DENTAL CABINET WITH ROTATING WORKING SURFACE

Abstract

A cabinet assembly for a dental office has a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments. An arm has a proximal end and a distal end that extends beyond the front of the base. A linear translatable coupler is affixed to the base and to the proximal end of the arm, the translatable coupler adapted for linear translation laterally with respect to the base. An extended working surface is positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm. An adjustable coupler has a portion affixed to the distal end of the arm and a portion affixed to the extended working surface and is movable in response to a force applied by a user for moving the extended working surface relative to the arm.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This applications claims priority to U.S. Provisional application, Ser. No. 60/975,398, filed Sep. 26, 2007, herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to cabinets and, more specifically, to cabinets for dental offices.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Generally there is a need for cabinetry for dental offices that provide working surfaces for dentists and dental hygienists while working with dental patients. Generally the working surfaces are fixed or mobile are not easily adapted to working situations that require customization to meet the specific needs or desires of the dental personnel.

SUMMARY

The inventor hereof has succeeded at designing a cabinet for use in a dental office that includes an adjustable working surface that adjust to meet the location needs of a dental assistant or dentist while attending to a patient. Improved access as provided by the present dental cabinet provides for easier access to dental tools and to the patient with reduced movement by the attending dental personnel.

According to one aspect, a cabinet assembly for a dental office has a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments. An arm has a proximal end and a distal end that extends beyond the front of the base. A linear translatable coupler is affixed to the base and to the proximal end of the arm, the translatable coupler adapted for linear translation laterally with respect to the base. An extended working surface is positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm. An adjustable coupler has a portion affixed to the distal end of the arm and a portion affixed to the extended working surface and is movable in response to a force applied by a user for moving the extended working surface relative to the arm.

According to another aspect, a dental cabinet assembly with a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments, and includes an extended working surface positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm and means for providing linear translation of the extended working surface relative to the working surface of the base.

In some aspects this can also include means for providing lateral translation of the extended working surface relative to the working surface of the base.

In yet another aspect, a dental cabinet assembly includes a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments. The assembly also includes an extended working surface positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm; and means for providing angular translation of the extended working surface relative to the working surface of the base.

Further aspects of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out below. It should be understood that various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one another. It should also be understood that the detailed description and drawings, while indicating certain exemplary embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are front perspective views of a dental cabinet according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a dental cabinet having a user adjustable working surface according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a top view of a dental cabinet having a user adjustable working surface according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a coupling for an adjustable working surface for a dental cabinet according to one exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a coupling for an adjustable working surface for a dental cabinet according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a coupling for an adjustable working surface for a dental cabinet according to a third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a coupling for an adjustable working surface for a dental cabinet according to a fourth exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a dental cabinet according to another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a top view of an adjustable working surface illustrating multiple positions of the working surface according to one exemplary embodiment.

It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the disclosure's applications or uses.

Before turning to the figures and the various exemplary embodiments illustrated therein, a detailed overview of various embodiments and aspects is provided for purposes of breadth of scope, context, clarity, and completeness.

In one embodiment, a cabinet assembly for a dental office has a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments. The base can include an orifice positioned beneath the base working surface that is configured and dimensioned for securing and retaining and holding the linear translatable coupler that is positioned within the cavity of the base and wherein the arm is adapted for extending from within the cavity through the orifice to beyond the front of the base. The orifice can be dimensioned for receiving at least a portion of or the entire extended working surface.

An arm has a proximal end and a distal end that extends beyond the front of the base. In some embodiments, the arm can be affixed by way of the linear translatable coupler to an external surface of the base or to an underside portion of the base working surface.

A linear translatable coupler is affixed to the base and to the proximal end of the arm, the translatable coupler adapted for linear translation laterally with respect to the base.

An extended working surface is positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm. The extended working surface can be substantially the same height as a height of the working surface of the base or can be positioned or positionable above or below the height of the base working surface.

An adjustable coupler has a portion affixed to the distal end of the arm and a portion affixed to the extended working surface and is movable in response to a force applied by a user for moving the extended working surface relative to the arm. The adjustable coupler can be a rotational coupler configured for providing an angular movement of the extended working surface relative to the arm. The adjustable coupler can be configured for providing lateral travel or movement of the extended working surface parallel to the base and the lateral translation of the linear translatable coupler.

An extension coupler can be positioned within the base cavity and be configured for slidably coupling the linear translatable coupler and the arm for providing extension movement or translation of the arm into and out of the orifice for adjusting the amount of extension of the arm beyond the front of the base. In other embodiments, the extension coupler can be attached to the extended working surface and the adjustable coupler and configured for slidably coupling the extended working surface relative to the distal end of the arm for providing extension movement of extended working surface relative to the base working surface.

A rotational coupler can be positioned with the extended working surface and the adjustable coupler and configured for rotatably coupling the extended working surface relative to the distal end of the arm for providing angular movement of the extended working surface relative to the arm.

One or more locking mechanism for selectively fixing the lateral and extended position of the arm relative to the base and/or working surface relative to the arm. These locking mechanisms can include any type of locking mechanism including those with pins, notches, slots or otherwise that can at least temporarily lock a position of translatable and/or moving components.

Any of these couplers can include one or more rail assembly having mating rails that are slidably coupled together. In other embodiments, a rail can be mated with one or more rollers for providing the linear translations or movements such as extended translations T_EXT and lateral translations T_LAT.

Referring now to the figures, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a dental cabinet 10 has a base 12 with a base working surface 14. An extended working surface 16 is positioned in front of the base 12 and working surface 14. As shown in this example, the extended working surface 16 is coupled to an arm 18 that extended from the base 12. In this example, the base includes an orifice 20 from which the arm 18 extends. The extended working surface 16 is coupled to the arm 18 with an adjustable coupler 22. As shown, this adjustable coupler 22 can be a turntable for providing an angular or rotary movement of the extended working surface 16 relative to the base 12 and the base working surface 14. As shown in the comparison between FIGS. 1A and 1B, in FIG. 1A the extended working surface 16 is coupled to the arm 18 such that one portion is extended outward as compared to the other portion. The adjustable coupler 22, a turntable, is positioned at one end. The extended working surface 16 is rotatable such that the extended portion can be rotated from being on the right side, as shown in FIG. 1A, or the left side, as shown in FIG. 1B. In this manner, the extended working surface can be adapted by the user to a particular right handed or left handed operator or a particular situation.

Additional examples of the operation of an extended working surface 16 and arm 18 the extended working surface 16 is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the extended working surface 16 and arm 18 are configured to move or translate laterally T_{LAT OUT} from a left position P_L to a right position P_R. Additionally, the extended working surface 16 can also translate in an extended manner T_EXT from an in position P_IN to an out position P_OUT. As shown in FIG. 2B, the arm 18 is configured for lateral translation T_{LAT OUT} while the extended working surface 16 is configured to rotate or angularly translate T_R relative to the arm 18.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6 illustrate four examples of various combinations and structures for providing multiple translations of the extended working surface 16 relative to the base working surface 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment the arm 18 is positioned within a compartment of the base 12 and is coupled to the linear translatable coupler 24 that has rails 26 mounted to the base. The linear translatable coupler 24 also includes mating slidably engaging rails 26 that are attached to the proximal end of the arm 18 for providing the lateral translation T_{LAT IN}, which is indicative of the lateral translation being within the base 12. The extended working surface 16 is coupled to the distal end of the arm 18 by two adjustable couplers, 22A and 22B.

Adjustable coupler 22A includes rails 30 and mating and slidably engaging rails 32, coupled between the arm 18 and the extended working surface 16 for providing variable extension translation T_EXT of various distances of the extended working surface 16 from the base working surface 14. Adjustable coupler 22B is a turntable 34 that couples the extended working surface 16 to the arm in a flexible and/or adjustable angular translation T_R position relative to the arm 18 and about the pivot point P. In this manner, the arm 18 can move laterally in relation to the base working surface 14, the extended working surface 16 can move in and out in a variable extension positioned relative to the front of the base 12 and the extended working surface 16 can be deflected or translated angularly with respect to the arm 18 and therefore to the base 12 and the base working surface 14 to provide customizable positioning of the extended working surface 16 by a user.

Additionally, one or more of the lateral, extended or rotary couplers can include a locking mechanism, such a pin, a notch, a latch or rib, or otherwise, for selectively and/or temporarily maintaining the position of the arm 18 and/or the extended working surface 16.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment having two lateral couplers. A linear translatable coupler 24 includes rails 26 and rails 28 for coupling the arm 18 to the base 12 while enabling a linear translation of the arm laterally with respect to the base 12. The adjustable coupler 22 includes rails 36 and 38 coupling the extended working surface 16 to the arm 18 such that the extended working surface 16 can be linearly translated laterally with respect to the arm 18. In this embodiment, the extended position of the extended working surface 16 and the arm 18 relative to the base 12 and the base working surface 14 is fixed. However, the extended working surface 16 is adaptable to user customization for moving and translating it relative to the base 12 and relative to the base working surface 14 for meeting the particular user needs.

FIG. 5 illustrates another exemplary embodiment having a linear translatable coupler 24 with rails 26 and 28 for providing lateral translation T_{LAT IN} of the arm 18 relative to the base 12. Additionally, another coupler 40 has a base 42 and rails 44 and rails 46 for coupling the arm 18 to the base 12 such that the arm 18 has a variable extension translation T_EXT from the base 12 for variably extending the extended working surface 16 in front of the base 12. Additionally, the adjustable coupler 22 is a rotary coupler, such as a turntable 34, by way of example, for coupling the extended working surface 16 to the distal end of the arm 18 and providing angular or rotary translation T_R there between.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another exemplary embodiment having the linear translatable coupler 24 for providing lateral translation T_{LAT IN} of the arm 18 relative to the base 12. The adjustable coupler 22 includes rails 36 and 38 for providing lateral translation T_{LAT OUT} of the extended working surface 16 relative to the arm 18. Additionally, a second adjustable coupler 48 can also have a base plate 50 and rails 52 and 54 that further couple the extended working surface 16 to the arm 18 for providing a variable extended position or translation T_EXT of the extended working surface 16 relative to the base 12.

FIG. 7 provides an illustration of an actual dental cabinet employing one of the exemplary embodiments as described herein. FIG. 8 illustrates the adjustability of the extended working surface 16 and arm 18 both in a extended translation T_EXT from position P_IN to position P_OUT and in a lateral translation T_{LAT OUT} from the left position P_L to the right position P_R.

As shown by the above exemplary embodiments, a dental cabinet as described herein can improve the customization of the working surface and working environment for dental personnel.

When describing elements or features and/or embodiments thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features beyond those specifically described.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes can be made to the exemplary embodiments and implementations described above without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is further to be understood that the processes or steps described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative processes or steps may be employed.

Claims

1. A cabinet assembly for a dental office comprising:

a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments;

an arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end extending beyond the front of the base;

a linear translatable coupler affixed to the base and to the proximal end of the arm, the translatable coupler adapted for linear translation laterally with respect to the base;

an extended working surface positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm; and

an adjustable coupler having a portion affixed to the distal end of the arm and a portion affixed to the extended working surface, the adjustable coupler being movable in response to a force applied by a user for moving the extended working surface relative to the arm.

2. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the extended working surface is substantially the same height as a height of the working surface of the base.

3. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the base includes an orifice positioned beneath the base working surface and wherein the linear translatable coupler is positioned within the cavity and the arm is adapted for extending from within the cavity through the orifice to beyond the front of the base.

4. The cabinet assembly of claim 3 wherein the orifice is dimensioned for receiving at least a portion of the extended working surface.

5. The cabinet assembly of claim 3 wherein the orifice is dimensioned for receiving the entire arm and the entire extended working surface, and wherein the arm and the working surface are retractable through the orifice and storage within the compartment.

6. The cabinet assembly of claim 1, further comprising an extension coupler within the base cavity and slidably coupled with the linear translatable coupler and arm combination for providing extension movement of the arm into and out of the orifice for adjusting the amount of extension of the arm beyond the front of the base.

7. The cabinet assembly of claim 6 wherein the adjustable coupler is a rotational coupler configured for providing an angular movement of the extended working surface relative to the arm.

8. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustable coupler is configured for providing lateral travel or movement of the extended working surface parallel to the base and the lateral translation of the linear translatable coupler.

9. The cabinet assembly of claim 8, further comprising an extension coupler attached to the extended working surface and the adjustable coupler, the extension coupler configured for slidably coupling the extended working surface relative to the distal end of the arm for providing extension movement of the extended working surface relative to the base working surface.

10. The cabinet assembly of claim 9, further comprising a rotational coupler positioned with the extended working surface and the adjustable coupler, the rotational coupler configured for rotatably coupling the extended working surface relative to the distal end of the arm for providing angular movement of extended working surface relative to the arm.

11. The cabinet assembly of claim 8, further comprising a rotational coupler positioned with the extended working surface and the adjustable coupler, the rotational coupler configured for rotatable coupling the extended working surface relative to the distal end of the arm for providing angular movement of the extended working surface relative to the arm.

12. The cabinet assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rotational coupler positioned with the extended working surface and the adjustable coupler, the rotational coupler configured for rotatably coupling the extended working surface relative to the distal end of the arm for providing angular movement of extended working surface relative to the arm.

13. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the linear translatable coupler includes a locking mechanism for selectively fixing the position of the arm relative to the base.

14. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustable coupler includes a locking mechanism for selectively fixing the position of the extended working surface relative to the arm.

15. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustable coupler is configured for adjusting the lateral position of the extended working surface relative to the arm and parallel to the lateral translation of the linear translatable coupler.

16. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the linear translatable coupler includes a rail assembly.

17. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustable coupler includes a rail assembly.

18. The cabinet assembly of claim 1 wherein the adjustable coupler includes a turntable assembly.

19. A dental cabinet assembly comprising:

a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments;

an extended working surface positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm; and

means for providing linear translation of the extended working surface relative to the working surface of the base.

20. The dental cabinet assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

means for providing lateral translation of the extended working surface relative to the working surface of the base.

21. A dental cabinet assembly comprising:

a base having a front, a right side and a left side, a base working surface, a cavity within the base, and one or more storage compartments;

an extended working surface positioned beyond the front of the base and coupled to the distal end of the arm; and

means for providing angular translation of the extended working surface relative to the working surface of the base.

22. The dental cabinet assembly of claim 21, further comprising:

means for providing lateral translation of the extended working surface relative to the working surface of the base.