Dispensing assemblies, arrays and systems for dental articles
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsCasey L. Carlson, Katie B. Thompson, Gopal B. Haregoppa, Armineh Khachatoorian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Dispensing assemblies for dental articles such as orthodontic brackets include a supply tube having a generally omega-shaped configuration. The supply tube receives a carrier strip as well as a number of containers that are releasably connected to the carrier strip. A dispenser array includes a plurality of supply tubes that are coupled to a spline by connectors. A dispensing system includes a mechanism for selectively positioning an array of supply tubes in either an upright orientation for storage or alternatively in an inclined orientation for dispensing.
Claims23
A dispensing assembly for dental articles comprising:
- a carrier strip having a generally flat configuration;
- a plurality of containers each releasably connected to the carrier strip;
- a plurality of dental articles each received in a respective one of the containers;
- and
- a supply tube including a housing having a longitudinal axis and a chamber extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the chamber includes a base portion having a generally rectangular configuration when viewed in reference planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and an upper portion having a generally circular configuration when viewed in reference planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the base portion is in communication with the upper portion and receives the carrier strip, wherein the carrier strip is slidable along the base portion in directions along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the containers extend into the upper portion.
8-17. (canceled)
A dispensing system for dental articles comprising:
- an array of elongated supply tubes arranged along a row in side-by-side relationship to each other;
- a quantity of containers received in the supply tubes;
- a plurality of dental articles each received in a respective one of the containers;
- and
- a base for supporting the array of supply tubes, the base including a mechanism for selectively supporting the array in either an upright orientation for storage and alternatively in an inclined orientation for dispensing.
(canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.