IP Library Granted Patent US 8,298,174
Granted Patent B2
US 8,298,174 · App. 12/721,055 · Granted Oct 30, 2012

Apparatus to assist with pill ingestion

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,298,174
App. No.
12/721,055
Granted
Oct 30, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus for connection to a bottle to assist with pill ingestion includes a generally cylindrical hollow base portion manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size for insertion into a mouth of such bottle. A mechanism is disposed at a predetermined location on such base portion for sealingly engaging such base portion to an interior surface of such mouth of such bottle. A generally cylindrical hollow top portion is operably connected to such base portion closely adjacent an upper end of such base portion, such top portion is manufactured from a second predetermined material and has a second predetermined size and includes an open top end. A mesh material is fixedly disposed at a predetermined location within one of such base portion and such top portion for supporting at least one pill thereon.

Claims (16)

1. An apparatus for connection to a bottle to assist with pill ingestion comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical hollow base having each of inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, a bottom end and an upper end;

b. a means disposed at a predetermined location on said base portion for sealingly engaging said base portion to an interior surface of such mouth of such bottle;

c. a generally cylindrical hollow top portion operatively connected to said base portion closely adjacent said upper end thereof;

d. an annular flange disposed on an outer peripheral surface of said apparatus in abutting engagement with a rim of the bottle;

e. a mesh member fixedly disposed in a plane being generally transverse to a length of said base portion in close proximity to said bottom end of said base portion;

f. a first annular abutment disposed on an outer surface of said top portion, and

g. a cover including:

(i) a generally round base,

(ii) a peripheral wall upstanding on said generally round base, said peripheral wall is sized so as to receive said top portion therewithin,

(iii) a peripheral gap defined between an outer surface of said top portion and an inner surface of said peripheral wall of said cover,

(iv) a ring upstanding on an inner surface of said base of said cover, said ring is so sized that an outer surface thereof is disposed in close proximity to an inner surface of said top portion,

(v) a second annular abutment disposed on an inner surface of said peripheral wall of said cover in direct contact with said first annular abutment, wherein said first and second annular abutments are disposed within said peripheral gap, and

(vi) an elongated strap having a first end thereof attached to an outer surface of said peripheral wall and having an opposite second end thereof attached to said top portion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for sealingly engaging said base portion to an interior surface of such mouth of such bottle includes three annular sealing fins disposed in spaced apart relationship along a length of said base portion on said outer peripheral surface thereof, each of said three annular sealing fins has a different outer diameter, wherein said mesh is disposed in general alignment with a bottom one of said three annular sealing fins when said apparatus is inserted into the bottle.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes a plurality of axial ribs disposed on inner peripheral surfaces of at least one of said base portion, said top portion and combination thereof.