Patent Publication Number: US-6667936-B1

Title: Bottle cap reminder device and method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to prescription medicine bottle timers. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved bottle cap reminder device. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Using prescription drugs to treat ailments and illnesses is very common in modem medicine. In order to instruct patients of the need to regularly and consistently take prescription drugs, health care providers tell patients when to take prescribed dosages and pharmacists label the containers of prescription devices with the prescribed dosages and frequencies of taking the drugs. 
     Patients often forget to take their prescription drugs, hampering the effectiveness of the prescription drug upon the patient and potentially putting the patient&#39;s health in jeopardy. For this reason, a prescription reminder device that gives patients information concerning the frequency of attending to a prescription medicine bottle is important. Many reminder devices exist for reminding patients to take their prescription drugs. The following previously issued United States Patents disclose several of these devices. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,751,661 issued to Walters discloses a Medication Dosage Timing Apparatus. This invention comprises a container cap, a timer means for measuring elapsed time, and a display means for displaying the elapsed time. The display means is operatively coupled to the timer means. Further, a coupling means couples the timer means and the display means to the container cap. A battery carrier means is slidably coupled to the container cap for automatically moving a battery between a first position and a second position when the container cap is removed from the container. The timer means and the display means are thus responsive to movement of the battery carrier means as a result of removal and replacement of the container cap. 
     U.S Pat. No. 6,084,504 issued to Rosche et al. discloses an invention entitled: TIMING. This prior art reference teaches a method and apparatus that is attachable to a receptacle for timing a predetermined interval according to a timing schedule or a set of timing schedules. The apparatus has an electronic timing circuit that provides an alarm signal at the expiration of the predetermined time interval. The timing circuit includes a set of inputs and a set of outputs that are both connected to processing circuitry. The processing circuitry defines the set of selectable timing schedules. The inputs correspond to the timing schedules and the outputs issue the alarm signals. The apparatus also includes a sensing mechanism for selectively engaging an input based on the position of the mechanism. Each timing schedule is selectable by the device through the inputs that are engaged and disengaged. 
     U.S Pat. No. 6,229,431 issued to Weiner discloses a Medication Reminder Device. This invention discloses a device having a cap unit with a timer means for selecting a period between alarm signals and a central start and reset button with a light, the cap unite having internal electronics with a power supply to generate an alarm signal that is preferably visible, using the button light; audio, using a sound generating circuit; and physical, using a vibrator mechanism. The cap unit is connected to a compact container with a compartment or storage of pills, the compact container having an adapter cap for connecting the assembled device to a standard prescription container. 
     What is needed is a means for displaying the time elapsed since a prescription container or bottle has been opened, presumably, for taking a required dosage of prescription drugs, or medicine. The device must be simple in order to minimize the cost of manufacturing the device and capable of application to the varied standard prescription bottles and containers known in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a bottle cap reminder device that is compact and adaptable to any standard prescription bottle or container. 
     It is a further object of my invention to provide a bottle cap reminder device that displays the time elapsed since the bottle cap reminder device has been reset by a user of the device. 
     It is a further object of my invention to provide a bottle cap reminder device of simplified design resulting in reduced manufacturing costs for an effective bottle cap reminder device. 
     Other objects of my invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures. 
     The device generally comprises a lens, a top cover, a gasket, an electronic counting means, a power source, an insulating pull tab, a spring contact plate, a base, and a double sided adhesive strip. 
     The top cover is sized and shape to fit standard prescription medicine bottles and has a deflectable top face with an aperture for receiving the lens. The top face is surrounded by a skirt portion having an inwardly protruding lip and a reset post for actuating the reset button of the timer. 
     The gasket is sized and shaped to fit within the skirt portion of the top cover and adjacent the top face of the top cover. The gasket has an aperture slightly larger than the aperture through the top face for the lens and a second aperture slightly larger than the reset post for the reset post to extend through. 
     The electronic counter means is disposed within the top cover and has a time counter display that displays the elapsed time since the electronic counter means was last deactivated. The time counter display is positioned to be visible through the lens aperture of the top face. A power source provides the energy to run the electronic counter means. 
     The spring contact plate holds the battery that sits atop the spring contact plate against the electronic counting means completing the electronic counting means circuit. 
     The base of the device has a flat mounting face and an upwardly protruding skirt with an outwardly protruding lip to snap fit within the inwardly protruding lip of the top cover. 
     The double sided adhesive strip is shaped to be adhered to the mounting face of the base with one side of the adhesive strip being adhered to the mounting face of the base and a peel off backing fixed to the other side of the adhesive strip that can be removed when the device is to be mounted to the cap of a prescription medicine bottle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 . FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the claimed invention adhered to a prescription medicine bottle cap that is fastened to a prescription medicine bottle. 
     FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device from the top side of the device. 
     FIG.  3 . FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the device from the bottom side of the device. 
     FIG.  4 . FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the device in the activated position. 
     FIG.  5 . FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the device in the deactivated position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 show a preferred embodiment of the improved timer device  10  for mounting upon a prescription medicine bottle cap  20  of a prescription medicine bottle  30 . The device  10  generally comprises a lens  40 , a top cover  50 , a gasket  60 , an electronic counting means  70 , a power source  80 , an insulating pull tab  90 , a spring contact plate  100 , a base  110 , and a double sided adhesive strip  120 . 
     The top cover  50  shown in FIGS. 1-3 is preferably made of plastic and is round in shape to match the circular shape of standard prescription medicine bottles. The diameter of the top cover  50  is preferably 1.060 inches in diameter so that it is smaller than a typical prescription medicine bottle cap  20 . However, the top cover  50  could be sized and shaped in a variety of different ways and still accomplish the objects of the claimed invention. The top cover  50  has a deflectable top face  130  with an aperture  140  for receiving the lens  40 . The top face  130  is surrounded by a downwardly protruding skirt  150  portion having an inwardly protruding lip  160  and a reset post  170  for resetting the device  10 . 
     The gasket  60  shown in FIG. 2-3 is preferably made of a soft open cell sponge like material and is sized and shaped to fit within the skirt portion  150  of the top cover  50  and adjacent the top face  130  of the top cover  50 . The gasket  60  has an aperture  180  sized and shaped slightly larger than the aperture  140  through the top face  130  for the lens  40  and a second aperture  190  sized and shaped slightly larger than the reset post  170  for the reset post  170  to extend through. 
     The electronic counter means  70  shown in FIG. 2-3 is preferably a solid state circuit disposed within the top cover  50  and has a time counter display that displays the elapsed time since the electronic counter means  70  was last deactivated. The time counter display  200  is positioned coextensively with the aperture  140  in the top cover  50  in order to allow the time counter display  200  to be visible through the top cover  50 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the time counter display  200  is a liquid crystal display and the electronic counter means  70  progressively counts time from 1 second to 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds. If the electronic counting means  70  reaches 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds, the time flashes and remains on 23 hours 59 minutes and 59 seconds until the electronic counter means  70  is reset. 
     A power source  80  provides the energy to run the electronic counter means  70 . In the preferred embodiment, the power source  80  is a dry cell battery such as the one shown in FIG. 2-5. However, other forms of power such as solar cells may also be used. The power source  80  is preferably housed within the electronic counter means  70  and connected in circuit to the electronic counter means  70 . 
     The spring contact plate  100  shown in FIG. 2-3 is preferably made of spring steel and is mounted to the base  110  by a pair of screws  210 . The spring contact plate  100  holds the battery  80  that sits atop the spring contact plate  100  against the electronic counting means  70  completing the electronic counting means  70  circuit. 
     An insulating pull tab  90  placed between the spring contact plate  100  and the battery  80  breaks the electronic circuit interrupting the flow of energy from the battery  80  to the electronic counting means  70 . Using an insulating pull tab  90  between the battery  80  and the spring contact plate  100  while the device  10  is not in use allows a simplified circuitry design, lowering the cost to manufacture a product based upon the claimed invention. 
     The base  110  of the device  10  shown in FIG. 2-3 is preferably made of plastic and has a circular mounting face  220 . A skirt  230  extending from the mounting face  220  has an outwardly protruding lip  240  sized and shaped to snap fit with the inwardly protruding lip  160  of the top cover  50 . The base  110  of the device  10  preferably has a pair of apertures  250  for the screws  210  that mount the spring contact plate  100  to the base  110  to extend through. 
     The double sided adhesive strip  120  shown in FIG. 2-3 is sized and shaped to be adhered to the mounting face  220  of the base  110 . One side of the adhesive strip  120  is adhered to the mounting face  220  of the base  110  and a peel off backing  260  is fixed to the other side of the adhesive strip  120  that can be removed when the device  10  is to be mounted to the cap  20  of a prescription medicine bottle  30 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the device  10  when the electronic counting means  70  is activated. The spring contact plate  100  holds the battery  80  against the electronic counting means  70  completing the circuit. The electronic counting means  70  counts the amount of time that has elapsed since the circuitry has been activated by the battery  80  being held against the electronic counting means  70 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the device  10  when the electronic counting means  70  is deactivated. The electronic counting means  70  is deactivated by a user of the device  10  pushing down on the deflectable top face  130  of the top cover  50 , moving the reset post  170  against the top of the battery  80 . The reset post  170  travels from about 0.020 inches to about 0.030 inches when the top face  130  is deflected by a user pressing upon the top face  130 . When the reset post  170  pushes against the battery  80 , the battery  80  deflects the spring contact plate  100  creating a gap  260  between the contact arms  270  and the battery  80 , deactivating the electronic counting means  70 . When the pressure being applied to the top face  130  of the top cover  50  is removed, the spring contact plate  100  pushes the battery  80  upward toward the contact arms  270  reactivating the electronic counting means  70 . 
     This simplified way of activating and deactivating the device  10  reduces the complexity of the circuitry necessary to complete the device  10  and also reduces and simplifies the number of discrete part necessary to make the device  10 . This simplification translates into a lower cost in manufacturing a product falling within the scope of the claimed invention. The simplification of the design also contributes to a timer having a streamlined profile. The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated throughout the drawings has a side profile height of about 0.326 inches. 
     Although the invention has been described by reference to some embodiments it is not intended that the novel device be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.