AU2002300632B2

AU2002300632B2 - A Variable Tool

Info

Publication number: AU2002300632B2
Application number: AU2002300632A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony James Furney
Original assignee: FURNEY S BUILDING AND PLUMBING
Current assignee: Furney's Building & Plumbing Supplies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-08-21
Filing date: 2002-08-19
Publication date: 2008-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-19
Also published as: AU2002300632B8; AU2002300632A1; AU2002300632A8

Description

S&F Ref: 600389

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Furney's Building Plumbing Supplies Pty. Ltd.

an Australian Company ACN 001 218 533 George Street Mudgee New South Wales 2850 Australia Anthony James Fumey Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) A Variable Tool ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION DETAILS [33] Country [31] Applic. No(s) AU PR7155 [32] Application Date 21 Aug 2001 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5815c 00 SA VARIABLE TOOL (-i ;Technical Field The present invention relates to variable tools and in particular to a variable tool for use in veterinarian procedures such as equine dentistry and animal husbandry.

SBackground of the Invention C Variable tools such as Dremel and Suhner tools are well-known hand held FS devices used for a range of cutting or grinding operations.

In the field of equine dentistry, for example, Dremel grinders generally include a Dremel hand piece attached to a housing having an elongate shaft located therein. The shaft having a burr formed at the distal end. A large range of corresponding housings and shafts of varying lengths are provided for different equine operations.

With these existing equine tools if the shaft, (which has the burr formed at the is distal end) is damaged or broken, the entire tool need to be dismantled to replace the shaft. The dismantling of the tool and the replacement of the shaft is complicated and time consuming. Replacement shafts are also very expensive.

Accordingly, there is a need for an inexpensive, quickly interchangeable burr and shaft assembly.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein in a first aspect a variable tool for use in veterinary procedures; said tool including: a handle having first and second ends, said first end engageable with a drive means; a shaft having first and second ends, said first end of said shaft being mounted within said handle and, in use, rotatable by said drive means; a housing secured to said second end of said handle and having a free end extending towards said second end of said shaft, wherein said housing includes an access hole; 1285040- 1 MLW 00 a burr portion releasably engageable with and extending away from said second end of said shaft, and ;Za connection means adapted to releaseably connect said burr portion to said second end of said shaft such that said burr portion is removable from said shaft without removal of the housing from said handle, wherein said connection means includes mating N complimentary engagement formations on said burr portion and said second end of said M€3 shaft for engagement therebetween; and wherein said connection means further includes a Slocking assembly to lock together said mating complimentary engagement formations, the CS housing access hole being for gaining access to the locking assembly.

Preferably, the mating complimentary engagement formations include male and female threads respectively.

Preferably, the mating complimentary engagement formations include a bore and a spigot respectively.

Preferably, the locking assembly utilizes a grub screw.

Preferably, the locking assembly is accessible without removal of the housing from said handle.

Preferably, the mating complimentary engagement formations are collett type surfaces.

Preferably, the connection means includes a joining member having a bore at one end for connection with said burr portion and a bore at the other end for connection with said second end of said shaft.

Preferably, the bores are a common bore.

Preferably, the joining member includes a locking assembly to lock together said burr portion and said second end of said shaft to said joining member.

Preferably, the locking assembly utilizes a grub screw.

Preferably, the housing includes a hold for gaining access to said locking assembly.

Preferably, the tool includes a guard portion attachable to said free end of said housing and having an opening.

Preferably, the burr portion is adapted to at least partially protrude through said guard portion opening.

Preferably, the connection means is adapted to at least partially protrude through said guard portion opening.

1285040-IMI.W 00 Preferably, the guard portion is screwable to said housing.

Preferably, the burr portion includes a shank terminating in a head having a ;cylindrical or round burr thereon.

Preferably, the burr is solid carbide or diamond coated.

Preferably, the tool includes water cooling means.

Preferably, the tool includes vacuum means.

~Preferably, the tool is sterilisable.

There is disclosed herein in a second aspect a variable tool for use in veterinary Sprocedures; said tool including: O o10 a handle having first and second ends, said first end engageable with a drive means; a shaft having first and second ends, said first end of said shaft being mounted within said handle and, in use, rotatable by said drive means; a housing secured to said second end of said handle and having a free end extending towards said second end of said shaft; a burr portion releasably engageable with and extending away from said second end of said shaft, and a connection means adapted to releaseably connect said burr portion to said second end of said shaft such that said burr portion is removable from said shaft without removal of the housing from said handle; wherein said connection means includes a joining member having a bore at one end for connection with said burr portion and a bore at the other end for connection with said second end of said shaft.

There is disclosed herein in a further aspect a variable tool for use in veterinary procedures; said tool including: 2s a handle having first and second ends, said first end engageable with a drive means; a shaft having first and second ends, said first end of said shaft being mounted within said handle and, in use, rotatable by said drive means; a housing secured to said second end of said handle and having a free end extending towards said second end of said shaft; a burr portion releasably engageable with and extending away from said second end of said shaft, and a connection means adapted to releaseably connect said burr portion to said second end of said shaft such that said burr portion is removable from said shaft without removal of the housing from said handle; wherein said tool includes water cooling means.

1285040-IMLW 3a 00oo 8 There is disclosed herein in a further aspect a variable tool for use in veterinary procedures; said tool including: ;a handle having first and second ends, said first end engageable with a drive means; a shaft having first and second ends, said first end of said shaft being mounted within said handle and, in use, rotatable by said drive means; ~a housing secured to said second end of said handle and having a free end Sextending towards said second end of said shaft; a burr portion releasably engageable with and extending away from said second io end of said shaft, and a connection means adapted to releaseably connect said burr portion to said second end of said shaft such that said burr portion is removable from said shaft without removal of the housing from said handle, wherein said tool includes vacuum means.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred from of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a plan view of a variable tool in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 2A to 2D are parts exploded views of the handle, shaft and housing shown in FIG. 1; FIGS. 3A and 3B are parts exploded views of the guard and burr shown in FIG.

1; FIG. 4 is a partial view of a first embodiment of the connection means for the shaft and burr; FIGS. 5A to 5C are front, side and end views of an alternate guard; FIGS. 6A and 6B are front and end views of a further alternate guard; FIG. 7 is a parts exploded view of an alternate shaft; FIGS. 8A and 8B are alternate connection means between the shaft and burr of FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of a variable tool in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 10A to 10 OC are parts exploded views of the alternate handle and housing of FIG. FIG. 1 OD is a side view of an alternate guard of FIG. 9; FIG. IOE is a side view of an alternate burr of FIG. 9; 1285040-1 MI.W Figures 11A- 1IC are front, side and end views of an alternate guard; and Figure 12 is an alternate handle.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the accompanying drawings, there is schematically depicted a variable tool 1 for use in veterinary procedures such as equine dentistry. The tool 1 includes a handle having first and second ends 7 and 8 and a grip 9. The first and second ends 7 and 8 can be integrally formed or of several interchangeable parts (as in Figures 2C and 2D). The first end 7 is engageable with a drive means (not shown) such as a Dremel motor. A shaft has first and second ends 12 and 13, the first end 12 being mounted within the handle io and, in use, rotatable by the drive means of the motor. A housing 15 is secured on the second end 8 of the handle 5, preferably by a screw thread, and has a free end 27 extending towards the second end 13 of the shaft 10. The end 13 could also include a threaded end, such as in Figure 7, to receive a collett type assembly, for example. The housing 15 could also be secured directly to the first end 7 of the handle An interchangeable burr portion 20 is releasably engaged with and extends away from the second end 13 of the shaft 10, such that the burr portion 20 is easily replaceable, as will be explained below. A connection means 35 (see for example, Figure 4 and discussed further below) is adapted to releasably connect the burr portion 20 to the second end 13 of the shaft 10 such that the burr portion 20 is removable from the shaft 10 without removal of the housing 15 from the handle 5. A guard portion 25 is mounted on the free end 27 of the housing 15 preferably by way of a screw thread and has an opening 28.

The connection means 35 could be of any arrangement, however, in Fig. 4 it is shown as an arrangement of a joining member 36 having bore 37 at one end for connection with the burr portion 20 and a bore 38 at the other end for connection with the second end 13 of the shaft 10. In Figure 4, the bores 37, 38 are common bores. The joining member 36 includes a locking assembly 41 to lock together the burr portion and the second end 13 of the shaft 10 to the joining member 36. In Figure 4, the locking assembly 41 is shown as two grub screws 45 which upon application of a key such as an allen key secure the burr portion 20 and second end 13 of the shaft 10. This arrangement should be independent of the housing 15 to allow the shaft 10 and burr portion 20 to rotate freely within the housing 15. The grub screws 45 can be accessed through one or more holes 50 in the housing 15 or by removing the guard portion 25. An alternate embodiment of the connection means 35 is shown in Figures 8A and 8B where a collett [R:\LIBLL] 1 l609specie.doc: ssl:tyb:KEH type assembly is utilised. This can include a nut, threaded surfaces .and seals and allows an open ended spanner to be used. The connection means 35 in that embodiment is freely accessible to a user through the opening 28 in the guard portion Referring to Figs 3B, 4, 8A, 8B and 10E, the burr portion 20 includes a shank connected to the second end 13 of the shaft 10 by way of connection means 35 and terminates at a head 40 having a cylindrical or round burr thereon. The cylindrical or round burr is preferably solid carbide or diamond coated, however, could be of any typical burr type. A diamond-coated burr is preferable as it provides less vibration, longer tool life, and are easier to handle during operation.

l0 As shown in Figures 5A to 5C, 6A and 6B and 11A to 11 C, the guard portion can include wings 29 angled towards the burr portion 20 and providing further shielding from the burr portion 20 in use. Further, the guard portion 25 can include a cambered end 31 as shown in Figures 5A to 5C. Alternate arrangements of the wing 29 could also be used.

Is The tool 1 could include further attachments such as water cooling means (not shown) or vacuum means (not shown) either externally or integrally of the tool 1 and be completely sterilizable. The handle 5 could include an integrally formed four bearing hand piece to allow better balance. It could also include a pistol grip arrangement and/or an adjustable handle. Preferably, the entire construction is stainless steel.

In use, the user easily replaces the burr portion 20 by simply unlocking the connection means 35 by, for example, unscrewing the grub screws 45 through hole 50 in the housing 15 by use of an allen key (Figure This will loosen the connection between the shank 30 of the burr portion 20 and the second end 13 of the shaft 10. The guard 25 is unscrewed to remove the burr portion 20 from the shank 10 with housing 15 remaining in place. This arrangement allows for very quick and easy replacement of the burr portion Further, as the burr portion 20 is preferably a standard 2-inch burr, the cost of the replacement is minimal and as the burr portion 20 would be a proprietary item, a replacement burr can easily be obtained.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

[RALIBLLJ 1 6O9specie.doc:ss:tyb:KEH

Claims

2. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said mating complimentary engagement formations include male and female threads respectively.
3. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said mating complimentary engagement formations include a bore and a spigot respectively.
4. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said locking assembly utilizes a grub screw. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said locking assembly is accessible without removal of the housing from said handle.
6. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said mating complimentary engagement formations are collett type surfaces.
7. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said connection means includes a joining member having a bore at one end for connection with said burr portion and a bore at the other end for connection with said second end of said shaft.
8. The tool according to claim 7, wherein said bores are a common bore.
9. The tool according to claim 7, wherein said joining member includes a locking assembly to lock together said burr portion and said second end of said shaft to
1285040-IMLXW 00 O said joining member. The tool according to claim 9, wherein said locking assembly utilizes a ;grub screw. 11. The tool according to claim 9, wherein said locking assembly is accessible without removal of the housing from said handle. 12. The tool according to claim 9, wherein said housing includes a hold for Cc gaining access to said locking assembly. 13. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said tool includes a guard portion attachable to said free end of said housing and having an opening. l0 14. The tool according to claim 13, wherein said burr portion is adapted to Sat least partially protrude through said guard portion opening. The tool according to claim 13, wherein said connection means is adapted to at least partially protrude through said guard portion opening. 16. The tool according to claim 13, wherein said guard portion is screwable to said housing. 17. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said burr portion includes a shank terminating in a head having a cylindrical or round burr thereon. 18. The tool according to claim 17, wherein said burr is solid carbide or diamond coated. 19. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said tool includes water cooling means. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said tool includes vacuum means. 21. The tool according to claim 1, wherein said tool is sterilisable. 22. A variable tool for use in veterinary procedures; said tool including: a handle having first and second ends, said first end engageable with a drive means; a shaft having first and second ends, said first end of said shaft being mounted within said handle and, in use, rotatable by said drive means; a housing secured to said second end of said handle and having a free end extending towards said second end of said shaft; a burr portion releasably engageable with and extending away from said second end of said shaft, and a connection means adapted to releaseably connect said burr portion to said second end of said shaft such that said burr portion is removable from said shaft without 1285040-IMLW 00 Sremoval of the housing from said handle; wherein said connection means includes a joining member having a bore at one end for connection with said burr portion and a bore Sat the other end for connection with said second end of said shaft. Dated 26 August, 2008 Furney's Building Plumbing Supplies Pty. Ltd. C Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person C SPRUSON FERGUSON 1285040-1MLW:KEH