Abstract:
This patent relates to devices that can be manipulated by a user to expel or draw in a material. In one example, a hand-operable vacuum device can include an interface portion configured to contact a material. The hand-operable vacuum device can also include a deformable portion that extends along an axis that passes through the interface portion and wherein the deformable portion includes at least one longitudinally-oriented resilient structure that extends generally parallel to the axis.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This Utility Application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/983,178 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/362,240, which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate implementations of the concepts conveyed in the present application. Features of the illustrated implementations can be more readily understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers in the various drawings are used wherever feasible to indicate like elements. Further, the left-most numeral of each reference number conveys the figure and associated discussion where the reference number is first introduced (where feasible). 
    
    
     
         FIGS. 1-2  and  7  are perspective views of an example of a hand-operable vacuum device in accordance with some of the present concepts. 
         FIGS. 3-6  and  8 - 12  are sectional views of a portion of a hand-operable vacuum device in accordance with some of the present concepts. 
         FIGS. 13-15  are sectional views of a portion of hand-operable vacuum devices in accordance with some of the present concepts. 
         FIGS. 16-19  are perspective views of examples of hand-operable vacuum devices in accordance with some of the present concepts. 
         FIGS. 20-21  are elevational views of examples of a hand-operable vacuum device in accordance with some of the present concepts. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
     The present description relates to hand-operable vacuum devices. In some cases, hand-operable vacuum devices can be manipulated by a user to draw material into the device and/or expel material from the device. The hand-operable vacuum device can be constructed such that a user can squeeze and deform the device and then the device is resiliently biased to return to an original configuration. The construction of the hand-operable vacuum device can include generally longitudinally arranged resilient outwardly-biasing structures that bias the device back to its original configuration more effectively than existing technologies. This effective bias can create relatively strong vacuum forces for drawing material into the hand-operable vacuum device. 
     Examples 
       FIGS. 1-11  collectively show an example of a hand-operable vacuum device  100 .  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  5  show the hand-operable vacuum device  100  in a first configuration.  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6  show the hand-operable vacuum device  100  manipulated into a second configuration by a human user.  FIGS. 7-11  collectively show how the construction of the hand-operable vacuum device  100  promotes returning to the first configuration of  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  5  when the user stops manipulating the device. Briefly, the hand-operable vacuum device  100  can be resiliently biased to assume and/or return to the first configuration after user manipulation. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show perspective views of the hand-operable vacuum device.  FIGS. 3-4  show sectional views of the hand-operable vacuum device taken along section AA indicated in  FIG. 1 . Section AA is transverse to the x-reference axis and parallel to the yz-reference plane.  FIGS. 5-6  show a component of the hand-operable vacuum device taken parallel to the xz-reference plane as indicated along section BB. 
     In some cases, the hand-operable vacuum device  100  can be thought of as having a deformable portion  102  and an interface portion  104  that can include a nozzle  105 . The deformable portion  102  can extend along a long axis that runs parallel to the x-reference axis. The deformable portion can be generally elongated, spherical, or other shape. The deformable portion can include one or more resilient outwardly-biasing structures  106 . In some implementations the resilient outwardly-biasing structures can be longitudinally oriented (i.e., parallel to the long axis). In this case, the hand-operable vacuum device includes a pair of resilient outwardly-biasing structures  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ). 
     The deformable portion  102  can be manipulated or squeezed by a user as indicated by arrows  402  and  404  to deform or squish the deformable portion. The squishing can bend the resilient outwardly-biasing structures as can be seen by comparing  FIGS. 5 and 6  which show resilient outwardly-biasing structure  106 ( 1 ).  FIG. 5  shows the resilient outwardly-biasing structure in a resting or biased configuration.  FIG. 6  shows a bowed configuration of the resilient outwardly-biasing structure produced by user manipulation. 
       FIGS. 7-11  show how the resilient outwardly-biasing structures  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) can return the deformable portion  102  to the resting configuration when the user stops applying pressure. Specifically, upward arrows  702 ( 1 ) and  702 ( 2 ) indicate the outward bias exerted by resilient outwardly-biasing structures  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ), respectively. The outward bias returns the resilient outwardly-biasing structures from the bowed configuration of  FIG. 8  to the more linear configuration of  FIG. 9 . (In another implementation, the resilient outwardly-biasing structures could be outwardly bowed at rest such that user manipulation causes them to be less bowed.) The outward bias exerted by resilient outwardly-biasing structures  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) facilitates returning the deformable portion from the manipulated configuration of  FIG. 10  to the resting configuration of  FIG. 11 . Returning the deformable portion to the resting configuration can increase the volume thereof and can thereby create a very strong vacuum that can be utilized to draw material into the interface portion  104  via nozzle  105 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an example of how the resilient outwardly-biasing structures  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) can extend from a perimeter  1202  of the deformable portion  102 . In various implementations the resilient outwardly-biasing structures can extend from the perimeter at an angle α that is oblique or a right angle relative to the perimeter proximate to the outwardly-biasing structure. In some implementations, the angle α can be in a range from about 90 degrees to about 135 degrees. Other implementations may be outside this range. 
     The example implementations above include a pair of outwardly-biasing structures  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ).  FIGS. 13-14  illustrate some alternative implementations of hand-operable vacuum devices. 
       FIG. 13  shows first and second pairs of outwardly-biasing structures  1302 ( 1 ),  1302 ( 2 ) and  1304 ( 1 ),  1304 ( 2 ) on deformable portion  1306 . In this example the first and second pairs are generally opposing one another, but such need not be the case. However, the present example can be useful in facilitating the user&#39;s grip. 
       FIG. 14  shows an alternative implementation that includes three outwardly-biasing structures  1402 ( 1 ),  1402 ( 2 ), and  1402 ( 3 ) on deformable portion  1404 . In this case the outwardly-biasing structures extend outwardly from perimeter  1406  rather than inwardly as illustrated in the example implementations of  FIGS. 1-13 . 
       FIG. 15  offers another implementation with two outwardly-biasing structures  1502 ( 1 ) and  1502 ( 2 ) on deformable portion  1504 . In this case, the outwardly-biasing structures are generally elliptical rather than linear when viewed in cross-section. Other shapes and/or configurations can alternatively or additionally be utilized. 
       FIG. 16  shows an example hand-operated vacuum device  1600  that can be employed as a specimen collector, among other uses. 
       FIG. 17  shows an example hand-operated vacuum device  1700  that can be employed as a throat aspirator, among other uses. 
       FIG. 18  shows an example hand-operated vacuum device  1800  that can be employed as a dental squirt pick, among others. 
       FIG. 19  shows an example hand-operated vacuum device  1900  that can be employed as a nose aspirator, among others. 
       FIGS. 20-21  collectively show another example of a hand-operated vacuum device  2000  that can be employed to various uses. In this case, the hand-operated vacuum device  2000  includes deformable portion  2002  and interface portion  2004 . The deformable portion  2002  includes resilient outwardly-biasing structures  2006 ( 1 ) and  2006 ( 2 ). The interface portion  2004  includes a removable cap  2008  that covers a nozzle  2010 . 
       FIG. 20  shows the removable cap  2008  in place on the interface portion  2004 .  FIG. 21  shows the hand-operated vacuum device  2000  with the cap removed to expose nozzle  2010 . The removable cap  2008  can be formed during manufacture of the hand-operated vacuum device  2000  and/or added to the hand-operated vacuum device. For instance, the removable cap can be formed as part of the hand-operated vacuum device to help maintain internal conditions of the hand-operated vacuum device. For instance, the removable cap could be utilized to maintain sterile conditions in the hand-operated vacuum device until the cap is removed at the time of use. The user can remove the removable cap, such as by twisting. The user can then squeeze the deformable portion and place the nozzle  2010  near a sample to be collected. The user can reduce and/or release the pressure on the deformable portion to create a vacuum that draws the sample into the hand-operated vacuum device. In some implementations, the removable cap  2008  can be re-installed to maintain the sample and avoid cross-contamination. 
     In other configurations, the hand-operated vacuum device  2000  can be manufactured and filled with a liquid, such as a wound cleansing antiseptic solution or a mouthwash. The removable cap can then be added to maintain the integrity of the hand-operated vacuum device until use. A user can remove the removable cap and propel the liquid from the nozzle by squeezing the deformable portion  2002 . 
     Hand-operated vacuum devices can be manufactured utilizing various techniques and/or materials. For instance, in some implementations the hand-operated vacuum devices can be formed via a molding process, such as injection molding or blow molding. Various materials can be utilized including but not limited to various polymers. In some cases the hand-operated vacuum devices can be manufactured as a single piece, yet the interface portion can be thicker than the deformable portion so that the interface portion is relatively rigid while the deformable portion is readily deformed by a user. For instance, such a configuration can be achieved by blow molding where the polymer is introduced at the interface end of the hand-operated vacuum device. In one such example, the deformable portion can have an average thickness of 0.1-0.3 millimeters while the interface portion has an average thickness of 0.3-0.6 millimeters. 
     In summary, hand-operable vacuum devices are described that can allow great vacuum (and/or expulsion) forces to be created by a user. The hand-operable vacuum devices can be inexpensively manufactured and can be disposable and/or reusable. In some instances, the hand-operable vacuum devices can be manufactured and/or packaged so that the devices are sterile until the packaging is opened. Further, the hand-operable vacuum devices lend themselves to construction from materials that can be transparent so that the user can see the contents (if any). 
     CONCLUSION 
     Although specific examples of hand-operable vacuum devices are described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not intended to be limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claimed statutory classes of subject matter.