US3511235A - Dental syringe - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1970 G. H. sTRAM DENTAL SYRINGE Filed Aug. 7. 1967 GEORGE H. STRAM ATTORNEY United States Patent O M 3,511,235 DENTAL SYRINGE George H. Stram, Hellam, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Dentsply International Inc., York, Pa., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 658,795 Int. Cl. A61c 17/02; A61m l7/00; F16k 3/10 U.S. Cl. 12S-173.1 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A dental syringe connectable to sources of air and water under pressure and having slidably movable gate-type valves respectively to control the flow thereof individually, or simultaneously to form a spray. The valves are actuated by exterior levers located conveniently for engagement by the thumb or a linger of the user. The levers are integrally connected to the valves and have a linger conforming, leaf-like shape for ease of manipulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dental syringes of various types having valves arranged to be operated individually or simultaneously to deliver either water or air streams, as desired, or simultaneously to form a spray mixture thereof, are available at present. In practice, however, these syringes have been quite complex and it is diticult to render the valves and passages water and air-tight so as to prevent leakage of air and/ o1 water either when the syringe is in use or idle, which simultaneously maintaining the size of the syringe compact and easily operated.

Typical examples of current dental syringes are shown in the following patents: No. 3,054,402, Franwick et al. 1962; No. 3,137,297, Maurer et al. 1964; No. 3,254,646, Staunt et al. 1966.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a multiple purpose type dental syringe having fluid passages respectively connectable to sources of air and water under pressure and each passage having valve means which include ported uid-transmitting members which engage opposite sides of a pivotally movable valve member slidably movable between said ported members simultaneously to prevent leakage between said ported fluid-transmitting members and passage means associated therewith to deliver uid to and from each valve member.

In the preferred specific embodiment of the invention, the valve member of each valve means is pivotally supported and has an opening through one portion thereof movable toward and from alignment with aligned ports in said ported transmission members. The ported transmission members are yieldably urged into sliding, uidtight engagement with opposite sides of said valve member. Said ported members also are connected to iiuid passage means by O-rings which serve the dual function of providing fluid-tight connection between said ported members and said passage means and simultaneously urging said ported members into said sliding, fluid-tight engagement with said movable valve members.

The movable valve members of both valve means are preferably movable about a common axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of an elongated handle body by a pair of short levers adjacent each other near the outer end of the handle body and positioned conveniently to be operated individually or simultaneously by the thumb or finger of the hand of the operator which holds the syringe.

One of the principal overall results of the foregoing arrangement is a compact arrangement of the valves and 3,511,235 Patented May 12, 1970 fluid-tight features described above which are capable of relatively inexpensive manufacturing, each assembly, and fool-proof operation, providing long periods of troublefree use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is an enlarged rear elevation of a dental syringe embodying the principles of the present invention, the intermediate portion of the handle body being interrupted to foreshorten the view to accommodate it to the sheet and part of the body being broken away to disclose details.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view seen on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the upper portion of the syringe shown in FIG. l, one of the side cover plates being removed to illustrate details of one of the valve means and the connecting means for the nozzle also being shown in fragmentarily sectioned manner to show details and the nozzle also being interrupted midway to foreshorten the same. The valve is closed in this view.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the valve in open position and the nozzle connecting means not being sectioned.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view primarily of the nozzle connecting means as seen on the line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinally sectioned view of the nozzle, the intermediate portion of which has been removed to foreshorten the view to accommodate it to the sheet.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the nozzle per se on a smaller scale than in the preceding figures.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the tip end of the nozzle, as seen on line 8 8 of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. l, the syringe illustrated therein comprises a substantially cylindrical handle body -10 which may be formed from suitable material, either metal, synthetic resin or otherwise. The shape thereof is preferably such as readily to accommodate it to being held in the hand of the operator such as a dentist or dental hygienist. One end of the handle is provided with a suitable coupling collar 12 by which a composite llexible conduit assembly 14 is connected at one end to the inlet end of the handle, and the other end thereof is connected to suitable sources of dental utilities, such as air and water under pressure. It is to be understood that the conduit assembly 14 comprises at least a pair of flexible tubes respectively to conduct air and water under pressure to a longitudinally extending bore 16 comprising an air conduit adjacent one side of the handle body 10 and a similar bore 18 at the opposite side of the handle body comprising a water conduit.

The opposite end of the handle comprises a head 20 t0 which one end of a discharge nozzle 22 is connected. To accomplish this, the head 20 is provided with a projection 24 which extends at an angle to the axis of the handle 10. Projection 24 has cavities and ports therein, details of which are described hereinafter, which communicate respectively with the longitudinal air and water conduits 16 and 18. Opposite sides of the head 20 are provided with valve cavities 26 and 28 respectively. These cavities are of irregular shape as can best be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4.

Extending transversely between the valve cavities 26 and 28 at opposite sides of the head 20 is a suitable bore which is complementary to a pivot shaft 30. Cover plates 32 and 34 respectively close the cavities 26 and 28 with which they are complementary in shape, and said plates also have an additional function set forth hereinafter. These cover plates are provided with shallow cavities 36 on the inner faces thereof which respectively receive the opposite ends of pivot shaft 30 as can be seen from FIG. 1. The cover plates 32 and 34 are secured in operative position by appropriate means such as a pair of cap screws which are threaded respectively into holes 38.

The inner surfaces of cover plates 32 and 34 also are provided with similar circular recessed shoulders 40 which are coaxial with additional short cavities 42. The cavities 42 respectively communicate with one end of internal passages 44, the opposite ends thereof communicating with transversely extending internal passages 46 which extend inwardly, coaxially through the opposite outer portions of head 20, as well as the adjacent portions of cover plates 32 and 34. The inner ends of the internal passages 46 intersect and communicate with the upper ends respectively of the air and water conduits y16 and 18 Within the head as viewed in FIG. 1. The inner walls of the valve cavities 26 and 28 also are provided with circular recessed shoulders 50 which are coaxial with smaller diameter recesses 52 that communicate with longitudinally extending interior passages S4 which extend inwardly from the outer end of head 20, as best seen from FIG. 3. The outer ends of said passages are plugged and immediately before the plugged ends, said passages are intersected by angularly extending ports 56 which communicate therewith. Referring to FIG. 6, it will be seen that one of the ports 56, which conducts air, communicates With a preferably cylindrical internal cavity 58 in projection 24. Coaxial therewith is another internal cavity 60 of substantially smaller diameter than cavity 58, cavity 60 also communicating with the other angular port 56 which is arranged to deliver water therethrough. Seated within each of the internal confronting pairs of recessed shoulders 40 and 50, respectively Within the cover plates 32 and 34 and the head 20, are similar ported transmission members 62 Which, in side elevation as viewed in FIG. 1, are somewhat mushroom-shaped. Each of them comprise a head portion and a coaxial short stein portion integral therewith. A port of relatively small diameter extends axially entirely therethrough and the periphery of the outermost end of the head of each of the transmission members 62 preferably is beveled. The members 62 also preferably are formed from suitable synthetic resinous material, such as a self-lubricating type, one commercial brand of which is sold under the trademark Teflon The confronting faces of each pair of the transmission members 62 which are peripherally beveled are spaced axially a short distance from each other and are parallel so as to receive slidably therebetween a flat, blade-type gate valve member 64 which preferably is formed from metal of a non-corrosive type, such as brass, stainless steel or the like. The at valve members 64 have inner terminal portions which slidably move between the beveled head surfaces of the respective pairs of transmission members 62 as the valve members are oscillated a limited amount upon pivot shaft between open and closed positions. Each valve member 64, adjacent one side of said terminal portion thereof, is provided with a passage hole 66 of a diameter similar to that of the ports in the transmission members 62 and, when the valve members 64 are in open position, said passage hole is in axial alignment with and extends between the ports of one of the pairs of transmission members 62. To accomplish this, the radius of the hole 66 with respect to the axis of pivot shaft 30 is the same as the distance between the axis of said shaft and the ports of the transmission members 62. In FIG. 4, the valve member 64 illustrated therein is disposed in open position.

It will be understood that each of the valve members 64 is provided with an appropriate bearing hole closely complementary to the diameter of the pivot shaft 30. The valve members 64 also are provided within the plane thereof with a lateral extension 68. If desired, the valve members 64 and extensions 68 may be stamped from sheet metal of uniform thickness. Connected to and extending transversely from an outer edge of extension 68 on each valve member 62 is a leaf-like operating fngerpiece or lever 70 which also may be stamped from the same type of sheet metal and bent into curved configuration so as to comfortably receive the face of the thumb or finger tip of an operator. Each lever 70 may be soldered or otherwise connected to extension 68 and it will be seen from FIG. 1 that a pair of such levers are respectively shaped for left and right hand positioning. Further, the inner edges 72 of each of the levers 70 which are adjacent each other preferably are curved inwardly toward the outer end of the head 20. It has been found that this shape is highly suitable to render individual or simultaneous operation of the levers 70 highly comfortable and eliminates any tendency to pinch the thumb or finger of the operator used to operate the levers during such opening and closing of the valves. The levers 70 extend upwardly beyond the upper end of handle body 10 and valves are opened by pressing said levers forwardly, toward the nozzle 22, which requires minimum effort and may be done while holding the handle .10 in the human hand in a comfortable and natural manner.

The valve members 64 normally are maintained in closed position by means of a compressible coil spring 74 which is accommodated suitably within the valve cavity 26 or 28 in which one of the same is mounted. One end of the spring abuts a wall of said cavity, While the opposite end is positioned operatively against the lateral extension 68 on each valve member 64. Such extension 68 on each valve preferably is provided with a centering projection 76 which is received within the adjacent end of the spring 74 and thus prevents migration of the same during operation. The force of the spring is selected so as to insure rapid closing of the valve after the valve member 64 has been disposed in open position, such as by pressing against the lever 70 thereon.

To insure against leakage of air or Water with respect to any of the various elements comprising the valve means or the passages leading to and from the same, highly effective but very simple expedients are utilized in the form of similar sealing O-rings 78 which are of suitable cross-sectional dia-meter as well as overall diameter as to readily be received Within the circular recess shoulders 40 and 50 and exert pressure in an axial direction against the annular surfaces on the heads of the transmission members 62 which are opposite the faces thereof which are engaged slidably by the valve members I64. The O-rings 78 serve the dual function of not only pressing the confronting faces of each pair of transmission members 62 rsepectively against opposite surfaces of the valve member 64 but they also seal the stern portions of each of the transmission members -62 against leakage with respect to the short cavities 42 and smaller diameter recesses 52 within which such stems are disposed incident to the ports therein communicating with the passages 44 and S4. All the O-rings 78 and transmission members 62 of both sets thereof are maintained in compressed assembly when cover plates 32 and 34 are secured to head 20 by screws threaded into holes 38 therein.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, details of the discharge nozzle 22 are illustrated therein and especially the manner in which it is connected to the projection 24 of head 20. From FIGS. 3 and 7, it will be seen that the nozzle 22 is tubular and, preferably, in side elevation is curved at one end downwardly, when in use, from the axis of the inlet end upon which a locking collar 80 is affixed. Said collar preferably is cylindrical and has a seat lwithin which is suitably fixed, such as by soldering or otherwise, the inlet end of exterior tube 82 through which air is discharged by means to be described. Preferably, the collar 80 is cup-shaped and the terminal end is axially bored inwardly from the outer end thereof to closely receive and Ibe fixed to the inlet end of tube 82, such as by solder, to provide the arrangement seen in FIG. 6. A plurality of transversely extending air-inlet ports 86 extend through the walls of the terminal end portion 84 of collar 80 to permit delivery of air to the interior of tube 82.

Coaxial within the exterior tube S2 is an interior tube 88 which preferably is of a uniform diameter that is less than that of the interior diameter of tube 82 at its inlet end so as to form a longitudinal, annular passage 90 through which air passes as received from the angular port 56 which communicates with the passage 54 that communicates with the air conduit 16. This arrangement is shown on the left-hand side of FIG. 1, upper part of FIG. 1 and right-hand portion of FIG. 6. The interior bore within the terminal end `84 of collar 80 is of larger diameter than the exterior diameter of interior tube 88, whereby an annular passage 92 therebetween communicates with the elongated annular passage 90 between tubes 82 and 88 and, by means of ports 86 and internal cavity 58, communicates with the angular passage 56 which receives air from the conduit 16 as described above.

The inlet end 94 of interior tube 88 projects axially beyond the terminal end 84 of collar 80 a limited distance as is clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7 and is quite closely received within the internal cavity 60 provided in projection 24 as shown in FIG. 6. A sealing O-ring 96 is compressed between the end face of terminal end member `84 of collar 80 and the innermost end of internal cavity 58, as can readily be seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. This is for purposes of sealing the lconnection between the inlet end 94 of the interior water-transmitting tube 88 and the axially aligned angular port 56. Said angular port 56 communicates with the right-hand interior passage 54, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, which leads to the axially aligned ports in the transmission members 62 Iwhich communicate with the right- hand passages 44 and 46, as seen in FIG. l, that receive water from conduit 18 in handle body 10.

Also as seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, the inlet end of the compound, multi-passage discharge nozzle 22 is connected within its seat comprising cavity 58 in projection 24 by means of a finger-operable clamping collar 98 which, on its exterior, preferably is knurled. The interior thereof is provided with an annular clamping shoulder 100 which engages the outer rim of locking collar 80. Preferably, a thin washer 101 formed of self-lubricating plastic, such as Delrin or Teonj is disposed between shoulder 100 and collar 80 to facilitate rotatable adjustment of nozzle 22 relative to head 20. An outer circular shoulder 102 on clamping collar 98 preferably is slightly spaced from the outer end of projection 24 when the collar 98 is in home position and when it is in such position, the O-ring 96 is placed under sealing compression. Although the end face 102 of collar 98 preferably is slightly spaced from the outer face of projection 24 when in clamping position, the washer 101 will prevent any appreciable escape of air which is the only uid intended to be discharged into cavity 58, -for example, whereby no harm will be done if a slight amount of the same escapes to atmosphere. An externally threaded sleeve 104 extends beyond end face 102 and engages complementary threads within the surface of cavity 58 to secure the collar 98 in clamping position.

The outer end of nozzle 22 is provided with a discharge tip 106, details of which are best shown in the left-hand end of FIG. 6. From both FIGS. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the exterior tube 82 of the nozzle 22 gradually tapers from the inlet end to the discharge tip 106. Accordingly, the cylindrical air passage 90 in the tip 106 is of substantially less area than that of the inlet end thereof and the discharge end of said passage 90 communicates with a short circular discharge tube 108 of very small radial dimension and is spaced from bore 109 in tip 106- to provide an annular discharge passage for air around the outer surface of tube 108. Hence, the discharge of air through said passage is at a much higher speed than that at which the air enters the inlet end of passage 90 for several purposes.

One of said purposes is to deliver a relatively high speed jet of air when discharge of air alone is desired. The other is to atomize the stream of water existing through the central discharge hole 110 in tube 108, which is coaxial with and in short telescoping engagement at its inner end with the discharge end of the interior tube 88, as when a spray comprising a mixture of air and water is desired. To accomplish this, the terminal end of tulbe 108 extends slightly beyond the outer end of tip 106 to insure adequate atomization of the water jet to form such spray or mist. Further, the tube 108 is highly adequate t0 discharge only a jet of water when that is all that is desired. Tube 108 is held in operative position within tip 106 by a spider 112 which provides a series of spaces 114, see FIG. 8, through which air passes from passage to said discharge passage in tip 106. Preferably, the tip 106 is permanently connected to the outer end of exterior tube 82.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the syringe comprising the lpresent invention is of relatively simple construction yet is capable of selectively discharging either only a stream of water, or only a jet of `air, or a mixture of air and water comprising a mist or spray, whichever is desired by the operator. To discharge air alone, the left-hand handle 70, as viewed in.FIG. 1, is depressed to bring the passage hole 68 in the valve member 64 connected thereto into-registry with the yaxially aligned ports of the transmission members 62 associated with said valve member. Similarly, if a jet of air alone is desired, the right-hand handle 70, as viewed in FIG. 1, is depressed so as to bring the passage hole 66 of valve member 64 connected with said handle into registry with the ports of the transmission members 62 associated with said valve member. When, however, a mist or spray is desired, both of the handles 70 are depressed simultaneously in order to open lboth of said valves and thereby produce a mixture of air and water at the discharge end of tip 106.

The handles 70 are so shaped as to be comfortable to operate. Further, the springs 74 are of adequate strength to quickly return the valve members to closed position from an open position thereof, yet do not require such force to move the valves to open position as would be uncomfortable for the operator to actuate said valve members. The particular shape of the inner edges 72 of the handles 70 is such as to prevent the possibility of the operator pinching the face of his or her thumb or finger therebetween when operating the handle 70. F'urther, the nature of the material from which the transmission members 62 are formed is such as to render them substantially self-lubricating, whereby the -blade-like valve members 64 are readily slidable therebetween without leakage of either air or Water between the slidalbly engaged surfaces of the elements which comprise each valve. This is due to adequate pressure being exerted by the O-ring 78 against the transmission members 62 to insure the same.

In addition, the formation of the various passages in the head 20 and the cover plates 32 and 34 are such that they may be readily formed either by molding or drilling. Also, the assembly of all the various elements comprising the several valve members and their coacting elements is simple and readily accomplished without the requirement of special tools or the like.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A dental syringe selectively operable to discharge air, water or a mixture thereof to provide a spray and comprising in combination, an elongated handle-like body adapted to be held manually, a nozzle projecting laterally from one end of said body, and air and Water passages extending longitudinally of said body and connectable at one end respectively to supplies of air and water under pressure at the opposite end of said body and the opposite ends thereof communicating with said nozzle, in combination with a pair of flowc1ontrol valve means mounted transversely beside each other within said body adjacent said one end thereof and respectively connected to said passages to control the flow of air and Water therethrough, said valve means each including transversely spaced fluid transmission members having at least substantially parallel surface [portions provided with axially aligned ports therein and a thin segmental bladelike valve member pivotally supported for slidable movement through a limited arc within a plane relative to which the common axis of said ports is perpendicular, each valve member having an opening therethrough ar ranged to be moved into registry with said aligned ports of a pair of said transmission members when said valve is in open position to permit discharge therethrough and an imperforate portion on each valve member arranged to be positioned between said aligned ports of said transmission members to prevent communication therebetween when said valve means is closed, means engaging said ported members to constantly urge said surface portions thereof with sliding scalable engagement with opposite surfaces of said blade-like member, and actuating members integrally connected to said blade-like valve members of said valve means opposite the pivot of each of said members and disposed adjacent each other exteriorly of and adjacent said one end of said handle-like body while held in the hande of an operator for selectively individual or simultaneous engagement -by the thumb or linger of an operator respectively to discharge air, Water or a spray-like mixture thereof from said nozzle.

2. The dental syringe according to claim 1 in which said means engaging said ported transmission members comprise compressible O-rings.

3. The dental syringe according to claim 2 in which said ported transmission members have annular shoulders thereon and stem portions on one end respectively positioned in seats in communication with said tluid passages, and said compressible O-rings surrounding said stem portions and engaging said seats to prevent leakage of fluid therebetween and also abutting said shoulders of said ported transmission members to effect said urging of said ported members respectively into huid-tight engagement against the opposite surfaces of said valve member.

4. The dental syringe according to claim 3 in which said ported transmission members have heads opposite said shoulders and the outer end surfaces of said heads slidably engaging said valve member and said end surfaces being beveled at the circumference thereof.

5. The dental syringe according to claim 3 in which said ported transmission members are formed from selflubricating synthetic resin and said blade-like valve member being formed from sheet metal.

6. The dental syrings according to claim 1 in which said valve member of each valve is pivoted for movement upon a common axis normal to the plane of said valve members.

7. The dental syringe according to claim 6 further including spring means engaging said valve members opposite the pivot from the portion slidable between said ported transmission members and operable to move said slidable portions toward closed position relative to said ported transmission members.

8. The dental syringe according to claim 1 in which said actuating members are leaf-like handles connected to said valve members and are disposed longitudinally outwardly from and in spaced relationship to said one end of said handle-like body when said valves are closed and said actuating members being movable toward said nozzle to open said valves.

9. The dental syrings according to claim 8 in which said leaf-like handles of said valves are transverse to the planes of said slidable portionsrof said valve members and are closely positioned adjacent each other when the valves are closed, whereby said handles may be selectively engaged individually by a thumb or linger of the operator respectively to open only the air or water valve or they may be simultaneously engaged to open said valves simultaneously to produce a spray of mixed air and water.

10. A dental syringe selectively operable to discharge air, Water or a mixture thereof to provide a spray and comprising in combination, an elongated handle-like body, a nozzle projecting laterally from one end of said body, and air and water passages extending longitudinally of said body and connectable at one end respectively to supplies of air and water under pressure and the opposite ends thereof communicating with said nozzle, in combination with a pair of How-control valve means mounted within said body adjacent said one end thereof and respectively connected to said passages to control the ow of air and water therethrough, said valve means each including movable thin segmental 4blade-like valve members, and manually engageable actuating members pivotally supported by said body adjacent said one end of said body opposite the side from which said nozzle projects and initially extending longitudinally in a direction outward from said one end of said body, said actuating members being integrally connected respectively to said movable valve members and operable to move the same to open position when said actuating members are pivotally moved toward said nozzle, said actuating members having a digit-engaging portion extending transversely to the planes of said 'blade-like valve members and being adjacent each other for selective individual actuation to discharge air or water from said nozzle or simultaneous actuation by a single finger or thumb of the operator to discharge air and water simultaneously to form a spray mist.

11. The dental syringe according to claim 10y in which said digit-engaging portions of said actuating members are substantially within a common plane approximately parallel to the axis of said body when said valve members are in closed position and the outer ends of said actuating members extending beyond said one end of said body to provide maximum ease of actuation of said valves when the body of said syringe is encircled by the lingers of an operator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,827 11/192-6 Hermann 251-174 2,839,074 6/1958 Kaiser 251-174 XR 3,006,599 10/1961 Eckert 251--174 XR 3,054,402 9/ 1962 Franwick et al 12S- 229 3,118,650 1/1964 Cooper et al. 251-174 XR 3,228,652 1/1966 Antrim 251-174 XR 3,254,646 6/1966 Staunt et al. 12B-173.1 XR 3,269,694 8/ 1966 Hardison 251-174 3,401,691 9/1968 Beu 12S-173.1 3,137,297 V6/1964 Maurer et al 128--173.l 3,375,823 4/1968 Pamplin et al 12S-173.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 564,949 1958 Belgium.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

Images