Orthodontic bracket with spring clip retainer means

Claim 2

An orthodontic bracket comprising, a base defining a pair of spaced, longitudinal channels, each of said channels having an opening for receiving at least one arch wire, said base further defining a pair of detents within opposed sides of said base, with a portion of said detents proximate to said channels extending further into said base than the remaining portion, a U-shaped spring clip fitting about the bracket transversely adjacent to the opening of each of said channels, said clip having a pair of ears at the clip ends of a dimension less than the co-linear dimension of said detents for engaging a portion of the detents, said spring clip having spring force tending to push said ears together so that said spring clip closes said channel openings and permits arch wire release when said spring clip ears are moved within said detents to respective positions above said channel openings.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base defines a multiplicity of curved hooks spaced from said spring clip.

Claim 4

An orthodontic bracket comprising, a base having a raised portion defining a pair of longitudinal channels therethrough, each of said channels have an opening for receiving at least one arch wire, said base further defining a groove transverse to said longitudinal channel at the openings of said channels, said groove having a pair of spaced apart detents, within opposed sides of said base, with a first portion of said detents proximate to said channels and a second portion of said detents spaced from said channels, and retainer means shaped to fit in the groove, said retainer means having a pair of spaced apart ears shaped for movable engagement with said detents in said first portion of said detents proximate to said channels, closing said channels for retaining arch wires therein, and in said second portion of said detents, spaced from said channels, opening said channels for arch wire release.

Claim 5

An orthodontic bracket comprising, a base having a raised portion defining a pair of longitudinal channels therethrough, each of said channels have an opening for receiving at least one arch wire, said base further defining a groove transverse to said longitudinal channel at the openings of said channels, said groove having a pair of spaced apart detents, within opposed sides of said base, with a first portion of said detents proximate to said channels and a second portion of said detents spaced from said channels, and retainer means shaped to fit in the groove, said retainer means having a pair of spaced apart ears shaped for movable engagement with said detents in said first portion of said detents proximate to said channels, closing said channels for retaining arch wires therein, and in said second portion of said detents, spaced from said channels, opening said channels for arch wire release.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said retainer means is a spring clip.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said detents have a dimension parallel to the groove greater than the co-linear dimension of said ears thereby permitting said ears of said spring clip to move along said dimension within said detents.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 having a multiplicity of curved hooks defined on said base and spaced from said spring clips.

Claim 9

An orthodontic bracket comprising, a base having a raised portion, said raised portion defining first and second opposed longitudinal channels therethrough, each channel having an opening for receiving an arch wire, said raised portion further defining a groove transverse to said longitudinal channels, at said openings, said groove having a pair of detents at opposed lower base regions, and a U-shaped spring clip coextensive with said groove, said clip operably retaining said arch wires from egress through said opening, said clip having a pair of ears at the clip ends of a size fitting within said detents, said spring clip also having spring force tending to push said ears together thereby tending to hold said ears in said detents.

Claim 10

An orthodontic bracket comprising, a base having a raised portion, said raised portion defining first and second opposed longitudinal channels therethrough, each channel having an opening for receiving an arch wire, said raised portion further defining a groove transverse to said longitudinal channels, at said openings, said groove having a pair of detents at opposed lower base regions, and a U-shaped spring clip coextensive with said groove, said clip operably retaining said arch wires from egress through said opening, said clip having a pair of ears at the clip ends of a size fitting within said detents, said spring clip also having spring force tending to push said ears together thereby tending to hold said ears in said detents.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said detents extend inwardly in the base from an upward edge wall toward the bottom of the base.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said detents have a dimension parallel to the groove greater than the co-linear dimension of said ears to the extent that said ears of the spring clip can move along said dimension until the ears abut the detent upward edge wall and said openings are exposed for arch wire egress.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said base defines an auxillary longitudinal channel therethrough parallel to said first and second channels.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said openings are proximate and in spatial communication with said detents below the detent upward edge wall so that upward movement of said clip ears to said detent edge wall permits arch wire insertion and egress from said openings.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 7 having a multiplicity of curved hooks, defined on said base and spaced from said spring clip.

Claim 16

The apparatus of clAim 12 wherein pairs of said curved hooks are spaced apart on opposite sides of said groove.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a dimple having a diameter greater than the spring clip width is defined in the apex of said raised portion for allowing insertion of a tool beneath said U-shaped spring clip.