Patent US3920022A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3920022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-19
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A surgical pencil embodies interfitting relatively rotatable core and cap having eccentrically positioned bores at their forward ends. The two bores are aligned to readily receive and release the shank of a surgical tool when the core and cap are in a first position of relative rotation and are misaligned so as to firmly grasp and insure good electrical contact with the tool shank when the core and cap are in a second position of relative rotation. A resilient cantilevered finger on the core carries a longitudinally extending detent for selective engagement with a number of mating ribs carried by the cap to releasably retain the parts in selected position of relative rotation and to audibly indicate the amount and degree of relative rotation. The instrument is configured to allow one-handed operation to securely lock a tool thereto or to release it so that it will simply drop from the instrument handle.
Inventors
- 👤 Macey A Pastor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1402
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
440 words
A surgical instrument comprising a rear body portion adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, a forward body portion mounted to said rear body portion for rotation about a first axis and adapted to be grasped and rotated by the fingers of the hand in which the rear body portion is held, said body portions respectively having first and second tool receiving bores positioned at respective forward ends thereof and of substantially equal diameters, each said bore centered upon an axis displaced from said first axis, said bores being aligned with each other when said body portions are in a first release position of relative angular rotation about said first axis, and being relatively misaligned when said body portions are in a second gripping position of relative angular rotation, whereby a tool shank may be freely inserted into or withdrawn fRom said aligned bores when the body portions are in said release position and said tool shank will be firmly grasped by the relatively misaligned bores when the body portions are in said gripping postion, said body portions being readily displaced between said gripping and release positions by a one-handed operation in which said forward body portion may be grasped between the operator''s thumb and another finger and said rear body portion may be grasped between the operator''s palm and other fingers of the same hand to accomplish movement of the body portions between said gripping and release positions, said forward body portion comprising an outer elongated tubular element having said first tool receiving bore formed in a front end thereof and having an enlarged inner bore extending from an inner end of said first tool receiving bore to the rearward end of said tubular element, said rear body portion comprising an inner tubular element having a front end portion rotatably received in a forward portion of said enlarged inner bore of said outer tubular element to provide at least part of the rotatable mounting of said body portions, said tool receiving bore of said rear body portion extending through said front end portion of said inner tubular element in end-to-end relation to the tool receiving bore of said outer tubular element, said inner tubular element including an outer peripheral surface rotatably engaged with an inner surface of the inner bore of said first tubular element at a rear end thereof to provide a part of the rotatable mounting of the two body portions, inner tubular element being axially inserted into said first tubular element and including means for restraining relative rotation of said tubular elements in any one of a plurality of positions of relative rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
440 words
A surgical instrument comprising a rear body portion adapted to be held in the hand of an operator, a forward body portion mounted to said rear body portion for rotation about a first axis and adapted to be grasped and rotated by the fingers of the hand in which the rear body portion is held, said body portions respectively having first and second tool receiving bores positioned at respective forward ends thereof and of substantially equal diameters, each said bore centered upon an axis displaced from said first axis, said bores being aligned with each other when said body portions are in a first release position of relative angular rotation about said first axis, and being relatively misaligned when said body portions are in a second gripping position of relative angular rotation, whereby a tool shank may be freely inserted into or withdrawn fRom said aligned bores when the body portions are in said release position and said tool shank will be firmly grasped by the relatively misaligned bores when the body portions are in said gripping postion, said body portions being readily displaced between said gripping and release positions by a one-handed operation in which said forward body portion may be grasped between the operator''s thumb and another finger and said rear body portion may be grasped between the operator''s palm and other fingers of the same hand to accomplish movement of the body portions between said gripping and release positions, said forward body portion comprising an outer elongated tubular element having said first tool receiving bore formed in a front end thereof and having an enlarged inner bore extending from an inner end of said first tool receiving bore to the rearward end of said tubular element, said rear body portion comprising an inner tubular element having a front end portion rotatably received in a forward portion of said enlarged inner bore of said outer tubular element to provide at least part of the rotatable mounting of said body portions, said tool receiving bore of said rear body portion extending through said front end portion of said inner tubular element in end-to-end relation to the tool receiving bore of said outer tubular element, said inner tubular element including an outer peripheral surface rotatably engaged with an inner surface of the inner bore of said first tubular element at a rear end thereof to provide a part of the rotatable mounting of the two body portions, inner tubular element being axially inserted into said first tubular element and including means for restraining relative rotation of said tubular elements in any one of a plurality of positions of relative rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
104 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for limiting relative rotation comprises a circumferentially extending slot formed in said outer tubular element and a lug carried by said inner tubular element projecting radially outwardly therefrom into said slot, and means for resiliently restraining radially inward motion of said lug, whereby the lug may be displaced radially inwardly against the resilient restraint thereof to allow relative axial motion of said first and second tubular element and whereby said lug, when it projects through said slot, effectively prevents relative axial motion of said first and second tubular elements but permits a limited relative rotation thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for restraining relative rotation of said elements comprises a plurality of interengaging ribs mounted respectively on the inner surface of said outer tubular member and on the outer surface of said inner tubular member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 2 including means on said outer tubular member cooperating with said lug for providing an indication of the relative angular position of said tubular elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument of claim 1 including a resilient finger formed in the body of said inner tubular element and a lug upstanding from said finger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said means for restraining relative motion of said tubular elements in positions of relative rotation comprises a first longitudinally extending rib resiliently carried by said inner tubular member and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending ribs carried by the outer tubular member and projecting inwardly therefrom for selective engagement with said first resiliently carried rib as said tubular elements are relatively rotated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said inner tubular element includes a spring finger formed therein and having a radially outwardly projecting lug and a radially outwardly projecting longitudinally extending rib formed on said finger, a circumferentially extending slot formed in said outer tubular member for receiving said lug and cooperating therewiTh to limit relative rotation of said tubular elements, and at least one radially inwardly facing groove formed on the inner surface of said outer tubular member for cooperation with said outwardly projecting rib to restrain a relative rotation of said tubular elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
412 words
A tool holder comprising an elongated tubular cap having a first tool receiving bore extending from one end of said cap and centered upon a first tool axis, an elongated tubular core mounted within said cap for rotation relative to the cap about an operating axis, said core having a second tool receiving bore extending from one end of the core, said second tool receiving bore being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first tool receiving bore and centered upon a second tool axis, said first and second tool axes being substantially mutually aligned and displaced from said operating axis when said cap and core are in a first angular position of relative rotation about said operating axis, whereby a tool shank maybe readily inserted and removed from a position extending within both bores, and whereby relative rotation of said core and cap to a second angular position will displace one of said tool axes relative to the other and cause said first and second tool receiving bores to grip said tool shank, and means for releasably retaining said core and cap in said second angular position, said cap being formed with an enlarged bore extending from said first tool receiving bore toward the other end of said cap, said one end of said elongated core being rotatably received in a forward portion of said enlarged bore of the cap, said core having a rearward portion rotatably received within the enlarged bore of said cap at a rear portion thereof to provide a rotatable support for said core within said cap at both the front and rearward ends of said cap and core, said cap and core being formed of electrically non-conductive material, at least one of said tool receiving bores being defined by an electrically conductive sleeve, an electrical conductor connected with said conductive sleeve and extending rearwardly through said elongated core and cap, said cap being formed with a circumferentially extending slot and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending ribs adjacent said slot, said ribs extending radially inwardly of said cap, said elongated core being formed with a spring finger having a radially outwardly projecting lug fixed thereto and extending into said circumferentially extending slot of said cap, said finger having a longitudinally extending and radially outwardly projecting rib formed thereon for cooperation with said radially inwardly projecting ribs of said cap to provide a releasable restraint of relative rotation of said core and cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
412 words
A tool holder comprising an elongated tubular cap having a first tool receiving bore extending from one end of said cap and centered upon a first tool axis, an elongated tubular core mounted within said cap for rotation relative to the cap about an operating axis, said core having a second tool receiving bore extending from one end of the core, said second tool receiving bore being of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first tool receiving bore and centered upon a second tool axis, said first and second tool axes being substantially mutually aligned and displaced from said operating axis when said cap and core are in a first angular position of relative rotation about said operating axis, whereby a tool shank maybe readily inserted and removed from a position extending within both bores, and whereby relative rotation of said core and cap to a second angular position will displace one of said tool axes relative to the other and cause said first and second tool receiving bores to grip said tool shank, and means for releasably retaining said core and cap in said second angular position, said cap being formed with an enlarged bore extending from said first tool receiving bore toward the other end of said cap, said one end of said elongated core being rotatably received in a forward portion of said enlarged bore of the cap, said core having a rearward portion rotatably received within the enlarged bore of said cap at a rear portion thereof to provide a rotatable support for said core within said cap at both the front and rearward ends of said cap and core, said cap and core being formed of electrically non-conductive material, at least one of said tool receiving bores being defined by an electrically conductive sleeve, an electrical conductor connected with said conductive sleeve and extending rearwardly through said elongated core and cap, said cap being formed with a circumferentially extending slot and a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending ribs adjacent said slot, said ribs extending radially inwardly of said cap, said elongated core being formed with a spring finger having a radially outwardly projecting lug fixed thereto and extending into said circumferentially extending slot of said cap, said finger having a longitudinally extending and radially outwardly projecting rib formed thereon for cooperation with said radially inwardly projecting ribs of said cap to provide a releasable restraint of relative rotation of said core and cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
211 words
A tool holding chuck comprising a core having a first bore extending into the core from one end thereof, a cap having a second bore extending into the cap from one end thereof and having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first bore, means for mounting said cap core for relative rotation about a first axis, said first and second bores being centered upon axes displaced from said first axis and being mutually aligned when said core and cap are in a release position of relative rotation wherein a tool shank may be loosely engaged within both of said bores, means for relatively rotating said core and cap toward a gripping position whereby said bores are relatively radially displaced from each other and said tool shank is gripped thereby, means independent of said bores for limiting relative rotation of said core and cap through a path of limited length whether or not a tool shank is inserted in said chuck, and means for releasably latching the core and cap in any one of a plurality of position s of relative rotation within said path, said last named means comprising a plurality of interengaging ribs on said core and cap, at least one of said ribs Being resiliently mounted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
211 words
A tool holding chuck comprising a core having a first bore extending into the core from one end thereof, a cap having a second bore extending into the cap from one end thereof and having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said first bore, means for mounting said cap core for relative rotation about a first axis, said first and second bores being centered upon axes displaced from said first axis and being mutually aligned when said core and cap are in a release position of relative rotation wherein a tool shank may be loosely engaged within both of said bores, means for relatively rotating said core and cap toward a gripping position whereby said bores are relatively radially displaced from each other and said tool shank is gripped thereby, means independent of said bores for limiting relative rotation of said core and cap through a path of limited length whether or not a tool shank is inserted in said chuck, and means for releasably latching the core and cap in any one of a plurality of position s of relative rotation within said path, said last named means comprising a plurality of interengaging ribs on said core and cap, at least one of said ribs Being resiliently mounted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
The chuck of claim 9 wherein said means for relatively rotating said core and cap comprises a portion of the cap forming a first handle extending rearwardly from said one end thereof to provide a first surface remote from said tool to be grasped by an operator, and further comprises a portion of the core forming a second handle extending rearwardly of said one end thereto to provide a second surface remote from said tool to be grasped by an operator, whereby said tool may be readily gripped or released by operation of said first and second handles at a distance from said tool.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for limiting relative rotation of said core and cap comprises a circumferentially extending slot in one of said core and cap and a lug on the other of said core and cap projecting into said slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2110735A
Cited
US2461625A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |