Orthodontic appliance having replaceable tooth engaging member
OwnerMelvin Wallsheininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An orthodontic appliance, such as a plate, has means defining at least one opening therein, the opening having a resilient and deformable inner surface portion, and an elongated wire-type member having at least one end which is removably insertable in the opening of the first member. The elongated member has an engaging means for resiliently deforming the inner surface portion of the opening for lockingly and non-rotatably engaging the elongated member in the opening. When the plate is of a relatively hard material, a sleeve of resilient, deformable material is used to define the opening for receiving the elongated member.
Claims30
An orthodontic appliance comprising:
- a first member adapted to be located in a mouth and in proximity to a tooth, said first member having means defining at least one opening therein which opens to the interior of said first member, said opening having a resilient and deformable inner surface portion;
- an elongated wire-type member having at least one end removably insertable in said at least one opening of said first member to engage said resilient and deformable inner surface portion, and further including means for cooperatively coupling same to at least one tooth;
- said at least one end of said elongated member having a contoured releasable cooperative engaging means for resiliently deforming said resilient and deformable inner surface portion of said opening defining means so that said resilient and deformable inner surface portion substantially conforms to at least a portion of the contour of said engaging means for lockingly and non-rotatably engaging said elongated wire-type member in said opening, whereby upon application of a removal force greater than the locking engaging force, said elongated wire-type member may be removed from said at least one opening to permit insertion of another elongated wire-type member therein.
A method of making an orthodontic appliance comprising:
- applying a layer of a first material to a helically wound coil;
- and
- molding a first member adapted to be located in a mouth around said layer of said helically wound coil so as to enclose said helically wound coil within said first member, said first member providing an opening to the inner portion of said elongated coil;
- said first material being a material which is resiliently deformable and which is softer than the material of said molded first member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.