Health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication

Abstract

A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication includes a generally vertically upstanding housing. The housing includes first and second adjoining sections. The first section is provided to removably hold an instrument, such as a toothbrush, for use in a daily activity. The second section is provided for holding a material, such as medication, to be taken by the person. When a person reaches to use the toothbrush, for example, the person is reminded to take the medication due to its proximity in the second section.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication, comprising: 
       a) a generally vertically upstanding housing including first and second adjoining sections;  
       b) said first section including means for removably holding an instrument for use in a daily activity;  
       c) said second section including means for holding a material to be taken by person; and  
       d) said second section including an opening substantially across the front thereof for allowing continuous visual inspection of said material in said second section;  
       e)  said first section including top and bottom sections;    
         f )  said first section including means for holding said instrument generally vertically therein;    
         g )  said instrument holding means comprising a yoke member positioned in said bottom section of said first section; and   
       (e)h) wherein when a person reaches to use said instrument, the person is reminded to take said material due to the proximity of said material holding means.  
     
     
       2. The health improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       a) said first section includes top and bottom sections;  
       b) said first section includes means for holding said instrument generally vertically therein; and  
       c) said instrument holding means comprises a yoke member positioned in said bottom section of said first section.  
     
     
       3. The health improvement device of claim  2   1 , wherein: 
       a) said instrument holding means further includes an opening in said top section of said first section.  
     
     
       4. The health improvement device of claim  2   1 , wherein: 
       a) said yoke member is removably positioned in said bottom section.  
     
     
       5. The health improvement device of  claim 3 , wherein: 
       a) said opening is generally circular.  
     
     
       6. The health improvement device of claim  2   1 , wherein: 
       a) said opening has the general configuration of a + sign.  
     
     
       7. The health improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       a) said first section is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a recess bound by an inside wall; and  
       b) a plurality of vertically extending ribs are provided on said inside wall.  
     
     
       8. The health improvement device of  claim 7 , wherein: 
       a) said ribs extend generally vertically and substantially the height of said first section.  
     
     
       9. The health improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       a) said second section is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a recess therein.  
     
     
       10. The health improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       a) said second section comprises a generally C-shaped member for holding a container.  
     
     
       11. The health improvement device of  claim 10 , wherein: 
       a) said C-shaped member extends generally vertically and substantially the height of said second section.  
     
     
       12. The health improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       a) said housing is a single integral piece.  
     
     
       13. The health improvement device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       a) said instrument comprises a toothbrush.  
     
     
       14. The health improvement device of  claim 1 , in combination with a toothbrush. 
     
     
       15. A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication, comprising: 
       a) a generally vertically upstanding housing including integrally formed first and second adjoining sections;  
       b) said first section being generally cylindrical in shape and including a recess for removably holding a toothbrush generally vertically therein;  
       c) said second section including a medication holding container;  
       d) said second section including an opening substantially across the front thereof for allowing continuous visual inspection of the medication in said second section; and  
       e) said first section including a drainage hole adjacent the bottom thereof;  
       e) wherein when a person reaches to use the toothbrush, the person is reminded to take the medication due to the proximity of the medication container.  
     
     
       16. The health improvement device of  claim 15 , wherein: 
       a) said second section comprises a generally C-shaped member.  
     
     
       17. The health improvement device of  claim 16 , wherein: 
       a) said C-shaped member extends generally vertically and substantially the height of said second section.  
     
     
       18. The health improvement device of  claim 15 , wherein: 
       a) said first section includes an inside wall; and  
       b) a plurality of vertically extending ribs are provided on said inside wall.  
     
     
       19. A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication, comprising: 
       a) a generally vertically housing including first and second adjoining sections;  
       b) said first section including means for removably holding an instrument for use in a daily activity;  
       c) said second section including means for holding a material to be taken by a person;  
       d) said first section including top and bottom sections;  
       e) said first section including means for holding said instrument generally vertically therein;  
       f) said instrument holding means including a yoke member positioned in said bottom section of said first section;  
       g) said instrument holding means including an opening in said top section of said first section;  
       h) said yoke member including a generally funnel-shaped recess; and  
       i) said opening and said funnel-shaped recess being generally vertically aligned so as to keep said instrument generally vertical;  
       j) wherein when a person reaches to use said instrument, the person is reminded to take said material due to the proximity of said material holding means.  
     
     
       20. A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication, comprising; 
       a) a generally vertically upstanding housing including first and second adjoining sections;  
       b) said first section including means for removably holding an instrument for use in a daily activity;  
       c) said second section including means for holding a material to be taken by a person;  
       d) said first section including top and bottom sections;  
       e) said first section including means for holding said instrument generally vertically therein;  
       f) said instrument holding means including a yoke member positioned in said bottom section of said first section;  
       g) said yoke member being removably positioned in said bottom section; and  
       h) said yoke member including a drainage opening;  
       i) wherein when a person reaches to use said instrument, the person is reminded to take said material due to the proximity of said material holding means.  
     
     
       21. A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication, comprising: 
         a )  a generally vertically upstanding housing including first and second adjoining sections;    
         b )  said first section including means for removably holding an instrument for use in a daily activity;    
         c )  said second section including means for holding a material to be taken by a person;    
         d )  said second section including an opening substantially across the front thereof for allowing continuous visual inspection of said material in said second sections; and    
         e )  said first and second sections being separated by an uninterrupted vertically extending wall;    
         f )  wherein when a person reaches to use said instrument, the person is reminded to take said material due to the proximity of said material holding means.   
     
     
       22. A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication, comprising: 
         a )  a generally vertically upstanding housing including first and second adjoining sections;    
         b )  said first section including a recess for removably holding an instrument for use in a daily activity;    
         c )  said second section including a member for holding a material to be taken by a person;    
         d )  said second section including an opening substantially across the front thereof for allowing continuous visual inspection of said material in said second section;    
         e )  said first section including top and bottom sections; and    
         f )  said first section including a yoke member positioned in said bottom section thereof for holding said instrument generally vertically therein;    
         g )  wherein when a person reaches to use said instrument, the person is reminded to take said material due to the proximity of said material holding member.   
     
     
       23. A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication, comprising: 
         a )  a generally vertically upstanding housing including first and second adjoining sections;    
         b )  said first section including a recess for removably holding an instrument for use in a daily activity;    
         c )  said second section including a member for holding a material to be taken by a person;    
         d )  said second section including an opening substantially across the front thereof for allowing continuous visual inspection of said material in said second section; and    
         e )  said first and second sections being separated by an uninterrupted vertically extending wall;    
         f )  wherein when a person reaches to use said instrument, the person is reminded to take said material due to the proximity of said material holding member.