Double ended tweezers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9333049-B2
Application number	US-201314425300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2013
Priority date	Sep 21, 2012
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

The present invention provides a tweezer for dental and other applications. The tweezer including a main body portion ( 12, 14 ) extending in a generally longitudinal direction. The main body portion having a first end ( 20 ) and a second end ( 18 ). A hinge connector ( 16 ) is located between the first end and the second end. A first pair of pincers is located at the first end ( 20 ). A second pair of pincers is located at the second end ( 18 ). A bias mechanism ( 22 ) urges the first pair of pincers ( 20 ) into a closed position and urging the second pair of pincers ( 18 ) in an open position, whereby the user may apply a force to the tweezers to overcome the bias mechanism ( 22 ) and urge the first pair of pincers ( 20 ) away from the closed position and the second pair of pincers ( 18 ) away from the open position.

First claim

We claim:

1. A tweezer for dental and other applications, the tweezer comprising:
a main body portion ( 12 , 14 ) extending in a generally longitudinal direction, the main body portion having a first end portion ( 20 ) and a second end portion ( 18 );
a hinge connector ( 16 ) located between the first end portion ( 20 ) and the second end portion ( 18 );
a first pair of pincers located at the first end portion ( 20 );
a second pair of pincers located at the second end portion ( 18 ); and
a bias mechanism ( 22 ) urging the first pair of pincers ( 20 ) into a closed position and urging the second pair of pincers ( 18 ) in an open position, whereby a user may apply a force to the tweezer to overcome the bias mechanism and urge the first pair of pincers ( 20 ) away from the closed position and the second pair of pincers ( 18 ) away from the open position.

2. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of pincers ( 20 ) and the second pair of pincers ( 18 ) are selected from the group comprising a cotton tweezer end ( 18 ) and a pin tweezer end ( 20 ).

3. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the first pair of pincers ( 20 ) is a pin tweezer end ( 18 ) and the second pair of pincers ( 18 ) is a cotton tweezer end ( 18 ), wherein the pin tweezer end ( 18 ) is biased in a closed position.

4. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion ( 20 ) and the second end portion ( 18 ) extend at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body portion ( 12 , 14 ).

5. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the hinge connector ( 16 ) is located at a mid-portion between the first end portion ( 20 ) and the second end portion ( 18 ).

6. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the hinge connector ( 16 ) is located at position offset from a mid-portion between the first end portion ( 20 ) and the second end portion ( 18 ).

7. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion includes a first lever ( 12 ) and a second lever ( 14 ), the first lever and second lever having opposed facing inner walls ( 42 , 46 ), and having outer walls ( 40 , 44 ).

8. The tweezer of claim 7 , wherein the hinge connector ( 16 ) includes a lower hinge connector portion ( 52 ) extending from the inner wall ( 46 ) of the second lever ( 14 ), and an upper hinge connector portion ( 52 ) extending from the inner wall ( 42 ) of the first lever ( 12 ) and overlapping the lower hinge connector portion ( 52 ), the hinge connector portions ( 52 , 52 ) each having an opening ( 64 ) defining a central axis, wherein both central axes are aligned, and a fastener ( 24 ) is received within the aligned openings ( 64 ) to provide a pivot hinge connection between the first lever ( 12 ) and the second lever ( 14 ).

9. The tweezer of claim 8 , wherein the fastener ( 24 ) includes a pivot shank portion ( 72 ) and an end shank portion ( 74 ), the pivot shank portion and the end shank portion extend through the aligned openings ( 64 ), the openings having respective diameters, the pivot shank portion having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the respective opening of the hinge connector portion, and the end shank portion having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the respective opening of the hinge connector portion so as to provide an interference fit.

10. The tweezer of claim 8 , wherein the fastener includes a pivot shank portion and an end shank portion, the pivot shank portion and the end shank portion extend through the aligned openings, the openings having respective diameters, the pivot shank portion having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the respective opening of the hinge connector portion, and the end shank portion having a threaded portion, and the respective opening of the hinge connector portion includes a threaded portion for mating engagement with the end shank portion.

11. The tweezer of claim 8 , further comprising:
the lower hinge connector portion ( 52 ) having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a first annular spring abutment ( 56 ), wherein the first inner surface is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the lower hinge connector opening ( 64 ) and the first annular spring abutment ( 56 ) is located between the first inner surface and the first outer surface;
the upper hinge connector ( 52 ) having a second inner surface, a second outer surface, and a second annular spring abutment ( 56 ), wherein the second inner surface is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the lower hinge connector opening ( 64 ) and the second annular spring abutment ( 56 ) is located between the second inner surface and the second outer surface;
a first arcuate shaped wall ( 58 ) extending between the first inner surface and the first annular spring abutment;
a second arcuate shaped wall ( 58 ) extending between the second inner surface and the second annular spring abutment;
the first arcuate shaped wall and the second arcuate shaped wall being aligned with each other; and
the bias mechanism ( 22 ) having a spring of flat metal shaped to have a curved portion ( 32 ) and two legs ( 34 , 34 );
wherein the curved portion is arranged around the aligned first arcuate shaped wall ( 58 ) and the second arcuate shaped wall ( 58 ), and the legs of the spring engage the respective inner wall ( 42 , 46 ).

12. The tweezer of claim 11 , wherein each inner wall includes a recessed area ( 50 ) for receiving a portion ( 38 ) of the respective leg ( 34 ) of the spring ( 22 ).

13. The tweezer of claim 8 , wherein the lower hinge connector portion ( 52 ) includes a pair of spring leg abutments ( 62 ) defining a first width, and the upper hinge connector portion ( 52 ) includes a pair of spring leg abutments ( 62 ) defining a second width.

14. The tweezer of claim 7 , wherein the bias mechanism is a spring ( 22 ) having a first leg ( 34 ) and a second leg ( 34 ), each leg in spring biased contact with the respective inner wall ( 42 , 46 ) at a location spaced apart from the hinge connector ( 16 ).

15. The tweezer of claim 7 , wherein the main body portion includes gripping portions ( 30 ) on the outer walls ( 40 , 44 ) of the first lever and second lever.

16. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the bias mechanism ( 22 ) is arranged about the hinge connector.

17. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the bias mechanism ( 22 ) is arranged separate from the hinge connector.

18. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion ( 12 , 14 ) and hinge connector ( 16 ) are made of metal.

19. The tweezer of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion ( 12 , 14 ) and hinge connector ( 16 ) are made of plastic.

20. A tweezer for dental and other applications, the tweezer comprising:
a main body portion ( 12 , 14 ) extending in a generally longitudinal direction, the main body portion having a first end portion ( 20 ), second end portion ( 18 ), a first lever ( 12 ) and a second lever ( 14 ), the first lever and second lever having opposed facing inner walls ( 42 , 46 );
a hinge connector ( 16 ) located between the first end portion ( 20 ) and the second end portion ( 18 ), the hinge connector ( 16 ) having a lower hinge connector portion ( 52 ) extending from the inner wall ( 46 ) of the second lever ( 14 ), and an upper hinge connector portion ( 52 ) extending from the inner wall ( 42 ) of the first lever ( 12 ) and overlapping the lower hinge connector portion ( 52 ), the upper and lower hinge connector portions ( 52 , 52 ) each having an opening ( 64 ) defining a central axis, wherein both central axes a

Assignees

• Dentsply Int Inc

Inventors

• Mcdonald Simon P
• Backler Matthew

Classifications

• A61C3/10 Primary

  Tooth pincettes or the like · CPC title

• A61B17/30

  Surgical pincettes, i.e. surgical tweezers {without pivotal connections (for holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483)} · CPC title