Medicine bottle organizer for home/travel

Abstract

An apparatus for organizing bottles containing medications so as to keep them in an orderly manner. The apparatus comprises a container member having a first predetermined configuration and being formed of a first predetermined material. A lid member is hingedly attachable to an upper end of an edge portion of the container member and a plurality of removable, stackable compartments fit inside the container member. The plurality of removable, stackable compartments have a second predetermined configuration and are formed of a second predetermined material.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/680,760 filed May 13, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a bottle organizer, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a medicine bottle organizer for both home and travel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many people, particularly the elderly, take multiple medications. Further, some of the medications may be taken in the morning while others may be taken with dinner while still others may be taken at bedtime. As the population ages and life expectancy increases, many more people will be required to take more than one medication daily. For many of these people, not only do they have to take multiple medications but the medications come with additional paraphernalia. A diabetic, for example, needs to have easy access to a blood glucose monitor, test strips and lancets as well as the medications they are taking. Others may require syringes, a small measuring cup or even a pill cutter.

Thus, with multiple medications and additional paraphernalia the various items can be scattered everywhere and the user may be constantly looking for one item or another. It would be advantageous for many of these people if there were a convenient place where all of these items could be stored and thereby relieve the user of constantly having to look for the pill bottle when it is time to take the medication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for organizing bottles containing medications so as to keep them in an orderly manner. The apparatus comprises a container member having a first predetermined configuration and being formed of a first predetermined material. A lid member is hingedly attachable to an upper end of an edge portion of the container member and a plurality of removable, stackable compartments fit inside the container member. The plurality of removable, stackable compartments have a second predetermined configuration and are formed of a second predetermined material.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a container for organizing bottles containing medications so as to keep them in an orderly manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for organizing bottles containing medications which can be used at home and for travel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a container for organizing bottles containing medications which has four compartments disposed therein.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a container for organizing bottles containing medications which has a travel case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for organizing bottles containing medications which has a magnifying lens on the compartments to make it easier to read the medications contained therein.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the container member and the travel case separately.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the container member inside the travel case.

FIG. 3 is a perspective transparent view of the container showing the compartments inside the container.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compartments removed from the container and showing different size bottles in the compartments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for organizing bottles containing medications so as to keep them in an orderly manner. The apparatus 10 comprises a container member 2 having a first predetermined configuration and being formed of a first predetermined material. A lid member 4 is hingedly attachable to an upper end of an edge portion 6 of the container member 4 and a plurality of removable, stackable compartments 8 fit inside the container member 4. The plurality of removable, stackable compartments 4 have a second predetermined configuration and are formed of a second predetermined material.

It is presently preferred that such first predetermined configuration is substantially rectangular. Such apparatus 10 further includes a travel case 12 which is also substantially rectangular for holding the container member 2. Such substantially rectangular travel case 12 is made of a third predetermined material.

The lid member 4 of container member 2 stands upright when it is raised to an open position. Such lid member 4 has a pair of pocket sleeves 13 disposed on an inner surface thereof for holding such items as unfilled prescriptions, doctor=s appointment cards, emergency information and a calendar. In this way these items are always handy when needed.

It is also presently preferred that such plurality of compartments 4 are four and that such second predetermined material used for forming the compartments 4 is made of plastic and it is further preferred that such plastic is clear so that the user can see the bottles that are stored therein. Further, it is preferred that the face portion (front) of such compartment 4 is a magnifying lens to assist the user in reading the labels. Such compartments 4 are big enough to store 12 small pharmacy dispensed bottles and 8 of the larger pharmacy size dispensed bottles. (That is 6 small bottles per compartment or 4 of the larger bottles per compartment or different combinations as needed). It should be noted that these bottle sizes are sizes that have been used and dispensed for years by many pharmacies; however, recently some pharmacies have been dispensing prescriptions in bottles that are stored upside down. These bottles are not round so that the number of this type of bottle that can be stored will be different than what was described above.

The compartments 4 are designed to have two of them sit side by side on the bottom of the container 2 and then have the other two side by side on top of the first two. The container also has at least one partition 14 that keep the compartments from sliding. It is preferred that there are two partitions each attached to a side wall and extending inwardly in the container for a predetermined distance. As is evident in the drawing Figures this distance is less than a fourth of the width of the container.

Since the compartments 4 do not take up the entire space of the container 2 there is room for the storage of other items such as eye drops, ear drops, pill cutters, syringes, nose drops or any other necessary items that the user requires.

The travel case 12 has an opening on one end to permit the container 2 to be put inside. The travel case has a door like member 16 which folds up to close off the opening after the container member 2 is inside. It is preferred that such door member 16 be held shut when it is closed by means of Velcro (hook and loop attachment). Such travel case 12 further includes a shoulder strap 18 for easy portability.

It is presently preferred that such first predetermined material is plastic. Such plastic can be the same as that used for the compartments 4 or it can be a different plastic. It is also preferred that such third material used for the travel case be selected from canvas, fabric or plastic with canvas being preferred.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for organizing bottles containing medications so as to keep them in an orderly manner, said apparatus comprising; (a) a container member having a first predetermined configuration and being formed of a first predetermined material; (b) a lid member hingedly attachable to an upper end of an edge portion of said container member; and

(c) a plurality of removable, stackable compartments that fit inside said container member, said plurality of removable, stackable compartments having a second predetermined configuration and being formed of a second predetermined material.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined configuration is substantially rectangular.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said apparatus further includes a substantially rectangular travel case for holding said substantially rectangular container member, said substantially rectangular travel case being formed of a third predetermined material, said substantially rectangular travel case having an opening on one end for permitting said container member to slide inside.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said substantially rectangular travel case further includes a door member for closing said opening after said container member is inside.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said door member of said substantially rectangular travel case is secured with a hook and loop attachment.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said lid member stands upright when raised to an open position.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said lid member further includes at least one pocket sleeve on an inside surface for holding at least one of unfilled prescriptions, doctors appointment cards, emergency information and a calendar.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein said at least one pocket sleeve is two.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second predetermined material is plastic.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said plastic is clear.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein each compartment of said plurality of removable, stackable compartments has a magnifying lens as a face portion of said each compartment so as to make it easier to read labels on such bottles disposed therein.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of removable, stackable compartments is four.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said container member further includes at least one partition member disposed against one side wall and extending inwardly for a predetermined distance for securing said plurality of removable, stackable compartments.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said at least one partition member includes a second partition member disposed on an opposite side wall as said at least one partition member and extending inwardly for a predetermined distance for securing said plurality of removable, stackable compartments.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of removable, stackable compartments are stacked with two compartments side by side as a bottom row and two compartments side by side on top of said bottom row.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein each compartment of said plurality of removable, stackable compartments can hold one of four large pharmacy dispensed containers and six of small pharmacy dispensed containers.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined material is plastic.

18. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said third predetermined material is selected from canvas, fabric, and plastic.

19. The apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said third predetermined material is canvas.

20. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said travel case further includes a carrying strap.