Enclosed workstation

Details Enclosed workstation Enclosed workstation

2000-03-24

2001-06-05

Cuomo, Peter M. (Department: 3636)

Supports: cabinet structure

Barrier opening with flexible seal for operator

C312S292000, C312S209000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06241328

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to enclosures for workstations, and in particular to a see-through enclosure that allows one to grind and refine dental restorations in a totally enclosed environment.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
The machining of dental pieces often requires rotary type tools that produce significant risks to the operator of the tools. For example, the dust and metal grindings that often are produced can be harmful if breathed by the operator. Thus, facemasks are needed if the machining takes place in an open environment. Also, eye protection, such as goggles would be needed since flying debris can be dangerous to the operator's eyes. Furthermore, it is even necessary to wear protective garments to further protect the clothes and body of the operator from flying debris. For example, to use the types of workstations described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,880 to Schmidt et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,357 to Bodenmiller would require all these types of protection.
There are many problems associated with using all of this protection. For example, using eye-protection, face masks, gloves, and protective garments are both uncomfortable to wear and make the tooling operation even more difficult. Additionally, replacing the eye-protection, masks, gloves and protective garments is an additional expense since these materials wear out over time.
The flying debris from using the tools causes dust, grindings, and other waste material to be sprayed all over the entire office area. The operator then has the added time burden and labor expense of having to clean the workstation areas and surrounding room space. This problem becomes compounded if some of the grindings are valuable metals and materials that could have been recycled, and/or reclaimed.
There have been several proposals over time to overcome the problems presented above. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,684 to Saunders; U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,903 to Piet et al.; U.S Pat. No. 4,697,854 to Lunsford; U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,925 to Elledge et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,027 to Brodersen; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,077 to Puschner et al.
However, several of these inventions require expensive and elaborate components that are large and cumbersome and must be floor mounted or supported by specialized carts. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,854 to Lunsford; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,027 to Brodersen. Still furthermore, many of these devices use vacuum lines and filters, if any to pull in waste dust. None of these cited patents do allow for any easy access to removing all of the waste materials. Additionally, none of these patents describe an easily accessible storage rack for holding and storing tools between operations within the enclosure. Still furthermore, none of the enclosed workstations use any magnification glasses to magnify the work being performed in order to help the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The first objective of this invention is to provide a self-enclosed work station that eliminates the need for a tool operator to wear protective eyewear, facemasks, gloves, and protective garments.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a self-enclosed work station that does not need to be floor mounted and can be used on a bench.
The third object of the present invention is to provide a self-enclosed work station that allows an operator to perform grinding on a dental piece in a simple, non complex environment.
The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a self-enclosed work station that confines all resultant dust, and waste within the enclosure and allows for easy removal of the resultant dust and waste.
The fifth object of the present invention is to provide a self-enclosed workstation having a recovery drawer for allowing for easy and complete reclamation of precious metals.
The sixth object of this invention is to provide a self-enclosed workstation that allows the operator to hold and store their tools within the workstation in easily accessible racks.
The seventh object of this invention is to provide a self-enclosed workstation that uses a removable magnifying viewing window to magnify the work being performed and an internal light source.
A preferred embodiment of the self-enclosed workstation can include a box having side access ports with sealable sleeve guards for allowing an operator to position bare hands or gloved hands inside the box through sleeve/cuff guards having elastic constricting wrist openings. A viewing shield cover on top of the box can include a removable slidable access door. The shield can openly pivot to allow full access inside the box and the slidable door can allow a smaller access opening into the box. The shield and/or the slidable door can be made from a magnifying lens material. A material recovery drawer can include a handle for allowing the drawer to slide out from underneath of the workstation, and a longitudinal slot can be located through an interior floor section over the drawer so that the slot is underneath and substantially in length to the depth of the drawer. The drawer can be used for allowing precious metals and even waste materials to be reclaimed completely with ease. A storage bin can be located inside of the box for storing components and have a removable lid on top of the storage bin for supporting tools thereon. The storage bin can have a divider for separating the storage bin into compartments. The lid can have a rack for storing and holding plural tools thereon. The box can include other features such as a rear mounted mirror, an interior light, and side sleeve guards having for allowing operators with bare hands or gloved hands to use the box. The box can allow for the messy operations of grinding and polishing acrylics, while containing all of the materials within one enclosure.
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment which is illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1539051 (1925-05-01), McLean
patent: 2561125 (1951-07-01), Leibowitz
patent: 2624333 (1953-01-01), Dixon et al.
patent: 2651982 (1953-09-01), Weaver
patent: 2786740 (1957-03-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 2962156 (1960-11-01), Adams
patent: 3084684 (1963-04-01), Saunders
patent: 3498687 (1970-03-01), Diccianni
patent: 4059903 (1977-11-01), Piet et al.
patent: 4130326 (1978-12-01), Hornblad
patent: 4697854 (1987-10-01), Lunsford
patent: 4730880 (1988-03-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 4834357 (1989-05-01), Bodenmiller
patent: 5011013 (1991-04-01), Meisner et al.
patent: 5095925 (1992-03-01), Elledge et al.
patent: 5170027 (1992-12-01), Brodersen
patent: 5316733 (1994-05-01), Rune et al.
patent: 5380077 (1995-01-01), Püschner
patent: 6058523 (2000-05-01), Sleboda
patent: 2833465 (1980-02-01), None

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