Pill crusher assembly and methods

1. A pill crusher comprising:

(a) a base having:

(i) a bottom resting surface, an opposite top surface, and a side edge between the bottom resting surface and top surface;

(A) the bottom resting surface including an integral rigid member with an overmold of at least one of a thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic rubber to form an at least partially molded friction-enhancing portion of the bottom resting surface;

(ii) a surrounding wall extending from the top surface; the surrounding wall defining a pill chamber;

(b) a handle having:

(i) an upper region;

(ii) a gripping region extending from and surrounding the upper region; the gripping region including an an integral rigid member with an overmold of at least one of a thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic rubber forming an at least partially molded friction-enhancing portion of the gripping region;

(iii) a column having a free end for crushing a pill within the pill chamber; the column extending from the upper region and being sized to fit within the pill chamber.

2. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the base top surface and at least part of the base side edge is transparent to allow for visual inspection of the pill chamber.

3. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the at least partially molded friction-enhancing portion of the bottom resting surface frames a transparent window in the bottom resting surface to allow for visual inspection of the pill chamber.

4. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the base surrounding wall is spaced from the side edge of the base.

5. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the side edge of the base includes a plurality of evenly spaced concave recesses separated by a plurality of evenly spaced projections;

(b) the gripping region of the handle includes a plurality of evenly spaced concave recesses separated by a plurality of evenly spaced projections; and

(c) the at least partially molded friction-enhancing portion of the gripping region covers substantially all of the evenly spaced concave recesses and evenly spaced projections.

6. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the side edge of the base includes a plurality of evenly spaced concave recesses separated by a plurality of evenly spaced projections.

7. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the gripping region of the handle surrounds and is spaced from the column.

8. The pill crusher of claim 7 wherein:

(a) the handle further includes a wall member spaced from and surrounding the column; and

(b) the handle further includes a plurality of ribs extending between and connecting the wall member and the gripping region.

9. The pill crusher of claim 8 wherein:

(a) the handle and base are constructed and arranged for a threaded connection between:

an internal side of the handle wall member; and

(ii) an external side of the base surrounding wall.

10. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the gripping region of the handle includes a plurality of evenly spaced concave recesses separated by a plurality of evenly spaced projections.

11. The pill crusher of claim 10 wherein:

(b) the at least partially molded friction-enhancing portion of the gripping region covers substantially all of the evenly spaced concave recesses and evenly spaced projections.

12. The pill crusher of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the handle includes a pill holder with an access opening in the upper region; and

(b) the handle includes a removable lid selectively covering the access opening to the pill holder.

13. The pill holder of claim 1 wherein:

(a) the pill chamber has a conically shaped grinding surface; and

(b) the free end on the column is faceted and generally conically shaped to crush a pill against the grinding surface of the pill chamber.