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US 6,142,775 AGranted
Occlusal cap for orthodontic bracket
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJames D. Hansen, James D. Cleary, Jirina V. Pospisil
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cap is releasably connected to an orthodontic bracket and covers tips of occlusal bracket tiewings in order to prevent contact of the bracket with the enamel of opposing dentition. The cap includes a section that extends at least partially along a channel of the bracket extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction in order to help retain the cap in its intended position and prevent the cap from rotating relative to the bracket. In preferred embodiments, the cap is made of a stain-resistant aesthetically pleasing material. Optionally, the cap serves as a ligature in order to retain an archwire in an archwire slot of the bracket.
Claims43
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing, a mesial-gingival tiewing and a distal-gingival tiewing, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction between the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the mesial-gingival tiewing and between the distal-occlusal tiewing and the distal-gingival tiewing, wherein the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each have an outermost, occlusal end, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section in contact with the occlusal end of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the occlusal end of the distal-occlusal tiewing and a second section extending at least partially along the channel.
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing, a mesial-gingival tiewing and a distal-gingival tiewing, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction between the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the mesial-gingival tiewing and between the distal-occlusal tiewing and the distal-gingival tiewing, wherein the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each have an outermost, occlusal tip, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section extending over the occlusal tiewing tips in occlusal relation thereto and a second section extending at least partially along the channel,
- wherein the archwire slot includes a metallic liner with an occlusal side, a lingual side and a gingival side, wherein the channel extends lingually of the archwire slot, and wherein the second section of the cap extends at least partially along the gingival side of the archwire slot liner in snap-fit relation.
1 more element
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing, a mesial-gingival tiewing and a distal-gingival tiewing, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction between the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the mesial-gingival tiewing and between the distal-occlusal tiewing and the distal-gingival tiewing, wherein the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each have an outermost, occlusal tip, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section extending over the occlusal tiewing tips in occlusal relation thereto and a second section extending at least partially along the channel,
- wherein the archwire slot includes a metallic liner with an occlusal side, a lingual side and a gingival side, wherein the channel extends lingually of the archwire slot, and wherein the second section of the cap is bendable past its yield point to extend at least partially along the gingival side of the archwire slot liner.
1 more element
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing, a mesial-gingival tiewing and a distal-gingival tiewing, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction between the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the mesial-gingival tiewing and between the distal-occlusal tiewing and the distal-gingival tiewing, wherein the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each have an outermost, occlusal tip, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section extending over the occlusal tiewing tips in occlusal relation thereto and a second section extending at least partially along the channel,
- wherein the cap has a passageway for receiving a ligature.
1 more element
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing, a mesial-gingival tiewing and a distal-gingival tiewing, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction between the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the mesial-gingival tiewing and between the distal-occlusal tiewing and the distal-gingival tiewing, wherein the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each have an outermost, occlusal tip, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section extending over the occlusal tiewing tips in occlusal relation thereto and a second section extending at least partially along the channel,
- wherein the mesial-occlusal tiewing has a mesial side, wherein the distal-occlusal tiewing has a distal side and wherein the cap has an overall, generally annular shape with a mesial section that extends along the mesial side and a distal section that extends along the distal side, the mesial section and the distal section extending past the archwire slot in buccolabial relationship thereto for ligating an archwire in the archwire slot, the cap also including a gingival section interconnecting the mesial section and the distal section.
1 more element
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing and at least one gingival tiewing, the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each including an outermost occlusal tip, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section extending over the occlusal tips in occlusal relation thereto and a second section extending at least partially along the channel, wherein the second section extends away from the first section in a generally gingival direction for insertion in the channel in a generally gingival direction.
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing and at least one gingival tiewing, the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each including an outermost occlusal tip, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section extending over the occlusal tips in occlusal relation thereto and a second section extending at least partially along the channel,
- wherein the cap has a passageway for receiving a ligature.
1 more element
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising:
- an orthodontic bracket having a mesial-occlusal tiewing, a distal-occlusal tiewing and at least one gingival tiewing, the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing each including an outermost occlusal tip, the bracket including an archwire slot extending in a generally mesial-distal direction, the bracket also having a channel extending in a generally occlusal-gingival direction between at least part of the mesial-occlusal tiewing and the distal-occlusal tiewing;
- and
- a cap releasably connected to the bracket, the cap including a first section extending over the occlusal tips in occlusal relation thereto and a second section extending at least partially along the channel,
- wherein the mesial-occlusal tiewing has a mesial side, wherein the distal-occlusal tiewing has a distal side and wherein the cap has an overall, generally annular shape with a mesial section that extends along the mesial side and a distal section that extends along the distal side, the mesial section and the distal section extending past the archwire slot in buccolabial relationship thereto for ligating an archwire in the archwire slot, the cap also including a gingival section interconnecting the mesial section and the distal section.
1 more element
An occlusal cap for an orthodontic bracket having a first section and a second section, the first section having at least one occlusal concave portion for covering at least one occlusal tiewing tip of the bracket, the second section having an elongated configuration and extending outwardly from the first section in a generally gingival direction for reception in a channel of the bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.