Device and method for indicating scheduled doses
View Patent ↗A reminder device can be attached to the bottom of a medicine container that has a cap. The reminder device has an indicator rotatably mounted on a base in order to rotate and indicate a scheduled event. The base adhesively or frictionally engages the bottom of the container opposite the cap. The base may have an opening for engaging the bottom of the medicine container. Along some transverse plane within the opening, the opening may be shaped to engage the container along most of its periphery. A user can adjust the indicator on the base to indicate a scheduled event when medicine is ingested.
1. A reminder device adapted for attachment to a medicine container, the reminder device comprising:
a base having an opening for frictionally engaging the bottom of a container, the base along some transverse plane within the opening being shaped to engage the container along most of its periphery, the base having an outer recess and a grip-enhancing periphery, the base having a flat surface for stably supporting the base and the container; and
an indicator rotatably mounted in the recess so as not to extend beyond the flat surface in order to rotate and indicate a scheduled event, the base being arranged to engage the container to allow the indicator to rotate relative to the base without causing the base to rotate relative to the container, the reminder device having an encircling plurality of indicia and an encircled plurality of indicia, the indicator being arranged to indicate at least one from (a) the encircling plurality of indicia, and (b) the encircled plurality of indicia.
2. A reminder device according to claim 1 , wherein the grip-enhancing periphery includes a knurled flange.
3. A reminder device according to claim 1 , wherein the base has a grip-enhancing elastomeric coating.
4. A reminder device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the encircling plurality and the encircled plurality of indicia signify a time of day and the other one of the encircling plurality and the encircled plurality of indicia signify a day of the week.
5. A reminder device according to claim 1 , wherein the indicator comprises a disc.
6. A reminder device according to claim 5 , wherein the disc has an axle, and the base has a hole therein for rotatably holding the axle.
7. A reminder device according to claim 5 , wherein the base has an axle, and the disc has a hole therein for rotatably engaging the axle.
8. A reminder device according to claim 5 , wherein the disc has a window for viewing the encircled plurality of indicia.
9. A reminder device according to claim 8 , wherein the disc has a radial pointer for pointing to one of the encircling plurality of indicia, the encircled plurality of indicia being selectively exposed by the window on the disc.
10. A reminder device according to claim 1 , wherein the base has opposite the opening an outside face providing a support platform for stably holding the container erect.
11. A reminder device according to claim 10 , wherein the platform has an outside diameter exceeding the inside diameter of the opening, so that the container with the reminder device installed has a larger footprint and is less likely to tip.
12. A reminder device according to claim 10 , wherein the recess containing the indicator is sized to prevent the indicator from projecting beyond the platform.
13. A reminder device according to claim 12 , wherein the recess has a floor surrounded by a wall marked with the encircling plurality of indicia.
14. A reminder device according to claim 1 , wherein the opening has an inside surface adapted for force fitting onto the container.
15. A reminder device according to claim 14 , wherein the inside surface of the opening has a profile allowing most of the inside surface to touch the container.