US 11,478,829 B2Granted

Prescription bottle label degrader

AssigneeScrapeItRx LLC

InventorsEdward M. Johnson, David L. Harvey, James M. Valentine

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A simple hand held label degrading device and method employs a molded polymer ring (collar) having a plurality of molded hardened pointed teeth on the internal circumference projecting radially inward for degrading the label of a prescription bottle or the like inserted therein. A longitudinal slot in the collar allows it to be fitted over a bottle such that simple hand squeezing of the collar compresses the collar around the bottle and engages the pointed teeth against the label. Simple hand twisting of the collar around the bottle in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation cuts through the plastic composite or paper label and shreds the label rendering sensitive information illegible thus protecting personal health information. The bottles can then be thrown away or recycled without fear of medical identity theft.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A label degrading device, comprising:

a generally cylindrical collar having a circumferential wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the circumferential wall of said collar comprising a top portion adjacent to a first longitudinal end of said collar and a bottom portion adjacent to a second longitudinal end of said collar;
a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the top portion of the circumferential wall of said collar, each of said plurality of teeth having a point, and wherein the points of said plurality of teeth collectively define a generally cylindrical shape;
wherein a longitudinal slot is formed along and passing completely through the circumferential wall of said collar to define opposing edges of the circumferential wall, such that when said collar is squeezed by a user, the circumferential wall flexes inwardly and the opposing edges defined by the slot move toward each other, whereby the teeth are adapted to destructively engage a label carried on a vessel over which said collar is disposed such that hand twisting of the collar around the vessel renders illegible information printed on the label;
a key formed on the collar, the key comprising a member extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the bottom portion of the circumferential wall of said collar and extending longitudinally from the second longitudinal end of the circumferential wall along a length of the bottom portion of the circumferential wall of said collar, the key adapted to engage an indentation formed in a cap of the vessel, whereby the device acts as a gripping tool to facilitate removal or replacement of the cap;
wherein no teeth are present on the bottom portion of the circumferential wall of said collar;
and
wherein said collar and said teeth comprise a polymeric material compound having a glass additive mixed therein.

4 more elements

A label degrading device, comprising:

a generally cylindrical collar formed from a polymeric material compound and having a circumferential wall with an inner surface and an outer surface, the circumferential wall of said collar comprising a top portion adjacent to a first longitudinal end of said collar and a bottom portion adjacent to a second longitudinal end of said collar;
wherein the polymeric material compound comprises at least one of polypropylene and polycarbonate and at least one glass additive mixed therein, the at least one glass additive selected from the group consisting of silica, talc and mica;
a plurality of longitudinally extending ridges extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the circumferential wall, the ridges adapted to facilitate gripping of the device during twisting;
a plurality of teeth extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the top portion of the circumferential wall of said collar, the teeth comprising polymeric teeth integrally formed with the circumferential wall, and wherein the teeth are formed in a plurality of rows, each row comprising at least two teeth, and wherein the plurality of rows are longitudinally separated from each other;
a key formed on the collar, the key comprising a member extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the bottom portion of the circumferential wall of said collar and extending longitudinally from the second longitudinal end of the circumferential wall toward another longitudinal end along a length of the bottom portion of the circumferential wall of said collar, the key being sized and shaped to engage an indentation formed in a cap of the vessel, whereby the device acts as a gripping tool to facilitate removal or replacement of the cap;
wherein no teeth are present on the bottom portion of the circumferential wall of said collar;
and
wherein a longitudinal slot is formed along and passing completely through the circumferential wall of said collar to define opposing edges of the circumferential wall, such that when said collar is squeezed by a user, the circumferential wall flexes inwardly and the opposing edges defined by the slot move toward each other, whereby the teeth are adapted to destructively engage a label carried on a vessel over which said collar is disposed such that hand twisting of the collar around the vessel renders illegible information printed on the label.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/009,948Filed 15 Jun 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 30 Jun 2017
Published: US 2019/0009311 A110 Jan 2019
Granted: 25 Oct 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B08B 9/083
Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks: removing scrap from containers, e.g. removing labels
B08B 1/165
Rigid blades, e.g. scrapers; Flexible blades, e.g. wipers: scrapers
B08B 9/0835
Removing scrap from containers, e.g. removing labels: removing remnants of closures from bottle necks
B08B 9/087
Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks: by methods involving the use of tools, e.g. brushes, scrapers