Applicator tool for orthodontic loops
AssigneeModcom, Inc.
InventorPaul E. Klein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An applicator tool for use in attaching elastomeric orthodontic loops to orthodontic tooth appliances. The tool includes a pair of pivotal clamping arms having a pair of loop-gripping tips for clamping a loop in a manner permitting attachment of the clamped loop to a tooth appliance. One of the arms has a tapered end portion for holding a stack of such loops for sliding of successive end loops in the stack in a downstream direction. A loop-feed claw mounted on the other arm is adapted first to climb over, and then to engage the upstream side of, an end loop in the loop stack, when the arms are opened, and to place the engaged loop in a position for operative clamping, when the arms are closed.
Claims8
An applicator tool for use in attaching elastomeric loops to orthodontic tooth appliances, to secure an archwire thereto, said tool comprising
- an arm adapted to hold a stack of loops to permit loop sliding in a downstream direction on the arm,
- another arm mounted for swinging between open and closed positions with respect to the first-mentioned arm,
- a pair of loop-gripping tips formed adjacent the downstream ends of said arms adapted for clamping a loop, with said other arm in its closed position, in a manner permitting attachment of the clamped loop to a tooth appliance, and
- loop-feed means mounted on said other arm for sliding contact movement against the first-mentioned arm between an upstream position, where the feed means is adapted first to climb over the downstream side, and subsequently to engage the upstream side, of a loop disposed nearest the tip in said first-mentioned arm, and a downstream position, where the feed means is adapted to place the engaged loop in position for such clamping, when said other arm is moved from said open condition toward said closed position.
An applicator tool for use in attaching elastomeric loops to orthodontic tooth appliances, to secure an archwire thereto, said tool comprising
- a pair of arms pivotally connected for movement toward and away from each other between closed and open conditions, respectively,
- a pair of loop-gripping tips formed adjacent the arm ends for clamping a loop, with the arms closed, in a manner permitting attachment of the clamped loop to a tooth appliance,
- one of said arms including an end portion which is tapered convergently progressing toward the associated arm tip for holding a stack of loops for sliding on said portion in a downstream direction toward said tip,
- a loop-feed claw mounted on the other of said arms for sliding-contact movement against the tapered portion in said one arm between an upstream position, where the claw is adapted first to climb over the downstream side, and then to engage the upstream side, of a loop disposed nearest to the tip on the tapered portion in the one arm, and a downstream position where the claw is adapted to place the engaged loop in position for such clamping, when the arms are moved from said open condition toward said closed condition, and
- biasing means on said other arm urging said claw against, and in an upstream direction with respect to, said one arm portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.