WO2016010542A1

WO2016010542A1 - Medicine bottle cap pill dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2016010542A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/047064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kao H Lu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-07-17
Filing date: 2014-07-17
Publication date: 2016-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-17

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to methods and apparatus for limiting the number of pills or any such similar objects dispensed from a container to a user via a container cap that permits the user to dispense one or more pills into the cap from a container, retain a chosen number of pills in the cap, and return the rest of the dispensed pills back into the container without necessitating skin contact with the pills. Generally, the inside of the container cap contains outwardly protruding structures that form cleats large enough to support a one or more of a small number of pills dispensed from a container and small enough to fit inside the physical parameters of the inside of the cap, with the layout of the structures allowed to vary among embodiments of the invention.

Description

MEDICINE BOTTLE CAP PILL DISPENSER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[001] The invention relates to the general field of medicinal containers and bottles used to hold and dispense pills, capsules, tablets, caplets, or similar forms of medicine (collectively "pills"), for individual use. Specifically, the invention is a medicine container cap that allows a user to separate out a particular number of pills for ingestion and return the rest to the container without forcing the pills to come into contact with the user's skin.

2. Prior Art Description

[002] Many people take one or more daily doses of medicines and vitamins in the form of pills or similar forms as described above, whether it be pursuant to a physician's prescription, to cure temporary ailments and pains, or as preventative health measures. Such medicines and vitamins are typically packaged in plastic bottles or similar containers from which users may dispense the necessary number of pills for their appropriate dosage. Generally, however, users will dispense too many pills at once and have to return the extras to the container, but only after the pills have made contact with the users' skin. This creates a risk of bacteria present on the users' hands to infiltrate the entire pill container, potentially contaminate the stock, and cause great harm to any subsequent user of the container and to the sterility of the medicine and vitamins themselves.

[003] There are several prior medicine bottle cap designs for dispensing limited dosages of pills known in the art that are flawed in various respects. Because daily dosages of pills are generally small in number, some known containers reduce the number of pills that is dispensed, but cannot guarantee that only the required number is dispensed. As such, the user of these known devices still faces the same hygienic and bacterial risks as users of traditional open- mouthed medicine bottles without a dosage-controlling cap.

[004] Many known medicine bottle cap designs are too complex or difficult to operate, particularly for the elderly and infirm. Some require multiple pieces to function, such as inside chambers within the bottle cap to capture only one or two pills upon a shaking of the bottle or specific rotation of the cap. Such designs necessitate multiple moving parts and typically must be assembled properly to function. They also require manual operation that may be difficult for those with particular medical conditions such as arthritis. Also, such designs are often still imprecise as to the number of pills they dispense.

[005] Other manually operated pill container caps function only in conjunction with a particular custom container. They cannot be fitted onto a regular container or used with the standard pill containers already common in the industry and known in the art. As such, these container cap designs are expensive to implement and costly to manufacture.

[006] Still other known pill bottle caps dispense a daily dosage electronically, rather than by manual operation. Some electronic dispensers are synchronized with an integrated alarm and dosage calculator to dispense the appropriate number of pills at the correct time, based on the individual user's set parameters. Electronically-enhanced pill container caps, however, are complex to use and must be set up properly beforehand to ensure proper dispensation of medicine.

[007] Thus, although various pill bottle cap designs that facilitate dispensation are known, there remains a considerable need for a pill container cap design that enables an individual user to dispense a small number of pills simply and efficiently, that can be fitted onto medicine and vitamin containers already common in the industry, that is relatively simple to use, especially for the elderly and infirm, and that is inexpensive to produce and implement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[008] The invention is directed to methods and apparatus for limiting the number of pills, tablets, capsules, caplets, vitamins, or any such similar objects (collectively, "pills") dispensed from a container.

[009] The invention considers a specially designed container, or bottle, cap that permits a user to dispense one or more pills into the cap from a container, retain a chosen number of pills in the cap, and return the rest of the dispensed pills back into the container from the cap without necessitating skin contact with the pills. In one embodiment of the invention, the inside of the container cap contains outwardly protruding structures that form cleats large enough to support a small number of pills dispensed from a container, but small enough to fit inside the physical parameters of the cap and still allow the cap to be secured properly onto a pill container. The design of the structures may vary greatly as long as it allows for retention of one or more pills in the cap, including, but not limited to, a cross or plus-sign shape, a letter "L" shape, and hook shape.

[010] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following deta iled description of one or more embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings i which like numerals represent like components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Oil] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in conjunction with a container;

[012] FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the inside of the embodiment of the invention from FIG. i ;

[013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention from FIG. 1 in conjunction with a container displaying pill dispensation into the cap;

[014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the invention from FIG. 1 in conjunction with a container;

[015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention in conjunction with a container;

[016] FIG. 6 is a frontal view of the inside of the embodiment of the invention from FIG.

5;

[017] FIG. 7 is a frontal view of the inside of one embodiment of the invention; and

[018] FIG. 8 is a frontal view of the inside of one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[019] FIG. 1 generally depicts a medicine or pill container 100 with cap 200 (medicine and pills not shown). The container 100 has a mouth opening 110 and a screw neck 111 with a screw thread of a particular width and spacing, both of which may vary from one embodiment to another. The screw neck 111 generally functions as a securing means for a container cap associated with the particular container. For container 100 with a screw neck 111, the associated cap 200 would have a screw thread that corresponds and fits securely onto the screw neck 111 of the container 100. Such containers, however, may also contain a different type of securing means for a cap other than a screw neck. For example, the cap may be affixed to the container and be opened with a latch or snap-on means.

[020] In the embodiment in FIG. 1, the cap 200 generally has an outside surface 220, an inside surface 210, and a screw thread 221 that runs the entire circumference of the inside rim of the cap 200. The cap 200 is configured to connect with and secure onto the screw neck 111 on the container 100 via the screw thread 221 on the cap's inside surface 210. To fit securely onto the screw neck of a particular container, the corresponding cap's screw thread must match or correlate to, within some small variation, the width and spacing of the screw thread on the screw neck of the particular container.

[021] FIG. 1 also depicts a raised cleat structure 231 232 233 234 on the inside surface 210 of the cap 200. In one embodiment, the raised cleat structure 231 232 233 234 consists of a cross pattern with one cleat 231 233 perpendicular to another cleat 232 234 to form a cross, or plus sign, design.

[022] FIG. 2 depicts a frontal view of the cap 200 shown in FIG. 1 with the cross pattern cleat structure 231 232 233 234 displayed on the inside surface 210 of the cap 200. The cross pattern cleat structure 231 232 233 234 in this embodiment creates four spatial quadrants 241 242 on the inside surface 210 of the cap. Each of the quadrants 241 242 is configured to retain one or more pills, tablets, caplets, capsules, or vitamins (collectively, "pills," not depicted), once the pills are poured into the cap 200 and excess returned to the container 100.

[023] As shown in FIG. 3, the container 100 may be lifted and tilted to pour one or more pills 10 into the cap 200 during the dispensation of the individual user's desired dose. Once some amount of the contents 10 are in the cap 200, by tilting the cap the user may pour the excess pills 10 from the cap 200 back into the container 100 while retaining only the desired number of pills 10 within the cleat structure in the cap 200, as shown generally in FIG. 4. The retained pills 10 would rest in one or more of the quadrants 241 242 created by the raised cleat structure 231 232 233 234. And a user can easily pick up the retained pill(s) from the quadrant(s) without get in touch with the unrestrained pills as shown in Fig. 3.

[024] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-4, one or more pills 10 may be retained in one or two adjacent cleat quadrants 241 242, depending on the user's desired dose and amount of pills 10. The pills 10 may be retained in any one or two adjacent quadrants 241 242, which are determined by how the cap 200 is held by the user when the excess pills 10 from the cap 200 are returned to the container 100.

[025] The amount of pills 10 retained in the cap 200, particularly the number that may be retained in each quadrant 241 242 of the cleat structure 231 232 233 234, depends in part on the size of the cleats 231 232 233 234 and the size of the resulting quadrants 241 242 made. In the embodiment in FIGS. 1-4, the number of pills 10 that may fit in each quadrant 241 242 is approximately one to two; however, the size of the quadrants 241 242 may be varied to increase or decrease the number of pills 10 that may be retained, by increasing or decreasing the length, width, and spacing of the cleats 231 232 233 234, while maintaining the same or similar general cleat structure 231 232 233 234.

[026] FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of the invention with a different cleat structure 231 232 than shown in FIGS. 1-4. The embodiment in FIG. 5 depicts the cleat structure 231 232 as generally an "L" shape, forming only one quadrant to hold pills 10 in the cap 200 after dispensation from the container 100. The cleat structure 231 232 as shown in FIG. 5 may be enlarged or diminished in size to allow for retention of more or less pills 10 in the cap 200 after return of the excess to the container 100, while maintaining the same or similar general cleat structure 231 232.

[027] FIG. 6 depicts a frontal view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, which the "L" shape cleat structure 231 232. FIG. 6 illustrates the quadrant 241 formed by the cleat structure 231 232. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-6, there is only one quadrant 241 instead of the multiple quadrants depicted by the cleat structure 231 232 233 234 in FIGS. 1-4, and as such, may be used to hold less pills 10 for smaller dosages or smaller-sized pills 10.

[028] FIG. 7 depicts another embodiment of the invention with a cleat structure 231 232 233 in a hook shape, resembling the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 5-6 with an added cleat member 232. The extra cleat member 232 grants additional support for pills 10 retained in the quadrant 241 formed by the cleat structure 231 232 233. The additional cleat member 232 prevents pills 10 retained in the quadrant 241 from easily rolling off the edge of the other cleat member 233.

[029] FIG. 8 depicts another embodiment of the invention with a cleat structure 231 232 233 234 that resembles the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, but with curved, instead of straight, cleat members 231 232 233 234. The curved cleats 231 232 233 234 may aid in capturing and retaining pills 10 dispensed into the cap 200 from the container 100 by creating grooves on the inside surface 210 of the cap to facilitate capture of pills 10. The pills 10 may rest in the grooves created by the cleat members 231 232 233 234, and thus be more difficult to dislodge back into the container 100.

[030] The curved cleats in the embodiment in FIG. 8 create four spatial quadrants 241 242 in which the pills 10 rest, allowing for retention of a great number of pills 10 for a bigger desired dosage. Furthermore, the cleat members 231 232 233 234 in the embodiment in FIG. 8 may be enlarged or decreased in size to retain more or less pills 10, respectively, during dispensation and return of the pills 10 from and back to the container 100.

[031] This invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described in the description and depicted in the drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described above are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments, including, but not limited to the dimensions, structures, and purposes of the invention. The number, layout, and design of the cleat structures 231 232 233 234 on the inside of the cap 210 may be varied. The invention may include any number of cleat members, of any size, layout, shape, and structure, that allows for retention of one or more pills in the cap according to the user's desires, while still fitting properly on the inside surface of a container cap. The layout may include the cross, "L" shape, hook, or curved cross designs described above and depicted in the accompanying drawings, but may also include, but not be limited to, half-ovular, teardrop, "U"-shaped, "V"-shaped, bracket, or other similar structure.

[032] The size and type of the container 100 and corresponding cap 200 may be selected from the sizes and types of containers and caps commonly used in the industry and known in the art. While the embodiments depict only screw-necked containers and screw caps, the invention also encompasses other types of containers and container caps, including, but not limited to, containers and associated caps with latch securing means, containers with caps that snap on and off, and other such containers and associated caps, as long as the container cap has an inside surface on which the cleat structure may be placed for pill retention as part of the dispensation process discussed above. The container and cap may be plastic, or be manufactured from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, glass and metal. All such variations as described above are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A container comprising:

a bottle for holding pills, capsules, caplets, tablets, or similar objects; and

a cap configured to be secured to the bottle,

wherein the bottle possesses an open-mouthed top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the open-mouthed top end is configured to fit a cap, wherein the cap contains an inside surface and an outside surface and a securing means for connecting and locking the cap onto the bottle, and wherein the inside surface of the cap contains a structure of one or more cleats for capturing and retaining one or more objects selected from the contents of the bottle.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is made of plastic.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is made of glass.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is made of metal, plastic or glass, or the combination of metal, plastic or glass.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the bottle has a screw neck portion configured to secure a screw cap having a mating screw structure.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the cleat structure is in the shape of a cross.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the cleat structure is in the shape of a hook.

8. A method for dispensing pills, capsules, caplets, and tablets, or similar objects from a container, the method comprising the steps of:

filling the container with a plurality of objects; tilting and pouring the objects from the container into an inside surface of a cap having a cleat structure built on the inside surface of the objects, tilting and retaining one or few objects within the cleat structure on the inside surface of the cap; and

pouring the excess objects from the cap into the container by tilting the cap into the container.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the cleat structure is in the shape of a cross.

10. The container of claim 8, wherein the cleat structure is in the shape of a hook.

11. A combination of a container and a cap, comprising:

a container configured to collect and dispense one or more objects and includes an open- mouthed top end and a closed bottom end; and

a cap containing an inside and an outside surface that is configured to be secured onto the container via a securing means and contains a cleat structure on the inside surface for retaining one or more of the objects from the container.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the objects are pills, capsules, tablets, or caplets.

13. The container of claim 1 1, wherein the bottle has a screw neck portion configured to secure a screw cap.

14. The container of claim 1 1, wherein the cap is a screw cap.