US5158532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Articulated swab
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-09-03
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Granted: 1992-10-27
•
Expires: 2011-09-03
Abstract
Abstract An applicator swab that includes an elongate support member with a swab head mounted on at least one end thereof, together with accordion-like folds disposed in the support member for adjustably disposing the swab head at an angle to a center portion of the elongate member. In addition, the accordion-like folds provide means for limiting the amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab against an object by forcing of the swab against the object, and accordion-like folds in the support member beneath the swab head enable the swab head to adjust to different diameters which enhances the usefulness of the swab.
Inventors
- 👤 Mike Peng
- 👤 Nishizaki Kazuhiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:13
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45D; A45D40/00; A45D40/26; A45D40/28; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/15; A61F13/38; A61M; A61M35/00; A61M35/003; A61M35/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support member having a diameter and at least one end; a swab head having a different diameter mounted on said at least one end of said elongate support member; and means for both adjustably disposing said swab head at an angle to a center portion of said elongate support member and changing the diameter of said swab head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support member having a diameter and at least one end; a swab head having a different diameter mounted on said at least one end of said elongate support member; and means for both adjustably disposing said swab head at an angle to a center portion of said elongate support member and changing the diameter of said swab head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The applicator swab according to claim 1 wherein said elongate support member comprises a tube and said means for adjustably disposing said swab head at an angle to the support member center portion comprises pleated folds in said tube between said swab head and the center portion of said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The applicator swab according to claim 1 wherein said means for both adjustably disposing said swab and changing the diameter of said swab head comprises expandable, pleated folds in said tube beneath said swab head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support having a diameter and at least one end; a swab head having a different diameter mounted on said at least one end of said elongate support member; and means for changing the diameter of said swab head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support having a diameter and at least one end; a swab head having a different diameter mounted on said at least one end of said elongate support member; and means for changing the diameter of said swab head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The applicator swab according to claim 4 wherein said means for changing the diameter of said swab head comprises expandable pleated folds in said tube beneath said swab head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support member having a diameter and at least one end; a swab head having a different diameter mounted on said at least one end of said elongate support member; and means for both limiting, over a selected length of said elongate support member an amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab head against an object and for changing the diameter of said swab head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support member having a diameter and at least one end; a swab head having a different diameter mounted on said at least one end of said elongate support member; and means for both limiting, over a selected length of said elongate support member an amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab head against an object and for changing the diameter of said swab head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The applicator swab according to claim 6 wherein said elongate member comprises a tube and said means for limiting the amount of pressure comprises pleated folds in said tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The applicator swab according to claim 7 wherein said pleated folds are disposed beneath said swab head and between said swab head and a center portion of said tube, said pleated folds collapsing from an expanded state to a collapsed state to limit the amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
162 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support member comprising a tube; a swab head mounted on at least one end of said elongate support member; means for temporarily limiting, over a selected length of said elongate support member, an amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab head against an object by forcing of said swab head against said object with said elongate support member; said means for limiting pressure comprising pleated folds in said tube, said pleated folds being disposed beneath said swab head and between said swab head and a center portion of said tube, said pleated folds collapsing from an expanded state to a collapsed state to limit the amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab head; and means for causing collapse of the pleated folds between the swab head and the tube center portion before collapse of the pleated folds beneath the swab head as the swab head is forced against the object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
162 words
An applicator swab comprising: an elongate support member comprising a tube; a swab head mounted on at least one end of said elongate support member; means for temporarily limiting, over a selected length of said elongate support member, an amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab head against an object by forcing of said swab head against said object with said elongate support member; said means for limiting pressure comprising pleated folds in said tube, said pleated folds being disposed beneath said swab head and between said swab head and a center portion of said tube, said pleated folds collapsing from an expanded state to a collapsed state to limit the amount of pressure that can be exerted by the swab head; and means for causing collapse of the pleated folds between the swab head and the tube center portion before collapse of the pleated folds beneath the swab head as the swab head is forced against the object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The applicator swab according to claim 9 wherein the means for causing collapse of the pleated folds between the swab head and the tube center portion before collapse of the pleated folds beneath the swab head comprises adhesive means for bonding the swab head to the pleated folds therebeneath.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-10-27 | 1996-04-27 | 1996-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-27 | 2000-04-27 | 2000-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-27 | 2004-04-27 | 2004-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |