Hand held control device and associated method

• US 6,019,350 A
• Filed: 03/05/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary A. Gelbfish
• Original Assignee: Gary A. Gelbfish
• Inventors: Gelbfish, Gary A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US08/811,937
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 251/321, 251/323, 251/322, 200/61.85, 200/DIG. 2, 604/33, 604/249
• US Class Current: 251/321
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0007 Control devices or systems fluid temperature control in air and water supply systems of dental machines or apparatus A61C1/0069

Abstract

A manually operated flow control device has a frame with a first part and a second part connected to one another for relative motion alternately towards and away from one another along a line of action. A flow guide is connected to the frame, while a flow modification component is mounted to the frame and is operatively connected to the flow guide for changing a state of flow through the flow guide in accordance with relative positions of the first part and the second part along the line of action. A structure is provided on the frame for enabling a user to hold the frame by exerting a first compressive force on the frame along the line of action between a selected finger of the user, on one side, and a palm surface of the user, on another side, and for further enabling the user to actuate the flow actuation component by exerting a second compressive force on the frame along the line of action between the selected finger and the palm surface, the second compressive force being larger than the first compressive force. The structure for enabling the holding of the frame and the actuation of the flow modification component includes a seat on the frame for receiving or engaging the selected finger so as to resist sliding of the frame off of the selected finger.

Claims

1. A manually operated control device comprising:

a frame including a first part and a second part movably connected to one another;

a control component mounted to said frame for changing a control parameter in accordance with relative positions of said first part and said second part;

a spring mounted to said frame for biasing said first part and said second part away from one another along a line of action, said spring having a spring constant sufficiently great to prevent actuation of said control component while enabling said frame to be held by a first compressive force exerted on said first part and said second part tending to move said first part and said second part towards one another, said spring constant being sufficiently small to enable actuation of said control component by a second compressive force exerted on said first part and said second part tending to move said first part and said second part towards one another, said second compressive force being greater than said first compressive force;

a finger engagement surface on one of said first part and said second part enabling a manual application of said first and said second compressive force, said finger engagement surface extending substantially perpendicularly to said line of action, said finger engagement surface being formed to resist sliding of said frame off of a selected finger; and

a flow guide connected to said one of said first part and said second part and extending substantially parallel to said line of action, whereby said flow guide may extend between adjacent fingers of a user during a holding of said frame between said selected finger on one side, and a thenar eminence of the user, on another side, said control component being operatively connected to said flow guide for changing a flow through said flow guide in accordance with relative positions of said first part and said second part, said control parameter being the flow through said flow guide.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said flow guide includes a first section and a second section each connected to said frame, said first section and said second section extending substantially orthogonally relative to one another.

3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said flow guide is a hydraulic or pneumatic line.

4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said flow guide is operatively connected to a medical device which is held by an index finger and a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, while the flow control device is operated by said selected finger and a palm surface of the user'"'"'s hand.

5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said finger engagement surface is formed with a concavity to resist sliding of said frame off of a selected finger.