US3524256A

US3524256A - Dental operatory

Info

Publication number: US3524256A
Application number: US854025A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles T Barker
Original assignee: Pelton and Crane Co
Current assignee: Pelton and Crane Co
Priority date: 1969-08-26
Filing date: 1969-08-26
Publication date: 1970-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 1987-08-18

Description

Aug. 18,"1 970 'c. T. BARKER DENTAL OPERATORY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 28. 1966 INVENTOR, BARKER CHAELE-fi T ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1970 c. T. BARKER DENTAL OPERATORY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 28, 1966 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Aug. 18, 1970 c. T. BARKER 3,524,256

bENTAL OPERATORY Original File d on. 28, 1966 :5 Sheets-Sheet s CHA2LE5 T BARKER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,524,256 DENTAL OPERATORY Charles T. Barker, New Bern, N.C., assignor to The Pelton & Crane Company, Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Continuation of application Ser. No. 594,968, Oct. 28, 1966. This application Aug. 26, 1969, Ser. No. 854,025

Int. Cl. A61c 19/02 US. CI. 32-22 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dental operatory comprising an elongate cabinet arranged rearwardly of a headrest end portion of an operating chair and extending transversely of the chair to form a generally T-shaped configuration when viewed in plan, said cabinet being adapted to contain all of the dental instruments and supplies to be out of view of the patient reclining upon said chair, said cabinet also including a horizontally extending counter providing a desklike work surface for the dentist on one side of the chair, and a desk-like work surface for the dental assistant on the other side of the chair.

This application is a continuation of Ser No. 594,968 filed Oct. 28, 1966.

This invention relates to facilities, known as dental operatories, adapted for use in the practice of dentistry, and is particularly concerned with an improved arrangement of an operating chair and a cabinet devised for the psychological comfort of a patient and for convenient access, by the dentist and dental assistant, to the patient and to dental implements, supplies and handpieces incidental to the performance of dental procedures.

For many years, the construction and arrangement of dental operatories have presented many problems, among which has been an undesirable adverse psychological effect upon patients. In such operatories, a patient is typically seated more or less upright in an operating chair, with a number of dental handpieces usually mounted in a dental engine to his one side and within his view. Close by, possibly above the patients lap, a tray usually is supporting a proliferation of hand implements and supplies. On his other side is the dentist, who has to reach over the patient to select a handpiece from the dental engine and pull it across in front of the patient into position for use. To further complicate matters, the services of a dental assistant are required with increasing frequency and urgency in the performance of modern dental procedures, and operatories commonly employed do not provide for an assistants work station from which the patient may be readily accessible to the assistant. Therefore, the assistant must move about constantly in order to work in momentarily open points of access to the patient, and this movement is disconcerting to the patient and to the dentist.

Another problem of operatories commonly employed is that the necessary dental tools and the patient are not so located as to be readily accessible to the dentist at all times, and he is unable to fully utilize the services of his assistant, because the dentist and the dental engine are frequently in the way of the assistant. Also, the dentist typically needs to stand in a partially crouched position during his performance of virtually the entire dental procedure. Taken together, these factors may result in excessive fatigue of the dentist, and frequently detract from his ability to work efliciently for long periods of time.

More recently, dental operatories have been proposed in attempts to overcome the various problems mentioned ice heretofore. However, such proposed operatories have not been entirely satisfactory to my knowledge, because the elimination of one problem has aggravated other problems. For example, in attempting to improve an operatory to provide for ready accessibility of dental tools and the patient to the dentist and his assistant, the problem of the adverse psychological effect upon the patient has been aggravated by the fact that, in attempting to locate the dental tools closer to the dentist, there has been an increase in the number of such dental tools exposed to the view of the patient.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a dental operatory functionally and aesthetically arranged to give ample work space for both a dentist and an assistant seated in movable work chairs, one adjacent each side of the patient, and wherein hand implements, supplies and handpieces not actually in use are so located as to be substantially out of the patients view and are yet readily accessible to both the dentist and the dental assistant without either having to leave his work chair, thus substantially eliminating the problems mentioned heretofore.

A further object of this invention is to provide an operatory of the type described in which a cabinet is arranged transversely behind the headrest end portion of a dental operating chair, with dental tools, including hand implements, supplies and handpieces carried by the cabinet so as to be readily accessible to both the dentist and the dental assistant while being substantially out of view of a patient reclining in the chair.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the operatory according to the present invention, showing a patient reclining in a dental opearting chair and being attended by a dentist and a dental assistant seated in work chairs adjacent opposite sides of the operating chair;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the operatory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cabinet of the operatory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view looking at the opposite end of the cabinet from that shown in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are transverse vertical sectional views taken substantially along lines 55, 6-6, and 7-7, respectively, of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view similar to FIG. 2, showing another embodiment of the operatory of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the console of the operatory shown in FIG. 8; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are transverse vertical sectional views taken along the respective lines 1010 and 1111 in FIG. 8.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, one embodiment of the operatory of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and generally comprises a base or floor F, a cabinet 10, an elongate dental operating chair 11, a dentists work chair 12, and a dental assistants work chair 13, with the cabinet 10 being shown more in detail in FIGS. 3 through 7. Dental operating chair 11 includes a rear headrest end portion 14 and a foot end portion 15 terminating forwardly from headrest end portion 14. As is conventional, headrest end portion 14 is vertically adjustable and is open therebeneath so that it may be spaced various distances from floor F to suit particular preferences and circumstances.

Cabinet 10 also is supported by floor F and is centrally arranged behind headrest end portion 14 and spaced a short distance therefrom. Cabinet is of greater length than the width of headrest end portion 14 and extends transversely of operating chair 11 so that cabinet 10 and chair 11 form a generally T-shaped configuration when viewed in plan. When the operatory is in use, a patient (FIG. 1) reclines upon chair 11 with his head at headrest end portion 14, While a dentist and a dental assistant are seated in the

movable work chairs

12, 13 adjacent opposite sides of the chair 11 and closely adjacent cabinet 10. Thus, the dentist and assistant each have ready access both to the patient and to cabinet 10 and dental tools carried thereby from their seated positions. Since cabinet 10 is behind the patient, it is substantially out of his view, and he need only see such equipment as is actually being utilized in his treatment.

Cabinet 10 is specially constructed to facilitate its arrangement in the manner just described. As best shown in FIGS. 3-7, cabinet 10 includes a supporting framework comprising a pair of laterally spaced upright frame members 10a, 1%, a top wall 16, and rear wall 17 which conveniently are in the form of panels.

Within the supporting framework, cabinet 10 is divided into three

major sections

20, 21, 22, respectively serving three different purposes. Section 29 is a storage section and occupies an upper portion of the cabinet spaced above section 21 which'is a counter section. Counter section 21 occupies the vertically medial portion of the cabinet 10 above section 22. Section 22 is a housing section and occupies the lower portion of cabinet 10.

Storage section comprises a sterile storage facility for various hand dental implements and items of supply such as dental mirrors, medicaments and the like, and is preferably subdivided into various drawers, compartments and enclosures, as shown, to serve this function. Also, storage section 20 preferably includes one or more tray compartments 23 (FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) each provided with

doors

24, 25, preferably of the sliding type, at the respective front and rear extremities of cabinet 10. When opened, the

doors

24, 25 provide access to the interior of compartments 23 and, when closed, they conceal the contents of the compartments from view. Suitable runners 26 are provided on interior side walls of compartments 23 and support a plurality of trays 27 in vertically spaced stacked relationship in each compartment 23. Trays 27 may be readily removed from or replaced in compartments 23 from either the front of the rear of the cabinet through

doors

24 or 25.

Each tray 27 may carry an assortment of dental hand implements and supplies which have been sterilized in the usual manner prior to being stored in the compartments. Each of the tray 27 is usually arranged in the form of kits, with each kit comprising an assortment of hand implements and supplies needed in performance of a particular dental procedure. When such procedure is to be performed, a tray 27 carrying the pertinent hand implements and supplies may be withdrawn from a compartment 23 through one of the front doors 24 and positioned on counter section 21 for convenient access by both the dentist and the assistant, as will be later described. Similarly, when the dental procedure no longer requires the use of hand implements and supplies contained in a particular tray 27, it may be returned to one of the compartments 23 through a corresponding front door 24 and concealed from further view. Any trays containing soiled implements may be removed from the compartments 23, preferably through the rear doors 25, for resterilization, for restocking and for subsequent return to compartments 23.

Storage section 20 may be conveniently constructed in modular form for quick assembly, according to the amount of storage space a particular dentist may desire. For example, the upper portion of storage section 20 may be constructed as a separate unit from the lower portion of storage section 20, as shown, so as to provide an upper self-contained module which may be omitted from or included in the cabinet 10, as desired. As shown, the upper module includes the tray compartments 23, two drawers 28, and an enclosure 29. However, it is to be understood that the upper module of storage section 20 may be otherwise arranged without departing from the invention. The lower unit of storage section 20 may include a plurality of drawers 28a spaced above the counter of counter section 21.

Housing section 22 contains bulky pieces of dental equipment such as a drill drive unit 30, a water heater 31, and the like, as shown schematically and in broken lines in FIGS. 6 and 7. Appropriate means, such as

panels

32, 33, conceal such bulky pieces of equipment from view. Various utility lines, such as a water pipe 34, are also contained within housing section 22, and are preferably further concealed from view between rear panel 17 and a vertical false Wall extending across the rear interior of housing section 22 and spaced forwardly of rear panel 17. It is, of course, to be understood that the dental equipment and utility lines shown are merely representative, and that other equipment, such as supplies of analgesic gas, oxygen, vacuum lines, compressed air lines, electrical leads and the like, also may be concealed within housing section 22.

Counter section 21 comprises a substantially horizontal counter or work surface, broadly designated at 40, supported by and extending between the medial portions of frame members 10a, 10b. Counter is spaced below storage section 20 and also is spaced above floor F, preferably by a distance intermediate the range of vertical adjustment of headrest end portion 14 of operating chair 11 from the floor. The rear edge of counter 40 preferably abuts false wall 35 and extends forwardly from between the frame members 10a, 10b, and terminates in a front extremity which is of stepped configuration in plan. The side extremities of counter 40 are defined by substantially parallel

side edge portions

42, 43, and its front extremity comprises a plurality of laterally arranged substantially parallel front edge portions such as 44, and 46, each being of substantially less length than the overall length of the counter and each defining a step on the forward extremity of the counter.

Front edge portion 44 extends substantially perpendicularly from side edge 43 and forms a first counter portion which projects further forwardly of the storage section 20 of cabinet 10 than any other portion of the counter 40. Front edge portion 45 is stepped rearwardly of front edge portion 44 and defines a central counter portion 51 also projecting forwardly of the storage section 20 of cabinet 10, but to a lesser extent than counter portion 50.

Front edge portion 46 preferably is stepped rearwardly of front edge portion 45 and defines the front extremity of a third or additional counter portion 52. It is important that only counter portion 50 projects as far forwardly as the vertical plane of its front edge portion 44, and so that the remaining

front edge portions

45, 46 of counter 40 are spaced rearwardly of the vertical plane of the first front edge portion 44, so as to provide a notch or recess at the front of the cabinet adjacent and in alignment with the headrest end portion 14 of the operating chair 11. Such an arrangement provides a forwardly projecting desk space of counter portion 50 for the dental assistants use while the recess provides space, which is readily accessible to the dentist and his assistant, for storing retractable dental handpieces to be later described.

It is apparent that counter portion 51 is located directly to the rear of headrest end portion 14 of the operating chair 11, and is thus in alignment with chair 11 and directly behind the head of the patient (FIGS. 1 and 2). While the patient cannot see counter portion 51 from his position reclining in the operating chair 11, both the dentist and the assistant can readily reach it without mov ing from their work chairs 12, 13. Therefore, the dental implements and supplies needed to perform the dental procedure at hand may be located on counter portion 51. At the beginning of a procedure, a tray 27 carrying a kit of implements and supplies pertaining to the procedure to be performed is withdrawn from one of the compartments 23 and placed on counter portion 51. If desired, counter portion 51 may be provided with a shallow recess 53 to receive the tray 27 therein so as to prevent it from hiftin about on the counter.

S As heretofore stated, the recess defined by the front edge portion 45 of counter 40 provides a space for convenient access to dental handpieces. Accordingly, a plurality of handpieces 54, operatively connected with corresponding bulky pieces of dental equipment concealed in housing section 22, is stored above houslng section 22 and immediately beneath counter portion 51 ad aCent its front edge portion 45. Handpieces 54 may include spraying and blowing handpieces, turbine burs, syringes, electric drilling units, aspirators, and the llke. Handpieces 54 are preferably retractably received within a back wall 60 (FIG. 6) of a drawer 61 having a drop door 62 at its front end for selectively concealing and exposlng the handpieces. Handpieces 54 are connected to their respective pieces of dental equipment in housing section 22 by elongate flexible leads such as 63 (FIG. 6 Since dental handpieces and their retracting mechanisms are well known, details of the same are omitted from the description herein.

When the operatory is not in use, handpieces 5 and their leads 63 are retracted into wall 60, drawer 61 is positioned beneath counter portion 51 and door 62 is closed to conceal handpieces 54 from view. When the operatory is to be used (FIG. 3), drawer 61 is drawn forwardly of counter edge portion 45 and door 62 opened. The array of handpieces 54 along back wall 60 of drawer 61 1S then exposed and readily accessible to the dentist and to the assistant, but is still concealed from the view of the patient, since back wall 60 is directly behind headrest end portion 14 of the operating chair 11. Selected handpieces 54 may then be withdrawn through wall 60 by either the dentist or the assistant into a position suitable for active use as needed (FIG. 1), and only those headpieces so withdrawn will be seen by the patient. A suitable control, such as a foot-operated control switch 64, may be provided, which rests upon floor F and is operatively connected by flexible leads or conductors 65 to drill drive unit 30, for example, for controlling the drill. Control switch 64 may be located so as to be easily accessible to either or both the dentist and the assistant, as desired.

Additional features may be incorporated in the cabinet 10, if desired. For example, an X-ray viewer 66 is shown installed at the rear of counter portion 52, convenient to use by the dentist. Similarly, a dental cuspidor 67 may be desirable in performance of some procedures. Cuspidor 67, when not in use, is preferably retracted to a position beneath counter portion 50 and concealed from view in a drawer 68 substantially aligned with counter front edge portion 44. When a procedure being undertaken includes need of a cuspidor, drawer 68 is pulled open, bringing cuspidor 67 to a position along one side of the patient. Cuspidor 67 may be provided with suitable flexible plumbing for this purpose.

With an operatory arranged as in FIG. 2, the dentist has ready access to dental implements and supplies on the tray 27 on counter portion 51, to handpieces 54 arrayed along wall 60, to control 64, and to storage section 20, all without moving from his work chair. Moreover, counter portion 52 is conveniently close to the dentist to provide him with desk space, if needed. Also X-ray viewer 66 is similarly close by the dentist. Since there is no equipment stand or other obstacle alongside the patient, the dentist may shift his chair to various convenient positions at will. Since the operating chair 11 d not house either equipment or storage cabinets, there is ample knee room under the back of headrest end portion 14 to permit the dentist to remain seated and yet have excellent access to the patient. Similarly, the assistant adjacent the other side of the patient, has convenient access to the patient and can easily reach storage section 20, the tray 27 on counter portion 51, handpieces 54, and control 64. Connter portion 50 projects forwardly from other parts of the counter 40, and provides ample desk space within easy reach of the assistant, for such purposes as charting, etc. From this position, the assistant can be of maximum value to the dentist in the performance of the procedure, without need for constant moving about.

An operatory according to a modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8-l1, and is substantially similar to the operatory shown in FIGS. 1-7. Where applicable, those parts shown in FIGS. 8-11 which are similar to parts shown in FIGS. 1-7 shall be the same reference characters with the prime notation added, to avoid repetitive description.

The arrangement of the operatory according to this embodiment is basically the same as that of the embodiment of FIGS. l-7, differing only in that auxiliary service wing cabinets have been added to the cabinet of the first embodiment to form a dental console 70. Console 70 is arranged transversely of a dental operating chair 11' (FIG. 8). Movable work chairs 12', 13 are arranged adjacent opposite sides of operating chair 11', and adjacent console 70, for seating respectively a dentist and a dental assistant, as in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1-7).

Console 70 includes a central cabinet 10', which may be identical to cabinet 10 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 17. Therefore, further description of cabinet 10' is deemed unnecessary. In addition to cabinet 10', console 70 includes auxiliary

service wing cabinets

72, 73, one adjacent each side of cabinet 10', so that cabinet 10 and

wing cabinets

72, 73 are of a generally U-shaped configuration when viewed in plan (FIG. 8). The

service wing cabinets

72, 73 each may include such individual conveniences as a sink 74, a waste disposal chute 75, a tissue dispenser 76, waste baskets 77, and additional storage units. For example, wing cabinet 72 has an enclosure 78 in its upper portion, and wing cabinet 73 has drawers 79 in its upper portion. Each

wing cabinet

72, 73 is partially enclosed, as by respective

outer side panels

80, 81, respective

rear panels

82, 83, respective

front panels

84, 85, and respective

top panels

86, 87. The upper edges of front panels 84, terminate in spaced relation below the level of enclosure 78 and drawers 79, respectively, and have

respective counters

90, 91 extending rearwardly therefrom for supporting sinks 74. If desired,

service wing cabinets

72, 73 may be constructed in modular form similar to that described with reference to cabinet 10. For example, the upper portions of

service wing cabinets

72, 73 may be constructed as separate units from their lower portions, as shown, so as to provide upper selfcontained modules which may be omitted from or included in either or both the

service wing cabinets

72, 73, as desired. As shown, the upper module of service wing cabinet 72 includes the enclosure 78, while the upper module of service wing cabinet 73 includes the several drawers 79. It is to be understood that the upper modules of

service wing cabinets

72, 73 may be otherwise arranged without departing from the invention. With the addition of auxiliary

service wing cabinets

72, 73, the dentist and the assistant each have access to individual conveniences incidental to the dental procedures to be performed without having to move from their work chairs, and their overall efficiency is accordingly improved.

It is thus seen that a dental operatory constructed and arranged according to the invention provides maximum psychological comfort for a dental patent and convenient access by both a dentist and a dental assistant to the patient being treated and to the dental equipment required in performance of the dental procedure.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a 7 generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental operatory arranged for the psychological comfort of a patient and for convenient access to a patient and to dental tools by a dentist and a dental assistant, said operatory comprising a base, an elongate dental operating chair supported on said base, said chair having a rear headrest end portion and a foot end portion terminating forwardly from said headrest end portion, a cabinet supported on said base and being of greater length than the width of said headrest end portion, said cabinet extending transversely of and positioned rearwardly of and closely adjacent said headrest end portion of said operating chair so that said cabinet is substantially out of view of a patient reclining upon said operating chair with his head at said headrest end portion, said cabinet being adapted to carry dental tools, said cabinet also including a substantially horizontal counter extending rearwardly of said headrest end portion and substantially throughout the length of said cabinet, said counter including substantially parallel side edges and being of stepped configuration in plan at its forward portion to define a first front edge portion extending substantially normal to the front extremity of one of said side edges and being of substantially less length than the overall length of said counter to form a first counter portion, said configuration further defining at least one second front edge portion stepped rearwardly from the vertical plane of said first front edge portion and forming a second counter portion with only said first counter portion projecting as far forwardly as said first front edge portion, said second counter portion being disposed rearwardly of and in alignment with said operating chair, and movable Work chairs supported on said base adjacent opposite sides of said operating chair and closely adjacent said counter whereby a dentist and a dental assistant may be seated in work chairs on opposite sides of said operating chair and each will have convenient access to said second counter portion, and to a patient reclining upon said operating chair.

2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said tools include a plurality of retractable dental handpieces, and means positioned immediately below said second counter portion and formed in said cabinet for retractably storing said dental handpieces therein.

3. A structure according to claim 2, in which said lastnamed means comprises means for selectively concealing and exposing said dental handpieces.

4. A structure according to claim 2, in which said means positioned below said second counter portion comprises a drawer movably supported in said cabinet and including a back wall for retractably receiving portions of said dental handpieces therein, said drawer also including a front drop door thereon spaced forwardly of said back wall and movable relative to said back wall to permit selective concealment and exposure of said dental handpieces.

'5. A structure according to claim 2, wherein said cabinet includes a housing section beneath said counter for concealing dental equipment therewithin, and wherein said dental equipment includes a drill drive unit, and means operatively connecting at least one of said dental handpieces to said drill drive unit.

6. A structure according to claim 5, including a control switch operatively connected to said drill drive unit for controlling the same, and said control switch being located forwardly of said cabinet and accessible to a dentist seated in one of said Work chairs.

7. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said cabinet includes a storage section for storing certain of said dental tools and also for storing supplies such as medicaments, said storage section overlying said counter and being vertically spaced therefrom, and the forward extremity of said storage section being spaced rearwardly from the vertical plane of said second front edge portion of said counter.

8. A structure according to claim 7, wherein said storage section includes a compartment for storage of trays therein, said compartment comprising vertically disposed and horizontally spaced sidewalls provided with means for supporting a plurality of said trays in vertically spaced stacked relation within said compartment.

9. A structure according to claim 8, including door means at the forward and rearward extremities of said compartment for concealing and permitting access to said trays within said compartment.

10. A structure ccording to claim I1, wherein said headrest end portion of said operating chair is vertically spaced from said base and is vertically adjustable, and wherein said counter is located on a level intermediate the range of vertical adjustment of said headrest end portion.

11. A structure according to claim 1, including a pair of auxiliary service wing cabinets supported by said base, there being one of said service wing cabinets closely adjacent each end of and extending forwardly with respect to said first-named cabinet so that said wing cabinets and said first-named cabinet are arranged in plan in a substantially U-shaped configuration, a sink carried by each wing cabinet, and there being one of said work chairs located between each wing cabinet and said operating chair whereby a service wing cabinet and sink are conveniently adjacent each work chair.

12. A dental operatory arranged for the psychological comfort of a patient and for convenient access to a patient and to dental tools by a dentist and a dental assistant, said operatory comprising a cabinet being adapted to carry dental tools and the like, said cabinet adapted to extend transversely of and positioned rearwardly of a patient operating chair, said cabinet including a substantially horizontal counter extending substantially throughout the length of said cabinet, said counter including substantially parallel side edges and including a front edge of stepped configuration in plan at its forward portion to define a first front edge portion extending substantially normal to the front extremity of one of said side edges and being of substantially less length than the overall length of said counter to form a first counter work portion on one side of said chair for the dental assistant, said front edge stepped configuration further defining at least one second front edge portion stepped rearwardly from the vertical plane of said first front edge portion and forming a sec- 0nd counter work portion on the other side of said chair for the dentist with only said first counter portion projecting as far forwardly as said first front edge portion, and said second counter portion being adapted to be disposed riarwardly of and in alignment with the patient operating 0 air.

13. A structure according to claim 12, including a pair of auxiliary service wing cabinets one of which is positioned closely adjacent each end of and extending forwardly with respect to said first-named cabinet so that said wing cabinets and said first-named cabinet are arranged in plan in a substantially U-shaped configuration.

14. A dental operatory arranged for the psychological comfort of a patient and for convenient access to the patient and to tools, such as dental handpieces, by a dentist and a dental assistant, said operatory comprising an elongate, generally rectangular, stationary cabinet containing dental implement, supply and storage facilities, said cabinet being adapted to be positioned in fixed relation to an elongate dental operating chair having a rear headrest end portion and a forward foot end portion so that said cabinet extends transversely of and rearwardly of and closely adjacent the headrest end portion of the operating chair to form a generally T-shaped configuration when viewed in plan with said cabinet and its contents substantially out of view of a patient reclining upon the operating chair with his head at said headrest end portion, said cabinet further including a substantially vertically extending storage section and a substantially horizontal desk-like work surface extending substantially throughout the length of said cabinet, said cabinet having a storage section for said dental implements positioned below said counter and centrally of said cabinet for convenient access by the dentist and dental assistant seated on opposite sides of the operating chair, said cabinet further including stationary auxiliary service wing portions containing sink means, waste and implement facilites and extending generally forwardly from each end of said cabinet so that said cabinet and said auxilary wing portions form a generally U- shaped configuration in plan, whereby the dental assistant and dentist when seated on opposite sides of the operating said work surface, said dental implement storage section and said auxiliary service wing portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

ROBERT PESHOCK,

chair will have convenient access to said cabinet including 15 312-209