← Back to Patent Explorer
US4445856A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and device for determining the relative position of the upper jaw and lower jaw for the production of dentures

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-02-01
•
Granted: 1984-05-01
•
Expires: 2002-02-01
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method and device for mutual alignment of the chewing surfaces of the upper jaw and the lower jaw for the purpose of producing dentures utilizes a wadding in the form of a bag filled with a freely shapeable, hardening material. The bag has a fork-like shape and is interposed between the upper jaw and the lower jaw. The material is allowed to harden once the chewing surfaces have been firmly closed on each other.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert Sturtzkopf

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 11:57
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C9/00; A61C9/0006; A61C9/0013

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 125 words
A device suitable for use with upper and lower jaw prostheses for determining the mutual alignment of dentally significant surfaces of the upper and lower jaws of a patient comprising: an arcuate bag, a wadding formed of a freely shapeable, hardenable material (14) contained in said bag; and holding means connected to said bag independently of the prostheses for inserting the bag between the prostheses, said holding means comprising tubular pockets (20) positioned on the exterior of said arcuate bag in a central plane of said bag lying generally parallel to the upper and lower jaws of the patient, said holding means further comprising a wire handle (24) having a central gripping portion and a pair of spaced shank portions (22) insertable in said pockets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 125 words
A device suitable for use with upper and lower jaw prostheses for determining the mutual alignment of dentally significant surfaces of the upper and lower jaws of a patient comprising: an arcuate bag, a wadding formed of a freely shapeable, hardenable material (14) contained in said bag; and holding means connected to said bag independently of the prostheses for inserting the bag between the prostheses, said holding means comprising tubular pockets (20) positioned on the exterior of said arcuate bag in a central plane of said bag lying generally parallel to the upper and lower jaws of the patient, said holding means further comprising a wire handle (24) having a central gripping portion and a pair of spaced shank portions (22) insertable in said pockets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
Device as described in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the bag (10) is filled with a hardening plastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
Device as described in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the bag (10) is filled with a hardening liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
Device as described in claim 3 characterized by the fact that the bag (10) is filled with gypsum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
Device as described in one of claims 1-4 characterized by the fact that the bag (10) is a plastic sachet with a filling opening (12).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
Device as described in claim 5 characterized by the fact that the filling opening is elongated in a tubular shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
Device as described in one of claims 2-6 characterized by the fact that the bag has a fork-like shape and that the filling opening is located at the centre as an elongation of the shanks.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 156 words
A method for determining the mutual alignment of dentally significant surfaces of the upper jaw and the lower jaw of a patient comprising the steps of: fitting provisional upper and lower jaw prostheses into the mouth of a patient; positioning a freely shapeable, hardenable wadding having a generally arcuate form between the upper and lower jaw prostheses independently of the fitting of the protheses; said positioning being carried out by means of a handle having shank portions removably attached to the arcuate wadding; registering the correct position of the lower jaw in relation to the upper jaw with respect to proper vertical, horizontal, and angular relationship by firmly closing the patient's jaws on the wadding and horizontally sliding of the lower jaw with respect to the upper jaw; allowing the wadding to harden with the jaws in the correct position; and removing the hardened wadding, and thereafter the jaw protheses, from the mouth of the patient.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 156 words
A method for determining the mutual alignment of dentally significant surfaces of the upper jaw and the lower jaw of a patient comprising the steps of: fitting provisional upper and lower jaw prostheses into the mouth of a patient; positioning a freely shapeable, hardenable wadding having a generally arcuate form between the upper and lower jaw prostheses independently of the fitting of the protheses; said positioning being carried out by means of a handle having shank portions removably attached to the arcuate wadding; registering the correct position of the lower jaw in relation to the upper jaw with respect to proper vertical, horizontal, and angular relationship by firmly closing the patient's jaws on the wadding and horizontally sliding of the lower jaw with respect to the upper jaw; allowing the wadding to harden with the jaws in the correct position; and removing the hardened wadding, and thereafter the jaw protheses, from the mouth of the patient.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1127635A Cited
US2773308A Cited
US3161956A Cited
US3488848A Cited
DE2223937A1 Cited
DE2430702A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-05-01 1987-10-31 1988-05-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-05-01 1991-10-31 1992-05-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-05-01 1995-10-31 1996-05-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag