Abstract
A portable tooth polishing and bleaching treatment device is provided for simultaneous tooth surface polishing and bleaching for use at home or in dental clinics. A single-rod-swinging mechanism, either using tilt-rod-driving or bent-rod-driving, is employed to transfer a continuously rotational input from an electric power into a back-and-forth swinging movement output. The device comprises a battery-powered handpiece with a detachable swinging angle, a dual-functional rubber cup, a user-specific thermoplastic gum protector, a dual-agent mixing set consisting of a separated storage of polishing and bleaching agents and an agent mixing tool. The swinging angle alone is used as a prophylaxis angle for dental clinics.
Claims
1. A battery-powered portable tooth polishing and bleaching device for simultaneous tooth surface polishing and bleaching, said tooth polishing and bleaching device comprising: (a) a handpiece, which is oriented with an obtuse angle at the output end, to employ single-rod-swinging mechanism which uses a single rod to drive a continuous rotation input to a back-and-forth swinging movement output, (b) a disposable, dual-functional rubber cup which connects onto said handpiece by a mortise-and-tenon joint to carry out said back-and-forth swinging movement to apply to tooth surfaces, (c) a dual-agent mixing set in which the polishing agent and the bleaching agent are maintained separately and get mixed with a proper ratio just before usage, and (d) a user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover that positions in the user's mouth for protection and pose.
2. The handpiece of claim 1, said handpiece comprising: (a) a battery-powered driver to provide continuous rotation, (b) a detachable swinging angle that contains a driving shaft to accept said continuous rotation of said battery-powered driver, a driven rotor to accept said continuous rotation of said driving shaft, and an angle housing to cover said driving shaft and said driven rotor, (c) said driven rotor that connects said driving shaft with said obtuse angle oriented in claim 1 via said single-rod-swinging mechanism to transfer said continuous rotation into said back-and-forth swinging movement, and (d) a handpiece housing to contain said battery-powered driver and holds said swinging angle.
3. A single-rod-swinging mechanism of claim 1, wherein said single rod in said swinging mechanism is instantiated as a tilt rod, thereby said driving shaft is instantiated as a tilt-rod-driving shaft and said driven rotor is instantiated as a tilt-rod-driven rotor, hence the above set of instance forms a tilt-rod-driving assembly that functions to transfer the continuous rotation of said tilt-rod-driving shaft into said back-and-forth swinging movement of said tilt-rod-driven rotor.
4. The tilt-rod-driving assembly of claim 3, said assembly comprising: (a) said tilt-rod-driving shaft that has a tilted off-axis rod protruding from its concave front surface, (b) a clawed retainer that axially positions the input end of said tilt-rod-driving shaft and retains it in position by grabbing the inner wall of said angle housing with its bent claws, and (c) said tilt-rod-driven rotor that has a domed trunk to match said concave front surface of said tilt-rod-driving shaft, and that has a vertical slot on the side of said domed trunk, such that during operation, said tilted off-axis rod repeatedly push and pull said tilt-rod-driven rotor via said vertical slot to transfer the continuous rotation of said tilt-rod-driving shaft into said back-and-forth swinging movement of said tilt-rod-driven rotor.
5. The back-and-forth swinging movement of the tilt-rod-driven rotor of claim 4, wherein (a) said tilt-rod-driving shaft makes one continuous revolution in one direction while said tilt-rod-driven rotor makes a first swing forward motion followed by a second swing backward motion of equal swing angle and equal duration, and (b) said tilt-rod-driven rotor halts momentarily when it switches swinging directions because the width of said vertical slot is slightly bigger than the diameter of said tilted off-axis rod so that said tilted off-axis rod takes a moment to travel from one side wall to the opposite side wall of said vertical slot, in turn reducing the impulse from said tilted off-axis rod to said vertical slot of said tilt-rod-driven rotor.
6. A single-rod-swinging mechanism of claim 1, wherein said single rod in said swinging mechanism is instantiated as a bent rod, thereby said driving shaft is instantiated as a bent-rod-driving shaft and said driven rotor is instantiated as a bent-rod-driven rotor, hence the above set of instance forms a bent-rod-driving assembly that functions to transfer the continuous rotation of said bent-rod-driving shaft, through a bent driving rod, into said back-and-forth swinging movement of said bent-rod-driven rotor with a swing angle equal to arcsine of the smaller diameter of said bent-rod-driving shaft divided by the bigger diameter of said bent-rod-driven rotor.
7. The bent-rod-driving assembly of claim 6, said assembly comprising: (a) said bent driving rod with a circular cross-section and the same bent angle as said obtuse angle of claim 1, (b) the straight segment of said bent driving rod at the driving side of the bend, mounted in parallel on said bent-rod-driving shaft, (c) the straight segment of bent driving rod at the driven side of the bend, mounted in parallel on said bent-rod-driven rotor, and (d) a snap-on mechanism of assembling said straight rod-driving segment by snapping said bent driving rod into a driving shaft mounting slot that is on the surface of said bent-rod-driving shaft and parallel to the axis of said bent-rod-driving shaft, and of assembling said straight rod-driven segment by snapping said bend driving rod into a driven rotor mounting slot that is on the surface of said bent-rod-driven rotor and parallel to the axis of said bent-rod-driven rotor, resulting said bent-rod-driving shaft being connected to said bent-rod-driven rotor via the bent driving rod.
8. The snap-on mechanism of claim 7, said mechanism comprising: (a) said driving shaft mounting slot and said driven rotor mounting slot, in their axial cross-sectional views, having a shape that forms a major arc as an invagination of the cylindrical driving shaft and cylindrical driven rotor, (b) the diameter of said cylindrical major arc being slightly bigger than the diameter of said bent driving rod, and the width of the mounting slot opening being slightly smaller than the diameter of said bent driving rod, so that after snap-on insertion, said straight rod-driving segment of said bent driving rod is retained inside said bent-rod-driving shaft, and said straight rod-driven segment of said bent driving rod is retained inside said bent-rod-driven rotor, (c) during operation either said straight rod-driving segment or said straight rod-driven segment of said bent driving rod rotating about its axis, at the same time sliding axially, and (d) a dynamic bearing contact to the inner cylindrical surface of said angle housing by the exposed said bent driving rod side surface to reduce friction due to the depth of said driving shaft mounting slot and said driven rotor mounting slot being smaller than the diameter of said bent driving rod.
9. The back-and-forth swinging movement of the bent-rod-driven rotor of claim 6, wherein (a) said bent-rod-driving shaft makes one continuous revolution in one direction while said bent-rod-driven rotor makes a first swing forward motion followed by a second swing backward motion of equal swing angle and equal duration, (b) said bent-rod-driven rotor halts momentarily when said bent-rod-driven rotor switches swinging directions because the diameter of said major arc of said driven rotor mounting slot is slightly bigger than the diameter of said bent driving rod so that said straight rod-driven segment of said bent driving rod takes a moment to travel from one side wall to the opposite side wall of said driven rotor mounting slot, in turn reducing the impulse from said bent driving rod to said driven rotor mounting slot.
10. The driven rotor and the single-rod-swinging mechanism of claim 2, whereby the transfer of said continuous rotation to said back-and-forth swinging movement operates identically regardless the continuous rotation direction of said battery-powered driver due to the symmetry of said vertical slot in the instance of said tilt-rod driven rotor, or of said driven rotor mounting slot in the instance of said bent-rod-driven rotor.
11. The mortise-and-tenon joint to connect said dual-functional rubber cup onto said bleaching handpiece of claim 2, wherein the output end of said driven rotor accepts said dual-functional rubber cup as said mortise-and-tenon joint such that: (a) the rotational axis of said dual-functional rubber cup is co-linear with the axis of said driven rotor, (b) the output end of said driven rotor features a square tenon with a vertical slit at the bottom to allow said square tenon to reduce its thickness when squeezed, (c) the input end of said dual-functional rubber cup features a corresponding square mortise that matches said square tenon of said driven rotor for a press fit, so that when assembled, said dual-functional rubber cup operates without rotational slippage during the swinging movement, (d) said vertical slit allows said square tenon's thickness to be reduced when squeezed during assembly of said rubber cup on to said driven rotor, and (e) a pair of external ridges that is parallel to the vertical slit along the bottom edges of said square tenon retains said rubber cup after assembling.
12. The dual-functional rubber cup of claim 11, wherein the cup's axis of rotation is co-linear with the axis of said driven rotor and the cup's output end comprising: (a) said square mortise at the input end matching said square tenon at the output end of said driven rotor to keep the movement of said driven rotor transferred to said rubber cup, (b) a frustoconical shaped cup as an output end to hold a dual-agent paste from said dual-agent mixing set to apply said back-and-forth swinging movement to the tooth surfaces so as to reduce the splatter from the movement of the rubber cup, (c) said mixed dual-agent paste in said frustoconical shaped cup to generate heat on the teeth surfaces to help open the enamel rods for speed up bleaching, and (d) a detachable interdental brush that protrudes out from the center line of the cup's output end to apply said back-and-forth swinging movement to a gap between two teeth.
13. The dual-agent mixing set of claim 1, said mixing set comprising: (a) a dual-agent bowl containing a polishing agent dominated by pelelith powder with high pH accelerators pre-installed, (b) a syringe containing a bleaching agent dominated by hydrogen peroxide with low pH stabilizers pre-installed, and (c) a mixing adaptor that consists of a mixing shaft at the input end to accept said continuous rotation of said battery-powered driver, and several mixing pins at the output end, to blend the agents inside said dual-agent bowl into which said polishing agent and said bleaching agent are dispensed, resulting in a titrated pH value of the agents before application to teeth.
14. The user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover of claim 1, wherein said user-specific-formed gum cover is of a polycaprolactone (PCL) material, and consists of a pair of upper and lower protecting arches with flanges at the front central section to keep the mouth open, and before bleaching use, warmed by user in hot water to reshape it for a personalized sealed fit.
15. The handpiece of claim 2, wherein said swinging angle alone is used in a dental clinic as a prophylaxis angle whose driving shaft mates with a standard powered driver with continuous rotation input, and transfers through said single-rod-driving swinging mechanism to said back-and-forth swing movement of said driven rotor with pauses, further to said dual-functional rubber cup for tooth prophylaxis.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0039] The invention will be further described in conjunction with the attached drawings:
[0040] FIG. 1 shows the tooth polishing and bleaching device that has three subdivisions: 1) a handpiece, which consists of a detachable swinging angle that is connected into a battery-powered driver, with a disposable dual-functional rubber cup, 2) a dual-agent mixing set which consists of a mixing adaptor, a disposable dual-agent bowl and a bleaching agent syringe, and 3) a user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover with centrally protruding flanges.
[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the major elements of the handpiece in FIG. 1 before assembling: a swinging angle that has an obtuse-angled output end and a supply group in the battery-powered driver to provide the rotational input to the swinging angle.
[0042] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are the longitudinal cross-sectional views of the handpiece in two instances of the single-rod-swinging mechanism: one as shown in FIG. 3A uses tilt-rod and the other as shown in FIG. 3B uses bent-rod. The same battery-powered driver is shown for the respective swinging angle in both instances.
[0043] FIG. 4 displays the details of the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4-1 is its side view from the input end (right hand side) of the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle, showing a clawed retainer, such as an external tooth metal lock washer, being locked in the angle housing. FIG. 4A is the tilt-rod-driven rotor with the tilt-rod of the tilt-rod-driving shaft in place, while FIG. 4AA is the tilt-rod-driven rotor after the shaft being rotated 90 degrees. FIG. 4B is the output section of the tilt-rod-driving shaft while FIG. 4BB is another view showing the shaft rotated 90 degrees.
[0044] FIG. 5A through FIG. 5BD illustrate the relationship of the tilt-rod-driving shaft and the tilt-rod-driven rotor during operation when the tilt-rod-driving shaft rotates clockwise. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show two representative positions of the tilt-rod-driving shaft being vertical, and being rotated 90 degrees clockwise to horizontal, respectively inside the tilt-rod-driven rotor. FIG. 5AC and FIG. 5BC are the side views while FIG. 5AD and FIG. 5BD are respectively top views.
[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates the details of the output end of the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle in FIG. 4. FIG. 6-1 and FIG. 6-2 show the top view of a quarter-turn positions of the tilt-rod-driving shaft in relation to the tilt-rod-driven rotor. FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C and FIG. 6D show the four positions of the tilted off-axis rod rotated clockwise every 90 degrees starting from the top position, while FIG. 6AA, FIG. 6BB, FIG. 6CC and FIG. 6DD are the corresponding positions of the tilt-rod-driven rotor.
[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates the bent-rod-driving swinging angle shown in FIG. 3B. FIG. 7A shows the connection of the bent-rod-driving shaft to the bent-rod-driven rotor driven by the bent driving rod. FIG. 7A1111 and FIG. 7A2222 are the cross-sectional view from cutting plane in the bend-rod-driving shaft and the bent-rod-driven rotor, respectively, in FIG. 7A.
[0047] FIG. 8A through FIG. 8G444 illustrate the relationship of the bent-rod-driving shaft and the bent-rod-driven rotor during operation when the bent-rod-driving shaft rotates 90 degrees clockwise. FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B are perspective views of the three moving elements in the two representative positions. FIG. 8C with its cross-sectional view FIG. 8C111, and FIG. 8D with its cross-sectional view FIG. 8D222, are cross-sectional views of the bent-rod-driving shaft and the bent-rod-driven rotor in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8F, FIG. 8F333, FIG. 8G and FIG. 8G444 are the corresponding cross-sectional views of FIG. 8B. FIG. 8E is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bent driving rod inside the mounting slot of the driven rotor, showing the approximate dimensional relationships of the bent driving rod, the mounting slot, and the slot opening.
[0048] FIG. 9 series of figures illustrate rotational positions for a complete cycle of the bent-rod-driving shaft and the bent-rod-driven rotor with the bent driving rod in place. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bent-rod-driving shaft and the bent-rod-driven rotor with the bent driving rod. FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C and FIG. 9D show the rotation of the bent-rod-driving shaft at every 90 degrees counterclockwise to complete a cycle. FIG. 9AA, FIG. 9BB, FIG. 9CC and FIG. 9DD are the corresponding positions of the bent-rod-driven rotor.
[0049] FIG. 10 is the bottom (output) end of the driven rotor (either tilt-rod-driven rotor or the bent-rod-driven rotor with the dual-functional rubber cup connected by a mortise-and-tenon joint. FIG. 10A shows a detachable interdental brush inserted in the rubber cup.
[0050] FIG. 11 displays the details of the bottom end of the driven rotor, while FIG. 11-555 is the transverse cross-sectional view the square tenon at the bottom end.
[0051] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the dual-functional rubber cup shown in FIG. 10, while FIG. 12-666 is another cross-sectional side view orthogonal to the first view. The top opening of the rubber cup matches the bottom end of the driven rotor (refer to FIG. 10). The frustoconical shaped bottom opening accepts the dual-agent paste. Moreover a split cut is located centrally at the bottom end of the rubber cup for accepting the interdental brush. FIG. 12A shows the detachable interdental brush which is designed to insert into the bottom end of the rubber cup.
[0052] FIG. 13 is similar to the handpiece in FIG. 3A. Here the swinging angle is replaced by the mixing adaptor of the dual-agent mixing set (refer to FIG. 1), which is mounted on the battery-powered driver. FIG. 13A is a perspective view after the mixing adaptor is inserted in the dual-agent bowl while FIG. 13B is the view of the dual-agent bowl alone. FIG. 13C is a perspective view of the mixing adaptor, while FIG. 131 is a transverse cross-sectional view in FIG. 13C. FIG. 13D is the dual-agent bowl showing the bleaching agent added on the top of the pre-installed polishing agent. FIG. 13E shows the syringe with the bleaching agent pre-installed.
[0053] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the swinging angle as shown in FIG. 2. With the rubber cup attached at the output end, the swinging angle by itself can be used as a prophylaxis angle with swinging output by using powered drivers in dental clinics. FIG. 14A shows the cross-sectional view of the first instance of tilt-rod-driving swinging angle by the tilt-rod-driving mechanism shown in FIG. 3A. FIG. 14B shows the cross-sectional view of the second instance of bent-rod-driving swinging angle by the bent-rod-driving mechanism as shown in FIG. 3B.
[0054] FIG. 15 illustrates a user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover being put into the user's mouth. FIG. 15A describes the details of the gum cover. A pre-shaped gum cover is shown in FIG. 15B. It is softened in hot water and then reshaped in user's mouth to fit personally, as shown in FIG. 15A. FIG. 15A777 is the cross-sectional view of the gum cover. FIG. 15C is a 3D view of the pre-shaped thermo-plastic gum cover in FIG. 15B from a different view direction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0055] FIG. 1 shows three subdivisions of the tooth polishing and bleaching device 10: 1) a handpiece 20 and a disposable dual-functional rubber cup 30, 2) a dual-agent mixing set which consists of a mixing adaptor 40, a disposable polishing agent bowl 50 and a disposable bleaching agent syringe 60, and 3) a user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover 70 which consists of the upper and lower protection arch with centrally protruding flanges. Furthermore the handpiece 20 includes a detachable swinging angle 20A, which is inserted into a battery-powered driver set 20B. The rubber cup 30 is to be attached at the output end of the swinging angle 20A.
[0056] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the swinging angle 20A, which is oriented at an obtuse angle O between its input shaft and the output end, and a perspective view of the supply group 220 of the battery-powered driver set 20B. The supply group 220 includes a direct current (DC) electric motor 22 with a continuous rotation output, a battery package 23 for providing DC power to the electric motor 22, and a matching adaptor 21 that connects the output end of the DC electric motor 22 and couples by the central chuck 2100 to the shaft tail 216 at the input end of the swinging angle 20A. The swinging angle 20A employs the single-rod-swinging mechanism which could apply either the tilt-rod or the bent-rod structure (refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B) to transfer a continuous rotation into a back-and forth swinging motion.
[0057] FIG. 3A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the handpiece 20 where the swinging angle 20A (refer to FIG. 1) is the first instance of the single-rod-swinging mechanism: the tilt-rod-driving mechanism. This is the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle 210. Here the moving elements inside are covered by the tilt-rod-driving angle housing 24. The supply group 220 inside the handpiece housing 25 includes the matching adaptor 21, the DC electric motor 22 and the battery package 23. A rear housing cap 26 attaches at the bottom end of the handpiece housing 25 to position the battery package 23 as well as to seal the handpiece housing 25. The shaft tail 216 at the input end of the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle 210 is inserted into the central chuck 2100 of the matching adaptor 21 to accept the rotational driving force. On the handpiece housing 25, there are a LED bulb 28 for providing illumination as well as heat, and a power switch 27 for controlling the on/off of the battery package 23.
[0058] FIG. 3B is another longitudinal cross-sectional view of the handpiece 20 where the 20A is the second instance of the single-rod-swinging mechanism: the bent-rod-driving mechanism. This is the bent-rod-driving swinging angle 210A, with different inside elements and a different bent-rod-driving angle housing 24A compared to the handpiece 20.
[0059] FIG. 4 illustrates the details of the moving elements in the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle 210 shown in FIG. 3A. The rotational axis of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 and the rotational axis of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 form the same obtuse angle O as shown in FIG. 2.
[0060] At the output end of the shaft 212 there is a tilted off-axis rod 217 on the concave-shaped front 2121. The tilted off-axis rod 217 forms an acute angle p with the axis of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212. The shaft tail 216 at the input end of the shaft 212 is inserted into the central chuck 2100 and accepts the rotational driving force from the matching adaptor 21 (refer to FIG. 3A).
[0061] FIG. 4 also shows that the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 has a domed trunk 2136 at its top end, and a square tenon 2131 at its bottom end. An axial positioning flange 2133 is located at the mid-section of said driven rotor 213 above the square tenon 2131. At the bottom end of the square tenon 2131 there is a pair of parallel external ridges 2132. The square tenon 2131 of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 inserts into the dual-functional rubber cup 30 to form a mortise-and-tenon joint (Refer to FIG. 10). The domed trunk 2136 has a surface curvature that matches that of the curvature of the concave-shaped front 2121 of the driving shaft 212.
[0062] FIG. 4-1 is the right-side view of the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle 210, which shows the location of a clawed retainer 211 in relation to the inner wall of the angle housing 24 and the axial positioning of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212. At the mid-section of the shaft 212 there exists a positioning step 215. The clawed retainer 211 is inserted along the shaft tail 216 into the angle housing 24 until it touches the positioning step 242 on the inner wall of the angle housing 24. Since the diameter of the clawed retainer 211 is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the housing 24, multiple claws 219 bend backward to grab the inner wall of the housing 24. The clawed retainer 211 and the positioning shoulder 215 on the driving shaft 212 restrict the motion of the shaft 212 so that its only degree of freedom is rotation about its axis.
[0063] FIG. 4A is an isolated view of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 and the tilted off-axis rod 217 of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 in the assembly. FIG. 4AA is the same isolated view after the shaft 212 is rotated 90 degrees. FIG. 4B and FIG. 4BB show the tilted off-axis rod 217 on the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 alone and correspond to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4AA, respectively. A fillet 2171 exists for durability.
[0064] When the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 and the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 are assembled together, the tilted off-axis rod 217 of the shaft 212 moves in the vertical slot 218 of the rotor 213 to transfer the continuous rotation of the shaft 212 into the back-and-forth swinging movement of the rotor 213. An alignment dimple 2137 at the top-center of the domed trunk 2136 matches the positioning protrusion 241 on the inner wall of the tilt-rod-driving angle housing 24 to maintain axial position of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213. Together with the axial positioning flange 2133, the only allowed degree of freedom of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 is rotation about its axis.
[0065] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show two representative positions of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 and the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 during operation. These two positions differ by a 90-degree turn of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212. FIG. 5AC and FIG. 5BC are cross-sectional views of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 with the tilted off-axis rod 217 in place at those two positions, respectively. Similarly, FIG. 5AD and FIG. 5BD are the respective top views.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5AC, the width D of the vertical slot 218 is slightly bigger than the diameter d of the tilted off-axis rod 217, so that when the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 changes swinging direction, the tilted off-axis rod 217 needs time to travel across from one side of the vertical slot 218 to the other side. Therefore, a pause takes place when swinging changes direction. FIG. 5BD shows that the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 swings an angle b when the tilted off-axis rod 217 rotates 90 degrees.
[0067] FIG. 6, FIG. 6-1 and FIG. 6-2 show the motion of the output section of the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle. FIG. 6-1 and FIG. 6-2 are the top views of the tilted off-axis rod 217 and the concave-shaped front 2121 of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 and the vertical slot 218 of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213. These two figures show the movement of a 90 degrees rotation of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212. This rotation results in a swing angle b.
[0068] FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, and FIG. 6D are the left-side views of the output end of the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 alone in four sequential rotational positions during operation. The concave-shaped front 2121 in the view is shown as a circle. The tilted off-axis rod 217 is shown with its rotational angle a, which is 90 degrees if it rotates a quarter of revolution. The four sequential positions are when the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 rotates each quarter of a revolution clockwise in the view, causing the tilted off-axis rod 217 in the view to be in four orientations as shown. For each quarter of the revolution, FIG. 6AA, FIG. 6BB, FIG. 6CC, and FIG. 6DD show the bottom-view of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 at the four corresponding positions sequentially. When the tilt-rod-driving shaft 212 rotates an angle a, the vertical slot 218 of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 swings an angle b to one side, then continues by swinging back and reached the same angle b at the opposite side.
[0069] FIG. 7 illustrates in detail how a bent-rod-driving shaft 212A drives a bent-rod-driven rotor 213A via a bent driving rod 214 in the bent-rod-driving swinging angle 210A in FIG. 3B. The angle formed by axes of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A and of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A is the same obtuse angle O as shown in FIG. 2. The bent driving rod 214 has a bent angle also equal to that obtuse angle.
[0070] The bent-rod-driving shaft 212A has a positioning collar 215A. It sits in the circular groove 244 next to the positioning step 243 in the bent-rod-driving angle housing 24A. The circular groove 244 constrains the shaft's movement to only one degree of freedomrotation about its axis. The shaft tail 216 at the input end inserts into the central chuck 2100 (refer to FIG. 3B) and accepts the rotational driving force from the matching adaptor 21.
[0071] The bent-rod-driven rotor 213A has a positioning shaft 2134 that extends into a positioning dimple 241A on the inner wall of the bent-rod-driving angle housing 24A. The driven rotor 213A has a positioning flange 2133A at its mid-section that contacts a positioning step 245 on the inner wall of the bend of the bent-rod-driving angle housing 24A. Together with the axial positioning shaft 2134, the only allowed degree of freedom of the rotor is rotation about its axis.
[0072] The output end of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A is the same as that of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 which is described in FIG. 4. It uses the square tenon 2131 to inserts into the dual-functional rubber cup 30, forming a mortise-and-tenon joint (refer to FIG. 10).
[0073] FIG. 7A shows the connection between the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A and the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A by the bent driving rod 214. With the bent driving rod 214 snapped on, the transverse cross-sectional view of cutting plane 1111-1111 on the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A is shown on FIG. 7A1111, while the view of cutting plane 2222-2222 on the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A is shown on FIG. 7A2222.
[0074] FIG. 8A is the perspective view of the subassembly that consists of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A, the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A, and the bent driving rod 214 that is snapped in both the shaft 212A and the rotor 213A. FIG. 8B is a similar view of the subassembly but with the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A rotated 90 degrees, and the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A swung at angle b. The bent driving rod 214 is snapped into the axially co-linear driving shaft mounting slot 2125 of the shaft 212A at one end, and the axially co-linear driven rotor mounting slot 2135 of the rotor 213A at the other end. During operation, the straight rod-driving segment 2141 both rotates along the shaft 212A and slides inside the driving shaft mounting slot 2125; and the straight rod-driven segment 2142 both rotates along the rotor 213A and slides driven rotor mounting slot 2135.
[0075] FIG. 8C is the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the output end of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A of the subassembly in FIG. 8A, while FIG. 8D is that of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A. FIG. 8C111 is the transverse cross-sectional view from cutting plane 111-111 in FIG. 8C, while FIG. 8D222 is the transverse cross-sectional view from cutting plane 222-222 in FIG. 8D.
[0076] FIG. 8F and FIG. 8G are also cross-sectional views to but with bent-rod-driving shaft 212A rotated 90 degrees clockwise as shown in FIG. 8B. FIG. 8F333 is the transverse cross-sectional view from cutting plane 333-333 in FIG. 8F, while FIG. 8G444 is the transverse cross-sectional view from cutting plane 444-444 in FIG. 8G, showing the swing angle b of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A.
[0077] FIG. 8E is an enlarged view of the straight rod-driven segment 2142 of the bent driving rod 214 inside the driven rotor mounting slot 2135. It illustrates that the width t of the slot opening 2155 at top of the driven rotor mounting slot 2135 is slightly smaller than the diameter d of the bent driving rod 214, and that the arc diameter D of the driven rotor mounting slot 2135 is slightly bigger than the diameter d of the bent driving rod 214. Identically, the straight rod-driving segment 2141 of the bent driving rod 214 and the driving shaft mounting slot 2125 have the same width and dimensional relationship for applying the same snap-on mechanism.
[0078] Both the driving shaft mounting slot 2125 and the driven rotor mounting slot 2135 have the shape of a partial cylinder; therefore, each of their transverse cross-sectional views has a major arc with an arc measure of about 190 . The two straight segments of the bent driving rod 214 will rotate and slide freely inside the two mounting slots. Moreover the diameter of the bent driving rod 214 is slightly bigger than the depths of mounting slots 2125 and 2135. Therefore the bent driving rod 214 acts as a bearing mechanism between the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A (or the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A) and the inner surfaces of the bent-rod-driving angle housing 24A. Hence friction is reduced during operation.
[0079] FIG. 9 illustrates the mathematical relationship between the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A with radius r and the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A with radius R. For the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A to rotate an angle a, there is a corresponding swing angle b by the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A.
[0080] Because the radius r of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A is smaller than the radius R of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A, the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A always swings a smaller angle b than the rotational angle a by the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A. A revolution of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A forces the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A to swing back and forth around its rotational axis. The swing angle b is related to the two radii by the equation: sin (b)=r/R. Therefore, the swing angle b can be varied by the relation of r to R. In other words, the swing angle of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A can be adjusted by the diametrical ratio of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A over the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A.
[0081] FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C and FIG. 9D are the transverse cross-sectional view of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A, together with the bent driving rod 214, in four sequential positions during operation, when the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A rotates each quarter of a revolution. The straight rod-driving segment 2141 of the driving rod 214 moves a rotational angle a clockwise in the view. Correspondingly, FIG. 9AA, FIG. 9BB, FIG. 9CC, and FIG. 9DD show the transverse cross-sectional view of the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A of the same four sequential positions that are driven by the rotation of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A, with the straight rod-driven segment 2142 of the bent driving rod 214 shown. For a complete revolution of the bent-rod-driving shaft 212A, the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A swings an angle b to one side, then swings back and reached the same angle b at the opposite side.
[0082] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bottom end of the tilt-rod-driven rotor 213 (identical to the bent-rod-driven rotor 213A) with the dual-functional rubber cup 30 assembled as a mortise-and-tenon joint. FIG. 10A shows the assembly with the detachable interdental brush 36 installed. At the middle bottom of the rubber cup 30 there is a split cut 31 to accept the inserting of an interdental brush 36. The rubber cup 30 is axially co-linear with the axis of the driven rotor 213 or 213A and fits tightly on the driven rotor, so that during operation the rubber cup 30 has the same swinging motion as the rotor 213 or 213A without slippage or detachment. The square tenon 2131can be pressed onto and subsequently removed from the square mortise 35 (refer to FIG. 12) at the top end of the rubber cup.
[0083] FIG. 11 shows the square tenon 2131 detailing a pair of external ridges 2132 at the bottom end. FIG. 11-555 is the transverse cross-sectional view of the square tenon 2131 from cutting plane 555-555 in FIG. 11, which also shows the external ridges 2132. At the center of the bottom end of the square tenon 2131, there is a slit 2131-1 parallel to the external ridges 2132. The slit 2131-1 allows the square tenon 2131 to deform inwards, hence reducing its thickness, when the square tenon 2131 is pressed into the square mortise 35 of the rubber cup 30 (refer to FIG. 12) during assembling. The external ridges 2132 will act as barbs to prevent detachment of the rubber cup 30 during operation.
[0084] FIG. 12 shows the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dual-functional rubber cup 30. FIG. 12-666 is the cross-sectional view from cutting plane 666-666 in FIG. 12. The top end of the cylindrical rubber cup 30 is a platform 32, which is abutted against the bottom of the axial positioning flange 2133 of the driven rotor 213. The center of the platform 32 is the square mortise 35. The square mortise 35 accepts the square tenon 2131 of the driven rotor 213 or 213A (refer to FIG. 11-555) by a pressing the two parts of the joint together. The split cut 31, bounded by dashed lines in the cup opening shown in FIG. 12, secures the interdental brush 36 (refer to FIG. 10A). A frustoconical shaped cup opening 33 at the bottom end forms a cup-bottom opening 34 to hold the dual-agent paste.
[0085] FIG. 12A illustrates the details of the interdental brush 36, which is to be inserted into the split cut 31 of the rubber cup 30 as shown in FIG. 10A. It comprises a twisted wire stem 37, a bifurcated wire handle 38 and a large quantity of brush fibers 39. Because of the elastic and high static friction properties of rubber, the interdental brush 36 is fastened in the cup after the wire handle 38 is inserted into the split cut 31. During operation, the brush fibers 39 work in the gaps between teeth with the back-and-forth swinging movement to clean and remove interproximal plaque.
[0086] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view like the handpiece 20 in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, except the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle 210 (or the belt-rod-driving swinging angle 210A) is replaced by a mixing adaptor 40. The mixing adaptor 40 contains a mixing shaft 411 at the input end (refer to FIG. 13 C) to insert into the central chuck 2100 of the matching adaptor 21 (refer to FIG. 2) to accept the continuous rotational driving force.
[0087] FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the mixing adaptor 40 that is inserted into the dual-agent bowl 50. FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the dual-agent bowl 50 with a high pH polishing agent pre-installed. The dual-agent bowl 50 consists of a bowl body 511 with a bowl flange 512, and a plastic cover sheet 513 to cover the bowl flange 512. FIG. 13C is a perspective view of the mixing adaptor 40. Its input end has an input-shaft 411 with a base disk 412 while its output end has blending pins 414 with a pin-base 413. The pin-base 413 matches the bowl body 511 of the dual-agent bowl 50 (refer to FIG. 13 A). FIG. 13C-131 is a transverse cross-sectional view from cutting plane 131-131 shown in FIG. 13C, where the multiple blending pins 414 are aligned along the diameter of the pin-base 413. FIG. 13D is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the bowl body 511 with the opening facing upward, showing the pre-installed polishing agent 53 and the bleaching agent 63 which is added on top of the polishing agent 53 just before mixing. FIG. 13E shows the low pH bleaching agent 63 pre-installed in the syringe 60. The syringe 60 consists of a tubular body 61, a plunger piston 62 and a syringe output stopper 64.
[0088] To mix the dual agents, the plastic cover sheet 513 is removed from the dual-agent bowl 50; the syringe output stopper 64 is removed from the syringe body 61; the bleaching agent 63 is pressed out from the syringe 60 by the plunger piston 62 to added onto the polishing agent 53; the blending pins 414 at the output end of the mixing adaptor 40 are inserted into the bowl body 511; and the input-shaft 411 is inserted into the central chuck 2100 on the matching adaptor 21. The blending pins 414 rotate and mix the two agents thoroughly, resulting in the pH value of the mixture being properly titrated. The mixed paste is ready for immediate application to the teeth.
[0089] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the swinging angle 20A in FIG. 2. The figure also includes the attachable dual-functional rubber cup 30. The swinging angle 20A with the attached rubber cup 30 as an assembly can be used by itself as a prophylaxis angle in dental clinics.
[0090] As in FIG. 4, FIG. 14A shows the cross-sectional view of the tilt-rod-driving swinging angle 210 in the first instance of the simple-rod-driving mechanism. As in FIG. 7, FIG. 14B shows the cross-sectional view of the bent-rod-driving swinging angle 210A in the second instance of the simple-rod-driving mechanism. Instead of mounting the swinging angles to the battery-powered driver set 20B as in home use, either instance is applicable as a stand-alone dental device that mounts to the commercial powered drivers that are available in dental clinics for professional prophylaxis treatment.
[0091] FIG. 15 illustrates a user inserting a user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover 70 (shown in FIG. 1) into his or her mouth. FIG. 15A describes the details of the user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover 70. FIG. 15A777 is a cross-sectional view from cutting plane 777-777 shown on FIG. 15A. The user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover 70 consists of an upper protection arch 71 and a lower protection arch 72 that are joined at the arch ends 73 to form the gum cover. The central upper and lower flange 74 and 75 protrude out from the central part of the upper and lower protection arch 71 and 72, respectively. A window frame 76 is formed by the gum cover.
[0092] FIG. 15B is a frontal view of the pre-shaped thermo-plastic polycaprolactone (PCL) gum piece before it is reshaped into the user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover 70 as shown in FIG. 15A, to match the teeth profile of the individual user as shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 15C is a 3D view of the pre-shaped thermo-plastic gum cover shown in FIG. 15B.
[0093] When the pre-shaped thermo-plastic gum cover as shown in FIG. 15B is softened, e.g. in hot water, and then pressed on of the upper and lower front teeth of the user, the upper and lower protection arch 71 and 72 are reshaped to fit the user's teeth profile. The reshaped central upper and lower flanges 74 and 75 help open the mouth in a proper pose so that the front several teeth are exposed in the windows frame 76 for the treatment by the rubber cup 30. The user-specific-formed thermoplastic gum cover 70 can be removed, cleaned, and used repeatedly.
[0094] The objectives of the invention are achieved by the design as shown above. Although specific examples of the present invention and its application are set forth herein, they are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the invention. These illustrations and explanations are intended to acquaint others skilled in the art with the invention, its principles, and its practical applications, so that others skilled in the art may adapt and apply the invention in its numerous forms, as may best suit the requirements of a particular use.
