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

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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