Patent ID: 6012922
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A dental handpiece comprising:a housing;a head portion affixed to said housing;a rotatable drive shaft journaled within said housing, and having a first and a second cooperating section and an axis of rotation;a rotatable dental tool operatively connected to said first section of said drive shaft;drive motor means operatively connected to said second section of said drive shaft to selectively and rotatably drive said drive shaft about its axis of rotation;means to couple said first and second drive shaft sections, comprising an axial displacement bearing affixed to one of said sections and receiving the other said section;said axial displacement bearing having at least one helical slot therein;a pin affixed to said shaft section received within said axial displacement bearing and said pin positioned within said helical slot so as to be in operative, physical contact with said axial displacement bearing;such that as said drive motor means causes said second section of said drive shaft to rotate, first section of said drive shaft by said pin being in said physical contact with said axial displacement bearing helical slot, thereby causing a rotational force to be applied to said dental tool and causing its rotation.