Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A disposable pricker comprising a two part body and a lancet, the parts being movable with respect to one another from an initial to a second position, one part being adapted to carry the lancet with a tip at its forward end and having spring means to urge the lancet in its forwards direction, and the other part having guide means which co-operate with the forward end of the lancet to retain the lancet retracted in said one part at the initial position and as the parts are moved towards the second position, but to relinquish such retention as the second position is reached, whereby the spring means can then act to urge the lancet forwards and momentarily project its tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A disposable pricker comprising a two part body and a lancet, the parts being movable with respect to one another from an initial to a second position, one part being adapted to carry the lancet with a tip at its forward end and having spring means to urge the lancet in its forwards direction, and the other part having guide means which co-operate with the forward end of the lancet to retain the lancet retracted in said one part at the initial position and as the parts are moved towards the second position, but to relinquish such retention as the second position is reached, whereby the spring means can then act to urge the lancet forwards and momentarily project its tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide means retain the lancet in a primed, spring-energised condition when said parts are in said initial position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide means are shaped to cause the lancet to shift relative to said one part, thereby to energise the spring means, as said parts are moved into said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two parts are integrally moulded in plastics material, with a thin flexible bridge between them acting as a hinge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lancet has a generally cylindrical body of moulded plastics material co-axially encasing a needle, the tip of the needle projecting from one end of the body and initially being protected by an integrally moulded cap breakable from the main body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 5, wherein said one part has means by which the lancet body can be held by one hand while the cap is removed by the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 5, wherein the guide means co-operate with the lancet body and cap to remove the cap as said parts are moved towards said second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided to cause the lancet tip to retract immediately after its momentary projection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retraction means are provided by a mouth of said other part through which the tip of the lancet momentarily projects, the mouth having a resilient tab which flexes to allow such projection but which immediately bends back to cause the retraction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retraction means are provided by the spring means which are anchored to the lancet and to said one part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two parts are locked together in said second position by the lancet bridging those parts within a virtually closed passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pricker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide means are shaped to shield the tip so that it is virtually inaccessible when the forward end of the lancet is co-operating therewith.