EASY FILL LOCKABLE PILL CONTAINER

Abstract

A pill container and method for staging and storing pills or other small objects includes a plurality of storage cells, where each cell defines a top opening and a bottom refill opening. Pills are staged in a sorting area disposed on a bottom side of the pill container, allowing verification by sight and feel of a correct number and type of pill before being dropped into the storage cells. A slide bar is moved to an open position to align holes in the slide bar with the refill openings in the bottom of the storage cells, thereby allowing the pills to be loaded into the storage cells. The slide bar is moved back to a closed position to seal the holes in the bottom of the storage cells. A locking mechanism is provided to provide protection again accidental against accidental movement of the slide bar.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/575,539 titled “Method and Apparatus for an Easy Fill Lockable Pill Box” filed Aug. 24, 2011, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Compartmentalized containers are commonly used to store pills and small objects. Compartments may be marked to correspond to a day or time to take a pill. Many compartmentalized pill containers are configured to allow a user to insert pills into the compartments by opening a lid on the top of the container and inserting a desired number of pills into each of the compartments. While such containers help users to store various pills, the process of inserting a plurality of pills into compartments may be prone to confusion and error. When filling a pill container with several dosages of pills, for example, complicated dosages such as that needed for cancer chemotherapy, the existing method of dropping several pills into each compartment may lead to confusion when verification of each dose cannot be easily performed if some pills or objects cover and conceal a different dose.

Other current existing products include a storage container that dispenses objects by gravity through a manually operated gated opening; however, the design is adapted to dispense pills into separate containers and is not integral with a storage container. Current existing pill containers include a container that is adapted to be filled by accessing the storage cells from the bottom of the cell; however, the design includes a component adapted to be utilized as a sorting area and a separate component adapted to be utilized as a container. The container is designed to receive a pill pushed through a one-way passage. The design does not allow for a user to pre-stage a plurality of pills over the storage cells to allow for a visual or tactile verification of dosage before being dispensed into the storage cells. Additionally, the design does not include a positive closure, allowing for accidental opening that can cause a loss of contents or contamination.

It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present invention has been made.

SUMMARY

The above and other problems are solved by providing a pill container comprising a molded box portion defining a plurality of storage cells for storing one or more pills, where each storage cell defines a top opening and a bottom refill opening. A plurality of lids attached to the top openings of the storage cells provide individual access to the plurality of storage cells, while a slide bar is attached to a bottom of the molded box portion for movement between a closed position and an open position. The slide bar defines a plurality of openings that align with the refill openings of the molded box portion when the slide bar is in the open position, thereby allowing pills to be dispensed into the plurality of storage cells. Furthermore, when the slide bar is moved to the closed position so that the slide bar openings are no longer aligned with the refill openings, the slide bar acts to prevent the pills within the storage cells from escaping through the bottom refill openings.

A first preferred embodiment positions the slide bar within the storage cells and defines a plurality of slide bar slots within the sidewalls of the storage cells to allow movement of the slide bar between the closed and open positions. The first embodiment also preferably includes a ridge on the bottom of the molded box portion to allow the bottom of the molded box portion to be utilized as a pill sorting area when the slide bar is in the closed position.

The first preferred embodiment further preferably includes indicia disposed on the slide bar that are exposed through the plurality of refill openings when the slide bar is in the closed position, the indicia indicating a time interval designated to the storage cell disposed below the refill opening.

A second preferred embodiment positions the slide bar below the storage cells and includes a retainer guide on the bottom of the molded box portion to provide sliding attachment and allow movement of the slide bar between the closed and open positions. The second preferred embodiment also preferably includes a ridge defined on the bottom surface of the slide bar to allow the bottom surface of the slide bar to be utilized as a pill sorting area when the slide bar is in the closed position.

The second preferred embodiment further preferably includes indicia disposed on the bottom of the molded box portion that are exposed through the plurality of slide bar openings when the slide bar is in the closed position, the indicia indicating a time interval designated for each storage cell disposed below a corresponding refill opening.

Embodiments may also comprise a locking mechanism to prevent accidental opening of the lids and/or accidental movement of the slide bar into the open position.

The disclosure further provides a method for storing one or more pills in a pill container, including the steps of: placing one or more pills within a basin defined by the bottom of the molded box portion and the slide bar when the slide bar is in the closed position; staging the pills within the basin into a region corresponding to one of the plurality of storage cells, wherein the region is defined by one of the refill openings in the molded box portion or the slide bar openings; selectively moving the slide bar to the open position to align the slide bar openings with the refill openings and allow the one or more pills within each region to be dispensed into the corresponding storage cell; and selectively moving the slide bar to the closed position to move the slide bar openings out of alignment with the refill openings and prevent the one or more pills dispensed into the storage cells from escaping through the bottom refill openings. Further embodiments of the method provide for locking the slide bar to prevent accidental or unintentional opening of the slide bar and spillage of the pills through the refill openings.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings. It is to be understood that the following detailed description is explanatory only and is not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric exploded view of a pill container including an integrated slide bar for filling the pill container according to a first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view of the pill container of FIG. 1 showing the slide bar in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric view of the pill container of FIG. 1 showing the slide bar in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a top isometric view of the pill container of FIG. 1 in a closed and locked position;

FIG. 5 is a top isometric view of an alternative pill container similar to FIG. 1 but including a mirrored second row of storage cells;

FIG. 6 is an isometric exploded view of a pill container including an integrated slide bar for filling the pill container according to a second preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the pill container of FIG. 6 in an open position;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the pill container of FIG. 6 in a closed and locked position;

FIG. 9 is an isometric bottom view of the pill container of FIG. 6 in a closed and locked position;

FIG. 10 is an isometric bottom view of the pill container of FIG. 6 in an open position;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are bottom and top views, respectively, of a box portion of the pill container of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are bottom and top views, respectively, of the slide bar of the pill container of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a lock assembly of the pill container of FIG. 6;

FIG. 14 is a side view of the lock assembly shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15A is side view of the pill container of FIG. 6 in a locked position;

FIG. 15B is side view of the pill container of FIG. 6 in an unlocked position; and

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a method for storing pills in the pill container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an integral pill container adapted to store pills or other small objects in one or more of a plurality of storage cells having a top opening and a bottom refill opening. Each of the plurality of storage cells represents a time interval for a predetermined dosage of medication. The integral pill container includes a slide bar having a plurality of slide bar openings, where the slide bar is slidably attached to a bottom side of the container. Loading the storage cells is accomplished by placing pills in a sorting area disposed on a bottom side of the pill container, when the container is placed in an inverted or upside down position, and then moving the slide bar to an open position to align the openings in the slide bar with the bottom refill openings of the storage cells to allow the pills to be dispensed from the sorting area into the storage cells. A locking mechanism protects the slide bar from accidental movement and, in one embodiment, further protects storage cell lids from accidentally opening.

An isometric exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of a pill container 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. According to embodiments and as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the pill container 100 generally includes a molded box portion 136, a slide bar 108, a locking mechanism 176, and a lid assembly 158 comprising a plurality of lid members 104. The box portion 136 is generally comprised of a front surface 180, a rear surface 182, two side surfaces 168 and 170, a top surface 174, and a bottom surface 166. A plurality of dividers 172 extend upwardly from the bottom surface 166 of the box 136 and connect to the front surface 180 and rear surface 182. The dividers 172 define a plurality of storage cells 102 in the box portion 136 by defining sidewalls of the storage cells 102. In the first preferred embodiment, the dividers 172 define seven storage cells 102 disposed linearly in a row. Each of the storage cells 102 is preferably designed to store small objects, for example, a pill, solid product tablet, capsule, gel cap, gummy gel, or other type and/or carrier of medicine, vitamin, or health supplement, herein referred to as a pill 178. With a seven storage cell 102 arrangement, each storage cell 102 may represent a day of the week for which to contain a predetermined dosage of pills 178.

The pill container 100 is preferably configured to be oriented in an upright orientation as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 to access stored pills 178 by opening the hinged lids 104 covering the storage cells 102, or in an upside down orientation, herein referred to as the refill orientation, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 to access a plurality of refill openings 120 defined in the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136 through which pills 178 may be inserted into the storage cells 102. According to the first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, seven refill holes 120 are defined in the bottom surface 166 of the box 136. The diameter of the refill openings 120 defined in the downward-facing side of the bottom surface 166 is greater than the diameter of the refill openings 120 defined in the upward-facing side of the bottom surface 166, forming a tapered sidewall around the top edge of the refill openings 120 when the pill container 100 is in the refill orientation as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

It is noted that, while the plurality of refill openings 120 are preferably defined in the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136, one skilled in the art may define the refill openings 120 in one of the front surface 180 or rear surface 182, so that the refill orientation would then orient that corresponding surface to face upward and allow a user to sort the pills on that surface, as described in greater detail below. Thus, for purposes of the present application, the “bottom surface” of the box portion is defined to include the surface of the box portion that includes or defines the refill openings 120.

According the first preferred embodiment and as best illustrated in FIG. 3, access to the storage cells 102 via the refill openings 120 is accomplished by turning the pill container 100 to the refill orientation and moving a slide bar 108 to an open position such that a plurality of openings 142 defined in the slide bar 108 align with the plurality of refill openings 120 defined in the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136 of the pill container 100. According to embodiments, the slide bar openings 142 have substantially the same shape, size, and configuration as the refill openings 120, with the exception of the tapered sidewall of the refill openings 120. The slide bar openings 142 are designed to align with the refill openings 120 when the slide bar 108 is moved to the open position. When the slide bar 108 is moved into a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 2, the slide bar openings 142 are not in alignment with the refill openings 120, allowing for the slide bar 108 to restrict access to the storage cells 102 through the refill openings 120.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the slide bar 108 is adapted to pass through an interior of the storage cells 102 and slidably attach to the box portion 136 through a plurality of slide bar slots 116 defined in the side surfaces 168, 170 and each of the dividers 172 of the box portion 136. A tab 118 is formed at one end of the slide bar 108 and is provided both as an end stop for the slide bar 108 and as a handle for sliding the slide bar between open and closed positions. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the slide bar 108 is inserted into the box portion 136 through a slide bar slot 116 on the side surface 170 of the box portion 136, the tab 118 provides an end stop when it encounters a tab stop 144 formed into the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136. As best shown in FIG. 3, a travel limit tab 134 is formed on one end of the box portion 136, and is designed to provide an end stop when it encounters the tab 118 on the slide bar 108. When the tab 118 comes into contact with the travel limit tab 134, the pill container 100 is in the closed position, wherein the slide bar 108 covers the refill openings 120. When the pill container is oriented right-side up, the slide bar 108 provides a bottom surface to hold objects stored in the storage cells 102. The slide bar 108 prevents pills 178 stored in the storage cells 102 from escaping through the refill openings 120, and allows the pills 178 to be securely retained within the storage cells 102. The travel limit tab 134 prevents the slide bar 108 from traveling past the closed position.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of refill indicia 162 may be printed onto, affixed to, or may be a raised or depressed surface molded into the slide bar 108 positioned such that, when the slide bar 108 is moved into the closed position and a user is looking at the bottom surface 166 of the pill container 100, the refill indicia 162 are exposed through the refill openings 120. The refill indicia 162 provide information to a user, such as a time interval (e.g., a day of the week) appointed to a storage cell 102 positioned below a specific refill opening 120. The refill indicia 162 preferably match lid indicia 160 on each lid member 104, as best shown in FIG. 1 and described in greater detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, according to the first preferred embodiment, a basin may be defined on the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136 by a raised edge or ridge 132 surrounding the plurality of refill openings 120. The basin provides a sorting area for arranging pills 178 in a number and an order desired before inserting the pills 178 into the storage cells 102.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the slide bar 108 is in the closed position, pills 178 may be placed on the slide bar 108 to allow for verification of pills 178 before the pills 178 are dispensed into the storage cells 102. For example, oftentimes users may need to take several different types of pills 178 prescribed to be taken in differing amounts and on differing days. By first placing pills 178 on the slide bar 108 over the storage cells 102 they are intended to be stored in, the user may be able to more easily verify correct dosages via a visual and/or tactile inspection of the pills 178. The tapered sidewall around the top edge of the refill openings 120 provides a depressed area to help stage each pill 178 over the corresponding storage cell 102 it is intended to be stored in. When the user is satisfied with the arrangement of pills 178, the slide bar 108 may be moved to the open position by pushing the tab 118 towards the tab stop 144 until it encounters the tab stop 144. The slide bar slot 116 defined in the side surface 168 of the box portion 136 is positioned such that, as the slide bar 108 is being moved into the open position, a portion of the slide bar 108 may pass through the slide bar slot 116 as shown in FIG. 3. As the slide bar 108 is being moved into the open position, the slide bar openings 142 in the slide bar are moved into alignment with the refills openings 120 in the box portion 136, causing any pills 178 positioned on the slide bar 108 to drop through the slide bar openings 142 (as well as the refill openings 120) and into the storage cells 102 below. Subsequently, the slide bar 108 is preferably moved back into the closed position to cover the refill openings 120 and secure the pills 178 inside the storage cells 102.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the slide bar 108 preferably comprises one or more raised detents 138 protruding from the end of the slide bar 108 opposite the tab 118, where the detents 138 are operable to selectively engage one or more catches 140 (shown by dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2) that are formed into a top or bottom sidewall of the slide bar slot 116 to provide resistance and help prevent unintentional movement of the slide bar 108. To selectively disengage the slide bar 108, a lateral force great enough to overcome the resistance provided by the engagement of the one or more detents 138 and catches 140 may be applied to the slide bar tab 118.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a small cell 122 is defined by the box portion 136 and a divider 172 at one end of the pill container 100. The small cell 122 is provided as a void over a portion of the refill bar 108 when the refill bar 108 is moved into the closed position as best shown in FIG. 2.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a lid assembly 158 is preferably comprised of a hinge lid mount 126 adapted to engage a narrow longitudinal mount slot 128 defined in a top surface 174 of the box portion 136. The lid assembly 158 further includes a plurality of hinged lid members 104, each of which is adapted to close a storage cell 102 when moved to a closed position.

Each lid member 104 has a snap lock 106 that is engagable with a locking engagement member formed on an inner side of the front surface 180 of the box portion 136 to provide a means of initially locking the lid member 104 to the base portion 136. The lid members 104 are individually movable and can be opened or closed independently of each other. As shown in FIG. 1, the lid members 104 are connected to the hinge lid mount 126 with a hinge portion 184 (FIG. 1) that allows angular deflection of the lid members 104 for closure of the pill container 100.

The lid assembly 158 additionally preferably comprises a small cell hinged lid member 124 adapted to close the small cell 122 when in a closed position. As best shown in FIG. 1, a vertical slot 186 is defined by the front surface 180 of the box portion 136 in the small cell 122 and is adapted to provide an opening for a lock bar 110 as will be described below. According to an embodiment, the small cell hinged lid member 124 is permanently closed during assembly.

As mentioned above, lid indicia 160 may be printed onto, molded into, or applied to a top surface of each lid member 104 and are preferably provided for providing information to a user, such as a day of the week appointed to a storage cell 102 positioned below a specific lid member 104.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the pill container 100 preferably comprises a locking mechanism 176 comprising a lock bar 110 selectively attached to the box portion 136 to provide a secondary locking mechanism for the hinged lid members 104. The lock bar 110 includes two pivot pins 112 located on opposing interior surfaces of each end of the lock bar 110 for engaging two pivot pin holes 114, one defined by the side surface 168 of the box portion 136 as shown in FIG. 1, and the other (not shown) defined by the divider 172 separating the small cell 122 from the next storage cell 120. The attachment of the lock bar 110 to the box portion 136 via an engagement of the pivot pins 112 and the pivot pin holes 114 allows the lock bar 110 to rotate about the pivot pins 112. When the lock bar 110 is pivoted over the lid members 104, the lock bar 110 is in a locked position and may be held in place by lift tabs 130 disposed on the top surface of each of the lid members 104 securing the lock bar 110 by an interference fit.

While the embodiment of the pill container 100 in FIGS. 1-4 utilizes a linear array of storage cells 102, another embodiment (not shown) utilizes a radial array of storage cells and a circular slide bar defining a plurality of slide bar openings. The circular slide bar is adapted to be selectively rotated into an open position, aligning the slide bar openings with refill openings defined in a box portion, and allowing pills pre-staged on the circular slide bar to be dispensed into the storage cells.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternate configuration 185 of the first embodiment of pill container 100. Alternate configuration 185 comprises an array of two (mirrored) conjoined first preferred embodiment pill containers 100 sharing a common internal rear surface 182. The second configuration 185 has mirrored locations for the storage cells 102, the slide bar 108, and the lock bar 110. As illustrated in FIG. 5, lock bar indicia 164 may be printed onto, molded into, or applied to a top surface of each lock bar 110 and are preferably provided for providing information to a user, such as a week or a time of day appointed to a row of storage cells 102 positioned below the specific lock bar 110.

A second preferred embodiment of the integrated pill container 200 is shown in FIGS. 6-15B. As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the pill container 200 generally includes a molded box portion 236, a slide bar 208, and a lid assembly 258. The box portion 236 is generally comprised of a front surface 280, a rear surface 282, two side surfaces 268 and 270, a top surface 274, and a bottom surface 266. A plurality of dividers 272 extend upwardly from the bottom surface 266 of the box 236 and connect to both the front surface 280 and rear surface 282. The dividers 272 define a plurality of storage cells 202 in the box portion 236 by defining sidewalls of the storage cells 202. In the second preferred embodiment, the dividers 272 define seven storage cells 202 disposed linearly in a row. Each of the storage cells 202 is preferably designed to store small objects, for example, a pill, solid product tablet, capsule, gel cap, gummy gel, or other type and/or carrier of medicine, vitamin, or health supplement, herein referred to as a pill 278. With a seven storage cell 202 arrangement, each storage cell 202 may represent a day of the week for which to contain a predetermined dosage of pills 278.

The pill container 200 is preferably configured to be oriented in an upright orientation as illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 to access stored pills 278 by opening the hinged lid members 204 covering the storage cells 202, or in an upside down orientation, herein referred to as the refill orientation, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 to access a plurality of refill openings 220 (FIG. 6) defined in the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 through which pills 278 may be inserted into the storage cells 202. According to the second preferred embodiment, seven refill holes 220 are defined by the bottom surface 266 of the box 236 (however, as described above, one skilled in the art may reposition the refill holes 220 to one of the side surfaces 268 or 270).

According the second preferred embodiment and as best illustrated in FIG. 10, access to the storage cells 202 via the refill openings 220 is accomplished by turning the pill container 200 to the refill orientation and moving a slide bar 208 to an open position such that a plurality of openings 242 defined in the slide bar 208 aligns with the plurality of refill openings 220 defined in the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 of the pill container 200. According to embodiments, the slide bar openings 242 have substantially the same shape, size, and configuration as the refill openings 220. The slide bar openings 242 are designed to align with the refill openings 220 when the slide bar 208 is moved to the open position.

When the slide bar 208 is moved into a closed position as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the slide bar openings 242 are not in alignment with the refill openings 220, allowing for the slide bar 208 to restrict access to the storage cells 202 through the refill openings 220. When in the closed position, the slide bar 208 prevents pills 278 stored in the storage cells 202 from escaping through the refill openings 220, and allows the pills 278 to be securely retained within the storage cells 202. FIGS. 12A and 12B show a bottom view and a top view, respectively, of the slide bar 208. The diameter of the slide bar openings 242 defined in the downward-facing side of the slide bar 108 is preferably greater than the diameter of the slide bar openings 242 defined in the upward-facing side of the slide bar 108, thus forming a tapered sidewall around the top edge of the slide bar openings 242 when the pill container 200 is in the refill orientation, as best illustrated in FIG. 12A.

FIGS. 11A and 11B display a bottom view and a top view, respectively, of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 of the pill container 200. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11A, a plurality of refill indicia 262 may be printed onto, affixed to, or may be a raised or depressed surface molded into the downward-facing side of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 positioned such that, when the slide bar 208 is moved into the closed position, the refill indicia 262 are exposed through the slide bar openings 242 (when viewed from the bottom surface 266 of the pill container 200). The refill indicia 262 are preferably provided for providing information to a user, such as a day of the week appointed to a storage cell 202 which will receive the pills 278 when the slide bar 208 is moved into the open position.

As best shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11A, a box basin 233 is formed into the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 defined by a retainer guide 244 partially surrounding the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236. The configuration of box basin 233 is designed such that the slide bar 208 fits within the box basin 233 and is slidable between a closed position, where the refill openings 220 are covered by portions of the slide bar 208 disposed between the slide bar openings 242, and an open position, where the refill openings 220 are aligned with the slide bar openings 242.

The retainer guide 244 comprises an interior overhanging edge and provides a plurality of housing slots 246 (FIG. 11A) for retainers 243 protruding from a perimeter of the slide bar 208, thereby providing an attachment means for the slide bar 208 to the box portion 236. The retainers 243 on the slide bar 208 slide within the housing slots 246 under the interior overhanging edge of the retainer guide 244. Vertical movement of the slide bar 208 is limited by contact of the protruding retainers 243 on the slide bar 208 with the interior overhanging edge of the retainer guide 244, while horizontal movement of the slide bar 208 is limited by contact with the ends of the retainer guides 244. The retainer guide 244 may also provide a level perimeter to place the pill container 200 on a flat surface when in the upright orientation, as best shown in FIG. 10.

According to the second preferred embodiment, a basin (best shown in FIGS. 10 and 12A) may be defined on the downward-facing side of the slide bar 208 by a raised edge 232 surrounding the plurality of slide bar openings 242. The basin provides an area for arranging pills 278 in a number and an order desired before inserting the pills 278 into the storage cells 202.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the slide bar 208 is in the closed position, pills 278 may be placed on the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 within the slide bar openings 242 (and on top of the corresponding refill indicia 262) to allow for verification of pills 278 before the pills are dispensed into the storage cells 202. For example, oftentimes users may need to take several different types of pills 278 prescribed to be taken in differing amounts and on differing days. By first placing pills 278 on the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 within the slide bar openings 242, the user may be able to more easily verify correct dosages via a visual and/or tactile inspection of the pills 278. The tapered sidewall of the slide bar openings 242 provides a depressed area to help stage pills 278 before being dispensed into the storage cells 202 in which they are intended to be stored. When the user is satisfied with the arrangement of pills 278, the slide bar 208 may be moved into the open position by sliding the slide bar 208 towards the opposite side of the pill container 200 until it engages the inner perimeter of the retainer guide 244. Moving the slide bar 208 to the open position aligns the slide bar openings 242 with the refill openings 220 in the box portion 236, thereby causing any pills 278 positioned in the slide bar openings 242 (as shown in FIG. 9) to drop through the refills openings 220 into the storage cells 202 below (as illustrated in FIG. 10).

As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a lock slot 234 is defined in the bottom surface 266 and provides a passage to a lock recess 240 (FIGS. 10, 12A and 12B) in the slide bar 208 through which a locking mechanism 276 (FIG. 15A) may engage the lock recess 240 to selectively prevent movement of the slide bar 208. The lock recess 240 is defined by a generally u-shaped button 238 protruding from one end of the slide bar 108. The lock recess 240 is provided as a slot for selectively engaging a locking tab 252 (FIGS. 15A and 15B) of the locking mechanism 276. When the slide bar 208 is moved to the closed position, the lock recess 240 in the slide bar 208 is aligned with the lock slot 234 in the bottom surface 266, thereby providing a passageway for the locking tab 252 to pass through the lock slot 234 and engage the lock recess 240. Movement of the slide bar 108 is prevented when the locking tab 252 is selectively engaged with the lock recess 240. FIG. 9 illustrates the locking tab 252 engaging the lock recess 240. When the slide bar 208 is moved in the open position, the button 238 extends through an opening in the retainer guide 244 and past the side surface 268 of the box portion 236 as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The locking mechanism 276 is further shown in FIGS. 6-10 and 13-15B and generally comprises a lock bar 210 providing a secondary locking means for the hinged lid members 204. A tongue 254 is hingedly attached to provide positive closure of the lock bar 210, while two pivot arms 250 (FIG. 13) include pivot pins 212 to provide an attachment means to the box portion 236 and to allow rotation of the locking mechanism 276 between a locked and unlocked position, whereby the locked position provides engagement between the locking tab 252 and the lock recess 240 to prevent movement of the slide bar 208 as described above.

The pivot pins 212 fit within pivot holes 214 defined into the side surfaces 268,270 of the box portion 236, as best shown in FIGS. 8-10. When the locking mechanism 276 is in the locked position as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lock bar 210 is adapted to cover a portion of the hinged lid members 204 and thereby prevent accidental opening of the hinged lid members 204. Lock bar indicia 264 may be printed onto, molded into, or applied to a top surface of the lock bar 210 and are preferably provided for providing information to a user, such as a day appointed to a storage cell 202 positioned below the specific indicium 264. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the lock bar indicia 264 may be in the shape of letters to represent days of the week and, in a preferred embodiment, matches the refill indicia 262 on the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236.

The tongue 254 is pivotally attached to the lock bar 210 by a hinge 230 which allows rotation of the tongue 254 in relation to the lock bar 210. As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tongue 254 is sized to fit within a seating tower 224 formed into the rear surface 282 of the box portion 236. A lock pawl 256 on a bottom side of the tongue 254 is provided to selectively engage a shoulder of the seating tower 224. The lock bar 210 may be limited in rotation by the lock pawl 256 engaging the shoulder of the seating tower 224. When the tongue 254 is held in the seating tower 224 and the lock pawl 256 is engaged with the shoulder, a user may pull the tongue 254 away from the box portion 236 with sufficient force to allow the lock pawl 256 to disengage from the shoulder of the seating tower 224, thereby unlocking the lock bar 210.

FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate a side view of the locking mechanism 276 in the unlocked position (FIG. 15A) and in the locked position (FIG. 15B). The locked position includes locking of both the hinged lid members 204 and the slide bar 208. As described above, the slide bar 208 is locked by the locking tab 252 engaging the lock recess 240 in the button 238 on the slide bar 208. The locking mechanism 276 rotates about the pivot pin 212 which is seated in pivot hole 214 in the box portion 236. Both the hinged lid members 204 and the refill bar 208 are locked at the same time by the same action of the locking mechanism 276.

Other types of locking mechanisms may be used with the different embodiments 100 and 200 of the pill container. For example, a spring-loaded slide bar (not shown) may be utilized where a spring is attached to both the slide bar within the button and to the box portion such that, when the spring-loaded slide bar is moved to the open position, tension is applied and stretches the spring. Upon releasing the spring-loaded slide bar, the spring returns to its rest state (un-stretched) and holds the slide bar in the closed position until a tension load sufficient to overcome the initial tension of the spring is applied, thereby allowing the slide bar to move into the open position.

The lid assembly 258 is best shown detached in FIG. 6 and attached to the base portion 236 in FIG. 7. The lid assembly 258 comprises a plurality of hinged lid members 204, lid inserts 226, and anchors 216. As best illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, and 11B, the lid assembly 258 is adapted for attachment to the box portion 236 by inserting the lid inserts 226 into troughs 228. Troughs 228 are located at the rear of each storage cell 202 and are defined by an inner side of the rear surface 282 of the box portion 236 and insert guides 222 that extend upwardly from the bottom surface 266 of the box 236 between the dividers 272. The troughs 228 allow the lid inserts 226 to be structurally retained in the box portion 236. Anchor recesses 218 formed through the bottom surface 266 provide permanent seating for the anchors 216 on the lid assembly 258 during assembly of the apparatus.

Each lid member 204 is configured and sized to close a storage cell 202. Each lid member 204 has a snap lock 206 that is engagable with a locking member formed on an inner side of the front surface 280 of the box portion 236 to provide a means of initially locking the lid member 204 to the base portion 236. The lid members 204 are individually movable and can be opened or closed independently of each other. The lid members 204 are connected to the lid inserts 226 with a hinge portion 284 that allows angular deflection of the lid members 204 for closure of the pill container 200 as best shown in FIG. 8.

Lid indicia 260 (FIG. 8) may be printed onto, molded into, or applied to a top surface of each lid member 204 and are preferably provided for providing information to a user, such as a day of the week appointed to a storage cell 202 positioned below a specific lid member 204. The lid indicia 260 may include Braille indicia engraved or formed in relief on the lid members 204.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating a method 1600 of storing one or more pills in a pill container (100,200) according to preferred embodiments. The method 1600 starts at OPERATION 1605 and proceeds to OPERATION 1610 where one or more (pills 178,278) are placed on a bottom surface of a closed pill container (100,200). According to the first preferred embodiment and as best illustrated in FIG. 2, when the pill container 100 is oriented in an upside down orientation, the one or more pills 178 may be placed on the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136 and/or on portions of the slide bar 108 accessible through the refill openings 120 defined by the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136. According to the second preferred embodiment and as best illustrated in FIG. 9, when the pill container 200 is oriented in an upside down orientation, the one or more pills 278 may be placed on the slide bar 208 and/or on portions of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 accessible through the slide bar openings 242 defined by the slide bar.

The method 1600 proceeds to OPERATION 1615 where the one or more pills 178,278 may be sorted in a sorting area. According to the first preferred embodiment, the sorting area may comprise a basin 132 defined on the bottom surface 166 of the box portion 136 by a raised edge 132 surrounding the plurality of refill openings 120. The sorting area may also comprise the portion of the slide bar 108 exposed through the refill openings 120. The tapered sidewalls around the top edge of the refill openings 120 provide a depressed area for staging pills 178 over a storage cell 102.

According to the second preferred embodiment, the sorting area may comprise a basin 232 defined on the downward-facing side of the slide bar 208 by a raised edge 232 surrounding the plurality of slide bar openings 242. The basin 232 provides an area for arranging pills 278 in a number and an order desired before inserting the pills 278 into storage cells 202. The sorting area may also comprise the portion of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 exposed through the slide bar openings 242. The tapered sidewalls around the top edge of the slide bar openings 242 provide a depressed area for staging pills 278 over a storage cell 202.

The method 1600 proceeds to OPERATION 1620 where each of the one or more pills (178,278) may be placed over one or more closed orifices disposed on the bottom surface of the pill container (100,200). According to the first preferred embodiment, each of the one or more pills 178 may be placed onto portions of the slide bar 108 accessible through the refill openings 120. Each refill opening 120 is disposed over a storage cell 102 wherein each storage cell 102 represents a time interval, such as a time of day or a day of the week. The represented time interval of each storage cell 102 may be identified by indicia provided on the portion of the slide bar 108 accessible through the refill openings 120 when the slide bar 108 is in a closed position. A tapered sidewall around the top edge of the refill openings 120 provides a depressed area to help stage each pill 178 over the corresponding storage cell 102 in which it is intended to be stored.

According to the second preferred embodiment, each of the one or more pills 278 may be placed onto portions of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 of the pill container 200 accessible through the slide bar openings 242. Each portion of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 accessible through the slide bar openings 242 is designated to a storage cell 202 wherein each storage cell 202 represents a time interval, such as a time of day or a day of the week. The represented time interval of each storage cell 202 may be identified by indicia provided on the portion of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 accessible through the slide bar openings 242 when the slide bar 208 is in a closed position. A tapered sidewall of the slide bar openings 242 provides a depressed area to help stage pills 278 before being dispensed into the storage cells 202 in which they are intended to be stored.

The method 1600 proceeds to OPERATION 1625 where an arrangement of pills (178,278) may be visually and/or tactilely verified. A user may have a condition requiring him to take more than one type of pill and in varying amounts according to a specific day or time. Embodiments provide an improved method for verifying an assortment of pills according to time interval. By first placing pills (178,278) on portions of the slide bar 108 over the storage cells 102 they are intended to be stored in (first preferred embodiment) or on portions of the bottom surface 266 of the box portion 236 designated to storage cells 202 (second preferred embodiment), the user may be able to more easily verify correct dosages via a visual and/or tactile inspection of the pills (178,278).

The method 1600 proceeds to OPERATION 1630 where the slide bar 108,208 may be moved to an open position to allow the one or more pills (178,278) to fall into their intended storage cells (102,202). According to the first preferred embodiment, as the slide bar 108 is being moved into the open position, the slide bar openings 142 in the slide bar are moved into alignment with the refills openings 120 in the box portion 136, causing any pills 178 positioned on the slide bar 108 (as shown in FIG. 2) to drop through the slide bar openings 142 (as well as the refill openings 120) into the storage cells 102 below (as illustrated in FIG. 3).

According to the second preferred embodiment, moving the slide bar 208 to the open position aligns the slide bar openings 242 with the refill openings 220 in the box portion 236, thereby causing any pills 278 positioned in the slide bar openings 242 (as shown in FIG. 9) to drop through the refills openings 220 into the storage cells 202 below (as illustrated in FIG. 10).

The method 1600 proceeds to OPERATION 1635 where the slide bar (108,208) may be moved back into the closed position. According to the first preferred embodiment, when the slide bar 108 is moved into the closed position, the slide bar openings 142 are not in alignment with the refill openings 120, allowing for the slide bar 108 to restrict access to the storage cells 102 through the refill openings 120. According to the second preferred embodiment, when the slide bar 208 is moved into the closed position, the slide bar openings 242 are not in alignment with the refill openings 220, allowing for the slide bar 208 to restrict access to the storage cells 202 through the refill openings 220.

The method 1600 may end at OPERATION 1695 or may proceed to OPERATION 1640 where the pill container (100,200) is selectively locked. Selectively locking the pill container (100,200) may be accomplished via various mechanisms and methods. For example, locking the pill container 100 may include aligning one or more detents 138 protruding from the end of the slide bar 108 with one or more catches 140 (shown by dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2) formed into a top or bottom sidewall of the slide bar slot 116 for allowing the detents 138 to selectively engage the one or more catches 140 and provide resistance to help prevent unintentional movement of the slide bar 108.

As another example, selectively locking the pill container 200 may include utilizing a spring-loaded slide bar 208 where the spring is biased to maintain the slide bar 208 in the closed position. Accordingly, the slide bar 208 is held in the closed or “locked” position until an opening force sufficient to overcome the tension of the spring 188 is applied to move the slide bar 208 to the open position.

According to the first preferred embodiment, selectively locking the pill container 100 may include pivoting the lock bar 110 over the lid members 104 so that the lock bar 110 is in a locked position and may be held in place by lift tabs 130 disposed on the top surface of each of the lid members 104 securing the lock bar 110 by an interference fit. The lock bar 110 protects the lid members 104 from accidental opening.

According to the second preferred embodiment, selectively locking the pill container 200 may include pivoting a locking mechanism 276 into a locked position (FIG. 15B), and thereby locking both the slide bar 208 and the hinged lid members 204. As described above, the slide bar 208 is locked by the locking tab 252 engaging the lock recess 240 in the button 238 on the slide bar 208. The locking mechanism 276 rotates about the pivot pin 212 which is seated in pivot hole 214 in the box portion 236. Both the hinged lid members 204 and the slide bar 208 are locked at the same time by the same action of the locking mechanism 276.

The materials that comprise the majority of the pill containers (100,200) are preferably plastic materials such as polyvinylchloride, polyethylene or others and may be manufactured using well known techniques, for example, plastic injection molding. The parts of the pill containers (100,200) may be made of transparent plastic to allow easy identification of the contents.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. While the disclosed invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equal elements may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention further includes any combination of the elements from embodiments as set forth herein. In addition, modification may be made to adapt the teaching of the present invention to a particular application without departing from its essential scope thereof.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments described and/or illustrated, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pill container comprising:

a molded box portion defining a plurality of storage cells for storing one or more pills, wherein each storage cell defines a top opening and a bottom refill opening;

a plurality of lids hingedly attached to the top openings of the storage cells, where each lid provides individual access to a corresponding one of the plurality of storage cells to allow retrieval of the one or more pill stored therein; and

a slide bar attached to a bottom of the molded box portion and adapted to be selectively moved between a closed position and an open position, wherein the slide bar defines a plurality of slide bar openings that align with the plurality of refill openings of the molded box portion to allow pills to be dispensed into the plurality of storage cells when the slide bar is in the open position, and wherein the slide bar openings are moved out of alignment with the refill openings to prevent the one or more pills with the storage cells from escaping through the bottom refill opening when the slide bar is in the closed position.

2. The pill container of claim 1, further comprising:

a slide bar locking mechanism adapted to prevent the slide bar from moving from the closed position to the open position.

3. The pill container of claim 2, further comprising:

a lid locking mechanism pivotally attached to the molded box portion and adapted to prevent accidental opening of the lids.

4. The pill container of claim 2, wherein the slide bar moves through an interior of the storage cells, and wherein the molded box portion further comprises:

a ridge formed on the bottom of the molded box portion to define a pill sorting area when the slide bar is in the closed position; and

a plurality of slots defined in sidewalls of the storage cells to provide sliding attachment of the slide bar to the molded box portion and allow movement of the slide bar between the closed position and the open position.

5. The pill container of claim 4, wherein the molded box portion further defines a tapered sidewall around a top edge of each of the plurality of refill openings to stage pills from the sorting area onto a portion of the slide bar exposed through the plurality of refill openings when the slide bar is in the closed position.

6. The pill container of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of indicia formed on the slide bar, wherein the indicia are positioned to be viewed through corresponding refill openings when the slide bar is in the closed position, the indicia indicating a time interval designated for each storage cell disposed below the corresponding refill opening.

7. The pill container of claim 2, wherein the slide bar moves below a bottom surface of the storage cells, and wherein the molded box portion further comprises:

a retainer guide surrounding a portion of the bottom of the molded box portion, the retainer guide adapted to provide sliding movement of the slide bar below the molded box portion between the closed and open positions.

8. The pill container of claim 7, wherein the slide bar further defines a ridge on the bottom surface of the slide bar to provide a pill sorting area when the slide bar is in the closed position.

9. The pill container of claim 8, wherein the slide bar further defines a tapered sidewall around a top edge of each of the plurality of slide bar openings to stage pills from the sorting area onto portions of the bottom of the molded box portion exposed through the plurality of slide bar openings when the slide bar is in the closed position.

10. The pill container of claim 7, wherein the slide bar further defines a slot adapted to engage a portion of the slide bar locking mechanism when the slide bar is in the closed position.

11. The pill container of claim 10, further comprising:

a lid locking mechanism pivotally attached to the molded box portion and adapted to prevent accidental opening of the lids, wherein the lid locking mechanism and the slide bar locking mechanism are formed as an integral mechanism to provide for simultaneously locking the lids and the slide bar in a single action.

12. A pill container comprising:

a molded box portion defining: a plurality of storage cells for storing one or more pills, wherein each storage cell defines a top opening and a bottom refill opening; and a retainer guide surrounding a bottom of the molded box portion,

wherein the retainer guide defines a box basin;

a plurality of lids hingedly attached to the top openings of the storage cells, where each lid provides individual access to a corresponding one of the plurality of storage cells to allow retrieval of the one or more pill stored therein; and

a slide bar slidably attached to the bottom of the molded box portion within the box basin and adapted to be selectively moved between a closed position and an open position, wherein the slide bar defines a plurality of slide bar openings that align with the plurality of refill openings of the molded box portion to allow pills to be dispensed into one or more of the plurality of storage cells when the slide bar is in the open position, and wherein the slide bar openings are moved out of alignment with the refill openings to prevent the one or more pills with the storage cells from escaping through the bottom refill opening when the slide bar is in the closed position.

13. The pill container of claim 12, further comprising:

a slide bar locking mechanism adapted to prevent the slide bar from moving from the closed position to the open position.

14. The pill container of claim 13, further comprising:

a lid locking mechanism pivotally attached to the molded box portion and adapted to prevent accidental opening of the lids.

15. The pill container of claim 13, wherein the slide bar further defines a ridge on the bottom surface of the slide bar to provide a pill sorting area when the slide bar is in the closed position.

16. The pill container of claim 15, wherein the slide bar further defines a tapered sidewall around a top edge of each of the plurality of slide bar openings to stage pills from the sorting area onto portions of the bottom of the molded box portion exposed through the plurality of slide bar openings when the slide bar is in the closed position.

17. The pill container of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of indicia formed on the bottom of the molded box portion, wherein the indicia are positioned to be viewed through corresponding slide bar openings when the slide bar is in the closed position, the indicia indicating a time interval designated for each storage cell disposed below a corresponding refill opening.

18. The pill container of claim 13, further comprising:

a lid locking mechanism pivotally attached to the molded box portion and adapted to prevent accidental opening of the lids, wherein the lid locking mechanism and the slide bar locking mechanism are formed as an integral mechanism to provide for simultaneously locking the lids and the slide bar in a single action.

19. A method for storing one or more pills in an integrated pill container comprising a molded box portion defining a plurality of storage cells for storing one or more pills, each storage cell defining a bottom refill opening, the integrated pill container further including a slide bar slidably attached to a bottom of the molded box portion to allow for movement between an open position and a closed position, the slide bar defining a plurality of openings that align with the refill openings of the molded box portion when the slide bar is in the open position, the method comprising:

placing one or more pills within a basin defined by the bottom of the molded box portion and the slide bar when the slide bar is in the closed position;

staging each of the one or more pills into a region corresponding to one of the plurality of storage cells, wherein the region is defined by one of the refill openings in the molded box portion or the slide bar openings;

selectively moving the slide bar to the open position to align the slide bar openings with the refill openings and dispense the one or more pills within each region into the corresponding storage cell; and

selectively moving the slide bar to the closed position to move the slide bar openings out of alignment with the refill openings and prevent the one or more pills dispensed into the storage cells from escaping through the bottom refill openings.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

locking the slide bar to prevent unintentional movement of the slide bar from the closed position to the open position.