US1364873A - Throat-lamp and tongue-depressor - Google Patents

Description

1 J. E. FITZGERALD. :[HROAT LAMP AND TONGUE DEPRESSOR.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921."

ATTORNEY UNITED STATESPATENT O FI E,

,aon v'nnwam) FITZGERALD,;OF nnwyonx, 1c I I rrrnoa'r- AMrIAND moneun-nnrnnsson.

, To all aroma may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN EDWARD FITZ- GERALD a -citizen-Of the United States residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New l ork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Throat-Lamp and Tongue-Depressor, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable other skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to throat lamps. and more particularly to electric throat lamps having means for depressing the tongue. i

It is an object of the invention to provide an electric throat lamp and tongue depressor which will be simple and inexpensive in construction, and efiicient in use.

It is another object to provide a throat lamp and tongue depressor which may be folded into a compact form and which comprises few parts. easily and quickly sterilized.

It is a further object to provide a throat lamp'having automatic means for closing the circuit of the lamp upon operative pressure on the tongue depressor.

, Other objects will be in part noted hereinafter in connection with the following detailed description.

In the drawings, which illustrate a prcferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a side View of the lamp;

Fig. .2 is a side View of the lamp viewed .from another angle with the tongue depressor folded for carrying; and

Fig. 3 is a viewof the lamp end of the apparatus.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the lamp comprises the ordinary shell covering 1, in the present instance being cylindrical in form, containing a battery. The two ends of this casing are closed by screw caps 2, 3; the latter removably carrying the lamp l. The circuit of the lamp is adapted to be closed, as will be described, through switch contacts including a depressible element 5.

The tongue depressor in the present instance comprises a bent wire 6, which is sufficiently heavy to resist bending. This wire is attached to the lamp proper by straps or bands 7., 7 encircling the lamp, these straps being substantially circular in form, but havingtwo half eyelets 8, 8 pressed out- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 3,11, 11, 1921;

Application filed March 19, 1920. Serial N0. 367,226. v

wardly from their circumferences to inclose the respective forks of the tongue depressor.

One hand 7 encircles the lamp was to i11 elude within its circumference the switch button 5, for a purpose which will be ex By this construction- 7 u the tongue depressor is attached to the cas-,

plained hereinafter.

pressor having been forced inwardly withinthe encircling-bands, thus materially shortening the instrument for the purpose of carrying the same in the pocket or instrument ba 1 In operation, the element 6 is extended to the position shown in Fig. 1. The instrument is then placed in the mouth andthe tip 9 of the element 6 is pressed firmly against the tongue in the usual manner. The element 6 then acts as a lever, pivoting adjacent the lower front end of the casing, and forcesthe band 7 against the button 5, depressing the latter and closing the circuit of the lamp and affording a sufiicient light for the examination of the month. In the construction shown, a spring clip 10 is included between the band 7 and the button 5 for the purpose of yieldingly separating-the. two elements. before operative pressure on the tongue depressor. A set screw 11 may also be provided in the band 7 for controlling the delicacy of the apparatus.

The apparatus is not limited tov thelshape of the. element as illustrated. It is also evident that other similar fastening devices might be employed. Furthermore, the shape of the bands 4, might be altered to. accom modate the ordinary flat wooden tongue depressor used in institutional work where a single use is required. With the present construction the tongue depressor may be easily and quickly attached and removed. and the apparatus is thus especially suited for use of this kind. The device as described is comice 1,5 sor to close. the circuit of the lamp.

claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is l. In an electricthroat lamp,fthe combination with-a handle containing a battery 7 and a bulb,-,of a tonguedepressor carried by said handle and adapted to project beyond the same in substantially parallel relationship thereto, and means controlled by 3 said depressor to close the circuit through 1 the battery and bulb. 2. In an' electric throat lamp, in combination, a handle containing a battery and a bulb, a tongue depressor adjustable along said handle and removable therefrom, and

automatic means controlled by said depres- In an electric throat lamp, in combination, a handle containing a battery and a bulb, a tongue depressor removably carried by said handle and adapted-to be extended lengthwise of said handle from an inoperative to an operative position, and means to close the circuit of the lamp upon pressure on the free end of said depressor when extended. g Y

4. In an. electric throat lamp, in combina- H tion, a handle containing abattery, a bulb,

a. reflector, a tongue depressor attachedto the handle by encircling bands and adapted to slide lengthwise of the handle within said bands, one of said bands adapted to close the circuit of the lamp upon operativepressure on the tongue depressor.

. 5. In an electric throat lamp, in combination, a handlecontaining a battery, a bulb and a reflector,-'a tongue depressor held by said handle in substantially parallel relationship thereto and adapted to pivot slightly at a point adjacent an end ofsaid handle, and means to close the circuit of lamp upon such pivotal motion.

6. In an electric throat lamp, in combination, a handle containing a battery, a-bulb, a reflector, a tongue depressor lying adjacent said handle and adapted to slide lengthwise thereof a plurality of rings or straps encircling said handle and said depressor,

and conforming closely to the outline of said members, one of said rings being adapted to close the circuit of the lamp upon pressure on the extended end of the tongue depressing element. 7 y r 7. In a device of the character indicated, n combination, an attachment for an electrio flashlight comprising atongueilepressing element and bandsto bind said element along the body of said flashlight, one of said bands being adapted to effect closure of the lamp circuit "upon operative pressure on the extended end of said tongue depressingele ment. r f

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, an attachment for electric flashlights comprising a tongue depressing element and means to bind said element along the body of said flashlight, said binding means being adapted to effect closure of the lamp circuit upon operative pressure on the extended end of said tongue depressingelement.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, an attachment for electric flashlights comprising a tongue depressing member, and common means for fastening said member to said flashlight and for effecting closure ofthe lamp circuit upon operative pressure on said tongue depressing member.

10. In a device of the character described, in combination, an attachment for electric flashlights comprising a tongue depressing member, means for fasteningv saidmember to said flashlight adapted to allow extension of said member from an inoperative posi-' In testlmony whereof I aflix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EDWARD FITZGERALD, M. D.

Witnesses EDNA PAINE DUVAL, MARY A. CASHIN.

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