US2776487A

US2776487A - Spray attachment for straight dental handpieces

Info

Publication number: US2776487A
Application number: US492562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ray W Brown
Original assignee: Densco Inc
Current assignee: Densco Inc
Priority date: 1955-03-07
Filing date: 1955-03-07
Publication date: 1957-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-08

Description

SPRAY ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT DENTAL HANDPIECES Filed March 7, 1955 INVENTOR. Ray W. Brown.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 SPRAY ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT DENTAL HANDPIECES Ray W. Brown, Denver, Colo., assignor to Densco, Incorporated, Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application March 7, 1955, Serial No. 492,562

Claims. (Cl. 32-28) This invention relates to dental handpiece tools of a general type extensively in use, and more particularly to the so-called straight handpiece tool characterized by a tubular barrel member mounting a power-rotatable cutting element at and in extension beyond its free end in coaxial relation with the barrel, and has as an object to provide a spray attachment susceptible of practical operative association with a straight dental handpiece for the delivery of air, Water, or any appropriate fluid or mixture of fluids to and with cooling, lubricating, and flushing effect upon the area being worked by the cutting element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray attachment for straight dental handpieces that is adapted for expedient operative association with conventional such handpieces without modification or reworking of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray attachment for straight dental handpieces manipulable with and in mounted relation on the associated handpiece without appreciable alteration of the procedures and techniques pertinent to established and customary use of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray attachment for straight dental handpieces that is readily adjustable in mounted relation with an associated handpiece for selective direction of its fluid output to preferred operative correlation with diverse cutting elements employable with the handpiece.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray attachment for straight dental handpieces that is readily connectible in mounted relation on an associated handpiece with and for delivery to the cutting element of the handpiece from any available source or supply of fluid under pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray attachment for straight dental handpieces that is alternatively adjustable with respect to the hand position of a manipulator of the tool assembly to suit the preference of the user. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and operative combination of elements constituting a spray attachment for straight dental handpieces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spray attachment of the character described that is relatively simple and inexpensive of production, convenient of application, removal, and replacement in operative association with conventional handpieces extensively in use,

secure against inadvertent displacement from adjusted use position during manipulation of the associated handpiece, positive and efficient in attainment of the ends for which designed, and rugged and durable throughout long periods of practical use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter'set forth,

2,776,487 Patented Jan. 8, 1957 pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a typical straight dental handpiece with a preferred embodiment of the spray attachment of the invention mounted thereon in position for practical use, alternative positions of certain elements of the attachment being indicated by broken lines.

Figure 2 is a cross section, on a relatively enlarged scale, taken substantially on the indicated line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section, on the same scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on the indicated line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section, on the same scale as Figure 2, taken substantially on the indicated line 4-4 of Figure 1. t

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the elements comprising the spray attachment of the invention as assembled in their position of use on and prior to their association with the dental handpiece.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, detail section through certain associated elements of the improvement alone, taken substantially on the indicated line 6-6 of Figure 2.

The advent of high-speed equipment, modern techniques, and improved cutting elements in the field of dentistry has emphasized the importance of cooling, lubricating, and flushing the area being worked by power tools during and throughout the working thereof, and the instant invention is hence directed to the provision of practical means adaptable to use with the typical straight dental handpieces extensively in service for the delivery of a suitable fluid spray to the area engaged by and during the operation of the cutting element carried by the handpiece.

Representative of straight dental handpieces, whereof the structural organization applicable to mounting and driving of an associated cutting element is immaterial for an understanding of the present invention, wherewith the improved spray attachment is designed to function, an exterior, generally-tubular sheath 10 characteristically constituting the grip and manipulating facility of conventional such tools is shown as terminating at its free end in a coaxial, outwardly-convergent, integral nose 11 which connects at its base with the adjacent cylindrical portion of the sheath through a short cylindrical fillet or collar- 12 of less diameter than the sheath and in shouldered relation, as at 13, with the latter. The free end of the nose 11 is bored coaxially of the sheath to receive and rotatably accommodate the stem 14 of a dental cutting:

element 15 interchangeably connected interiorly of the nose or sheath in driven relation with the powered elements enclosed by the sheath and the end of the latter remote from the nose is adapted for detachable connection with the power-transmitting features of a dental engine, whereby to drive the element 15 through the handpiece, all as iscommon practice in the art. The tapered nose 11 and annular fillet 12 of the sheath 10 commonly serve as a seat for adjuncts, such as a contra angle head, whereby the handpiece may be adapted to various specific uses, and as a means for securing such adjuncts in operative relation with the sheath an internally-threaded hole 16 radially of the sheath through the annular fillet 12 is provided for coaction with a set screw 17 removably and replaceably engaged therewith.

In accordance with and to give effect to the principles of the invention, the improved spray attachment is secured to and in operative relation with the sheath 10 by means of a first rigid annular band 18 sized to telescope over and to seat on and about the fillet 12 in side engagement against the shoulder 13 and a second rigid annular band 19 sized to slidably engage over and about the cylindrical end of the sheath 10 inwardly'adi c t said h d nd 1. 1 0 i for h u the band 18 in position to register with the hole 16 when the band is seated on the fillet 12 so that the screw 17 may be engaged through the so-registered holes to lock the band 18 to its seat and against displacement, either angularly or axially, relative to the sheath. An integral boss 18 outstands radially from the side of the band 18' opposite to the hole 20, a similar boss 19 integrally outstands radially from the band 19, and the said bosses 18' and 19' are correspondingly bored to slidably receive a short length 21 of rigid, tubular flow line therein fixed to spacedly parallel the axis common to the

bands

18 and 19 and to secure said bands in spaced, parallel relation. The flow line length 21 terminates flush with the side of the boss 18' remote from the band 19 and projects beyond the boss 19' in a direction away from the band 18 a short distance as a nipple receivable in one end of a flexible tube 22. The end of the flow line length 21 within the boss 13' receives and suitably mounts one end of a jet nozzle 23, of appropriate small bore, which, in flow communication with the length 21, extends said length to approximately the end of the nose 11 when the

bands

18 and 19 are mounted on the sheath as shown in Figure 1, and said nozzle 23 is of such stiffly pliant material, or so mounted in the end of the length 21, as to accommodate adjustment of the nozzle free end toward and away from said nose 11, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, to direct the discharge from the tip of said nozzle to the area being worked by the cutting element 15, irrespective of the form or type of said element. The

bands

13 and 19, together with the flow line length 21 and nozzle 23, comprise a unitary assembly slidably engageable over the free end portion of the sheath 1! to seat the band 18 on the fillet 12, the band 19 sliding over and along the adjacent end portion of the sheath, in which disposition the holes 16 and are registered, the screw 17 engaged therein, and the unit is then secured to and for manipulation with the handpiece ready for use when the tube 22 is connected with and to receive flow from any source or supply of fluid, such as water, air, or a mixture thereof, under pressure. Utilizing the unitary assembly including the

bands

18 and 19 with the tube 22 directly connected from the flow line length 21 to the source or supply of fluid, said tube may diverge from the sheath 10 as shown by broken lines in Figure 1 to pass under the hand of an operator manipulating the handpiece.

An alternative disposition of the tube 22 relative to the sheath 10 Within the contemplation of the invention is shown by full lines in Figure l as comprising a band 24 formed with an apertured radial boss 24, similar to or identical with the band 19 and its boss 19, slidably receivable over the end of the sheath 10 remote from the nose 11. A rigid flow line elbow 25 has one arm fixed through the aperture of the boss 24 parallel to the axis of the sheath to provide a nipple opposed to that at the inner end of the length 21 and to dispose the other elbow arm radially of the sheath, and the tube 22, in an appropriate length, connects the nipple of the elbow 25 with that of the length 21 closely adjacent and parallel to the sheath 10 to function in an obvious manner for transmission of fluid under pressure to the nozzle 23 when the radial arm of the elbow is flow-connected, as by means of a flexible tube 22', with a source or supply of the fluid. Utilizing the band 24, elbow 25, and tube 22' in the arrangement shown and just above described, the tube 22 may come within the grip of the hand manipulating the handpiece and the line 22 serving the attachment is back of the hand position in an arrangement preferred by some operators, it being immaterial to the proper functioning of the attachment which arrangement of feed to the length 21 is employed.

Obv o s y, the ttachm n may b ppl d t n operat e re t tm o the h nd iece a sho n in Fi ure 1 or a separat ad un t in term as qrd us to Figure 5, for assembly with the handpiece of the ultimate user as hereinabove described. Mounted and connected for use as above set forth, fiow of fluid to and through the nozzle 23 under the control of the customary valves included in the flow system may be directed and applied to the area being worked by the cutting element 15 to minimize overheating of the area, to cool and lubricate the cutting agencies, and to flush the area clear of chips and cuttings, all with convenience, practicality, and manifest advantage.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a straight dental handpiece having a tubular sheath formed with a coaxial, tapered nose constituting the free operating end of the tool and a cylindrical fillet in shouldered relation with the sheath about the junction of the sheath and nose, an annular band seated directly on and detachably secured against displacement from said fillet, a second annular band telescopically about said sheath spacedly adjacent said first band, a short length of rigid flow line fixed to and extending between said bands exteriorly adjacent and parallel to the axis of the sheath, a jet nozzle extension from said length at its connection to the first band terminating in a free open end adjacent and adjustable toward and away from the end of said nose, a nipple extension of said length beyond said second band, and a flexible tube for the transmission of fluids under pressure detachably engaged with said nipple.

2. In combination, a straight dental handpiece having a tubular sheath formed with a coaxial, tapered nose constituting the free operating end of the tool and a cylindrical fillet in shouldered relation with the sheath about the junction of the sheath and nose, an annular band seated directly on and detachably secured against displacement from said fillet, a second annular band telescopically about said sheath spacedly adjacent said first band, a short length of rigid flow line fixed to and extending between said bands exteriorly adjacent and parallel to the axis of the sheath, a jet nozzle extension from said length at its connection to the first band terminating in a free open end adjacent and adjustable toward and away from the end of said nose, a nipple extension of said length beyond said second band, a rigid flow line elbow detachably mounted on said sheath inwardly adjacent the end thereof remote from said nose and in such spaced alignment of one of its arms with said length as to oppose the open end of the same to said nipple, a flexible tube for the transmission of fluids under pressure detachably connecting between said nipple and the end of the elbow thereto opposed, and a second such flexible tube connecting the other arm of the elbow with a source of fluid under pressure.

3. In combination, a straight dental handpiece having a tubular sheath formed with a coaxial, tapered nose constituting the free operating end of the tool, a cylindrical fillet in shouldered relation with the sheath about the junction of the sheath and nose, and a screw threadedly through and radially of said fillet, an annular band slidablyseated on said fillet, a hole in said band registered with the position of and traversed by said screw, whereby said screw is applied to detachably secure the band against displacement from the fillet, a second annular band telescopically about said sheath spacedly adjacent said first band, apertured bosses outstanding radially from said bands in alignment longitudinally of the sheath, a short length of rigid flow line fixed in and through said ba ses Paral el tn th axis o th h th a is n zle xtsasisa tram said len t a i s c nn ct on in th b ss f the first band terminating in a free open end adjacent and adjustable toward and away from the end of said nose, a nipple extension of said length beyond the boss of the second band, and a flexible tube for the transmission of fluids under pressure detachably engaged with said nipple.

4. In combination, a straight dental handpiece having a tubular sheath formed with a coaxial, tapered nose constituting the free operating end of the tool, a cylindrical fillet in shouldered relation with the sheath about the junction of the sheath and nose, and a screw threadedly through and radially of said fillet, an annular band slidably seated on said fillet, a hole in said band registered with the position of and traversed by said screw, whereby said screw is applied to detachably secure the band against displacement from the fillet, a second annular band telescopically about said sheath spacedly adjacent said first band, apertured bosses outstanding radially from said bands in alignment longitudinally of the sheath, a short length of rigid flow line fixed in and through said bosses parallel to the axis of the sheath, a jet nozzle extension from said length at its connection to the boss of the first band terminating in a free open end adjacent and adjustable toward and away from the end of said nose, a nipple extension of said length beyond the boss of the second band, a third annular band telescopically about the end of the sheath remote from said nose, an apertured boss outstanding radially from said third band adapted to align longitudinally of the sheath with the bosses of the first and second bands, a rigid flow line elbow fixedly engaged through said boss of the third band in such spaced alignment of one of its arms with said length as to oppose the open end of the same to the nipple, a flexible tube for the transmission of fluids under pressure detachably connecting between said nipple and the end of the elbow thereto opposed, and a second such flexible tube connecting the other arm of the elbow with a source of fluid under pressure.

5. A spray attachment for detachable operative association with a straight dental handpiece having a tubular sheath formed with a coaxial, tapered nose constituting the free operating end of the tool and a cylindrical fillet in shouldered relation with the sheath about the junction of the sheath and nose, comprising a first annular band adapted to slidably seat on end to be detachably secured to said fillet, a second annular band telescopically engageable over said sheath adjacent the fillet, a short length of rigid flow line fixed exteriorly to and interconnecting said bands in spaced, parallel, coaxial relation and in a disposition parallel to the axis common to the bands, a jet nozzle extension at the end of said length connected to the first band terminating in a free open end at the side of the first band remote from the second band adjustable into and out of alignment with said length, a nipple extension of said length beyond said second band at the side thereof remote from the first band, and a flexible tube for the transmission of fluids under pressure detachably connected with said nipple.

6. The organization according to claim 5, wherein a screw is threadedly engaged through and radially of the fillet and the first annular band is provided with a hole accommodative of said screw, whereby to detachably secure said band on the fillet.

7. The organization according to claim 5, wherein apertured bosses outstand radially from said first and second bands for alignment parallel to the axis common to said bands, and said flow line length is fixed in and through said bosses.

8. The organization according to claim 5, wherein apertured bosses outstand radially from said first and second bands for alignment parallel to the axis common to said bands, said flow line length is fixed in and through said bosses to terminate at one end in the side plane of the boss of the first band remote from the second hand and to project at its other end beyond the side plane of the boss of the second hand remote from the first band, and said jet nozzle is engaged in flow communication with the end of said length within the boss of the first band.

9. A spray attachment for detachable operative association with a straight dental handpiece having a tubular sheath formed with a coaxial, tapered nose constituting the free operating end of the tool and a cylindrical fillet in shouldered relation with the sheath about the junction of the sheath and nose, comprising a first annular band adapted to slidably seat on and to be detachably secured to said fillet, a second annular band telescopically engageable over said sheath adjacent the fillet, a short length of rigid flow line fixed exteriorly to and interconnecting said bands in spaced, parallel, coaxial relation and in a disposition parallel to the axis common to the bands, a jet nozzle extension at the end of said length connected to the first band terminating in a free open end at the side of the first band remote from the second band adjustable into and out of alignment with said length, a nipple extension of said length beyond said second band at the side thereof remote from the first band, a third annular band telescopically engageable over said sheath adjacent the end thereof ro mote from its nose, a rigid flow line elbow fixed exteriorly to said third band with one of its arms parallel to the band axis and terminating in a nipple extension and the other of its arms radial of the band, a flexible tube for the transmission of fluids under pressure detachably connecting between the nipple extensions of said length and said elbow, and a second such flexible tube connectible between the radial arm of the elbow and a source of fluid under pressure.

10. The organization according to claim 9, wherein apertured bosses outstand radially from said first, second, and third annular bands for alignment parallel to an axis common to said bands, and said flow line length and said elbow are fixed in and through the bosses'of the bands respectively associated therewith.

Burnett Oct. 14, 1919 Mulvany Feb. 11, 1941