Dental tool with liquid dispensing, and cartridge

Claim 2

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing for receiving a supply of fluid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, and B. cartridge-carrying transport means movably mounted with said housing and movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, said transport means being mounted with said housing in both said load position and said deploy position, C. said transport means being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for coupling a cartridge element received thereon into fluid communication with said passage upon movement from said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from fluid communication with said passage upon movement to said load position.

Claim 3

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said housing has a body section elongated along an axis and has said head portion at a first axial end of said body section.

Claim 4

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 2, the further improvement wherein A. said housing carries drive means for operating a dental tool implement, and B. said housing is arranged with said head portion, said cartridge-receiving seat means, and said drive means being axially arrayed along said axis of said housing.

Claim 5

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 3, the further improvement wherein said housing is arranged with said cartridge-receiving seat means disposed between said head portion and said drive means.

Claim 6

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 2, the further improvement in which said transport means is hingingly movable relative to said housing, between said load and deploy positions.

Claim 7

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 1, the further improvement in which said transport means includes means for selectively collapsing a cartridge element, said means for collapsing being carried with said transport means for the discharge of fluid material from within the cartridge element.

Claim 8

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said transport means has first and second cartridge-mounting means spaced apart thereon and arranged for mountingly engaging spaced locations on a cartridge element.

Claim 9

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 7, the further improvement in which said first and second cartridge-mounting means are relatively adjustably positionable on said transport means for selectively adjusting the spacing therebetween.

Claim 10

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 1, the further improvement comprising A. means forming a further passage within said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said first passage, and B. switch means in fluid communication with said first passage and with said further passage for selectively delivering to said first passage fluid from either said further passage or fluid from a cartridge element carried on said transport means.

Claim 11

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 1, the further improvement comprising means forming a second passage within said housing for carrying fluid materials to said cartridge-receiving seat means, said second passage having coupling means arranged for selective removable and replaceable fluid communication with fluid-guiding means carried on said transport means when in said deploy position, for the transfer of fluid material between said second passage and said first passage by way of the fluid-guiding means.

Claim 12

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of liquid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing for receiving a supply of liquid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, B. cartridge-carrying transport means rotationally movably mounted with said housing and movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, C. said transport means being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for coupling a cartridge element received thereon into liquid communication with said first passage upon movement from said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from liquid communication with said first passage upon movement to said load position, and D. liquid-supplying cartridge means removably and replaceably mounted with said transport means for movement therewith between said load position and said deploy position and, when in said deploy position, in liquid communication with said first passage.

Claim 13

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of liquid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing for receiving a supply of liquid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, B. cartridge-carrying transport means rotationally movably mounted with said housing and movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, C. said transport means being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for coupling a cartridge element received thereon into liquid communication with said first passage upon movement from said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from liquid communication with said first passage upon movement to said load position, and D. liquid-supplying cartridge means removably and replaceably mounted with said transport means for movement therewith between said load position and said deploy position and, when in said deploy position, in liquid communication with said first passage.

Claim 14

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of liquid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. said housing having a body section elongated along a body axis and said head portion being disposed at a first axial end of said body section, B. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing body section for receiving a supply of liquid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, C. cartridge-carrying transport means mounted with said housing and movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, said transport mans being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for coupling a cartridge element received thereon into liquid communication with said first passage upon movement form said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from liquid communication with said first passage upon movement to said load position, D. liquid-supplying cartridge means removably and replaceably mounted with said transport means for movement therewith between said load position and said deploy position and, when in said deploy position, in liquid communication with said first passage, said cartridge means being collapsible, along a selected further axis, for dispensing liquid therefrom, and E. said transport means having first and second cartridge-engaging elements movably spaced apart along said further axis and arranged for selectively changing the spacing therebetween for accommodating full cartridge means and for selectively collapsing cartridge means carried with said transport means for the dispensing of liquid from the cartridge means.

Claim 15

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of liquid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. said housing having a body section elongated along a body axis and said head portion being disposed at a first axial end of said body section, B. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing body section for receiving a supply of liquid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, C. cartridge-carrying transport means mounted with said housing and movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, said transport mans being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for coupling a cartridge element received thereon into liquid communication with said first passage upon movement form said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from liquid communication with said first passage upon movement to said load position, D. liquid-supplying cartridge means removably and replaceably mounted with said transport means for movement therewith between said load position and said deploy position and, when in said deploy position, in liquid communication with said first passage, said cartridge means being collapsible, along a selected further axis, for dispensing liquid therefrom, and E. said transport means having first and second cartridge-engaging elements movably spaced apart along said further axis and arranged for selectively changing the spacing therebetween for accommodating full cartridge means and for selectively collapsing cartridge means carried with said transport means for the dispensing of liquid from the cartridge means.

Claim 16

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of liquid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing for receiving a supply of liquid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, B. cartridge-carrying transport means mounted with said housing and movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, C. said transport means being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for coupling a cartridge element received thereon into liquid communication with said first passage upon movement from said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from liquid communication with said first passage upon movement to said load position, D. liquid-supplying cartridge means removably and replaceably mounted with said transport means for movement therewith between said load position and said deploy position and, when in said deploy position, in liquid communication with said first passage E. means forming a second passage in said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said cartridge-receiving seat means, and F. said transport means being arranged for selectively coupling said cartridge means into fluid communication with said second passage, when in said deploy position, for placing said first and second fluid passages in fluid communication by way of said cartridge means.

Claim 17

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of liquid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing for receiving a supply of liquid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, B. cartridge-carrying transport means mounted with said housing and movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, C. said transport means being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for coupling a cartridge element received thereon into liquid communication with said first passage upon movement from said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from liquid communication with said first passage upon movement to said load position, D. liquid-supplying cartridge means removably and replaceably mounted with said transport means for movement therewith between said load position and said deploy position and, when in said deploy position, in liquid communication with said first passage E. means forming a second passage in said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said cartridge-receiving seat means, and F. said transport means being arranged for selectively coupling said cartridge means into fluid communication with said second passage, when in said deploy position, for placing said first and second fluid passages in fluid communication by way of said cartridge means.

Claim 18

In dental tool apparatus according to claim 13, the further improvement A. in which said housing has a body section elongated along a body axis, B. in which said transport means is hingingly movable relative to said housing along a hinge axis oriented transversely to said body axis and has a first end proximal to a body first end and has a second end distal from said body first end and movable with said hinged movement, C. in which said transport means has cartridge mounting means arranged for removably and replaceably mountingly said cartridge means, and D. wherein said cartridge mounting means are adjustably movable for the selective collapse of said cartridge means.

Claim 19

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing for receiving a supply of fluid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, arranged for removable and replaceable connection with said first passage, and B. means forming a further passage in said housing arranged for the delivery of fluid material to a cartridge element received in said cartridge receiving seat, C. whereby fluid material can be delivered to a cartridge element from said further passage and can be delivered to said first passage from a cartridge element.

Claim 20

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising A. means forming a cartridge-receiving seat in said housing for receiving a supply of fluid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element, arranged for removable and replaceable connection with said first passage, and B. means forming a further passage in said housing arranged for the delivery of fluid material to a cartridge element received in said cartridge receiving seat, C. whereby fluid material can be delivered to a cartridge element from said further passage and can be delivered to said first passage from a cartridge element.

Claim 21

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising dispensing means carried with said housing for receiving a supply of fluid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element and being movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, said dispensing means being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and for the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for removably and replaceably coupling a cartridge element received thereon into fluid communication with said first passage upon movement from said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from fluid communication with said first passage, said dispensing means being mounted with said housing throughout said movement between said load and said deploy positions.

Claim 22

In dental tool apparatus having a housing with a head portion for deploying a dental tool implement, and having a first passage within said housing for the delivery of fluid material to said head portion for discharge to a dental site, the improvement comprising dispensing means carried with said housing for receiving a supply of fluid material in a removable and replaceable cartridge element and being movable relative to said housing between a load position and a deploy position, said dispensing means being arranged for the removable and replaceable loading of a cartridge element thereon and for the unloading of a cartridge element therefrom when in said load position, and being further arranged for removably and replaceably coupling a cartridge element received thereon into fluid communication with said first passage upon movement from said load position to said deploy position and for uncoupling a cartridge element from fluid communication with said first passage, said dispensing means being mounted with said housing throughout said movement between said load and said deploy positions.

Claim 23

In apparatus according to claim 16, the further improvement comprising manually-operable means for controlling the discharge of fluid from a cartridge element that is coupled in fluid communication with said first passage.