Scalpel implement

Claim 2

A scalpel implement for facilitating the removal of a flexible, linearly slotted scalpel blade mounted on a linear supporting key, said blade having a cutting end and a heel and said linear supporting key being received wedgedly within said linear slot formed in said blade, comprising: pivot means; a pair of plier-like jaws mounted pivotally on said pivot means and provided with generally opposed flat, planar shaped surfaces for engaging and securely gripping said cutting end of said scalpel blade and for holding said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; a pair of handles structurally interconnected with said jaws and upon said handles being forced together said handles pivoting said jaws together to cause said surfaces of said jaws to engage and securely grip said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; and lever means, mounted pivotally on said pivot means and operable independently of said handles and jaws, said lever means provided with a portion extending forwardly past said jaws and provided with a transverse portion at the end thereof and upon said lever being pivoted said transverse portion for engaging said scalpel blade heel to flex said heel upwardly off of said linear supporting key to facilitate removal of said scalpel blade from said linear supporting key.

Claim 3

A scalpel implement for facilitating the removal of a flexible, linearly slotted scalpel blade mounted on a linear supporting key, said blade having a cutting end and a heel and said linear supporting key being received wedgedly within said linear slot formed in said blade, comprising: pivot means; a pair of plier-like jaws mounted pivotally on said pivot means and provided with generally opposed flat, planar shaped surfaces for engaging and securely gripping said cutting end of saId scalpel blade and for holding said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; a pair of handles structurally interconnected with said jaws and upon said handles being forced together said handles pivoting said jaws together to cause said surfaces of said jaws to engage and securely grip said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; lever means mounted pivotally on said pivot means and operable independently of said handles and jaws, said lever means provided with a portion extending forwardly past said jaws and provided with a transverse portion at the end thereof and upon said lever being pivoted said transverse portion for engaging said scalpel blade heel to flex said heel upwardly off of said linear supporting key to facilitate removal of said scalpel blade from said linear supporting key; and locking means operably associated with said handles and for locking said handles in said forced together relationship to thereby lock said surfaces of said jaws in said gripping relationship with said cutting end of said scalpel blade during the removal of said blade from said linear supporting key.

Claim 4

A scalpel implement for facilitating the removal of a flexible, linearly slotted scalpel blade mounted on a linear supporting key, said blade having a cutting end and a heel and said linear supporting key being received wedgedly within said linear slot formed in said blade, comprising: pivot means; a pair of plier-like jaws mounted pivotally on said pivot means and provided with generally opposed flat, planar shaped surfaces for engaging and securely gripping said cutting end of saId scalpel blade and for holding said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; a pair of handles structurally interconnected with said jaws and upon said handles being forced together said handles pivoting said jaws together to cause said surfaces of said jaws to engage and securely grip said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; lever means mounted pivotally on said pivot means and operable independently of said handles and jaws, said lever means provided with a portion extending forwardly past said jaws and provided with a transverse portion at the end thereof and upon said lever being pivoted said transverse portion for engaging said scalpel blade heel to flex said heel upwardly off of said linear supporting key to facilitate removal of said scalpel blade from said linear supporting key; and locking means operably associated with said handles and for locking said handles in said forced together relationship to thereby lock said surfaces of said jaws in said gripping relationship with said cutting end of said scalpel blade during the removal of said blade from said linear supporting key.

Claim 5

A scalpel implement for facilitating the removal of a flexible, linearly slotted scalpel blade mounted on a linear supporting key, said blade having a cutting end and a heel and said linear supporting key being wedgedly received within said linear slot formed in said blade, comprising: first pivot means; a pair of plier-like jaws mounted pivotally on said pivot means and provided with generally opposed flat, planar shaped surfaces for engaging and securely gripping said cutting end of said scalpel blade and for holding said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; a pair of bundles structurally interconnected with said jaws and upon said handles being forced together said handles pivoting said jaws together to cause said surfaces of said jaws to engage and securely grip said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; second pivot means provided on one of said handles; lever means, mounted pivotally on said second pivot means and operable independently of said handles and jaws, said lever means provided with a portion extending forwardly past said jaws and provided with a transverse portion at the end thereof and upon said lever being pivoted said transverse portion for enagging said scalpel blade heel to flex said heel upwardly off of said linear supporting key to facilitate removal of said scalpel blade from said linear supporting key; and locking means operably associated with said handles and for locking said handles in said forced together relationship to thereby lock said surfaces of said jaws in said gripping relationship with said cutting end of said scalpel blade during the removal of said blade from said linear supporting key.

Claim 6

A scalpel implement for facilitating the removal of a flexible, linearly slotted scalpel blade mounted on a linear supporting key, said blade having a cutting end and a heel and said linear supporting key being wedgedly received within said linear slot formed in said blade, comprising: first pivot means; a pair of plier-like jaws mounted pivotally on said pivot means and provided with generally opposed flat, planar shaped surfaces for engaging and securely gripping said cutting end of said scalpel blade and for holding said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; a pair of bundles structurally interconnected with said jaws and upon said handles being forced together said handles pivoting said jaws together to cause said surfaces of said jaws to engage and securely grip said cutting end of said scalpel blade temporarily fixedly therebetween; second pivot means provided on one of said handles; lever means, mounted pivotally on said second pivot means and operable independently of said handles and jaws, said lever means provided with a portion extending forwardly past said jaws and provided with a transverse portion at the end thereof and upon said lever being pivoted said transverse portion for enagging said scalpel blade heel to flex said heel upwardly off of said linear supporting key to facilitate removal of said scalpel blade from said linear supporting key; and locking means operably associated with said handles and for locking said handles in said forced together relationship to thereby lock said surfaces of said jaws in said gripping relationship with said cutting end of said scalpel blade during the removal of said blade from said linear supporting key.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said generally opposed flat, planar shaped surfaces of said pair of plier-like jaws are provided with serrations for facilitating the gripping of said cutting end of said scalpel blade by said surfaces.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said generally opposed flat, planar shaped surfaces of said pair of plier-like jaws are provided with serrations for facilitating the gripping of said cutting end of said scalpel blade by said surfaces.