Abstract:
An ultrasonic cleaner apparatus with an opening mechanism including a plurality of lugs preferably formed on a top surface of the apparatus, a lid enclosing the apparatus and resting on the lugs when the lid is in a closed position, and a rim formed exterior to the lugs, wherein the lid is secured in an open position between two or more of the plurality of lugs and the rim. A drain assembly coupled to the ultrasonic cleaner provides an advantageous configuration for dispensing cleaning and/or sterilizing fluid and the like from the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional patent application no. 61/060,605, filed Jun. 11, 2008, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to ultrasonic cleaners operative to clean dental or medical instruments and the like, including, but not limited to, dentures, optical lenses, eyeglasses, and to a method for operating such cleaners. 
       BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0003]    Professionals in the dental, laboratory and medical fields use ultrasonic systems to clean instruments, apparatus, labware, crowns, dentures and other devices prior to sterilization. Ultrasonic cleaning greatly reduces the risk of cross-contamination and infection that can occur with other types of cleaning. Hence this procedure is critical in protecting instruments and is at the center of infection risk control. 
         [0004]    Ultrasonic cleaners use high frequency sound waves propagating in aqueous solutions to create bubbles that loosen and remove impurities from items to be cleaned. A typical ultrasound cleaner is configured with a housing defining a bath filled with a cleaning solution that is agitated by high frequency sound waves sufficient to create and burst up bubbles that remove impurities from instruments. An example of such an ultrasonic cleaner is disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. No. 315,040 fully incorporated herein by reference. Other examples of ultrasonic cleaners are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,718 is also incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0005]    A cleaning solution utilized in the ultrasound cleaner configured with a bath is typically reused and, thus, tends to lose its effectiveness long before the bath is refilled with a new volume of the solution. Consequently, it is important that an operator keep track of how long the solution has been used and replace it in a timely manner. 
         [0006]    Typically, an ultrasonic cleaner is used repeatedly during the day. A cleaning cycle may last a few minutes or longer depending on the selected cycle time period. In certain situations, knowing how much time is left before the cycle is completed is important. However, the known devices may lack a visual indicating means that would provide such information. 
         [0007]    With the global economy expanding, many of the known ultrasound devices can be purchased all over the world. At least some of the known devices utilize a user display providing an operator with easily seen step-by-step operational instructions. Yet, the known devices may have limited communication capabilities and display instructions in a language unfamiliar to the operator. Accordingly, the marketability of such devices may suffer from a lack of comprehension. Still other devices are specifically manufactured to meet the linguistic requirements of the regions or countries to which these devices are exported. This, in turn, incurs unnecessary expenses on both manufactures and consumers. 
         [0008]    It is, therefore, desirable to provide an ultrasonic cleaner that has the capability of providing the operator with an indication of how long the solution has been used. Also, it is desirable to provide an ultrasonic cleaner that has the capability of displaying the time remaining to complete a current cleaning cycle. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an ultrasonic cleaner that has the ability to have operational instructions displayed in several different languages. Finally, it is desirable to provide an ultrasonic cleaner that has a control panel allowing the operator to utilize the cleaner in a simple and comprehensive manner. These desires have been addressed by the disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/750,654 (“the &#39;654 Application”), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0009]    Despite the useful features of the &#39;654 application, there still remain several aspects of the ultrasonic cleaner described therein that require addressing. One is the manner in which a lid covering the ultrasonic cleaner can be opened and kept out of the way of the user, without placing that lid on some other surface that might result in contaminating the lid and therewith the cleaner itself. Further, the use of hinges or other typical opening devices that would alleviate the need to put the lid down is overly limiting as it permits only a single direction of opening based on the orientation of the hinges. 
         [0010]    A second feature that requires addressing is the actual location of the display unit. The &#39;654 application describes in detail the benefits of the display, but there is one shortcoming of that display, namely its fixed location on the unit. As a result a user must configure their workstation to accommodate the single location of the display. But sometimes this is neither easy nor efficient, thus an alternative is desired. 
         [0011]    Finally, there is a drain knob located on the outside of the ultrasound cleaner that is used to drain the device. However, in the assembly of the device, this knob is somewhat challenging to assemble requiring removing a portion of the cover and the screwing in of a screw to secure the knob to the valve which controls the flow of the cleaning solution. Accordingly, an easier solution is required to streamline assembly and minimize the number of steps required for assembly. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    The present disclosure addresses these needs and seeks to provide, under an exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic cleaner apparatus provided with a cover that is removable securable in four different locations on the unit without needing to be placed on a surface separate from the device. 
         [0013]    Under another exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic cleaner apparatus is disclosed having two or more different mounting locations such that a display can be moved to a convenient side of the device by the user enabling set-up that is most convenient for the user in their work space. 
         [0014]    Under yet another exemplary embodiment, a drain knob is disclosed that can be coupled to a valve stem in a single step. The knob is preferably configured having openings formed thereon for receiving projections formed on a coupling. At least one of these projections include a ramped surface, where the projection with the ramped surface is flexible and deflects away from a surface of the knob when the knob is slid onto the coupling. The ramped surface also includes a flat that engages the opening securing the knob to the coupling. 
         [0015]    An exemplary ultrasonic cleaner opening mechanism is also disclosed to include a plurality of lugs formed on an top surface of the ultrasonic cleaner, a lid enclosing the ultrasonic cleaner and resting on the lugs when the lid is in a closed position, and a rim formed exterior to the lugs, wherein the lid is secured in an open position between two or more of the plurality of lugs and the rim. 
         [0016]    Under yet another exemplary embodiment, an ultrasonic cleaner is disclosed to include an enclosure for housing items to be cleaned during the cleaning cycle in a bath of the cleaning solution, a user interface for selecting functions and timing of actions to be taken by the ultrasonic cleaner, two or more locations for mounting the user interface to the ultrasonic cleaner, and a cover to prevent the ingress of foreign material (e.g., fluids and debris) into the other of the locations to which the user interface is not mounted. 
         [0017]    Under yet another exemplary embodiment, a drain assembly is disclosed to include a drain valve, a coupling operably engaging the drain valve, the coupling including at least one alignment projection and at least one ramped projection, and a drain knob, said drain knob engaging the coupling and including at least one straight opening for receiving the alignment projection and at least one securing opening to receive the ramped projection and prevent the removal of the drain knob from the coupling once inserted therein. 
         [0018]    Other objects, features, and advantages according to the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of certain advantageous embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the same components are identified by the same reference numerals. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an ultrasonic cleaner apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate different views of a top portion of the ultrasonic cleaner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a lid for an ultrasonic cleaner according to another exemplary embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 3B and 3D  are different side views of the lid for an ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3C  is a bottom view of the lid for an ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiments of  FIG. 3   a  and  3   b;    
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a portion of the ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another portion of the ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of yet another portion of the ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another portion of the ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of an ultrasonic cleaner and drain valve according to another exemplary embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a blown-up view of a drain valve and knob assembly of an ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10A  is a top view of a drain knob according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10B  is a first side view of a drain knob according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 10C  is a second side view of a drain knob according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 11A-11D  are different views of a coupling for a drain valve of an ultrasonic cleaner according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0034]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  illustrate different views of the ultrasonic cleaner, drain valve and knob assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 8   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a first aspect of a ultrasonic cleaner apparatus  10  according to an exemplary embodiment. The ultrasonic cleaner apparatus  10  includes a housing  12 , a top portion  13  and a lid  14 . The interior  18  of the ultrasonic cleaner is where a fluid would be placed and into which fluid objects for cleaning and/or sterilization would also be placed. The apparatus  10  includes a lid  14  formed with a hand hold  20 . The lid  14 , as shown in  FIG. 1  is held in its open position using two lugs  16 , located at the read portion of the ultrasonic cleaner, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As is explained in further detail below, the top portion  13  is preferably configured with four lugs  16  (see  FIG. 2A ) to allow lid  14  to be moved and positioned in place under two lateral directions (illustrated as “A” and “B” in  FIG. 1 ) 
         [0036]      FIGS. 2A-D  illustrate a top portion  13  of ultrasonic cleaner apparatus  10 , where lugs  16  are preferably located at each of the four corners of the apparatus  10 . With this arrangement, the lid  14  (see  FIGS. 3A-D ) can be opened and held in place by the lugs  16  in any of four directions, and is not limited in the direction of opening as the lid would be if hinges were used. The lugs  16  are spaced away from an edge  15  that circumscribes the interior  18  of the ultrasonic cleaner. An edge of the lid  14  is placed into the space between the lugs  16  and the edge  15 . The height of the lug  16  is such that the lid is prevented from sliding out of the space. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 3A-D  illustrate various views of lid  14  for ultrasonic cleaner apparatus  10 .  FIG. 3A  shows a top view of a lid  14  having a hand hold  20  according to another exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIGS. 3A , the lid  14  also includes insets  22  which correspond to the lugs  16 , such that a rim  21  of the lid  14  does not impede the movement of the lid from a closed position to the open position such as that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  further illustrates how the insets  22  are designed to go around the lug  16  and allow for the lid  14  to be held in place between the lug  16  and the edge  15  of the ultrasonic cleaner apparatus  10 .  FIG. 5  shows another view of the positioning of the lid  14  behind the lug  16 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of ultrasonic cleaner  30 , where the lugs  16 , positioned at all four corners of the ultrasonic cleaner apparatus  10  (see  FIG. 2A ), allows for the lid  14  to be opened to the side instead of just to the back of the ultrasonic cleaner (directions “A” and “B”—see  FIG. 1 ). Thus, by using the lugs  16  as shown above, the lid  14  can be supported and held open as shown in  FIG. 1  and not require either hinges that limit the directions the lid  14  can be opened and which support the lid when ultrasonic cleaner is closed as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  illustrates another exemplary embodiment, where display connectors  30  are positioned at different sides of top portion  13  to accommodate a display depending on the lateral opening/closing position (“A” or “B”) of lid  14 . In the &#39;654 application, discussed above, a display unit is discussed for use with the ultrasonic cleaner. However, as described in the &#39;654 application the ultrasonic cleaner had only a single position in which the display could be secured to the ultrasonic cleaner. As described above, the fixing of the display at a single location led to difficulties by some in incorporating the ultrasonic cleaner in the workspaces of the user as it limited the orientations the ultrasonic cleaner could have to the rest of the space. 
         [0041]    According to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7  a display, such as that described in the &#39;654 application, is provided with two separate locations  30  at which the display could be mounted (see also  FIGS. 2A-D ). This enables any number of configurations of the device and renders it more accessible to the user. When one of the locations  30  is chosen for mounting the display, a cover, can be used to prevent the ingress of the sterilizing fluid or other contaminants into the other location  30 . While described herein as having two locations, more locations could also be provided thus increasing the flexibility of the orientation of the ultrasonic cleaner. 
         [0042]    Another exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , where  FIG. 8  illustrates a drain assembly incorporated in ultrasonic cleaner  10 .  FIG. 9  shows a blown-up view of the  FIG. 8  assembly and shows a close up view of a drain valve  42 . Drain valve  42  is operated by a drain knob  40  (see  FIGS. 10A-10C  for further details) located on an exterior surface of the ultrasonic cleaner  10 . The drain knob  40  includes openings  44  and  48 . The opening  44  is for alignment of the drain knob  40  to a coupler  50  which connects to the valve  42 . The opening  48  is for securing the drain knob  40  to the coupling and therewith the valve  42 . 
         [0043]    Coupling  50  is illustrated in  FIGS. 11A-11D  and includes two types of projections  52  and  54  illustrated in the exemplary embodiment. The first type of projection is a straight projection  52  which gests inserted into the openings  44 . The second type of projection are the ramped projections  54 . The ramped projections  54  can deflect when force is applied to one side. In practice the drain knob  40  is slid onto the coupling  50  such that the openings  44  and the projections  52  align. Once this is established, the drain knob is forced further onto the coupling until the ramp projection is forced through the openings  48 . Once the ramp projection  54  is completely inserted into the opening  48 , a flat formed on the back side of the ramp projection  54  prevents the removal of the drain knob  40  from the coupling  50 . However, if desired the drain knob can be removed by simply deflecting the ramped projections  54  into the openings and pulling the drain knob  40  away from the coupling  50 . Once secured to the coupling  50  turning of the drain knob results in opening or closing of the drain valve as desired. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 12A-12B  illustrate different views of the drain assembly, where drain knob  40  is connected to coupling  50 , which connects further to drain valve  42 . Drain valve  42  includes appropriate piping  60  to facilitate the flow of fluids being drained from the ultrasonic cleaner. The flow from piping  60  may be directed to other piping (not shown) using pipe coupler  65 . Drain valve  42  is preferably fixed to the body  12  using clamps  68 , or any other suitable mechanism known in the art.  FIGS. 12A-12B  further show a display  80  attached in one of the plurality of positions via connectors  30 , discussed above. 
         [0045]    Thus by the foregoing descriptions the present invention solves many of the shortcomings of the prior art ultrasonic cleaners and their components. 
         [0046]    The specific features described herein may be used in some embodiments, but not in others, without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth. Many additional modifications are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed in the absence of a corresponding use of other features. The illustrative examples, therefore, do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments described, and the invention includes modifications to these embodiments that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0047]    Although the invention has been described with reference to particular arrangements and embodiments of services, systems, processors, devices, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or embodiments, and indeed many other modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art. Also, while specific communication protocols are mentioned in this document, one skilled in the art would appreciate that other protocols may be used or substituted. This application covers any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is limited only by the claims and all available equivalents.