Abstract: A wall anchor employing adhesives or other settable materials to strengthen the wall anchor, facilitating ease of use as well as extreme holding power. A method to attach a wall anchor to a panel, a method to remove a wall anchor from a panel, and a removal tool is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tip-based computer controlled system for a dental delivery device is disclosed. The system automatically controls an operating characteristic such as power control or fluid flow based on tip identification and history. The operating characteristic may also be controlled in response to particular conditions throughout the dental procedure, such as (but not limited to) temperature, dental hygiene material, fluid type, etc. The system may provide an alert or shut off if unsafe conditions occur and/or error circumstances are detected. An operator interface is provided to configure the system and augment/override an executing control algorithm during a procedure. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tip-based computer controlled system for a dental delivery device is disclosed. The system automatically controls an operating characteristic such as power control or fluid flow based on tip identification and history. The operating characteristic may also be controlled in response to particular conditions throughout the dental procedure, such as (but not limited to) temperature, dental hygiene material, fluid type, etc. The system may provide an alert or shut off if unsafe conditions occur and/or error circumstances are detected. An operator interface is provided to configure the system and augment/override an executing control algorithm during a procedure. A method and a computer-readable storage medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dental hand piece with replaceable tips at either end of a tubular handle, each of the replaceable tips including a tip assembly having an instrument working tip end at a distal end of a main tip body and a shank extending from the instrument working tip end to a proximal end of the main tip body. The tip assembly may be provided with a flat-blade extension end at the proximal end of the main tip body. The flat-blade extension end passes through a keyway-shaped slot provided in a locking component, and engages locking structure provided on a cylindrical barrel member. Replaceable tips at the ends of the tubular handle may be secured in 180° orientation to one another. A spring arm member may additionally or alternatively engage notches along an interior wall of the cylindrical barrel member.

Abstract: Embodiments of an adaptor for a lighted magnetostrictive device, a lighting system for a hand-held dental delivery device including an adaptor, and a method of providing light at a magnetostrictive hand-held device using an adaptor are disclosed. The adaptor may securely connect to a hand-piece of the device, and may include a self-contained electric power storage device to power a light source, an adaptor light channel for delivering light from a light source to the insert, or both. The light source may be disposed within the hand-piece, the adaptor or the insert. A user may switch the light source on and off, and/or may dim or brighten an intensity of the light. The light source may provide illumination even when a tip of the device is not activated, and the electric power storage device may be inductively re-charged.

Abstract: Embodiments of a magnetostrictive device, a dental lighting system, a method of illuminating a lighting apparatus and a lighting apparatus are disclosed. The embodiments may include a lighting apparatus with a light source, an electrical power storage device and a switch. When the switch detects a magnetic field, the switch may complete an electrical connection between the electrical power storage device and the switch, thus illuminating the light source. The magnetic field may be magnetostrictively or non-magnetostrictively generated, and maybe be produced by a receptacle, a hand-piece or the lighting apparatus itself. A user may switch the light source on and off. In a magnetostrictive device, the light may be illuminated even when a tip is not activated, and the electrical power storage device may be inductively re-charged. The lighting apparatus may be included in an insert of a magnetostrictive device, such as a magnetostrictive ultrasonic hand-held dental device.

Abstract: A torque wrench for preventing transmission of torque in excess of a threshold level to avoid damage to replaceable scaler tips and hand pieces of ultrasonic dental instruments. The torque wrench has a housing with a core seated therein, with a cam mechanism or spring engagement between the core and the housing, such that the core may remain stationary when the housing is rotated passed the threshold level of torque. The core has an axial bore to receive a connecting shaft of a scaler tip, such that a working end and a functional shank of the scaler tip are received in a chamber of the housing, with the housing acting as an isolation cage for the scaler tip.

Abstract: A torque wrench for preventing transmission of torque in excess of a threshold level to avoid damage to replaceable scaler tips and hand pieces of ultrasonic dental instruments. The torque wrench has a housing with a core seated therein, with a cam mechanism or spring engagement between the core and the housing, such that the core may remain stationary when the housing is rotated passed the threshold level of torque. The core has an axial bore to receive a connecting shaft of a scaler tip, such that a working end and a functional shank of the scaler tip are received in a chamber of the housing, with the housing acting as an isolation cage for the scaler tip.

Abstract: An illuminated lens is provided to illuminate the interior of a vending machine so that prospective patrons of the machine can see the products being offered for sale. Around the outer ends of the transparent lens is a frame made of aluminum, and deposited along the inner surface of the aluminum frame are deposits for forming a plurality of spaced LEDs. The light from the LEDs is directed into the outer end of the lens to thereby illuminate objects behind the lens.

Abstract: A product having a plastic body with mechanical properties and having electronic components therein is made in two steps. In the first step an outer housing is injection molded using a thermoplastic process. The outer housing has a cavity therein and the outer body is then inserted into a second mold. In the second step an inner housing containing the electronic components is transfer molded using a thermoset process in a second mold that includes the cavity of the outer housing.

Abstract: A fuel level sensor has a rotor with two magnets mounted for rotation therewith, the magnets spaced from one another and with like poles directed toward one another. A Hall effect sensor on the housing is positioned between the two magnets such that increasing the volume of fluid in the tank moves one magnet toward the sensor and decreasing the volume in the tank moves the other magnet toward the sensor. A metal sleeve around the magnets protects the parts from interference from magnetic material in the fuel. A static discharge path is provided from a metal rod connecting a float, a plate contracting the rod, and a pivot pin retaining the rotor to the housing, and a ground connector in contact with the pivot pin.