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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) from European patent application ser. no. 09 161 599.7 filed May 29, 2009. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to an ampule breaking aid for breaking a glass ampule having a predetermined breaking point between a head portion and a use portion. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ampules made from glass that completely surrounds the liquid, have been tested and proved successfully for the safe storage of liquids in order to prevent the liquid from being contaminated. In contrast to a bottle, ampules of this kind do not possess a cover or lid or some other closure. In order to open the ampule the upper part thereof, the so-called head portion, is quickly broken away, and the useful liquid is then available in the lower part of the ampule, the so-called use portion. Ampules of this kind may provide the required liquid in the requested amount in a cost-efficient manner, for example in the pharmaceutical field, but in particular for dental applications. 
     Breaking away the head portion is advantageously effected via a predetermined breaking point such as a lateral contraction or neck at the ampule. Breaking the ampule is typically effected by the dentist or physician manually bending the ampule at the respective position. The use portion of the ampule per se, however, may not be set upright or deposited so that the physician or dentist in the case of a partial consumption of the liquid quickly puts the use portion on a mat, in the hope that no liquid leaks due to the cohesion of the liquid and the reduced diameter outlet at the neck of the predetermined breaking point. 
     Some physicians and dentists are of the opinion that the manual breaking of the glass ampule is a risk and fear that they get hurt if the ampule breaks at an unintended position. In practice, the fact is somewhat more relevant that for the most part there exists a sharp-edged glass bezel at the predetermined breaking point that involves a certain risk of getting injured. 
     In order to reduce the risks and to improve the handling, ampule holders have become known that serve as a protection for the ampule. A solution of this kind for example can be taken from U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,566. With this solution, an asymmetric reception of the ampule within the ampule breaking aid is provided. The ampule breaking aid entirely surrounds the ampule. Basically, it is formed in two pieces and is comprised of a base body for receiving the use portion and a cap for receiving the head portion. The cap is formed asymmetrically relative to the head portion, and for its introduction the ampule must be pressed into a specific position so that the predetermined breaking point substantially corresponds to the parting line between the cap and the base body. 
     This solution, indeed, is well suitable for protecting the ampule. With this solution, however, it is disadvantageous that in practice a break at a wrong position, which is not at the predetermined breaking point, cannot be excluded. This even can result in glass particles spalling off and in that case getting into the liquid, or contributing otherwise to injuries. This is particularly undesirable and also dangerous as especially with ampules received within ampule holders it is easily overlooked that a small piece of glass is missing. The dentist or doctor also does not have the possibility to determine whether a glass particle has been lost by holding the head portion next to the use portion as the ampule holder or ampule breaking aid completely or nearly completely covers the glass ampule. 
     Moreover, numerous other embodiments of ampule holders and ampule protection devices have become known. By way of example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,524 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,125 in this connection. These solutions are quite strongly dependent on the skill of the operating doctor or dentist. 
     On the other hand, the invention is based on the object of providing an ampule breaking aid according to the preamble of claim  1  that may be handled in a more reliable manner, that may be manufactured in a well-priced manner and that is ergonomically improved. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention it is provided to provide the ampule breaking aid with a defined pivot bearing that ensures safe guiding of the head portion and the use portion. By exactly defining the height of the glass ampule relative to the ampule breaking aid, it is therefore assured that the folding effect is always active at the same position, that is to say at the predetermined breaking point of the ampule, so that a breakage with a spalling effect is excluded almost certainly. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that with the aid of the axis of rotation the pivot bearing may realize a well-directed and guided rolling-off of head portion and use portion on or at one another, respectively. This permits to convert the abrupt breaking motion that requires to overcome a resistance, into a guided motion and in this respect into a motion that runs in a defined manner, whereas it is ensured at the same time that neither the open or raw cutting edges of the cap nor those of the base body protrude after they have been separated from each other. 
     This may for example be realized by forming portions corresponding to the pivot bearing, wherein one portion at its front end thereof facing the other portion, is formed in the manner of a joint socket, and the other portion is formed in the manner of a joint head. The axis of rotation always runs transversely through the ampule and through the predetermined breaking point. The result is that a part of the use portion and a part of the head portion in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ampule protrude in the direction towards the other portion, respectively, as those portions in this respect engage with one another. 
     This causes the cutting edges and cutting points each returning or being recessed relative to the foremost points of the portions so that a protected reception of the cutting edges is realized in this manner on the opposite side. 
     This is possible with surprisingly easy means; the use portion and the head portion may each be manufactured from a well-priced plastic material that additionally also enables a certain damping function for vibrations so that the ampule consisting of glass is better protected. 
     An advantageous embodiment enables to define the height of the ampule relative to the ampule breaking aid by means of protrusions that ensure that the axis of rotation exactly passes through the predetermined breaking point. It is preferred to provide an embodiment that is substantially circle-symmetric or comprises fins that extend circularly so that an inwardly uniform support of the ampule takes place. 
     Preferably, some kind of pullout locking device or protection is additionally provided for preventing the glass ampule in its base body from being pulled out from the use portion. This may be realized with the aid of a resilient latch or catching recess that prevents the use portion from inadvertently leaving the base body after breakage of the predetermined breaking point. 
     On the other hand, it is particularly favorable if the base body on its own is stable and at its base or surface area for example comprises a ratio of at most 1:2 relative to the height of the base body. The structural safety or stability is thus especially well provided whereas it is also possible to provide small bases or stands that straddle away outwardly or to attach a protruding bead in order to realize the desired stability or structural safety in a material-saving manner. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the pivot bearing is formed by matching arcuate portions at the face ends of the cap and the base body, whereby the convex arcuate or curved portion especially is formed at the base body. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the cap and the base body have support areas at the front surfaces thereof facing one another that limit the rotary motion of the pivot bearing and that the pivoting mobility of the bearing in particular is limited to less than +/−30°, preferably less than +/−20° and especially preferably approximately to +/−10°. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the base body and/or the cap are/is formed of a more flexible and in particular also softer material than the glass ampule, in particular are/is formed of a flexibly preset plastic material. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the base body comprises a footprint or platform with the aid of which the glass ampule that is received within the ampule breaking aid, has a safe position or stand even in the case of a broken-away head portion, and that the base body tapers towards the direction of the pivot bearing, in particular starting from the footprint. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the footprint or platform comprises an outward-facing protrusion, in particular a circumferential bead. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the head portion and the use portion at the pivot bearing comprise inner contours and outer contours matching one another. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the base body and/or the cap comprise flares at the front surfaces thereof facing one another, said flares serving to support the base body and the cap relative to one another transversely to the direction of the axis of rotation of the pivot bearing. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the use portion is supported in the base body 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 remains within the base body in case a liquid received within the use portion is discharged or poured out. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the base body comprises a filling level indication, in particular a vertical viewing slot that indicates the liquid level of the use liquid retained or stored in the use portion. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the head portion is received within the cap in particular in a friction-locked manner, and that the cap comprises a particularly tapered inner contour. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the cap comprises at least one radially inward-facing protrusion for supporting the head portion. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the base body and the cap completely surround the glass ampule, if applicable leaving some windows. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that the base body and the cap are formed in two pieces, and that in the broken condition of the glass ampule, both the use portion in the base body and the head portion in the cap are each received therein in a recessed or buried manner, such that the predetermined breaking point of the glass ampule is substantially arranged in a recessed or buried manner relative to the front surfaces of the cap and the base body, respectively. 
     According to the invention it is particularly favorable that a protrusion pointing from the ampule breaking aid to the glass ampule is provided, said protrusion supporting the glass ampule and determining the relative height of the ampule in the ampule breaking aid. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Further advantages, details and features emerge from the following description of several exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  represents a schematic lateral view of an embodiment of an ampule breaking aid according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  represents a lateral view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , partially broken away, however, represented from a different viewing direction; 
         FIG. 3  shows an enlarged representation of the pivot bearing in the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a further representation of the pivot bearing according to  FIG. 3 , however in a different pivot position; 
         FIG. 5  represents a sectional view of an inventive ampule breaking aid, also showing the ampule; 
         FIG. 6  is a representation according to  FIG. 5 , with a broken ampule; 
         FIG. 7  is a modified embodiment of the cap for an ampule breaking aid according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a modified representation of a base body for an ampule breaking aid according to  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a lateral view of the base body according to  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  shows the use of a base body according to  FIGS. 8 and 9  for a modified embodiment of an ampule breaking aid. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The ampule breaking aid  10  according to  FIG. 1  comprises a cap  12  and a base body  14  that at the end surfaces  16  and  18  thereof are embodied in a manner that matches one another. 
     The cap  12  comprises a basic design that tapers bottom-up. This also applies to the base body  14  whose upper front surface substantially has the same diameter as the lower front surface  18  of the cap  12 . The cap  12  is fabricated of a single material. 
     The cap  12  comprises a recessed grip  20  intended to facilitate the manipulation or guiding of the hand when breaking the ampule. In the representation according to  FIG. 1 , at the rear side of the cap, joint sockets  22  and  24  of a pivot bearing  26  are formed on the right and on the left that interact with corresponding joint heads  28  and  30  on the top side of the base body  14 . 
     Moreover, flares  32  and  34  of the cap  12  extend downwardly beyond the pivot bearing  26  on the side thereof, said flares at the same time serving to guide the two parts of the ampule breaking aid relative to one another and that enable a support thereof. 
       FIG. 2  shows that the joint socket  24  and also the joint head  30  are substantially formed in a semi-circular manner. In this way, an axis of rotation  36  is formed for the pivot bearing, and the pivot movement of the cap  12  relative to the base body  14  may be restricted with the aid of stops  16  and  18  in the desired manner. 
     This becomes apparent in  FIGS. 3 and 4  that show the pivot bearing  26  in an enlarged representation. As it is apparent, the front face  16  forms a support on the front face  18  in the area of the flare  32  so that the pivot movement of the cap  12  relative to the base body  14  is limited to approximately 30 degrees with respect to the vertical. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a modified design of the ampule breaking aid  10 , also showing the reception of the glass ampule  40  in the ampule breaking aid  10 . The glass ampule  40  comprises a head portion  42  and a use portion  44  that are connected integrally to one another. The connection is effected via a predetermined breaking point  46  that is formed in a manner known per se by a constriction or neck which may be slightly slit per se for example. A glass ampule  40  that is kinked without an ampule breaking aid, typically exactly breaks at the predetermined breaking point and thus leaves behind two separate parts, that is to say the head portion  42  and the use portion  44 . 
     The exact design of the glass ampule  40  may be adapted to the requirements to a large extent. However, it is preferred that the use portion  44  is substantially larger than the head portion, for example comprises 3 to 50 times the volume thereof. 
     The head portion  42  is safely guided within the cap  12  and the use portion  44  is safely guided within the base body  40 . In this respect, the inner surface of the respective parts of the ampule breaking aid  10  is adapted to the outer surface of the two portions  42  and  44 , respectively. In this way, the height of the portions relative to the ampule breaking aid is defined as well, so that the predetermined breaking point  46  is exactly located on the axis of rotation  36  which moreover is schematically indicated in  FIG. 5 . 
     The base body  14  also comprises a protrusion  48  that allows the determination in height for the use portion  44  and thus for the glass ampule  40 . The filling or loading of the ampule breaking aid  10  with the glass ampule is effected in a manner that in case of the cap  12  being removed, the ampule  40  is quickly pressed into the base body  14  until it contacts the protrusion  48 , which may be in the form of a shim or shims, and then the head portion  12  is put on or fitted so that it overlaps the head portion  42 . 
     The use portion  44  is safely received within the base body  14  in a force-fit manner or with the aid of a catch or locking device (not shown). The same applies for the reception of the head portion  42  within the cap  12 . 
     As is also apparent from  FIG. 5 , a viewing slot  50  is formed on the side of the base body  14  that enables to determine the filling level of the use portion  44  from outside. Moreover, the base body  14  at its closed bottom side comprises an enlarged footprint or contact surface  52  that serves to ensure that the use portion  44  that is filled with the liquid, does not inadvertently tilt over. In this connection, the inventive ampule breaking aid  10  also inures to the benefit of the total conical design of the two parts of the ampule breaking aid  10 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates in which manner a breakage of the ampule  40  at the predetermined breaking point  46  is effected. By laterally bending or kinking the cap  12  relative to the base body  14 , the ampule  40  breaks at the predetermined breaking point  46 , whereas at the same time the cap  12  rolls off the pivot bearing  26  relative to the base body  14 . 
     From  FIG. 7  it is apparent, in which manner the head portion  42  (compare  FIG. 5 ) may be retained within the cap  12  by means of flexible or elastic protrusions  54 . Additionally, an inserted sealing ring or O-ring  56  may be provided that also offers an elastic support of the head portion and thus the glass ampule  40 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates that a similar sealing ring  58  may also be realized in the lower area of the base body  14 . With the aid of a sealing ring of this kind that for example may be comprised of plastic material or rubber, an elastic frictional connection is produced that reliably prevents the glass ampule  40  from slipping out of the ampule breaking aid at the two portions thereof, respectively. 
     From  FIG. 9  it is apparent that the viewing slot  50  may nearly extend over the entire height of the base body  14 . The footprint or contact surface  52  has a width that almost corresponds to the height of the base body  14 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates in which manner an ampule  40  having a substantially smaller head portion  42  may be accommodated according to the invention. The cap  12  as well is considerably minimized in this exemplary embodiment and the predetermined breaking point is located just below the top end of the glass ampule  40 . 
     The ampule breaking aid may also be referred to as ampule protection. 
     While preferred forms of this invention has been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In this regard, the terms as used in the claims are intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but are also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.