U.S. patent number 3,742,954 [Application Number 05/227,730] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-03 for snake bite kit.
Invention is credited to Frederick W. Strickland.
United States Patent |
3,742,954 |
Strickland |
July 3, 1973 |
SNAKE BITE KIT
Abstract
A snake bite kit having an elongated handle on one end of which
is a lancing device with a poison extractor telescopically mounted
along the other end of the handle. The lancing device is provided
with a pair of cutting blades mounted on a flat spring with a
trigger arrangement for releasing the blades in the cutting action.
The poison extractor consists of a tubular member having a valved
mouthpiece at one end for creating a suction in order to draw blood
and the snake poison from one's flesh. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to first aid
treatment for poisonous snake bites and is more particularly
directed to a kit or outfit that permits the lancing of the flesh
at the position of the snake bite and the extraction of the venom
therefrom. 2. Description of the Prior Art The conventional snake
bite kits do not combine the lancing device and the poison
extractor as a single device, but merely consist of a suction
device and an ordinary knife for making the incisions. People
normally abhor the thought of lancing a person's flesh even when
done to save one's life. Also, there is a danger that the person
making incisions at the position of a snake bite may not know how
deep the cuts have to be in order to arrive at the depth at which
the poison has penetrated. Another bad feature of the present
suction devices for removing venom from a person bitten by a snake
is that it requires a second person to operate the suction device.
If a person stricken and bitten by a poison snake is alone, he
would not be able to apply the suction device, but would need a
second person to actuate it. The present invention contemplates
avoiding the above indicated fault in the conventional snake bite
kits. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is a principal object
of the present invention to provide a snake bite kit that is in the
form of a single compact and lightweight device consisting of a
lancing device on which is telescopically mounted a venom
extractor. Another object of the present invention is to provide a
compact snake bite kit made up of both the lancing device and the
suction device which can be actuated by a single person even by the
stricken person himself to incise the bitten person's flesh and
remove the venom therefrom. A further object of the present
invention is to provide a snake bite kit with a lancing device
which is automatic in operation having a pair of blades mounted on
a spring member that is released by a trigger arrangement to cut
into the flesh at any desired depth. A still further object of the
present invention is to provide a snake bite kit with a suction
device sufficiently long to reach any part of a person's body, even
by the stricken person himself and which device is capable of
withdrawing large quantities of blood and venom. With these and
other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a
consideration of the following detailed description taken in
connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this
specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention
is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the
drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or
modifications mark no material departure from the salient features
of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
Inventors: |
Strickland; Frederick W. (Hob
Sound, FL) |
Family
ID: |
22854229 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/227,730 |
Filed: |
February 22, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/22;
604/314 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
1/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
1/08 (20060101); A61m 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/276-278,297,300,302,314 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Rosenbaum; Charles F.
Claims
What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the
United States is:
1. A snake bite kit comprising an elongated handle member having an
open chamber at one end, cutting blades, resilient means yieldingly
mounting said blades in said chamber, trigger means pivotally
mounted on said handle engaging and restraining said blades from
swinging out of said chamber, means actuating said trigger for
releasing said blades and swinging said blades beyond said chamber,
further means mounted on said blades for returning said blades to
said engaged position with said trigger means, a suction device
telescopically mounted on said elongated handle, said suction
device forming a chamber open at one end when removed from said
handle, a duct at said other end, check valve means mounted in said
duct, and a tubular tip member mounted at said duct to permit a
person to withdraw air from said chamber past said valve and
through said tubular tip member when said open end of said suction
device has been placed on an incised flesh of a person bitten by a
poisonous snake and the partial vacuum in said chamber withdraws
blood and poison from said wound.
2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said resilient means
comprises a flat spring embedded at one end and said cutting blades
mounted at the other end, said chamber having a first opening in
alignment with said cutting blades, said chamber having a second
opening with pivot means mounting said trigger means at said second
opening, a second spring engaging said trigger means yieldingly
maintaining said blades in engaged position whereby upon pivoting
said trigger means said blades are released to swing through said
first opening, and said further means comprises a rod extending
through slots in said chamber and secured to said cutting blades
for returning said blades to said engaged position with said
trigger means.
3. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said check valve
comprises a valve seat, a ball valve normally seated on said valve
seat and a coil spring yieldingly urging said ball to be seated on
said valve seat.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snake bite kit constructed in
accordance with my invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a similar view with the venom extractor removed and
showing the cutting blades of the lancing device in the released
position.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of venom extractor.
Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to
designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral
10 refers to my snake bite kit which consists of a lancing device L
and a poison extractor P, the latter being normally in position on
the former as best shown by FIG. 1 when not in use. When my snake
kit 10 is to be used, the poison extractor P is removed from the
lancing device L and both instruments are then used accordingly in
the treatment of a snake bite.
The lancing device L consists of an elongated handle 11 at the free
end 12 of which is an open chamber 13 in which the cutting
mechanism is contained. The cutting mechanism consists of a pair of
cutting blades 14 that are mounted on the free end of a flat spring
15 whose other end is imbedded in the body of the handle 11 as best
shown by FIGS. 2 and 3. When released the blades 14 extend through
an opening 16 communicating with the chamber 13 in the free end 12.
At the upper portion of the free end 12 is a second opening 17
communicating with the chamber 13 in which an S-shaped trigger 20
is mounted. The trigger 20 that is pivoted by a pin 21 is provided
with a catch 22 that engages the free end of the flat spring 15
when in its cocked position as shown by FIG. 2. A trigger spring 23
engages the bottom portion of the trigger 20 to yieldingly maintain
the trigger 20 normally in its cocked position. The trigger spring
23 has one end embedded in the handle 11. To return the blades 14
to their cocked position after having been released by the trigger
20, there is provided an elongated rod 24 that extends through the
two blades 14 and terminate beyond the free end 12 to permit a
person to be able to manipulate the blades 14 from outside of the
lancing device L. The free end 12 is provided with an arcuate slot
25 on each side of the chamber 13 to permit the swinging of the rod
24 as the blades 14 shift from one position to the other. The lower
face 26 through which the blades 14 extend when in a cutting
position is slanted with relation to the axis of the handle 11 to
permit a person to vary the depth of the cut to be made by the
blades 14 as is explained hereinafter.
In the normal use of my lancing device L the blade opening 16 is
placed over the person's flesh at the position of the snake bite.
The trigger 20 is pressed to pivot against the spring pressure 23
and release the cutting blades 14. The spring 15 will cause the
blades 14 to swing downwardly past the opening 16 and face 26 to
cut into the flesh. If a deep cut is desired, the face 26 of the
free end 12 is placed flat on the surface of the flesh to be cut.
Then the blades 14 will make its deepest cut. If a shallow cut is
desired, the face 26 will be tilted with relation to the surface of
the flesh to be cut permitting only a portion of the blades 14 to
enter the flesh.
To extract the venom from a snake bite after the incisions have
been made, the poison extractor P is then used, It is first removed
from its telescopic position on the handle 11 and the open end 30
is placed over the incised section of the flesh. A person then
places his mouth over the tip 31 and sucks air therefrom to bring
about a partial vacuum in the chamber 32. When a sufficient vacuum
has been created in the chamber 32, and the person stops
withdrawing air through the tip 31, the coil spring 33 will cause
the ball valve 34 to become seated on valve seat 35 to prevent air
from entering the chamber 32. Blood and including the snake poison
will be drawn into the partial vacuumed chamber 32 and thereby
purge the victim of the snake bite of the poisonous liquid injected
by the snake into the person when bit.
After my snake bite kit 10 has been used, it is readily washed,
cleaned and sterilized. By replacing the poison extractor P on the
handle 11 of lancing device L the kit 10 is ready to be stored and
also ready to be used again in the event another person is bit by a
poisonous snake. It can readily be seen that my snake bite kit 10
is light in weight, compact and complete to both lance and remove
the venom from a snake bitten person. Also, since a knife is not
needed in my device, a person will not be reluctant to cut another
person's flesh and will not make the mistake of failing to cut deep
enough to get to the position of the venom inasmuch as the trigger
20 releasing the cutting blades 14 will cause the blades 14 to cut
to the recommended depth or a lesser depth if desired. Having a
poison extractor P with a tube approximately 18 inches long permits
a person to reach any area on his body where a snake has bitten
him.
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