Patent US4986751A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4986751A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Infant guidance pacifier appliance
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-05-30
•
Granted: 1991-01-22
•
Expires: 2009-05-30
Abstract
Abstract An orthodontic appliance is provided to prevent overbite or overjet from developing in a child. The appliance is U-shaped in plan view and has tooth receiving troughs for the upper and lower teeth to correctly position the jaws antero-posteriorly. Uses of the appliance preferably should begin when the child is in the age range of 12 to 18 months, before all of the deciduous teeth have erupted so that improper development of the jaw can be avoided. The appliance has a non-working portion being a shield and handle portion to cause the appliance to have the appearance of a pacifier as well as to prevent the child from gagging on the appliance and to assist in the proper positioning of the appliance by the child.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl O. Bergersen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/08; A61J; A61J17/00; A61J17/10; A61J17/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An orthodontic appliance of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and which includes a pair of oppositely directed tooth receiving troughs for the upper and lower rows of a patient's teeth, said troughs being formed between a labial buccal flange and lingual flange and terminating substantially at a distal side of the patient's canine teeth, and further including a manual grasping portion to be exposed on the exterior of the patient's mouth with a connecting portion passing between the patient's lips to secure the grasping portion to the U-shaped portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An orthodontic appliance of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and which includes a pair of oppositely directed tooth receiving troughs for the upper and lower rows of a patient's teeth, said troughs being formed between a labial buccal flange and lingual flange and terminating substantially at a distal side of the patient's canine teeth, and further including a manual grasping portion to be exposed on the exterior of the patient's mouth with a connecting portion passing between the patient's lips to secure the grasping portion to the U-shaped portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, wherein said manual grasping portion comprises a shield for overlying an anterior side of the patient's lips.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An orthodontic appliance according to claim 2, wherein said manual grasping member further comprises a handle portion attached to an anterior side of said shield member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is to be worn by a child in the age range of about 12 months to 20 months, and said troughs extend rearwardly at least to a distal side of the child's canines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An orthodontic appliance according to claim 1, wherein said troughs are smooth and are without surface deviators.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of positioning the jaws of a young child comprising the steps: providing an orthodontic positioner of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and includes a tooth receiving trough in a top and bottom thereof, said providing step comprising selecting a preformed positioner having rear terminal edges extending at least to the distal sides of the erupted deciduous teeth of the child, applying the positioner for use by the child at a deciduous dentition stage of development beginning when the child is at an age range of about 12-18 months, before all of the deciduous teeth have erupted, wherein at least some deciduous teeth have erupted, by applying said selected preformed positioner to the child's teeth, such use continuing for at least a portion of the time from the initial application of the positioner to the time that the jaws are properly positioned antero-posteriorly.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of positioning the jaws of a young child comprising the steps: providing an orthodontic positioner of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and includes a tooth receiving trough in a top and bottom thereof, said providing step comprising selecting a preformed positioner having rear terminal edges extending at least to the distal sides of the erupted deciduous teeth of the child, applying the positioner for use by the child at a deciduous dentition stage of development beginning when the child is at an age range of about 12-18 months, before all of the deciduous teeth have erupted, wherein at least some deciduous teeth have erupted, by applying said selected preformed positioner to the child's teeth, such use continuing for at least a portion of the time from the initial application of the positioner to the time that the jaws are properly positioned antero-posteriorly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said providing and applying steps are repeated a plurality of times as additional deciduous teeth erupt so that increasingly larger appliances are provided and applied.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein each appliance provided and applied has a pair of distal ends which extend distally of the most posterior erupted deciduous teeth.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of positioning the jaws of a young child comprising the following steps: providing an orthodontic positioner of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and includes a tooth receiving trough in a top and bottom thereof, said providing step comprising selecting a preformed positioner having rear terminal edges extending at least to the distal sides of the erupted deciduous teeth of the child; applying the positioner for use by the child, when the child is at an age range of about 12 to 18 months, and before all of the child's deciduous teeth have erupted, by applying said selected preformed positioner to the child's teeth, such use continuing for at least a portion of the time from the initial application of the positioner to the time that the jaws are properly positioned antero-posteriorly.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of positioning the jaws of a young child comprising the following steps: providing an orthodontic positioner of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and includes a tooth receiving trough in a top and bottom thereof, said providing step comprising selecting a preformed positioner having rear terminal edges extending at least to the distal sides of the erupted deciduous teeth of the child; applying the positioner for use by the child, when the child is at an age range of about 12 to 18 months, and before all of the child's deciduous teeth have erupted, by applying said selected preformed positioner to the child's teeth, such use continuing for at least a portion of the time from the initial application of the positioner to the time that the jaws are properly positioned antero-posteriorly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
An orthodontic appliance of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and which includes a pair of oppositely directed tooth receiving troughs for the upper and lower rows of a patient's teeth, said troughs being formed between a labial buccal flange and a lingual flange and terminating substantially at a proximal side of the patient's first deciduous molars, and further including a manual grasping portion to be exposed on the exterior of the patient's mouth with a connecting portion passing between the patient's lips to secure the grasping portion to the U-shaped portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
An orthodontic appliance of the type which is generally U-shaped in plan view and which includes a pair of oppositely directed tooth receiving troughs for the upper and lower rows of a patient's teeth, said troughs being formed between a labial buccal flange and a lingual flange and terminating substantially at a proximal side of the patient's first deciduous molars, and further including a manual grasping portion to be exposed on the exterior of the patient's mouth with a connecting portion passing between the patient's lips to secure the grasping portion to the U-shaped portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
An orthodontic jaw positioning device according to claim 10, wherein said manual grasping portion comprises a shield member for overlying an anterior side of a patient's lips and said connecting portion is positioned on said working portion to extend between the patient's lips.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An orthodontic jaw positioning device according to claim 10, wherein said manual grasping portion further comprises a handle portion attached to an anterior side of said shield member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An orthodontic jaw positioning device according to claim 10, wherein said troughs are smooth and are without surface deviations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE857129C
Cited
US4139944A
Cited
US4304227A
Cited
US4495945A
Cited
DE3247074A1
Cited
DE8315554U1
Cited
US4580975A
Cited
US4690640A
Cited
FR2595046A1
Cited
EP0293682A1
Cited
US4830612A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-01-21 | 1994-07-23 | 1995-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-21 | 1998-07-23 | 1999-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-21 | 2002-07-23 | 2003-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |