Container having a contents volume indicator
AssigneeExpress Scripts Strategic Development, Inc.
InventorPeter A. Rosomoff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aspect of the present disclosure is related to a medication container that includes a receptacle with an interior, a bottom wall, and an open top. A refill indicator is disposed in the interior of the receptacle and in contact with the bottom wall and extends towards the open top. The refill indicator has a top surface. A plurality of pills are disposed in the receptacle, and a pill count of the pills is greater than a predetermined notification pill count such that at least one of the pills contacts the top surface of the refill indicator. The refill indicator is sized and shaped such that the top surface is free of pills when the pill count is at or is less than the notification pill count to notify a user that a refill may be necessary.
Claims12
A medication container, comprising:
- a receptacle having a bottom wall and an open top and at least one side wall and an interior;
- a refill indicator disposed in the interior of the receptacle and in contact with the bottom wall extending towards the open top, the refill indicator having an annular shape and having an inner wall that surrounds a notification volume;
- the bottom wall and the at least one side wall and the refill indicator together defining a single pill chamber that can hold pills within the receptacle for both storage and removal;
- a plurality of pills disposed in the single pill chamber within the receptacle, a pill count of the plurality of pills being greater than a non-zero predetermined notification pill count that can fit in the notification volume such that at least one of the plurality of pills at least partially covers the top surface of the refill indicator;
- the top surface being angled downwardly towards the inner wall to guide pills on the top surface towards the notification volume;
- wherein the predetermined notification pill count is a predetermined supply of pills for a patient so that the patient can obtain more pills prior to the pill count reaching zero;
- and
- wherein the refill indicator has a cut to allow the refill indicator to be compressed when it is inserted through the open top of the receptacle.
A medication container, comprising:
- a receptacle having a bottom wall and an open top and at least one side wall and an interior;
- a refill indicator disposed in the interior of the receptacle and in contact with the bottom wall extending towards the open top, the refill indicator having an annular shape and having an inner wall that surrounds a notification volume;
- the bottom wall and the at least one side wall and the refill indicator together defining a single pill chamber that can hold pills within the receptacle for both storage and removal;
- a plurality of pills disposed in the single pill chamber within the receptacle, a pill count of the plurality of pills being greater than a non-zero predetermined notification pill count that can fit in the notification volume such that at least one of the plurality of pills at least partially covers the top surface of the refill indicator;
- the top surface being angled downwardly towards the inner wall to guide pills on the top surface towards the notification volume;
- wherein the predetermined notification pill count is a predetermined supply of pills for a patient so that the patient can obtain more pills prior to the pill count reaching zero;
- wherein the refill indicator has a cut to allow the refill indicator to be compressed when it is inserted through the open top of the receptacle;
- wherein the refill indicator is made as a separate piece from the receptacle;
- and
- wherein the refill indicator has an outer wall that is biased against a sidewall of the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.