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[0001] This application is related to and hereby incorporates by reference an issued U.S. Patent entitled “Screw Cap with Flip-Top Compartment”, U.S. Pat. No.
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to caps and lids having internal storage compartments. More particularly, the invention relates to a cap adapted for use with a conventional container, such as a bottle, tube, or can, wherein the cap provides a flip-top storage compartment which is large enough to store one or small objects, such as, for example, aspirin tablets, in close association with the contents of the container.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] It is often desirable to have small doses of a supplementary or secondary medication conveniently available for immediate use, possibly in conjunction with use of a primary medication. For example, arterial occlusion during a heart attack results from platelet aggregation or clumping in the blood. Aspirin alters this process by preventing further clotting within the heart during a heart attack, thereby substantially increasing survivability. Thus, the American Heart Association recommends taking aspirin at the first sign of a heart attack; and an estimated 10,000 lives could be saved annually if this recommendation were followed. Similarly, regular use of aspirin after a transient ischemic attack or minor stroke can reduce the occurrence of additional strokes; and it is estimated that thousands of strokes and 100,000 deaths worldwide could be prevented through daily, low-dose administration of aspirin.
[0006] Nevertheless, many heart and other patients carry their primary medications but do not carry aspirin. One reason for this may be the inconvenience of having to carry a separate bottle of aspirin in addition to one or more bottles of the patients' other medication(s). One solution is to carry only a few aspirin tablets, which may, for example, be wrapped in tissue. Unfortunately, though this results in less carrying inconvenience, the small tablets are easily misplaced or lost, for example, at the bottom of a purse. Furthermore, those that do regularly carry aspirin, in a bottle or otherwise, are forced, during the onset of a heart attack, to locate both their primary medication and the aspirin, open both child-proof containers, and administer both medications. It will be appreciated that successfully accomplishing this redundant process during the stress and strain of a heart attack is unlikely.
[0007] Due to these and other problems in the art, an improved mechanism is needed whereby small doses of secondary medications may be kept conveniently available for immediate use.
[0008] The present invention overcomes the above-described problems to provide a cap for use with a conventional container, such as a bottle, tube, or can, wherein the cap provides a flip-top storage compartment operable to store one or more small objects in close association with the container's contents. In one contemplated use, the cap is used to store small doses of secondary medications, such as aspirin, in close association with a primary medication (e.g., a heart medicine such as nitroglycerine), such that both are easily available for immediate use.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the cap broadly includes a cap body and a flip-top lid. The cap body is partitioned into a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion is threaded or otherwise operable to cover and secure to an opening of a container, and the top portion defines, in conjunction with the flip-top lid, the storage compartment. The flip-top lid is hingedly or similarly connected to the cap body and operable when closed to retain pills or other objects within the compartment.
[0010] In use, the cap replaces a conventional cap of an existing medicine bottle or other container, including, for example, containers for pills, pastes, and sprays for health-related concerns such as heart problems, asthma, arthritis, migraines, muscle pain, strokes, and diabetes. Thus, for example, aspirin, having a beneficial effect on these and other health-related concerns, may be conveniently carried in the storage compartment provided by the cap so as to be accessible for immediate use when needed, such as during the onset of a heart attack.
[0011] These and other important aspects of the present invention are more fully described in the section entitled DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT, below.
[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017] Referring to
[0018] The preferred cap
[0019] A partition
[0020] The top portion
[0021] Additionally, the top portion
[0022] The flip-top lid
[0023] Referring to
[0024] Referring to
[0025] In operation, a user replaces, as necessary, a container's existing conventional cap with the cap
[0026] For example, a person at high risk of a heart attack may replace the existing conventional cap of their heart medication bottle, tube, or spray can with the cap
[0027] From the preceding description, it will be appreciated that the cap