US4302532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthodontic bracket with protective insert or liner
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-06-23
•
Granted: 1981-11-24
•
Expires: 1996-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A plastic orthodontic bracket has an insert in the arch wire opening thereof which is of a material harder than the plastic material from which the bracket is fabricated. Preferably, the insert or liner is a metal material. The bracket with the insert or liner may be made by molding the plastic material around the liner material or by molding the plastic bracket and later inserting a previously formed liner or insert. Alternatively, the bracket may be made by means of extrusion of a plastic material and/or the liner material, the resultant elongated structure being then cut up into sections to form the individual brackets.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Wallshein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C7/14; A61C7/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like; and a hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket; said liner having a raised peak portion interior of the edges of said opening which is adapted to serve as a tilting surface for an arch wire or the like, said liner being fabricated of two pieces which meet generally at said peak portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like; and a hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket; said liner having a raised peak portion interior of the edges of said opening which is adapted to serve as a tilting surface for an arch wire or the like, said liner being fabricated of two pieces which meet generally at said peak portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said liner has a portion having a generally triangular cross-section the apex thereof being adapted to serve as said tilting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1 wherein said liner extends a small distance short of the edges of the surface portion of said bracket which defines said opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein said bracket is fabricated from a hard plastic material, and said hard liner is a metal liner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
110 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like; and a hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket; said hard liner including flanges overlying a front surface portion of said bracket at least adjacent the area where said bracket opening opens to said front portion, said flanges extending from a liner portion in said opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like; and a hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket; said hard liner including flanges overlying a front surface portion of said bracket at least adjacent the area where said bracket opening opens to said front portion, said flanges extending from a liner portion in said opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 5 wherein said first liner includes means for positively engaging said opening of said bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 5 wherein said liner substantially covers the complete surface portion of said bracket which defines said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 5, wherein said bracket is fabricated from a hard plastic material, and said hard liner is a metal liner.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like; and a hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner defining a void space interior of the edges thereof, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like; and a hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner defining a void space interior of the edges thereof, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 9 wherein said liner extends a small distance short of the edges of the surface portion of said bracket which defines said opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 9 wherein the outer edges of said space liner extend substantially to the edges of said opening of said bracket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 9, wherein said bracket is fabricated from a hard plastic material, and said hard liner is a metal liner.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
116 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like, and tie wing portions; a first hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket; and at least one second hard liner on the rear surfaces of at least one of said tie wing portions, said at least one second hard liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
An orthodontic bracket assembly comprising: a non-metallic bracket having an opening therein for receiving an arch wire, or the like, and tie wing portions; a first hard liner on at least a portion of the surface of said non-metallic bracket defining said opening for protecting said non-metallic bracket from damage due to forces applied by an arch wire, or the like, received therein, said liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket; and at least one second hard liner on the rear surfaces of at least one of said tie wing portions, said at least one second hard liner being fabricated of a material harder than the material of said bracket.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said hard lines are all fabricated from metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 14 wherein said bracket is fabricated from hard plastic material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said bracket is fabricated from hard plastic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said first liner includes flanges overlying a front surface portion of said bracket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 17 wherein said flanges overlie the front portion of said bracket adjacent the area where said bracket opening opens to said front portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said first liner includes means for positively engaging said opening of said bracket.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 19 wherein the outer surface of said first liner is irregularly shaped.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 19 wherein said first liner has a protrusion thereon and said bracket receives said protrusion therein for anchoring of said first liner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said first liner is generally U-shaped.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said first liner is generally L-shaped.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said first liner substantially covers the complete surface portion of said bracket which defines said opening.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 6 wherein the outer surface of said liner is irregularly shaped.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said first liner extends a small distance short of the edges of the surface portion of said bracket which defines said opening.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 20 wherein said liner includes means for positively engaging said opening of said bracket.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 27 wherein the outer surface of said liner is irregularly shaped.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said first liner defines a void space interior of the edges thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 29 wherein the outer edges of said first liner extend substantially to the edges of said opening of said bracket.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 29 wherein said outer edges of said first liner extend to all of the edges of said opening of said bracket.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 29 wherein said first liner includes means for positively engaging said opening of said bracket.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 32 wherein the outer surface of said first liner is irregularly shaped.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
An orthodontic bracket according to claim 13 wherein said hard liners are all of a material substantially harder than said bracket.
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) | 1984-11-23 | 1985-05-25 | 1985-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-11-23 | 1989-05-25 | 1989-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-11-23 | 1993-05-25 | 1993-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |