Scalpel handle having a blade shield

摘要

A scalpel handle for holding a blade having a cutting edge includes a handle member and a blade shield for covering the blade cutting edge. The blade shield is connected to the handle member for pivotal movement relative thereto between a blade-covering condition and an out-of-the-way condition, and a movable shield latch mechanism is capable of releasably locking the blade shield in its blade-covering condition. A finger-operable actuator mechanism is mounted upon the handle member for movement between first and second conditions, and a spring is interposed between the actuator mechanism and the handle member. During a first phase of movement of the actuator mechanism from its first to its second condition, the shield latch mechanism unlocks the blade shield from its locked blade-covering condition, and during a second phase of movement, the blade shield is moved from its blade-covering condition to its out-of-the-way condition.

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 condition at which the blade shield covers the cutting edge of the blade and an out-of-the way condition 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 a linkage assembly interposed between the actuator mechanism and the blade shield, and the actuator mechanism is adapted to cooperate with the linkage assembly so that by manually moving the actuator mechanism from the first condition toward the second condition, the blade shield is moved by way of the linkage assembly from its blade-covering condition toward its out-of-the-way condition; and a first biasing means for acting between the actuator mechanism and the handle member so that the actuator mechanism is continually biased from its second condition toward its first condition and so that manual movement of the actuator mechanism from the first condition toward the second condition moves the actuator mechanism against the force of the first biasing means; means for releasably locking the actuator mechanism in its second condition wherein the means for releasably locking the actuator mechanism includes a movable member which is mounted upon the handle member for movement relative thereto between a locked condition at which the movable member is interlocked with the actuator mechanism when in its second condition for locking the actuator mechanism in its second condition and an unlocked condition at which the movable member is withdrawn from its interlocked relationship with the actuator mechanism; and a second biasing means for biasing the movable member from its unlocked condition toward its locked condition so that upon movement of the actuator mechanism into its second condition, the movable member is automatically moved, by way of the second biasing means, into its interlocked relationship with the actuator mechanism for locking the actuator mechanism in its second condition and thereby locking the blade shield in its out-of-the-way condition.