US5350059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental dispensing system
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1993-02-02
•
Granted: 1994-09-27
•
Expires: 2013-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing system for dental appliances such as orthodontic brackets includes a plurality of containers releasably connected to a carrier strip. The carrier strip is received in channels of an organizer tray that hold the carrier strip in place as individual containers are detached from the carrier strip. Individual containers, each containing a dental appliance, are selected and removed from the organizer tray for placement in a patient setup tray that is then carried to the patient's chair.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce E. Chester
- 👤 James D. Cleary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C19/02; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A dental dispensing system comprising: a plurality of dental appliances; a plurality of containers each receiving a respective one of said dental appliances; a carrier strip; means for releasably connecting each of said containers to said carrier strip; an organizer tray; and structure releasably securing said carrier strip to said organizer tray such that said carrier strip is retained by said tray as one or more of said containers are released from said carrier strip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A dental dispensing system comprising: a plurality of dental appliances; a plurality of containers each receiving a respective one of said dental appliances; a carrier strip; means for releasably connecting each of said containers to said carrier strip; an organizer tray; and structure releasably securing said carrier strip to said organizer tray such that said carrier strip is retained by said tray as one or more of said containers are released from said carrier strip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said tray includes opposed channels for slidably receiving said carrier strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said tray includes a bottom wall, a front wall and a pair of opposed channels extending over said bottom wall and perpendicularly away from said front wall, said tray including a slot located between said front wall and said bottom wall and extending between said channels for removal of said carrier strip once said containers have been released from said carrier strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably connecting each of said containers to said carrier strip comprises an adhesive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said adhesive is part of a double sided adhesive tape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said containers includes a cover having a tab, and wherein said means for releasably connecting each of said containers to said carrier strip releasably connects said tab to said carrier strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said containers are connected to said carrier strip along a row.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 8 wherein certain of said containers are in contact with the next adjacent container along said row.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 including a cabinet having a drawer, and wherein said organizer tray is received in said drawer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said tray is removably received in said drawer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said drawer includes a shoulder for contact with said organizer tray to facilitate retention of said organizer tray in said drawer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said organizer tray has ten aligned, side-by-side pairs of opposed channels for slidably receiving said carrier strips, said ten pairs of channels corresponding with ten respective, expected locations of use of said dental appliances in one arch of the mouth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
A dental dispensing system comprising: a plurality of dental appliances; a plurality of containers each having a side wall and a bottom defining a well, said well of each of said containers receiving a respective one of said dental appliances, each of said containers including a cover removably covering its well, each of said containers having a generally flat configuration; a carrier strip; and means for detachably connecting each of said containers to said carrier strip such that said containers abut each other and are oriented in a stacked array with each of said containers extending in an upward direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A dental dispensing system comprising: a plurality of dental appliances; a plurality of containers each having a side wall and a bottom defining a well, said well of each of said containers receiving a respective one of said dental appliances, each of said containers including a cover removably covering its well, each of said containers having a generally flat configuration; a carrier strip; and means for detachably connecting each of said containers to said carrier strip such that said containers abut each other and are oriented in a stacked array with each of said containers extending in an upward direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said cover of each of said containers includes a tab that extends away from said well for gripping said cover and releasably engages said carrier strip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
114 words
A dental dispensing system comprising: a plurality of dental appliances; a plurality of containers each having a sidewall and a bottom defining a well, each of said containers including a cover extending across said well, said cover including an outwardly projecting tab for opening the cover for access to said well, each well receiving a respective one of said dental appliances; a carrier strip; and a quantity of adhesive detachably connecting said tab of each of said containers to said carrier strip in order to releasably retain each container on said carrier strip, said containers abutting each other and oriented in a stacked array with each of said containers extending in an upward direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
114 words
A dental dispensing system comprising: a plurality of dental appliances; a plurality of containers each having a sidewall and a bottom defining a well, each of said containers including a cover extending across said well, said cover including an outwardly projecting tab for opening the cover for access to said well, each well receiving a respective one of said dental appliances; a carrier strip; and a quantity of adhesive detachably connecting said tab of each of said containers to said carrier strip in order to releasably retain each container on said carrier strip, said containers abutting each other and oriented in a stacked array with each of said containers extending in an upward direction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said quantity of adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said quantity of adhesive is part of a double sided pressure sensitive adhesive tape located on said carrier strip.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 16 wherein said carrier strip has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said containers are located in a row along said longitudinal axis.
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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) | 1997-09-26 | 1998-03-28 | 1998-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-26 | 2002-03-28 | 2002-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-26 | 2006-03-28 | 2006-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |