Patent Publication Number: US-2003228552-A1

Title: Equine dental tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a novel and useful equine dental tool.  
       [0002] The dental structure of a horse must often be attended to in order to allow the horse to properly consume food and to permit the use of a bit without harming the horse. Normally bit seats are placed in the mouth of a horse and attached to reins when the horse is being ridden. Horses are subject to a variety of dental malocclusions. For example, molars may be stepped or ramped, accentuated transverse ridges may occur in the molars, bone spurs may be found in the jaw, bites occur which are offset or diagonal, and the like. In the case of placement of a bit in the mouth of a horse, the edges of the molars must be rounded. Such rounding eliminates damage to the tongue and cheek portions of the horse which may occur by the existence of sharp edges on the lingual and buckle edges of a molar. When performing dental work on a horse, manipulation of dental devices is complicated by the depth of the molar relative to the exterior of the jaw of the horse and the limited opening through the mouth of the horse to gain access to the molars.  
       [0003] A dental device which is capable of grinding the molars of a horse in a safe and efficient manner would be a notable advance in the veterinary arts.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful equine dental tool is herein provided.  
       [0005] A dental tool of the present invention utilizes a rotatable shaft which is enclosed by a sheath to protect the same. The shaft may be supported within the sheath by one or more bearings within a chamber formed by the sheath. In addition, the sheath includes a first end portion and a second end portion which permit access to the rotatable shaft therewithin.  
       [0006] An abrading element is also employed in the present invention. The abrading element is intended to contact the edges of teeth of a horse in order to sculpt the same during dental treatments. The abrading element is linked to the rotatable shaft at the first end portion of the sheath. Preferably, the rotatable shaft rotates about a first axis while the abrading element rotates about a second axis which is angularly disposed relative to the first axis. In this regard, a miter gear arrangement may be employed to transfer the direction of rotation of the rotatable shaft to rotation in another direction. In this manner, the abrading element is visible and useable to the operator of the tool of the present invention. The abrading element may take the form of a spindle-shaped rasp although other structures may work as well.  
       [0007] Motive means is also used for rotating the rotatable shaft at the second end portion of the sheath. Such linkage may be of a conventional configuration and include the provision of a cable-type driver.  
       [0008] In addition, a gripping surface may be formed on the exterior of the sheath to aid the user in control of the tool of the present invention. Such gripping surface may take the form of a knurled surface, a rubberized surface, and the like.  
       [0009] It may be apparent to that a novel and useful equine dental tool has been hereinabove described.  
       [0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an equine dental tool which is useful in grinding the molars of a horse to prevent damage to the check and tongue of the horse.  
       [0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an equine dental tool which grinds the edges of the molars of the horse to allow the use of a bit without damage to the horse.  
       [0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an equine dental tool which permits the user to sculpt the teeth of a horse when the horse is sedated and the entrance to the mouth of the horse is lifted.  
       [0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide an equine dental tool allows the user to closely follow the grinding of the teeth of the horse quickly and efficiently.  
       [0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an equine dental tool which eliminates manual grinding or abrading of the teeth of a horse and is operable by a single person.  
       [0015] The invention possesses other objects and advantages especially as concerns particular characteristics and features thereof which will become apparent as the specification continues.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0016]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the tool of the present invention with a broken portion along the sheath and contained rotatable shaft.  
     [0017]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the abrading end of the tool of the present invention depicting the linkage of the rotatable shaft in exploded and broken configuration, with a partial section of the sheath and bearing supporting the rotatable shaft.  
     [0018]FIG. 3 is a partial broken top plan view depicting the linkage of the motivating means with the rotatable shaft within the sheath of the tool.  
     [0019]FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan view showing the use of the abrading element of the tool of the present invention on a molar of a horse.  
     [0020]FIG. 5 is a schematic broken front elevational view depicting the tool of the present invention being used on the molar of a horse. 
    
    
     [0021] For a better understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be taken in conjunction with the prior described drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION  
     [0022] Various aspects of the present invention will evolve from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof which should be referenced to the prior delineated drawings.  
     [0023] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings by reference character  10 . The equine dental tool  10  includes as one of its elements a sheath  12  which encloses a rotatable shaft  14 . Sheath  12  includes an elongated tubular section  16  which terminates in a flared end  18 . A grip  20  is provided with a gripping surface  22  of knurled configuration. Of course, other surface configurations may be suitable in this regard. Butt member  24  is formed integrally with grip  20  and terminates in a coupler  26  having a spring-loaded button  28 . It should be noted that elongated section  16  has been broken in FIG. 1. Typically, elongated tubular section  16  may span, typically, 35-40 centimeters for use with a horse. This permits tool  10  to reach the rear teeth of a horse with efficiency.  
     [0024] Tool  10  also includes abrading element  28  which may take the form of a rotatable spindle-shaped or “apple core” rasp. Abrading element  28  includes a rasp surface  30  which is suitable to grind the teeth of a horse or other ungulates. Directional arrow  32 , FIG. 2, indicates the rotation of abrading element  28 . Abrading element  28  connects to a miter gear adapter  34  of conventional configuration. For example, a miter gear adapter Model number IC-300, manufactured by NSK of Tokyo, Japan would suffice in this regard. The details of the miter gear operation of the miter gear adapter  34  will not be further delineated. However, needless to say, the rotational movement of shaft  14 , directional arrow  36  FIG. 2 along axis  38  is transferred to a rotational movement of a abrading element  38  about axis  40 , which is essentially at a right angle to axis  38 .  
     [0025]FIG. 2 details in the interconnection between rotatable shaft  14  and mitered gear adapter  34 . In essence, adapter  34  includes an external threaded surface  42  which engages an internal threaded surface  44  of chamber  46  within elongated section  16  of sheath  12 . First end portion  48  of shaft  50  engages blade  52  when threaded surface  42  threadingly engages threaded surface  44 . Output shaft  54  of miter gear adapter  34  connects to abrading element  28  in a removable manner. Shaft  14  is supported within chamber  46  of elongated section  16  of sheath  12  by bearing  54 . It should be understood that other bearings such as bearing  56 , shown schematically on FIG. 1, may be employed within sheath  12  to support rotatable shaft  14 .  
     [0026]FIG. 3 depicts the interconnection between rotatable shaft  14  at coupler  26  via a flexible cable-like rotational member  58 . For example, rotatable shaft  14  may include a slot  60  which fits a splined end portion  62  of rotatable cable member  58 . Needless to say, spline  62  meets with slot  60  of shaft  14  and is held thereto by conventional means. For example, the rotatable cable  58  may be provided by a tool Model number  7360 , Flex-Shaft, manufactured by Dremel of Racine, Wis. in this regard. Again, directional arrow  36  represents the rotational motion provided by rotating flexible cable  58 .  
     [0027] In operation, the user sedates a horse or other ungulate in order to provide dental care using the tool  10  of the present invention. The mouth of such animal, such as a horse, is then propped open approximately 5-6 centimeters. A light is provided within the mouth of the horse to illuminate the teeth found therewithin. Tool  10  is then employed through motivation means  64  which is the cable-like tool noted above. Motive means cable  58  is linked to rotatable shaft  14  which in turn rotates apple-core abrading element  28  according to directional arrow  32 . Rasp surface  30  of abrading elements  28  is selected to safely abrade or remove material from molar  66 , FIGS. 4 and 5. Abrading element  28  is passed along the edge  68  of molar  66  to round the same. For example, edge  68 , FIG. 5, is shown in its rounded configuration following the operation of abrading element  28 . Opposite edge  70  is depicted as having a sharp configuration which is unsuitable for the use of a bit in the mouth of a horse having molar  66 . Of course, tool  10  may be employed to grind or sculpt other teeth of a horse or ungulate such as the incisors, premolars, canines, wolf teeth, and the like.  
     [0028] While in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.