Fast-fit coupling for connecting appliances forming part of a medical or surgical handpiece system to a supply hose

• US 7,316,424 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH (PM Privatstiftung)
• Original Assignee: W&H Dentalwerk Burmoos GmbH (PM Privatstiftung)
• Inventors: Kardeis, Richard, Wendtner, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Hewitt; James M.
• Application Number:
  US10/735,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20040124631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 285/81, 285/82, 285/84, 285/86, 285/91, 285/276, 285/277, 285/308, 285/315, 285/316, 285/317, 285/318
• US Class Current: 285/91
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1622 Drill handpieces A61B17/1626, A61B17/1628 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1628 Motors; Power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/18 Flexible shafts; Clutches or the like; Bearings or lubricating arrangements; Drives or transmissionsflexible shafts in general F16C; clutches in general F16D

Abstract

A plug connection for fast-fit coupling of two appliances forming part of a medical handpiece system includes a first coupling fitting on one of the appliances and a second coupling fitting on the other of the appliances. The first coupling fitting has a movable locking element and the second coupling fitting has a projecting element projecting toward the first coupling fitting. The projecting element comprises an end portion of a media line or an end portion of an electrical contact and is positioned to engage a surface of an opening in the locking element to move the locking element between lock and unlock positions when the first and second coupling fittings are moved toward and away from each other.

Claims

1. A plug connection for fast-fit coupling of two appliances forming part of a medical handpiece system, the plug connection comprising:

a first coupling fitting capable of fitting on a first appliance and

a second coupling fitting capable of fitting on a second appliance,

said first coupling fitting having a movable locking element thereon and the second coupling fitting having a projecting element thereon projecting toward said first coupling fitting, the projecting element comprising an end portion of a media transfer line or an end portion of an electrical contact and being positioned to engage a surface of an opening in said locking element to move said locking element between lock and unlock positions when said first and second coupling fittings are moved toward and away from each other, respectively.

2. The plug connection of claim 1, which further comprises a biasing element urging said locking element from its lock position toward its unlock position.

3. The plug connection of claim 1, wherein said locking element and projecting element have mating surfaces which engage one another to cause the locking element to move toward its lock position when said coupling fittings are joined.

4. The plug connection of claim 1, wherein said second coupling fitting comprises a circumferential outer sleeve which projects axially outwardly a selected distance from remainder portions of said second coupling fitting and extends about an outer portion of said first coupling fitting when joined, and said projecting element projects outwardly from said remainder portions of said second coupling fitting a distance at least as great as said selected distance.

5. The plug connection of claim 1, wherein said first coupling fitting comprises a bearing member mounted for shifting between an unlock position and a lock position spaced radially from said unlock position and a ring fitting movable between an unlock position out of urging engagement with said bearing member and a lock position urging the bearing member to its lock position, and said second coupling fitting comprises a groove oriented to align with and receive a portion of said bearing member when said bearing member is in its lock position.

6. The plug connection of claim 1, wherein said first coupling fitting comprises a bearing member mounted for shifting radially between an unlock position and a lock position spaced outwardly from said unlock position and a ring fitting movable between an unlock position out of urging engagement with said bearing member and a lock position urging the bearing member to its lock position, and said second coupling fitting comprises a groove oriented to align with and receive a portion of said bearing member when said bearing member is in its lock position.

7. The plug connection of claim 6, which further comprises a spring biasing said ring fitting from its unlock toward its lock position, said locking element when in its unlock position is oriented to engage and hold said ring fitting in its unlock position, and when said locking element is moved to its lock position it releases said ring fitting to allow said ring fitting to move toward its lock position.

8. The plug connection of claim 7, wherein said ring fitting comprises a stepped portion and said locking element engages said stepped portion when in its unlock position.

9. The plug connection of claim 6, wherein an operator sleeve is mounted on said first coupling fitting, is manually shiftable longitudinally along said first coupling between first and second positions, and is operatively connected to said ring fitting to move said ring fitting from its lock position to its unlock position.

10. The plug connection of claim 1, wherein a plurality of media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts are arranged in a selected pattern projecting axially outwardly from remainder portions of said second coupling fitting, and said first coupling fitting comprises a corresponding plurality of complementary arranged receptacles into which said media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts may extend when the first and second coupling fittings are joined.

11. The plug connection of claim 10, wherein said plurality of media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts are arrayed in a semi-circular pattern between the longitudinal axis and the outer periphery of the second coupling fitting.

12. The plug connection of claim 1, wherein the locking element is operable to move between lock and unlock positions when the said first and second coupling fittings are moved axially toward and away from each other, respectively.

13. The plug connection of claim 1, wherein the one of the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting is associated with a motor and the other of the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting is associated with a supply conductor, and wherein, when connected, the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting establish a connection between the motor and the supply conductor.

14. A plug connection for fast-fit coupling of two appliances forming part of a medical handpiece system, the plug connection comprising,

a first coupling fitting capable of fitting on a first appliance having a longitudinal axis, said first coupling fitting having a bearing member mounted for shifting radially between an unlock position and a lock position spaced radially from said unlock position, a ring fitting movable between an unlock position out of urging engagement with said bearing member and a lock position urging it to its lock position, a spring biasing said ring fitting toward its lock position, a locking element movable between an unlock position engaging and inhibiting movement of said ring fitting from its unlock position toward its lock position and a lock position releasing said ring fitting, and a biasing element urging said locking element from its lock position toward its unlock position, and

a second coupling fitting capable of fitting on a second appliance having a longitudinal axis, said second coupling having a groove oriented to align with and receive a portion of said bearing member when the coupling fittings are engaged and said bearing member is in its lock position, and a projecting element extending axially outwardly from remainder portions of said second coupling fitting to engage a portion of said locking element and shift the locking element toward its lock position as the first and second coupling fittings are moved axially into engagement with each other.

15. The plug connection of claim 14, wherein said locking element and projecting element have mating surfaces which engage one another to cause the locking element to move toward its lock position when said coupling fittings are joined.

16. The plug connection of claim 14, wherein said second coupling fitting comprises a circumferential outer sleeve which projects axially outwardly a selected distance from remainder portions of said second coupling fitting and extends about an outer portion of said first coupling fitting when joined, and said projecting element projects outwardly from said remainder portions of said second coupling fitting a distance at least as great as said selected distance.

17. The plug connection of claim 16, wherein said groove is formed on an inner surface of said outer sleeve and said bearing member is shifted by the ring fitting outwardly towards its lock position when the first and second coupling fittings are joined such that at least a portion of the bearing member occupies the groove.

18. The plug connection of claim 14, wherein an operator sleeve is mounted on said first coupling, is manually shiftable longitudinally along said first coupling between first and second positions, and is operatively connected to said ring fitting to move said ring fitting from its lock position to its unlock position.

19. The plug connection of claim 14, wherein a plurality of media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts are arranged in a selected pattern projecting axially outwardly from said remainder portions of said second coupling fitting, and said first coupling fitting comprises a corresponding plurality of complementary arranged receptacles into which said media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts may extend when the first and second coupling fittings are joined.

20. The plug connection of claim 14, wherein the one of the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting is associated with a motor and the other of the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting is associated with a supply conductor, and wherein, when connected, the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting establish a connection between the motor and the supply conductor.

21. The plug connection of claim 14, wherein said projecting element comprises a mating surface and an end portion of a media transfer line or an end portion of an electrical contact.

22. A plug connection for fast-fit coupling of two appliances forming part of a medical handpiece system, the plug connection comprising:

a first coupling fitting capable of fitting on a first appliance and a second coupling fitting capable of fitting on a second appliance,

said first coupling fitting having a movable locking element thereon and comprising a bearing member mounted for shifting between an unlock position and a lock position spaced radially from said unlock position,

said second coupling fitting comprises a projecting element thereon projecting toward said first coupling fitting and positioned to engage and move said locking element between lock and unlock positions when said first and second coupling fittings are moved toward and away from each other, respectively.

23. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein the first coupling fitting comprises a ring fitting movable between an unlock position out of urging engagement with said bearing member and a lock position urging the bearing member to its lock position.

24. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein the second coupling fitting comprises a groove oriented to align with and receive a portion of said bearing member when said bearing member is in its lock position.

25. The plug connection of claim 22, which further comprises a biasing element urging said locking element from its lock position toward its unlock position.

26. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein said locking element and projecting element have mating surfaces which engage one another to cause the locking element to move toward its lock position when said coupling fittings are joined.

27. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein said projecting element comprises an end portion of a media transfer line and said mating surface of said locking element comprises a surface of an opening in said locking element.

28. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein said projecting element comprises an end portion of an electrical contact and said mating surface of said locking element comprises a surface of an opening in said locking element.

29. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein said second coupling fitting comprises a circumferential outer sleeve which projects axially outwardly a selected distance from remainder portions of said second coupling fitting and extends about an outer portion of said first coupling fitting when joined, and said projecting element projects outwardly from said remainder portions of said second coupling fitting a distance at least as great as said selected distance.

30. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein said bearing member is mounted for shifting radially between the unlock position and the lock position spaced outwardly from said unlock position, and

a ring fitting movable between an unlock position out of urging engagement with said bearing member and a lock position urging the bearing member to its lock position, and said second coupling fitting comprises a groove oriented to align with and receive a portion of said bearing member when said bearing member is in its lock position.

31. The plug connection of claim 30, which further comprises a spring biasing said ring fining from its unlock toward its lock position, said locking element when in its unlock position is oriented to engage and hold said ring fitting in its unlock position, and when said locking element is moved to its lock position it releases said ring fitting to allow said ring fitting to move toward its lock position.

32. The plug connection of claim 31, wherein said ring fitting comprises a stepped portion and said locking element engages said stepped portion when in its unlock position.

33. The plug connection of claim 30, wherein an operator sleeve is mounted on said first coupling fitting, is manually shiftable longitudinally along said first coupling between first and second positions, and is operatively connected to said ring fitting to move said ring fitting from its lock position to its unlock position.

34. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein a plurality of media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts are arranged in a selected pattern projecting axially outwardly from remainder portions of said second coupling fitting, and said first coupling fitting comprises a corresponding plurality of complementary arranged receptacles into which said media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts may extend when the first and second coupling fittings are joined.

35. The plug connection of claim 34, wherein said plurality of media transfer lines and/or electrical contacts are arrayed in a semi-circular pattern between the longitudinal axis and the outer periphery of the second coupling fitting.

36. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein the locking element is operable to move between lock and unlock positions when the said first and second coupling fittings are moved axially toward and away from each other, respectively.

37. The plug connection of claim 22, wherein the one of the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting is associated with a motor and the other of the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting is associated with a supply conductor, and wherein, when connected, the first coupling fitting and second coupling fitting establish a connection between the motor and the supply conductor.