Leonard J Schnipke, 5718095 Road 24R, Fort Jennings, OH 45844

D243527, Mar 1, 1977

Aug 20, 1975

5/606306

Leonard Schnipke - Cloverdale OH

D2205

D22 12

5653928, Aug 5, 1997

Jun 15, 1995

8/490767

Leonard H. Schnipke - Cloverdale OH

Schnipke Family Partnership - Ottoville OH

B29C 3702
B29C 6500
B23Q 300

264138

Method for assembling staple drivers in a cartridge to be used during surgery includes a fixture having tapered converging passageways to guide staple drivers into alignment with pockets in the cartridge. After the staple drivers are properly in place to be pushed into the pockets of the cartridge, a plunger with blade-shaped projections descends such that the blades project through the fixture and the passageways therein to push the drivers into the pockets. To prevent the drivers from falling out of the pockets through the entrance opening where they were inserted, a pocket locking or blocking element is applied to the cartridge after the drivers are in the pockets.

5836147, Nov 17, 1998

Apr 3, 1997

8/832092

Leonard H. Schnipke - Cloverdale OH

Schnipke Family Partnership - Ottoville OH

B29C 3702
B29C 6500
B23Q 300

59 71

Apparatus for assembling staple drivers in a cartridge to be used during surgery includes a fixture having tapered converging passageways to guide staple drivers into alignment with pockets in the cartridge. After the staple drivers are properly in place to be pushed into the pockets of the cartridge, a plunger with blade-shaped projections descends such that the blades project through the fixture and the passageways therein to push the drivers into the pockets. To prevent the drivers from falling out of the pockets through the entrance opening where they were inserted, a pocket locking or blocking element is applied to the cartridge after the drivers are in the pockets.

6158205, Dec 12, 2000

Jul 14, 1999

9/353096

Leonard H. Schnipke - Cloverdale OH
Ronald J. Schnipke - Cloverdale OH
Donald K. Schnipke - Cloverdale OH

Schnipke Family Limited Liability Company - Ottoville OH

B29C 3702
B23Q 300

59 71

An improved guide fixture is disclosed. The guide fixture includes two portions forming a guide passage. The first portion funnels a discrete element into a second portion. A knife edge located adjacent a slot in the guide passage separates the discrete element from a holder while the discrete element is inserted into a cartridge.

2008008, Apr 17, 2008

Sep 28, 2006

11/528859

Leonard J. Schnipke - Ft. Jennings OH, US
Brian Doepker - Kalida OH, US
Ronald J. Schnipke - Cloverdale OH, US

B23P 19/00
B23Q 17/00

2940709, 294071, 29798

A pocket-sizing apparatus for a device that inserts staple drivers into pockets aligned to form a slot in a surgical staple cartridge. A fin extends from a driver guide fixture for insertion into the slot. The fin increases the size of the slot, thereby aiding in inserting drivers into the pockets. Preferably a second fin extends from the driver guide fixture adjacent the fixture passage and aligned with the first fin. A gap is formed between the first and second fins, extending from a first edge to an opposite edge of the fixture passage. The driver is driven through the gap. The fins are substantially equal to the thickness of the driver. The fins have tapered leading edges to aid cartridge insertion and removal, and a lip extends from the driver guide fixture for preventing the fins from widening the slot too much and for narrowing an overly wide slot.