Summary of the Invention
While my copending application provides individualized protection for sterilized drill bits used to drill out decayed portions of teeth that need "filling", difficulties are encountered on occasion in releasing the drill bits from the chuck. To guard against such a contingency I provide a slotted annular ring type extension on the container or closure member. The driving shank of the drill bit can be projected into the spaced slots of the annular ring, and can be firmly gripped by twisting the container or closure member to clamp the drill bit which can then be released.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the sterilized dental bit package with the slotted annular ring secured thereto.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container with the slotted annular ring.
FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the container illustrating the slotted ring to engage and clamp the drill bit.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to the drawings a drill bit 10 which may be of a wide variety of drilling materials and drilling contours and degrees of coarseness may be positioned in a container 12 and be suitably supported in a contoured pedestal 14. The drill bit 10 is resiliently held upright in the container 12 by a resilient sealing cap 16 having a central aperture 18 through which the drill bit 10 projects.
The cap 16 has an axially extending outer flange 20 having an inwardly contracted flange 20 to overlie and engage an enlarged rim 22 formed around the top of the container 12 to securely hold the drill bit 10 in the container 12 which is substantially sealed by the sealing cap 16.
The container 12 has an annular ring 24 at the closed end of the container 12. The annular ring 24 has aligned slots 26 and 28 of different widths across the annular ring. The slots 26 and 28 are of a width to receive the shank 30 of the drill bit 10 by which the drill bit is engaged by the chuck of the driving motor by which the drill bit is rotated. The drill bit 10 can then be clamped to hold it without the necessity of the Dentist or his assistant touching the drill bit. The drill bit can thus be released, and can be placed in a sterilized container for reuse with the same patient if the need for a drill of the same character and degree of coarseness occurs while the Dentist or his assistant is working with the same patient. When the dental work with that particular patient is finished the used drill can be discarded as a "throw away" item.
The operation of releasing a drill bit from its driving chuck is achieved by placing the exposed shank of the drill bit 10 in the aligned slots 26 or 28 of the annular ring 24 of the container 12 and twisting the container to exert a clamping force on the drill bit 10. The drill bit can then be rotated slightly whereupon it will be released and can then be removed.