The present invention relates to a dental container
It is known to hold dental materials in containers with separated components until required for use. Typically, at the time of use the components are contacted with one another and admixed to form a dental composition.
It has been found that known dental containers are difficult to use with relatively viscous dental materials.
The container of the present invention aims to overcome at least in part difficulties encountered with the use of relatively viscous dental materials in dental containers.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a dental container arranged to contain a liquid and a solid powder initially in separated condition comprising an outer central body having a proximal end and a distal end, a liquid receptacle having a closed inner end and an open outer end mounted at the proximal end of the outer central body and a separable nose portion mounted at the distal end of the outer body initially for mixing purposes but which is arranged to be manually separated from the remainder of the container after mixing, a plunger mounted in the open outer end of the liquid receptacle, the closed inner end of the liquid receptacle being formed by a wall having a weakened section, the distal end of the central body and the nose portion being arranged to contain solid powder material, the arrangement being such that depression of the plunger causes the wall of the liquid receptacle to be ruptured at the weakened section so that the liquid and the solid powder material are contacted for mixing together to form a dental paste.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the Figures, there is shown in
The proximal end 16 is arranged to receive snugly a liquid receptacle 22 having an open outer end 24 and a closed inner end formed by a wall 26. The wall 26 has a relevantly thin weakened central section 28 which is centrally disposed.
Further, the liquid receptacle 22 is arranged to receive at the open outer end 24 thereof a plunger 30 as shown in
Further the outer central body 12 has an intermediate annular ridge 32 which provides an internally projecting step 34 for engagement with the inner upper end of the liquid receptacle 22 as shown in
Further, it can be seen in
To ensure that the nose portion 20 is firmly engaged with the cylindrical portion 38 the distal end 18 is provided with a circumferential sealing means 46 as can best be seen in
In operation of the container 10, the liquid receptacle 22 containing liquid is engaged with the proximal end 16 as shown in
The liquid receptacle 22 contains liquid between the plunger 30 and the wall 26. The distal end 18 contains solid powder material.
The plunger 30 is depressed to the position shown in
The container 10 is then placed in a suitable mixing device such as a vibrating mixer of known type. This causes the liquid and powder to become thoroughly admixed to form a paste. The bulk of the paste is contained in the nose portion 20. The nose portion 20 is then manually detached from the body 12 as shown in
The container 50 shown in
The arrangement of the container of the present invention avoids the need for extruding the paste through an outlet nozzle as is commonly done with less viscous materials.
Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2012905260 | Nov 2012 | AU | national |