Patent ID: 7914315

Claim:
A coupling assembly for connecting a dental handpiece having an electric motor therein to a supply hose for providing electrical power to the handpiece, comprising: a first coupling member having an insertion opening; a second coupling member having a guide element wherein the guide element is configured to be received within the insertion opening; a pushing element formed on the first coupling member and having a first electrical contact, the pushing element being connected to the guide element and movably mounted on the second coupling member for axial movement along the second coupling member between an extended position in which the guide element constitutes a leading edge of the second coupling member, and a retracted position; a resilient biasing member on the second coupling member acting on the pushing member to bias the guide element to its extended position; a recess sized and configured to receive the pushing element, wherein the recess is formed on the second coupling member and includes a second electrical contact, wherein the pushing element and the recess are configured and sized relative to each other to bring the first and second electrical contacts into register when the pushing element is inserted into the recess, and wherein the guide element is received in the insertion opening to bring the first and second electrical contacts into engagement when the first and second coupling members are coupled together with the insertion opening and the guide element coupling members being rotated to a predetermined rotational orientation such that the pushing element is inserted into the recess and the guide member is at a predetermined axial depth in the insertion opening; and a latching mechanism for detachably securing the first and second coupling members together against axial forces tending to separate them when the coupling members are brought into engagement, with the guide element received in the insertion opening.