Gravity Timer Reset Mechanism

A medicine container timing apparatus, comprising:

• a) a container having a top opening;
• b) said container including a tilt switch, the tilt switch having
• i) a housing having an inner bottom wall surface, and an inner peripheral wall surface that extends upwardly from a periphery of the inner bottom wall surface and that confines a channel therein, the channel having an upper region disposed above a lower region when the tilt switch is oriented in an upright direction,
• ii) a first electric contact terminal and a second electric contact terminal, the first and second electric contact terminals spaced apart from each other and disposed within the upper region of the channel,
• iii) a gravity response member composed of conductive material within the channel, the gravity response member capable of engaging both the first and second electric contact terminals simultaneously to close the circuit between them when the tilt switch is tilted at an angle exceeding a predetermined actuation angle;
• c) an electronic timer in electrical connection with the tilt switch, the electronic timer capable of resetting a time of occurrence of an event on a time display;
• and,
• d) a cap capable of covering the top opening of the container,
• wherein the cap includes a supporting flange adapted to extend into the channel between the gravity response member and the first and second electric contact terminals,
• whereby the supporting flange extends into the channel and prevents the gravity response member from engaging the first and second electric contact terminals when the cap covers the top of the container and the tilt switch is tilted at the angle exceeding the predetermined actuation angle, thereby preventing resetting the time of occurrence of the event on the time display.

A method for determining the last time a patient has removed medication from a medicine container, the method comprising:

• a) providing a medicine container timing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
• a container having a top opening;
• the container including a tilt switch, the tilt switching having a housing having an inner bottom wall surface, and an inner peripheral wall surface which extends upwardly from a periphery of the inner bottom wall surface and which confines a channel therein, the channel having an upper region disposed above a lower region in an upright direction;
• a first electric contact terminal and a second electric contact terminal, the first and second electric contact terminals spaced apart from each other and disposed within the upper region of the channel;
• a gravity response member within the channel, a gravity response member within the channel, the gravity response member capable of applying an actuation force to the first and second electric contact terminals, the actuation force resulting from gravity acting on the gravity response member when the tilt switch is tilted at an angle exceeding a predetermined actuation angle thereby causing the first and second electric contact terminals to contact each other;
• an electronic timer in electrical connection with the tilt switch, the electronic timer capable of resetting a time of occurrence of an event on a time display;
• a cap capable of covering the top opening of the container, wherein the cap includes a supporting flange adapted to extend into the channel between the gravity response member and first and second electric contact terminals;
• b) removing the cap;
• c) tilting the tilt switch at an angle exceeding the predetermined actuation angle;
• d) applying the actuation force against the first and second electric contact terminals;
• e) generating an indication of time relating to a time of occurrence of tilting the tilt switch.