Scalpel handle having a blade shield utilizing over center spring

摘要

A scalpel handle for holding a blade includes a handle member and a blade shield for covering the cutting edge of the blade. The blade shield is connected to the handle member for movement relative thereto between a blade-covering position and an out-of-the-way position, and a finger-operable actuator is mounted upon the handle member for movement relative thereto and is connected to the shield so that by moving the actuator between first and second conditions, the shield is moved between its blade-covering and its out-of-the-way positions. An over center spring is interposed between the actuator and the handle member so that upon movement of the actuator into its second condition, the shield is biased into the out-of-the-way position and so that upon movement of the actuator into its first condition, the shield is biased into the blade-covering position.

主权项

1. A scalpel handle for holding a blade having a cutting edge, the scalpel handle comprising:
a handle member to which a blade is securable for use; a blade shield for covering the cutting edge of the blade when the blade is secured to the handle member wherein the blade shield is connected to the handle member for pivotal movement relative thereto between a blade-covering position at which the blade shield covers the cutting edge of the blade and an out-of-the way position at which the cutting edge of the blade is exposed for use; a manually-operable actuator mechanism which is mounted upon the handle member for movement relative thereto between a first condition and a second condition; and the actuator mechanism is connected to the blade shield so that by manually moving the actuator mechanism from the first condition toward the second condition, the blade shield is moved from the blade-covering position toward the out-of-the-way position; and an over center spring interposed between the actuator mechanism and the handle member so that upon movement of the actuator mechanism from the first condition into the position assumed by the actuator mechanism when in the second condition, the blade shield is biased by the over center spring into the out-of-the-way position.