US 5,582,597 A · Rotary ram collet lock needle point guard

Abstract

A needle point guard having a movable collet to lock the needle in place in the shielded position is provided. The needle point guard of this invention includes a housing, a collet, a rotary ram, a threaded cam fixed to the rotary ram, a spring disposed between the rotary ram and the housing and a trigger catch to hold the threaded cam in place against the force of the spring. The spring is wound when the needle is in the unshielded position. When the needle is withdrawn into the needle point guard, the trigger catch pivots to allow the spring to rotate the threaded cam. This rotation is translated into axial motion by the treads on the threaded cam and threads formed on the inside of the housing. This axial motion forces an annular flange on the collet to bite down on the needle, to thus hold the needle in place in the shielded position.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A needle point guard, comprising:

a generally hollow housing having a proximal end and a distal end with an inside surface having threads formed on at least a portion of the inside surface;
a movable ram disposed inside the housing and having a proximal portion and a distal portion with external threads formed thereon that engage with the threads formed on the inside surface of the housing;
a spring disposed about the ram between the ram and the housing and adapted to impart rotation to the ram;
and
a movable trigger catch adjacent to the ram to hold the ram against rotation by the spring.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Rotary ram collet lock needle point guard

Life of this patent

Rotary ram collet lock needle point guard

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7