US3959883A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hand control system for power hand tools
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-23
•
Granted: 1976-06-01
•
Expires: 1993-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A hand control system for power hand tools comprises a manually operated control means for activating a low current electric signal and means for actuating an operation of the power tool. Circuit means are provided for sensing the low current electric signal when it is activated by the manually operated control means to provide a higher current operational signal to the tool actuating means. The manually operated control means may include various types of switch means. The finger-tip control means is located on a hand-piece unit of a power tool. The circuit means includes means for amplifying the low current electric signal and switching means for receiving an amplified current drive signal from the amplifying means and transmitting the higher current operational signal to the actuating means. A specific feature of this invention is the use of the manually operated control means in combination with a dental device having an air driven motor for tool members rotatably mounted in the hand-piece unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl L. Walls
- 👤 Verl O. Olson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0007; A61C1/08; A61C1/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 87
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A hand control system for power hand tools comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power hand tool, b. manually operated control means for activating a low current electric command signal maintained at up to about 10 micro amps and below the necessary current flow for operating said actuating means, c. said command signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuit means separate from the manually operated control means and including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A hand control system for power hand tools comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power hand tool, b. manually operated control means for activating a low current electric command signal maintained at up to about 10 micro amps and below the necessary current flow for operating said actuating means, c. said command signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuit means separate from the manually operated control means and including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes manually operated electric switch means which turns the low current electric command signal on and off.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes fluid switch means for providing controlled pressure changes and means for sensing said pressure changes to turn said low current electric command signal on and off.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said fluid switch means comprises a pressure switch and a miniature pressure plunger assembly for controlling the pressure switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said fluid switch means comprises a back-pressure switch and a finger-tip actuated flow-metering valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes an electric pressure transducer and means for sensing a change in finger-tip pressure on said transducer to turn said low current electric command signal on and off.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said low current electric command signal is provided by a direct current supply means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 7 wherein said direct current supply means includes a transformer, rectifying means and regulating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes switching means for receiving an amplified current drive signal from said amplifying means and transmitting said higher current operational signal to said actuating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said switching means prevents current flow when said manually operated control means is released thereby deactivating said actuating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 9 wherein said amplifying means includes an operational amplifier having a current gain sufficient to provide an amplified current drive signal to said switching means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said switching means includes a transistor and said operational amplifier has a current gain of about 100,000.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes an electro-mechanical mechanism for activating the operation of the tool member of said power tool.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined in claim 13 wherein said tool member is operated with an air driven motor and said electro-mechanical mechanism includes a control valve to supply air to the air driven motor and a solenoid for opening and closing said air control valve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a potentiometer for providing a variable low current electric command signal to said actuating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance for providing a variable low current electric command signal, said amplifying means includes a current regulating operational amplifier which is responsive to said variable low current electric command signal and maintains a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said command signal, and said actuating means includes an electro-mechanical mechanism for activating a variable speed operation of the power tool.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said electro-mechanical mechanism includes a rotary solenoid and said circuit means includes a switching means for receiving the higher current operational signal and transmitting said current operational signal to the rotary solenoid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said power tool includes a tool member mounted in said hand-piece unit and a light source means is mounted on the hand-piece unit for dispersing light toward the tool member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein the power tool is a dental device having a rotatable tool member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein said light source means includes a fiber-optic bundle mounted in the hand-piece unit and lens means for dispersing light transmitted by the fiber-optic bundle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes an isolation transformer, rectifying means and regulating means for providing said low current electric signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes an electro-mechanical mechanism for actuating said power tool.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said power tool is operated with an air driven motor and said electro-mechanical mechanism includes a control valve to supply air to the air driven motor and a solenoid for opening and closing said air control valve.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a power tool having a hand-piece unit, a control assembly comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power tool, b. finger-tip control means located on the hand-piece unit for activating a low current electric input signal maintained at up to about 10 micro amps and below the necessary current flow for operating said actuating means, c. said input signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuits means separate from the manually operated control means and including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a power tool having a hand-piece unit, a control assembly comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power tool, b. finger-tip control means located on the hand-piece unit for activating a low current electric input signal maintained at up to about 10 micro amps and below the necessary current flow for operating said actuating means, c. said input signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuits means separate from the manually operated control means and including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said power tool includes a rotatable tool member mounted in said hand-piece unit and an air driven motor for rotating said tool member, said finger-tip control means includes a variable electric resistive element providing a variable low current input signal for controlling the rotational speed of the tool member, and said circuit means includes switching means for receiving an amplified current drive signal from said amplifying means and transmitting said higher current operational signal to said air driven motor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said power tool includes a rotatable tool member and an air driven motor for rotating said tool member, said control means includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance for providing a variable low current electric input signal, and said amplifying means includes an amplifier means which is responsive to said variable low current input signal and maintains a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said low current input signal provided by the linear potentiometer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 26 wherein said amplifier means comprises a servo amplifier which uses feedback to maintain the higher current operational signal proportional to the variable low current input signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said power tool is a dental device having an air driven motor for tool members rotatably mounted in said hand-piece unit, means for providing cooling water to the rotating tool members and means for providing syringe water.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
64 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said actuating means includes means for operating said air driven motor, means for operating said cooling water means and means for operating said syringe water means, said circuit means includes switching means for receiving an amplified current drive signal from said amplifying means and transmitting said higher current operational signal to each said operating means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
101 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said actuating means includes means for operating said air driven motor, means for operating said cooling water means and means for operating said syringe water means, said amplifying means comprises first amplifying and switching means for providing said higher current operational signal to the operating means for said air driven motor, second amplifying and switching means for providing said higher current operational signal to the operating means for said cooling motor, and third amplifying and switching means for providing said higher current operational signal to the operating means for the syringe water.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
66 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 30 wherein said finger-tip control means includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance for providing a variable low current electric input signal, said first amplifying and switching means includes means for sensing said variable low current input signal and maintaining a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said variable low current input signal provided by the potentiometer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 30 wherein each said switching means prevents current flow when said finger-tip control means is released thereby deactivating said actuating means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 30 wherein each said amplifying means includes an operational amplifier having a current gain sufficient to provide a current drive signal to each said switching means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
75 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 30 wherein said finger-tip control means includes a variable electric resistive element providing a variable low current electric input signal for controlling the rotational speed of the tool member and said first amplifying means includes means for sensing said variable low current input signal and maintaining a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said variable low current input signal provided by the variable electric resistive element.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
67 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said tool actuating means includes an electro-mechanical mechanism for operating each said operation of the dental device and air control valve means for controlling an air supply to the air driven motor and first water control valve means for controlling the flow of cooling water and second water control valve means for controlling the flow of syringe water.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 35 wherein said electro-mechanical mechanism includes a solenoid means for controlling the air control valve means and the first and second water control valve means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
84 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 36 wherein said air control valve means is a variable air control valve and said solenoid means includes a rotary solenoid for adjusting said variable air control valve, said finger-tip control means includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance and said amplifying means includes an amplifier means which is responsive to said low current electric input signal and maintains a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said low current input signal provided by the potentiometer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
59 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 28 wherein said dental device includes a light source means mounted on the hand-piece unit and said finger-tip control means includes a manually operated switch which turns a low current electric signal on and off thereby turning a higher current operational signal on and off with respect to the light source means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 38 wherein said light source means includes a fiber-optic bundle mounted in the hand-piece unit and lens means for dispersing light transmitted by the fiber-optic bundle.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said hand-piece unit includes means for mounting a dental hand mirror.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said hand-piece unit is completely separated from the power tool.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 24 wherein said power tool includes a rotatable tool member mounted in a first hand-piece unit having a first finger-tip control mechanism and a second hand-piece unit having a second finger-tip control mechanism.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 42 wherein said circuit means includes a switch for engaging one of said first and second hand-piece units with a low current electric source.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
118 words
A hand control system for power hand tools comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power hand tool, b. manually operated control means for activating a low current electric command signal maintained below the necessary current flow for operating a solenoid means, c. said command signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuit means separate from the manually operated control means including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
118 words
A hand control system for power hand tools comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power hand tool, b. manually operated control means for activating a low current electric command signal maintained below the necessary current flow for operating a solenoid means, c. said command signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuit means separate from the manually operated control means including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 44, wherein said control means includes manually operated electric switch means which turns the low current electric signal on and off.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as defined in claim 44, wherein said control means includes fluid switch means for providing controlled pressure changes and means for sensing said pressure changes to turn said low current electric signal on and off.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 46 wherein said fluid switch means comprises a pressure switch and a minature pressure plunger assembly for controlling the pressure switch.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 46 wherein said fluid switch means comprises a back-pressure switch and a finger-tip actuated flow-metering valve.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as defined in claim 44 wherein said control means includes an electric pressure transducer and means for sensing a change in finger-tip pressure on said transducer to turn said low current electric signal on and off.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 44 wherein said low current electric signal is provided by a direct current supply means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 50 wherein said direct current supply means includes a transformer, rectifying means and regulating means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 44 wherein said circuit means includes switching means for receiving an amplified current drive signal from said amplifying means and transmitting said higher current operational signal to said actuating means.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 52 wherein said switching means prevents current flow when said manually operated control means is released thereby deactivating said actuating means.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 52 wherein said amplifying means includes an operational amplifier having a current gain sufficient to provide a current drive signal to said switching means.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as defined in claim 54 wherein said switching means includes a transistor and said operational amplifier has a current gain of about 100,000.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 44 wherein said control means includes a potentiometer for providing a variable amount of current flow to said actuating means.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system as defined in claim 44 wherein said control means includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance for providing a variable low current electric input signal, said amplifying means includes a current regulating operational amplifyer which is responsive to said variable low current electric input signal and maintains a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said input signal, and said actuating means includes an electro-mechanical mechanism for activating a variable speed operation of the power tool.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as defined in claim 57 wherein said electro-mechanical mechanism includes a rotary solenoid and said circuit means includes a switching means for receiving the higher current operational signal and transmitting said current operational signal to the rotary solenoid.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a power tool having a hand-piece unit, a control assembly comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power hand tool, b. manually operated control means for activating a low current electric command signal maintained below the necessary current flow for operating a solenoid means, c. said command signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuit means separate from the manually operated control means and including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
122 words
In a power tool having a hand-piece unit, a control assembly comprising: a. means for actuating an operation of the power hand tool, b. manually operated control means for activating a low current electric command signal maintained below the necessary current flow for operating a solenoid means, c. said command signal electrically flowing through said manually operated control means, d. circuit means separate from the manually operated control means and including amplifying means for providing a higher current operational signal to said tool operation actuating means, e. said amplifying means being responsive to the low current electric command signal when said command signal is activated by said control means to cause said higher current operational signal to operate said tool actuating means.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
101 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59 wherein said power tool includes a rotatable tool member mounted in said hand-piece unit and an air driven motor for rotating said tool member, said finger-tip control means includes a variable electric resistive element providing a variable current input signal for controlling the rotational speed of the tool member and, said amplifying means being effective to amplify said low current electric input signal and said circuit means including switching means for receiving an amplified current drive signal from said amplifying means and transmitting said higher current operational signal to said air driven motor.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
83 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59 wherein said power tool includes a rotatable tool member and an air driven motor for rotating said tool member, said control means includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance for providing a variable low current electric input signal and said amplifying means includes an amplifyer means which is responsive to said variable low current input signal and maintains a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said input signal provided by the linear potentiometer.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
31 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 61 wherein said amplifier means comprises a servo amplifyer which uses feed-back to maintain the current operational signal proportional to the current input signal.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59 wherein said power tool is a dental device having an air driven motor for tool members rotatably mounted in said hand-piece unit, means for providing cooling water to the rotating tool members and means for providing syringe water.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
64 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 63 wherein said actuating means includes means for operating said air driven motor, means for operating said cooling water means and means for operating said syringe water means, said circuit means includes switching means for receiving an amplified current drive signal from said amplifying means and transmitting said higher current operational signal to each said operating means.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
101 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 63 wherein said actuating means includes means for operating said air driven motor, means for operating said cooling water means and means for operating said syringe water means, said amplifying means comprises first amplifying and switching means for providing said higher current operational signal to the operating means for said air driven motor, second amplifying and switching means for providing asid higher current operational signal to the operating means for the cooling water, and third amplifying and switching means for providing said higher current operational signal to the operating means for the syringe water.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
60 words
An assembly as defined in claim 65 wherein said finger-tip control means includes a potentiometer having a variable low current electric input signal, said first amplifying and switching means includes means for sensing said variable low current input signal and maintaining a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said variable low current input signal provided by the potentiometer.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 65, wherein each said switching means prevents current flow when said finger-tip control means is released thereby deactivating said actuating means.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control assembly as defined in clain 65, wherein each said amplifying means includes an operational amplifier having a current gain sufficient to provide a current drive signal to each said switching means.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control assembly as defined in clain 65, wherein each said amplifying means includes an operational amplifier having a current gain sufficient to provide a current drive signal to each said switching means.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
75 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 65, wherein said finger-tip control means includes a variable electric resistive element providing a variable low current electric input signal for controlling the rotational speed of the tool member and said first amplifying means includes means for sensing said variable low current input signal and maintaining a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said variable low current input signal provided by the variable electric resistive element.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
67 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 63, wherein said tool actuating means includes a solenoid means for operating each said operation of the dental device and air control valve means for controlling an air supply to the air driven motor and first water control valve means for controlling the flow of cooling water and second water control valve means for controlling the flow of syringe water.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
83 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 70, wherein said air control valve means is a variable air control valve and said solenoid means includes a rotary solenoid for adjusting said variable air control valve, said finger-tip control means includes a potentiometer having a variable resistance and said amplifying means includes an amplifier means which is responsive to said low current electric input signal and maintains a higher current operational signal that is proportional to said current input signal provided by the potentiometer.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
59 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 63, wherein said dental device includes a light source means mounted on the hand-piece unit and said finger-tip control means includes a manually operated switch which turns the low current electric signal on and off thereby turning the higher current operational signal on and off with respect to the light source means.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 72, wherein said light source means includes a fiber-optic bundle mounted in the hand-piece unit and lens means for dispersing light transmitted by the fiber-optic bundle.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59, wherein said hand-piece unit includes means for mounting a dental hand mirror.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
19 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59, wherein said hand-piece unit is completely separated from the power tool.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59, wherein said power tool includes a rotatable tool member mounted in a first hand-piece unit having a first finger-tip control mechanism and a second hand-piece unit having a second finger-tip control mechanism.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
30 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 76, wherein said circuit means includes a switch for engaging one of said first and second hand-piece units with an electric current source.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59, wherein said power tool includes a tool member mounted in said hand-piece unit and a light source means is mounted on the hand-piece unit for dispersing light toward the tool member.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 78, wherein the power tool is a dental device having a rotatable tool member.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 79, wherein said light source means includes a fiber-optic bundle mounted in the hand-piece unit and lens means for dispersing light transmitted by the fiber-optic bundle.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control assembly as defined in claim 59 wherein said control means includes an isolation transformer, rectifying means and regulating means for providing said low current electric signal.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control system as defined in claim 59 wherein said low current command signal is maintained at up to about 10 micro amps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-01 | 1979-12-01 | 1980-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-01 | 1983-12-01 | 1984-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-01 | 1987-12-01 | 1988-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |