# US 8,770,400 B2 · Pill tray > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,400 B2 - Document ID: US8770400B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/468,445 - Filed: 2012-05-10 - Published: 2013-11-14 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-10 - Applicants: James A. Connellan; William D. Moyer; Ryan Bruce - Inventors: James A. Connellan; William D. Moyer; Ryan Bruce - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770400B2 ## CPC - A61J 7/02: Pill counting devices - B67B 7/16: for removing flanged caps, e.g. crown caps - B67B 7/30: {Hand-operated cutting devices} - B67B 7/44: Combination tools, e.g. comprising cork-screws, can piercers, crowncap removers (combinations of opening devices with cutting tools B26; with devices serving other purposes, see appropriate subclasses, e.g. B25F; B43K29/00) - A61J 2205/30: Printed labels - 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 - B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D) ## Abstract A pill tray is provided for assisting in sorting and counting of pills and capsules comprising a generally flat transparent tray surrounded by walls on three sides, a pill receiver on a fourth side, and featuring at least one return funnel on a corner distal the pill receiver. The pill tray features at least one side handle, a pill receiver that extends rearward to the same extent as the return funnel, an advertising sleeve on the underside of the tray, efficient legs, a downwardly sloping return funnel with a ridge across the access to same, and a gradually sloped ridge between the tray and the pill receiver that has no flat surfaces. The pill tray is preferably formed as a single piece by injection molding. The pill tray may be part of a kit including a multi-function spatula. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pill tray comprising: a. an at least partially transparent tray extending from a pill receiver and having only a smoothly rounded ridge between said tray and said pill receiver; and b. an advertising sleeve extending over a portion of an underside of said tray and visible from a top side of said tray; c. at least one return funnel extending downwardly from a top pill-supporting surface of said tray and accessible from said top pill-supporting surface of said tray and having an at least partially rearward extension; and d. a return ridge between said tray and said return funnel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pill tray of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle comprising a flange extending distally from said tray. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pill tray of claim 2, wherein said at least one handle comprises a raised perimeter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pill tray of claim 1, wherein said pill receiver comprises an axially extending funnel portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pill tray of claim 1, further comprising at least one foot extending downward from said pill receiver. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pill tray of claim 1, further comprising at least one foot extending downward from said tray, wherein said at least one foot comprises a horizontal and vertical curvature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The pill tray of claim 1, wherein said pill receiver extends rearward a first extent and said rearward extension of said return funnel is equal to said first extent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The pill tray of claim 1, further comprising a spatula and a package forming a kit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pill tray of claim 8, comprising a spatula and a package together forming a kit, wherein said spatula includes a blade comprising: a. a tip curvature corresponding to a curvature between a flat bottom portion of said pill tray and front, right, and rear sides of said pill tray; b. a sharpened edge for penetrating hermetic seals; c. a hook for extracting packing materials from pill bottles; and d. a bottle cap opener for removing snap-on pill bottle caps, wherein said bottle cap opener comprises first and second fulcrums corresponding to first and second bottle cap sizes. ### Claim 10 A pill tray comprising: a. an at least partially transparent tray extending from a pill receiver and having only a smoothly rounded ridge between said tray and said pill receiver; b. an advertising sleeve extending over a portion of an underside of said tray; and c. at least one foot extending downward from said pill receiver; d. a return funnel extending downwardly from a top pill-supporting surface of said tray and accessible from said top pill-supporting surface of said tray and having an at least partially rearward extension; and e. a return ridge between said tray and said return funnel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pill tray of claim 10, further comprising at least one handle comprising a flange extending distally from said tray. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pill tray of claim 11, wherein said at least one handle comprises a raised perimeter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The pill tray of claim 10, wherein said pill receiver comprises an axially extending funnel portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The pill tray of claim 10, further comprising at least one foot extending downward from said tray, wherein said at least one foot comprises a horizontal and a vertical curvature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The pill tray of claim 10, wherein said pill receiver extends rearward a first extent and said rearward extension of said return funnel is equal to said first extent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The pill tray of claim 10, further comprising a spatula and a package forming a kit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The pill tray of claim 16, comprising a spatula and a package together forming a kit, wherein said spatula includes a blade comprising: a. a tip curvature corresponding to a curvature between a flat bottom portion of said pill tray and front, right, and rear sides of said pill tray; b. a sharpened edge for penetrating hermetic seals; c. a hook for extracting packing materials from pill bottles; and d. a bottle cap opener for removing snap-on pill bottle caps, wherein said bottle cap opener comprises first and second fulcrums corresponding to first and second bottle cap sizes. ### Claim 18 A pill tray comprising: a. an at least partially transparent tray extending from a pill receiver and having only a smoothly rounded ridge between said tray and said pill receiver; b. an advertising sleeve extending over a portion of an underside of said tray; c. a return funnel extending downwardly from a top pill-supporting surface of said tray and accessible from said top-pill-supporting surface of said tray and having an at least partially rearward extension; d. at least one foot extending downward from said pill receiver; and e. a return ridge between said tray and said return funnel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The pill tray of claim 18, wherein said pill receiver extends rearward a first extent and said rearward extension of said return funnel is equal to said first extent. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The pill tray of claim 18, further comprising a spatula and a package forming a kit. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The pill tray of claim 20, comprising a spatula and a package together forming a kit, wherein said spatula includes a blade comprising: a. a tip curvature corresponding to a curvature between a flat bottom portion of said pill tray and front, right, and rear sides of said pill tray; b. a sharpened edge for penetrating hermetic seals on pill bottles; c. a hook for extracting packing materials from pill bottles; and d. a bottle cap opener for removing snap-on pill bottle caps, wherein said bottle cap opener comprises first and second fulcrums corresponding to first and second bottle cap sizes.