Orthodontic O-ring dispenser and ligator therefor
OwnerWilliam B. Draganinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An orthodontic O-ring dispenser comprising a magazine or housing for containing a supply of stacked O-rings that are progressively advanced toward a slotted discharge opening wherein the respective O-rings are individually dispensed by stretching the endmost O-ring with the aid of a ligator to permit the dispensing of the O-ring through the discharge opening. The O-ring dispenser may also comprise a plurality of O-rings integrally molded to a core and which are connected thereto in a manner to facilitate the independent removal of the respective O-rings from the attached core.
Claims9
An orthodontic O-ring dispenser comprising:
- a housing having a bore extending therethrough,
- said bore adapted to contain a supply of stacked elastic O-rings,
- said bore having a diameter for accommodating an O-ring adapted to be dispensed therefrom,
- said housing having a rigid non-expandible end portion terminating in a dispensing opening formed at one end of said housing, said opening being in communication with said bore,
- said dispensing opening being defined by a transversely extending slot formed in said end portion,
- said slot having a width which is less than the diameter of an O-ring adapted to be dispensed therefrom,
- means adjacent said slot for defining a stop for said O-ring,
- and means for progressively advancing said stacked O-rings toward said stop means as the endmost O-ring is dispensed by causing said endmost O-ring to be stretched to and form a flat oval permitting it to be removed through said rigid slot.
An orthodontic O-ring applicating device comprising:
- a magazine for containing a plurality of flexible elastic O-rings,
- said magazine having a rigid end portion terminating in a dispensing opening,
- said opening being defined as an elongated slot,
- means defining an O-ring stop adjacent said opening,
- said stop normally prohibiting the passages of the O-ring through said slotted opening,
- and means for effecting the distortion of said O-ring to a flat oval for permitting the passage of the endmost O-ring past said stop means and removal of said endmost O-ring through said slotted opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.