DENTAL TOOL HAVING A HAND GRIP
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a hand grip for dental instruments that provides a dental professional with a more secure and comfortable means of grasping a dental hygiene tool. In one embodiment, the instrument has an elongated dental handpiece having an interior that is solid, hollow or partially solid. The elongated handpiece has a distal end and a proximal end and a longitudinal portion in between. A grip portion is attached to the body of the handpiece anywhere between the distal end and the proximal end, comprising a grip stop against which the operator'"'"'s hand rests while gripping the handpiece and using the tool. At least one insert is present on the handpiece at an end. A locking mechanism for locking the position of the grip anywhere along the handpiece is also disclosed.
93 Citations
40 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method of using a set of dental handpieces having varying diameters, each of said handpiece comprises:
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a body having a substantially hollow interior, a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal portion in between; and
a handle grip portion disposed on the body anywhere between the distal end and the proximal end, said handle grip portion comprising a locking mechanism for locking said handle grip portion along the longitudinal portion of the handpiece;
wherein said handpieces are used interchangeably by a dental professional during the day to vary the grip. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A dental tool comprising:
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a handpiece comprising a body having a substantially hollow interior for housing functional parts of the dental tool, a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal portion in between;
a grip portion disposed on the body of the handpiece anywhere between the distal end and the proximal end;
wherein said grip portion is slidable along the longitudinal portion of the handpiece and comprises a grip stop, said grip stop including a curved surface region describing a substantially smooth curve between a first surface portion substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said longitudinal portion and a second surface portion generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A dental tool comprising:
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an elongated handpiece having a body with an interior, a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal portion in between;
a grip portion disposed on the body of the handpiece anywhere between the distal end and the proximal end; and
a locking mechanism;
wherein said grip portion comprises a trigger for adjusting the locking mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification