초록 ▼

A cap (10) for closing a medicinal container (5) comprises a signal driver for emitting an audible (40) and/or visible (35) signal, a control circuit for timing or calculating a predetermined fixed time interval and then commanding the signal driver to emit its signal; a power source (15) for provid

A cap (10) for closing a medicinal container (5) comprises a signal driver for emitting an audible (40) and/or visible (35) signal, a control circuit for timing or calculating a predetermined fixed time interval and then commanding the signal driver to emit its signal; a power source (15) for providing power to the signal driver and the control circuit; and a switch (20) disposed suitably on the cap for sensing the opening and closing of the cap (10). When the switch (20) is first cycled, the control circuit commands the signal driver to emit a verification signal; when the switch (20) is second cycled, the control circuit again commands the signal driver to emit a verification signal; and thereafter, when the switch (20) is opened a third time, the control circuit will begin timing its predetermined fixed time interval. At the end of every interval, the control circuit commands the signal driver to emit its normal alert signal.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A removable cap for a vial containing a medicinal or pharmaceutical substance comprising: (1) a driving circuit for driving a signal means comprising one or more of an audible signal and a visible signal; (2) an on-off switch disposed on a part of the cap that closely contacts the vial

I claim: 1. A removable cap for a vial containing a medicinal or pharmaceutical substance comprising: (1) a driving circuit for driving a signal means comprising one or more of an audible signal and a visible signal; (2) an on-off switch disposed on a part of the cap that closely contacts the vial when the cap is attached to the vial; (3) a control circuit, sensing the opening and closing of the cap with an on-off switch, wherein the control circuit commands the driving circuit to cause an acknowledgement signal when it senses the first and the second cycling of the on-off switch, and wherein, after the control circuit senses the third cycling of the on-off switch, the control circuit begins timing predetermined fixed time intervals and, at the end of each such predetermined fixed time interval, the control circuit commands the driving circuit to drive the signal means to emit its alert signal until such time that the on-off switch is opened; and (4) a source of power for powering the control circuit and the driving circuit. 2. The removable cap of claim 1 wherein, after the on-off switch is opened, the driving circuit ceases driving the signal means and, thereafter, when the on-off switch is again closed, the control circuit begins timing the next time interval and is enabled to command the drive circuit to emit its alert signal whenever the next subsequent predetermined fixed time interval has elapsed. 3. An openable or removable cap for closing an opening in an open container containing a medicinal or pharmaceutical substance, the cap comprising a cap body enclosing substantially within it: (1) at least one signal means for signaling a user; (2) a signal driver means connected to each signal means for driving the signal means; (3) a sensing and control means comprising (a) a switch means, disposed on a surface of the cap, for sensing the opening and closing of the cap on the container, and, (b) a control means, connected to and driven by the switch means, (i) for commanding the signal driver means to immediately cause an acknowledgement signal when the switch means senses the first opening and closing of the cap; (ii) for commanding the signal driver means to immediately cause an acknowledgement signal when the switch means senses the second opening and closing of the cap; and (iii) thereafter, for timing pre-set time intervals, with the opening and closing of the cap causing the control means to start timing the pre-set time interval; and, at the end of each pre-set time interval, for commanding the means for driving the signaling means to drive the signaling means; and (4) a source of power for the control means and the means for driving the signaling means. 4. The cap of claim 3 wherein the at least one signal means for signaling a user comprises an audible signal. 5. The cap of claim 3 wherein the at least one signal means for signaling a user comprises a visible signal. 6. The cap of claim 3 wherein the at least one signal means for signaling a user comprises an audible signal and a visible signal. 7. A means for closing a container, the means for closing comprising: (a) a signal means for emitting at least one of an audible and visible signal to a person; (b) a control circuit means for timing a predetermined fixed time interval and then commanding the signal means to emit its signal, the control circuit including a switch means disposed at a suitable location on the cap for sensing the opening and closing of the cap: (c) a power source for providing power to the signal means and the control circuit means, (d) wherein, after power is first applied and the switch means is cycled the first time, the control circuit means will command the signal means to emit a short verification signal; when the switch is cycled the second time, it will again command the signal means to emit a short verification signal; and after the switch is cycled twice, thereafter when the switch is opened and closed, the control circuit means will begin timing its predetermined fixed time interval and, at the end of every interval, the control circuit means will command the signal means to emit its normal signal to alert the user that it is time to take his or her medication and, after the switch is opened or closed, the control circuit means will immediately start timing the next predetermined fixed time interval. 8. The means for closing a container of claim 7 wherein, removal of the cap from the container opens the switch means which, in turn, causes the control circuit means to command the signal means to cease any signaling. 9. The means for closing a container of claim 8 wherein, replacement of the cap on the container closes the switch means and enables the control circuit to command the signal means to emit its normal signal at the end of the next predetermined fixed time interval.