Dentistry – Orthodontics – Tool
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-14
2001-10-02
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Tool
C433S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296481
ABSTRACT:
CLAIMING FOREIGN PRIORITY
The applicant claims and requests a foreign priority, through the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industry Property, based on a patent application filed in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) with the filing date of Dec. 31, 1999, with the application number 1999-30664, by the applicant. (See the Attached Declaration)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an orthodontic bracket positioner applicable to a teeth arrangement using inner sides of the teeth for bracket attachment.
In general, an orthodontic therapy for teeth arrangement includes a direct bracket bonding method and an indirect bracket bonding method. For the direct bonding, a plurality of brackets are bonded on target teeth sides within an orthodontic patient's oral cavity. For the conventional indirect bonding, the orthodontic brackets are initially attached to a plaster model with eye-watching to realize a more precise bracket position and then transferred into the oral cavity to bond the brackets onto target teeth sides. However, it is not easy to get an accurate bracket position even on the plaster model especially in lingual sides without using any kind of instrument.
So to improve the accuracy of the lingual bracket position, Korea Patent Application No. 1998-008587 by the present inventor has disclosed an improvement of an orthodontic bracket positioner for inner teeth side application, wherein an elongated slot is formed along an edge portion of a horizontal metal plate. A plurality of bracket holders are engaged to the elongated slot by a bolt and nut with a spring so that the bracket holders are movable along the slot. However, such a conventional device has a disadvantage in that the brackets are not easily released from the bracket holder. To release the bolt and nut, connecting mechanism, from the fixedly engaged position, the bolt and nut has to be unfastened each time when the bracket holder needs to be removed from the metal plate.
There is a significant effort by the dental physician and discomfort to the patient each time the bracket holder needs to be removed or repositioned from the metal plate. This disadvantage highlights the need for an orthodontic design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is contrived to overcome the conventional disadvantages and others. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an orthodontic bracket positioner applicable to a teeth arrangement using inner sides of teeth for bracket bonding which enables bracket holder detachment from a metal plate without releasing a bolt or nut. Simply loosening of the bolt and nut allows the bracket holder to be repositioned.
To achieve the above-described object, the orthodontic bracket positioner according to the present invention comprises a metal plate placed under a tongue, a pair of side elongated slots formed along a side edge portion of the metal plate, a circular hole formed in a front edge portion of the metal plate and adjacent to the side elongated slots. A pair of side bracket holders substantially elongated to sufficiently hold brackets for a canine tooth and molar teeth behind the canine tooth, a front edge line of a front bracket holder arc-shaped in a similar manner to the front teeth line to fixedly hold four front teeth at the same time. The side elongated slots of the metal plate are perpendicular to an open type connection slot formed at a portion of each of the bracket holders, the bracket holders including a plurality of fixing slots formed along an edge line thereof so as to engage a plurality of brackets therethrough. A front bracket holder connected to the metal plate by a circular hole formed in a front edge portion of the metal plate, wherein the front bracket holder includes an arc-shaped fixing slot formed along an outer edge thereof, wherein a plurality of brackets are connected through the arc-shaped fixing slop; and wherein a bolt and a nut with a spring are employed to connect the side and front bracket holders through the side elongated slots and the circular hole to the metal plate.
In further explanation and detail an orthodontic bracket positioner comprises a plate having a pair of side elongated slots and a side edge portion. The pair of side elongated slots are formed along the side edge portion of the plate. A pair of side bracket holders, each having an open type connection slot, a side edge line, and a fixing slot along the side edge line. A plurality of orthodontic brackets and a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism is employed to connect the open type connection slot of the pair of side bracket holders through the side elongated slots to the plate. The connecting mechanism can be loosened to allow removal or repositioning of the side bracket holders, without completely detaching the connecting mechanism.
The side elongated slots of the plate are substantially perpendicular to the open type connection slots formed at a portion of each of the side bracket holders. The side bracket holders each include the fixing slots formed along the side edge line thereof so as to removably attach the orthodontic bracket therethrough.
The plate further having a front edge portion, with the front edge portion having a front hole. A front bracket holder, having an open type connection slot, an outer edge line, and a front fixing slot. The front hole is adjacent to the side elongated slots and the connecting mechanism is employed through the front hole and the open type connection slot to connect the front bracket holder to the plate. The connecting mechanism can be loosened to allow removal or repositioning of the front bracket holder, without completely detaching the connecting mechanism. The front bracket holder includes the front fixing slot formed along the outer edge line, so as to removably attached the orthodontic bracket therethrough.
The outer edge line of the front bracket holder can be arc-shaped. The front fixing slot of the front bracket holder is arc-shaped. The plate further includes a fixture aperture. The plate has a front aperture, a front edge line and a separate bracket holder, having an open type connection slot and a bracket hole. The front aperture is located near the front portion of the plate and the front aperture and the open type connection slot receive the connecting mechanism thus connecting the plate to the separate bracket holder. The bracket is attached to the separate bracket holder at the bracket hole, wherein the side bracket holders and orthodontic bracket are fixedly supported against the side teeth, such that pressure is applied to the front teeth by the separate bracket holder. The front aperture is an elongated arc shape and the front edge line of the metal plate is formed in an arc.
Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3949478 (1976-04-01), Schinhammer
patent: 4183141 (1980-01-01), Dellinger et al.
patent: 4431409 (1984-02-01), Picard
patent: 5055038 (1991-10-01), Ronay et al.
patent: 5100316 (1992-03-01), Wildman
patent: 10-0247408 (1999-05-01), None
Park John K.
Park & Sutton LLP
Wilson John J.
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