US20070170199A1

US20070170199A1 - Worry elimination dosage dispenser

Info

Publication number: US20070170199A1
Application number: US11/212,136
Authority: US
Inventors: Debbie York
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-17
Filing date: 2006-01-17
Publication date: 2007-07-26

Abstract

A device for dispensing non-liquid (capsules, pills, or tablets) prescription medication from as many as eight (8) separate compartments is loaded by a pharmacist who sets the time for the medication to be dispensed. At the programmed time, a clock mechanism activates a miniature switch that engages a pin to release a trapdoor allowing the medication to drop thru a flue from the compartment into a collection dish. As the trapdoor closes, a time-delay relay is activated allowing another dosage to drop onto the trapdoor for the next timed dosage release.

Description

B. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

“Not Applicable”

C. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVOLOPMENT

“Not Applicable”

D. THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

“Not Applicable”

E. INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

“Not Applicable”

F. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention: Dispenser of Prescription medication.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and CFR 1.98:
The treatment of some illnesses make it necessary to orally ingest non-liquid prescription medication at specific intervals.
A major purpose of the present invention is to provide the general public with a battery powered device in which as many as eight-(8) different prescription medications are housed in a single plastic container and at the pre-programmed time the medication is deposited into a single collection dish ready to be ingested.
Unknown to me at the time of creation of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser but, in existence is U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,900 being held by Berigoj K. Stambuk. Issued Jul. 13, 1976.
Stambuk 3,968,900 is powered by electricity. This invention, the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser is battery powered. This eliminates the dependency on electricity in order to operate the device.
Stambuk 3,968,900 calls for plastic balls to house medications. These plastic balls would add additional cost to manufacture and require pharmacist a great deal of time to load. This invention, requires non-liquid medications be loaded directly into the storage compartment of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser. This would not incur additional cost and would be no more additional work for the pharmacist than loading non-liquid medications into a plastic prescription medicine bottle. I believe this invention, the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser to be new, original and patentable.
A major intent of the invention is the greatly reduced number of accidental overdose's that occur because individuals become confused and can not remember if they have taken their prescription dosage of medication.
Another intent of the invention is the reduction of lawsuits that occur because of unintentional overdoses.
A further intent of the device is to dispense up to eight prescription medications to an individual at timed intervals, not necessarily being equal, but as prescribed by a physician.
A still further intent of the device is the reduction in time required for staff to sort individual medications in hospitals, rest homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, private homes etc. . . . This device and the single monthly filling by a pharmacist would eliminate that need.

G. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser serves to greatly reduce the number of accidental overdoses of prescription medications and likewise greatly reduce the number of lawsuits filed for accidental overdoses. The device will hold up to one months supply of eight different non-liquid prescription medications. The medication will be loaded into the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser by a pharmacist. The pharmacist will be the only person who can open the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser using a universal key. This would eliminate the average citizen from “mixing” their medication and would also eliminate the average citizen from “self doctoring”. The Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser will house a clock mechanism set as a timer which will be pre-programmed by the pharmacist. When the pre-set time for medication arrives the timer will activate and the required dosage will fall through a trap door, through a flue and into a collection dish. When a citizen sees there is medication in the collection dish they will know that they have medication to take or if empty, they can see they have already taken their prescribed dosage of medication. This will eliminate citizens from becoming confused and taking an accidental overdose.

H. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(s)

FIG. One (1)is an isometric view of the device;
FIG. two (2) is a front view of the device;
FIG. three (3)is a top view of the device.

I. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser will be manufactured of plastic. A light-weight material, which maintains its strength and form over a long life span. The device itself and its internal elements will be molded to form the cylindrical shape, the eight individual compartments, the top, which contains the eight hinged lids, the hinged lids themselves, the legs for the base of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser and the collection dish. The eight individual locks located at the rim of the top of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser will be molded plastic as well as a universal key capable of opening any and all Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser. The clock mechanism located on the exterior of each of the eight (8) individual compartments will be capable of being programmed only by a pharmacist.
The Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser is a device that is capable of housing one months supply of up to eight different non-liquid prescription medications. It is cylindrical in shape. The A-top of the device contains B-Hinged Lids. One hinged lid is located directly over each of the eight compartments that houses the one months supply of non-liquid prescription medication.
A pharmacist will load the month's supply of medication through B-Hinged Lid and into C-one of the eight individual storage compartments which house the months supply of prescription medication until use. One storage compartment for up to eight (8) different prescription medications. Located on the top exterior rim of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser and containing one each of the eight (8) compartments is D-Universal Lock. This lock can only be opened by a pharmacist. Its purpose is to keep the B-Hinged Lids secured to prevent citizenry from opening the B-Hinged Lids and mixing their prescription medication or taking the medications and amounts of medications they want to take which may not necessarily be the quantities the doctor has prescribed. (“self doctoring”).
Also, located on the exterior of each of the eight C-individual storage compartments is a E-Clock Mechanism. The E-Clock Mechanism will be set by a pharmacist to dispense a prescribed dosage of medication from each of the C-Storage Compartments. Each C-Storage Compartment has its own E-Clock Mechanism. This is in order for the pharmacist to program each individual compartment to dispense the called for amount of prescription medication at the appropriate time.
One medication may need to be ingested twice a day while another may require four dosages. The E-Clock Mechanism allows each of the eight-(8) compartments to dispense as necessary.
At the pre-programmed time the correct dosage of each prescription medication will fall from the C-Storage Compartment through a F-Trap Door and then through a G-Flue and into I-Collection Dish. Two molded H-Plastic Legs, one located on either side of the cylindrical shaped device are to support the body of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser and keep it stationary over the collection dish located directly underneath. The purpose of the G-Flue will be to control the fall of the prescription medication from the C-Storage Compartment into the I-Collection Dish. The prescription medication would be collected in I-Collection Dish until it is retrieved by an individual. If there is medication in the I-Collection Dish a citizen will know they have medication to ingest or, if empty they will know they have not already taken their dosage. The Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser will be a tremendous asset in hospitals, nursing homes, rest homes and other assisted living centers as well as in private homes in dispensing medication for patients/citizens. This will eliminate the need for someone to sort medications for numerous patients or for an elderly or incapable person.

Claims

1. A device for storing one months supply of up to eight different non-liquid prescription medications. At the desired time interval a prescription dosage of medication drops through its individual storage compartment and into a collection dish for retrieval. The device includes:

A. A Plastic Top that fits permanently on the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser in which openings for the hinged lids are located and through which non-liquid prescription medications are loaded into the storage compartment by a pharmacist.

B. A Hinged Lid through which non-liquid prescription medications are loaded into the device.

C. Eight individual compartments molded into a single Storage Compartment in which up to eight-(8) different non-liquid prescription medications are housed.

D. A Universal Lock located at the top rim of each of the eight individual compartments that make up the storage unit of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser. Only a pharmacist can open the lock using a universal key.

E. A Clock Mechanism located on the front of each of the eight individual compartments that make up the storage compartment of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser. The number of clocks programmed on each device coincides with the number of non-liquid prescription medications the pharmacist has loaded into the individual storage compartment(s). Each Clock Mechanism is programmed by the pharmacist to dispense the correct dosage of prescription medication out of the storage compartment via a trap door, through a flue and into a collection dish.

F. A Trap Door located at the base of each of the individual storage compartments of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser. The purpose is to release the pre-programmed amount of non-liquid prescription medication that has been released out of the Storage Compartment and allow it to fall into a flue.

G. Flue which allows a programmed amount of non-liquid prescription medication to fall into a collection dish. The flue acts to control the fall of non-liquid prescription medication into a collection dish.

H. Two molded plastic legs, one located on either side of the cylindrical shaped device are to support the body of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser and keep it stationary over the collection dish located directly underneath.

I. Collection Dish is located directly underneath the body of the Worry Eliminator Dosage Dispenser. Its purpose is to collect the non-liquid prescription medication as it falls from the storage compartment, through the trap door, through a flue and then into the collection dish where it remains until it is retrieved by a patient or health care professional.