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US 5,769,634 AGranted
Dental articulator
OwnerJohn Choiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The main member of the Dental Articulator is a unitary structure of first and second bodies attached by legs. Each of the legs has a self-hinge. The body each has a socket which receives a ball. The balls each has a tapered spline which engages in the corresponding mold recess in a dental cast. The balls are clampable in the sockets when the dental casts are in proper relative position. The self-hinges permit repeatable opening and closing of the dental cast.
Claims20
A dental articulator comprising:
- first and second bodies being attached together by at least first, second and third legs, each of said first, second and third legs having a self-hinge, said first and second bodies and said first, second and third legs being unitarily molded of synthetic polymer composition material;
- first and second attachment members;
- first and second ball and socket attachment means, respectively, between said first and second bodies and said first and second attachment members, said ball and socket attachment means being such that ball and socket attachment means can be selectively locked to lock said attachment members in position with respect to said body;
- first and second tapered spines respectively formed on said first and second attachment members, said spines being configured to be releasably inserted into a corresponding recess in a dental cast so that the spline can be removed from one dental cast and used in another dental cast.
1 more element
A dental articulator comprising:
- a main member, first and second bodies on said main member, first and second legs interconnecting said bodies, each of said legs having a self-hinge therein, said main member being unitarily molded of synthetic polymer composition material;
- first and second attachment members, each of said first and second attachment members having a tapered spline thereon, said tapered spline being for engaging in a corresponding mold recess in a dental cast for releasable engagement in the dental cast;
- and
- first and second ball and socket means formed on said first and second body and said first and second attachment members for permitting adjustment of said first and second attachment members with respect to said first and second bodies and locking of said first and second attachment members with respect to said first and second bodies, the portion of said ball and socket means on said bodies being molded therewith.
1 more element
A dental articulator comprising:
- first and second attachment members, each of said first and second attachment members having a tapered spline thereon;
- a dental cast mold, said dental cast mold having a spear therein configured to produce a spline recess in a dental cast molded therein of such configuration as to releasably retain said spline;
- and
- a main member adjustably attached to both said attachment members so that said attachment members can be adjusted with respect to each other to adjust dental casts with respect to each other.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.