Dental Handpiece Cap Ring 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 overlap of the skirt portion of the supporting ring with the push button, increasing the risk of accidental contact.
Innovation Solution
A dental handpiece design featuring a cap and cap ring with inner and outer annular portions, a push cap that moves between these portions to release the holding mechanism, and claw portions anchored to inner annular windows, allowing for a reduced head height by minimizing the overlap of structural components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the skirt portion of the supporting ring overlaps with the push button in the upward/downward direction, then the tool attachment and detachment mechanism can be implemented, but the head height of the dental handpiece is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cap ring is designed with claw portions that extend in the radial direction rather than the axial direction, changing the dimension in which the retaining mechanism operates. This allows the push button to engage the claw portions radially through window portions, eliminating the need for axial overlap between the supporting ring skirt and push button, thereby reducing head height while maintaining tool attachment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The claw portions of the cap ring are nested within the space between the inner and outer annular portions of the cap, utilizing the radial space efficiently. The push button moves axially to engage these radially-extending claw portions, allowing the retaining mechanism to be compact in the axial direction while maintaining functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the head height of the dental handpiece is reduced, then the risk of unintentional contact with oral mucosa is reduced, but the structural components must be redesigned to avoid overlap
Solution Approach 1:
By transitioning from axial overlap to radial engagement, the invention reduces the axial dimension (head height) while distributing structural components in the radial direction. The cap's inner and outer annular portions with window portions, combined with the cap ring's radial claw portions, create a compact axial profile that reduces contact risk with oral mucosa.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is segmented into inner and outer annular portions with window portions, separating the retaining function from the push button mechanism. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's position and shape, enabling reduced head height while maintaining structural integrity and functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A dental handpiece includes a main body portion, a holding portion, and a releasing mechanism. The releasing mechanism includes a cap, a cap ring, and a push cap. The cap includes an outer annular portion and an inner annular portion provided with at least one window portion. The push cap is configured to be movable to a releasing position between the outer annular portion and the inner annular portion in a direction in which the push cap is put on the cap ring, the releasing position being a position at which the holding portion is released. The cap ring includes at least one claw portion anchored to the at least one window portion from the inner side. The at least one claw portion is disposed on the inner side with respect to the inner annular portion.