# US 10,864,142 B2 · Pill sorter and counting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,142 B2 - Document ID: US10864142B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/808,240 - Filed: 2020-03-03 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-11 - Applicants: Ira Spector - Inventors: Ira Spector - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864142B2 ## CPC - A61J 7/02: Pill counting devices - A61J 7/0069: {Trays for holding or distributing medicines (display trays A47F3/14; serving trays A47G23/06)} - A61J 7/0084: {for multiple medicaments} - B65D 83/04: for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract Pill sorting devices are described herein that include a cavity formed from a bottom, a front, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a channel formed at the intersection of the first side wall and the second side wall, and a delivery channel within the front and first side wall or the within the front and the second side wall, wherein the delivery channel is offset from the channel. The pill sorting, counting, and dispensing device can be useful for people with arthritis or poor sight, or could be used commercially in pharmacies or industrially. Methods of making and using the pill sorting, counting, and dispensing devices are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pill sorting device including a cavity formed from a bottom, a front, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a channel formed at the intersection of the first side wall and the second side wall, and a delivery channel within the front and the first side wall or within the front and the second side wall, wherein the delivery channel is offset from the channel, and includes a ridge configured to dispense a pill by exiting the delivery channel, wherein the first side wall and second side wall are generally L-shaped, and wherein the bottom adjoins the first side wall and second side wall and is generally square shaped. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, wherein the delivery channel is circular. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall each have a lip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, wherein the bottom has a lip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, having a length between 10 cm to 20 cm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, formed of a polymer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the bottom, the front, the first side wall, or the second side wall are at least partially transparent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, wherein the bottom is square or triangular. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, wherein the front includes a first wall with an indentation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The pill sorting device of claim 1, further including a delivery chute extending down from the delivery channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pill sorting device of claim 10, wherein the delivery chute includes a proximal end that is larger in diameter than a distal end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pill sorting device of claim 11, wherein the delivery channel has a diameter and wherein the diameter of proximal end of the delivery chute matches a diameter of the delivery channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A kit including a pill sorting device of claim 1, a pill box, and instructions for use. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A kit including a pill sorting device of claim 1, a pill box, a pill funnel, and instructions for use. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method of sorting and dispensing a pill into a pill box, the method comprising: providing the apparatus of claim 1, lining up a pill along a length of a channel, advancing the pill along the length of the channel to a delivery channel including a ridge of a pill sorting device, pushing the pill over the ridge whereby the pill exits the delivery channel, wherein the channel of the pill sorting device is formed at the intersection of a first side wall and a second side wall, and the delivery channel is within the first side wall or the second side wall, wherein the delivery channel is offset from the channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including aligning pills which includes the pill in the channel with the pill closest to the delivery channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including aligning the delivery channel with a compartment in a pill box. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further including dropping the pill from the delivery channel into the compartment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the channel extends from a back wall to a front portion.