Having Means Facilitating Assembly Or Disassembly Of Tool Or Handpiece Patents (Class 433/126)
  • Patent number: 4403959
    Abstract: In dental instruments such as a dental handpiece and a syringe, a coupling device for detachably connecting a hose portion, which supplies air or liquid to these instruments, to an instrument body. The coupling device comprises a sleeve fitted over the hose portion with a clearance formed therebetween, a ball-like stop member inserted into at least one opening formed in a peripheral surface at the front end of the sleeve and movable in a diametral direction of the sleeve, a connection cylinder having one end coaxially mounted on the rear end of the instrument body and inserted into the sleeve, and an operating ring fitted over the sleeve and movable in an axial direction of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yoshida Seisakusho
    Inventor: Narito Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 4403956
    Abstract: A dental handpiece including a powerhead assembly connected to an outer sleeve handle portion in which is located a sleeve bearing, a rotatable, disconnectable connecting means being provided in the sleeve bearing. A first optical fiberscope extends from the front end portion of the powerhead near the dental tool into the front end of the sleeve bearing adjacent to the front end of the connecting means. A thickened fiberscope abuts the rear end of the first fiberscope and extends rearward through the handpiece to a light source. Cavities, passages and pipes are provided in the sleeve bearing and connecting means in order to provide a smooth flow of compressed air, chip air, water and exhaust to or from the powerhead assembly while permitting the sleeve bearing and connecting means to rotate relative to each other about the longitudinal axis of the handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: Nakanishi Dental Mfg., Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takasuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 4398885
    Abstract: There is disclosed a dental handpiece comprising a grip sleeve, a head portion provided at one end of the handpiece, a drive unit provided in the head portion for driving a dental implement, and a connecting portion arranged at an opposite end of the handpiece for rotation relative to the grip sleeve and releasably connected at one end to the grip sleeve. The connecting portion serves to convey operating media for the handpiece, and is adapted for connection at its other end to a supply tube for supplying the operating media. In order to provide built-in illumination in the region of the dental implement, an elongate photoconductive device is provided which extends generally longitudinally within the handpiece and includes, within the rotatable connecting portion, a light transmitting portion in the form of either a section of a strand like photoconductor, or an electrically operated bulb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Loge, Erich Bareth
  • Patent number: 4382786
    Abstract: A dental treatment installation comprising at least one dental handpiece having an air operated drive motor and an outlet for discharging operating media used for dental purposes, a spray handpiece, a control arrangement for controlling the supply of operating media to the handpieces, and a storage device for the handpieces having storage switching-means which are arranged to place the handpieces on stand-by to receive operating media upon extraction of the handpieces from the storage device. The control arrangement includes supply sleeves having ducts for supplying operating media to both types of handpiece, couplings for releasably coupling the supply sleeves to the handpieces, and a foot-operated device for regulating the supply of operating media to the handpieces and including first switching-means for controlling the supply of air to drive the motor of the dental handpiece and second switching means for controlling the supply of spray to the dental handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voight GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Gerd Lohn, Stefan Beier
  • Patent number: 4382790
    Abstract: A dental handpiece with a gripping sleeve-like base member which is detachably connected with a headpiece mounting a work tool, a connecting sleeve of the headpiece being insertable into the power-take off end of the base member, wherein a roll body is radially movably supported in each of one or more cutouts in the base member wall, inwardly extending therethrough with a portion of its volume, which is movable through the intermediary of a coupling element movably arranged on the base member, and which includes an inclined plane for the engagement with the roll body under the assumption of a clamping fit in contact against the connecting sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voight GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Loge, Bernhard Kuhn, Erich Bareth, Gerd Lohn
  • Patent number: 4355977
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to improvements in a cordless handpiece for dental treatment having storage batteries and an electric motor incorporated therein. The improvements are that the cutting tool is increased in cutting performance and that the replacement of a contra angle and a straight tool has been facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Morita Seisakusho
    Inventors: Sadayasu Ota, Takeo Uchiya
  • Patent number: 4354839
    Abstract: A dental handpiece which has a drive transmission for transmitting the rotation from a motor to a socket receiving a tool for rotation in the head of the handpiece and having at least one cooling agent line formed in sections with two of the sections being connected to one another by a rotatable connection characterized by a first drive shaft having a direct coupling with the drive shaft of the drive part at one end and having two coaxially arranged gears of different number of teeth disposed on the other end, a first sleeve supporting the first drive shaft and having each cooling line section terminating in an annular groove forming part of the rotatable connection, a second sleeve telescopically received on the first sleeve and having each cooling line section starting with a radially extending port for communicating with an annular groove, a first releasable connection between the first sleeve and the housing of the drive part which does not allow any rotation therebetween, a second releasable connection b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Inventor: Werner Schuss
  • Patent number: 4353697
    Abstract: An air-powered dental handpiece and a connecting means comprises a handle portion and a powerhead assembly. A sleeve bearing having a forwardly reducing cylindrical internal surface is integrally held into another end opening of the handle portion. The surface has three stepped annular space walls, and a central air supply passage and two axial passages for exhaust and water are provided to extend to the stepped annular space walls. An air supply pipe is fixedly inserted into the central passage and two pipes are fixedly inserted into two passages. A front portion of a connecting means is so formed into a forwardly reducing cylindrical plug as to fit into a socket of the sleeve bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: Nakanishi Dental Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Takasuke Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 4348180
    Abstract: A device for releasably interconnecting a head part to a handle part of a dental handpiece characterized by one of the two parts having a catch element in the form of radially projecting catch nose coacting with a counter element in the form of a recess disposed on the other part and a resilient sleeve-shaped member, which forms an outer generated surface of one of said head and handle parts, acting on one of the elements to urge the pair of elements in a coupled state and allowing a disengagement of the elements to enable releasing the connection between the hand parts when a squeezing pressure is applied to the sleeve shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1982
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Werner Schuss
  • Patent number: 4332562
    Abstract: A dental handpiece which has at least two handpiece parts each having a drive shaft and a cooling line segment for at least one cooling line agent and an arrangement for releasably interconnecting the two parts with the gears of the drive shaft in driving engagement, the connecting arrangement including a guide fitting strip arranged on one of the handpiece parts and extending axially therefrom to be engaged in an axial extending guide slot in the other handpiece part to prevent twisting between the connected parts, characterized by the connecting arrangement comprising at least one catch element provided on one handpiece part and coacting with a counter element on the other handpiece part, and each of the cooling line segments of the one handpiece part extending into the guide fitting strip, the other handpiece part having a portion supporting each of its cooling line segments to project from a surface into the guide slot to form an axial connection with the segments of the fitting strip and a sealing arrang
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Schuss, Ernst-Otto Fleer
  • Patent number: 4330279
    Abstract: A dental handpiece having an improved water/air spray system including a pair of substantially parallel tubes, one for water and the other for chip air, extending through the handle of the handpiece and terminating in a nozzle chamber of oval cross section. The tubes are generally cylindrical but are partially deformed at their distal ends, such deformation constituting a flattening of adjacent wall portions of the respective tubes. Such adjacent wall portions are disposed in contiguous relation and are cut away for a limited distance at the discharge end of the tube assembly to define the unitary nozzle chamber. The chamber has an oval discharge orifice for directing an elliptical spray pattern towards the tip of the dental bur. At the opposite end of the handpiece, the handle is equipped with a plug terminating in an external end face. Tubular extensions project from that end face for conveying air to the drive air and chip air passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1982
    Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Heil, Thomas W. Albert
  • Patent number: 4325696
    Abstract: A dental handpiece arrangement which has a drive transmission for transmitting the rotation from a motor to a socket receiving the tool in the head of the handpiece comprising a first drive shaft having a pair of coaxially arranged drive gears of different numbers of teeth, a second drive shaft having a gear engaging one of the pair of coaxial drive gears characterized by the second drive shaft being composed of a first drive shaft portion and a second drive portion which are interconnected by meshing gears providing a change in the gear ratio. Preferably, the two drive shaft portions of the second drive shaft are mounted in a housing with a gear at each end and the housing is adapted for being supported in the handpiece arrangement in two different positions so that in a first position, a gear at one end is engaging one of the pair of coaxial gears of the first drive shaft and in the second position the gear at the opposite end is engaging the other of the pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Otto Rosenstatter, Reinhard Straihammer
  • Patent number: 4324548
    Abstract: A dental handpiece assembly equipped with an improved latch mechanism for detachably connecting a motor section to a straight or angular handpiece section. The latch includes a ring disposed between the two sections, the ring having an outer surface which is substantially flush with the casings of the respective sections when the parts are assembled and the ring is in its normal latching position. Unlatching is accomplished by displacing the entire ring in a transverse direction, by finger pressure applied at any point along a semi-circumferential area of the ring's outer surface, to shift an arcuate rib out of engagement with the neck portion of the other section of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Nilles, Stanley L. Stankiewicz, David S. Zubriski
  • Patent number: 4321039
    Abstract: A dental handpiece comprising a drive section with a drive shaft for driving a tool receiving socket mounted for rotation in an end of a handle section which handle section is coupled for relative rotation on the drive section, said dental handpiece having at least one cooling medium line being formed by a line segment arranged in each of said sections for conveying the medium to a nozzle adjacent the socket, and a rotatable coupling for the cooling medium lines characterized by the rotatable coupling being formed by a first and second sleeves being telescopically assembled together for relative rotation, one of said sleeves having an annular groove for each of the cooling medium lines and the other of the two sleeves having a radial opening in communication with each of the annular channels, said sleeves being detachably connected to the respective section to rotate therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Schuss, Hans J. Klose
  • Patent number: 4317615
    Abstract: A quartz rod used as an optical wave guide to direct radiation of a desired spectrum onto a limited area, such as a dental cavity filled with a material curable by the radiation, is protected by a case including at least two rigid shells which tightly enclose the quartz rod but are easy to disassemble for being cleaned, and easy to reassemble thereafter. The interior wall of the case formed by the shells is spaced from the outer surface of the quartz rod except at a few points at both ends of the case, to leave the total reflection characteristics at the quartz rod surface unaffected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1982
    Assignee: ESPE Fabrik Pharmazeurischer Preparate GmbH
    Inventor: Wolf-Dietrich Herold
  • Patent number: 4315744
    Abstract: A chuck wrench for dental handpieces in which the wrench has a unitary handle that may be easily gripped by a user for coupling the wrench to the head of a handpiece for adjusting the collet chuck thereof. The wrench includes a rigid shaft of non-circular cross section secured to the wrench body and at least one spring-loaded lug pin located alongside the shaft for keying the rotor of the handpiece to the handpiece cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Inventor: Thomas W. Albert
  • Patent number: 4313725
    Abstract: An air driven dental handpiece having an air turbine at one end thereof. Collet means for securing a dental bur therein are positioned within the air turbine. The collet means includes a plurality of collapsible jaws at the bottom thereof. Threads are provided on the exterior surface of the collet means in the area of the jaws. The bottom of the collet means is tapered, and a collet nut is threadedly secured on the collet means. The collet nut has an internal taper which is complementary to the taper of the collet means. The threaded advancement of the collet nut on the collet means causes the collapsing of the jaws of the collet means, through the mating tapers, and accordingly a dental bur can be secured in the collet means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Venture Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel H. Lieb, Albert D. Alderman, Jr., James L. Alago
  • Patent number: 4310310
    Abstract: A dental handpiece assembly has a handle sleeve with an exterior notch formed in its exterior surface. The head of the handpiece is mounted to a shoulder sleeve, which sleeve has a locking extension with an end lug size to be received within the handle notch. A locking ring is rotatably mounted on the handle, and has a slot sized to allow the locking extension to extend through it so that the lug is received within the handle notch. The exterior surface of the lock ring is approximately flush relative to the adjacent exterior surfaces of the handle and shoulder. A spring mounted to the handle and to the lock ring biases the lock ring to be positioned to block removal of the lug from the handle notch. The spring is mounted within the lock ring and on the outside of a third sleeve projecting unitarily from the first sleeve. A bearing sleeve acts as a bearing for a drive rod that extends through the bearing to transmit driving force to the tool in the head of the handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1982
    Assignee: Young Dental Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4306865
    Abstract: A modular reduction gear for a dental handpiece comprises an input shaft coupled to the driving motor and provided with a pinion constituting the sun wheel of an epicyclic gear of which the planet carrier is rigid with the adjacent end of the output shaft transmitting the rotary motion to the dental instrument, the carrier supporting three planet pins having mounted thereon for free rotary motion three planet pinions meshing with the sun pinion and with a fixed toothed annulus clamped between the pair of sockets constituting the body of the handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Micro-Mega, S.A.
    Inventor: Henri Leonard
  • Patent number: 4304552
    Abstract: A dental wrench is described having a structure which permits application of differing torques to the bur securing collet of a dental handpiece and the end cap of the turbine housing in a single wrench assembly. The wrench combines a shaft, for engaging the bur securing collet, supported rotatively in a frame member and secured to a support member which has means for engaging the end cap of the turbine housing. Interlocking means are provided between the support member and the frame member so that the wrench can be rotated as a unitary assembly to secure or remove the end cap of a turbine housing. The interlocking means are releaseable so that the shaft can be rotated independently within the frame member to secure or remove a dental bur in or from the collet of the handpiece housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Syntex (U.S.A.) Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Wright, Walter M. Bailey
  • Patent number: 4303392
    Abstract: The specification discloses a dental handpiece having a handle and a plurality of fluid tubes extending from the rearward end of the handle to the forward end of the handle. The handpiece has a coupling for connecting the rearward end of the handle to a plurality of fluid supply hoses so that each hose can deliver fluid to a corresponding one of the tubes while permitting the handle to be rotated relative to the hoses. The coupling includes a cylindrical bushing secured in the rearward end of the handle and a cylindrical connector adapted to be slidably inserted into the bushing to define an interface therebetween. The bushing and the connector having a plurality of pairs of corresponding passages. At least one passage of each pair opens in an annular groove at the interface which is contiguous with the opening of the other passage of the pair at the interface. The coupling includes a plurality of O-rings for sealing the fluid connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: A-Dec, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell L. Rollofson
  • Patent number: 4286951
    Abstract: In a dental handpiece, in particular a contra-angle, comprising a head and a handle coupled with a bayonet joint, an internal support for a tool-driving shaft fits freely in the head and has a rear portion fitting freely in the handle. In the vicinity of the coupling between the head and handle, the internal support has an enlargement providing a forwardly facing shoulder and a rearwardly facing shoulder. A groove at the base of the forwardly facing shoulder receives an O-ring. When the head and handle are coupled, the enlargement and O-ring are clamped between internal shoulders in the head and handle to position the internal support and restrain it from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Micro Mega, S.A.
    Inventor: Henri Leonard
  • Patent number: 4285671
    Abstract: A contra-angle housing made in two parts hinged together at one end encloses a drive shaft with drive gears at one end, and a geared hub for a dental tool or the like supported in apertures in or through the housing parts transverse to the drive shaft. A latch mechanism can be manually operated to release the two housing parts so that they can be opened to change tools, clutches or the like with integral gear hubs. When the housing parts are closed the gears on the hub automatically mesh with the drive shaft gears. Reinforced gears which can be made of molded plastic make possible low-cost interchangeable tools with integral gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Inventors: Leopold P. Lustig, Sigrid Bechter
  • Patent number: 4281989
    Abstract: An air driven turbine supporting a burr is pivotably mounted at the extremity of an arm, which arm is pivotably attached to the handle of a dental hand piece. Conduits extend through the handle and the arm to the turbine and provide a flow of air to and from the turbine and a flow of fluid directed into proximity of the cutting surfaces of the burr. Sealed moveable junctions at each end of the arm maintain integrity of the air and fluid flows while accommodating articulation of the hand piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: The Idea Syndicate, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas L. Glover, Roger H. Rubenstein, Peter H. Douglas, Lee R. Bridges
  • Patent number: 4279596
    Abstract: A dental handpiece, which has a drive motor part with a drive shaft for rotation in a housing, and a grip section connected to the housing and having a head part with a socket for receiving and mounting a tool for rotation, and a drive train coupled to the drive shaft to transfer rotary motion from the motor to the socket, characterized by a sleeve surrounding the housing and being axially removeable from the housing and the grip section so that parts of the handpiece can be individually sterilized as necessary without subjecting the motor to sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Weber
  • Patent number: 4278429
    Abstract: A dental handpiece, which has a drive motor part connected to a housing and a head part with a socket for supporting a tool for rotation being releasably secured on the housing, characterized by the handpiece being convertible between an angled handpiece and a straight handpiece. This is accomplished by the housing being composed of a first housing member, a second housing member, a device for interconnecting the first and second housing members for swivel movement between a first position with their drive shaft sections extending at an angle to each other and a second position with the drive shaft sections being in axial alignment, and a device for holding the housing members in a selected one of the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Straihammer, Werner Schuss
  • Patent number: 4278428
    Abstract: A dental handpiece with at least two drive shaft sections for transmitting the rotary motion from a drive motor to an acceptance socket which is rotatably mounted in a head part of the handpiece, each of the drive shaft sections being arranged with their axes at an angle to one another and one of the two drive shaft sections having two coaxial gears which have different numbers of teeth and the other drive shaft section having at least one gear characterized by one of the two sections being mounted for axial displacement between two positions with one of the positions having one of the two gears in engagement with a gear and the other position having the other of the two gears in engagement with a gear. The gears on the drive shaft sections can be selected so that in one of the positions a direct drive can be obtained and in the other position either a step-up or step-down ratio can be obtained. In one embodiment, a single gear of the one section coacts with the two gears of the other section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Straihammer, Hans J. Klose, Werner Schuss
  • Patent number: 4268252
    Abstract: A rigid tubular housing provides separate enclosures for a drive shaft and a dental tool that are rotatable on axes that are angularly related. A wall separating the two enclosures provides bearing support for tool-driving gears in one of the enclosures and connection to a driving shaft in the other. A latching mechanism envelops the housing and covers it smoothly. The latching mechanism is movable on the longitudinal axis of the tubular housing for controlling access to the enclosure for a dental tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Inventor: Leopold P. Lustig
  • Patent number: 4264303
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and/or disinfecting especially so-called handpieces in a dentist's equipment. The improved apparatus comprises a vessel which is fillable with a suitable liquid or liquid mixture. Said vessel encompasses a rotatably disposed shaft extending through a channel serving as an outlet for the liquid or liquid mixture. There are further means for temporary driving connection with the shaft of the handpiece intended for cleaning and a source for producing a force which, firstly, serves to cause the liquid or liquid mixture, preferably under rotation, to flow out through the channel and then pass through the handpiece, and, secondly, imparts a rotary motion to the shaft, which via a driving connection is transmitted to all of the moving transmission parts of the handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Scania Dental AB
    Inventor: Jan Rosander
  • Patent number: 4264306
    Abstract: This dental hand piece, notably of the contra-angle type, comprises three sleeve-like members assembled to each other by screwing and an external socket covering these three sleeves so as to clamp them between an inner shoulder formed at the front end of the socket and the front end of a complementary end sleeve fitted on the rear sleeve and to which the external socket is screwed at its rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Micro - Mega S.A.
    Inventor: Henri Leonard
  • Patent number: 4260382
    Abstract: For a dentist's installation comprising a handpiece equipped with a turbine for driving a dental tool and flexible conduits leading to the handpiece to supply pressure fluid for driving the turbine, leading turbine exhaust fluid away from the handpiece, and supplying at least cooling water to be applied to the tooth, the invention provides an improved swivel arrangement effective to prevent forces from being applied by the flexible hoses to the handpiece. A face seal swivel is employed in a manner eliminating compression seals, such as gaskets or O-rings. In addition to passing fluids, the device can transmit light via the swivel so that the dental tool and tooth can be illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Inventor: Loronzo H. Thomson
  • Patent number: 4260381
    Abstract: A dental handpiece consisting of a driving sleeve which includes a driving arrangement, a base sleeve and a head sleeve including a dental work tool. At least the base sleeve and the head sleeve are detachably interconnected for the purpose of exchanging the head sleeve, and in which a shaft is supported within the base sleeve which is in rotational connection with the driving arrangement in the driving sleeve, and which is provided with a rotation-transmitting element for engagement with a shaft component supported within the head sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voight GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Eugen Eibofner, Ernst Strohmaier
  • Patent number: 4255143
    Abstract: A device for releasably connecting two parts together characterized by a projection on one part slideably received in a socket or recess of another part to prevent twisting and to guide the two parts as they begin at connection until stop surfaces abut to define the final connecting position and a connecting mechanism having at least one pair of connecting elements mounted on the parts with one connecting element of the pair having an engagement surface for engaging the other element of the pair and being mounted for rotation on the one part with the engagement surface moving in an arc between an unlocked position to a lock position and the mechanism includes a resilient member acting on the one element to urge the engagement surface along the arc at least during the last part of travel towards the lock position so that two parts are held in a final connecting position by the resilient element acting on the one element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Schuss, Hans J. Klose, Hermann Landgraf
  • Patent number: 4251212
    Abstract: A dental handpiece having a first section rotatably mounted on an axis of a drive motor part and supporting a head part at the other end, characterized by the head part being releasably connected to the first section and a rotatable coupling in the cooling lines between the drive motor part and the first section being free from uncoupling when changing the head part to change the drive ratio of the drive train. In addition, the head part has a protective sleeve which surrounds the first section and the rotatable coupling so that the rotatable coupling and first section are not subjected to sterilization with adverse effects to the coupling and to the condition of the lubricant in the various bearings in the drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rainer Worschischek, Werner Schuss
  • Patent number: 4249896
    Abstract: A single-unit turbine cartridge assembly for a gas-driven dental handpiece includes a pair of bearing assemblies mounted on a turbine rotor shaft and a ring of resilient material around each bearing assembly. The resilient ring provides radial support for the turbine cartridge assembly within the housing of the handpiece and substantially dampens the transfer of vibration from the cartridge assembly to the handpiece during use of the handpiece. The turbine cartridge assembly may optionally include bearing axial pre-load means in association with one or more of the bearing assemblies. The turbine cartridge assembly also includes means for retaining the resilient radial support means and the bearing axial preload means, when used, in association with the bearing assemblies, so as to permit removal, and reinstallation, of the cartridge assembly as an entire unit from, and to, the housing in the dental handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Syntex (U.S.A.) Inc.
    Inventor: Frank W. Kerfoot, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4248589
    Abstract: The specification discloses a dental syringe having a head, a tip and a releasable coupling mounted on the head. The head and tip have a corresponding number of fluid passages therethrough. The coupling includes a cylindrical base and a lock nut which screws over the base. The base and the lock nut define an axially extending bore which communicates with the passages through the head and removably receives the rearward portion of the tip. An elastomeric O-ring is positioned between the base and the lock nut and surrounds the bore. When the rearward portion of the tip is fully inserted in the bore the O-ring seats in a groove surrounding the rearward portion of the tip. When the lock nut is fully screwed over the base, deformation of the O-ring is substantially prevented and the tip cannot be withdrawn or ejected from the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1981
    Assignee: A-DEC, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4245985
    Abstract: A dental handpiece having a holding sleeve, a driven shaft rotatable in the holding sleeve to drive a dental instrument, a driving device releasably connected to the holding sleeve and having a drive shaft which is drivingly connected to the driven shaft via a drive-transmission unit which is removably mounted in the holding sleeve. The unit comprises a bearing sleeve which houses one or more shafts, and optionally a ball-type planetary transmission, and is mountable in and removable from the holding sleeve through an end of the holding sleeve remote from the instrument end of the handpiece. The bearing sleeve is secured in the holding sleeve against axial and rotational movement relative to the holding sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Eugen Eibofner, Ernst Strohmaier
  • Patent number: 4231739
    Abstract: A unitary turbine assembly in the form of a cartridge readily inserted as a unit in turbine operated dental handpieces and removable as a unit therefrom for replacement without damage to or requiring change or modification of the housing of the handpiece in which the turbine assembly is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Professional Mfg. Corp.
    Inventor: Robert T. Iudica
  • Patent number: 4219330
    Abstract: A dental handpiece equipped with an improved rotor cartridge and, in particular, a rotor cartridge replacement assembly for such a handpiece. The rotor cartridge takes the form of a subassembly of a rotor, bearings for the rotor, resilient rings supporting the bearings, and a plastic cup member extending about the lower bearing assembly and the resilient support ring therefor. In addition to the rotor cartridge, the replacement assembly may also include a threaded cap and a support tool which not only holds the cap and cartridge together but also may be used for inserting and securing the parts in place within the head housing of a dental handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: American Hospital Supply Corporation
    Inventor: Boubene M. Jaremus
  • Patent number: 4217101
    Abstract: A dental handpiece having a holding sleeve, an air-driven unit mounted at one end of the sleeve to drive a dental tool, and a connecting member releasably and relatively rotatably connected to the other end of the sleeve. A supply hose for conveying fluid pressure media is coupled releasably and non-rotatably to the end of the connecting member remote from the sleeve, and communicating fluid pressure lines in the connecting member and in the sleeve convey fluid pressure media between the hose and consumers of fluid pressure media at the free end of the sleeve, such as the tool-drive unit. The releasable connection between the connecting member and the sleeve is provided by a pin on the connecting member which is received by a passage in the sleeve. The fluid pressure lines in the connecting member extend also generally lengthwise along the pin, but terminate in radial portions having outlet apertures which are axially spaced along the outer periphery of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1980
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voight GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hans Loge
  • Patent number: 4213756
    Abstract: A dental handpiece in which an elongated handle sleeve is transversely divided by formation of an anterior sleeve showing a receptacle for a drivable dental-treatment instrument. A connected grip sleeve is detachable by a rotatable tightening ring. The handle sleeve has a coolant line running at least in the area of the transverse space within the inside of the sleeve outside the longitudinal axis of the handle sleeve, the coolant line is also transversely divided and leads to the area of the dental-treatment instrument. Two front sides of the anterior sleeve and the grip sleeve have both two front sides facing each other. One front side is provided with a projecting connecting piece for the cooling line and the other front side is provided with a connecting socket for an insertable connecting piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Heinrich Reich, Eugen Eibofner
  • Patent number: 4213243
    Abstract: A rotary connector is insertable between a standard dental supply hose and a standard dental handpiece to carry the customary air and water supplies while permitting unlimited relative rotation between the hose and the handpiece around the longitudinal axis of the hose, the connector and the handpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Inventor: Lloyd P. Flatland
  • Patent number: 4211009
    Abstract: A dental handpiece comprises a rear portion or handle and a front portion or head which are coupled by means of a female member secured to one portion and a male member secured to the other portion, the female member having formed therein a longitudinal slot and a recess shifted angularly in relation to the slot, the male member comprising a projection, one member comprising an elastically deformable portion whereby rotating one member in relation to the other through a predetermined angle permits introducing said projection into the recess, the projection being allowed to expand therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: Micro-Mega S.A.
    Inventor: Henri Leonard
  • Patent number: 4198755
    Abstract: A dental handpiece having a drive section and a detachably connected grip section with a working instrument with at least one cooling medium line for conveying a cooling medium to the area of the instrument characterized by the grip section including at least a first and second part engaged with each other for relative rotation therebetween with each part having a segment of a fluid passage for each of the cooling mediums line with the second part being non-rotatably connected with the drive section and a rotatable fluid connection disposed between the first and second parts so that the grip section is free to rotate relative to the drive section of the handpiece and the second part. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid connection is formed by an annular groove in one of the first and second parts with a port in the other of said parts axially aligned and sealed therewith by sealing rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hermann Landgraf, Rainer Worschieschek
  • Patent number: 4182038
    Abstract: A dental handpiece which has a connecting fitting for attachment to a supply hose having at least one agent supply line, a head section having a compressed air drive motor, a grip portion extending between the fitting and head section and a passage in each of said head section, grip portion and fitting for compressed air and a separate passage in each of these for any additional desired agents, characterized by the grip portion having a tubular sleeve portion, which is connected to the head section and receives the passage for compressed air and any other passages for agents, if present, and means detachably connecting the grip portion to the connecting fitting and includes means enabling relative rotation of the sleeve portion to the fitting so that the sleeve portion and each passage of the head section are rotatable relative to the fitting and each passage therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ernst O. Fleer
  • Patent number: 4177564
    Abstract: A dental handpiece connector is adapted to be inserted between a standard dental handpiece and a standard supply tube for the handpiece. The connector allows rocking movement of the handpiece about a transverse axis and also allows rotary movement of the handpiece about a longitudinal axis, while continuing a supply of air or air and water from the supply tube to the handpiece. There is a detent to establish a preferred rocking position of the handpiece relative to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Inventor: Lloyd P. Flatland
  • Patent number: 4175323
    Abstract: A dental handpiece in which supply lines run axially inside a longitudinal sleeve. This sleeve and the supply lines are divided transversely to form several handpiece sections. Each one of two facing ends of two adjacent handpiece sections have an axially projecting sleeve into which the end of the other handpiece section can be inserted. Two ends of the adjacent handpiece sections have a screw thread each. The thread may be an inside thread of the projecting sleeve forming a pipe-stub or nipple like threaded portion of the end inserted in the sleeve of the other handpiece section. One of the two pipe-stub like threaded portions has at least one cutout extending axially from its free end and is radially spring-like pretensioned in the unthreaded state of the two adjacent handpiece sections away from the other threaded portion with threads not engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Kaltenbach & Voigt GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Eugen Eibofner, Heinz Balsys
  • Patent number: 4173828
    Abstract: Novel tool operating apparatus is exemplified in a dental treatment device capable of driving alternatively at least a first tool and a second tool, each tool being intended to execute a different form of motion, with a single tool driving means to which each of several different tools can be removably coupled. The driving means includes a rotatable drive shaft fitted with tool engagement means in the form of a disc affixed to the shaft and lying in a plane that makes an acute angle with the rotational axis of the shaft. One tool can be fitted over the shaft to engage the disc so as to rotate the tool with the shaft. A second tool can be fitted over the shaft so that the shaft can rotate within the tool, but the tool will not rotate with the shaft. The second tool has means for cooperating with the shaft so as to execute an oscillatory motion relative to the shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: Leopold Paul Lustig
    Inventors: Leopold P. Lustig, Leonard L. Krasnow
  • Patent number: RE30340
    Abstract: .Iadd.A dental handpiece comprises an air driven turbine rotor provided with a chuck to removably hold a dental bur and rotate it at extremely high speed. The rotor is mounted on anti-friction bearings within a capsule which is removably received within a housing to permit replacement of the capsule and turbine as a unit. The fluid outlet from the turbine is restricted sufficiently to ensure that a portion of the fluid is exhausted through the bearings and openings in the housing to prevent egress of foreign matter into the interior. .Iaddend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Inventor: John V. Borden