MULTI-DAY PILL CONTAINER ASSEMBLY WITH ATTACHMENT TAB
A multi-day pill container comprising a plurality of pill holding cases, each pill holding case having a top portion, an interior chamber, and an exterior surface. The top portion of each pill holding case is moveable between a first position closing access to the interior chamber and a second position providing access to that chamber. Each pill holding case has a first snap lock element on the exterior surface to removably fasten each pill holding case and a second snap lock element associated with a multiple pill case holder. Each pill holding case may include an attachment tab on the exterior surface adapted to removably attach the pill holding case to an item supported by a user of the pill holding case. In another embodiment, each pill holding case has mating snap lock elements that permit each pill holding case to be removably attached to another pill holding case.
The present invention relates to multi-day pill holding case assemblies, and more particularly to embodiments of pill case holder and pill holding case assemblies where individual pill holding cases can be manually removed from the assembly and carried in the purse or pocket of a user, or attached to an item supported by a user, such as an article of clothing, a backpack, purse, keychain or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany people today take several pills and/or capsules each day, either prescribed by their doctor or over-the-counter medicines they take at the suggestion of their medical advisor. In addition, many individuals also consume several vitamin pills and capsules each day. Most, if not all, of these pills and/or capsules are taken on a daily dosage frequency schedule, such as once a day, twice a day, after meals, etc. The prescribed or recommended dosage frequency may require a user to ingest specified pills or capsules during the day while the user is away from the home. In such situations, it is advantageous for the user to have access to his or her medication and vitamins at any time during the day.
Presently available personal multi-day pill cases and pill case assemblies typically include a single case having a plurality of pill and capsule holding compartments or chambers with either a common or individual closure device. Each compartment or chamber may hold the various pills and capsules constituting the pills and capsules to be taken at one time, or over the course of a single day. Some such containers include indicia designating one of the days of the week. Normally, in a pill container assembly of multiple pill holding compartments or chambers, the user fills the compartment periodically, usually on a weekly basis from the pill container obtained from a pharmacy, nutrition food store, grocery store, or the like.
A pill container adapted to hold a week's supply of pills and vitamins is normally too large to fit in a user's pocket or small purse. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a user with a pill and vitamin container assembly that, in an embodiment, comprised a plurality of daily pill holding cases that were removably mounted in a multi-case holder for weekly filling, and were individually removable from the holder on a daily basis. The individual pill holding cases are small enough to fit within the purse or pocket of the user.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a pill/capsule holding case assembly where each pill holding case includes male and female mating elements on opposite sides of the exterior of each pill holding case. The male mating element of each pill holding case is adapted to fit into the female mating element of an adjacent pill holding case, and removably attach one pill holding case to another to form a container assembly of any desired number of days.
In each of the embodiments of the present invention mentioned above, each individual pill holder case includes an attachment tab extending outwardly from the exterior of the pill holding case. This tab has an aperture extending through the tab, which may be used to attach the individual pill holding case to an item worn by or otherwise supported by the user, such as a keychain, belt loop, purse or purse strap, backpack strap or hook, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA multi-day pill container assembly includes a multiple pill case holder with a plurality of apertures, each aperture removably receiving and holding a pill holding case. Each pill holding case includes a top potion, an interior chamber, and an exterior. The top portion is movable between a first position closing access to the interior chamber and a second position providing access to said chamber. Each pill holding case has an attachment tab on the exterior of the pill holding case, the attachment tab removably attaching the pill holding case to an item supported by a user of the pill holding case, such as a purse strap, key chain, backpack strap, belt loop, or the like.
The term “pill” as used hereinafter in the description of the present invention, includes solid and semi-solid ingestible products that are small enough to fit in the pill holding cases described, and includes items such as capsules, caplets, tablets, lozenges and other shapes and sizes of medicant and vitamin products. If desired, the pill holding case of the present invention may also be used to enclose and transport other small confectionary items such as candies, mints, gums and the like, whether or not such confectionary items include an active medicant or vitamin ingredient.
The following description of the drawings, and the drawings themselves are illustrations of several embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
The present invention comprises, in an embodiment, a pill case holder assembly wherein a plurality of pill holding cases are removably attached to a pill case holder, with each pill holder bearing an indicia designating the day of the week the pills in a respective case should be taken. Each individual pill holding case can be readily removed from the holder assembly, and be carried in the purse, pocket, backpack or the like, of the user that is worn or supported by the user, for ready access by the user when the user desires to ingest the pills in the case. Also, each individual pill holding case comprises an attachment tab, whereby each pill holding case can be attached to a part of a garment worn by a user, such as a belt loop, or to an item supported by the user such as a purse loop or strap, or a strap of a backpack, a handle of a briefcase or a keychain. After use, the individual pill holding case is returned to its place in the pill case holding assembly, and refilled for the next use. While the present invention is illustrated and described with seven pill holding cases in the holder, one for each day of the week, a holder with a lesser or greater number of pill holding cases can be furnished within the scope of the present invention.
Referring to
Each aperture 14 in the embodiment of
Referring to
The present invention permits the pill holding cases 18 to be opened for filling either while still lodged in aperture 14, or after the case has been removed from holder 12. As seen in
The present invention also provides a means for attaching each individual pill holding case to a garment worn by the user, or an item carried by or supported by the user. For this purpose, each pill holding case includes an attachment tab 34 attached to or formed with the outer surface 20, which attachment tab extends radially outward from surface 20. In the illustrated embodiment, each tab 34 includes an aperture 36 to be used to attach the pill holding case to a garment worn, or an item supported by a user. In the illustrated embodiment of
Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
Upon manual insertion of a pill holding case 18 into an aperture 14 of holder 12 in the embodiment of
To remove a pill holding case 18 from a corresponding aperture 14 in the embodiments of
A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
On the opposite wall 40 of each aperture 14 at upper surface 32 is a rear protrusion 54 that extends slightly radially inward, as seen in
Each pill holding case 18 is inserted into an aperture 14 using downwardly applied manual pressure with attachment tab 34 facing ninety degrees outward from the longitudinal axis of holder 12. As case 18 reaches the downward end of its motion, the shaped inwardly extending surfaces (not shown) of front protuberances 52 flex and engage opposing sides of tab 34 as seen in
To manually release a pill holding case 18 from holder 12, finger pressure is upwardly applied to attachment tab 34, which causes front protrusions 52 to flex and release tab 34 from their grip. Due to the inherent flexibility of the materials holder 12 and case 18 are made of, case 18 may pivot slightly about a horizontal axis in aperture 14, causing rear protrusion 54 to slide out of recess 56. Continued upward pressure applied to case 18 will release the case from holder 12.
Pill holding case 18 includes a mating recess or groove 68 closely adjacent to upper surface 70 (
As illustrated in
To remove case 18 from a corresponding ring 62, upward finger pressure is applied to bottom surface 22 of case 18, forcing ribs 64 to flex slightly and withdraw from mating recess 68. Continued upward movement of case 18 fully removes the case from engagement with ring 62.
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
To separate one case 18 from another in the embodiment of
Each tab 82 includes at least one aperture 90, with two apertures 90 shown in the illustrated embodiment. Tabs 82 are made of a semi-flexible material, so each aperture 90 can stretch to fit over top 88 of a corresponding button 84, as will be explained. Each aperture 90 has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of top 88 of each button 84.
Referring to
To remove one case 18 from an adjacent case, the two cases 18 are each grasped by the user's fingers, and one case is moved vertically relative to the adjacent case. Apertures 90 stretch and allow tops 88 of each button 84 to slide through and be detached from a corresponding aperture 90. Adjacent cases 18 can subsequently be re-attached as described above.
Further embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in
In the embodiment of
Upon insertion of a pill holding case 18 into an aperture 14 of pill case holder 12 in the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
The upper surface 32 surrounding each aperture 14 of pill case holder 12 includes substantially diametrically opposed L-shaped channels 104 molded into each aperture wall 40. A detent 106 is located in the vertically extending side wall 108 of each L-shaped channel 104. The lateral dimensions of each locking flange 100 enable the flange 100 to move downwardly through the upper opening 110 in each L-shaped slot 104. Also, the vertical dimension of each locking flange 100 allows the locking flange to be frictionally held between the upper and lower walls 112 of each L-shaped slot.
Upon insertion of a pill holding case 18 into an aperture 14 of pill case holder 12 in the embodiment of
To remove a pill holding case 18 from holder 12 in the embodiment of
The foregoing descriptions of the illustrated embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application of these principles to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below.
Claims
1. A multi-day pill container assembly comprising:
- A plurality of pill holding cases, each pill holding case having a top portion, an interior chamber, and an exterior surface, the top portion movable between a first position closing access to said interior chamber and a second position providing access to said chamber;
- each pill holding case having at least one first snap lock element on said exterior surface, said at least one first snap lock element adapted to removably fasten each pill holding case to at least one second snap lock element, said second snap lock element associated with one of a multiple pill case holder and another pill case.
2. The multi-day pill container assembly of claim 1, wherein:
- each pill holding case has an attachment tab on said exterior surface, the attachment tab adapted to removably attach the pill holding case to an item supported by a user of the pill holding case.
3. The multi-day pill container of claim 1, wherein:
- said second snap lock element is molded with one of said multiple pill case holder and said another pill case.
4. The multi-day pill container of claim 1, wherein:
- said second snap lock element is attached to one of said multiple pill case holder and said another pill case.
5. A multi-day pill container comprising:
- a multiple pill case holder having a plurality of apertures, each aperture removably receiving and holding a pill holding case;
- each pill holding case having a top portion, an interior chamber, and an exterior surface, the top portion movable between a first position closing access to said interior chamber and a second position providing access to said chamber.
6. The multi-day pill container assembly of claim 5, wherein:
- each pill holding case has an attachment tab on said exterior surface, the attachment tab adapted to removably attach the pill holding case to an item supported by a user of the pill holding case.
7. The pill container assembly of claim 5, wherein:
- each said pill holding case is removably held in a corresponding aperture by a snap lock mechanism.
8. The pill container assembly of claim 7, wherein:
- said snap lock mechanism comprises at least one semi-flexible rib on one of the exterior of said pill holding case and a wall of said pill case holder forming said corresponding aperture, and
- at least one recess in the other of one of said pill holding case and said wall of said pill case holder,
- said at least one flexible rib removably engaging said at least one recess when said pill holding case is inserted into said corresponding aperture.
9. The pill container assembly of claim 5, wherein:
- the pill case holder comprises web portions extending between said apertures in said pill case holder.
10. The pill container assembly of claim 6, wherein:
- each attachment tab extends outwardly from the exterior of a corresponding pill holding case.
11. The pill container assembly of claim 10, wherein:
- each attachment tab includes an aperture, said aperture adapted to receive the item supported by the user of the pill holding case.
12. The pill container assembly of claim 5, wherein;
- each said pill holding case displays an indicia representing one of the days of the week.
13. The pill container assembly of claim 7, wherein each said snap lock mechanism comprises:
- at least one locking member extending outward from the exterior of each pill holding case;
- at least one slot in a wall of the pill case holder;
- said at least one locking member extending into said at least one slot and removably attaching each said pill holding case to said pill case holder.
14. The pill container assembly of claim 7, wherein each said snap lock mechanism comprises:
- at least one locking member extending outward from the exterior of each pill holding case;
- at least one indentation in a wall of the pill case holder;
- said at least one locking member extending into said at least one indentation and removably attaching each said pill holding case to said pill case holder.
15. The pill container assembly of claim 7 wherein each said snap lock mechanism comprises:
- at least one protrusion extending from an upper edge of each wall of said pill case holder, said each wall at least partially circumscribing each said aperture, said at least one protrusion adapted to removably engage said attachment tab and removably attach said pill holding case to said pill case holder.
16. The pill container assembly of claim 15, wherein each snap lock mechanism further comprises:
- at least one indentation in the exterior of the pill holding case;
- at least one protrusion extending from each said wall of said pill case holder and into said aperture;
- at least one recess in the exterior of said pill holding case;
- said at least one protrusion entering said recess when said pill holding case is inserted into said aperture, said at least one protrusion and said at least one recess removably attaching said pill holding case to said pill case holder.
17. The pill container assembly of claim 7 wherein each said snap lock mechanism comprises:
- at least one first protrusion extending from an upper edge of each wall of said pill case holder, each said wall at least partially circumscribing each said aperture, said at least one first protrusion adapted to removably engage an attachment tab extending outwardly from said exterior surface of said pill holding case, said attachment tab adapted to removably attach said pill holding case to said pill case holder;
- at least one indentation in the exterior of the pill holding case;
- at least one second protrusion extending from each said wall of said pill case holder and into said aperture;
- at least one recess in the exterior of said pill holding case;
- said at least one second protrusion entering said recess when said pill holding case is inserted into said aperture, said at least one second protrusion and said at least one recess removably attaching said pill holding case to said pill case holder;
- said at least one first protrusion located on a diametrically opposite side of said wall from said at least one second protrusion.
18. The pill container assembly of claim 7 wherein:
- each aperture in said pill case holder is formed by a downwardly extending wall in said holder, each wall having a bottom portion and at least one semi-flexible engagement tooth extending from said bottom portion and partially into said aperture;
- each pill holding case having a circumferential recess adjacent a bottom portion of the exterior of the pill holding case;
- said snap lock mechanism removably attaching said pill holding case to said pill case holder as said at least one semi-flexible engagement tooth engages said recess.
19. The pill container assembly of claim 7, wherein:
- each said aperture in said pill case holder comprises a circumferential rim, said rim extending in an axial direction the full depth of said aperture;
- said snap lock mechanism comprising at least one engagement tooth on said rim, said engagement tooth extending in a radial direction into said aperture; and
- a recess formed on the exterior of each said pill holding case, said at least one engagement tooth removably engaging said recess and removably attaching said pill holding case to said pill case holder.
20. The pill case container assembly of claim 7, wherein:
- each said aperture in said pill case holder is at least partially circumscribed by an axially extending wall;
- a slot in said wall, and an entrance port in said wall, said entrance port communicating with said slot;
- at least one locking flange extending laterally from the exterior surface of each pill holding case, said locking flange entering said entrance port when said pill holding case is inserted in said aperture, and said locking flange entering said slot when said pill holding case is partially rotated to removably attach said pill holding case to said pill case holder.
21. The pill case container assembly of claim 20, wherein:
- said wall includes a portion extending across said slot and said entrance port adjacent the exterior of the pill holding case;
- a locking detent on one of said wall portion and said locking tab;
- a locking recess on the other of said wall portion and said locking flange;
- said locking detent engaging said locking recess when said pill holding case is partially rotated.
22. The multi-day pill container assembly of claim 1 wherein:
- each pill holding case has a locking portion of a defined shape extending outwardly from the exterior surface of said pill holding case;
- each pill holding case also has a cavity portion formed on the exterior surface of the pill holding case, the cavity portion having substantially the same dimensions as said locking portion;
- said locking portion and said cavity portion located on diametrically opposite sides of said each pill holding case;
- said locking portion of each pill holding case removably attaching said each pill holding case to another adjacent pill holding case when said locking portion of a first of said pill holding cases is inserted into said cavity portion of a second pill holding case.
23. The multi-day pill container assembly of claim 22, wherein:
- one of said locking portion and said cavity portion of each pill holding case includes a laterally extending protuberance and the other of said locking portion and said cavity portion includes a recess, said first and second pill holding cases removably attached to each other when said locking portion is inserted into said cavity portion, and said protuberance engages said recess.
24. The multi-day pill container assembly of claim 22, wherein:
- each first and second pill holding case has an attachment tab on the exterior of the pill holding case, the attachment tab adapted to removably attach the pill holding case to an item supported by a user of the pill holding case.
25. The multi-day pill container assembly of claim 1, wherein:
- each pill holding case has a first flange member laterally extending from the exterior surface of the pill holding case, and at least one attachment button mounted on and extending axially from said flange member;
- each pill holding case has a second flange member laterally extending from the exterior surface of the pill holding case, said second flange member located on a diametrically opposed surface of the exterior surface from the first flange member;
- at least one aperture in said second flange member;
- said first and second pill holding cases removably attached to each other when the at least one attachment button of said flange on said first pill holding case is inserted in said at least one aperture of said flange member of said second pill holding case.
26. The multi-day pill container assembly of claim 25, wherein:
- each first and second pill holding case has an attachment tab on the exterior of the pill holding case, the attachment tab adapted to removably attach the pill holding case to an item supported by the user of the pill holding case.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 31, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 1, 2013
Inventor: Robert Kroupa (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 13/362,359
International Classification: B65D 83/04 (20060101);