Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
Patent
208~ 739
MATERIAL HOLDING APPARATUS WITH
INTEGRATED FINGER MOUNT AND CAP
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to material holding
apparatus and more particularly, to finger mounted cups and
trays used in conjunction with materials used in the practice
of d ~ d to protective caps used in conjunction
with the finger mounted cups or trays to reduce spilling or
splattering of material contained in the cup.
Background of the Invention
In working with patients, dental professionals are
faced with the need to keep instruments, materials and
patients in a compact area to reduce the time and inconven-
ience associated with bringing the necessary implements to
the operation at hand and making the requisite materials
available for timely use. As a result, a multitude of
chairs, tables, instruments and dental accessories have been
developed to address these needs. Material handling cups
and trays, both with slip-fitted or snap-connected finger
mounts and with integrated finger mounts, are but one of the
dental accessories designed to meet both challenges. ~
The prior art has addressed these concerns in a -
number of fashions. United States patent No. 3,327,391
(Malm) shows a finger mounted holding apparatus with a snap
fitted cup, which in one embodiment is disposable. The
shortcoming of the device lies in the need for precision in
the manufacturing of the mating mech~nism of the cup and of
the finger mount to ensure first, that the two parts will
mate and second, that the mated apparatus will be stable
during use by the dental professional.
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
Patent
2084739
United States patent No. 902,109 (Powell) shows a
finger mounted tray. As will be understood, the shortcoming
of this apparatus lies in its inability to handle materials
in liquid form. It also is not disposable and thus requires
cleaning and sterilizing.
United States patent No. 2,222,741 (Bush) shows a
cup which is slidably attached to a finger ring and is held
in the palm of the hand during use. The ends of the finger
ring, which is constructed of lightweight metal, overlap so
that the ring can be inserted through a bore on the cup and
closed by clamping the ring to fit the finger. It will be
understood that the constant opening of the ring for mating
with the cup and clamping of the ring to fit the finger of
the particular dental professional using the device will
cause the ring to fail.
Unfortunately, as extensive as the prior art is,
shortcomings associated with the use of material handling -
apparatus still exist and improvements can still be made.
One such problem is that repeated use of material handling
apparatus which incorporate slip-fitted finger mounts causes
the device to slip and slide about the finger when an
instrument is dipped into the contents of the cup. A
similar problem is that repeated use of snap-fitted finger
mounts wears the mating surface resulting in an unstable
device. Another consideration is the desirability of free
movement of the dental professional's hand during the
operation. Additionally, material handling apparatus must
be manufactured from materials that are chemically stable
when used with various prophylactic remedies, filling
materials, medications and other substances used in connec-
tion with the practice of dentistry.
21PATAP~ CPI 1891.2.1
Patent
20~739
Accordingly it is the primary object of the
present invention to provide a finger mounted material
handling apparatus that remains stable and does not slip and
slide around the finger. It is a further object of the
present invention to provide a material handling apparatus
which will not interfere with or obstruct free use of the
dental professional's hand. It is another object of the
present invention to provide a lightweight device consisting
of an integrated cup and finger mount which is simple in
construction, economical to manufacture, and efficient in
use. Still another object of the invention is to provide a
cap to mate with the integrated cup so as to aid in avoiding
unwanted spillage or spattering of the material in the cup
when an instrument is used to withdraw a desired portion of
the material. Other objects and features will be in part
apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is intended to be worn on a
finger or thumb of a dental professional when handling
:. .
prophylactic remedies, in particular, but also filling
materials, medications or other substances used in the
practice of dentistry. It is simple in construction being a
unitary material holding piece consisting of a cup, a
platform defining a flange, a split finger ring, and a
mating cap having an opening with a reentrant lip. The
device can be constructed of any of numerous known materials
which are capable of holding substances associated with the
practice of dentistry without chemically interacting there-
with, such as thermosetting materials and thermoplastic
materials, including polyethylene and polypropylene and
copolymers of polyethylene and polypropylene. In a preferred
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
Patent
2~847~9
embodiment, the device would be of a polyethylene resin, or
other suitable plastic, which would be injection molded.
As stated earlier, one element of the device is a
unitary material holding piece. The cup portion of the
material holding piece, which has an open mouth defined by a
rim, converges perpendicularly with an elliptical platform
which defines the bottom of the cup portion, forms a flange
projecting from the bottom of the cup, acts as a stabilizer
when worn on the finger or thumb, and, to a certain degree,
protects the finger or thumb of the dental professional from
dribbled substances. Opposite the cup portion, the
elliptical platform converges with a finger ring which
terminates in a pair of inwardly arcuate members, the ends
of which are spaced. The finger ring is of such dimension
as to be flexible for use on the finger or thumb of a wide
variety of individuals.
In use, the device is slipped over whatever finger
or thumb the dental professional finds suitable for his
particular style of practice. As will be appreciated, the
device could be worn in a plane parallel to that of the
hand. It likewise could be worn in a plane perpendicular to
that of the hand. Thus, the hand of the dental professional
will be free to move in any manner the professional requires.
As will be further appreciated, the platform surrounding the
cup portion will maintain the device in an upright position
and prevent the device from sliding around the finger or
thumb. Additionally, inasmuch as the cup is substantially
centered on the platform, the device is symmetrical and can
be used by both left-handed and right-handed individuals
with equal ease.
The device is further provided with a cap element
which mates with the cup portion to produce a reentrant lip.
-- 4
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
~ ~ ~0~739
The reentrant lip projects inwardly and reduces splashing
and splattering when a dental instrument is inserted in the
material in the cup and reduces the tendency of the material
to spill when the hand is tilted.
In a preferred embodiment, the device is inexpen- -
sively constructed of materials, such as polyethylene resin,
to allow the device to be used once and thereafter disposed
of. It also is provided to dental professionals with
prophylactic paste enclosed in the cup portion, the cup
being sealed with film suitable for such purposes, manufac- -~
tured from materials commonly used for hygienic seals, via
adhesive or heat activated means. However, it should be ~-
understood that either or both elements of the device could ;
also be manufactured so that they could be cleaned and
sterilized for re-use. The device likewise could hold
substances other than prophylactic remedies.
It should also be appreciated that the material
holding apparatus of the present invention is not limited to
use by the dental profession. It could similarly be employed -~-
by artisans using paints, attaching beads, or engaging in
various other endeavors, by individuals working with small ~'
parts, by jewelers utilizing etching solutions, among
others.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an embodiment of
the material holding element of the present invention -
showing the cup portion, platform and split finger ring.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of an embodiment
of the present invention.
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
-~ Patent
2084739
Fig. 3 is an elevational view of an embodiment of
the present invention shown worn on a finger in the plane of
the hand.
Fig. 4 is an elevational view of an embodiment of
the present invention shown worn on the thumb in a plane
perpendicular to that of the hand.
Fig. S is an elevational plan view of an embodiment
of the present invention showing a closure in fragmentary
section.
Fig. 6. is a diagrammatic view of an additional
em~odiment of the present invention wherein the platform is
circular.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a side elevation
of an embodiment of the material holding element of the
present invention.
Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a side elevation
of the cap element of the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the material holding
element of the present invention in mating relationship with
the cap element.
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the mated
elements of Fig. 9 which illustrates the reentrant lip of
the cap element.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference
characters represent like elements, Figs. 1 through 10
illustrate one embodiment of the device of the present
invention.
In Fig. 1, material holding element 10 consists of
three primary substructures: a cup 12, a platform 14 and a
split finger ring 16. Cup 12 has an open mouth defined by a
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
Patent
2084 739
rim 18 and converges perpendicularly with platform 14, which
defines the bottom of cup 12. Cup 12 is substantially
centered on platform 14 and is constructed to have a dimen-
sion suitable for holding one application of a prophylactic
remedy or other material, medication or substance used in
the practice of dentistry.
Platform 14 is elliptical in shape and of a width
correlative to that of a finger or thumb to prevent element
10 from sliding around finger 20 or thumb 22. The length of
platform 14 is similarly correlative to the length of a
finger or thumb segment to further stabilize element 10 when
in use. This can be better seen in Figs. 3 and 4.
Opposite cup 12, platform 14 converges with split
finger ring 16 which consists of two subparts 16a and 16b.
Subparts 16a and 16b, which can best be seen in Fig. 2, are
inwardly arcuate members which terminate in spaced relation
to each other.
Fig. 5 demonstrates an embodiment in which a
closure 24 is provided which affixes to rim 18 of cup 12 to ~ ;
enclose and seal the contents of cup 12.
In Fig. 6, an additional embodiment of the
material holding element element 10 shows platform 14 as
circular in shape and of a width correlative to that of a
finger or thumb to prevent element 10 from sliding around
the digit.
Fig. 8 illustrates a cap structure 30 which mates
with cup 12 to form an assembly which provides improved
anti-spill and anti-splatter characteristics. Cap 30 is a
unitary structure sized to removably engage cup 12. Its
radial shape is identical to the radial shape of cup 12.
Interior wall 32 is fabricated to surround exterior wall 34
of cup 12 and to engage exterior wall 34 in a snug slip fit.
.. . ... ...
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
Patent
208~739
This is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Cap 30 further has a
reduced diameter opening 36 such that when cap 30 is mated
with cup 12, a reentrant lip offers multiple benefits,
including providing a means for the user of the contents of
the cup to control the amount of material removed by the
tool used for treatment and reducing any tendency of the
material in the cup to spill from the cup.
From the foregoing description, it will be readily
understood that the material handling apparatus can be
placed by a dental professional on any finger or thumb which
meets his particular style of practice. When the apparatus
is in place, the platform maintains placement thereof by
reducing the amount of movement possible. As will be
appreciated, the apparatus will remain stable even when a
dental instrument is dipped into the contents of the cup.
Furthermore, any excess material on the dental instrument
may be scraped from the instrument on the reentrant lip and
contained in the cup for future use. Additionally, the
stability provided by the platform when coupled with the
choice of placement of the apparatus by the dental profession-
al will prevent interference with or obstruction to the free
use of the hand. In a preferred embodiment, the unitary
construction is lightweight and simple and economical to
manufacture. Lastly, it will be recognized that the appara-
tus will be extremely efficient during use if it comes with
prepackaged remedies, medications, or other substances and
is disposable.
As suggested above, it will be understood that the
material handling apparatus of the present invention could
be manufactured to be either a disposable or non-disposable
product. Likewise, contents of various types could be
sealed within the product or not. Additionally, the cup
, . . . . - :
21PATAP2 CPI 1891.2.1
Patent
2~4739
could have a variety of shapes consistent with the type and
amount of materials sealed within. Similarly, the flange
could be round in shape. As various other changes could be
made in the above product without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter
contained in the above description or shown in the accompa-
nying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the
several objects of the invention are achieved and other
advantageous results attained.
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