Dentistry – Orthodontics – Bracket
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-20
2003-12-16
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Bracket
C433S008000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06663385
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to brackets for orthodontics in general. More specifically to an orthodontic bracket retaining an archwire by snapping it in place eliminating conventional ligation.
BACKGROUND ART
Previously, many types and shapes of orthodontic brackets have been used in endeavoring to provide an effective means to urge teeth into the desired position when held captive with a archwire.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that possess the novelty of the instant invention, however the following U.S. patents are considered related:
U.S. Pat. No.
Inventor
Issue Date
6,276,931
DeLeo
Aug. 21, 2001
6,217,321
Kanno
Apr. 17, 2001
5,993,205
Heiser et al.
Nov. 30, 1999
5,607,299
Nicholson
Mar. 4, 1997
5,356,289
Watanabe
Oct. 18, 1994
Des.373,638
Colbert
Sep. 10, 1996
DeLeo in U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,931 teaches a basically conventional orthodontic bracket with spaced apart upstanding walls which provide a slot for engaging a retainer band to hold an archwire in place. One of the slots has a ridge or narrow portion on its bottom surface to facilitate the bending of the archwire and the increased height which applies a rotational force on the tooth upon which it is resting.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,321 issued to Kanno is for a orthodontic bracket that includes a pressing spring to hold the archwire in place. The pressing spring includes a pressing portion which has a length bridging the slots and is bent at both ends the same direction as to bridge the slots. A pair of upright portions are formed at the tip ends to rise upright along the outer sides of the slots.
Heiser et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,205 disclose an orthodontic bracket having a base plate with an edge formed to extend parallel with the mesial and distal secants of a tooth crown to facilitate conformity with the anatomy of the tooth's crown.
Nicholson in U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,299 teaches an orthodontic bracket with tie wings having a central recess therebetween. A separate jig may be positioned between the tie wings for positioning the bracket properly on an individuals tooth.
Watanabe in U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,289 discloses an orthodontic bracket having no tie wings at all and is made of a shape memory alloy or resin. In lieu of the tie wings nail portions, spaced well inside the main body, hold an archwire with high efficiency permitting the size of the bracket to be reduced. The basic shape of the bracket has not changed from the conventional form.
For background purposes and as indicative of the art to which the invention is related reference may be made to the design U.S. Pat. No. Des.373,638 issued to Colbert.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Brackets have been in use in the orthodontic discipline since its inception to correct misalignment of patients teeth. Many and varied types of brackets have been developed and are presently in common usage. Almost all of the available conventional prior art brackets are bulky and project a considerable distance labially toward the inside of the wearers lips causing unnecessary discomfort to the wearer. Further the bracket must be tied with a ligature which causes binding of the archwire to the bracket creating forces on the tooth that unintentionally could have the potential to align the tooth in an unwanted direction.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to have a bracket that is considerably flatter and is configured with a smoother profile. This object is achieved by the use of an extruded bracket that has a pair of inwardly facing upstanding angular legs integrally formed within a base plate projecting the full width of the base plate, flush with its right and left side. Therefore instead of the four separate legs that are commonly used today, the invention employs only a pair of legs that traverse the entire length of the bracket eliminating any irregular surface having the propensity to trap food particles. Further the cavity for the archwire formed by the legs is parallel with the base plate which eliminates completely the raised portion that spaces the archwire away from the tooth common to most brackets available in today's market. The combination of the straightforwardness and simplicity of the smooth uninterrupted legs and the flat bracket make the invention incomparably more comfortable to the user in the labial and buccal regions.
An important object of the invention that there is less friction between the wire and the bracket allowing the archwire to glide laterally within the cavity providing the proper stress to be applied to the tooth by the bracket without any indirect interference.
Another object of the invention is that the archwire is much easier to install and saves time since the wire is simply placed on top of the legs and manually snapped into place into the cavity and is held restrained along the entire width of the bracket. Two people are not necessary to position and hold archwire to connect the ligature as is presently necessary, which requires the so called, four handed dentistry. It may plainly be seen that the invention saves considerable time and expense for the orthodontic practitioner.
Still another object of the invention allows rotating movements of the patients teeth to be accomplished readily in any degree as angulated brackets producing no friction are disclosed by the inventor and are easily adapted to the manufacturing extrusion techniques used.
Yet another object of the invention is the economy of production since the bracket is manufactured by extruding thermoplastic or metal and then cutting the extrusion into individual pieces using methods well known in the art. The cost savings relative to the conventional process now in common usage is extensive and along with the labor economy mentioned previously, the overall combined expense is considerably reduced.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3043007 (1962-07-01), Wallshein
patent: 3052027 (1962-09-01), Wallshein
patent: 3084437 (1963-04-01), Neger
patent: 3464112 (1969-09-01), Silverman et al.
patent: 3855701 (1974-12-01), Le Clair
patent: 5221202 (1993-06-01), James
patent: 5356289 (1994-10-01), Watanabe
patent: D373638 (1996-09-01), Colbert
patent: 5597302 (1997-01-01), Pospisil et al.
patent: 5607299 (1997-03-01), Nicholson
patent: 5653588 (1997-08-01), Moschik
patent: 5813853 (1998-09-01), Kesling
patent: 5993205 (1999-11-01), Heiser et al.
patent: 6217321 (2001-04-01), Kanno
patent: 6276931 (2001-08-01), DeLeo
Anderson Gordon K.
Wilson John J.
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