Lingual bracket with hinged camming closure

Abstract

An improved lingual orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body having a three-sided archwire slot, a hinged closure member pivotable across the archwire slot and two oppositely directed wings formed respectively on the bracket body and the closure member for receiving a ligature or O-ring to secure the closure member in the closed position, the closure member having a closure portion which extends across the archwire to retain the archwire in the slot under shear. The closure member is a substantially rigid member formed in a generally J-shape and connected by a hinge to the bracket body on the opposite side of the archwire slot from the first tie wing. The closure member has a first end connected pivotally by the hinge to the bracket body, a second distal end forming a tie wing oppositely directed from the bracket tie wing, and a central portion shaped so as to extend across the archwire slot to retain the archwire seated in shear in the archwire slot. The central portion is convexly shaped to exert a camming force on the archwire to seat it in the slot as the closure member is rotated toward the closed position, and a neutral to over-center or negative camming action upon closure to minimize the force needed for the O-ring to hold the tie wings together against the forces of the archwire.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.