US006725863B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.2 US 6,725,863 B2

Karpel (45) Date of Patent: Apr. 27, 2004

(54) CHOKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE 3,401,686 A 9/1968 Edwards .................... .. 128/28

4,059,099 A 11/1977 Davis ... ... . . . . .. 128/28

(76) Inventor: Louis M. Karpel, 62 BuggyWhip Trail, 4,164,216 A 8/1979 Person ---- -- 128/28
Honeoye Falls, NY (US) 14472 4,182,317 A 1/1980 Ash ............ . . . . .. 128/28

4,726,357 A 2/1988 DeStefano .... .. 128/28

(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 13321937 5 11/1991 Young ------ - D24/133
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 D363,554 S 10/1995 Psaros .......... .. D24/200
U_S_C_ 154(k)) by 0 days D363,991 S 11/1995 Benware et a1. D24/200
D381,754 S 7/1997 Fani ............. .. D24/2OO
_ 5,651,755 A 7/1997 Chen ........................ .. 482/128
(21) Appl' NO" 10/121’834 5,722,987 A 3/1998 Witbeck ................... .. 606/201
(22) Filed: Apr. 12, 2002
(65) Prior Publication Data Primary Examiner—Michael A. Brown
US 2002/0156405 A1 Oct. 24, 2002
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—BroWn
_
& Michaels PC;
Eugene Stephens & Associates
Related US. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 60/284,646, ?led on Apr. 18,
2001. (57) ABSTRACT
(51) Int. Cl.7 ................................................ .. A61G 1/04 A choking assistance device includes a head specially
(52) US. Cl. ...................................... .. 128/845; 606/201 designed for placement against the abdomen of a choking
(58) Field Of Search ............................... .. 128/845, 846; victim for performance of the Heimlieh Maneuver. The head
606/201; 482/121, 122, 126, 128 has lateral extensions and, in the preferred embodiment, a
central bulge. The choking assistance device also has a
(56) References Cited spacing rod attached to the head With appropriately located
handles and a non-slip base pad.
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,535,822 A 4/1925 Goodwin 18 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Apr. 27, 2004 Sheet 1 of3 US 6,725,863 B2

FIG 1
II
U.S. Patent Apr. 27, 2004 Sheet 2 of3 US 6,725,863 B2
U.S. Patent A r. 27 2004 Sheet 3 of3 US 6,725,863 B2
 US 6,725,863 B2
1 2
CHOKING ASSISTANCE DEVICE rescuer. These devices may assist the rescuer and help to
prevent bruising of the victim’s abdomen, but they do not
This application claims the bene?t of US. Provisional provide the leverage and positioning needed by the victim in
Application No. 60/284,646, ?led on Apr. 18, 2001, Which performing the Heimlich Maneuver on himself.
provisional application is incorporated by reference herein. Only tWo devices knoWn to the applicant have been
adapted for use by a victim by including a spacing rod to
TECHNICAL FIELD
provide leverage for self use. US. Pat. No. 4,164,216, issued
My invention deals generally With apparatus intended to to Person in 1979, for a “Throat Obstruction Expulsion
assist in the performance of the Heimlich Maneuver to help Device”, features a spacing rod With a sliding tube mounted
a choking victim. More speci?cally, it deals With equipment 10 thereon. The tube has handles and a disc-shaped head. The
that the choking victim can use Without outside assistance to spacing rod has a foot for resting or mounting on a tabletop
perform the Heimlich Maneuver on himself or herself. or other surface. In order to use the device, the choking
victim places the head of the device against his abdomen and
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION uses the handles on the sliding tube to thrust the head inWard
15 and upWard so as to perform the Heimlich Maneuver. US.
Thousands of people in the United States die each year
from accidental choking. For many years, medical opinion Pat. No. 4,182,317, issued to Ash in 1980, for an “Object
differed as to the most-effective Way to deal With accidental Dislodging Method and Apparatus”, uses a dumbbell-shaped
choking. Often sharp bloWs to the back, ?nger sWeeps of the arrangement With tWo heads connected by a spacing rod. In
throat, and manual thrusts to the chest Were attempted. These this device, one head is gripped in order to force the other
methods proved to be not only useless and ineffectual in head against the user’s abdomen. Although the basic prin
most cases, but to actually be harmful to the choking victim. ciples underlying these prior art attempts are sound, neither
In 1985, the American Red Cross, the American Heart device has a head that is Well shaped or proportioned for use
Association, and the Surgeon General of the United States in the self-performance of the Heimlich Maneuver.
determined that methods other than the Heimlich Maneuver
can be dangerous and that only the Heimlich Maneuver SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
should be used to treat a choking victim. My invention is characteriZed by a head having lateral
Henry J. Heimlich, M.D., devised the Heimlich Maneuver extensions and, in the preferred embodiment, a central
in the early 1970s. It depends for its success on the fact that bulge. It also has a spacing rod With appropriately located
a choking victim’s lungs have a large volume of air in them 30
handles and a non-slip base pad. The design and construc
even if the person Was exhaling When the choking began. If tion of my invention optimiZes its performance as a Heim
a rescuer presses sharply and repeatedly on the victim’s lich Maneuver device, turning it into a truly practical appa
abdomen, With one balled ?st Wrapped in the opposite hand, ratus for the use of either a victim or rescuer.
at a point just above the navel, but beloW the rib cage and
the diaphragm, that reservoir of air is expelled up the airWay DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
35
With a great force. This serves to dislodge the obstruction FIG. 1 provides a perspective vieW of my invention.
from the victim’s throat.
FIG. 2 provides an overhead vieW of my invention.
The Heimlich Maneuver is generally safe and effective. In
addition, the average person usually can master it. HoWever, FIG. 3 provides a side vieW of my invention.
it is far easier for a rescuer to perform this maneuver on the 40 FIG. 4 provides a perspective vieW of my invention
victim than for the victim to assist himself (or herself) in this illustrating its intended manner of use.
Way. The rescuer, Who stands behind the victim, has his arms
partially extended and is therefore properly positioned to DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
exert the squeeZing compressive force required for the The Heimlich Maneuver is effective due to the expulsion
success of the Heimlich Maneuver. The individual victim, 45 of air from the lungs caused When the diaphragm is forced
acting alone, must try to press his ?sts and hands against his upWard. The diaphragm is, in turn, forced upWard by the
oWn abdomen (Without any extension or proper leverage) force exerted during performance of the maneuver on the
With sufficient force to effect the expulsion of food or some abdomen and underlying abdominal organs of the victim.
other item from his oWn throat. This is rendered even more This force must be appropriately focused in order to be
dif?cult by the fact that the victim is in the process of 50 effective. On the other hand, such a force must be exerted in
choking and may be close to unconsciousness as Well as a manner that does not damage the victim. My invention has
substantially Weakened. been developed With the express purpose of providing
In addition, many choking victims are elderly people Who appropriate force Without injury. Like some other devices, it
live alone. Not only are these individuals the most likely to has a spacing rod 1 With handles 2. It also possesses an end
be afflicted by a choking emergency Without any available 55 pad 3 and a head 4. The non-slip end pad 3 of my invention
person to assist nearby, they are often frail and Would ?nd (Which could be replaced by a non-slip end cap) can be ?at,
it dif?cult to perform the Heimlich Maneuver on themselves rounded, or inclined. It can be placed against a tabletop or
at the best of times. When they are in the process of choking, Wall to provide additional assistance and leverage to a
and possibly panicked, their chances of survival are choking victim using my device. HoWever, it is in the design
extremely small. There is, therefore, a great need for some 60 of the head 4 that my invention most clearly supercedes prior
type of apparatus to assist individuals in performing the efforts in this ?eld.
Heimlich Maneuver on themselves. The attempted exertion of force over too large an area
To date, most devices that have been developed to assist (eg using a large disc-shaped head) is unlikely to penetrate
in the performance of the Heimlich Maneuver have featured deeply and expel suf?cient breath to be effective. The
a ball or dome-shaped head to be pressed against the 65 resistance provided by the supportive musculature and tis
victim’s abdomen. Usually some type of handles are sues of the abdominal Wall and by the underlying internal
attached to the head to facilitate the device’s use by the organs Will resist the application of force applied over too
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3 4
large an area. Further, to the extent such compression can be thereby expelling an object lodged in the choking victim’s
forced, it is likely to be too gradual to forcefully expel throat, said body-engaging surface having a horiZontally
material from the victim’s Windpipe. In addition, such elongated and vertically oblate central bulge extending
broadly symmetrical head shapes Will be outsiZed for some forWard of the remaining portions of said elongated head.
victims. Conversely, a symmetrical head that applies force in 2. A device as described in claim 1, further comprising a
too small an area may ?t more victims, but Will penetrate too linear member attached perpendicularly to said horiZontal
deeply (With likely damage to underlying tissue) and Will not elongated head opposite said body-engaging surface.
cause the type of volume displacement necessary for the 3. A device as described in claim 2, further comprising an
success of the Heimlich Maneuver. end pad adapted for frictional gripping and placement on a
I have discovered that a head 4 With lateral (horizontal) 10
surface, said end pad being located at an end of said linear
extensions 4A Works best in performing the Heimlich member opposite said head.
Maneuver. A head 4 of this type can easily be produced With 4. A device as described in claim 1, further comprising
a small vertical cross section that alloWs it to ?t betWeen the horiZontal handles for moving said horiZontally elongated
head.
navel and sternum of victims of many different siZes. It also
5. A device as described in claim 1, further comprising a
compresses a large enough area (due to extensions 4A) to 15 linear member attached perpendicularly to said horiZontally
create the type of forceful volume expulsion of air necessary elongated head opposite said body-engaging surface and
for the success of the Heimlich Maneuver. HoWever, it is horiZontal handles connected to said horiZontally elongated
also able to avoid problems associated With the resistance head via said linear member.
offered by the vertical bands of muscle in the victim’s 6. A device as described in claim 5, Wherein said central
abdominal region. It does this in a simple and practical Way bulge lies on an axis for said linear member.
by exerting force across these muscles in a narroW horiZon 7. Adevice as described in claim 6, further comprising an
tal band via extensions 4A instead of spreading the force in end pad adapted for frictional gripping and placement on a
a broadly symmetrical manner. I have found that force surface, said end pad being located at an end of said linear
exerted in a narroW horiZontal band is much harder for the member opposite said head.
abdominal musculature to resist or blunt. In this respect, the 25 8. A device as described in claim 6, Wherein said central
abdominal musculature can be compared to a rigid but bulge extends forWard of the remaining portions of said
bendable bar. It is easier to bend such an item across a elongated head by approximately 1.5 inches.
narroW linear edge than to bend it Without such assistance. 9. A device as described in claim 6, Wherein the distance
In like manner, the narroW horiZontal band provided by betWeen said head and said handles is approximately 12
extensions 4A greatly facilitates the functioning of my inches.
invention. 10. A device as described in claim 5, further comprising
I have also discovered that it is best to have a portion that an end pad adapted for frictional gripping and placement on
creates an initial “point of attac ” rather than to try to force a surface, said end pad being located at an end of said linear
the entire Width of head 4 into the abdomen at the same time. member opposite said head.
Thus, the head 4 is not only provided With lateral extensions 35 11. A device as described in claim 1, Wherein said central
4A, but With a leading central bulge 5. This bulge 5, like the bulge lies on an axis for said linear member.
point of a shovel or the proW of a ship, provides additional 12. A device as described in claim 11, further comprising
mechanical advantage to the user, greatly facilitating the an end pad adapted for frictional gripping and placement on
ease With Which my invention can be used. a surface, said end pad being located at an end of said linear
My invention can be manufactured in numerous Ways member opposite said head.
using a Wide variety of materials. It can, for example, be 13. A choking assistance device, including a horiZontally
produced from Wood, elastomers, general rubber products, elongated head With a body-engaging surface used for
plastics, metals, laminated boards, plastic foams, and/or any compressing the upper abdomen of a choking victim and
other suitable material. I prefer the use of rigid plastics for thereby expelling an object lodged in the choking victim’s
spacing rod 1 and handles 2 With a someWhat more ?exible 45 throat, Wherein said horiZontally elongated head is approxi
semi-rigid foam product being used for head 4. The dimen mately 7.25 inches long and the body-engaging surface of
sions of my invention can also very Widely. HoWever, I have said head is approximately 2 inches Wide.
found that the head 4 can advantageously be produced With 14. A device as described in claim 13, further comprising
a total Width (across extensions 4A) of approximately 7.25 a linear member attached perpendicularly to said horiZon
inches, a thickness of approximately 2 inches, and With a tally elongated head opposite said body-engaging surface;
central bulge 5 extending forWard of lateral extensions 4A horiZontal handles connected to said horiZontally elongated
by approximately 1.5 inches. The length of spacing rod 1 head via said linear member; a central bulge in said body
betWeen head 4 and handles 2 of approximately 12 inches engaging surface lying on an axis for said linear member;
has, like the other dimensions described, provided ideal for and an end pad adapted for frictional gripping and placement
the use of most people. Pad 3 is approximately 2 inches from 55 on a surface said end pad being located at an end of said
handles 2, Which may advantageously be covered With linear member opposite said head.
plastic grips to make them easier to grasp and hold. 15. Adevice as described in claim 14, Wherein said central
HoWever, all of the aforesaid dimensions (While represent bulge extends forWard of the remaining portions of said
ing a fair average appropriate for most users) are subject to elongated head by approximately 1.5 inches.
some variation to meet the needs of individual users. Here, 16. A device as described in claim 15, Wherein the
as in all other respects, the invention can be subject to Wide distance betWeen said head and said handles is approxi
variation Without exceeding the scope of the inventive mately 12 inches.
concept as set forth herein. 17. A device as described in claim 14, Wherein the
I claim: distance betWeen said head and said handles is approxi
1. A choking assistance device, including a horiZontally 65 mately 12 inches.
elongated head With a body-engaging surface used for 18. A choking assistance device including a horiZontally
compressing the upper abdomen of a choking victim and elongated head With a body-engaging surface used for
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compressing the upper abdomen of a choking victim and extending forward of the remaining portions of said elon
thereby expelling an object lodged in the choking victim’s gated head by approximately 1.5 inches.
throat, the body-engaging surface having a central bulge * * * * *