Clamping device and dental handpiece including same

Abstract

A clamping device for clamping a member to a housing includes a sleeve unit carried by the housing and having an open end formed with a tapered inner surface; and a chuck unit receivable within the open end of the sleeve unit, the chuck unit having an open end which is radially contractible for receiving and clamping the member. The chuck unit is movable axially in one direction to a clamping position, or in the opposite direction to a releasing position. The sleeve unit and chuck unit include interengaging elements such that rotation of the sleeve unit in opposite directions relative to the chuck unit moves the chuck unit to its clamping and releasing positions, respectively. A spring normally urges the sleeve unit to its clamping position. A manual operator rotates the sleeve unit in the opposite direction to move the chuck unit to its releasing position.

1 . A clamping device for clamping a member to a housing, comprising: 
 a sleeve unit carried by said housing and having an open end formed with a tapered inner surface;    a chuck unit receivable within the open end of the sleeve unit, said chuck unit having an open end which is radially contractible for receiving and clamping said member;    said chuck unit being movable axially in one direction to a clamping position wherein its open end is contracted by engagement with said tapered inner surface of the sleeve unit, or in the opposite direction to a releasing position wherein its open end is moved away from said tapered inner surface of the sleeve unit;    said sleeve unit and chuck unit including interengaging elements such that rotation of the sleeve unit in one direction relative to the chuck unit moves the chuck unit to its clamping position, and rotation of the sleeve unit in the opposite direction relative to the chuck unit axially moves the chuck unit to its releasing position;    a spring normally urging said sleeve unit in said one rotary direction to thereby move said chuck unit to its clamping position;    and a manual operator effective, when manually actuated, to rotate said sleeve unit in the opposite direction to thereby move said chuck unit to its releasing position.    
     
     
         2 . The clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein said manual operator is a push button which, in its normal position, permits said spring to urge said chuck unit to its clamping position, and which is depressible to rotate the sleeve unit in said opposite direction to thereby move said chuck unit to its releasing position.  
     
     
         3 . The clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein said manual operator includes a first element engageable with said chuck unit upon the initial actuation of said manual operator to hold the chuck unit against rotation, and a second element engageable with said sleeve unit, upon the continued actuation of said manual operator, to rotate said sleeve unit, relative to the chuck unit, in said opposite direction to thereby move the chuck unit to said releasing position.  
     
     
         4 . The clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein said spring is a spiral leaf spring normally urging said sleeve unit in said one rotary direction to thereby move said chuck unit to its clamping position.  
     
     
         5 . The clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein said spring is a helical spring normally urging said sleeve unit in said one rotary direction to thereby move said chuck unit to its clamping position.  
     
     
         6 . The clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve unit and chuck unit are formed with interengaging threads such that rotation of the sleeve unit in said one direction relative to the chuck units axially moves the chuck unit to its clamping position, and rotation of the sleeve unit in the opposite direction relative to the chuck unit axially moves the chuck unit to its releasing position.  
     
     
         7 . The clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein said push button includes a first group of teeth engageable with said chuck unit upon the initial actuation of said manual operator to hold the chuck unit against rotation, and a second group of teeth engageable with said sleeve unit, upon the continued actuation of said manual operator, to rotate said sleeve unit, relative to the chuck unit in said opposite direction to thereby move the chuck unit to said releasing position.  
     
     
         8 . The clamping device according to  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve unit and chuck unit are both mounted on rotary bearings for rotation within said housing with said member clamped therein.  
     
     
         9 . A dental handpiece including a clamping device according to  claim 8 , wherein said chuck unit is constructed for releasably clamping a dental tool.  
     
     
         10 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said spring has one end coupled to said rotatable sleeve unit, and an opposite end coupled to said rotatable chuck unit.  
     
     
         11 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said spring is a spiral leaf spring having one end coupled to said rotatable sleeve unit, and an opposite end coupled to said chuck unit.  
     
     
         12 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said spring is a helical spring having one end coupled to said rotatable sleeve unit, and an opposite end coupled to said chuck unit.  
     
     
         13 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said sleeve unit includes turbine blades for rotating said sleeve unit together with said chuck unit and the dental tool when clamped therein.  
     
     
         14 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said manual operator is a push button which, in its normal position, permits said spring to urge said chuck unit to its clamping position, and which is depressible to rotate the sleeve unit in said opposite direction to thereby move said chuck unit to its releasing position.  
     
     
         15 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said manual operator includes a first element engageable with said chuck unit upon the initial actuation of said manual operator to hold the chuck unit against rotation, and a second element engageable with said sleeve unit, upon the continued actuation of said manual operator, to rotate said sleeve unit, relative to the chuck unit, in said opposite direction to thereby move the chuck unit to said releasing position.  
     
     
         16 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said sleeve unit and chuck unit are formed with interengaging threads such that rotation of the sleeve unit in said one direction relative to the chuck units axially moves the chuck unit to its clamping position, and rotation of the sleeve unit in the opposite direction relative to the chuck unit axially moves the chuck unit to its releasing position.  
     
     
         17 . The dental handpiece according to  claim 9 , wherein said push button includes a first group of teeth engageable with said chuck unit upon the initial actuation of said manual operator to hold the chuck unit against rotation, and a second group of teeth engageable with said sleeve unit, upon the continued actuation of said manual operator, to rotate said sleeve unit, relative to the chuck unit, in said opposite direction to thereby move the chuck unit to said releasing position.