Container cover

Abstract

A cover for a container having contents to be dosed at predetermined intervals, the cover being configured to indicate a next dose time based on a previous dose time and comprising: a marked portion having discrete markings corresponding to dose times; and an indicator portion comprising at least two visual indicators, wherein the marked portion and the indicator portion are rotatably securable relative to one another to align a first visual indicator with a first marking of the marked portion to indicate a previous dose time, thereby aligning a second visual indicator with a second marking of the marked portion to indicate a next dose time.

Description

[0001] Container cover

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] Disclosed herein is a cover for a container that may have contents to be dosed at predetermined intervals. The cover may comprise a container closure for closing the container; alternatively, the cover may be securable to an existing closure of the container. The cover is configured to visually indicate dose times.

[0004] Backa round

[0005] Most medicines typically have a recommended dosing protocol. For example, a specific amount of the medicine (15mL, two tablets etc.) may be recommended to be taken no more frequently than once per predetermined time interval, such as every four or six hours.

[0006] However, it can be difficult and cumbersome to keep track of when the last dose of a medicine was, and mistakes regarding when a previous dose time was administered can impact when one believes the next dose time should be. Errors in timekeeping can inadvertently delay the next dose time, or, perhaps more problematically, bring the next dose time too close to the previous dose time and this can pose various health risks.

[0007] The issue of recording or remembering previous dose times can be particularly sensitive and difficult when it comes to the minding of children, especially if a child is to be minded by two or more people across different time intervals, such as between parents, guardians, babysitters and the like. For example, before a parent leaves a sick child to another guardian, the parent might have already given their child a dose of a particular medicine from their personal medicine cabinet and forget to inform the guardian that the dose occurred and / or forget when the previous dose occurred. Noticing the symptoms of the sick child, the guardian may then find themselves accessing the medicine cabinet to yet again give the sick child a dose of the same medicine, perhaps at a time that is too close to the previous dose time. There is a need to address the above, and / or at least provide a useful alternative.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover for a container having contents to be dosed at predetermined intervals, the cover being configured to indicate a next dose time based on a previous dose time and comprising: a marked portion having discrete markings corresponding to dose times; and an indicator portion comprising at least two visual indicators, wherein the marked portion and the indicator portion are rotatably securable relative to one another to align a first visual indicator with a first marking of the marked portion to indicate a previous dose time, thereby aligning a second visual indicator with a second marking of the marked portion to indicate a next dose time.

[0009] It is envisaged that the indicator portion may be at least partially securable over the marked portion. In certain examples, each marking may comprise a number corresponding to a time of day.

[0010] The cover may further comprise a toggle for indicating whether the previous dose time was ante meridiem or post meridiem. In at least one embodiment, the indicator portion comprises a third visual indicator for indicating an alternate next dose time.

[0011] In certain embodiments, each visual indicator comprises an opening through which the discrete markings of the marked portion can be seen. It is also envisaged that the indicator portion may be configured to obscure the discrete markings that are not aligned with the respective visual indicators of the indicator portion.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the marked portion is removably securable over a closure of the container. In yet other embodiments, the marked portion comprises a closure for the container.

[0013] It is envisaged that the marked portion may comprise a cap and the indicator portion may comprise a dial that is rotatable relative to the marked portion.

[0014] In other examples, the indicator portion may comprise a cap and the marked portion may comprise a dial that is rotatable relative to the indicator portion.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of determining a next dose time using a cover according to a first aspect of the present invention, comprising rotating the marked portion and the indicator portion relative to one another to align the first visual indicator with a first marking of the marked portion representative of the previous dose time, thereby aligning the second visual indicator with a second marking of the marked portion indicative of the next dose time.

[0016] Brief description of the drawinas

[0017] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] Fig. l is a front perspective view of a cover according to a first embodiment secured to a container via a lid thereof;

[0019] Fig. 2A is a top perspective view of a cover based on that of Fig. 1;

[0020] Fig. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the cover of Fig 2A;

[0021] Fig. 3 is a front perspective view of a cover according to a second embodiment adapted to close the container to which it is secured;

[0022] Fig. 4A is a top perspective view of a cover based on that of Fig. 3;

[0023] Fig. 4B is an exploded perspective view of the cover of Fig. 4A;

[0024] Fig. 5A is a top perspective view of a cover according to a third embodiment;

[0025] Fig. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the cover of Fig. 5A; and

[0026] Fig. 6 is a top perspective view of a cover according to a fourth embodiment. Detailed

[0027] Embodiments of the present cover for a container are configured to indicate a next dose time based on a previous dose time. The cover comprises a marked portionhaving discrete markings corresponding to dose times, along with an indicator portion comprising visual indicators which can be aligned with the discrete time markings of the marked portion. The marked portion and the indicator portion are configured to be rotatably securable relative to one another such that a user can align a first visual indicator of the indicator portion with a first marking of the marked portion indicative of a previous dose time. For example, after administering a dose or taking a dose oneself, the user may twist or rotate the indicator portion or the marked portion relative to the other to align a first visual indicator of the indicator portion to a marking of the marked portion indicative of the time that the dose was taken. The indicator portion also has at least one other visual indicator configured to align with another discrete marking of the marked portion indicative of a next dose time based on the previous dose time in respect of which the first visual indicator has been aligned. In other words, embodiments of the present cover are configured to automatically indicate a next dose time based on the previous dose time set by the user.

[0028] Figs. 1 to 2B show variations of a first embodiment of the present cover 2 which can be used with a bottle 4 that is closed by its own closure or lid 6. The depicted cover 2 is securable on and to the existing container lid 6 and may be removed therefrom for use with other compatible containers and lids thereof. To this end, the cover 2 comprises a marked portion in the form of a cap 8 which is configured to be removably secured to the lid 6 of the bottle 4. The depicted cap 8 has a generally cylindrical body formed to fit over the correspondingly cylindrical bottle lid 6; however, the cylindrical body is not continuous and comprises circumferential gaps or openings 10 via which a user can readily grip the lid 6 of the container 4 to effect removal thereof (e.g., via twisting) without needing to first remove the cover 2 from the container lid 6. In the depicted embodiment, the gaps 10 in the cap 8 are relatively substantial such that the body of the cap 8 can also be described as comprising two opposed and downwardly extending legs 12, each leg being spaced from the another via the respective gaps 10.

[0029] The depicted cap 8 is configured to be removably clippable to the container lid 6. To this end, a bottom portion of each downwardly extending leg 12 of the cap 8 comprises an inwardly protruding ledge 14 configured to clip beneath a bottom rim of the container lid 6. In use, the legs 12 may resiliency flex outwardly as the cap 8 is being applied over the lid 6 such that the inwardly protruding ledges 14 can latch beneath the rim of the lid 6, whereupon the legs 12 of the cap 8 automatically return to their unflexed state so as to retain the cover 2 to the container lid 6. To remove the cap 8 and thus the cover 2, a user can manually flex one or both legs 12 outwardly so that the cap 8 can be unclipped from the container lid 6.

[0030] Legs 12 may be omitted from cover2, so that the cover 2 is similarly configured to cover 102.

[0031] An upper portion of the cap 8 comprises a circular head 16, an upper face 18 of which is formed with discrete markings corresponding to dose times. In the depicted embodiment, the discrete markings are in the form of numbers 20 arranged clockwise around the perimeter of the upper face 18, each number 20 indicative of an hour of the day (e.g., like the circular arrangement of numbers on an analogue clock).

[0032] The presently disclosed cover 2 also comprises an indicator portion 22 that is rotatably securable to the cap 8. In the depicted embodiment, the indicator portion is in the form of a dial 22 which comprises at least two visual indicators 24, each of which is alignable with the underlying markings or numbers 20 of the cap 8 to visually indicate a next dose time based on a previous dose time set by the user. In the depicted embodiment, the dial 22 is in the form of a circular lid-like component configured to snap- fit to and over the circular head portion 16 of the cap 8. Once fitted, the dial 22 is configured to be rotatable, relative to the cap 8, such that the visual indicators 24 of the dial 22 can be manually aligned with the dose time markings 20 on the upper face 18 of the circular top portion 16 cap 8.

[0033] In the depicted embodiment, the dial 22 is generally opaque to visually obscure the markings 20 of the cap 8 therebeneath. The visual indicators 24 of the dial 22 are in the form of openings or through holes extending through the circular face 18 thereof such that the openings 24 do not obscure and thus visually reveal the markings 20 that are aligned therebeneath. As can be seen, the depicted dial 22 comprises three openings 24a-24c arranged in a fixed spatial relationship relative to one another in the circular face 18 of the dial 22 such that rotation thereof relative to the cap 8 correspondingly rotates all three openings 24a-24c of the dial 22. The dial 22 comprises a first opening 24a which a user can align with a previous dose time, and two more openings 24b, 24c arranged clockwise from the first opening 24a, indicative of next dose times. In the depicted example, a second opening 24b is indicative of a next dose time that is four hours after the previous dose time, and a third opening 24c is indicative of a next dose time that is six hours after the previous dose time. In use, after a dose has been taken, a user simply rotates the dial 22 such that the first opening 24a aligns with the time corresponding to when the dose was taken (e.g., 12PM) and the second and third openings 24b, 24c would consequently be moved to align with the next dose times (e.g., 4PM and 6PM), thereby visually indicating recommended next dose times to the user.

[0034] The present cover 2 can thus help prevent the inaccurate timing of medicinal doses. For example, when one wishes to administer or take a next dose from a container, one can simply read from the presently disclosed container cover 2 when the next dose ought to be. This can be particularly useful if the medicine is being administered to a child by different people at different times; e.g., the first person administering the dose can simply align the dial 22 as needed, and the next person administering the dose can readily tell when the next dose ought to be, even if the two persons do not communicate with one another regarding whether a previous dose was taken and at what time. The cover 2 also comprises a toggle 30 that can be manually operated to indicate whether the previous dose was ante meridiem (AM) or post meridiem (PM). To this end, the upper face 28 of the dial 22 may comprise markings indicative of AM or PM. For example, the markings may be in the form of the text (see the AM and PM text markings in Fig. 1) or illustrations (see the sun and moon markings in Fig. 2A) The toggle 30 comprises an indicator end 32 that can be moved between the markings indicative of AM and PM to indicate whether the previous dose was AM or PM.

[0035] In the depicted embodiment, the toggle 30 comprises a circular plugging portion 34 (see Fig. 2B) configured to be plugged through a central through hole 36 in the dial and an aligned and underlying central through hole 38 formed in the circular portion 16 of the cap 8; by plugging into both central through holes 36, 38, the toggle 30 helps secure the dial 22 to the cap 8. The plugging portion 34 is configured to be rotatable about a central axis thereof to enable the toggle 30 and thus indicating end 32 to be moved back and forth between the markings indicative of AM and PM. In the depicted embodiment, the upper surface 28 of the dial 22, adjacent to the central through hole 36 thereof, comprises a shallow recessed region 40 that defines and delimits the area within which the indicating end 32 of the toggle 30 can travel, thereby ensuring that the toggle 30 can only move to indicate AM or PM. Of course, in other embodiments, the discrete markings 20 could show time in a 24-hour format in which case the AM PM toggling functionality may not be necessary. Also, toggle 30 may take other forms and, for example, may slide or push down / pop up instead of rotate.

[0036] Figs. 3 to 4B show variations of a cover 102 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that similar or analogous features common to two or more embodiments are indicated herein by reference numerals separated by intervals of 100. In the depicted embodiment, the cover 102 also comprises a marked portion in the form of a cap 108, and an indicator portion in the form of a dial 122, however rather than the cap 108 being applied to the existing lid or closure of a container 104, the cap 108 of this embodiment functions as the lid or closure for the container 104. In the depicted embodiment, the cap 108 is in the form of a rotatable lid that closes over or to the neck of the bottle 104. As such, the cap 108 may be configured as necessary to seal or close the bottle 104 and may incorporate known tamper-proofing means and the like.

[0037] The cap 108 similarly comprises an upper circular portion 116, however, the numbered markings 120 are not on an upper surface of the cap 108 but arranged circumferentially around a sidewall 140 thereof. Correspondingly, the visual indicators 124 of the dial 122, depicted as openings or through holes, are formed in a circular sidewall 142 thereof to align with the underlying numbers 120 on the sidewall 140 of the cap 108. The dial 122 is depicted with three openings, a first opening 124a for indicating a previous dose time, a second opening 124b for indicating a next dose time (e.g., four hours after the previous dose time), and a third opening 124c for indicating a later or alternative next dose time (e.g. six hours after the previous dose time). In this embodiment, an upper face of the dial 122 may comprise a graphic or instructions (see Fig. 3) indicating to a user how to remove the cap 108 from the bottle 104 so that contents therein can be dosed.

[0038] The sidewall 142 of the dial 122 also comprises AM and PM markings and the cover 102 also comprises a toggle 130 to help indicate whether the previous dose was during AM or PM hours. In the depicted embodiment, the toggle 130 comprises a ring 144 that fits over and around the circular portion 116 of the cap 108 so as to be rotatable thereabout. The toggle 130 also comprises an indicating portion 146 which can be manually moved back and forth by rotating the ring 144 to point towards the AM or PM marking of the dial 122. To this end, the dial 122 is depicted with an opening or recess 148 between the AM and PM markings, the recess 148 being configured to receive and bound movement of the indicating portion 146 of the toggle 144 to limit movement of the indicating portion 146 of the toggle 130 to between the AM and PM ends of the recess 148.

[0039] Figs. 5A and 5B show a cover 202 according to a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the cover 202 also comprises a marked portion 208 with discrete markings 220 and an indicator portion 222 for visually indicating previous and next dose times. However, in contrast with previously described embodiments, it is the marked portion 208 of the present embodiment which functions as a dial 208 which is rotatable relative to the indicator portion 222. The indicator portion 222 is in the form of a disc-shaped cap 222 and is configured to sit on the underlying and rotatable marked dial 208.

[0040] The depicted embodiment also comprises an attachment portion 252 for securing over and / or to the lid of a container. The depicted attachment portion 252 is similar in form to the cap 8 of the first-described embodiment, and comprises a pair of downwardly extending and opposed legs 212, respective lower ends of which terminate in inwardly protruding ledges 214 configured to clip beneath a bottom rim of the container lid. However, in contrast to the cap 8 of the first embodiment, the circular head portion 216 of the present attachment is not configured with discrete markings, but instead comprises circumferentially disposed ramped features equispaced around the upper surface of the circular head portion, the ramped features engaging with complementarily shaped features in an underside of the marked cap to enable the marked portion to be rotated in an indexed manner. In use, the attachment portion of the depicted cover is secured to a container lid, wherein the upper disc-shaped indicator portion is rotationally locked to the attachment portion. To change the previous and thus next dose times indicated by the indicator portion through the openings thereof, it is the underlying marked dial portion that is indexingly rotated so as to alter the markings that are displayed through the openings of the indicating cap portion.

[0041] Fig. 6 shows a cover 302 according to a fourth embodiment comprising a marked portion sandwiched between an overlying indicator portion and a lower attachment portion configured to secure the cover to the container lid. In use, the upper indicator portion is rotationally locked to the lower attachment portion, and it is the marked portion that is rotated like a dial to align the markings thereof with the visual indicators of the indicator portion. In the depicted embodiment, the discrete markings of the marked dial are displayed like the 12 numbers of a clockface, and indicator portion is secured over a centre of the marked portion without visually obscuring the discrete markings thereof. The indicator portion comprises three visual indicators in the form of outwardly projecting arms or points configured to point at respective markings of the marked dial. In use, the marked dial is rotatable, relative to the attachment portion and the indicator portion, so that the markings thereof can be aligned with the appropriate visual indicators of the indicator portion so as to indicate previous and next dose times.

[0042] Many modifications of the above embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the dial could be configured with any number of different types of visual indicators. One such example might include a dial that is substantially transparent such that the underlying numbers can be seen therethrough, and wherein the dial comprises markings such as arrows thereon which can be directed to align with the underlying numbers.

[0043] It is also envisaged that the dial and underlying cap may engage with one another with an indexing means such that the dial can be lockingly indexed through the different hours. For example, with reference to Fig. 2B, a central region of the circular head portion 16 of the cap 8 may comprise a series of spaced apart ramped surfaces 50 arranged in a circle and aligned with respective markings 20, the ramped surfaces engaging cooperating features in an underside of the dial 22 such that as the dial 22 is rotated relative to the cap 8, the dial 22 is indexed through each discrete time marking 20. It is envisaged that the indexing means 50 helps maintain a rotational position of the dial 22 relative to the cap 20, and that a certain amount of deliberate and directional force is required to be applied in order to the dial 22 to change the location of the visual indicators 24 thereof.

[0044] In a further example, the cover may have a locking mechanism to lock rotation of the dial relative to the cap so that the dial does not inadvertently move away from the position a user has set it in (e.g. if the medicine container and cover are to be transported in a handbag which might otherwise cause the dial to rotate). For example, the dial may comprise a depressible button or the like which can be pressed to unlock the dial so that it can be rotated to the desired position relative to the cap. Once the previous dose time has been set, one can release the button, thereby locking the position of the dial relative to the cap. Also, although the illustrated embodiments are useful with medicines having dosing intervals of four and six hours, in accordance with common children's medicines, it will be appreciated that other intervals may also be used.

[0045] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0046] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cover for a container having contents to be dosed at predetermined intervals, the cover being configured to indicate a next dose time based on a previous dose time and comprising: a marked portion having discrete markings corresponding to dose times; and an indicator portion comprising at least two visual indicators, wherein the marked portion and the indicator portion are rotatably securable relative to one another to align a first visual indicator with a first marking of the marked portion to indicate a previous dose time, thereby aligning a second visual indicator with a second marking of the marked portion to indicate a next dose time.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the indicator portion is at least partially securable over the marked portion.

3. The cover of claim 1 or 2, wherein each marking comprises a number corresponding to a time of day.

4. The cover of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a toggle for indicating whether the previous dose time was ante meridiem or post meridiem.

5. The cover of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator portion comprises a third visual indicator for indicating an alternate next dose time.

6. The cover of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each visual indicator comprises an opening through which the discrete markings of the marked portion can be seen.

7. The cover of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the indicator portion is configured to obscure the discrete markings that are not aligned with the respective visual indicators of the indicator portion.

8. The cover of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the marked portion is removably securable over a closure of the container.

9. The cover of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the marked portion comprises a closure for the container.

10. The cover of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the marked portion comprises a cap and the indicator portion comprises a dial that is rotatable relative to the marked portion.

11. The cover of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the indicator portion comprises a cap and the marked portion comprises a dial that is rotatable relative to the indicator portion.

12. A method of determining a next dose time using a cover according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising rotating the marked portion and the indicator portion relative to one another to align the first visual indicator with a first marking of the marked portion representative of the previous dose time, thereby aligning the second visual indicator with a second marking of the marked portion indicative of the next dose time.

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