Patent ID: 6290498
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A valve member for operatively linking a dentist cabinet dental handpiece, of the type which selectively requires a water flow and which includes a water inlet nozzle and a discharge outlet nozzle, to a main tubing, of the type having a water tube outlet and a discharge tube inlet, the water tube outlet providing a continuous positive water flow, said valve member comprising:a water conduit for operatively fluidingly linking the water tube outlet to the dental handpiece water inlet nozzle, a continuous positive water pressure thus being present in said water conduit for allowing selective water flow out through the dental handpiece;a discharge conduit for operatively fluidingly linking the discharge tube inlet to the dental handpiece discharge outlet nozzle, the pressure in said discharge conduit being inferior to the pressure in said water conduit;a bypass channel linking said water conduit to said discharge conduit; andan actuator, selectively movable in said bypass channel between a first limit position, in which said actuator allows fluid access through said bypass channel from said water conduit to said discharge conduit, and a second limit position, in which said actuator blocks in a fluid-tight fashion said bypass channel for preventing fluid from flowing between said water conduit and said discharge conduit;wherein in said first limit position of said actuator, water flowing in said water conduit will be redirected through said bypass channel to be dispatched in said discharge conduit for allowing continuous flow of the water in the tubing to prevent water stagnation, while in said second limit position of said actuator, water flowing in said water conduit will be forced to flow through said valve member and into the dental handpiece.