US3565061A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Free sliding bivalve vaginal speculum
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-04-30
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1989-04-30
Abstract
Abstract There are two cooperating members, a lower member and an upper member, both made of suitable plastic material. The lower member has a concave upwardly facing arcuate handle portion of a radius of about 4 inches. At its upper end is an integral shank of about twice the width of the handle and concave in cross section with the concave portion facing upwardly and projecting on out from the end of the shank portion in an arcuate right angle. This projecting end portion is a tongue portion that is bifurcated and also concave and facing upwardly. The handle of the lower member has sides that extend up and inwardly and form a channel within which is slidingly received the handle of a correspondingly shaped upper member having like parts except that the shank at the upper end of the handle is longer and has an elongated relatively large aperture therethrough providing a view and access for preparation instruments and between the spaced apart tongues. The upper member shank is concave facing downwardly as is its bifurcated projecting tongue. The lower member handle has an integral downwardly extending finger engaging abutment at its lower end. The upper member handle has an integral curved upwardly thumb engaging abutment at its lower end.
Inventors
- 👤 Verne J Reynolds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a lower member and an upper member; said lower member having a curved handle portion having a radius of the order of approximately 4 inches; an integral shank portion at its upper end that is approximately twice the width of the handle portion and is concave in cross section and faces upwardly fRom where it projects in an arcuate approximate right angle turn out from the handle portion as an integral bifurcated lower tongue portion that is concave in cross section and faces upwardly; said upper member having a curved handle portion having a similar radius of curvature to the lower member and slidably received thereon; means slidably securing the upper handle member to the lower handle member; said upper handle portion having an integral shank portion at its upper end overlying the lower member shank portion and of like curvature, said just-mentioned integral shank portion being approximately twice the width of the upper handle portion and concave in cross section and facing downwardly from where it projects in an arcuate approximate right angle turn overlying the adjacent bottom member portion and extends as an integral bifurcated upper tongue portion overlying the bottom member bifurcated tongue portion; said upper handle portion having an abutment means projecting upwardly therefrom for engagement by the thumb of the operator holding the speculum whereby the handle upper member is slid along the handle of the lower member and the two bifurcated tongue members can be moved apart with the outer end portions being spaced further apart than the inner end portions; said upper member shank portion having a relatively large aperture therethrough whereby the operator can look therethrough and on between the spaced apart bifurcated tongue portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
A vaginal speculum comprising: a lower member and an upper member; said lower member having a curved handle portion having a radius of the order of approximately 4 inches; an integral shank portion at its upper end that is approximately twice the width of the handle portion and is concave in cross section and faces upwardly fRom where it projects in an arcuate approximate right angle turn out from the handle portion as an integral bifurcated lower tongue portion that is concave in cross section and faces upwardly; said upper member having a curved handle portion having a similar radius of curvature to the lower member and slidably received thereon; means slidably securing the upper handle member to the lower handle member; said upper handle portion having an integral shank portion at its upper end overlying the lower member shank portion and of like curvature, said just-mentioned integral shank portion being approximately twice the width of the upper handle portion and concave in cross section and facing downwardly from where it projects in an arcuate approximate right angle turn overlying the adjacent bottom member portion and extends as an integral bifurcated upper tongue portion overlying the bottom member bifurcated tongue portion; said upper handle portion having an abutment means projecting upwardly therefrom for engagement by the thumb of the operator holding the speculum whereby the handle upper member is slid along the handle of the lower member and the two bifurcated tongue members can be moved apart with the outer end portions being spaced further apart than the inner end portions; said upper member shank portion having a relatively large aperture therethrough whereby the operator can look therethrough and on between the spaced apart bifurcated tongue portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 1 wherein the aperture through the shank portion of the upper member is elongated in the direction of the handle portion of the upper member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 1 wherein said means slidably securing the upper handle member to the lower handle member is an inturned overlying track portion at each edge of the lower handle portion for slidably receiving the upper handle portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 3 wherein said upper member handle portion has a downwardly curved portion at its lower end for engagement by the little finger of the hand of the operator while the thumb of the hand of the operator moves in engagement with said abutment on the handle portion of the upper member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vaginal speculum according to claim 4 wherein the abutment on the handle portion of the upper member is an integral upturned portion at the lower end of the handle portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |