Anti-rotational connecting mechanism

In a means for connecting a rigid first part to a rigid second part comprising an interlocking post and socket, in which said post extends outwardly along a longitudinal axis from a base of said first part to a free end of said first part and said socket is a recess in said second part extending from an outer end of said second part to a base within said second part, one of said parts comprising a dental implant bearing one of said post and socket and the other of said parts comprising a dental component bearing the other of said post and said socket, said post having generally flat external sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis, said socket having generally flat internal sidewalls parallel to said external sidewalls, said internal and said external sidewalls each having a cross-sectional shape defining a hexagon including six corner regions, said corner regions including a corner of said hexagon and a portion of said sidewall adjacent said corner, the improvement wherein upon initial penetration said post fits loosely into said socket and at least one of said post and socket has six discrete engagement elements located one at each of said corner regions adjacent said base for frictionally engaging the sidewalls of the other in a sliding contact when said free end of said post penetrates further into said socket toward said base of said socket.

In a cutting tool comprising a shaft, a distal end, and a cutting end section comprising transverse cutting edges in a polygonal array with side wall surfaces extending along said shaft a prescribed distance from said distal end for forming in a host body a corresponding polygonal socket with interior walls and a prescribed depth, an improvement in the end section of said tool which includes said cutting edges and is limited to less than said depth of said socket, wherein at least a portion of the side walls of said shaft in said end section is indented to provide corresponding projections extending from said interior walls within said socket.

A dental implant system comprising an implant and an abutment having an interlocking post and socket, in which said post extends outwardly along a longitudinal axis from a base of said implant to a free end of said implant and said socket is a recess in said abutment extending inwardly from an outer end of said abutment to a base within said abutment, said post comprising a plurality of generally flat external sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting at corners, said socket comprising a corresponding plurality of generally flat internal sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting in corners, the improvement wherein said post and said socket are dimensioned so that said post fits loosely into said socket upon initial penetration and at least one of said post and socket has engagement means extending from its sidewalls to frictionally engage a portion of the generally flat sidewalls of the other in a sliding contact when said free end of said post penetrates further into said socket toward said base of said socket.

A dental implant system comprising an implant and an abutment having an interlocking post and socket, in which said post extends outwardly along a longitudinal axis from a base of said abutment to a free end of said abutment and said socket is a recess in said implant extending inwardly from an outer end of said implant to a base within said implant, said post comprising a plurality of generally flat external sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting at corners, said socket comprising a corresponding plurality of generally flat internal sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting in corners, the improvement wherein said post and said socket are dimensioned so that said post fits loosely into said socket upon initial penetration and at least one of said post and socket has engagement means extending from its sidewalls to frictionally engage a portion of the generally flat sidewalls of the other in a sliding contact when said free end of said post penetrates further into said socket toward said base of said socket.

A dental implant system comprising an implant and an abutment having an interlocking post and socket, in which said post extends outwardly along a longitudinal axis from a base of said implant to a free end of said implant and said socket is a recess in said abutment extending inwardly from an outer end of said abutment to a base within said abutment, said post comprising a plurality of rigid and generally flat external sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting at corners, said socket comprising a corresponding plurality of generally flat internal sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting in corners, the improvement wherein said post and said socket are dimensioned so that said post fits loosely into said socket upon initial penetration and at least one of said post and socket has engagement means extending from its sidewalls to form an anti-rotational connection with the other of said post and socket when said free end of said post penetrates further into said socket toward said base of said socket.

A dental implant system comprising an implant and an abutment having an interlocking post and socket, in which said post extends outwardly along a longitudinal axis from a base of said abutment to a free end of said abutment and said socket is a recess in said implant extending inwardly from an outer end of said implant to a base within said implant, said post comprising a plurality of rigid and generally flat external sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting at corners, said socket comprising a corresponding plurality of generally flat internal sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting in corners, the improvement wherein said post and said socket are dimensioned so that said post fits loosely into said socket upon initial penetration and at least one of said post and socket has engagement means extending from its sidewalls to form an anti-rotational connection with the other of said post and socket when said free end of said post penetrates further into said socket toward said base of said socket.

A dental implant system comprising an implant and an abutment having interlocking elements forming a post and a socket, said post extending outwardly along a longitudinal axis from a base of said implant to a free end of said implant and said socket extending inwardly from an outer end of said abutment to a base within said abutment, each of said interlocking elements forming a plurality of rigid and generally flat external sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting at corners, said socket comprising a corresponding plurality of generally flat internal sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting in corners, at least one of said interlocking elements having anti-rotation means projecting from its sidewalls toward the sidewalls of the other interlocking element and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, said interlocking elements being dimensioned so that said post fits loosely into said socket upon initial penetration and then more tightly to form an anti-rotational connection upon full penetration.

A dental implant system comprising an implant and an abutment having interlocking elements forming a post and a socket, said post extending outwardly along a longitudinal axis from a base of said abutment to a free end of said abutment and said socket extending inwardly from an outer end of said implant to a base within said implant, each of said interlocking elements forming a plurality of rigid and generally flat external sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting at corners, said socket comprising a corresponding plurality of generally flat internal sidewalls parallel to said longitudinal axis and meeting in corners, at least one of said interlocking elements having anti-rotation means projecting from its sidewalls toward the sidewalls of the other interlocking element and extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, said interlocking elements being dimensioned so that said post fits loosely into said socket upon initial penetration and then more tightly to form an anti-rotational connection upon full penetration.