A Time-indicator for Use Upon or in connection with Medicine Bottles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1894-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Time-indicator for Use Upon or in connection with Medicine
Bottles.
1, JOHN FEAVER, of Long Walk, Bermondsey Square, in the County of Surrey,
Iron and Tinware Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a device for use upon or in connection with medicine
bottles, for indicating or recording the time at which the last dose was taken
or administered, or the time at which the next succeeding dose should be taken or
administered.
The said device, moreover, serves to distinguish medicine bottles from other
bottles containing poisons or preparations not intended for internal application.
It is well-known that doubt sometimes exists in the minds of patients or of those
responsible for administering medicine at stated intervals, as to the time at which
the last dose was taken by the patient. Moreover, in many cases, by reason of a
similarity existing between bottles employed for medicine to be taken internally and
bottles containing lotion, and the like for external application only, serious
consequences have frequently arisen, and on many occasions resulting in the death
of the patient. But by my invention 1 provide the means whereby not only can
such bottles be very readily distinguished from each other (thus avoiding the
uncertainty and risk hitherto experienced), but a record can be easily kept of when
the medicine was last taken or of when it must be next taken.
My said device comprises a strip or other conveniently shaped label or tablet, of
paper or other suitable material, upon which is printed or otherwise marked a series
of numbers, say from 1 to 12 inclusive; a movable index or pointer or its equivalent
is arranged in connection with the said strip or other piece or label in such a
manner that it may be set opposite any of the said numbers to indicate the time
when a dose was last taken or when a dose is to be taken. The said device is to be
gummed, tied or otherwise attached to or suspended from the bottle, or it may be
placed in any convenient position in the patient's room, if medicine for internal use
only is being used. If desired, the said device may also have printed or otherwise
marked thereon other matter, such as the name and address of a doctor, chemist or
druggist, or such words as "The mixture or directions as to the quantity to
be taken, and the intervals between the doses.
"
One form of my improved device consists of an oblong label having the numbers
printed in a line or row along the same. Parallel to the said line of numbers,
I form a slit at a short distance from one edge of the label, the said slit being
closed at each end, thus leaving a narrow strip of the material attached to the main
part thereof at each end. This narrow strip serves as a bar or guide on which
slides an index or pointer of paper or other suitable material extending towards the
said line or row of numbers, a small projecting piece or tag or holder being part of
or attached to the said index or pointer to facilitate the adjustment thereof to the
desired position.
Another form or modification of my improved device, consists of a tablet of
metal, celluloid, or other suitable material, provided with a cord or clip whereby it
may be easily attached to or suspended from the neck of a bottle. This
tablet is marked with the required numerals and is provided with an adjustable
index or pointer.

page_text: My improved device may be made of various shapes; it may, for example, be
made of circular form with the numerals arranged in a circle like those on the face
of a watch, and be provided with a hand or pointer pivoted at the centre and
moving over the circular series of numerals.
By reason of the indicating arrangements thereon, my improved device, when
attached to the bottle, enables the patient or nurse or other person to readily
distinguish the bottle from other bottles containing preparations for external
or other use, thus obviating the liability to accidents or misadventure such as I have
herein before referred to.
My improved device is very advantageous for use in hospitals, for travellers, on
board ship or other places where many sick persons have to be attended to by one
or more nurses.
1001
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
VUMI LEID DE MULTICATION.
A Time-indicator for Use Upon or in connection with Medicine
Bottles.
I, JOHN FEAVER, of Long Walk, Bermondsey Square, in the County of Surrey,
Iron and Tinware Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a device for indicating or recording the time at which a
dose of medicine was last taken or administered, or the time at which the next
succeeding dose should be taken or administered.
The said device, moreover, serves to distinguish medicine-bottles from other
bottles containing poisons or preparations not intended for internal application.
It is well-known that doubt sometimes exists in the minds of patients or of those
responsible for administering medicine at stated intervals, as to the time at which
the last dose was taken by the patient. Moreover, in many cases, by reason of a
similarity existing between bottles employed for medicine to be taken internally and
bottles containing lotion, and the like for external application only, serious
consequences have frequently arisen, and on many occasions have resulted in the
death of the patient. But by my invention, I provide the means whereby not only
can such bottles be very readily distinguished from each other (thus avoiding the
uncertainty and risk hitherto experienced), but a record can be easily kept of when
the medicine was last taken or of when it must be next taken.
My said device comprises a strip or other conveniently shaped label or tablet, of
paper or other suitable material, upon which is printed or otherwise marked a
series of numerals say from 1 to 12 inclusive; a movable index or pointer or its
equivalent is arranged in connection with the said strip or other piece or label in
such a manner that it may be set opposite either of the said numerals to indicate
the time when a dose was last taken or when the next dose is to be taken. The
said device is to be gummed, tied or otherwise attached to or suspended from the
bottle, or it may be placed in any convenient position in the patient's room if
medicine for internal use only is being used. If desired, the said device may also
have printed or otherwise marked thereon other matter, such as the name and
address of a doctor or of a chemist or druggist, or such words as "The mixture," or
directions as to the quantity to be taken, and the intervals between the doses.
One form of my improved device consists of an oblong label having the numerals
printed in a line or row along the same. Parallel to the said line of numerals,
form a slit at a short distance from one edge of the label, the said slit being closed

page_text: at each end, thus leaving a narrow strip of the material attached to the main part
thereof at each end. This narrow strip serves as a bar or guide on which slides an
index or pointer of paper or other suitable material extending towards the said line
or row of numerals, a small projecting piece, tag or holder being formed ou
or attached to the said index or pointer to facilitate the adjustment thereof to the
desired position.
Another form or modification of my improved device, consists of a tablet of
metal, paper, celluloid, or other suitable material, provided with a cord or loop
whereby it may be easily attached to or suspended from the neck of a bottle. This
tablet is marked with the required numerals and is provided with an adjustable
index or pointer. I sometimes use an elastic cord or band to fasten the lower end
of the tablet to the bottle.
My improved device may be made of various shapes; it may, for example, be
made of circular form with the numerals arranged in a circle like those on the face
of a watch, and be provided with a hand or pointer pivoted at the centre and
moving over the circular series of numerals, with space, if desired, at the top
or bottom for any printed or written matter.
In the accompanying drawing:-
-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a medicine-bottle, showing one form of my time-
indicator fastened thereon by means of gum or other adhesive material.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the said time-indicator suspended from the
neck of a bottle,
Figure 3 is a similar view showing another form or modification of my time-
indicator, and
Figure 4 is a plan or top view showing a further modification thereof.
a is the label or tablet forming the body of the time-indicator, on which are
printed the numerals 1 to 12. In the label or tablet shown in Figures 1 and 2, a
fongitudinal slit 6 is formed near one side thereof, leaving a narrow strip a¹ of the
label or tablet connected to the main body of the same at its ends, which strip is not
gummed to the bottle shown in Figure 1. This strip serves as a guide for the index
or pointer c which consists of a piece of thin sheet-metal bent around the strip a¹
and provided with a projection c¹ whereby it may be readily moved up or down to
any desired position on the said strip a'.
In Figure 1 I have shown my time-indicator secured by gum or the like to the
surface of the bottle, the strip a', however, being left free, as above stated, to
permit the movement of the index c.
Figure 2 shows the time-indicator provided with a cord or loop & whereby it is
suspended from the neck of the bottle.
In Figure 3 I have shown my time-indicator formed of a disc a having the
numerals printed thereon in a circular series, and provided with a rotary index or
pointer c which is secured by an eyelet or rivet or in any other suitable manner to
the centre of the disc, the central part of the said disc being slightly raised
or dished so that the index or pointer can be easily turned. The said rotary index
or pointer is, if desired, provided with a suitable projection c to facilitate its
adjustment.
In the modification shown in Figure 4, the central part of the disc a is depressed
so as to form a circular recess in which the index or pointer c may turn, so that the
said index or pointer will not project above the surface of the annular part
surrounding such recess; and the numerals are embossed or otherwise marked on
the said annular part. The numerals are shown arranged like those on a clock-face.
The time-indicator, when made as shown in this figure, may serve as the top of the
lid of a pill-box or other box for containing medicine.
By reason of the indicating arrangements thereon, my device, when attached to
the bottle, enables the patient or nurse or other person to readily distinguish the
bottle from other bottles containing preparations for external or other use,
thus obviating the liability to accident or misadventure such as I have herein before
referred to.

page_text: My time-indicator is very advantageous for family use, for use by nurses in
hospitals, for travellers, on board ship, or in other places where many sick persons
need medicine, or for general use by doctors and chemists.
It is evident that my time-indicator can also be used, if desired, in connection
with medicines contained in receptacles other than bottles or pill-boxes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A medicine time-indicator constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and for the purposes specified.
Second. A bottle or other receptacle for medicine, having attached thereto
a time-indicator constructed with an adjustable index or pointer substantially
as described with reference to Figure 1, or Figure 3, or Figure 4 of the accom-
panying drawing, for the purposes specified.
Dated 126
JOHN FEAVER.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
JOHN FEAVER.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.