GB2520525A

GB2520525A - Hook-7 Emergency Scissors

Info

Publication number: GB2520525A
Application number: GB1320663.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas James Low
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-22
Filing date: 2013-11-22
Publication date: 2015-05-27
Also published as: GB201320663D0

Abstract

A pair of scissors comprises cutting blades BU, BL that are hooked so that their tips and jaws are directed towards and under the operating hand. This results in a reverse cutting direction compared to conventional scissors which allows the scissors to be used in both a drag cutting and scissor cutting action. The invention is particularly useful for cutting through a patients clothing as quickly as possible in an emergency.

Description

UK PATENT APPLICATION

DESCRIPTION

HOOK-7 EMERGENCY SCISSORS

BACKGROUND

During the emergency medical management of a casualty it is often necessary to remove the patient's clothes as quickly as possible in order to allow assessment of vital signs and the rapid institution of medical treatment. Equally, if a casualty is contaminated with hazardous chemicals it is necessary to remove the casualty's clothing as soon as possible.

Clothing removal is conventionally carried out by cutting off with robust emergency medical scissors or very sharp J-shaped hook blade cutters: 1. Traditional robust emergency medical scissors can be used with a conventional scissor opening/closing action or the blades held open and the sharp edges pushed against the clothing to cut it. The scissoring action is useful when tough parts of the clothing are encountered.

2. The traditional i-shaped hook blade cutter is pulled by its handle so that the clothing is cut by the crook or inner sharp curvature of the device. This method is quicker than the scissor method but may be hampered by overly thick parts of the clothing (where scissoring is required). i-shaped blade cutters become blunt very quickly. (Blunting is not so much of a problem for scissors as the scissoring action compensates for any blunting).

As a result of the respective advantages and disadvantages of the robust emergency medical scissors and the i-shaped hook blade device, medical personnel often carry and use both devices. This results in greater cost and loss of time when changing from one device to the other. Both devices can also be used to cut seat belts in an emergency.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

To overcome the above problems and have the best of both the robust emergency scissors and the J-shaped hook blade, the HOOK-7 EMERGENCY SCISSORS are shaped something like a numeral seven so that they are can be used in a rapid drag cut fashion (like a i-shaped hook blade) but can be used in a scissoring fashion when thick fabric is encountered.

ADVANTAGES

This dual action has the advantage of speed of use with no need to change between scissors and J-shaped hook blade; it is only necessary to buy and carry one device. Furthermore blunting is less of a problem as scissoring overcomes this to a great extent.

EXAMPLE

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows the two blades RU and BL separated. They could be machined from robust stainless steel or pressed from thinner pressed steel sheet with a line of conugation for added strength. The handles H could be made more comfortable by the use of plastic coverings or the entire handle could be made of strong plastic. The plastic would need to be heat resistant to allow heat sterilisation. The lower blade BL has fine serrations FS to allow more efficient gripping and catting of fabric. A Snail protrusion P is also present on the lower blade BL to lift it away from the patient's skin. The two blades are held together with a strong pivot PT through the pivot holes PTH.

A bolt and adjustable lock-nut would be a good alternative.

Figure 2 shows the action of the HOOK-? EMERGENCY SCISSORS during cutting the arrow showing the direction of travel DT.

Claims

UK PATENT APPLICATIONCLAIMSHOOK-7 EMERGENCY SCISSORS 1. The invention known as the HOOK-7 EMERGENCY SCISSORS is a type of pair of scissors which have the cutting blades shaped and angled so that their tips and jaws are directed towards and under the holding hand.
2. The direction of the tips and jaws of the HOOK..7 EMERGENCY SCISSORS per claim 1 is the reverse of conventional scissors and results in a likewise reverse cutting direction compared to conventional scissors which allows the HOOK-7 EMERGENCY SCISSORS to be used in both a drag cutting and scissor cutting action.