Abstract: A dental handpiece having a slow speed, high torque rotary output, comprises a housing member; an input shaft rotatably mounted in the housing member; a coupling member at an end portion of the input shaft for being coupled to a rotary dental drive unit; a plurality of planetary gear stages sequentially arranged within the housing member, a first of the planetary gear stages being coupled so as to be rotationally driven by the input shaft; subsequent planetary gear stages being sequentially coupled to each other such that an output of one planetary gear stage drives an input of a next subsequent planetary gear stage; and an output shaft coupled to a final output planetary gear stage of the plurality of sequentially arranged planetary gear stages. The output shaft provides a slow speed, high torque rotary output responsive to the input shaft being driven by a higher speed rotary dental drive unit.

Abstract: A rotary dental drive tool has a rotatable driving member which is connected to a working tool via a self-tightening chuck, the rotatable driving member rotating in a clockwise direction during use. The chuck includes a chuck member having a tool-engaging internal surface portion for receiving a working tool therein, the chuck member having a tapered outer surface portion which is engageable with a tapered inner surface portion of the rotatable driving member so as to press the tool-engaging internal surface portion of the chuck member against the working tool to fixedly engage the working tool with said rotatable driving member via the chuck member. The chuck member has a left-hand threaded screw member on an outer surface portion thereof, which is engageable with a left-hand threaded screw portion on an inner surface portion of the rotatable driving member.

Abstract: The invention provides a furniture unit for the support of a video set and video tape cassettes in conjunction with a television receiver, comprising a base element sized to be inserted under the television receiver, a first vertical side member rigidly attached to the base element at a position corresponding to one side of the television receiver, the vertical side member being configured to include storage racks for video cassettes, and a shelf element rigidly attached to the vertical element configured to support a video set above a television receiver, the major plane of the shelf element being parallel to the major plane of the base element.

Abstract: A disposable right angle dental handpiece comprises a disposable plastic outer housing having an elongated opening therein for receiving a drive shaft mechanism which is preferably made of metal. The drive shaft mechanism is connected to the disposable outer plastic housing by means of a quick connect-quick disconnect mechanism. The outer housing also contains a gear which is engaged with a gear at the end of the drive shaft mechanism, a working member being connected to the gear for being driven by the drive shaft member. The drive shaft member is connectable to the dental tool for being driven thereby. Also disclosed are embodiments wherein the drive shaft mechanism is connected to the dental drive tool, and wherein the outer housing is independently connected to the dental drive tool by means of a quick connect-quick disconnect mechanism, which locks the outer housing relative to the dental drive tool in both the longitudinal and circumferential directions.

Abstract: A disposable right angle dental handpiece comprises a disposable plastic outer housing having an elongated opening therein for receiving a drive shaft mechanism which is preferably made of metal. The drive shaft mechanism is connected to the disposable outer plastic housing by means of a quick connect-quick disconnect mechanism. The outer housing also contains a gear which is engaged with a gear at the end of the drive shaft mechanism, a working member being connected to the gear for being driven by the drive shaft member. The drive shaft member is connectable to the dental tool for being driven thereby.

Abstract: A lubricant delivery system for a dental handpiece, the dental handpiece having an air inlet tube having a predetermined internal shape in the vicinity of an open end portion thereof. The lubricant delivery system comprises a squeezable sealed capsule which includes a main body portion and a necked down portion extending from the main body portion. The necked down portion is smaller than the internal shape of the air inlet tube and is insertable into the open end of the air inlet tube. A passage is formed in the necked down portion extending from the main body portion to a tip end portion of the necked down portion. A lubricant fills at least a part of the squeezable main body portion. When the tip end portion of the necked down portion is opened, the opened necked down portion is inserted into the air inlet tube of the dental handpiece and the main body portion is squeezed to expel lubricant contained therein into the handpiece via the air inlet tube.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing an index matching coating material onto an end of an optical fiber to be terminated includes a reservoir formed by a floor and sidewalls with a small portion of the index matching coating material being disposed on a top surface of the floor. An interior perimeter shape of the sidewalls is registrable with an external perimeter shape of an optical fiber contact to which the optical fiber is secured which allows the index matching material to be conveniently disposed on an end of the optical fiber by simply inserting the optical fiber contact into the reservoir.

Abstract: A method for making a dispenser-package for holding a small quantity of fiber-optic coating material and for use in applying same to a fiber optic.The sealant or coating material is introduced into container with a hypodermic needle.

Abstract: A disposable right angle dental handpiece comprises a disposable plastic outer housing having an elongated opening therein for receiving a drive shaft mechanism which is preferably made of metal. The drive shaft mechanism is connected to the disposable outer plastic housing by means of a quick connect-quick disconnect mechanism. The outer housing also contains a gear which is engaged with a gear at the end of the drive shaft mechanism, a working member being connected to the gear for being driven by the drive shaft member. The drive shaft member is connectable to the dental tool for being driven thereby.

Abstract: A vial for storing soft contact lenses is disclosed in which the vial contains a cap having a concave seating surface connected in the cap. When the vial is stored upside down, the soft lens migrates to be seated in the seating surface in the cap, and when the soft lens is to be removed from the vial, the vial is merely turned rightside up, with the lens adhering to the seating means and being removed from the vial when the cap is removed from the vial.

Abstract: A soft contact lens apparatus formed of a resilient material having a generally U-shape. A control portion forms the seat of the U-shape, while an intermediate fulcrum section operates to spread forwardly located finger and tip means as said control portion is squeezed together. When released, the material's resiliency allows the tips to return to their substantially closed position. This return movement is used to pinch the soft contact lens from the eye without injury or damage to the eye or lens since the tips are made of soft yet firm material, and the amount of force is slight and predetermined by the natural resiliency of the material. The apparatus may also be used to insert the lens.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a soft contact lens to the surface of an eye is disclosed to include a thimble section, a cup section and a stem section therebetween. The soft contact lens is retained on the cup section by capillary attraction during placement. The diameter of the cup section is less than the diameter of the lens being placed in order to cause the capillary attraction between the cup section and lens section to be less than the capillary attraction between the lens and the surface of the eye thereby permitting sure and easy placement.