Auxiliary container for physical association with conventional medication container

Abstract

An auxiliary container (10) adapted for unintrusive coupling with a conventional medication container (12), such as pill bottle, cream tube, or spray can, wherein the auxiliary container (10) provides an independent storage space (26) which does not require breaking a seal of, removing, or replacing an existing lid (70) or cap of the conventional container (12). In one contemplated use, for example, the auxiliary container (10) is used to store small doses of a supplementary medication (14), such as aspirin, in close association with a primary medication (e.g., a heart medicine such as nitroglycerine), such that both are conveniently available and accessible for immediate use. In a preferred first embodiment, the auxiliary container (10) broadly comprises a body (16); a lid (18); a closure mechanism (20); and a coupling mechanism (22).

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to medication containers. More particularly, the invention relates to an auxiliary container adapted for unintrusive coupling with a conventional medication container, such as, for example, a pill bottle, cream tube, or spray can, with the auxiliary container providing an independent storage compartment for a supplementary medication, such as, for example, aspirin, or similar contents, wherein coupling the auxiliary container with the conventional container does not require breaking a seal of, removing, or replacing an existing lid or cap of the conventional container or otherwise exposing its contents.[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art[0004] It is often desirable to have small doses of a supplementary medication conveniently available and accessible for immediate use, possibly in conjunction with use of a primary medication. For example, arterial occlusion during a heart attack results from platelet aggregatio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In operation, a user simply couples the auxiliary container with the conventional container using the coupling mechanism. Regardless of the type of coupling mechanism used, it is not necessary to unseal, remove, or replace the conventional container's original lid, thereby eliminating potentially damaging exposure of the contents of the conventional container. It will be appreciated that, depending on the coupling mechanism used, the auxiliary container is potentially usable with any size or type of conventional container, thereby reducing manufacturing and inventory costs by requiring fewer versions than the replacement lids or caps of the prior art. The user then fills the auxiliary container and closes the lid to engage the closure mechanism, thereby securing the lid and preventing loss or exposure of the contents. Thereafter, the contents are available for immediate use whenever and wherever the conventional container is present, without the burden of carrying a separate large container, such as, for example, a large aspirin bottle, or the loss or contamination risk associated with loosely carrying individual pills or doses.

Problems solved by technology

One reason for this may be the inconvenience of having to carry a separate bottle of aspirin in addition to one or more bottles of the patients' other medication(s).

Unfortunately, though this results in less carrying inconvenience, the small tablets are easily misplaced or lost or are otherwise not immediately accessible when needed.

Furthermore, where the supplementary medication is carried loosely, an undesirable or unsafe risk of contamination may arise.

In certain cases, such exposure can be highly undesirable.

Sublingual nitroglycerin tablets, for example, can lose potency if exposed for repeated or prolonged periods of time.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that such a replacement lid or cap must be dimensioned to fit a particular size or type of bottle, thereby requiring that an impractically large variety of such lids or caps be manufactured.

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