Devices and methods for disposing of medications

Abstract

The present invention provides a safe means for disposing of many kinds of medications and other substances so as to mitigate the many hazards associated with flushing them down the toilet, pouring them down the sink or placing them in the trash. For example, the inventive device comprises a closeable container into which pills, capsules or liquids may be placed. Once filled or as otherwise desired, this container may be reliably sealed prior to transporting it to a reclamation place suitable for processing and/or neutralizing the chemicals, or prior to placing the entire container in the trash. A reliably sealed container in the landfill would inhibit drugs from contaminating the water supply.

1 . A system for safely disposing of unused medications, comprising:
 a vessel having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and the side wall cooperate to define an interior cavity adapted to receive unused medications, wherein the side wall comprises a rim defining an opening to the interior cavity through which the unused medications can be placed into the interior cavity, wherein the vessel further comprises one or more recesses formed on an interior surface thereof; and   a lid adapted to be selectively attached to the vessel to close the opening to the interior cavity and thereby form a closed container, wherein the lid comprises a rim that is adapted to sealingly engage the rim of the vessel side wall when the lid is attached to the vessel, wherein the lid further comprises one or more clips that are configured to engage the one or more recesses to securely attach the lid to the vessel, wherein the one or more clips of the lid and the one or more recesses of the vessel cooperate to prevent the lid from being detached from the vessel after the lid is attached to the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more recesses of the vessel are formed on an interior surface of the rim. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more clips of the lid extend from the rim of the lid to facilitate engagement with the one or more recesses formed in the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more clips extend from an interior surface of the rim of the lid to facilitate engagement of the one or more clips with the one or more recesses formed on the interior surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more clips and the one or more recesses are disposed within an interior of the closed container formed by the vessel and lid so as to render the one or more clips and the one or more recesses inaccessible when the lid is attached to the vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the rim of the vessel and the rim of the lid comprises a groove formed therein, wherein the groove is adapted to receive a sealing mechanism therein to facilitate sealing engagement between the vessel and the lid when the lid is attached to the vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives adapted to render the unused medications substantially unusable after disposal in the container. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is adapted to receive one or more syringes or needles therein that have been used to administer a medication, wherein the container formed by the vessel and lid is adapted to prevent access to the one or more syringes or needles after insertion of the one or more syringes or needles in the vessel and attachment of the lid to the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . A container for use in safely disposing of unused medications, comprising:
 a vessel having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and the side wall cooperate to define an interior cavity adapted to receive unused medications, wherein the side wall comprises a rim defining an opening to the interior cavity; and   a lid adapted to be selectively attached to the vessel to close the opening to the interior cavity and thereby form a container, wherein the lid comprises:
 a rim that is adapted to sealingly engage the rim of the vessel side wall when the lid is attached to the vessel: 
 a slot adapted to enable the selective insertion of unused medications into the interior cavity of the vessel; and 
 means for substantially preventing the removal of unused medications from the container after insertion of the unused medication into the container. 
   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the slot is formed in the lid by spaced apart side walls. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the spaced apart side walls are spaced apart a first distance, and wherein the spaced apart side walls are sufficiently flexible to enable the side walls to bend to increase the distance between therebetween to allow for the insertion of unused medications therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the means for substantially preventing the removal of unused medications from the container comprises a secondary lid that is adapted to be permanently attached over the lid to prevent access to the slot. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the slot comprises first and second opposing rollers, wherein rotation of the first and second opposing rollers facilitates insertion of unused medications into the container. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second opposing rollers comprise the means for substantially preventing the removal of unused medications from the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second opposing rollers cooperate to substantially seal the slot to prevent unused medication disposed in the container from escaping out of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first and second opposing rollers comprises a plurality of protrusions adapted to break up unused medications as the unused medications are inserted into the container between the first and second opposing rollers. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one of the first and second opposing rollers that comprises the plurality of protrusions further comprises a compressible outer cover that interfaces with the other roller of the first and second opposing rollers to form a seal between the first and second opposing rollers. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the container is configured to receive one or more additives adapted to render the unused medications substantially unusable after disposal in the container. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more additives comprise Sodium Polyacrylate or Bentonite. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the vessel further comprises one or more recesses formed on an interior surface thereof and the lid further comprises one or more clips that are configured to engage the one or more recesses to securely attach the lid to the vessel, wherein the one or more clips of the lid and the one or more recesses of the vessel cooperate to prevent the lid from being detached from the vessel after the lid is attached to the vessel. 
     
     
         21 . A system for safely disposing of unused medications comprising:
 a vessel having a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and the side wall cooperate to define an interior cavity adapted to receive unused medications, wherein the side wall comprises a rim defining an opening to the interior cavity through which the unused medications can be placed into the interior cavity, wherein the vessel further comprises one or more recesses formed therein; and   a lid adapted to be selectively attached to the vessel to substantially cover the opening to the interior cavity, wherein the vessel and lid cooperate to form a substantially closed container, wherein the lid comprises a rim that is adapted to sealingly engage the rim of the vessel side wall when the lid is attached to the vessel, wherein the lid further comprises one or more clips that are configured to engage the one or more recesses of the vessel to securely attach the lid to the vessel, wherein the one or more clips and the one or more recesses are substantially inaccessible from the outside of the container when the lid is attached to the vessel, thereby substantially preventing removal of the lid from the vessel, wherein the lid further comprises a slot adapted to enable the selective insertion of unused medications into the interior cavity of the vessel and means for substantially preventing the removal of unused medications from the container after insertion of the unused medication into the container.   
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the vessel and lid are configured to substantially resist crushing of the container 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 21 , further comprising two opposing rollers mounted within the slot, wherein the rollers facilitate insertion of unused medications into the interior cavity and substantially prevent the removal of the unused medications from the interior cavity after insertion therein.