Disposable lancet
First Claim
1. A disposable lancet for piercing a person'"'"'s finger skin sufficiently deep to let a small quantity of blood comprising:
- a rigid, slender, elongated shank having a hypodermic needle-style piercing tip connected and longitudinally disposed at one end for piercing the skin;
a protective support tube having a first and second end and generally coextensive with, and surrounding said shank such that said shank is slidable longitudinally in said support tube;
a cap connected to the outer end of said shank and at least partially surrounding said first end of said protective tube such that, when said cap is pressed against said first end of said support tube by movement longitudinally in one direction, said piercing tip extends outwardly beyond said second end of said support tube a predetermined distance to an in-use position sufficient for piercing the skin;
said cap movable longitudinally in the opposite direction away from said first end of said support tube into a first stored position wherein said piercing tip is withdrawn into, and protectively concealed by, said second end of said support tube;
said cap having an inner generally cylindrical surface and a recess disposed in said inner cylindrical surface of said cap; and
a projection on said support tube disposed within said recess such that longitudinal travel of said cap with respect to said support tube is limited by the length of said recess.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable lancet for piercing a person'"'"'s finger skin sufficiently to let a small quantity of blood. The lancet includes a long, slender, rigid shank having a hypodermic needle-style piercing tip at one end and slidably mounted within a generally coextensive support tube over substantially its entire length. A cap is connected to the other end of the shank which, when in contact with one end of the support tube, is structured to allow the piercing tip to extend beyond the other end of the support tube a predetermined distance sufficient for piercing the skin. The shank has a stored position wherein the piercing tip is retracted fully within the support tube. Single-use features are also disclosed.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A disposable lancet for piercing a person'"'"'s finger skin sufficiently deep to let a small quantity of blood comprising:
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a rigid, slender, elongated shank having a hypodermic needle-style piercing tip connected and longitudinally disposed at one end for piercing the skin; a protective support tube having a first and second end and generally coextensive with, and surrounding said shank such that said shank is slidable longitudinally in said support tube; a cap connected to the outer end of said shank and at least partially surrounding said first end of said protective tube such that, when said cap is pressed against said first end of said support tube by movement longitudinally in one direction, said piercing tip extends outwardly beyond said second end of said support tube a predetermined distance to an in-use position sufficient for piercing the skin; said cap movable longitudinally in the opposite direction away from said first end of said support tube into a first stored position wherein said piercing tip is withdrawn into, and protectively concealed by, said second end of said support tube; said cap having an inner generally cylindrical surface and a recess disposed in said inner cylindrical surface of said cap; and a projection on said support tube disposed within said recess such that longitudinal travel of said cap with respect to said support tube is limited by the length of said recess. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification