US3757788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prying and/or frictionless probing device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-28
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1992-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A device having an unlimited number of uses. Certain of these uses depend upon the physical size of the device, etc. For example, one such size enables the device to be used as a catheter for unblocking clogged arteries of the human body, another size enables the device to be used to insert exploratory sensing elements such as a microminiaturized television camera into certain cavities or ducts of the human body. Additionally, larger sizes might include a plurality of such devices grouped into a battery arrangement to lift and/or separate surfaces or objects having considerable weight, such as lifting a nonambulatory patient from his bed or the like. Further, still larger sizes might be so arranged as to be capable of lifting an airplane which may have landed wheels up or for many other well known reasons conventional jacking apparatus may be unfeasible. The principle of operation can easily be understood by comparing it to inflating a long balloon which was disposed inside out while in the deflated state, and the inflating or elongation process thereof proceeeds along the length thereof having the outside surface reversed gradually and only at the extreme end thereof until the balloon is fully extended. The device includes an elongated flexible tubular member which resembles a balloon in that it is controllably inflated but which is not resilient as is a balloon. The device optionally includes telescoping rigid tubular sections which are pulled within the flexible tubular member to aid in supporting the expanded flexible tubular member. A second embodiment includes structure particularly adapted for lifting a patient from his bed or the like. The concept of this embodiment is to counteract the tendency of certain prior devices to curl upwardly after having worked under one leg of the patient, i. e., extend between his legs rather than beneath both legs, as desired. A third embodiment includes ties for causing the flexible tubular member to be elongated in cross section rather than round when inflated.
Inventors
- 👤 H Renfore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/10; A61G7/1025; A61G7/1032; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0119; A61G2200/00; A61G2200/30; A61G2200/32; A61G7/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
416 words
A device for prying or probing comprising chamber means having inlet and outlet openings, elongated flexible tubular means having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said flexible tubular means including closure means for sealing the interior of said tubular means from without, said proximal end of said flexible tubular means being sealably attached to said chamber means adjacent said outlet openiNg thereof, said flexible tubular means being communicated with said inlet opening of said chamber means, fluid pump means, means for selectively activating said pump means to deliver fluid under pressure to said inlet opening of said chamber means to selectively stiffen said flexible tubular means as said fluid under pressure causes the flexible walls of said flexible tubular means to expand outwardly, said flexible tubular means having at least an outrolled position in which said flexible tubular means is extended longitudinally protruding outwardly from said outlet opening of said chamber means and an inrolled position in which said flexible tubular means is foldably collapsed and is withdrawn inwardly through said outlet opening of said chamber means, rigid tubular means having at least a normal position in which said rigid tubular means is enclosed within said chamber means and an extended position in which said rigid tubular means protrudes outwardly through said outlet opening of said chamber means, means for inserting a portion of said rigid tubular means within said flexible tubular means when said flexible tubular means is in said outrolled position and said rigid tubular means is in said extended position, lanyard means for inserting a portion of said flexible tubular means within said rigid tubular means when said flexible tubular means is in said inrolled position and said rigid tubular means is in said normal position, roller means disposed internally of said chamber means and rotatably attached to said chamber means, a prime mover, means for selectively activating said prime mover so as to selectively rotatably drive said roller means, said lanyard means having one of the ends thereof fixedly attached to said closure means of said flexible tubular means internally thereof and the other end of said lanyard means being fixedly attached to said roller means, deactivating said fluid pressurizing means and sequentially activating said prime mover being effective to cause said flexible tubular means to be retreivably reeled from said outrolled position to said inrolled position, said rigid tubular means including a plurality of telescoping tubular members, and means for interlocking said telescoping tubular members one with the other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
416 words
A device for prying or probing comprising chamber means having inlet and outlet openings, elongated flexible tubular means having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said flexible tubular means including closure means for sealing the interior of said tubular means from without, said proximal end of said flexible tubular means being sealably attached to said chamber means adjacent said outlet openiNg thereof, said flexible tubular means being communicated with said inlet opening of said chamber means, fluid pump means, means for selectively activating said pump means to deliver fluid under pressure to said inlet opening of said chamber means to selectively stiffen said flexible tubular means as said fluid under pressure causes the flexible walls of said flexible tubular means to expand outwardly, said flexible tubular means having at least an outrolled position in which said flexible tubular means is extended longitudinally protruding outwardly from said outlet opening of said chamber means and an inrolled position in which said flexible tubular means is foldably collapsed and is withdrawn inwardly through said outlet opening of said chamber means, rigid tubular means having at least a normal position in which said rigid tubular means is enclosed within said chamber means and an extended position in which said rigid tubular means protrudes outwardly through said outlet opening of said chamber means, means for inserting a portion of said rigid tubular means within said flexible tubular means when said flexible tubular means is in said outrolled position and said rigid tubular means is in said extended position, lanyard means for inserting a portion of said flexible tubular means within said rigid tubular means when said flexible tubular means is in said inrolled position and said rigid tubular means is in said normal position, roller means disposed internally of said chamber means and rotatably attached to said chamber means, a prime mover, means for selectively activating said prime mover so as to selectively rotatably drive said roller means, said lanyard means having one of the ends thereof fixedly attached to said closure means of said flexible tubular means internally thereof and the other end of said lanyard means being fixedly attached to said roller means, deactivating said fluid pressurizing means and sequentially activating said prime mover being effective to cause said flexible tubular means to be retreivably reeled from said outrolled position to said inrolled position, said rigid tubular means including a plurality of telescoping tubular members, and means for interlocking said telescoping tubular members one with the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 in which said interlocking means includes ever decreasing cross section tapered walls for said plurality of telescoping members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 1 in which said means for inserting said rigid tubular means within said flexible tubular means includes stopper means, said stopper means having passageways therein positioned adjacent said closure means, and being fixedly attached to said lanyard means for plug-like engaging a portion of said rigid telescoping tubular means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1 in which said rigid tubular means consist of high density plastic.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
364 words
A device for prying or probing comprising chamber means having inlet and outlet openings, elongated flexible non-resilient tubular means having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said flexible tubular means including closure means integral said flexible tubular means for sealing the interior of said flexible tubular means from without, said proximal end of said flexible tubular means being sealably attached to said chamber means adjacent said outlet opening thereof, said flexible tubular means being communicated with said inlet opening of said chamber means and having at least an outrolled position and an inrolled position thereto, means for selectively delivering fluid under pressure to said inlet opening of said chamber means to expand outwardly the flexible walls of said flexible tubing means and to fully extend said flexible tubular means longitudinally when said flexible tubular means is in said outrolled position, roller means disposed within said chamber means, a prime mover, means for selectively activating said prime mover so as to selectively rotatably drive said roller means, lanyard means having one of the ends thereof fixedly attached to said flexible tubular means adjacent the lower part of said closure means and internally thereof, the other end of said lanyard means being fixedly attached to said roller means, deactivating said fluid pressurizing means and sequentially activating said prime mover being effective to cause said flexible tubular means to invert itself along the length thereof while going from said outrolled position to said inrolled position and to simultaneously be retreivably reeled onto said roller means, and tie means for holding certain opposite portions of the wall of said flexible tubular means closer together than are certain other opposite portions thereof, said tie means being arranged in two rows extending along the length of said flexible tubular means establishing an inner channel and a pair of outer channels, moving said flexible tubular means from said inrolled position towards said outrolled position being effective to pass said lanyard through said inner channel, and returning said flexible tubular means to said inrolled position being effective to cause, said lanyard to pull the portions of said flexible tubular means defining in part said outer channels into said inner channel.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
364 words
A device for prying or probing comprising chamber means having inlet and outlet openings, elongated flexible non-resilient tubular means having proximal and distal ends, said distal end of said flexible tubular means including closure means integral said flexible tubular means for sealing the interior of said flexible tubular means from without, said proximal end of said flexible tubular means being sealably attached to said chamber means adjacent said outlet opening thereof, said flexible tubular means being communicated with said inlet opening of said chamber means and having at least an outrolled position and an inrolled position thereto, means for selectively delivering fluid under pressure to said inlet opening of said chamber means to expand outwardly the flexible walls of said flexible tubing means and to fully extend said flexible tubular means longitudinally when said flexible tubular means is in said outrolled position, roller means disposed within said chamber means, a prime mover, means for selectively activating said prime mover so as to selectively rotatably drive said roller means, lanyard means having one of the ends thereof fixedly attached to said flexible tubular means adjacent the lower part of said closure means and internally thereof, the other end of said lanyard means being fixedly attached to said roller means, deactivating said fluid pressurizing means and sequentially activating said prime mover being effective to cause said flexible tubular means to invert itself along the length thereof while going from said outrolled position to said inrolled position and to simultaneously be retreivably reeled onto said roller means, and tie means for holding certain opposite portions of the wall of said flexible tubular means closer together than are certain other opposite portions thereof, said tie means being arranged in two rows extending along the length of said flexible tubular means establishing an inner channel and a pair of outer channels, moving said flexible tubular means from said inrolled position towards said outrolled position being effective to pass said lanyard through said inner channel, and returning said flexible tubular means to said inrolled position being effective to cause, said lanyard to pull the portions of said flexible tubular means defining in part said outer channels into said inner channel.
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) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |