Apparatus for Voice Messaging Medicant Container

Abstract

An apparatus for voice messaging medicant container includes a bottle enclosure, a cap, and an audio messaging system. The bottle enclosure and the cap house a medicant spray container within as the cap can be rotatably positioned in between an opened position and a closed position. When the cap is at the closed position, the nozzle of the medicant spray container is not accessible to the user. When the cap is at the opened position, the nozzle of the medicant spray container is accessible to the user through a nozzle opening of the cap. The audio messaging system automatically plays a prerecorded audio clip every time the cap is at the opened position; however, the prerecorded audio clip can also be manually played from a switch of the audio messaging system.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/758,127 filed on Jan. 29, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a medicant instructional voice container that is equipped with an audio messaging system so that the users of the present invention can be informed with important information about the stored medicant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Medicinal products have become an integral part of many people as the medicinal products use for medical diagnosis, cure diseases, treatments of diseases, and prevention of diseases. The medicinal products can be broken down into prescribed medicine and non-prescribed medicine within the medical field. Often times, patients forget to take to their required medication due to many reasons. Non compliance in taking routine medications and drug interactions has significant effects on a patient's medical treatment, but patients oftentimes fail to realize these consequences. As a solution, the present invention provides voice activated information about the medication to enhance the patient compliance and avoid drug interactions so that the medication can be taken as required. The present invention is also useful for non-prescribed medication such as vitamins. Vitamins are a great means for ensuring that an individual receives proper nutrition. Use of vitamins is especially beneficial in relation to the growth and development of children. As children can be picky eaters, it is important for parents to enforce the use of vitamins to make certain that their children are being properly nourished. Vitamins are still important in the growth and development of children who eat well balanced meals. The struggle with enforcing the use of vitamins falls in part on the product itself. Oftentimes, children do not like the chalky taste of traditional children's vitamins. Consequently, new forms of vitamins have been developed, namely gummy chew vitamins and vitamin sprays. Even as these new forms may provide a better taste, the other issue at hand is actually reinforcing the good habit of using a daily vitamin. If the habit of taking a daily vitamin can be positively reinforced, then a child will be more likely to continue to use a daily dose of medication throughout their life. The voice activated information of the present invention provides positive reinforcement to children each time they take their vitamins.

The object of the present invention is to provide an interactive medicant container. The present invention is a bottle enclosure and a cap that are used to house a medicant pill, powder, gel, liquid, and/or spray. The bottle enclosure features an audio messaging system with pre-recorded sound clips, where the sound clips can provide important information about the medicant, including but not limited to dosage, frequency, interactions, and complications, to the user of the present invention. The rotatable cap, which can be readily twisted to reveal the nozzle or the opening of the inserted container, is engaged with the bottle enclosure. The rotatable cap is also detachable from the bottle enclosure such that a replacement bottle can be inserted into the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention in the closed position, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the present invention taken along line C-C of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the present invention in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention in the closed position, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the present invention taken along line A-A of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottle enclosure of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the bottle enclosure of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the bottle enclosure of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the bottle enclosure of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is a cross section view of the bottle enclosure taken along line B-B of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the cap of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the cap of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the cap of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is a cross section view of the cap taken along line A-A of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the present invention in the closed position, wherein the medicant spray container is hidden within the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the present invention in the closed position, wherein the medicant spray container that is shown with the broken lines is hidden within the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the present invention in the opened position, wherein the medicant spray container that is shown with the broken lines is partially hidden within the present invention as the nozzle exits through the nozzle opening of the cap.

FIG. 19 is a basic electric diagram of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is an apparatus for voice messaging medicant container that comprises a bottle enclosure 1, a cap 2, and an audio messaging system 3. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottle enclosure 1 and the cap 2 encapsulate a medicant spray container; however, the bottle enclosure 1 and the cap 2 can be used with any other type of spray container. Additionally, the bottle enclosure 1 and the cap 2 can be designed to hold any other type of bottle or similar structures with different volumes. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is intended for the medicant spray container to be a metered spray container, although a non-metered spray container can be used within the present invention. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shaped into a cylindrical body, but the present invention is not only limited to the cylindrical body and can be shaped into any other type of geometric shapes. In reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the bottle enclosure 1 and the cap 2 are rotatably engaged with each other in between an opened position 4 and a closed position 5 so that the medicant spray container can be fully covered within the present invention.

In reference to FIG. 7-FIG. 11, the bottle enclosure 1 that covers the bottom half of the medicant spray container comprises a base plate 11, a plurality of holes 12, a first divider plate 13, a second divider plate 14, a lateral wall 15, a plurality of radial extrusions 16, an inner lip 17, and at least one female opening 18. The bottle enclosure 1 is a thin-wall member and made from light weight materials that can withstand constant pressure. Even though the present invention is preferably made from plastic, any other type materials can be used manufacture the present invention, which includes, but is not limited to, metal, composite material, and glass. The lateral wall 15 is perimetrically connected around the base plate 11 from one end in such way that the lateral wall 15 creates an opening from the opposite end. The plurality of holes 12 is traversed through the base plate 11 so that the sound from the audio messaging system 3 can be freely traveled through the bottle enclosure 1. The plurality of holes 12 in the present invention can be any size or shaped opening as long as the plurality of holes 12 are able to optimize the sound emitting process. The first divider plate 13 is connected to the lateral wall 15, where the first divider plate 13 is positioned within the lateral wall 15 and adjacent to the base plate 11. The second divider plate 14 is connected to the lateral wall 15, where the second divider plate 14 is positioned within the lateral wall 15 in such way that the second divider plate 14 is adjacently positioned with the first divider plate 13 opposite from the base plate 11. The plurality of radial extrusions 16 is connected along the lateral wall 15, where the plurality of radial extrusions 16 provides a guide for the placement of the medicant spray container. More specifically, the plurality of radial extrusions 16 is positioned within the lateral wall 15 in such way that the plurality of radial extrusions 16 adjacently positions with the second divider plate 14 opposite from the first divider plate 13. The at least one female opening 18 is helically traversed into the lateral wall 15. More specifically, the at least one female opening 18 is positioned within the lateral wall 15 in such way that the at least one female opening 18 is adjacently positioned with the plurality of radial extrusions 16 opposite from the second divider plate 14. The helically positioned at least one female opening 18 can be oriented in a clockwise or counter-clockwise spiral, where one does not precede the other. The inner lip 17 is perimetrically connected on the lateral wall 15. More specifically, the inner lip 17 is positioned within the lateral wall 15 and adjacently positioned with the at least one female opening 18 opposite from the plurality of radial extrusions 16. The inner lip 17 prevents the cap 2 from inadvertently being removed, yet allows the user to remove the cap 2 if needed. The inner lip 17 should form a secure connection with the cap 2 as to provide a level of childproofing for the present invention.

In reference to FIG. 12-FIG. 15, the cap 2 that covers the top half of the medicant spray container comprises a top rim 21, a nozzle opening 22, a grip sleeve 23, a locking sleeve 24, a bottom rim 25, and at least one male protrusion 26. The cap 2 of present invention protects the nozzle of the medicant spray container and prevents the nozzle from inadvertently being pressed. All of the components of the cap 2 are preferably made from plastic or any other type similar materials such as, metal, composite material, and glass. The grip sleeve 23, which provides necessary grip surface to the cap 2 so that the users are able to rotate the cap 2, is perimetrically connected around the top rim 21. More specifically, the users of the present invention can grip the cap 2 through the grip sleeve 23 so that the cap 2 can be rotated in between the opened position 4 and the closed position 5. The grip sleeve 23 may comprise an engraved pattern into the outer surface or a separate piece of material adhered to the outer surface so that the friction between the grip sleeve 23 and the user's fingers can be maximized. If the grip sleeve 23 comprises the separate piece of material, then it may be adhered to the outer surface of the grip sleeve 23 using any type of adhesive material. The nozzle opening 22 is concentrically positioned on the top rim 21, where the nozzle opening 22 allows the cap 2 to extend and retract around the nozzle of the medicant spray container. More specifically, the proper alignment between the medicant spray container and the bottle enclosure 1 is provided by the plurality of radial extrusions 16 so that the nozzle opening 22 of the cap 2 is able to properly align with the nozzle of the medicant spray container. The locking sleeve 24 is perimetrically connected along the grip sleeve 23 opposite from the top rim 21, where the locking sleeve 24 extends and retracts from the bottle enclosure 1 as the cap 2 rotates in between the opened position 4 and the closed position 5. The bottom rim 25 is positioned on the locking sleeve 24 opposite from the top rim 21, where the top rim 21, the grip sleeve 23, the locking sleeve 24, and the bottom rim 25 create a thin-wall structure throughout the cap 2. The at least one male protrusion 26 is connected on the locking sleeve 24, where the at least one male protrusion 26 is positioned in between the grip sleeve 23 and the bottom rim 25. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one male protrusion 26 is an extrusion with a circular cross-section; however, it could be any other shaped member as long as the at least one male protrusion 26 is able to engage with the at least one female opening 18 so that the bottle enclosure 1 and the cap 2 are able to rotatably engage with each other.

Since the at least one male protrusion 26 rotatably engaged with the at least one female opening 18, the cap 2 can extend and retract in between the opened position 4 and the closed position 5 within the present invention. More specifically, the at least one male protrusion 26 tracks along the at least one female opening 18 so that the cap 2 can be extended or retracted from the bottle enclosure 1, where the rotational direction of the cap 2 is determined by the clockwise or the counter-clockwise orientation of the at least one female opening 18. In reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 16, and FIG. 17, the present invention is considered to be in the closed position 5 when the bottom rim 25 is adjacently positioned with the inner lip 17, and the locking sleeve 24 is visible atop the bottle enclosure 1. Additionally, the cap 2 covers the nozzle of the medicant spray container as it prevents access to the nozzle of the medicant spray container. In reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 18, the present invention is considered to be in the opened position 4 when the grip sleeve 23 is adjacently positioned with the inner lip 17, and the locking sleeve 24 is completely hidden within the bottle enclosure 1. Then the nozzle of the medicant spray container is revealed through the nozzle opening 22 so that the users of the present invention can access the medicant spray container. In order to compensate for the movement of the cap 2, the diameter of the locking sleeve 24 comprises a small diameter than the diameter of the lateral wall 15. Additionally, the cap 2 and the bottle enclosure 1 can be separated from each other when the medicant spray container needs to be changed or refilled.

In reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 19, the audio messaging system 3 comprises a printed circuit board 31, a battery 32, a speaker 33, and a switch 34, where the printed circuit board 31, the battery 32, the speaker 33, and the switch 34 are electrically connected with each other to complete the audio messaging system 3. The printed circuit board 31 is capable of storing a prerecorded audio clip of any size. It is also possible for any other type of storage device to be used to store the prerecorded audio clip. The prerecorded audio clip of the present invention can include, but is not limited to, information about medicine dosage, medicine frequency, interactions, medical complications, indications, and inspirational messages. The printed circuit board 31 is also able to execute the commands within the audio messaging system 3 so that the prerecorded audio clip can be played through the present invention. A programmable chip within the printed circuit board 31 can be updated by a two way transmitter/receiver when needed with reference to prescription changes, different audio messages, or any other related messages. The battery 32 is ideally a button battery; however, it may be any other type of battery as long as the battery 32 is able to power the audio messaging system 3. If a rechargeable battery 32 is utilized within the present invention, then a battery charger slot may also be integrated into the bottle enclosure 1 so that the rechargeable battery 32 can be recharged though an external power source. If a non-rechargeable battery 32 is utilized within the present invention, then a compartment access panel may also be integrated into the bottle enclosure 1 so that the drained non-rechargeable battery 32 can be replayed with a new non-rechargeable battery 32. Both the printed circuit board 31 and the battery 32 are positioned in between the first divider plate 13 and the second divider plate 14. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the speaker 33 is piezoelectric speaker; however, the speaker 33 may be any other sound emitting device within the present invention. The speaker 33 is positioned in between the first divider plate 13 and the base plate 11 adjacent to the plurality of holes 12. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the switch 34 is a membrane switch; however, the present invention may use any other type of switch. The switch 34 is adjacently positioned with the at least one female opening 18. More specifically, the switch 34 can be either manually activated by the users or automatically activated through the cap 2 as the switch 34 is traversed though the lateral wall 15. In order to manually activate the switch 34, the users need to press the switch 34 from outside, where the switch 34 completes the electrical circuitry of the audio messaging system 3 and plays the prerecorded audio clip through the speaker 33. When the cap 2 is at the opened position 4, the bottom rim 25 of the cap 2 automatically activates the switch 34. More specifically, the bottom rim 25 completes the electrical circuit of the audio messaging system 3 as the switch 34 is activated by the position of the bottom rim 25, playing the prerecorded audio clip through the speaker 33.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the bottle enclosure 1 comprises a first half and a second half such that it is longitudinally divided into two equal or near equal portions. The first half and second half may be secured to one another using a snap fit connection or using any other type of locking mechanism. This configuration allows the user to access the printed circuit board 31 and the battery 32 so that the printed circuit board 31, the programmable chip, and the battery 32 can be accessed for maintenance, replacement, etc.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the cap 2 can be automatically extended or retracted. More specifically, an activation switch is located on the lateral wall 15 of the bottle enclosure 1 so that the activation switch can operate an electric motor that operates the up and down motions of the cap 2. For example, when the activation switch is pressed once, the cap 2 retracts into the opened position 4 that opens the nozzle of the medicant spray container. When the activation switch is pressed again, the cap 2 is extended into the closed position 5 that covers the nozzle of the medicant spray container. The activation switch and the electric motor may both be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 31 such that power is supplied to the electric motor through the battery 32; however, the activation switch and electric motor can also be connected to a separate secondary battery and/or a secondary printed circuit board.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for voice messaging medicant container comprises:

a bottle enclosure;

a cap;

an audio messaging system;

the bottle enclosure comprises a base plate, a plurality of holes, a first divider plate, a second divider plate, a lateral wall, a plurality of radial extrusions, an inner lip, and at least one female opening;

the cap comprises a top rim, a nozzle opening, a grip sleeve, a locking sleeve, a bottom rim, and at least one male protrusion;

the audio messaging system comprises a printed circuit board, a battery, a speaker, and a switch; and

the bottle enclosure and the cap being rotatably engaged with each other in between an opened position and a closed position by the at least one female opening and the at least one male protrusion.

2. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the lateral wall being perimetrically connected around the base plate from an end;

the plurality of holes traversing through the base plate;

the first divider plate being connected to the lateral wall;

the first divider plate being positioned within the lateral wall;

the first divider plate being adjacently positioned with the base plate;

the second divider plate being connected to the lateral wall;

the second divider plate being positioned within the lateral wall; and

the second divider plate being adjacently positioned with the first divider plate opposite from the base plate.

3. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the plurality of radial extrusions being connected along the lateral wall;

the plurality of radial extrusions being positioned within the lateral wall; and

the plurality of radial extrusions being adjacently positioned with the second divider plate opposite from the first divider plate.

4. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the at least one female opening helically traversing into the lateral wall;

the at least one female opening being positioned within the lateral wall; and

the at least one female opening being adjacently positioned with the plurality of radial extrusions opposite from the second divider plate.

5. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the inner lip being perimetrically connected on the lateral wall;

the inner lip being positioned within the lateral wall; and

the inner lip being adjacently positioned with the at least one female opening opposite from the plurality of radial extrusions.

6. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the grip sleeve being perimetrically connected around the top rim;

the nozzle opening being concentrically positioned on the top rim;

the locking sleeve being perimetrically connected along the grip sleeve opposite from the top rim;

the bottom rim being positioned on the locking sleeve opposite from the top rim;

the at least one male protrusion being connected on the locking sleeve; and

the at least one male protrusion being positioned in between the grip sleeve and the bottom rim.

7. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the at least one male protrusion being rotatably engaged with the at least one female opening.

8. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the bottom rim being adjacently positioned with the inner lip within the closed position.

9. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 7, wherein the grip sleeve being adjacently positioned with the inner lip within the opened position.

10. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the switch being adjacently positioned with the at least one female opening;

the printed circuit board and the battery being positioned in between the first divider plate and the second divider plate;

the speaker being positioned in between the first divider plate and the base plate adjacent to the plurality of holes; and

the switch, the printed circuit board, the battery, and the speaker being electrically connected to the each other.

11. An apparatus for voice messaging medicant container comprises:

a bottle enclosure;

a cap;

an audio messaging system;

the bottle enclosure comprises a base plate, a plurality of holes, a first divider plate, a second divider plate, a lateral wall, a plurality of radial extrusions, an inner lip, and at least one female opening;

the cap comprises a top rim, a nozzle opening, a grip sleeve, a locking sleeve, a bottom rim, and at least one male protrusion;

the audio messaging system comprises a printed circuit board, a battery, a speaker, and a switch;

the lateral wall being perimetrically connected around the base plate from an end;

the plurality of holes traversing through the base plate;

the first divider plate being connected to the lateral wall;

the first divider plate being positioned within the lateral wall;

the first divider plate being adjacently positioned with the base plate;

the second divider plate being connected to the lateral wall;

the second divider plate being positioned within the lateral wall;

the second divider plate being adjacently positioned with the first divider plate opposite from the base plate; and

the bottle enclosure and the cap being rotatably engaged with each other in between an opened position and a closed position by the at least one female opening and the at least one male protrusion.

12. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the plurality of radial extrusions being connected along the lateral wall;

the plurality of radial extrusions being positioned within the lateral wall; and

the plurality of radial extrusions being adjacently positioned with the second divider plate opposite from the first divider plate.

13. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the at least one female opening helically traversing into the lateral wall;

the at least one female opening being positioned within the lateral wall; and

the at least one female opening being adjacently positioned with the plurality of radial extrusions opposite from the second divider plate.

14. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the inner lip being perimetrically connected on the lateral wall;

the inner lip being positioned within the lateral wall; and

the inner lip being adjacently positioned with the at least one female opening opposite from the plurality of radial extrusions.

15. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the grip sleeve being perimetrically connected around the top rim;

the nozzle opening being concentrically positioned on the top rim;

the locking sleeve being perimetrically connected along the grip sleeve opposite from the top rim;

the bottom rim being positioned on the locking sleeve opposite from the top rim;

the at least one male protrusion being connected on the locking sleeve; and

the at least one male protrusion being positioned in between the grip sleeve and the bottom rim.

16. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the at least one male protrusion being rotatably engaged with the at least one female opening.

17. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the bottom rim being adjacently positioned with the inner lip within the closed position.

18. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the grip sleeve being adjacently positioned with the inner lip within the opened position.

19. The apparatus for voice messaging medicant container as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the switch being adjacently positioned with the at least one female opening;

the printed circuit board and the battery being positioned in between the first divider plate and the second divider plate;

the speaker being positioned in between the first divider plate and the base plate adjacent to the plurality of holes; and

the switch, the printed circuit board, the battery, and the speaker being electrically connected to the each other.