Ampoule applicator with one-way clutch

Claim 2

An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mounting thereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule adapted to inject a volume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also including force-applying means mounted on said body for forward movement toward said ampoule mounting means along a predetermined path from a fully retracted position, means biasing said force-applying means forwardly along said path, means for reversely moving said force-applying means to its fully retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, and one-way check means permitting reverse movement of said forceapplying means toward its retracted position but preventing any substantial forward movement of said force-applying means toward said ampoule mounting means when said force-applying means is in its fully retracted position and when said force-applying means is in any position forward thereof, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedge means normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contact with said forceapplying means to restrain forward movement thereof but permitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, said check means being releasable to permit said forward movement, said wedge means comprising means defining a tapered slot in said body, said slot having sidewalls converging toward said ampoule mounting means.

Claim 3

An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein said rollable member is spherical and normally positioned to roll along said tapered slot.

Claim 4

An ampoule applicator according to claim 2, including means biasing said rollable member toward the ampoule mounting means.

Claim 5

An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, including means to relieve firm frictional contact of said rollable member with said force-applying means for permitting said forward movement of said force-applying means.

Claim 6

An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slot converge at an included angle to produce an effective wedging angle of between about 5* and 12*.

Claim 7

An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slot converge at an included angle of about 28*.

Claim 8

An ampoule applicator according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving said force-applying means to its retracted position against the bias of said spring means includes pulley means mounted on said body and flexible cable means having one end fixed to said force-applying means, and an opposite end fixed to said pulley means, and means to rotate said pulley means so that portions of saId cable means are wrapped about said pulley means for pulling said force-applying means toward its retracted position.

Claim 9

An ampoule applicator according to claim 7, wherein said pulley means is rotatably mounted on said body, and wherein said means to rotate said pulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement from a first position to a second position relative to said body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged by swinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulley and disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward its first position while forward movement of said force-applying means is restrained by said one-way check means.

Claim 10

An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mounting thereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule having medicament-injecting means adapted to inject a volume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also including force-applying means mounted on said body for movement toward said ampoule from a retracted position relative to said body for actuating said ampoule, means biasing said force-applying means toward said ampoule, means for moving said force-applying means to its retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, said means for moving said force-applying means including pulley means mounted on said body, flexible cable means having one end fixed to said force-applying means and its opposite end fixed to said pulley means, means to rotate said pulley means so that portions of said cable means are wrapped about said pulley means to pull said force-applying means toward its retracted position and one-way check means, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedge means normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contact with said force-applying means to restrain forward movement thereof but permitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, said check means being releasable to permit said forward movement, said wedge means comprising means defining a tapered slot in said body, said slot having sidewalls converging toward said ampoule mounting means.

Claim 11

An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mounting thereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule having medicament-injecting means adapted to inject a volume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also including force-applying means mounted on said body for movement toward said ampoule from a retracted position relative to said body for actuating said ampoule, means biasing said force-applying means toward said ampoule, means for moving said force-applying means to its retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, said means for moving said force-applying means including pulley means mounted on said body, flexible cable means having one end fixed to said force-applying means and its opposite end fixed to said pulley means, means to rotate said pulley means so that portions of said cable means are wrapped about said pulley means to pull said force-applying means toward its retracted position and one-way check means, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedge means normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contact with said force-applying means to restrain forward movement thereof but permitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, said check means being releasable to permit said forward movement, said wedge means comprising means defining a tapered slot in said body, said slot having sidewalls converging toward said ampoule mounting means.

Claim 12

An ampoule applicator according to claim 9, wherein said rollable member is spherical and normally positioned to roll along said tapered slot.

Claim 13

An ampoule applicator according to claim 10, including means biasing said rollable member toward the ampoule mounting means.

Claim 14

An ampoule applicator according to claim 9, including means to relieve firm frictional contact of said rollable member with said force-applying means for permitting said forward movement of said force-applying means.

Claim 15

An ampoule applicator according to claim 10, wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slot converge at an included angle to produce an effective wedging angle of between about 5* and 12*.

Claim 16

An ampoule applicator according to claim 10, wherein the sidewalls of said tapered slot converge at an included angle of about 28*.

Claim 17

An ampoule applicator according to claim 9, wherein said pulley means is rotatably mounted on said body, and wherein said means to rotate said pulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement from a first position to a second position relative to said body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged by swinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulley and disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward its first position while forward movement of said force-applying means is restrained by said one-way check means.

Claim 18

An ampoule applicator according to claim 12, wherein said pulley means is rotatably mounted on one end of said body, wherein said means to rotate said pulley means comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement from a first position to a second position relative to said body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged by swinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulley and disengaged by revese swinging of said handle toward its first position while forward movement of said force-applying means is restrained by said one-way check means, and wherein said means to remove aid rollable member from its frictional contact with said force-applying means comprises pin means on said lever which is operable to move said rollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applying means when said lever is in its first position.

Claim 19

An ampoule applicator according to claim 16, including means operable when an ampoule is not installed in said applicator to block said pin means and prevent movement of said rollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applying member.

Claim 20

An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mounting thereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule having medicament injecting means adapted to inject a volume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also including force-applying means mounted on said body for movement toward said ampoule from a retracted position relative to said body for actuating said ampoule, means biasing said force-applying means toward said ampoule, means for moving said force-applying means to its retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, said means for moving said force-applying means including pulley means mounted on said body, flexible cable means having one end fixed to said force-applying means and its opposite end fixed to said pulley means, means to rotate said pulley means so that portions of said cable means are wrapped about said pulley means to pull said force-applying means toward its retracted position, one-way check means, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedge means normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contact with said force-applying means to restrain forward movement thereof by said biasing means but permitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, said check means being releasable to permit said forward movement, means to relieve first frictional contact of said rollable member with said force-applying means for permitting said forward movement of said force-applying means, said pulley means being rotatably mounted on one end of said body, said means to rotate said pulley means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement from a first position to a second position relative to said body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged by swinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulley and disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward its first position while forward movement of said force-applying means is restrained by said one-way check means, said means to remove said rollable member from its frictional contact with said force-applying means comprising pin means on said lever which is operable to move said rollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applying means when said lever is in its first position.

Claim 21

An ampoule applicator comprising a body and means for mounting thereon a medicament-containing hypodermic ampoule having medicament injecting means adapted to inject a volume of medicament into a patient, said applicator also including force-applying means mounted on said body for movement toward said ampoule from a retracted position relative to said body for actuating said ampoule, means biasing said force-applying means toward said ampoule, means for moving said force-applying means to its retracted position against the bias of said biasing means, said means for moving said force-applying means including pulley means mounted on said body, flexible cable means having one end fixed to said force-applying means and its opposite end fixed to said pulley means, means to rotate said pulley means so that portions of said cable means are wrapped about said pulley means to pull said force-applying means toward its retracted position, one-way check means, said one-way check means comprising a rollable member and wedge means normally urging said rollable member into firm frictional contact with said force-applying means to restrain forward movement thereof by said biasing means but permitting reverse movement thereof toward its retracted position, said check means being releasable to permit said forward movement, means to relieve first frictional contact of said rollable member with said force-applying means for permitting said forward movement of said force-applying means, said pulley means being rotatably mounted on one end of said body, said means to rotate said pulley means comprising a lever pivotally mounted on said body for swinging movement from a first position to a second position relative to said body, said pulley and lever having abutment means engaged by swinging said lever toward its second position for rotating said pulley and disengaged by reverse swinging of said handle toward its first position while forward movement of said force-applying means is restrained by said one-way check means, said means to remove said rollable member from its frictional contact with said force-applying means comprising pin means on said lever which is operable to move said rollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applying means when said lever is in its first position.

Claim 22

An ampoule applicator according to claim 18, including means operable when an ampoule is not installed in said applicator to block said pin means and prevent movement of said rollable member out of firm frictional contact with said force-applying member.