Abstract
The present invention relates to an endodontic file clip (1) for an apex locator, comprising: a hollow body (2); a push button (3) movably linked to the body (2); a spring (4) pushing the push button (3) away from the body (2); an electrically conductive hook (5) movably arranged within the body (2) and partly protruding out of the tip (2a) of the body (2) and fixed to the push button (3) to securely attach an endodontic file (6) to the tip (2a) when the push button (3) is released towards the closed position, and disengage from the endodontic file (6) when the push button (3) is pressed towards the open position; characterized by further comprising: a detachment mechanism (7) for re-attachably detaching the push button (3), the spring (4) and the hook (5) from the body (2) for cleaning and disinfection in a dental washer disinfector, wherein the detachment mechanism (7) comprises a detachment slot (2c;2c′) in the body (2) which extends up to the tip (2a) and joins said hole, to allow manual detachment of the push button (3), the spring (4) and the hook (5) from the body (2) when the hook (5) is manually moved from said hole into the detachment slot (2c, 2c′).
Claims
1. An endodontic file clip for an apex locator, comprising: a hollow body; a push button movably linked to the body; a spring pushing the push button away from the body; an electrically conductive hook movably arranged within the body and partly protruding out of a hole on a tip of the body and fixed to the push button to securely attach an endodontic file to the tip when the push button is released towards the closed position, and disengage from the endodontic file when the push button is pressed towards the open position; characterized by further comprising: a detachment mechanism for re-attachably detaching the push button, the spring and the hook from the body for cleaning and disinfection in a dental washer disinfector, wherein the detachment mechanism comprises a detachment slot which extends up to the tip and joins said hole, to allow manual detachment of the push button, the spring and the hook from the body when the hook is manually moved from said hole into the detachment slot.
2. The endodontic file clip according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising a security mechanism, wherein the push button has two depression levels, and when the push button is at the first depression level corresponding to the open position, the endodontic file can be disengaged from the hook, and the security mechanism blocks the detachment mechanism, and when the push button is further pressed to the second depression level beyond the open position, the security mechanism unblocks the detachment mechanism, wherein when the push button is at the first depression level, the endodontic file can be disengaged from the hook, and the security mechanism blocks manual movement of the hook into the detachment slot, and when the push button is further pressed to the second depression level the security mechanism unblocks manual movement of the hook, and the hook can be freely moved into the detachment slot.
3. The endodontic file clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the detachment slot is at the back portion of the body, averted from an u-shaped portion of the hook; and the hook is manually tiltable for alignment with the detachment slot.
4. The endodontic file clip according to claim 3, characterized in that the detachment slot comprises a window portion; the hook comprises a key portion wider than the detachment slot and matching the window portion; and the push button has two depression levels, when the push button is at the first depression level the endodontic file can be disengaged from the hook, and the key portion stays short of clearance from detachment slot at the tip, and when the push button is further pressed to the second depression level then the hook can be freely tilted through the detachment slot and the key portion constitute the security mechanism.
5. The endodontic file clip according to claim 4, characterized in that the interior of the hollow body is provided with a ramp for guiding the key portion through the window portion during reassembly.
6. The endodontic file clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the detachment slot of the body; and the hook is manually rotatable for alignment with the detachment slot.
7. The endodontic file clip according to claim 6, characterized in that the front face of the push button comprises a slot for a screwdriver or a protruding grip to facilitate rotation of the push button during attachment or detachment.
8. The endodontic file clip according to claim 6, characterized in that the push button has either a cam groove or a cam pin; and the body has a cam pin or a cam groove for respectively matching each other as the push button is pressed, rotated by a predetermined angle and released for alignment with the detachment slot.
9. The endodontic file clip according to claim 8, characterized in that the push button has two depression levels, when the push button is at the first depression level then the endodontic file can be disengaged from the hook, and the cam pin stays short of clearance from a vertical portion of the cam groove, and when the push button is further pressed to the second depression level then the hook can be freely rotated in a horizontal portion of the cam groove to get aligned with the detachment slot, wherein cam groove and the cam pin constitute the security mechanism.
10. The endodontic file clip according claim 1, characterized by further comprising: another security mechanism which is constituted by the push button that has the two depression levels, and that is provided without a collar, when the push button is pressed to the first depression level then it becomes flush with the lower part of the body, and when the push button is further pressed to the second depression level then the push button is deep inside the body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the subsequent description, the present invention will be described in more detail by using exemplary embodiments and by referring to the drawings, wherein
[0014] FIG. 1—is a schematic lateral side view of an endodontic file clip in the open position according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2A—is a schematic lateral side view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 1 in the closed position;
[0016] FIG. 2B—is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 2A;
[0017] FIG. 3—is a schematic lateral side view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 1, wherein the dotted lines show the hook and the cable;
[0018] FIG. 4—is a schematic rear side view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 1, wherein a detachment slot is formed in the back portion of the body;
[0019] FIG. 5A—is a schematic lateral side view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 1, wherein the push button, the book, the spring and the cable are being detached from the body;
[0020] FIG. 5B—is a schematic cross-sectional view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 5A;
[0021] FIG. 6—is a schematic lateral side view of the body of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 7—is a schematic lateral side view of the push button, the hook, the spring and the cable of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 8—is a schematic rear side view of an endodontic file clip according to a second embodiment of the present invention having a two-level push button, wherein the push button is pressed to the first depression level;
[0024] FIG. 9A—is another schematic rear side view of the endodontic file of FIG. 8, wherein the push button is pressed to the second depression level;
[0025] FIG. 9B—is a cross sectional schematic partial side view of the endodontic file of FIG. 9A during reassembly:
[0026] FIG. 10—is a schematic top view of an endodontic file clip in the closed position according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 11—is a schematic top view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 10, wherein the hook has been counter clockwise rotated about 90 degrees to the detachment slot;
[0028] FIG. 12—is a schematic lateral side view of the endodontic file clip of FIG. 10, before the hook is completely 90 degrees counter clockwise rotated to the detachment slot;
[0029] FIG. 13—is a schematic partial lateral side view of the push button, the hook, the spring, and the cable according to the third embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 14—is another schematic perspective view of the body of the endodontic file clip according to the third embodiment.
[0031] The reference numbers shown in the drawings denote the elements as listed below and will be referred to in the subsequent description of the exemplary embodiments. [0032] 1. Endodontic file clip [0033] 2. Body [0034] 2a. Tip [0035] 2b. Notch [0036] 2c. Detachment slot [0037] 2c′ Detachment slot [0038] 2d. Back portion [0039] 2e. Lateral portion [0040] 2f. Cam pin [0041] 2g. Window portion [0042] 2h. Ramp [0043] 3. Push button [0044] 3a. Cam groove [0045] 3b. Collar [0046] 3c. Screw driver slot [0047] 4. Spring [0048] 5. Hook [0049] 5a. U-shaped portion [0050] 5b. Key portion [0051] 6. Endodontic file [0052] 7. Detachment mechanism [0053] 8. Cable [0054] 9, 10, 10′, 11. Security mechanisms
[0055] FIG. 1 shows a schematic lateral side view of an endodontic file clip (1) in the open position according to a first embodiment. The endodontic file clip (1) is suitable for use with an apex locator. In the first embodiment, as shown in detail in FIG. 2B, the endodontic file clip (1) comprises: a hollow body (2); a push button (3) movably linked to the body (2); a spring (4) pushing the push button (3) away from the body (2); an electrically conductive hook (5) movably arranged within the body (2) and partly protruding out of a hole in the tip (2a) of the body (2) and fixed to the push button (3) to securely attach an endodontic file (6) to the tip (2a) when the push button (3) is released towards the closed position (FIG. 2A), and disengage from the endodontic file (6) when the push button (3) is pressed towards the open position (FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 3, the hook (5) is connected to the cable (8). As shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the endodontic file clip (1) further comprises: a detachment mechanism (7) for re-attachably detaching the push button (3), the spring (4) and the hook (5) from the body (2) for cleaning and disinfection in a dental washer disinfector. As shown in FIG. 5B, the detachment mechanism (7) comprises a detachment slot (2c) in the body (2) which extends up to the tip (2a) and joins said hole, to allow manual detachment of the push button (3), the spring (4) and the hook (5) from the body (2) when the hook (5) is manually moved into the detachment slot (2c). Thereafter the push button (3) can be slid out of the body (2) together with the spring (4) and the hook (5) fixed thereto. As shown in FIG. 4, the detachment slot (2c) is at the back portion (2d) of the body (2), averted from the u-shaped portion (Sa) of the hook (5). And the hook (5) is tiltable (FIG. 5A) for alignment with the detachment slot (2c). FIG. 6 shows the body (2) after being detached from the push button (3), the spring (4) and the hook (5) for cleaning and disinfection. FIG. 7 shows the hook (5), the spring (4), the push button (3) and the cable (8) of the endodontic file clip (1) after being detached from the body (2) for cleaning and disinfection. As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 5A, the endodontic file clip (1) has a security mechanism (9) which blocks the detachment mechanism (7) when the push button (3) is in the closed position (FIG. 2A) and unblocks the detachment mechanism (7) when the push button (3) is in the open position (FIG. 5B). As shown in more detail in FIG. 2B, the security mechanism (9) is configured through a notch (2b) which is formed into the body (2) near the tip (2a), and a u-shaped portion (5a) which is formed at the protruding end of the hook (5). The u-shaped portion (5a) becomes attached to the notch (2b) when the push button (3) is in the closed position and becomes detached from the notch (2b) when the push button (3) is in the open position.
[0056] FIG. 8 shows a rear side view of an endodontic file clip according to a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the endodontic file clip (1) has a security mechanism (10) which is configured through a window portion (2g) that is formed into the detachment slot (2c) and a key portion (5b) that is formed onto the hook (5). The key portion (5b) is wider than the detachment slot (2c) and matches the window portion (2g) for passage. In the second embodiment, the push button (3) has two depression levels such that when the push button (3) is at the first depression level (FIG. 8) corresponding to the open position, the endodontic file (6) can be disengaged from the hook (5), but the key portion (5b) stays short of clearance from detachment slot (2c) at the tip (2a), and thus the security mechanism (10) blocks the detachment mechanism (7), particularly the security mechanism (10) blocks manual tilting movement of the hook (5) into the detachment slot (2c). As shown in FIG. 9A, when the push button (3) is further pressed to the second depression level beyond the open position, the security mechanism (10) unblocks the detachment mechanism (7), particularly the security mechanism (10) unblocks the manual tilting movement of the hook (5), and the hook (5) can be freely tilted/flexed through the detachment slot (2c). During the detachment operation the key portion (5b) is passed through the window portion (2g) as the push button (3) is slid out of the body (2) together with the spring (4) and the hook (5) fixed thereto. In the second embodiment, the endodontic file clip (1) has also a security mechanism (11) which is configured by the push button (3) which has the two depression levels but no collar (3b). As shown in FIG. 8, when push button (3) is at the first depression level then it becomes flush with the lower part of the body (2). And as shown in FIG. 9A, the user can further press the collarless push button (3) by using an attachment clip or a pencil. When the push button (3) is further pressed to the second depression level then the push button (3) is deep inside the body (2), and the security mechanism (10) is unlocked for allowing the manual detachment through detachment mechanism (7). FIG. 9B shows the interior of the hollow body (2). As shown in FIG. 9B the hollow body (2) is optionally provided with a ramp (2h) for guiding the key portion (Sb) through the window portion (2g) during reassembly.
[0057] FIG. 10 shows a schematic top view of an endodontic file clip (1) in the closed position according to a third embodiment. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the detachment slot (2c′) is at the lateral portion (2e) of the body (2). The detachment slot (2c′) extends to the tip (2a) and joins the hole as explained before. And the hook (5) is rotatable for alignment with the detachment slot (2c′). The front face of the push button (3) comprises a slot (3c) for a screwdriver to facilitate rotation of the push button (3) during attachment or detachment. As shown in FIG. 13, the push button (3) has a cam groove (3a). As shown in FIG. 14, the body (2) has a cam pin (2f) for engaging with the cam groove (3a) respectively. As shown in FIG. 12, the push button (3a) can be pressed, rotated by a predetermined angle, preferably 90 degrees and released for alignment with the detachment slot (2c′). The endodontic file (6) can be disengaged from the hook (5) when the push button (3) is pressed to the open position. In third embodiment, endodontic file clip (1) has an alternative security mechanism (10′). And the depth of the cam groove (3a) has been increased also to have a two-depression level push button (3). As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the alternative security system (10′) is configured through the cam groove (3a) formed in the push button (2), and the cam pin (2f) formed into the body (2). When the push button (3) is at the first depression level then the endodontic file (6) can be disengaged from the hook (5), but the cam pin (2f) stays short of clearance from the vertical portion of the cam groove (3a) and cannot be rotated unless pressed further to the second depression level. When the push button (3) is further pressed to the second depression level then the hook (5) can be freely rotated along the horizontal portion of the cam groove (3a) to get aligned with the detachment slot (2c′) as shown in FIG. 11. Thereafter the push button (3) can be slid out of the body (2) together with the spring (4) and the hook (5) fixed thereto.
