Handpiece holder including automatically releasable power lockout means

Claim 1

A holder for a powered handpiece comprising: a. an elongated rigid body having a first surface extending transversely of the axis of elongation of said body at one end thereof, and a second surface extending along said axis of elongation of said body; b. support means mounting said elongated body for rotation in a generally vertical plane about an axis extending transversely of said axis of elongation, which axis of rotation is located at one end of said first surface at said one end of said body; c. switch means rigidly mounted with respect to said support means and adapted to engage said first surface of said body toward the other end thereof from said axis of rotation, said switch means being adapted to resist rotation of said elongated body in a downward direction in said vertical plane beyond a position in which said axis of elongation is generally horizontal and to urge rotation of said elongated body through a given arc in the upward direction in said vertical plane from said generally horizontal position; said switch means interrupting the power to said handpiece only when said axis of elongation of said body is in said generally horizontal position; d. quiver means for removably supporting said hand-piece at the other end of said elongated body; and e. lock means for selectively locking said elongated body with said axis of eloNgation thereof in said generally horizontal position, said lock means comprising a first member rigidly mounted with respect to said support means and extending in a generally horizontal direction transversely of said axis of elongation of said body adjacent said second surface of said body when said axis of elongation of said body is in said generally horizontal position thereof and a second member mounted on said elongated body and selectively extendible from said second surface thereof in a generally vertical direction when said axis of elongation of said body is in said generally horizontal position, said second member when extended in said generally vertical direction, releasably frictionally engaging said first member to prevent rotation of said elongated body in an upward direction in said vertical plane as urged by said switch means.