US3769708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Average articulator
Assignee: TDY Industries LLC
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An articulator is described for movement of dental casts along pathways of average anatomical dimensions. The articulator is provided with a condyle-fossa hinged connection that has fixed or unadjustable medial and superior wall guides with posterior wall guides which are adjustable between two positions about a vertical axis through the condyle. In a preferred embodiment, replaceable inserts are used as superior and/or medial wall guides and several such inserts that duplicate fossa guide surfaces are provided. The articulator is for use in the instruction of students or for other applications where the complex and delicate articulators which have multiple adjustments are not necessary. The articulator is preferably provided in combination with a series of dental casts which present typical dental problems as an instructional study aid.
Inventors
- 👤 N Guichet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C11/00; A61C11/02; A61C11/022; A61C11/06; A61C11/08; A61C11/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A dental articulator having a lower frame with condylar members supported at each side of its posterior end and an incisal pin guide member supported on its longitudinal axis at its anterior, an uppeR frame having lateral wing members at its posterior projecting toward said condylar members and supporting, at its anterior, an incisal pin member in bearing relationship to said incisal guide member and fossa guide members carried by said wing members at fixed positions to provide a non-adjustable intercondylar distance and resting on said condylar members, each of said fossa guide members supporting a fixed and non-adjustable superior wall guide with a generally convex bearing surface oriented towards its respective condylar member and a fixed and non-adjustable medial wall guide with a bearing surface also oriented towards said condylar member, said bearing surfaces having a shape to present average anatomical pathways to their respective condylar members, and a posterior wall guide with means permitting the angular relationship of said posterior wall guide to said condylar member to be varied between more than one setting to thereby simulate variation in intercondylar distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A dental articulator having a lower frame with condylar members supported at each side of its posterior end and an incisal pin guide member supported on its longitudinal axis at its anterior, an uppeR frame having lateral wing members at its posterior projecting toward said condylar members and supporting, at its anterior, an incisal pin member in bearing relationship to said incisal guide member and fossa guide members carried by said wing members at fixed positions to provide a non-adjustable intercondylar distance and resting on said condylar members, each of said fossa guide members supporting a fixed and non-adjustable superior wall guide with a generally convex bearing surface oriented towards its respective condylar member and a fixed and non-adjustable medial wall guide with a bearing surface also oriented towards said condylar member, said bearing surfaces having a shape to present average anatomical pathways to their respective condylar members, and a posterior wall guide with means permitting the angular relationship of said posterior wall guide to said condylar member to be varied between more than one setting to thereby simulate variation in intercondylar distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The articulator of claim 1 wherein said posterior wall is adjustable between a forward position having an angle of about 10* to the condylar axis and a rearward position having an angle about 30* to said axis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The articulator of claim 1 wherein the medial wall of each of said fossa guide members is spaced a slight distance inwardly of its condyle to provide an immediate lateral shifting of said frames.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The articulator of claim 3 wherein said superior wall bears a slight depression which registers with its condyle when said frames are in centric occlusion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The articulator of claim 1 wherein said incisal pin guide member is a block bearing a semi-circular recess with a guide surface precontoured with an arcuate inclination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The articulator of claim 5 wherein the chord of said arcuate inclination has an angle with the horizontal plane of the instrument of about 30*.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The articulator of claim 1 wherein said superior wall guide has an inclination from its inside to outside lateral edge of about 10*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The articulator of claim 1 wherein said superior wall guide is a removeable insert and said fossa guide member bears means for the removeable attachment of said insert.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The articulator of claim 1 wherein said medial wall guide is a removeable insert and said fossa guide member has means for the removeable attachment of said insert.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The articulator of claim 1 wherein said frames support, at their mid portions and in opposed relationship, a pair of dental casts having teeth with working and occlusal surfaces which have predetermined contours to cooperate with said wall guides to demonstrate the relationship of said teeth contours and jaw movements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of the articulator of claim 10 with a series of pairs of said dental casts having predetermined and different contours providing harmonious and various discordant chewing and occlusal surfaces to thereby provide an instructional aid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
137 words
A dental articulator having a lower frame with condylar members supported at each side of its posterior end and an incisal pin guide member supported on its longitudinal axis at its anterior, an upper frame having lateral wing members at its posterior projecting toward said condylar members and supporting, at its anterior, an incisal pin member in bearing relationship to said incisal guide member and fossa guide members carried at outboard positions by said wing members and resting on said condylar members, each of said fossa guide members supporting superior, medial and posterior wall guide surfaces to their respective condylar members with a depression in the surface of the superior wall guide surface to mate with its condylar member when said frames are in centric orientation and thereby serve as a centric indexing means for said frames.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
A dental articulator having a lower frame with condylar members supported at each side of its posterior end and an incisal pin guide member supported on its longitudinal axis at its anterior, an upper frame having lateral wing members at its posterior projecting toward said condylar members and supporting, at its anterior, an incisal pin member in bearing relationship to said incisal guide member and fossa guide members carried at outboard positions by said wing members and resting on said condylar members, each of said fossa guide members supporting superior, medial and posterior wall guide surfaces to their respective condylar members with a depression in the surface of the superior wall guide surface to mate with its condylar member when said frames are in centric orientation and thereby serve as a centric indexing means for said frames.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The articulator of claim 12 wherein said depression is in the surface of the superior guide wall surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The articulator of claim 12 wherein said medial wall guide surfaces Are not in bearing relationship to said condylar members when said frames are in centric orientation to thereby permit an immediate lateral shifting of said frames.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |