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US 6,439,380 B1Granted
Capsule for use in preparing a dental amalgam
AssigneeKerr Corporation
InventorJohn H. Welsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect of the invention, a dental amalgam capsule includes a body, a cap, a dental amalgam alloy, and mercury. In further detail, the body has a hollow interior with an open first end which includes an opening surrounded by an end wall. The cap has a hollow interior with an open first end and an interior surface. The interior surface includes an annular recess disposed about a longitudinal axis of the cap, with the annular recess including a sealing surface angled at less than 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. The sealing surface is capable of contacting at least a portion of the end wall, thereby forming a seal with the end wall.
Claims21
A capsule for holding a dental amalgam, comprising:
- a body including a first open end, a first closed end, and a first side wall extending from said first closed end to said first open end, said first side wall having a first interior surface, a first exterior surface, and an annular first end surface joining said first interior surface and said first exterior surface, said first end surface surrounding said first open end, said first end surface having a truncated conical first sealing portion;
- an annular, nonhelical flange extending circumferentially about said first exterior surface and projecting outwardly therefrom, said flange located between said first closed end and said first open end;
- a cap having a second open end, a second closed end, and a second side wall, said second side wall having a second exterior surface and a second interior surface extending from said second open end to said second closed end, said cap further having a second end surface with a truncated conical second sealing portion located between said second open end and said second closed end, said second sealing portion spaced radially inward from said interior surface;
- and
- an annular, nonhelical groove extending circumferentially about said second interior surface, said groove positioned between said second sealing portion and said second open end, said groove contacting said flange in a releasable frictional engagement when said first and said second sealing portions are placed in a contacting relationship, the frictional engagement between said groove and said flange applying an axial load that produces a wedge-like action so that said first and said second sealing portions are urged together.
2 more elements
A capsule for holding a dental amalgam, comprising:
- a body having a first longitudinal axis, a first open end, a first closed end spaced from said first open end along said first longitudinal axis, and a first side wall extending from said first open end to said first closed end, said first side wall having an exterior surface and an annular first sealing surface proximate said first open end;
- an annular, nonhelical flange extending circumferentially about said exterior surface and positioned axially between said first closed end and said first open end, said flange having an axially-extending first truncated conical surface and a shoulder projecting radially outward from said first exterior surface, said shoulder positioned axially between said first truncated conical surface and said first open end, said first truncated conical surface having a diameter that increases in an axial direction toward said first open end;
- a cap having a second longitudinal axis, a second open end, a second closed end spaced from said second open end along said second longitudinal axis, and a second side wall extending from said second open end to said second closed end, said second side wall having a second interior surface and an annular second sealing surface proximate said second closed end;
- and
- an annular, nonhelical groove extending circumferentially about said second interior surface and positioned axially between said second sealing surface and said second open end, said groove having a second truncated conical surface extending axially toward said second open end, said second truncated conical surface having a diameter that increases in an axial direction toward said second open end, said second truncated conical surface contacting said first truncated conical surface in an abutting engagement and said shoulder free of contact when said first and said second sealing surfaces are in a contacting relationship, the contact between said first and said second truncated conical surfaces applying an axial load that urges said first and said second sealing surfaces together in a sealing engagement.
2 more elements
A capsule for holding a dental amalgam, comprising:
- a body having a first longitudinal axis, a first open end, a first closed end spaced from said first open end along said first longitudinal axis, and a first side wall extending from said first open end to said first closed end, said first side wall having an exterior surface and an annular first sealing surface proximate said first open end;
- a flange extending circumferentially about said exterior surface and having a first truncated conical surface extending axially between said first closed end and said first open end, said first truncated conical surface having a diameter that increases in a direction toward said first open end;
- a cap having a second longitudinal axis, a second open end, a second closed end spaced from said second open end along said second longitudinal axis, and a second side wall extending from said second open end to said second closed end, said second side wall having a second interior surface and an annular second sealing surface proximate said second closed end;
- and
- a groove extending circumferentially about said second interior surface and positioned axially between said second sealing surface and said second open end, said groove having a second truncated conical surface extending axially toward said second open end and a third truncated conical surface extending axially toward said second open end, said second and said third truncated conical surfaces having a common circumferential edge and said second truncated conical surface positioned axially between said third truncated conical surface and said second open end, said second truncated conical surface having a diameter that decreases in a direction toward said second open end and said third truncated conical surface having a diameter that increases in a direction toward said open end, said second truncated conical surface contacting said first truncated conical surface in an abutting engagement and said third truncated conical surface free of contact when said first and said second sealing surfaces are in a contacting relationship, the contact between said first and said second truncated conical surfaces applying an axial load that urges said first and said second sealing surfaces together in a sealing engagement.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.