US5498157A — Dental color mixture indicator device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 204 words

A set of dental color mixture indicator devices comprising a plurality of component indicator devices, each said component indicator device having a plurality of color samples located in an array and arranged about a central one of the color samples with each sample spaced apart from samples adjacent thereto, the colors of said samples being representative of colors of a predetermined color system having a co-ordinate system aligned with said array wherein the color of each of said samples corresponds to the color of the corresponding location in said co-ordinate system, the colors of the samples of each said component device being located on a plane of said co-ordinate system and the plane corresponding to each device being substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the planes of the other ones of said component devices and such that the central color samples of adjacent planes are offset with respect to the co-ordinate system, and whereby, in use of the said set, a patient's tooth can be compared against any one of said component devices and a desired dental color intermediate a selected pair of said color samples can be mixed for fabrication by a mixture of the coloring materials used to fabricate said selected pair.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 204 words

A set of dental color mixture indicator devices comprising a plurality of component indicator devices, each said component indicator device having a plurality of color samples located in an array and arranged about a central one of the color samples with each sample spaced apart from samples adjacent thereto, the colors of said samples being representative of colors of a predetermined color system having a co-ordinate system aligned with said array wherein the color of each of said samples corresponds to the color of the corresponding location in said co-ordinate system, the colors of the samples of each said component device being located on a plane of said co-ordinate system and the plane corresponding to each device being substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the planes of the other ones of said component devices and such that the central color samples of adjacent planes are offset with respect to the co-ordinate system, and whereby, in use of the said set, a patient's tooth can be compared against any one of said component devices and a desired dental color intermediate a selected pair of said color samples can be mixed for fabrication by a mixture of the coloring materials used to fabricate said selected pair.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 65 words

A set of dental color mixture indicator devices as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of blades each having a first end and a second end, the color samples of at least one of the component indicator devices in the said set being fixed to said first ends of said blades, and means providing a common connection at the second ends of the blades.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

A set of dental color mixture indicator devices as claimed in claim 2, wherein the common connection is formed by a base.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

A set of dental color mixture indicator devices as claimed in claim 2, wherein the common connection is formed by a pivoting fastener so that the blades are arranged in the shape of a fan.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

A set of dental color mixture indicator devices as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first number between one and three inclusive of color samples are arranged on each of a second number between one and three inclusive of blades forming each component indicator device in the said set.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

A set of dental color mixture indicator devices as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are at least three color samples per component indicator device and four said component devices in the said set.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 43 words

A set of dental color mixture devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said co-ordinate system is the CIELAB system, and the said offset is approximately 3 degrees in hue towards red for each adjacent plane in a direction of decreasing luminance.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 89 words

In combination with the set of dental color mixture indicator devices of claim 1, a worksheet for assisting in the prescription of artificial tooth material from which artificial teeth can be fabricated, the worksheet displaying a plurality of grids for each plane for noting the resulting proportional combination of adjacent vertical color samples and adjacent horizontal samples on the worksheet, whereby the worksheet provides a reference from which artificial tooth material can be mixed to achieve the desired matching tooth color for a tooth to be replaced or restored.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 200 words

A dental color mixture indicator device comprising a plurality of component devices, each of said component devices having a plurality of color samples located in an array and arranged about a central one of the color samples with each sample spaced apart from samples adjacent thereto, the colors of said samples being representative of colors of a predetermined color system having a co-ordinate system aligned with said array wherein the color of each of said samples corresponds to the color of the corresponding location in said co-ordinate system, the colors of the samples of each said device being located on a plane of said co-ordinate system and the plane corresponding to each device being substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the planes of the other ones of the component devices and such that the central color samples of adjacent planes are offset with respect to the co-ordinate system, and whereby, in use of the indicator device, a patient's tooth can be compared against any one of said component devices and a desired dental color intermediate a selected pair of said color samples can be mixed for fabrication by a mixture of the coloring materials used to fabricate said selected pair.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 200 words

A dental color mixture indicator device comprising a plurality of component devices, each of said component devices having a plurality of color samples located in an array and arranged about a central one of the color samples with each sample spaced apart from samples adjacent thereto, the colors of said samples being representative of colors of a predetermined color system having a co-ordinate system aligned with said array wherein the color of each of said samples corresponds to the color of the corresponding location in said co-ordinate system, the colors of the samples of each said device being located on a plane of said co-ordinate system and the plane corresponding to each device being substantially parallel to, and spaced from, the planes of the other ones of the component devices and such that the central color samples of adjacent planes are offset with respect to the co-ordinate system, and whereby, in use of the indicator device, a patient's tooth can be compared against any one of said component devices and a desired dental color intermediate a selected pair of said color samples can be mixed for fabrication by a mixture of the coloring materials used to fabricate said selected pair.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 51 words

A dental color mixture indicator device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the color samples of each component device are fixed to an end of a blade and the other end of each blade of each component device is connected to a common base of the dental color mixture indicator device.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

A dental color mixture indicator device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a first number between one and three inclusive of color samples are arranged on each of a second number between one and three inclusive of blades forming each component device.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

A dental color mixture indicator device as claimed in claim 10, wherein there are at least three color samples per component device and four said component devices comprise the dental color mixture indicator device.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 42 words

A dental color mixture indicator device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the said co-ordinate system is the CIELAB system, and the said offset is approximately 3 degrees in hue towards red for each adjacent plane in a direction of decreasing luminance.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 195 words

A method of selecting a dental color from an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system, said body having a longitudinal axis, and said method comprising the steps of: notionally cutting said body at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations arranged about a central location; selecting a plurality of color samples for each cut, each of said color samples corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid of said cut, the central one of the color samples for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts; and selecting a desired shade of said dental color by firstly selecting one of said cuts, and secondly selecting the desired shade to be either one of said selected color samples for the selected cut or a color mixture of at least two adjacent ones of said selected color samples for the selected cut.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 195 words

A method of selecting a dental color from an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system, said body having a longitudinal axis, and said method comprising the steps of: notionally cutting said body at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations arranged about a central location; selecting a plurality of color samples for each cut, each of said color samples corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid of said cut, the central one of the color samples for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts; and selecting a desired shade of said dental color by firstly selecting one of said cuts, and secondly selecting the desired shade to be either one of said selected color samples for the selected cut or a color mixture of at least two adjacent ones of said selected color samples for the selected cut.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the said co-ordinate system is the CIELAB system, and the said offset approximately 3 degrees in hue towards red for each adjacent cut in a direction of decreasing luminance.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 159 words

A method of enabling selection of a dental color from an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system, said body having a longitudinal axis, and said method comprising the steps of: notionally cutting said body at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations arranged about a central location; and selecting a plurality of color samples for each cut, each of said color samples corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the color samples for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts so as to enable the subsequent selection of a desired shade of said dental color.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 159 words

A method of enabling selection of a dental color from an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system, said body having a longitudinal axis, and said method comprising the steps of: notionally cutting said body at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations arranged about a central location; and selecting a plurality of color samples for each cut, each of said color samples corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the color samples for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts so as to enable the subsequent selection of a desired shade of said dental color.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 195 words

A set of dental color materials from which artificial tooth material can be fabricated from either one of said dental color materials or a color mixture of at least two of said dental color materials, said set of dental color materials enabling substantially all the range of naturally occurring tooth colors to be fabricated, said set of dental color materials prepared by a process comprising the steps of: notionally cutting an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system and having a longitudinal axis at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations including a central location; and selecting a plurality of colors of said set of dental color materials for each cut, each of said colors corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the colors for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 195 words

A set of dental color materials from which artificial tooth material can be fabricated from either one of said dental color materials or a color mixture of at least two of said dental color materials, said set of dental color materials enabling substantially all the range of naturally occurring tooth colors to be fabricated, said set of dental color materials prepared by a process comprising the steps of: notionally cutting an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system and having a longitudinal axis at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations including a central location; and selecting a plurality of colors of said set of dental color materials for each cut, each of said colors corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the colors for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 41 words

A set of dental color materials as claimed in claim 17, wherein the said co-ordinate system is the CIELAB system, and the offset is approximately 3 degrees in hue towards red for each adjacent cut in a direction of decreasing luminance.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 24 words

A set of dental color materials as claimed in claim 18, wherein there are four cuts spaced apart by approximately five units of luminance.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 178 words

An artificial tooth fabricated from at least one dental color material of a set of dental color materials, said set of dental color materials enabling substantially all the range of naturally occurring tooth colors to be fabricated, said set of dental color materials prepared by a process comprising the steps of: notionally cutting an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system and having a longitudinal axis at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations including a central location; and selecting a plurality of colors of said set of dental color materials for each cut, each of said colors corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the colors for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 178 words

An artificial tooth fabricated from at least one dental color material of a set of dental color materials, said set of dental color materials enabling substantially all the range of naturally occurring tooth colors to be fabricated, said set of dental color materials prepared by a process comprising the steps of: notionally cutting an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system and having a longitudinal axis at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations including a central location; and selecting a plurality of colors of said set of dental color materials for each cut, each of said colors corresponding to a color lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the colors for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

An artificial tooth as claimed in claim 20, wherein two of the mixed dental color materials lie adjacent in a vertical plane of the said grid and two of the mixed dental color materials lie adjacent in a horizontal plane of the said grid.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 49 words

An artificial tooth as claimed in claim 20, wherein a color mixture of only two of said dental color materials are mixed, and wherein the two dental color materials either lie adjacent in a vertical plane of said grid or lie adjacent in a horizontal plane of said grid.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 171 words

A color guide comprising a printed color representation of a plurality of colors for selection of artificial tooth material from which artificial teeth can be fabricated, the color guide enabling substantially all the range of naturally occurring tooth colors to be selected for fabrication, said color guide prepared by a process comprising the steps of: notionally cutting an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system and having a longitudinal axis at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations including a central location; and selecting for each cut a plurality of colors, each of said colors lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the colors for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 171 words

A color guide comprising a printed color representation of a plurality of colors for selection of artificial tooth material from which artificial teeth can be fabricated, the color guide enabling substantially all the range of naturally occurring tooth colors to be selected for fabrication, said color guide prepared by a process comprising the steps of: notionally cutting an elongate body of possible dental colors represented on a color co-ordinate system and having a longitudinal axis at points along said axis with a plurality of substantially parallel cuts; notionally locating a regular grid of lines on each of said cuts, said lines having intersections forming an array of locations including a central location; and selecting for each cut a plurality of colors, each of said colors lying at a corresponding intersection location of the grid on said cut, the central one of the colors for adjacent cuts being coincident on the longitudinal axis of the body but offset with respect to an axis normal to the plane of the said parallel cuts.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 38 words

A color guide as claimed in claim 23, wherein the said co-ordinate system is the CIELAB system, and the offset is approximately 3 degrees in hue towards red for each adjacent cut in a direction of decreasing luminance.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-03-12	1999-09-11	2000-03-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-03-12	2003-09-11	2004-03-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-03-12	2007-09-11	2008-03-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dental color mixture indicator device

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