Autoclaving cap for dental handpieces

In combination:

• a) A dental handpiece of the type having an air intake nozzle and an air exhaust nozzle extending from the proximate end of said dental handpiece, said dental handpiece further having an impeller for imparting rotation to a dental bur where said impeller is in fluid communication with said intake nozzle and responsive to air flow through said air intake nozzle, and where said proximate end of said dental handpiece is so configured and constructed to permit an air supply source to be removably fastened to said proximate end;
• and
• b) an autoclaving cap comprising a collar having a peripheral surface, a longitudinal axis, and a distal end and a proximate end, said collar further having an axially extending enclosed cavity bounded by said peripheral surface and having an opening at said distal end communicating with said enclosed cavity, an annulat shoulder concentric with said longitudinal axis integrally contained within said collar located intermediate said distal and proximate ends of said collar, a toroidal seal member made of an elastic compressible material captively held within said collar in bearing relationship with said shoulder for compressive engagement with said shoulder and so dimensioned and proportioned to seal said fluid intake nozzle and said fluid exhaust nozzle from fluid flow at said proximate end of said dental handpiece upon axial insertion of said proximate end of said dental handpiece into said cavity and upon axial compression of said toroidal seal member against said shoulder, and fastening means associated with said collar for fastening said collar to said proximate end of said dental handpiece such that said collar may be axially advanced relative to said proximate end of said dental handpiece thereby compressing said toroidal seal member against said shoulder and sealing said fluid intake nozzle and said fluid exhaust nozzle from fluid flow at said proximate end of said dental handpiece.