HK1197010B - Dental container - Google Patents

Description

Dental ware

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dental vessel.

Background

It is known to use separate parts to hold the dental material in the vessel until needed for use. Typically, in use, the components are brought into contact with each other and mixed to form the dental composition.

It has been found that the known dental vessel is difficult to use with relatively viscous dental materials.

Disclosure of Invention

The vessel in the present invention is intended to at least partly overcome the problems encountered when using relatively viscous dental materials in dental vessels.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a dental vessel arranged to initially contain a liquid and a semi-fluid in a separated state, the dental vessel comprising: an outer central body having a proximal end and a distal end; a liquid container having a closed inner end and an open outer end mounted at the proximal end of the outer central body and a separable nose portion mounted at the distal end of the outer body, the separable nose portion being initially for mixing purposes but arranged to be manually separated from the remainder of the vessel after mixing; a piston mounted in an open outer end of the liquid container, the closed inner end of the liquid container being formed by a wall having a weakened section, the distal end of the central body and the front end portion being arranged to contain a semi-fluid material, the arrangement being such that depression of the piston causes the wall of the liquid container to rupture at the weakened section, thereby mixing the liquid and semi-fluid materials together into contact to form the dental ointment.

Drawings

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a vessel according to the invention in a disassembled state;

figure 2 is a view similar to figure 1 showing the vessel in an assembled state;

FIG. 3 is a diagram similar to FIG. 2 showing the vessel in an activated state;

FIG. 4 is a diagram similar to FIG. 3 showing the vessel in a separated state after activation;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternative embodiment of the vessel of the present invention;

figure 6 is a view similar to figure 5 showing the vessel in an assembled state;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the vessel in an activated state; and

fig. 8 is a diagram similar to fig. 7 showing the vessel in a separated state after activation.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, a dental vessel 10 having an outer central body 12 is shown in fig. 1 to 4 of the drawings. The outer central body 12 has a proximal end 16 and a distal end 18. A detachable nose portion 20 is initially mounted on the distal end 18 of the body 12.

The proximal end 16 is arranged to closely receive a liquid container 22, the liquid container 22 having an open outer end 24 and a closed inner end formed by a wall 26. The wall 26 has a relatively thin weakened central section 28, which is centrally located.

Furthermore, the liquid container 22 is arranged to accommodate a piston 30 at its open outer end 24, as shown in fig. 2.

In addition, the outer central body 12 has a central annular ridge 32, the central annular ridge 32 providing an inner projecting step 34 for engagement with the inner upper end of the liquid container 22, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the liquid container 22 can be prevented from entering the body 12 deeper than the ridge 32. Furthermore, the liquid container 22 has an outwardly extending rear annular flange 36, said rear annular flange 36 engaging with a corresponding groove in the outer central body 12.

Furthermore, it can be seen in fig. 1 that the distal end 18 of the outer central body 12 has a cylindrical portion 38, said cylindrical portion 38 being arranged to engage with the front end portion 20. The nose section 20 has an outer wall with a closed outer end 40 and an open inner end 42. Furthermore, the wall of the nose portion 20 has a relatively thin inner portion 44, said inner portion 44 engaging tightly with the cylindrical portion 38 when the vessel 10 is assembled, as shown in fig. 2.

To ensure that the front end portion 20 is securely engaged with the cylindrical portion 38, the distal end 18 is provided with an annular sealing member 46, which annular sealing member 46 can be seen most clearly in fig. 1.

In operation of the vessel 10, a liquid container 22 containing liquid is engaged with the proximal end 16, as shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the piston 30 engages the open end 24 in the liquid reservoir 22, as shown in FIG. 2. In this condition, the piston 30 is spaced from the wall 26 of the container 22. In addition, the front portion 20 engages the cylindrical portion 38 to complete the distal end 18, as shown in FIG. 2.

The liquid reservoir 22 contains liquid between the piston 30 and the wall 26. The distal end 18 comprises a semi-fluid material.

The piston 30 is pressed to the position shown in fig. 3 and the hydraulic pressure created by the liquid causes the wall 26 to rupture at the weakened central portion 28. The piston 30 then pushes the liquid through the ruptured wall 26 into the distal end 18 to contact the semi-fluid contained in the distal end 18.

The vessel 10 is then placed in a suitable mixing device, for example a vibrating mixer of known type. This allows the liquid and powder to mix thoroughly to form a paste. A quantity of ointment is contained in the nose portion 20. The nose portion 20 is then manually separated from the body 12 as shown in fig. 4. The paste may be manually scooped out using a suitable dental tool for application by the dentist to the patient's teeth as desired.

The vessels 50 shown in fig. 5-8 are similar to those shown in fig. 1-4, and like reference numerals refer to like parts. However, in this embodiment of the invention, the piston 30 is provided with a forwardly extending pointed projection 52. In this case, the vessel operates in a manner similar to that of the vessel shown in fig. 1-4, except that the weakened portions 28 of the wall 26 are ruptured by piercing with the projections 52, rather than by applying hydraulic pressure.

The vessel arrangement in the present invention does not require that the paste be forced out of the outlet nozzle as is typical for less viscous materials.

Modifications and variations that would be apparent to a person skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. A dental vessel arranged to initially contain a liquid and a semi-fluid in a separated state, the dental vessel comprising: an outer central body having a proximal end and a distal end; a liquid container having a closed inner end and an open outer end mounted at the proximal end of the outer central body; and a detachable front end portion mounted at the distal end of the outer body, the detachable front end portion being initially used for mixing purposes but arranged to be manually detached from the remainder of the vessel after mixing; a piston mounted in the open outer end of the liquid container, the closed inner end of the liquid container being formed by a wall having a weakened section, the distal end and the leading end portion of the outer central body being arranged to contain a semi-fluid material, the arrangement being such that depression of the piston causes the wall of the liquid container to rupture at the weakened section, thereby mixing the liquid and semi-fluid material together into contact to form a dental paste, characterised in that the proximal end of the outer central body is arranged to snugly receive the liquid container, the outer central body comprising an inwardly extending annular ridge connected to and projecting inwardly from the wall of the outer central body to provide an inner projecting stage for snug engagement with the inner end of the liquid container, thereby preventing the liquid container from entering the outer central body deeper than the ridge.

2. Dental vessel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid container has an outwardly extending rear annular flange which engages with a corresponding inner groove in the outer central body.

3. Dental vessel according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the distal end of the outer central body has a cylindrical portion arranged to engage with an open inner end of the front end portion.

4. Dental vessel according to claim 3, wherein the front end portion has a wall with a relatively thin inner portion arranged to tightly engage with the cylindrical portion of the outer central body.

5. Dental vessel according to claim 4, wherein the inner part of the front end portion is provided with an annular sealing member arranged to engage with the cylindrical portion.

6. Dental vessel according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the piston has an outer end which is always located outside the open outer end of the liquid container.

7. Dental vessel according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the piston has a straight side wall engaging the liquid container.

8. Dental vessel according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the inner end of the piston is substantially flat such that, upon depression of the piston, liquid in the liquid container applies hydraulic pressure to the weakened section of the inner wall of the liquid container to cause the wall to rupture, whereupon the liquid may contact the semi-fluid material.

9. Dental vessel according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the inner end of the piston has a forwardly extending pointed projection arranged to pierce the weakened section of the wall of the liquid container so that the liquid can contact the semi-fluid material.