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.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to pill trays for pharmaceutical use, and more particularly relates to an apparatus for assisting in sorting pills and capsules. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 25,230,009 for a PILL COUNTING DEVICE issued to M. R. Fields Nov. 14, 1950 teaches a tray coupled over an upward incline to a funnel-ended graduated pill receiver on a first tray side and an upwardly-inclining and rearward protruding return funnel at a second side corner. Fields&#39; pill receiver has a pivotable cover which has a closure edge that is received on a flat surface of the incline between the tray and the pill receiver. The tray rests on the bottom of the pill receiver and two peg legs distal the pill receiver. The pill receiver is graduated according to pill bottle sizes, so that the pharmacist may easily determine the correct size of bottle for the number of pills prescribed. Fields teaches downward flanges underneath the tray between the legs and between the legs and the pill receiver. The rear of the pill receiver is flush with the rear edge, but the return funnel protrudes rearward. In operation, a supply of pills is poured onto the tray and the pharmacist counts the pills as they are moved via a spatula into the pill receiver. Excess pills are moved back into the supply container via the return funnel. The counted pills are funneled into a pill bottle via the funneled pill receiver. Field&#39;s device is widely used in the industry. Fields&#39; device has, as with many other designs, a flat area on the ridge between the tray and the pill receiver where pill dust can accumulate and contaminate subsequently dispensed prescriptions. Fields&#39; device has, as with many other designs, an upwardly inclined return funnel, which requires that the user tilt the try at a higher angle than, for example, a tray with a level return funnel. In order to tilt Fields&#39; tray, the entire tray must be grasped. 
         [0003]    A printable opaque tray offered for sale on Alibaba.com features a curved front corner for the tray and receives printing on the opaque tray. Top surface printing is well known but, as the printing wears off, it can contaminate a prescription. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,064 discloses a pill tray without a cover to the pill receiver and without a ridge between the tray and the pill receiver. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,426 discloses a pill receiver with funnels at both ends and a device for closing off one of the funnels, depending on whether the user is right-handed or left-handed. The tray has a flay center and sloping tray portions to the sides, which include walls. There are two return funnels distal the pill receiver. Pill counting trays with return funnels at both corners distal the pill receiver are offered for sale by ArtPromos.com, as is printing advertisement on the top surface of the opaque tray. Top surface printing is well known but, as the printing wears off, it can contaminate a prescription. The advertised device also features a transparent cover for the pill receiver. 
         [0006]    A Grafco pill counter, offered for sale on Amazon.com is similar to the Fields design, but features a transparent tray. 
         [0007]    A pill tray offered for sale by Quality Logo Products has a clear region in the center of the tray for receiving logo imprints. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a pill tray with handles for easier pouring of pills through the pill receiver funnel and the return funnel. In addition, it is desirable to provide a pill tray with a downwardly directed return funnel with a ridge across the access to the return funnel to prevent inadvertent pill migration. In addition, it is desirable to provide a pill tray with no flat surface on the ridge between the tray and the pill receiver to avoid dust accumulation. In addition, it is desirable to provide a pill tray that has advertising that is not applied to the pill-sorting surface of the tray. In addition, it is desirable to provide a pill tray that has advertising that can be changed during the life of the device. In addition, it is desirable to provide a pill tray that can be pushed flush against the wall or backsplash behind a counter upon which the pill tray rests, in order to save counter space. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0009]    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 formed as a single piece by injection molding. 
         [0010]    The invention provides a pill tray including: an at least partially transparent tray extending from a pill receiver and having a smoothly rounded ridge and no flat surfaces between the tray and the pill receiver; and an advertising sleeve extending over a portion of an underside of the tray. The pill tray, further including a handle including a flange extending distally from the tray. The pill tray, where the handle includes a raised perimeter. The pill tray, where the pill receiver includes an axially extending funnel portion. The pill tray, further including a foot extending downward from the pill receiver. The pill tray, further including a foot extending downward from the tray, where the foot includes a horizontal and vertical curvature. The pill tray, further including a downwardly sloping return funnel extending from and accessible from the tray and having a rearward extension. The pill tray, further including a return ridge between the tray and the return funnel. The pill tray, where the pill receiver extends rearward a first extent and the rearward extension of the return funnel is equal to the first extent. The pill tray further including a spatula and a package forming a kit. The pill tray including a spatula and a package together forming a kit, wherein the spatula includes: a tip curvature corresponding to a curvature between a flat bottom portion of the pill tray and front, right, and rear sides of the pill tray; a sharpened edge for penetrating hermetic seals; a hook for extracting cotton packing materials; and a bottle cap opener for removing snap-on pill bottle caps, wherein the bottle cap opener includes first and second fulcrums corresponding to first and second bottle cap sizes. 
         [0011]    A pill tray including: an at least partially transparent tray extending from a pill receiver and having a smoothly rounded ridge and no flat surfaces between the tray and the pill receiver; an advertising sleeve extending over a portion of an underside of the tray; and a foot extending downward from the pill receiver. The pill tray, further including a handle including a flange extending distally from the tray. The pill tray, where the handle includes a raised perimeter. The pill tray, where the pill receiver includes an axially extending funnel portion. The pill tray, further including a foot extending downward from the tray, where the foot includes a horizontal and vertical curvature. The pill tray, further including a downwardly sloping return funnel extending from and accessible from the tray and having an at least partially rearward extension. The pill tray, further including a return ridge between the tray and the return funnel. The pill tray, where the pill receiver extends rearward a first extent and the rearward extension of the return funnel is equal to the first extent. 
         [0012]    A pill tray including: an at least partially transparent tray extending from a pill receiver and having a smoothly rounded ridge and no flat surfaces between the tray and the pill receiver; an advertising sleeve extending over a portion of an underside of the tray; a downwardly sloping return funnel extending from and accessible from the tray and having an at least partially rearward extension; and a foot extending downward from the pill receiver. The pill tray, further including a return ridge between the tray and the return funnel. The pill tray, where the pill receiver extends rearward a first extent and the rearward extension of the return funnel is equal to the first extent. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a top plan wire frame view illustrating an exemplary pill tray and defining a cross-section AA′, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a rear shaded view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view plan wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a top-right perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a bottom-left-front perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a bottom-left-rear perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a top-left-front perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a bottom-right-rear perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a front-left-rear perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view through cross section AA′ illustrating details of the exemplary advertising sleeve on the underside of the tray of the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a bottom-right-front perspective view AA′ illustrating details of the exemplary advertising sleeve on the underside of the tray of the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view illustrating a first exemplary spatula for use with the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a front elevation view illustrating the first exemplary spatula of  FIG. 13  for use with the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view illustrating a second exemplary spatula for use with the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 16  is a back elevation view illustrating the second exemplary spatula of  FIG. 15  for use with the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 17  is a diagrammatic view illustrating a first exemplary kit, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view illustrating a third exemplary spatula for use with the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view illustrating a second exemplary kit, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 20  is a perspective shaded view illustrating the exemplary pill tray of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a top plan wire frame view illustrating an exemplary pill tray  100  and defining a cross-section AA′, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Tray  102  has a rear wall  138 , a front wall  104 , and a side wall  140  with the directions referenced to  FIG. 1  with rear at the top of the drawing. Pill receiver  144  lies along the left edge of the tray  102  and is separated from the tray  102  by a sloping ridge  116  that has no flat surfaces. Flat surfaces on the ridge  116  or between tray  102  and pill receiver  144  are preferably avoided to avoid pill dust accumulation on such flat surfaces. Rear wall  138 , front wall  104 , and side wall  140  curve upward from tray  102  with a predetermined curvature  902  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0036]    Pill receiver  144  has a front funnel portion  126  with a funnel opening  142  for pouring counted pills in the pill receiver  144  into dispensing pill bottles. The external side of pill receiver  144  supports a handle  124 , preferably with a raised perimeter  122 . Pill receiver  144  is shown without a closable lid. In some alternate embodiments, a closable lid may be provided. In such an alternate embodiment, the edge of the lid that meets the ridge  116  will be shaped conformally to the curvature of the ridge  116 . The rear wall  120  of pill receiver  144  extends rearward of the rear wall  138  to the same extent as rearmost extension  136  of return funnel  106 , in order that the pill tray  100  will sit flush against a wall behind a counter upon which the pill tray  100  has been placed. 
         [0037]    Handle  134  extends from the right wall  140  and preferably includes a raised perimeter  132 . Preferably, the length dimension extension of the right handle  134  rightward of the rightmost extent  146  of return funnel  106  added to the length dimension of the leftmost extension of the left handle  124  from the pill receiver  144  is no greater that the leftward extent of an open lid, or cover, for the pill receiver  144 , as shown. Accordingly, the pill tray  100  takes up no greater footprint on a counter top than a prior art device of the same tray  102  size with its cover open. That is, the operating footprint of the pill tray  100  on a countertop is not increased relative to equivalent-capacity prior art devices. While the left and right extents of the handles  124  and  134 , respectively, are limitations of this exemplary embodiment of the pill tray  100 , the handle shape shown is not a limitation. It is within the scope of the present invention to have the surfaces of the handles  124  and  134  be suitable for displaying advertising. In some alternate embodiments, the left and right extensions of the handles may increase the operating footprint of the pill tray  100 . 
         [0038]    The underside of pill receiver  144  has a front foot  130  and a rear foot  128 . The underside of tray  102  has advertising sleeve  114  and front tray foot  112  and rear tray foot  110 . Advertising sleeve  114  receives advertising media, such as printed media, that displays advertising to the user through transparent pill tray  102 . The media is preferably received in a slot  602  (see  FIG. 6 ) between front tray foot  112  and rear tray foot  110 . Note that the horizontally curved portions of front tray foot  112  and rear tray foot  110  do not obstruct access to slot  602 . Advertising sleeve  114  may be of various sizes, and is preferably at least large enough to receive a conventional business card. Tray  102  is preferably entirely transparent, however, in various alternate embodiments, tray  102  may be transparent only over the advertising sleeve or made of colored transparent material. 
         [0039]    Downwardly sloping return funnel  106  extends from rear wall  138  and right wall  140  and has a return ridge  108  to prevent inadvertent pill migration out of the return funnel  106 . Rear wall  138  extends downwardly to one side of return funnel  106  and side wall  140  first extends in height (See ref  502  in  FIG. 5 ) and then extends downwardly in height to form return funnel  106 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The pill receiver  144  has sufficient depth between the bottom of funnel opening  142  and the bottom of the pill receiver  144  to accommodate a volume of pills sufficient to fill a prescription. Seen with  FIG. 1 , the vertical edge curvature of front tray foot  112  is apparent and tray foot  110  is preferably formed in mirror image shape to front tray foot  112 . The height of rear wall  138  is flush with the height of pill receiver  144  and the height of front wall  104  is flush with the height of the ridge  116 . Return funnel  106  is preferably downward sloping, as shown, which reduces the amount that the pill tray  100  must be tilted to return unused pills to a storage or supply container. 
         [0041]      FIG. 3  is a rear shaded elevation view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Rear wall  120  of pill receiver  144  preferably has an arcuate lower perimeter  302  extending into the semi cylindrical main trough  304  of pill receiver  144 , as shown. The vertical edge curvature and horizontal curvature of rear tray foot  110  can be seen. The design of the rear tray foot  110  and front tray foot  112  avoids the need for a flange extending between the tray feet  110 ,  112  or from the tray feet  110 ,  112  to the pill receiver  144 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view plan wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Advertising sleeve  114  has sides  402 ,  404 , and  406  that extend from the underside of tray  102  to advertising sleeve panel  410 . Advertising sleeve  114  also has sleeve edge  408  that does not extend to the underside of tray  102 , but remains open to form slot  602  (see  FIG. 6 ) for receiving advertising media. The advantages of advertising sleeve  114  over the prior art are that the advertising media are replaceable, making the pill tray  100  more fungible; and the print does not contact the medications being counted on the top surface of tray  102 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  is a top-right perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Side wall  140  is higher than front wall  104 , and side wall  140  extends further to an increased height  502  before extending downward and outward to form return funnel  106 . While the rear wall  138 , front wall  104 , and side wall  140  are shown as primarily straight and of even height, such features are exemplary rather than limiting. The top edge  504  of pill receiver  144  is similarly not limited to be straight or of even height. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  is a bottom-left-front perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Slot  602  under edge  408  of advertising sleeve  114  is operable to slidingly receive printed advertising media. Front foot  130  and a rear foot  128  provide additional stability over prior art devices, in which minor irregularities in the manufacture of the pill receiver  144  can cause unexpected tilting during operation. The inner curvature of rear tray foot  110  is visible. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  is a bottom-left-rear perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The inner curvature of front tray foot  112  is visible. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a top-left-front perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Return ridge  108  is best displayed in this view. Return ridge  108  assists in preventing pills from exiting the tray during counting operations, but is not so high as to prevent pills from exiting when the pill tray  100  is tilted to return unused pills to the supply container. Like ridge  116 , return ridge  108  is rounded and has no flat surfaces. The entire pill tray  100  is preferably made as one piece of injection molded plastic, including return ridge  108 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  is a bottom-right-rear perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Slot  602  may be clearly seen in this view. Extending tray  102  into rear wall  138  is a predetermined curvature  902 , which reduces pill dust accumulation. 
         [0048]      FIG. 10  is a front-left-rear perspective wire frame view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The corner between front wall  104  and side wall  140  is curved, as shown, and extension  1002  from the height of the front wall  104  to the height of side wall  140  is achieved in the curved corner. 
         [0049]      FIG. 11  is a partial cross-sectional view through cross section AA′ from  FIG. 1  illustrating details of the exemplary advertising sleeve  114  on the underside of the tray  102  of the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The curvature of ridge  116  can be seen in this cross section. The slot  602  for receiving advertising media is between tray  102  and panel  410  and is preferably sized to receive printed card stock. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  is a bottom-right-front perspective view AA′ illustrating details of the exemplary advertising sleeve  114  on the underside of the tray  102  of the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The access to slot  602  is between front tray leg  112  and rear tray leg  110 . In some alternate embodiments access may be changed by providing a front or rear slot  602 , with appropriate changes to the front tray leg  112  and rear tray leg  110 . A slot  602  proximate the pill receiver  144  is possible, but not required. The alignment of the advertising sleeve  114  with the sides of the tray  102  is merely exemplary: other orientations and shapes of advertising sleeve  114  are possible in various alternate embodiments. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view illustrating a first exemplary spatula  1300  for use with the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Spatula  1300  is preferably sold in a kit with pill tray  100 . Spatula  1300  includes a handle  1302  and a blade  1306  extending from the handle portion. Handle  1302  includes an inset  1304  that is suitable for bearing advertising and an indentation  1322  for ease of handling. Handle  1302  has a surface for assisting in gripping the spatula  1300 . 
         [0052]    Spatula  1300  is a multi-functional device. The curvature  1308  of the tip of the blade  1306  preferably matches the particular curvature  902  between the pill tray  102  and the back wall  139 , side wall  140 , and front wall  104  and so is preferably shaped to be interoperable with pill tray  100 . Sharpened edge  1310  is used for initially penetrating hermetic seals on pill supply bottles when first opening such bottles. Inner edge  1314  is also used for cutting hermetic seals once they have been penetrated using sharpened edge  1310 . Hook  1312  is used for extracting packing material, such as cotton, that is used in pill supply bottles to reduce damage to the pills during shipping. Opener  1320  is used for removing snap-on caps from pill bottles with fulcrums  1318  and  1316  corresponding to caps of different sizes. The back edge of blade  1306  is rounded to reduce friction in moving across pill tray  100 . 
         [0053]    The spatula  1300  preferably has a plastic handle  1302  and a metal blade  1306 . In alternate embodiments, other materials may be used such as, for non-limiting examples, all metal or all plastic. No limit on the materials used to make spatula  1300  is intended, beyond the limitation that the materials must support the function of spatula  1300 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 14  is a front elevation view illustrating the first exemplary spatula  1300  of  FIG. 13  for use with the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen, blade  1306  can be made from flat metal stock or other flat stock. Indentation  1402  provides for ease of handling. In an alternate embodiment, opener  1320  may be wider than the blade  1306 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 15  is a side elevation view illustrating a second exemplary spatula  1500  for use with the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Blade  1306  is the same as for spatula  1300 , but handle  1502  has a different shape. Inset  1504  provides a surface for bearing advertising while handle  1502  has a surface for assisting in gripping the spatula  1500 . In various alternate embodiments, handles  1302  and  1502  of various shapes may be used, within the limits of the functionality of spatula  1300  or  1500 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 16  is a back elevation view illustrating the second exemplary spatula  1300  of  FIG. 15  for use with the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The back edge of blade  1306  is rounded to reduce friction in moving across pill tray  100 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 17  is a diagrammatic view illustrating an exemplary kit  1700 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Package  1702  may be any type of device for containing or associating spatula  1300  and pill tray  100 . Kit  1700  may optionally contain advertising media for insertion in slot  602  of pill tray  100  and may provide such advertising media already within slot  602 . Kit  1700  may optionally contain a supply of pills. 
         [0058]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view illustrating a third exemplary spatula  1800  for use with the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Handle  1802  has a notch  1804  that is sized and shaped complimentary to the funnel opening  142  that allows the spatula  1800  to rest, in a stable manner, in the pill receiver  144  (See  FIG. 19 ) when not in use. Blade  1806  has a single fulcrum  1818  for the bottle cap opener  1820 . Variation in the shape of the bottle cap openers  1820  and  1320  may be seen, and is within the scope of the present invention as long as the functionality is preserved. Tips  1812  and  1312  also shows some variation in configuration. 
         [0059]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view illustrating a second exemplary kit  1900 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Kit  1900  includes pill tray  100  and spatula  1800 . Pill tray  100 , shown as opaque for simplicity of illustration, is provided as a kit with spatula  1800 . Spatula  1800  is shown in its stable resting position with notch  1804  receiving a portion of funnel opening  142  when the kit is not in use. The shipping configuration of the kit  1900  may be different from that shown, depending on the packaging chosen. Kit  1900  may optionally contain advertising media for insertion in slot  602  of pill tray  100  and may provide such advertising media already within slot  602 . Kit  1900  may optionally contain a supply of pills. 
         [0060]      FIG. 20  is a perspective shaded view illustrating the exemplary pill tray  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Pill tray  100  is shown as opaque for simplicity of illustration, but is normally transparent. In an alternate embodiment, portions of pill tray  100  may be opaque. Reviewing some of the unique features, pill tray  100  has a downward return funnel  106  and a return ridge  108 . The pill receiver is separated from the tray  102  by a rounded ridge  116 . Handles  124  and  134  have raised perimeter  122  and  132 , respectively. Horizontally and vertically curved foot  112  is also seen. 
         [0061]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description and the claims will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention.