Foot Controller Switch Assembly for Dental Appliances

The present invention relates to a foot control installation, and which is particularly applicable to dental apparatus. The control installation includes a housing having a projecting actuating member with a foot contact which is horizontally displaceable from an initial position into an operative position in opposition to return biasing means so as to actuate a control and/or switching element.

Foot control installations of this type are primarily utilized in the dental technology for controlling the rotational speed of drill drives or motors. Mostly, in addition to effecting rotational speed control, other control and switching functions are provided such as, for example, the predetermination of the rotational direction of the drive, as well as the on and off switching of the drive. In dental jargon, such foot control installations are generally designated with the colloquialism "foot switch".

In one such known foot switch, an actuating member for the control element is centrally located within a cylindrically formed housing, and in which the free end of the actuating element with its foot contact extends radially outwardly of the housing. Upon displacement of the actuating member, the foot contact defines a circular path of movement which is concentric with respect to the surface of the housing cylinder. The foot tip of the operator effecting the displacement similarly effects a circular path of movement, however, with its pivot point being externally of the housing, and generally in the region of the shoe heel. A disadvantage of that type of foot control installation lies in that in each of the positions of the actuating member deviating from the central position thereof, the foot tip of the operator must follow the motion of the actuating member in a direction toward the foot switch, since otherwise the foot tip of the foot upon the foot contact reaching a predetermined displaced position, will cause the foot tip to slip away from the actuating member.

In order to obviate the foregoing drawback, it has been proposed to provide a foot switch, having a switching lever horizontally projecting from the housing, and in which the center of rotation of the switching lever lies externally of the housing toward the side of the switch-actuating foot. As a constructive solution it has also been proposed that the housing for the foot switch in the region of the projecting switching lever, as viewed from the foot of the operator, be concavely formed, and that the switching lever be outwardly elongated to an extent in which the foot is adapted to be positioned thereon, and providing the switching lever in the regions of the foot tip and of the heel with a non-skid device, and with the center of rotation of the switching lever being approximately in the region of the foot instep, in effect between the foot tip and heel. The non-skid device may further be made adjustable longitudinally of the switching lever so as to accommodate different shoe sizes. In another embodiment, two linkage arms are utilized as switching levers whose linkage connection, similarly externally of the housing, were located approximately between the foot toe and the foot heel.

These solutions are, however, relatively expensive and their manipulation with respect to both function and application are not entirely satisfactory. Due to the switching lever projecting relatively far outwardly of the housing and being positioned beneath the foot of the operator, and due to the complex and difficult to manipulate non-skid device at the heel, the overall or external foot switch dimensions become relatively large and, consequently, unwieldly. The foregoing drawback becomes particularly significant, since modern operative requirements dealing with reclining patents and seated practitioners or operators afford relatively little space about the foot of the practitioner for locating and manipulating such a foot switch. A further drawback is encountered in that, due to the above described heel-and-foot toe guide, the foot must be positioned onto the switching lever with particular care. Consequently, "blind" sensing of the foot contact and manipulation of the foot lever is not possible.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a foot control installation generally of the type described, which completely avoids the disadvantages encountered in the prior art. The foot control installation of the invention is of simple construction and may be readily manipulated while additionally requiring only limited physical space. In particular, a simple and precise constructive solution of the required tasks is provided, in that the actuating member may be manipulated without the need for particular attention, in effect, practically blind actuated. In this instance, it is imperative that also for extensively displaced actuating members the operator's foot cannot slip away from the foot contact in effect, the foot of the operator need not be moved in conjunction with the actuating member. The transfer of the pivotal movement of the actuating member onto a control or switching element may be effected without extensive technical difficulties.

The tasks of the control installation according to the invention are solved in that the actuating member is supported at two locations, in which a first support is proximate to and the second support is remote from the foot contact, in which the first support has a support element located on the actuating member, which when viewed from the foot contact, is conveyed along a concavely curved path, and in which a support element of the second support of the actuating member is conveyed in a path in such a manner, whereby the last-mentioned support element upon displacement of the actuating element from its initial position is moved in the direction of the foot contact in the initial position of the actuating element.

In symmetrically formed foot control installations generally the rule when the actuating member is displaceable in both directions from an initial position, the initial position of the actuating element corresponds to an intermediate position between two operative end positions thereof.

By appropriately selecting the guide path it is possible to determine the radius of curvature of the path in which the foot contact is moved in response to displacement of the actuating element. The first support may advantageously be formed by connecting the free end of a stationarily supported rod, which may preferably be a single-armed pivot lever, to the actuating element. The support may also be formed by a cam track fixedly mounted on a base plate, and a guide element located on the actuating member slidingly supported therein. A particularly simple and assured support is obtained when the second support is formed as a linear guide. As a consequence, foot contact is therethrough conveyed along a generally linear or slightly concavely curved path, whereby the foot contact upon movement of the actuating element will not move away from the foot tip. The linear guide has the advantage in that it may be constructed in an extremely simple manner. Thus, it may be constructed by a guide path member which is rigidly mounted on the base plate of the foot control installation, having a cooperative projection mounted on the actuating member extending thereinto, or as a technical equivalent, a guide path member mounted on the actuating member into which extends a cooperative projecting member which is mounted on the base plate.

The second support may preferably be constructed by connecting the free end of a stationarily supported pivot arm to the actuating member. If the pivot arm is supported whereby in the initial position of the actuating member it extends at a right angle relative to the symmetrical axis of the actuating member coinciding with an imaginary connecting line between the second support and the foot contact, there is also here obtained an almost linear guide motion of the second support element located on the actuating member in the direction of the foot contact in the initial position of the actuating member.

The actuating member may advantageously be connected to the adjusting member of an electrical resistance for the control of the rotational speed of a rotating drive. This allows for an uncomplicated control of the rotational speed, which is of importance in dental drill drives or motors. The electrical resistance may be constituted of a rotary potentiometer, having a fork positioned on its rotational axis which is in cooperative engagement with a follower pin extending into the fork mounted on the actuating element. As a technical equivalent, the fork, naturally may be mounted on the actuating member and the follower pin supported on the axis of the potentiometer.

The applicability of the foot control installation extends over a varied range, wherein in a further embodiment of the invention it is proposed, that a preferably detachable locking arrangement is employed in connection with the actuating member which, in the operative end position of the actuating element, prevents the automatic return thereof into its initial position. Furthermore, there may be also provided additional means for counteracting the locking effect. In a particularly advantageous arrangement of various switching elements, the foot control installation may be universally operated.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the guide path be provided with means for locking or restraining the actuating member. In this embodiment there are eliminated additional measures for the restraint, or effectively, locking of the actuating member in its end or intermediate positions which are required in the other constructions.

Further advantages may be ascertained as follows in the detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates in a perspective view a foot control installation according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the foot control installation of FIG. 1 in a side view, partly in section;

FIG. 3 shows the foot control installation of FIG. 1 in a top plan view without the foot step or pressure plate and housing;

FIG. 4 shows a front elevational view of the foot control installation, with the housing illustrated in section;

FIG. 5 shows a locking arrangement for the actuating element of the foot control installation in a front plan view;

FIG. 6 illustrates the locking arrangement of FIG. 5 in side elevational view, partly in section;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically the support for the actuating element in a further embodiment thereof;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a further embodiment of a support for the actuating element; and

FIG. 9 shows a schematic circuit diagram for another embodiment of the control installation utilized with an electric motor-driven dental hand drill.

Referring now in detail of FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated in a perspective view a foot control installation, as utilized for dental apparatus, for example, dental drill drives or motors. The foot control installation includes, in plan view, a rectangular housing 1 having an actuating member 2 projecting therefrom, which is adapted to be displaced or actuated by the foot of an operator. The actuating member 2 is provided with a foot contact 3, and may be moved in the directions of the illustrated arrow from an initial position into operative positions. In its initial position, the actuating member (arm 16 in FIG. 3) extends approximately parallel to the two lengthwise sides of the rectangular housing 1. The distance of the initial position with respect to an operative end position of the foot contact (in the Figure, one operative end position is illustrated) defines the path of movement of the actuating element, as well as that of the foot contact. The center or intermediate position of the actuating element between the two operative end positions forms its initial position. In the region of foot contact 3 there is provided a foot step saddle or frame 4 which includes an aperture 5 in the area of the path of movement of the foot contact. The step frame 5 assures that upon manipulation of the actuating element, the control installation does not slide relative to its supported position. The step frame has its lower surface located in the plane of the support surface of the housing 1 which, in this instance, coincides with the bottom surface of a base plate 13 supported on the floor. A plastic material strip or runner 6 having an upwardly curved upper surface is positioned in a recess formed in step frame 4 so as to afford the advantage that upon the operator stepping onto the step frame only a relatively small upper surface portion thereof is subject to a weight or load. Consequently, the foregoing assures that only relatively low frictional forces are produced between the sole of the foot and the plastic material runner 6, while nevertheless the entire weight load may be conducted to the support (floor). The operator can thereby easily manipulate the actuating member with his foot, without the housing being displaced relative to its position on the floor.

In the rear portion 7 of the housing 1 there are positioned at its upper surface, two actuating elements 8 and 9 which are operatively connected to switching elements located interiorly of housing portion 7. The support for actuating member 2 is also located in housing portion 7. A foot step or pressure plate 10 extends between housing portion 7 and the forward portion of the foot control installation, and is supported so as to be tiltable about an axis 11 by means of a shaft 11a which extends in parallel to the linear path of movement of the actuating member. The step plate 10 is desk-shaped and is sloped upwardly at an angle of .alpha. = 3.degree. to 10.degree. from the foot contact 3, curving in the final third of its slope upwardly toward an angle .beta. of approximately 140.degree., and finally joining into the upper surface of housing portion 7. A common inlet conduit is designated by numeral 12, within which the individual electrical conduits leading to the switching and control elements are conveyed into housing 1.

FIG. 2 illustrates the control installation in a side view, in which the forward portion thereof is shown in section. The angle .alpha. is designated with respect to the horizontal upper surface of the housing which normally corresponds with the bottom surface of the base plate 13, and the angle .beta. with reference to the upper surface of the sloped portion. Upon the operator stepping onto the step plate 10, the latter is tilted about axis 11 in opposition to the biasing force of a spring 14, so as to actuate a switch 15.

As may be ascertained from FIGS. 1 and 2, the step plate 10 extends across the full width of the foot control installation. This renders it possible to provide the desired switching sequence for each operative position of the actuating element 2 by means of a single switch without requiring any large degree of foot motion. The location of the step plate 10 above an arm 16 of the actuating member 2 allows for the connection of the foot contact 3 with a switching member which is actuated by stepping downwardly thereon. This would be rather difficult by positioning a switching bar or runner below arm 16, since this would create the danger that upon axial actuation of the foot contact, the switching runner is concurrently actuated therewith so as to thereby effect an undesired switching sequence. consequently, the arm 16 of actuating member 2 is provided with an extension 17 which, together with a cap-shaped actuating element 19, forms a switch housing for a switching element 18. A switch supply conduit 20 for the switching element 18 is introduced into extension 17 through a suitable bore, and fastened along arm 16 by means of suitable collars or clamps. The function of both switching elements 15 and 18 is explained in the schematic circuit diagram of FIG. 9.

In FIG. 3 there is illustrated, in plan view, a control installation with the housing 1 and step plate 10 not shown for purposes of clarity. The arm 16 of the actuating member 2 is supported at two locations on base plate 13. A first support 21 is located in proximity to foot contact 3, and a second support 25, 26 is located remote therefrom. The support 21 is a basically pivotal support and is constructed by the connection of the free end of a stationarily mounted single-arm pivot lever 23 to arm 16. The stationary support is designated by reference numeral 24. The support 25,26 consists of a support projection 25 and a cooperative support which, in effect is a guide path 26 formed in the base plate 13. A support axis 27 for the support 24 coincides with the illustrated center line 28 of the actuating member 2 shown in its initial position. The support 21 is conveyed by means of pivot lever 23, as viewed from the foot contact, along a concavely curved path, while the support projection 25 of the second support, and which is mounted on the actuating member, is conveyed through the linear path of movement so that the support projection 25, upon displacement of the actuating member, is presently moved in the direction of the foot contact in the initial position of the actuating member.

A follower pin 29 which is fastened onto the arm 16 of the actuating member 2 extends into contact with the slot of a fork 30, the latter of which is rotatably journaled on a frame element 31 fastened in base plate 13. A ratchet or gear wheel 33 is mounted on the support axis 32 (FIG. 4) of the fork 30, and engages a gear 34 which in turn is fastened onto the axis 35 of a potentiometer 36. A plate cam 37 having cutout portions 38 and 39 is also supported on the axis 35 of the potentiometer 36. Through plate cam 37 there may be actuated two switching elements 40 and 41 which are adapted to provide a switching sequence described in greater detail in the circuit diagram of FIG. 9.

A locking arrangement 42 is associated with the actuating member 2, by means of which the latter may arrested in both of its operative end positions to either the left or right of its initial position. In the Figure the left-hand operative end position of the actuating member 2 is illustrated in chain-dotted lines (designated by 2'). In this position the potentiometer 36 is fully effective, in essence, a rotary drive controlled by the potentiometer is operated at its maximum rotational speed. The intermediate or initial position of the actuating member is shown in chain-dot in FIG. 3 of the drawing (designated 2"). The function of the individual switching elements 40, 41 and 44, as well as that of the potentiometer 36, is detailed in connection with the description of the circuit diagram of FIG. 9.

The support of the actuating element 2 in the above illustrated and described manner has the advantage in that the foot contact 3 is conveyed, upon manipulation of the actuating member 2 from its initial position (illustrated by chain-dotted lines 2") in a substantially linear to concavely curved path, as viewed from the foot contact.

This affords the advantage that the foot contact 3, unlike prior art foot control installations, has no motion tending to move away from the foot tip of the operator, but in contrast the foot contact is moved toward the direction of the foot tip. Consequently, this largely eliminates the possibility of slippage occurring between the foot tip of the operator and the foot contact, even during relatively large displacement of the actuating member.

The control installation is shown in front view in FIG. 4, in which for illustrative purposes the housing is represented sectioned in a transverse plane. The actuating element 8 is operatively connected with a switch element 43, and the control element 9 with a switch element 44. By means of the last mentioned element, the locking arrangement 42 in FIG. 3 is actuated by means of a contact projection 45 which is connected with actuating element 9. A return spring 46 is mounted on the axis 32 of fork 30, contacting at one end thereof fork 30 and at the other end element 31 whereby the actuating element 2 is always biased thereby from any operative position deviating from its initial position back into its initial position. The functions of switching elements 43 and 44 are explained in further detail in the schematic circuit diagram of FIG. 9.

Details of the locking arrangement are illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing. In FIG. 5, the locking arrangement is shown in a frontal view, comparably to that of FIG. 4; and in FIG. 6 is shown in a side elevational view. The locking arrangement 42 includes a spring-loaded pressure knob 50 which contains therein a locking mechanism of the type found in the actuating arrangement of a ball writer or pen. With the above mechanism, which is not further described, there is connected a pressure pin 51, which presses onto a leaf spring 52 which is mounted on a retainer 53. The retainer 53 is connected with the base plate 13 by means of support columns 54. The leaf spring 52 includes a pressure pin 55, which in its unlocked positions resiliently contacts the upper surface of arm 16 of the actuating member 2, and in its locked position (locking arrangement) extends behind of the rear edge 56 of arm 16 of the actuating member 2 so as to arrest the latter in that position. In FIG. 5 the locking installation is shown in its locked relationship (also illustrated in chain-dotted lines in FIG. 3), and in FIG. 6 in its unlocked position.

The advantage of the above described locking installations consists of in that the locking sequence may be effected in any desired predetermined position of the actuating member, when the actuating element 9 is downwardly depressed. By means of the mechanism located within the pressure knob 50, the pressure pin 51 is pressed against the leaf spring 52, and consequently the pressure pin 55 is spring-biased against the upper surface of arm 16. When the actuating member 2 reaches its operative end position (left or right) the pressure pin 51 snaps behind the rear edge 56 of arm 16, which has a pin 57 riding in slot 26, and thereby locks the actuating member 2 against any return movement into its initial position. Release or unlocking is effected upon pressure is again applied to the actuating element 9. This causes the release of knob 50, the pressure pin 51 springs upwardly and the leaf spring 52 is, in response to its spring effect, raised above the rear edge of the arm 16, so as to permit the actuating element 2 under the influence of return spring 46 to be returned to its initial position (FIG. 4).

FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing illustrate in a greatly simplified representation further embodiments of the construction and support of the actuating element 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 of the drawing, an actuating element 60 includes proximate to the foot contact 61 (similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3) a first support 62 which is formed by linkage connection of a rod 63, and a second support 64 which is formed by the connection of a pivot arm 65. The pivot point of the pivot arm 65 on the base plate is determined so that the pivot arm 65 in the initial position of the actuating element 60 (shown in chain-dotted lines) extends approximately at a right angle relative to a connecting line between the second support and the foot contact in the initial position of the actuating element. When the actuating element is symmetrically constructed, this connecting line corresponds to the symmetrical axis of the actuating element. In order to obtain a substantially linear movement for support 64, it is advantageous that the pivot arm 65 be formed as lengthy as possible, whereby the pivot support 64 describes an extremely shallow curved until approximately linear path of movement.

In the embodiment of FIG. 8 of the drawings, an actuating member 70 is guided in a concavely curved guide path 74 located in the base plate 71, as viewed from the foot contact 74. A support portion 73 located on the actuating member may be constituted of a slide bushing or roller. The support 75, 76, which is located remotely from the foot contact 74, is a linear guide. In this connection, the support portion 75 is located on the base plate 71, and the support portion 73 on the actuating member 70.

The advantage of all of the embodiments shown in the figures lies in that, in an extremely simple technological construction there is obtained, an viewed from the foot contact, a concavely curved toward almost a linear path of movement for the foot contact, so as to effectively prevent the actuating element moving away from the foot tip of the operator, when the actuating member is moved from its initial position.

In FIG. 9 of the drawing there is illustrated the functional interconnection of the individual control and switching elements with regard to an exemplary embodiment.

Thus, a dental hand drill 80 is driven by an electric motor 81, and includes pressure conduits 82 through 84 for, respectively, the supply of cooling air, spray water and spray air. The control over the foregoing supply is obtained by means of magnetic valves 85, 86 and 87. The electrical inlet conduits for the motor 80 are designated by reference numerals 88 and 89. The conduit 89 extends from the motor into a suitable transformer switch 90 generally utilized for such hand motors, which is adapted to ensure that the rotation of the motor corresponds with that of the variation sensed by potentiometer 36 in response to the displacement of the actuating element. The control installation may further be provided with a switch arrangement for maintaining constant the rotational speed of the motor during any load variations, as well as safety arrangement against overloading of the motor. This type of amplifying or transformer circuit may be constructed in various different manners. The construction thereof has no bearing with respect to the present invention, in view of which the disclosure does not detail any particulars with respect to such switching arrangements.

The switching and control elements contained in the foot control installation are encompassed in chain-dotted representation, and have the from upwardly to downwardly listed following functions. By means of switch 43 (actuated by actuating element 8 shown in FIG. 4) through its switch contact 91a and across relay 91 there is provided for the supply of spray water to the hand drill. The switch 41 (actuated by the plate cam 37 shown in FIG. 3) switches the relay 92 with its switch contacts 92a and reverses the direction of rotation of the motor, inasmuch as both contact poles of the motor are reversed within the amplifying switch 90. By means of switches 15 and 40 (switch 15 is actuated by pressure being imparted to step plate 10, and switch 40 is actuated through plate cam 37) the motor is actuated, in which voltage is conveyed to the motor through relay 93 and corresponding switch contact 93a. A prerequisite is that the switch 94, which is connected with a suitable support arrangement (not shown) for the hand piece, is switched on upon removal of the hand piece from the support arrangement. By means of switch 44 which, in accordance with FIG. 4, is connected with the actuating element 93, there may be provided the option of switching either through pressure or step plate 4 or through actuating member 2, as required. The foot control installation may also be selectively utilized as a mere black-white switch providing for maximum rotational speed (control of the rotational speed may be -- if desired -- provided from externally of the foot control installation, for example, by a control element in a manually operated grip for the operator), or utilized for the switching including a control function over the actuating member. In the last instance, the rotational speed may be continuously applied. The selective switching is effected from one to the other switching and control modes by imparting pressure to the actuating element 9 through which there is concurrently operated the locking installation for the actuating element 2 as well as the selector switch 44. As can be ascertained from the circuit diagram, upon switching over from the minus pole of the voltage source, the current circuit across switch 40 is opened, and contrastingly the current circuit between the minus pole and the switch 15 is closed. This signifies that, upon displacement of the actuating member 2 from its initial position, the in-out switch 40 remains ineffective, and the motor cannot be actuated through this switch but only by means of the step plate 10. The direction of the rotation of the motor is automatically obtained through the cam control (shown in FIG. 3). If for example, the actuating member 2 is moved toward the left from its initial position (2"), the switching pin of the switch 41 is actuated, in view of which through contacts 92a the direction of rotation is determined to be towards the left. Correspondingly, this also applies for the clockwise rotational direction of the motor. Both switches 40 and 41 are so positioned relative to the plate cam, and the plate cam is so constructed, that upon movement of the actuating member from its initial position, the switch 41 is actuated prior to the switch 40, whereby at first the direction of rotation of the motor is determined, and only then is the motor actuated. Reference numeral 18 designates the switch, referred to and described with reference to FIG. 2, which is actuated by depressing the actuating elements 19 of the foot contact 3. By means of this switch, spray air is supplied for short periods of time to the hand drill through magnetic valve 87 (so-called chip-blower effect).

An indicator lamp is designated by reference numeral 95, in view of which the selected and effected direction of motor rotation, for example, the principally used rotational direction, is optically indicated.

It is also noted that the foot control installation may be constructed so as to be displaceable from one side only of an initial position. In this type of construction the need for determining the direction of rotation of the motor by means of the foot-controlled actuating element is obviated.

The utilization of the foot control installation is, of course, not limited to dental drill drives and the aforedescribed exemplary embodiments of rotary drill drives or motors. More frequently, the foot control installation may be employed in any type of apparatus in which a predetermined drive condition must be controlled by foot. Consequently, it is conceivable that the control installation may be utilized to provide control over the output or frequency of an oscillator for a tooth filling removal apparatus, or for the control of the operation of an aspirating apparatus. Furthermore, applications in areas other than medical or dental uses are possible, for example, in the control of the rotational speed of electrically driven sewing machines, or the like.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification. What is claimed is: