Improved Dental Forceps, Shears, Clippers, or the like, with Interchangeable Bits.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1900
Improved Dental Forceps, Shears, Clippers, or the like,
with Interchangeable Bits.
I, AUGUSTIN PIERRE BUDIN, of No. 82, Grande Rue, Chantilly, France, Dentist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same -
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement;
-
Heretofore, dentists have been obliged to have as many instruments or forceps
as there are teeth in the human jaw for drawing out such teeth, owing to the
fact that each tooth has a different conformation. In order to obviate this I have
invented a system, forming the subject of this application which will enable
the operator to fit, on a common shank or handle the series of necessary bits for
drawing out teeth. By aid of this invention a dentist needs but a single shank,
or handle, and a series of bits corresponding to the different teeth which will
save material and reduce the number of instruments to be carried about.
In order that this my invention may be more readily understood and carried into
practical effect, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 shows the instrument complete.
Figure 2 is a detail view showing a pair of bits.
Fig. 3, shows the upper portion of the handle, the branches of which are
brought apart or opened to an angle of 30°.
Fig. 4, is an inner front view of the upper portion of one branch.
Fig. 5, is an inner front view of the upper portion of the other branch.
Figs. 6 & 7 show details of the bits.
The handle consists of two branches a and b each of which terminates in a
flat portion a¹ b' respectively, having holes c, d. Each flattened portion is provided
with a projecting segment, the end of which surrounds the hole c and d. e and f
represent said segments. The segment e is provided with a groove as at g,
whilst the segment f has a projecting parth adapted to engage said groove g.
The branches a and b are made to rotate on a pivotal pin i (Fig. 3), connecting
the flattened portions a¹ b¹ together, in the manner of the pivot-pin of shears,
or like instruments.
As seen in Fig. 3, when both branches are mounted, the projecting part h
engages the groove g. In accordance with the respective positions of the project-
ing parts e and f in respect to the branches a and b, said projecting parts do not
coinside with each other unless the branches are set to a certain angle (about 30°).
When the branches are brought together, the projecting parts e and f will be
set to a certain angle, this arrangement serving the purpose hereinafter described.
The bits are composed of two parts and k, each of which is provided with a
recess and m respectively, the recess being adapted to fit around the projecting
parte whilst the recess m fits around the projecting part f.
One of the faces of the bit j is provided with two grooves n, the width of which
is equal to that of the groove g, so that when the bit ; is fitted upon the projecting
part e, the grooves n and g form a continuous circular channel or groove. To the

page_text: other face of the bit is secured a projecting part o adapted to come in line with the
projection h when the bit k is mounted on the projecting part f.
For setting the bits in place, they are first brought against each other as
indicated in Fig. 2, so that the projecting part o of the bit k engages one of the
grooves n of the bit . In this position the recesses and m are caused to
coinside. Then the branches a and b are placed so that the projecting parts e
and coincide exactly as indicated in Fig. 3, and in this position of the parts
the bits may be fitted into the handle the hollow space formed by the recesses
and m receiving the projecting parts and m which coincide with each other
in the position of the branches a and b indicated.
Now when said branches are moved towards each other, the projecting
parts e and no longer coincide and are set at a certain angle, whilst the tenon h
engages one of the grooves, the tenon o engaging the groove g. Thus the bits
are made integral with the handle and cannot be removed from the latter unless
the branches a and b are moved into the desired position to cause the projecting
parts e and to coincide with each other, and I have already stated that this
occurs only when the branches a and b are set at an angle of 30°, which angle
is greater than that required for drawing out a tooth. Therefore it is impossible
for the bits to become accidentally detached during the operation.
Although this invention applies primarily to the construction of dental forceps,
it is obvious that it may also be utilized in the construction of instruments for
other purposes than dentistry, for instance shears, clippers, surgical instruments
and the like, but as the system would in any of these applications differ in no
essential point from. what I have herein set forth and described in the case of
dental forceps it is therefore unnecessary to further particularize the application
to other instruments as above mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
A novel system of dental forceps with interchangeable bits, comprising a handle
composed of two branches each provided with a flattened portion having a hole
and with a projecting segment, one of the segments being provided with a groove,
whilst the other has a projecting part adapted to engage said groove, the said
branches being adapted to swing on a pivot pin, and constructed so that
the projecting parts do not exactly coinside with each other unless said branches
are set at a given angle, the bits of the forceps being formed of two parts,
each provided with a recess, one of which fits around the projecting part of one
handle branch, whilst the other recess fits around the projecting part of the
other branch; one of said bits having two grooves of the same width as that
of the corresponding groove of one of the branches; this arrangement making the
bits integral with the handle during the operation and until the male and female
segments of the branches are caused to coincide with each other, that is, until
said branches are again set at the given angle to permit of the removal of both
bits, the system being applicable to any other instruments; such as shears,
clippers or the like, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 13th day of December 1200
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Registered Patent Agent,
No. 34, Belvoir Street, Leicester, England, Applicant's Agent.