Scented Pill Organizer System and Method

Abstract

A system and method for altering the scent within a pill organizer. The pill organizer has multiple pill compartments and a scent compartment within a container housing. One or more perforated walls separate the scent compartment from the various pill compartments. A scent source that releases scent is placed in the scent compartment. The scent permeates into the various pill compartments. When a pill compartment is accessed by a user, the predominant scent perceived by the user is that of the scent source. In this manner, the user is not dissuaded from consuming pills, soft gels, tablets, gummies and/or capsules due to the odors that such items may release. The scented source can be replaced and/or renewed within the pill organizer. As such, the effectiveness of the overall product can be maintained for the life of the product.

Claims

1. A pill organizer assembly, comprising: a container having multiple pill compartments; a scent compartment within said container that is separate and distinct from said multiple pill compartments, wherein said scent compartment is exposed to said multiple pill compartments within said container; and a replaceable scent source disposed within said scent compartment, wherein said scent source releases scent that is received within said multiple pill compartments within said container.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further including lids for selectively covering each of said multiple pill compartments and said scent compartment.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said each of said multiple pill compartments is separated from said scent compartment by a wall that contains air flow passages.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said multiple pill compartments and said scent compartment are formed by partition walls within said container.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said pill compartments are all disposed on one side of said scent compartment within said container.

6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said pill compartments encircle said scent compartment within said container.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said container is rectangular having a first long wall, a second long wall, and two short side walls, wherein a long partition wall extends between said two short walls, wherein said scent compartment is defined within said container between said first long wall, said long partition wall and said two short side walls.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, further including short petition walls extending from said long partition wall to said second long wall, therein forming said multiple pill compartments.

9. A pill organizer assembly, comprising: a housing that contains multiple pill compartments and a scent compartment, wherein air is free to pass between said scent compartment and said multiple pill compartments within said housing; a scent source disposed within said scent compartment, wherein said scent source releases scent that passes into said multiple pill compartments within said housing; and at least one access opening in said housing for selectively accessing said multiple pill compartments and said scent compartment, wherein said scent released by said scent source is trapped within said housing when said at least one access opening is closed.

10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein each of said multiple pill compartments is separated from said scent compartment by a wall within said housing that contains air flow openings.

11. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said pill compartments are all disposed on one side of said scent compartment within said housing.

12. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said pill compartments encircle said scent compartment within said housing.

13. A method for altering the scent of pills housed within a pill organizer, said method comprising the steps of: providing a pill organizer having a housing that contains multiple pill compartments and a scent chamber, wherein said multiple pill compartments and said scent chamber are separated by at least one perforated wall; placing a scent source within said scent chamber, wherein said scent source releases scent that passes into said multiple pill compartments through said at least one perforated wall; and placing a consumable in at least one of said multiple pill compartments, wherein said consumable is surrounded by said scent released by said scent source, wherein said consumable is selected from a group consisting of pills, soft gels, tablets, gummies and capsules.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein providing said pill organizer includes providing said pill compartments on one side of said scent chamber within said housing.

15. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein providing said pill organizer includes encircling said scent chamber with said pill compartments within said housing.

16. A pill organizer assembly, comprising: a housing that contains multiple pill compartments; a scent source disposed within said housing, wherein said scent source is exposed to all said multiple pill compartments within said housing, wherein said scent source releases scent that passes into said multiple pill compartments within said housing; and at least one access opening in said housing for selectively accessing said multiple pill compartments and said scent compartment, wherein said scent released by said scent source is trapped within said housing when said at least one access opening is closed.

17. The pill organizer assembly according to claim 16, wherein said scent source is at least one partition wall within said housing.

18. The pill organizer assembly according to claim 16, where in said scent source is a liner that Lines said housing.

19. The pill organizer assembly according to claim 16, wherein said scent source are scented covers for said at least one access opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a scented pill organizer;

[0011] FIG. 2 is first cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, viewed along section line 2-2;

[0012] FIG. 3 is second cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, viewed along section line 3-3;

[0013] FIG. 4 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a scented pill organizer;

[0014] FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a scented pill organizer;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, viewed along section line 6-6;

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a scented pill organizer;

[0017] FIG. 8 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a scented pill organizer; and

[0018] FIG. 9 shows a sixth exemplary embodiment of a scented pill organizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Although the present invention system and method can be embodied in many ways, only a few exemplary embodiments are illustrated. The embodiments show various types of pill organizers. The embodiments are selected in order to set forth some of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the appended claims.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it can be seen that a linear pill organizer 10 is shown. The linear pill organizer 10 contains a rectangular container 12. The rectangular container 12 has a bottom surface 14 and four peripheral walls that extend upwardly along the periphery of the bottom surface 14. The four peripheral walls include a long front wall 16, a long rear wall 18 and two short side walls 20, 21. The front wall 16 and the rear wall 18 are parallel. Likewise, the short walls 20, 21 are parallel. The bottom surface 14 and the four peripheral walls 16, 18, 20, 21 define an internal compartment 22 with an open top 24.

[0021] Partition walls are used inside the rectangular container to segment the internal compartment into smaller compartments. A long partition wall 26 extends between the two short side walls 20, 21 within the internal compartment 22. The long partition wall 26 is parallel to the long rear wall 18 of the rectangular container 12. The long partition wall 26 contains air flow passages 28 for a reason that is later explained. The presence of the long partition wall 26 creates a long scent compartment 30 within the rectangular container 12. The scent compartment 30 is defined between the long rear wall 18, the long partition wall 26 and the two short side walls 20, 21.

[0022] Short partition walls 32 extend laterally from the long partition wall 26 to the front wall 16. The short partition walls 32 are all parallel to one another and are perpendicular to the long partition wall 26. The short partition walls 32 create pill compartments 34 between the long partition wall 26 and the front wall 16. Any number of pill compartments 34 can be present. However, seven pill compartments 34 are shown to create a one-week pill organizer 10, which is the most common type of pill organizer.

[0023] The long partition wall 26 contains air flow passages 28 in the form of mesh screen or perforations that provide access between the scent compartment 30 and the multiple pill compartments 34. The air flow passages 28 are large enough to enable air flow between the scent compartment 30 and the pill compartments 34. However, the air flow passages 28 are too small to enable any pill, capsule, tablet, or fragment thereof from passing between the pill compartments 34 and the scent compartment 30.

[0024] A lid assembly 36 is provided that can be selectively set atop the rectangular container 12 to cover the open top 24 of the rectangular container 12. The lid assembly 36 contains multiple hinged covers 38 that cover the pill compartments 34. The hinged covers 38 can contain graphics 40 that indicate numbers or days of the week, as is traditional for pill organizers. The lid assembly 36 can also be selectively removed to provide access to the scent compartment 30.

[0025] A scent source 42 is placed in the scent compartment 30 under the lid assembly 36. The scent source 42 can be any hygienic and/or non-toxic product that releases scent that counteracts the scent of the pills, soft gels, capsules, gummies and/or tablets being stored. The scent source 42 is preferably a replaceable piece of scented plastic. However, the scent source 42 can also be any material that can absorb and hold a small volume of a food-grade scented oil. The presence of the scent source 42 scents the air within the scent compartment 30. Since the air flow passages 28 in the long partition wall 26 enable air to pass between the scent compartment 30 and the pill compartments 34, the scent can permeate into the various pill compartments 34. Once in the pill compartments 34, the scented air becomes the dominant scent, therein minimizing any malodorous scents presented by pills, soft gels, tablets, gummies or capsules in the pill organizer 10.

[0026] Over time, the scent emitted by the scent source 42 may diminish. When this happens, the lid assembly 36 is detached and the scent source 42 is replaced or rehydrated with an appropriate scented oil. Likewise, if the scent released by the scent source 42 does not do well at masking the scent of the pills, soft gels, tablets, gummies, or capsules, then the scented source 42 can be replaced with another that emits a more effective scent.

[0027] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the pill organizer 10 is configured with seven pill compartments 34 for weekly use. Such a configuration is exemplary. Referring to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of a pill organizer 41 is shown that contains twenty-eight pill compartments 43. The pill compartments 43 are defined by partition walls 45. At least one partition wall 45 defining each of the pill compartments 43 contains air flow passages 46. The air flow passages 46 enable scent from a scent compartment 47 to reach each of the pill compartments 43 from a scent source 49.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 an alternate embodiment of a pill organizer 50 is shown. In this embodiment, a polygonal pill organizer 50 is provided that has a polygonal container 52. The polygonal container 52 has a bottom surface 54 and multiple peripheral walls 56 that extend upwardly along the periphery of the bottom surface 54. The peripheral walls 56 are all the same length and intersect at salient points 58. An interior wall 60 is provided in the center of the polygonal container 52. The interior wall can be either polygonal or circular. The interior wall 60 defines a scent compartment 62 in the center of the polygonal container 52. The interior wall 60 contain air flow passages 64 for a purpose that is later described.

[0029] Partition walls 66 are used inside the polygonal container 52. The partition walls 66 extend from the interior wall 60 to the salient points 58 on the peripheral walls 56. The partition walls 66 create smaller pill compartments 68 within the polygonal container 52. Each pill compartment 68 is defined between the peripheral wall 66, the interior wall 60 and two of the partition walls 66. Any number of pill compartments 68 can be present. However, seven pill compartments 68 are shown to create a one-week pill organizer 50, which is the most common type of pill organizer.

[0030] The interior wall 60 has air flow passages 64 that are large enough to enable air flow between the scent compartment 62 and the pill compartments 68. However, the air flow passages 64 are too small to enable any pill, tablet or capsule or fragment thereof from passing between the pill compartments 68 and the scent compartment 62.

[0031] A lid assembly 70 is provided that can be selectively set atop the polygonal container 52 to cover the pill compartments 68 and the scent compartment 62. The lid assembly 70 contains multiple hinged covers 72 that cover the pill compartments 68. The hinged covers 72 can contain graphics 74 that indicate numbers or days of the week, as is traditional for pill organizers. The lid assembly 70 can also be selectively removed to provide access to the scent compartment 62.

[0032] A scent source 76 is placed in the scent compartment 62 under the lid assembly 70. The scent source 76 can be any hygienic and/or non-toxic product that releases scent that counteracts the scent of the pills, soft gels, capsules, gummies and/or tablets being stored. The scent source 76 is preferably a replaceable piece of scented plastic. However, the scent source can also be any material that can absorb and hold a small volume of a food-grade scented oil. The presence of the scent source 76 scents the air within the scent compartment 62. Since the air flow passages 64 in the long partition wall 66 enable air to pass between the scent compartment 62 and the pill compartments 68, the scent can permeate into the various pill compartments 68. Once in the pill compartments 68, the scented air becomes the dominant scent, therein minimizing any malodorous scents presented by pills, soft gels, tablets, gummies, or capsules in the pill container.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, an alternate embodiment of a pill organizer 80 is shown. In this embodiment, a dispensing wheel pill organizer 80 is provided that has circular pill container 82 that rotates within a stationary housing 84. The circular pill container 82 rotates about a central post 86 and contains multiple pill compartments 88 that are bound by a peripheral wall 90. The peripheral wall 90 is perforated. The housing 84 has a single opening 92. The circular pill container 82 rotates within the housing 84 so that the different pill compartments 88 rotate under the opening 92 one at a time.

[0034] Since the pill container 82 is round and the housing 84 is square, spaces exist between the circular pill container 82 and the housing 84 at the corners of the housing 84. One or more of these spaces can be used as a scent compartment 94. As the pill container 82 rotates in the housing 84, the peripheral wall 90 passes each scent compartment 94. The peripheral wall 90 has air flow passages/screens 96. The air flow passages/screens 96 are large enough to enable air flow between the scent compartment 94 and the pill compartments 88. However, the air flow passages 96 are too small to enable any pill, tablet, capsule, or fragment thereof from passing between the pill compartments 88 and the scent compartments 94.

[0035] A scent source 98 is placed into at least one of the scent compartments 94. The presence of the scent source 98 scents the air within the scent compartments 94. Since the air flow passages 96 in the peripheral wall 90 enable air to pass between the scent compartments 94 and the pill compartments 88, the scent can permeate into the various pill compartments 88. Once in the pill compartments 88, the scented air becomes the dominant scent, therein minimizing any malodorous scents presented by pills, soft gels, tablets, gummies, or capsules within the pill compartments 88.

[0036] In all previous embodiments, a scent compartment is provided that is separate and distinct from the pill compartments. This need not be the case. Referring to FIG. 8, a pill container 90 is shown that has a scented lining 92. The scented lining 92 is placed along the bottom of the container 94. The partition walls 96 are placed over the scented lining 92. In this manner, the pill compartments 98 are each individually scented by the scented lining 92.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 9, a pill container 100 is shown having common partition wall 102 that forms part of all the pill compartments 104 within the pill container 100. The common partition wall 102 is scented. In this manner, the scent being released by the common partition wall 102 scents each of the pill compartments 104. The common partition wall 102 is preferably designed to be replaceable. In this manner, when the scent fades from the common partition wall 102, it can be replaced.

[0038] It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art can make many variations to those embodiments. For example, although pills are shown in the container, it will be understood that the pills can be capsules, soft gels, gummy vitamins, or any other variant of a consumable dosage for a medication or dietary supplement. Likewise, there are many other shapes and styles of pill organizers other than those illustrated. The present invention can be adapted to most other models, provided such models can be made with scent compartments. All such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.