Box-lock spanner spring

Claim 2

A surgical instrument comprising: a first elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; means for pivotally connecting said first and second elongated members together intermediate their respective handle and jaw portions so that said handle portions may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; elongated first biasing means having a first end pivotally secured to one of said elongated members and extending across said pivot means, a second end thereof engaging the other of said elongated members thereby biasing said jaws in a first predetermined direction relative to each other, the other of said elongated members being formed with an undercut on its outer surface having a shoulder adapted to abut the second end of said leaf spring to thereby positively prevent said jaws from being opened more than a predetermined distance; said first biasing means comprising a leaf spring which is substantially flat when said second end thereof abuts said shoulder, thereby preventing said leaf spring from bowing outward when the handles of said surgical instrument are forced apart.

Claim 3

A surgical instrument comprising: a first elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; means for pivotally connecting said first and second elongated members together intermediate their respective handle and jaw portions so that said handle portions may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; elongated first biasing means having a first end pivotally secured to one of said elongated members and extending across said pivot means, a second end thereof engaging the other of said elongated members thereby biasing said jaws in a first predetermined direction relative to each other, said first biasing means comprising a leaf spring, the other of said elongated members being formed with an undercut on its outer surface having a shoulder aDapted to abut the second end of said leaf spring to thereby positively prevent said jaws from being opened more than a predetermined distance; second biasing means having a first end pivotally secured to one of said handle portions and a second end adapted to engage the other of said handle portions, said second biasing means urging said jaws in a second predetermined direction opposite to said first predetermined direction relative to each other; said first and second biasing means cooperating to maintain said jaws in an intermediate open position, said first and second biasing means opposing motion of said jaws in either direction.

Claim 4

A surgical instrument comprising: a first elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; means for pivotally connecting said first and second elongated members together intermediate their respective handle and jaw portions so that said handle portions may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; elongated first biasing means having a first end pivotally secured to one of said elongated members and extending across said pivot means, a second end thereof engaging the other of said elongated members thereby biasing said jaws in a first predetermined direction relative to each other, said first biasing means comprising a leaf spring, the other of said elongated members being formed with an undercut on its outer surface having a shoulder aDapted to abut the second end of said leaf spring to thereby positively prevent said jaws from being opened more than a predetermined distance; second biasing means having a first end pivotally secured to one of said handle portions and a second end adapted to engage the other of said handle portions, said second biasing means urging said jaws in a second predetermined direction opposite to said first predetermined direction relative to each other; said first and second biasing means cooperating to maintain said jaws in an intermediate open position, said first and second biasing means opposing motion of said jaws in either direction.

Claim 5

A surgical instrument comprising: a first elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; means for pivotally connecting said first and second elongated members together intermediate their respective handle and jaw portions so that said handle portions may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; and a relatively straight leaf spring having one end pivotally mounted to the outer edge of one of said elongated members and extending generally longitudinally of said instrument across said pivotal connection, the other end of said leaf spring slidingly engaging the outer edge of the other of said elongated members thereby biasing said jaws in a first predetermined direction relative to each other, the other of said elongated members being formed with a shoulder on said outer edge facing toward said leaf spring, the other end of said leaf spring abutting said shoulder with endwise contact when said jaws are opened so as to cause said leaf spring to slide toward said shoulder, said leaf spring thereby cooperating with said elongated members to provide a positive stop when said jaws are opened by a predetermined distance.

Claim 6

A surgical instrument comprising: a first elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; a second elongated member formed with a handle portion and a jaw portion; means for pivotally connecting said first and second elongated members together intermediate their respective handle and jaw portions so that said handle portions may be cooperatively manipulated to open and close said jaws; and a relatively straight leaf spring having one end pivotally mounted to the outer edge of one of said elongated members and extending generally longitudinally of said instrument across said pivotal connection, the other end of said leaf spring slidingly engaging the outer edge of the other of said elongated members thereby biasing said jaws in a first predetermined direction relative to each other, the other of said elongated members being formed with a shoulder on said outer edge facing toward said leaf spring, the other end of said leaf spring abutting said shoulder with endwise contact when said jaws are opened so as to cause said leaf spring to slide toward said shoulder, said leaf spring thereby cooperating with said elongated members to provide a positive stop when said jaws are opened by a predetermined distance.

Claim 7

The surgical instrument recited in claim 2 wherein said jaw portions are configured to cooperatively act to engage a surgical device, said surgical device being retained by said jaws due to the biasing action of said first biasing means.

Claim 8

The surgical instrument recited in claim 2 wherein: said first biasing means comprises a leaf spring biasing said jaws toward a closed position; said second biasing means comprises a leaf spring biasing said jaws toward an open position.

Claim 9

The surgical instrument recited in claim 5 wherein: the jaw portion of said other elongated member is formed with said undercut, said undercut providing an elongated flat surface and a shoulder substantially normal thereto, said shoulder facing rearwardly toward the handle portion of said other member, said first leaf spring being pivotally secured to the handle portion of said one elongated member; the second end of said first leaf spring is slidable along said flat surface on said other elongated member and is adapted to abut said shoulder upon opening said jaws a predetermined distance; said first leaf spring normally continuously biases said jaws toward a closed position, said second leaf spring biases said jaws toward an open position when said jaws are in said intermediate open position and when said jaws are moved toward a position more closed than said intermediate open position, said second leaf spring having no effect upon said surgical instrument when said jaws are opened substantially beyond said intermediate position; the biasing effects of said first and second leaf springs being equal and opposite in effect when said jaws are in said intermediate open position.

Claim 10

The surgical instrument recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second leaf springs are pivotable out of engagement with their respective other elongated members to permit unhindered full closing and opening of said jaw portions.