Angled hose connection for dental handpiece

Abstract

A dental handpiece having a distal end including an attachment for assembly of a removable workpiece and a handpiece body intermediate a proximal end and the distal end. The handpiece extends in a substantially axial direction. A coupler is included having a cylinder portion and a supply-end portion, the cylinder portion being assembled into the handpiece extending in the axial direction toward the distal end. The cylinder portion includes at least one seal that interfaces with an interior of the body so as to isolate a portion of the body interior into at least one distinct chamber. The supply-end portion of the coupler extends from the proximal end of the handpiece body at an angle from the axis. The supply-end portion also includes a plurality of outlets, the at least one distinct chamber in fluid communication with one of the outlets of the plurality of outlets.

1 . A dental handpiece comprising: 
 a proximal end;    a distal end, the distal end including an attachment for assembly of a removable workpiece;    a handpiece body intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, the handpiece body having a gripping surface;    the handpiece extending in a substantially axial direction along an axis that includes a portion of the distal end, the handpiece body and a portion of the proximal end;    a coupler including a cylinder portion and a supply-end portion, the cylinder portion assembled into the handpiece extending in the axial direction toward the distal end, the cylinder portion including at least one seal that interfaces with an interior of the body so as to isolate a portion of the body interior into at least one distinct chamber;    and wherein the supply-end portion of the coupler extends from the proximal end of the handpiece body at an angle from the axis, the supply-end portion including a plurality of outlets, the at least one distinct chamber in fluid communication with one of the outlets of the plurality of outlets.    
     
     
         2 . The dental handpiece of  claim 1  wherein the handpiece body further includes a motor.  
     
     
         3 . The dental handpiece of  claim 1  wherein the supply-end portion of the outlet further includes electrical contacts.  
     
     
         4 . The dental handpiece of  claim 3  wherein the motor in the handpiece body is an electric motor in communication with the electrical contacts at the supply-end portion.  
     
     
         5 . The dental handpiece of  claim 2  wherein the motor in the handpiece body is a vane-type air motor in communication with an outlet in the supply-end portion that provides drive air.  
     
     
         6 . A dental assembly comprising: 
 a dental handpiece, the dental handpiece having 
 a proximal end,  
   a distal end, a distal end, the distal end including an attachment for assembly of a removable workpiece; 
 a handpiece body intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, the handpiece body having a gripping surface;  
 the handpiece extending in a substantially axial direction along an axis, the axis including a portion of the distal end, the handpiece body and a portion of the proximal end;  
 a coupler that includes at least a first portion extending in an axial direction, the first portion including at least one seal that interfaces with an interior of the body to isolate portions of the body interior into at least one distinct chamber;  
   a coupling assembled to the proximal end of the dental handpiece, a first portion of the coupling being substantially coaxial with the handpiece body and a second portion of the coupling angled with respect to the handpiece axis, the second portion further including a fitting, the coupling including a plurality of conduits, the at least one distinct chamber in fluid communication with one of the conduits of the plurality of conduits;    a substantially flexible hose, the flexible hose having a hose connector with a hose fitting for attachment to the coupling fitting, wherein the hose includes separate supply lines for providing fluids to the handpiece through the conduits; and    wherein the conduits transport the fluids from the hose, through the coupling and coupler to the handpiece.    
     
     
         7 . The dental assembly of  claim 6  wherein the first portion of the coupling is housed in the handpiece body and the first portion of the coupling is assembled over the coupler, the coupling being connected to the handpiece body.  
     
     
         8 . The dental assembly of  claim 6  wherein the coupler further includes a second portion opposed to the first portion of the coupler, the second portion of the coupler extending in an axial direction away from the handpiece body and wherein first portion of the coupling is removably connected to the second portion of the coupler.  
     
     
         9 . The dental assembly of  claim 6  wherein the substantially flexible hose further provides electricity to the handpiece and at least one of the conduits of the plurality of conduits further includes electrical contacts in communication with the hose to provide electricity to the handpiece.  
     
     
         10 . The dental assembly of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the interfacing hose fitting and coupling fitting are a quick disconnect fitting to facilitate assembly of the hose to the coupling.  
     
     
         11 . The dental assembly of  claim 6  wherein the coupling is an articulating coupling.  
     
     
         12 . The dental assembly of  claim 6  wherein the second portion of the coupling is an articulating coupling with respect to the first portion of the coupling.  
     
     
         13 . The dental assembly of  claim 6  wherein the coupling second portion angled with respect to the handpiece axis is angled at a movable angle, selectable from a preselected first angle to a second preselected angle in a range from 10° to 90°.  
     
     
         14 . A dental assembly comprising: 
 a dental handpiece, the dental handpiece having 
 a proximal end having a fitting,  
 a distal end, the distal end having a head for attachment of a removable workpiece;  
 a handpiece body intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, the handpiece body having a gripping surface;  
 the handpiece extending in a substantially axial direction along an axis that includes a portion of the distal end, the handpiece body and a portion of the proximal end;  
 a coupler that includes at least a first portion extending in an axial direction, the first portion including a seal that interfaces with an interior of the body so as to isolate the body interior into distinct chambers; and  
   a hose that is substantially flexible, the flexible hose having a hose connector with a hose fitting for attachment to the fitting on the proximal end of the handpiece, and wherein the hose includes separate supply lines for providing water and air to the handpiece.    
     
     
         15 . The dental assembly of  claim 14  wherein the substantially flexible hose further includes a supply line for providing electricity.  
     
     
         16 . The dental assembly of  claim 14  wherein the hose fitting including a first portion oriented in a substantially axial direction with the handpiece that interfaces with the fitting at the proximal end of the handpiece and a second portion angled with respect to the axial direction of the handpiece.  
     
     
         17 . The dental assembly of  claim 16  wherein the coupler is assembled within the handpiece body, and the fitting is assembled to the handpiece body, extending axially from the proximal end of the handpiece body.  
     
     
         18 . The dental assembly of  claim 14  wherein the hose fitting and fitting on the proximal end of the handpiece form a quick disconnect fitting.  
     
     
         19 . The dental assembly of  claim 14  wherein the coupler includes a second portion that extends at an angle from the axis of the handpiece body and wherein the second portion includes the fitting.  
     
     
         20 . The dental assembly of  claim 14  wherein the substantially flexible hose connection further includes an electrical supply line.  
     
     
         21 . The dental handpiece of  claim 14  wherein the coupler includes a second portion extending in an axial direction from the handpiece body and wherein the dental handpiece includes an additional portion at the proximal end extending at an angle from the axis, assembled over the second portion of the coupler, the additional portion being permanently affixed to the handpiece body.  
     
     
         22 . A coupling for use with a dental handpiece, the dental handpiece having an axis extending substantially through a body between a proximal portion and a distal portion, the coupling comprising: 
 a first portion, the first portion being substantially coaxial with the handpiece axis and connectable to the proximal portion of the handpiece;    a second portion, the second portion being angled with respect to the handpiece axis, the second portion further including a fitting;    the coupling further including a plurality of conduits, the conduits extending through the coupling to the dental handpiece.