Self-locking orthodontic bracket

A self-locking orthodontic bracket, comprising:

• a base having a posterior surface adapted to be bonded to a tooth or tooth band;
• a pair of tying lugs mounted to the base and projecting anteriorly from it in transversely spaced parallel positions, the tying lugs each including at least one side surface transversely spaced from one another and opposed extensions that project outwardly between their respective side surfaces;
• the tying lugs further including an anterior surface interrupted by flush openings leading to transverse archwire slots formed distally from the anterior surface along the respective tying lugs, the archwire slots having aligned inner slot surface areas configured complementary to the size and shape of an archwire adapted to be received within them;
• a movable cover slidably engaging the anterior surface of the tying lugs, the cover having a width that spans the full width of the pair of tying lugs and a perpendicular height that is greater than the height of the openings of the archwire slots across the anterior surface;
• and
• a pair of guides operably supporting the cover and slidably engaging oppositely facing side surfaces on the respective tying lugs for alternatively positioning the cover in (1) a first position clear of the archwire slots or (2) a second position overlapping the width and height of the openings of the archwire slots.

A self-locking orthodontic bracket, comprising:

• a base having a posterior surface adapted to be bonded to a tooth or tooth band;
• a pair of tying lugs mounted to the base and projecting anteriorly from it in transversely spaced parallel positions, the tying lugs each including at least one side surface transversely spaced from one another and opposed extensions that project outwardly between their respective side surfaces;
• the bracket further including an anterior surface interrupted by a transverse archwire slot leading distally from it across its full width, the archwire slot having inner slot surfaces that open through the side surfaces of the tying lugs and are configured complementary to the size and shape of an archwire adapted to be received within the archwire slot;
• a movable cover slidably engaging and flush with the anterior surface of the bracket, the cover overlapping the full transverse width of the pair of tying lugs and having a perpendicular width that is greater than the width of the archwire slot across the anterior surface;
• a pair of guides operably supporting the cover and slidably engaging the side surfaces on the respective tying lugs at a location posterior to the archwire slots for alternatively positioning the cover in (1) a first position clear of the archwire slots with the archwire slots opened or (2) a second position overlapping the archwire slots;
• and
• a pair of support members structurally interconnecting the cover and the pair of guides, the pair of support members being respectively located adjacent the side surfaces of the tying lugs with each support member leading posteriorly from the cover to one of the guides.

A self-locking orthodontic bracket, comprising:

• a base having a posterior surface adapted to be bonded to a tooth or tooth band;
• a pair of tying lugs mounted to the base and projecting anteriorly from it in transversely spaced parallel positions, the tying lugs each including first and second side surfaces transversely spaced from one another along the bracket and opposed extensions that project outwardly from the lugs;
• the bracket further having an anterior surface interrupted by the opening of a transverse archwire slot leading distally from the anterior surface, the archwire slot having an inner slot surface area intersecting the side surfaces of the tying lugs and configured complementary to the size and shape of an archwire adapted to be received within them;
• a transverse wall formed distally from the anterior surface and extending between the first side surfaces of the respective lugs, the transverse wall having at least one inner surface formed as a continuation of at least a portion of the transverse archwire slot;
• a movable cover slidably engaging and flush with the anterior surface of the bracket, the cover overlapping the full transverse width of the pair of tying lugs and having a perpendicular width that is greater than the width of the archwire slot across the anterior surface;
• a pair of guides operably supporting the cover and slidably engaging the side surfaces on the respective tying lugs at a location posterior to the archwire slots for alternatively positioning the cover in (1) a first position clear of the archwire slots with the archwire slots opened or (2) a second position overlapping the archwire slots;
• support members structurally interconnecting the cover and the pair of guides, the support members spanning the transverse separation between the two tying lugs and being configured with at least one inner surface shaped to complete a continuous archwire tube that extends across the full width of the bracket when the cover is in its second position.