Miniature self-locking labial bracket with cam-release closure member

An improved self-locking orthodontic bracket mountable on a tooth the bracket comprising:

• a bracket body having first and second side portions spaced apart to define an archwire slot for receiving an archwire;
• a closure slot extending transversely of the archwire slot in the bracket body;
• a closure member receivable within the closure slot and slidable across the archwire slot;
• the closure slot including a first lengthwise slot portion formed in the first side portion of the bracket body and a second lengthwise slot portion formed in the second side portion of the bracket body on opposite sides of the archwire slot so that the closure member can be slid to a closed position through the first lengthwise slot portion transversely of the archwire slot with an end portion inserted into the second slot portion to retain the archwire in the archwire slot:
• the first lengthwise slot portion including an internal shoulder oriented normal to the direction of closure of the closure member and the closure member including a folded flat spring member having a free end biased outward to engage the internal shoulder and thereby lock the closure member in the closed position;
• the free end of the folded flat spring member including a cam responsive to exertion of a force lengthwise of the closure member for deflecting the free end away from the internal shoulder to unlock the closure member:
• the bracket body including a pair of tie wings extending in opposite directions from the archwire slot alongside the closure slot for holding a tie wire or O-ring across the archwire slot.

An improved self-locking orthodontic bracket mountable on a tooth, the bracket comprising:

• a bracket body having first and second side portions spaced apart to define an archwire slot for receiving an archwire;
• a closure slot extending transversely of the archwire slot in the bracket body;
• a closure member receivable within the closure slot and slidable across the archwire slot;
• the closure slot including a first lengthwise slot portion formed in the first side portion of the bracket body and a second slot portion formed in the second side portion of the bracket body on opposite sides of the archwire slot so that the closure member can be slid to a closed position through the first lengthwise slot portion transversely of the archwire slot with an end portion inserted into the second slot portion to retain the archwire in the archwire slot;
• the first lengthwise slot portion including an internal shoulder oriented normal to the direction of closure of the closure member and the closure member including a folded flat spring member having a free end biased outward to engage the internal shoulder to lock the closure member in the closed position;
• the closure member including a flat core member having an intermediate retention ear protruding laterally to engage the bracket body on opposite lateral sides of the first lengthwise slot portion to retain the closure member in an open position;
• the bracket body including a pair of tie wings extending in opposite directions from the archwire slot alongside the closure slot for holding a tie wire or O-ring across the archwire slot.

An improved self-locking orthodontic bracket mountable on a tooth, the bracket comprising:

• a bracket body having first and second side portions spaced apart to define an archwire slot for receiving an archwire;
• a closure slot extending transversely of the archwire slot in the bracket body;
• a closure member receivable within the closure slot and slidable across the archwire slot;
• the closure slot including a first lengthwise slot portion formed in the first side portion of the bracket body and a second slot portion formed in the second side portion of the bracket body on opposite sides of the archwire slot so that the closure member can be slid to a closed position through the first lengthwise slot portion transversely of the archwire slot with an end portion inserted into the second slot portion to retain the archwire in the archwire slot;
• the first lengthwise slot portion including an internal shoulder oriented normal to the direction of closure of the closure member and the closure member includes a folded flat spring member having a free end biased outward to engage the internal shoulder to lock the closure member in the closed position;
• the bracket body including a block positionable across the closure slot for engaging an end of the closure member to retain the closure member in the closure slot;
• the bracket body including a pair of tie wings extending in opposite directions from the archwire slot alongside the closure slot for holding a tie wire or O-ring across the archwire slot.

An improved self-locking orthodontic bracket mountable on a tooth, the bracket comprising:

• a bracket body having first and second side portions spaced apart to define an archwire slot for receiving an archwire;
• a first pair of tie wings extending in opposite directions from the archwire slot for holding a tie wire or O-ring across the archwire slot over the archwire;
• a second pair of tie wings extending in opposite directions from the archwire slot for holding a tie wire or O-ring across the archwire slot;
• the first and second pairs of tie wings being spaced apart along opposite sides of the archwire slot;
• a guideway formed in the bracket body extending across the archwire slot above the first and second pairs of tie wings;
• and
• a closure member slidable along the guideway over the archwire slot above the first and second pairs of tie wings to secure the archwire in the archwire slot when the archwire is fully seated therein;
• the pairs of tie wings serving as an alternative means for securing the archwire in the slot with a tie wire or O-ring when the archwire cannot be fully seated therein.