Medicine cup with infection control tab

Abstract

A medicine cup, preferably stackable, disposable, of frustoconical configuration and optionally biodegradable. The medicine cup includes a cup member for the medicine and an infection control tab coupled to the cup member. The tab is preferably coplanar with and integrally mounted to the sidewall of the cup member and has a textured frictional surface. The infection control tab is for holding the cup by the health care provider, the tab minimizing the possibility of contamination of the cup and patient through the health care provider's hands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medicine cup for dispensing a pharmaceutical product to a patient requiring such product, comprising:
 a. a cup including a surrounding sidewall, the sidewall including an upper edge and a bottom edge,   b: a bottom wall mounted to the bottom edge of the sidewall configured to form the bottom surface of the cup;   c. the upper edge forming a top opening to the cup; and   d. a tab attached to and projecting from a portion of the upper edge of the surrounding sidewall configured to be grasped by two fingers of a person dispensing the pharmaceutical product;   wherein the person dispensing the pharmaceutical product can grasp the tab of the cup, place the pharmaceutical product therein through the opening and deliver the medicine cup to the patient for use without the fingers or hand of the person dispensing, the pharmaceutical product from touching the upper edge or sidewalls of the cup to thereby minimize the possible contamination of the cup and medicine.   
     
     
         2 . The medicine cup of  claim 1 , wherein the top opening, bottom wall, sidewall and tab are configured to permit the cup to be stacked within another identically shaped cup. 
     
     
         3 . The medicine cup of  claim 2 , wherein the top opening, bottom wall and sidewall are configured as a frustum shaped cup to permit the cup to be stacked within another identically shaped cup. 
     
     
         4 . The medicine cup of  claim 2 , wherein the top opening, bottom wall, and sidewall are configured as a frustoconical shaped cup to permit the cup to be stacked within an identically shaped cup. 
     
     
         5 . The medicine cup of  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding wall, the top opening and bottom surface are substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The medicine cup of  claim 5 , wherein the top opening is a greater diameter than the bottom wall diameter and the sidewall is configured to permit the cup to be stacked within an identically shaped cup. 
     
     
         7 . The medicine cup of  claim 1 , wherein the tab is integrally mounted to the sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The medicine cup of  claim 1 , wherein the tab has a textured frictional surface to enhance the grasp of the fingers on the tab. 
     
     
         9 . A disposable medicine cup having a frustoconical configuration for dispensing a pharmaceutical product to a patient requiring such product, the cup comprising:
 a. a closed circular base having an outer perimeter;   b. a conical shaped surrounding sidewall having a bottom perimeter edge joined to the outer perimeter of the circular base and a top perimeter edge, the sidewall extending upward and tapering outwardly from the outer perimeter of the base; and   c. an infection control tab attached to and projecting from a portion of the top perimeter edge of the surrounding sidewall configured to be grasped by two fingers of a person dispensing the pharmaceutical product;   wherein the person dispensing the pharmaceutical product can grasp the tab of the cup, place the pharmaceutical product therein through the opening and deliver the medicine cup to the patient for use without the fingers or hand of the person dispensing the pharmaceutical product touching the upper edge or sidewalls of the cup to thereby minimize the possible contamination of the cup and medicine.   
     
     
         10 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 9 , wherein the infection control tab is integrally mounted to the sidewall. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 9 , wherein the infection control tab has a textured frictional surface to enhance the grasp of the fingers on the tab. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 9 , wherein the infection control tab is integrally mounted to the sidewall and configured to the shape of the top perimeter edge of the sidewall. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 9 , wherein the infection control tab is integrally mounted to the sidewall, configured to the shape of the top perimeter edge of the sidewall and coplanar with the sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 1 , wherein the infection control tab has a textured surface to enhance the grasp of the fingers on the tab. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 13 , wherein the cup is an integrally molded unit. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 15 , wherein the infection control tab has a textured surface to enhance the grasp of the fingers on the tab and is contoured to the shape of a thumb. 
     
     
         17 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 9 , the tab is removable from the sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . The disposable medicine cup of  claim 9 , wherein the infection control tab includes an effective amount of anti-infective agent to prevent contamination from pathogens. 
     
     
         19 . The medicine cup of  claim 1 , wherein the infection control tab includes an effective amount of an anti-infective agent to prevent contamination from pathogens.