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US 5,377,823 AGranted
Compact dental dispensing tray with sliding cover
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsDirk L. Steen, Malcolm W. Wilcox, Thomas W. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dental dispensing tray has a plurality of wells formed in a substrate, along with a cover that is slidably attached to the substrate. The cover transmits at least a portion of the visible light spectrum but does not transmit a substantial portion of actinic radiation that might otherwise prematurely cure photocurable material in the wells.
Claims8
A dispensing tray for dental material comprising:
- a substrate having at least one well for containing a quantity of dental material curable by exposure to actinic radiation;
- a cover that transmits at least part of the visible light spectrum and does not transmit a substantial portion of the actinic radiation;
- and
- means for slidably coupling said cover to said substrate in order to enable said cover to move from a first orientation covering said at least one well to a second orientation at least partially uncovering said at least one well, said cover when in said second orientation projecting past said substrate, wherein said means for slidably coupling said cover to said substrate comprises a pair of upstanding, elongated bars connected to said substrate, said bars presenting opposed grooves for contact with said cover, and wherein said bars have relief notches for enhancing sliding movement of said cover.
1 more element
A dispensing tray for dental material comprising:
- a substrate having at least one well for containing a quantity of dental material curable by exposure to actinic radiation;
- a cover that transmits at least part of the visible light spectrum and does not transmit a substantial portion of the actinic radiation;
- and
- means for slidably coupling said cover to said substrate in order to enable said cover to move from a first orientation covering said at least one well to a second orientation at least partially uncovering said at least one well, said substrate having overall dimensions sufficiently small to enable said substrate to entirely fit within the confines of a human hand, wherein said means for slidably coupling said cover to said substrate comprises a pair of upstanding, elongated bars connected to said substrate, said bars presenting opposed grooves for contact with said cover, and wherein said bars have relief notches for enhancing sliding movement of said cover.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.