Patents Assigned to Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.
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Patent number: 5938441Abstract: Air driven dental handpiece motors include a tubular housing and a rotor rotatably supported within the housing. One motor is geared down by the provision of a plurality of idler gears rotatably supported on a hub which rotates between a sun gear on the output end of the rotor and a ring gear fixed within the housing. A drive shaft connects an exposed drive gear with the hub. A bearing is provided between the drive shaft and the inner bore of skirt extending from the ring gear to reduce a number of tolerances built up between the drive shaft and the bearing. The motor further includes a valve member rotatable through about 140.degree. of arc to vary maximum motor speed and motor rotation direction. The valve member abuts a valve plate having a circular air inlet opening and a semicircular air outlet or exhaust opening. The valve member has an air supply opening which is an elongated arcuate slot having radiused circumferential ends.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1998Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventor: Tod H. Brenner
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Patent number: 5795167Abstract: Air driven dental handpiece motors include a tubular housing and a rotor rotatably supported within the housing. One motor is geared down by the provision of a plurality of idler gears rotatably supported on a hub which rotates between a sun gear on the output end of the rotor and a ring gear fixed within the housing. A drive shaft connects an exposed drive gear with the hub. A bearing is provided between the drive shaft and the inner bore of skirt extending from the ring gear to reduce a number of tolerances built up between the drive shaft and the bearing. The motor further includes a valve member rotatable through about 140.degree. of arc to vary maximum motor speed and motor rotation direction. The valve member abuts a valve plate having a circular air inlet opening and a semicircular air outlet or exhaust opening. The valve member has an air supply opening which is an elongated arcuate slot having radiused circumferential ends.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1996Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventor: Tod H. Brenner
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Patent number: 5779474Abstract: A high speed air-driven powerhead in a dental handpiece includes an automatic chuck with outside surfaces protection from overheating. An autochuck release push button on the back of the powerhead is constructed of low thermal conductivity and heat reflective materials to reduce heat due to friction from inadvertent contact with the chuck while rotating. In addition, a sudden stop mechanism is provided which arrests chuck rotation if the force of contact exceeds a level which would raise the temperature of the push button beyond a predetermined threshold. A vortex air barrier is also provided to seal the front end bearing of the powerhead. The barrier also permits spacing which prevents static axial overload of the bearing and eliminates possible damage to the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventor: Donald I. Gonser
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Patent number: 5618410Abstract: An automatically draining vacuum apparatus for collecting a fluid to be vacuumed. The vacuum apparatus includes a vacuum generating source which generates a suction force and a tank for holding the fluid to be vacuumed. The tank includes a vacuum port, an inlet and a drainage opening for emptying fluid held within the tank. The suction force at the vacuum port draws the fluid to be vacuumed into the tank through the inlet and prevents the fluid within the tank from passing from the tank through the drainage opening. A float is located in the tank for closing off the vacuum port to prevent the fluid within the tank from passing through the vacuum port. The float has a positive buoyancy with respect to the fluid and is positioned within the tank such that when the fluid within the tank is above a predetermined level, the suction force at the vacuum port and the float buoyancy maintain the float in a blocking position to at least partially block the vacuum port, creating a second suction force.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1995Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: George M. Wallace, Terence L. Snyder
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Patent number: 5324900Abstract: A sealed omnidirectional operable footswitch particularly suited for use in connection with dental and medical position programmable adjustable chairs.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1992Date of Patent: June 28, 1994Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: Donald I. Gonser, Michael J. Butchko
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Patent number: 5274535Abstract: A color-correcting optical delivery system for a dental or medical operatory light in which hue is eliminated. Chromatic aberrations are corrected by canceling the diffractions in the system due to the different wavelengths of the various colors in the projected light.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1992Date of Patent: December 28, 1993Assignee: Den-tal-ez, Inc.Inventor: Donald I. Gonser
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Patent number: 5214360Abstract: A position programmable adjustable chair particularly useful in dental and medical procedures. The chair is hydraulically powered and controlled by microprocessors which enable chair seat and back positions to be memorized and automatically captured upon command by use of a single control button. The control button may be located either on the chair or on a footswitch. A sealed omnidirectionally operable footswitch is provided which is particularly suited for use in combination with the chair.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1992Date of Patent: May 25, 1993Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: Donald I. Gonser, Michael J. Butchko
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Patent number: 5203696Abstract: The light transmissibility of a fiber-optic bundle such as contained in a medical/dental instrument is maintained by the application to the polished and ground end surfaces of the bundle of a thin, substantially-transparent, heat-resistant, hydrophobic compound such as a silicone oil or grease.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1991Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventor: Donald I. Gonser
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Patent number: 5062797Abstract: An improved rotor shaft for a vibratory dental scaling instrument. The shaft includes a metal substrate having a surface layer of nickel-boron alloy. The alloy surface layer provides a durable bearing surface for a rotor rotatably mounted on the shaft. The thus fabricated scaling instrument is capable of being heat sterilized without adverse effects on its rotary components.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 1990Date of Patent: November 5, 1991Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventor: Donald I. Gonser
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Patent number: 5045055Abstract: A sterilizable medical/dental syringe having a handle with a nozzle at one end is provided with means for releasably coupling the other end of the handle to a flexible supply hose providing compressible gases and/or noncompressible liquids. When disconnected from the flexible hose supply line, automatic sealing valves prevent the contents of the supply line from escaping. A readily repairable flow control valve for the nozzle is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: Donald I. Gonser, Douglas M. Reinhart
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Patent number: 5003434Abstract: A miniature hand-held spot source of illumination particularly suited for use by health professionals to view and operate upon a patient's anatomy. The spot-source includes a handle with a tool mounted at its proximal end and a source for projecting light into the vicinity of the tool. The spot source is color corrected to enhance viewability under variety of ambient lighting conditions.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1990Date of Patent: March 26, 1991Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: Donald I. Gonser, Douglas M. Reinhart
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Patent number: 4966552Abstract: A handpiece particularly suited for medical/dental applications in which a rotary tool is used upon and in proximity with anatomical structures. The handpiece has an anti-friction bearing assembly which mounts the rotary tool. At least the rolling elements of the bearing assembly are formed of ceramic material. The instrument may be sterilized repeatedly without requiring lubrication either in use or between sterilization cycles.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 1989Date of Patent: October 30, 1990Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventor: Donald I. Gonser
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Patent number: 4957483Abstract: A sterilizable medical/dental syringe having a handle with a nozzle at one end is provided with means for releasably coupling the other end of the handle to a flexible supply hoses providing compressible gases and/or noncompressible liquids. When disconnected from the flexible hose supply line, automatic sealing valves prevent the contents of the supply line form escaping. A readily repairable flow control valve for the nozzle is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1988Date of Patent: September 18, 1990Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: Donald I. Gonser, Douglas M. Reinhart
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Patent number: 4824190Abstract: A cabinetry door including a first member having a backwardly extending peripheral border and a second member having a forwardly extending peripheral border with a peripheral flange, wherein the peripheral flange of the second member is attached to the first member within its peripheral border. In a transparency viewer embodiment, the first member includes an light-transmitting portion and a transparency holder, and a light source is disposed between the first and second members.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 1983Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: Randall N. Bartlett, Robert Case, John Sauls, Arden Jenkins, James McNew
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Patent number: D345618Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1992Date of Patent: March 29, 1994Assignee: Den-Tal-EZ, Inc.Inventors: Donald I. Gonser, Donald L. Shortledge
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Patent number: D420225Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 1999Date of Patent: February 8, 2000Assignee: Den-Tal-Ez, Inc.Inventors: Raymond W. Lamb, Gregory M. Saul