US3869877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drive shaft
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-18
•
Granted: 1975-03-11
•
Expires: 1993-04-18
Abstract
Abstract A flexible drive shaft is provided having a central stretch interconnecting a base stretch and a head stretch and which defines an area of bend in order that the shaft may be used for transmitting power around a corner as, for example, for use with a dental prophy angle or the like. A plurality of longitudinal, V-shaped grooves are spaced about the perimeter of the central stretch to define a plurality of strand-like elements which assume a twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of bend when rotative power is applied to the shaft. The cable-like configuration serves to reduce the internal stresses which are created in the area of bend during the rotation of the drive shaft, thus permitting a relatively sharp bend of the shaft in a comparatively short stretch of space without unduly effecting the high-speed capabilities of the shaft or its endurance.
Inventors
- 👤 George R Brahler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:28
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C1/00; F16C1/02; A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00; A61C17/005; F16C2316/00; F16C2316/10; F16C2316/13; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/2045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A unitary, flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and integrally molded therewith of like material to define an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present a plurality of integral, elongated strand-like elements each extending along said central stretch in longitudinal parallelism with one another and with the longitudinal axis of said central stretch and being substantially coextensive in length therewith prior to bending of the central stretch to present said area of bend, said elements presenting a longitudinally twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when said central stretch is bent and rotative power is applied to said shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A unitary, flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and integrally molded therewith of like material to define an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present a plurality of integral, elongated strand-like elements each extending along said central stretch in longitudinal parallelism with one another and with the longitudinal axis of said central stretch and being substantially coextensive in length therewith prior to bending of the central stretch to present said area of bend, said elements presenting a longitudinally twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when said central stretch is bent and rotative power is applied to said shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
158 words
A unitary, flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and integrally molded therewith of like material to define an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present a plurality of integral, elongated strandlike elements each extending along said central stretch in longitudinal parallelism with one another and with the longitudinal axis of said central stretch and being substantially coextensive in length therewith prior to bending of the central stretch to present said area of bend, said elements presenting a longitudinally twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when said central stretch is bent and rotative power is applied to said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
158 words
A unitary, flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and integrally molded therewith of like material to define an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present a plurality of integral, elongated strandlike elements each extending along said central stretch in longitudinal parallelism with one another and with the longitudinal axis of said central stretch and being substantially coextensive in length therewith prior to bending of the central stretch to present said area of bend, said elements presenting a longitudinally twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when said central stretch is bent and rotative power is applied to said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
A flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and defining an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch including a plurality of strand-like elements disposed longitudinally therealong, said elements presenting a twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when rotative power is applied to said shaft, said central stretch being provided with a plurality of grOoves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present said elements, said grooves are V-shaped and of greater depth than width, said stretch being of a cross-sectional configuration and said grooves being so arranged that three generally diamond-shaped elements are presented when said stretch is viewed in transverse cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
A flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and defining an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch including a plurality of strand-like elements disposed longitudinally therealong, said elements presenting a twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when rotative power is applied to said shaft, said central stretch being provided with a plurality of grOoves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present said elements, said grooves are V-shaped and of greater depth than width, said stretch being of a cross-sectional configuration and said grooves being so arranged that three generally diamond-shaped elements are presented when said stretch is viewed in transverse cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
145 words
A flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and defining an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch including a plurality of strand-like elements disposed longitudinally therealong, said elements presenting a twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when rotative power is applied to said shaft, said central stretch being provided with a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present said elements, said grooves are V-shaped and of greater depth than width, there being a pair of grooves disposed on opposite sides of said stretch, said elements being generally half-moon shaped when viewed in transverse cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
145 words
A flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and defining an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch including a plurality of strand-like elements disposed longitudinally therealong, said elements presenting a twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when rotative power is applied to said shaft, said central stretch being provided with a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present said elements, said grooves are V-shaped and of greater depth than width, there being a pair of grooves disposed on opposite sides of said stretch, said elements being generally half-moon shaped when viewed in transverse cross-section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
A flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and defining an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch including a plurality of strand-like elements disposed longitudinally therealong, said elements presenting a twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when rotative power is applied to said shaft, said central stretch being provided with a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present said elements, said grooves are V-shaped and of greater depth than width, said grooves being equally spaced about said perimeter to present said elements generally triangularly-shaped when viewed in transverse cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
A flexible, rotatable drive shaft for transmitting power around a corner, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and defining an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch including a plurality of strand-like elements disposed longitudinally therealong, said elements presenting a twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when rotative power is applied to said shaft, said central stretch being provided with a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present said elements, said grooves are V-shaped and of greater depth than width, said grooves being equally spaced about said perimeter to present said elements generally triangularly-shaped when viewed in transverse cross-section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A shaft as claimed in claim 4, there being one of said generally triangularly-shaped elements in each quadrant of said central stretch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
A unitary, flexible, rotatable drive shaft for a dental prophy angle, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and integrally molded therewith of like material to define an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present a plurality of integral, elongated strand-like elements each extending along said central stretch in longitudinal parallelism with one another and with the longitudinal axis of said central stretch and being substantially coextensive in length therewith prior to bending of the central stretch to present said area of bend, said elements presenting a longitudinally twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when said central stretch is bent and rotative power is applied to said shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
157 words
A unitary, flexible, rotatable drive shaft for a dental prophy angle, said shaft comprising: a base stretch operably coupled with a power source; a head stretch capable of being angularly offset relative to said base stretch; and a central stretch interconnecting said base stretch and said head stretch and integrally molded therewith of like material to define an area of bend therebetween, said central stretch having a plurality of grooves disposed longitudinally therealong and spaced about the perimeter thereof to present a plurality of integral, elongated strand-like elements each extending along said central stretch in longitudinal parallelism with one another and with the longitudinal axis of said central stretch and being substantially coextensive in length therewith prior to bending of the central stretch to present said area of bend, said elements presenting a longitudinally twisted, cable-like configuration in the area of said bend when said central stretch is bent and rotative power is applied to said shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3769813A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-10 | 1978-09-09 | 1979-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-10 | 1982-09-09 | 1983-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-10 | 1986-09-09 | 1987-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |