Patent ID: 7172415

Claim:
An equine dental apparatus for floating the teeth of horses comprising: a tool body, wherein the tool body includes a pivot joint having a pivot axis; a drive shaft disposed along a first axis inside of the tool body, wherein the drive shaft includes a first end configured for attachment to a drive mechanism and a second end opposite the first end, and further wherein the drive shaft includes a first section disposed to rotate about the first axis, a second section disposed to rotate about a second axis, and a ball and socket joint disposed to couple the second section to the first section, wherein the ball and socket joint is disposed inside of the pivot joint; and a grinding member connected to the second end and partially housed in the tool body, wherein when the tool body is held in a fixed position with the drive shaft oriented horizontally, the grinding member is capable of pivoting upward through a first range of angles relative to the drive shaft and is further capable of pivoting downward through a second range of angles relative to the drive shaft, and further wherein the grinding member pivots through the range of angles about the pivot axis.