US3885311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental articulator
Assignee: JACK W MITCHELL Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-17
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-09-17
Abstract
Abstract Provides frame with mounts with attachment of respective upper and lower dentures, the former suspended from overhead pivoted arm which in denture articulation position can be locked against transverse displacement of upper denture relative to transversely movable lower denture (which is the actual condition in the human mouth). Lower denture is located atop one (or a stack of) ballbearing supported slide plates which permit linear displacement of lower denture in any direction. Consequent vertical oscillation resulting from transverse passage of one denture over cusps of the other, is accommodated by inflatable air chamber which is centrally located above upper denture or else centered below support plate of lower denture and can be inflated by hand bulb to correspond to normal closure pressure previously measured in patient''s mouth. Adapter plate holding lower denture atop air chamber is also thus capable of small tilting to accommodate vertical self-adjustment. Means also provided to measure transverse displacement of lower denture in each dimension: also to record composite path followed by lower denture. Elimination of pivotal movement of either denture in the articulator, plus fixed rather than customarily movable mounting of upper denture, in conjunction with lower denture movability in all dimensions, results in easier and more satisfactory functional matching of the denture pair.
Inventors
- 👤 John K Lawler
- 👤 Sr John W Mitchell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C11/00; A61C11/02; A61C11/08; A61C11/081; A61C11/082; A61C11/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A dental articulator characterized by opposing mounts adapted to dispose respective upper and lower dentures in functional positions of mutual engagement, one of which mounts may be secured against lateral displacement while the opposing mount is held upon a plate which is adapted for transverse linear displacement within an area encompassed by a closed path lying along the plane of mutual engagement, and means for self-aligning upright oscillation of said plate by tilting transverse to a generally central axis through said dentures perpendicular to said plane of mutual engegement, in response to said lateral displacement, which displacement causes said oscillation by movement of one denture transverse to the cusps of the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A dental articulator characterized by opposing mounts adapted to dispose respective upper and lower dentures in functional positions of mutual engagement, one of which mounts may be secured against lateral displacement while the opposing mount is held upon a plate which is adapted for transverse linear displacement within an area encompassed by a closed path lying along the plane of mutual engagement, and means for self-aligning upright oscillation of said plate by tilting transverse to a generally central axis through said dentures perpendicular to said plane of mutual engegement, in response to said lateral displacement, which displacement causes said oscillation by movement of one denture transverse to the cusps of the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An articulator according to claim 1 wherein said self-aligning means comprises reilient means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
An articulator according to claim 1 wherein said self-aligning means comprises an inflatable gas chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An articulator according to claim 1 wherein said linearly displaceable mount comprises a ball-bearing supported slide plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An articulator according to claim 1 wherein said linearly displaceable mount supports a lower denture and comprises a stacked pair of ball-bearing supported slide plates, adapted for joint movement, and each having guide means for transverse movement in a different direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An articulator according to claim 5 wherein opposing faces of said slide plates are formed with complementary linear tracks and including longitudinal racks of spaced ball-bearings carried by said racks in said tracks and separating said plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An articulator according to claim 6 which includes calibrated means for indicating the linear displacement of each of said pair of slide plates in its respective direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An articulator according to claim 1 which includes tracking means for recording the composite path followed by said lateral displacement of a denture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An articulator according to claim 2 wherein said resilient means includes measurable means for holding the pair of dentures in mutual engagement with a selected amount of force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An articulator according to claim 2 wherein said lower mount includes a ball-bearing supported slide plate and said lower denture is mountable upon an upright-adjustable plate having said resilient means disposed centrally thereto and of lesser perimeter than said denture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
An articulator according to claim 10 wherein said resilient means comprises an inflatable gas chamber, and including gas pressure measuring means and manually operable means for varying the gas pressure within said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An articulator according to claim 10 wherein said resiliently supported adapter plate is tiltable in response to transverse movement of the lower denture across cusps of the upper denture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
96 words
An articulator according to claim 11 wherein said lower mount includes a stacked pair of ball-bearing supported slide plates, adapted for joint movement within the area of said closed path, said plates being formed with complementary linear tracks respectively between their juxtaposed faces and between the underface of the lower moveable plate and a base plate therebeneath, said tracks forming guide means for transverse displacement of the plates in different directions, longitudinal racks carrying spaced ball-bearings disposed in each pair of complementary tracks and separating the adjacent plates from each other and from the intervening racks.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
A dental articulator comprising a frame carrying a mounting plate for a lower denture and an overhead arm pivotally connected to the frame and carrying a mount for an upper denture which is disposable in functional engagement with said lower denture, means for selectively locking said upper mount against transverse displacement when the dentures are thus engaged, said lower mounting plate being supported upon ball-bearing means adapted for transverse linear displacement within an area encompassed by a closed path lying along the plane of said functional engagement, and means for self-aligning upright oscillation of one of said engaged mounts by tilting transverse to a generally central axis through said dentures perpendicular to said plane of functional engagement in response to said lateral displacement, which displacement causes said oscillation by movement of one denture transverse to the cusps of the other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
140 words
A dental articulator comprising a frame carrying a mounting plate for a lower denture and an overhead arm pivotally connected to the frame and carrying a mount for an upper denture which is disposable in functional engagement with said lower denture, means for selectively locking said upper mount against transverse displacement when the dentures are thus engaged, said lower mounting plate being supported upon ball-bearing means adapted for transverse linear displacement within an area encompassed by a closed path lying along the plane of said functional engagement, and means for self-aligning upright oscillation of one of said engaged mounts by tilting transverse to a generally central axis through said dentures perpendicular to said plane of functional engagement in response to said lateral displacement, which displacement causes said oscillation by movement of one denture transverse to the cusps of the other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An articulator according to claim 14 wherein said self-aligning means comprises an inflatable gas chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
An articulator according to claim 15 which includes gas pressure measuring means and manually operable means for varying the gas pressure within said chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An articulator according to claim 15 which includes an upright-adjustable and tiltable adapter plate carried by said self-aligning means and supporting said lower denture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
95 words
An articulator according to claim 15 wherein said lower mount includes a stacked pair of ball-bearing supported slide plates, adapted for joint movement within the area of said closed path, said plates being formed with complementary linear tracks respectively between their juxtaposed faces and between the underface of the lower plate and a base plate therebeneath, said tracks forming guide means for transverse displacemeNt of the plates in different directions, longitudinal racks carrying spaced ball-bearings disposed in each pair of complementary tracks and separating the adjacent plates from each other and from the intervening racks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An articulator according to claim 18 which includes calibrated means for indicating the linear displacement of each of said pair of slide plates in its respective direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An articulator according to claim 18 which includes gas pressure measuring means and manually operable means for varying the gas pressure within said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2946124A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |