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Abstract

The invention is a curette that includes a tip and shaft that detachably join together to form a working tool member. The shaft has a threaded receiving end that is sized to receive a mating end of the tip. The mating, or proximal, end of the tip includes a corresponding threaded section and a smaller-diameter outwardly extending elongated section that is flattened on one or more sides. To attach the tip to the shaft, a user partially fills the receiving end of the shaft with epoxy. The user then inserts the mating end of the tip into the receiving end of the shaft, such that the epoxy surrounds the elongated section of the mating end and fills or partially fills the threads. The user then screws the tip and shaft together, to interlock, or self-lock, the threads. When the epoxy thereafter hardens, the tip is firmly held against rotation relative to the shaft both by the epoxied and interlocked threads and the flattened-sided section that, because of its shape, resists rotation within the hardened epoxy. When the tip needs replacing, the tip is detached from the shaft by applying moderate heat to soften the epoxy and, thereafter, unscrewing the locking threads.

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First Claim