EP0750887A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaged orthodontic archwire assembly
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1996-06-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Orthodontic archwires (22) are packaged between pairs of flexible sheets (14) that are releasably fixed to each other. The archwires (22) are spaced apart from each other between the sheets (14) and arranged in a nested array wherein a portion of one archwire (22) is received within the U-shaped configuration of another archwire (22). Lines of weakness (28) extend between adjacent pairs of the archwires (22) for enabling detachment of one archwire (22) from remaining archwires (22) of the assembly (10) when desired.
Inventors
- 👤 RUSSELL A. c/o 3M Unitek Jordan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:05
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D75/00; B65D75/52; B65D75/58; B65D75/5888; A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C7/20; B65D75/5855; A61C2202/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) comprising: a first sheet (14); a second sheet (16) extending over and releasably fixed to said first sheet (14); and a plurality of orthodontic archwires (22, 22a) received between said first sheet (14) and said second sheet (16), each of said archwires (22, 22a) having a generally U-shaped configuration and having a pair of spaced apart leg portions (24, 24a) and a bight portion (26, 26a) integrally interconnecting said leg portions (24, 24a), said archwires (22, 22a) being spaced apart from each other and arranged in a nested array wherein a portion of one of said archwires (22, 22a) is received within the U-shaped configuration of another of said archwires (22, 22a), and wherein at least one of said sheets (14, 16) includes one or more lines of weakness (28, 28a) extending between adjacent pairs of said archwires (22, 22a) for enabling detachment of one archwire (22, 22a) from remaining archwires (22, 22a) of said assembly (10, 10a) when desired.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of claim 1, wherein said nested array includes an arrangement wherein each of said archwires (22, 22a) is generally parallel to the remaining archwires (22, 22a).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of claim 1, wherein said nested array includes an arrangement wherein leg portions (24, 24a) of two of said archwires (22, 22a) extend toward a bight portion (26, 26a) of a third archwire (22, 22a) disposed between said two archwires (22, 22a).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of any of claims 1 to 3, including a cohesive for releasably fixing said first sheet (14) to said second sheet (16).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said first sheet (14) is made of a transparent plastic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said second sheet (16) is made of a flexible material having a printable surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of any of claims 1 to 6, including pull tabs (36) connected to said first sheet (14) and said second sheet (16), said pull tabs (36) being not directly joined to each other for facilitating separation of said first sheet (14) from said second sheet (16).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said lines of weakness (28, 28a) include a series of spaced apart perforations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The packaged orthodontic archwire assembly (10, 10a) of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said lines of weakness (28, 28a) include a generally continuous controlled depth cut.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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