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US 8,573,971 B2Granted
Orthodontic bracket with frangible cover mechanism
AssigneeRMO, Inc.
InventorMichael Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An orthodontic bracket is provided that includes a cover and a base, wherein the cover can be rotated over an arch wire slot in the base portion. The present bracket invention operates to close when a frangible portion is severed upon initiating rotation of the cover, such that the cover rotates about a hinge, which may include a pin or axle. In one embodiment of the invention, the pin or axle can be moved laterally and/or vertically after the frangible portion is severed. Preferably, the bracket is manufactured to form one piece, such as using an injection molding, machining, or casting process. The bracket offers economical advantages because additional subsequent assembly is not required to attach a cover to a base.
Claims15
An orthodontic bracket comprising:
- two structural portions formed as one contiguous piece and connected through one or more webs at a hinge mechanism having one of a pin or axle, said one or more webs being frangible to allow the two structural portions to move relative to each other when said one or more webs are sheared, said hinge mechanism including a void space with a substantially elliptical-shaped cross section and the pin or axle having a hexagonal cross sectional shape, wherein the pin or axle is moveable within the void space from a first position where the pin or axle is interconnected with the two structural portions to a second position where the pin or axle is rotated and the connection of the one or more webs with the pin or axle is sheared;
- a plurality of locking recesses that allow archwires having different cross-section sizes to be inserted and fixed in one of said plurality of locking recesses;
- and
- wherein one of the two structural portions comprises a ligation cover having a first open and a second closed position, wherein when in said second closed position, the ligation cover functions to cover an archwire inserted in one of said plurality of locking recesses.
1 more element
An orthodontic bracket comprising:
- two structural portions formed as one contiguous piece and connected through one or more webs at a hinge mechanism having one of a pin or axle, said one or more webs being frangible to allow the two structural portions to move relative to each other when said one or more webs are sheared, said hinge mechanism including a void space with a substantially rectangular-shaped cross section and the pin or axle including a substantially square shaped cross section and situated within the void space;
- a plurality of locking recesses that allow archwires having different cross-section sizes to be inserted and fixed in one of said plurality of locking recesses;
- wherein said at least two structural portions are integrally molded as a single unit;
- and
- wherein one of the two structural portions comprises a ligation cover having a first open and a second closed position, wherein when in said second closed position, the ligation cover functions to cover an archwire inserted in one of said plurality of locking recesses.
2 more elements
An orthodontic bracket comprising:
- two structural portions formed as one contiguous piece and connected through one or more webs at a hinge mechanism having one of a pin or axle, said one or more webs being frangible to allow the two structural portions to move relative to each other when said one or more webs are sheared, said hinge mechanism including void space comprising a substantially trapezoidal-shaped cross section and the pin or axle including a substantially elliptical-shaped cross section and situated within the void space;
- a plurality of locking recesses that allow archwires having different cross-section sizes to be inserted and fixed in one of said plurality of locking recesses;
- wherein, said two structural portions comprise deformable materials;
- and
- wherein one of the two structural portions comprises a ligation cover that functions to cover said archwires inserted in said locking recesses.
2 more elements
An orthodontic bracket comprising:
- two structural portions formed as one contiguous piece and connected through one or more webs at a hinge mechanism having one of a pin or axle, said one or more webs being frangible to allow the two structural portions to move relative to each other when said one or more webs are sheared, said hinge mechanism including a void space comprising an unsymmetrical-shaped cross section and the pin or axle including a substantially oblong-shaped cross section and situated within the void space, wherein the pin or axle can rotate and move laterally in the void space after being sheared;
- a plurality of locking recesses that allow archwires having different cross-section sizes to be inserted and fixed in one of said plurality of locking recesses;
- wherein said two structural portions comprise deformable materials, and
- wherein one of the two structural portions comprises a ligation cover that functions to cover said archwires inserted in said locking recesses.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.