Patent US5324324A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5569282A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5569282A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retractable surgical knife
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-06-13
•
Granted: 1996-10-29
•
Expires: 2015-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A retractable "ball-pen" like tool/scalpel, provided with a latch mechanism, is automatically retracted when not in use by pushing the latch mechanism and is extended when in use by pushing a tool/blade support member of the tool/scalpel. The latch mechanism is engaged with the tool/blade support member when the tool/blade support member is pushed to an operative position wherein a tool/blade is exposed from a sheath member. The latch mechanism is pushed transversely and disengaged with the tool/blade support member whereby the tool/scalpel is retracted into the sheath member.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard S. Werner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/3209; A61B17/3211; A61B2017/32113
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A retractable tool holder, comprising: a sheath member; a tool support member holding a tool at a front end of the tool support member, the tool support member including at least one longitudinally extended slot, the tool support member being receivable in and reciprocal along the sheath member; a first spring with two ends being disposed inside the tool support member, the first end of said spring is proximate a back end of the tool support member and the second end of said spring is proximate a back end of the sheath member; a latch mechanism for releasing and locking the tool support member, the latch mechanism disposed proximate the back end of the sheath member, said latch mechanism reciprocating in the slot of the tool support member; wherein upon pushing the back end of the tool support member toward the latch mechanism, the tool is extended out of the sheath member, the first spring is compressed between the back end of the tool support member and a first side of the latch mechanism, and the tool support member is locked with the latch mechanism; and wherein upon pushing the latch mechanism, the first spring is relaxed and expanded between the back end of the tool support member and the first side of the latch mechanism, the back end of the tool support member moves away from the latch mechanism, and the tool is retracted into the sheath member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A retractable tool holder, comprising: a sheath member; a tool support member holding a tool at a front end of the tool support member, the tool support member including at least one longitudinally extended slot, the tool support member being receivable in and reciprocal along the sheath member; a first spring with two ends being disposed inside the tool support member, the first end of said spring is proximate a back end of the tool support member and the second end of said spring is proximate a back end of the sheath member; a latch mechanism for releasing and locking the tool support member, the latch mechanism disposed proximate the back end of the sheath member, said latch mechanism reciprocating in the slot of the tool support member; wherein upon pushing the back end of the tool support member toward the latch mechanism, the tool is extended out of the sheath member, the first spring is compressed between the back end of the tool support member and a first side of the latch mechanism, and the tool support member is locked with the latch mechanism; and wherein upon pushing the latch mechanism, the first spring is relaxed and expanded between the back end of the tool support member and the first side of the latch mechanism, the back end of the tool support member moves away from the latch mechanism, and the tool is retracted into the sheath member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A retractable tool holder according to claim 1, further comprising a locking member disposed proximate the front end of the tool support member, wherein when the tool is retracted into the sheath member, the tool support member is locked with the latch mechanism by the locking member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A retractable tool holder according to claim 2, further comprising a second spring, the second spring is disposed at a second side of the latch mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A retractable tool holder according to claim 2, wherein the locking member is a longitudinal locking member including a tapered end portion and a locking notch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A retractable tool holder according to claim 1, wherein the tool is a blade.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
255 words
A retractable tool holder, comprising: a sheath member; a tool support member, the tool support member being receivable in and reciprocal along the sheath member, the tool support member including a longitudinally extended slot; a spring, the spring having two ends and being disposed in the tool support member, the first end of said spring is proximate a back end of the tool support member and the second end of said spring is proximate a back end of the sheath member; a latch member, the latch member being vertically mounted proximate the back end of the sheath member and vertically inserted into the longitudinally extended slot of the tool support member and being vertically operable with respect to the sheath member and the tool support member; wherein upon pushing the first back end of the tool support member toward the latch member along the longitudinally extended slot, a front end of the tool support member is moved proximate a front end of the sheath member, the spring is compressed between the back end of the tool support member and a first side of the latch member, and the tool support member is locked with the latch member proximate the back end of the tool support member; and wherein upon pushing the latch member, the spring relaxes, and the back end of the tool support member is forced to move away from the latch member so as to move the front end of the tool support member away from the front end of the sheath member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
255 words
A retractable tool holder, comprising: a sheath member; a tool support member, the tool support member being receivable in and reciprocal along the sheath member, the tool support member including a longitudinally extended slot; a spring, the spring having two ends and being disposed in the tool support member, the first end of said spring is proximate a back end of the tool support member and the second end of said spring is proximate a back end of the sheath member; a latch member, the latch member being vertically mounted proximate the back end of the sheath member and vertically inserted into the longitudinally extended slot of the tool support member and being vertically operable with respect to the sheath member and the tool support member; wherein upon pushing the first back end of the tool support member toward the latch member along the longitudinally extended slot, a front end of the tool support member is moved proximate a front end of the sheath member, the spring is compressed between the back end of the tool support member and a first side of the latch member, and the tool support member is locked with the latch member proximate the back end of the tool support member; and wherein upon pushing the latch member, the spring relaxes, and the back end of the tool support member is forced to move away from the latch member so as to move the front end of the tool support member away from the front end of the sheath member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A retractable tool holder according to claim 6, further comprising a tool, the tool being mounted proximate the front end of the tool support member, wherein the tool is extended out of the sheath member when the tool support member is pushed toward the latch member, and the tool is disposed in a working position when the tool support member is locked with the latch member, wherein the tool is retracted into the sheath member when the latch member is pushed and the back end of the tool support member is moved away from the latch member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A retractable tool holder according to claim 7, wherein the tool is a blade, and a substantial portion of the blade is extended out of the sheath member when the blade is disposed in the working position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2446044A
Cited
US2905146A
Cited
US3144005A
Cited
US3217410A
Cited
US3657812A
Cited
US3906626A
Cited
US3885308A
Cited
USD263020S
Cited
US4523379A
Cited
US4663846A
Cited
US4660287A
Cited
US4730613A
Cited
US5066288A
Cited
US5071426A
Cited
US5139507A
Cited
US5116351A
Cited
US5306237A
Cited
US5141517A
Cited
USD333418S
Cited
US5250063A
Cited
US5330492A
Cited
US5292329A
Cited
US5423843A
Cited
USD359356S
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-29 | 2000-04-29 | 2000-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-29 | 2004-04-29 | 2004-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-29 | 2008-04-29 | 2008-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |