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US4725229A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Orthodontic bracket

Assignee: Ormco Corp
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Filing: 1986-06-18
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Granted: 1988-02-16
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Expires: 2006-06-18
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Abstract

Abstract An orthodontic bracket in which the archwire is locked in place by a resilient locking loop member which snaps into and out of engagement over the bracket. The locking loop member is a nickel-titanium wire of high resilience and shape memory which not only locks in the archwire but imparts force against it as a function of the shape memory of the locking loop member.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frank R. Miller

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 21:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C2201/00; A61C2201/007

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 137 words
An orthodontic bracket including: a body defining an archwire slot and including a hook on said body on one side of said body along said archwire slot, said hook having an outer surface and an inner surface, a resilient locking loop member mounted to said body on the portion thereof opposite said hook for movement between open and closed positions over said archwire slot, said locking loop member adapted to slide over the outer surface of said hook so as to resiliently snap over said hook and be pulled against said inner surface of said hook to its closed position, said locking loop member being of a super-elastic and shape-memory material whereby it is deformable to snap into and out of its closed position and imparts force on an archwire when in its closed position relative thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 137 words
An orthodontic bracket including: a body defining an archwire slot and including a hook on said body on one side of said body along said archwire slot, said hook having an outer surface and an inner surface, a resilient locking loop member mounted to said body on the portion thereof opposite said hook for movement between open and closed positions over said archwire slot, said locking loop member adapted to slide over the outer surface of said hook so as to resiliently snap over said hook and be pulled against said inner surface of said hook to its closed position, said locking loop member being of a super-elastic and shape-memory material whereby it is deformable to snap into and out of its closed position and imparts force on an archwire when in its closed position relative thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 17 words
An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1 in which said locking loop is of nickel-titanium alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1 further including a tubular member surrounding the free portion of said locking loop for locking engagement with said hook.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1 in which said locking loop member is pivotally mounted to said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
An orthodontic bracket as defined in claim 1 in which said locking loop member is mounted to said body by means of a deformable lip on said body which is crimped over said locking loop.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2548864A Cited
US4037324A Cited
US4443190A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-02-15 1991-08-17 1992-02-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-02-15 1995-08-17 1996-02-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-02-15 1999-08-17 2000-02-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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