PORTABLE DOSE FORM ORGANIZER AND DISPLAY WALLET

Abstract

The instant application relates to a portable dose form organizer and display wallet. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet encompasses a wallet body, at least one clear dose form pocket positioned on the inside or outside surface of the wallet body, and at least one clear information pocket corresponding to and positioned next to the at least one clear dose form pocket on the inside or outside surface of the wallet body. The wallet body has: an inside surface; an opposed outside surface; and two opposed ends.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/043,765, filed Apr. 10, 2008.

BACKGROUND

The instant disclosure relates generally to organizers for regular users of prescription and non-prescription medications. It would be desirable to have an organizer readily available, e.g., to respond to questions from a health care provider/clinician about his/her medications. Such organizers may be especially valuable if the person is elderly or otherwise has physical or memory limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of embodiments of the instant disclosure will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings, in which like reference numerals correspond to similar, though perhaps not identical, components. For the sake of brevity, reference numerals or features having a previously described function may or may not be described in connection with other drawings in which they appear.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the portable dose form organizer, shown in its closed position according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet in its closed and fastened position according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable dose form organizer in the open position, and showing the inside surface according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway front view of four clear dose form pockets and their corresponding clear information pockets on the inside surface of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cutaway front view of two of the clear dose form pockets on the inside surface of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the top pocket showing the dose form about to be inserted, and the bottom pocket showing the dose form 518 already inserted;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cutaway view of a clear ID pocket, including an ID information card in the process of being inserted, on the outside surface of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the area in box 7A of FIG. 1, showing a “living hinge” hinge member;

FIG. 7B is an enlarged, cutaway perspective view of a “butterfly hinge” hinge member according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 7C is an enlarged, cutaway perspective view of a “piano hinge” hinge member according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, cutaway front view showing an alternate embodiment of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet, without a hinge member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

People who take prescription and non-prescription medication on a daily basis are often expected to know and communicate on the spot about specific details related to their daily regimen of pill-taking. For example, when consulting with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist, a person is often asked: the names of specific medications, the exact prescribed/recommended dosages of these medications including the number of milligrams of a specific pill (also referred to herein as a dose form), and which conditions are being treated by a specific pill/dose form.

To address this problem, some people resort to packing all their pill bottles in a bag that they can take with them each time they go to a doctor or pharmacist. By this means, the person has access not only to samples of the medication but also to a written label on the bottle recording the name and dosage of the medication. However, this can be a cumbersome and inefficient method with the person having to root through a bag containing many pill bottles. Also, if the person has vision problems, the labels on the bottles are often hard to read and interpret. Another method of dealing with this situation is for the person to prepare a handwritten or printed list of all his/her medications with the corresponding dosages and other relevant information. However, such a list can be hard to interpret especially if there are no samples of the pills to correspond with the information.

People with vision problems, for example, elderly people, often can best associate their medication by its appearance, especially its color, even if they cannot remember its name. Thus, if a person were to combine both a detailed list as described above with a bag of pill bottles or even a pill box that holds just the particular pills taken regularly, he/she would have all the relevant information in one place. However he/she would likely still have a difficult time organizing such updated information and paraphernalia together at the time it was needed, carrying it in a manageable form, and accessing it in a way that he/she could efficiently use it at the visit to the doctor or pharmacist. Also, such a system would often require completely re-doing the list and collection of pills each time any of the prescriptions change.

For such circumstances, there is a need for a medication information organizer which is simple to prepare and use, inexpensive, lightweight and easily carried; but which contains all the information reasonably needed in a form that can be accessed and understood by a person with possible physical, sensory or memory limitations. Such an organizer would prove valuable to the public in general, but especially to that growing portion of the population who are elderly and/or physically limited, yet function relatively independently, often living alone. Such people want and need to personally know about, control and communicate accurately about their medications which in so many ways are affecting their daily lives.

The present inventor has advantageously developed a medication information organizer in the form of a portable dose form organizer/display wallet which addresses the concerns expressed above. In relation to this, the inventor has also developed a method of making and using the organizer. In further relation to this, the inventor has developed a system of organizing, displaying and referencing information about an individual's current medications. Embodiments of the organizer/display wallet and the method of using it are described below.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown in a closed and fastened position. The portable dose form organizer/display wallet includes a wallet body 110 (described further below) having: an inside surface 112; an opposed outside surface 114; and two opposed ends 116a, 116b. A hinge member 118 may be disposed between the two opposed ends 116a, 116b. As shown in FIG. 1, the hinge member 118 is configured to enable the wallet body 110 to close in a manner sufficient to cause the two opposed ends 116a, 116b to be proximate to each other. The organizer/display wallet is sized to be fit into a user's pocket, purse, briefcase, etc. and thus is easily carried.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of one outside surface 114 of a closed and fastened portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown. A selective fastening means 122 is shown in a closed position. By the selective fastening means 122, the two opposed ends 116a, 116b may be fastened together when the wallet body 110 is closed.

An embodiment of the selective fastening means 122 shown in FIG. 1 is a hook and loop fastener (commercially available under the tradename Velcro® from Velcro USA Inc., Manchester, N.H.). Other fastening means can also function as the selective fastening means. Non-limiting examples can be snap and grommet fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, zippers, buckles, laces, or combinations thereof.

Also in the embodiment of the selective fastening means 122 shown in FIG. 1, there is shown an alternate embodiment wherein the fastening function of the hook and loop selective fastening means 122 may be reversible. In this embodiment, an additional hook portion 126 (shown in phantom) is operatively disposed on the reverse surface of the end of the selective fastening means 122; and a corresponding loop portion 130 (shown in phantom) is operatively disposed on the reverse (inside) surface 112 of the end of the wallet body 110. By using alternatively either the hook portion 124 and the loop portion 128, or the additional hook portion 126 and the additional loop portion 130, the two opposed ends of the wallet body 110 can be brought proximate to each other either with the inside surface 112 in the closed position inside the wallet body 110 or the inside surface 112 outside of the wallet body 110 in an alternative closed position. Thus, the inside surface 112 may be configured to be positionable as either inside or outside the wallet body 110. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to position the inside surface 112 so that the individual dose forms 416 and the corresponding information 418 about the dose forms 416 can be displayed for a desired time on the outside of the wallet body 110 while the opposing ends 116a, 116b are fastened together by the selective fastening means 122.

It is to be understood that the hook and loop configuration 126, 130 may be disposed on the wallet body 110 in addition to, or as an alternate to the hook and look configuration 124, 128.

Furthermore, it is contemplated as being within the purview of the present disclosure that the portrayal of the hook and loop embodiment of fastening means 122 which has the hook portion 124 attached to the end of the selective fastening means 122 with the loop portion 128 attached to the opposed end 116a can be switched. In this further alternate embodiment, the loop portion 128 can be attached to the end of the selective fastening means 122 while the hook portion 128 is attached to the opposed end 116a. It is to be understood that the portrayal of the additional/alternate hook portion 126 (shown in phantom) and the additional loop portion 130 (shown in phantom) is also a non-limiting embodiment which can likewise be switched so that the additional loop portion 130 (shown in phantom) is attached to the reverse surface of the selective fastening means 122 while the additional hook portion 128 (shown in phantom) is attached to the reverse (inside) surface 112 of the opposed end 116a.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the structure of the portable dose form organizer/ display wallet is formed of the wallet body 110, as mentioned above. In a non-limiting embodiment, the wallet body 110 has the inside surface 112 and the outside surface 114 formed of a plastic or fabric material which forms an enveloping layer around both sides of a substantially flat, board-shaped stiffening member 120 for each of the front cover 132 and the back cover 134 of the wallet body 110. It is to be understood that the material forming the inside and outside surfaces 112, 114 may be any suitable material and thickness, as desired. In an embodiment, the inside and outside surfaces are formed from about 0.012″ thick opaque flexible polyvinylchloride (PVC). In another embodiment, expanded vinyl may be used.

The stiffening members 120 give the wallet body 110 its book-like shape, the wallet body 110 having a front cover 132 and a back cover 134 connected together with a hinge member 118. The stiffening members 120 also maintain the stiffness of the wallet body 110 against bending forces.

It is to be understood that the stiffening member 120 can be chosen from various materials and thicknesses. As non-limiting examples, the materials used for the stiffening member 120 can include heavy cardstock, paper board, fiber board, card board, particle board, polycarbonate sheet, and rigid plastic sheet. In an embodiment, the stiffening member 120 is formed from about 0.020″ thick recycled chipboard.

In another embodiment, the hinge member 118 of the wallet body 110 of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet can use various types of hinges. The hinge member 118 shown in FIG. 1 and as more closely shown in FIG. 7A is a “living hinge” hinge member 118. A “living hinge” hinge member 118 is a flexible hinge, usually made of plastic. Typically, the flexible plastic hinge of the “living hinge” hinge member 118 joins two relatively rigid plastic parts together. It is often manufactured by injection molding to create at one time the flexible hinge 118 and the two rigid parts 132, 134 connected by the hinge 118.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, respectively, other possible non-limiting examples of suitable hinges that may be used are butterfly hinges 118′ and piano hinges 118″.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view of the inside display surface 112 of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown. According to this non-limiting embodiment shown in FIG. 3, eight clear dose form pockets 312 are disposed in a vertical column along the left edge of the inside surface 112. Parallel and proximate to the vertical column of eight clear dose form pockets 312 is a vertical column of a desirable number (e.g., four) of clear information pockets 314 toward the right edge of the inside surface 112. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, each clear information pocket 314 horizontally lines up with and directly corresponds to two consecutive clear dose form pockets 312. There is one clear information pocket 314 for each two clear dose form pockets 312, thus making four clear information pockets 314 and eight clear dose form pockets 312. As discussed above, in another embodiment, this inside display surface 112 can be positioned in reverse so that the inside display surface 112 actually becomes the outside surface of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective close-up view of an upper portion of the inside display surface 112 of the portable dose form organizer/ display wallet is shown. Two clear dose form pockets 312 are positioned vertically along the left edge of the inside surface 112. Proximate to the two clear dose form pockets 312 is the corresponding clear information pocket 314. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the two clear dose form pockets 312 contain a dose form 416 (e.g., a capsule) fastened firmly (but releasably when desired for removal) in each dose form pocket 312 for display. Directly to the right of the two clear dose form pockets 312 and toward the right side of the inside surface 112 is the clear information pocket 314. The clear information pocket 314 firmly (but releasably when desired for removal) fastens and displays from the pocket 314 a card 418 including written information corresponding to and easily referable to each of the two dose forms 416 in each of the two corresponding clear dose form pockets 312. In one embodiment, the written information on the card 418 (in the two corresponding clear dose form pockets 312) includes as written information: the medication name, the medication dose, and the medication use about each of the dose forms 416.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a close-up view of the upper right hand corner of the inside display surface 112 of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet is shown. Specifically, the uppermost two clear dose form pockets 512, 514 are shown. In the lower pocket 514, the dose form 518 (e.g., a capsule) is firmly fastened inside the pocket 514. However, the upper clear dose form pocket 512 is empty but shows a dose form 516 positioned to the right and just outside of the opening 520 of the pocket 512. Positioned as shown, the dose form 516 can be inserted into or removed out of the opening 520 of the pocket 512. Thus, besides firmly fastening a dose form 416 or information card 418 in a clear pocket 312, 314, a dose form 416 or card 418 can be both easily inserted and easily removed from a clear pocket 312, 314. By this means, when one or more of the patient's medications changes, the display of medications in the portable dose form organizer/display wallet can be easily modified.

Referring still to FIG. 5, the clear dose form pockets 512, 514 are configured as patch pockets 512, 514 so that all but one edge of the total edges of the patch pocket 512, 514 of a transparent material are attached to the area of the surface 112 on which the pockets 512, 514 are disposed. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the patch pockets 512, 514 are rectangularly shaped, with the right edge 520 of the rectangle being unattached from the inside display surface 112 to form an opening 520 into and out of which the dose form 416 can be transferred. In FIG. 4, the clear information pocket 314 is similarly configured as a rectangularly shaped patch pocket 314 with the right edge 420 of the rectangle being unattached from the inside display surface 112 to form an opening into and out of which the information card 418 can be transferred.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a close-up view is shown of an area of the outside surface 114 of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet on which a clear ID pocket 612 may be attached if desired. Firmly (but removably, when desired) fastened inside the clear ID pocket 612 is a patient identification (ID) card 614. Thus, in an embodiment, the ID card 614 is displayed on the outside surface 114 which is the reverse surface or, in other words, as discussed with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, on the opposite side of the inside surface 112.

This embodiment of the clear ID pocket 612 is a rectangularly shaped patch pocket 612 with the top edge 616 of the rectangle being unattached from the outside surface 114 to form an opening 616 into and out of which the ID card 614 can be transferred. Thus, as with the clear dose form pockets 312 and clear information pocket 314 on the inside surface 112, the clear ID pocket 612 on the outside surface 114 functions to firmly fasten the ID card 614 in the clear pocket 612. The clear ID pocket 612 allows the ID card 614 to be both easily inserted and easily removed from the pocket 612. By this means, if any of the patient's ID information changes, the display of the ID card 614 on the outside surface 114 of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet can be easily modified.

In another embodiment, the patient identification information can be written with a marker, machine printed, embossed or otherwise directly recorded on the outside surface 114 of the portable dose form organizer/display wallet without the need of a clear ID pocket 612 and ID card 614 containing the written ID information.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an embodiment of the dose form organizer/display wallet is shown which does not have a hinge member 118, 118′, 118″. In this embodiment, the wallet is substantially flat and does not close. As such, the stiffening member 120 may be formed from one continuous member; whereas in the other embodiment(s) described herein, there may be two stiffening members 120, one for each of the front cover 132 and the back cover 134. However, e.g., in the embodiment including a “living hinge” hinge member 118, it is contemplated as being within the purview of the present disclosure that one continuous stiffening member 120 may be used that suitably accommodates a living hinge at or about the center thereof.

It is to be understood that any of the pockets discussed herein may be made of any suitable transparent material and of any suitable thickness. In an embodiment, the dose form pockets 312, 512 are formed from about 0.008″ thick clear flexible PVC, grade S2 (soft) hand; and the ID pocket 612 and card pockets 314 are formed from about 0.0075″ thick clear flexible PVC, grade 3H (firm) hand.

It is to be further understood that any of the materials used for the organizer/display wallet as disclosed herein may be formed from recycled materials.

Further, it is to be understood that the embodiments shown herein are non-limiting, and that it is contemplated as being within the purview of the present disclosure that the orientation/configuration and number of the dose form/information/ID pockets may be any orientation/configuration and number suitable to organize, display and identify prescription and non-prescription dose forms.

While several embodiments have been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting.

Claims

1. A portable dose form organizer and display wallet, comprising:

a wallet body having: an inside surface; an opposed outside surface; and two opposed ends;

at least one clear dose form pocket disposed on one of the inside surface or the outside surface; and

at least one clear information pocket corresponding to, and disposed proximate to the at least one clear dose form pocket, the at least one clear information pocket being disposed on the one of the inside surface or the outside surface.

2. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge member disposed between the two opposed ends, the hinge member configured to enable the wallet body to close in a manner sufficient to cause the two opposed ends to be proximate to each other;

wherein the two opposed ends are configured to be fastenable together by a selective fastening means when the wallet body is closed.

3. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 2 wherein the selective fastening means is selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fasteners, snap and grommet fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, zippers, buckles, laces, and combinations thereof.

4. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 2 wherein, when the selective fastening means causes the two opposed ends of a wallet body to be proximate to each other, the inside surface is configured to be positionable as either inside or outside the wallet body.

5. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 1 wherein at least one user identification (ID) means is disposed on the other of the outside surface or the inside surface, the at least one user identification (ID) means being disposed on the surface of the wallet body opposed to the surface displaying the clear dose form pocket and the clear information pocket.

6. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 5 wherein the at least one user ID means is either:

an area on the surface where ID information can be recorded; or

a clear pocket configured to receive and display a card with ID information and being further configured so that the card is easily removable from the clear pocket.

7. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 1 wherein the portable dose form organizer and display wallet further comprises a stiffening member disposed between the inside surface and the outside surface, the material forming the inside surface and the outside surface enveloping the stiffening member to form a layered wallet body.

8. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 7 wherein the stiffening member includes material selected from the group consisting of cardstock, paper board, fiber board, particle board, polycarbonate sheet, rigid plastic sheet, chipboard, and combinations thereof.

9. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 1 wherein the at least one clear dose form pocket is configured to receive and display at least one dose form of a medication and is further configured so that the at least one dose form is easily removable from the at least one clear dose form pocket;

and wherein the at least one clear information pocket is configured to receive and display at least one card including written information having at least one of medication name, medication dose, medication use, or combinations thereof, and is further configured so that the at least one card is easily removable from the at least one clear information pocket.

10. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 1 wherein the at least one clear dose form pocket and the at least one clear information pocket is configured so that all but one edge of total edges of a patch of a transparent material are attached to an area of the surface on which the pockets are disposed.

11. The portable dose form organizer and display wallet of claim 2 wherein the hinge member is selected from the group consisting of a living hinge, a piano hinge, a butterfly hinge, and combinations thereof.

12. A method of using a portable dose form organizer and display wallet, comprising the steps of:

recording information on a card about each medication regularly taken by a patient, each medication's information recorded on a separate card, recorded information including at least one of name of medication, dose of medication and reason for taking medication;

collecting a dose form of each medication regularly taken; and

inserting, proximate to each other, each dose form and each card having information recorded thereon corresponding to the respective dose form into a designated portion of a display area of a portable dose form organizer and display wallet, the arrangement of the dose forms and respective cards in the display area being easily visible and interpretable by the patient.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the portable dose form organizer and display wallet includes:

a wallet body having: an inside surface; an opposed outside surface; two opposed ends; and a hinge member disposed between the two opposed ends, the hinge member configured to enable the wallet body to close in a manner sufficient to cause the two opposed ends to be proximate to each other;

at least one clear dose form pocket disposed on one of the inside surface or the outside surface; and

at least one clear information pocket corresponding to, and disposed proximate to the at least one clear dose form pocket, the at least one clear information pocket being disposed on the one of the inside surface or the outside surface.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the two opposed ends are configured to be fastenable together by a selective fastening means when the wallet body is closed; and wherein the selective fastening means is selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, snap and grommet fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, zippers, buckles, laces, and combinations thereof.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one user ID means is disposed on the other of the outside surface or the inside surface, the at least one user ID means being disposed on the surface of the wallet body opposed to the surface displaying the clear dose form pocket and the clear information pocket;

and wherein the at least one user ID means is either: an area on the surface where ID information can be recorded; or a clear pocket configured to receive and fasten firmly a card with ID information and being further configured so that the card is easily removable from the clear pocket.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the portable dose form organizer and display wallet further comprises a stiffening member disposed between the inside surface and the outside surface, the material forming the inside surface and the outside surface enveloping the stiffening member;

and wherein the stiffening member includes material selected from the group consisting of cardstock, paper board, fiber board, particle board, polycarbonate sheet, rigid plastic sheet, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one clear dose form pocket is configured to receive and display at least one dose form of a medication and is further configured so that the at least one dose form is easily removable from the at least one clear dose form pocket;

wherein the at least one clear information pocket is configured to receive and display at least one card including written information having at least one of medication name, medication dose, medication use, or combinations thereof, and is further configured so that the at least one card is easily removable from the at least one clear information pocket;

and wherein the at least one clear dose form pocket and the at least one clear information pocket are each configured so that all but one edge of total edges of a patch of a transparent material are attached to an area of the surface on which the pockets are disposed.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the hinge member is selected from the group consisting of a living hinge, a piano hinge, a butterfly hinge, and combinations thereof.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

keeping the portable dose form organizer and display wallet with the patient when the patient visits a medical professional or pharmacist;

referring to the portable dose form organizer and display wallet during consultation with the medical professional or pharmacist; and

updating the dose forms and respective cards displayed in the display area of the portable dose form organizer and display wallet when the patient's daily medication changes.

20. A system of organizing, displaying and referencing information about an individual's current medications, comprising:

a portable dose form organizer and display wallet, including: a wallet body, having: an inside surface; an opposed outside surface; two opposed ends; and a hinge member disposed between the two opposed ends, the hinge member configured to enable the wallet body to close in a manner sufficient to cause the two opposed ends to be proximate to each other; clear dose form pockets disposed on one of the inside surface or the outside surface; and clear information pockets corresponding to, and disposed proximate to the at least one clear dose form pocket, the at least one clear information pocket being disposed on the one of the inside surface or the outside surface;

separate dose forms, each of the separate dose forms representing at least one of the user's current medications, each of the separate dose forms positioned in a separate pocket of the clear dose form pockets; and

separate information cards, each of the separate information cards corresponding to at least one of the medications represented by the separate dose forms, each information card positioned in a separate pocket of the clear information pockets, the separate pocket of the information card disposed proximate to the separate pocket of the dose form representing the medication described in the respective information card, the separate information card supplying specific information about the medication of the separate dose form disposed proximately thereto.