Dentistry – Prosthodontics – Holding or positioning denture in mouth
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-25
2002-04-23
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Prosthodontics
Holding or positioning denture in mouth
C403S285000, C411S924100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06375464
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to micromechanical seals and, more particularly, to seals of the type having particular utility in the area of dental implants where it is particularly important to effect a durable closure between the abutment and implant portions of a dental implant system. The importance of, and requirement for, such a seal at the interface between the abutment and implant portions arise because of the need to prevent penetration of such interface by bacteria and microscopic debris to which such dental structures are continually subject.
The instant invention is an improvement of the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,434 (1995) to Shaw. The invention thereby addresses the long felt need in art of dental implants to provide a micromechanical seal at the interface between the abutment and implant portions of a dental system without requirement for the use of chemical adhesives or washer equivalents for the accomplishment of such a seal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates to a micromechanical seal between a first body and a second body which is co-axially threadably securable about a portion of said first body. Said seal is created by comprising (a) an annular planar radial surface within said first body; (b) a surface of rotation of said first body disposed radially inwardly of said annular plane surface and defining, within a radial plane of said body, an obtuse angle, relative to said planar radial surface, in a range of about 90.5 to about 92 degrees; and (c) an annular convex radial surface with said second body, said surface fully complemental in radial dimension to said planar radial surface of said first body, said annular convex surface defining a radius of curvature in a range of about 2 to about 8 ten thousandths of an inch, whereby upon complete axial threadable securement of said second body into said first body, a region of compression of material forming said convex surface of said second body will occur at a tangent point of said first and second radial surfaces and in which polar alignment between said first and second bodies, during said threadable securement thread is facilitated by said obtuse angle.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved micromechanical seal between bodies having threadably securable surfaces therebetween.
It is another object to provide an improved micro-mechanical seal between opposing surfaces of components of a dental implant system.
It is a further object to provide a seal of the above type having improved polar registration of the system components.
It is a yet further object to provide an improved means of sealing between abutment and implant portions of a dental system.
The above and yet other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims appended herewith.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5098294 (1992-03-01), Lee et al.
patent: 5328371 (1994-07-01), Hund
patent: 5447434 (1995-09-01), Shaw
Hollander Bruce
Kozak Ingo
Bio-Lok International, Inc.
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
Silverman M. K.
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