Dental hammer

Claim 2

A dental hammer comprising first and second ring-shaped finger grips adapted to receive either the thumb or a middle finger of a dentist''s hand, a hammer supporting rod extending between and rigidly connected to said rings, whereby they are held a fixed distance apart and are immovable with respect to each other when one ring receives the thumb and the other the middle finger of the dentist''s hand, a hammer slidably mounted on said rod, a spring on said rod urging said hammer against one of said rings, the hammer having an outwardly extending ridge permitting its engagement by the forefinger of said hand, and a tool supporting rod secured to one of said rings on the side opposite its connection to said hammer supporting rod.

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1, the connection between said tool supporting rod and ring permitting limited rotation of said rod on its own axis, whereby the orientation of a tool mounted on said rod may be changed with respect to said rings.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1, further provided with means for reversing the direction of impact of said hammer with respect to the mounting position of said tool supporting rod.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 3, said last-mentioned means comprising means removably connecting one of said rings to said hammer supporting rod, whereby said ring may be removed and the hammer and spring reversed on said hammer supporting rod.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4, the connection between said tool supporting rod and ring permitting limited rotation of said rod on its own axis, whereby the orientation of a tool mounted on said rod may be changed with respect to said rings.

Claim 7

The combination according to claim 3, said last-mentioned means comprising releasable connections for said tool supporting rod on both of said rings, whereby the tool supporting rod may be mounted on one ring or the other.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 6, the connection between said tool supporting rod and ring permitting limited rotation of said rod on its own axis, whereby the orientation of a tool mounted on said rod may be changed with respect to said rings.

Claim 9

In a dental hammer, first and second finger gripping rings adapted to receive either the thumb or a middle finger of a dentist''s hand, a hammer supporting rod extending between and connected to said rings, one of the rings being removably mounted on said rod, a hammer member of generally cylindrical shape slidably mounted on said rod and having a ridge extending outwardly therefrom, a helical coil compression spring surrounding said rod and urging said hammer against the other ring, and a tool supporting rod secured to the side of said other ring opposite said hammer supporting rod, the connection between said tool supporting rod and other ring permitting limited rotational adjustment of said tool supporting rod on its own axis.

Claim 10

In a dental hammer, first and second finger gripping rings adapted to receive either the thumb or a middle finger of a dentist''s hand, a hammer supporting rod extending between and connected to said rings, one of the rings being removably mounted on said rod, a hammer member of generally cylindrical shape slidably mounted on said rod and having a ridge extending outwardly therefrom, a helical coil compression spring surrounding said rod and urging said hammer against the other ring, and a tool supporting rod secured to the side of said other ring opposite said hammer supporting rod, the connection between said tool supporting rod and other ring permitting limited rotational adjustment of said tool supporting rod on its own axis.