Articulating dental operatory light

An articulating dental operatory light comprising:

• a) a lamp head assembly further comprising a lamp housing, at least one handle integral with the lamp housing and overmolded with a heat-insulating material, a reflector connected to the lamp housing, and a light bulb supported by the lamp housing and mounted in front of the reflector;
• b) a drop knuckle assembly coupled to the lamp head assembly, the drop knuckle assembly further comprising a knuckle housing, a ball member, at least one aperture extending through the ball member, a socket member pivotally and rotatably cooperating with the ball member, a link shaft having a first end and a keyed second end, a corresponding key socket defined by the aperture of the ball member for receiving the second end of the link shaft, a first rotational stop member connected to the first end of the link shaft at a location remote from the ball member and socket member, and a second rotational stop member located on the knuckle housing, the second stop member positioned and adapted to interfere with the first rotational stop member whereby rotation of the first rotational stop member, and correspondingly the ball member, about a longitudinal axis of the link shaft is limited by the interference between the first rotational stop member and the second rotational stop member;
• and
• c) an electrical cable disposed within the at least one ball joint aperture, the electrical cable operationally communicating with the bulb and extending from the bulb to an electrical power source,
• whereby the lamp head assembly is infinitely articulatable with respect to the drop knuckle assembly within the range of motion of the ball, and the ball member is rotatable less than 360 degrees about its own axis to minimize twisting damage to the electrical cable.

An articulating dental operatory light comprising:

• a) a lamp head assembly further comprising a lamp housing, a light emitting bulb disposed within the lamp housing, at least one thermal insulator located between the light emitting bulb and the lamp housing, a light reflector affixed to the lamp housing proximate to the light emitting bulb, the light reflector having a light reflective surface further comprising a dichroic coating, at least one handle located on the lamp housing, the at least one handle being overmolded with a heat insulating material;
• b) a drop knuckle assembly coupled to the lamp head assembly, the drop knuckle assembly further comprising a knuckle housing, a ball member, at least one aperture extending through the ball member, a socket member pivotally and rotatably cooperating with the ball member, a link shaft having a first end, a keyed second end and a link shaft aperture extending from the first end to the second end, a corresponding key socket defined by the aperture of the ball member for receiving the second end of the link shaft, a first rotational stop member connected to the first end of the link shaft at a location remote from the ball member and socket member, and a second rotational stop member located on the knuckle housing, the second stop member positioned and adapted to interfere with the first rotational stop member whereby rotation of the first rotational stop member, and correspondingly the ball member, about a longitudinal axis of the link shaft is limited by the interference between the first rotational stop member and the second rotational stop member, the ball member having an attachment portion that is engageable with a receiver of the lamp head assembly forming at least a second joint;
• c) a tensioning collar adjustably engageable with the knuckle housing and at least one compressible O-ring formed of a high-durometer, heat-resistant material located and positioned to operationally engage the ball member, whereby tension of the socket member against the ball member is adjustable;
• d) an electrical cable for carrying electrical current from a power source to the light emitting bulb, the electrical cable being disposed within the at least one aperture of the ball member and extending through the link shaft aperture, the electrical cable operationally communicating with the bulb and extending from the bulb to an electrical power source,
• whereby the lamp head assembly is infinitely articulatable with respect to the drop knuckle assembly within the range of motion of the ball member, and the ball member is rotatable less than 360 degrees about its own axis to minimize twisting damage to the electrical cable;
• and
• whereby the lamp head assembly is pivotably adjustable with respect to the drop knuckle assembly at the at least a second joint.