Patent Abstract:
A pillbox loading device receives a pillbox and has a top opening alignable with the pillbox compartments. Channels extend from the top opening and define funnels that guide the pills into the pillbox.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure relates to pillboxes used to store pills or similar solid mendicants or other small objects in individual compartments, and in particular, to devices for loading such pillboxes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Pillboxes are multi-compartment containers having lids or tops that individually open and close the compartments. Pills are placed in the open compartments and the compartments are then closed. When it is time to take a pill, a compartment is opened and the pill is removed for use. 
     Pillboxes are normally designed to hold pills sufficient for some specific dosage regimen. The pillbox compartments are typically arranged to extend side-by-side along the length of the pillbox, with the number of compartments based on the frequency the pills are to be taken. One common pillbox, for example, has seven transparent compartments labeled to identify each day of the week and are intended to store a week&#39;s worth of pills separated by day of the week. Another common pillbox has four transparent compartments labeled to identify different parts of the day—for example, morning, noon, evening, bedtime—and are intended to store a day&#39;s worth of pills that are taken at different times of the day. 
     A user knows whether or not he or she has taken a pill for that day of the week or time of day by simply looking to see whether or not that day&#39;s compartment contains pills. 
     Some pillbox users have physical limitations that makes it difficult for them to place pills into the open compartments of a pillbox. There is a need for a pillbox loading device that allows for easier loading of pillboxes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Disclosed is a pillbox loading device that includes a box-like member having spaced apart first and second side walls, spaced apart first and second end walls interconnecting the first and second side walls, the first and second end walls spaced apart from one another in a horizontal direction, and a top closing an upper end of the box-like member, each of the end walls and side walls extending in a vertical direction downwardly away from the top. 
     The second wall includes a slot extending through the second side wall. The top defines an opening that extends through the top and includes a number of channels and channel walls separating adjacent pairs of channels, the slot being spaced from one or both of the side edges and spaced vertically from an upper end of the first side wall. The channels are side-by-side to one another and extend from the first end wall to the second end wall. Each channel includes a floor extending away from the top opening and sloping upwardly from the top opening towards the top end of the box-like member. 
     In use, the pillbox is received within the side wall slot to place the open containers of the pillbox in the interior of the box-like member and to align the top opening with the containers. The channels in effect define funnels that direct pills placed on the channel floors towards the opening and to fall into respective compartments of the pillbox. 
     Because the boxlike member is wider than the pillbox, the widths of the channels away from the top opening is greater than the width of the pillbox compartments, making it easier for a user to place pills on the device and having the device funnel the pills to the pillbox compartments. 
     In possible embodiments of the disclosed loading device, channel ledges are provided that enable a user to place pills on the channel ledges temporarily before loading the pillbox. 
     Other objects and features of the disclosure will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheets illustrating one or more illustrative embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are top and front views respectively of a first embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the pillbox loading device shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3  but includes a pillbox in position for loading by the pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 3  of a second embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a third embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a fourth embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a fifth embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a sixth embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the pillbox loading device shown in  FIG. 9  taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 10  of a seventh embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of an eighth embodiment pillbox loading device. 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the pillbox loading device shown in  FIG. 12  taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a first embodiment pillbox loading device  10 . The illustrated pillbox loading device is intended for loading the pillbox compartments of a pillbox P having seven side-by-side storage compartments, the pillbox compartments being shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 1 . 
     The pillbox loading device  10  is a unitary one-piece box or box-like member  11  having a pair of spaced-apart first and second side walls  12 ,  14  respectively and a pair of spaced-apart first and second end walls  16 ,  18  respectively. The side walls and end walls surround and define a generally prismatic interior  20  of the box  11 . 
     The side walls and end walls define an upper end  22  and an open lower end  24  of the box  11 . A top  26  closes the upper portion of the box, with the side walls and end walls extending in a vertical direction downwardly away from the top  26 . The side walls and end walls extend to the lower end  24  of the box, the bottom ends of the side walls and end walls being co-planar to allow the bottom of the loading device  10  to be supported evenly on a flat surface. 
     The second side wall  14  includes a through-opening or slot  30  that is defined by a pair of spaced-apart vertical side walls  32 ,  34  and a horizontal wall  36  joining the upper ends of the side walls  32 ,  34  ( FIG. 3  exaggerates the thickness of the side wall  14  to more clearly show the slot side wall  32 ). The slot  30  extends vertically from the horizontal wall  36  to the bottom end of the side wall  12 , and is horizontally centered between the end walls  16 ,  18 . The slot  30  is sized to closely receive the compartment body of a pillbox as will be described in greater detail below. 
     The top  26  is spaced vertically below the upper end of the box  11  and extends from the first end wall  16  to the second end wall  18 . The top  26  extends from the first side wall  12  towards the second side wall  14 . The top  26  stops short of the second end wall  14  along an edge  38  spaced away from the first side wall  14 . The edge  38 , the end walls, and the first side wall  12  cooperatively define a mouth or top opening  40  that communicates with the interior  20 . The top opening  40  extends along the second side wall  14  from the first end wall  16  to the second end wall  18 . 
     The top  26  includes or defines seven channels  42  (the channels are labeled in  FIG. 1  as channels  42   a ,  42   b ,  42   c ,  42   d ,  42   e ,  42   f ,  42   g  respectively), each channel  42  associated with a respective compartment of the pillbox P. The channels  42  are located on an upper surface  44  of the top  26  and are side-by side one another. Elongate channel walls  46  extend along the length of the channels  42  on opposite sides of the channels and also separate adjacent pairs of channels. The top surface  44  forms floors of the respective channels  42   a - 42   g . The channel walls  46  are proud of the top surface  44 . 
     Through slots  48  are formed between adjacent channels  42  and are sized to receive compartment walls of the pillbox P during use as will be explained in greater detail below. The channel walls  46  bifurcate at the slots  48  and run the length of the slots  48  on both sides of the slots. 
     Each channel floor  44  extends upwardly away from the opening  40  and extends to an adjacent end wall  16 ,  18  or the first side wall  12 . Channel  42   a  extends to the end wall  16 . The channels  42   b ,  42   c ,  42   d ,  42   e ,  42   f  each extends to the first side wall  12 . The channel  42   g  extends to the end wall  18 . 
     Each channel floor includes an upwardly sloping floor portion  44   a  that extends away from the opening  40  and a level floor portion or ledge  44   b  that extends to the side or end wall. The lower end of each floor portion  44   a  is intended to be received within a respective compartment of the pillbox P. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the width dimension of the side wall  12  extending between the end walls is substantially greater than the total length of the compartments of the pillbox P. The width dimension of each of the end walls  16 ,  18  extending between the side walls is greater than the width of the compartments of the pillbox P. As each channel floor extends away from the opening  40 , the width of the floor increases. Away from the opening  40  the width of each of the floors is substantially greater than the width of each individual pillbox compartment. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates use of the pillbox loading device  10  to load the pillbox P resting on a flat surface (not shown) and with the pillbox compartments open. The box  11  is placed over the pillbox P so that the pillbox compartments are received in the box interior  20  through the open bottom end of the box. The pillbox P is received in the wall slot  30  to locate the channels  42  over the pillbox compartments. As the box  11  is placed over the pillbox P, the slots  48  receive the compartment walls that separate the pillbox compartments. Interference of the compartment walls with the sides of the slots  48  assist in limiting relative movement of the pillbox relative to the device  10  during use of the device  10 . The lower end of the box  11  is placed against the flat surface with the lower ends of the channels  42  received in and extending into respective compartments of the pillbox P as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The upper channel ledges  44   b  are level and enable a user to rest pills on the channel ledges  44   b  before loading the pills into the pillbox. Because the width of each of the channel ledges  44   b  are substantially greater than the pillbox compartment width, placing pills on the channel ledges  44   b  is easier than placing the pills directly into the pillbox compartments. Pills resting on the channel ledges  44   b  are simply slid down the channel portions  44   a  to slide the pills down the channels and into the pillbox compartments. The channels  42  form respective funnels that direct the pills to the opening  30  and to then fall through the opening  30  into the pill compartments. The pairs of channel walls  46  lining the channels  42  resist pills in the channels  42  from moving out of their channels and aid in funneling the pills to the pillbox compartments. 
     After loading the pillbox, the box  11  is lifted away from the pillbox P and the pillbox compartments are then closed. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a second embodiment pillbox loading device  110  that is similar to the loading device  10 . In this embodiment the inclined floor portions  44   a  are less steep as compared to the device  10  so that the top opening  40  is spaced vertically above the horizontal slot wall  36 . The pillbox P can slide through the slot  30  without obstruction from the top  26  to place the pillbox containers within the box interior  20 . The slots  38  of the device  10  are eliminated because the channels  42  do not extend into the pillbox containers during use. To assist in positioning the device  110  relative to the pillbox, interior side walls  47  and  47 ′ are sized to closely receive the body of the pillbox as the pillbox slides into the box member  11 . 
     The slope of the inclined floor portions  44   a  in other embodiments of the device  110  can be increased by increasing the height of the box  11 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a third embodiment pillbox loading device  210  that is similar to the loading device  110 . The loading device  210  differs from the loading device  10  in that the top  26  adjacent the respective end walls  16 ,  18  extends entirely to the second side wall  14 . The side wall  14  bounds one side of the channel  42   a  and the channel  42   g  and allows the width of the channel ledges of the channels  42   a ,  42   g  to be increased. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a fourth embodiment pillbox loading device  310  that is similar to the loading device  210 . The loading device  310  differs from the loading device  210  only in the width of the channels  42 . The channels  42   a ,  42   g  in addition to extending towards respective end walls  16 ,  18  also extend towards the side wall  12 . The width of the channel ledges of the other channels  42   b - 42   f  is reduced from those of the device  210 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a fifth embodiment pillbox loading device  410  that is intended for loading a pillbox P′. In this embodiment the top opening  40  is centered between the side walls  12 ,  14  and the end walls  16 ,  18 . The channels  42  each extend away from both sides of the opening  40  to the adjacent side and end walls. This embodiment enables channel ledges to be formed along both side walls  12 ,  14 . 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a sixth embodiment pillbox loading device  510 . The pillbox loading device  510  is similar to the device  310  but the channel walls  46  are located on only the upwardly sloping channel portions  44   a  and stop at the ledge channel portions  44   b . The ledge portions  44   b  form a single obstruction-free ledge  49  that extends the width of the first side wall  12 . The ledge channel portions  44   b  also slope downwardly from the ledge channel portions  44   a  to the adjacent side or end walls. When the device  510  is placed on a horizontal surface, pills placed on the ledge  49  are urged by gravity towards the side wall  12 . After all the pills intended to be loaded are placed on the ledge  49 , a user slides the pills off the ledge and into the channels to load the pillbox. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a seventh embodiment pillbox loading device  610 . The pillbox loading device  610  is similar to the device  510  but includes an elongate rotatable shaft  50  journaled in the end walls  16 ,  18 . The shaft  50  is located just above the side of the ledge  49  closely spaced from the upper ends of the channels  46 . The shaft  50  is rotated by a handle  52  located outside of the box member  11 . Attached to the shaft  50  for rotation with the shaft  50  is a flat plate  54  that normally sits just above and essentially covers all the ledge  49 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the plate  54  in its normal position slopes downwardly with the ledge  49  towards the side wall  12  and rests against the ledge  49 . Pills are loaded on top of the plate  54 , and the shaft  50  is rotated counterclockwise by the user as viewed in  FIG. 11 . This rotates the plate  54  away from the ledge  44  and tilts the plate  55  upwardly so that gravity urges the pills to move off the plate  55  and onto the channels  42 . 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate an eighth embodiment pillbox loading device  710 . The pillbox loading device  710  is similar to the device  610  but the plate  54  is replaced with individual plates  54   a - 54   g . Each plate  54   a - 54   g  is rotatable about a fixed shaft  50  and includes a tab  56  that extends through a slot in the side wall  12 . The channel walls  46  include wall segments located on opposite sides of a plate  54 . A user loads the plates with pills, and then uses the tabs  56  to individually rotate a plate for loading an individual pill compartments. In other possible embodiments the plates  54   a - 54   g  are designed to either individually rotate or to rotate together as a unit at the user&#39;s option. Each plate  54  would be designed in an embodiment to selectively snap or otherwise connect to adjacent plates for conjoint rotation with the adjacent plates. In yet other embodiments an additional actuator such as a rod that goes beneath the tabs  56  and revolves around on an axis similar to the shaft axis  50  could drive the plates simultaneously for loading the pill compartments. 
     Although the illustrated embodiments have been described being used to load pills into the pillbox compartments, it should be understood that this is exemplary only and that the described loading device can be used to load other small items—buttons, jewelry, coins, or the like—into a pillbox. 
     While one or more embodiments have been disclosed and described in detail, it is understood that this is capable of modification and that the scope of the disclosure is not limited to the precise details set forth but includes modifications obvious to a person of ordinary skill in possession of this disclosure and also such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1