Articulators for use in constructing artificial teeth

Means for use in measuring the condylar movements of artificial temporomandibular joints in an articulator of the type incorporating a lower, stationary base plate and an upper, movable base plate, these base plates being connected with one another by supports the top portion of each of which has a transverse bore in which is rotatably mounted a disc, and screw means to prevent axial displacement of the disc and to selectively secure the disc within a range of rotational positions as indicated by an arcuate scale, each disc also being provided with a radially extending elongated aperture in which rests a guide portion on one end of a shaft member forming a pivot for the movable base plate, and each guide portion having the form of two truncated cones which abut one another at their smaller base surfaces, thereby forming a waist urged into centralising engagement with the lower edges of the elongated apertures by tension springs between the guide portions and their respective supports;

• the said measuring means comprising a boss adapted to be secured coaxially at one end of the shaft member forming the pivot for the movable base plate, a first arm extending from the boss, axial scale bearing means adapted to extend from the first arm over the adjacent support and generally parallel to the axis of the shaft member, a second arm extending from the boss, a pointer extending generally parallel to the axial scale bearing means, and slide means on the second arm for the pointer to enable its point to be brought into contact with a face area of the support when the boss has been secured coaxially with the shaft member.