Support System For Dentistry

Abstract

A dental lamp boom hinge includes a pivot supporting a dental lamp head and a base supporting the pivot where the pivot may be rotated about a substantially vertical axis with respect to the base. The rotational movement between the pivot and the base is damped with a damping device. The damping device in one embodiment is adjustable to provide a variable level of damping.

1 - 54 . (canceled)  
   
   
       55 . A dental support system comprising: 
 a first bearing adapted to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis of a yoke;    a second bearing adapted to pivot about a substantially vertical axis of a pivot member; and    a damper adapted to retard pivotal motion about said substantially vertical axis.    
   
   
       56 . The dental support system of  claim 55  wherein said yoke comprises a boom.  
   
   
       57 . The dental support system of  claim 55  wherein said pivot member comprises a mast.  
   
   
       58 . The dental support system of  claim 56  wherein said boom comprises at least one formation adapted to inter-engage a corresponding formation on the yoke.  
   
   
       59 . The support system of  claim 55  wherein said yoke comprising a first braking surface, said shaft comprising a second braking surface, said first and second braking surfaces being adapted to mutually engage a friction member.  
   
   
       60 . The support system of  claim 59  wherein said friction member comprises a friction washer, said friction washer including an internal surface defining a through-hole, said through-hole being adapted to receive a portion of said shaft therethrough.  
   
   
       61 . The support system of  claim 60  wherein said washer comprises an anti-rotation feature, said anti-rotation feature being adapted to minimize a rotational motion of said washer about a longitudinal axis of said shaft, whereby said washer is substantially rotationally fixed with respect to said mast.  
   
   
       62 . The support structure of  claim 60  wherein said anti-rotation feature comprises a first substantially flat region of said internal surface, and said shaft comprises an external surface including a second substantially flat region, said first substantially flat region being adapted to engage said second substantially flat surface.  
   
   
       63 . The support structure of  claim 57  wherein the mast comprises at least one formation adapted to inter-engage at least one corresponding formation of a power pack which is electrically connected with at least one dental instrument.  
   
   
       64 . The support structure of  claim 63  wherein the power pack comprises user interface components adapted to receive control inputs from an operator and provide status and control feedback to the operator.