Ring removal tool

#1. The Present Invention

#The present invention pertains to a tool for removing rings from fingers and in particular to a tool which spreads the ring and protects the finger as the ring is removed.

#2. The Prior Art

#The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of the tool according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the tool of FIG. 1;

#The preferred embodiment of the subject tool 10 is formed by a pair of handles 12,14 joined by pivot pin 16 intermediate their ends. A spring assembly 18 is fixed between one end of each of the handles biasing them to a first or normally closed condition. This end of each handle has an outwardly directed grip enhancing profile, which can have any of a number of known shapes such as a series of depressions (as shown) or surface knurling. The spring assembly shown is formed by a pair of leaf springs 20,22 each having one end 24,26 secured to a respective end of an adjacent handle by a screw 28,30 and the other ends 32,34 having interdigitated profiles, as best seen in FIG. 4. The other ends of the handles have ring engaging head portions 36,38 extending normal to the plane of the handles. The head portions 36,38 are profiled so that together they form a hollow truncated conical head.

#The use of the subject tool is best understood from FIGS. 5 to 8. The finger shown in FIG. 5 is swollen slightly beyond the ring. It would be difficult and/or painful to the patient to remove this ring, especially if there were lacerations etc. present along the finger. The subject tool is placed over the finger (FIG. 6) and moved toward the knuckle until the head portions can be closed and the head slipped between the cut ring and the finger (FIG. 7). The handles are then compressed forcing the cut ends of the ring apart creating adequate ring circumference to allow the easy removal of the ring from the finger. It should be appreciated that during this entire manouver, the tool is always positioned so as to protect the finger from further damage, particularly from the ring.

#An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment a pair of flanges 40,42 extend radially outwardly from one side of the head portions. These flanges would be recieved in between the cut ends of the ring and would both serve to apply pressure to the ring causing it to expand, and to protect the finger by preventing the cut ring ends from inflicting further harm to the finger as the ring is being removed.