# US 7,611,352 B2 · Lifestyle bracket system having interchangeable ligation covers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,352 B2 - Document ID: US7611352B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/469,157 - Filed: 2006-08-31 - Published: 2008-03-06 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-31 - Assignees: Ultradent Products, Inc. - Inventors: Norbert Abels; Claus H. Backes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611352B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/285: {Locking by rotation} - A61C 7/125: {Mouth tissue protecting means, e.g. bracket caps} - A61C 2201/002: using colour effect, e.g. for identification purposes - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract An orthodontic bracket system including a plurality of interchangeable ligation covers so as to allow the patient and practitioner to create a desired aesthetic look. The inventive orthodontic bracket system includes a bracket base, at least one arch wire slot formed in the bracket base adapted to receive an arch wire therein, a first interchangeable ligation cover that when releasably assembled to the bracket base can be selectively moved relative to the bracket base between an open non-ligating position relative to the arch wire slot and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot, and a second interchangeable ligation cover of a different color and/or formed of a different material relative to the first cover. The interchangeable ligation covers can be removed and replaced with another cover of a different color and/or different material to create a different aesthetic appearance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An orthodontic bracket kit that permits selective intraoral attachment of a desired ligation cover, from among a plurality of different ligation covers, to a bracket base, the kit comprising: a bracket base for attachment to a tooth, the bracket base including an arch wire slot formed therein adapted to receive an arch wire, the bracket base being configured so as to releasably receive one of a plurality of interchangeable ligation covers of the bracket system and so as to permit selective intraoral attachment to and removal from the bracket base of each of the plurality of different ligation covers of the bracket system as desired while the bracket base remains attached to a tooth; and at least two interchangeable ligation covers formed of different types of material selected from the group consisting of metal, glass, and polymeric resins, each being configured so as to be selectively attachable to and removable from the bracket base, a first interchangeable ligation cover releasably attachable to the bracket base and movable between an open, non-ligating position and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover is removable from the bracket base, thereby permitting removal and replacement of the first interchangeable ligation cover with another cover, the first interchangeable ligation cover being formed from a first material; and a second interchangeable ligation cover releasably attachable to the bracket base upon removal of the first interchangeable ligation cover from the bracket base and selectively movable relative to the bracket base between an open, non-ligating position and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot, the second interchangeable ligation cover being formed of a second material that is different from the first material from which the first interchangeable ligation cover is formed so that the second interchangeable ligation cover provides a different appearance than the first interchangeable ligation cover, wherein each of the first and second interchangeable ligation covers comprises a pair of inwardly oriented pins with a gap in between formed on each of the first and second interchangeable ligation covers and wherein the bracket base comprises a link guide formed on the bracket base, the link guide having a guide recess for captively retaining the inwardly oriented pins, the pins and link guide together forming a hinge such that once attached to the bracket base, the first or second interchangeable ligation cover can be selectively pivoted about the hinge relative to the bracket base between an open, non-ligating position and a closed, ligating position relative to the at least one arch wire slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the bracket base is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, metal, and a polymeric resin. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first or second interchangeable ligation covers is made from a different material than the bracket base in order to provide a different aesthetic appearance than the bracket base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover is formed from one of glass, metal, or a polymeric resin and the second interchangeable ligation cover is formed from a different one of glass, metal, or a polymeric resin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 4, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover is formed of a polymeric resin and the second interchangeable ligation cover is formed of a metal or glass. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover is formed of a glass and the second interchangeable ligation cover is formed of a polymeric resin or metal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover is formed of a metal and the second interchangeable ligation cover is formed of a glass or polymeric resin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second interchangeable ligation covers is impregnated and/or coated with a medicament. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 8, wherein the medicament comprises fluoride. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover has a first non-tooth color that differs from a tooth to which the bracket base is to be attached, and wherein the second interchangeable ligation cover has a second non-tooth color that differs from the first non-tooth color. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover is formed from a first type of metal, ceramic, or polymer, and wherein the second interchangeable ligation cover is formed from a second type of metal, ceramic, or polymer. ### Claim 12 A kit of orthodontic brackets that permits selective intraoral attachment of a desired ligation cover to a selected bracket base from among a plurality of ligation covers and bracket bases, the kit comprising: a plurality of bracket bases, each bracket base having an arch wire slot formed therein configured to receive an arch wire, each bracket base including a link guide having a guide recess for releasable attachment to one of a plurality of interchangeable ligation covers of the bracket system and so as to permit selective attachment to and intraoral removal from the bracket base of each of the plurality of different ligation covers of the bracket system while the bracket base remains attached to a tooth; and a plurality of interchangeable ligation covers, each ligation cover including a pair of inwardly oriented pins with a gap in between for releasable hinged attachment to the guide recess of one of the plurality of bracket bases, the pins and link guide together providing a hinge such that once one of the interchangeable ligation covers is attached to the one of the bracket bases the ligation cover can be selectively pivoted about the hinge relative to the bracket base between an open, non-ligating position and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot of the bracket base to which the ligation cover is attached; wherein at least one of the plurality of interchangeable ligation covers has a different color and/or is formed of a different material relative to at least one other of the plurality of interchangeable ligation covers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A kit as recited in claim 12, wherein each bracket base of the plurality of bracket bases is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, glass, metal, and a polymeric resin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A kit as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of the interchangeable ligation covers is formed from a different material than at least one of the bracket bases so as to provide a different aesthetic appearance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A kit as recited in claim 12, wherein each interchangeable ligation cover of the plurality of interchangeable ligation covers is formed from at least one material selected from the group consisting of glass, metal, and a polymeric resin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A kit as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of the interchangeable ligation covers is formed of a first one of glass, metal or polymer resin and at least one other of the interchangeable ligation covers is formed of a different one of glass, metal or polymeric resin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) A kit as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the interchangeable ligation covers has a first non-tooth color that differs from a color of a tooth to which any of the bracket base is to be attached, and wherein at least one other of the interchangeable ligation covers has a second non-tooth color that differs from the first non-tooth color. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) A kit as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the interchangeable ligation covers is formed from a first type of metal, ceramic, or polymer, and wherein at least one other of the interchangeable ligation covers is formed from a second type of metal, ceramic, or polymer. ### Claim 19 An orthodontic bracket kit that permits selective intraoral attachment of a desired ligation cover, from among a plurality of different ligation covers, to a bracket base, the kit comprising: a bracket base for attachment to a tooth, the bracket base including an upper surface with an arch wire slot formed therein and adapted to receive an arch wire, the bracket base including a link guide having a guide recess for releasable attachment to each of a plurality of interchangeable ligation covers one at a time; a first interchangeable ligation cover including a pair of first inwardly oriented pins with a gap in between for releasable hinged attachment to the link guide of the bracket base, the first pins and link guide forming a first hinge when the first ligation cover is attached to the bracket base so that the first ligation cover can be selectively pivoted about the hinge relative to the bracket base between an open, non-ligating position and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover is removable from the bracket base while the bracket base remains attached to a tooth, thereby permitting intraoral removal and replacement of the first interchangeable ligation cover with another cover; and a second interchangeable ligation cover including a pair of second inwardly oriented pins with a gap in between for releasable attachment to the link guide of the bracket base upon removal of the first interchangeable ligation cover from the bracket base, the second pins and link guide forming a second hinge when the second ligation cover is attached to the bracket base so that the second ligation cover can be selectively pivoted about the second hinge relative to the bracket base between an open, non-ligating position and a closed, ligating position relative to the arch wire slot the second interchangeable ligation having a color and/or being made from a material that differs from the color and/or material of the first interchangeable cover. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 19, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover includes at least one of a graphic, figure, decal, sticker, jewelry, or LED light. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) An orthodontic bracket system as recited in claim 19, wherein the first interchangeable ligation cover includes at least one of a fluorescent color or a bright color that is a high contrast color.