US4217686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthodontic O-ring and ligator therefore
Assignee: MODCOM Inc
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Filing: 1977-09-19
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Granted: 1980-08-19
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Expires: 1997-09-19
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is directed to an orthodontic O-ring assembly which comprises a plurality of orthodontic O-rings integrally molded to a core which can be readily wrapped about an orthodontist's hand and the respective O-rings being individually dispensed by a ligator. The ligator comprises a tool having relatively moveable jaws which are sized so as to be received within the internal diameter of the O-ring in the closed position and thereafter moved to an open or expanded position to effect the stretching of the O-ring to be dispensed, thereby causing the O-ring to separate from its core at a frangible point. In a modified form of the invention, the ligator may be provided with a lock to maintain the ligator in the open jaw position.
Inventors
- 👤 William B. Dragan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C7/28; A61C7/30; A61C7/303; A61C7/02; A61C7/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/4979
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An orthodontic O-ring assembly comprising: an elongated flexible core adapted to be wrapped about a portion of an orthodontist's hand, a plurality of minature elastic, orthodontic O-rings, a readily frangible web connecting each of said O-rings to said core at spaced apart intervals therealong, said frangible web having a weakened portion adjacent the circumference of the attached O-ring, said elastic O-ring, core and frangible webs being integrally formed as a unitary casting of the same material, and means for effecting the distortion of an O-ring to define a flat oval whereby said distortion enables the separation of said distorted O-ring from its respective web at said weakened portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
An orthodontic O-ring assembly comprising: an elongated flexible core adapted to be wrapped about a portion of an orthodontist's hand, a plurality of minature elastic, orthodontic O-rings, a readily frangible web connecting each of said O-rings to said core at spaced apart intervals therealong, said frangible web having a weakened portion adjacent the circumference of the attached O-ring, said elastic O-ring, core and frangible webs being integrally formed as a unitary casting of the same material, and means for effecting the distortion of an O-ring to define a flat oval whereby said distortion enables the separation of said distorted O-ring from its respective web at said weakened portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said latter means comprises: a ligator having a pair of relatively moveable levers, each of said levers terminating in a jaw tip, means for pivotally connecting said levers for pivoting said tips between an open and closed position, means for normally biasing said jaw tips toward a closed position whereby said jaw tips are contiguously disposed in the closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The assembly as defined in claim 2 and including a jaw holding portion wherein said respective jaw tips comprise a wire insert connected to and projecting beyond the end of the respective jaw holding portion, said wire insert in the normally closed position of said jaw holding portion being of a size adapted to be readily received within the internal diameter of an O-ring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
143 words
A ligator comprising: a pair of jaw members, pivot means for pivotally connecting said jaw members for relative movement between a normally closed position and an open position, each of said jaw members having a nose portion which in the closed position can be readily received within the internal diameter of an O-ring, each of said nose portions having an outwardly turned hook for holding an O-ring in the stretched position when said jaws are in the opened position, a handle connected to each jaw member, and means on said handle for locking said jaw members in open position thereof, wherein said locking means includes a sliding latch slideably mounted on one of said handles, and a complementary catch mounted on the other handle, and a slide actuator connected to said latch for sliding said latch between the locked and unlocked position thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
A ligator comprising: a pair of jaw members, pivot means for pivotally connecting said jaw members for relative movement between a normally closed position and an open position, each of said jaw members having a nose portion which in the closed position can be readily received within the internal diameter of an O-ring, each of said nose portions having an outwardly turned hook for holding an O-ring in the stretched position when said jaws are in the opened position, a handle connected to each jaw member, and means on said handle for locking said jaw members in open position thereof, wherein said locking means includes a sliding latch slideably mounted on one of said handles, and a complementary catch mounted on the other handle, and a slide actuator connected to said latch for sliding said latch between the locked and unlocked position thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
An orthodontic o-ring assembly comprising an elongated flexible core which is adapted to be wrapped about a portion of an orthodontist's hand, a plurality of minature elastic orthodontic o-rings, a plurality of branches connected to said core, said o-rings being connected to free end of said branches, each of said branches having a weakened portion adjacent the circumference of the attached o-ring, said elastic o-ring core and connecting branches being integrally formed as a unitary member of the same elastic material whereby distortion of said o-ring to define a flat oval facilitates the separation of said o-ring from its associated branch at said weakened portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
An orthodontic o-ring assembly comprising an elongated flexible core which is adapted to be wrapped about a portion of an orthodontist's hand, a plurality of minature elastic orthodontic o-rings, a plurality of branches connected to said core, said o-rings being connected to free end of said branches, each of said branches having a weakened portion adjacent the circumference of the attached o-ring, said elastic o-ring core and connecting branches being integrally formed as a unitary member of the same elastic material whereby distortion of said o-ring to define a flat oval facilitates the separation of said o-ring from its associated branch at said weakened portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said o-rings have an outside diameter of at least 3 to 4 millimeters.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of dispensing dental O-rings comprising the steps of: forming a core member of an elastic material so as to define an elongated central core, having spaced therealong, a plurality of branches, and forming an O-ring at the end of each of said branches of the same elastic material as the material of the core and connected branches, forming each of said branches with a frangible portion, and effecting the separation of the O-ring from its associated branch at the formation of the frangible portion by distorting the O-ring to a flat oval.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of dispensing dental O-rings comprising the steps of: forming a core member of an elastic material so as to define an elongated central core, having spaced therealong, a plurality of branches, and forming an O-ring at the end of each of said branches of the same elastic material as the material of the core and connected branches, forming each of said branches with a frangible portion, and effecting the separation of the O-ring from its associated branch at the formation of the frangible portion by distorting the O-ring to a flat oval.
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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) | 1983-08-19 | 1984-02-18 | 1984-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-19 | 1988-02-18 | 1988-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-19 | 1992-02-18 | 1992-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |