Tool having a handle with an interchangeable insert portion

Claim 1

In a tool having a handle and an insert portion, said insert portion having first and second ends with a pair of pivotally connected members at the first end to form a pincher-like tool for insertion into a body cavity, said members of the pincher-like tool being movable between an open-mouthed position and a closed position with the members having overlapping edges, means for moving the members between said positions including an actuating rod received in a hollow support shaft, said handle having a first grip leg with a slidable carriage, a second grip leg being pivotally mounted on the first leg for movement between an opened first position and a closed second position and being connected to the carriage to move it on the first leg, and resilient means for biasing the second leg to the first position, said tool having coupling means for interchangeably connecting the second end of the insert portion to the handle with the hollow shaft connected to the first leg and the end of the rod connected to said carriage so that when the second leg moves to the second position the members of the pincher-like tool are moved to the closed position, the improvement comprising locking means having an element mounted on said first grip leg and movable for engaging the slidable carriage for immobilizing said carriage and thereby holding the second grip leg in the second position, and stop means for limiting the amount of pivotal movement of the members in both the direction toward the open-mouthed position and the direction toward the closed position, said stop means comprising a ring on the actuating rod disposed between a pair of spaced interior stop surfaces in the hollow shaft.