Patents Examined by Cary E. O'Connoir
  • Patent number: 5178538
    Abstract: An improved prophylactic cup device (10, 100) comprised of a prophylactic cup (12, 102) mounted on a mounting screw (14, 104) is described. In the preferred embodiment, the prophylactic cup is molded from a silicone polymer containing a dental cleaning and polishing agent such as pumice and is mounted onto a circular cross-sectioned mounting screw comprised of a shaft (14a) with a threaded portion (14c) and a head (14b). The head provides for cylindrical inlet or channel portions (14g) and (14h), and retaining slots (14i) and (14j). Since silicone polymers are poorly adherent to any surface and because the strength of silicone polymers is greatly reduced by the addition of pumice, the channels and retaining slots increase the contact surface area between the prophylactic cup and the mounting screw. This allows the prophylactic cup device to be mounted on a dental handpiece and to be used to clean teeth and gingival crevices without a dental paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventor: Ronald C. Eckert