Patent US4959014A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4959014A
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US
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Dental space measuring instrument
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-05-30
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Granted: 1990-09-25
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Expires: 2009-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A dental space measuring instrument for insertion in interdental or interproximal spaces between teeth in both the upper and lower dental arches to determine the width of such spaces for orthodontic treatment. The dental space measuring instrument is characterized by a centrally located handle provided with outwardly extending, graduated cylinders which define elongated, calibrated tips for insertion in the interdental spaces. The calibrated tips may be extended in a straight line from the handle or one or more cylinders in one or both of the calibrated tips may be angulated, and the diameter of each cylinder is indicated on the handle for size-identification purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 John J. Sheridan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A dental space measuring instrument for measuring the spacing between teeth, comprising handle means and at least one first straight portion extending from said handle means and an angulated portion extending from said first straight portion in angular relationship, said first straight portion and said angulated portion further defined by a first plurality of graduated measuring means adapted for insertion between the teeth and measuring the spacing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A dental space measuring instrument for measuring the spacing between teeth, comprising handle means and at least one first straight portion extending from said handle means and an angulated portion extending from said first straight portion in angular relationship, said first straight portion and said angulated portion further defined by a first plurality of graduated measuring means adapted for insertion between the teeth and measuring the spacing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The dental measuring instrument of claim 1 further comprising a second straight portion extending from said handle means, said second straight portion defined by a second plurality of graduated measuring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The dental space measuring instrument of claim 2 wherein said second plurality of graduated measuring means further comprises a second plurality of graduated cylinders, with the largest of said second plurality of graduated cylinders extending from one end of said handle means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The dental space measuring instrument of claim 2 wherein: (a) said first plurality of said graduated measuring means further comprises a first plurality of graduated cylinders, with the largest of said first plurality of graduated cylinders extending from one end of said handle means; and (b) said second plurality of said graduated measuring means further comprises a second plurality of graduated cylinders, with the largest of said second plurality of graduated cylinders extending from the opposite end of said handle means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The dental space measuring instrument of claim 2 further comprising an angulated portion extending from said second straight portion in angular relationship, respectively, said second straight portion and said angulated portion further defined by a second plurality of said graduated measuring means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The dental space measuring instrument of claim 5 wherein said plurality of said graduated measuring means further comprises a plurality of graduated cylinders, with the largest of said graduated cylinders extending from said one end and said opposite end of said handle means, respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dental space measuring instrument of claim 2 further comprising measuring indicia provided on said handle means for indicating the size of said graduated measuring means, respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
The dental space measuring instrument of claim 7 wherein: (a) said first plurality of said graduated measuring means further comprises a first plurality of graduated cylinders, with the largest of said first plurality of graduated cylinders extending from one end of said handle means; (b) said second plurality of said graduated measuring means further comprises a second plurality of graduated cylinders, with the largest of said second plurality of graduated cylinders extending from the opposite end of said handle means; and (c) said measuring indicia corresponds to the diameter of said first plurality of graduated cylinders and said second plurality of graduated cylinders, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The dental space measuring instrument of claim 1 wherein said first plurality of graduated measuring means further comprises a first plurality of graduated cylinders, with the largest of said first plurality of graduated cylinders extending from said one end of said handle means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
An instrument for measuring the interproximal space between teeth, comprising a handle, a first plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from one end of said handle and a second plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from the opposite end of said handle, whereby said first plurality of graduated cylinders and said second plurality of graduated cylinders are selectively inserted in the interproximal space for measuring the width of the interproximal space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
An instrument for measuring the interproximal space between teeth, comprising a handle, a first plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from one end of said handle and a second plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from the opposite end of said handle, whereby said first plurality of graduated cylinders and said second plurality of graduated cylinders are selectively inserted in the interproximal space for measuring the width of the interproximal space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 10 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of graduated cylinders are angulated with respect to the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument of claim 10 wherein said second plurality of graduated cylinders project from said opposite end of said handle substantially in the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument of claim 10 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of graduated cylinders are angulated with respect to the longitudinal plane of said handle and said second plurality of graduated cylinders project from said opposite end of said handle substantially in the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The instrument of claim 10 further comprising first numerical indicia provided on said handle for indicating the diameter of said first plurality of graduated cylinders and second numerical indicia provided on said handle for indicating the diameter of said second plurality of graduated cylinders.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument of claim 14 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of graduated cylinders are angulated with respect to the longitudinal plane of said handle and said second plurality of graduated cylinders project from said opposite end of said handle substantially in the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
An instrument for measuring interdental spaces, comprising an elongated handle, a first plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from one end of said handle, with the largest one of said first plurality of graduated cylinders extending from said one end of said handle and a second plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from the opposite end of said handle, with the largest one of said second plurality of graduated cylinders extending from said opposite end of said handle, whereby said first plurality of graduated cylinders and said second plurality of graduated cylinders are selectively inserted in the interdental spaces for measuring the width of the interdental spaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
An instrument for measuring interdental spaces, comprising an elongated handle, a first plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from one end of said handle, with the largest one of said first plurality of graduated cylinders extending from said one end of said handle and a second plurality of graduated cylinders projecting from the opposite end of said handle, with the largest one of said second plurality of graduated cylinders extending from said opposite end of said handle, whereby said first plurality of graduated cylinders and said second plurality of graduated cylinders are selectively inserted in the interdental spaces for measuring the width of the interdental spaces.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 16 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of graduated cylinders are angulated with respect to the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument of claim 16 wherein said second plurality of graduated cylinders project from said opposite end of said handle substantially in the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument of claim 16 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of graduated cylinders are angulated with respect to the longitudinal plane of said handle and said second plurality of graduated cylinders project from said opposite end of said handle substantially in the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The instrument of claim 16 further comprising first numerical indicia provided on said handle for indicating the diameter of said first plurality of graduated cylinders and second numerical indicia provided on said handle for indicating the diameter of said second plurality of graduated cylinders.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 20 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of graduated cylinders are angulated with respect to the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 20 wherein second plurality of graduated cylinders project from said opposite end of said handle substantially in the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument of claim 20 wherein selected ones of said first plurality of graduated cylinders are angulated with respect to the longitudinal plane of said handle and said second plurality of graduated cylinders project from said opposite end of said handle substantially in the longitudinal plane of said handle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The instrument of claim 23 further comprising arrow indicia provided on said handle for indicating which of said numerical indicia is applicable to said first plurality of graduated cylinders and said second plurality of graduated cylinders, respectively.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4473952A
Cited
US4624639A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-24 | 1994-03-26 | 1994-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-24 | 1998-03-26 | 1998-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-24 | 2002-03-26 | 2002-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |