BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container provided with the compliance aid device,
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a container provided with the compliance aid device according to a further embodiment,
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the first part of the compliance aid device, and
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the container having a piece of the lid as well as a piece of the hollow body cut out showing details on the compliance aid device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the container for solids or liquids provided with a compliance aid device according to the present invention. The container 1 comprises a hollow body 2 which holds the content, a closure 3 which cooperates with the body to close the container and a compliance aid device 4, 5 for indicating the time at which the last dose was taken or when the next dose is due. The compliance aid device comprises a movable first part 4 and a fixed second part 5 provided on the hollow body. The first part 4 is in one embodiment of the invention partly arranged on the inside of the hollow body 2 and partly through the wall of the container such that it becomes exposed to the user. The first part 4 is movable in relation to the hollow body. The second part 5 of the compliance aid device is a time indicia means and can be an integrated part of the container or hollow body. The second part is normally positioned in the vicinity of the first part. The second part 5 of the compliance aid device can also be a means provided onto the container or hollow body, such as for example a label. In FIG. 1 the second part can be seen as a relief sign in the material of the hollow body indicating the days of the week and markings in between the days indicating different times of the day, i.e. morning, afternoon or evening.
In FIG. 2, a further embodiment of the second part 5 is shown and it is in the form of a label on the surface of the hollow body 2. The label is provided with signs indicating the time which the last dose was taken or when the next dose is due, i.e. days and/or hours or the like. Further, the second part 5 may also show size of the dose to be taken, i.e. number of tablets. Providing the second part as text, numerals or signs on a label to be attached on the container wall has several advantages. Firstly, suitable time indicia means, e.g. dose intervals may be chosen from a great number of possibilities. Secondly, one single container can be used for different products, i.e. medicines and an appropriate label is chosen to fit the dose intervals of a specific product and/or patient in question. The second part 5 can also be a combination of indicia means integrated in the hollow body and a label provided with the time indicia means.
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the first part in which the first part 4 is a circular indicator wheel with a plurality of teeth 6 arranged around its circumference. The portion of the indicator wheel 4 exposed to the user is further provided with an indicator 8 for pointing at the intended time indication provided on the second part. The indicator 8 is an arrow or other appropriate symbol provided in the material of the indicator wheel, for example as a groove in the material, a projection in the material or a printed symbol. The shape, size and positioning of the teeth 6 depends of course on the form and size of the container onto which the first part is to be placed.
In FIG. 4 the first part 4 of the compliance aid device is shown in more details through openings cut out from the container material. The periphery portion 6, i.e. the teeth of the indicator wheel 4 is arranged on the inside of the hollow body 2 to engage with a protruding member 9 underneath the closure 3 and the central portion of the indicator wheel is arranged through the wall of the container such that it becomes exposed to the user. The indicator wheel 4 is arranged and mounted through the wall of the container 1 such that the wheel is slided into an integrated slot in the moulded hollow body. The slot has an opening in the top through which the wheel is inserted. The exact positioning of the wheel is given by an indentation in the hollow body. The central portion of the wheel protruding through the hollow body is slightly convex and has a relatively snug fit into the indentation but which fit allows it to rotate and move into new indicating positions. The central portion of the indicator wheel further functions as the wheels rotation axis and enables for a more integrated design with few number of components and more effective assembly process as only a small number of components are involved. In the vicinity of the protruding member 9 a support member 7 is provided also underneath the closure. A reverse block 10 is provided in the hollow body to ensure that the indicator wheel can move in only one direction. If for some reason the compliance aid device has been moved to a new indication position by mistake, or if there is a need to reset the indicator, the user can correct this by moving the first part to the correct position manually, i.e. by hand when the closure is in an open position.
The function of the compliance aid device will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. The closure 3 of the container is opened by pressing the button 11 on top of the container and simultaneously sliding the closure in the direction of the arrow seen on the top of it and then flipping up the closure. The protruding member 9 located underneath the closure engages with a tooth 6 of the indicator wheel 4. As the closure is slided out the protruding member 9 pushes the tooth and thus the wheel is in the shown embodiment moved anti-clockwise a certain distance to a new indicating position. The support member 7 stabilises and supports the protruding member 9 as it engages with a tooth 6 of the indicator wheel for pushing the wheel forward. The container is now ready to be flipped opened and the user can take out a dose. Upon closing the container, the protruding member 9 will again engage with a tooth 6 of the indicator wheel. The protruding member will bend slightly to be able to pass the tooth 6 when the closure is moved back to a closed position. The indicator wheel will remain its position gained when the closure was opened as it is locked by a reverse block 10 provided in the hollow body. Thus, the wheel is only free to move in one direction. In the shown embodiments, the first part of the compliance aid device is moved upon opening of the closure. However, it will be understood that the first part of the compliance aid device can also be arranged to instead be moved upon closing of the container closure.
Further, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments but can be modified in many different ways without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080000799
