Patents by Inventor Duke K. Ghim

Duke K. Ghim has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7806689
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable dental instrument used by dental professionals to polish a patient's teeth. The dental instrument can be connected to a hand motor used to rotate a prophy cup with a plurality of grinding wings that rub against the patient's teeth as a predetermined amount of tooth cleaning fluid is discharged directly on the patient's teeth through a drain hole within the prophy cup. The tooth cleaning fluid is discharged from a tube that is assembled in a tube room of the dental instrument. The tube is a flexible bladder similar in function and form to a tube of toothpaste. The tube is made of a flexible polymer material that allows it to be squeezed when pressure is applied to it. A roller is assembled within the tube room and on top of the tube. As the roller is pushed forward with a finger, the tube is squeezed to discharge the tooth cleaning fluid directly on the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Inventors: Kwang S. Lee, Duke K. Ghim
  • Publication number: 20100159416
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable dental instrument used by dental professionals to polish a patient's teeth. The dental instrument can be connected to a hand motor used to rotate a prophy cup with a plurality of grinding wings that rub against the patient's teeth as a predetermined amount of tooth cleaning fluid is discharged directly on the patient's teeth through a drain hole within the prophy cup. The tooth cleaning fluid is discharged from a tube that is assembled in a tube room of the dental instrument. The tube is a flexible bladder similar in function and form to a tube of toothpaste. The tube is made of a flexible polymer material that allows it to be squeezed when pressure is applied to it. A roller is assembled within the tube room and on top of the tube. As the roller is pushed forward with a finger, the tube is squeezed to discharge the tooth cleaning fluid directly on the patient's teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Kwang S. Lee, Duke K. Ghim
  • Patent number: 7510396
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand tool used by dental professionals to polish a patient's tooth. The hand tool can be connected to a hand motor used to rotate a wheel cup with a plurality of grinding wings that rub against the patient's tooth as a predetermined amount of dentifrice material is discharged directly on the patient's tooth through a drain hole within the wheel cup. The dentifrice material is discharged from a tube that is assembled in the housing of the hand tool. The tube has a plurality of folds formed on the tube body in such a manner as to be folded by a given distance while being compressed to discharge the dentifrice material therefrom. The tube is compressed by a link with a push button that is guided in the forward direction as it is pushed by a finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventors: Kwang S. Lee, Duke K. Ghim
  • Patent number: 5425636
    Abstract: An articulator for a dental model including a first link means having first and second ends; a second link means having first and second ends; a hinge connecting the first ends of the first and second links; and a pair of couplings; one connected to the second end of the first link and another connected to the second end of the second link. Each coupling includes a model connector having one end defining a first socket and an opposite end adapted for attachment to a dental model; an articulator connector including a ball portion partially received by the first socket and a stem portion connected to one of the second ends of the links; a second socket partially receiving the ball portion and defining an arcuately shaped aperture penetrated by the stem portion; and a retainer securing the model connector to the second socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Inventor: Duke K. Ghim