Patent US4570625A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3612352A
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US
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Amalgam cartridge and method of making same and method and apparatus for dispensing amalgam from a cartridge
Assignee: DONALD G SMITH
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Filing: 1969-09-16
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-09-16
Abstract
Abstract An amalgam cartridge comprises a closed flexible body means having a pair of separate chambers containing amalgam powder and mercury respectively. The body means includes a passage means for providing communication between the chambers, and deformable closure means normally closes off the passage means but can be deformed to permit mixing of the powder and mercury when desired. An amalgam cartridge mixing and dispensing apparatus includes compression means for compressing a portion of an amalgam cartridge and deforming same to force the contents in the two chambers of the cartridge into engagement with one another. Mixer means is provided for engaging exterior of the cartridge to deform the cartridge in such a manner as to cause intimate mixing of the materials within the cartridge. Reshaping means engages the cartridge to reshape the mixed body of material within the cartridge to a desired configuration. Cutter means is provided for cutting off opposite ends of a cartridge within the apparatus, and ejection means is provided for ejecting the mixed body of material from the cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald G Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C5/00; A61C5/60; A61C5/68; A61C5/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An amalgam cartridge comprising a closed flexible body means defining a pair of separate chambers for containing an amalgam powder and mercury respectively, said body means defining passage means for providing communication between said chambers, closure means normally closing off said passage means to prevent communication between said chambers, said closure means being deformable to selectively permit communication between said chambers through said passage means, and said cartridge including aligning means thereon for engagement with cooperating alignment means on an associated mixing and dispensing apparatus for aligning the cartridge with respect to said associated mixing and dispensing apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
An amalgam cartridge comprising a closed flexible body means defining a pair of separate chambers for containing an amalgam powder and mercury respectively, said body means defining passage means for providing communication between said chambers, closure means normally closing off said passage means to prevent communication between said chambers, said closure means being deformable to selectively permit communication between said chambers through said passage means, and said cartridge including aligning means thereon for engagement with cooperating alignment means on an associated mixing and dispensing apparatus for aligning the cartridge with respect to said associated mixing and dispensing apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein said body means comprises an integral plastic extrusion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein said body means comprises a pair of tubular portions connected with one another by a pair of separate web portions, said web portions defining said passage means therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said tubular portions is of substantially cylindrical cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said tubular portions has an elongated transverse cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said closure means comprises a relatively rigid member engaging said web portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 6 wherein said relatively rigid member is of generally tubular construction and is split longitudinally thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 7 wherein said relatively rigid member is disposed in partially surrounding relationship to one of said tubular portions of the body means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 6 wherein said relatively rigid member has holes formed therein for aligning the cartridge with an associated mixing and dispensing apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A cartridge as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure means comprises a frangible membrance formed integral with said body means and disposed in spanning relationship to said passage means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
83 words
The method of making an amalgam cartridge comprising forming a flexible body means defining a pair of chambers and a passage means for providing communication between the chambers, providing means to close off said passage means to prevent communication betwEen said chambers including forming a relatively rigid member engageable with said body means between said chambers to close said passage means, filling one of said chambers with an amalgam powder and filling the other of said chambers with mercury and sealing said chambers.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
83 words
The method of making an amalgam cartridge comprising forming a flexible body means defining a pair of chambers and a passage means for providing communication between the chambers, providing means to close off said passage means to prevent communication betwEen said chambers including forming a relatively rigid member engageable with said body means between said chambers to close said passage means, filling one of said chambers with an amalgam powder and filling the other of said chambers with mercury and sealing said chambers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said flexible body means is formed by extruding an integral member including a pair of tubular portions connected by separate web portions defining passage means therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the step for providing means for closing off such passage means includes making said relatively rigid member tubular, and splitting said tubular member longitudinally thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as defined in claim 13 including the step of forming aligning holes in said relatively rigid tubular member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method as defined in claim 14 including the steps of forming said flexible body means by extruding an integral member including a pair of tubular portions connected by separate web portions defining a passage means therebetween, and placing one of said tubular portions within said longitudinally split tubular member with opposite free edges of said tubular member engaging opposite sides of said web portions to close off the space therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said flexible body means is formed by extruding an integral member including a pair of tubular portions connected by separate web portions defining passage means therebetween, and forming aligning holes in one of said tubular portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said other chamber is filled with mercury under vacuum conditions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said body means is formed of a plastic material and said chambers are sealed by heat sealing said plastic body means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
An amalgam cartridge comprising a closed flexible body means defining a pair of separate chambers for containing an amalgam powder and mercury respectively, said body means including a connecting portion between the chambers and defining passage means for providing communication between said chambers, and closure means comprising a relatively rigid member engaging said connecting portion normally closing off said passage means to prevent communication between said chambers, said closure means being deformable to selectively permit communication between said chambers through said passage means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
An amalgam cartridge comprising a closed flexible body means defining a pair of separate chambers for containing an amalgam powder and mercury respectively, said body means including a connecting portion between the chambers and defining passage means for providing communication between said chambers, and closure means comprising a relatively rigid member engaging said connecting portion normally closing off said passage means to prevent communication between said chambers, said closure means being deformable to selectively permit communication between said chambers through said passage means.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of making an amalgam cartridge comprising forming a flexible body means defining a pair of chamber means therein for containing an amalgam powder and mercury, respectively, providing passage means in said body means for establishing communication between said chambers, providing means to lose off said passage means to prevent communication between said chambers, said closure means being deformable to selectively permit communication between said chambers through said passage means, providing aligning means on said cartridge for engagement with cooperating alignment means on an associated mixing and dispensing apparatus for aligning the cartridge with respect to said associated mixing and dispensing apparatus, filling one of said chambers with an amalgam powder and filling the other of said chambers with mercury and sealing said chambers.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
125 words
The method of making an amalgam cartridge comprising forming a flexible body means defining a pair of chamber means therein for containing an amalgam powder and mercury, respectively, providing passage means in said body means for establishing communication between said chambers, providing means to lose off said passage means to prevent communication between said chambers, said closure means being deformable to selectively permit communication between said chambers through said passage means, providing aligning means on said cartridge for engagement with cooperating alignment means on an associated mixing and dispensing apparatus for aligning the cartridge with respect to said associated mixing and dispensing apparatus, filling one of said chambers with an amalgam powder and filling the other of said chambers with mercury and sealing said chambers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as defined in claim 20 wherein the means for closing off said passage means is provided by forming a frangible membrance integral with said body means and in spanning relationship to said passage means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
74 words
An amalgam cartridge mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising compression means for compressing a portion of a cartridge therebetween, mixer means for intimately mixing materials within a cartridge with one another, reshaping means to engage a portion of a cartridge and forming a mixed body of material therewithin to a desired configuration, cutter means for cutting off a portion of a cartridge and ejection means for ejecting a mixed body of material from a cArtridge.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
74 words
An amalgam cartridge mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising compression means for compressing a portion of a cartridge therebetween, mixer means for intimately mixing materials within a cartridge with one another, reshaping means to engage a portion of a cartridge and forming a mixed body of material therewithin to a desired configuration, cutter means for cutting off a portion of a cartridge and ejection means for ejecting a mixed body of material from a cArtridge.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said compression means includes a pair of compression members mounted for relative movement toward and away from one another and means for selectively moving said pair of compression members with respect to one another.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 including alignment means supported by said compression means for engaging an associated cartridge to properly align the cartridge with respect to the compression means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said alignment means includes vertically extending means for aligning an associated cartridge horizontally with respect to the compression means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein said alignment means includes horizontally extending means for aligning an associated cartridge vertically with respect to the compression means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said mixer is movably mounted for movement into and out of operative mixing position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said mixer means includes a pair of oppositely disposed mixing members movable with respect to one another.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein said mixing members are pivotally mounted.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 29 including a drive motor operatively connected with said mixing members for oscillating said mixing members during operation of the mixer means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein said drive motor is operatively connected with said mixing members by an eccentric drive connection.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said reshaping means includes a pair of reshaping members mounted for movement with respect to one another.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said reshaping members includes arcuate end portions for engaging a part of a cartridge.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein one of said reshaping members includes a laterally extending lip extending from the associated arcuate end portion.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein said laterally extending lip includes an upwardly sloping undersurface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 32 including operating means for operating said reshaping means, said operating means being mounted for swinging movement with respect to said reshaping means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 36 wherein said operating means includes a movably mounted handle.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 37 wherein one of said compression members has a cavity formed therein and defines a lip adjacent said cavity, said handle of the operating means including a portion for engaging said lip.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 36 wherein said operating means includes a pair of pins, each of said reshaping members having a hole formed therein for receiving one of said pins.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 39 wherein said operating means for the reshaping means includes a pinion operatively connected with each of said pins, a toothed rack member engaging said pinions, said rack member being resiliently biased in one direction, said rack member being operatively connected with a handle pivotally carried by said operating means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said cutter means is mounted for swinging movement with respect to the remaining components of the apparatus.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 41 wherein said cutter means includes a pair of spaced cutter members for engaging opposite ends of a cartridge.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 42 wherein at least one of said cutter members has a hole formed therethrough and a boss formed thereon for facilitating filling and associated dental instrument.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 41 including operating means for operating said reshaping means, said cutter means and said operating means including interlocking means for interlocking the operating means and the cutter means when the cutter means and operating means are disposed adjAcent one another.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said ejection means is carried by said cutter means.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 45 wherein said ejection means includes a plunger mounted for movement with respect to said cutter means.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 46 wherein said plunger is resiliently biased in a direction away from said cutter means.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of mixing and dispensing amalgam from a cartridge having a pair of separate chambers containing amalgam powder and mercury respectively comprising forcing the mercury and amalgam powder together within the cartridge, intimately mixing the amalgam powder and the mercury with one another, reshaping the mixed body of material within the cartridge to a desired configuration, cutting off both ends of the cartridge and then ejecting the mixed body of material from the cartridge.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
75 words
The method of mixing and dispensing amalgam from a cartridge having a pair of separate chambers containing amalgam powder and mercury respectively comprising forcing the mercury and amalgam powder together within the cartridge, intimately mixing the amalgam powder and the mercury with one another, reshaping the mixed body of material within the cartridge to a desired configuration, cutting off both ends of the cartridge and then ejecting the mixed body of material from the cartridge.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |