Dental implement

1,925,981

Sept. 5, 1933.

T. D. HOPKINS

DENTAL IMPLEMENT

Filed Sept. 10, 1931

<img file="US1925981A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Sept. 5, 1933

1,925,981

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,925,981

DENTAL IMPLEMENT

Thomas D. Hopkins, Montgomery, Ala.

Application September 10, 1931 Serial No. 562,150

Claims. (Cl. 32—27) portion of the section 1 of the handle member is provided thereacross with a tube 3, one end of which opening through the wall of the section 1. Slidably mounted in this member 3 is a slide 4 constantly urged in one direction by a coil spring 5 placed within the member 3 and interposed between the slide 4 and the closed end of the member 3 The extent of movement of the slide 4 in either direction is limited by a pin 6 earned by, and intersecting the member 3, said pin 6 bemg also disposed through a slot 7 provided in the slide 4

The outer end of the slide 4 is provided with a head 3 affording means whereby a digit of the hand may be effectively engaged with the slide 4 to move the same in a direction against desired over^he exposed face ^e tension «^spring 5^ _g handle member H is intersected by a plate 9 provided with an outstanding hook arm 10 adapted to extend within the tubular member 3 through • — \ The slide 4

This invention relates to dental implements and has relation more particularly to moutn. mirrors, and it is an object of the invention to provide an implement of this kind with means whereby the exposed face of the mirror may be maintained dry and free of dirt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind having means whereby a blast of air may be conveniently employed to dry out a tooth cavity and to blow away drill dust, etc., and thus eliminate the services of an assistant or double loss of time to a dentist who does not employ an assistant. .

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind with means under automatic control whereby a current or blast of air may be directed as &lt;-------- .

of the mirror or for drying out a tooth cavity or the like. _A ., „ ^rrhp invention consists in the details oi constSion^VZ°£ the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved under the influence of the spring 5 is adapted to implement whereby certain wqportant interlock with the hook arm 10 and thereby efare attained and the device rendered simpler, . , _malntain the outer end portions of the pynensive and otherwise more convenient and xecr v y_ ____{j n} __e ΙιηηΛΙο ΥΠΡΥΥιΒΑΤ TT ίΠ &amp;S“ advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed. lues 12 adiacentTto theopposite ends of the plate

In order that my invention may berthe^ better lugs _{with t}he _member understood, I will now proceed to describe th providing a steadying means.

same with reference to the accompanying draw- extremity of the section 1 remote fre i ing, wherein:— a the tubular member 3 carries an annular memFigure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a _of desired dimensions and which is andental implement constructed in accordance with _{rly disposed} with respect to the longitudinal lengthwise through the mirror end of _{by the} corresponding extremity of the the implement; second section 2 of the handle member H. The

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially _taal portion of the back plate _u________ an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 view taken sections 1 and 2 of the handle member H in assembled relation, yet readily permitting the separation of such sections when desired.

The plate 9 is also provided with the spaced

The extremity of the section 1 remote frc i gularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal thp haridte member H. This annular

--=----- . outer marginal portion of the back plate 15 is on the line 3—3 of Figure 1, nrovided with an arcuate or curved hook 16 which

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view taken sub- P _With _an inwardly disposed head 17 carstantially on the line 4—4 of Figure 1, ,, _{rled by} the member 14 so that when the sections

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in _d „ _{are SWU}ng into overlying relation with and partly in elevation illustrating the ^cbUPh“® . _{hook 16} as the fulcrum, said sections will be between the outer end of the handle member and the _{and aMlular} member 14 the flexible hose. h.ni.m.m.t nronerlv placed with respect to the back plate 15.

As herein disclosed, my improved implement Ρ P _{member 14} provides a mounting comprises an elongated handle member H of de- _conCave mirror 18, preferably metal, and h ·* —-^H “—·* ^,al““· ““°¹

100

105

1,926,861 member 14 Is provided with a longitudinally disposed bore 20, the outer portion of which being continued by the discharge vent 21 delivering upon the outer face of the applied mirror 18 and 5 a port 22 terminating inwardly of said mirror.

The port 22 is continued by a pipe line 23 which extends across the annular member 14 and extends through the wall of said member 14 at a point substantially diametrically opposed to the 10 bore 20, said outer end portion 24 of this pipe 23 constituting a vent for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Disposed axially of the handle member H is a pipe line 25, one end portion of which being· 15 threaded or otherwise engaged within the innner portion of the bore 20 while the opposite or outer end portion of this pipe 25 is effectively held between the member 3 and the plate 9. While Figure 2 of the drawing indicates the pipe 25 as 20 being threaded within the bore 20 yet such pipe, if desired, may be soldered or otherwise held within such bore. The outer end portion of the pipe 25 has coupled thereto a flexible hose 26 leading from a suitable source of air under pres25 sure.

Interposed within the pipe 25 at a desired point therealong is a valve casing 27 in which is mounted a sliding valve 28 having an opening 29 to register with the bore of the pipe 25 when said 30 valve 28 is moved in one direction.

The opening 29 of the valve 28, however, is normally out of register with the bore of the pipe 25 and maintained out of such registry by the coil spring 30 placed within the casing 27 and inter35 posed between an end of the valve 28 and a cap 31 closing an end of the casing. As partin.nin.riy illustrated in Figure 4, the casing 27 is carried by the section 1 of the handle member H and is in threaded engagement with an inwardly dis40 posed annular flange 32 carried by such section.

Freely disposed through the wall of the section 1 is a shank 33, the outer end portion of which carrying a button 34 while the inner end of said shank has contact with the valve 28 so 43 that by pushing the shank 33 inwardly the opening 29 of the valve 28 will be brought into register with the bore of the pipe 25. Upon release of such pressure, the valve 28 will be automatically moved by the spring 30 to bring the opening 29 ⁰⁸ out of register with the bore of such pipe.

When the opening 29 is in register with the bore of the pipe 25, air will discharge out through the vent 21 onto the outer face of the mirror 18 and thereby effectively dry the same of any moisture which may accumulate thereon and also to blow off dirt and other foreign matter collected thereon. A portion of such air, when the valve 28 is in open position and under certain conditions, will also pass out through the pipe 23 and out through.the vent 24, thereby providing a blast of air which can be readily and conveniently employed by the dentist or drying out a tooth cavity and to blow away drill dust or the like, thus saves ^{work oi an assi}stant or a double loss of time by a dentist who does not employ an assistant.

The bore 20 is enlarged with respect to the vent 21 to provide a chamber in which is arranged a valve member M. This member M comprises a hub 35 provided with the oppositely disposed valve plates 36 and with an intermediate valve plate 37 at substantially right angles to the plates 36. The hub 35 is mounted upon a pin 38 or the like extending across the valve chamber or bore ₇ 20 at the point closely adjacent to the inner end of the vent 21. The hub 35 also has projecting therefrom the relatively short wing 39 with which engages the outer end portion of the leaf spring 40, the opposite extremity of the spring being suitably anchored as at 41 to the upper wall of the port 22. The spring 40 is slightly 80 tensioned,. but sufficient to normally hold the plates 36 in a position to close the port 22 against the flow of air when the air passing through the pipe line 25 is under slight pressure so that the desired stream of air may be directed over the 85 exposed face of the mirror 18. This flow of air is the result of pressing lightly upon the button 34 for the valve 28. A quick opening of the valve 28 results in the air stream having such contact with the plate 37 as to cause the valve member 90 M to rotate to a position whereby the plate 37 closes the flow through vent 21 but opens the flow through port 22. Upon closing the flow of air through the pipe 25, the spring 40 will return the valve member M to its normal position as illus- 95 trated by full lines in Figure 2 with the vent 21 open. The second position of this valve member M is indicated by broken lines in Figure 2.

It is to be noted that the pivot 38 is so alined with a wall of the air line or pipe 25 to assure the 100 outer plate 36 to open parallel to line of pressure with the plate 37 closed at right angles to such line of pressure.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a dental implement constructed 105 in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modiflcation without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my inven- H5 tion in practice except as hereinafter claimed