US3751807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental instrument
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-03
•
Granted: 1973-08-14
•
Expires: 1992-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A dental instrument for dispensing tooth filling material into a cavity and for compacting the filling material in the cavity. The compacting element of the instrument ejects the tooth filling material and then closes a dispensing opening of the filling material container so the instrument can be used to compact the dispensed filling material. The container and compacting element are releasably secured to the instrument as a unit with the compacting element closing the dispensing opening of the container. The container can be prefilled with the ingredients of the tooth filling amalgam and can be shaken to mix same, or alternatively, the container can be filled with mixed amalgam just before use.
Inventors
- 👤 C Noll
- 👤 A Morris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:55
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05C; B05C17/00; B05C17/005; B05C17/00593; A; A61; A61C; A61C5/00; A61C5/60; A61C5/62; B05C17/00503; B05C17/00516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A tooth filling material container adapted to be releasably connected to a dental instrument for dispensing and compacting the dispensed material comprising a casing having a chamber adapted to receive tooth filling material and having a dispensing opening communicating with said chamber, and compactor-ejector means, initially closing the dispensing opening, for opening and closing the dispensing opening and for ejecting tooth filling material through the dispensing opening, said means comprising a compacting-ejecting element movable between a retracted position in which said dispensing opening is opened and an extended position in which the dispensing opening is closed and the compacting element is exposed to tool the dispensed tooth filling material, said compacting element including means thereon for mechanically releasably connecting the compacting element to an operating mechanism of a dental instrument with which the container is used so that the container and compacting element can be installed on and removed from the instrument as a unit with the compacting element closing the dispensing opening when the container is separated from the instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A tooth filling material container adapted to be releasably connected to a dental instrument for dispensing and compacting the dispensed material comprising a casing having a chamber adapted to receive tooth filling material and having a dispensing opening communicating with said chamber, and compactor-ejector means, initially closing the dispensing opening, for opening and closing the dispensing opening and for ejecting tooth filling material through the dispensing opening, said means comprising a compacting-ejecting element movable between a retracted position in which said dispensing opening is opened and an extended position in which the dispensing opening is closed and the compacting element is exposed to tool the dispensed tooth filling material, said compacting element including means thereon for mechanically releasably connecting the compacting element to an operating mechanism of a dental instrument with which the container is used so that the container and compacting element can be installed on and removed from the instrument as a unit with the compacting element closing the dispensing opening when the container is separated from the instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A filling material container according to claim 1 wherein said chamber is elongated, and said casing includes guide means for guiding said compacting-ejecting element along a predetermined path during movement between said retracted and extended positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filling material container according to claim 2 wherein said guide means includes the sides of a second opening aligned with said dispensing opening along the path of travel of said compacting-ejecting element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A filling material container according to claim 3 wherein said second opening and said dispensing opening are aligned transversely of said chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A filling material container according to claim 1 which further includes movable means within said chamber for forcing amalgam toward said dispensing opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
An amalgam container according to claim 5 wherein said casing has an additional opening communicating with said chamber and spaced from said dispensing opening, said chamber has a uniform cross-sectional configuration along the portion of its length adjacent said second opening, and said movable means includes a piston closing said additional opening and movable through said chamber to force tooth-filling material to said dispensing opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
A dental instrument for dispensing and compacting a tooth filling material comprising a housing, a container having a chamber adapted to receive tooth filling material and mounted on said housing, said container having a dispensing opening, a compacting-ejecting device movable between a first position in which said dispensing opening is opened and a second position in which said dispensing opening is closed and said compacting-ejecting device is extended and has an end face and a side face exposed for tooling tooth filling material dispensed from the container, and means for selectively moving said compacting device between said first and second positions and for locking the compacting device in its extended position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A dental instrument for dispensing and compacting a tooth filling material comprising a housing, a container having a chamber adapted to receive tooth filling material and mounted on said housing, said container having a dispensing opening, a compacting-ejecting device movable between a first position in which said dispensing opening is opened and a second position in which said dispensing opening is closed and said compacting-ejecting device is extended and has an end face and a side face exposed for tooling tooth filling material dispensed from the container, and means for selectively moving said compacting device between said first and second positions and for locking the compacting device in its extended position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dental instrument according to claim 7 which further includes means for vibrating said compacting device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dental instrument according to claim 7 which further includes means for releasably securing said container to said housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A dental instrument according to claim 7 wherein said means for moving said compacting device between said extended and retracted positions and for locking the compacting device in its extended position includes cam means for locking said compacting device in said extended position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A dental instrument according to claim 10 wherein said cam means includes a cam plate within said housing, means for moving said cam plate to a compacting device locking position, and means for selectively operating said cam plate moving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dental instrument according to claim 7 which further includes follower means for urging tooth filling material in said chamber toward said dispensing opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
A dental instrument according to claim 7 wherein said means for selectively moving said compacting device between said extended and retracted positions includes a lever engaging said compacting device, means for locking said lever in said extended position of said compacting device, and means for operating said locking means, said operating means comprising selectively actuable motor means carried by said tool, and manually operable means for selectively operating said motor means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A dental instrument according to claim 7 wherein said container is releasably secured to said housing, and said compacting device and said means for moving said compacting device include cooperating means for releasably connecting said compacting device to said compacting device moving means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A dental instrument according to claim 14 wherein said cooperating means include interengaging slip fit slot and projecting means on said compacting device and said compacting device moving means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-13 | 1977-02-12 | 1977-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-13 | 1981-02-12 | 1981-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-13 | 1985-02-12 | 1985-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |