Rechargeable dental curing light

• US 20050136372A1
• Filed: 12/17/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ultradent Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Fischer, Dan E., McLean, Bruce S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,144,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/002 using batteries

Abstract

A light curing dental device is configured for curing light-curable compounds and includes a rechargeable power supply. The light curing device is configured to be received by and recharged by a recharging docking station that is connected with a dental hand piece holder tray. The recharging docking station may take the form of a dental hand piece holder. Some light curing devices can be recharged by electrical contact when they are placed within a recharging docking station. Some other light curing devices are water-tight and do not have exposed electrical contacts. These other light curing devices can be recharged by the recharging docking station through induction.

Claims

1. A rechargeable dental light curing device configured for curing light-curable compounds, comprising:

a body portion that extends between a mountable end portion and a light-emitting end portion, the body portion being configured to be held in the hand of a user, the mountable end portion being configured in size and shape to fit in a standard hand piece holder of a dental hand piece holding tray;

a light source configured to emit radiant energy suitable for curing a light-curable compound, the radiant energy being emitted from the light-emitting end portion; and

a rechargeable power supply that is configured to power the light source and to be recharged by a recharging docking station that is mounted to a dental hand piece holding tray when the mountable end portion of the light curing device is mounted with the recharging docking station.

2. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power supply is configured to be recharged through electrical contacts exposed at the mountable end portion.

3. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the exposed electrical contacts electrically couple with corresponding electrical contacts of the recharging docking station when the mountable end portion is received within the recharging docking station.

4. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the exposed electrical contacts include pins.

5. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the exposed electrical contacts include bands that circumferentially extend around at least a portion of the mountable end portion.

6. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power supply is configured to be recharged through induction by the recharging docking station when the mountable end portion is received within the recharging docking station.

7. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the rechargeable dental light curing device is water-tight.

8. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source is disposed at the light-emitting end portion.

9. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source includes at least one of an LED and an LED array.

11. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the mountable end portion is configured in size and shape to fit in a standard holder of a dental hand piece holding tray.

12. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the rechargeable power supply is being configured to be recharged through induction by the recharging docking station when the mountable end portion of the light curing device is mounted with the recharging docking station.

13. A rechargeable dental light curing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the light source includes at least one of an LED and an LED array.

10. A rechargeable dental light curing device configured for curing light-curable compounds, comprising:

a water-tight body portion that extends between a mountable end portion and a light-emitting end portion, the body portion being configured to be held in the hand of a user;

a light source configured to emit radiant energy suitable for curing a light-curable compound, the radiant energy being emitted from the light-emitting end portion; and

a rechargeable power supply that is disposed within the water-tight body and that is configured to power the light source, the rechargeable power supply also being configured to be recharged through induction by a recharging docking station.

14. A rechargeable dental light curing kit configured for curing light-curable compounds, comprising:

a light curing device that includes;

a body portion that extends between a mountable end portion and a light-emitting end portion, the body portion being configured to be held in the hand of a user, the mountable end portion being configured in size and shape to fit in a standard holder of a dental hand piece holding tray;

a light source configured to emit radiant energy suitable for curing a light-curable compound, the radiant energy being emitted from the light-emitting end portion; and

a rechargeable power supply that is configured to power the light source and to be recharged by a recharging docking station when the mountable end portion of the light curing device is mounted with the recharging docking station;

the recharging docking station comprising;

a mounting body structure that is configured in size and shape to frictionally engage the mountable end portion of the light curing device; and

means for recharging the rechargeable power supply when the mountable end portion of the light curing device is received within the mounting body structure.

15. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for recharging include electrical contacts that are configured to electrically couple with electrical pins extending from the light curing device when the light curing device is mounted within the mounting body structure of the recharging docking station.

16. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for recharging include electrical contacts that are configured to electrically couple with corresponding electrical contacts that circumferentially extend around the light curing device.

17. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for recharging include electromagnetic components that are configured to recharge the power supply of the light curing device through induction.

18. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 17, wherein the light curing device is water tight.

19. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 14, wherein the light source comprises an LED light source.

20. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 14, wherein the recharging docking station is connected to a hand piece holder.

21. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 20, wherein the recharging docking station further includes a housing that is connected to the hand piece holder.

22. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 21, wherein the housing encapsulates the hand piece holder.

23. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 21, wherein the hand piece holder is detachably connected to the housing.

24. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 21, wherein the housing is configured to enable the recharging docking station to be set in an upright position on a flat surface.

25. A rechargeable dental light curing kit as recited in claim 21, wherein the housing is configured to enable the recharging docking station to be set in an upright position on a flat surface when the light curing device is mounted within the light curing device.