US4189837A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental jaw simulator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-06-23
•
Granted: 1980-02-26
•
Expires: 1997-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A dental jaw simulator is provided for duplicating human jaw movements and, in particular, the movement of the lower human jaw. The simulator includes a support frame and an upper jaw member pivotally mounted on the support frame and which is adapted to receive an upper dental arch cast. A lower jaw member is also mounted on the support frame and is adapted to receive a lower dental arch cast. Movement of the lower jaw member in protrusive and retrusive directions and in a lateral direction is controlled by a ball and slot hinge arrangement in combination with a movable anterior platform mounted on the support frame and a forward pin connected to the lower jaw member and which engages and is movable relative to the anterior platform. The anterior platform is provided with sloping planes on which the forward pin moves to guide the lower jaw member in order to duplicate the dropping of the lower human jaw during lateral movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Aaron Stele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C11/00; A61C11/02; A61C11/022; A61C11/025; A61C11/06; A61C11/08; A61C11/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A dental jaw simulator for duplicating human jaw movements, comprising: a support frame, an upper jaw member pivotally mounted on said support frame for receiving an upper dental arch cast, a lower jaw member mounted on said support frame for receiving a lower dental arch cast, and means for moving said lower jaw member in protrusive and retrusive directions and in a lateral direction including a universal hinge arrangement in combination with an anterior platform mounted on said support frame and a forward pin member connected to said lower jaw member which engages and is movable relative to said anterior platform, said anterior platform including first and second sloping planes meeting at the center of said platform to form a crest and sloping downwardly from said crest to the edge of said platform, said forward pin member being movable on said first and second sloping planes to guide said lower jaw member to move downwardly and in a retrusive direction about said hinge arrangement so that as said lower jaw member is moved laterally, it drops downwardly and moves in an arc for duplicating the movements of the lower human jaw during lateral movement thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A dental jaw simulator for duplicating human jaw movements, comprising: a support frame, an upper jaw member pivotally mounted on said support frame for receiving an upper dental arch cast, a lower jaw member mounted on said support frame for receiving a lower dental arch cast, and means for moving said lower jaw member in protrusive and retrusive directions and in a lateral direction including a universal hinge arrangement in combination with an anterior platform mounted on said support frame and a forward pin member connected to said lower jaw member which engages and is movable relative to said anterior platform, said anterior platform including first and second sloping planes meeting at the center of said platform to form a crest and sloping downwardly from said crest to the edge of said platform, said forward pin member being movable on said first and second sloping planes to guide said lower jaw member to move downwardly and in a retrusive direction about said hinge arrangement so that as said lower jaw member is moved laterally, it drops downwardly and moves in an arc for duplicating the movements of the lower human jaw during lateral movement thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said anterior platform includes a flat plane adjacent said sloping planes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 2, wherein said sloping planes form an angle with said flat plane in the range of 0° to 30°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said anterior platform includes a trough formed at said crest, said forward pin member being movable along said trough in the protrusive and retrusive directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 4, wherein said trough includes a recess formed therein for receiving the lower end of said forward pin member for establishing the occlusal position of said upper and lower jaw members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 5, wherein the lower end of said forward pin member includes a spring-biased ball member engageable with said recess for establishing the rest position of said upper and lower teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said anterior platform is removable from said support frame and is interchangeable with other anterior platforms having different sloping planes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said anterior platform is movable and adjustable within guides formed on said support frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said forward pin member is adjustable relative to said lower jaw member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein the axis of said hinge arrangement is disposed above and behind said lower jaw member to duplicate the position of the temporomandibular joint relative to the lower human jaw.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 10, wherein the axis of said hinge arrangement is provided with locking means to prevent movement in one direction so that the occlusal position may be established.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lower jaw member is supported on an L-shaped member connected to said hinge arrangement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upper and lower dental arch casts each include a tray member removably connected to said support frame so that said tray members are interchangeable with other tray members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 13, wherein each of said tray members includes means for removably holding the mounting plaster of the dental arch cast within said tray member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 14, wherein said means for removably holding said mounting plaster includes a sliding handle slidable through the walls of said tray member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 14, wherein said tray member is formed of plastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 13, wherein said support frame includes removable locking means for removably connecting said tray member to said support frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dental jaw simulator in accordance with claim 17, wherein said removable locking means is adjustable relative to said support frame.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-02-25 | 1983-08-27 | 1984-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-25 | 1987-08-27 | 1988-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-25 | 1991-08-27 | 1992-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |