U.S. patent application number 10/050370 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for double hinge for sterilization apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Steri Source, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michaelson, Dennis J., Mix, Jeffrey W..
Application Number | 20020064489 10/050370 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24238450 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020064489 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Michaelson, Dennis J. ; et
al. |
May 30, 2002 |
Double hinge for sterilization apparatus
Abstract
A sterilization system for dental and orthodontic tools is
provided with a transport rack dimensionally sized to hold a
plurality interchangeable cassettes. The interchangeable cassettes
are designed and intended to hold kits of dental or orthodontic
tools and are provided with top opening, double-hinged covers which
lay flat on the surface when opened and used at a dental
workstation.
Inventors: |
Michaelson, Dennis J.;
(Pocatello, ID) ; Mix, Jeffrey W.; (Burley,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKAS, SHAVER & NIPPER, LLP
P O BOX 877
BOISE
ID
83701-0877
US
|
Assignee: |
Steri Source, Inc.
Burley
ID
|
Family ID: |
24238450 |
Appl. No.: |
10/050370 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10050370 |
Jan 15, 2002 |
|
|
|
09560591 |
Apr 28, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
422/300 ;
422/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/26 20130101; Y10T
16/547 20150115; Y10T 16/5361 20150115; A61L 2/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/300 ;
422/297 |
International
Class: |
A61L 002/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A double hinge for use in use in attaching a top cover to a
cassette having a pair of opposing side walls, a pair of opposing
end walls and a bottom wall, said hinge comprising: a first
horizontally oriented piano hinge interconnected to either an end
wall or a side wall and the top cover dividing said end or side
wall into upper and lower halves; and a second piano hinge oriented
in juxtaposed relationship to said first hinge dividing said top
cover into two interconnected pieces wherein the piece of the top
cover attached to said end wall or side wall is of the same general
dimensional size as said end wall or side wall to which said cover
is attached to by means of said first hinge; whereby said hinge
allows said top cover to lay flat upon a same surface which said
bottom wall also rests upon.
2. An apparatus for sterilizing dental or orthodontic tools, which
comprises: a transport rack having a pair of opposing side walls, a
bottom and a back wall, all interconnected and forming a generally
rectangular box of a pre-selected dimension which is open to the
front and the top; at least one shelf which is horizontally
disposed and attached to at least the opposing side walls; and a
plurality of cassettes adapted for placement upon said shelf and
said bottom.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transport rack further
comprises: said opposing side walls, back wall and bottom each
having a plurality of holes through which fluid and debris may
pass; and a pair of horizontally disposed flanges attached to the
tops of said opposing side walls, each of said opposing flanges
having at least one hole therein.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 which further comprises a top handle
having a horizontally oriented rail adapted to receive and
vertically hold a plurality of dental or orthodontic pliers, and a
pair of opposing and downwardly extending plates having upwardly
extending engagement pins configured to interfit underneath said
opposing flanges with the upwardly extending engagement pins
interfitting within said holes in said flanges.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 which further comprises a side handle
having a pair of horizontally disposed insertion rails, each having
an upwardly extending engagement pin, said insertion rails attached
to a front rail, and at least one downwardly extending lever handle
attached to said front rail, said insertion rails configured for
insertion into said transport rack underneath said opposing flanges
with said upwardly extending engagement pins interfitting within
said holes in said flanges.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said plurality of cassettes are
each generally rectangular in shape and having a hinged top, and
configured in size and shape to receive and hold dental or
orthodontic tools.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 which further comprises a pair of
opposing latches for releasably securing said hinged top to said
cassette, wherein opposing pressure must be simultaneously applied
to each of said opposing latches to release said latches and said
top.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 which further comprises a plier rack
pivotally mounted within said cassette and configured to lay within
said cassette when said hinged top is closed, and to pivot to a
generally upright position for holding pliers when said hinged top
is open.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cassettes are each further
configured dimensionally such that either one cassette or a
combination of cassettes will completely fill said shelf.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said plurality of cassettes
are of various widths wherein the various widths, from a smallest
width to a largest width, are dimensionally configured as whole
integer multiples of the smallest width and where the largest width
completely fills said shelf.
11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cassettes each further
comprise: a generally rectangular box having opposing side and end
walls, a fixed generally flat bottom wall for resting upon a
surface, and a hinged top cover, wherein each wall and the top
cover are provided with a plurality of holes through which fluid
and debris may pass; and wherein said hinge is a double hinge
configured to permit said top cover to lay flat upon the same
surface which the bottom wall rests upon.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said double hinge further
comprises: a first horizontally oriented hinge dividing one of said
end walls or one of said side walls into upper and lower halves;
and a second hinge connecting the upper half of said wall to the
top cover.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said double hinge further
comprises: a first horizontally oriented piano hinge interconnected
to one of said end walls or one of said side walls and said top
cover; and a second piano hinge oriented in juxtaposed relationship
to said first hinge dividing said top cover into two interconnected
pieces wherein the piece of the top cover attached to said end wall
or side wall is of the same general dimensional size as the end
wall or side wall to which it is attached to by means of said first
hinge.
14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cassettes each further
include means for supporting dental or orthodontic tools.
15. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cassettes each further
include indicia for identifying which dental or orthodontic tools
may be contained within said cassettes.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said indicia further
comprises means for color coding said cassettes.
17. The apparatus of claim 2 which further comprises an orthodontic
band or dental tray for holding segregated a plurality of variously
sized orthodontic bands or dental temporary crowns, said
orthodontic band or dental tray comprising bottom plate, a pair of
opposing side walls, a front wall, a back wall, and a plurality of
interior divider walls, all made of a heat resistant, sterilizable
material, and all attached to each other in a configuration to form
a tray, open at the top and having a plurality of compartments for
holding segregated said plurality of various sizes of orthodontic
bands or dental temporary crowns, said bottom plate having a
plurality of holes therein configured to drain each of said
compartments of fluids, said orthodontic band tray configured
dimensionally for insertion onto said shelf in said transport
rack.
18. A double hinge for use with a generally rectangular box having
opposing side walls and end walls, a fixed flat bottom wall for
resting upon a surface, and a hinged top cover, said double hinge
configured to permit said top cover to lay flat upon the same
surface which said bottom wall rests upon.
19. The apparatus of claim 118 wherein said double hinge further
comprises: a first horizontally oriented hinge dividing one of said
end walls or one of said side walls into upper and lower halves;
and a second hinge connecting the upper half of said wall to the
top cover.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said double hinge further
comprises: a first horizontally oriented piano hinge interconnected
to one of said end walls or one of said side walls and said top
cover; and a second piano hinge oriented in juxtaposed relationship
to said first hinge dividing said top cover into two interconnected
pieces wherein the piece of said top cover attached to said end
wall or side wall is of the same general dimensional size as said
end or side wall to which it is attached to by means of said first
hinge.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application is a continuation application filed
pursuant to 37 CFR 1.53(b) from a non-provisional utility
application filed Apr. 28, 2000 Ser. No. 09/560,591 entitled
STERILIZATION APPARATUS FOR DENTAL AND ORTHODONTIC TOOLS
incorporated herein by reference.
DESCRIPTION
Background of the Invention
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a cassette and
tray system wherein cassettes of varying sizes are used to hold
collections of orthodontic or dental tools for use in the
sterilization process.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] While the human mouth is hardly a sterile environment, there
is a need to protect patients from the transmission of infectious
diseases from one patient to another through the use of
contaminated orthodontic or dental tools. Gone are the days when
the orthodontist or dentist merely washed his hand tools between
use on patients. Such organizations as the American Dental
Association, American Association of Orthodontics, the Federal
Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Center for
Disease Control are all actively working to set standards and
guidelines to insure the safety of the patients as well as the
orthodontists, dentists, and their assistants.
[0006] At the present time, there are three standardized methods of
sterilizing dental and orthodontic hand tools. In each of the
three, the hand tools are first dropped into a tank containing
water and perhaps solvents, and ultrasound is applied to agitate
the fluid to wash and remove the debris remaining on the hand tools
from their last use. The tools are left somewhat damp then dried
and heated in some manner to a temperature sufficient to destroy
any microorganisms or viruses on the hand tools. The three primary
methods of doing this are the use of dry heat, heat wherein the
hand tools are heated to a temperature of at least 365.degree.
Fahrenheit for six minutes, or the use of steam under pressure in
an autoclave system. The time to sterilize, using a steam autoclave
system, depends on heat and pressure and whether the instruments
are wrapped or not. A common wrapped cycle is 270.degree. at 27 psi
for fifteen minutes. An unwrapped cycle at the same temperature and
pressure would be for three minutes. In some sterilization
processes, chemicals are applied to the hand tools as an
intermediate step between the ultrasonic bath and the heating. A
third method of sterilization is a chemical clave wherein a heated,
controlled atmosphere of various gases is used to heat the hand
tools held within sealed sterile paper bags.
[0007] The problem is that orthodontists and dentists with busy
professional practices will see many patients in any given work
day, indeed it is not unusual for an orthodontist to see in excess
of 100 patients per day. A lot of hand tools are used each day, and
they are generally collected throughout the day and recycled, in
bulk, through the sterilization process. In a busy orthodontics
practice, it is not unusual to have one assistant dedicated solely
to collecting hand tools and sterilizing them on a full time
basis.
[0008] In the typical prior art orthodontic or dental practice,
once the tools have been resterilized, they are simply returned to
the workstation and placed where they are readily available for
reuse. However, this is a source of contamination. If, for example,
a dentist is working on a patient's teeth and calls to his
assistant for a new and different tool, and the assistant reaches
into the drawer to retrieve the tool wearing a latex glove that has
been contaminated with the body fluids of the patient, the
assistant can transfer those contaminants to other, unused tools
which were previously sterilized. Inevitably, conditions arise
where contaminated hands are used to retrieve tools from the
drawers.
[0009] Accordingly, what is needed is a cassette system wherein
cassettes can be preloaded with standard sets of tools for use in
either orthodontic or dental practices, and kept together as a set
throughout the sterilization process. What is also needed is a
means of collecting the cassettes into convenient packages where
they can be batch fed through the ultrasonic bath and heat
applications, and remain in a sterile condition when they are
returned as a set to the workstation. Additionally, this cassette
collection system must require a minimum amount of counter space at
the vicinity of the dental chair, either on the bracket table or
the work side unit, and finally, the cassettes must be configured
such that they remain stable and flat on the countertop surface
when opened so that they do not fall off the table onto the floor,
or worse yet, the patient.
[0010] Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description as follows,
and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon
examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be
realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and
combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] These objects are achieved through use of a transport rack
and a plurality of cassette systems. The transport rack is formed
of sidewalls, a back wall, and a bottom wall which are all
interconnected to form a rigid transport rack. The tray is provided
with a plurality of shelves for holding cassettes which are
inserted through the front of the transport rack. The walls and
shelves of the transport rack are provided with a plurality of
holes or slots through which fluids and debris cleaned during the
ultrasonic cleaning portion of the sterilization process may
readily pass.
[0012] The transport rack is also provided with two flanges which
are attached to the top of the sidewalls. The transport rack is
dimensionally sized to a preselected dimension as to provide for
interchangeability of cassettes as is later described.
[0013] There are two basic designs for the cassettes. In the first
design, first and second hinges are provided, with the first
interconnecting the side wall of the cassette to a hinge plate, and
the second hinge interconnecting the hinge plate to the top cover
in such a manner that when the top cover is opened, it may be
levered open from the top edge of the back wall and the hinge
plates swinging down such that the cover lies flat against the
surface upon which the cassette is resting. Like the transport
rack, slots or holes are provided to allow for the passage of fluid
and debris out from the cassette.
[0014] In the second design for the cassettes, the top cover is
divided into two portions, the first being the cover portion and
the second being the hinge plate with the hinge plate attached to
the top of the side wall and the second hinge interconnecting the
hinge plate to the remainder of the cover. As in the first design,
the double hinge arrangement allows for the cover to be opened and
laid flat against the surface upon which the cassette is
resting.
[0015] In a third design, a fold down plier rack is provided, which
can be tilted up and used to hold pliers in a generally vertical
orientation wherein the do not become entangled with each
other.
[0016] In all designs, two opposing latch assemblies are provided
so that equal and opposite pressure must be applied to the latches
in order to unlatch the top cover so as to open it. The purpose of
providing the double latches and the requirement for equal and
opposite pressure is to prevent inadvertently pushing the transport
rack off of the surface upon which it is resting since the use of
both hands is required to open the latches.
[0017] The cassettes are sized in plurality of different sizes with
the largest size and all intermediate sizes being full integer
multiples of the smallest cassette size such that if the cassettes
are used in a random manner, they can still be conveniently stacked
to fully pack a transport rack prior to the sterilization
process.
[0018] The cassettes are also provided with color-coded buttons
fixed to the end walls so that the kits of dental tools that are
contained within each cassette can be readily identified.
[0019] Two types of handles are provided, the first being a top
handle which is provided with a pair of opposing plates which
interfit underneath the flanges attached to the tops of the side
walls along with a locking or insertion button to prevent the tray
from sliding off of the handle plates. A side, levered handle is
also provided with two insertion plates which also insert
underneath and interfit underneath the flanges to permit withdrawal
of the cassette from a sterilization device, which may be hot,
having only a sidewall opening.
[0020] Still other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the
following detailed description wherein I have shown and described
only the preferred embodiment of the invention, simply by way of
illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my
invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of
modification in various obvious respects all without departing from
the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the
preferred embodiment are to be regarded as illustrative in nature,
and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective representational view of a transport
rack.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective representational view of a first
cassette in a closed configuration.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective representational view of the first
cassette in an open configuration.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an end view of the first cassette in a closed
configuration.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an end view of the first cassette in an open
configuration.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a side view of the second cassette in a closed
configuration.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a side view of the second cassette in an open
configuration.
[0028] FIG. 7A is a front view of the second cassette in an open
configuration with a plier rack tilted up.
[0029] FIG. 8 is a perspective representational view of the second
cassette in an open configuration.
[0030] FIG. 9. is a perspective representational view of a top
handle.
[0031] FIG. 10 is a front view of a transport rack and top
handle.
[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective representational view of a side
handle.
[0033] FIG. 12 is a front view of a transport rack holding a
plurality of cassettes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications
and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments
thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below
in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no
intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed,
but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0035] First referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a transport rack
10, which is formed of side walls 12 and 14, back wall 16, and
bottom wall 18, which are all interconnected to form a rigid
transport rack. In FIG. 1, three shelves, first shelf 28, second
shelf 29, and third shelf 30 are provided, and as a result four
tiers of cassettes can be contained within transport rack 10. There
is nothing particularly critical about the number of shelves, as
this is merely the preferred embodiment. Depending upon the
cassette tray configurations, transport rack 10 could be configured
with any number of shelves, including none at all. It is also to be
noted that all of the walls of transport rack 10 contain a
plurality of holes or slots 26 through which fluids and debris
cleaned during the ultrasonic cleaning portion of the sterilization
process may readily pass.
[0036] Transport rack 10 is provided with two flanges, 22 and 24,
which are attached to the top of sidewalls 14 and 12 respectively.
Side handle insertion holes 27 in flanges 22 and 24 are provided at
the front and back for receiving insertion pins 99 on side handle
90 as is later described and shown in FIG. 11. Additionally, side
handle insertion holes are positioned to receive dimpled feet 31
when a plurality of transport racks 10 are stacked one atop the
other. Top handle insertion holes 25 are provided at the general
location of the center of gravity locations in flanges 22 and 24
for receiving insertion pins 88 of top handle 80 as is later
described and shown in FIGS. 9 and 12. Transport rack 10 is
fabricated to known and preselected dimensions as to provide for
interchangeability of cassettes as is later described.
[0037] Shown in FIGS. 2 through 5 is a first cassette 32. It, like
transport rack 10, is formed of stainless steel in the preferred
embodiment, although other materials may be used to fabricate all
of the parts of this sterilization system. In FIGS. 2 and 4, first
cassette 32 is shown in its closed configuration, and in FIGS. 3
and 5, in its open configuration. First cassette 32 is formed of
side walls 34 and 36 attached to bottom 38, front wall 40, and back
wall 42. In this embodiment, tool brackets 44 are provided to hold
the dental or orthodontic hand tools above the bottom 38.
[0038] First and second hinges 46 and 48 are also used to form a
double hinge system for top cover 50. The purpose of the double
hinge system is to ensure that the top cover 50 lies flat against
the counter surface when cassette 32 is in the open configuration.
In practice, it has been found that it is much more stable when it
is laid flat as opposed to being levered open from the top edge of
the back wall 42. First hinge 46 is attached at an intermediate,
height position, halfway up the back of the back wall 46, and also
to hinge extension plate 58 such that hinge extension plate will
swing down as shown in FIG. 5 to enable top cover 50 to rest flat
and securely against the countertop. As with the transport rack,
slots or holes 20 are provided to allow for the passage of fluid
and debris out from first cassette 32. Also, as can be seen most
clearly in FIG. 3, a pair of opposing latch assemblies are provided
for holding the top cover firmly latched to first cassette 32. It
is formed of a leaf spring 62 which is spot-welded to an end wall.
Leaf spring 62 has attached to it a release button 60, and a latch
detent 64.
[0039] Top cover 50 is provided with lid extensions 54, having
receiving holes 56 for receiving latch detent 64 and to secure top
cover 50, first cassette 32.
[0040] The purpose of two opposing latch assemblies is so that
equal opposing pressure is applied to first cassette 32 when both
release buttons 60 are pushed in to withdraw latch detent 64 from
receiving holes 56, in equal inward motion. Thus the first cassette
32 will remain stable and stationary when it is being opened at the
dental or orthodontic workstation. Again, this increases the
stability and decreases the likelihood that the cassette will move,
either falling itself to the floor or worse yet, pushing something
else off of the workstation/countertop onto the floor.
[0041] Also in the preferred embodiment, color-coded bars 104 are
fixed to the end walls of first cassette 32. These can be made of
thermal plastic or other heat resistant materials, or even simply
painted metal. Color-coding can be a convenient way of quickly
identifying certain specialized sets of hand tools that are used
for specific procedures. Obviously, other coding indicia may be
used.
[0042] In FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, there is shown second cassette 68.
There are a number of different features shown in second cassette
68 that are not shown in first cassette 32. The first is that the
double hinge assembly for the top cover divides the top cover into
two portions, top portion 70 and drop plate 72. Dimensionally, drop
plate 72 is the same size as back wall 67 of second cassette 68.
Thus, when the top cover 70 is opened as shown in FIG. 7, two
things occur. First its footprint on the countertop is reduced, and
secondly, it lays flat against the counter top.
[0043] Hinge assemblies 74 and 76 are identical to those shown and
described for first cassette 32 are provided for second cassette
68.
[0044] In an alternative embodiment for second cassette 68, drop
plate 72 can be made longer so that hinge 74 extends below the
bottom of second cassette 68, thus enabling the user to fold top
cover 70 underneath second cassette 68. In this configuration, lid
extensions 54 will serve to tip second cassette 68 to an angle
wherein the contents can be more easily viewed. In a third
configuration, additional lid extensions 54 can be added to top
cover 70 to serve as support legs so as to enable the user to flip
top cover 70 completely under second cassette 68 and still rest
flat on its support legs.
[0045] Also, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 7A, a flip up plier rack 71
formed of two pivotable arms 73, each hinged by pins 77 to opposing
side walls 69 and cross brace 75 may be provided for second
cassette 68. During the sterilization process it lays flat inside
second cassette, and is flipped up for use where it rests by
gravity against back wall 67. Other ways of flipping and holding
plier rack 71 in an up position include clips and latches This
enables the user to hang pliers in an upright position during
treatment of the patient. It allows for much easier identification
of each plier during the treatment process. After each use the
plier is hung on the plier rack. If there is no plier rack, the
pliers, after each use, are placed back in the bottom of the
cassette which in a short time becomes a jumbled pile of pliers.
This makes identification of pliers more difficult as one requires
different pliers for each part of any particular procedure. This
wastes time hunting for pliers and can even pose a hazard to the
user and the patient. One is more likely to get a puncture wound
digging through a pile of sharp instruments than selecting pliers
which are hung neatly from a plier rack. Additionally if the plier
the user needs is on the bottom of the pile, the user will often,
in an effort to put it out, inadvertently pull other pliers with
which it has become entangled. If the cassette is on a tray or
shelf over the patient's face, a second plier could be
inadvertently pulled out of the pile and onto the patient's face.
After the procedure in which the pliers are used is over, the
pliers are laid back down in the cassette, the plier rack is
pivoted to its storage position, the cover closed, and the cassette
returned to the transport rack 10.
[0046] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of
divider plates 78 may also be provided within second cassette 68.
In this configuration, second cassette 68 is called a band, or
crown, box. These divider plates 78 provide an array of pockets
into which metal orthodontic tooth bands, or metal temporary dental
crowns, can be stored in a sorted-by-size fashion and even
sterilized along with second cassette 68. Drain holes 89 are
provided at the bottom of each pocket. The bottom of each pocket
may also be provided with a rounded surface to make retrieval of
individual bands or crowns easier.
[0047] Currently practitioners use a band or crown box that is not
heat sterilizable. In use, various sizes of orthodontic bands or
temporary crowns are tried on the tooth being treated. The bands or
crowns are taken out of the box with sterile tweezers so as to not
contaminate the others that are still in the box. Tweezers are also
used in the mouth during these procedures. Often the two tweezers
are confused which inevitably causes contamination of the remaining
bands or crowns. If this happens the sizes not used must be removed
from the non-sterilizable band or crown box, sterilized in bulk,
resorted by size and returned to the band or crown box. Also, with
the prior art band or crown box, bands or crowns that were placed
in the mouth, but not selected for use, must be kept separate from
the remaining bands or crowns still in the band or crown box. There
must also be later sterilized in bulk, resorted and returned to the
band or crown box. This is labor intensive and therefor
expensive.
[0048] By use of my divider plates 78, a sterilizable band or crown
box is created. The amount of labor required to maintain sterilized
bands or crowns is greatly reduced in that each time a band or
crown of an inappropriate size is chosen, and contaminated in the
mouth, it can be returned to its correct pocket, thus eliminating
the time consuming resorting of bands or crowns sterilized in bulk.
This immediate return of bands or crowns to the box is of no
concern since the whole selection of bands or crowns in the box can
be sterilized after each use. Obviously this also eliminates the
concern of using non-sterile tweezers since all will be sterilized
after each use.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, there is provided a removable
top handle for transport rack 10. The removable top handle is
formed of top rail 82, which in the preferred embodiment is also
configured in size and shape to be long enough so the ends provide
a convenient holding bracket within an ultrasonic cleaner. This
suspension is important because objects which rest on the bottom of
an ultrasonic cleaner may reduce the vibration of the fluid which
reduces cleaning effectiveness. Attached to and extending down from
top rail 82 are opposing arms 84. Attached to arms 84 are plates
86, from which extend upwardly, engagement pins 88. Plates 86 are
provided with curved outer edges which allows easier placement
while engaging the top handle within flanges 22 and 24 of transport
rack 10. If the outer edges of plates 86 are straight, the angle of
insertion of top handle 80 cannot vary by much without binding on
the side walls of transport rack 10. The top handle 80 is
configured such that plates 86 will interfit underneath flanges 22
and 24 of transport rack 10 in a configuration where engagement
pins 88 will extend up through holes 25.
[0050] Thus, the handle can be removed, if desired, when the
cassette is in use at the workstation either as a source of
sterilized tools and/or a receptacle for contaminated tools.
[0051] Most sterilization systems include a front opening door as
opposed to a top opening door on the heat application apparatus. In
such cases, a top handle is of little use, and for that reason a
side handle is provided as shown in FIG. 11. Side handle 90 is
formed of insertion rails 92 attached to front rail 94 to which is
also attached lever handles 96. Insertion rails 92 are sized in the
preferred embodiment to contact the transport rack back wall 16
before the operator grasping the lever handles 96 hands make
contact with the hot transport rack 10. Like the top rail 80, side
handle 90 is provided with insertion pins 88 which interfit within
insertion holes 25 to prevent the insertion of side handle 90 far
enough into transport rack 10 to a point where the user's fingers
might contact a very transport rack 10 when removing it from the
heat application apparatus. It also is provided with a pair of
sloped insertion pins 99, each located at an end of the insertion
rails 92. These are configured to interfit within holes 27 located
at either the front or back ends of flanges 22 and 24. Holes 27 are
located are located in these positions so as to enable the user to
pick up the transport rack from either the front or the back.
Picking up transport rack 10 from the back enables to user to tip
transport rack 10 towards the user without the cassettes sliding
out. Since transport rack 10, when fully loaded, may be heavy, the
ability to tip transport rack toward the user is important, since
if it tipped away from the user, the cassettes may slide out.
[0052] In FIG. 12 there is shown a front view of a loaded transport
rack 10 in which the fully loaded transport rack 10 contains
cassettes of various sizes. In this preferred embodiment, the
preselected dimension for the width of transport rack 10 divides
into convenient quarter sizes so that three different size
cassettes can be utilized, without wasting space in transport rack
10. As is shown in FIG. 12, there is the first or smallest size
cassette 98, an intermediate size cassette 102, and a full size
cassette 100. Each of the cassettes is a full integer multiple of
the smallest cassette with the largest cassette having the largest
integer multiple. For example, the smallest cassette 98 can be
sized to take up one quarter of the width of shelf, the
intermediate cassette 102 one half, and the largest cassette 100
sized to completely fill the shelf by itself. This design has been
found in practice to significantly minimize the amount of empty
space in transport racks 10 during the sterilization process, which
both speeds up the process and reduces the number of tools required
to be kept in inventory.
[0053] While there is shown and described the present preferred
embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that
this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied
to practice within the scope of the following claims.
[0054] From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that
various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
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