Ampule breaking aid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731952-B2
Application number	US-79104510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2010
Priority date	May 29, 2009
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to an ampule breaking aid for a glass ampule having a predetermined breaking point between a head portion and a use portion, said ampule breaking aid having a base body that receives the use portion, and a cap that overlaps the head portion, wherein the cap is supported on the base body, in particular is supported in an unconnected manner and wherein the cap and the base body, especially at the front surfaces; thereof facing one another form a pivot bearing having an axis of rotation that substantially passes through the predetermined breaking point.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A glass ampule and an ampule breaking aid system comprising:
the glass ampule having a predetermined breaking point between a head portion and a use portion,
the ampule breaking aid having a base body ( 14 ) that receives the use portion, and a cap ( 12 ) that overlaps the head portion,
wherein the cap ( 12 ) is supported on the base body ( 14 ) in an unconnected manner and is pivot-mounted so that the predetermined breaking point of the glass ampule may be broken if the cap ( 12 ) is pivoted relative to the base body ( 14 ),
wherein the use portion and the head portion are integrally formed,
wherein the cap is fabricated of a single material, and
wherein the base body ( 14 ) comprises a closed bottom footprint or platform with the aid of which the glass ampule ( 40 ) that is received within the ampule breaking aid ( 10 ), has a safe position or stand even in the case of a broken-away head portion ( 42 ).

2. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cap ( 12 ) and the base body ( 14 ) comprise support surfaces at front surfaces ( 16 , 18 ) thereof facing one another, said support surfaces limiting the rotary motion or rotation of the pivot bearing ( 26 ), and wherein the pivot movement of the bearing is limited to less than +/−30°.

3. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base body ( 14 ) and/or the cap ( 12 ) comprise flares ( 32 , 34 ) at front surfaces ( 16 , 18 ) thereof facing one another, said flares ( 32 , 34 ) serving to support the base body ( 14 ) and the cap ( 12 ) relative to one another transversely to the direction of the axis of rotation ( 36 ) of the pivot bearing ( 26 ).

4. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cap ( 12 ) and the base body ( 14 ) are provided with a pivot bearing ( 26 ) rotatable about an axis of rotation ( 36 ) that substantially passes through the predetermined breaking point ( 46 ) of the glass ampule ( 40 ), said pivot bearing ( 26 ) being formed by curved sockets ( 22 , 24 ) on the cap and matching projections ( 32 , 34 ) on the base body; and wherein the cap ( 12 ) and the base body ( 14 ) are provided with matching end surfaces ( 16 , 18 ) facing one another which may act as stops when the parts are pivoted relative to each other.

5. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base body ( 14 ) and/or the cap ( 12 ) are comprised of a flexibly preset plastic material which is more flexible and/or softer than the glass ampule ( 40 ).

6. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base body ( 14 ) tapers towards the direction of the pivot bearing ( 26 ) starting from the footprint.

7. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the footprint or platform comprises an outward-facing protrusion ( 52 ).

8. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the use portion ( 44 ) is supported in the base body ( 14 ) on the bottom and on the side thereof substantially free of play and is retained therein by means of frictional locking, such that the use portion ( 44 ) remains within the base body ( 14 ) in case a liquid received within the use portion ( 44 ) is discharged or poured out.

9. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base body ( 14 ) comprises a filling level indication in the form of a vertical viewing slot ( 50 ) that indicates the liquid level of the use liquid retained or stored in the use portion ( 44 ).

10. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the head portion ( 42 ) is received within the cap ( 12 ) in a friction-locked manner, and wherein the cap ( 12 ) comprises a particularly tapered inner contour.

11. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the cap ( 12 ) comprises at least one radially inward-facing protrusion ( 54 ) for supporting the head portion ( 42 ).

12. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base body ( 14 ) and the cap ( 12 ) completely surround the glass ampule ( 40 ), leaving some windows.

13. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base body ( 14 ) and the cap ( 12 ) are formed in two pieces, and wherein in the broken condition of the glass ampule ( 40 ), both the use portion ( 44 ) in the base body ( 14 ) and the head portion ( 42 ) in the cap ( 12 ) are each received in a recessed or buried manner, so that the predetermined breaking point ( 46 ) of the glass ampule ( 40 ) is substantially arranged in a recessed or buried manner relative to the front surfaces ( 16 , 18 ) of the cap ( 12 ) and the base body ( 14 ).

14. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a protrusion ( 48 ) pointing from the ampule breaking aid ( 10 ) to the glass ampule ( 40 ) is provided, said protrusion ( 48 ) supporting the glass ampule ( 40 ) and determining the relative height of the ampule in the ampule breaking aid ( 10 ).

15. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cap and the base body are each provided with an elastic frictional connection to provide support for the head and use portions of the glass ampule.

16. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the elastic frictional connection is an O-ring.

17. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the base body is provided with a protrusion ( 48 ) that allows the determination in height for the use portion ( 44 ) and thus for the glass ampule ( 40 ).

18. The ampule breaking aid as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the pivot bearing ( 26 ) comprises an axis of rotation ( 36 ) that substantially passes through the predetermined breaking point ( 46 ) of the glass ampule.

Assignees

• Müller Frank
• Ivoclar Vivadent Ag

Inventors

• Müller Frank

Classifications

• Y10T225/371

  Movable breaking tool · CPC title

• B67B7/92 Primary

  by breaking, e.g. for ampoules · CPC title