US3295148A

US3295148A - Dental cuspidor system

Info

Publication number: US3295148A
Application number: US331229A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Haskin U Deeley; Jr Henry M Thornton
Original assignee: Dentists Supply Company of New York
Current assignee: Dentists Supply Company of New York
Priority date: 1963-12-17
Filing date: 1963-12-17
Publication date: 1967-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1967 H. u. DEELEY, JR, ETAL 3,295,148

DENTAL GUSPIDOR SYSTEM Filed Dec. 17, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 %,4 BY: "///g4 4 W Jan. 3, 1967 Filed Dec.

H- U. DEELEY, JR., ETAL DENTADCUSPIDOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/ASk/N 4/. [7551.5 .78

Jaw

United States Patent 3,295,148 DENTAL CUSPIDOR SYSTEM Haskin U. Deeley, 512, Baltimore, Md, and Henry M.

Thornton, J13, York, Pa, assignors to The Dentists Supply Company of New York, York, Pa, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 331,229 16 Ciaims. (Cl. 4-263) This invention relates to a dental cuspidor system and, more particularly, to a portable dental cuspidor which is hand-held by a patient who controls the flushing water supply and in which the discharge therefrom is under suction, the control of which is automatically operated.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide in a dental operatory, a cuspidor system embodying a portable hand-held cuspidor unit connected by flexible conduits to a water supply and to a suction operated discharge unit remotely located from the cuspidor unit, whereby control of the suction is more or less handled by the dentist or dental assistant, and the flow of water is controlled by the patient.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dental cuspidor system having a portable hand-held cuspidor that is'connected by a coaxial flexible duplex conduit to a water supply and suction operated discharge means such that when the cuspidor is mounted on a support the suction system is not in operation, and when the cuspidor is removed from the support and placed in the hand of a patient, the suction operated discharge means is substantially rendered operative and wherein the supply of flushing water to the cuspidor is under direct control of the patient through activation of a valve on the cuspidor that is operated by a finger of the hand holding the cuspidor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a funnel-shaped cuspidor or analogous receptacle having a depending shank into which is detachably inserted a hose coupling assembly having attached thereto a pair of flexible coaxial hoses, the inner of which is a water supply hose and the outer of which is a suction discharge hose; the cuspidor having on its rim a perforated conduit for delivering water along the inside wall surface thereof to flush the same, the conduit being connected by a passageway with the water supply hose, and I9. finger operated valve is provided in the passageway for controlling the flow of water therethrough into said conduit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a readily detachable bayonet slot type of connection between the hose coupling assembly and the shank of the funnel shaped cuspidor, the shank preferably including a spring pressed device for maintaining the hose coupling assembly in its locked relation to the shank.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an electrically powered suction unit at a fixed location in a dental operatory to which the discharge end of the suction hose is connected and a switch operating hook lever is mounted at a selected fixed location remote from said suction unit for supporting the cuspidor when not in use, the switch being open and the suction unit inoperative when the hook lever is supporting the cuspidor and when the cuspidor is removed from the bracket lever the switch is closed to automatically start the suction unit in operation.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a portable dental cuspidor system that is efficient in operation, sanitary, and easy to disassemble, clean and sterilize; that will by its use dispense with the conventional bulky, space occupying cuspidor structure customarily located at the left side of a dental chair and thereby permit greater accessibility to the patient as well as greater maneuverability by the dentist.

Details of the foregoing object and of the invention, as

well as other objects thereof, are set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the portable dental cuspidor system with the portable cuspidor shown mounted on a supporting hook in a non-operative position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the portable dental cuspidor system of FIG. 1 with the portable cuspidor shown held in the hand of a patient and in operative position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded elevational view of the cuspidor and hose coupling assembly.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the portable cuspidor with the hose coupling assembly operatively connected thereto.

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view of the water delivery conduit at the rim of the portable cuspidor.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the hose coupling body.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view partly in elevation of the combined coaxial tubular water and suctional unit contained within the hose coupling body and forming therewith the hose coupling assembly.

FIG. 8 is an elevational sectional view of the cuspidor shank showing details of the spring pressed retainer pins for holding the hose coupling assembly in locked position within the shank.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, detailed sectional view of FIG. 8 showing the hose coupling assembly positioned within the shank and the manner in which the spring pressed retaining pins engage the contained end of the hose coupling assembly.

The portable dental cuspidor system Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the portable dental cuspidor system comprises a conventional suction unit 10 which may either be in a dental stand or in a separate compartment somewhere convenient in a dental operatory, the suction unit 10 being operated by a pump 12 driven by an electric motor 14. Mounted on a wall 16 or any other rigid support in convenient remote relationship to the suction unit 10 is a switch 18 provided with a hook lever 20 for operating the switch. The hook lever 20 constitutes a movable yoke-like bracket for supporting a funnel-shaped cuspidor 22 which, by virtue of its weight, will hold the hook lever 20 down to hold the switch 18 in open position. Switch 18 is connected to a source of electric supply and to the motor 14 by the circuit wires 24.

The cuspidor 22 has secured to the discharge spout 26 thereof (see FIG. 2), one end of a coaxial flexible duplex hose or

conduit

28, 30 of which the outer flexible hose 28 is a suction hose and the inner flexible hose, of smaller diameter than the suction hose, is a water hose for supplying fiushing water to the inside Wall surface of the cuspidor 22, in a manner that will be hereinafter described. The other end of the suction hose 28 is appropriately connected to the suction unit 10, while the other end of the water hose 30 passes through the wall of the suction hose 28 at a convenient location for connection to a water supply source 32 at city pressure. It is to be understood that the

coaxial duplex hose

28, 30 may be of any desired length to accommodate the desired range of portability of the cuspidor 22. A suitable conduit or hose 34 connects pump 12 to the suction unit 10.

It will be seen that the portable cuspidor system is placed in operation by first connecting the motor 14 and switch 18 to a source of electric supply, as by inserting plug 35 into a convenient electric socket. Subsequent removal of the cuspidor 22 from its supporting hook lever 20 will cause switch 18 to close the circuit, the hook lever 20 being raised by a spring (not shown). The required suction is then established by the pump 12, driven by motor 14. The cuspidor 22, when removed by the dentist or dental assistant from its supporting hook lever 20, is placed in the hand of a patient as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, when the patient wants to spit, he will apply finger pressure to a valve operating lever 36 of a valve 38, to be hereinafter described, to initiate the flow of water inside of the cuspidor.

It is apparent that the mere act, by the dentist or dental assistant, of vremoving the cuspidor 22 from its supporting hook lever 20 will close switch 18 to automatically start the motor 14 of the suction unit. Placing the cuspidor 22 in the hand of the patient gives him control of the delivery of water, which commences only when he actuates valve 38. Thus, control of the suction is more or less handled by the dentist or dental assistant, whereas the flow of water is controlled by the patient.

The portable cuspidor Referring to FIGS. 3 through 9, there is illustrated therein the funnel-shaped cuspidor 22 with discharge spout 26, which in its preferred embodiment comprises a cup 40 of frusto-conical form, and the dischargespout 26, see FIG. 3, constitutes a cup base 42 whichis of cylindrical shape to provide a shank or socket 44 of. a length and diameter convenient to be held in the hand of a patient. Preferably'the cup 40 is made of stainless steel while the cup base 42 may be cast brass, bronze, or other rust-proof material. The upper end portion of the cup base is flared as at 46 to provide a cup receiving portion, the interior of which has a frusto-conical seat 48 complementary in shape to the lower end of the funnel shaped cup 40, see FIG. 4. The flared upper end 46 of the cup base is permanently secured to the lower end of the cup 40 in any desired manner, as by soldering or brazing.

The lower end of cup 40 is provided with an opening 50 that registers with an axial bore or passageway 52 provided in the cup base 42. The bore 52 has an upper flared portion 54 that serves in effect to accommodate the diameter of the cup opening 50 to the diameter of the bore 52 to insure an'even discharge from the cup 41) without backing up of the water. The lower portion of bore 52 is of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the upper portion of bore 52 to provide a shoulder 56, for a purpose to be hereinafter described, and beneath the shoulder 56 there is formed an annular groove 58 for an O-ring seal 60, the bore 52 atits lower terminal end being flared as at 62, and at a point which lies substantially midway of the length of the shank 44. Just beneath the flared lower end 62 of the bore 52 there is formed in the shank 44 a cylindrical chamber 64 having adjacent its upper end, an annular groove 66 for an O-ring seal 68 of larger size than seal 60. Located in the cylindrical wall 70 defining the cylindrical chamber 64 and adjacent its lowermost end, are diametrically opposed locking pins 72, forming part of a bayonet slot connection for the hose coupling assembly to be described.

From the base 74 of the cylindrical chamber 64 there extends upwardly and parallel to the axis of bore 52 a passageway 76 that connects at its upper end with a passageway 78 formed in the wall of the flared end 46 of the shank 44, the terminal upper end of passageway 78 being of enlarged diameter as at 80. l

The valve body 82 of the valve 38 is provided with short connecting tube 84 and a discharge water tube 86. The outer end of connecting tube 84 is fitted into the enlarged diameter end 80 of passageway 78 and is fixedly secured suitably therein to efiect a water-tight connection. The outer and upper end of the discharge tube 86 is connected to an annular tube 88 rigidly secured by brazing or otherwise, see FIG. 5, to the upper peripheral edge of the cup 40. Provided in the bottom of the annular tube 88 is a row of circumferentially spaced openings 90 that are preferably tangentially directed towards the inside funnel-shaped surface of the cup 48 to effect a swirling action of the water as it is discharged to insure a maximum flushing action.

It is to be noted that the valve 38 is rigidly held in position on the outside of the cup 40 by the connecting or inlet tube 84 and discharge tube 86. Due to the connecting tube 84 being short, as seen in FIG. 4, it is wholly contained within the valve body 82 and the enlarged diameter end of the passageway 78 so that the lower side of the valve body 82 is firmly seated within a suitably shaped notch provided within, or against a suitable surface 92 provided on the edge portion of the flared upper end 46 of the cup base shank 44.

The valve 38 comprises a valve plunger 94 axially movable within a bore 96 in the valve body 82. A stem 98 on the valve plunger 94 extends outwardly of the valve body 82 and is pivotally connected to a lever 100 as at 102. With the bore 96 and surrounding the stem 98 is a compression coil spring 104 seated at one end on the valve plunger 94 and at its other end against a fixed washer 106 held in place by a retaining ring 108. The lever 160 is formed to provide a fulcruming portion 110 and an angular finger engaging portion 112 disposed to lie adjacent to and parallel with the cup base shank 44.

It will thus be seen that pressure applied by a finger of the hand holding the cuspidor on the finger engaging portion 112 of the lever will fulcrum the lever 100 on the valve body 82, as at 114, to move the valve plunger 94 outwardly off of its valve seat 116 against the action of coil spring 104. The valve seat 116 has a central port 118 which connects with an inlet passage 120 provided within the valve body 82, the inlet passage 120 in turn connecting with the water inlet tube 84. Provided in the valve body 82 adjacent the valve seat 116 is a lateral outlet passage 122 that connects bore 96 with the water discharge tube 86. Thus, with the plunger valve 94 moved away from its valve seat 116, water entering passage 120 will flow through port 118 into bore 96 and out through passage 122 into the water discharge tube 86 to be conveyed to annular tube 88.

The hose coupling assembly The hose coupling assembly 139, shown in elevational view in the lower part of FIG. 3, comprises a tubular body member 132 formed of plastic or any other suitable material, having an axial bore 134. At opposite ends of bore 134

cylindrical recesses

136, 138 respectively are formed and are of a diameter greater than that of bore 134, the upper recess 136 being rather shallow While the lower recess 138 is of substantial length. The upper end portion of the tubular member 132 is cylindrical to provide a head 140 formed with a reduced diameter extension 142 forming shoulder 144, the length of extension 142 being substantially equal to the depth of upper recess 136. Provided in the head 140 are a pair of diametrically 0pposed bayonet slots 146, the entrance openings of which are at the shoulder 144. Preferably the peripheral upper edge of extension 142 is beveled as at 148. The tubular body member 132 is tapered downwardly below the head 140 to provide along with the cup base shank 44, when the hose coupling assembly is attached thereto as will be hereinafter described, a handle for the cuspidor that can be easily grasped and held in the hand of a patient.

For containment within the tubular member 136 there is provided a metal tube assembly 150, as shown in FIG. 7. This assembly comprises an outer metal discharge tube 152 and an inner, coaxial water supply tube 154. The upper end of the inner tube 154 has a lateral bend 156, which extends through an opening of a size to snugly receive the same in the side of the outer tube 152 adjacent the top thereof. The lateral bend 156 is permanently secured to the outer tube 152 by brazing, or otherwise, to eifect both a rigid connection and water-tight seal. Preferably, the terminal end of the lateral bend 156 is made to lie flush with the exterior surface of the outer tube 152. The length of the inner tube 154 is such as to extend outwardly beyond the lower terminal end of the outer tube 152 to facilitate the connection of a supply tube thereto. The outer tube 152 has an outside diameter such as to have a substantially close fit within the axial bore 134 of the tubular member 132 when it is inserted therein to complete the hose coupling assembly.

The metal tube assembly 150 is so dimensioned that, when fitted within the tubular member 132, the lower end of the outer tube 152 will lie flush with the lower terminal end of the tubular member 132; the discharge opening of the lateral bend 156 of inner tube 154 will lie within the upper recess 136 of the tubular member, see FIG. 4; while the upper end portion 158, which is slightly tapered as at 160, will extend beyond the extension 142 thereof, see FIG. 3. The outer tube 152 of the metal tube assembly 150 is permanently secured to the plastic tubular body member 132 by epoxy cement or the plastic tubular member 132 may be molded, in situ, around the outer tube 152.

Attached to the hose coupling assembly 130 is one end of the coaxial duplex

flexible hose

28, 30. The end of the inner water supply flexible hose 30 is slipped over the lower extended end of metal inner tube 154 and is fixedly secured thereto in water-tight engagement in accordance with conventional practice, as for example, by cement or appropriate clamping means (not shown). The corresponding end of the flexible outer suction hose 28 receives the lower portion of the outer metal tube 152 that, see FIG. 4, is contained within the lower cylindrical recess 138 which, with the lower end of tube 152, defines annular space 162 within which said corresponding end of hose 28 is secured appropriately in both air and watertight engagement. The end of the suction hose 28 which is secured to the metal tube 152 thus is concealed from view.

With the coaxial duplex

flexible hose

28, 30 thus connected to the hose coupling assembly 130, the latter is then connected to the cup base shank 44 by insertion of head 140 into the cylindrical chamber 64, the bayonet slots 146 registering with locking pins 72 which, when seated in the bottom of said slots, will limit the extent of insertion of head 140 Within cylindrical chamber 64. It is to be noted that the extension 142 of head 140 will engage the O-ring seal 68, see FIG. 4, and will extend beyond the seal with its upper terminal end spaced from base 74 of chamber 64. Partial rotation of the hose coupling assembly 130 will place the locking pins 72 within the ends of the bayonet slots 146, thereby locking the hose coupling assembly 130 to the cup base shank 44. It is further to be noted that the extension 158 of outer metal tube 152 of the metal tube assembly 150 is inserted into bore 52 to engage the O-ring seal 58 and extends therebeyond with its upper terminal end seated on shoulder 56, the lower flared end 62 of bore 52 facilitating the insertion of extension 158 into the bore 52, see FIG. 4.

To prevent the hose coupling assembly 130 from accidental turning and working loose from the cup base shank 44, there is provided within said shank 44, a pair of spring pressed retaining pins that engage the top surface 164 of the head extension 142 with firm but yieldable pressure. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen that there is provided Within the cup base shank 44 on each side of bore 52, a vertically drilled hole 170 that opens into the face of base 74 of chamber 64. The holes 170 lie in a plane which disposed 90 to the diametral plane of the locking pins 72. The lower end portion 172 of each hole 170 is of enlarged diameter and is threaded to receive a threaded retaining sleeve 174. Slidable within each hole .170 is a plunger 176 having a stem or retaining pin 178 that extends downwardly through and beyond the sleeve 174, the lower terminal end of each stem 178 preferably being rounded. Positioned within each hole is a compression coil spring 180 that acts on plunger 176 to urge the same downwardly with adequate force to retain the bayonet slot connecting means releasably in engagement.

With the hose coupling assembly inserted and locked within cup base shank 44, as described above, it will be seen that the pressure of the stems or retaining pins 178 applied to the top surface 164 of the head extension 142, under the action of the compression springs 180, will preclude any accidental jarring or working loose of the bayonet slot connections, thus insuring a positive leakproof engagement 'and/ or connection of the hose coupling assembly 130 with the cup base shank 44 of the cuspidor.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be observed that the connection of the hose coupling assembly 130 with the cup base shank 44 will provide, within the latter, an annular water distribution channel 182 that is defined by the inner end of cylindrical chamber 64 beyond O-ring seal 68, including base 74, the upper cylindrical recess 136 of tubular body member 132, and outer tube 152 of the metal tube assembly 150. Water supplied by supply hose 30 of the coaxial duplex hose will flow through metal inner water tube 154 into the annular water distribution channel 182, through

passageways

76, 78 and connecting tube 84 into valve body 82. Operation of the valve lever 100, by the patient, as previously described, will cause water to flow from the valve body 82, through discharge water tube 86 for delivery to annular perforated tube 88 and provide flushing water for the cuspidor.

For purposes of cleaning and sterilizing the equipment, the cuspidor, per se, embodying both cup 40 and cup base shank 44, is readily disconnected from the plastic hose coupler assembly 130.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described, since the may be carried out in other Ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

We claim:

1. A portable dental cuspidor fluid and debris receiving and discharging system comprising:

(a) a power operated patient-controllable suction unit,

(b) a portable hand-held dental cuspidor receptacle having a discharge spout for receiving and discharging fluid and debris and arranged to be engaged by the hand of a patient adjacent said discharge spout,

(c) a flexible suction hose connecting the discharge spout of said receptacle to said suction unit,

(d) a flexible water delivery hose connecting said receptacle to a source of water under pressure,

(e) valve means on said receptacle :for controlling the delivery of water from said water delivery hose to said receptacle for flushing the same and having an operating member adjacent said discharge spout for engagement by the finger of a patient while the receptacle is being held in the hand of a patient,

(f) support means for said receptacle when not in use positioned remotely from said suction unit, and

(g) control means forming part of said support means connected to said power operated suction unit, operative both on supporting or removal of said receptacle from said support means respectively to stop and initiate operation of said power operated suction unit.

2. The dental cuspidor unit according to claim 1 further characterized by said power operated suction unit comprising a fluid pump and an electric motor connected thereto and operable to drive :sai-d pump, and said control means comprising an electric switch having an operating member interengagea'ble by said support means for said cuspidor receptacle when said receptacle is moved between supporting and non-supporting positions with respect thereto.

3. A portable dental cuspidor system comprising:

(a) an electric power operated suction unit,

(b) a portable hand-held cuspidor unit having a discharge spout,

(c) a water conduit in said cuspidor unit for discharging water thereinto to flush the same,

(d) a duplex fiexible hose comprising a suction hose and a water delivery hose coextensive with each other,

(e) the suction hose connecting said discharge spout to said suction unit,

(f) the water delivery hose connecting said water conduit to a source of water under pressure,

(g) valve means in said water conduit for controlling the discharge of water into said cuspidor unit in cluding an operating member actuated by a finger of the hand when holding the cuspidor unit,

(h) support means located remotely from said suction unit including a movable member for supporting said cuspidor unit when not in use,

(i) a switch forming part of said support means and connected to said movable member for actuation thereby, and

(j) an electric circuit connecting said switch and electric power operated suction unit to a source of electric supply,

(k) said switch being operative to open the circuit when the movable member supports said cuspidor unit, and when said cuspidor unit is removed from said movable member said switch being operative to close the circuit, thereby respectively to stop and start the operation of the suction unit.

4. The portable dental cuspidor system of claim 3, in-

cluding:

(a) a unit-handled hose coupling assembly detachabtly connected to the discharge spout 'of said cuspidor unit,

(b) said hose coupling assembly providing an outer discharge tube and a coaxial inner water supply tube, to the lower ends of which are respectively connected said suction hose and said water delivery hose,

(c) said hose coupling assembly by its connection to the discharge spout of said cuspidor unit forming a direct connection of the upper end of the outer discharge tube to the discharge outlet of said cuspidor unit and a direct connection of the upper end of said water supply tube to said water conduit in said cuspidor unit, whereby said cuspidor unit may be detached from said hose coupling assembly for cleaning and sterilization.

5. The portable dental cuspidor system of claim 4,

wherein:

(a) the detachable connection of said hose coupling assembly to the discharge spout of said cuspidor unit constitutes a bayonet slot connection, and

(b) spring pressed retaining pins are mounted within said discharge spout of said cuspidor unit and are engageable with said hose coupling assembly adjacent said bayonet slot connection thereof to retain the locked connection therebetween, thereby to prevent accidental turning, loosening or removal of the hose coupling assembly from said cuspidor unit.

6. The portable cuspidor system of claim 5, including:

(a) an upper sealing structure carried by said discharge spout of said cuspidor unit for coaction with the upper end of the discharge tube of said hose coupling assembly to eflect an air and water-tight seal therebetween,

(b) an annular water distribution channel formed between the upper end of said hose coupling assembly, the upper end of said discharge tube and said discharge spout, said channel interconnecting the upper end of said water supply tube with the lower end of said water conduit in said cuspidor unit, and

(c) a lower sealing structure carried by the discharge spout of said cuspidor unit for coaction with the upper part of said hose coupling assembly adjacent to said channel to effect a water-tight seal therebetween.

7. A portable cupsidor unit comprising:

(a) a funnel-shaped cup having a discharge spout constituting a hand-hold shank,

(b) an axial bore in said shank opening at its upper end into the bottom of said cup, the lower portion of said axial bore being of enlarged diameter to provide a cylindrical recess,

(c) a water conduit in said shank having its lower inlet end opening into the base of said cylindrical recess and its outlet and opening at the upper end of said shank exteriorly of said cup,

(d) a water discharge tube at the upper periphery of said cup provided with openings for discharging Water into said cup to flush the same,

(e) a water supply tube exteriorly of said cup and connected to said water discharge tube, and

(f) valve means connecting said water conduit outlet with said water supply tube for controlling the flow of water to said water discharge tube.

8. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 1, including:

(a) a hose coupling assembly having an upper cylindrical head portion and a tubular body portion,

(b) a suction tube positioned axially within said head and tubular body portions and extending beyond said head portion,

(c) a water delivery tube arranged coaxially within said suction tube,

((1) said cylindrical recess in said shank receiving said hose coupling assembly head, and

(e) readily attachable and detachable locking means for connecting said hose coupling assembly head to said shank, said tubular body portion of said hose coupling assembly constituting with said shank a handle for said cup.

9. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 8, wherein:

(a) in the attachment of said hose coupling assembly to said shank, the upper end of said suction tube extends into the axial bore of said shank,

(b) the upper end of the water delivery tube extends laterally through the side of said suction tube adjacent the top of said head, and

(c) there being defined between the top of said head and the base of said cylindrical recess an annular water distribution chamber into which the lateral upper end of the water delivery tube opens.

10. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 9, including:

(a) an upper sealing structure within said shank engageable by the upper end of said suction tube to provide an air and water-tight seal between said suction tube and the axial bore in said shank,

(b) a lower sealing structure within said shank engageable by the upper end of said head portion to provide a water-tight seal between said head and the wall of said cylindrical recess, and

(c) spring pressed retaining pins mounted in said shank and engageable with said head to retain the locked connection between said hose coupling assembly and said shank and to prevent accidental turning, loosening or removal of the hose coupling assembly relative to said shank.

11. A portable cuspidor unit comprising:

(a) a frusto-conical cup having a discharge opening at its smaller and lower end,

(b) a cup base having an upper flared frusto-conical seat portion receiving a lower portion of said frustoconical cup and secured thereto,

(c) said cup base having a lower hand-holding shank with an axial bore therethrough formed to register at its upper end with the discharge opening in said p,

(d) a water conduit in said shank and seat portion of said cup base having a lower inlet and an upper outlet,

(e) a water discharge tube secured to the upper periphcry of said cup provided with circumferentially spaced openings for discharging water into said cup to flush the same,

(f) valve means for controlling the flow of water and having its inlet connected to the outlet of said water conduit and its outlet connected to said water discharge tube,

(g) a valve operating member disposed adjacent said shank for actuation by a finger of the hand when holding said shank,

(h) a hose coupling assembly connected at one end to a suction hose and a water delivery hose,

(i) an attaching head on the other end of said hose coupling assembly,

(j) means on said hand-holding shank for receiving said attaching head, and

(k) readily attachable and detachably cooperating locking means on said hand-holding shank and a"- taching head for detachably connecting said hose coupling assembly to said shank.

12. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 11, wherein (a) said hose coupling assembly includes separate suction and water delivery tubes each respectively connected to said suction hose and water delivery hose,

(b) means connecting said suction tube to the lower end of said axial bore, and

(c) channel means within said shank connecting said water delivery tube to the lower inlet of said water conduit in said shank.

13. A portable cuspidor unit comprising:

(c) said cup base having a lower hand-hold shank with an axial bore therethrough formed to register at its upper end with the discharge opening in said cup,

(cl) a cylindrical recess in the lower portion of said shank having an inner bottom into which the lower end of said axial bore opens,

(e) a water conduit in said shank and frusto-conical seat portion having its inlet opening at the bottom of said cylindrical recess and its outlet at the upper edge of said seat portion,

(f) an annular tube secured to the upper peripheral edge of said frusto-conical cup provided with a row of circumferentially spaced openings for discharging water into said cup to flush the same,

(g) a valve having a valve body containing a spring loaded valve and a lever for actuating the same,

(h) the valve body having an inlet and an outlet,

(i) a lower water supply tube connecting the inlet of said valve body to the outlet of said water conduit,

(j) an upper water supply tube connecting the outlet of said valve body to said annular tube, and

(k) said valve lever having an angled extension arranged parallel to and adjacent said shank, thereby to be actuated by a finger of the hand when holding the shank of said cup.

14. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 13, including (a) a pair of diametrically opposed locking pins fixed in the wall of said cylindrical recess adjacent the lower end thereof and forming part of a bayonet slot connection,

(b) a pair of vertical retaining pins Within said shank and each disposed within a vertical hole, one at each side of the axial bore of said shank and in a diametral vertical plane located at least 90 from the diametral vertical plane of said locking pins with each retaining pin extending downwardly through the bottom of said cylindrical recess, and

(c) spring means within each hole for urging said retaining pins outwardly thereof.

15. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 14, wherein:

(a) a hose coupling assembly having an upper cylindrical head and a tubular body portion is detachably connected to said shank,

(b) said head has formed therein a pair of bayonet slots for coaction with said locking pins such as to lock said head within said cylindrical recess, said head being retained against movement in said cylindrical recess by engagement of said spring pressed retaining pins therewith,

(c) said hose coupling assembly includes coaxial suction and water delivery tubes and the latter being contained within the former and to which are respectively connected a suction hose and a water de-' livery hose of a coaxial duplex flexible hose assembly,

(d) said suction tube having an upper extension fitted into the axial bore of said shank,

(e) an air and water sealing means between said tube extension and axial bore and carried by said shank,

(f) a water sealing means between said head and Wall of said cylindrical recess and carried by said wall,

(g) an annular water distributing channel provided between the top of said head and the bottom of said cylindrical recess, and

(h) the upper end of said water delivery tube being bent laterally and secured within an opening in the wall of said suction tube communicating with said annular channel, whereby water flowing through said water delivery tube will enter said annular channel and flow into the inlet opening of said water conduit in the bottom of said cylindrical recess to flow thereafter through said water conduit, lower water supply tube, valve body and upper water supply tube to said annular tube for discharge into said cup.

16. The portable cuspidor unit of claim 15, wherein:

(a) the head and tubular body portion of said hose coupling assembly is formed of plastic,

(b) said suction tube and coaxial water delivery tube are each formed of metal,

(c) means permanently securing said suction tube to said plastic head and tubular body portion,

((1) said water delivery tube at its lower end extending axially beyond the corresponding end of said suction tube, and

(e) an annular recess at the lower end of said tubular body portion surrounding said suction tube for receiving an end of a suction hose to be attached to said suction tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 740,538 10/ 1903 Coykendall 4-263 1,754,757 4/1930 Moore 4-263 1,869,036 7/1932 Zink 4-263 X 2,567,318 9/1951 Braun 20061.58 X 3,066,318 12/1962 Albigese 4263 3,141,937 7/1964 Edward 20061.58 3,226,733 1/1966 Ashton 4263 SAMUEL ROTHBERG, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, H. J. GROSS,

Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. A PORTABLE DENTAL CUSPIDOR FLUID AND DEBRIS RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING SYSTEM COMPRISING: (A) A POWER OPERATED PATIENT-CONTROLLABLE SUCTION UNIT, (B) A PORTABLE HAND-HELD DENTAL CUSPIDOR RECEPTACLE HAVING A DISCHARGE SPOUT FOR RECEIVING AND DISCHARGING FLUID AND DEBRIS AND ARRANGED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE HAND OF A PATIENT ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGE SPOUT, (C) A FLEXIBLE SUCTION HOSE CONNECTING THE DISCHARGE SPOUT OF SAID RECEPTACLE TO SAID SUCTION UNIT, (D) A FLEXIBLE WATER DELIVERY HOSE CONNECTING SAID RECEPTACLE TO A SOURCE OF WATER UNDER PRESSURE, (E) VALVE MEANS ON SAID RECEPTACLE FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF WATER FROM SAID WATER DELIVERY HOSE TO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR FLUSHING THE SAME AND HAVING