US2920426A

US2920426A - Sharpener for hypodermic needles

Info

Publication number: US2920426A
Application number: US682684A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter L Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-09-09
Filing date: 1957-09-09
Publication date: 1960-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 1977-01-12

Description

Jan. 12, 1960 w. L. WILLIAMS 2,920,426

SHARPENER FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Filed Sept. 9, 1957 WALTER L. WILLIAMS,

INVENTOR.

2,920,426 SHARPENER FOR HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Walter L. Williams, Burbank, Calif. Application September 9, 1957, Serial No. 682,684 11 Claims. (CI. 51-98) This invention relates to a sharpener, and more specifically to a sharpener for a hollow needle such as a hypodermic needle or the like wherein the tip of the needle is sharpened at an acute angle, or bevel, relative to its longitudinal axis.

Hypodermic syringes as used for hypodermic medication include an elongated hollow needle, the tip of which States Patent 2 is beveled to a sharp point for easier penetration of the skin. It is extremely important that the acute sharpness of the tip is maintained to avoid excessive damage to the skin and tissues during the injection which might result in an infection.

When the needle tip becomes blunt from use or is injured or otherwise blunted as by accidental dropping or contact with other instruments, it must be either sharpened or discarded and replaced. Doctors and nurses, who commonly administer such injections, and/or patients who administer their own injections, are rarely sufficiently skilled to maintain the desired taper and sharpness of the needle points themselves and unaided by suitable sharpening equipment. Care must be exercised to retain as near as possible the original angle of the bevel of the tip and produce a sharp point that is free from burrs or scratches. In handling, the needle is easily bent or broken because of its hollow construction.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like which needs no adjustment, is readily operable by oscillation by any person whether'mechanically skilled or not, as well as by the physically or optically handicapped.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved small, rugged and precise sharpener which automatically positions a hypodermic needle or the like 'in accurate angular relationship to a self-contained abrasive means to obtain a'beveled point with a high degree of quality and precision.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a sharpener of the desired character described that is readily manually operable as by oscillation or rotation of an actuator associated with the abrasive means, or of the abrasive means itself, as on the palm of one hand to oscillate the abrasive means against the needle tip while the needle is held stationary within a body manipulated by the other hand to sharpen and/or hone the tip.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sharpener which is sturdy in construction, yet economicalto manufacture and capable of facile replacement and interchangeability of parts thereof, for use, replacement or sterilization.

Another further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sharpener that is readily adjustable to precisely position needles of the character described of assorted diametric and longitudinal dimensions, yet which does not require any adjustments for the maintenance and/or operation thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sharpener which minimizes heat produced during the sharpening operation to prevent injuring or weakening the needle by changing the temper thereof. I

A still further object of this invention is to provide a precise readily portable sharpener that can be carried on the person in a pocket or purse to use as the necessity arises.

It is also among the objects of this invention to provide a new and improved sharpener in one of its embodiments which. includes an abrasive means having unlike outer abrasive surfaces, one of which is capable of grinding the point relatively severally, and another which is capable of honing or polishing the point to a fine finish; both of which are accurately and readily positioned relative to the needle for successive use.

It is a general object of this invention to provide in a new and improved sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, a structure which overcomes disadvantages of prior methods and devices heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description construed in the light of the drawings and appended claims. a

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a sharpener according to my invention showing a hypodermic needle in a position for sharpening;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken as on a line 2'2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as on a line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view in elevation illustrating a method of manual operation of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not limitation, a sharpener generally designated by the numeral 10 for sharpening the tip 11 of a hypodermic needle 12, or the like. I

The sharpener 10 comprises a substantially cylindrical,

or other suitably configured body or handle 13 having a' longitudinal groove 14 extending substantially the length thereof. The groove 14 is preferably non-circular in crosssection and includes generally vertical but suitably contoured walls 15 adapted to index and guide the arcuate corresponding side edges of the conventional needle body, and a flat bottom 16, to non-rotatably receive such nonc-ircular shank or body 17 of the needle 12. The groove terminates in a vertical end wall 18 spaced inwardly from one end of the handle.

A longitudinal optionally tapered passage 19 of a diameter to accommodate needles with the largest intended diameters extends through the wall 18 communicating be tween the groove 14 and the outer end of the handle to act as a guide for the needles and to support an intermediate portion thereof. The handle 13 is further provided with an axial bore 21 in which an elongated shaft 22 is disposed.

Said shaft 22 is preferably formed with a cylindrical portion 23 for rotation within the axial bore 21 of the handle and an axial bore 24 of an adjacent guide member 26. A non-circular portion 27 is provided on the shaft adjacent to a head 28 for non-rotational keying engagement between an abrasive member 29 and an actuator 31. The shaft may be yieldingly secured at the end opposite the head by a resilient washer 32, or the like, to urge the handle 13, guide member 26, abrasive means 29 and actuator 31 into yieldable co-axial abutting relationship.

If desired, the shaft 22 may be shortened and terminated in a threaded end 22' for retainment in a complementary threaded bore of the handle 13. In such event, the cap 31 and the abrasive 29 rotate freely on the shorter shaft 22. Also, if desired, a needle storage chamber indicated by broken lines 13 may be provided to store a spare needle.

Preferably the guide member as corresponds in outer configuration to the handle 13, and is provided with a plurality of equally spaced

longitudinal bores

32, 33, 34 and 35, varying in diametrical dimension, corresponding to the most commonly used needle sizes, and selectively communicating between the passage 18 of the body 13 and an area of effective sharpening contact to snugly support the tip portion 11 of the needle 12 thereat.

A plurality of

grooves

37, 33, 39 and 40 are prefera bly formed on a portion of the periphery of the guide member 26, adjacent the handle 13, and are radially aligned with the bores 3235, respectively. The grooves 31- 24 may correspond in width to the diametrical dimension of the bores 32-35, respectively, and in any event form a gauge to assist in registering or indexing a bore like 32 with the passage 1.9.

For instance, to register a bore like 32 with the passage 19, the grooves 394=3 can be individually marked with the size or gauge of the corresponding needles or the hypodermic needle 12 can be positioned with the shank 17 thereof slideably nested in the groove 14,, with the needle point 11 overlying and resting in a groove 41 of the handle 13. The handle 13 and guide member 26 can then be rotated relative to each other until a groove like 37 is aligned with the groove 41 to match the needle in size. The needle shank 17 may then he slid backwardly in the groove 14 until the entire needle drops into the groove 14. The needle 12 may then be slid forwardly to extend the point 11 through the passage 19 and bore 32, which will not be in alignment, to engage the outer surface 43 of the abrasive member 29 nesting within the conical cavity 36 of the guide member 26.

As previously mentioned, the abrasive member 2% is keyed on the shaft 22 and is therefore provided with a non-circular aperture 42 corresponding to the shaft. The member preferably of a frusto-conical configuration with the outer abrasive surface 43 angularly disposed, relative to the axis of shaft 22. The surface 43 presents a grinding surface at an acute angle, relative to the needle point 11, thereby to produce a sharp point on the needle that is beveled at a corresponding accurate angle when rotated by the actuator 31.

The actuator 31 may be cup-shaped in configuration also having a non-circular aperture 44 to correspond to the non-circular portion of shaft 22 for keying the same thereto so as to make a driving connection between the actuator 31 and the abrasive member 29. An annular flange 46 preferably extends over a portion of the guide member 26 to provide means for gripping the actuator for manual rotation, and may optionally be knurled on its outer surface 47 to provide a better gripping surface.

A practically convenient and preferred method of im parting rotational movement between the handle 13, guide 26 and the actuator 31, abrasive member 29 is illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4 wherein the handle 13 is grasped by one hand 48 with the thumb of the hand retaining and steadying the shank 17 of the needle while urging it forwardly in the groove with a desired force against the abrasive member 29. The sharpener is then oscillated back and forth with the surface 47 of the actuator 31 in contact with the palm of the other hand 49. This method is preferred as the constantly reversing rotation of the abrasive means 29 removes any burrs which might otherwise be formed if the rotation is restricted to one direction.

Any excessive heat produced in the needle from the grinding operation is conducted to the guide member 26 4, and handle 13 which can be made of metal for such purpose if desired.

As best seen in Figs. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the sharpener of this invention as preferred for use on any individual size of needle is illustrated and generally referred to by the numeral 59.

The sharpener 50 comprises a body 51 having a groove 52 conforming in cross-section to the cross-sectional shape of the shank 17 of the needle 12 to slideably but non-rotatably receive and support the shank therein in a necessary orientation relative to the abrasive.

A passage 53 is provided to communicate between the groove 52 and an angularly disposed opening 5'4 at the forward end of the body, to snugly support the tip 11 of the needle.

A transverse bore 56 is provided at the forward end of the body to intersect the opening 54. A stub shaft 5'7 is disposed in the bore 56 to rotatably support an abrasive member 58 within the opening 54, and is preferably urged upwardly as by a coil spring 59' to retain the member 58 yieldably in the opening.

The abrasive member 58 is advantageously disk-like in configuration and preferably includes on the opposite sides thereof a pair of

abrasive disks

61, 62 of unlike abrasive qualities. One disk like 61, for instance, is a coarse grade abrasive, While the disk 62 may be of a relatively fine grade-the one to be used for the initial grinding operation as to form a beveled point on the needle, and the second 62 to be used for a fine grinding operation as to hone the tip and remove any burrs.

The

disks

61, 62 may be readily removed and/ or rearranged as by pressing the upper end of the shaft 57 downwardly against the spring 59 to release the disks. If desired, a finger grip designated by the dotted line 63 may be optionally provided to pull the shaft downwardly for such release and replacement.

The angle at which the disks are disposed relative to the needle is preferably similar to that described in first embodiment, to effect a predetermined angle for the beveled point usually identical to the original bevel commonly used on such needles.

The instant sharpener may be operated as previously described and illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the body 51 is held in one hand with the thumb thereof urging the needle towards the abrasive member 58, while the abrasive disks oil, 62 are oscillated against the palm of the other hand. in this embodiment, a bevel is obtained that is substantially flat on the ground surface, and is similarly free from burrs or feathered edges.

This invention features the provision of a convenient handable sharpener construction for hypodermic needles to keep them in optimum sharp condition for use, and to facilitate accurate shaping and sharpening of the needle tips. lt moreover features such a structure as is readily usable with uniform precision results by one not skilled in the art of sharpening such needles such as nurses, doctors or self-administering patients so that the useful life of the needles may be indefinitely prolonged with attending savings in the heretofore high incidence of replacement and costs.

While I have herein shown and described what 1 conceived to be the most desired embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that alterations and modifications thereof may be made in a manner to satisfy the spirit of my invention which is intended to comprehend any and all equivalent devices as contemplated in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combination comprising a body part, a rotatable abrasive means mounted on said body part, and a guide means having an axle mounted adjacent said abrasive means for holding a hypodermic needle or the like in angular relationship to said abrasive means for sharpening the needle.

2. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combination comprising a body part, a rotatable frusto-conical abrasive means mounted on said body part, a manually operable actuator means operatively associated with said abrasive means for rotating the abrasive means, and a guide means mounted adjacent said abrasive means for slidably supporting a hypodermic needle or the like in angular relationship to said abrasive means whereby to produce a bevelled point on the needle 'by engagement with the frustro-conical abrasive means.

3. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combination comprising a handle means having an axial bore, shaft means disposed in said axial bore, means on said handle for holding the base portion of a hypodermic needle, guide means rotatably disposed on said shaft means adjacent to one end of said handle, said guide means having a plurality of longitudinal passages for supporting the needle portion of the hypodermic needle in parallel spaced relation to the axis of shaft means and frusto-conical abrasive means non-rotatably fixed to the end of said shaft means adjacent to said guide means for sharpening the tip of the needle.

4. A sharpener in accordance with claim 3 including manually operated actuator means fixed to said shaft means adjacent said abrasive means for manually rotating said abrasive means relative to said guide and handle means.

5. A sharpener in accordance with claim 4 including spring means for urging said handle means towards said actuator means.

6. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like including a non-round shank, the combination comprising a body, means in said body matching the shank of the needle for non-rotatably and slidably holding the base of the hypodermic needle, means in said body for supporting the needle of the hypodermic needle and abrasive means rotatably mounted on said body for sharpening the tip of the needle, said abrasive means having an axle disposed at one end of the said body.

7. A sharpener in accordance with claim 6 wherein said abrasive means has a rotating surface which is angularly disposed relative to said holding and supporting means.

8. A sharpener is accordance with claim 7 wherein said abrasive means further includes a pair of opposed unlike abrasive surfaces and means for reversing said surfaces.

9. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combination comprising an elongated body, means on said body for non-rotatably and slidably holding the base portion of a hypodermic needle, orifice means in said body for supporting the needle portion of the hypodermic needle, shaft means transversely disposed in said body adjacent said orifice means, abrasive means rotatably disposed on said shaft means and spring means to ,releasably urge said abrasive means axially into said body.

10. In a sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like, the combination comprising a body, means on said body for non-rotatably releasably holding the base portion of a hypodermic needle, said body having a longitudinal passage connecting with said holding means for supporting the needle portion of the hypodermic needle and said body having an angularly disposed transverse opening, communicating with said passage, shaft means transversely disposed in said body substantially perpendicular to said opening, spring means for urging said abrasive means into said opening, and manually operable abrasive means rotatably disposed on said shaft means within said opening having substantially parallel outer abrasive surfaces for sharpening the tip of the hypodermic needle.

11. A sharpener for hypodermic needles or the like comprising means forming a handle, a rotatable abrasive wheel mounted on said handle, and means for holding a hypodermic needle with its point adjacent the abrasive wheel, the abrasive wheel having a rotatable surface disposed at an angle to the needle whereby to produce a bevelled point on the needle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS