US20080257776A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20080257776A1
Application number: US11/810,178
Authority: US
Inventors: Renee G. Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-20
Filing date: 2007-06-05
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Also published as: WO2008153535A1

Abstract

A medicine container organizer. An illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer includes an organizer receptacle, an organizer insert provided in the organizer receptacle, a plurality of medicine container openings provided in the organizer insert and an organizer lid provided on the organizer receptacle.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/913,244, filed Apr. 20, 2007 and entitled, “Medicine Box Organizer”.

FIELD

The present invention relates to medicine containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a medicine container organizer which facilitates organized storage of medicine containers.

BACKGROUND

Medicine containers are common receptacles for medications such as pills, tablets, capsules and the like. A typical medicine container has a generally elongated, cylindrical shape. A detachable circular cap is typically provided on the medicine container. Multiple pills, tablets, capsules or other medication are contained in the medicine container. A label is typically provided on the medicine container to identify the medicine contained therein and typically includes dosage and expiration information. When it is necessary to store and/or transport multiple medicine containers, lack of a suitable storage facility or carrier for the containers frequently results in disorganization, loss and/or misplacement of the containers.

SUMMARY

The present invention is generally directed to a medicine container organizer. An illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer includes an organizer receptacle, an organizer insert provided in the organizer receptacle, a plurality of medicine container openings provided in the organizer insert and an organizer lid provided on the organizer receptacle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an organizer receptacle element of an illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, with an organizer insert having multiple medicine container openings of generally the same size provided in the organizer receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the organizer receptacle element of the illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer illustrated inFIG. 1, with the organizer insert provided in the organizer receptacle and multiple medicine containers inserted in the respective medicine container openings provided in the organizer insert;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of an organizer receptacle element of an illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, with the organizer insert (not shown inFIG. 3) inserted in the organizer receptacle and multiple medicine containers of various sizes inserted in the organizer insert and extending from the organizer receptacle;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, with an organizer lid provided on the organizer receptacle;

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of an organizer receptacle element of an alternative illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, with an organizer insert having multiple medicine container openings of various sizes provided in the organizer receptacle;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the organizer receptacle element of the illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer illustrated inFIG. 5, with multiple medicine containers of various sizes inserted in the medicine container openings, respectively;

FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of an illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, more particularly illustrating insertion of an organizer insert into the organizer receptacle and placement of the organizer lid on the organizer receptacle;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer illustrated inFIG. 7, with the organizer insert (shown in phantom) inserted in the organizer receptacle, the organizer lid placed on the organizer receptacle and multiple medicine containers (shown in phantom) inserted into respective medicine container openings provided in the organizer insert;

FIG. 9 is an exploded side view of an alternative illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, more particularly illustrating insertion of an organizer insert of alternative design into the organizer receptacle and placement of the organizer lid on the organizer receptacle;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer illustrated inFIG. 9, with the organizer insert (shown in phantom) inserted in the organizer receptacle, the organizer lid placed on the organizer receptacle and multiple medicine containers (shown in phantom) inserted into respective medicine container openings provided in the organizer insert;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of an organizer receptacle element of an illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, with an organizer insert having a pair of medicine container openings of generally the same size and a large medicine container opening provided in the organizer receptacle; and

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an organizer receptacle element of an illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, with an organizer insert having four medicine container openings of generally the same size provided in the organizer receptacle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially toFIGS. 1-4,7 and8 of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the medicine container organizer, hereinafter organizer, is generally indicated byreference numeral1 inFIGS. 4,7 and8. Theorganizer1 includes anorganizer container2 which may have a generally square or rectangular shape, as illustrated. In other embodiments, theorganizer container2 has a generally circular, triangular or other polygonal shape. Theorganizer container2 may be any type of rigid or semi-rigid material. Examples of materials which are suitable for theorganizer container2 include any of various types of plastic, PLEXIGLASS®, wood, metal or straw. In some embodiments, the interior surfaces of theorganizer container2 are overlaid or covered with a material such as satin, velvet, leather or silk (not illustrated), for example.

Theorganizer container2 of theorganizer1 includes anorganizer receptacle3. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-4, in embodiments in which theorganizer container2 has a generally square or rectangular shape, theorganizer receptacle3 has a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apartreceptacle side panels4; a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apartreceptacle end panels5 extending between thereceptacle side panels4; and a generally square or rectangularreceptacle bottom panel6 provided on bottom edges (not labeled) of thereceptacle side panels4 and thereceptacle end panels5. Thereceptacle side panels4,receptacle end panels5 andreceptacle bottom panel6 of theorganizer receptacle3 define a receptacle interior7.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, in some embodiments of theorganizer1, areceptacle lip10 extends outwardly from upper edges (not labeled) of thereceptacle side panels4 and thereceptacle end panels5. Thereceptacle lip10 typically includes a generallycurved lip flange11 which extends outwardly from thereceptacle side panels4 andreceptacle end panels5. Alip rim12 extends outwardly from thelip flange11. In some embodiments, areceptacle tab14 extends outwardly from thelip rim12 of thereceptacle lip10.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, theorganizer container2 further includes anorganizer lid16 which is detachably fitted on theorganizer receptacle3. In some embodiments, theorganizer lid16 is pivotally attached to theorganizer receptacle3 according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In embodiments in which theorganizer container2 has a generally square or rectangular shape, theorganizer lid16 includes a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apartlid side panels17; a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apartlid end panels18 which extend between thelid side panels17; and a lidtop panel19 which is provided on top edges (not labeled) of thelid side panels17 and thelid end panels18. As illustrated inFIG. 7, thelid side panels17, lid end panels18 (one of which is illustrated) and the lidtop panel19 of theorganizer lid16 define alid interior20. In some embodiments, alid lip21 extends from bottom edges (not labeled) of thelid side panels17 and thelid end panels18. Thelid lip21 is typically complementary in shape to that of thereceptacle lip10 of theorganizer receptacle3 and engages thereceptacle lip10 in a snap-fit to detachably attach theorganizer lid16 to theorganizer receptacle3. As illustrated inFIG. 4, in some embodiments, alid tab22 extends outwardly from thelid lip21 of theorganizer lid16. As further illustrated inFIG. 4, when theorganizer lid16 is fitted on theorganizer receptacle3, thelid tab22 on theorganizer lid16 is typically generally adjacent to or overlaps thereceptacle tab14 on theorganizer receptacle3.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1,2,7 and8, anorganizer insert26 is provided in thereceptacle interior7 of theorganizer receptacle3. In some embodiments, the organizer insert26 is detachable with respect to thereceptacle interior7. Theorganizer insert26 may be any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material including but not limited to any of various types of plastic, PLEXIGLASS®, wood and metal. As illustrated inFIGS. 7 and 8, in some embodiments theorganizer insert26 includes a generally planar, solid or continuousbottom insert panel27; a pair of generally spaced-apart, parallelside insert panels28 which extend from thebottom insert panel27; and a generally planartop insert panel29 which is provided on theside insert panels28. Thetop insert panel29 is disposed in generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship with respect to thebottom insert panel27. Aninsert space30 is defined between thebottom insert panel27 and thetop insert panel29. As illustrated inFIG. 8, when theorganizer insert26 is inserted in thereceptacle interior7 of theorganizer receptacle3, thebottom insert panel27 of the organizer insert26 rests on or generally adjacent to thereceptacle bottom panel6 of theorganizer receptacle3. Thetop insert panel29 of theorganizer insert26 is disposed generally midway between thereceptacle bottom panel6 and thereceptacle lip10 of theorganizer receptacle3.

Multiplemedicine container openings31 extend through thetop insert panel29 of the organizer insert26 in a selected pattern or arrangement. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments themedicine container openings31 include multiplemedicine container openings31ahaving generally the same diameter. Themedicine container openings31amay be arranged in a grid-type matrix pattern having multiple intersecting rows and columns, as illustrated, or may be arranged in any suitable alternative pattern.

As illustrated inFIGS. 2-4,7 and8, in typical application, theorganizer1 containsmultiple medicine containers34 in an organized and accessible manner. Eachmedicine container34 may be the conventional type which is typically plastic and has a generally elongated, cylindrical configuration. Adetachable container cap35 is provided on eachmedicine container34. As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, in some embodiments, amedicine label36 is provided on thecontainer cap35 of eachmedicine container34. On themedicine label36 is printed such information as identifying, dosage and/or expiration date information of the pills, tablets, capsules or other medication (not illustrated) contained in themedicine container34.

Theorganizer lid16 is initially detached and removed from theorganizer receptacle3. This can be accomplished by, for example, grasping and pulling thereceptacle tab14 and thelid tab22 away from each other. With theorganizer insert26 inserted in thereceptacle interior7 of theorganizer receptacle3, themultiple medicine containers34 are inserted through the respectivemedicine container openings31 provided in thetop insert panel29 of theorganizer insert26. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the bottom portion of eachmedicine container34 extends through theinsert space30 and themedicine container34 rests on and is supported by thebottom insert panel27 of theorganizer insert26. In the example illustrated inFIGS. 2-8,medicine containers34a having generally the same or similar diameters are inserted through the respectivemedicine container openings31aprovided in theorganizer insert26, although themedicine containers34amay vary in height, as illustrated inFIG. 8. Themedicine containers31 may be organized in theorganizer insert26 in any desired placement or arrangement, such as in alphabetical order according to the medication or the time at which the medication is to be taken throughout the day, for example. In some embodiments, the identifying information provided on each of the cap labels36 enables a user to readily identify the medication which is contained in each of themedicine containers34.

Under circumstances in which theorganizer1 is to be used in a home setting, theorganizer lid16 can remain detached from theorganizer receptacle3. Therefore, themedicine containers34 can be readily accessed from theorganizer insert26 without the need to first detach and remove theorganizer lid16 from theorganizer receptacle3 each time. Under circumstances in which theorganizer1 is to be used during travel, or in the event that it becomes necessary to transport the organizer I to a hospital emergency room with the user's medications organized in theorganizer insert26, theorganizer lid16 is typically closed on theorganizer receptacle3 to prevent themedicine containers34 from inadvertently falling from theorganizer insert26 during transport.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theorganizer1 facilitates organization ofmultiple medicine containers34 of a user in any arrangement or format which facilitates expeditious identification and selection of the medication contained in each of themedicine containers34. Furthermore, in emergency medical situations theorganizer1 can be transported to a hospital emergency room or other location for medical emergency services to inform physicians which medications are being taken by the user prior to formulation of a medical diagnosis and treatment. Hospitals can use theorganizer1 to store the user's medications during hospitalization of the user, who can subsequently use theorganizer1 at home after discharge from the hospital. The typical size and configuration of theorganizer1 renders theorganizer1 suitable for storage in a home or office drawer (not illustrated) or on a countertop or cabinet (not illustrated), for example. Theorganizer1 can be used by physicians to store and display medication samples. Families can use theorganizer1 to differentiate between medications of family members and easily separate medications of family members on vacations, for example.

Referring next toFIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, additional illustrative configurations for themedicine container openings31 are illustrated. InFIG. 11, an organizer insert26bhaving a pair of small- or regular-sizedmedicine container openings31band one large-sizedmedicine container opening31cis illustrated. InFIG. 12, anorganizer insert26chaving fourmedicine container openings31aof selected and typically similar diameter is illustrated.

Referring next toFIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, an alternative illustrative embodiment of the organizer1aincludes anorganizer insert40 having a generally flat orplanar insert panel41. Multiplemedicine container openings31 of selected diameter extend through theinsert panel41 in a selected pattern. In some embodiments of the organizer1a,multiplemedicine container openings31aof generally equal diameter extend through theinsert panel41, as was heretofore described with respect toFIGS. 1 and 2. In other embodiments, multiple small-sized or regular-sizedmedicine container openings31band multiple large-sizedmedicine container openings31cextend through theinsert panel41, as was heretofore described with respect to the organizer insert26aofFIGS. 5 and 6. In still other embodiments, the diameters and arrangements of themedicine container openings31 provided in theinsert panel41 of theorganizer insert40 approximate the diameters and arrangements of themedicine container openings31 which were heretofore described with respect toFIGS. 11 and 12.

A continuous panel groove8 (illustrated in phantom) is provided in the interior surfaces of thereceptacle side panels4 and thereceptacle end panels5 of theorganizer receptacle3aof the organizer1a.In some embodiments, thepanel groove8 is provided generally midway between the receptaclebottom panel6 and thereceptacle lip10. Theinsert panel41 of theorganizer insert40 is detachably inserted or snap-fitted into thepanel groove8. Typical use of the organizer1ais as was heretofore described with respect to theorganizer1 illustrated inFIGS. 1-4,7 and8. Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG. 10,multiple medicine containers34acan be inserted through the respectivemedicine container openings31aprovided in theinsert panel41 of theorganizer insert40 in a selected order or arrangement.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A medicine container organizer, comprising:

an organizer receptacle;

an organizer insert provided in said organizer receptacle and having a generally solid and continuous bottom insert panel, a pair of side insert panels extending from said bottom insert panel, a top insert panel provided on said pair of side insert panels and a plurality of medicine container openings extending through said top insert panel; and

an organizer lid provided on said organizer receptacle.

2. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 1 further comprising a receptacle lip provided on said organizer receptacle.

3. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 2 wherein said receptacle lip comprises a generally curved lip flange and a lip rim extending from said lip flange.

4. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 2 further comprising a lid lip extending from said organizer lid.

5. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 1 further comprising a receptacle tab provided on said organizer receptacle.

6. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 1 further comprising a lid tab provided on said organizer lid.

7. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 1 wherein said plurality of medicine container openings are of generally equal diameter.

8. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 1 wherein said plurality of medicine container openings are of generally unequal diameter.

9. A medicine container organizer, comprising:

an organizer receptacle having a pair of spaced-apart receptacle side panels, a pair of spaced-apart receptacle end panels extending between said receptacle side panels and a receptacle bottom panel provided on said receptacle side panels and said receptacle end panels;

an organizer insert provided in said organizer receptacle and having a generally solid and continuous bottom insert panel generally adjacent to said receptacle bottom panel, a pair of side insert panels extending from said bottom insert panel, a top insert panel provided on said pair of side insert panels and a plurality of medicine container openings extending through said top insert panel; and

an organizer lid provided on said organizer receptacle.

10. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 9 further comprising a receptacle lip extending from said receptacle side panels and said receptacle end panels of said organizer receptacle.

11. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 10 wherein said receptacle lip comprises a generally curved lip flange and a lip rim extending from said lip flange.

12. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 10 further comprising a lid lip extending from said organizer lid.

13. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 9 further comprising a receptacle tab provided on said organizer receptacle and a lid tab provided on said organizer lid.

14. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 9 further comprising a plurality of medicine containers inserted through said plurality of medicine container openings, respectively.

15. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 14 further comprising a plurality of container caps provided on said plurality of medicine containers, respectively.

16. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 15 further comprising a plurality of medicine labels provided on said plurality of container caps, respectively.

17. A medicine container organizer, comprising:

a continuous panel groove provided in said receptacle side panels and said receptacle end panels of said organizer receptacle;

an organizer insert having an insert panel inserted in said panel groove and a plurality of medicine container openings extending through said insert panel; and

an organizer lid provided on said organizer receptacle.

18. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 17 further comprising a receptacle lip having a generally curved lip flange extending from said receptacle side panels and said receptacle end panel and a lip rim extending from said lip flange.

19. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 18 wherein said organizer lid comprises a pair of spaced-apart lid side panels, a pair of spaced-apart lid end panels extending between said lid side panels and a lid top panel provided on said lid side panels and said lid end panels, and further comprising a lid lip extending from said lid side panels and said lid end panels.

20. The medicine container organizer ofclaim 19 further comprising a receptacle tab extending from said receptacle lip and a lid tab extending from said lid lip in generally adjacent relationship with respect to said receptacle tab.