Denture hold apparatus
OwnerJohn N. Johnson, Charles J. Lindenbergerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for securing a denture plate in position is disclosed. The illustrated and preferred embodiment incorporates a vacuum pump which has the exterior form and shape of a tooth embedded in a denture plate. The tooth incorporates a reciprocally operated pump. The pump pulls air from an exposed, lower indention or chamber. This chamber is connected via multiple passages to similar chambers around the denture, all of the chambers collectively open to the gum of the wearer. As air is evacuated from the chambers, a vacuum is formed. The vacuum increases holding power of the denture against the gum.
Claims9
A pneumatic holding apparatus for use in a denture which comprises a pneumatic tooth pump installed in the denture plate which pneumatic tooth pump is operated by repeated chewing action and wherein said pneumatic tooth pump includes a plastic shell which is sealed into the denture to define an internal closed chamber, an outlet valve from said chamber opening to the exterior to define a path for exhausting air from the closed chamber through said valve, an inlet valve into said chamber, said inlet valve repeatedly permitting air to be drawn into said chamber from an indention formed by a peripherally surrounding flange which flange contacts the gum thereby enclosing said indentation so that air pulled from the indention adjacent the gum of the user forms a partial vacuum holding the denture plate more firmly to the gum of the user as the user chews and the chewing motion repeatedly collapses said plastic shell to repeatedly expel air through the outlet valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.