Partial vacuum stabilizer for dental prosthesis

Claim 2

A dental prosthesis structure primarily designed to be secured within the mouth of the user through the application of a partial vacuum, said structure comprising: (a) dental plate means structured for mounting along a predetermined length of an alveolar ridge of the user and including at least one dental plate having an undersurface configured and dimensioned for sealing engagement with an exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (b) channel means comprising a differential pressure channel formed in said plate undersurface and disposed to extend along at least a portion of the length of said dental plate and in fluid communicating relation with the exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (c) teeth means secured to said dental plate and protruding from an outer surface thereof, said teeth means including a hollow interior portion comprising a first chamber disposed in direct fluid communication with said differential pressure channel and a second chamber structured for direct communication with atmosphere and the exterior of said hollow interior portion, (d) valve means mounted on said teeth means and disposed in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means, (e) said valve means comprising a one-way flow valve structured to permit fluid flow from said channel means to said teeth means to the exterior thereof and prohibit fluid flow therethrough to said differential pressure channel from the exterior of said teeth means, (f) said valve means further comprising a venting valve mounted within said hollow interior portion and in communicating relation with the exterior of said teeth means, said venting valve disposed and structured to regulate fluid flow from the exterior of said teeth means to said differential pressure channel, whereby creation of a negative pressure within the mouth establishes a negative pressure within said differential pressure channel and sealed engagement between said plate undersurface and the alveolar ridge.

Claim 3

A structure as in claim 1 wherein said venting valve comprises a valve seat disposed and structured to at least partially define an aperture within a wall portion of said teeth means, said aperture disposed in fluid communicating relation between said hollow interior portion and the exterior of said teeth means; said venting valve further including a valve head and a biasing means disposed to normally bias said valve head into sealing engagement with said valve seat and said aperture.

Claim 4

A structure as in claim 2 wherein said valve head is accessible through said aperture from the exterior of said teeth means and selectively disposable out of its closed, seated position and against biasing force of said biasing means, whereby fluid flow through said venting valve substantially eliminates said negative pressure between said differential pressure channel and the alveolar ridge.

Claim 5

A structure as in claim 1 further comprising passage means including a first passage disposed in interconnecting relation between said differential pressure channel and said first chamber; said passage means including a second passage disposed in interconnecting relation between said second chamber and the exterior of said teeth means, whereby fluid flow is established from said differential pressure channel to the exterior of said teeth means via said passage means and valve means.

Claim 6

A structure as in claim 1 wherein said venting means includes biasing means disposed and structured to normally position said venting valve in a closed position, said venting valve accessible to the exterior of said teeth means and disposed and structured for selective manipulation and attendant positioning into an open, fluid venting position.

Claim 7

A structure as in claim 5 wherein said venting valve is mounted within said first chamber in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said hollow interior portion, said one-way flow valve being mounted within said second chamber in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means via said first and said second chamber respectively.

Claim 8

A structure as in claim 1 wherein said one-way flow valve is mounted within said second chamber and comprises a conduit means disposed in interconnecting relation between said first and said second chambers and including an entrance disposed within said second chamber and an exit disposed within said first chamber, a head portion normally biased in closed, sealing relation to said entrance, said head portion disposed and strutured for selective movement to an open position relative to said entrance upon the application of negative pressure to said hollow interior portion, whereby fluid flow is established through said one-way flow valve from said differential pressure channel to the exterior of said teeth means.

Claim 9

A dental prosthesis structure primarily designed to be secured within the mouth of the user through the application of a partial vacuum, said structure comprising: (a) dental plate means structured for mounting along a predetermined length of an alveolar ridge of the user and including at least one dental plate having an undersurface configured and dimensioned for sealing engagement with an exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (b) channel means comprising a differential pressure channel formed in said plate undersurface and disposed to extend along at least a portion of the length of said dental plate and in fluid communicating relation with the exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (c) teeth means secured to said dental plate and protruding from an outer surface thereof, said teeth means including a hollow interior portion comprising a first chamber disposed in direct fluid communication with said differential pressure channel and a second chamber structured for direct communication with atmosphere and the exterior of said hollow interior portion, (d) said teeth means comprising a first tooth and a second tooth structured to substantially define an outer casing for said first and said second chamber respectively, said first tooth and said second tooth each fixedly mounted on said one dental plate in adjacent relation to one another, (e) valve means mounted on said teeth means and disposed in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means, said valve means disposed and structured to regulate and establish fluid flow between said first chamber and said second chamber, (f) said valve means comprising a one-way flow valve structured to permit fluid flow from said channel means to said teeth means to the exterior thereof and prohibit fluid flow therethrough to said differential pressure channel from the exterior of said teeth means, and (g) whereby creation of a negative pressure within the mouth establishes a negative pressure within said differential pressure channel and sealed engagement between said plate undersurface and said alveolar ridge.

Claim 10

A dental prosthesis structure primarily designed to be secured within the mouth of the user through the application of a partial vacuum, said structure comprising: (a) dental plate means structured for mounting along a predetermined length of an alveolar ridge of the user and including at least one dental plate having an undersurface configured and dimensioned for sealing engagement with an exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (b) channel means comprising a differential pressure channel formed in said plate undersurface and disposed to extend along at least a portion of the length of said dental plate and in fluid communicating relation with the exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (c) teeth means secured to said dental plate and protruding from an outer surface thereof, said teeth means including a hollow interior portion comprising a first chamber disposed in direct fluid communication with said differential pressure channel and a second chamber structured for direct communication with atmosphere and the exterior of said hollow interior portion, (d) said teeth means comprising a first tooth and a second tooth structured to substantially define an outer casing for said first and said second chamber respectively, said first tooth and said second tooth each fixedly mounted on said one dental plate in adjacent relation to one another, (e) valve means mounted on said teeth means and disposed in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means, said valve means disposed and structured to regulate and establish fluid flow between said first chamber and said second chamber, (f) said valve means comprising a one-way flow valve structured to permit fluid flow from said channel means to said teeth means to the exterior thereof and prohibit fluid flow therethrough to said differential pressure channel from the exterior of said teeth means, and (g) whereby creation of a negative pressure within the mouth establishes a negative pressure within said differential pressure channel and sealed engagement between said plate undersurface and said alveolar ridge.

Claim 11

A structure as in claim 8 wherein said one dental plate comprises a full plate structure configured to correspond to and extend along substantially the entire length of an alveolar ridge, said differential pressure channel extending substantially along the entire length of said plate undersurface in fluid communicating relation with the exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge.

Claim 12

A structure as in claim 9 wherein said teeth means comprises a first and a second hollow interior portion each disposed in spaced relation to one another along the length of said full plate structure and in fluid communication with said differential pressure channel; said valve means comprising a one-way flow valve mounted within each of said hollow interior portions and structured to permit one-way fluid flow from spaced apart portions of said differential pressure channel to the exterior of said respective hollow interior portions.

Claim 13

A structure as in claim 10 wherein each of said hollow interior portions are disposed at a substantially opposite end of said full plate structure and comprise a first chamber disposed in direct fluid communication with said differential pressure channel and a second chamber structured for direct communication with atmosphere and the exterior of said respective hollow interior portions, said valve means disposed and structured to regulate and establish fluid flow between said first chamber and said second chamber of respective hollow interior portions.

Claim 14

A structure as in claim 11 wherein said valve means further comprises a venting valve mounted within said first chamber of each hollow interior portion in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said respective hollow interior portions, said one-way flow valve being mounted within said second chamber of each hollow interior portion in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means via said first and said second chamber respectively.

Claim 15

A structure as in claim 8 wherein said one dental plate further comprises a partial plate structure including two plate segments disposed in connected and spaced apart relation to one another and each plate segment configured and structured to include an undersurface disposed in sealing and mating, supported engagement with spaced apart exposed surface portions of the alveolar ridge, said teeth means secured to each plate segment and including respective hollow interior portions.

Claim 16

A structure as in claim 13 wherein said differential pressure channel comprises a channel segment integrally formed in said undersurface of each plate segment and in fluid communication with respect to the hollow interior portions of each segment; said valve means comprising a one-way flow valve mounted within each of said hollow interior portions and structured to permit one-way fluid flow from spaced apart portions of said differential pressure channel to the interior of said respective hollow interior portions.

Claim 17

A structure as in claim 14 wherein each of said hollow interior portions are disposed at substantially opposite ends of said partial plate structure and comprise a first chamber disposed in direct fluid communication with said differential pressure channel and a second chamber structured for direct communication with atmosphere and the exterior of said respective hollow interior portion, said valve means disposed and structured to regulate and establish fluid flow between said first chamber and said second chamber.

Claim 18

A structure as in claim 15 wherein said valve means further comprises a venting valve mounted within said first chamber of each hollow interior portion in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said respective hollow interior portion, said one-way flow valve being mounted within said second chamber of each hollow interior portion in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means via said first and said second chamber respectively.

Claim 19

A structure as in claim 8 wherein said first tooth and said second tooth are integrally connected to one another and comprise a common wall disposed in substantially segregated relation between said first and said second chamber; said valve means further comprising a venting valve disposed within said first tooth and in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said first tooth, said one-way flow valve disposed within said second tooth in fluid regulating relation between said second chamber and the exterior of said first tooth.

Claim 20

A structure as in claim 17 further comprising passage means including a first passage disposed in interconnecting relation between said differential pressure channel and said first chamber; said passage means including a second passage formed in an exposed wall of said second tooth and in interconnecting relation between said second chamber and the exterior of said second tooth, a third passage at least partially defining a valve seat of said venting valve and formed in an exposed wall of said first tooth, whereby fluid flow is selectively established from said differential pressure channel to the exterior of said teeth means via said passage means and said valve means.

Claim 21

A structure as in claim 8 wherein said first tooth and said second tooth are formed from a substantially rigid material and include a facing material secured to and substantially encasing the outer surface thereof, each tooth being structured and configured to resemble a predetermined human tooth.

Claim 22

A dental prosthesis structure primarily designed to be secured within the mouth of the user through the application of a partial vacuum, said structure comprising: (a) dental plate means structured for mounting along a predetermined length of an alveolar ridge of the user and including at least one dental plate having an undersurface configured and dimensioned for sealing engagement with an exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (b) channel means comprising a differential pressure channel formed in said plate undersurface and disposed to extend along at least a portion of the length of said dental plate and in fluid communicating relation with the exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (c) teeth means secured to said dental plate and protruding from an outer surface thereof, said teeth means including a hollow interior portion disposed, at least in part, in communicating relation with said channel means and ambient atmosphere exterior of said teeth means, (d) valve means mounted on said teeth means and disposed in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means, (e) said valve means comprising a one-way flow valve structured to permit fluid flow from said channel means to said teeth means to the exterior thereof and prohibit fluid flow therethrough to said differential pressure channel from the exterior of said teeth means, (f) filter means having a substantially elongated configuration and dimensioned and structured to fit at least partially within said differential pressure chamber along at least a portion of its length, said filter means provided for the collection of debris particles and the prevention thereof from entering said hollow interior portion through said differential pressure channel.

Claim 23

A dental prosthesis structure primarily designed to be secured within the mouth of the user through the application of a partial vacuum, said structure comprising: (a) dental plate means structured for mounting along a predetermined length of an alveolar ridge of the user and including at least one dental plate having an undersurface configured and dimensioned for sealing engagement with an exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (b) channel means comprising a differential pressure channel formed in said plate undersurface and disposed to extend along at least a portion of the length of said dental plate and in fluid communicating relation with the exposed surface portion of the alveolar ridge, (c) teeth means secured to said dental plate and protruding from an outer surface thereof, said teeth means including a hollow interior portion disposed, at least in part, in communicating relation with said channel means and ambient atmosphere exterior of said teeth means, (d) valve means mounted on said teeth means and disposed in fluid regulating relation between said differential pressure channel and the exterior of said teeth means, (e) said valve means comprising a one-way flow valve structured to permit fluid flow from said channel means to said teeth means to the exterior thereof and prohibit fluid flow therethrough to said differential pressure channel from the exterior of said teeth means, (f) filter means having a substantially elongated configuration and dimensioned and structured to fit at least partially within said differential pressure chamber along at least a portion of its length, said filter means provided for the collection of debris particles and the prevention thereof from entering said hollow interior portion through said differential pressure channel.