Vibration dampening and insulating means for tools such as dental tools

J. B. STEVENS

VIBRATION DAMPENING AND INSULATING MEANS

FOR TOOLS SUCH AS DENTAL TOOLS

Filed Oct. 13, 1948

Aug. 12, 1952

2,606,366

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Patented Aug. 12, 1952

2,606,366

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,606,366

VIBRATION DAMPENING AND INSULATING MEANS FOR TOOLS SUCH AS DENTAL TOOLS

James B. Stevens, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 13,1948, Serial No. 54,276

Claims.

This invention relates to tools, and particularly to vibration dampening and insulating means provided between the driven shank of the tool and the driven'element, and is a continuation-inpart of application for U. S. Letters Patent, Serial No. 12,403, filed March 1, 1948, now abandoned.

It has been the practice to support a drilling tool in a driving head by direct metal-to-metal engagement, and as a result any vibration set up in the driving mechanism during the rotation of the drill would be transferred to the drill point. Static charges are oftentimes built up on the rotating parts of the driving mechanism which discharge from the drill point when the point is applied to the teeth of a patient being operated on when a dentist tool is being driven.

The present invention contemplates the use of an insulating material between the driving head and the drilling end of the tool so as to dampen out the vibrations and insulate the drill end from the discharge of the collected static charges. In a dental operation· a substantial amount of the shock which heretofore was transferred to the teeth being drilled is eliminated by the use of a rubber or like coating between the drill shank and the driving head. It is to be understood that the coating may be applied to the tool supporting portion of the driving head or preferably to the shank of the tool so that the dampening occurs to the tool tip.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide sound deadening and insulating material between the supporting portion of a driving head and the driven tool; to provide vibration dampening and insulating material on the shank of the tool or on the supporting end of the driving head to dampen out vibrations between the driving head and the tool tip; to provide a coating of vibration dampening and insulating material on a reduced portion of the shank of the tool for maintaining a standard diameter for the shank, and, in general, to provide vibrating and dampening means for a cutting tip of a tool which is simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of a driving head supporting a tool therein, with vibration dampening material therebetween embodying features of this invention;

(Cl. 32—48) '

Fig. 2 is a view of a tool, with the shank in section to show the application of the material thereon; ¹

Fig. 3 is a view of structure, similar to that 6 illustrated in Fig. 2, showing the material applied to a different type of driving shank;

Fig. 4 is a view of a tool, similar to that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, showing a still further form of driving shank to which the material is 10 applied;

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, showing another application of the material to the tool shank;

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view of a driving ¹⁵ head, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a collet type of driving head having features of the invention applied thereto.

While the invention is herein illustrated and 20 described with relation to dental tools, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular application.

In Fig. 1 a driving head 10 is illustrated for a dental tool having a lever 11 thereon for efigag²⁶ ing a slot in the end of a tool for maintaining a driving shank 12 on the head with a driving face in engagement with a driving face in the head. It is to be understood that the vibration dampening and insulating material is provided either on 30 the driving portion of the head or on the driven shank of the tool. Any vibration dampening and insulating material may be utilized, such as rubber of the organic or inorganic types, the various types of resins and such other materials known 35 in the art to be suitable for these purposes.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, drills of the dental type are therein illustrated having different driving shanks thereon conforming to the different driving heads furnished by different dental 40 manufacturers. In Fig. 2 a tool f 3 is illustrated having a cutting tip 14 and a reduced shank portion 15, with the vibration dampening and insulating material ί 6 applied to the shank portion to build it up to a standard diameter. Pref45 erably the material extends over the supporting and driving end 17 which embodies a flat face 18 which is engaged by a driving face in the head ί 0 held in position by the end of the lever 11 passing into a slot 19 on the shank end. Such 50 _a completely covered shank is illustrated in Fig.

wherein the tool 21 is provided with a cutting tip 22 and a shank 23 of reduced diameter built up by the material 16 to the standard diameter normally employed on the shank when the mate55 rial is not applied thereto. This shank is provided with a flat face 24 which constitutes the

2,606,366 driving face of the shank and an annular slot 25 in which the end of a lever, similar to the lever 11, extends for supporting the shank within the driving head.

In Fig. 4 a further form of dental tool 25 is illustrated, having a cutting tip 21 and a reduced 'shank portion 23 covered ^;.by the material 16. This'type of tool is supported by the fingers of a collet disposed within a head on the end of a pencil-like body portion. It is to ’be understood that the material 46 may-be-applied in any manner known in the art, such-as bonding or by the use of an adhesive or by any other method well known in the art to be suitable.

In Fig. 5 a method of applying.-the-material to the shank is illustrated, wherein a very thin wall tube 29 of brass, copper, plastic or the like of substantial length has the material 16 coated thereon and after .the rcoating Operation secEtionsiarei-cUt therefrom:and. applied To The shank by soft solder or other adhering method. A isleeve of .rubber, plastic or ..like vibration .dampening; and insulating 'material -may be directly applied to the reduced^: diameter of: the shank-3! and-bonded, adhered for Otherwise secured there- •To. In rany arrangement, The resulting tool has a 'shank provided with an overall dimension, in diameter and length similar to the tools originally provided without -such materials, -so’ that Tools will be -received in the same heads as employed for the prior tools. It is-also'within the purview Of this invention to apply the vibration dampening-and insulating material to the’driving-filement -of the tools, 'Permitting ’tools 'with .^standard, .uncoated shanks to be utilized. In Fig. 6 the driving head 10 has a driving ‘element thereof provided 'with -a lining-.of vibration - dampening: and insulating -material 33 which may -be' bonded directly Thereto or to a removable sleeve so that the material-may be renewed from time to Time. In Fig. 7« collet -type of-gripping -head '34 is illustrated having -collet fingers 35 therein,-the-ends of which have the vibration ^dampening and insulating material 16 -bonded, adhered or otherwise - secured in position there_on-for-directly gripping-the-shankSI - of a tool.

It will be noted in the various forms of the invention that the tip of the tool is insulated against discharge of collected static charges and dampened against vibration normally conducted to the tip from the operating parts of the driving head. The mechanical vibrations from the driving ele. merits felt by‘the patieiit-when-the burr or cutting tip -is applied to a’ tooth is surprisingly softened when the vibration dampening and insulating material is employed between the driving head and shank of the tool and the painful - discharge of a .-static charge onto the teeth of the patient which-sometimes occurs is also eliminated.