Dental appliance

Claim 2

A rubber dam device for dental use comprising in combination, (a) a frame including means for detachably carrying a rubber dam membrane, said means being located on said frame so that in use the rubber dam membrane is disposed between said frame and the face of a dental patient, said frame being of a size and shape requiring that it be external to the mouth of a dental patient, (b) support means for supporting a suction tube from said frame so that one end of the suction tube is free for variable positioning, (c) a suction tube operatively coupled to said suction tube support means, and (d) means for connecting a suction source to the suction tube when the latter is operatively supported by said support means.

Claim 3

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said suction tube support means is an integral part of said frame.

Claim 4

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said suction tube support means is an integral part of said frame, said dam device further including (a) a hollow passage through at least a portion of said frame, (b) means for connecting one open end of the suction tube to the frame so that it communicates with the said hollow passage.

Claim 5

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said suction tube support means is an integral part of said frame, said dam device further including (a) a hollow passage through at least a portion of said frame, (b) means for connecting one open end of the suction tube to the frame so that it communicates with the said hollow passage, and (c) a plurality of spaced apart apertures into said hollow passage from the outside of said frame, said apertures being located to receive fluid which flows over the surface of the rubber dam membrane and escapes pick-up by the suction tube.

Claim 6

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 4 further including openable and closable access ports entering into said hollow passage at locations permitting the entire said passage to be cleaned.

Claim 7

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said suction tube support means is an integral part of said frame, said dam device further including (a) a hollow passage through at least a portion of said frame, (b) means for connecting one open end of the suction tube to the frame so that it communicates with the said hollow passage, and (c) openable and closable access ports entering into said hollow passage at locations permitting the entire said passage to be cleaned.

Claim 8

A rubber dam device for dental use comprising in combination, (a) a U-shaped frame having a horizontal arm and a pair of vertical arms, one of said pair of vertical arms extending upward from one end of said horizontal arm and the other of said pair of vertical arms extending upward from the other end of said horizontal arm, (b) said horizontal arm having (1) a hollow passage therethrough substantially from one end to the other, (2) means for connecting one open end of a dental suction tube to said horizontal arm so that it communicates with the said passage therethrough, (3) a plurality of spaced apart apertures through said horizontal arm from the said passage to the outside surface which when the dam device is in use faces the patient, (c) a hollow suction stem, one open end of which connects to said horizontal arm and communicates with the said horizontal arm hollow passage, and the other end of which is adapted for connection to the suction coupling of a dental stand, (d) means carried by said vertical and horizontal arms for detachably holding a rubber dam membrane in operative position.

Claim 9

A rubber dam device for dental use comprising in combination, (a) a U-shaped frame having a horizontal arm and a pair of vertical arms, one of said pair of vertical arms extending upward from one end of said horizontal arm and the other of said pair of vertical arms extending upward from the other end of said horizontal arm, (b) said horizontal arm having (1) a hollow passage therethrough substantially from one end to the other, (2) means for connecting one open end of a dental suction tube to said horizontal arm so that it communicates with the said passage therethrough, (3) a plurality of spaced apart apertures through said horizontal arm from the said passage to the outside surface which when the dam device is in use faces the patient, (c) a hollow suction stem, one open end of which connects to said horizontal arm and communicates with the said horizontal arm hollow passage, and the other end of which is adapted for connection to the suction coupling of a dental stand, (d) means carried by said vertical and horizontal arms for detachably holding a rubber dam membrane in operative position.

Claim 10

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 7 further including openable and sealable access ports into said horizontal arm entering into opposite ends of said hollow passage to permit cleaning of the walls of said passage.

Claim 11

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for connecting one open end of a dental suction tube to said horizontal arm are plural and spaced apart along said horizontal arm, those of said spaced apart means which at a given time are not connected to a suction tube being sealed by openable and closable sealing means.

Claim 12

A rubber dam device as set forth in claims 1 or 7 wherein said device is made of radio-transparent material.

Claim 13

A rubber dam device for dental use comprising in combination, (a) a frame including a hollow passage through at least a portion thereof and also including means for detachably carrying a rubber dam membrane, (b) support means for supporting a suction tube from said frame so that one end of the suction tube is free for variable positioning, said suction tube support means being an integral part of said frame and comprising a plurality of separate spaced apart means for connecting one open end of the suction tube selectively to the frame so that it communicates with the said hollow passage, those of the spaced apart means for connecting the suction tube to the frame which at a given time are not so connected being sealed by openable and closable sealing means, and (c) means for connecting a suction source to the suction tube when the latter is operatively supported by said support means.

Claim 14

A rubber dam device for dental use comprising in combination, (a) a frame including a hollow passage through at least a portion thereof and also including means for detachably carrying a rubber dam membrane, (b) support means for supporting a suction tube from said frame so that one end of the suction tube is free for variable positioning, said suction tube support means being an integral part of said frame and comprising a plurality of separate spaced apart means for connecting one open end of the suction tube selectively to the frame so that it communicates with the said hollow passage, those of the spaced apart means for connecting the suction tube to the frame which at a given time are not so connected being sealed by openable and closable sealing means, and (c) means for connecting a suction source to the suction tube when the latter is operatively supported by said support means.

Claim 15

A device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for connecting a suction source to the suction tube comprises a hollow open ended suction stem one end of which communicates with the said hollow passage and the other end of which is adapted for connection to the suction coupling of a dental stand.

Claim 16

A rubber dam device for dental use comprising in combination, (a) a frame including a hollow passage through at least a portion thereof and also including means for detachably carrying a rubber dam membrane, (b) support means for supporting a suction tube from said frame so that one end of the suction tube is free for variable positioning, said suction tube support means being an integral part of said frame and comprising a plurality of separate spaced apart means for connecting one open end of the suction tube selectively to the frame so that it communicates with the said hollow passage, those of the spaced apart means for connecting the suction tube to the frame which at a given time are not so connected being sealed by openable and closable sealing means, (c) a plurality of spaced apart apertures into said hollow passage from the outside of said frame, said apertures being located to receive fluid which flows over the surface of the rubber dam membrane and escapes pick-up by the suction tube, and (d) means for connecting a suction source to the suction tube when the latter is operatively supported by said support means.

Claim 17

A rubber dam device for dental use comprising in combination, (a) a frame including a hollow passage through at least a portion thereof and also including means for detachably carrying a rubber dam membrane, (b) support means for supporting a suction tube from said frame so that one end of the suction tube is free for variable positioning, said suction tube support means being an integral part of said frame and comprising a plurality of separate spaced apart means for connecting one open end of the suction tube selectively to the frame so that it communicates with the said hollow passage, those of the spaced apart means for connecting the suction tube to the frame which at a given time are not so connected being sealed by openable and closable sealing means, (c) a plurality of spaced apart apertures into said hollow passage from the outside of said frame, said apertures being located to receive fluid which flows over the surface of the rubber dam membrane and escapes pick-up by the suction tube, and (d) means for connecting a suction source to the suction tube when the latter is operatively supported by said support means.

Claim 18

A rubber dam device as set forth in claim 13 further including openable and closable access ports entering into said hollow passage at locations permitting the entire said passage to be cleaned.