Patent Publication Number: US-10786434-B2

Title: Tablet splitter

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to tablet splitters. More specifically, this application is directed to tablet splitters that do not use a traditional blade. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented elsewhere herein. 
     In one embodiment, a tablet splitter has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first side face laterally separated from a second side face, a back face extending between the first and second side faces, and a top face adjacent respective top edges of the first side face, the second side face, and the back face. The first side face, the second side face, the back face, and the top face define a first cavity. A splitting wedge is disposed within the first cavity, and has a pentagonal configuration which defines a leading edge and respective first and second angled faces extending from the leading edge forming an angle therebetween. The second portion includes A first side face laterally separated from a second side face, a back face longitudinally separated from a front face, and each of the back face and the front face extend between the first side face and the second side face. A bottom face is adjacent respective bottom edges of the first side face, the second side face, the front face, and the back face, together defining a second cavity. 
     A platform is disposed within the second cavity and includes a flexible matrix releasably attached an inside surface of the bottom face, and a tablet stabilizer disposed atop the flexible matrix. The tablet stabilizer has a seat portion for receiving a tablet and a wedge guide, and both the seat portion and the wedge guide are laterally offset from a top edge of the tablet stabilizer. The first portion is hingedly connected to the second portion and is configured to rotate from an open position to a closed position. The splitting wedge contacts the tablet stabilizer at the wedge guide when in the closed position; and the tablet stabilizer comprises a flexible material such that it flexes at the location of the wedge guide when in the closed position. 
     In another embodiment, a tablet splitter has a top portion that includes a splitting wedge with first and second angled sides defining a leading edge, and a bottom portion that includes a platform. The platform has a flexible matrix and a flexible tablet stabilizer disposed atop the flexible matrix for holding a tablet. The leading edge of the splitting wedge contacts the tablet and causes the flexible matrix and the flexible tablet stabilizer to flex thereunder. The tablet splits in response to the contact with the splitting wedge upon receiving a sufficient amount of force. 
     In still another embodiment, a method of uniformly splitting a tablet involves first providing a tablet splitter. The tablet splitter has a top portion with a splitting wedge formed of first and second angled sides defining a leading edge, and a bottom portion having a platform comprising a flexible matrix and a flexible tablet stabilizer disposed atop the flexible matrix for holding a tablet. The top portion and the bottom portion of the tablet splitter are operably coupled to one another. Once the tablet splitter is available, a user proceeds by placing the tablet on the flexible tablet stabilizer, moving the top portion such that the leading edge of the splitting wedge contacts the tablet and causes the flexible matrix and the flexible tablet stabilizer to flex thereunder, and providing a sufficient amount of pressure to the top portion until the tablet splits into a first portion and a second portion in response to the contact with the splitting wedge. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a tablet splitter in a semi-closed configuration according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the tablet splitter of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the tablet splitter of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the tablet splitter in a use configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Tablet splitters are well known and frequently used to split medications into doses not readily available for purchase. Most tablet splitters currently available utilize a blade, such as a stainless-steel blade with a sharpened edge, to split the tablet. However, there are many potential problems associated with such bladed tablet splitters. For example, when the blade is new, there is a risk of injury to a user who may unintentionally leave his or her finger in the path of the blade. And as the blade ages, it becomes increasingly dull such that the tablet may be crushed under the blade rather than cut as desired. 
     Embodiments of tablet splitters are described herein which overcome these, and other, problems associated with previous tablet splitters. Referring now to the figures, according to an embodiment of the invention, a tablet splitter  100  includes a top portion  102  and a bottom portion  105 . In embodiments, the top portion  102  and bottom portion  105  may be hingedly connected via a hinge construction  107 . The top portion  102  and bottom portion  105  may define respective male and female portions of the hinge  107 , which may be secured together by a pin  108 . In another embodiment, the top portion  102  and bottom portion  105  are formed of a unitary construction, and the hinge  107  may be formed by an area of weakness between the respective top portion and bottom portion portions  102  and  105 . In still another embodiment, the hinge  107  is a component separate from, and fastened to, the respective top portion and bottom portion portions  102  and  105  so as to unite the portions  102  and  105  together. In a further embodiment, the top portion  102  is entirely separate from the bottom portion  105 . 
     The top portion  102  may include a first side face  102   a  spatially separated from a second side face  102   b , which are connected at a respective end by a back-side face  102   c . Optionally, the top portion  102  may additionally include a front face. The hinge  107 , if present, is adjacent to (or integral with) the back-side face  102   c  as shown in  FIG. 2 . A top face  103  is disposed atop respective top edges of the side faces  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c . The side faces  102   a ,  102   b , and  102   c  extend from an underside of the top face  103  to form a cavity  120 . The top portion  102  has an outer width W 1  configured to fit within, or be substantially equal to, an inner width W 2  of the bottom portion  105  as described below. Optionally, the top face  103  may have an aesthetic design. In an embodiment, a top cover may be configured to temporarily attach to the top face  103 , and the cover may be customized on a user&#39;s aesthetic preferences. 
     A splitting wedge  104  is disposed within the cavity  120 , and secured to the underside of the top face  103 . In embodiments, the splitting wedge  104  is integral with, or forms a unitary portion of, the top face  103 . In other embodiments, the splitting wedge  104  is separate from, but attached to the underside of the top face  103  (e.g., via an adhesive, weld, fastener, and the like). The splitting wedge  104  has a pentagonal configuration defining a leading edge  104   a  and forming an angle θ between respective inclined surfaces  104   b  and  104   c . The angle θ is preferably, though not necessarily, an acute angle (e.g., less than or equal to about 90 degrees). In embodiments, the angle θ is between about 20 and 90 degrees, between about 30 and 90 degrees, between about 45 and 90 degrees, between about 60 and 90 degrees, for example. According to one embodiment, the angle θ is about 80, 85, or 90 degrees. According to still another embodiment, the angle θ is an obtuse angle, and is greater than about 90 degrees and less than about 180 degrees. 
     Moving on, the bottom portion  105  includes a first side face  105   a  spatially separated from a second side face  105   b . The respective side faces  105   a  and  105   b  are connected by longitudinally separated front face  105   c  and back face  105   d . A bottom face  106  underlies and is connected to respective bottom edges of the faces  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c , and  105   d . The side faces  105   a  and  105   b , the front face  105   c , the back face  105   d , and the bottom face  106  define a cavity  121 . The cavity  121  has a width W 2  that is substantially equal to the outer width W 1  of the top portion  102  (although the width W 2  may be slightly larger than the width W 1  to allow for ease in mating the top portion  102  to the bottom portion  105 ). 
     A platform  110  is disposed within the cavity  121 . The platform  110  is substantially centrally located along the width W 2  of the cavity  121 , and the respective side faces  102   a  and  102   b  of the top portion  102  may fit within spaces defined between the platform  110  and the side faces  105   a  and  105   b  of the bottom portion  105  when in a closed configuration (see  FIG. 1 ). A height H 1  of the splitting wedge  104  may be such that it comes into contact with a platform  110  as described below. Accordingly, in embodiments, the height H 1  ( FIG. 1 ) of the splitting wedge  104  may be less than a height H 2  of the respective first and second side faces  102   a  and  102   b . However, in embodiments the height H 1  of the splitting wedge  104  may be substantially similar to the height H 2  of the respective first and second side faces  102   a  and  102   b.    
     The platform  110  includes a cushion  111  and a tablet stabilizer  112 . The cushion  111  is a flexible matrix formed of a flexible material, such as a foam, rubber, or other elastomeric material. The cushion  111  may be removably adhered to the bottom face  106  such that the cushion  111  (either alone or together with the tablet stabilizer  112 ) can be replaced if necessary. The tablet stabilizer  112  is disposed atop the cushion  111  and may be adhered thereto to prevent the tablet stabilizer  112  from shifting. 
     The tablet stabilizer  112  may have an oblong shape, although such a shape is not required. The stabilizer  112  includes an inner seat portion  114  which may be slightly vertically offset from a top edge  115  of the stabilizer  112 . The top edge  115  defines a first pair of planar upper surfaces as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which first pair of planar surfaces are on opposing sides of the wedge guide  116 . The inner seat portion  114  defines a second pair of planar lower surfaces as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , which second pair of planar surfaces are on opposing sides of the wedge guide  116 . The wedge guide  116  is defined by a groove as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The seat portion  114  is configured to hold a tablet within the stabilizer  112  during use, and may include an oblong portion and a substantially circular portion. The tablet stabilizer  112  may be molded or otherwise manufactured of a firm yet flexible material, such as a thermoplastic material. Other materials may additionally; or alternately, be utilized. 
     A wedge guide  116  may be formed transversely down the center of the stabilizer  112 . The wedge guide  116  may be further vertically offset from the inner seat portion  114 . In a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the leading edge  104   a  of the wedge  104  is substantially received into the wedge guide  116 . Preferably, the tablet is placed on the stabilizer  112  such that the score line (or mid line), if any, is aligned with the wedge guide  116  and the tablet breaks along the score line when pressure is applied to the wedge  104 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the wedge  104  comes into contact with a tablet on tablet stabilizer  112 , the stabilizer  112  flexes under the wedge  104 . The cushion  111  provides the support necessary to allow the stabilizer to flex  112  under pressure; however, once pressure is removed from the stabilizer  112 , the cushion  111  urges the stabilizer  112  back to a substantially horizontal position. Because of the flexibility of the stabilizer  112  and the cushion  111 , instead of cutting through a tablet like prior art splitters, the tablet breaks along the line of contact with the leading edge  104   a  of the wedge  104 . Specifically, the cushion  111  provides sufficient pressure from the underside of the tablet on either side of the center of the tablet. 
     Surprisingly, it was found that providing a flexible matrix upon which the tablet rests, and utilizing a wedge rather than a blade, causes less crushing than traditional splitters. Additionally, it was found that the tablets split more evenly than with traditional splitters. This is important, as it is often crucial that a recipient receive as close as possible to the exact dosage of a medication as prescribed by a doctor. Where there is significant crushing, or where the user fails to split the tablet evenly, the user may be taking the wrong dose of medication. 
     Optionally, a tablet holding area  122  may be formed in the cavity  121  forward of the platform  110  for holding split tablets. This may be preferable for users who split several tablets at a time. The user may be able to split a tablet, move the tablet to the holding area  122 , and then proceed with splitting additional tablets. Or, the tablet holding area  122  may simply hold the sections of the tablet until the user ingests the section of the tablet. 
     It shall be understood by those of skill in the art that the tablet splitter  100 , including the top portion  102 , the bottom portion  105 , and the wedge  104 , may be formed from any material suitable to allow the splitter  100  to operate for its intended purpose. In one embodiment, the tablet splitter is formed of a high impact plastic. 
     A method for operating the tablet splitter  100  according to an embodiment of the invention includes placing a tablet  200  on the platform  110 , preferably on the tablet stabilizer  112  in the area of the inner seat portion  114 . If the tablet  200  has a center line or an area of weakness, the area of weakness may be aligned with the wedge guide  116 . The user may then rotate the top portion  102  about the hinge  107  to bring the wedge  104  into contact with the tablet  200 . The user then exerts sufficient force on the top portion  102  to force the tablet  200  downwards towards the cushion  111 . The cushion  111  exerts an opposing force on the tablet  200  (and specifically on either side of the center portion) causing the tablet  200  to split into first and second portions. Preferably, the first and second portions are substantially equal. The user may remove the portions of the tablet  200  from the tablet splitter  100 , or store the portions in the holding area  122  for later use. In embodiments, the user may further split one or more of the portions tablet into additional portions as necessary. 
     Many different arrangements of the described invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the disclosed improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Further, it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures and description need to be carried out in the specific order described. The description should not be restricted to the specific described embodiments.