US3871096A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthodontic spring clip
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-11-08
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1992-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A spring clip for use in association with both an arch wire and an orthodontic bracket includes a collar which is at least partially resilient, and a retaining finger integral with the collar which extends at least partially across an expandable loop defined by the collar. The collar is releasably secured to the bracket with a spring clip retaining finger abutting against the front surface of the bracket which retains the arch wire in position in the channel of the bracket. Two biassing fingers are integral with the collar and extend on a side of the loop so as to engage the arch wire when mounted on a bracket. The biassing finger is arranged in pressure transmitting relationship with the wire when the biassing finger is flexed from a normally unstressed position on the opposite side to a stressed position on the same side of the wire as the collar.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Wallshein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C7/28; A61C7/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An orthodontic appliance for use with an orthodontic arch wire, comprising an orthodontic bracket having a front portion and a rear portion of reduced cross-sectional area connectable to an orthodontic band, whereby said bracket forms with the band at least one channel extending along the latter, the arch wire extending proximate said bracket; a resilient collar configurated in the shape of an open and substantially planar loop having a pair of opposing free end portions proixmate to one another and normally spaced from one another a distance smaller than the transverse dimensions of said rear portion, said loop having dimensions corresponding to the external dimensions of said rear portion and being made of a resilient material to permit separation of said free end portions to increase the size of said loop to thereby permit the same to be releasably snapped onto said rear portion and at least partially received within said channel; and elongated finger means in the form of a biassing finger extending from said loop and having a biassing portion spaced to one side of said loop and being at least partially and resiliently movable in directions generally transverse to the plane defined by said loop and arranged to apply forces to the arch wire relative to said bracket, whereby said biassing finger is placed in a biassing condition when said free end portions are separated and said loop snapped onto said bracket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
An orthodontic appliance for use with an orthodontic arch wire, comprising an orthodontic bracket having a front portion and a rear portion of reduced cross-sectional area connectable to an orthodontic band, whereby said bracket forms with the band at least one channel extending along the latter, the arch wire extending proximate said bracket; a resilient collar configurated in the shape of an open and substantially planar loop having a pair of opposing free end portions proixmate to one another and normally spaced from one another a distance smaller than the transverse dimensions of said rear portion, said loop having dimensions corresponding to the external dimensions of said rear portion and being made of a resilient material to permit separation of said free end portions to increase the size of said loop to thereby permit the same to be releasably snapped onto said rear portion and at least partially received within said channel; and elongated finger means in the form of a biassing finger extending from said loop and having a biassing portion spaced to one side of said loop and being at least partially and resiliently movable in directions generally transverse to the plane defined by said loop and arranged to apply forces to the arch wire relative to said bracket, whereby said biassing finger is placed in a biassing condition when said free end portions are separated and said loop snapped onto said bracket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said bracket is in an edgewise bracket and said front portion is provided with a transverse arch wire receiving channel, and wherein said biassing finger is in the form of a retaining finger extendinG from said loop across the arch wire-receiving channel and being at least partially and resiliently movable in directions generally transverse to the plane defined by said loop and arranged to apply forces to the arch wire relative to said bracket when the arch wire moves out of said arch wire-receiving channel, whereby said retaining finger retains the arch wire within said arch wire-receiving channel of said bracket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
80 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said front portion is provided with a transverse arch wire-receiving channel, and wherein the arch wire has two portions respectively disposed exteriorly of said bracket at each end of said arch wire-receiving channel, said biassing finger being arranged on one side of said loop to resiliently abut against one of the exterior wire portions, whereby a force is applied to the arch wire by said biassing finger relative to said bracket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said biassing finger extends entirely across said loop and is substantially parallel to said free end portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said biassing finger extends entirely across said loop generally transversely of said free end portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said loop is generally of square-like configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said biassing finger extends entirely across said loop and is substantially parallel to said free end portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said biassing finger extends entirely across said loop generally transversely of said free end portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said loop is generally of square-like configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said collar and said finger are constructed from a one-piece flat metal stamping.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said biassing finger and said loop are angularly positioned relative to each other and define an angle therebetween, said angle being normally greater in the unstressed state of said biassing finger than when said biassing finger abuts against the arch wire in pressure transmitting relationship.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said finger means comprises an elongated lateral biassing finger extending from said loop in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the arch wire, said lateral biassing finger having a curved hook free end portion configurated to engage the wire after the appliance is mounted on the bracket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
227 words
An orthodontic appliance for use with an orthodontic arch wire, comprising an orthodontic bracket having a front portion and a rear portion of reduced cross-sectional area connectable to an orthodontic band, whereby said bracket forms with the band at least one channel extending along the latter, the arch wire extending proximate said bracket; a resilient collar configurated in the shape of a resilient loop formed in a curved plane, said loop having dimensions when curved corresponding to the external dimensions of said rear portion, and said loop having larger dimensions corresponding to the external dimensions of said front portion when said loop is deformed into a flat plane to thereby increase the size of said loop and permit the same to be releasably snapped onto said rear portion and at least partially received within said channel; and elongated finger means in the form of a biassing finger extending from said loop and having a biassing portion spaced to one side of said loop and being at least partially and resiliently movable in directions generally transverse to the plane defined by said loop and arranged to apply forces to the arch wire relative to said bracket, whereby said biassing finger is placed in a biassing condition when said loop is enlarged by urging the same into a substantiAlly flat plane and said loop is snapped onto said bracket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
227 words
An orthodontic appliance for use with an orthodontic arch wire, comprising an orthodontic bracket having a front portion and a rear portion of reduced cross-sectional area connectable to an orthodontic band, whereby said bracket forms with the band at least one channel extending along the latter, the arch wire extending proximate said bracket; a resilient collar configurated in the shape of a resilient loop formed in a curved plane, said loop having dimensions when curved corresponding to the external dimensions of said rear portion, and said loop having larger dimensions corresponding to the external dimensions of said front portion when said loop is deformed into a flat plane to thereby increase the size of said loop and permit the same to be releasably snapped onto said rear portion and at least partially received within said channel; and elongated finger means in the form of a biassing finger extending from said loop and having a biassing portion spaced to one side of said loop and being at least partially and resiliently movable in directions generally transverse to the plane defined by said loop and arranged to apply forces to the arch wire relative to said bracket, whereby said biassing finger is placed in a biassing condition when said loop is enlarged by urging the same into a substantiAlly flat plane and said loop is snapped onto said bracket.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein said bracket is an edgewise bracket and said front portion is provided with a transverse arch wire-receiving channel, wherein said biassing finger being in the form of a retaining finger extending from said loop across the arch wire-receiving channel and being at least partially and resiliently movable in directions generally transverse to the plane defined by the said loop and arranged to apply forces to the arch wire relative to said bracket when the arch wire moves out of said arch wire-receiving channel, whereby said retaining finger retains the arch wire within said arch wire-receiving channel of said bracket.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein said loop is entirely closed and of square-like configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 13, including a second finger having a resilient portion integral and in cantilevered relationship with a portion of said collar, said second finger extending in tandem with said first retaining finger entirely across said loop.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein said collar and finger are constructed from a one-piece flat metal stamping.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 13, wherein the arch wire has two portions respectively positioned exteriorly of the bracket at each end of the channel, and wherein said finger means comprises a biassing finger is arranged to resiliently abut against one of the exterior wire portions, whereby a force is applied to the arch wire by said biassing finger relative to the bracket.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
An orthodontic appliance as defined in claim 18, wherein two biassing fingers are provided each respectively arranged to abut against another exterior wire portion on another side of the bracket.
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) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |