Granted Patent B2

US 12,396,923 · App. 18/449,870 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Inventor: Angel A. Avila (Santa Fe, NM)

Assignee: United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs

A61J1/03A61J7/04B65D1/36B65D43/16B65D51/245B65D83/0445A61J2205/40B65D2203/00B65D2251/1058

Abstract

Claims (28)

1. An apparatus for sorting pills, the apparatus having a first axis, a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes, the apparatus comprising:

a body having a first side and a second side that are spaced along the first axis, wherein the body defines a plurality of receptacles that extend between the first side and the second side of the body, wherein the plurality of receptacles are arranged into at least one row, wherein each receptacle comprises a peripheral sidewall that extends circumferentially around an interior volume;

a slide plate positioned on the first side of the body, wherein the slide plate defines a first plurality of openings, wherein the slide plate is slidable relative to the body about and between:

a first position, in which the first plurality of openings are offset from respective receptacles of the plurality of receptacles along the second axis so that the slide plate blocks the plurality of receptacles; and

a second position, in which the first plurality of openings are aligned with respective receptacles of the plurality of receptacles along the second axis so that pills can pass through the first plurality of openings and into the receptacles; and

a retaining plate that is releasably coupled to the first side of the body, wherein the retaining plate retains the slide plate against the body, wherein the retaining plate defines at least one slot that is elongated along the second axis,

wherein the slide plate comprises at least one tab, wherein a respective tab of the at least one tab extends through each slot of the at least one slot of the retaining plate, and wherein the respective tab permits articulation of the slide plate about and between the first position and the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one row comprises a plurality of rows.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receptacles comprises seven receptacles per row of the at least one row.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate defines a second plurality of openings, wherein each respective opening of the second plurality of openings is aligned with a respective receptacle of the plurality of receptacles along the second and third axes so that pills can pass through the respective opening of the second plurality of openings and into the receptacle, wherein:

when the slide plate is in the first position, the first plurality of openings are offset from the second plurality of openings along the second axis so that the slide plate blocks the second plurality of openings; and

when the slide plate is in the second position, the first plurality of openings are aligned with the second plurality of openings along the second axis so that pills can pass through the first and second plurality of openings and into the receptacles.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a latch that releasably couples the retaining plate to the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein decoupling of the retaining plate from the body releases the slide plate from the body.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate has a perimeter comprising at least one corner, wherein the retaining plate comprises:

a pour spout at a corner of the at least one corner; and

an upwardly extending lip that extends peripherally around the perimeter of the retaining plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of lids that are pivotably coupled to the second side of the body, wherein each lid of the plurality of lids is configured to cover a respective receptacle of the plurality of receptacles at the second side of the body.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each lid of the plurality of lids comprises a lid latch that is configured to releasably engage the body.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each lid further comprises a protrusion that extends along the first axis proximate to the lid latch, wherein the protrusion defines an opposed surface to the lid latch that permits squeezing of the lid latch and the opposed surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the opposed surface of the protrusion is concave in a direction away from the lid latch.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot comprises opposed ends, wherein contact between the respective tab and the opposed ends of the at least one slot inhibits movement of the slide plate outside of travel about and between the first and second positions.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot comprises a first slot and a second slot that are spaced along the third axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each lid of the plurality of lids comprises a label.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the label of each lid of the plurality of lids comprises Braille or at least one raised letter.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate defines a rounded edge that surrounds each opening of the second plurality of openings.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining plate comprises a label at each opening of the second plurality of openings.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the body, the retaining plate, and the slide plate comprise molded polymer.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (28)