US3590232A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Annular illuminator for dental tools or the like
Assignee: Radioptics Inc
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Filing: 1968-03-27
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Granted: 1971-06-29
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Expires: 1988-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A fiber-optic apparatus including a long flexible fiber-optic light guide formed of a bundle of transparent fibers of glass or synthetic resin material. One end of the bundle of fibers is intensely illuminated by a projection lamp and suitable optics for concentrating light on the end of the bundle, and the other end of the bundle of fibers is spread and shaped into an annular configuration arranged so that the cones of light from the individual fibers overlap to provide substantially uniform illumination of an area about equal to or somewhat greater than the area within the annulus at a predetermined working distance from the ends of the fibers. A method of manufacturing the annular configuration includes shaping fibers on a mandrel, retaining them with rings and securing them with adhesive before serving the fibers at one ring to form the annular output end.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry B W Sadowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:06
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/06; A61B1/07; A61B1/24; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/08; A61C1/088; A61B1/00131; A61B1/0014; F; F21; F21W; F21W2131/00; F21W2131/20; F21W2131/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An annular illuminator for a movable tool which includes a first work-contacting portion and a second portion, said illuminator comprising an annular support structure adapted to be mounted to said second portion and surrounding said first portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers with their ends secured in said support structure and distributed around said structure and directed in the direction of a workpiece, said fibers being gathered into at least one bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said tool second portion, and means for optically coupling the opposite ends of said fibers to an intense light source
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An annular illuminator for a movable tool which includes a first work-contacting portion and a second portion, said illuminator comprising an annular support structure adapted to be mounted to said second portion and surrounding said first portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers with their ends secured in said support structure and distributed around said structure and directed in the direction of a workpiece, said fibers being gathered into at least one bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said tool second portion, and means for optically coupling the opposite ends of said fibers to an intense light source
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first said fiber ends are substantially evenly distributed on at least a portion of a circle approximately centered on said work-contacting tool portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fibers from respective halves of said circle are gathered into two bundles extending the length of said tool second portion and said two bundles are joined into a single bundle in advance of the point of coupling to said intense light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first said fiber ends are inwardly inclined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further including a diffuser secured to said support structure for diffusing light from said fiber ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
An annular illuminator for a hand-held tool which includes a first work-contacting portion and a second handle portion, said illuminator comprising an annular support structure adapted to be mounted to said second portion and surrounding said first portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers with their ends secured in said support structure and distributed in a circle around said structure and directed in the direction of a workpiece, said fibers being gathered into at least one protectively covered bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said tool second portion, an intense light source and means for optically coupling the other ends of said fibers to said intense light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
An annular illuminator for a hand-held tool which includes a first work-contacting portion and a second handle portion, said illuminator comprising an annular support structure adapted to be mounted to said second portion and surrounding said first portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers with their ends secured in said support structure and distributed in a circle around said structure and directed in the direction of a workpiece, said fibers being gathered into at least one protectively covered bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said tool second portion, an intense light source and means for optically coupling the other ends of said fibers to said intense light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
111 words
A work area illuminating dental handpiece comprising a handle portion, a chuck portion, a work-contacting portion mounted in said chuck portion, means for securing optical fibers around said chuck portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers secured by said means with their ends and distributed around said chuck and directed in the direction of the end of said work-contacting portion, said fibers being gathered into at least one protectively covered bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said handle portion, an intense light source and an additional length of flexible fiber-optic light transmitter coupling, said fibers to said intense light source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
A work area illuminating dental handpiece comprising a handle portion, a chuck portion, a work-contacting portion mounted in said chuck portion, means for securing optical fibers around said chuck portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers secured by said means with their ends and distributed around said chuck and directed in the direction of the end of said work-contacting portion, said fibers being gathered into at least one protectively covered bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said handle portion, an intense light source and an additional length of flexible fiber-optic light transmitter coupling, said fibers to said intense light source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said fiber ends at least in part are substantially evenly distributed on at least a portion of a circle approximately centered on said work-contacting tool portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
An annular illuminator for a movable tool which includes a first work-contacting portion and a second portion, said illuminator comprising an annular support structure adapted to be mounted to said second portion and surrounding said first portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers with their ends secured in said support structure and substantially evenly distributed around said structure on at least a portion of a circle approximately centered on said work-contacting tool portion and directed in the direction of a workpiece, said fibers having at their output ends an angular relation with the axis of said work-contacting portion to cause the light on a surface at a predetermined minimum working distance determined by said work-contacting portion to be approximately of equal intensity at the projected axis of the center of said circle of fibers to that at the projected axis of the individual fibers along said circle, said fibers being gathered into at least one bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said tool second portion, and means for optically coupling the opposite ends of said fibers to an intense light source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
An annular illuminator for a movable tool which includes a first work-contacting portion and a second portion, said illuminator comprising an annular support structure adapted to be mounted to said second portion and surrounding said first portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers with their ends secured in said support structure and substantially evenly distributed around said structure on at least a portion of a circle approximately centered on said work-contacting tool portion and directed in the direction of a workpiece, said fibers having at their output ends an angular relation with the axis of said work-contacting portion to cause the light on a surface at a predetermined minimum working distance determined by said work-contacting portion to be approximately of equal intensity at the projected axis of the center of said circle of fibers to that at the projected axis of the individual fibers along said circle, said fibers being gathered into at least one bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said tool second portion, and means for optically coupling the opposite ends of said fibers to an intense light source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
191 words
A work area illuminating dental handpiece comprising a handle portion, a chuck portion, a work-contacting portion mounted in said chuck portion, means for securing optical fibers around said chuck portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers secured by said means with their ends substantially evenly distributed around said chuck on at least a portion of a circle approximately centered on said work-contacting tool portion and directed in the direction of the end of said work-contacting portion, said fibers having at their output ends an angular relation with the axis of said work-contacting portion to cause the light on a surface at a predetermined minimum working distance determined by said work-contacting portion to be approximately of equal intensity at the projected axis of the center of said circle to that at the projected axis of the individual fibers along said circle, said fibers being gathered into at least one protectively covered bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said handle portion, an intense light source and an additional length of flexible fiber-optic light transmitter coupling said fibers to said intense light source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
191 words
A work area illuminating dental handpiece comprising a handle portion, a chuck portion, a work-contacting portion mounted in said chuck portion, means for securing optical fibers around said chuck portion, at least 10 optically transmitting fibers secured by said means with their ends substantially evenly distributed around said chuck on at least a portion of a circle approximately centered on said work-contacting tool portion and directed in the direction of the end of said work-contacting portion, said fibers having at their output ends an angular relation with the axis of said work-contacting portion to cause the light on a surface at a predetermined minimum working distance determined by said work-contacting portion to be approximately of equal intensity at the projected axis of the center of said circle to that at the projected axis of the individual fibers along said circle, said fibers being gathered into at least one protectively covered bundle by a transitional enclosing structure, means for securing said bundle to pass along the length of said handle portion, an intense light source and an additional length of flexible fiber-optic light transmitter coupling said fibers to said intense light source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |