US1880176A - Wax spatula - Google Patents

Description

Se'pt. 27, 1932.

M. HARRIS WAX SPATULA Filed April 17. 1931 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 PATENT MAX HARRIS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK WAX SPATULA Application filed April 17,

This invention relates to a wax spatula intended more particularly for use in the art of technical dentistry.

y1t has for one of its objects the provision of a simple and inexpensive tool of this character wherein the heating element constitutes a self-contained part of the tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dental spatula whose parts areso constructed and designed as to render the tool convenient for use as well as afford a material saving of the dentists time in the application tliereof,and wherein the wax container and heating element are disposed in compact relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wax spatula which is so constructed that the wax container and the tip or point of the tool may be readily replaced or interchanged.

1n the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved wax spatula. Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3 3, Figure 2. Figure. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the heating element of my tool.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention lshown in the drawing, my improved spatula consists of a body made of insulatf ing material whose rear portion constitutes a handle for manipulating the spatula. This body is preferably of tubular form and fitted in its bore or longitudinal opening 11 is a heating element consisting of a shell or tube 12 containing a suitable resistance element 18 which is adapted to be connected to a source of electric current. This resistance element may be in the form of an asbestos-covered wire extending freely into the tube 12, or if desired, that end of the wire at the front end of the heating tube may be uncovered. At its front end the heating tube 12 is provided with a spatula point or tip 14 of spoon or other suitable shape which is preferably detachable from the heating element and for this purpose the same has a threaded shank 15 engaging a 1931. Serial No. 530,792.

correspondingly threaded opening 16 in the solid frontend of said heating tube.

At its front end and in the top side thereof the insulated body 10 is provided with a wax container or holder 17 made of any appropriate material and disposed lengthwise of the tool and in contact with the adjoining portion of the heating tube 12, so that the heat from the same is transmitted to the container to melt the wax and render it fluid. At its front end the container 17 has a discharge port or opening 18 through which the fluid wax is adapted te ow onto the spatula tip 14, the latter being disposed immediately below and forwardly of such port. At its rear end the wax container has a filling opening or neck 19 normally closed by a. suitable cap or vented closure 20.

The waX container 17 is preferably so mounted on the body 1() of the tool that it can be readily detached therefrom if desired, and for this purpose I provide the front end of the spatula-body with a longitudinal groove 21 which extends rearwardly from the front end of the body and opens at its bottom into the bore 11 of the tool-body, so that the front portion of the heating tube 12 is exposed on its top side for contact with the opposing bottom side of the wax container. Y This groove 21 is preferably of dove-tail shape in cross section and the lower shank or attaching portion 22 of the container is of corresponding shape, whereby the latter may be readily applied to and removed from the tool-body and yet be reliably held in place.

For the purpose of regulating the flow of melted wax from the containervl onto the spatula 14, a suitable closure or valve member 23 is provided which is adapted to extend across the discharge port 18. This valve member may be slidingly mounted on the front end of the container 17 in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2, the same being guided between suitable lugs 24. At its upper end the valve member terminates in a suitable finger piece 25.

This improved dental spatula is very light and convenient to handle and can thereby be used efliciently by the dentist to do accurate work. Furthermore, it is exceedingly conipact in construction and can be used for a long period of time with a single Wax charge and with a minimum expenditure of electrical energy.

I claim as my invention l. A device of the character described, comprising a body having 'a longitudinal opening therein, an electric heating element contained in said body-opening, a Wax container mounted on said body in contact with said heating element and having a discharge port therein, and a spatula projecting forwardly from the body in heat-conductingirelation to the heating element and adapted to receive the melted Wax from said containerport.

2. A device of the character described, comprising an insulated tubular body, an electric heating element arranged therein and terminating adjacent to the front end of said body, a Wax applicator projecting forwardly from the body and connected to the front end of said heating element, and a container for Wax detachably applied to one side of said body in contact With the heating element.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a body having a longitudinal opening therein and a groove at one end intersecting said opening, an electric heating element disposed in the body-opening, a Wax applicator projecting from the grooved end of the body and in heat-conducting relation to the heating element, and a Wax-container fitted in said body-groove inthe thermal contact with said heating element and having a port therein for discharging the melted Wax onto said applicator.

4. A dental vvaX spatula, comprising an insulated tubular body having a longitudinal groove in its top side and at the front end thereof, said groove opening at its bottom into the bore of the body, an electric heating element disposed in said body-bore and having its front end exposed to and constituting a bottom for said groove, a Wax container detachably fitted in the body-groove and in thermal contact with the heating element, said container having a filling opening at its rear end and a discharge port at its Jfront end, and a Wax applicator projecting from the front end of the body and detachably connected to said heating element, said applicator being in thermal contact With said element and arranged to receive the Wax from the discharge port of said container.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a body including a handle portion, an electric heating element contained substantially centrally Within said body, a Wax container mounted on said body at one side of its longitudinal axis and in contact with said heating element and having a discharge port therein, a spatula projecting forwardly from said body in substantially axial alinement therewith and adapted to receive the melted wax from said container, and a. valve member applied to the front end of said container for regulating the discharge of Wax from the discharge port of the container.

6. A spatula of the character described, comprising an insulated body having an opening therein and a longitudinal groove in, its top side intersecting said opening, an electric heating element arranged in said bodyopening and exposed to and constituting a bottom for said groove, and a Wax container fitted in said groove in thermal contact with Y the heating element and having a discharge said container.

' MAX HARRIS.

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