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 ).

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:  
     
         1 . An auxiliary container adapted for physical association with a conventional medication container, the auxiliary container comprising: 
 a body substantially defining an interior space and having an opening providing access to the interior space;    a lid corresponding to the opening and operable to removably secure thereover so as to further define the interior space and to restrict access to the interior space; and    a coupling mechanism operable to removably couple the auxiliary container with the conventional medication container, wherein such coupling does not require opening the conventional medication container.    
     
     
         2 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the conventional medication container is selected from the group consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spray bottles, tubes, squeeze tubes, and spray cans.  
     
     
         3 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the interior space has a volume of between approximately 0.16-0.32 cubic inch  
     
     
         4 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the interior space is substantially cylindrical and has a radius of approximately between 0.50-1.50 inch and a depth of approximately between 0.20-0.50 inch.  
     
     
         5 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a tab projecting outwardly therefrom, with the tab having a hole operable to receive an attachment mechanism.  
     
     
         6 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the lid is hingedly connected to the body.  
     
     
         7 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a chemical adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a mechanical catch.  
     
     
         9 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a leg depending from the body, the leg having a flexible portion and, at a distal end of the leg, a male catch, wherein the auxiliary container may be pushed onto the conventional medication container such that the male catch mechanically cooperates with the conventional medication container to removably couple the auxiliary container therewith.  
     
     
         10 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes an elongated and substantially rigid secondary leg depending from the body so as to be in substantially close physical proximity to the conventional medication container, thereby substantially opposing lateral movement of the auxiliary container relative to the conventional medication container.  
     
     
         11 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a closure mechanism for securing the lid over the opening in the body.  
     
     
         12 . An auxiliary container adapted for physical association with a conventional medication container, the auxiliary container comprising: 
 a body substantially defining an interior space having a volume of between approximately 0.16-0.32 cubic inch, and the body having an opening providing access to the interior space;    a lid hingedly connected to the body and corresponding to the opening and operable to removably secure thereover so as to further define the interior space and to restrict access to the interior space;    a closure mechanism for securing the lid over the opening in the body; and    a coupling mechanism operable to removably couple the auxiliary container with the conventional medication container, wherein such coupling does not require opening the conventional medication container.    
     
     
         13 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the conventional medication container is selected from the group consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spray bottles, tubes, squeeze tubes, cans, and spray cans.  
     
     
         14 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the interior space is substantially cylindrical and has a radius of approximately between 0.50-1.50 inch and a depth of approximately between 0.20-0.50 inch.  
     
     
         15 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the body includes a tab projecting outwardly therefrom, with the tab having a hole operable to receive an attachment mechanism.  
     
     
         16 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a chemical adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a mechanical catch.  
     
     
         18 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes an elongated and substantially rigid secondary leg depending from the body so as to be in substantially close physical proximity to the conventional medication container, thereby substantially opposing lateral movement of the auxiliary container relative to the conventional medication container.  
     
     
         19 . An auxiliary container adapted for physical association with a heart medication container, the auxiliary container comprising: 
 a body substantially defining an interior space which is substantially cylindrical and has a radius of approximately between 0.50-1.50 inch and a depth of approximately between 0.20-0.50 inch, and the body having an opening providing access to the interior space;    a lid hingedly connected to the body and corresponding to the opening and operable to removably secure thereover so as to further define the interior space and to restrict access to the interior space;    a closure mechanism for securing the lid over the opening in the body; and    a coupling mechanism operable to removably couple the auxiliary container with the heart medication container, wherein such coupling does not require opening the heart medication container.    
     
     
         20 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the heart medication container is selected from the group consisting of: bottles, pill bottles, spray bottles, tubes, squeeze tubes, cans, and spray cans.  
     
     
         21 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the body includes a tab projecting outwardly therefrom, with the tab having a hole operable to receive an attachment mechanism.  
     
     
         22 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a chemical adhesive.  
     
     
         23 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes a mechanical catch.  
     
     
         24 . The auxiliary container as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the coupling mechanism includes an elongated and substantially rigid secondary leg depending from the body so as to be in substantially close physical proximity to the conventional medication container, thereby substantially opposing lateral movement of the auxiliary container relative to the conventional medication container.