Prophylactic covers for dental instruments and methods for making the same
OwnerEric Wadeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover 30 for a selected dental hand piece 10 includes a body 32 having first and second halves 34a, 34b of a shape and dimensions selected to substantially conform with a shape and dimensions of selected hand piece 10, said halves. Hinge 36 couples the first and second halves 34a, 34b of body 32 for allowing the first half 34a to rotate with respect to the second half 34b to thereby form an enclosure for enclosing a substantial portion of hand piece 10. The enclosure includes a head portion 42, handle portion 32 and a substantially rigid neck portion 40 between handle portion 32 and head portion 42.
Claims23
A cover for a selected dental hand piece comprising:
- a single-piece body having first and second halves of a shape and dimensions selected to substantially conform with a shape and dimensions of said selected hand piece, said halves being mirror symmetric;
- hinge means forming a part of said single-piece body and coupling said first and second halves of said body for allowing said first half to rotate with respect to said second half to thereby form an enclosure for enclosing a substantial portion of said hand piece, said enclosure including a head portion, a handle portion and a substantially rigid neck portion between said handle portion and said head portion;
- and
- means for engaging said first half with said second half to maintain said enclosure about said hand piece.
A prophylactic device for minimizing exposure of selected portions of a dental hand piece to potentially contaminated matter comprising:
- a single-piece body formed of a layer of substantially rigid material including an integral handle, neck and head portions each having a shape and dimensions preselected to substantially conform with corresponding handle, neck and head portions of said hand piece, said body comprising first and second halves symmetric along a longitudinal axis of said body;
- and
- a hinge forming a part of said single-piece body for rotating said first half of said body for engagement with said second half, a first sidewall of said body defining an enclosure for encompassing said handle, neck and head portions of said hand piece.
A dental appliance comprising:
- a dental hand piece;
- and
- a protective cover enclosing said hand piece comprising:
- a single-piece body substantially conforming in shape and dimensions with said hand piece, said body comprising first and second halves symmetric along a longitudinal axis of said body;
- hinge means forming a part of said single-piece body for rotating said first half of said body for engagement with said second half thereby defining an enclosure adapted to enclose said hand piece;
- and
- integral means for retaining said first and second halves in engagement and enclosure of said hand piece.
A method of constructing a single piece protective cover for a dental hand piece comprising the steps of:
- constructing a mold having a shape and dimensions corresponding to a selected model of dental hand piece and defining symmetric halves of head, neck and handle portions of the protective cover and hinge means for folding the halves into engagement;
- and
- forming the single piece cover including the symmetric halves of the head, neck and handle portions and the hinge means from a selected plastic using the mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.