US4561844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthodontic bracket
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-10-09
•
Granted: 1985-12-31
•
Expires: 2004-10-09
Abstract
Abstract An improved orthodontic bracket for mounting on the inside surface or lingual of a tooth having an upwardly opening longitudinal channel for receiving an arch wire therein. The bracket includes a one-piece body having a locking groove formed in a front wall. A locking pin is rotatably mounted in a key-hole shaped opening formed in the body and is removable therefrom for replacement if it becomes damaged. The locking pin has a locking plate at one end of a shaft which is engageable in the locking groove of the body wall to secure an arch wire in the channel. A locking tab is mounted on the other end of the shaft and moves along a ramped surface formed in a recess for securing the locking plate in the locking groove. Rotation of the locking pin 180° moves the locking plate between an arch wire retaining or locked position and an arch wire receiving or unlocked position. Rotation of the pin 90° from either position will align the locking tab with the key-shaped opening enabling complete removal of the locking pin from the bracket body. A wedge block also may be mounted between the bracket body and inside surface of the tooth to change the mounting angle of the arch wire to obtain various force components on the tooth to move the tooth in various desired directions.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyn V. Bates
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An orthodontic bracket for mounting on the inside surface or lingual of a tooth for retaining an arch wire including: (a) a one-piece generally U-shaped bracket body having a front wall adapted to be secured to the tooth lingual, an end wall and an outer wall spaced from the front wall forming a vertical arch wire receiving channel therebetween; (b) a groove formed in the front wall spaced from the end wall and communicating with the channel; (c) a vertically extending hole formed in and extending completely through the outer wall; (d) a locking pin having a shaft rotatably mounted in the outer wall hole, a locking plate mounted on one end of the shaft and removably engageable in the front wall groove for locking an arch wire in the channel, and a tab mounted on the other end of the shaft for releaseably securing the locking plate in the front wall groove engaged position; (e) a slot formed in the end wall of the bracket body and communicating with the shaft receiving outer wall hole, said slot being complementary to the tab means permitting the locking pin to be removed from the bracket body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An orthodontic bracket for mounting on the inside surface or lingual of a tooth for retaining an arch wire including: (a) a one-piece generally U-shaped bracket body having a front wall adapted to be secured to the tooth lingual, an end wall and an outer wall spaced from the front wall forming a vertical arch wire receiving channel therebetween; (b) a groove formed in the front wall spaced from the end wall and communicating with the channel; (c) a vertically extending hole formed in and extending completely through the outer wall; (d) a locking pin having a shaft rotatably mounted in the outer wall hole, a locking plate mounted on one end of the shaft and removably engageable in the front wall groove for locking an arch wire in the channel, and a tab mounted on the other end of the shaft for releaseably securing the locking plate in the front wall groove engaged position; (e) a slot formed in the end wall of the bracket body and communicating with the shaft receiving outer wall hole, said slot being complementary to the tab means permitting the locking pin to be removed from the bracket body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 1 in which a semicircular recess is formed in an outer surface of the end wall and communicates with the slot and the outer wall hole; and in which the recess has a ramped surface which is engaged by the locking pin tab to assist in maintaining the locking plate in an arch wire retaining position in the front wall groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 2 in which the slot and outer wall hole forms a generally key-hole shaped opening which is located in the center portion of the end wall recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 3 in which the locking pin aligns with the key-shaped opening for removing the locking pin from the bracket body upon rotation of the locking pin 90° from the arch wire retaining position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 4 in which the locking pin shaft is cylindrical with the locking tab extending radially outwardly therefrom with a width less than the diameter of the shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 2 in which a depression is formed in the end wall recess for receiving a nub formed on the locking pin tab to retain the locking pin in the arch wire retaining position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 4 in which a second depression is formed in the end wall recess at an upper end of the ramped surface to retain the locking plate in an arch wire receiving position upon rotation of the locking pin approximately 180° from the outer arch wire retaining position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 1 in which the locking plate includes a curved front edge which is engageable in the front wall groove and a back edge which aligns with an outer surface of the outer wall when the locking plate is in the arch wire retaining position, and which aligns the inner or channel forming surface of the outer wall when the locking plate is in an arch wire receiving position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 1 in which the channel has a rectangular cross sectional configuration in which the width is greater than the depth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 9 in which the depth of the channel is 0.022 inches and the width is 0.028 inches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 9 in which the depth of the channel is 0.018 inches and the width is 0.025 inches.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 9 in which insert means is removably mounted in the channel for adjusting the depth of said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 12 in which the insert means includes attachment means formed thereon for securing a tie wire thereto from another bracket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 12 in which recess means is formed in the end wall of the bracket body for receiving the insert means therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 14 in which the insert means includes a pair of spaced rectangular projections; and in which said insert means projections are received in the recess means for maintaining the insert means in longitudinal alignment within the bracket channel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 12 in which the insert means has a generally U-shaped configuration.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 1 in which wedge means is mounted on the front wall of the bracket body for changing the mounting angle of the bracket body with respect to the tooth when mounted on the tooth lingual.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 17 in which kerf means is formed in the front wall of the bracket body for mounting the wedge means thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 18 in which the kerf means includes a pair of spaced parallel kerfs extending vertically along the front wall of the bracket body; and in which the wedge means includes a wedge-shaped member having a pair of spaced parallel ribs formed on a surface thereof, with said ribs being engaged in the kerfs for mounting the wedge member on the front wall of the bracket body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The orthodontic bracket defined in claim 1 in which means is formed on the locking plate for engagement by a tool for rotating the locking plate between an arch wire retaining position and an arch wire receiving position.
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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) | 1988-12-30 | 1989-07-01 | 1989-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-30 | 1993-07-01 | 1993-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-07-01 | 1997-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |