Oral hygiene work station

An oral hygiene work station includes a work table which includes a wash basin and a spray fitting and at least one cabinet which can receive additional components. A table top is pivotally mounted underneath and approximately in the center of the work table. The table top is pivotally mounted between a first position where the table top is disposed between the work table and the cabinet and extends so that the table top faces away from the wash basin to a second position where the table top has pivoted approximately 90.degree. so that the table top extends beyond the frontal edge surface of the work table and avoids interference with access to the cabinet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to an oral hygiene work station placed against a wall 
and including a work table in which is incorporated a wash basin equipped 
with a spray attachment and at least one base cabinet disposed on a base 
so as to accommodate additional elements. 
There exsits oral hygiene work stations at which patients can be educated 
and which also allow prophylactic work to be done on the patient. In 
addition to the fixedly installed work table having a wash basin and a 
spray fitting, oral hygiene work stations include base cabinets or 
base-mounted structures equipped with compartments and/or drawers to 
accommodate additional elements, such as a periodontal spray and a video 
device. 
2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
Essentially two concepts are known for oral hygiene work stations. In one 
concept, the part of the work table including the wash basin is angled in 
the manner of the base of the letter L. In this concept, a patient and a 
dental assistant sit facing one another. Its advantage is that direct 
cooperation is possible between the dental assistant and the patient; and 
that additional elements can easily be integrated. The drawback of this 
concept is its rigidity and that it requires too much space. In the other 
concept, the work table is placed against a wall--generally a wall 
equipped with a mirror--in the manner of a rectangular console table. The 
dental assistant and the patient sit next to one another. An oral hygiene 
work station equipped in this manner also has the advantage that 
additional elements can easily be integrated. Its drawback is that only 
indirect cooperation is possible between the dental assistant and the 
patient. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is the object of the invention to design an oral hygiene work station of 
the above-described type which combines the advantages of the prior art 
concepts without their drawbacks. This is accomplished according to the 
invention in that an additional table top is pivotally fastened below the 
work table, essentially in the center between its front faces. In its one 
end position, this additional table top is pivoted between the work table 
and the base cabinet at the frontal face of the work station which faces 
away from the frontal region equipped with the wash basin. In the other 
end position, the additional table top is pivoted out at a right angle to 
the work table. 
The oral hygiene work station according to the invention can be used with 
the additional work table pivoted in or out. With the additional work 
table pivoted in, its space requirement is no more than for a rectangular 
console table. Nevertheless, the present invention allows the dental 
assistant and the patient to sit facing one another for direct cooperation 
since it is merely necessary to pivot out the additional work table. 
Additional elements, such as a periodontal spray and video device can be 
integrated in the same manner as in the prior art oral hygiene work 
stations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The oral hygiene work station to be placed against a wall includes a work 
table 1, a pivotal additional table top 2 disposed below the work table, 
cabinets 3 and 4 at each frontal face of work table 1, and a structure 5 
mounted to the base and located above and at the rear of the work table 1. 
A wash basin 11 equipped with a spray fitting 35 is integrated in work 
table 1. The wash basin is inserted in the region of the narrower base 
cabinet 4. In the embodiment, base cabinet 4 includes a container 41 which 
can be pivoted outwardly. Base cabinet 3 on the opposite side is seated on 
a base 31. This cabinet includes a drawer 32 as well as a panel 33. Drawer 
32 and panel 33 serve to accommodate additional elements. For example, a 
video device can be accommodated behind panel 33. A periodontal spray is 
one of the additional elements which can be accommodated. 
The additional table top 2 is pivotally fastened essentially in the center 
of the work table 1. The pivotal fastening is effected with the aid of a 
swivel joint 21 inserted at the underside of work table 1 and the upper 
sides of table top 2. In one end position, the table top 2 is pivoted 
between the work table 1 and the base cabinet 3. In the other end 
position, the table top 2 is pivoted out at a right angle to the width of 
the work table 1. 
In the region disposed underneath work table 1 even if table top 2 is 
pivoted out, additional table top 2 has a portion 22 in the shape of a 
non-isosceles triangle. The side 23 of the triangular portion 22 facing 
front edge 12 of work table 1 when table top 2 is pivoted in, is longer 
than the side 24 which faces the rear edge 13 of work table 1 when the 
table top is pivoted in. 
The portion of table top 2 projecting beyond work table 1 when table top 2 
is in the pivoted-out state has the shape of a rectangle 25 with rounded 
corners. This configuration of additional table top 2, on the one hand, 
provides the largest possible work surface and, on the hand, permits 
pivoting of the table top 2 completely underneath the work table 1. A 
metal rail 14 is attached underneath the work table 1. In the pivoted-out 
state, the side 23 of the additional table top 2 is supported in this 
metal rail 14. In this way, the table top 2 is given additional stability. 
The front edge 12 of the work table 1 in the region from its end closest to 
the base cabinet 3 to the location where the additional table top 2 begins 
to project in its pivoted-out position is essentially parallel to the 
straight rear edge 13. In the region of the pivoted-out additional table 
top 2, the front edge 12 is offset at an angle with respect to the rear 
edge 13. In the region between the end of pivoted-out additional table top 
2 and the frontal face adjacent the wash basin 11, the front edge 12 
converges toward the rear edge 13. This configuration results in a space 
saving configuration for the oral hygiene work station, but on the other 
hand provides sufficient room, for the patient as well as for the dental 
assistant and finally for the accommodation of necessary and additional 
elements. 
The base-mounted structure 5 fastened to the rear of work table 1 is 
equipped with shelves 51 and with a mirror 52 next to them. 
Swivel joint 21 is formed by a stepped pin 15 fastened to the work table 1 
and a sleeve 26 fastened to the top 2 and coaxially enclosing a pin 15. 
The pin 15 and the sleeve 26 are supported so as to rotate in mutually 
opposite directions. Two pivot bearings are provided for rotatable 
support. 
One of the pivot bearings is a ball bearing 61. The ball bearing 61 is 
adjacent table top 2. The other pivot bearing is an angular roller bearing 
62. The angular roller bearing is placed remote from the table top 2. 
A plate 16 is fastened to the lower free end of the pin 15. The plate 16 is 
screwed to the pin 15 with the aid of a cap nut 17. One part of the 
angular roller bearing 62 fastened to sleeve 26 is rotatably supported at 
the plate 16. The other part of the angular roller bearing is fastened to 
the pin 15 and supported at one of its steps. One part of the ball bearing 
61 is also fastened to the pin 15 and supported at one of its steps. The 
other part of the ball bearing 61 is fastened to the sleeve 26. 
The invention can be utilized commercially in the field of dentistry. The 
oral hygiene work station serves for patient education and prophylaxis. It 
can be used, for example, in dentists' offices.