# US 10,501,300 B2 · Ampoule opener > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,300 B2 - Document ID: US10501300B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/507,268 - Filed: 2015-08-28 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-29 - Applicants: John Bethune; Jon Bondy - Inventors: John Bethune; Jon Bondy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501300B2 ## CPC - B67B 7/92: by breaking, e.g. for ampoules - B23D 31/002: {Breaking machines, i.e. pre-cutting and subsequent breaking} - B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D) - B23D: PLANING; SLOTTING; SHEARING; BROACHING; SAWING; FILING; SCRAPING; LIKE OPERATIONS FOR WORKING METAL BY REMOVING MATERIAL, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (making toothed gears or the like B23F; cutting metal by applying heat locally B23K; arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) ## Abstract A device for opening a sealed glass ampoule includes a housing that aligns the ampoule with a breaking mechanism. The breaking mechanism includes a sloped region that corresponds to the ampoule to be broken. After breakage of the ampoule, the ampoule head is stored in a storage area and can be removed later without the user having to touch the broken glass. The ampoule opener can be used with a mating base or on a countertop or other flat surface. The ampoule opener removes the need for the user to touch the ampoule during or after opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ampoule opener for breaking the head, off an ampoule containing a liquid at a predetermined location, the ampoule opener comprising: a housing having a bottom, the housing including: a keyway disposed on the bottom: a channel extending from said keyway up to a breaking mechanism, wherein said breaking mechanism includes a slope region having an angle and length that corresponds to the head of the ampoule, and wherein the head of the ampoule is broken off by inserting the ampoule into said housing via said channel such that the head of the ampoule makes contact with said breaking mechanism; and a storage, wherein said storage is formed within said housing and in communication with said channel, and wherein said storage receives the head of the ampoule after being broken off the ampoule and, when the housing is in an upright position, the broken off ampoule head remains in the storage when the ampoule is removed from the ampoule opener such that a user can access the liquid residing inside the ampoule. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An ampoule opener according to claim 1, wherein said keyway includes a channel sized and configured to securely hold the ampoule. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An ampoule opener according to claim 2, wherein said keyway includes a first protrusion extending into said channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An ampoule opener according to claim 3, wherein said keyway includes a second protrusion, said second protrusion projecting away from said channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An ampoule opener according to claim 1, further including a base having a receiver, said receiver designed to mate with said keyway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An ampoule opener according to claim 5, wherein said keyway includes a channel sized and configured to securely hold the ampoule. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An ampoule opener according to claim 6, wherein said keyway includes a first protrusion extending into said channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An ampoule opener according to claim 7, wherein said receiver includes an aperture, said aperture designed and configured to mate with said first protrusion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) An ampoule opener according to claim 5, wherein said base includes a needle holder. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) An ampoule opener according to claim 5, wherein said base includes a plurality of receivers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An ampoule opener according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of receivers includes an aperture for guiding the ampoule opener when opening the ampoule and another of said plurality of receivers includes a channel for guiding the ampoule opener into a storage position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) An ampoule opener according to claim 5, wherein said base includes a slanted portion and a flat portion, wherein said slanted portion and said flat portion can be removably coupled together to form a slanted base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An ampoule opener according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes an exit port opposite from said keyway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An ampoule opener according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a discharge port in the bottom thereof, said discharge port in communication with said storage and proximate said keyway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An ampoule opener according to claim 14, further including a base having a receptacle sized and configured to mate with said discharge port during use of the ampoule opener. ### Claim 16 An ampoule opening system for breaking the head off an ampoule containing a liquid at a predetermined location comprising: an ampoule opener including: a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface, the housing including a keyway disposed on the bottom surface and wherein the top surface does not include any apertures; a channel extending from said keyway to a breaking mechanism, wherein said breaking mechanism includes a slope region having an angle and length that corresponds to the head of the ampoule; and a storage, wherein said storage is formed within said housing and in communication with said channel, and wherein said storage receives the head of the ampoule after being broken off the ampoule; and a base including a plurality of receivers, wherein at least one of said receivers supports the ampoule before and after breaking the head of the ampoule with said ampoule opener, wherein the head of the ampoule is broken off by inserting the ampoule into said housing via said channel such that the head of the ampoule makes contact with said breaking mechanism and, when the housing is in an upright position, the broken off ampoule head remains in the storage when the ampoule is removed from the ampoule opener such that a user can access the liquid residing inside the ampoule. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An ampoule opener according to claim 16, wherein said keyway includes a channel sized and configured to securely hold the ampoule. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An ampoule opener according to claim 17, wherein said keyway includes a first protrusion extending into said channel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) An ampoule opener according to claim 18 wherein said keyway includes a second protrusion, said second protrusion projecting away from said channel.