Patent US3724075A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3724075A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-03-08
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1991-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An orthodontic appliance for use in the final stages of orthodontic treatment to ideally position and retain teeth, which comprises an arch-shaped body of resilient material having upper and lower archways for receiving the upper and lower arches of a patient, and seating springs anchored to the body for engagement in embrasure areas to maintain the appliance in place and cause closing of teeth spaces. The appliance is premolded in several sizes, and the seating springs are custom fitted to the patient''s arches in a short period of time by the orthodontist, thereby eliminating the usual wait for a custom molded appliance produced from impressions of the patient''s teeth.
Inventors
- 👤 P Kesling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:35
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, each archway having smooth labial and lingual walls for engaging the labial and lingual surfaces of the arches, and means anchored to the body adjacent the distal ends thereof for engaging in the embrasure areas of molars and/or bicuspids in at least one arch to positively hold the appliance in place and cause closing of any spaces between teeth and aligning of the labial surfaces, said embrasure area engaging means including a pair of pin shaped elements extending inwardly from said labial and lingual walls of the body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, each archway having smooth labial and lingual walls for engaging the labial and lingual surfaces of the arches, and means anchored to the body adjacent the distal ends thereof for engaging in the embrasure areas of molars and/or bicuspids in at least one arch to positively hold the appliance in place and cause closing of any spaces between teeth and aligning of the labial surfaces, said embrasure area engaging means including a pair of pin shaped elements extending inwardly from said labial and lingual walls of the body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin shaped elements are portions of a wire spring member extending transversely through the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin shaped elements extend from clamp portions adjustably secured to and along the labial and lingual walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each pin shaped element has a base anchored in the body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin shaped elements include generally U-shaped seating springs, the central portions being anchored in the body between the archways and the terminal ends engaging in the embrasure areas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin shaped elements include seating springs located near the distal ends of the body for engagement in embrasure areas of the upper and lower arches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, and cuspal guiDe ridges formed in the bottom of the archway of at least one arch in the area of molar and bicuspid teeth positions to engage between the buccal and lingual cusps of the teeth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, and cuspal guide ridges formed in the bottoms of the archways in the areas of molar and bicuspid teeth positions, the ridges in the lower archway being lingual of the ridges in the upper archway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin shaped elements are defined by an elongated member having an anchoring portion on one end adapted to be anchored in a wall of the archway and an embrasure engaging portion on the other end adapted to extend into the archway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin shaped elements are defined by straight lengths of wire receivable in a preformed hole extending transversely through said body between the archways and bendable back through the walls to extend into the archways.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
135 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, each archway having smooth labial and lingual walls for engaging the labial and lingual surfaces of the arches, and means anchored to said body including pins extendable from distal ends of the labial and lingual walls and adjustably bendable to project into the archways from the labial and lingual walls and to engage in selected gingival embrasure areas of at least one arch to positively hold the appliance in place and cause closing of any spaces between teeth and aligning of the labial surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
135 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, each archway having smooth labial and lingual walls for engaging the labial and lingual surfaces of the arches, and means anchored to said body including pins extendable from distal ends of the labial and lingual walls and adjustably bendable to project into the archways from the labial and lingual walls and to engage in selected gingival embrasure areas of at least one arch to positively hold the appliance in place and cause closing of any spaces between teeth and aligning of the labial surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as defined in claim 11 and cuspal guide ridges formed in the bottoms of the archways in the area of the molar and bicuspid teeth, the ridges in the lower archway being lingual of the ridge in the upper archway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, cuspal guide ridges formed centrally in the bottom of the archways in the area of the molar and bicuspid teeth positions, and means anchored in the body adapted to engage in the embrasure areas of the teeth of at least one arch to positively orient the appliance and coact with the body to cause aligning and closing of the teeth, said means including a pair of pin shaped elements adjacent each distal end of the archways extending inwardly from said labial and lingual walls.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
135 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, cuspal guide ridges formed centrally in the bottom of the archways in the area of the molar and bicuspid teeth positions, and means anchored in the body adapted to engage in the embrasure areas of the teeth of at least one arch to positively orient the appliance and coact with the body to cause aligning and closing of the teeth, said means including a pair of pin shaped elements adjacent each distal end of the archways extending inwardly from said labial and lingual walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
136 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, each archway having smooth labial and lingual walls for engaging the labial and lingual surfaces of the arches, and means anchored to the body adjacent the distal ends thereof for engaging in the embrasure areas of molars and/or bicuspids in at least one arch to positively hold the appliance in place and cause closing of any spaces between teeth and aligning of the labial surfaces, said embrasure area engaging means including a pair of pin shaped elements extending inwardly from said walls of the body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A universal tooth positioning and retaining appliance comprising, an arch-shaped body of resilient material, upper and lower archways formed in the body to receive the upper and lower arches of a person, said archways being offset from each other to establish the proper bite relation between the upper and lower arches, each archway having smooth labial and lingual walls for engaging the labial and lingual surfaces of the arches, and means anchored to the body adjacent the distal ends thereof for engaging in the embrasure areas of molars and/or bicuspids in at least one arch to positively hold the appliance in place and cause closing of any spaces between teeth and aligning of the labial surfaces, said embrasure area engaging means including a pair of pin shaped elements extending inwardly from said walls of the body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1279155A
Cited
US3178820A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |