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.

1 . A pill loader for use with a pill dispensing box having multiple pill compartments for desired dosages of medications, the improvement comprising:
 said pill loader including a substantially planar sorting platform upon which pills may be placed for sorting;   a plurality of loading channels on a side of said sorting platform;   each loading channel lined by two loading channel walls;   each loading channel having a floor between said loading channel walls, said loading channels having a width such that each channel aligns with a pill compartment of said pill dispensing box such that said pill loader is capable of being tipped to permit each said compartment to be loaded with a desired dosage of medication; and,   an overflow channel located at an end of said sorting platform for returning excess pills to their containers.   
   
   
       2 . The pill loader of  claim 1 , whereby for each loading channel, the end distal to said sorting section has a notch. 
   
   
       3 . The pill loader of  claim 1 , whereby
 said floor has a midline equidistant from said loading channel walls; and   said floor descending from each loading channel wall toward said midline of said floor.   
   
   
       4 . The pill loader of  claim 2 , whereby for each loading channel, the end distal to said sorting section has a notch. 
   
   
       5 . A pill dispensing system comprising:
 a box with a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an opening;   a loader including:
 a sorting section; 
 an overflow channel connected to one side of the sorting section; 
 a plurality of loading channels connected to another side of the sorting section;
 each loading channel is lined by two loading channel walls; 
 said loading channel having a floor between said loading channel walls; 
 
   whereby, said loading channels are sized and positioned to correspond to said openings of said compartments.   
   
   
       6 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , whereby said floor of each loading channel is recessed. 
   
   
       7 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 6 , whereby
 said floor has a midline equidistant from said loading channel walls;   said floor descends from each loading channel wall toward said midline of said floor.   
   
   
       8 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , whereby for each loading channel, the end distal to said sorting section has a notch. 
   
   
       9 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , whereby each compartment includes an additional floor, one end of said additional floor connected to an edge of the compartment opening. 
   
   
       10 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , whereby said loader further includes a rounded leg. 
   
   
       11 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , whereby said loader further includes a leg capable of lining up said loader with said box. 
   
   
       12 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , whereby the width of a loading channel matches the width of a corresponding opening. 
   
   
       13 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , whereby each loading channel is capable of lining up with a corresponding opening. 
   
   
       14 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , further comprising a sorter. 
   
   
       15 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 5 , further comprising a feeder. 
   
   
       16 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 15 , further comprising a sorter. 
   
   
       17 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 16 ;
 whereby, each loading channel is capable of lining up with a corresponding opening.   
   
   
       18 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 17 , whereby
 each loading channel 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.   
   
   
       19 . The pill dispensing system of  claim 18 , whereby for each loading channel, the end distal to said sorting section has a notch. 
   
   
       20 . A method of dispensing pills comprising the steps of:
 a) handling pills using a sorter;   b) sorting pills with the sorter into channels of a loader;   c) aligning the loader to a box;   d) tilting the loader until the pills slide into compartments of the box;   e) securing the pills in the compartments until an appropriate time to dispense the pills;   f) opening the appropriate compartment or compartments containing the pills to be dispensed;   g) tilting the box until the pills slide onto the feeder; and   h) transferring the pills from the feeder to a person taking the pills.