US5074787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for preventing interior contamination of hand-piece
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-12-14
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Granted: 1991-12-24
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Expires: 2008-12-14
Abstract
Abstract This apparatus is capable of preventing contamination in the interior of an airturbine hand-piece and its drive for use in dental treatment such as cutting a tooth. The apparatus comprises an airturbine drive air circuit, a discharge air circuit, and a chip air circuit for vaporizing cooled water, which serve as passageways for air at a relatively high pressure when the hand-piece is in operation and which are kept interiorly at a low air pressure when the hand-piece is out of operation. These passageways and change-over valves therefore are incorporated in a single body. When the hand-piece is inoperative upon completion of the treatment, it is possible to prevent various germs from penetrating from outside into the interior of the hand-piece. The apparatus can be reduced in a compact size and can be formed of plastics.
Inventors
- 👤 Yosiro Tsukada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0061; A61C1/0076; A61C1/02; A61C1/05; A61C1/057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for preventing the interior of an airturbine hand-piece from being contaminated, comprising an airturbine drive air circuit, a discharge air circuit, and a chip air circuit for vaporizing cooled water, the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit and chip air circuit serving as passageways for air at a relatively high pressure when in operation and being kept interiorly at a low pressure air when out of operation, wherein each of the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit, the chip air circuit, and a low pressure circuit for air at a low pressure is connected exteriorly to a pair of piston valves mounted on opposite ends of a cylinder having a midportion to which a common passageway extending toward the hand-piece opens, each of the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit, the chip air circuit and the low pressure circuit thereby constituting a change-over circuit, and wherein the pair of piston valves in the drive air circuit and the chip air circuit is disposed so as to open toward one another, and wherein the pair of piston valves in the discharge air circuit is disposed so as to open in a common direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
197 words
An apparatus for preventing the interior of an airturbine hand-piece from being contaminated, comprising an airturbine drive air circuit, a discharge air circuit, and a chip air circuit for vaporizing cooled water, the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit and chip air circuit serving as passageways for air at a relatively high pressure when in operation and being kept interiorly at a low pressure air when out of operation, wherein each of the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit, the chip air circuit, and a low pressure circuit for air at a low pressure is connected exteriorly to a pair of piston valves mounted on opposite ends of a cylinder having a midportion to which a common passageway extending toward the hand-piece opens, each of the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit, the chip air circuit and the low pressure circuit thereby constituting a change-over circuit, and wherein the pair of piston valves in the drive air circuit and the chip air circuit is disposed so as to open toward one another, and wherein the pair of piston valves in the discharge air circuit is disposed so as to open in a common direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a body made of Derlin (tradename) or other chemical resistant plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of piston valves disposed at opposite ends of a cylinder is a poppet piston, and wherein a high pressure acts outwardly on one of such two pistons, and a low pressure acts outwardly on the other piston.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a single body in which the passageways constituting the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit, the chip air circuit and the low-pressure air supply circuit are incorporated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit and the chip air circuit are connected to the hand-piece directly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive air circuit, the discharge air circuit and the chip air circuit are connected to the hand piece by a corresponding adaptor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-23 | 1995-06-24 | 1995-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-23 | 1999-06-24 | 1999-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-23 | 2003-06-24 | 2003-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |