US4085506A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking device for dental prostheses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-07-22
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1996-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A novel medical prosthesis locking device, particularly for dental prostheses, which are to be fixed and yet easily removable for maintenance, etc. The locking device comprises a cylinder which is adapted to be embedded in the prosthesis and a plunger which is adapted to be slidably mounted in the cylinder so that when the plunger is in one position, the prosthesis may be inserted and placed in position within the mouth; and in another position the plunger engages an orifice in an immovable fixture in the mouth, e.g., abutment teeth crowned with short bar extensions containing holes properly aligned with and receptive of the locking end of the plunger of the locking device when the prosthesis is in position.
Inventors
- 👤 Isaih Lew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C13/00; A61C13/225; A61C13/275; A61C8/00; A61C8/0048; A61C13/273
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A locking device (especially useful) for dental prostheses, which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder with openings at both ends, which is adapted to be affixed to or in a dental prosthesis, and (b) a plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder so that the locking end of the plunger may be extended from one end of the cylinder or substantially retracted to that end of the cylinder as the plunger is slid into or away from the cylinder by the manipulation of the other end of the plunger; whereby when extended from the cylinder affixed to or in a dental prosthesis in the mouth, the end of the plunger engages an orifice in a fixture in the mouth and when retracted into the cylinder, the end of the plunger is withdrawn from the orifice in the fixture in the mouth, thereby respectively locking the the prosthesis to the fixture or unlocking it from the fixture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A locking device (especially useful) for dental prostheses, which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder with openings at both ends, which is adapted to be affixed to or in a dental prosthesis, and (b) a plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder so that the locking end of the plunger may be extended from one end of the cylinder or substantially retracted to that end of the cylinder as the plunger is slid into or away from the cylinder by the manipulation of the other end of the plunger; whereby when extended from the cylinder affixed to or in a dental prosthesis in the mouth, the end of the plunger engages an orifice in a fixture in the mouth and when retracted into the cylinder, the end of the plunger is withdrawn from the orifice in the fixture in the mouth, thereby respectively locking the the prosthesis to the fixture or unlocking it from the fixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder with openings at both ends, which is adapted to be affixed to or in a dental prosthesis, (b) a plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder and so adapted that the locking end of the plunger may be extended from one end of the cylinder or substantially retracted to that end of the cylinder as the plunger is slid into or away from the cylinder by manipulation of the other end of the plunger, and (c) a retaining means adapted to retain the locking end of the plunger in the extended position when the opposite end of the plunger is manipulated so as to slide the plunger into the cylinder component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1, which comprises: (a) a hollow cylinder with openings at both ends, which is adapted to be affixed to or in a dental prosthesis, (b) a plunger slidably mounted in the cylinder and so adapted that the locking end of the plunger may be extended from one end of the cylinder or substantially retracted to that end of the cylinder as the plunger is slid into or away from the cylinder by manipulation of the other end of the plunger. (c) a retaining means adapted to retain the locking end of the plunger in the extended position when the opposite end of the plunger is manipulated so as to slide the plunger into the cylinder components, and (d) a second retaining means adapted to retain the plunger and keep it from being removed from the cylinder component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1, in which the hollow cylinder (a) has an opening at one end which is smaller than the opening at the other end and the plunger has a portion which is correspondingly smaller so that it may pass through the smaller opening of the hollow cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
155 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 2, in which the hollow cylinder (a) has a groove around its inner perimeter; retaining means (c) is a split spring ring of such a thickness and outside diameter that it fits within the groove in hollow cylinder (a); plunger (b) contains a groove of a thickness and diameter that will accommodate the inside diameter of the split spring ring; and the grooves in the hollow cylinder (a) and on plunger (b) are of such relative diameters that the split spring ring has sufficient room to expand and contract as the plunger is slid to and fro in the hollow cylinder, and the grooves are so positioned in the hollow cylinder and on the plunger that when the plunger is in the hollow cylinder in such a position that the split spring ring is in both grooves, the locking end of the plunger extends from the hollow cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a hole through the wall of the hollow cylinder (a) intersecting the hollow and off-center of the center of the cylinder; there is a flat portion on the side of the plunger (b) and parallel to its axis and away from the locking end of the plunger; and there is a retaining pin placed through the hole in the wall of the hollow cylinder after the plunger is in place with its flat portion aligned with the bottom line of the hole through the wall of the cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A locking device as claimed in claim 1 in which the outside surface of the hollow cylinder (a) is knurled.
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) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |