Protective hand forceps
First Claim
1. A substantially U-shaped protective hand forceps comprising:
- a thumb encasing portion comprising an open unenclosed proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally index finger-facing, gripping surface;
an index finger encasing portion comprising an open unenclosed proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally thumb-facing, gripping surface;
a discrete flexible hinge region for hinging together said proximal ends of said thumb and index finger encasing portions; and
continuous skirt means joining said thumb encasing portion and said index finger encasing portion for providing continuous unopen shielding of the back of a user'"'"'s hand to the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand, said continuous skirt means extending only to the back of the user'"'"'s hand and not to the palmar side of the user'"'"'s hand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to hand forceps usable by medical personnel, and others, to protect them from incurring injury and contamination when handling intravenous (IV) needles, suture needles, scalpels, and vessels containing body fluids, during surgical procedures and otherwise. The forceps comprises thumb and index finger encasing portions hinged together. A skirt area extends over a portion of the back of a user'"'"'s hand from the base of the thumb and index finger encasing portions. The forceps can be made of various plastics, metals, and the like and can be coated with a trauma preventing, invasive device snagging layer of latex or similar material. Outwardly extending protective flanges can be provided longitudinally disposed on the thumb and index finger encasing portions. A central shield can also be provided.
112 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A substantially U-shaped protective hand forceps comprising:
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a thumb encasing portion comprising an open unenclosed proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally index finger-facing, gripping surface; an index finger encasing portion comprising an open unenclosed proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally thumb-facing, gripping surface; a discrete flexible hinge region for hinging together said proximal ends of said thumb and index finger encasing portions; and continuous skirt means joining said thumb encasing portion and said index finger encasing portion for providing continuous unopen shielding of the back of a user'"'"'s hand to the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand, said continuous skirt means extending only to the back of the user'"'"'s hand and not to the palmar side of the user'"'"'s hand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Protective hand forceps comprising:
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a thumb encasing portion comprising an open proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally index finger-facing, gripping surface; an index finger encasing portion comprising an open proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally thumb-facing, gripping surface; means for hinging together said proximal ends of said thumb and index finger encasing portions; skirt means joining said thumb encasing portion and said index finger encasing portion for shielding the back of a user'"'"'s hand; and ratchet means for positioning said distal ends of said thumb encasing portion and said index finger encasing portion in a preselected fixed relationship to one another.
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19. Protective hand forceps comprising:
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a thumb encasing portion comprising an open proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally index finger-facing, gripping surface; an index finger encasing portion comprising an open proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally thumb-facing, gripping surface; means for hinging together said proximal ends of said thumb and index finger encasing portions; skirt means joining said thumb encasing portion and said index finger encasing portion for shielding the back of a user'"'"'s hand; and wherein at least one of said encasing portions comprises overlapping spaced ridges for venting. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A substantially U-shaped protective hand forceps comprising:
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a thumb encasing portion comprising an open unenclosed proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally index finger-facing, gripping surface; an index finger encasing portion comprising an open unenclosed proximal end and a closed distal end, said distal end comprising a generally thumb-facing, gripping surface; pivot hinge means for hinging together said proximal ends of said thumb and index finger encasing portions; and overlapping skirts extending from each of said thumb and index finger encasing portions for providing continuous unopen shielding of the back of a user'"'"'s hand to the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand, said overlapping skirts extending only to the back of the user'"'"'hand and not to the palmar side of the user'"'"'s hand.
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Specification