US3913228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elastic orthodontic appliances
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-22
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1994-04-22
Abstract
Abstract Elastic orthodontic appliances are described which separate, rotate and otherwise apply corrective forces to misaligned teeth. A separator, in the form of a torus is provided with at least one portion of reduced cross section which can be tensioned and made sufficiently thin to permit passage between two contacting teeth. The restoring forces in the portion of reduced area wedge the enlarged portions of the torus between two adjacent teeth and cause the latter to separate. A rotator includes a torus or ring with an elongate elastic protuberance at the periphery of the ring. With the ring engaged with the bracket and the elastic protuberance wedged between an arch wire and a tooth, the restoring forces in the protuberance cause the tooth to rotate with respect to the arch wire. Another orthodontic device is disclosed which is in the form of an elongate strand having a torus or ring at one end thereof suitable for engaging a bracket or a rotating button mounted on a tooth. Protuberances in the form of spheres preferably solid or the like are provided on the strand which are useful for tying the strands to a fixed anchor point such as an arch wire after the ring has been engaged with a bracket or button on a misaligned tooth.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Wallshein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A tooth separator comprising an elastic ring, said ring having main portions of predetermined cross sectional area, and having at least one strand portion of cross sectional area along its length which is reduced relative to said predetermined cross sectional area to form a connecting strand extending between said main portions of said ring, whereby tensioning said strand further reduces the cross sectional dimensions thereof to permit the same to be forced through a contact area between two adjacent teeth, said main portions being wedged between non-contacting portions of two adjacent teeth when tensioning of said strand is released and said strand seeks to become restored to the initial length thereof, said main portions of said ring applying opposing forces to the two adjacent teeth which cause the same to separate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A tooth separator comprising an elastic ring, said ring having main portions of predetermined cross sectional area, and having at least one strand portion of cross sectional area along its length which is reduced relative to said predetermined cross sectional area to form a connecting strand extending between said main portions of said ring, whereby tensioning said strand further reduces the cross sectional dimensions thereof to permit the same to be forced through a contact area between two adjacent teeth, said main portions being wedged between non-contacting portions of two adjacent teeth when tensioning of said strand is released and said strand seeks to become restored to the initial length thereof, said main portions of said ring applying opposing forces to the two adjacent teeth which cause the same to separate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tooth separator as defined in claim 1, wherein said ring is generally in the shape of a torus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A tooth separator as defined in claim 1, wherein said main portions and said strand have substantially circular cross sections, the diameter of said strand being substantially smaller than the diameter of said main portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tooth separator as defined in claim 1, wherein said ring is substantially circular, and wherein two strand portions of reduced cross-sectional area are provided on diametrically opposing sides of said ring to form two opposing main portions each in the shape of a section of a torus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
A tooth rotator for use with a bracket means mounted on a misaligned tooth, the bracket means having at least one post projecting from the tooth, said tooth rotator being adapted for use with an arch wire, the rotator comprising an elastic ring having means for engaging a bracket post; and an enlarged elastic protuberance extending from a peripheral portion of said ring, said protuberance being adapted to be wedged between a misaligned tooth and a fixed arch wire in a compressed state, so that the forces in said protuberance tending to restore it to its original shape cause the tooth to rotate relative to the fixed arch wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
109 words
A tooth rotator for use with a bracket means mounted on a misaligned tooth, the bracket means having at least one post projecting from the tooth, said tooth rotator being adapted for use with an arch wire, the rotator comprising an elastic ring having means for engaging a bracket post; and an enlarged elastic protuberance extending from a peripheral portion of said ring, said protuberance being adapted to be wedged between a misaligned tooth and a fixed arch wire in a compressed state, so that the forces in said protuberance tending to restore it to its original shape cause the tooth to rotate relative to the fixed arch wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tooth rotator as defined in claim 5, wherein the bracket means includes an edgewise bracket and said ring is dimensioned to snap over and engage at lEast one of the posts of the bracket means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tooth rotator as defined in claim 5, wherein said protuberance is elongate and cylindrical in shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tooth rotator as defined in claim 7, wherein said protuberance has a substantially round cross section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tooth rotator as defined in claim 7, wherein said protuberance has a substantially triangular, wedge-shaped cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A tooth rotator as defined in claim 7, wherein said protuberance is disposed in the plane of and substantially tangentially to the periphery of said ring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A tooth rotator as defined in claim 5, further comprising retaining means for connecting the bracket means to the arch wire, whereby said retaining means prevents linear movements thereof in the direction of the restoring forces away from the arch wire and said protuberance causes rotation of the associated tooth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tooth rotator as defined in claim 11, wherein said retaining means comprises an elastic tie wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
119 words
An elastic appliance comprising an elongate elastic strand; a ring provided at one end of said strand; and substantially solid protuberance means provided proximate the other end of said strand, said ring being adapted to engage an anchor point on a tooth, said strand being adapted to be tensioned and looped about a fixed point, and said protuberance means being adapted to cooperate with the strand loop to fix the other end of said strand to said fixed point to maintain said strand under tension, whereby a force can be applied to a tooth by the tension in said strand after the ends thereof are respectively connected to said anchor point on a tooth and to said fixed point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
119 words
An elastic appliance comprising an elongate elastic strand; a ring provided at one end of said strand; and substantially solid protuberance means provided proximate the other end of said strand, said ring being adapted to engage an anchor point on a tooth, said strand being adapted to be tensioned and looped about a fixed point, and said protuberance means being adapted to cooperate with the strand loop to fix the other end of said strand to said fixed point to maintain said strand under tension, whereby a force can be applied to a tooth by the tension in said strand after the ends thereof are respectively connected to said anchor point on a tooth and to said fixed point.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein a series of severable rings are provided on said strand, whereby the length of said strand can be modified by cutting off at least one of said rings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein said protuberance means is substantially spherical.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein said protuberance means is substantially conical with the apex thereof pointed in a direction away from said ring.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, further comprising a short strand portion extending beyond said protuberance means and forming a threading lead for facilitating manipulation of said other end of said strand.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 17, wherein said threading lead is provided with a tapered free end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein a series of severably protuberance means are provided on said strand, whereby the length of said strand can be modifed by cutting off at least one of said end protuberance means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, in combination with a bracket means having a projection adapted to engage said ring.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, in combination with a rotating button means mounted on a tooth adapted to engage said ring.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, comprising an elastic further ring at said other end of the strand proximate said protuberance means, said further ring being dimensioned to snappingly receive said protuberance means when said further ring is stretched and said protuberance means is forced therethrough, whereby said protuberance means or said further ring can be wrapped around the fixed point and snappingly engaged to lock the position of said other end to the fixed point.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 22, wherein said protuberance means is solid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein said protuberance means is solid.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
An elastic appliance as defined in claim 5, wherein said protuberance is integrally formed with said ring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |