US20050029155A1

US20050029155A1 - Container for storing pills

Info

Publication number: US20050029155A1
Application number: US10/884,003
Authority: US
Inventors: Dana Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-16
Filing date: 2004-07-02
Publication date: 2005-02-10

Abstract

A container for storing pills, comprising a front portion, an inner portion, a top, a bottom, a back wall and two side walls. The front portion comprises a plurality of slidably disposed pullout trays. At least one of the slidably disposed pullout trays contains at least one first compartment for storing first small goods, at least another one of the slidably disposed pullout trays contains at least one second compartment for storing second goods. Removable lids are provided for covering the first and second compartments. The inner portion comprises a cavity for storing third goods, wherein the cavity is formed between the back wall of the container, the two side walls of the container, the bottom of the container and the slidably disposed pullout trays and extends from the bottom of the container to the top of the container.

Description

This application claims priority of provisional application No. 60/487,954 filed Jul. 16, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers for storing small goods, and, more particularly, to containers for storing pills, prescription medications, vitamin supplements, written prescriptions, pens, notepads, vitamin bottles, drug packages and liquid medication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For persons who need to take medicine or vitamin supplements on a regular basis, the need for a pill container that efficiently stores and organizes pills and helps people remember to take them is highly important. There is also an increasing number of people who want to take vitamins in concentrated form as additives to their food. In order to maintain a more or less constant level of vitamin concentration in their body, the vitamins should be taken in small dosages and more than once a day.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,650 discloses a child resistant drug assemblage comprising a container holding a plurality of separate, removable unit drug dose modules. The container comprises a cover, a compartment section, means to hingeably secure the cover to the compartment section, means to lockably secure the cover to the compartment section, and a plurality of partition means which are arranged within that compartment section to receive separate unit drug dose modules. Each of the unit drug dose modules comprises a plurality of spaced drug cell cavities. Furthermore, there are provided means to slidably receive a removable top closure to overlay the cavities.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,546 discloses a lockable pill container having a main body with a plurality of individual compartments for receiving pills. Each compartment has a lid member connected to the main body by a hinge permitting it to be moved between open and closed positions. Each lid member further comprises an engageable first locking member that is sized and constructed to project into the main body when the lid member is in its closed position and said main body comprises a plurality of openings disposed to receive the first locking members. Furthermore the lockable pill container comprises a second locking member comprising a plurality of gaps disposed thereon, wherein the second locking member is carried by the main body and movable between a first position in which it interlockably engages the first locking members of closed lid members and a second position in which it is disengaged from said first locking members, the second locking member comprising a transverse member disposed externally of the main body and projecting downward, the transverse member being engageable by a user to move the second locking member between said first and second positions.
A problem of the prior art pill containers or drug assemblages is that they do not provide enough space for storing additional goods, especially written prescriptions, prescription medications, vitamin supplements, pens and liquid medication. A pill container that satisfies the patient's needs organizes the patient's daily doses of pills and is ergonomically designed to ensure that the user who has dexterity problems may easily use all of the functions of the entire container. Furthermore the container has sufficient capacity, e.g. for storing not only pills, but also prescriptions, pens, notepads, vitamin bottles, drug packages and liquid medication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, a need exists for a pill container mitigating the problems associated with the prior art.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a container for storing pills, comprising a top, a bottom, a back wall, two side walls, a front portion, the front portion comprising a plurality of slidably disposed pullout trays, and an inner portion, wherein each of the slidably disposed pullout trays is individually displacable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position the slidably disposed pullout trays are arranged one above the other within the container and at a distance from the back wall of the container, wherein each of the slidably disposed pullout trays can individually be displaced between the closed position and the open position along a horizontal direction, wherein at least one of the slidably disposed pullout trays contains at least one first compartment adapted for storing first goods, wherein at least another one of the slidably disposed pullout trays contains at least one second compartment adapted for storing second goods, wherein the inner portion is formed between the back wall of the container, the two side walls of the container and the bottom of the container, the inner portion comprising a cavity sized for storing third goods, wherein the cavity for storing third goods is formed between the back wall of the container, the two side walls of the container, the bottom of the container and the slidably disposed pullout trays and extends from the bottom of the container to the top of the container.
One advantage of the present invention is that it provides an easily accessible portable container for storing pills.
An additional advantage of the present invention may be the shape of the interior first compartments of the pullout trays for storing first goods. The inner shape of the first compartments may be adapted with an ergonomically sloped curvature to facilitate the removal of first goods for all patients, including those with dexterity problems.
It may be another advantage of the present invention that the container is provided with sufficient capacity for storing first, second and third goods.
It may be still another advantage of the present invention to provide a container for storing pills, the container comprising a writing area which allows the patient to make up to date notes on dosages, re-fill dates and other personal medical management issues.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first goods are selected from group consisting of pills, beads, jewelry, food, nails, screws, and make-up and removable lids are provided for covering the first and second compartments,
According to another exemplary embodiment, the second goods are selected from the group consisting of business cards, written prescriptions, pens, and notepads.
According to still another exemplary embodiment, the third goods are selected from the group consisting of vitamin bottles, prescription medications, vitamin supplements, drug packages, cups, glasses, spoons, and liquid medication.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention are pointed with particularity in the claims hereto and forming a part thereof and will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container for storing pills according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1, with its top lid and front door open;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 for storing pills, with its top lid and front door open, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slidably disposed pullout tray and a removable lid according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the container according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 5 along line A-A;
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 5, with it's top lid and front door closed, along line B-B;
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the container of FIG. 5, top lid and front door opened, along line B-B;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the engagement section of the slidably disposed pullout tray and a side wall of the container according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Throughout FIGS. 1-9, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding elements.
A perspective view of the container for storing pills 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The container comprises a top lid 2, a front door 3, a left side wall 4, a right side wall 5, a bottom 6 and a back wall 7. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container 1 shown in FIG. 1, with it's top lid 2 and front door 3 open. At the back wall 7 of the container 1 there are disposed means 18, 19 for hingeably securing the top lid 2 to the back wall 7 of the container 1. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention such means 18, 19 are adapted in the form of mechanical hinges which are attached to top lid 2 and back wall 7.
Top lid 2 and right side wall 5 comprise means 20, 21 for lockably securing the top 2 lid to the front portion of the container 1. The locking means 20, 21 can be adapted in such a way that, when the front door 3 and the top lid 2 are closed, locking means 20 engages locking means 21 in a locking position. Because the front edge 26 of top lid 2 overlaps the front door 3, which can be seen in more detail in the cross sectional view of FIG. 7, the front door 3 can not be opened when the front door 3 and the top lid 2 are closed and locking means 20 engages locking means 21 in a locking position. The disengagement of locking means 20 and locking means 21 from a locking position in a opened position can be achieved by applying a mechanical force on locking means 21 in such a way, that locking means 21 is twisted and bend away from locking means 20, until locking means 20 is disengaged and top lid 2 can be opened. Such locking means 20, 21 are well known in the art and therefore will not be described in further detail herein. The top lid 2 comprises seals to protect the interior of the container 1 from moisture and other contaminations when the container 1 is closed. This seal may be realized by means of a rubber seal or grommet, wherein the top lid 2 may even seal watertight when being closed upon closing of front door 3 and locking means 20 engages locking means 21 in a locking position.
Bottom 6 of the container 1 comprises means 22, 23 for hingeably securing the front door 3 to the front portion 27 of the container. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention such means 22, 23 are adapted in the form of mechanical hinges which are attached to the bottom 6 and lower edge of the front door 28. Means 24, 25, 30, 31 for securing the front door 3 to the front portion 27 of the container 1 are disposed on the front door 3 and left and right side walls 4, 5 of the container 1. According to an aspect of this exemplary embodiment means 24, 25, 30, 31 are adapted in form of magnetic catches. The advantage of magnetic catches lies in the fact that the user does not have to apply a lot of mechanical force in order to open the front door 3. On the other hand the magnetic catches 24, 25, 30, 31 assure tight closing of the front door 3 when corresponding magnetic catches 24, 30 and 25, 31 engage each other. Front door 3 comprises a plastic strap 36 which may hold a notepad or business cards. Furthermore front door 3 comprises seals to protect the interior of the container 1 from moisture and other contaminations when the container 1 is closed. This seal may be realized by means of a rubber seal or grommet, wherein front door 3 may even seal watertight when being closed, followed by closing of top lid 2 and engagement of locking means 20 with locking means 21 in a locking position.
The front portion 27 of the container 1 comprises four slidably disposed pullout trays 8. Such a slidable disposed pullout tray 8 is depicted in FIG. 4 in more detail and will be described below. Each of the slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 can individually be displaced between a closed position and an open position along an horizontal direction. In the closed position the slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 are arranged one above the other within the container 1 and at a distance from the back wall 7 of the container 1. The first slidably disposed pullout tray 8 contains seven first compartments 9 adapted for storing first goods, the second slidably disposed pullout tray 33 contains seven first compartments 9 adapted for storing first goods, the third slidably disposed pullout tray 34 contains seven first compartments 9 adapted for storing first goods, the fourth slidably disposed pullout tray 35 contains at least one second compartment 10 adapted for storing second goods. An inner portion 32 of the container 1 is formed between the back wall 7 of the container, the two side walls 4, 5 of the container 1 and the bottom 6 of the container 1, the inner portion 32 comprising a cavity 11 seized for storing third goods. The cavity 11 for storing third goods is formed between the back wall 7 of the container 1, the two side walls 4, 5 of the container 1, the bottom 6 of the container 1 and the slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 and extends from the bottom 6 of the container 1 to the top lid 2 of the container 1.
According to en exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 comprise removable lids 12, the removable lids 12 resting on the pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 and covering the first and second compartments 9, 10 to keep out contaminants and moisture. The lids 12 do not attach to the pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 but neatly sit on top of the pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 and are removable by the patient, when he or she wants to remove the pills out of a first or second compartment 9, 10, and can be placed back on top of the pullout tray 8, 33, 34, 35 by the patient prior to putting the pullout tray 8, 33, 34, 35 back in the close position.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there are provided removable travel lids 12 for the pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35, the travel lids 12 being used, when a pullout tray 8, 33, 34, 35 is removed from the container 1, to enable the patient to take the pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 with him/her when travelling, without taking the whole container 1. The travel lids 12 are adapted to hold tight to the pullout tray and provide a sealing to keep out moisture or contaminants. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sealing may be provided by means of a rubber seal or grommet. When a removable travel lid 12 is pressed on top of the pullout tray 8, 33, 34, 35, the removable travel lid may be hold in place by frictional forces.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the outside surface of container 1 is adapted in such a way, that the outside surface comprises engravings. Furthermore, in another exemplary embodiment, the outside surface of container 1 is made of a reflective material. This reflective material may be a metal selected from the group consisting of chrome, copper, silver, gold, and platinum. Thus the outside surface of container 1 gives the whole container the appearance of a treasure chest. The overall appearance of the container 1 is an important feature of the present invention, since the patient needs to accept the container as an intimate and treasured accessory. Compartments 9, 10 may be made of a material, which even amplifies the beautiful and costly appearance of the container 1. In an exemplary embodiment, the material for compartments 9, 10 is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, mahogany, other exotic woods, acryl glass, and other quality plastics. The inner surfaces of the container 1 may be completely or in part covered with felt, velvet, some other fabric, or plastic coating. The plastic coating has the advantage to be easily cleanable. Therefore container 1 looks like a jewel box, which contains most valuable goods. And this is in fact an important feature of the present invention, that by choice of design and material of container 1 the patient develops a certain attachment to the container 1 and thus to his or her medication.
According to the exemplary embodiment of the container for storing pills depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 the first goods are selected from the group consisting of pills, beads, jewelry, food, nails, screws, and make-up. The second goods are selected from the group consisting of business cards, written prescriptions, pens, and notepads. And the third goods are selected from the group consisting of vitamin bottles, prescription medications, vitamin supplements, drug packages, cups, glasses, spoons, and liquid medication. The open container depicted in FIG. 2 shows a vitamin bottle 14 disposed in the cavity 11 for storing third goods.
The inside of top lid 2 of container 1 is provided with a cavity 13 adapted for holding a pen (not shown in the FIGS). This pen may be a so called dry-erase pen. Also the inside of top lid 2 comprises a surface area adapted to act as a notepad, onto which notes may be written by means of the dry-erase pen.
The inside of front lid 3 of container 1 may be provided with an attached strap 36, adapted for holding a notepad or business cards. The strap 36 may be formed of plastic.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container 1 for storing pills, with its top lid 2 and front door 3 open, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In this particular embodiment, the number of slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 is four. The upper three slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33, 34 are in the closed position, whereas the lowest slidably disposed pullout tray 35 is in the open position. A removable lid 12 is disposed on top of tray 35 in an open position. The container 1 may also comprise a shoulder strap 29, each end of the shoulder strap 29 being connected to the respective one of the two side walls 4, 5 of the container 1.
In the perspective view of a slidably disposed pullout tray 8 and a removable lid 12 such as a travel lid according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 depicts a slidably disposed pullout tray 8 containing seven first compartments 9 for storing first goods. The compartments 9 are adapted in such a way, that first goods like pills or beads can easily be taken out of each compartment. The removable lid 12 such as a travel lid is provided for covering the first compartments 9. To cover first compartments 9 with the removable lid 12 the patient has to apply a mechanical force on lid 12 in order to press it on top of tray 8. After that the removable lid 12 is held in place by frictional forces. Removable lid 12 may be adapted in form of a travel lid which is used to keep out contaminants and moisture even when tray 8 is removed from the container 1 for travelling and fits on the tray 8 both in its open or closed position.
FIG. 5 depicts a top view of the container 1 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A carrying handle 16 is disposed in the middle of top lid 2. The carrying handle 16 may be hingeably secured to top lid 2 according to most state of the art carrying handles for suitcases. The cross sectional views of FIGS. 6 and 7, which are taken along lines A-A and B-B of FIG. 5, respectively, depict container 1 with it's top lid 2, front door 3, and pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 in a closed position. The front edge 26 of top lid 2 overlaps front door 3 and secures it in the closed position. The cavity 11, which is shown in FIG. 7, stores a big vitamin bottle 14 which might be used to fill up first compartments 9 of the slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33, 34.
FIG. 8 depicts the same cross sectional view of container 1 as it is shown in FIG. 7, but now with it's top lid 2 and front door 3 opened. Top lid 2 is hingeably secured to the back wall 7 of container 1 by means 18, 19. Front door 3 is hingeably secured to the front portion 27 of container 1 by means 22, 23. The slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33 are in the closed position, whereas the slidably disposed pullout trays 34, 35 are in the open position. Four legs 15, 40, 41 are disposed in the four corners of the lower side of bottom 6, one in each corner. The legs 15, 40, 41 are adapted to provide a fast stand of container 1. In a preferred embodiment the legs 15, 40, 41 comprise lower surfaces which consist of rubber.
FIG. 9 depicts an enlarged cross sectional view of the engagement section of the slidably disposed pullout tray 8 and left side wall 5 of container 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It has to be understood that FIG. 9 is exemplary for all engagement sections of the slidably disposed pullout trays 8, 33, 34, 35 and the two side walls 4, 5. Left side wall 5 comprises a horizontal groove 17, the horizontal groove 17 extending from the front edge 37 of the left side wall 5 to the front side 38 of the cavity 11. The horizontal groove 17 is adapted to sustainably accept the left side edge 39 of the slidably disposed pullout tray 8 in such a way that the slidably disposed pullout tray 8 is slidably displacable between the closed position and the open position.

Claims

1. Container for storing pills, comprising:

a top;

a bottom;

a back wall;

a left side wall;

a right side wall;

a front portion, the front portion comprising a plurality of slidably disposed pullout trays; and

an inner portion;

wherein each of the slidably disposed pullout trays is individually displaceable between a closed position and an open position;

wherein in the closed position the slidably disposed pullout trays are arranged one above the other within the container and at a distance from the back wall of the container;

wherein each of the slidably disposed pullout trays can individually be displaced between the closed position and the open position along a horizontal direction;

wherein at least one of the slidably disposed pullout trays contains at least one first compartment adapted for storing first goods;

wherein at least another one of the slidably disposed pullout trays contains at least one second compartment adapted for storing second goods;

wherein the inner portion is formed between the back wall of the container, the two side walls of the container and the bottom of the container, the inner portion comprising a cavity seized for storing third goods;

wherein the cavity for storing third goods is formed between the back wall of the container, the two side walls of the container, the bottom of the container and the slidably disposed pullout trays and extends from the bottom of the container to the top of the container.

2. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, wherein the first goods are selected from the group consisting of pills, beads, jewelry, food, nails, screws, and make-up; and

wherein removable lids are provided for covering the first and second compartments.

3. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, wherein the second goods are selected from the group consisting of business cards, written prescriptions, pens, and notepads.

4. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, wherein the third goods are selected from the group consisting of vitamin bottles, prescription medications, vitamin supplements, drug packages, cups, glasses, spoons, and liquid medication.

5. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pullout tray which contains the compartments for storing the small goods contains seven of the compartments.

6. Container for storing pills according to claim 5, wherein the front portion comprises four slidably disposed pullout trays.

7. Container for storing pills according to claim 5, wherein the front portion comprises five slidably disposed pullout trays.

8. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, comprising:

a top lid;

a front door;

means for hingeably securing the top lid to the back wall of the container;

means for lockably securing the top lid to the front portion of the container;

means for hingeably securing the front door to the front portion of the container;

means for securing the front door to the front portion of the container.

9. Container for storing pills according to claim 8, wherein the means for securing the front door to the front portion of the container is a magnetic catch.

10. Container for storing pills according to claim 8, wherein the inside of the top lid comprises a surface area adapted to act as notepad, onto which notes may be written by means of a dry-erase pen.

11. Container for storing pills according to claim 8, wherein the top lid and the front door comprise seals to protect the interior of the container from moisture and other contaminations.

12. Container for storing pills according to claim 8, wherein the top lid comprises a carrying handle.

13. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a shoulder strap, each end of the shoulder strap being connected to the respective one of the two side walls of the container.

14. Container for storing pills according to claim 8, wherein the top lid comprises a cavity, the cavity being adapted for holding a pen.

15. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, comprising legs for providing a fast stand of the container.

16. Container for storing pills according to claim 15, wherein the legs comprise a lower surface area comprising a material selected from the group consisting of rubber and plastic.

17. Container for storing pills according to claim 1, wherein outside and inside surfaces of the container are adapted in such a way, that the container looks like a jewel box.

18. Container for storing pills, comprising:

a top;

a bottom;

a back wall;

a left side wall;

a right side wall;

a front portion, the front portion comprising four slidably disposed pullout trays; and

an inner portion;

wherein each of the slidably disposed pullout trays is individually displacable between a closed position and an open position;

wherein a first slidably disposed pullout tray of the four slidably disposed pullout trays contains seven first compartments adapted for storing first goods, a second slidably disposed pullout tray of the four slidably disposed pullout trays contains seven first compartments adapted for storing first goods, a third slidably disposed pullout tray of the four slidably disposed pullout trays contains seven first compartments adapted for storing first goods, a fourth slidably disposed pullout tray of the four slidably disposed pullout trays contains at least one second compartment adapted for storing second goods;

wherein removable lids are provided for covering the first and second compartments;

wherein the removable lids are provided for covering the first and second compartments such that when a tray of the first to fourth trays is taken out of the container, the first and second goods are maintained in the respective first and second compartments;

wherein the cavity for storing third goods is formed between the back wall of the container, the two side walls of the container, the bottom of the container and the slidably disposed pullout trays and extends from the bottom of the container to the top of the container;

a top lid, hingeably secured to the back wall of the container and comprising seals to protect the interior of the container from moisture and other contaminations;

a lock, disposed within the top lid, for lockably securing the top lid to the front portion of the container;

a front door, hingeably secured to the front portion of the container and comprising seals to protect the interior of the container from moisture and other contaminations;

a fastener, mounted on the front door for securing the front door to the front portion of the container.

19. Container for storing pills, comprising:

a top;

a bottom;

a back wall;

a left side wall;

a right side wall;

a front portion, the front portion comprising five slidably disposed pullout trays; and

an inner portion;

wherein the first slidably disposed pullout tray contains seven first compartments adapted for storing first goods, the second slidably disposed pullout tray contains seven first compartments adapted for storing first goods, the third slidably disposed pullout tray contains seven first compartments adapted for storing first goods, the fourth slidably disposed pullout tray contains seven first compartments adapted for storing first goods, the fifth slidably disposed pullout tray contains at least one second compartment adapted for storing second goods;

wherein removable lids may be provided for covering the first and second compartments for travel use;

wherein the inner portion is formed between the back wall of the container, the two side walls of the container and the bottom of the container, the inner portion comprising a cavity for storing third goods;

20. Drug magazine for storing pills, comprising:

a top;

a bottom;

a back wall;

a left side wall;

a right side wall;

an access portion, the access portion comprising a plurality of slidably disposed pullout trays; and

a storage portion;

wherein in the closed position the slidably disposed pullout trays are arranged one above the other within the drug magazine and at a distance from the back wall of the container;

wherein the storage portion is arranged between the back wall of the drug magazine, the two side walls of the drug magazine and the bottom of the drug magazine, the storage portion comprising a space sized for storing third goods;

wherein the space for storing third goods is arranged between the back wall of the drug magazine, the two side walls of the drug magazine, the bottom of the drug magazine and the slidably disposed pullout trays and extends from the bottom of the drug magazine to the top of the drug magazine;

a top lid, hingeably secured to the storage portion of the drug magazine and comprising seals to protect the interior of the drug magazine from moisture and other contaminations, wherein the inside of the top lid comprises a surface area usable for writing notes on it;

a lock, disposed within the top lid, for lockably securing the top lid to the front portion of the drug magazine;

a access door, hingeably secured to the access portion of the drug magazine and comprising seals to protect the interior of the drug magazine from moisture and other contaminations;

a fastener, mounted on the access door for securing the access door to the access portion of the drug magazine, wherein the fastener for securing the access door to the access portion of the drug magazine is a magnetic catch.