indication each time when the cap-schedule-display assembly is removed from the container. 
     The feature and components of the fourth implementation also resemble the features and components shown in the third implementation with reference to  FIGS. 15A-I . In  FIG. 16A , the cap-schedule-display assembly is mounted onto the container. Cap lugs  1600  are secured in lug notches  1602  of boss features  1604 . Cap aperture  1606  is centered over the starting indication  1608  in the schedule display. Cap ratchet wheel  1610  and schedule-display ratchet wheel  1612  are fully meshed.  FIGS. 16  B-E illustrate the process of removing the cap assembly from the container. In  FIG. 16B , a user applies pressure to the cap to free lugs  1600  from lug notches  1602 , while biasing features  1614  engage bottle biasing means  1616 . In  FIG. 16C , the cap is rotated relative to the container for removal. The engagement between biasing features  1614  and bottle biasing means  1616  prevents the schedule display from rotating with the cap. Thus, the cap rotates with respect to the schedule display and the cap aperture  1606  advances from the initial indication  1608  to the next indication. Cap ratchet wheel  1610  slides over schedule-display ratchet wheel  1612  in the disengaged direction. In  FIG. 16D , lugs  1600  are released from boss features  1604  and slip into spaces  1618  between two successive boss features so that the cap-schedule-display assembly can now be removed from the container. The cap aperture  1606  reaches the next indication  1620 . Note that, similar to the third implementation shown in  FIGS. 15  A-I, the central angle of the lateral arc along which the cap travels during the removal process is greater than the central angle of the lateral arc from one ratchet tooth to the next, so that the tips of cap ratchet wheel teeth rotate further past the tips of schedule-display ratchet teeth, ensuring that the ratchet wheels reach the next engaged position and the device functions properly despite manufacturing imperfection. The further advancement of the ratchet wheels reveals a gap  1622  between two engaging ratchet teeth. In  FIG. 16E , the cap-schedule-display assembly is removed from the container. 
       FIGS. 16F-J  demonstrate the process of re-mounting the cap-schedule-display assembly to the container. In  FIG. 16F , the cap-schedule-display assembly is pressed onto the container and rotated clockwise. Lugs  1600  slide into the space  1618  between two successive boss features. In  FIGS. 16G-H , as the cap is rotated for the purpose of mounting it to the container, lugs  1600  travel along the cam surface  1628  of the boss features. The cap rotates around the schedule display until the engaging side  1624  and  1626  of ratchet wheel teeth make contact, so that the ratchet wheels are fully engaged and the schedule display is compelled to rotate in cooperation with the cap. In  FIG. 16I , as the cap continues to rotate onto the bottle, schedule-display biasing features  1614  slide along bottle biasing means  1616  in the disengaged direction. Aperture  1606  remains centered over indication  1620 . In  FIG. 16J , lugs  1600  reach the stop portion  1630  of lug notches  1602  and the cap-schedule-display assembly is remounted onto the container. 
     Similar to the third implementation shown in  FIGS. 15  A-I, the rotational position of the aperture can be adjusted so that the aperture is perfectly centered when the cap-schedule-display assembly is on and slightly off-center when the cap-schedule-display assembly is off. Alternatively, the position of the aperture can be adjusted so that the aperture is perfectly centered when the cap-assembly-display assembly is off. The aperture may also be positioned so that the different between the two positions can be split. The extra distance the cap rotates is sufficiently insignificant that any aperture off-centering does not impact the clarity of device indications. 
       FIGS. 17A-C  illustrate a fifth implementation of the medicine dispenser to which the medicine dispenser is directed.  FIG. 17A  shows a perspective view of a fifth implementation.  FIG. 17B  shows an exploded view of the fifth implementation shown in  FIG. 17A . The fifth implementation resembles the second implementation shown in  FIGS. 11A-D , with similar component features except that the boss feature  1702  in the fifth implementation includes a first leading edge  1704  and a second leading edge  1706  in addition to other features previously described. The indicating mechanism utilized by the fifth implementation is the same as that of the second implementation. The proportions of boss features  1702  are coordinated with the spacing and number of biasing features  1708  so that the rotational advancement of the cap around the schedule display during each mounting cycle is equal to the central angle of the lateral arc from the first leading edge  1704  to the stop portion  1710  of the boss feature. The first leading edge  1704  prevents further rotation of the schedule display with respect to the container by engaging with the biasing features  1708  of the schedule display, while the stop portion  1710  prevents further rotation of the cap with respect to the container by engaging with cap lugs  1712 . This alternative implementation can replace boss features in any implementation previously described in this document. 
     Alternatively, the number of ratchet teeth of cap and schedule-display ratchet wheels and biasing features in the schedule display may be altered in order to provide for a different number of schedule elements. The proportions of boss features may also be altered to coordinate with the desired number of schedule elements.  FIG. 17C  shows an exploded view of an alternative implementation of the fifth implementation with twenty-one schedule elements. While the medicine-dispenser implementation shown in  FIG. 17C  shares the same bottle as the medicine-dispenser shown in  FIG. 17B , the cap assembly includes 21 biasing features, 21 cap ratchet teeth, and 21 schedule-display ratchet teeth. In this implementation, biasing features  1714  are positioned vertically higher relative to the cap lugs  1716  than in  FIG. 17B . When the cap with the schedule display is with respect to the container for the purpose of mounting the cap assembly to the container, the biasing features  1714  do not collide with the first leading edge  1704  of boss feature  1702 , as in the implementation of  FIG. 17B . Instead, cap lugs  1716  continue to slide along the cam surface  1718  of the boss feature  1702  and the schedule display continues to rotate with the cap until biasing feature  1714  collides with the second leading edge  1706  of the boss feature  1702 , which prevents further rotation of the schedule display with respect to the container. The cap continues to rotate until lugs  1716  slip into lug notches  1720  of the boss features. The central angel of the lateral arc the cap advances is equal to the central angle from the second leading edge to the stop portion of the boss feature. 
     The central angle of the lateral arc from the first leading edge to the stop portion of each of the boss features and the central angle of the lateral arc from the second leading edge to the stop portion as well as the number of boss features is coordinated with the number and spacing of biasing features and schedule elements in different implementations. When the schedule display has 14 biasing features, 14 indications, and 14 ratchet teeth in each ratchet wheel, as shown in  FIG. 17B , the central angle of the lateral arc from the first leading edge to the stop portion of each boss feature is equal to one-fourteenth of 360 degrees, which is also equal to the central angel the cap moves from one indication to the next, the central angel between two successive biasing features, and the central angel from one ratchet wheel tooth to the next. When the schedule display has 21 biasing features, 21 indications, and 21 ratchet teeth in each ratchet wheel, as shown in  FIG. 17C , the central angel of the lateral arc from the second leading edge to the stop portion of each boss feature is equal to one-twenty-first of 360 degrees. As previously discussed in great detail with reference to the first implementation shown in  FIGS. 1-9 , the proportions and the number and spacing of various features and component are coordinated so that that, at the end of each mounting cycle, each of the relevant components is realigned and the device is ready for the next mounting cycle. 
     It is desirable that pharmacies can match each filled prescription bottle with a cap with a dispensing schedule that matches the prescribed dosing schedule.  FIG. 18  illustrates a method of using a machine-readable code to improve pharmacy safety. A unique identifier, such as a barcode  1802  or other linear or matrix codes, is printed on the cap assembly of a medicine-dispenser and a matching code  1804  is printed on the bottle container of the medicine-dispenser so that a pharmacist or pharmacy technician can scan both codes with a barcode reading device to ensure that the cap assembly matches the bottle container. The unique identifier code is, in certain implementations, printed or embossed onto the exterior wall of the cylindrical rim of the cap or on the disk-shaped surface of the cap. The matching code is printed or embossed onto the exterior surface of the cylindrical wall of the bottle, the bottom surface of the bottle container, or any location visible to the pharmacist and accessible with a scanner, including a prescription label. The unique identifier may be a machine readable barcode, as shown in  FIG. 18 , or any other visually distinct symbols, marks, numbers, or colors that can be scanned visually or with a common code reading device. 
     Implementations of the medicine dispenser provide mechanical advantages over currently-available devices. First, implementations of the medicine dispenser can be effectively calibrated to any number of schedule elements that are a multiple of seven days of the week and can therefore conform to the most common prescription schedules. Implementations of the medicine dispenser also provide a means for manual adjustment to a correct indication. This is particularly helpful for presetting the indicator to a correct day and time of the first dosage. Implementations of the medicine dispenser include a commonly-accepted form of childproofing, are airtight and moisture-impermeable, and do not require a non-standard method of applying the cap to the cylindrical container. 
     The mechanism utilized by certain implementations of the medicine dispenser does not require conscious effort or control from a person for it to make accurate indications. And, the displayed schedule element is not advanced unless the cap is successfully mounted onto the cylindrical container, thus eliminating potential human error. Furthermore, the displayed schedule element advances one schedule element at a time and, at the end of each cycle, is automatically realigned for the next cycle. 
     Additionally, implementations of the medicine dispenser function without straining or bending any of components so that implementations of the medicine dispenser are less prone to usage wear. None of the components include thin plastic extensions that are likely to rapidly wear out or break. And, while implementations of the medicine dispenser do not incur undue wear, implementations of the medicine dispenser are also designed to function accurately despite some material wear, thereby further enhancing safety. 
     Each of the components of the example implementation can be rapidly mass-manufactured with simple molds. Each of the example implementations can be manufactured as just three pieces and can be made of the same materials from which common implementations of commercially-available pill bottles are manufactured. Additionally, the indicating mechanism utilized by the current implementations is designed to function properly despite potential variations in manufacturing accuracy. 
     Although the current disclosure has been described in terms of particular implementations, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these implementations. Modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, as mentioned above, the number of ratchet-wheel teeth, biasing features, boss features, lugs, and schedule elements can be varied, in alternative implementations, in order to provide different numbers of schedule elements. In alternative implementations, a means for rotating the schedule display with respect to the cap in order to set an initial schedule display element may be used instead of the grips  512  and  514  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 5 . In certain implementations, features complementary to an initial-schedule-element setting tool can be used to ensure that the schedule is set by a pharmacist or other healthcare provider. As discussed above, the schedule elements contain various different types of information related to times, days of the week, dates, and other such characteristics that define when a next dose is to be administered. The schedule elements may be molded, embossed, printed, or otherwise placed onto the exterior wall of the schedule-display rim. The dimensions and shapes of each of the component features may vary with varying implementations provided that they interoperate together as described above. The cap, schedule display, and cylindrical container may be manufactured in any of many well-known polymeric materials, and can have essentially arbitrary colors, transparencies, rigidity and flexibility, and other such characteristics and parameters. The cylindrical container and cap may contain additional features, including additional information displays, features for facilitating attachment of additional information by pharmacies and pharmacists, and other features. 
     It is appreciated that the previous description of the disclosed implementations is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these implementations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.