Tick remover for people and animals

A simple hand-held implement for removing ticks and other ectoparasites or small undesirable objects from the cutaneous areas and clothing of humans and animals.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates in general to the field of preventive medicine, and 
particularly to the hygienic need to simply, safely, and comfortably 
remove ticks and other ectoparasites from the skin of humans, dogs, and 
other animals, including those found in hairy or furry areas where such 
organisms are difficult to find and difficult to remove. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The food of a tick is human or animal blood, which it obtains by burying 
its snout in the flesh of its host and sucking until its highly elastic 
body is engorged with the red fluid. Due to the viruses and bacteria on or 
in ticks' bodies which can be transmitted to the host as they feed, these 
organisms cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick 
fever, tularemia, relapsing fever, tick paralysis, and ricksettial 
diseases; and Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, equine and St. Louis 
encephalitis, Q fever, spirochetosis, and toxoplasmosis in animals. At 
400.times.magnification, the snout of a tick resembles the nose of a 
sawfish: it has a long, straight, blade-like shape with a row of ten to 
twelve barb-like teeth on each side. Through this hollow proboscis passes 
the blood which the tick sucks from its host. Most importantly, when the 
tick retracts this apparatus after becoming engorged, it autonomically 
regurgitates a small portion of its blood meal, leaving it behind in the 
flesh of the host. In the case of Lyme disease, medical research has 
recently found that the transmitter of the disease is a spirochete that 
lives in the tick' s hind gut; and it is only during the tick's autonomic 
reflex process of regurgitation upon removing its proboscis that the 
possibly present spirochete is injected into the host. In fact, it is now 
known that most sufferers of Lyme disease contracted the illness not 
because they were bitten by a tick, but because the tick was improperly 
removed. This new medical knowledge also indicates that the most common 
methods of removing ticks--such as with the fingers, with tweezers, by 
applying heat, dousing the parasite with a chemical, or rotating the 
parasite about its longitudinal axis in efforts to dislodge its imbedded 
proboscis--are undesirable, and in some cases can actually promote the 
spread of this and other tick-borne diseases. 
For example, grabbing the tick with one's fingers is undesirable, as this 
squeezes its posterior which is another way of injecting the spirochete 
into the host. Also, this method of removal can pull out some of the 
host's hair to its considerable discomfort and pain. Furthermore, touching 
the parasite is considered by many as repulsive, and this method of 
removal can also spread diseases borne on the tick's surface. Finally, 
when removing a tick by hand, a person usually employs his or her free 
hand to hold a tissue to receive the removed tick, and in so doing often 
loses the location of the wound in the possibly thick hair of the host, 
then subsequently has trouble relocating the wound for purposes of 
examination and applying medication. 
Using tweezers to remove a tick is undesirable, as the hand holding them 
usually obstructs one's view of the invading organism during use, and 
considerable dexterity is required to place their two tiny gripping 
surfaces around the feeding parasite in the host's possibly thick fur; and 
even then the closing of the tweezer's jaws, especially if their opposing 
faces are flat or nearly so, will pinch the tick's posterior and inject 
the host with a portion of its blood meal while at the same time pulling 
hair from the host. Also, using tweezers can lead to dropping the tick 
from the jaws as the implement's legs spring open as it is laid aside, 
and, if the second hand is required for such disposal, subsequent 
difficulty in relocating the host's wound for purposes of examination and 
applying medication. 
Applying heat is undesirable, as when the tick backs away from the host in 
efforts to escape the burning or the fumes, the organism once again 
activates its autonomic reflex process of regurgitation which can inject 
the spirochete into the host. Also, this activity usually requires both 
hands of the remover, can burn the host and even the remover, and often 
renders the tick incapable of subsequent analysis by public health 
officials. 
Applying Vaseline, kerosene, chloroform, or other chemical also activates 
the autonomic reflex process of regurgitation of the parasite as it tries 
to back away from the host in efforts to get air, not to mention likely 
irritation to the host and subsequent need to thoroughly clean the wound. 
Finally, rotating an imbedded parasite about its longitudinal axis in 
efforts to dislodge it is undesirable, as this will surely tear the tick's 
posterior from its lengthy barbed snout that is buried in the host, 
resulting in certain damage to tick and host. 
All the above methods do not address the urgent problem of simply, safely, 
and comfortably removing a tick from its host. Furthermore, none of the 
above methods allow the remover's other hand to remain free at all times 
to calm the host and maintain location of the tiny wound. Finally, each of 
the above methods tend to hide or obscure the invading organism from view 
during some part of its removal. 
PRIOR ART 
Considering any prior art that might negate the patentability of the 
disclosed invention, the inventor performed a search of all patents of 
several class/subclasses 29/248, 43/102, 43/107, 43/110, 43/121, 43/133, 
43/134, 43/138, 43/143, 43/144, 119/87, 128/399, 219/230, 606/131, 
606/205, 606/211, and D8/52--a total of 779 patents in all. Of these, only 
two were remotely similar to the disclosed invention; and even they were 
fundamentally different as described below: 
Weiner, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,213,460, describes a tick removing forceps that 
is [from the abstract] "for removing a parasitic organism attached to the 
skin of a host animal." An analysis of Weiner's claims proves that his 
invention is very different than the disclosed invention in several 
respects. First, each of his four broadest claims 1, 8, 20 and 21 begins 
by stating that his invention comprises a forceps, which is a tong-like 
instrument whose legs are joined at the opposite end from their mutually 
opposed gripping means; and this manner of leverage differs from the 
corresponding physics of the disclosed invention. Second, each of Weiner's 
four basic claims states that his invention comprises in (1) "heating 
means when said gripping means are engaged with said parasitic organism . 
. . " or (8) "an electrical resistance heating element provided on an 
internal surface of one of said gripping members in a position to apply 
heat to the enclosed portion of said tick . . . " or (20) "a flexible 
reservoir included in said handle portion of said forceps for containing a 
supply of a relaxant chemical agent . . . " or (21) "a flexible reservoir 
affixed to said handle portion of said forceps for containing a supply of 
a relaxant chemical agent . . . "; whereas the disclosed invention has no 
heating, electric, or chemical apparatus whatsoever. Third, each of 
Weiner's four broadest claims states that his invention comprises in (1) 
"control means for activating said heating means . . . " or (8) "actuator 
means . . . to apply heat to said tick . . . " or (20) or (21) "an 
operator . . . can apply pressure to said reservoir . . . "; whereas the 
disclosed invention has no control, actuator, or operator means 
whatsoever. Thus each of these elements in Weiner's broadest claims, and 
therefore all elements in his dependent claims, teaches away from the 
essential nature of the disclosed invention, and for each of these reasons 
exclusive of the others the disclosed invention is patentable over Weiner. 
Keatley, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,837, describes a tweezers for the removal 
of parasites from animals. An analysis of Keatley's claims proves that his 
invention is also very different than the disclosed invention in several 
respects. First, Keatley's one independent claim begins by stating that 
his invention comprises a tweezers, whose "flexible legs" are "fixedly 
joined at their upper ends"; and this manner of leverage differs from the 
corresponding physics of the disclosed invention. Second, Keatley's 
broadest claim concludes by stating that his invention comprises "a knob 
fixed to the top of said thumb ring to be engaged . . . to turn said legs 
about a longitudinal axis between them"; whereas operation of the 
disclosed invention involves no longitudinal rotation whatsoever of the 
captured organism. Thus each of these elements in Keatley's broadest 
claim, and therefore all elements in his dependent claims, teaches away 
from the essential nature of the disclosed invention. Third, the section 
of Keathley's patent titled Background of the Invention states that "by 
rotating the tick smoothly, it is more easily dislodged from the host 
animal," a premise which if not initially false has subsequently been 
proven by medical authorities to be erroneous. Yet throughout Keatley's 
specification (see his Object of the Invention, col. 1, line 28-31; 
Summary of the Invention, col. 1, line 50-52; and Description of a 
Preferred Embodiment, col 2, line 59-62 ) he bases the overall success of 
his invention on this erroneous premise. In particular, in col. 2, line 
60-62, he describes the tick as being "rotated . . . causing it to lose 
its hold without damage to itself or to the host animal." This statement 
simply isn't true, as due to the long rows of barb-like teeth on each side 
of the tick's proboscis any longitudinal rotation of the tick's body would 
surely tear its posterior from its imbedded proboscis, resulting in the 
contrary occurrence of obvious damage to both tick and host. Thus Keatley, 
by his own erroneous premise and substantiation, has invented a tick 
remover that is medically undesirable, whose essential nature teaches away 
from the medically desirable nature of the disclosed invention. Thus, for 
each of these reasons exclusive of the others, the disclosed invention is 
patentable over Keatley. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The best way to remove a tick imbedded in its host is by grasping the 
parasite about its neck, then gently pulling its hard exoskeletal 
proboscis directly backward through the soft flesh around it in a way that 
does not involve human contact with the parasite or activate its autonomic 
reflex process of regurgitation. Accordingly, the disclosed invention is a 
plier instrument made of a structurally appropriate material (such as 
metal or plastic) whose uniquely designed jaws may be opened easily and 
placed quickly and accurately around a tick or other parasite whose head 
is imbedded in the skin of the host; then the jaws are closed around the 
parasite in the vicinity of its dorsal scutum (the narrow area between its 
imbedded snout and possibly swollen posterior), and finally the tick is 
removed by pulling the implement with one hand directly from the host's 
skin, while the other hand is free at all times to calm the host and 
maintain location of the wound for subsequent examination and applying of 
medication. 
A principle feature of the invention is the small gap that exists between 
its uniquely designed jaws when they are closed around a tick. As the 
dorsal scutum of a tick is usually about twelve thousandths (0.012) of an 
inch thick when empty of blood but can be as thin as eight thousandths 
(0.008) of an inch in some adult subspecies, and because human and dog 
hairs range between one and three thousandths (0.001-0.003) of an inch 
thick, the mutually opposed jaws when closed have a gap of about six 
thousandths (0.006) of an inch between their edges, which allows the 
host's hair to slide freely through the jaws while at the same time the 
jaws grip a tick securely during its capture and removal from the host. At 
any time the user may relax or increase his or her grip on the implement, 
with its jaws responding immediately to the user's desire to maintain 
optimum performance. 
Another feature of the invention is that the edges of its mutually opposed 
jaws are dull and have a convex-shaped cross section along their length, 
enabling the jaws to graps the invading organism securely without severing 
its posterior from its head. This also allows a tick to remain securely in 
the implement's jaws whether the parasite's body is empty of blood or 
fully engorged, or whether the user grips the implement tightly or 
lossely. 
Another feature of the invention is that, contrary to tweezers or other 
instruments whose range of contact with the invader is very small, the 
edges of its two jaws are long enough to allow the user to locate them 
quickly and easily around a tick found on the skin of its host, even if 
the host's hair is long, thick, matted, or wet. 
Another feature of the invention is that its jaws' bottom sides are 
bevelled upward from their edges, enabling the jaws' edges to nestle 
snugly against the host's skin as they close upon the invader in the 
narrow area between its imbedded head and possibly swollen posterior. 
Another feature of the invention is that its jaws' edges incline upward 
from base to tip, enabling them to nestle against the host's skin while 
its handles remain far enough above the host for the user's hand to grip 
them comfortably. This incline also prevents the unsanitary head of a 
removed parasite awaiting disposal from touching a flat surface upon which 
the implement has been laid. 
Another feature of the invention is that its jaws' tips are pointed to 
facilitate its passage through the possibly dense hair of the host as the 
opened jaws approach a tick, yet the tips are not so sharp that they could 
injure the host or tear a pocket the implement might be carried in. 
Another feature of the invention is that the inner and upper surfaces of 
the jaws have a concave configuration which, when the jaws come together, 
forms an ample cavity for cradling without squeezing the posterior of a 
fully engorged tick during and after removal from the host and prevents it 
from later being dropped or lost. 
Another feature of the invention is that the open design of its cradle 
combined with the generally flat design of its other parts does not 
obstruct one's view of a tick found on the skin of its host during any 
phase of the parasite's capture and removal. 
Another feature of the invention are the stops located along the points of 
contact between its two handles, whose mating surfaces maintain the small 
gap that exists between the jaws when its handles are squeezed. 
Another feature of the invention are the guides also located along the 
points of contact of its two main pieces, whose overlapping surfaces make 
its jaw edges align correctly against each other when they close. 
Another feature of the invention are its contoured handles, whose easily 
graspable shape allows the implement's other features to be utilized 
comfortably and quickly. 
Another feature of the invention are the reverse stops located near the 
front of the handles and equidistantly outside the jaw's outer surfaces, 
which prevent the jaws from opening any wider than necessary during use. 
Another feature of the invention are the holes in the area between the 
handles and the stops, which in addition to making the implement lighter 
allow it to be hung on a hook or mounted on a string or other carrying 
medium. 
The principal advantage of the invention is that it allows one to guide the 
implement quickly and easily through the host's possibly hairy skin toward 
a feeding tick, then remove the parasite simply and safely at minimum 
discomfort to the host. 
Another advantage of the invention is that only one hand is required to use 
it during all phases of operation, leaving the other hand free to calm the 
host, manipulate the flesh around the wound during removal of the 
parasite, and maintain location of the tiny wound during subsequent 
inspection of the parasite and placing it aside for disposal. 
Another advantage of the invention is its jaws' ability to retain their 
position after the implement is laid aside, thus keeping the removed 
parasite from falling away and possibly escaping. 
Another advantage of the invention is that it can be washed easily after 
being used. 
Another advantage of the invnetion is that its jaws can be used to grasp a 
tiny nonengorged tick walking or resting on the skin or clothing of its 
host, or even fleas, body lice, other ectoparasites, and also cockleburrs 
and large splinters and other undesirable matter appearing on the body or 
clothing of the host. 
Another advantage of the invention is that it is safe and simple to operate 
by an adult or responsible child. 
Another advantage of the invention is that its smallness and light weight 
allow it to be slipped into a pocket and carried on hikes into remote 
environments, or easily placed in a purse, toilet kit, or first aid kit. 
Another advantage of the invention is that it requires no batteries or 
accessory equipment of any kind. 
In these ways, the disclosed invention may greatly improve present methods 
of removing ticks and similar parasites from humans and animals. In so 
doing, the implement may also remove the anxiety that many have about 
performing such operations. Finally, it may allow people to feel more 
comfortable about enjoying the many advantages that outdoor environments 
have to offer.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention consists of two basic 
pieces 100 and 200, each piece being made of a structurally appropriate 
material (such as metal or plastic), with each piece being connected to 
the other at a central pivot called the fulcrum 2. The two handles 104 and 
204 are of a smoothly contoured construction that fits comfortably in the 
user's palm, and both jaw tips 108 and 208 are pointed to facilitate the 
passage of the implement through the hair of the host but not so sharp as 
to prick the host's skin during such movement. Located between the handles 
104 and 204 at the base 6 of the handles are the stops 112 and 212, two 
smooth surfaces which mate when the handles 104 and 204 are squeezed to 
maintain the proper gap 1 between the jaws' bevelled edges 110 and 210, 
and the guides 114 and 214, which overlap when said handles are squeezed 
to keep said bevelled jaw edges properly aligned. 
Referring to FIG. 2, in this top view the invention's handles 104 and 204 
are closed, thus closing the mutually opposed jaws 106 and 206 opposite 
the fulcrum 2. In this position the stops 112 and 212 come together to 
maintain the proper gap 1 between the jaw edges 110 and 210, with the gap 
being narrow enough to firmly grasp a tick, yet wide enough to allow any 
hair 24 of the host 22 to slide through the jaws as the tick 20 is being 
pulled away. Also in this position the guides 114 and 214 along the stops 
112 and 212, overlap to ensure that the jaws align when closed. This view 
also shows the axle 202 inside the hub 102, as well as hole 116 in piece 
100 and hole 216 in piece 202. Finally this view shows the cradle 4, the 
cavity between the jaws 106 and 206 where the posterior of a captured tick 
20 is lodged as its head is being removed from the skin of the host 22, 
and where the parasite is held during subsequent removal from the host and 
transportation to disposal. This view also shows rims 111 and 211 that 
form the upper edge of cavity 4. 
Referring to FIG. 3, in this bottom view the invention's handles 104 and 
204 are fully open, thus opening the jaws 106 and 206. In this position 
the outside of said jaws rest against the reverse stops 118 and 218, 
preventing said jaws from opening any farther than necessary. Also shown 
are the bevelled undersides 109 and 209 of the jaws 106 and 206, whose 
surfaces nestle against the skin of the host so the jaw edges 110 and 210 
can close firmly around the neck of the tick before removal. This view 
also profiles the overlapping guides 114 and 214 protruding from the stops 
112 and 212. 
Referring to FIG. 4, this is a side view of the invention as it rests on a 
flat surface 10, showing how the jaw edges 110 and 210 incline upward from 
the hub 202 to the tips 108 and 208 to prevent the unsanitary head of a 
removed parasite from touching the surface 10 while remaining firmly 
grasped in the jaws 106 and 206. This view also shows the outer surface of 
the comfortably contoured handle 104. 
Referring to FIG. 5, this sectional enlargement shows how one pair of the 
overlapping guides 114 and 214 mate in closed position, their seam being 
solid line 12. Beyond them exist the other pair of guides 114 and 214 in 
similar position, their seam being dotted line 14. Thus one pair of guides 
114 and 214 prevents the jaw edges 110 and 210 from nonaligning in one 
lateral direction, and the other pair prevents the jaw edges from 
nonaligning in the opposing lateral direction. Depending on the means of 
manufacturing, this alignment may also be achieved with a mating tongue 
and groove surface or one of several other overlapping means. This view 
also profiles the hole 116 in handle 104 and hole 216 in handle 204, as 
well as cross sections of handles 104 and 204. 
Referring to FIG. 6, this sectional enlargement shows the assembly at the 
fulcrum 2; in particular how the axle or other connecting means 202 fits 
into the hub or other receiving means 102 to allow pieces 100 and 200 to 
rotate smoothly against one another as the handles 104 and 204 operate 
jaws 106 and 206. In this embodiment of the invention, at the top of the 
hub-axle assembly is shown a mating knurl and groove, knurl 16 encircling 
axle 202 and groove 18 encircling hub 102, with said surfaces holding 
pieces 100 and 200 together after they have been snapped into place. 
Depending on the means of manufacturing, there are several other methods 
of connecting pieces 100 and 200 to maintain a snugly rotatable connection 
during subsequent use, such as riveting, staking, screwing, installation 
of spring or rubber washer, etc. 
Referring to FIG. 7, this sectional enlargement shows the jaws 106 and 206 
in closed position, profiling their bevelled undersides 109 and 209 as 
they slope upward from the narrow gap 1 between the jaw edges 110 and 210 
to enable said jaws to nestle against the skin of the host 22 so they can 
grasp a tick 20 in the narrow area between its buried proboscis and 
possibly swollen posterior. Above the jaws 106 and 206 is the cradle 4, 
whose lower concave surfaces slope shallowly enough to enable the jaw 
edges 110 and 210 to be placed around the neck of a feeding tick without 
pinching its posterior, and with said cavity being amply sized to hold a 
fully engorged tick and having rims 111 and 211. 
Referring to FIG. 8, this sectional view is a great enlargement of the 
lower jaw portion of FIG. 7, showing jaws 106 and 206 as they allow human 
or dog hairs 24 to pass through the narrow gap 1 between the jaw edges 110 
and 210 while at the same time said dull edges with their convex cross 
sections grip a tick around its neck without cutting it as it is being 
drawn away from the host 22. 
When the operator has seen or felt a tick 20 in the hair or fur of the host 
22, he or she grasps the implements' handles 104 and 204 with one hand, 
opens said handles which opens the jaws 106 and 206, and thrusts the jaw 
tips 108 and 208 into the hair 24 toward the tick 20, moving the jaws 106 
and 206 by sight or feel until their open edges 110 and 210 lie on each 
side of the target tick 20. The operator nestles the bevelled undersides 
109 and 209 of jaws 106 and 206 against the host's skin 22 while squeezing 
the handles 104 and 204, making the mutually opposed jaw edges 110 and 210 
close around the tick 20 in the vicinity of its neck, thus forcing its 
posterior to become lodged in cradle 4. These opening and closing actions 
occur in a way that is immediately responsive and accurately controlled 
with minimal effort on the part of the operator, while at all times 
allowing the target tick 20 to remain in full view as much as the host's 
hair will permit. Then the operator, holding the jaws 106 and 206 closed, 
gently but firmly pulls the handles 104 and 204 directly away from the 
host 22 and in so doing retracts the imbedded head of the tick 20 from the 
host's skin 22, during which time any hair 24 around the wound passes 
freely through the gap 1 between the jaw edges 110 and 210 of the jaws 106 
and 206. After the implement is free of the host, the user continues to 
hold the handles 104 and 204 closed while transporting the tick 20 in the 
cradle 4 to its place of disposal. After the tick's disposal, all surfaces 
of the jaws 106 and 206 can be cleaned in normally soapy water. 
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention provides a 
novel and greatly improved method of removing ticks from humans and 
animals. Furthermore, using the invention requires only one hand, allowing 
the user's other hand to remain free to calm the host, manipulate the 
flesh around a located parasite for easier removal, and maintain location 
of the wound while the removing hand holds the parasite up for inspection 
and subsequently lays it aside. Finally, the invention does not obstruct 
one's view of the tick while being used, prevents the parasite from being 
touched, can be cleaned after use, is simply constructed with a minimum of 
parts, and requires no additionally connected parts or equipment. 
Although the invention has been described in a preferred form with a 
certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present 
disclosure of this preferred embodiment has been made only by way of 
example, and that numerous changes in construction details and the 
combination and arrangement of its various parts may be resorted to 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as 
hereinafter claimed; and it is intended that the patent shall cover, by 
suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of 
patentable novelty that exist in the invention disclosed.