Patent US3847573A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3847573A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental office system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-01-28
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1994-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A dental office system including apparatus particularly adapted to high speed dental equipment. An aspirator operating valve having a coil spring trap catches inlays and crowns and other large pieces while permitting amalgum and other small pieces to pass without clogging the trap. A vacuum/venturi line avoids sludge buildup by constantly moving air through the lines. A water separator using a baffle arrangement avoids water creeping up the separator walls to reach and damage the vacuum pump. A slidable instrument console panel for ease of use by a dentist or his assistant includes automatic switches that operate when a dental handpiece is lifted.
Inventors
- 👤 S Gandrud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0007; A61C17/00; A61C17/06; A61C17/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/794; Y10T137/8122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A dental office vacuum system comprising a housing, input means in the top of said housing for accepting at least one input tube, an open bottomed cylindrical member having its top fixed to said housing so that said input means opens into said member, the area of said cylindrical member relative to the total area of said at least one input tube being great enough to cause the incoming air velocity to decrease sufficiently to allow water vapor to condense, first baffle means encircling the lower portion of said cylindrical member and attached to said cylindrical member above the open bottom thereof; second baffle means around the inner wall of said housing and above said first baffle means, said second baffle means extends outward from the interior wall of said housing and curves downward toward said first baffle means, an output connectible in said housing above said first and second baffle means, an external vacuum pump operatively connected to said output downstream of said separator, a waste output on the side of said housing below said first and second baffle means whereby said housing below said waste output forms a precious metal collector, at least one main vacuum line connected to said input means in said housing as an input tube, an automatic valve means connected to one end of each said main line for providing said continuous air flow through said lines when said vacuum pump is connected to the other end of said output in said housing, and a plurality of dental handpieces connected through tubes to said main vacuum line at a point between said automatic valve and said separator, said dental handpieces each including a housing having an aperture therethrough and valve means for selectively blocking said aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A dental office vacuum system comprising a housing, input means in the top of said housing for accepting at least one input tube, an open bottomed cylindrical member having its top fixed to said housing so that said input means opens into said member, the area of said cylindrical member relative to the total area of said at least one input tube being great enough to cause the incoming air velocity to decrease sufficiently to allow water vapor to condense, first baffle means encircling the lower portion of said cylindrical member and attached to said cylindrical member above the open bottom thereof; second baffle means around the inner wall of said housing and above said first baffle means, said second baffle means extends outward from the interior wall of said housing and curves downward toward said first baffle means, an output connectible in said housing above said first and second baffle means, an external vacuum pump operatively connected to said output downstream of said separator, a waste output on the side of said housing below said first and second baffle means whereby said housing below said waste output forms a precious metal collector, at least one main vacuum line connected to said input means in said housing as an input tube, an automatic valve means connected to one end of each said main line for providing said continuous air flow through said lines when said vacuum pump is connected to the other end of said output in said housing, and a plurality of dental handpieces connected through tubes to said main vacuum line at a point between said automatic valve and said separator, said dental handpieces each including a housing having an aperture therethrough and valve means for selectively blocking said aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said housing is substantially cylindrical and comprises a base member having said waste output and precious metal collector therein, a top member detachably fixed to said base member and having said second baffle means fixed thereto, and a lid member detachably fixed to said top member and having said cylindrical member and input means fixed thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said aperture in the housing of the valve means of each of said dental handpieces is axial and said valve means further comprises a helical coil trap disposed in said axial aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said valve housing is a substantially cylindrical housing and said aperture is through the axis thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said valve means for selectively blocking said aperture comprises an aperture disposed crosswise through said housing substantially perpendicular to said axial aperture, and an actuator slidingly disposed in said crosswise aperture, said actuator having a throughput aperture adapted to align with said axial aperture when said actuator is in a first position and adapted to block said axial aperture when said actuator is in a second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said actuator throughput remains within said valve housing throughout the extremes of movement of said actuator from said first to second positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein said valve housing comprises an upper member having a tapered end portion adapted for receiving an aspirator tube, said upper member including said crosswise aperture and actuator, and a lower member having a ribbed portion adapted to receive a hose, said members adapted to be removably engaged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein the periphery of said trap is held between said upper membEr and lower member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein an enlarged chamber is provided above said trap, said chamber being larger than the diameter of said axial aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein said actuator has a guidance groove along a portion of its length and said valve housing further comprises a pin extending into said guidance groove for setting limits on the sliding of said actuator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising an automatic switch assembly for removably holding each one of said dental handpieces, said assembly comprising a recessed sleeve open at its top adapted to accept a dental handpiece, said sleeve having an aperture in its bottom for passing a hose therethrough and an aperture in the side wall thereof, switching means mounted adjacent said sleeve, said switching means having an extended actuating means passing through said aperture into the open portion of said sleeve, whereby the presence of a dental handpiece in said sleeve places said switching means in a first state and the absence of a dental handpiece in said sleeve places said switching means in a second state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said switching means comprises a microswitch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said sleeve has a flanged upper portion for engaging a panel in which said sleeve may be mounted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 13 further comprising adapter means having outside dimensions adapted to fit into said recessed sleeve and having inside dimensions adapted to accept a dental handpiece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 13 further comprising means for gripping a hose extending from said assembly, said means including a pair of upright members spaced apart a distance slightly less than the outside diameter of said hose.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |