Clamping device and dental handpiece including same

摘要

A clamping device for clamping a member to a housing, includes a sleeve unit and a chuck unit having interengaging threads such that both units are rotatably and axially displaceable relative to each other. A spring normally urges one unit in one rotary direction relative to the other unit such that the sleeve unit contracts the open end of the chuck unit to a clamping position. A manual operator is effective, when operated, to produce a rotary displacement of one unit in the opposite rotary direction relative to the other unit, while restraining a rotary displacement of the other unit, such as to effect an axial displacement between the two units to permit the open end of the chuck unit to expand to a releasing position. Several embodiments are described in which the manual operator is a depressible push-button assembly. In one embodiment, depression of the push-button rotates the sleeve unit while rotation of the chuck unit is restrained, whereas in other described embodiments, depression of the push-button rotates the chuck unit while rotation of the sleeve unit is restrained.