US3650445A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medicinal tablet breaker
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-19
•
Granted: 1972-03-21
•
Expires: 1989-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A device readily formable in a bottle cap for breaking medicinal tablets into parts suitable for reduced dosages.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles J Heitzman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J7/00; A61J7/0007; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/20; Y10T225/298; Y10T225/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for breaking a medicinal tablet into parts, comprising a base, an upwardly directed exposed breaking edge on said base for engaging a presented underside of said tablet, and upwardly opening seat means on said base and having and at least partly bounded by upwardly directed means engageable with an edge portion of said tablet for positioning said tablet on said base during breaking with said underside laterally centered on said breaking edge and the parts of sAid tablet on opposite sides of said breaking edge respectively supported on and unsupported by and clear of said base, whereby downward pressure applied to an upper side of said tablet on opposite sides of said breaking edge will break said tablet thereon along said centerline.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A device for breaking a medicinal tablet into parts, comprising a base, an upwardly directed exposed breaking edge on said base for engaging a presented underside of said tablet, and upwardly opening seat means on said base and having and at least partly bounded by upwardly directed means engageable with an edge portion of said tablet for positioning said tablet on said base during breaking with said underside laterally centered on said breaking edge and the parts of sAid tablet on opposite sides of said breaking edge respectively supported on and unsupported by and clear of said base, whereby downward pressure applied to an upper side of said tablet on opposite sides of said breaking edge will break said tablet thereon along said centerline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the seat means includes an upwardly opening seat on a side of the breaking edge for receiving the supported part and holding said part against lateral movement relative to the base during breaking of the tablet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the base is a cap of a bottle containing medicinal tablets, the breaking edge is straight laterally of said cap and of a length to contain a central lateral dimension of one of said tablets, the tablet parts are halves, and the seat is of a size and shape to receive and fit one of said halves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein the breaking edge is inset in the cap, and including a recess in the cap and extending below the breaking edge on a side thereof opposite the seat for clearing the unsupported half of the tablet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein there are a pair of the seats at opposite sides of the breaking edge, and the seats together form an upwardly opening socket in a top of the cap centrally interrupted by the breaking edge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the breaking edge is the leading edge of an upwardly facing wedge, and downwardly and oppositely sloping sides of the wedge form bottoms of the seats.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 6, wherein all surfaces of the breaker are upwardly exposed for preventing entrapment of any tablet particles therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein each seat is adapted alternately to seat half of a tablet during breaking and to receive on breaking an unsupported half of a tablet having a half seated in the other seat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2655259A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |