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US 6,086,364 AGranted
Fixation mechanism for post and tube dental appliance
AssigneeRMO, Inc.
InventorThayer R. Brunson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dental tube and post combination is disclosed, wherein the dental tube and post have, respectively, a mating projection and indentation so that when the mating portions are fitted together, it is unlikely that the tube and post will be inadvertently separated from one another. However, the combined tube and post combination of the present invention can be readily separated by a dental technician using conventional dental tools. Moreover, each of the tube and post portions of the present invention can be used with conventional posts and tubes without compatibility concerns.
Claims22
An apparatus for releasably securing a dental appliance, comprising:
- (a) a dental post having a post length and a post width and an indentation with a first extent substantially traversing said post width, and a second extent in a direction of said post length, wherein a given ratio of said first extent to said second extent is approximately 5 to 1 or greater;
- (b) a dental post receiving means for receiving said dental post, said dental post receiving means having a post retaining sheath with an interior for receiving said dental post, wherein when said post is inserted in a direction substantially traverse to said post width into said interior, said interior effectively frictionally engages said dental post;
- wherein said dental post receiving means includes one or more projections into said interior for mating with said indentation, wherein said projections engage said indentation at least at points substantially at said post width apart, and said projections are included in an area of said dental post receiving means, wherein said area has extents in a same ratio as said given ratio.
An apparatus for releasably securing a dental appliance, comprising:
- (a) a dental post having a post length and a post width and an indentation extending substantially across the post width;
- (b) a dental post receiving means for receiving said dental post, said dental post receiving means having a post retaining sheath with an interior for receiving said dental post in a first direction substantially traverse to said post width, so that a width of said interior substantially coincides with the post width;
- (c) a projection for projecting into said interior for mating with said indentation, said projection having:
- (i) a first projection extent substantially traversing said interior width and (ii) a second projection extent in a direction normal to said first projection extent, wherein a ratio of said first projection extent to said second projection extent is approximately 5:1 or greater.
1 more element
An apparatus for insertion into an interior of a dental tube, comprising:
- a dental post having a length along a lengthwise direction, and a width traversing said lengthwise direction, wherein said dental post is capable of being inserted into the dental tube in said lengthwise direction;
- an indentation substantially traversing said width at a predetermined position along said length, said indentation having a first extent along said width and a second extent traverse to said first extent;
- wherein a ratio of said first extent to said second extent is approximately 5:1 or greater so that:
- (a) when the dental tube includes a detent projecting into the interior and capable of mating with said indentation substantially along said first extent, then said mating facilitates maintaining said dental post in a desired alignment, and (b) when the dental tube does not include said detent, then said dental post is capable of being retained in said interior as a dental post without said indentation.
1 more element
An apparatus for receiving a dental post, comprising:
- a dental tube having an interior with at least one opening for insertion of a dental post in a first direction;
- a detent in a wall of said dental tube providing an interior projecting portion of said wall, said detent having a first extent traverse to said first direction and a second extent in said first direction;
- wherein a ratio of said first extent to said second extent is approximately 5:1 or greater so that:
- (a) when the dental post includes an indentation for mating with said detent, then said mating enhances a rigidity of said dental post to remain in a desired alignment, and (b) when the dental post does not include said indentation, then said detent engages the dental post for increasing a friction for retaining the dental post within said dental tube.
1 more element
A method for releasably securing a dental appliance within a dental patient's mouth, comprising:
- inserting a dental post into a dental tube, wherein said dental post has a length along a lengthwise direction, a width traversing said lengthwise direction, and an indentation at a predetermined position along said length, said indentation having a first extent traverse to said lengthwise direction and a second extent in said lengthwise direction, and said first extent being in a ratio to said second extent of approximately 5:1 or greater, and wherein said dental tube has a wall providing an interior with at least one opening for insertion of said dental post in said lengthwise direction, said wall having a detent providing an interior projecting portion of said wall;
- contacting said dental post and said interior projecting portion, wherein said interior projecting portion flexes so that said dental post is able to move further into said interior;
- mating said indentation and said interior projection when they align so that said detent mates with said indentation along substantially an entire length of said first extent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.