Patent US5402481A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5064373A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5064373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plug forming removable closure in openings of dental appliances and the like
Assignee: Implant Direct Sybron International LLC
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Filing: 1989-10-31
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Granted: 1991-11-12
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Expires: 2009-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A plug and method of its use are disclosed for forming a removable closure in openings of dental appliances or other physiological appliances, the plug including an elongated shaft portion having a diameter mating with the opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged by up to about 5%, more preferably about 1-5% and most preferably about 1-2% relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus having a radial thickness of up to about 20% and more preferably about 11% of the diameter of the enlarged plug end, the enlarged plug and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material, preferably a resilient elastomer, to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged plug end in the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place. Preferably, the enlarged plug portion and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a material permitting the shaft portion to be terminated relative to and preferably flush with the outer end of the opening.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter E. Staubli
- 👤 Edgar K. Staubli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C13/00; A61C13/225; A61C13/273; A61C8/00; A61C8/0048
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A plug for use with dental appliances, the plug being adapted for rapid installation to form a removable closure in occlusal/lingual openings of dental appliances such as artificial teeth or dentures, the occlusal/lingual opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner or gingival end and an outer or occlusal/lingual end, the plug comprising an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mate with the diameter of the occlusal/lingual opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the gingival plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to develop a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged gingival plug end with the occlusal/lingual opening in order to retain the plug firmly in place within the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A plug for use with dental appliances, the plug being adapted for rapid installation to form a removable closure in occlusal/lingual openings of dental appliances such as artificial teeth or dentures, the occlusal/lingual opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner or gingival end and an outer or occlusal/lingual end, the plug comprising an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mate with the diameter of the occlusal/lingual opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the gingival plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to develop a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged gingival plug end with the occlusal/lingual opening in order to retain the plug firmly in place within the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The plug of claim 1 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the occlusal/lingual opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer or occlusal/lingual end of the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The plug of claim 2 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The plug of claim 1 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The plug of claim 4 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is up to about 5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The plug of claim 5 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is in the range of about 1-5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The plug of claim 5 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is in the range of about 1-2% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The plug of claim 7 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The plug of claim 8 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 11% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The plug of claim 5 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The plug of claim 1 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The plug of claim 11 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 11% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of rapidly forming a removable closure for an occlusal/lingual opening in a dental appliance such as an artificial tooth or denture, the occlusal/lingual opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner or gingival end and an outer or occlusal/lingual end, comprising the steps of forming a plug to include an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mate with the diameter of the occlusal/lingual opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the gingival plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged gingival plug end with the occlusal/lingual opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the occlusal/lingual opening, inserting the plug into the occlusal/lingual opening, and terminating the elongated shaft relative to the outer or occlusal/lingual end of the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of rapidly forming a removable closure for an occlusal/lingual opening in a dental appliance such as an artificial tooth or denture, the occlusal/lingual opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner or gingival end and an outer or occlusal/lingual end, comprising the steps of forming a plug to include an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mate with the diameter of the occlusal/lingual opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged gingival plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the gingival plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged gingival plug end with the occlusal/lingual opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the occlusal/lingual opening, inserting the plug into the occlusal/lingual opening, and terminating the elongated shaft relative to the outer or occlusal/lingual end of the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the occlusal/lingual opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer or occlusal/lingual end of the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the occlusal/lingual opening.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is in the range of about 1-5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged gingival plug end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
162 words
A plug for use with dental appliances, the plug being adapted for rapid installation to form a removable closure in openings of physiological appliances, the openings having substantially uniform diameter with an inner end and an outer end, the plug comprising an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mater with the diameter of the appliance opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged inner plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the inner plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged inner plug end with the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the appliance opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
162 words
A plug for use with dental appliances, the plug being adapted for rapid installation to form a removable closure in openings of physiological appliances, the openings having substantially uniform diameter with an inner end and an outer end, the plug comprising an elongated shaft portion having a diameter selected to mater with the diameter of the appliance opening, and an inner or gingival end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged inner plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the inner plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged inner plug end with the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the appliance opening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The plug of claim 18 wherein the enlarged inner plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the appliance opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer end of the appliance opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The plug of claim 19 wherein the enlarged inner plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the appliance opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the appliance opening.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The plug of claim 20 wherein the enlarged inner plug end is up to about 5% diametrically larger than the elongated shaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The plug of claim 21 wherein the annulus has a radial thickness of up to about 20% of the diameter of the enlarged inner plug end.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of rapidly forming a removable closure for an appliance opening in physiological appliances, the appliance opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner end and an outer end, comprising the steps of forming a plug to include an elongated shaft portion having a diameter mating with the diameter of the appliance opening, and an inner end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged inner plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the inner plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged plug end with the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the appliance opening, inserting the plug into the appliance opening, and terminating the elongated shaft relative to the outer end of the appliance opening.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of rapidly forming a removable closure for an appliance opening in physiological appliances, the appliance opening having a substantially uniform diameter with an inner end and an outer end, comprising the steps of forming a plug to include an elongated shaft portion having a diameter mating with the diameter of the appliance opening, and an inner end of the plug which is enlarged relative to the elongated shaft portion, the enlarged inner plug end being an annulus with an axial opening extending within the plug to a junction of the inner or gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion, the shaft portion being solid, the relative enlargement of the inner plug end and the thickness of the annulus being selected together with the shaft material to produce a cork type or press-fit engagement of the enlarged plug end with the appliance opening to retain the plug firmly in place within the appliance opening, inserting the plug into the appliance opening, and terminating the elongated shaft relative to the outer end of the appliance opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end and the elongated shaft portion of the plug are integrally formed from a resilient elastomeric material contributing to the cork type or press-fit engagement of the plug within the opening while also permitting the elongated shaft portion to be terminated relative to the outer end of the opening.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the enlarged gingival plug end is substantially shorter than the length of the occlusal/lingual opening to ensure engagement of a portion of the elongated shaft with the opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-11 | 1995-05-13 | 1995-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-11 | 1999-05-13 | 1999-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-11 | 2003-05-13 | 2003-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |