US3742608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manually operable plaque removing dental tool
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-04-21
•
Granted: 1973-07-03
•
Expires: 1992-04-21
Abstract
Abstract An elastomeric plaque removing cup is detachably supported by its base near one end of an elongated handle which can be gripped and manipulated by the hand of an operator to engage the rim of the cup with the teeth in selected positions at, and slightly below, the gum line. The cup is oscillated about an axis, which extends laterally of the handle, by means of a transmission mechanism driven by a push button on the same side of the handle as the cup. The push button is positioned endwise of the handle so that it can be engaged and operated to oscillate the cup through a small angle by natural flexures of the thumb to and fro generally endwise of, and parallel to, the palm of the hand while the handle is held in the hand. The chuck is constrained from continuous unidirectional rotary motion. The parts of the device can be disassembled readily for cleaning and each part is easily cleanable when the device is disassembled.
Inventors
- 👤 N Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A dental tool comprising: an elongated handle adapted to be held between the fingers and thumb of the hand of an operator with one face disposed against the fingers and with the opposite face exposed toward the thumb; pivot means connected to the handle near one end of the handle and having its pivotal axis extending transversely of the length of the handle; a chuck mounted on the pivot means for oscillation about said axis, and including means for detachably receiving a tool for oscillation therewith; transmission means carried by the handle and drivingly connected to the chuck and operable for oscillating the chuck when the transmission means is driven in reverse directions, respectively; and a manually operable member carried by the handle at said opposite face, and drivingly connected to the transmission means, for limited movement relative to the handle in reverse directions, respectively, for operating the transmission means in its said reverse directions, selectively; characterized in that: said operating member has a thumb engageable surface disposed at, and facing outwardly from, said opposite face, and so positioned that it can be engaged readily by the thumb and driven thereby for driving the member in its said reverse directions by normal flexure of the thumb of the hand of aN operator while the thumb bears against said surface and exerts a component of force transversely of the handle toward said one face; and while the handle is held in, and manipulated to different positions by, said hand; and said driving surface is shaped and positioned so that said transverse component falls between the lateral limits of said one face.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
270 words
A dental tool comprising: an elongated handle adapted to be held between the fingers and thumb of the hand of an operator with one face disposed against the fingers and with the opposite face exposed toward the thumb; pivot means connected to the handle near one end of the handle and having its pivotal axis extending transversely of the length of the handle; a chuck mounted on the pivot means for oscillation about said axis, and including means for detachably receiving a tool for oscillation therewith; transmission means carried by the handle and drivingly connected to the chuck and operable for oscillating the chuck when the transmission means is driven in reverse directions, respectively; and a manually operable member carried by the handle at said opposite face, and drivingly connected to the transmission means, for limited movement relative to the handle in reverse directions, respectively, for operating the transmission means in its said reverse directions, selectively; characterized in that: said operating member has a thumb engageable surface disposed at, and facing outwardly from, said opposite face, and so positioned that it can be engaged readily by the thumb and driven thereby for driving the member in its said reverse directions by normal flexure of the thumb of the hand of aN operator while the thumb bears against said surface and exerts a component of force transversely of the handle toward said one face; and while the handle is held in, and manipulated to different positions by, said hand; and said driving surface is shaped and positioned so that said transverse component falls between the lateral limits of said one face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the manually operable member is movable endwise of the handle and is so positioned it can be driven in each of its said reverse directions by normal flexure of the thumb of the hand of an operator generally parallel to the plane of the palm of the hand of the operator while the handle is held in, and manipulated to different positions by movement of said hand.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein constraining means are provided and are operative to limit each oscillation of the chuck to an angle of less than a complete revolution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the transmission means includes a pinion on and coaxial with the chuck, a rack engaged therewith, means supporting the rack on the handle for movement endwise in a lineal path extending endwise of the handle; the member is connected fixedly to one end of the rack, a button is mounted on, and in fixed relation to, the member; and said thumb engageable surface is on the outer face of the button.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
The structure according to claim 4 wherein the handle has a lineal guide slot extending endwise of the handle and open at one face of the handle; the rack is detachably receivable laterally of its length in said open slot through said open side and is guided for endwise reciprocation by the walls of the slot; and a movable retainer is carried on the handle and in one position closes part of the open sides of the slot and constrains the rack and member from movement laterally of the handle out of the slot, and in another position, is out of closing position relative to said part of the open side of the slot so that the rack and member can be moved bodily laterally of the handle out of the slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure according to claim 5 wherein the member and rack as a unit can be removed from said slot through its open side when said part is open and the pinion is located so that when said unit is removed, the pinion is fully exposed for cleansing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the said manually operable member is an arm secured at one of its ends to the handle and extending alongside the handle in laterally spaced relation thereto and oscillatable about its connected end laterally toward and away from the handle, and spring biased to said spaced relation; said arm is movable toward the handle against the resistance of the biasing force by flexure of the thumb of the operator while the handle is gripped in the operator''s hand; and the transmission means includes a driving connection between said arm and the chuck.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The structure according to claim 7 wherein the driving connection comprises a finger on the chuck and extending in a direction generally radially thereof; an element connected to the arm for movement thereby to and fro transversely of the handle, and connected to the finger for swinging the finger about the axis of the chuck upon said transverse movement with the element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure according to claim 1 wherein the axis of the chuck extends through faces of the handle, and said thumb engageable surface is disposed at one of said faces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure according to claim 9 wherein the means for detachably receiving the tool is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the chuck and is positioned to support the tool at said opposite face.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US71361A
Cited
US1837938A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |