Lingual bracket with hinged camming closure and releasable lock

Abstract

Abstract A lingual orthodontic bracket includes a body (12) having a three-sided archwire slot (14), a closure member slot (113A, 213A), and a hinged closure member (22) pivotally and pivotable across the archwire slot and into a closed position in the closure member slot. The closure member includes a cam shaped central portion (28) extending across the archwire to retain it in the archwire slot under shear. The cam portion is convexly shaped to force the archwire to seat in the slot as the closure member is rotated toward the closed position, and has a neutral to over-center or negative camming action upon closure to retain the closure member in the closed position. The closure member includes a protrusion (123, 223) that wedges into the closure member slot in the closed position. The bracket includes two oppositely directed wings (16, 26) formed respectively on the body and the closure member for receiving a ligature or O-ring.

Inventors

• 👤 Alexander J. Wildman

Bibliographic Details