The invention is directed to a pill cutter that has a protected cutting edge. The pill cutter includes a guard, a base, and a cover. The components are arranged such that the guard slides over the cutting edge when the pill cutter is in an open position and the guard exposes the cutting edge when the pill cutter is in a closed position. The invention is also directed at a method for assembling the pill cutter and a method of using the pill cutter to cut a pill or tablet.
1. A tablet cutter comprising:
a base;
a cover pivotally attached to the base; the cover having a top portion, sidewalls, a first end and an opposite second end;
a blade guard movably coupled to the cover such that the blade guard moves relative to the cover when the cover is pivoted relative to the base; the blade guard having edges slidably received by the cover sidewalls; the blade guard having an upper end nearer to the second end of the cover than the first end of the cover, and a lower end nearer to the first end of the cover than the second end of the cover;
a first actuator rod, the first actuator rod having a first end pivotally attached to the lower end of the blade guard and a second end pivotally attached to the base with a fixed pivot;
a second actuator rod, the second actuator rod having a first end pivotally attached to the lower end of the blade guard and a second end pivotally attached to the base with a fixed pivot;
the blade guard sliding within the cover sidewalls toward the first end of the cover when the cover is pivoted away from the base, and the blade guard sliding within the cover sidewalls toward the second end when the cover is pivoted toward the base.
2. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 , further comprising a blade having a cutting edge, the blade being fixed to the cover and arranged such that the cutting edge of the blade extends away from the cover toward the base.
3. The tablet cutter according to claim 2 , wherein the blade and the blade guard are arranged such that the blade guard moves in a direction to cover the cutting edge of the blade when the cover is pivoted away from the base, and the blade guard moves in a direction to expose the cutting edge when the cover is pivoted toward the base.
4. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls extend generally perpendicularly from the top portion, the sidewalls defining grooves that receive edges of the blade guard.
5. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an extender member that extends generally perpendicularly from an end of the cover and the base comprises a notched out sidewall constructed to pivotally receive the extender member located on an end of the base.
6. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 , wherein the cover and base are pivotally coupled at a point internal to the base.
7. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 , wherein the base includes a container portion sized to store at least one tablet, wherein the container portion is integral with a raised table portion configured to support and position a tablet for cutting.
8. The tablet cutter according to claim 1 , wherein the base and cover are injection molded.