Apparatus for inductively heating metallic medical and dental tools

Claim 1

In an apparatus for heating metallic medical and dental laboratory tools, instruments and implements by means of exposure to a high frequency electrical field and including an electrically conductive induction coil embedded in an insulator with an annular cavity formed therewithin, said apparatus further comprising: (a) said induction coil being pivotally secured to a stationary base by means of a pivot arm linkage; (b) a light emitting diode for indicating the operational status of a circuit providing power to said induction coil is visibly mounted on the outer surface of said stationary base; (c) said induction coil being arranged for mechanical and electrical coupling to a source of alternating current power; and (d) a photosensitive switching circuit and mechanism being provided for controlling the energization of said alternating current power source, said photosensitive switching circuit and mechanism including two photoresistive elements with the first of said photoresistive elements being installed within said stationary base such that it continues to be exposed to light when work is introduced into the confines of said induction coil, and with the second of said photoresistive elements being installed within said stationary base and adjacent said annular cavity such that it is at least partially obstructed from light when work is introduced and present in the confines of said induction coil.