Abstract
Dental treatment unit including: at least one removable handle; a removable instrument tray for depositing instruments, the instrument tray has one or more claws; a first locking mechanism for locking/unlocking the handle, in the unlocked state, the handle is removable from the dentist element; a second locking mechanism for locking/unlocking the instrument tray, in the unlocked state, the instrument tray including the claws is removable from the dentist element; a dentist element which includes a movable actuating element which can actuate the first locking mechanism to unlock the handle, and the same movable actuating element can individually actuate the second unlocking mechanism to unlock the instrument tray.
Claims
1. A dental treatment unit comprising: at least one removable handle for moving a dentist element; a removable instrument tray for depositing instruments, the instrument tray has one or more claws for respectively depositing one or more instruments; a first locking mechanism for locking/unlocking the handle wherein, in the unlocked state, the handle is removable from the dentist element; a second locking mechanism for locking/unlocking the instrument tray wherein, in the unlocked state, the instrument tray including the claws is removable from the dentist element; wherein the dentist element comprises a movable actuating element which can be moved in a predetermined direction to individually actuate the first locking mechanism in order to unlock the handle for removal, and the same movable actuating element can be moved in a direction (P) which is opposite to the said predetermined direction (P) to individually actuate the second unlocking mechanism in order to unlock the instrument tray for removal.
2. The dental treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises: a spring-loaded torsion cam with a latching nose, and a latching notch on a handle shaft, wherein the actuating element is arranged to rotate the torsion cam upon actuation along the predetermined direction (P) so that the latching nose thereof is disengaged from the latching notch of the handle shaft.
3. The dental treatment unit according to claim 2, wherein the contact surface of the latching nose on the torsion cam facing the latching notch on the handle shaft has a curved shape.
4. The dental treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein the second locking mechanism comprises: a bending element with a latching nose, and a latching opening on the instrument tray, wherein the actuating element is arranged, when actuated along the direction (P) opposite to the predetermined direction (P), to stretch the bending element so that the latching nose thereof is disengaged from the latching opening of the instrument tray.
5. The dental treatment unit according to claim 2, wherein the first locking mechanism has a spring element that pushes the handle shaft to the unlocking position to eject the handle when unlocked.
6. The dental treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein the second locking mechanism has a spring element that pushes the instrument tray to the unlocking position to eject the instrument tray when unlocked.
7. The dental treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein the handle shaft has a projection which, when the handle is in the locked state, enters into a groove in the dentist element in a form-fitting manner.
8. The dental treatment unit according to claim 2, wherein the handle shaft has a conical wall part which, in the locked state of the handle, is form-fittingly seated on a corresponding counter-wall part in the dentist element.
9. The dental treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is arranged on the underside of the dentist element facing away from the handle.
10. Dental treatment unit according to claim 1, wherein the movable actuating element is provided separately from the handle and has either a form of a rotatable lever or has the form of a back and forth movable slider.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In the following description, the present invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawings, wherein
[0020] FIG. 1shows a perspective view of a dental treatment unit according to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2shows an enlarged view of the dentist element with the instrument tray and the handles of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3shows an enlarged view of the dentist element with the instrument tray of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 1, wherein the handles have been removed;
[0023] FIG. 4shows a cross-sectional view of the dentist element with the instrument tray and the handle of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 5shows a cross-sectional view of the dentist element with the instrument tray and the handle of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 2, where the actuating element has been actuated in a first direction to unlock the handle for removal;
[0025] FIG. 6shows a cross-sectional view of the dentist element with the instrument tray and the handle of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 2, wherein the handle has been removed after unlocking;
[0026] FIG. 7shows a cross-sectional view of the dentist element with the instrument tray of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 2, wherein the actuating element has been actuated in a second direction opposite to the first direction to unlock the instrument tray for removal;
[0027] FIG. 8shows a cross-sectional view of the dentist element with the instrument tray of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 2, wherein the instrument tray has been removed after unlocking;
[0028] FIG. 9shows a perspective view of the dentist element with the instrument tray of the dental treatment unit in FIG. 2, wherein the instrument tray has been removed after unlocking.
[0029] The reference numbers shown in the drawings designate the elements listed below, which are referred to in the following description of the exemplary embodiments. [0030] 1. Dental treatment unit [0031] 2, 2 Dentist element, assistant element [0032] 3. Handle [0033] 4. Instrument tray [0034] 4a. Claw [0035] 5. Instrument [0036] 6. First locking mechanism [0037] 7. Second locking mechanism [0038] 8. Actuating element [0039] 9. Torsion cam [0040] 10. Latching nose [0041] 11. Latching notch (recess) [0042] 12. Shaft [0043] 13. Bending element [0044] 14. Latching nose [0045] 15. Latching notch (opening) [0046] 16. Spring element [0047] 17. Spring element [0048] 18. Projection [0049] 19. Groove [0050] 20. Conical wall part [0051] 21. Conical counter wall part [0052] 22. Patient chair [0053] 23. Chair base [0054] 24. Water unit [0055] 25. User (touch control) interface [0056] 26. Foot switch [0057] 27. Instrument hose [0058] 28. Suction hose [0059] 29. Coupling [0060] 30. Handle receptacle
[0061] FIG. 1 partially shows a dental treatment unit (1) according to an embodiment of the invention. The dental treatment unit (1) comprises a patient chair (22) with a chair base (23), a water unit (24), an assistant element (2), a dentist element (2) preferably with a user interface (25), and a foot switch (26). The water unit (24) is arranged on the left side of the patient chair (22) in FIG. 1. The water unit (24) can also be arranged on the right side of the patient chair (22). The cleaning processes can be carried out by means of the water unit (24). The integrated cleaning processes are intended to make it easier for the users of the dental treatment unit (1) according to the invention to keep the couplings (29) and hoses (27,28) of the instruments (5) hygienic.
[0062] Dental treatment units (1) are generally known to the skilled persons to a large extent from the prior art, therefore further details are omitted in order not to unnecessarily lengthen the description. The dentist element (2) is explained in detail in the following description.
Dentist Element
[0063] As shown in FIG. 1, the dental treatment unit (1) preferably has a movable dentist element (2). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dentist element (2) has two removable handles (3) for moving the same. As shown in FIG. 9, the dentist element (2) also has a removable instrument tray (4) for depositing instruments (5). As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument tray (4) has a plurality of claws (4a) for respectively depositing the instruments (5). The instrument tray (4) including the claws (4a) is preferably provided as an integral piece of plastic material.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 4, the dentist element (2) includes on each side a first locking mechanism (6) for locking/unlocking the handle (3), and a second locking mechanism (7) for locking/unlocking the instrument tray (4). In the unlocked state of the first locking mechanism (6), the handle (3) is entirely removable from the dentist element (2). In the unlocked state of the second locking mechanism (7), the instrument tray (4) including the claws (4a) is entirely removable from the dentist element (2). The handle (3) and instrument tray (4) can be unlocked and removed independently from each other.
Unlocking and Locking the Handles
[0065] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the dentist element (2) has a movable actuating element (8) that can be moved in a predetermined direction (P) to actuate the first locking mechanism (6) in order to unlock the handle (3) for removal. The actuating element (8) is located on the underside of the dentist element (2) facing away from the handle (3). The actuating element (8) is provided separately from the handle (3). The actuating element (8) has the form of a rotatable lever. Alternatively, the actuating element (8) may have the form of movable slider (not shown) that can be moved back and forth.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the first locking mechanism (5) has a torsion cam (9) with a latching nose (10). There is a latching notch (11) on the handle shaft (12). When the actuating element (8) is moved along the predetermined direction (P), it rotates the spring-loaded torsion cam (9) so that the latching nose (10) thereof is disengaged from the latching notch (11) of the handle shaft (12), and thus the handle (3) can be freely removed. In the locked state of the first locking mechanism (5), the latching action is self-reinforcing due to the spring-loaded torsion cam, so that an extraction of the handle shaft (12) is not possible. As shown in FIG. 3, the handle (3) is provided without any moving parts. Thus, tool-less, and one-handed operation is possible during latching or unlatching. The handle receptacle (30), in which the handle shaft (12) is inserted, is entirely inside the dentist element (2) and not exposed, thus protected.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 5, the contact surface of the latching nose (10) on the torsion cam (9) for contacting the latching notch (11) on the handle shaft (12) has a curved shape to reduce the play in the locked state of the handle (3). For joining and releasing the handle (12) from the dentist element (2), an assembly clearance is necessary to prevent disturbing clamping during joining/releasing. On the other hand, in the locked state of the handle (3), this play must be reduced to a minimum. The above-mentioned latching mechanism enables the tolerances of the components involved as well as assembly tolerances in the possible range to have no influence on the tight fit of the joined handle (3). For ergonomic, safe handling of the handle (3) and for precise positioning of the dentist element (2), the most rigid and solid connection possible between the handle (2) and the head of the dentist element (2) is necessary. This is made possible by the above-described latching mechanism.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 6, the first locking mechanism (6) has a spring element (16) that pushes the handle shaft (3) to the release position to eject the handle (3) when unlocked.
[0069] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the handle shaft (12) has a projection (18) that positively enters a groove (19) in the dentist element (2) when the handle (3) is locked.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 4, the handle shaft (12) has a conical wall part (20) which, when the handle (3) is locked, is positively seated on a corresponding conical counter-wall part (21) in the dentist element (2).
Unlocking and Locking the Instrument Tray
[0071] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the movable actuating element (8), can be moved in a direction (P) opposite to the predetermined direction (P) to actuate the second locking mechanism (7) in order to unlock the instrument tray (4) for removal.
[0072] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 8, the second locking mechanism (6) has a bending element (13) with a latching nose (14). There is a latching notch (15) on the instrument tray (4). When the actuating element (8) is moved along the opposite direction (P), it flexes the bending element (13) so that the latching nose (14) thereof is disengaged from the latching notch (15) of the instrument tray (4).
[0073] As shown in FIG. 8, the second locking mechanism (7) has a spring element (17) that pushes the instrument tray (4) to the release position to eject the instrument tray (4) when unlocked.
[0074] The handles (3) and also the instrument tray (4) are preferably thermally disinfected and hygienically flawless in the state before assembly. When mounting the handle (3) and the instrument tray (4), only the handle (3) and the instrument tray (4) must be touched to ensure solid mounting of both elements on the dentist element (2). Thus, no additional/simultaneous manual operation of the locking mechanisms (6;7) are required. This fact offers a hygienic advantage, as there is no contamination by touching other elements. Locking is performed automatically by simply inserting the handles (3) into the receptacles (30) and riding the instrument tray (4) over the bending element (13).
