Scalpel blade remover and blade storage apparatus

A combination scalpel blade removal and used blade storage apparatus for use in connection with a changeable blade scalpel of the character having a blade with a cutting portion and heel portion removably mounted on a handle by fitting a mounting aperture formed in the heel portion of the blade over a grooved blade mounting tang provided on the handle, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a hollow housing having first and second ends, said housing being closed at said first end and interconnected top, bottom and side walls defining a receiving channel for receiving the scalpel blade and a portion of the scalpel handle, said side walls converging inwardly from both said first and second ends of said housing to form a restricted opening having a width slightly greater than the thickness of the blade, one of said walls having an opening therein located proximate said second end of said housing;
• (b) shield means connected to said housing proximate said second end thereof for shielding the fingers of a user of the apparatus while gripping said housing, said shield means comprising a generally planar shaped shielding member having a receiving slot in communication with said receiving channel and, finger shielding portions extending outwardly a substantial distance from said side walls;
• (c) blade deflecting means mounted on said hollow housing for engaging the blade to deflect the heel of the blade away from the scalpel handle, when the blade is within said receiving channel, said blade deflecting means comprising an actuating arm having first and second ends, said first end being connected to said housing and a blade deflecting arm extending through said opening formed in said wall, said blade deflecting arm being connected with said second end of said actuating arm and having a blade engaging portion comprising a pair of blade engaging slots spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the blade mounting tang and being movable sequentially from a first position located outside said blade receiving channel to a second position in pressural engagement with the heel of the blade to a third position wherein the heel portion of the blade is deflected away from the scalpel handle;
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• (d) stop means mounted on said shielding member proximate said receiving slot for engaging the heel of the blade when said blade engaging portion of said blade deflecting arm is in said third position for blocking removal of the blade from said receiving channel.