Spring-locked orthodontic bracket

A self-locking orthodontic bracket, comprising:

• a bracket base having a posterior surface adapted to be bonded to a tooth;
• a bracket projecting anteriorly from the bracket base, the bracket including transversely space side surfaces and an anterior surface interrupted by an opening leading to an archwire slot;
• a movable cover having a posterior surface overlapping the anterior surface of the bracket;
• opposed guides on the cover that slidably support it on opposed side surfaces of the bracket for alternately positioning the cover in a first position clear of the archwire slot or a second position spanning the archwire slot;
• the bracket having a transverse recess open to its anterior surface and extending distally to a recess base between opposed recess end walls;
• a resilient flat spring formed from a length of wire, the flat spring being movably mounted within the recess and including a protruding section that normally extends beyond the anterior surface of the bracket;
• the posterior surface of the cover including at least one indentation sized and positioned to receive the protruding section of the spring, whereby the cover is releasably maintained in one of its first or second positions by engagement of the bent section of the spring within the indentation.

A self-locking orthodontic bracket, comprising:

• a bracket base having a posterior surface adapted to be bonded to a tooth;
• a pair of lugs projecting anteriorly from the bracket base in transversely spaced parallel positions;
• the lugs including anterior surfaces interrupted by openings leading to an archwire slot formed distally from the anterior surfaces;
• a fixed wall on the bracket base, the fixed wall being located between the lugs and along one side of the archwire slot, the fixed wall including an anterior surface;
• a movable cover having a posterior surface overlapping the anterior surface of the fixed wall;
• opposed guides on the cover and slidably supporting the cover on the pair of lugs for alternately positioning the cover in a first position clear of the archwire slot or a second position spanning the archwire slot;
• the fixed wall having a recess at its anterior surface;
• a resilient flat spring movably supported within the recess, the spring having a normal configuration that partially extends beyond the anterior surface of the fixed wall;
• the posterior surface of the cover including at least one indentation sized and positioned to receive a section of the spring, whereby the cover is releasably maintained in one of its first or second positions by engagement of the spring within the indentation.

A self-locking orthodontic bracket, comprising:

• a bracket base having a posterior surface adapted to be bonded to a tooth;
• a pair of upright tying lugs projecting anteriorly from the bracket base in transversely spaced parallel positions, the tying lugs each including a pair of opposed side surfaces transversely spaced from one another and at least one outwardly projecting extension located between the side surfaces;
• the tying lugs each including aligned anterior surfaces interrupted by a openings leading distally from the anterior surfaces to form a transverse archwire slot, the archwire slot having inner slot surfaces that open through the side surfaces of each tying lug;
• a fixed wall on the bracket base and joining the two lugs, the fixed wall being located along one side of the archwire slot and including an anterior surface;
• a movable cover slidably engaging and flush with the anterior surface of the fixed wall, the cover overlapping the full transverse width of the fixed wall;
• a pair of guides operably supporting the cover and slidably engaging opposed side surfaces on the respective tying lugs for alternately positioning the cover in (1) a first position with the cover clear of the archwire slot or (2) a second position with the cover overlapping the width and height of the archwire slot;
• and
• the movable cover having a posterior surface overlapping the anterior surface of the fixed wall;
• the fixed wall having a recess open to its anterior surface;
• a resilient flat spring mounted within the recess, the spring having a normal configuration that partially extends beyond the anterior surface of the fixed wall;
• the posterior surface of the cover including at least one indentation sized and positioned to receive a section of the spring, whereby the cover is releasably maintained in one of its first or second positions by engagement of the spring within the indentation.

A self-locking orthodontic bracket, comprising:

• a bracket base having a posterior surface adapted to be bonded to a tooth;
• a pair of tying lugs projecting anteriorly from the bracket base in transversely spaced parallel positions, the tying lugs each including a pair of opposed side surfaces transversely spaced from one another and at least one outwardly projecting extension located between the side surfaces;
• the tying lugs each including aligned anterior surfaces interrupted by a transverse archwire slot leading distally from the anterior surfaces, the archwire slot having inner slot surfaces that open through the side surfaces of each tying lug;
• a fixed wall on the bracket base, the fixed wall being located between the lugs and along one side of the archwire slot, the fixed wall including an anterior surface;
• a movable cover slidably engaging and flush with the anterior surfaces of the tying lugs, the cover overlapping the full transverse width of the pair of tying lugs and having a perpendicular height that is greater than the height of the archwire slot across the anterior surfaces of the tying lugs;
• a pair of guides operably supporting the cover and slidably engaging opposed side surfaces on the respective tying lugs at locations posterior to the archwire slot for alternately positioning the cover in (1) a first position with the cover clear of the archwire slot or (2) a second position with the cover overlapping the width and height of the archwire slot;
• a pair of support members structurally interconnecting the cover and the pair of guides, the pair of support members being respectively located adjacent the opposed side surfaces of the tying lugs engaged by the pair of guides, each support member leading posteriorly from the cover to one of the guides;
• the movable cover having a posterior surface overlapping the anterior surface of the fixed wall;
• the fixed wall having a recess open to its anterior surface;
• a resilient flat spring mounted within the recess, the spring having a normal configuration that partially extends beyond the anterior surface of the fixed wall;
• and
• the posterior surface of the cover including at least one indentation sized and positioned to receive a section of the spring, whereby the cover is releasably maintained in one of its first or second positions by engagement of the spring within the indentation.