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  Clamping device and dental handpiece including sameUSPTO Application #: 20070087306Title: Clamping device and dental handpiece including same Abstract: A clamping device for clamping a member to a housing, includes a sleeve unit and a chuck unit having interengaging threads such that both units are rotatably and axially displaceable relative to each other. A spring normally urges one unit in one rotary direction relative to the other unit such that the sleeve unit contracts the open end of the chuck unit to a clamping position. A manual operator is effective, when operated, to produce a rotary displacement of one unit in the opposite rotary direction relative to the other unit, while restraining a rotary displacement of the other unit, such as to effect an axial displacement between the two units to permit the open end of the chuck unit to expand to a releasing position. Several embodiments are described in which the manual operator is a depressible push-button assembly. In one embodiment, depression of the push-button rotates the sleeve unit while rotation of the chuck unit is restrained, whereas in other described embodiments, depression of the push-button rotates the chuck unit while rotation of the sleeve unit is restrained. (end of abstract)
Agent: Martin D. Moynihan Prtsi, Inc. - Arlington, VA, US Inventor: Yechiel Cohen USPTO Applicaton #: 20070087306 - Class: 433129000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Having Motor Or Means To Transmit Motion From Motor To Tool (e.g., "engine"), Hand-held Tool Or Handpiece, Having Means Facilitating Assembly Or Disassembly Of Tool Or Handpiece, Means To Releaseably Grip Tool, Including Axially Movable Collect To Cam Fingers The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070087306. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/169,654 filed on Jun. 30, 2005, which claims the benefit of Israel Patent Application No. 162940 filed on Jul. 8, 2004. The contents of the above applications are all incorporated herein by reference. FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to clamping devices for clamping a member to a housing. The invention is particularly useful in dental handpieces for releasably clamping dental tools, and is therefore described below with respect to this application. [0003] One form of dental handpiece to which the invention is especially suitable is the air turbine handpiece for driving a dental tool, such as a burr or drill, at extremely high speeds, e.g., in the order of 400,000 rpm. The clamping devices now commonly used in such dental handpieces are generally of a relatively bulky construction which increases the size and weight of the handpiece, do not securely hold the dental tool during the high-speed operation of the handpiece, and/or require relatively awkward forceful manual manipulations in order to remove and insert the dental tool with respect to the handpiece. [0004] My prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,549,474 and 5,810,588 disclose clamping devices particularly useful for dental handpieces having advantages in one or more of the above respects. Other clamping devices are described, for example, in German Patent DE 2,50,3294, U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,004 and in U.S. Published Patent Application 2004014005. OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0005] An object of the present invention is provide a novel clamping device, and also a novel dental handpiece including such a clamping device, for manually clamping and releasing a dental tool or other member in a manner which is more convenient to operate, requires less force, and/or more securely holds the dental tool, as compared to the clamping devices and dental handpieces described in the above-cited patents and patent application. [0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clamping device for clamping a member to a housing, comprising: a sleeve unit carried by the housing and having an open end formed with a tapered inner surface; a chuck unit receivable within the open end of the sleeve unit and having an open end which is radially contractible for receiving and clamping the member; the inner surface of the sleeve unit and the outer surface the chuck unit including interengaging threads such that the sleeve unit and chuck unit are both rotatably and axially displaceable relative to each other; a spring normally urging one unit in one rotary direction relative to the other unit such that the tapered inner surface of the sleeve unit is axially displaced relative to the chuck unit in one direction to engage and contract the open end of the chuck unit to a clamping position with respect to the member; and a manual operator effective, when operated, to produce a rotary displacement of the one unit in the opposite rotary direction relative to the other unit such as to displace the tapered inner surface of the sleeve unit axially in the opposite direction relative to the open end of the chuck unit and thereby to permit the open end of the chuck unit to expand to a releasing position with respect to the member. [0007] Several embodiments of the invention are described below for purposes of example, when the manual operator is a push-button assembly which, in its normal position, permits the spring to urge the two units to the clamping position of the clutch unit, and which is depressible to rotate one of the units in the opposite direction to thereby permit the open end of the chuck unit to expand to a releasing position. [0008] In several described embodiments, the push-button assembly is constructed, so as to be effective, when depressed, to rotate the sleeve unit, while rotation of the chuck unit is restrained, to thereby produce an axial displacement of the chuck unit relative to the sleeve unit in the direction permitting the open end of the chuck unit to expand to its releasing position. [0009] In another described embodiment, the push-button assembly is constructed so as to be effective, when depressed, to rotate the chuck unit while rotation of the sleeve unit is restrained, to thereby produce an axial displacement of the chuck unit relative to the sleeve unit in the direction permitting the open end of the chuck unit to expand to its releasing position. [0010] The invention also provides a novel dental handpiece having a clamping device constructed as set forth above for clamping a dental tool thereto. According to this aspect of the invention, there is provided a dental handpiece comprising a housing including a clamping device as described above wherein the chuck unit is constructed for releasably clamping a dental tool; the sleeve unit and chuck unit are both mounted on rotary bearings for rotation within the housing with the dental tool clamped therein, and the sleeve unit includes turbine blades for rotating the sleeve unit together with the chuck unit and the dental tool when clamped therein. [0011] As will be more particularly described below, the foregoing features of the invention enable clamping devices, and particularly dental handpieces, to be constructed which permit very convenient attaching and releasing of the dental tool, which require relatively little force in order to attach or release the dental tool, and which securely hold the dental tool during the use of the device. [0012] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0014] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating one form of dental handpiece constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view illustrating the tool-holding section of the dental handpiece of FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 2; [0017] FIG. 4 is a pictorial illustration of the sleeve unit in the dental handpiece of FIGS. 1-3; [0018] FIG. 5 is a pictorial illustration of the chuck unit in the dental handpiece of FIGS. 1-3; [0019] FIG. 6 is a pictorial illustration, generally from the front side, of the dental handpiece of FIGS. 1-3 with the housing and a part of the sleeve unit removed to better show the internal structure; [0020] FIG. 7 is a pictorial illustration of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 6 but viewed generally from the rear; Continue reading... Full patent description for Clamping device and dental handpiece including same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Clamping device and dental handpiece including same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Clamping device and dental handpiece including same or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Medical or dental handpiece head Next Patent Application: Medical, in particular dental-medical handpiece Industry Class: Dentistry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Clamping device and dental handpiece including same patent info. 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