Self-ligating orthodontic bracket
AssigneeOrmco Corporation
InventorTodd I. Oda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An orthodontic bracket having a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth includes an archwire slot having a base surface defining a base plane and a slide engagement track defining a translation plane. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane. A ligating slide is engaged with the slide engagement track of the bracket body and movable along the slide engagement track and parallel to the translation plane between an opened position, in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot, and a closed position, in which the archwire is retained within the archwire slot. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane so as to prevent the ligating slide from contacting the gingiva surrounding the tooth when the ligating slide is moved to the opened position.
Claims28
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
- a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot having a base surface generally defining a base plane and a slide engagement track generally defining a translation plane, said translation plane being acutely angled with respect to said base plane;
- and
- a ligating slide engaged with said slide engagement track and moveable relative to said slide engagement track and parallel to said translation plane between an opened position in which the archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide covering a substantial portion of said archwire slot when in the closed position,
- wherein movement of said ligating slide relative to said slide engagement track toward the closed position moves said ligating slide toward the tooth and movement of said ligating slide relative to said slide engagement track toward the opened position moves said ligating slide away from the tooth.
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth in a first jaw, comprising:
- a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot having a base surface generally defining a base plane and a slide engagement track, said bracket body further including a confronting side projecting from said base surface and adapted to confront teeth on an opposite jaw, said confronting side having a contoured shape so as to prevent occlusal interference with teeth in the opposite jaw;
- and
- a ligating slide engaged with said slide engagement track and moveable relative to said slide engagement track between an opened position in which the archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot.
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
- a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot and a slide engagement track, said slide engagement track including a projecting portion;
- and
- a ligating slide engaged with said slide engagement track and moveable relative to said slide engagement track between an opened position in which the archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide including a retaining slot extending through said ligating slide, wherein said projecting portion is received within said retaining slot and said retaining slot moves relative to said projecting portion when said ligating slide is moved along said slide engagement track between the opened and closed positions.
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
- a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot and a slide engagement track bounded in part by a side wall, said side wall including one of a projecting portion or a receiving portion;
- and
- a ligating slide engaged with said slide engagement track and moveable relative to said slide engagement track between an opened position in which the archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide having a peripheral edge confronting said side wall, said peripheral edge including the other of said projecting portion or said receiving portion, said projecting portion received within said receiving portion, wherein said projecting portion and said receiving portion move relative to each other when said ligating slide is moved along said slide engagement track between the opened and closed positions.
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:
- a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot and a slide engagement track, said slide engagement track including a closed-ended receiving portion;
- and
- a ligating slide engaged with said slide engagement track and moveable relative to said slide engagement track between an opened position in which the archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said ligating slide retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said ligating slide including a projecting portion received within said receiving portion, wherein said projecting portion moves within said receiving portion during the entire travel of said ligating slide between the opened and closed positions.
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a molar tooth surrounded by gingiva, comprising:
- a bracket body configured to be mounted to the molar tooth, said bracket body including an archwire slot;
- and
- a moveable portion engaged with said bracket body, said moveable portion moveable relative to said bracket body between an open position in which the archwire is insertable into said archwire slot and a closed position in which said moveable portion retains the archwire in said archwire slot, said movable portion covering a substantial portion of said archwire slot when in the closed position, wherein movement of said movable portion toward the closed position moves said movable portion toward the tooth and movement of said movable portion toward the opened position moves said movable portion away from the tooth so as to avoid contact with the gingival when in the opened position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.