Illumination system and connector assembly for a dental handpiece

A connector assembly for use in releasably connecting a fluid and electric power supply hose to a fluid driven, fiber optic dental handpiece wherein said dental handpiece includes a proximal end having a light transmitting fiber optic rod and a plurality of fluid transmitting conduits extending therefrom in standardized configuration, said connector assembly comprising in operative combination:

• a) a generally elongated cylindrical connector unit having a first, distal end, a second, proximal end and a plurality of longitudinally oriented channels extending between said first, distal end and said second, proximal end, said channels at said first, distal end configured for receivingly engaging the fluid transmitting conduits of the dental handpiece proximal end;
• b) said connector unit further including:
• i) an axially aligned socket disposed along an outer periphery thereof;
• ii) said socket is sized for receiving a replaceably light source therein;
• iii) said socket having an open first end disposed adjacent said distal end of said connector unit which is aligned coordinate with the fiber optic rod of the dental handpiece when said connector unit distal end is brought into engagement with the dental handpiece proximal end;
• c) means for electrically connecting said light source to a pair of electrical wires contained within the fluid and electric power supply hose;
• d) an outer cylindrical strain relief shield for housing said connector unit, said strain relief shield having a first, distal end and a second, proximal end;
• and
• e) means for quick-disconnect fluid tight coupling of said distal end of said connector unit to the proximal end of the dental handpiece which comprises:
• i) a pair of diametrically opposed slots provided on said distal end of said strain relief shield;
• ii) a rotatable latch ring disposed slidably mounted on said proximal end of said dental handpiece;
• iii) bearing means for restraining fore/aft movement of said rotatable latch ring with respect to said dental handpiece proximal end;
• and
• iv) said rotatable latch ring including a pair of diametrically opposed pin members for lockingly engaging within said slots of said distal end of said strain relief shield upon a fractional turn rotation of said latch ring with respect to said shield.

A connector assembly for use in releasably connecting a fluid and electric power supply hose to a fluid driven, dental handpiece wherein said dental handpiece including a proximal end having a plurality of fluid transmitting conduits extending therefrom in standardized configuration, said connector assembly comprising in operative combination;

• a) a generally elongated cylindrical connector unit having a first, distal end, a second, proximal end and a plurality of longitudinally oriented channels extending between said first, distal end and said second, proximal end, said channels at said distal end configured for receivingly engaging the fluid transmitting conduits of the dental handpiece proximal end;
• b) an outer cylindrical strain relief shield for housing said connector unit, said strain relief shield having a first, distal end and a second, proximal end;
• and
• c) means for quick-disconnect fluid tight coupling of said distal end of said connector unit to the proximal end of the dental handpiece which comprises:
• i) a pair of diametrically opposed slots provided on said distal end of said strain relief shield;
• ii) a rotatable latch ring disposed mounted on said proximal end of said dental handpiece;
• iii) bearing means for restraining fore/aft movement of said rotatable latch ring with respect to said dental handpiece proximal end;
• and
• iv) said rotatable latch ring including a pair of diametrically opposed pin members for lockingly engaging said slots of said distal end of said strain relief shield upon a fractional turn rotation of said latching ring with respect to said shield.

A quick-connect and disconnect assembly for fluid-tight coupling a dental handpiece to a connector unit having a distal end and fluid conduits therethrough for transfer of fluid from fluid supply tubing to a threaded proximal end of said dental handpiece, comprising in operative combination:

• a) an outer cylindrical strain relief shield for receivingly housing said connector unit, said strain relief shield having a first, distal end and a second, proximal end;
• b) a rotatable latch ring disposed axially slidably mounted on said proximal end of said dental handpiece;
• c) a bearing ring for restraining axial fore/aft movement of said rotatable latch ring with respect to said dental handpiece proximal end;
• and
• d) bayonet-type pin and slot retaining means disposed in said rotatable latch ring and said sleeve for lockingly engaging said distal end of said strain relief shield to said latch ring upon fractional turn rotation of said latch ring with respect to said shield.

A dental handpiece illumination system light bulb assembly for use in a dental handpiece connector unit, said connector unit including a body having a first distal end contactable to said dental handpiece, a second proximal end, contactable with fluid supply means and a plurality of longitudinally oriented channels extending between said ends and configured for engaging conduits for transmitting fluid to said dental handpiece, said connector unit body including an axially aligned socket disposed along the periphery sized for receiving a replaceable light bulb therein and having an open first end aligned with a fiber optic rod in said dental handpiece and electrical contact means engagable with said bulb, said light bulb assembly comprising said bulb which has,

• a) a glass envelope having a first, base end and a second, light emitting end and a first and second wire filament extending from said base end;
• b) an insulator disposed surrounding said first base end of said envelope with said first wire passing generally axially therethrough;
• c) a metal spring connected to said first wire filament, said metal spring extending rearwardly from said first base end beyond the end of said insulator;
• d) a metal sleeve having a first and second end, said sleeve surrounding said insulator and sized to be received in said socket of said connector unit, said metal spring extending beyond said first end of said sleeve for engagement with said electrical contact means, and said second end of said sleeve receiving said insulator disposed surrounding said first base end of said glass bulb envelope;
• e) said second wire filament is arranged to lie between said insulator and said metal sleeve;
• and
• f) said spring providing electrical contact with said electrical contact means for supply of power to said bulb in said connector unit, while biasing said bulb to be retained in said socket.