Patent Application
20250136333
Containers for holding and dispensing medications and the like typically come in one of several forms. For example, a plastic bottle with a child-protective cap may be used. As another example, individual doses of medication may be sealed in “blister packs” of plastic, foil, or other materials that allow a patient to dispense a single dose of medication while leaving unused doses sealed in the original package.
Embodiments disclosed herein provide containers suitable for holding and dispensing medications, vitamins, supplements, and the like, though the use of devices disclosed herein is not limited thereto. A container as disclosed herein may be fabricated at least in part from a recyclable material such as paper, cardstock, cardboard, or the like. The material may be coated or otherwise treated to provide waterproofing or otherwise prevent or reduce the ability of water or other external material to penetrate the container, and/or to prevent or reduce other environmental damage. Containers disclosed herein also may include various locking mechanisms that prevent the containers from being opened unless first placed in a specific arrangement and/or unless a user actively disengages the mechanism.
Containers disclosed herein may be formed from a cylindrical body, to which a locking adapter may be secured via one or more pressure-based or interlocking components that connect the adapter to the cylindrical body. The adapter may include a removable cap, for example to allow for filling the device. The removable cap may be child-proof, child-resistant, or the like, as is known in the art. For example, the cap and locking adapter may feature any suitable pressure interlock mechanism that requires a downward force on the cap to allow the cap to rotate and/or to be removed from the locking adapter.
In some embodiments, the locking adapter may not be removable, or may not be readily removable by a patient or other end user, unless/until a release tab is pulled. For example, as previously disclosed, the friction connection between the locking adapter and the cylindrical body may be sufficiently high that the two cannot be separated without damaging or destroying one or both components. Referring to
As previously disclosed, this embodiment also may include one or more buttons 1, which may be disposed on one or more connecting arms as shown. Embodiments disclosed herein may include any number of connecting arms, some or all of which may include buttons. It may be preferred to use two connecting arms, though any number may be used. In some embodiments, the side buttons 1 may be depressed to allow for removal of the locking adapter from the cylindrical body, either alone or in conjunction with a release tab 5 as previously disclosed.
As previously disclosed, a locking adapter as disclosed herein may deform the cylindrical body, for example into an ovaloid shape, such that it passes over the side buttons and connecting arms. In some embodiments, the locking adapter may have a transitional area 7 where the tube can stay outside the body, thereby allowing for easier insertion of the connecting arms, buttons, and surrounding areas of the locking adapter. For example, the transition area 7 may have an outer surface that is curved as shown, i.e., with a convex portion oriented toward the cylindrical body and pressing against the interior of the cylindrical body, instead of being vertical or essentially parallel to the sides of the cylindrical body. The transitional area may extend around the entire circumference of the locking adapter, or it may be present only on a portion of the circumference.
Still referring to
Embodiments disclosed herein may allow for the use of materials other than conventional plastic in medication containers and other similar containers. This may provide various benefits over conventional plastic containers. For example, oral medications typically are only tested for thermal stability up to 40 C/104° F. to demonstrate stability at room temperature. However, shipping and transit of medications, which is becoming more popular and more common, can result in medications experiencing temperatures above this range. For example, when medications are shipped in delivery trucks, shipping containers, or the like, or when they are awaiting delivery or pickup such as at a loading dock, storage area, house porch, or the like, they may be subjected to much higher temperatures. It has been found that the use of a paper-based cylindrical body as disclosed herein results in a much lower temperature change. Table I shows experimental data showing the temperature changes over time for a paper tube and locking adapter as disclosed herein, a conventional plastic container, and a comparison to the ambient environment. Over the test runs, the average temperature rose from 67.25° to 115.928° F. The paper tube showed an internal temperature change of 17.778° less than ambient and 11.928° less than the plastic tube; the plastic tube exhibited an average internal change only 5.85° less than ambient. The paper tube device on average and in each test results in a much lower temperature change than the conventional tube. Embodiments disclosed herein may provide containers including a locking adapter and cylindrical body which, when attached, exhibit a temperature rise of not more than about 95-100° F., inclusive of any intermediate value, when placed in an ambient temperature of greater than 114-117° F. Alternatively or in addition, the container may exhibit a temperature change of 10-20° less than a concurrent rise in ambient temperature. For example, if the ambient temperature increases by 60°, the internal temperature of the container may increase by only 40-50°.
Embodiments disclosed herein may have any suitable dimensions, such as outer diameter, total height, height of the cylindrical body, and the like. It may be preferable for the maximum dimensions not to exceed the standard dimensions of conventional plastic medication bottles typically used in pharmacies to fill prescriptions, to allow for use in existing infrastructure.
The locking adapter disclosed herein may be fabricated from virgin plastic or recycled content plastic. The holes used for the side buttons 1 also may vary, though it may be preferred for the shape of the holes to be oblong or pill-shaped to allow for maximized edge-to-edge contact so that the joint cannot be twisted out of place.
The embodiments shown and described herein are illustrative and embodiments according to the invention disclosed herein may include additional features and/or may exclude various features shown and described that are optional or otherwise not required to implement the devices disclosed herein.
This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/545,955, filed Oct. 27, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63545955 | Oct 2023 | US |
