Tandem pivot mount for dental patient chair

A dental chair assembly comprises a base, a support, a first pivot mount and a second pivot mount. The support is configured to support a chair seat defined to extend in a forward direction and a chair back positioned rearward of the chair seat. The support has a forward side, an opposite rearward side and a longitudinal axis extending through the forward and rearward sides. The first pivot mount is positioned along the longitudinal axis forward of the rear side of the support and configured to support at least one movable arm. The first pivot mount defines a first upright pivot axis. The second pivot mount is positioned along the longitudinal axis and spaced forwardly from the first pivot mount. The second pivot mount is configured to support at least one movable arm and defines a second upright pivot axis parallel to the first upright pivot axis.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to a dental chair assembly, and specifically to arrangements for positioning various dental equipment close to the dental patient chair for the practitioner to use during treatment.

In a typical dental operatory setting, dental equipment may include a delivery system (from which instruments that use water, pressurized air, suction, electrical power, data, etc. are accessed), as well as equipment of other types, including lights, monitors, other types of instruments, etc., that can be supported in desired positions by one or more movable arms mounted to the dental chair assembly or its surroundings (e.g., a cabinet, wall, floor or ceiling).

Some small operatories do not provide sufficient space, however, to fully utilize currently available arrangements of movable arms. Also, some currently available arrangements of movable arms do not provide equal ranges of motion on both sides of the chair, and thus are less flexible for being repositioned between uses by left-handed and right-handed practitioners. In some cases, currently available arm arrangements do not allow for equipment to be positioned at some desired locations because of limitations in range and/or interference between components of the arrangements.

SUMMARY

Described below are implementations of mounting arrangements for movable arms in a dental chair assembly.

According to a first implementation, a dental chair assembly comprises a base, a support, a first pivot mount and a second pivot mount. The support is movably coupled to the base and configured to support a chair seat defined to extend in a forward direction and a chair back positioned rearward of the chair seat. The support has a forward side, an opposite rearward side and a longitudinal axis extending through the forward and rearward sides. The first pivot mount is positioned along the longitudinal axis forward of the rear side of the support and configured to support at least one movable arm. The first pivot mount defines a first upright pivot axis. The second pivot mount is positioned along the longitudinal axis and spaced forwardly from the first pivot mount. The second pivot mount is configured to support at least one movable arm and define a second upright pivot axis parallel to the first upright pivot axis.

The first pivot mount can be defined along a pivot mount section extending forwardly from a main body of the support. The first upright pivot axis and the second upright pivot axis can intersect the chair seat.

The dental chair assembly can include a first movable arm mounted to the first pivot mount and a second movable arm mounted to the second pivot mount, and the first movable arm can be positioned to swing through an arc at a level below the second movable arm. The dental chair assembly can comprise a pivot mount extension member coupled to the support. The second pivot mount can be defined along the pivot mount extension member. In one implementation, the pivot mount extension member is coupled to an upper side of the first pivot mount. In one implementation, the pivot mount extension member is coupled to the pivot mount section of the support with fasteners.

In one implementation, the second pivot mount is configured to be coupled to the pivot extension member from below.

In one implementation, at least one of the first pivot mount and the second pivot mount comprises a hollow construction defining an internal umbilical passage through which one or more umbilicals can be routed.

In one implementation, the first movable arm is configured to swing radially outward relative to the second movable arm. The first movable arm can be configured to have a longer radius than the second movable arm.

In one implementation, the second movable arm is configured to support a dental light. In one implementation, the first movable arm is configured to support at least a delivery system.

The support can comprise a movement device coupled to the base and operable to raise and lower the support.

The first pivot mount can have a first pivot mount opening and the second pivot mount can have a second pivot mount opening, and the first pivot mount opening and the second pivot mount opening can be positioned at a substantially common level.

In one implementation, a pivot mount extension member is coupled to the support and defines first and second openings for the first and second pivot mounts.

The first and second movable arms can each have a length greater than the distances separating the first pivot axis from a distal end of the chair seat and from the second pivot axis and the distal end of the chair seat, respectively.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described below are implementations of a tandem pivot mount for a dental chair assembly and a dental chair assembly having a tandem pivot mount (or hub).

Referring toFIG. 1, a dental chair assembly100has a base102, a support104movable relative to the base, and a chair seat106and a chair back108that are each coupled to the support104. The dental chair assembly100, which is sometimes also referred to as a patient chair or a treatment chair, is designed to accommodate a patient (not shown) comfortably, while allowing the patient to be positioned as needed relative to a dentist or other practitioner(s) during treatment. For example, the chair back108can be positioned in a fully reclined position as shown, and the movable support104can be raised or lowered to achieve a desired height above the base102to permit the practitioner, who is typically seated in a stool, to access the patient's oral cavity effectively.

The base102is typically positioned on the floor of the operatory. The support104is movable by a movement mechanism105, such as a hydraulic lift arm or other similar type of movement device capable of raising and lowering the level of the support104relative to the base102. The support104may also pivot through an angular range as it raised and lowered.

A longitudinal axis L is defined to extend along the centerline of the chair seat106and the chair back108, with a forward direction F defined as extending in the direction of the chair seat106. The support104has a forward side or end110, and an opposite rearward side or end112.

Forward of the rearward end112, there is a first pivot mount120positioned on the longitudinal axis L that pivotably supports a first movable arm122. The first movable arm122can pivot or rotate (i.e., to the left or to the right) with respect to the first pivot mount120about a first upright pivot axis P1. There is also a second pivot mount130positioned on the longitudinal axis L and forward of the first pivot mount120that supports a second movable arm132. The second movable arm132can pivot or rotate with respect to the second pivot mount130about a second upright pivot axis P2. The first and second pivot mounts120,130can spaced close to each other along the longitudinal axis L as shown (e.g., even side by side), but are spaced apart from each other such that each defines a separate upright pivot axis P1, P2, respectively, to achieve various advantages as described herein. The arrangement of the first and second pivot mounts120,130can be described as “a tandem pivot mount.”

Among other advantages described herein, because the first pivot mount120and the second pivot mount130are each positioned on the longitudinal axis, the first and second movable arms122,132, respectively, can each be positioned through left-side and right-side angular ranges that are equal to each other (assuming that there are no interfering objects, such as walls, cabinets and/or other equipment). In this way, the dental chair assembly100with the tandem pivot mount supports uses where the movable anus need to be re-positioned for use by left-handed and right-handed practitioners. This is an advantage, particularly in settings where left-handed and right-handed practitioners frequently share use of the same dental chair assembly100.

As described, the first and second movable arms122,132are positioned forwardly, i.e., forward of the rear end112of the support104, and typically forward of an axis about which the chair back108is pivotal*. In the illustrated implementation, as shown inFIG. 2, the support104has a pivot mount section134extending forwardly in which the first pivot mount120is defined. In other implementations, the pivot mount120could be provided at the forward location relative to the chair as described to achieve the same placement of the pivot axis P1, but coupled to structure other than the chair.

In the illustrated implementation, the first movable arm122is pivotably mounted at a lower side of the first pivot mount120. Thus, the first movable arm pivots (or rotates or swings) in a plane at a level below the pivot mount section134. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the first movable arm122could be pivotably mounted above a supporting member.

The pivot mount section134can also be configured to provide the second pivot mount130. In the illustrated implementation, the pivot mount section134can have a pivot mount extension member136that extends forwardly and defines the second pivot mount130. The pivot mount extension member136can be formed as a plate and coupled to an upper surface of the pivot mount section134, e.g., with threaded fasteners or another suitable arrangement. The second movable arm132can be coupled to the pivot mount extension member136from below to pivot in a plane below the pivot mount extension member136. In the illustrated implementation, the second movable arm is positioned to pivot in approximately the same plane as the pivot mount section134.

In another implementation, the pivot mount section134projects forwardly and defines the position of the first pivot axis P1at the same location as described above, but the first movable arm122is coupled vertically above the pivot mount section134. The second movable arm132can then be positioned for rotation in a plane at a level below the first movable arm122(see, e.g.,FIG. 8). The pivot mount extension member136can be positioned to extend from a lower side of the pivot mount section134, or a different configuration of structural elements sufficient to provide the second pivot mount130to support the second movable arm132can be provided. In some implementations, e.g., the pivot mount section134and the pivot extension member136could be formed as a single element134′ (see, e.g.,FIG. 8). In some implementations, the pivot mount section can have a stepped section that changes in height from a level of the support104to a different level, such as a lower level at the location of the first pivot mount120(see, e.g., the pivot mount section134′ inFIG. 8).

The first and second pivot mounts120,130include internal components designed to make the pivoting action smooth, including one or more bearings, and keep the movable arms122,132, respectively, securely connected.

FIG. 3is another partial perspective view of the tandem pivot mount, showing the first pivot mount120to which the first movable arm122is coupled and the second pivot mount130to which the second movable arm132is coupled. As can be seen inFIG. 3, the first and second upright pivot axes P1and P2, respectively, are located such that they extend to intersect the chair seat106. Stated differently, the first and second pivot mounts120,130are positioned below the chair seat106.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of the dental chair assembly100from a different angle, with the chair seat106removed for clarity and the first and second movable arms122,132in different positions. Referring toFIGS. 2-5, the first and second pivot mounts can be configured as shown such that the first pivot mount120supports the first movable arm122having a longer radial length, and the second pivot mount130supports the second movable arm132having a shorter radial length. In this way, the second movable arm132is configured to pass radially inwardly of the first movable arm122. In other words, the first movable arm122swings past the second movable arm132to the outside. In other configurations, the second movable arm132can be configured to swing to the outside of the first movable arm122.

The first movable arm122can be configured to support a delivery system DS, such as a continental delivery system (shown inFIGS. 1 and 5), a traditional delivery system, or another type of delivery system. The first movable arm122can also support various other equipment, such as a water supply container WS, as shown. In the illustrated implementation, the first movable arm122is configured to have an adjustable height arm or section (e.g., a flexarm, an arm with a slide lock adjustment, etc.) that allows equipment attached at the distal end, such as the delivery system DS, to be raised and lowered, swung through an arc and retained in place at a desired location (such as, e.g., with a brake or other device), with ease. The second movable arm132can be configured to support other equipment, e.g., a dental light DL (FIG. 5). Other alternative configurations are also possible, depending upon the particular operating requirements.

By configuring the first and second movable arms122,132as shown, the dental chair assembly100can be quickly changed from a position for use by a left-handed practitioner to an opposite position for use by a right-handed practitioner, and vice versa. In addition, the configuration of the first and second pivot mounts120,130, and the locations of the respective pivot axes P1and P2, are selected to provide for as full of a range of motion about the patient in the chair as is possible while maintaining a compact design that can be used in operatories with small footprints. Within areas next to and over the patient seating area, the delivery system DS on the first movable arm122and the light DL on the second movable arm are widely positional with few “dead areas” that cannot be reached.

Another advantage of the tandem or side-by-side mount arrangement is that routing of umbilicals through the first and second pivot mounts120,130and the respective first and second movable arms122,132is made easier. “Umbilicals” is the terminology used herein to describe various cables, conduits, tubings and other long flexible members for conveying fluids, electrical power, data, etc., to and from various devices, including devices located along the first and second movable arms122,132. In the illustrated implementation, the first and second movable arms can each have a hollow construction such that umbilicals can be routed internally. Because the first and second pivot mounts120,130are spaced from each other and have separate pivot axes rather than being configured concentrically on a single pivot axis, umbilicals U2for the second movable arm (one of which is shown inFIG. 2) can be routed from the support, such as from the pivot mount section134, over the pivot mount extension member136and into a second pivot mount opening142leading to the hollow interior of the second movable arm132, separate from umbilicals U1for the first movable arm. The umbilicals U2(five of which are shown inFIG. 2) can be routed directly from the support to an opening140in the first pivot mount120that leads through an opening in the pivot mount section134and to a hollow interior of the first movable arm120.

The tandem pivot mount arrangement also allows for easier retrofitting of a new second pivot mount130/second movable arm132, as well as easier servicing of the second movable arm132. The dental chair assembly100can initially be provided with the first pivot mount120on the pivot mount section134and pivot extension member136, but without any second movable arm132. If it is desired at a later time to add the second movable arm132, then the installation primarily concerns coupling the second movable arm132to the second pivot mount130and extending the related umbilicals U2from the support, over the pivot mount section134and to the opening140as described above, but without requiring the entire disassembly of the first pivot mount120and the umbilicals U1.

FIGS. 6 and 7are side elevations of a dental chair assembly100′ having a slightly different base102′, support104′, chair seat106′ and chair back108′, but the same forward pivot mount section134and pivot extension member136. As shown somewhat schematically inFIG. 6, the geometry of the pivot mount section134and the pivot mount extension member136allows the dental chair to be lowered to a very low elevation, which is easier for patient ingress and egress, without any interference between the first and second movable arms122,132and the base102′. At the same time, if the dental chair assembly100′ is used in a raised position100′ as shown inFIG. 7, the first and second movable arms122,132are also available for use at the raised elevation.

Although described herein as the dental chair assembly100, the same or similar equipment as described can be used in procedures other that dentistry, including but not limited to oral surgery and other types of patient treatment where positioning of the patient (and especially the patient's head) within the allowable ranges that can be achieved as shown is helpful.