Abstract:
A medication reminder device having a cap unit with a timer dial for selecting a period between alarm signals and a central start and reset button with a light, the cap unit 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 being connected to a compact container with a compartment for storage of pills, the compact container having an adaptor cap for connecting the assembled device to a standard prescription container.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/102,189 filed Sep. 28, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an inexpensive medication reminder for pills including capsules, tablets, and-the-like that are typically supplied by a pharmacist in standard plastic pill containers. 
     The standard plastic pill container is designed to be disposable and customarily includes a top with a child proof lock. Patients frequently are required to take multiple medications of different types, and in many cases the medications should be taken at different times after different time intervals. For example, one medication may be required to be taken morning, and evening, and another only at night before sleep. 
     The solution to this problem is a medication reminder device that is sufficiently inexpensive to be utilized for each medication container. Each reminder device can therefore include an alarm that can be separately timed to indicate when a medication associated with that device is to be taken. 
     A problem with a medication reminder device for each medication container is the requirement of carrying the entire container. While this may not be a concern for a single container, again, where multiple different medications are involved, carrying multiple pill containers can be a burden. 
     The medication reminder device of this invention solves these problems in an economical and convenient manner. Each reminder device has a small compartment for carrying a few pills from the main container, and can be conveniently separated from the main container as a small travel case. These and other features are described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The medication reminder device of this invention comprises a pill container cap assembly with timer and alarm, the cap assembly including a cap portion in which the micro electronics for the timer and alarm features are encased and a detachable container portion having a compartment in which a small quantity of pills can be stored. The container portion includes a detachable adaptor cap having an engagement mechanism that is compatible with a conventional pill container typically used by a pharmacy in prescribing prescription drugs. The discardable prescription container customarily has a locking cap mechanism to prevent opening by small children. The detachable adaptor cap is designed to engage the prescription container in the same manner as the original cap. The adaptor cap is threaded to the container portion of the reminder device, and detaches from the device when the reminder device is separated from the primary container for use of the device as a travel case, with, for example, a days supply of pills in the pill compartment. 
     In this manner, the original pill container cap need not be retained and can be discarded. The travel compartment of the reminder device is preferably tinted, but transparent to both protect the contents from UV light yet permit visual inspection of the contents. In situations where more than one reminder device is used by an individual this permits the proper reminder device to be matched with the proper pill container when pills remain in the travel compartment. 
     The timer and alarm components are integrated into the cap portion of the assembly. The components are designed and arranged for simplicity in use. In one embodiment the cap portion has a twist dial to select one of multiple positions corresponding to time periods for periodic activation of the alarm feature. One position is reserved for off, which disables the device to protect the battery from running down when the device is not in use. 
     In the center of the cap is a button switch that includes a light that is activated when the device is in the alarm mode. The button switch starts the time period selected by the twist dial. Preferably, the button switch also interrupts the alarm mode to re-start the time period. 
     In another embodiment the time periods are preset by the pharmacist. In this embodiment the twist dial is used to advance or retard the alarm, for example, by one-half hour ahead or behind the preset periods. This embodiment permits time periods that are not uniform to be set. 
     In the preferred embodiments, the alarm feature has multiple means of signaling that it is time to take a pill. In addition to the light in the button switch, the reminder device has an audible alarm and a physical vibrator. Preferably, the reminder device is in the alarm mode for a preset time period, for example, thirty seconds. During this period the audible alarm, for example a periodic chime, and the vibrator are activated along with the light. In this manner the alarm can be detected when the reminder device is in the user&#39;s pocket. Depressing the button switch stops the alarm to prevent the alarm feature from being an annoyance after detection. The time period before taking the next medication in the first embodiment is again started and using the button as an alarm interrupt will function as a timer reset. If the alarm mode runs its full duration, the period before the next alarm automatically restarts at the end of the alarm mode. In this manner a reminder device left unattended will not exhaust the power supply by remaining in the power consuming alarm mode. 
     The reminder device is designed to utilize a small battery and micro circuitry to minimize the size of the electronic components. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the reminder device installed of a conventional pill container. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the reminder device of FIG. 1 showing the three detachable components of the device. 
     FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view showing the reminder device separated into a travel container and covered pill container. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the underside of an alternate embodiment of the cap unit with a protective disk removed. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the underside of another alternate embodiment of the cap unit with a protective disk removed. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial, cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S Provisional Application No. 60/102,189 filed Sep. 28, 1998. 
     Referring to the drawings, the reminder device of this invention, designated generally by the reference numeral  10 , is shown in FIG. 1 connected to a conventional prescription container  12 . The prescription container  12  includes its original prescription label  14 , which customarily has an identification of the medication contained, and the directions for taking the medication. This is an advantage of the subject reminder device in that the original labeled container is utilized to prevent errors in filling an unmarked specialty bottle. The prescription container  12  has a top rim  16  with a locking mechanism  18  in the form of notched teeth  20 . This mechanism  18  engages a similar locking mechanism (not visible) in an adaptor cap  22 , that is part of three separable components making up the assembly of the reminder device  10 . 
     The reminder device  10  is an assembly that includes an alarm and timer cap portion  24 , a travel container portion  26  and an adaptor portion  28 , which are shown separated in FIG.  2 . The adapter cap  22  has a center divider  29  with one side of the cap  22  having the locking mechanism for the standard pill container and an opposite side having a recess with internal threads  32  that engage external threads  34  on a travel container  36 . The travel container  36  is separable from the adaptor cap  22  to permit the adaptor cap  22  to remain on a pill container when the remainder of the reminder device is used as a compact travel unit. The travel container  36  is a cylindrical receptacle having a compartment  38  in which a small quantity of pills can be stored. The travel container  36  is preferably transparent, but tinted in the same manner as a conventional pill container to protect the pills from light, particularly ultra-violet light, which may degrade the medication. 
     The travel container  36  has a top rim  38  with threads  40  to enable the container portion  26  of the assembly to connect to the alarm and timer cap portion  24 . The alarm and timer cap portion  24  comprises a cap unit  42  having a knurled cap member  44  with a threaded recess (not visible) that engages and covers the travel container  36 . 
     The cap member  44  also includes an internal compartment for the timer and alarm electronics. The timer and alarm electronics are mounted on a circuit board with a thin lithium battery for power. The circuit includes an I.C. timer, a piezo-electric sound generator and a small vibrator. 
     Control of the electronics is accomplished by a twist dial  46  connected to a hub  48  that allows the time period to be selected when a marking  50  is aligned with a position marker  52  on the cap member  44 . The twist dial  46 , also includes an “off” position  54 , which turns the reminder device off to prevent draining the battery. 
     At the center of the cap unit  42  within the hub  48  is a button switch  56  that starts and/or resets the time period selected by the dial  46 . The button switch  56  includes a light in the form of a light emitting diode that is activated when the device is in its alarm mode. The button switch  56  is also used as an alarm mode interrupt to stop the alarm mode and begin the next time period as preset by the dial. In this manner to avoid annoyance, the alarm signal can be halted by depressing the button, which also restarts the next time period. 
     The reminder device of this invention comprises a three part assembly that enables the device to be used with a standard pill container or to be separated therefrom utilizing the integral pill compartment for storage of a small quantity of pills in a compact sub-unit. 
     The reminder device of this invention can be modified to account for time periods that are not regular intervals. However, to maintain a simplicity in operation setting the device should be performed by the pharmacist with options for the user minimized to avoid confusion. 
     In FIG. 4 the cap unit  42  has an underside  60  with a circuit board  62  with back side circuitry (not shown) and front side components including a small liquid crystal display (LCD)  64  of a 24 hour clock  66  having time set buttons  68  and  70  for setting hour and minute, respectively. The 24 hour clock  66  has a 24 hour alarm that activates each hour unless deactivated by a dip switch  72  for a particular hour. In FIG. 2, two micro dip switch components  74  and  76  are provided, each having 12 dip switches  72  for the twelve hours of A.M and P.M. Each switch  72  is preset in the “off” position as shown, and is selectively switched to an “on” position by the pharmacist. In this manner, the alarm is only activated on the pre-set hours. The twist dial  46  which is not used to set the timer according to the limited settings of the prior embodiment, is used to turn the device “on” and “off,” and is used to advance or retard the alarm, for example in 15 minute increments, up to an hour. In this manner the user can vary his schedule within controlled limits, to account for the weekend, where the user does not rise as early as the weekday. 
     In FIG. 5 a further alternate embodiment replaces the micro dip switch components  74  and  76  with a custom pin switch array  78 . The pin switch array  78  has 24 pins  80 , one for each hour, that are set by pressing a selected pin into a circuit board  82  on which it is mounted. 
     The pin  80 , as shown in FIG. 6, is mounted on the circuit board  82  and will enter a socket  84  in an adjacent board  86  to complete a circuit to allow the hourly generated alarm signal to pass to the alarm signal elements such as the light, buzzer and or vibrator. The board  86  is separated from the board  82  by a spacer  20  ring  88 , and the switch array is covered by a pop-in disk  90  to hide the array from the user and protect the contents of the travel container portion  26  of the reminder device from the projecting pins. 
     The use of a pin array  78  provides an inexpensive device for a clearly marked switch system for selective activation of the alarm at any one or more hours set by the pharmacist or other care provider. 
     While, in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.