Patent ID: 8045420

Claim:
A timing medicine holder comprising a base, a cover, a sensor, a selector, a timer, and an alarm, wherein: the base supports a labeled medicine container, which contains and identifies a medicine that is to be taken in doses according to a particular dose regimen; the cover, cooperating with the base, has a closed position enclosing the medicine container, and an open position wherein the medicine container is accessible and not enclosed; the sensor detects the open and closed positions of the cover and triggers the timer when the cover changes positions; the selector selects a time interval according to the particular dose regimen; the timer, upon being triggered by the sensor, generates a time delay according to the selected time interval, and then activates the alarm; and the alarm then generates an alarm signal indicating that a dose of the medicine is to be taken; and which further includes a special-access control that, when operated, prevents the sensor from triggering the timer, thereby allowing the cover to be opened and closed without interrupting the time delay.