US3593424A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental articulator with removable analogue blocks
Assignee: GENE W ARANT
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Filing: 1969-06-25
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Granted: 1971-07-20
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Expires: 1989-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A dental articulator including upper and lower frames, the lower frame having a pair of laterally separated spherical styluses representing simulated condyles which extend upwardly therefrom. The upper frame has a pair of lateral arms and a forward arm, and the forward arm has means for indicating the orbital axis reference point. The lateral arms of the upper frame are adapted to receive a pair of simulated upper joint members, or analogue blocks, which are removably fastened thereto. Each simulated upper joint member has a roughly cubical configuration except for one longitudinal edge being cut off and curved in approximately a 90* arc so that the configuration of the member also corresponds approximately to one-quarter of a cylinder. A generally flat side opposite the curved surface is adapted to be attached to the underside of the articulator upper frame. Each simulated upper joint member has an irregularly shaped opening formed in its curved surface, one part of that opening representing the centric relation position. Each simulated upper joint member (analogue block) also has a dimple formed in its outward lateral side. When the spherical styluses of the lower frame are received in the centric parts of the openings of the simulated upper joint members, the common axis of the two dimples also passes through the radius centers of the spherical styluses. The articulator also includes a centric reference means for indicating the lateral alignment of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. The centric reference means has upper and lower parts extending from the respective frames, the two parts being adapted to interengage at a point precisely located on the common axis that passes through the radius centers of the two spherical styluses.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C11/00; A61C11/02; A61C11/022; A61C11/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
In an apparatus for recording and reproducing jaw movements, a simulated upper joint member including a solid body of rigid plastic material, having a roughly cubical configuration except for the lower rearward longitudinal edge thereof being cut off and curved in approximately a 90* arc so that said member also corresponds approximately to one-quarter of a cylinder, having a generally flat upper side which is adapted to be removably attached either to the upper frame of a transfer apparatus or to an articulator upper frame, said member having an irregularly shaped opening formed in the curved surface thereof, the bottom of said opening being of concave configuration and having a common radius of curvature at various points thereof, said member having a dimple formed in one end thereof and said dimple together with the radius center of one part of said opening forming an axis which is parallel to said generally flat upper side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
In an apparatus for recording and reproducing jaw movements, a simulated upper joint member including a solid body of rigid plastic material, having a roughly cubical configuration except for the lower rearward longitudinal edge thereof being cut off and curved in approximately a 90* arc so that said member also corresponds approximately to one-quarter of a cylinder, having a generally flat upper side which is adapted to be removably attached either to the upper frame of a transfer apparatus or to an articulator upper frame, said member having an irregularly shaped opening formed in the curved surface thereof, the bottom of said opening being of concave configuration and having a common radius of curvature at various points thereof, said member having a dimple formed in one end thereof and said dimple together with the radius center of one part of said opening forming an axis which is parallel to said generally flat upper side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A simulated upper joint member as claimed in claim 1 having an elongated lug on said generally flat side thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A simulated upper joint member as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solid body forms a wall extending about the entire circumference of said opening, including the laterally outward side thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
141 words
A dental articulator upper frame having a pair of lateral arms and a forward arm; centric reference means associated with the lateral center of said frame; a pair of simulated upper joint members each formed from a solid body of rigid plastic material and having an irregularly shaped opening formed in the under surface thereof; said frame having laterally extending slideways formed in the respective lateral arms thereof; means removably fastening said simulated upper joint members to the lateral arms of said upper frame in selected positions of lateral adjustment relative to respective ones of said slideways; and each said simulated upper joint member having a dimple formed in its laterally outward side, whereby said simulated upper joint members may be moVed laterally in said slideways so that said dimples may be engaged by the pointers of a transfer face bow.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
A dental articulator upper frame having a pair of lateral arms and a forward arm; centric reference means associated with the lateral center of said frame; a pair of simulated upper joint members each formed from a solid body of rigid plastic material and having an irregularly shaped opening formed in the under surface thereof; said frame having laterally extending slideways formed in the respective lateral arms thereof; means removably fastening said simulated upper joint members to the lateral arms of said upper frame in selected positions of lateral adjustment relative to respective ones of said slideways; and each said simulated upper joint member having a dimple formed in its laterally outward side, whereby said simulated upper joint members may be moVed laterally in said slideways so that said dimples may be engaged by the pointers of a transfer face bow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An articulator upper frame as claimed in claim 4 wherein said centric reference means is a spring-loaded pin slidable vertically through an opening in said upper frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The articulator upper frame claimed in claim 5 which further includes a setscrew for fastening said pin in a selected vertical position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
The articulator upper frame claimed in claim 4 wherein a locator hole is formed in each lateral arm thereof adjacent the corresponding slideway, each said simulated upper joint member has a corresponding slot formed in its upper surface, and which further includes a pair of vertically slidable locator pins, each occupying a corresponding hole in said upper frame and adapted to selectively engage the slot of the simulated joint member when said simulated joint members are positioned at a standard separation distance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
A lower frame for a dental articulator comprising: a forwardly extending arm; a pair of laterally extending arms at the rearward end of said forward arm; posts rising from the outward ends of said lateral arms; and a horizontal truss extending between the upper ends of said posts; the central portion of said truss being elevated relative to its ends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A lower frame for a dental articulator comprising: a forwardly extending arm; a pair of laterally extending arms at the rearward end of said forward arm; posts rising from the outward ends of said lateral arms; and a horizontal truss extending between the upper ends of said posts; the central portion of said truss being elevated relative to its ends.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An articulator lower frame as claimed in claim 8 wherein a centric reference notch is formed in the upper surface of said truss at its lateral center.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A dental articulator lower frame as claimed in claim 9 having a pair of spherical styluses supported above respective ones of said posts, and having a flat reference surface formed on the upper central portion of said truss on respective sides of said centric notch, said flat reference surface being at the same elevation as the radius centers of said spherical styluses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A lower frame for a dental articulator as claimed in claim 10 wherein said forward arm, said lateral arms, said posts, and said truss are integrally formed from a single metallic member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
174 words
A dental articulator comprising, in combination: upper and lower articulator frames, said upper frame having a pair of lateral arms and a forward arm; a pair of laterally separated spherical styluses representing simulated condyles supported from said lower frame and extending upwardly therefrom; centric reference means coacting between the lateral centers of said frames for indicating the lateral alignment of the upper frame relative to the lower frame, said centric reference means including upper and lower parts adapted to interengage on a line which intersects the centers of both of said spherical styluses; the forward arm of said articulator upper frame having means provided thereon for indicating the orbital axis reference point; a pair of simulated upper joint members each formed from a solid body of rigid plastic material having an irregularly shaped opening formed in the undersurface thereof, the bottom of each said opening being of concave configuration; and means removably fastening said simulated upper joint members to the lateral arms of said upper frame so that said openings receive said spherical styluses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
174 words
A dental articulator comprising, in combination: upper and lower articulator frames, said upper frame having a pair of lateral arms and a forward arm; a pair of laterally separated spherical styluses representing simulated condyles supported from said lower frame and extending upwardly therefrom; centric reference means coacting between the lateral centers of said frames for indicating the lateral alignment of the upper frame relative to the lower frame, said centric reference means including upper and lower parts adapted to interengage on a line which intersects the centers of both of said spherical styluses; the forward arm of said articulator upper frame having means provided thereon for indicating the orbital axis reference point; a pair of simulated upper joint members each formed from a solid body of rigid plastic material having an irregularly shaped opening formed in the undersurface thereof, the bottom of each said opening being of concave configuration; and means removably fastening said simulated upper joint members to the lateral arms of said upper frame so that said openings receive said spherical styluses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein each said rigid plastic body has a roughly cubical configuration except for the transversely extending lower rearward edge thereof being cut off and curved in approximately a 90* arc so that said body also corresponds approximately to one-quarter of a cylinder, said opening extending in a generally front-to-rear direction along said curved surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bottom of each said opening has common radius of curvature at various points thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the bottom of each said opening has a common radius of curvature at various points thereof, equal to the radius of curvature of said spherical styluses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the uppeR part of said centric reference means is a spring-loaded pin slidable vertically through an opening in said upper frame.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein each said simulated upper joint member has a dimple formed in its outward lateral side, said dimples being aligned with the radius centers of the centric parts of said openings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein said upper frame has laterally extending slideways formed therein, said simulated upper joint members being slidable laterally outwardly when said removable fastening means are removed; and wherein said lower frame also has laterally extending slideways in which said spherical styluses are slidable laterally outwardly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
150 words
A simulated upper joint member adapted for reproducing jaw movements, said simulated upper joint member having a roughly cubical configuration with a generally flat upper side upon which an elongated lug is formed for purpose of attaching the joint member either to a transfer apparatus or to an articulator upper frame, the lower portion of said member being formed from a solid body of rigid plastic material and one lower longitudinal edge thereof being cut off and curved in approximately a 90* arc so that said member also corresponds approximately to one-quarter of a cylinder, said member having a dimple formed in one end thereof for purpose of hinge axis alignment, said member also having a locator hole formed in said flat upper side adjacent to said elongated lug for locating said member in a predetermined longitudinal position relative to a slideway in which said elongated lug is slidingly received.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
150 words
A simulated upper joint member adapted for reproducing jaw movements, said simulated upper joint member having a roughly cubical configuration with a generally flat upper side upon which an elongated lug is formed for purpose of attaching the joint member either to a transfer apparatus or to an articulator upper frame, the lower portion of said member being formed from a solid body of rigid plastic material and one lower longitudinal edge thereof being cut off and curved in approximately a 90* arc so that said member also corresponds approximately to one-quarter of a cylinder, said member having a dimple formed in one end thereof for purpose of hinge axis alignment, said member also having a locator hole formed in said flat upper side adjacent to said elongated lug for locating said member in a predetermined longitudinal position relative to a slideway in which said elongated lug is slidingly received.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3176400A
Cited
US3387369A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-19 | 1975-01-18 | 1975-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-19 | 1979-01-18 | 1979-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-19 | 1983-01-18 | 1983-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |