Device for puncturing

Claim 2

A puncturing device comprising: a sleeve having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end having a hole formed therein; a push-button mounted at the top end of the sleeve and slidable with respect to the sleeve, the push button having an inner face; a piston which is slidably mounted in the sleeve; a power spring placed inside the sleeve between the inner face of the push-button and the piston; wherein the piston is provided with a puncturing tip at one end and at least one frangible wing projecting radially outward from the piston outer perimeter, the wing resting against an internal projection of the sleeve to restrict the range of sliding of the piston within the sleeve such that the puncturing tip is maintained within the sleeve; and a return spring placed inside the sleeve between the sleeve's bottom and the piston for biasing the puncturing tip back into the sleeve when the frangible wing is broken.

Claim 3

The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the piston is provided with a plurality of frangible wings resting against the internal projection of the sleeve, each of the frangible wings projecting radially outward from the piston.

Claim 4

The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the return spring is spaced from and not in contact with the piston until the frangible wing is broken.

Claim 5

The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a first cylindrical portion having a predetermined inner diameter and a second cylindrical portion having a predetermined inner diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion and wherein the internal projection is an annular flange extending radially inward from the first cylindrical portion to connect the first cylindrical portion to the second cylindrical portion.

Claim 6

The puncturing device of claim 4, wherein the first cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion and the annular flange are all integrally formed as a single piece.

Claim 7

The puncturing device of claim 4, wherein the piston has an outer periphery having a predetermined diameter which is less than the diameter of the second cylindrical portion such that the piston can slide within the second cylindrical portion, but wherein the frangible wing projects radially outward beyond the first cylindrical portion and is biased against the annular flange by the power spring to restrict the range of sliding of the piston within the sleeve such that the puncturing tip is maintained within the sleeve.

Claim 8

The puncturing device of claim 1, wherein the device includes the following five pieces: a one-piece sleeve, a one-piece push button, a one-piece piston with puncturing tip and frangible wing, a one-piece power spring and a one-piece return spring.

Claim 9

A puncturing device comprising: a sleeve having first and second ends and an internal projection located between the first and second ends and a hole formed at the second end of the sleeve; a piston slidably mounted within the sleeve, the piston having two ends and including a puncturing tip provided at one end and a plurality of frangible wings projecting radially outward from the piston and resting against the internal projection of the sleeve to restrict the range of sliding of the piston within the sleeve such that the puncturing tip is maintained within the sleeve; a push button located proximate the first end of the sleeve and being slidable with respect to the sleeve for pushing against the end of the piston opposite the end having the puncturing tip; a first spring for biasing the push button away from the piston, the first spring being arranged such that when the push button is pressed against the bias of the first spring into contact with the piston far enough to break the wings of the piston, the first spring acts to push the piston toward the second end of the sleeve so that the puncturing tip extends out of the hole formed in the second end of the sleeve; and a second spring located between the end of the piston having the puncturing tip and the second end of the sleeve for biasing the puncturing tip back into the sleeve.

Claim 10

A puncturing device comprising: a sleeve having first and second ends and an internal projection located between the first and second ends and a hole formed at the second end of the sleeve; a piston slidably mounted within the sleeve, the piston having two ends and including a puncturing tip provided at one end and a plurality of frangible wings projecting radially outward from the piston and resting against the internal projection of the sleeve to restrict the range of sliding of the piston within the sleeve such that the puncturing tip is maintained within the sleeve; a push button located proximate the first end of the sleeve and being slidable with respect to the sleeve for pushing against the end of the piston opposite the end having the puncturing tip; a first spring for biasing the push button away from the piston, the first spring being arranged such that when the push button is pressed against the bias of the first spring into contact with the piston far enough to break the wings of the piston, the first spring acts to push the piston toward the second end of the sleeve so that the puncturing tip extends out of the hole formed in the second end of the sleeve; and a second spring located between the end of the piston having the puncturing tip and the second end of the sleeve for biasing the puncturing tip back into the sleeve.

Claim 11

The puncturing device of claim 8, wherein the second spring is spaced from and not in contact with the piston until the frangible wings are broken.

Claim 12

The puncturing device of claim 8, wherein the sleeve comprises a first cylindrical portion having a predetermined inner diameter and a second cylindrical portion having a predetermined inner diameter which is less than the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion and wherein the internal projection is an annular flange extending radially inward from the first cylindrical portion to connect the first cylindrical portion to the second cylindrical portion.

Claim 13

The puncturing device of claim 10, wherein the first cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion and the annular sleeve are all integrally formed as a single piece.

Claim 14

The puncturing device of claim 10, wherein the piston has an outer periphery having a predetermined diameter which is less than the diameter of the second cylindrical portion such that the piston can slide within the second cylindrical portion, but wherein the frangible wing projects radially outward beyond the first cylindrical portion and is biased against the annular flange by the power spring to restrict the range of sliding of the piston within the sleeve such that the puncturing tip is maintained within the sleeve.

Claim 15

The puncturing device of claim 8, wherein the device includes the following five pieces: a one-piece sleeve, a one-piece push button, a one-piece piston with puncturing tip and frangible wing, a one-piece first spring and a one-piece second spring.