Overhandle for enclosing a dental tool handle or shank

An overhandle for enclosing a cylindrical end portion of a rotatable dental tool, comprising:

• two mating semi-cylindrical elongated first and second sections having respective first and second forward end faces, said forward end faces being confrontingly opposed to each other in an opened condition of said overhandle, and said forward end faces being in a single plane in an assembled closed condition of said overhandle with said sections disposed against each other to define an elongated cylindrical body capable of being rotated;
• a pair of hinges interconnecting said forward end faces to provide a one piece construction and to permit said sections to pivot from said opened condition to said closed condition;
• an elongated channel respectively provided in each of said sections to define first and second channels, each of said channels extending respectively through said first and second forward end faces, said channels being in axial alignment with each other in said opened condition, said channels matingly confronting each other in said assembled closed condition to define an internal chamber with a forward end having an opening therethrough, said chamber receiving the cylindrical end portion of the tool therein with a remaining portion of the tool axially extending through said chamber opening in said forward end;
• said hinges being spaced apart with one of said hinges being disposed on one side of said chamber opening and the other hinge being disposed on an opposite side of said chamber opening to permit the remaining portion of the tool to extend between said hinges without any interference therefrom;
• first means in at least one of said sections for preventing axial extraction of the end portion of the tool from said chamber;
• second means in at least one of said sections for rotating the end portion of the tool when said overhandle is rotated;
• releasable coupling means for retaining said sections together in said assembled closed condition to enclose the end portion of the tool therein and for permitting said sections to be pivoted into said opened condition to remove the end portion of the tool therefrom;
• said sections having respective first and second rear end portions including rear end faces remote from said forward end faces to provide said overhandle with a rear end when in said assembled closed condition;
• and
• said coupling means including at least one locking member extending outwardly from said first rear end portion, and at least one recess located in a corresponding position in said second rear end portion for receiving said locking member in said assembled closed condition.