Patent Application
20220153491
The present invention relates to a pill box, especially to a lockable and moisture-proof pill box.
A pill box has multiple compartments for storing scheduled doses of medications, so as to prevent or reduce medication errors on the part of the patient.
A conventional pill box substantially comprises a container and multiple lids. An interior of the container is divided into multiple compartments. The lids selectively cover the compartments respectively. Each of the lids has a connecting end edge and a distal end edge oppositely defined on the lid. The connecting end edge of the lid is pivotally connected with the container. The distal end edge of the lid is able to detachably engage with the container, so as to close a corresponding one of the compartments. When the distal end edge of the lid disengages from the container, the lid can be opened relative to the container, such that pills in a corresponding one of the compartment can be taken out.
However, since most kinds of the pills are deliquescent and thus are spoilt easily, it is important to provide a sealing structure between the container and each lid. In addition, the container and the lids are made of rigid plastic material. When the lids are in a closed position to close the compartments, the lids are slightly deformed and bent. When the distal end edge of the lid disengages from the container, the lid spring open due to the force generated by the deformation of the lid. Accordingly, the lid cannot be completely opened and an opening angle of the lid relative to the container is not sufficient for a user to take the pills. Consequently, it is inconvenient to take the pills out from the compartment. In addition, the lids are easily damaged because the lids are deformed and bent at the closed position most of the time.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a lockable and moisture-proof pill box to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
The main objective of the present invention is to provide a lockable and moisture-proof pill box. The lockable and moisture-proof pill box has a storing base, at least one lid, and at least one sealing and pushing member.
The storing base has at least one compartment, at least one mounting groove, and at least one first locking protrusion. The at least one compartment is defined in the storing base. Each of the at least one compartment forms an opening on an upper surface of the storing base. The at least one mounting groove is formed in the upper surface of the storing base. Each of the at least one mounting groove is disposed around the opening of a corresponding one of the at least one compartment. The at least one first locking protrusion is formed on and protrudes from a front wall of the storing base. Each of the at least one first locking protrusion corresponds in position to a corresponding one of the at least one compartment.
The at least one lid is pivotally mounted on the storing base. Each of the at least one lid has a rear end pivotally connected to the rear wall of the storing base, a sealing groove formed in an inner surface of the lid, and a second locking protrusion. The second locking protrusion is formed on and protruding from a front end of the lid and selectively engages with a corresponding one of the first locking protrusion of the storing base.
The at least one sealing and pushing member is elastic. Each of the at least one sealing and pushing member has a sealing ring and a pushing bar. The sealing ring is mounted in a corresponding one of the mounting groove of the storing base and protrudes out of the corresponding mounting groove.
The pushing bar extends from the sealing ring and protrudes toward and abuts against the inner surface of a corresponding one of the at least one lid. The sealing ring and the pushing bar are integrally formed as a single part. When the lid pivots to a close position to close a corresponding one of the at least one compartment, the sealing ring that is disposed around the corresponding compartment further protrudes into the sealing groove of the lid.
With the at least one sealing and pushing member mounted between the storing base and the at least one lid, the at least one compartment in the storing base can be airtightly sealed by the sealing ring when being closed, so as to prevent the pills, such as medicines or vitamins, in the at least one compartment from being spilt. Moreover, each of the at least one lid can be automatically opened by push of the pushing bar. Thus, a user can take the pills held in the compartment easily and conveniently. Furthermore, since the sealing ring and the pushing bar are integrally formed as a single part, it is simple for a manufacturer to assemble the at least one lid onto the storing base.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The a storing base 10 has an upper surface, a front wall 11A, a rear wall 12, an additional front wall 11B, at least one compartment 13, at least one mounting groove 14, and at least one first locking protrusion 15.
The front wall 11A and the rear wall 12 are oppositely defined on the storing base 10. The additional front wall 11B is separately formed in front of the front wall 11A, such that a gap is defined between the front wall 11A and the additional front wall 11B. The at least one compartment 13 is defined in the storing base 10 for holding pills inside the pill box. Each of the at least one compartment 13 forms an opening on the upper surface of the storing base 10.
The at least one mounting groove 14 is formed in the upper surface of the storing base 10. Each of the at least one mounting groove 14 is annular and is disposed around the opening of a corresponding one of the at least one compartment 13. The at least one first locking protrusion 15 is formed on and protrudes from the front wall 11A of the storing base 12. Each of the at least one first locking protrusion 15 corresponds in position to a corresponding one of the at least one compartment 13.
As shown in
The front end of the lid 20 is positioned toward the front wall 11A of the storing base 10. The rear end 21 of the lid 20 is positioned toward and is pivotally connected to the rear wall 12 of the storing base 10. The inner surface 22 of the lid 20 faces a corresponding one of the at least one compartment 13. The sealing groove 23 is annular and is formed in the inner surface of the lid 20.
With further reference to
With reference to
As shown in
As shown in
Preferably, the storing base 10 further has at least one insertion socket 16 formed on the rear wall 12 of the storing base 10. Each of the at least one socket 16 is disposed in a corresponding one of the at least one compartment 13. A lower end of the pushing bar 32 of each sealing and pushing member 30 is inserted into a corresponding one of the at least one insertion socket 16, such that the pushing bar 32 is stably mounted on the storing base 10.
With reference to
The limiting button 41 is pivotally mounted to the additional front wall 11B of the storing base 10 and has an abutting protrusion 411. The abutting protrusion 411 is formed on an upper end of the limiting button 41 and protrudes toward the front wall 11A of the storing base 10.
With further reference to
The two holding arms 421 separately extend toward the limiting button 41. As shown in
The at least one stop protrusion 422 selectively abuts on an inner surface of the additional wall 11B of the storing base 10. As shown in
As shown in
The lockable and moisture-proof pill box as described has the following advantages. With the at least one sealing and pushing member 30 mounted between the storing base 10 and the at least one lid 20, the at least one compartment 13 in the storing base 10 can be airtightly sealed by the sealing ring 31 when being closed, so as to prevent the pills, such as medicines or vitamins, in the at least one compartment 13 from being spilt. Moreover, each of the at least one lid 20 can be automatically opened by push of the pushing bar 32. Thus, a user can take the pills held in the compartment 13 easily and conveniently. Furthermore, since the sealing ring 31 and the pushing bar 32 are integrally formed as a single part, it is simple for a manufacturer to assemble the at least one lid onto the storing base 10.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
