US3955283A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible handpiece mounted control for dental drills
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-10-31
•
Granted: 1976-05-11
•
Expires: 1994-10-31
Abstract
Abstract This invention discloses a flexible handpiece mounted control for dental drills. Two embodiments are disclosed whereby the control can be mounted externally on a standard handpiece or part of a specially designed handpiece. Both embodiments provide a tube that is designed to permit the uninterrupted flow of fluid. When an external load (finger pressure) is applied to the tube, an obstruction to the fluid flow occurs. This obstruction to the fluid flow is a back pressure that may be monitored and used to control dental drill speed and/or water flow to the drill.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy William Mehallick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A fluid driven dental drill with pneumatically operated handpiece control comprising: a. a drill body dimensioned with internal annular spaces for a water supply line and an air supply line; and b. a tube attached externally to the drill body, designed to permit the passage of air and of sufficient flexibility that a pressure of 2.0 ± 0.5 ounces to the outside diameter causes a first noticeable obstruction to the passage of air through the tube and a 4.0 ± 0.5 ounce pressure causes complete obstruction to the passage of air through the tube, adapted to be connected to an air supply source on the one hand and an exhaust on the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A fluid driven dental drill with pneumatically operated handpiece control comprising: a. a drill body dimensioned with internal annular spaces for a water supply line and an air supply line; and b. a tube attached externally to the drill body, designed to permit the passage of air and of sufficient flexibility that a pressure of 2.0 ± 0.5 ounces to the outside diameter causes a first noticeable obstruction to the passage of air through the tube and a 4.0 ± 0.5 ounce pressure causes complete obstruction to the passage of air through the tube, adapted to be connected to an air supply source on the one hand and an exhaust on the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A fluid driven dental drill of claim 1 wherein the tube comprises: an ethylene propylene diene monomer with an inside diameter of 0.08 ± 0.015 in. with an outside diameter of 0.16 ± 0.02 in.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
The fluid driven dental drill of claim 1 wherein said drill body comprises: a. a drill off-set dimensioned to hold a drill; b. a front retainer connected to the drill off-set and dimensioned to anchor the tube; c. a handpiece body, connected to the front retainer; d. a back member connected to the handpiece body and dimensioned to provide support for the tube; e. a front element interconnector, dimensioned with an internal front chambers and a front interconnector portlet that provides for connection with the tube; and f. a rear element interconnector, dimensioned with internal rear chambers, an exhaust portlet, and rear interconnector portlets that provide for connections with the tube and the exhaust portlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
A pneumatically operated flexible handpiece mounted control for fluid driven dental drills comprising: a. a tube designed to permit the passage of air, and of sufficient flexibility that a pressure of 2.0 ± 0.5 ounces to the outside diameter causes a first noticeable obstruction to passage of air through the tube and a 4.0 ± 0.5 ounce pressure causes complete obstruction to passage of air through the tube, mounted on any handpiece of a standard fluid driven dental drill and adapted to be connected to an air supply source on the one hand and an exhaust on the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A pneumatically operated flexible handpiece mounted control for fluid driven dental drills comprising: a. a tube designed to permit the passage of air, and of sufficient flexibility that a pressure of 2.0 ± 0.5 ounces to the outside diameter causes a first noticeable obstruction to passage of air through the tube and a 4.0 ± 0.5 ounce pressure causes complete obstruction to passage of air through the tube, mounted on any handpiece of a standard fluid driven dental drill and adapted to be connected to an air supply source on the one hand and an exhaust on the other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The pneumatically operated flexible handpiece mounted control for fluid driven dental drills of claim 1 further comprising: a. tabs dimensioned to be attached to the tube and designed so that the ends of each tab would overlap when fit on any handpiece of an existing fluid driven dental drill; and b. connection means for holding the ends of a tab together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The pneumatically operated flexible handpiece mounted control for fluid driven dental drills of claim 1 wherein the tube comprises: an ethylene propyene diene monomer with an inside diamter of 0.08 ± 0.015 in. and an outside diameter of 0.16 ± 0.02 in.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
The pneumatically operated flexible handpiece mounted control for fluid driven dental drills of claim 5, wherein the tube is placed on the tab in such a manner that it is directed from one of the tabs to the furthermost tab in a straight line; then bent away from such tab and directed in a parallel line towards the first tab; then bent back again towards the furthermost tab and directed in parallel; and finally, bent away from the furthermost tab towards the first tab and directed in parallel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1556181A
Cited
US2776488A
Cited
US3052984A
Cited
US3244846A
Cited
US3129511A
Cited
US3346958A
Cited
US3256603A
Cited
US3423068A
Cited
US3449831A
Cited
US3567330A
Cited
US3568318A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-11 | 1979-11-10 | 1980-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-11 | 1983-11-10 | 1984-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-11 | 1987-11-10 | 1988-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |