US5044945A — Slot for orthodontic brackets and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 85 words

An orthodontic bracket, comprising: a body having a slot defined by sidewalls and a base formed in said body for receiving an orthodontic wire; and means for reducing frictional and binding contact between said slot and the orthodontic wire, wherein said means for reducing includes a protrusion formed on said base between said sidewalls, said protrusion being spaced from said sidewalls and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls, and further comprises curving surfaces adjacent to said sidewalls with a planar top surface therebetween.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 85 words

An orthodontic bracket, comprising: a body having a slot defined by sidewalls and a base formed in said body for receiving an orthodontic wire; and means for reducing frictional and binding contact between said slot and the orthodontic wire, wherein said means for reducing includes a protrusion formed on said base between said sidewalls, said protrusion being spaced from said sidewalls and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls, and further comprises curving surfaces adjacent to said sidewalls with a planar top surface therebetween.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 88 words

An orthodontic appliance, comprising: an orthodontic wire; a bracket having a slot defined by sidewalls and a base formed in said bracket for receiving said wire; and a protrusion in said base for reducing frictional and binding contact between said slot and said wire, said protrusion being spaced from said sidewalls and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls and wherein said protrusion substantially continuously contacts said orthodontic wire along substantially the entire length of that portion of said orthodontic wire that is positioned in said slot.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 88 words

An orthodontic appliance, comprising: an orthodontic wire; a bracket having a slot defined by sidewalls and a base formed in said bracket for receiving said wire; and a protrusion in said base for reducing frictional and binding contact between said slot and said wire, said protrusion being spaced from said sidewalls and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls and wherein said protrusion substantially continuously contacts said orthodontic wire along substantially the entire length of that portion of said orthodontic wire that is positioned in said slot.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The bracket of claim 2, wherein said protrusion comprises: a continuously curving surface adjacent to said base and said sidewalls.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The bracket of claim 2, wherein said protrusion comprises: curving surfaces adjacent to said sidewalls with a planar top surface therebetween.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

An improved orthodontic bracket slot, comprising: first and second oppositely facing sidewalls; a base interconnecting said first and second sidewalls, said base having an axial length; and a protrusion between said sidewalls provided on at least a portion of said axial length of said base, wherein a continuously curving surface is formed by said sidewalls, said base and said protrusion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 60 words

An improved orthodontic bracket slot, comprising: first and second oppositely facing sidewalls; a base interconnecting said first and second sidewalls, said base having an axial length; and a protrusion between said sidewalls provided on at least a portion of said axial length of said base, wherein a continuously curving surface is formed by said sidewalls, said base and said protrusion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 14 words

The slot of claim 5, wherein said continuously curving surface comprises: a uniform wave.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 11 words

The slot of claim. 5, wherein said protrusion comprises: a semicircle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 11 words

The slot of claim 5, wherein said protrusion comprises: a hyperbola.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 11 words

The slot of claim 5, wherein said protrusion comprises: a parabola.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 11 words

The slot of claim 5, wherein said protrusion comprises: an ellipse.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

The slot of claim 5, wherein said protrusion further comprises: curved undercuts adjacent said base and each of said oppositely facing sidewalls.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 43 words

An improved orthodontic bracket, wherein the improvement comprises: a slot having sidewalls and a base which merge to form a continuously curving surface; and a raised portion along said base of said slot merging with said continuously curving surface to form a wave.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

An improved orthodontic bracket, wherein the improvement comprises: a slot having sidewalls and a base which merge to form a continuously curving surface; and a raised portion along said base of said slot merging with said continuously curving surface to form a wave.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 12 words

The bracket of claim 12, wherein said raised portion comprises: a semicircle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 68 words

The bracket of claim 12, wherein said wave comprises: a first curve having a first radius; a second curve having a second and opposite radius, wherein a tangent from said first curve merges with a tangent from said second curve; and a third curve having a third radius equal to said first radius, wherein a tangent from said second curve merges with a tangent from said third curve.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 84 words

A method for reducing friction between an orthodontic bracket and an arch wire, comprising the steps of: forming a slot adjacent to sidewalls of the bracket to receive th arch wire; and forming a protrusion on a base defining said slot, said protrusion being spaced from said sidewalls and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls, in order to allow the wire to rest upon said protrusion when placed in said slot, wherein frictional contact between the bracket and the wire is reduced.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 84 words

A method for reducing friction between an orthodontic bracket and an arch wire, comprising the steps of: forming a slot adjacent to sidewalls of the bracket to receive th arch wire; and forming a protrusion on a base defining said slot, said protrusion being spaced from said sidewalls and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls, in order to allow the wire to rest upon said protrusion when placed in said slot, wherein frictional contact between the bracket and the wire is reduced.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the step of forming a protrusion comprises: merging a tangent of said protrusion with equal but opposite tangents from curves formed by said base and said sidewalls of said slot.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: accurately merging said sidewalls with said base and said protrusion with said base.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: undercutting said sidewalls adjacent said base.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for reducing binding and frictional contact between an orthodontic wire and a bracket slot, comprising the steps of: forming a protrusion on a base of the slot, said protrusion spaced from side walls of the slot and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls; and positioning the wire in the slot in order that said protrusion substantially continuously contacts the wire along substantially the entire length of that portion of the orthodontic wire that is positioned in the slot, wherein contact between the wire and the slot is lessened thereby reducing binding and friction therebetween.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 98 words

A method for reducing binding and frictional contact between an orthodontic wire and a bracket slot, comprising the steps of: forming a protrusion on a base of the slot, said protrusion spaced from side walls of the slot and ending before said base merges with said sidewalls; and positioning the wire in the slot in order that said protrusion substantially continuously contacts the wire along substantially the entire length of that portion of the orthodontic wire that is positioned in the slot, wherein contact between the wire and the slot is lessened thereby reducing binding and friction therebetween.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-09-02	1995-03-04	1995-09-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-09-02	1999-03-04	1999-09-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-09-02	2003-03-04	2003-09-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Slot for orthodontic brackets and method

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