US2093457A - Dental mirror - Google Patents

Description

P 1937- 1 H. s. KUKLIN 2,093,457

DENTAL MIRROR Filed May 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Shget l INVENTOR H. S. KUKLIN Sept. 21, 1937.

DENTAL MIRROR Filed May 18, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZQBE I ATTORNEY INVE Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DENTAL MIRROR Harry Seymour Kuklin, New York, N. Y.

Application May 18, 1936, Serial No. 80,290

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved dental mirror, so arranged as to give a continuous view of the inside of the mouth and enable a patient to see what is being done by the dentist and watch the progress of the Work.

A hand mirror, held by the patient, is inconvenient to both the patient and the dentist. Its weight tires the hand of the patient, who finds difliculty in holding it steady and properly focussed to give a clear view of the dental work that is being done and in moving the mirror about, in an effort to get such a view, the patient not only annoys the dentist by interfering with the manipulation of the various instruments used but frequently obstructs the light on which the dentist depends to do his work.

To relieve both the dentist and the patient, I mount the mirror within or as part of the light cluster-assembly, which is universally employed by. dentists and always adjusted to a non-interfering position and I provide, in addition, an independent adjustment for the mirror, so it may be placed by the patient to give a clear, continuous view of the dental operation.

A construction suitable for carrying my invention into effect is illustrated in the accompanying drawings but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to either the exact form or details shown, as various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as outlined in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. l is a view in perspective showing the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the adjustable mirror detached from the light cluster;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3, 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a slight modification of the bracket arm support for the mirror;

Fig. 5 is a central, vertical sectional view on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a further slight modification of the bracket arm;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view showing a simplified form of the ball joint shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 8 and 9 are plan and cross sectional views, showing an extensible bracket arm.

Referring now to the drawings, I represents an electric light cluster of a form commonly employed by dentists. The cluster may be supported from the floor or Wall or it may form part of the usual dental unit and is ordinarily adjustable as required to enable the dentist to direct the light on whatever dental work is being carried on Within the patients mouth. In the type of cluster shown, a centrally disposed switch is provided, the shaft 2 of which is designed for continuous clockwise rotation, to successively turn on the several bulbs shown until all are lighted. Further rotation of the switch in the same direction cuts off all the lights.

As the cluster is usually adjusted by the dentist to a non-interfering position, with the light concentrated upon the patients face, it affords an ideal support for the mirror 3, I employ to bring a clear and unobstructed view of the dental work in the line of vision, as the patient reclines in the dental chair, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus mounted, the mirror offers no obstruction to the dentists work and is maintained in central relation under all adjustments of the light cluster- The attachment of the mirror to the cluster is preferably at the point of location of the centrally h disposed cluster switch, the construction of which latter is such as to enable the connection of the mirror to be readily made without change or modification of the switch, as will now be shown.

In some types of dental light clusters in use, the switch shaft 2 projects directly from a central dome-like portion 2 of the fixture and is provided with a terminal knob 2 for convenience in rotating the shaft. The knob is threaded on the shaft and as the switch is constructed for continuous clockwise rotation, turning the knob counter clockwise, will unscrew it, exposing the threaded end of the shaft. If now, the shaped end 4 of a mirror bracket arm, such as is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9, is slipped over the threaded end of the shaft and the knob replaced, we have a firm support for the mirror 3, centrally of the cluster.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the switch shaft is carried beyond the dome-like portion 2 of the fixture and on through a fixture extension, in the form of an ornamental sleeve or nipple 2, which latter is secured in position by a tubular bolt 2 through which the switch shaft projects. The end of the switch shaft is threaded to receive a terminal turning knob, as above described.

In attaching the mirror bracket arm to a cluster employing the switch construction last described, the shaped end 4 is preferably placed between the fixture members 2 2, and securely clamped there by the tubular bolt 2 as shown in Fig. 5. v

To enable patients to position the mirror to give a satisfactory view, the mirror bracket arm is made in sections and two of the sections 5 and 6, are ball-jointed as indicated at 1 (see Figs. 5 and 7), to provide a universal adjustment.

Ease of adjustment is regulated by a sleeve-like nut 8, swivelled at one end to the ball and threaded at the other end on the adjoining bracket arm section. Screwing up or unscrewing the sleevelike nut, varies the tension of a spring 9-, which may act directly on the ball, as in Fig. '7, or indirectly thereon through a plunger or headed pin Ill, as in Fig. 5.

To prevent unintentional or accidental disconnection of the bracket sections at the ball joint, a

stop screw II is provided, which is designed to cooperate with an annular shoulder l2, and check further movement of the sleeve-like nut 8. When disconnection of the bracket arm sections is desired, a few turns of the stop screw II, to cause it to clear the annular shoulder l2, renders it ineffective and permits removal of the nut 8.

The modification of the bracket arm shown in Fig. 4, consists in a slight r-e-shaping of the end of the arm that connects with the cluster fixture,

otherwise it is the same as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. I

In both instances the arms are bent up or ofi set from the switch shaft to provide the necessary clearance for free operation of the cluster switch knob, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Thus oiT-set a solid straight arm, as shown in-Fig. 6, may be employed, if desired, instead of the looped end form of the other figures of thedrawings.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown an extensible loop for the end of the arm, with set screws for securing it as extended, the construction and operation of which will be obvious from'the drawings.

As the operation and many important advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing, further description of the same will not be given.

Having described my invention, I claim:

'1. Apparatus of the class describedemploying a suitable source of light, comprising a light- 40 supporting bracket, a light control switch mount- 45 removably clamped between two of the aforesaid separable sections of the switch casing, a universal mounting, .one member of which is carried by said arm and a mirror carrying another member of the mounting and being adjustably 50 held thereby to reflect an image illuminatedby the above mentioned source of light.

2. Apparatus of the class described employing a suitable source of light, comprising a lightsupporting bracket, a light control switch mounted on the bracket, the said switch having a shaft terminating in a manually operable knob, a oas ing for the light control switch formed of separable sections, an arm offset from and extending in the general direction of the switch shaft, one end of the arm being angled and shaped to fit around the switch shaft and be removably secured between two of the aforesaid separable sections of the switch casing, a universal mounting one member of which is carried by the arm and a mirror carrying the other member of the mounting and being adjustably held thereby to reflect an image illuminated by the above menbetween the aforesaid separable sections of the switch casing in encircling relation with the switch shaft, 9. universal mounting one member of which is carried by the arm and a mirror carrying the other member of the mounting and being adjustably held thereby to reflect'an image illuminated .by the above mentioned sourceof light.

4. Apparatus of the class described employing a suitable source of light, comprisinga light-sup;

porting bracket, a light control switch mounted I on the bracket, the said'switeh having a shaft terminating in a manually operable knob, a cars,- ing for the light control switch formed of separable sections, an arm divided lengthwise inter,-

mediate its ends into two parallel branches spaced apart to provide an opening between them, one end of the arm being angled and shaped'to be fitted and removably secured between the aforesaid separable sections of the switch casingclear of the switch shaft,'a universal vmounting'one member of which is carried by the free end of the arm and amirror carrying the other member of the mounting and being'adjustably held thereby to reflect an image illuminated by the above (:50

mentioned source of light,

HARRY SE'YMOUR'KUKLIN.

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