US1274547A - Tongue-depressor. - Google Patents

Description

A. T HOHLE.

TONGUE DEPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1:. 19m.

1 ,274,547 I Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

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MORE '1. HOHLE, 0F WELL-OHS, MINNESOTA.

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Another objectof my invention is to provide a flash light serving as an instrument handle with means thereon for carrying with a detachable connection a common type of tongue splint.

Another object of my vide in an instrument of the kind described means for receiving and holding with a de tachable connection two different sizes of tongue splints.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of splints,

parts, the essential elements of which are hereinafter described with reference to the drawing which accompanies and forms a part-of this spec' cation.

In th drawing, Figure 1 is an isometric view of my improved tongue depressor. Fig. 2 is an end view showing one method of receiving two different sizes of tongue and Fig. 3 is my preferred construction of the instrument adapted to re ceive two sizes of tongue splints. V A flash light 1 of ordinary construction serves as the handle of the instrument and carries the ordina electric bulb 2 at the farther end thereo with the battery concealed in the handle, and the switch 3serves to close or open the battery circuit through the lamp in any suitable manner.

Carried by the forward end of the barrel of the flash light is a receiving socket 4 having a substantially rectangular cross section with one side cut away to give flexibility to the socket.

This socket is adapted to receive between the sides 5 a tongue splint of the size used for adults and of the common type made of wood and sufiicient frictional pressure is exerted by the socket to firmly retain the splint in position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

thereon for detachably carrying tongue splints.

invention is to pro Patented Aug. c, 1918.

Application filed November 11, 1916. Serial No. 180,768.

These wooden splints are customarily carri'ed by physicians when making calls as they can be used and thrown away, where the ordinary style of tongue depressor having a permanent tongue piece must, of

course, be sterilized each time it is used. 7

In my preferred construction, as shown in Fig. 3, I have the channel so shaped that a tongue splint 6 of the size for adults may be carried in one portion of the socket, or a tongue splint 7 of the childrens size may be carried in the outer portion of the socket, either socket being adapted to hold by frictional tension the tongue splint for which it is designed.

In the alternate construction shown in. Fig. 2, I furnish with the socket i a second socket 8 adapted to slide in and be held by the socket 4 as would the adult size of tongue splint, and this removable socket is of the proper size to receive and hold the children size of tongue splint.

Either of he constructions shown allow the use of an antiseptic and inexpensive form of tongue splint that can be used once and thrown away and thus obviate the necessity of sterilizing the instrument when it is used away from the physicians ofiice.

While I have described my invention and illustrated it in one particular design, I] do not wish it understood'that I limit myself to this construction as it is evident that the application of my invention may be varied in many ways within the scope of the following claims.

- Claims:

1. In a tongue depressor, the combination of an instrument handle and a double socket, one portion of which is designed to hold by frictional tension a tongue splint of a certain size and the other portion of which is designed to hold by similar means a tongue ANTONE T. HOHLE.

the combination

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