US4708646A — Orthodontic device for correcting the bite

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

An orthodontic appliance for treating an overbite condition in a patient whose upper row of teeth lies abnormally forward of the lower row of teeth in the patient's lower jaw, comprising: upper attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of said upper row of teeth; lower attachment means adapted to be secured to said lower row of teeth; at least one flexible, nonstretching appliance element each extending between and attached by swivel means to said upper attachment means and to said lower attachment means and adapted to lie on one side of the patient's jaw, said flexible element having sufficient stiffness to exert a small axial pushing force from end to end when flexed, each said element having end means for bearing against a said attachment means while allowing the element to swivel relative to said attachment means; whereby said appliance element, when installed in a patient's mouth and in a slightly flexed condition, exerts a small pushing force on the patient's upper and lower jaws, the swivelability tending to correct said overbite condition, said element allowing the patient to move his jaws to talk, chew and cleanse both rows of teeth.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 195 words

An orthodontic appliance for treating an overbite condition in a patient whose upper row of teeth lies abnormally forward of the lower row of teeth in the patient's lower jaw, comprising: upper attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of said upper row of teeth; lower attachment means adapted to be secured to said lower row of teeth; at least one flexible, nonstretching appliance element each extending between and attached by swivel means to said upper attachment means and to said lower attachment means and adapted to lie on one side of the patient's jaw, said flexible element having sufficient stiffness to exert a small axial pushing force from end to end when flexed, each said element having end means for bearing against a said attachment means while allowing the element to swivel relative to said attachment means; whereby said appliance element, when installed in a patient's mouth and in a slightly flexed condition, exerts a small pushing force on the patient's upper and lower jaws, the swivelability tending to correct said overbite condition, said element allowing the patient to move his jaws to talk, chew and cleanse both rows of teeth.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 1 wherein a pair of said flexible appliance elements are provided and connected to said upper and lower attachment means, and when installed, lie on opposite sides of the patient's jaws.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 77 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 2 including an upper plastic member which is adapted to fit over and be anchored to at least some of the upper row of teeth and a lower plastic member adapted to be anchored to and extend over the lower row of teeth for a patient without braces, said upper attachment means being attached to said upper plastic member and said lower attachment being attached to said lower plastic member.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 3 wherein said upper attachment means comprises a tube, a movable pin partly in said tube and upper stop means comprising a spherical ball fixed on one end of said pin; and said lower attachment means comprises a fixed U-shaped wire having a lower stop means comprising a spherical ball thereon.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 53 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 2 wherein each said flexible appliance element comprises a resiliently flexible coiled wire end cap means fixed to each end of said coiled wire, each end cap having a flange portion which extends therefrom at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said appliance element.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 5 wherein said coiled wire is surrounded by a layer of flexible non-metallic material which extends between the coils of the wire and provides a smooth exterior surface on the appliance element.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 5 including a central core of resilient plastic material within said coiled wire and extending between said end caps to provide additional resiliency to each appliance element, and a flexible exterior layer surrounding said coiled wire.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 7 wherein said flexible exterior layer is silicone rubber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 155 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 1, wherein said upper attachment means for each side of the patient's mouth includes a tube adapted to be anchored to at least one of said upper row teeth, a movable pin partly within and extending out from said tube, having upper stop means comprising a spherical ball fixed adjacent to its distal end and means at its other end for retaining said pin within said tube; said lower attachment means includes a fixed wire adapted to be anchored to at least some of said lower row of teeth and lower stop means comprising a spherical ball on said wire; and said end means of said flexible appliance element respectively are retained by and slide on said movable pin and said fixed wire and including a portion adapted to bear against said spherical ball stop means when the patient's lower jaw is held in the abnormal bite position.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 35 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 9 wherein said tube for said upper attachment means is adjacent a tube and is adapted to retain an arch wire on a patient's upper row of teeth.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 45 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 9 wherein said fixed wire for said lower attachment means is an arch wire for braces adapted to be used on said lower row of teeth, said arch wire having a bend for retaining said lower stop means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 9 wherein each said fixed wire for said lower attachment means comprises a U-shaped wire section fixed to and extending below an arch wire for braces adapted to be used on said lower row of teeth.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 113 words

An elongated force transmitting but flexible link element for use as an orthodontic appliance for counteracting an abnormal bite condition between a patient's upper and lower rows of teeth by producing a pushing force when flexed, said link element comprising: a non-stretching coiled wire having coils of uniform size and spaced apart along the length thereof; a pair of end caps attached to opposite ends of said coiled wire, each said end cap having means for pivotally connecting said link element with attachment means that are adapted to be on the patient's upper and lower rows of teeth; and an outer layer of flexible material covering said coiled wire between said end caps.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 113 words

An elongated force transmitting but flexible link element for use as an orthodontic appliance for counteracting an abnormal bite condition between a patient's upper and lower rows of teeth by producing a pushing force when flexed, said link element comprising: a non-stretching coiled wire having coils of uniform size and spaced apart along the length thereof; a pair of end caps attached to opposite ends of said coiled wire, each said end cap having means for pivotally connecting said link element with attachment means that are adapted to be on the patient's upper and lower rows of teeth; and an outer layer of flexible material covering said coiled wire between said end caps.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The orthodontic appliance link element as described in claim 13 wherein each of said end cap has a tubular portion with internal threads for receiving said coiled wire at the end of said coiled wire.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 51 words

The orthodontic appliance link element as described in claim 13 wherein each said end cap has a tubular portion for receiving one end of said coiled wire and an integral flange extending from said tubular portion at an angle of around 45° relative to the longitudinal axis of said tubular portion.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The orthodontic appliance link element as described in claim 13 wherein said outer layer of flexible material is silicone rubber.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The orthodontic appliance link element as described in claim 13 including a central core member extending between said end caps within said coiled wire, said core member being a flexible, resilient plastic member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 191 words

An orthodontic appliance for treating an underbite condition in a patient whose upper row of teeth lies abnormally rearward of the lower row of teeth in the patient's lower jaw, comprising: fixed upper attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of said upper row of teeth; adjustable lower attachment means adapted to be secured to said lower row of teeth; a pair of non-stretching flexible appliance elements extending between and attached by swivel means to said upper attachment means and said lower attachment means and adapted to lie on one side of the patient's jaw, said elements having sufficient stiffness to exert a small axial pushing force from end to end when flexed, said elements having end means for bearing against a said attachment means while allowing the elements to swivel relative to said attachment means: whereby said appliance elements, when installed and in a slightly flexed condition, exert a small pushing force on the patient's upper and lower jaws, said elements being swivelable at their ends to allow movement thereof so that the patient can move his jaws to talk, chew and cleanse both rows of teeth.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 191 words

An orthodontic appliance for treating an underbite condition in a patient whose upper row of teeth lies abnormally rearward of the lower row of teeth in the patient's lower jaw, comprising: fixed upper attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of said upper row of teeth; adjustable lower attachment means adapted to be secured to said lower row of teeth; a pair of non-stretching flexible appliance elements extending between and attached by swivel means to said upper attachment means and said lower attachment means and adapted to lie on one side of the patient's jaw, said elements having sufficient stiffness to exert a small axial pushing force from end to end when flexed, said elements having end means for bearing against a said attachment means while allowing the elements to swivel relative to said attachment means: whereby said appliance elements, when installed and in a slightly flexed condition, exert a small pushing force on the patient's upper and lower jaws, said elements being swivelable at their ends to allow movement thereof so that the patient can move his jaws to talk, chew and cleanse both rows of teeth.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 131 words

The orthodontic appliance as described in claim 18 wherein each side of said lower attachment means includes a tube anchored to at least one of said lower row of teeth, a movable pin partly within and extending out from said tube having lower spherical stop means fixed to one end and means at its other end for retaining said pin within said tube; said upper attachment means including a fixed wire anchored to at least some of said lower row of teeth and upper spherical stop means on said wire; said flexible appliance including said end means being retained on said movable pin and said fixed wire and adapted to bear against and swivel around said spherical stop means when the patient's lower jaw is held in the abnormal underbite position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 145 words

An orthodontic appliance for treating malocclusion comprising: upper attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of the upper row of teeth; lower attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of the lower row of teeth; at least one non-stretching flexible appliance element extending between said upper attachment means and adapted to lie on one side of the patient's jaw, said element when flexed exerting a small axial pushing force to each said attachment means, said element having a swivel connection to each said attachment means; whereby said appliance element, when installed in a patient's mouth and in a slightly flexed condition, exerts a small pushing force on the patient's upper and lower jaws while swiveling at its ends to allow the patient to move his jaws in order to talk, to chew, and to cleanse both rows of teeth.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 145 words

An orthodontic appliance for treating malocclusion comprising: upper attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of the upper row of teeth; lower attachment means adapted to be secured to at least some of the lower row of teeth; at least one non-stretching flexible appliance element extending between said upper attachment means and adapted to lie on one side of the patient's jaw, said element when flexed exerting a small axial pushing force to each said attachment means, said element having a swivel connection to each said attachment means; whereby said appliance element, when installed in a patient's mouth and in a slightly flexed condition, exerts a small pushing force on the patient's upper and lower jaws while swiveling at its ends to allow the patient to move his jaws in order to talk, to chew, and to cleanse both rows of teeth.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-11-23	1991-05-25	1991-11-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-11-23	1995-05-25	1995-11-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-11-23	1999-05-25	1999-11-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Orthodontic device for correcting the bite

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