US4256456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tooth uprighting or separating appliance
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-06-07
•
Granted: 1981-03-17
•
Expires: 1998-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A tooth uprighting or separating appliance for cooperating with a pair of adjacent teeth having opposed and closely spaced side surfaces comprises a first member adapted to be interposed into a space between the pair of teeth for bearing against one of the opposed side surfaces of one of the pair of teeth, a second member adapted to be interposed into the space between the pair of teeth for bearing against the side surface of the other of the pair of teeth, and spring means interconnecting the first and second members for biassing the first and second members away from each other and toward the respective opposed side surfaces of the pair of teeth to thereby separate the teeth from each other. Preferably, the first and second members are adapted to pierce gum tissue which is located between the pair of teeth to facilitate installation. The spring means may comprise an elongated wire member or a coil spring portion from which the first and second means extend. The first and second members may both extend from the same side of the spring means, or may extend from opposite sides thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Wallshein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
A self-retaining tooth uprighting or separating appliance for cooperating with a pair of adjacent teeth having opposing and closely spaced side surfaces, comprising: first means adapted to be interposed into a space between said pair of teeth for bearing against one of said opposing side surfaces of one of said pair of teeth; second means adapted to be interposed into the space between said pair of teeth for bearing against said side surface of the other of said pair of teeth which is opposed to said side surface against which said first means bears; spring means interconnecting said first and second means and biassing said first and second means away from each other and toward said respective opposed side surfaces of said pair of teeth to separate said pair of teeth, said spring means also applying an uplifting force to at least one of said first and second means relative to the other of said first and second means, and said spring means having a dimension in the widthwise or buccal direction of a tooth which is not substantially greater than the width of a tooth, and said spring means having a further dimension in the lengthwise direction of a tooth which is not greater than the height of the crown of the tooth; and cooperating engagement means on each of said first and second means for directly contacting said engaging said respective side surfaces of said adjacent teeth to prevent disengagement of said appliance from said adjacent teeth to prevent disengagement of said appliance from said adjacent teeth without requiring external anchoring devices, the appliance thereby being self-retaining relative to said adjacent teeth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
274 words
A self-retaining tooth uprighting or separating appliance for cooperating with a pair of adjacent teeth having opposing and closely spaced side surfaces, comprising: first means adapted to be interposed into a space between said pair of teeth for bearing against one of said opposing side surfaces of one of said pair of teeth; second means adapted to be interposed into the space between said pair of teeth for bearing against said side surface of the other of said pair of teeth which is opposed to said side surface against which said first means bears; spring means interconnecting said first and second means and biassing said first and second means away from each other and toward said respective opposed side surfaces of said pair of teeth to separate said pair of teeth, said spring means also applying an uplifting force to at least one of said first and second means relative to the other of said first and second means, and said spring means having a dimension in the widthwise or buccal direction of a tooth which is not substantially greater than the width of a tooth, and said spring means having a further dimension in the lengthwise direction of a tooth which is not greater than the height of the crown of the tooth; and cooperating engagement means on each of said first and second means for directly contacting said engaging said respective side surfaces of said adjacent teeth to prevent disengagement of said appliance from said adjacent teeth to prevent disengagement of said appliance from said adjacent teeth without requiring external anchoring devices, the appliance thereby being self-retaining relative to said adjacent teeth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The appliance of claim 1 wherein said first and second means comprise means for piercing gum tissue which is located between said pair of teeth, and for locating said cooperating engagement means in said gum tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The appliance of claim 1 wherein said spring means is adapted to be located at or above the biting surface of said pair of teeth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The appliance of any one of claims 1-3 wherein said spring means comprises an elongated coil spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The appliance of claim 4 further comprising a sleeve mounted around said elongated coil spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The appliance of claim 5 wherein said sleeve is made of resilient material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The appliance of claim 1 wherein said first and second means each comprises generally L-shaped members, one leg of each of said L-shaped members extending from said spring means and the other legs thereof being adapted to be inserted between said teeth so as to bear upon said respective opposed side surfaces of said pair of teeth, said other legs comprising said cooperating engagement means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second means each comprise generally C-shaped members, one end of each of said C-shaped members extending from said spring means and the other ends thereof being adapted to be inserted between said teeth so as to bear upon said respective opposed side surfaces of said pair of teeth, said other ends comprising said cooperating engagement means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The appliance of claim 8, wherein said appliance is generally S-shaped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The appliance of either of claims 7 or 8, wherein said first and second means extend from said spring means on the same side of said spring means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The appliance of either of claims 7 or 8, wherein said first and second means extend from said spring means on opposite sides of said spring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The appliance of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein said spring means comprises an elongated coil spring, said first and second means extending from the respective ends of said coil spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The appliance of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring having at least one turn, said first and second means extending from the respective ends of said coil spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The appliance of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein said spring means comprises an elongated member interconnecting said first and second means and comprising a torsion spring means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The appliance of claim 14, wherein said elongated member is made of wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
The appliance of claim 1 wherein said first and second means each comprise an elongated member, said elongated members being interconnected along the longitudinal direction thereof, said elongated members being made of a resilient material exhibiting springiness, said interconnection along said longitudinal direction comprising said spring means when said elongated members are bent along said interconnection, the ends of said elongated members opposite said interconnection comprising said cooperating engagement means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The appliance of claim 16, wherein said elongated members are substantially flat, rectangular members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The appliance of either of claims 16 or 17, wherein said elongated members are made of spring metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The appliance of either of claims 16 or 17, wherein said elongated members are made of a plastic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The appliance of claim 16, wherein said first and second means comprise means for piercing gum tissue which is located between said pair of teeth.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
The appliance of claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a first open-loop member and said second means comprises a second open-loop member, said first and second open-loop members being interconnected together and being made from a resilient material exhibiting springiness, said interconnected portions of said open-loop members comprising said spring means when said open-loop members are bent toward each other about said interconnection, the portions of said open loop members which are interconnected together comprising said cooperating engagement means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The appliance of claim 21, wherein said first and second interconnected open-loop members form a generally figure-8 pattern.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The appliance of either of claims 21 or 22, wherein said first and second open-loop members are made of a spring metal material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The appliance of claim 23, wherein said spring metal material is flat.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The appliance of either of claims 21 or 22, wherein said first and second open-loop members are made of plastic material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The appliance of claim 21 wherein said first and second means comprise means for piercing gum tissue which is located between said pair of teeth.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
86 words
The appliance of claim 1, further comprising third means adapted to be interposed into said space between said pair of teeth for bearing against said one opposing side surface; fourth means adapted to be interposed into said space for bearing against the other of said opposed side surfaces; and second spring means interconnecting said third and fourth means for biassing said third and fourth means away from each other and toward said opposed side surfaces of said pair of teeth to separate said opposed side surfaces.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
The appliance of claim 27 wherein said first and third means bear against a common side surface of said pair of teeth, and said second and fourth means commonly bear against the other of said side surfaces.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The appliance of either of claims 27 or 28, wherein said first, second, third and fourth means each comprise means for piercing gum tissue which is located between said pair of teeth.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The appliance of either of claims 27 or 28, wherein each of said two spring means comprises an elongated coil spring.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The appliance of claim 30, wherein said elongated coil springs are engaged with each other.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The appliance of claim 30, wherein said elongated coil springs are nested one within the other.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
The appliance of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein said spring means comprises a tortuously bent elongated member interconnecting said first and second means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The appliance of claim 33, wherein said tortuously bent elongated member is generally V-shaped.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The appliance of claim 33, wherein said tortuously bent elongated member is generally W-shaped.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The appliance of either of claims 1 or 2, wherein both said first and second means extend substantially completely through said space between said pair of teeth.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
The appliance of any one of claims 1, 7, 8, 16 or 21, wherein said cooperating engagement means on each of said first and second means extends substantially laterally of the respective tooth with which it is engaged.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The appliance of claim 37 wherein at least one of said first and second means comprises means for piercing gum tissue which is located between said pair of teeth and for locating said cooperating engagement means in said gum tissue.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The appliance of claim 38 wherein said piercing means comprises means for piercing said gum tissue in a direction substantially laterally of said teeth.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The appliance of claim 37 wherein both said first and second means comprises means for piercing gum tissue in a direction substantially laterally of said teeth.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
48 words
The appliance of any one of claims 1, 7, 8, 16 or 21 wherein at least one of said first and second means comprises means for piercing gum tissue which is located between said pair of teeth and for locating said cooperating engagement means in said gum tissue.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The appliance of claim 41 wherein said piercing means comprises means for piercing said gum tissue in a direction substantially laterally of said teeth.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The appliance of claim 42 wherein both said first and second means comprises means for piercing gum tissue in a direction substantially laterally of said teeth.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The appliance of claim 11 wherein said first and second means comprise means for piercing gum tissue from opposite sides of said spring means and therefore, from opposite sides of said teeth.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
The appliance of claim 20 wherein said first and second means have free ends remote from said interconnection, said free ends comprising said means for piercing gum tissue.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
The appliance of claim 21 wherein at least one of said interconnected portions comprises said means for piercing said gum tissue, said piercing means being adapted to pierce said gum tissue in a direction substantially laterally of said teeth.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
32 words
The appliance of any one of claims 1, 7, 8, 16, 21 or 27, wherein said spring means exhibits its springiness prior to insertion of said appliance between said pair of teeth.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1984-03-16 | 1984-09-15 | 1985-03-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-16 | 1988-09-15 | 1989-03-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-16 | 1992-09-15 | 1993-03-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |