Pill Dispenser and Pill Container System

Abstract

A pill dispensing system, including a box with a plurality of compartments, a loader designed with loading channels sized and positioned to correspond with the compartments, an ergonomically-shaped handheld sorter, and a funneled feeder.Each loading channel of the loader is lined by two loading channel walls, said loading channel having a floor between said loading channel walls, said floor having a midline equidistant from said loading channel walls, and said floor descending from each loading channel wall toward said midline of said floor. Whereby for each loading channel, the end distal to said sorting section has a notch.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to the field of medication pillboxes. More specifically, the invention relates to a pill dispensing system that reduces the handling of pills.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]There are numerous types of medication pillboxes and dispensers. Among the various goals they attempt to achieve, these prior art medication dispensers aim to provide ease of use, more accurate organization, and better child safety features. However, the prior art medication dispensers do not adequately address the issue of proper handling of the medication.[0003]When a patient receives his pills from the pharmacy, the pills are secured in the pill container and are relatively germ-free. The process through which a typical patient takes his daily pills is as follows: a) pills are dumped from the original container onto a table counter, b) the pills are hand-sorted, c) the patient picks up the pills and places them into the appropriate compartme...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The primary object of the invention is to provide a pill dispensing system that eliminates the direct handling of pills. A second object of the invention is to provide a pill dispensing system that provides support for users lacking steady hand control. A third object of the invention is to provide a pill dispensing system that reduces the likelihood of mistakes by users.

[0006]In a preferred embodiment of the pill dispensing system, a box is designed such that it allows pills to be easily poured out upon tilting a side of the box. The box may contain any number of compartments, each compartment formed by four side walls, a floor, and a lid capable of covering an opening atop the compartment. The intersection of a first side wall and the floor is rounded to facilitate the tilting of the box. The intersection of the lid and the first side wall is secured by clip, magnet, or similar fastening apparatus. The intersection of the opposite side wall and the lid is hinged to permit easy opening and closing of the lid. Inside the compartment, there is an additional wall angled such that pills easily pour out upon tilting the box.

[0009]The loader has rounded legs upon which the loader can be easily tilted to a position where the pills slide off the loader. The loading channels should be set at a height above the first side wall of the box so that when the loader is tilted, it allows the pills to be transferred from the loader channels to the box compartments without the patient having to lift the entire loader. The sorting section, the channels can be marked with relevant information, such as the amount and types of pills to be sorted into the loading channels.

[0012]As described above, the pill dispensing system allows a patient to sort, store, and dispense pills without ever directly handling the pills. For patients with unsteady or frail hands, the system also assists with pill dispensing by the following: 1) guiding the patient's sorting hand via the use of the sorter, which is designed to fit the channels; 2) eliminating the need to lift the entire box when transferring pills; 3) eliminating the need to lift the entire loader when transferring pills; and 4) guiding the pills directly to the patient's mouth via the feeder. This greatly reduces the occurrence of accidental spillage of pills onto unclean surfaces. The features of the pill dispensing system also forces the user to continuously see and count the number of pills throughout the pill dispensing process, thereby reducing the likelihood of mistakes by the user. The system, when correctly used by the patient, provides accurate and relatively germ-free dosages of medication.

Problems solved by technology

However, the prior art medication dispensers do not adequately address the issue of proper handling of the medication.

Virtually all of the above steps require direct handling of the pills or contact with unclean surfaces, thus leaving ample opportunity to taint the pills with germs.

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