US3599887A

US3599887A - Holder for flexible conductors for dentist{3 s tools

Info

Publication number: US3599887A
Application number: US847993A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emilio Marverna
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-08-24
Filing date: 1969-08-06
Publication date: 1971-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1988-08-17
Also published as: DE6932974U; FR2017025A1

Abstract

A device is disclosed comprising a swinging arm presenting at its fix and movable end two pulleys onto which winds, with greater or smaller amplitude, a flexible conductor connecting the considered tool to the energy source and thus varying the distance of said tool from the energy source.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Emilio Maverna Monticello Brianza, Como, Italy [2i 1 Appl. No. 847,993 [22] Filed Aug. 6, 1969 [45] Patented @ug, 17,1911 [32] Priority Aug. 28, 1968 33] Italy [54] HOLDER FOR FLEXIBLE CONDUCTORS FOR DENTIST'S TOOLS 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 242/47.5, 242/ l 55 [51] lnt.Cl B65h 51/20 [50] Field of Search 242/47.5, 55.01, 107, 107.1, 155

[56] I I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,776,093 l/1957 Cox et al 242/47.5 3,372,883 3/1968 Ota 242/47.5 3,429,516 2/1969 Sharp et al 242/47.5

Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Altorney0strolenk, Faber, Gerb & Soffen ABSTRACT: A device is disclosed comprising a swinging arm presenting at its fix and movable end two pulleys onto which winds, with greater or smaller amplitude, a flexible conductor connecting the considered tool to the energy source and thus varying the distance of said tool from the energy source.

SOURCE PATENIED AUG] 7 IHYI sum 10F 2 HOLDER FOR FLEXIBLE CONDUCTORS FOR DENTISTS TOOLS Obviously the denomination flexible feeding conductors,"

as cited in the following specification, refers to electric, as well as to pneumatic lines or, otherwise, to fluidpressurized lines in general, to connect the power source to an electric motor or to a pressurized fluid motor.

With'particular, although not exclusive reference to odontotechnique, in which field the invention can be ad-- vantageously applied-it is assumed that the user, i.e. the dentist, disposes already of the various tools at reach of hand and so arranged that each of said'tools can be gripped by the user without the need to displace his arm beyond certain limits. Furthermore, a special requirement of the user is the possibility to retain said tool with one hand only, in such a way that he can handle said tool as required, first of all so as to enable the user to feel the operating area with the necessary sensitivity and, at the same time, preventing said sensitivity from possible alterations due to variable factors, such as, for instance, the weight of the feeding conductor, the length of which, between the tool and the power source, can be variable according to the different operations the user has to accomplish each time.

The problem of maintaining a constant sensitivity of the tool during the use thereof has already been faced, but not yet solved as concerns the requirements of dental technology in general and, in particular, the achievement of a simple, reliable, efficient and satisfactory performance of the tool, whichever its position may be.

The device of the present invention is designed to solve the above mentioned, as well as other problems, both practically and rationally, as it enables retention of the tools in such a position that the user thereof can grip said tools effortlessly and without the need or preoccupation to return said tools to their initial position, after having made use thereof.

The device of the invention comprises one support provided with means to retain and to anchor the flexible conductors, as

well as with means to retain, through hinged parts, one of the ends of at least one arm, provided at the other end thereof, with a pulley onto which one of the flexible conductors winds, whereas power accumulating means exert their action on said arm to maintain said arm to be temporarily maintained in a preselected position, as well as to substantially balance such length of the flexible conductor between the anchorage of the latter and the user.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device, the swinging arm is under the influence of spring means and supports-at the pivot pin of the pulley onto which the conduc tor winds a counterweight counterarm, the latter cooperating, through a guiding roller, with the flexible conductor in order to guide the winding and unwinding motion of said conductor onto and from the pulley carried by said arm, thus preventing slipping off of the conductor from the pulley.

According to the invention the support for the swinging arm or the swinging arms is bracketlike in shape and has, near its front end, a plate provided at its free end and in alignment with the winding pulleys, with shaped openings, in such a way that the sidewalls of said openings converge toward the botpermit the displacement of said support in at least two directions, at right angles to each other. The displacement of the supporting bracket in these two directions is achieved by means of articulated parallelograms connecting said bracket to said column.

The invention will be now described in the following specification, wherein reference is made to, the annexed drawings,

showing, by way of example, an advantageous embodiment of v the device.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device FIG. 2 shows the swinging supporting arm, with some parts thereof in section FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device.

With reference to said figures, the device is retained by a pedestal (not shown) integral with a tubular column 10 which can be possibly made of one or several teles'copicmembers, to adjust the height thereof.

The terminal element 10a of column 10 firmly retains one head 12 provided with an opening 14 forming a forl between which arms two

rods

20 and 22 are retained through pivot pins l6, 18, said rods forming the opposed sides of an articulated parallelogram.

Arms

20, 22 of said parallelogram connect, by means of associated

pivot pins

24 and 26, to small wings 28, shown below a supporting bracket 30, advantageously extending with respect to the above mentioned two

arm

20 and 22.

At least one stirrup 32 is fixed to the supporting bracket 30, each of said stirrups retaining, by means of one pivot pin 34, one cylindrical housing 31, the periphery of which is provided with one groove 38 to receive the flexible conductor C which, as previously mentionedcan be formed with insulated electric conductors, or otherwise, with tubes to convey a pressurized fluid for coupling in theknown manner, a motor M to each control tool K (not shown). Motor M" is-so embodied as toforrn ahandle which can be easily gripped andoperated by the user.

Housing 36 contains a helical spring 40 one end of which is fixed, by means of one pin 42, to said box, whereas the other end of said spring is fixed to a bushing 44 rotatably threaded to the above mentioned pivot pin 34. Bushing 44 is-integral with arm 46 showing an advantageous length, saidv arm retaining with its other end, a pivot pin 48. A grooved pulley or sheave 50 isrotatably arranged on said pivot pin 48.

On the pivot pin 48, at its end projecting from the other side of arm 46, an oscillating arm 52 is rotatably mounted in such a way as to show, in an advantageous position, a balancing weight portion 53, whereas the other end of said arm pivotally a small grooved roller 56 constituting a guide pulley for cable C, The swinging motion of arm 52 is confined by a stop pin 55, arranged on arm 46. The action of spring 40 is in clockwise direction (FIG. 2), in order to maintain arm 46 in a preselected position determined by a stop which, in the illustrated case, consists of an angle arm 58 fixed to supporting stirrup 32.

Cable C, which connects motor M to the powersource is introduced, together with other conductors, into column 10' and, through said column, into cable sheath 60 of elastic material, where said conductor is anchored to previously mentioned angle arm 58. Cable sheath 60 is embodied in such a way as to stably retain cable C, so that the length of said cable, between said cable sheath 60 and motor M, has a preestablished extension, in order to meet the users requirements. It is to be understood that cable sheath 60 can be used in such a way as to permit the adjustment of the protruding cable length and, once said length has been established, to maintain said cable anchored.

When motor M, together with the associatedtool, is not used, said motor is retained in a preselected position by a positioning member consisting of slab 62 fixed to the front side of supporting bracket 30, said slab having shaped notches 64 tohouse the grip of motorM in such a way, that the bottom of each of said notches is in alignment with the middle symmetric plane of

grooved pulleys

38 and 50. i

Now, examining the structure of the above described device, the operational characteristics of said device can be readily understood. The same is to be said for performance of the various component parts, each time the utilizer grips the handle and exerts an action on said handle connected to motor M.

In fact, when motor M is moved away from its associated gripping notch 64, arm 46 together with pulley 50, are moved in the direction shown by arrow Y, against the action of helical spring 40. The handle, together with motor M, in their position of maximum extension (see FIG. I) extend along a horizontal line, said line being, below and imaginary line tangent to pulley 38 which imaginary line lies above pulley 50.

In such conditions the weight of the cable is compensated or substantially balanced between the anchorage consisting of cable sheath 60 and motor M by spring 40 and arm 46.

It is to be understood that, when the extension of said length decreases inasmuch tool k is moved toward the device, spring 40 causes arm 46 to move in order to wind the cable onto

pulleys

38 and 50. Thus, when a limited action is exerted by spring 40 on arm 46, then a smaller length of cable C will project from pulley 50. During the swinging motion of arm 46 under the action of spring 40, said cable C is continuously guided by guiding pulley 56, said pulley being maintained in the winding area of pulley 50, thanks to counterweight portion 53 of arm 52, thus preventing conductor 6 from slipping off or otherwise becoming disengaged from pulley 50. When the operator releases handle M, or if said handle is in the position of its minimum extension, arm 46, under the action of spring 40, is returned against stopping wall of angle arm 58, thus causing cable C to wind up onto pulley 50, as well as handle M to engage in the associated notch 64 of plate 62. As a consequence, the user is allowed to work in a rational and easy way, without the danger that conductors C of the various tools can become loose and, as a consequence, entangled; on the 1 other hand, it is possible to change the resting position of the tools by lifting and lowering supporting bracket 30 which, through the

deformable parallelogram

20, 22, is allowed to assume a preselected position, both in length and height, with respect to the top of column 10.

lt is possible to perform modifications and changes in the above described and illustrated device in accordance with the desired end uses of same: for instance, in order to obtain the different lengths of cable C, it is possible to change the diameter of winding pulley 50 and/or the length of arm 46. For this purpose said arm can be formed with two parts, in such a way that said parts can be adjusted and locked to each other by means of detachable connecting members. Furthermore, means can be provided to adjust the action of spring 40 upon arm 46; for instance a connection of said arm with bushing 44 can be achieved by means of a screw engageable with one ofa plurality of openings provided by one of the ends of said bushing. Furthermore, as regards the specific use made of the device according to the present invention in the field of odontotechnique, said device can be so embodied as to advantageously complement or to be formed integrally with a chair, such as is currently used for this purpose.

However, the details of the embodiment, as well as the specific end use of the device of the present invention may undergo modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A device for the compensated retaining of a flexible conductor (C) adapted to couple a power source to a small size portable tool comprising:

support means (30) provided with a retaining member (60) mounted upon said support means and surrounding said flexible conductor for retaining and anchoring the flexible conductor;

an arm (46);

means (34) pivotally joining one end of said arm (46) to said support (30);

spring means (40) mounted between said support (30) and said pivot means (34) for biasing said arm in a first direction;

a pulley being pivotally mounted to the free end of said arm (46);

said flexible conductor (C) being entrained around the periphery of said pulley (50) and having a tool (M) mounted at its free end;

said spring means (40) being adapted to exert a counter force upon said arm (46) which balances a force exerted upon said arm (46) which results from the length of flexible cable (C) extending between the retaining member (60) and the free end of said flexible conductor (C) when the flexible conductor is drawn from said pulley (50) when said tool is being used.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing (36) integral with said support (30); said pivot means (34) extending into said housing;

said housing containing a stationary annular-shaped ring whose outer periphery is grooved (38) to guide said flexible conductor;

said spring means (40) comprising a spiral spring having its inner end coupled to said pivot means (34) and having its outer end coupled to said housing.

3. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising:

a swingable arm (52) having a first end pivotally mounted to said arm (46) said swingable arm having a portion (53) thereof adjacent its pivotal mounting for counterbalancing its pivoting movement;

the free end of said swingable arm (52) being provided with a pivotally mounted flute roller (56) whose periphery engages the flexible conductors entrained about said pulley (50) to ensure proper winding motion of the flexible conductor on said pulley.

4. The device of claim 1, characterized by providing at least one stirrup (32) fixed to and extending above said support (30); said stirrup retaining pivot means (34); stop means (58) for said arm (46) being secured to said stirrup for limiting the pivotal movement of said arm (46) in said first direction.

5. The device of claim 1, characterized in that said stop means (58) is a small iron angle fixed to supporting stirrup (32), to provide a stop for swinging arm (46); said retaining means (60) being mounted upon said iron angle.

6. The device according of claim 1, characterized in that the supporting bracket (30) has at its longitudinal front end, one plate (62), the free edge of which is provided with a plurality of shaped openings (64),-the bottom of said openings being provided with means to retain either the housing or the handle ofthe motor (M) to drive the tool.

7. The device of claim 1, comprising a supporting column and being characterized in that the supporting bracket (30) is connected to said supporting column (10) by means of a pair of adjustable members (20 and 22), said members each being pivotally connected at their first and second ends to said support means and said column to provide for adjustment of said support means in height and/or in length with respect to said column.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable members (20, 22) comprise an articulated parallelogram composed of said adjustable members (20, 22) which are supported at one end by column (10) and the other end by support means (30).

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said retaining means is comprised of a short flexible sleeve (60) fixed at a first end thereof to said support (30) and having its free end extending toward the power source whereby said sleeve is adapted to enable said flexible conductor to slide freely through said sleeve in moving toward the power source while exerting a restraining force upon said flexible conductor when pulled in the reverse direction.

Claims

1. A device for the compensated retaining of a flexible conductor (C) adapted to couple a power source to a small size portable tool comprising: support means (30) provided with a retaining member (60) mounted upon said support means and surrounding said flexible conductor for retaining and anchoring the flexible conductor; an arm (46); means (34) pivotally joining one end of said arm (46) to said support (30); spring means (40) mounted between said support (30) and said pivot means (34) for biasing said arm in a first direction; a pulley (50) being pivotally mounted to the free end of said arm (46); said flexible conductor (C) being entrained around the periphery of said pulley (50) and having a tool (M) mounted at its free end; said spring means (40) being adapted to exert a counter force upon said arm (46) which balances a force exerted upon said arm (46) which results from the length of flexible cable (C) extending between the retaining member (60) and the free end of said flexible conductor (C) when the flexible conductor is drawn from said pulley (50) when said tool is being used.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising: a housing (36) integral with said support (30); said pivot means (34) extending into said housing; said housing containing a stationary annular-shaped ring whose outer periphery is grooved (38) to guide said flexible conductor; said spring means (40) comprising a spiral spring having its inner end coupled to said pivot means (34) and having its outer end coupled to said housing.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising: a swingable arm (52) having a first end pivotally mounted to said arm (46) said swingable arm having a portion (53) thereof adjacent its pivotal mounting for counterbalancing its pivoting movement; the free end of said swingable arm (52) being provided with a pivotally mounted flute roller (56) whose periphery engages the flexible conductors entrained about said pulley (50) to ensure proper winding motion of the flexible conductor on said pulley.

6. The device according of claim 1, characterized in that the supporting bracket (30) has at its longitudinal front end, one plate (62), the free edge of which is provided with a plurality of shaped openings (64), the bottom of said openings being provided with means to retain either the housing or the handle of the motor (M) to drive the tool.