Large capacity pill bottle with improved child resistance

Abstract

A pill bottle that includes a first annular wall disposed within an interior portion of the bottle has an outer surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically oriented ribs that project outwardly from that surface. A second annular wall is disposed within the interior portion of the bottle in enclosing relation to the first annular wall. The outer and inner surface of the second annular wall undulate so as to define series of troughs and ridges. An adjacent pair of the ribs is located in spaced confronting relation to each of the troughs so as to define a plurality of pill wells. Each pill is arranged and oriented so as to be “on-end” within the bottle. A method is provided for dispensing pills from a bottle.

1 . A pill bottle comprising:
 a pill carriage including (i) a first annular wall disposed within an interior portion of said pill carriage and having an outer surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically oriented ribs that project outwardly from said outer surface, (ii) a second annular wall disposed within an interior portion of said pill carriage in enclosing relation to said first annular wall, and having a outer surface and an inner surface that undulate so as to define a series of troughs and ridges wherein an adjacent pair of said ribs is located in spaced confronting relation to each of said troughs so as to define a plurality of pill wells thereby allowing a pill to be stored within one of said pill wells resting upon at least one of a tip and an edge; and (iii) an internal annular wall having an outer surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically oriented protrusions that project outwardly from said outer surface; and   a base cap having a bottom wall with a peripheral edge and an annular wall projecting from said peripheral edge so as to define a receptacle space such that said pill carriage is received within said receptacle space with said plurality of pill wells being selectively accessible.   
   
   
       2 . A pill bottle according to  claim 1  wherein all but one of said pill wells are at least partially covered by a dial closure disposed in overlying rotatable relation to said internal annular divider. 
   
   
       3 . A pill bottle according to  claim 2  wherein said dial closure defines an opening in a top surface that communicates with a corresponding opening in a bottom surface through a dosage access chimney that is sized to receive one pill at a time. 
   
   
       4 . A pill bottle according to  claim 2  wherein a counter window is defined adjacent to a peripheral edge of said dial closure and a dosage-counter disk is assembled to an under side of said dial closure. 
   
   
       5 . A pill bottle according to  claim 4  wherein a top surface of said dosage-counter disk includes indicia that are representative of time period intervals wherein at least one of said indicia is visible through said counter window. 
   
   
       6 . A pill bottle according to  claim 4  wherein a top surface of said dosage-counter disk includes indicia that are representative of time period intervals wherein at least one of said indicia is visible through said counter window and further wherein an incremental rotation of said dial closure causes a corresponding incremental rotation of said dosage-counter disk so as to position a next one of said indicia within said counter window. 
   
   
       7 . A pill bottle according to  claim 5  wherein a gear projects downwardly from a bottom surface of said dosage-counter disk in annular relation to a center of said dosage-counter disk. 
   
   
       8 . A pill bottle according to  claim 7  wherein a gear is defined on an upper surface of said an internal annular wall that is complementary to said gear that projects downwardly from said bottom surface of said dosage-counter disk. 
   
   
       9 . A pill bottle according to  claim 1  wherein said base cap includes an annular wall projecting outwardly from a bottom surface so as to be located in surrounding relation to an outer portion of said pill carriage. 
   
   
       10 . A pill bottle according to  claim 2  wherein a removable closure seal is disposed in overlying relation to said dial closure. 
   
   
       11 . A pill bottle according to  claim 10  wherein said removable closure seal is covered by a cap having means for child-resistant removal of said cap from said pill bottle. 
   
   
       12 . A pill bottle according to  claim 9  wherein said pill carriage includes a plurality of ratchet lugs projecting outwardly from a bottom surface in radially spaced relation to a central hub. 
   
   
       13 . A pill bottle according to  claim 1  wherein said internal annular divider comprises at least one of a plurality of discreet posts and discreet vertical walls. 
   
   
       14 . A pill bottle according to  claim 12  wherein said base cap includes a plurality of drive beams that extend radially outwardly from a central hub in spaced relation to one another on said bottom surface so that each of said plurality of drive beams engages a corresponding one if said ratchet lugs disposed on said bottom surface. 
   
   
       15 . A pill bottle according to  claim 1  including a movable closure disposed in overlying relation to said pill wells. 
   
   
       16 . A pill bottle comprising:
 a pill carriage including (i) a first annular wall disposed within an interior portion of said pill carriage and having an outer surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically oriented ribs that project outwardly from said outer surface, (ii) a second annular wall disposed within an interior portion of said pill carriage in enclosing relation to said first annular wall, and having a outer surface and an inner surface that undulate so as to define a series of troughs and ridges wherein an adjacent pair of said ribs is located in spaced confronting relation to each of said troughs so as to define a plurality of pill wells thereby allowing a pill to be stored within one of said pill wells resting upon at least one of a tip and an edge; and (iii) an internal annular wall having an outer surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically oriented protrusions that project outwardly from said outer surface;   a base cap having a bottom wall with a peripheral edge and an annular wall projecting from said peripheral edge so as to define a receptacle space such that said pill carriage is received within said receptacle space with said plurality of pill wells being selectively accessible; and   a cap being integrally connected to said pill carriage base with a living hinge.   
   
   
       17 . A pill bottle according to  claim 16  wherein said cap is formed as an assembly comprising a retainer ring integrally connected to said pill carriage base by said living hinge and a retainer ring that is nestable within a recessed portion of said cap and is integrally connected to said cap base by a second living hinge. 
   
   
       18 . A pill bottle comprising:
 a pill carriage including (i) a first annular wall disposed within an interior portion of said pill carriage and having an outer surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically oriented ribs that project outwardly from said outer surface, (ii) a second annular wall disposed within an interior portion of said pill carriage in enclosing relation to said first annular wall, and having a outer surface and an inner surface that undulate so as to define a series of troughs and ridges wherein an adjacent pair of said ribs is located in spaced confronting relation to each of said troughs so as to define a plurality of pill wells thereby allowing a pill to be stored within one of said pill wells resting upon at least one of a tip and an edge; and (iii) an internal annular wall having an outer surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, vertically oriented protrusions that project outwardly from said outer surface;   a base cap having a bottom wall with a peripheral edge and an annular wall projecting from said peripheral edge so as to define a receptacle space such that said pill carriage is received within said receptacle space with said plurality of pill wells being selectively accessible; and   a closure cap being integrally connected to said pill carriage base with a living hinge.   
   
   
       19 . A pill bottle according to  claim 18  wherein said base cap includes an annular wall projecting outwardly from a bottom surface so as to be located in surrounding relation to an outer portion of said pill carriage. 
   
   
       20 . A pill bottle according to  claim 19  wherein a removable closure seal is disposed in overlying relation to said dial closure. 
   
   
       21 . A pill bottle according to  claim 19  wherein said removable closure seal is covered by a cap having means for child-resistant removal of said cap from said pill bottle. 
   
   
       22 . A pill bottle according to  claim 20  wherein said pill carriage includes a plurality of ratchet lugs projecting outwardly from a bottom surface in radially spaced relation to a central hub. 
   
   
       23 . A pill bottle according to  claim 20  wherein said internal annular divider comprises at least one of a plurality of discreet posts and discreet vertical walls. 
   
   
       24 . A pill bottle according to  claim 19  wherein said base cap includes a plurality of drive beams that extend radially outwardly from a central hub in spaced relation to one another on said bottom surface so that each of said plurality of drive beams engages a corresponding one if said ratchet lugs disposed on said bottom surface. 
   
   
       25 . A pill bottle according to  claim 18  including a movable closure disposed in overlying relation to said pill wells.