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US4024642A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dental appliance

Assignee: Johnson and Johnson
•
Filing: 1975-08-26
•
Granted: 1977-05-24
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Expires: 1995-08-26
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Abstract

Abstract A dental appliance for removal of liquid from the mouth and for containment of solid debris which comprises a flat, flexible, generally hour glass-shaped shield attached to a bite block on one end. A suction tube for fluid removal connects with a system of suction channels within the shield terminating in apertures along only the edge of the shield. The appliance is placed in the mouth so that the narrow central portion of the shield is over the gum behind the subject lower tooth, the portion adjacent the bite block is on the lingual side thereof, the portion remote from the bite block is on the buccal side thereof, and the edge containing the suction apertures is lowermost.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dan Zorovich

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 09:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00; A61C17/06; A61C17/08; A61C17/10; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/10; A61B90/14; A61B90/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 177 words
A dental appliance for removal of liquid from the mouth and for containment of solid debris during dental work on a tooth which comprises: (A) a relatively thin, flexible shield member, said shield member having an upper edge and a lower edge, a narrow central portion adapted to be placed over the gum behind said tooth, a first wider terminal portion adapted to be placed on the lingual side of said tooth, and a second wider terminal portion adapted to be placed on the buccal side of said tooth; (B) a suction tube connecting with the end of said first wider terminal portion of said shield member; (C) a system of suction channels within said shield member and terminating in apertures along only said upper and lower edges of said shield member, said suction channels connecting to a drain channel having egress through said suction tube whereby liquid is removed from both lingual and buccal sides of said tooth; and (D) a bite block carried on said suction tube, whereby the appliance is secured in the mouth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 177 words
A dental appliance for removal of liquid from the mouth and for containment of solid debris during dental work on a tooth which comprises: (A) a relatively thin, flexible shield member, said shield member having an upper edge and a lower edge, a narrow central portion adapted to be placed over the gum behind said tooth, a first wider terminal portion adapted to be placed on the lingual side of said tooth, and a second wider terminal portion adapted to be placed on the buccal side of said tooth; (B) a suction tube connecting with the end of said first wider terminal portion of said shield member; (C) a system of suction channels within said shield member and terminating in apertures along only said upper and lower edges of said shield member, said suction channels connecting to a drain channel having egress through said suction tube whereby liquid is removed from both lingual and buccal sides of said tooth; and (D) a bite block carried on said suction tube, whereby the appliance is secured in the mouth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said shield member is substantially hour-glass shaped.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said suction channel apertures are only in said wide terminal portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said second terminal portion is forked.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said shield member is made of ethyl vinyl acetate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said bite block is attached to the end of said first wider terminal portion of said shield member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said bite block has a hole therethrough, through which said suction tube passes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said bite block is slideably moveable along said suction tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said shield member has a hardness in the range of about 85 to about 95 SHORE A.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A dental appliance as in claim 1 wherein said apertures are along only said lower edge of said shield member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1986751A Cited
US3148449A Cited
US3090122A Cited
US3426430A Cited
US3631598A Cited
US3777756A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-05-23 1980-11-22 1981-05-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-05-23 1984-11-22 1985-05-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-05-23 1988-11-22 1989-05-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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