Pill container having a visual indicator

Abstract

A container for receiving a plurality of pills having a visually observable characteristic includes a receptacle having a wall forming a cavity with an open end suitable for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of pills. A lid is receivable on the wall at the open end, and a visual indicator is disposed on one of the receptacle and the lid. The visual indicator is capable of communicating the visually observable characteristic of the plurality of pills.

1 . A container for receiving a plurality of pills having a visually observable characteristic, said container comprising: 
 a receptacle having a receptacle wall forming a first cavity with an open end and suitable for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of pills;    a lid receivable on said receptacle wall at said open end; and,    a visual indicator disposed on at least one of said receptacle and said lid, said visual indicator including an indicator wall at least partially forming a second cavity and a visual representation disposed within said second cavity, said visual representation capable of communicating the visually observable characteristic of the plurality of pills.    
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said indicator wall is transparent.  
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said visual representation includes one pill of the plurality of pills.  
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 3 , wherein said indicator wall is removably secured to one of said receptacle and said lid.  
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said visual indicator is disposed on said receptacle and said indicator wall is adjacent said receptacle wall.  
   
   
       6 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said lid has an end wall and a side wall extending from said end wall; and    said indicator wall includes a flange portion and a cup portion extending from said flange portion, and said indicator wall is disposed on said lid such that said flange portion is adjacent said end wall and said cup portion forms said second cavity with said end wall.    
   
   
       7 . A container according to  claim 6 , further comprising a second indicator providing identification information for the plurality of pills, said second indicator having a first portion disposed on said receptacle and a corresponding second portion disposed on said lid.  
   
   
       8 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein said side wall includes a plurality of radially inwardly extending projections and said flange portion engages said projections to retain said indicator wall on said lid.  
   
   
       9 . A container according to  claim 6 , wherein said flange portion has a first surface adjacent said end wall and an adhesive substance is disposed between said first surface and said end wall to retain said indicator wall on said lid.  
   
   
       10 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said visual indicator includes a release member at least partially embedded within said indicator wall.  
   
   
       11 . A pill container for receiving a plurality of pills having a visually observable characteristic, said pill container comprising: 
 a receptacle having a receptacle wall forming a first chamber with an open end and suitable for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of pills;    a lid receivable on said receptacle wall and securable thereto, said lid having an end wall and a side wall extending from said end wall;    an inner cover supported on said lid, said inner cover forming a second chamber with said end wall of said lid;    a visual representation capable of communicating the visually observable characteristic captured within said second chamber;    an information label applied to said receptacle; and, indicia disposed on said lid corresponding to said information label.    
   
   
       12 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said visual representation is one pill of the plurality of pills, and said inner cover is removably supported on said lid.  
   
   
       13 . A container according to  claim 11 , wherein said inner cover is supported on said lid using an adhesive substance disposed between said inner cover and said lid.  
   
   
       14 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said inner cover is transparent.  
   
   
       15 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said inner cover includes a cover wall having a flange portion and a cup portion, said cup portion projecting outwardly from said flange portion and forming said second chamber in association with said end wall of said lid.  
   
   
       16 . A container according to  claim 15 , wherein said side wall of said lid includes a plurality of radially inwardly extending projections and said flange portion of said inner cover engages said projections to retain said inner cover on said lid.  
   
   
       17 . A pill container for receiving a plurality of pills having a visually observable characteristic, said pill container comprising: 
 a receptacle having a receptacle wall forming a first chamber with an open end and suitable for receiving at least a portion of the plurality of pills;    an indicator wall supported on said receptacle, said indicator wall at least partially forming a second chamber within said first chamber; and,    a visual representation capable of communicating the visually observable characteristic captured within said second chamber.    
   
   
       18 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein said visual representation is one pill of the plurality of pills.  
   
   
       19 . A container according to  claim 17  further comprising a lid receivable on said receptacle wall and securable thereto.  
   
   
       20 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of said indicator wall is transparent.  
   
   
       21 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein said receptacle has a bottom wall and said indicator wall is supported in spaced relation to said bottom wall within said first chamber of said receptacle.  
   
   
       22 . A container according to  claim 21 , wherein said indicator wall is supported within said first chamber on a plurality of legs extending from said indicator wall.  
   
   
       23 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein said indicator wall includes an outer peripheral portion, a side portion, a bottom portion, and a selectively closeable lid portion together defining said second chamber.  
   
   
       24 . A container according to  claim 23 , wherein said receptacle wall is substantially cylindrical and includes a plurality of holes extending therethrough, said peripheral portion of said indicator wall having a substantially cylindrical conformation and being receivable within said first chamber on said receptacle wall.  
   
   
       25 . A container according to  claim 24 , wherein said peripheral portion of said indicator wall includes a plurality of outwardly extending projections interengaging said plurality of holes that extend through said receptacle wall.  
   
   
       26 . A container according to  claim 17 , wherein said receptacle has a bottom wall and said indicator wall has a flange portion and a cup portion.  
   
   
       27 . A container according to  claim 26 , wherein said flange portion is positioned adjacent said bottom wall, and an adhesive substance is disposed between said flange portion and said bottom wall.  
   
   
       28 . A container according to  claim 27 , wherein said indicator wall is releasably secured to said bottom wall using said adhesive substance.  
   
   
       29 . A method of containing a plurality of pills having a visually observable characteristic, said method comprising steps of: 
 a) providing a receptacle having a receptacle wall forming a first cavity with an open end;    b) providing a lid adapted to be received on and secured to said receptacle wall at said open end;    c) providing an indicator wall at least partially forming a second cavity;    d) placing a visual representation capable of communicating the visually observable characteristic of the plurality of pills within at least a portion of said second cavity;    e) securing said indicator wall to one of said receptacle and said lid;    f) placing at least a portion of the plurality of pills within said first cavity; and,    g) securing said lid on said receptacle wall at said open end to fully enclose said first cavity.    
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein said step of securing said visual representation within said second chamber includes a step of placing said one pill of the plurality of pills within said second chamber.  
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein said second wall is detachably secured to said lid, said method further comprising steps of securing first indicia on said receptacle and securing corresponding second indicia on said lid.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said first and second indicia include corresponding symbols on self-adhesive labels, and said steps of securing said indicia to said receptacle and said lid include applying said self-adhesive labels thereon.