Apparatus And Method For Facilitating Medication-Related Information

Abstract

According to the preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 1, a rack ( 10 ) is provided to stock medication containers ( 16 ). The rack ( 10 ) includes a base ( 12 ) and a perpendicular partition ( 14 ) that splits base ( 12 ) by the middle and into two sides. One tower ( 20 ) is provided at each diagonal end of base ( 12 ). A label ( 25 ) with indicia ( 26 ) and medication-related information ( 27 ) is provided on a face panel ( 21 ) of each tower ( 20 ). On both sides of base ( 12 ), a plurality of cavities ( 15 ) that match the shape of the bottom of medication containers ( 16 ) is provided for stocking medication containers ( 16 ). Accordingly, the medication containers ( 16 ) fit into cavities ( 15 ) within base ( 12 ), and are keyed into alignment so that a flat surface ( 28 ) of the medication containers ( 16 ) faces outwards of rack ( 10 ), and so that the flat surface ( 28 ) of medication containers ( 16 ) aligns with face panel ( 21 ) of the towers ( 20 ). A label ( 32 ) with indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) is attached to the flat surface ( 28 ) of medication containers ( 16 ). Indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) of medication containers ( 16 ) align and correspond with indicia ( 26 ) and medication-related information ( 27 ) of face panel ( 21 ) of the towers ( 20 ). Indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) of any medication container ( 16 ) will also align with the indicia ( 33 ) and medication-related information ( 29 ) of any other medication containers ( 16 ) that the user may necessitate for storing additional medications. Accordingly, the user will be able to observe medication-related information ( 27 ) of face panel ( 21 ) of tower ( 20 ) and continuously observe the corresponding medication-related information ( 29 ) of one medication container ( 16 ), or of several medication containers ( 16 ). For example, if the user notes on the medication-related information ( 27 ) of one of the towers ( 20 ), the designation MORNING, then the user will be able to continuously view the generally the tower panels that sustain the indicia and medication-related information of the present invention, medication containers ( 16 ) to search for the corresponding medication-related information ( 29 ), such as TAKE 1, thereby noting those medications, and quantity thereof, that need be consumed by the user.

1 . A label for a medication container with at least one medication, wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) said label including medication-related information which correspond to the medication-related information of a label of at least one other medication container; and   (b) said label including indicia which correspond to the indicia of said label of said at least one other medication container,   whereby a user's ability to view said medication-related information and also continuously view said corresponding medication-related information will be facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability to assimilate said medication-related information and said corresponding medication-related information will be facilitated.   
   
   
       2 . The label of  claim 1  wherein said indicia and said medication-related information are portrayed on another medium. 
   
   
       3 . The label of  claim 1  wherein said indicia is substantially aligned with said corresponding indicia of said at least one other medication container. 
   
   
       4 . The label of  claim 3  wherein both said indicia include a different colored band for each one of a plurality of time frames relating to the consumption of medications, said colored bands of said indicia match said colored bands of said corresponding indicia. 
   
   
       5 . The label of  claim 1  wherein said medication-related information is substantially aligned with said corresponding medication-related information of said at least one other medication container. 
   
   
       6 . The label of  claim 1  wherein said medication-related information includes at least two time frames, arranged vertically. 
   
   
       7 . The label of  claim 1  wherein said medication-related information includes the quantity of medication for the user to consume, said quantity of medication for the user to consume corresponding to at least one time frame. 
   
   
       8 . The label of  claim 7  wherein said quantity of medication for the user to consume is comprised of the word TAKE, said word TAKE followed by a number representing the quantity of medication for the user to consume. 
   
   
       9 . The label of  claim 7  wherein said quantity of medication for the user to consume is comprised of a number representing the quantity of medication for the user to consume, and a general description of the medication. 
   
   
       10 . The label of  claim 1  wherein said medication container includes means to substantially level said medication-related information with said corresponding medication-related information of said at least one other medication container. 
   
   
       11 . A medication rack for at least two medication containers, wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) a base; and   (b) means to substantially level the corresponding medication-related information of said at least two medication containers,   whereby a user's ability to view the leveled medication-related information of the first one of said at least two medication containers on said rack, and to continuously view the leveled corresponding medication-related information of the second one of said at least two medication containers on said medication rack will be facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability to assimilate said medication-related information and said corresponding medication-related information, will be facilitated.   
   
   
       12 . The medication rack of  claim 11 , wherein said means to level said corresponding medication-related information of said at least two medication containers is comprised of cavities. 
   
   
       13 . The medication rack of  claim 11 , wherein said means to level said at least two medication containers is comprised of at least one support for sustaining said at least two medication containers, said support comprising a panel of predetermined size which is attached perpendicularly to and extends a predetermined portion of the length of said base, said containers including a plaque that is attached to said containers, said plaque of a predetermined size including an arm of predetermined size which connects to a ring which is sized and structured to slip onto said containers and to attach to said containers, said arm and said plaque to overlap said support so that said containers will be sustained by said support. 
   
   
       14 . The medication rack of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one support includes indicia which extends a predetermined length of said support, said indicia corresponds with indicia of said plaques of said containers, so that when said plaques overlap the indicia of said support, the user will be able to view continuously the medication-related information of said at least two medication containers, even if said at least two medication containers are not placed close to each other. 
   
   
       15 . A tower, wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) a substantially flat panel of predetermined size; and   (b) indicia and medication-related information which are portrayed on said tower and which correspond with the indicia and medication-related information of at least one medication container,   whereby a user's ability to view the medication-related information of said tower and also continuously view the aligned and corresponding medication-related information of said at least one medication container will be facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability to assimilate said medication-related information of said container will be facilitated.   
   
   
       16 . The tower of  claim 15  wherein said medication-related information includes medication time frames. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for portraying medication-related information, wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) a substantially flat plaque of predetermined size; and   (a) means to attach said plaque to a medication container,   whereby a user's ability to view medication-related information portrayed on said plaque, said plaque attached to said container, and also continuously view corresponding medication-related information portrayed on another medication-related information bearing member, will be facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability to assimilate said medication-related information and said corresponding medication-related information will be facilitated.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  including medication-related information which corresponds with the medication-related information of at least another medication-related information bearing member. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said plaque attaches to said medication container with a ring of predetermined size, said ring being shaped to slip onto and attach to said container. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said ring is attached to said plaque with an arm of predetermined size, said arm being of sufficient length so that said arm will rest on a support means for sustaining said container, said plaque and said container sandwiching said support means to sustain said container over said support means. 
   
   
       21 . A pill box wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) medication-related information which corresponds with the medication-related information of at least one medication container; and   (b) indicia which corresponds with the indicia of said at least one medication container; and   (c) at least one member of said pill box sized to accommodate said indicia and said medication-related information that corresponds with the indicia and medication-related information of said at least one medication container,   whereby a user's ability to fill said pill box will be facilitated by the indicia and medication-related information of said pill box, which corresponds to the indicia and medication-related information of said at least one medication container, thus, the process of filling said pill box will represent less confusion in comparison to conventional pill boxes.   
   
   
       22 . The pillbox of  claim 21  wherein said medication-related information aligns with the medication-related information of said at least one container. 
   
   
       23 . The pill box of  claim 21  wherein said indicia aligns with the indicia of said at least one container. 
   
   
       24 . A method for conveying the medication-related information of at least one medication contained in a medication container, wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) arranging, by a pharmacist or other person, said medication-related information so that said medication-related information will correspond with the medication-related information of another indicia/medication-related information bearing member; and   (b) portraying, by said pharmacist or other person, said medication-related information on said medication container; and   (c) arranging, by said pharmacist or other person, indicia on said medication container so that said indicia will correspond with the indicia of said another indicia/medication-related information bearing member; and   (d) portraying, by said pharmacist or other person, said indicia on said medication container,   whereby said user's ability to view said medication-related information and also continuously view said corresponding medication-related information will be facilitated and, therefore, said user's ability to assimilate said medication-related information and said corresponding medication-related information will be facilitated.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the pharmacist or other person arranges said medication-related information so that said medication-related information substantially aligns with the medication-related information of said another indicia/medication-related information bearing member. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the pharmacist or other person substantially levels said medication-related information with the medication-related information of said another indicia/medication-related information bearing member. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the pharmacist or other person arranges said indicia so that said indicia substantially aligns with the indicia of said another indicia/medication-related information bearing member. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said another indicia/medication-related information bearing member is comprised of at least one other medication container. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said another indicia/medication-related information bearing member is comprised of a tower. 
   
   
       30 . A method for filling a pill box with medication, wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) arranging, by a pharmacist or other person, medication-related information for said pill box so that said medication-related information corresponds with the medication-related information of at least one medication container; and   (b) portraying, by the pharmacist or other person, said medication-related information on said pill box; and   (c) arranging, by the pharmacist or other person, indicia for said pill box so that said indicia corresponds with the indicia of said at least one medication container; and   (d) portraying, by the pharmacist or other person, said indicia on said pill box,   whereby a user's ability to fill said pill box will be facilitated by employing the corresponding indicia and medication-related information of the present invention.   
   
   
       31 . The pill box of  claim 30  wherein said pharmacist or other person arranges said medication-related information so that said medication-related information substantially aligns with the medication-related information of said at least one medication container. 
   
   
       32 . The pill box of  claim 30  wherein said pharmacist or other person arranges said indicia so that said indicia substantially aligns with the indicia of said at least one medication container. 
   
   
       33 . A container for medications, wherein the improvement includes:
 (a) a substantially flat front panel, and   (b) two substantially flat side panels, and   (c) at least two substantially sharp corners, and   (d) said two side panels being integral with and substantially perpendicular to said front panel by way of said sharp corners,   whereby a user's ability to view the medication-related information and indicia of the present invention, horizontally across from one said container to another said container, will be facilitated because the medication-related information and indicia of the present invention will either touch or to be very close together when the containers are placed next to each other.   
   
   
       34 . The container of  claim 33  wherein a substantially sharp top edge is included, said top edge being integral with said front panel.