US3742954A - Snake bite kit - Google Patents

Abstract

A snake bite kit having an elongated handle on one end of which is a lancing device with a poison extractor telescopically mounted along the other end of the handle. The lancing device is provided with a pair of cutting blades mounted on a flat spring with a trigger arrangement for releasing the blades in the cutting action. The poison extractor consists of a tubular member having a valved mouthpiece at one end for creating a suction in order to draw blood and the snake poison from one''s flesh.

Description

United States Patent [191 Strickland SNAKE BITE KIT lnventor: Frederick W. Strickland, Route No.

2, Box 660, Lot 41, Hob Sound, Fla. 32780 [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 227,730

[52] US. Cl. 128/302 [51] Int. Cl A6lm 1/00 [58] Field of Search 128/276-278, 297, 300, 302, 314

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7,341 5/1850 Delluc 128/302 2,276,098 3/1942 Saunders... 128/300 3,125,094 3/1964 Krug 128/300 3,659,608 5/1972 Perry 128/314 3,659,610 5/1972 Cimber 128/276 [451 July 3,1973

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 567,627 3/1924 France 128/314 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney-Salvatore G. Militana [5 7] ABSTRACT A snake bite kit having an elongated handle on one end of which is a lancing device with a poison extractor telescopically mounted along the other end of the handle. The lancing device is provided with a pair of cutting blades mounted on a flat spring with a trigger arrangement for releasing the blades in the cutting action. The poison extractor consists of a tubular member having a valved mouthpiece at one end for creating a suction in order to draw blood and the snake poison from ones flesh.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SNAKE BITE KIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to first aid treatment for poisonous snake bites and is more particularly directed to a kit or outfit that permits the lancing of the flesh at the position of the snake bite and the extraction of the venom therefrom.

2. Description of the Prior Art The conventional snake bite kits do not combine the lancing device and the poison extractor as a single device, but merely consist of a suction device and an ordinary knife for making the incisions. People normally abhor the thought of lancing a persons flesh even when done to save ones life. Also, there is a danger that the person making incisions at the position of a snake bite may not know how deep the cuts have to be in order to arrive at the depth at which the poison has penetrated. Another bad feature of the present suction devices for removing venom from a person bitten by a snake is that it requires a second person to operate the suction device. If a person stricken and bitten by a poison snake is alone, he would not be able to apply the suction device, but would need a second person to actuate it. The present invention contemplates avoiding the above indicated fault in the conventional snake bite kits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a snake bite kit that is in the form of a single compact and lightweight device consisting of a lancing device on which is telescopically mounted a venom extractor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compact snake bite kit made up of both the lancing device and the suction device which can be actuated by a single person even by the stricken person himself to incise the bitten persons flesh and remove the venom therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a snake bite kit with a lancing device which is automatic in operation having a pair of blades mounted on a spring member that is released by a trigger arrangement to cut into the flesh at any desired depth.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a snake bite kit with a suction device sufficiently long to reach any part of a persons body, even by the stricken person himself and which device is capable of withdrawing large quantities of blood and venom.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snake bite kit constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a similar view with the venom extractor removed and showing the cutting blades of the lancing device in the released position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of venom extractor.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 10 refers to my snake bite kit which consists of a lancing device L and a poison extractor P, the latter being normally in position on the former as best shown by FIG. 1 when not in use. When mysnake kit 10 is to be used, the poison extractor P is removed from the lancing device L and both instruments are then used accordingly in the treatment of a snake bite.

The lancing device L consists of an elongated handle 1l"at thefree end 12 of which is anopen chamber 13 in which the cutting mechanism is contained. The cutting mechanism consists of a pair ofcutting blades 14 that are mounted on the free end of aflat spring 15 whose other end is imbedded in the body of the handle 11 as best shown by FIGS. 2 and 3. When released theblades 14 extend through anopening 16 communicating with thechamber 13 in thefree end 12. At the upper portion of thefree end 12 is asecond opening 17 communicating with thechamber 13 in which an S-shaped trigger 20 is mounted. Thetrigger 20 that is pivoted by apin 21 is provided with acatch 22 that engages the free end of theflat spring 15 when in its cocked position as shown by FIG. 2. Atrigger spring 23 engages the bottom portion of thetrigger 20 to yieldingly maintain thetrigger 20 normally in its cocked position. Thetrigger spring 23 has one end embedded in the handle 11. To return theblades 14 to their cocked position after having been released by thetrigger 20, there is provided anelongated rod 24 that extends through the twoblades 14 and terminate beyond thefree end 12 to permit a person to be able to manipulate theblades 14 from outside of the lancing device L. Thefree end 12 is provided with anarcuate slot 25 on each side of thechamber 13 to permit the swinging of therod 24 as theblades 14 shift from one position to the other. Thelower face 26 through which theblades 14 extend when in a cutting position is slanted with relation to the axis of the handle 11 to permit a person to vary the depth of the cut to be made by theblades 14 as is explained hereinafter.

In the normal use of my lancing device L the blade opening 16 is placed over the persons flesh at the position of the snake bite. Thetrigger 20 is pressed to pivot against thespring pressure 23 and release thecutting blades 14. Thespring 15 will cause theblades 14 to swing downwardly past the opening 16 andface 26 to cut into the flesh. If a deep cut is desired, theface 26 of thefree end 12 is placed flat on the surface of the flesh to be cut. Then theblades 14 will make its deepest cut. If a shallow cut is desired, theface 26 will be tilted with relation to the surface of the flesh to be cut permitting only a portion of theblades 14 to enter the flesh.

To extract the venom from a snake bite after the incisions have been made, the poison extractor P is then used, It is first removed from its telescopic position on the handle 11 and theopen end 30 is placed over the incised section of the flesh. A person then places his mouth over thetip 31 and sucks air therefrom to bring about a partial vacuum in thechamber 32. When a sufficient vacuum has been created in thechamber 32, and the person stops withdrawing air through thetip 31, thecoil spring 33 will cause theball valve 34 to become seated onvalve seat 35 to prevent air from entering thechamber 32. Blood and including the snake poison will be drawn into the partialvacuumed chamber 32 and thereby purge the victim of the snake bite of the poisonous liquid injected by the snake into the person when bit.

After my snake bite kit has been used, it is readily washed, cleaned and sterilized. By replacing the poison extractor P on the handle 11 of lancing device L thekit 10 is ready to be stored and also ready to be used again in the event another person is bit by a poisonous snake. it can readily be seen that mysnake bite kit 10 is light in weight, compact and complete to both lance and remove the venom from a snake bitten person. Also, since a knife is not needed in my device, a person will not be reluctant to out another persons flesh and will not make the mistake of failing to cut deep enough to get to the position of the venom inasmuch as the trigger releasing thecutting blades 14 will cause theblades 14 to cut to the recommended depth or a lesser depth if desired. Having a poison extractor P with a tube approximately 18 inches long permits a person to reach any area on his body where a snake has bitten him.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. A snake bite kit comprising an elongated handle member having an open chamber at oneend, cutting blades, resilient means yieldingly mounting said blades in said chamber, trigger means pivotally mounted on said handle engaging and restraining saidblades from swinging out of said chamber, means actuating said trigger for releasing said blades and swinging said blades beyond said chamber, further means mounted on said blades for returning said blades to said engaged position with said trigger means, a suction device telescopically mounted on said elongated handle, said suction device forming a chamber open at one end when removed from said handle, a duct at said other end, check valve means mounted in said duct, and a tubular tip member mounted at said duct to permit a person to withdraw air from said chamber past said valve and through said tubular tip member when said open end of said suction device has been placed on an incised flesh of a person bitten by a poisonous snake and the partial vacuum in said chamber Withdraws blood and poison from said wound.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a flat spring embedded at one end and said cutting blades mounted at the other end, said chamber having a first opening in alignment with said cutting blades, said chamber having a second opening with pivot means mounting said trigger means at said second opening, a second spring engaging said trigger means yieldingly maintaining said blades in engaged position whereby upon pivoting said trigger means said blades are releasd to swing through said first opening, and said further means comprises a rod extending through slots in said chamber and secured to said cutting blades for returning said blades to said engaged position with said trigger means.

3. The'structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said check valve comprises a valve seat, a ball valve normally seated on said valve seat and a coil spring yieldingly urging said ball to. be seated on said valve seat.

Claims (3)

1. A snake bite kit comprising an elongated handle member having an open chamber at one end, cutting blades, resilient means yieldingly mounting said blades in said chamber, trigger means pivotally mounted on said handle engaging and restraining said blades from swinging out of said chamber, means actuating said trigger for releasing said blades and swinging said blades beyond said chamber, further means mounted on said blades for returning said blades to said engaged position with said trigger means, a suction device telescopically mounted on said elongated handle, said suction device forming a chamber open at one end when removed from said handle, a duct at said other end, check valve means mounted in said duct, and a tubular tip member mounted at said duct to permit a person to withdraw air from said chamber past said valve and through said tubular tip member when said open end of said suction device has been placed on an incised flesh of a person bitten by a poisonous snake and the partial vacuum in said chamber withdraws blood and poison from said wound.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a flat spring embedded at one end and said cutting blades mounted at the other end, said chamber having a first opening in alignment with said cutting blades, said chamber having a second opening with pivot means mounting said trigger means at said second opening, a second spring engaging said trigger means yieldingly maintaining said blades in engaged position whereby upon pivoting said trigger means said blades are released to swing through said first opening, and said further means comprises a rod extending through slots in said chamber and secured to said cutting blades for returning said blades to said engaged position with said trigger means.

3. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said check valve comprises a valve seat, a ball valve normally seated on said valve seat and a coil spring yieldingly urging said ball to be seated on said valve seat.

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