Dental Handpiece Release Cap Layout for Lower Head Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dental handpieces with high head heights are prone to unintentional contact with oral mucosa during treatment due to the overlapping skirt portion of the supporting ring with the push button, increasing the risk of injury.
Innovation Solution
A dental handpiece design with a cap and cap ring configuration that allows for a low head height by positioning the claw portions and inner annular portion to minimize overlap, featuring a releasing mechanism with a push cap that moves between outer and inner annular portions to detach the cutting tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the skirt portion of the supporting ring is disposed to overlap with the push button in the upward/downward direction, then the releasing mechanism can function properly, but the head height of the dental handpiece is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cap ring is positioned radially outward from the inner annular portion of the cap, creating a multi-dimensional arrangement where the releasing mechanism components are distributed in both axial and radial directions. This allows the skirt portion to extend radially outward rather than axially upward, reducing head height while maintaining the overlapping relationship needed for proper function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap ring with claw portions is nested within the space between the inner and outer annular portions of the cap. The claw portions engage with the skirt portion of the supporting ring, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall head height while ensuring the releasing mechanism functions properly through the maintained overlapping relationship.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the head height is reduced to minimize contact with oral mucosa, then patient safety is improved, but the releasing mechanism may not function properly due to insufficient overlap
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging the cap ring radially outward from the inner annular portion, the design reduces axial head height while maintaining the necessary overlap between the skirt portion and push button through radial positioning. This dimensional reorganization allows low head height to be achieved without compromising releasing mechanism function.
Solution Approach 2:
The claw portions of the cap ring act as intermediaries that engage with the skirt portion of the supporting ring. This intermediary connection ensures that the releasing mechanism functions properly even when the overall head height is reduced, as the claw portions maintain the necessary mechanical relationship between components.
3Length of moving object
If the claw portion is disposed on the inner side with respect to the inner annular portion, then the head height is reduced, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The outer annular portion of the cap provides counterbalancing structural support to the inner annular portion. This outer structure acts as a stabilizing element that compensates for the reduced structural contribution from positioning the claw portions on the inner side, thereby maintaining overall structural stability while enabling reduced head height.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap ring with claw portions is nested within the annular space between the inner and outer portions of the cap. This nested arrangement allows the claw portions to be positioned on the inner side for reduced head height while the outer annular portion provides the necessary structural stability to compensate for this positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dental handpiece (1) includes a main body portion (MP), a holding portion (51), and a releasing mechanism (RM). The releasing mechanism (RM) includes a cap (64), a cap ring (65), and a push cap (62). The cap (64) includes an outer annular portion (641) and an inner annular portion (642) provided with at least one window portion (WI). The push cap (62) is configured to be movable to a releasing position between the outer annular portion (641) and the inner annular portion (642) in a direction in which the push cap (62) is put on the cap ring (65), the releasing position being a position at which the holding portion (51) is released. The cap ring (65) includes at least one claw portion (CL) anchored to the window portion (WI) from the inner side. The claw portion (CL) is disposed on the inner side with respect to the inner annular portion (642).