Insect locator and removal tool
A hand-held tool for locating and removing parasitic insects from hair-covered skin comprises a tool body including a pad-like head portion with extended handle and a magnifying window incorporated therein; a linear set of rake-like teeth along one side of the window projecting at a 90° thereto; and a separate set of comb-like teeth along the opposite side of the window projecting at about 45°. With means for illuminating the viewing area further provided around the magnifying window, the tool is stroked through the hair with the rake-like teeth passing in the direction opposite from the natural growth of the hair to provide an illuminated and magnified view of exposed skin area through the window as the hair is pulled back by the rake-like teeth. If an insect is viewed, the tool is stroked in reverse through the same area leading with the comb-like teeth to collect and remove the insect.
1. A tool for locating and removing an insect from an area of skin substantially covered by hair, comprising:
a tool body including a head portion having a window opening incorporated therein and a handle member extending therefrom;
lens means operatively connected to the head portion within the window opening for magnifying a viewing area therethrough;
light-emitting means incorporated into said tool body for illuminating the magnified viewing area, said light-emitting means comprising a plurality of LEDs mounted upon the head portion in separate linear arrays on opposite sides of the window opening and electrical drive means operatively connected to said LEDs for controlling light emissions therefrom;
an assembly of rake-like teeth releasably engaged to the head portion of said tool body, said assembly set of rake-like teeth being disposed along one side of the window opening with the rake-like teeth projecting substantially perpendicular thereto for exposing the skin area in the illuminated magnified viewing area as the teeth are moved through the hair thereby locating the insect; and
an assembly of comb-like teeth separate and apart from said assembled set of rake-like teeth, said comb-like teeth set being releasably engaged to the head portion of said tool body and disposed along the opposite side of the window opening from said rake-like teeth set with the comb-like teeth inclined at an angle for removing the located insect from the skin area.
2. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 1 , wherein said lens means further comprises:
a magnifying lens made to insert and mount in place within the window opening.
3. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 2 , wherein said magnifying lens is formed and adapted to releasably engage the window opening and re removed therefrom.
4. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 3 , wherein said magnifying lens has a magnification power in the range between 10×-30×.
5. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 1 , wherein said electrical drive means comprises:
a DC voltage source;
an electrical switch operatively connected between the DC voltage source and the linear arrays of said LEDs; and
a current-limiting resistor operatively connected in line with each array of said LEDs.
6. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 5 , wherein the respective linear arrays of said LEDs are electrically connected in series and the respective series are connected in parallel branches.
7. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 6 , wherein the light emissions from said LEDs are white in color.
8. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 1 , wherein said assembly of rake-like teeth further comprises:
a base strip adapted to engage the head portion and releasably connect thereto along one side of the window opening;
a plurality of rake-like teeth arranged in parallel and attached to said base strip, said rake-like teeth being adapted in form and spacing to separate the hair covering the skin area when moved therethrough.
9. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 1 , wherein said assembly of comb-like teeth further comprises:
a base strip adapted to engage the head portion and releasably connect thereto along one side of the window opening; and
a plurality of fine teeth members connected to said base strip, said fine teeth members being narrow in form and closely spaced apart along the top of the base strip at an inclined angle to facilitate engagement and removal of an insect from the exposed area of skin.
10. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 9 , wherein the inclined angle of said fine teeth members is set at about 45°.
11. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion of said tool body is pad-like and substantially rectangular in form and made to extend from the handle member in substantially the same plane.
12. An insect locator and removal tool according to claim 11 , wherein the window opening is substantially rectangular in its configuration and sized to maximize the field of view through the head portion.
13. A tool for locating and removing foreign matter from an area of skin substantially covered by hair, comprising:
a tool body including a pad-like head portion substantially rectangular in form having a window opening incorporated therein and a handle member extending therefrom;
an optical lens made to insert and mount in place within the window opening for magnifying a viewing area therethrough;
a plurality of LEDs mounted upon the head portion in separate linear arrays on opposite sides of the window opening to direct illumination upon the magnified viewing area;
a plurality of rake-like teeth members projecting perpendicularly from the head portion of said tool body along one side of the window opening, said plurality of rake-like teeth members being made in form and spacing to separate the hair covering the skin area when moved therethrough in a direction exposing the area of skin in the illuminated magnified viewing area; and
a plurality of comb-like teeth members projecting at an inclined angle from the head portion of said tool body along the opposite side of the window opening, said plurality of comb-like teeth being made narrow in form and closely spaced apart to facilitate engagement and removal of the foreign matter from the exposed area of skin when moved therethrough in reverse direction from that movement of said rake-liketeeth members.