US3671993A

US3671993A - Swab tool for test tubes

Info

Publication number: US3671993A
Application number: US106790A
Authority: US
Inventors: Seth Morris Smedstad
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-01-15
Filing date: 1971-01-15
Publication date: 1972-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-27

Abstract

A semi-rigid, moisture-absorbent swab tool is provided for drying a test tube. The swab has a diameter slightly larger than that of the test tube. When forced into the tube it wipes it dry using a single push-pull operation.

Description

United States Patent Smedstad 1451 June 27,1972

[54] SWAB TOOL FOR TEST TUBES [72] Inventor: Seth Morris Smedstad, 4612-102 Avenue,

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1971 21 Appl. 190.: 106,790

[52 u.s.c1. ..1s/211,34/9s.1 [51] 1m.c1. ..A47l 13/16 58 FieldoiSearch ..1s/211,21o,2o9,20s;34/9s,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,621 5/1901 Moody et a1. 15/244 R 3,542,025 11/1970 Gustafson 128/269 2,642,602 6/1953 Kelly .15/104. 1 6 878,768 2/1908 Callahan ..15/21l Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney-Emest Peter Johnson 57 ABSTRACT A semi-rigid, moisture-absorbent swab tool is provided for drying a test tube. The swab has a diameter slightly larger than that of the test tube. When forced into the tube it wipes it dry using a single push-pull operation.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 'swAB TOOL FOR ras'r runes BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a swab tool for drying the inner surface of a test tube.

Heretofore, swab tools have usually consisted of a swab of moisture absorbent material mounted on one end of a handle or shank. To use such a tool, theswab is pressed against the surface to be dried and moved about until the entire surface SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and disposable swab tool which can be rapidly inserted andremoved from the tube to dry it. I

It is another object to provide a flexible swab tool which does not break the test tube during the drying operation.

It is another object to provide a swab tool having a swab which cannotbe; left behind in the test tube when the core is withdrawn. v v

It is another object to provide a swab toolhaving swabs at .eachend. 1

It is another object to provide a relatively stifi" swab having an unreinforced tip for dryingthe concave end surface of a test tube.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the present case, the swab tool has at its center along tin semi-rigid core, such as a common plastic drinking straw. A body or roll of soft moisture absorbing material is disposed around the core. The ends of the roll extend a short distance beyond the ends of the core. A substantially rigid holder, such as a plastic tube, tightly encircles the roll intermediate its ends. String-like enwrapments encircle the roll adjacent each end of the core.

The semi-rigid core is selected to provide the tool with sufiicient rigidity so that it can be forced into the test tube. However, the tool is flexible so that it cannot break the test tube. The rigid holder functions to prevent the wrapping bunching toward the center of the tool. In addition, the holder provides reinforcement to the roll which is helpful in preventing buckling when the tool is being forced into a test tube. The diameter of the soft roll is constant and slightly larger than the inside diameter of the tube to be dried. Thus, when the tool is inserted in the test tube, absorbent material presses tightly against the entire interior surface. The compressible, flexible tips of the roll are adapted to conform to the tubes concave end surface.

By virtue of its structure, the swab tool has the following advantages: It is adapted to dry the tube in one swift penetration and withdrawal. The test tube'cannot be broken by flexing the inserted shank. The flexible tip of the roll is adapted to swab the concave end surface of the tube. And, finally, the inexpensive tool can be thrown away in its entirety when worn out; there is no need to keep the shank for re-assembling with a new swab.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention; FIG. 2 is a side view in section of the tool;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tool in use.

DESCRIPTION .OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Refen'ing now to the embodiment shown in the drawing, the swab tool 1 includes a long thinse mi-n'gid core 2. A common plastic drinking straw is suitable for this purpose. A sheet 3 of soft moisture absorbing material is wrapped around the core 2 to form a roll 4. The roll 4 has a diameter equal to or a little greater than the interior diameter of the test tube to be dried. The sheet 3 may be formed of absorbent paper, such as that sold underthe trade mark J-clo by Johnson and Johnson.

The ends of the roll 4 extend beyond the ends of the core 2 by about one-half inch. Strings 5 are tied around the roll 4 at the ends of core 2 to define unreinforced swab tips 6.

A holder 7 tightly clasps theroll 4 at its mid-section. The holder 7 may be a rigid plastic tube which is slipped on over one end of the roll 4.

In use, the swab tool 1 is grasped by the holder 7 and forced into the test tube 8. The compressible roll 4 presses and moves against the entire interior surface of the tube 8, thereby drying it. The core, holder and roll construction combine to provide the roll with enough rigidity so that it may be forced into the tube. One push-pull insertion of the swab is sufficient to dry the tube.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that changes in the details of construction and selection of materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A swab tool for drying test tubes comprising:

a long thin semi-rigid core;

a sheet of soft moisture absorbing material wrapped around the core to provide a long roll, the ends of said roll extending a short distance beyond the ends of the core;

a substantially rigid, tubular holder tightly encircling the central portion of the roll; and

a pair of string-like encirclements tieing the roll at the ends of the core.

2. The swab tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the core comprises a hollow tube.

sex-ra

Claims

1. A swab tool for drying test tubes comprising: a long thin semi-rigid core; a sheet of soft moisture - absorbing material wrapped around the core to provide a long roll, the ends of said roll extending a short distance beyond the ends of the core; a substantially rigid, tubular holder tightly encircling the central portion of the roll; and a pair of string-like encirclements tieing the roll at the ends of the core.

2. The swab tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the core comprises a hollow tube.