Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02773147 2012-03-29
TABLET HOLDER WITH ALERT SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a tablet holder for medications
and vitamins, more
particularly to a tablet holder with an alert system that provides a voice
command, a light alert, and a
vibration alert. Tablet holder is nested in a rechargeable base making it
portable. A locator button is
found on the base in the event the tablet holder is misplaced.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many individuals forget to take their medications or vitamins on
schedule. The present
invention features a tablet holder with an alert system that provides a voice
command, a light alert, and
a vibration alert. The multiple means of alerting uses can help ensure that
individuals take their
medications on time. The sound and light alerts can help those who are
visually or audibly impaired.
[0003] Any feature of combination of features described herein are included
within the scope of the
present invention provided that the features included in any such combination
are not mutually
inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the
knowledge of one of
ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present
invention are apparent in the
following detailed description and claims.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention features a tablet holder. In some embodiments,
the tablet holder
comprises and elongated base having seven compartments, each compartment is
adapted to hold a pill;
seven compartment lids pivotally attached to a top side edge of the vase via a
hinge, wherein each
compartment lid covers a compartment, the compartments lids can each pivot
between at least an open
position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to
the respective
compartment; a base lid pivotally attached to the base on the top side edge
via the hinge, the base lid
functions to cover the compartments lids, the base lid can pivot between at
least an open position and a
closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to the
compartments lids; a compartment
light emitting diode (LED) disposed in each compartment lid, the compartment
LEDs are visible from top
surfaces of the compartment lids, each compartment LED is operatively
connected to a power source; a
display disposed on the base lid, the display is a touch screen display; a
speaker and a vibrating
component each disposed in the base lid, the speaker is adapted to emit an
audible sound when
activated and the vibrating component is adapted to vibrate when activated;
and a microprocessor
disposed in the base lid, the microprocessor is operatively connected to each
compartment LED, the
display, the speaker, and the vibrating component, the microprocessor is
operatively connected to a
standard time keeping system which is adapted to keep a date and a time in a
standard manner, the
CA 02773147 2012-03-29
microprocessor is adapted to the programmed via the display to be activated on
certain days and times,
the microprocessor is adapted to save information via the memory.
[0005] When the microprocessor is activated the microprocessor sends (i) a
first output command to
the compartment LEDs to cause the compartment LEDs to be illuminated; (ii) a
second output command
to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit the voice command; and (iii) a
third output command to the
vibrating component to cause the vibrating component to vibrate.
[0006] In some embodiments, one or more compartments are divided into sub-
compartments. In
some embodiments, the power source is a battery. In some embodiments, the
battery is a rechargeable
battery. In some embodiments, the display is disposed on an inner surface of
the base lid. In some
embodiments, the memory is flash memory, random access memory, or read only
memory.
[0007] In some embodiments, tablet holder further comprises a holding unit, an
inner chamber is
disposed in the holding unit adapted to hold a side end of the base, and the
holding unit comprises a
pug adapted t operate connected to an electrical outlet. In some embodiments,
the holding unit further
comprises second electrical contacts operatively connected to the plug and the
base further comprises
first electrical contacts operatively connected to the power source and to the
microprocessor, the
second electrical contacts engage the first electrical contacts when the base
is engaged in the holding
unit to recharge the power source.
[0008] In some embodiments, the holding unit comprises a holding unit display,
the holding unit display
is a touch screen display and is adapted to programme the microprocessor when
the base is engaged in
the holding unit. In some embodiments, the holding unit further comprises a
holding unit speaker
adapted to emit a voice command, wherein when the base is engaged in the
holding unit and the
microprocessor is activated the microprocessor sends a fourth output signal to
the unit speaker to
activate the holding unit speaker to cause the holding unit speaker to emit
the voice command.
[0009] In some embodiments, the holding unit comprises a locator button, the
locator button is
operatively connected to a transmitter disposed in the holding unit, the
transmitter si adapted to
communicate with a receiver disposed in the base lid, the receiver is
operatively connected to the
microprocessor, wherein when the locator button is pressed the locator button
activated the
transmitter to send a first transmitter signal to the receiver, wherein when
the receiver receives the first
transmitter signal the receiver sends a first locator input signal to the
microprocessor whereupon the
microprocessor sends a locator output command to each the speaker, the
compartment LEDs and the
vibrator component to activate the speaker, the compartment LEDs, and the
vibrator component.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tablet holder of the present
invention.
[0011] FIG.2 is a perspective view of the tablet holder of the present
invention.
CA 02773147 2012-03-29
[0012] FIG.3 is a side view of the tablet holder of the present invention.
[0013] FIG.4 is a top view of the tablet holder of the present invention.
[0014] FIG.5 is a schematic view of the electrical components of the tablet
holder of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring now to FIG. 1-5, the present invention features a tablet
holder with an alert system
that provides a voice command, a light alert, and a vibration alert. The
multiple means of alerting uses
can help ensure that individuals take their medications on time. The sound and
light alerts can help
those who are visibly or audibly impaired.
[0016] The tablet holder 100 comprises an elongated base 110 having seven
compartments 118 (e.g., a
first compartment, a second compartment, a third compartment, a fourth
compartment, a fifth
compartment, a sixth compartment and a seventh compartment lid) , one for each
day of the week. The
compartments 118 are adapted to hold pills 116 (e.g., medication, vitamins) in
some embodiments,
each compartment 118 is divided into sub-compartments( e.g., via compartment
walls).
[0017] Seven compartment lids 120 (e.g., first compartment lid, a second
compartment lid, a third
compartment lid, a fourth compartment lid, a fifth compartment lid, a sixth
compartment lid and a
seventh compartment lid) are pivotally attached to the base 110 (e.g., on a
top side edge) via a hinge
130, wherein each compartment lid 120 cover a compartment 118. The compartment
lids 120 can each
pivot between at least an open position and a closed position respectively
allowing and preventing
access to the respective compartment 118. A base lid 122 is pivotally attached
to the base 110 (e.g., on
the same top side edge as the compartments lids 120 via the hinge 130. The
base lid 122 functions to
cover the compartment lids 120 (e.g., see FIG.2) The base lid 122 can pivot
between at least an open
position and a closed position respectively allowing and preventing access to
the compartment lids120.
[0018] Disposed in each compartment lid 120 is a compartment light emitting
diode (LED) 140. The
compartment LED 140 is visible from the top surface of the respective
compartment lid 120. Each
compartment LED is operatively connected to a power source (e.g., a battery,
e.g. a rechargeable
battery).
[0019] Disposed in the base lid 122 is a microprocessor 160. The
microprocessor 160 is operatively
connected to each compartment LED 140. A display 150 is disposed on the base
lid 122 (e.g., on the
inner surface 122a of the base lid 122). The display 150 may be a touch screen
display. Such touch
screen displays are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The
display 150 is operatively
connected to the microprocessor 160. Also disposed in the base lid 122 is a
speaker 170. The speaker
170 is operatively connected to the microprocessor 160. In some embodiments, a
vibrating component
180 is operatively connected to the microprocessor 160. The speaker 170 is
adapted to emit an audible
CA 02773147 2012-03-29
sound (e.g. a voice command) when activated. The vibrating component 180 is
adapted to vibrate when
activated.
[0020] The microprocessor 160 is operatively connected to a time keeping
system 160a, which is
adapted to keep the date and time. The microprocessor 160 is adapted to be
programmed and save
information (e.g., via flash memory, random access memory, read only memory,
etc.). For example, a
user can programme the microprocessor 160 by setting the date and time, and
further setting the dates
and times he/she should take his/her medicine. Such date and time programming
(and using a touch
screen to programme the microprocessor 160) is well known to one of the
ordinary skill in the art. For
example, a user can programme the time keeping system 160a with the current
date and time. Next, a
user can programme the microprocessor 160 to be activated (thus activating the
speaker 170 and/or
vibrating component 180 and/or compartment LEDs 140) at certain times on
certain days (e.g., 8:00AM
every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; every day; 6:00PM every other day, etc.).
[0021] When the microprocessor is activated, the microprocessor 160 sends a
first output command to
the compartment to the compartment LEDs 140 to cause the compartment LEDs 140
to be illuminated.
In some embodiments, the microprocessor 160 send the first output command to
the appropriate
compartment LED 140 of the compartment that needs to be opened (e.g., if the
day is Monday, the
compartment LED 140 of the compartment corresponding to Monday is
illuminated).
[0022] When the rnicroprocessor160 is activated, the microprocessor 160 sends
a second output
command to the speaker 170 to cause the speaker 170 to emit the audible sound
(e.g. voice command).
When the microprocessor 160 is activated, the microprocessor 160 sends an
output command to the
vibrating component 180 to cause the vibrating component 180 to vibrate.
[0023] In some embodiments, the display 150 is adapted to display a message
when the battery is low,
indicating that the battery should be changed. For example, the holder 100 of
the present invention
may have a battery indicator. Or, the display 150 may display the battery
indicator.
[0025] A holding unit display 350 is disposed on the holding unit 310. The
holding unit display 350 may
be a touch screen display, which is well known to one of ordinary skill in the
art. The holding unit display
350 may be used in the same manner as the display 150 on the base lid 122 to
programme the
microprocessor 160. In some embodiments, a holding unit speaker 370 is
disposed on the holding unit
310. The holding unit speaker 370 is adapted to emit an audible sound (e.g.
voice command). In some
embodiments, when the base 110 is engaged in the holding unit 310 the
microprocessor 160 is activated
(e.g., when it's time for user to take his/her medication), the microprocessor
160 sends forth output
signal to the holding unit speaker 370 to activate the holding unit speaker
370 to cause the holding unit
speaker 370 to emit an audible sound (e.g. voice command).
[0026] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the holding unit
310 comprises a locator
button 380. The locator button 380 is operatively connected to a transmitter
410, which is adapted to
communicate with a receiver 420 disposed in the base 110 or base lid 122 ( the
receiver being
operatively connected to the microprocessor 160). When the locator button 380
is pressed, the locator
button 380 activates the transmitter 410 to send a first transmitter signal to
the receiver 420. Upon
CA 02773147 2012-03-29
receipt of the first transmitter signal, the receiver 420 sends a first
locator input signal to the
microprocessor 160 whereupon the microprocessor 160 sends a locator output
command to each the
speaker 170, the compartment LEDs 140, and the vibrator component 180 to
activate the speaker, 170
the compartment LEDs 140, and the vibrator component 180. This can help the
user locate the base 110
if it is lost.
[0027] In some embodiments, the tablet holder 100 is capable of recording a
user's (patients identity),
for example in case the tablet holder 100 is lost. The audio, light, and
vibration functions of the base
110 and/or holding unit 310 may be programmable.
[0028] The disclosures of the following Canadian Patents are incorporated in
their entirety by reference
herein: CA 2121126, CA 2706408, CA 2212086.
[0029] Various modifications of the invention, in addition to those described
herein, will be apparent to
those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications
are also intended to fall
within the scope of the appended claims. Each reference cited in the present
application is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0030] Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of
the present
invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that
modifications may be made thereto
which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of
the invention is only to
be limited by the following claims.
[0031] The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease
of examination of this
patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to
limit the scope of the claims
to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the
drawings.
