Dentistry – Apparatus – Having intra-oral dispensing means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-06-26
Lewis, Ralph A. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Apparatus
Having intra-oral dispensing means
C433S082000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250920
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,523 describes an improved water line flushing and disinfecting system for a dental unit. The principal purpose of that prior art system is to clean all of several water using devices in a dental unit, not only a handpiece but also auxiliary components such as a syringe, scaler, basin and so on. The object is to provide a system integral with a dental unit which can be utilized to eliminate bacteria growth in all water lines of the unit. Periodically, however, it is necessary to purge the dental unit of all disinfectant and water and resume operation with fresh disinfectant and fresh water. The object of the present invention is to provide a detachable purge unit which can be taken from one dental unit to another to carry out periodically the removal of water from the unit, flushing of all water lines with fresh disinfectant, removal of that disinfectant and refilling of the lines of the unit with fresh water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In broad form the purge unit of the invention is intended for use with a dental unit including a plurality of devices through which water can be passed from a pressurized water source through a primary water line. Either pressurized air or disinfectant solution from respective sources thereof can be selectively introduced through a double inlet single outlet first router valve into the primary water line. The invention provides a selectively operable removable purge unit for flushing and disinfecting the primary water line and devices. It includes a solution reservoir for containing a disinfectant solution and ullage. A double inlet single outlet second router valve is provided. An inlet air line is removably connectable between the pressurized air source and alternately either the reservoir ullage or a first inlet of the second router valve. Between the reservoir solution and a second inlet of the second router valve is a solution line. A connection line for either air or solutions from the single outlet of the second router valve is removably connected to the primary water line. By this system water can be expelled from the primary water line and devices by pressurized air and replaced with disinfectant solution displaced by pressurized air from the ullage of the reservoir and the solution can then be expelled by pressurized air and replaced with water.
In one form of the invention the pressurized water source is a water bottle connected to the primary water line with the connection line removably connected between the second router valve and the water bottle. In another form of the invention the pressurized water source is a water main connected to the primary water line through the first router valve with the connection line removably connected between the second router valve and the first router valve.
A pressurized regulator may be included in the air inlet line upstream of the reservoir ullage and the first inlet of the second router valve for reducing air inlet line pressure.
That quick disconnect means may be located in the inlet air line for removable connection with the pressurized air source. Second quick disconnect means may be located in the connection line for removable connection with the primary water line.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3718973 (1973-03-01), Slater et al.
patent: 4668190 (1987-05-01), Overmyer
patent: 5295829 (1994-03-01), Frey et al.
patent: 5308579 (1994-05-01), Melon
patent: 5318443 (1994-06-01), Overmyer
patent: 5360338 (1994-11-01), Waggoner
patent: 5526841 (1996-06-01), Detsch et al.
patent: 5709546 (1998-01-01), Waggoner
patent: 5785523 (1998-07-01), Overmyer
patent: 5837204 (1998-11-01), Prevost et al.
Brown, Esq. Charles J.
Lewis Ralph A.
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