Foot controller for dental instruments or the like
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A foot controller for initiating and controlling the flow of a utility service to a dental instrument, said controller comprising:
- (a) a housing adapted to rest on a floor surface, said housing having front and rear walls;
(b) a pair of foot pedals hinged to said housing for movement about a horizontal axis;
(c) bias means for urging said pedals upwardly to a rest position;
(d) a signal generator within said housing including a single movable control element, said generator producing an output signal in response to the movement of said control element;
(e) means operatively connecting each of said pedals with said single control element for moving said element responsive to either independent or simultaneous movement of said foot pedals; and
(f) an on-off switch associated with each foot pedal for switching on a utility supply responsive to movement of said foot pedals against said bias means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A foot controller for dental instruments having a pair of foot pedals which are depressed to initiate and control the rate of flow of a utility service, there being a single, variable output generator with the controller which can be operated by either the independent or simultaneous operation of the foot pedals.
52 Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A foot controller for initiating and controlling the flow of a utility service to a dental instrument, said controller comprising:
-
(a) a housing adapted to rest on a floor surface, said housing having front and rear walls; (b) a pair of foot pedals hinged to said housing for movement about a horizontal axis; (c) bias means for urging said pedals upwardly to a rest position; (d) a signal generator within said housing including a single movable control element, said generator producing an output signal in response to the movement of said control element; (e) means operatively connecting each of said pedals with said single control element for moving said element responsive to either independent or simultaneous movement of said foot pedals; and (f) an on-off switch associated with each foot pedal for switching on a utility supply responsive to movement of said foot pedals against said bias means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. In a foot controller including a housing adapted to rest on a floor surface, a pair of foot pedals pivoted to the housing for movement about a horizontal axis, a spring for urging each foot pedal upwardly to a rest position, on-off switches associated with each foot pedal, and a signal generator within the housing capable of producing an output voltage in direct proportion to the movement of either foot pedal from its rest position, the improvement comprising:
-
(a) a single control element associated with both said foot pedals and said signal generator, said control element being mounted in said housing for rectilinear movement to a first position wherein the output from said signal generator is a minimum and a second position wherein the output from said signal generator is a maximum; (b) a spring urging said control element to said first position; and (c) drive means between each of said foot pedals and said single control element for moving said element against said spring responsive to the either the independent or simultaneous arcuate movement of said foot pedals about said horizontal axis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
Specification