US20100206766A1

US20100206766A1 - Pill tray attachable to a pill storage container

Info

Publication number: US20100206766A1
Application number: US12/772,187
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard Warman
Original assignee: Warman Enterprises LLC
Current assignee: Warman Enterprises LLC
Priority date: 2008-06-10
Filing date: 2010-05-01
Publication date: 2010-08-19

Abstract

A pill tray that facilitates dispensing of pills from a pill storage container. The tray can be configured to attach to a pill storage container that stores the pills, and have a first aperture positioned immediately proximate to a second cavity defined in the pill storage container. The first aperture can facilitate the transfer of the pills from the pill storage container into the first cavity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/157,381, filed Jun. 10, 2008, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to bottles or containers that are designed to hold pills, tablets, capsules or the like, and more particularly to a tray either integrally formed on the top of the bottle or adapted to fit onto existing bottles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are sundry types of bottles that are designed to hold and dispense pills, tablets, capsules and the like (here and after referred to as pill) and as is well known in this technology, the dispensing of the pills may be awkward or clumsy. As for example, the typical way to dispense a pill from a bottle is to tip it upside down and through gravity the pills move toward the top aperture until it falls out. Obviously, at times it falls into ones hand and at other times it falls out of one's hand and on occasion onto the floor. Alternately, one may attempt to spill the pill onto a table or counter top or into a dish or the like. Another problem that is typical is that one may want to dispense the pill at night when vision isn't too clear and may encounter difficulty in removing the pill and grasping the same. As one can imagine, there can be many different problems that are associated with the dispensing of these types of pills and these problems may be acerbated, when the person doing the dispensing is afflicted with some type of medical handicap, like arthritis and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pill tray that facilitates dispensing of pills from a pill storage container. The pill tray can include a concave wall having a first aperture defined therein though which pills pass, the wall flairing laterally and upward from the first aperture, and an annular rim having a second aperture defined therein, the annular rim extending inward from an upper portion of the wall, the wall and the annular rim defining a first cavity that holds pills when the tray is tilted laterally. The tray can be configured to attach to a pill storage container that stores the pills, the first aperture being positioned immediately proximate to a second cavity defined in the pill storage container. The first aperture can facilitate the transfer of the pills from the pill storage container into the first cavity.
Another embodiment of the pill tray can include a bottom surface having a first aperture defined therein though which pills pass, and at least one wall that extends upwards from a periphery of the bottom surface, the bottom surface and the wall defining, at least in part, a first cavity that holds pills. The tray can be configured to attach to a pill storage container that stores the pills, the first aperture being positioned immediately proximate to a second cavity defined in the pill storage container. The first aperture can facilitate the transfer of the pills from the pill storage container into the first cavity.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a combined pill bottle and tray that facilitates dispensing of pills from a pill storage container. The combined pill bottle and tray can include a pill tray and a lower pill storage portion. The pill tray can include a concave wall having a first aperture defined therein though which pills pass, the wall flairing laterally and upward from the first aperture, and an annular rim having a second aperture defined therein, the annular rim extending inward from an upper portion of the wall, the wall and the annular rim defining a first cavity that holds pills when the tray is tilted laterally. The lower pill storage portion can include a bottom surface and at least one wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the bottom surface and the wall defining a second cavity for storing the pills. The tray can be configured to attach to the lower pill storage portion, the first aperture being positioned immediately proximate to the second cavity. The first aperture can facilitate the transfer of the pills from the pill storage portion into the first cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating a pill bottle that is useful for understanding the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in section showing details of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an assembled view in section of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating the assembled position;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective view of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 1 illustrating operation of the pill bottle.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating another pill bottle that is useful for understanding the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view in section showing details of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an assembled view in section of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 5 illustrating the assembled position;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating another pill bottle that is useful for understanding the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view in section showing details of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an assembled view in section of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 8 illustrating the assembled position;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating another pill bottle that is useful for understanding the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a view in section showing details of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is another view in section of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 11 illustrating the assembled position;

FIG. 14 is an exploded view in perspective illustrating another pill bottle that is useful for understanding the present invention;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view in section showing details of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is an assembled view in section of the pill bottle depicted in FIG. 14 illustrating the assembled position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. In that regard, various features of the present invention may be described in the various embodiments depicted in different figures. Nonetheless, it is within the scope of the present invention that such features may be applied to other described embodiments, where compatible.
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. Finally, like numerals are used herein to describe like objects.
The present invention relates to a pill tray which facilitates the dispensing of pills. As used herein, the term “pill” is defined as a mass of a medical substance, vitamin and/or nutritional supplement provided in a rigid, semi-rigid and/or gelatinous form. In this regard, the term “pill”, as used herein, encompasses tablets, capsules and the like, which contain a medical substance, vitamin and/or nutritional supplement. Moreover, a pill may comprise a hard, semi-hard or gelatinous coating or shell, and may contain a hard, semi-hard, gelatinous and/or liquid substance.
The pill tray may be structured to simplify the process of retrieving pills for those who have difficulty retrieving pills from conventional pill bottles, for example those who are afflicted with arthritis, or otherwise have impaired or limited motor skills. Moreover, a person using this invention would be able to remove the contents from the bottle without having to shake the contents into the person's hand, onto a counter top or the like. For those persons that typically take pills at night when it is dark, they can merely tip or shake the bottle, or tilt the bottle laterally or upside down, remove the lid, and find a pill conveniently located in an upper portion of the bottle, again, facilitating the retrieval of the pill.
While this invention is being described in various embodiments as having different shaped pill trays, as one skilled in this art will appreciate this invention has utility in other shaped pill trays and the shape of the pill trays, as well as their materials, should not detract from the scope of this invention.
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict a combined pill bottle and tray (hereinafter “bottle”) 100 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The bottle 100 can include a pill tray (hereinafter “tray”) 112 and a lower pill storage portion (hereinafter “lower portion”) 110 that serves as a pill storage container. In this regard, within the claims and this specification, the lower portion also may herein be referred to as a “pill storage container.” The tray 112 can be positioned adjacently to a top end 111 the lower portion 110. The tray 112 can be fixedly attached to the lower portion 110, or removably attached. An aperture (e.g., opening) 114 can be defined in the tray 112 where the lower portion 110 and tray 112 are attached to facilitate transfer of pills from a cavity 122 defined in the lower portion 110 into the tray 112. In illustration, the aperture 114 can be positioned immediately proximate to the cavity 122. In one arrangement, the tray 112 and lower portion 110 can be molded as a single unit, but the invention is not limited in this regard.
The lower portion 110 can include a bottom surface 120 and at least one wall 118 extending upwardly from the bottom surface 120, the bottom surface 120 and the wall 118 defining the cavity 122 for storing the pills that is accessible through the aperture 114. In one arrangement, a single cylindrical wall 118 can be provided. In other arrangements, a plurality of walls 118 can be provided to form a lower portion 110 having a desired geometrical shape. In one aspect of the inventive arrangements, the dimensions of the aperture 114 can be congruent with the dimensions of the top end 111 of the lower portion 110. For example, the diameter of the aperture 114 can be approximately equal to the inside diameter of the wall 118, though this need not be the case. For example, the diameter of the aperture 114 can be smaller than the inside diameter of the wall 118. As noted, the invention is not limited to a circular aperture 114, nor to a lower portion 110 having a single wall 118, and thus the invention is not limited to these specific examples.
In accordance with one embodiment, the tray 112 can comprise a wall 126 configured to flair outwardly and upwardly from the lower portion 110, i.e., laterally and upwardly from the aperture 114. In other words, the shape of wall 126 can be generally concave, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3. The wall 126 can define, at least in part, a cavity 124.
An annular rim (hereinafter “rim”) 128 can be defined on an upper portion of the wall 126, thereby further defining the cavity 122 in conjunction with the wall 126. The rim 128 can extend inward from an upper portion of the wall 126. An aperture (e.g., opening) 130 can be defined in the rim 128 to provide access into the cavity 124 to retrieve pills. In one arrangement, the rim 128 can be generally flat and parallel to the bottom surface 120 of the lower portion 110. In another arrangement the rim 128 can have a shape that is generally convex, such that from an outer edge 132 of the rim 128 to the aperture 130 the rim 128, the rim 128 flairs outwardly away from the wall 126. In yet another arrangement the rim 128 can have a shape that is generally concave, such that from the outer edge 132 of the rim 128 to the aperture the rim 128, the rim 128 flairs inwardly toward the wall 126. Still, the rim 128 can be configured in any other manner suitable for retaining pills in the cavity 124 when the bottle 100 is turned laterally and the invention is not limited in this regard, as is further described with reference to FIG. 4.
When the bottle 100 (i.e., the lower portion 110 and the tray 112) is tilted laterally or upside down, one or more pills 134 can be transferred from the cavity 122 to the cavity 124 through the aperture 114. The wall 126 and the rim 128 can be configured so that once transferred into the cavity 124, the pills are held proximate to where the rim 128. The pills can remain in place while the bottle 100 remains tilted laterally so that a user can reach into the cavity 124 and remove the pills 134. Specifically, the rim 128 can adequately protrude over the cavity 124 so as to prevent the pills 134 from spilling out of the bottle 100 when the bottle 100 is tilted. For example, in one arrangement, a width 136 of the rim 128 can be equal to, or greater, than a diameter of an average pill. In another arrangement, the width 136 of the rim 128 can be equal to or greater than one-half of a diameter of an average pill. Still, any other suitable width 136 can be chosen so long as the chosen width 136 prevents the pills 134 from unintentionally falling out of the cavity when the bottle 100 is turned laterally.
Moreover, the size and shape of the curvature of the bottom of the cavity 124, which is defined by the wall 126, can be such that it facilitates the passage of the pills 134 into the cavity 124 without falling back into the cavity 122 while the bottle 100 is tilted laterally. Tilting the bottle 100 upright and/or shaking of the bottle 100 can serve to return of the unused pills 134 that have been captured in the cavity 124 back into the cavity 122.
Optionally, the bottle can include a suitable lid or cap (herein collectively referred to as “lid”) 116 which serves to enclose the bottle 100. The lid 116 can be removed so that pills can be retrieved from within the bottle 100.
In one arrangement, the lid 116 can include grasping features 117 around its periphery so as to facilitate removal of the lid from the tray 112/lower portion 110. The grasping features 117 can facilitate removal of the lid 116 by those with arthritis or other medical conditions. Suitable grasping features are well known to those skilled in the art, and any such grasping features may be used. Such grasping features are not limited to those contained on the periphery of the lid 116. For example, grasping features may be disposed on the top of the lid 116, or in any other suitable manner.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the lid 116 can be sized to fit a top end 138 of the tray 112 and may have threads 140 to complement threads 142 formed on an outer periphery of the tray 112. Accordingly, the lid 116 may be screwed onto the lower tray 112 in a conventional manner. The invention is not limited in this regard, however, and any other suitable means of attachment may be implemented, as would be known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing pill bottles. For example, tabs may be used to attach lid 116 to the tray 112. In illustration, suitable tabs can be defined on the periphery of the tray 112 and corresponding slots that engage the tabs can be defined on the lid 116, or vice versa. In another example, the lid 116 and tray 112 can be configured such that the lid 116 snaps onto the tray 112.
Optionally, the lid 116 and/or tray 112 can be configured to prevent access to the contents of the bottle 100 by small children. For example, a tab 144 can be attached to an outer portion of the tray 112. The tab 144 can interface with the lid 116 so that when the lid is attached to the tray 112 (e.g., screwed or snapped onto the tray 112), the tab 144 locks the lid 116 into place. For example, the tab 144 can include a protrusion 146 that engages an orifice 148 on a lower portion 150 of the lid. In this arrangement, the tab 144 can be depressed to disengage the protrusion 146 from the orifice 148, thereby allowing the lid to be unscrewed and removed. Of course, this invention contemplates any other type of known lids and childproof mechanisms, and any such lids and childproof mechanisms are within the scope of the present invention.
FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 depict a combined pill bottle and tray (hereinafter “bottle”) 500 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The bottle 500 comprises a tray 512 of the type described in the structure depicted in FIGS. 1-4. In this arrangement, however, the tray 512 can be configured to be removeable from a lower portion 510 of the bottle 500. The lower portion 510 can be, for example, an existing pill bottle that has its lid removed. Advantageously, when the supply of pills in the existing pill bottle have been used, the tray 512 can be removed and attached to another bottle containing pills. Nonetheless, the invention is not limited in this regard. For example, the lower portion 510 can be specifically manufactured for compatibility with the tray 512.
As previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, the bottle 500 can include a lower portion 510 having at least one wall 514 and a bottom surface 516 defining the cavity 518 accessible through a wide top aperture (e.g., opening) 520. Again, the lower portion 510 can be cylindrical or have any other desired shape, and the cavity can serve as a compartment for storing pills.
In this arrangement, the tray 512 can include an intermediate member 522 having a body 524 of a desired shape, for instance cylindrical. As with the previous embodiment, the tray 512 can include a wall 526 that defines a dish shaped cavity 528. The wall 526 can be configured to flair outwardly from an aperture 530, or aperture, defined in the tray 512, i.e., laterally from the aperture 530. The aperture 530 of the tray 512 can be smaller than the top aperture 520 of the lower portion 510. For example, the aperture 530 can have a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the aperture 520, though this need not be the case.
A rim 540 can be defined on an upper portion of the wall 526, and can extend inward from the upper portion of the wall 526. The rim 540 can be configured as previously described with reference to the rim 128 depicted in FIGS. 1-4.
A bottom portion 550 of the tray 512 can be sized to complement a top end 552 of the lower portion 510 of the bottle 500 and can be configured to be removably attached thereon. For example, the tray 512 can be configured to screw or snap onto the top end 552 of the lower portion 510 in a conventional manner. The invention is not limited in this regard, however, and any other suitable means of attachment may be implemented, as would be known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing pill bottles.
In one arrangement, a childproof mechanism 560 can be incorporated into the lower portion 510 and/or the tray 512 and can be configured to prevent removal of the tray 512 from the lower portion 510 by small children. Similarly, a childproof mechanism 562 can be incorporated into the tray 512 and/or the lid 116 and can be configured to prevent removal of the lid 116 from the tray 512 by small children. As noted, the lid 116 can include suitable grasping features 117. In one arrangement, the lid 116 can be the lid from the existing pill bottle, but this need not be the case.
FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 depict a combined pill bottle and tray (hereinafter “bottle”) 800 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The bottle 800 also comprises a tray 812 of the type described in the structure depicted in FIGS. 5-7. In this arrangement the tray 812 again can be configured to be removeable from a lower portion 810 of the bottle 800 which has a narrow top aperture (e.g., opening) 820. As noted, the lower portion 810 of the bottle 800 can be an existing pill bottle that has its lid removed. Thus, when the supply of pills in the bottle have been used, the tray 812 can be removed and attached to another bottle containing pills. Nonetheless, the invention is not limited in this regard. For example, the lower portion 810 can be specifically manufactured for compatibility with the tray 812.
In contrast to the arrangement described in FIGS. 5-7, the lower portion 810 can be configured to have a narrow top aperture (e.g., opening) 820 through which a cavity 818 defined by the lower portion 810 is accessible, and through which pills may pass. Again, the lower portion 810 can have at least one wall 814 and a bottom surface 816 defining the cavity 818. The lower portion 810 can be cylindrical or have any other desired shape. Moreover, the wall 814 can be configured with a contour 820 that flares outwardly (i.e, laterally) from a lid or tray attachment portion 822 to a relatively wider section 824 of the lower portion 810, thereby allowing for a relatively large cavity 818 in comparison to the size of the lid or tray attachment portion 822.
The tray 812 can be configured to removably attach to the lid or tray attachment portion 822 in a suitable manner. For example, the tray 812 can be configured to screw or snap onto the lid or tray attachment portion 822 as previously described in FIGS. 1-4, or attach in any other suitable manner.
The tray 812 further can include a wall 826 and a rim 840 defining a cavity 828, as previously described in FIGS. 1-4. In addition, the bottle 500 can include a lid 116, as previously described in FIGS. 1-4.
FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 depict a combined pill bottle and tray (hereinafter “bottle”) 1100 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The bottle can include a tray 1112, which may be circular, square, rectangular or other polygonal shape. Obviously, this invention contemplates other shapes and/or styles of trays and the particular shape or style does diminish the scope of this invention.
The tray 1112 can include a flat bottom surface 1114 and at least one side wall 1116 that extends upwards from the bottom surface 1114 to define a cavity 1118. A central aperture 1120 (e.g., opening) can be defined in the bottom surface 1114 to provide access to a cavity 1124 defined by a wall 1126 and the bottom surface 1128 of a lower portion 1110 of the bottle 1100. In this regard, the bottom surface 1114 can laterally extend from the aperture 1120 to the side wall(s) 1116 in a traverse manner. The aperture 1120 can be circular, triangular, square, or have any other desired shape.
The bottle 1100 can be configured such that pills 1130 may be contained in the cavity 1124. Shaking or turning the bottle 1100 upside down will cause the pills 1130 to transport to the tray 1112. When the bottle 1100 is returned to the original position, the pills 1130 will sit on the bottom surface 1114 of the tray 1112 to allow a user to pick up one or more pills 1130 as depicted by the fingers 1132. In one arrangement a lid 1134 may be hingedly attached to the tray 1112 at one end 1136 by a suitable hinge 1138. The hinge 1138 can be a thin material that may be molded into the lid 1120, or implemented in any other suitable manner. The lid 1134 and/or tray 1112 and can include a snapping closure structure 1140 for holding the lid 1134 in place while closed. Still, any other suitable lid and/or fastening means may be used and the invention is not limited in this regard. Indeed, various types caps and fastening mechanisms are well known to those skilled in the art, and are within the scope of the present invention.
FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 depict a combined pill bottle and tray (hereinafter “bottle”) 1400 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The bottle 1400 comprises the lower portion 510 described with reference to FIGS. 5-7 and a tray 1412 similar to the type described in the structure depicted in FIGS. 5-7. As noted, the lower portion 512 can be an existing pill bottle that has its lid removed. Once again, the tray 1412 can be configured to removably attach to the lid or tray attachment portion 552 in a suitable manner. In addition, a suitable lid 1464 can be provided, as previously described.
The bottle 1400 can be configured such that pills may be contained in the cavity 518. Shaking or turning the bottle 1400 upside down will cause the pills to transport to the tray 1412. When the bottle 1400 is returned to the original position, the pills will sit on a bottom surface 1414 of the tray 1412 to allow a user to pick up one or more pill, as previously described.
Again, the tray 1412 can include an intermediate member 1422 having a body 1424 of a desired shape. The primary difference between the bottle 1400 and the bottle 500 described in FIGS. 5-7 is the configuration of the tray 1412, and more particularly, the features which define the cavity 1428. The tray 1412 can include a flat bottom surface 1414 and at least one wall 1416 that extends upwards from a periphery of the bottom surface 1414 to, at least in part, define the cavity 1428. A central aperture 1420 (e.g., opening) can be defined in the bottom surface 1414 to provide access to the cavity 518 defined by the lower portion 510. In this regard, the bottom surface 1414 can traversely extend from the aperture 1420 to the wall 1416.
The aperture 1420 can be circular, triangular, square, or have any other desired shape. The size (e.g., diameter) of the aperture 1420 can be selected to allow the passage of at least one pill therethrough, while allowing the bottom surface 1414 to be sufficiently large to hold pills when the tray 1412 is positioned in an upright position, as depicted in FIGS. 14-16. For example, the diameter of the aperture 1420 can be selected to be approximately one-quarter, one-third, one-half, two-thirds or three-quarters of the diameter of the bottom surface 1414. Still, the any other suitable diameter for the aperture 1420 can be selected so long as pills may pass through the aperture 1420 and be held by the bottom surface 1414 when the tray 1412 is positioned upright.
Optionally, a rim 1440 can be defined extending inward from the upper portion of the wall 1416. The rim 1140 can be configured as previously described with reference to the rim 128 depicted in FIGS. 1-4. In an arrangement in which the rim 1440 is provided, the cavity 1428 can be defined by the bottom surface 1414, the wall 1416 and the rim 1440.
A bottom portion 1450 of the tray 1412 can be sized to complement a top end 552 of the lower portion 510 of the bottle 500 and can be configured to be removably attached thereon. For example, the tray 512 can be configured to screw or snap onto the top end 552 of the lower portion 510 in a conventional manner. The invention is not limited in this regard, however, and any other suitable means of attachment may be implemented, as would be known to those skilled in the art of manufacturing pill bottles.
As previously described, a childproof mechanism 560 can be incorporated into the lower portion 510 and/or the tray 1412 and can be configured to prevent removal of the tray 1412 from the lower portion 510 by small children. Similarly, a childproof mechanism 1462 can be incorporated into the tray 1412 and/or the lid 116 and can be configured to prevent removal of the lid 116 from the tray 1412 by small children.
Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to detailed embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed invention.
This invention can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A pill tray that facilitates dispensing of pills from a pill storage container, the pill tray comprising:

a concave wall having a first aperture defined therein though which pills pass, the wall flairing laterally and upward from the first aperture; and

an annular rim having a second aperture defined therein, the annular rim extending inward from an upper portion of the wall, the wall and the annular rim defining a first cavity that holds pills when the tray is tilted laterally;

wherein:

the tray is configured to attach to a pill storage container that stores the pills, the first aperture being positioned immediately proximate to a second cavity defined in the pill storage container; and

the first aperture facilitates the transfer of the pills from the pill storage container into the first cavity.

2. The pill tray of claim 1, wherein the pill tray removably attaches to the pill storage container.

3. The pill tray of claim 1, wherein the pill tray is fixedly attached to the pill storage container.

4. The pill tray of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first aperture is approximately equal to a diameter of the second cavity.

5. The pill tray of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first aperture is less than a diameter of the second cavity.

6. The pill tray of claim 1, further comprising:

a lid hingedly attached to the tray, the lid serving to enclose the first cavity when the lid is closed.

7. A pill tray that facilitates dispensing of pills from a pill storage container, the pill tray comprising:

a bottom surface having a first aperture defined therein though which pills pass; and

at least one wall that extends upwards from a periphery of the bottom surface, the bottom surface and the wall defining, at least in part, a first cavity that holds pills; and

wherein:

8. The pill tray of claim 7, further comprising:

an annular rim having a second aperture defined therein, the annular rim extending inward from an upper portion of the wall;

wherein the bottom surface, the wall and the annular rim form the first cavity that holds pills.

9. The pill tray of claim 7, wherein the pill tray removably attaches to the pill storage container.

10. The pill tray of claim 7, wherein the pill tray is fixedly attached to the pill storage container.

11. The pill tray of claim 7, wherein a diameter of the first aperture is approximately equal to a diameter of the second cavity.

12. The pill tray of claim 7, wherein a diameter of the first aperture is less than a diameter of the second cavity.

13. The pill tray of claim 7, further comprising:

14. A combined pill bottle and tray that facilitates dispensing of pills from a pill storage container, the combined pill bottle and tray comprising:

a pill tray comprising:

an annular rim having a second aperture defined therein, the annular rim extending inward from an upper portion of the wall, the wall and the annular rim defining a first cavity that holds pills when the tray is tilted laterally; and

a lower pill storage portion comprising:

a bottom surface; and

at least one wall extending upwardly from the bottom surface, the bottom surface and the wall defining a second cavity for storing the pills;

wherein:

the tray is configured to attach to the lower pill storage portion, the first aperture being positioned immediately proximate to the second cavity; and

the first aperture facilitates the transfer of the pills from the pill storage portion into the first cavity.

15. The combined pill bottle and tray of claim 14, wherein the pill tray removably attaches to the pill storage portion.

16. combined pill bottle and tray of claim 14, wherein the pill tray is fixedly attached to the pill storage portion.

17. The combined pill bottle and tray of claim 14, wherein a diameter of the first aperture is approximately equal to a diameter of the second cavity.

18. The combined pill bottle and tray of claim 14, wherein a diameter of the first aperture is less than a diameter of the second cavity.

19. The combined pill bottle and tray of claim 14, further comprising: