Swab device for medical specimens

Claim 1

A swab device comprising a wooden stick, an absorbent material affixed to one end portion of said stick, an elongated sleeve extending over the entire length of said stick with the exception of said one end portion, the length of said sleeve being greater than the length of said stick, and a rod having a first portion extending in that portion of said sleeve not occupied by said stick and abutting said stick, and a second portion protruding from the end of said sleeve opposite from the end from which said end portion of said stick protrudes, the diameter of said stick and said rod and the inner diameter of said sleeve being substantially identical so that the inner wall of said sleeve engages the outer surfaces of said stick and said rod in a frictional fit to normally retain said stick and said rod in said sleeve while permitting movement of said stick relative to said rod so that an axial force applied against said second portion of said rod in the direction of said stick pushes said stick in said direction and releases said stick from said sleeve and said rod.