US2768441A - Orthodontic device - Google Patents

Description

s-go Oct.

H. J. RUSSELL ORTHODONTIC DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1955 INVEN TOR. #4775? (277061952 1.

BY Mm United States Patent ORTHODONTIC DEVICE Harry John Russell, Newark, N. J., assignor to Baker & (30., Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 21, 195. Serial No. 483,219

4 Claims. (Cl. 32-141) The present invention deals with an orthodontic device and more particularly with an orthodontic lock engageable with an arch bow.

Orthodontic arch bow locks of various constructions are used for the correction of irregular teeth. Some arch bow lock constructions comprise a basic lock component into which the arch bow is positioned and subsequently secured therein by means of a ligature wire for tying the arch bow to the basic lock component. While this type of arch bow lock is easily assembled, it has the disadvantage that the ligature wire when tightened exerts substantial pressure against the arch bow thereby frictionally preventing the arch bow from sliding freely within the lock. When the ligature wire is tightened to excess, the arch bow becomes substantially immovable within the lock.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved arch bow lock. It is another object of the present invention to provide an arch bow lock of the type employing a ligature wire and wherein the arch bow is rendered freely slidable. his a further object of the present invention to provide an arch bow lock wherein a securing ligature wire may be tightened to any degree without affecting the free slidability of the arch bow. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description hereinafter following and the drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the arch bow lock according to this invention including a portion of the tooth band and the arch bow, and

Figure 2 is a partly sectional and partly elevational side view along lines 22 of Figure 1.

The present invention relates to an improved orthodontic lock of the type comprising a ligature wire for retaining an arch bow within the lock, and particularly to the improvement whereby the arch bow is rendered substantially freely slidable within the lock.

The drawings illustrate an orthodontic lock according to the present invention as secured, for example, by welding, etc., to a tooth band 1 of known construction and of which only a part is shown. The lock components may consist of stainless steel or a precious metal on an alloy thereof and comprise a lock base plate 2 to which is welded or soldered a pair of spaced tubes 3 and 4 of rectangular shape, as illustrated, or of cylindrical shape, or other shapes which generally comprise a tubular form open at both ends, and the tubes being in spaced parallel arrangement with respect to each other forming a channel or groove therebetween for the positioning of an arch bow 5 therein. While the arch bow illustrated consists of a pair of round wires 6 and 7, the use of a single wire arch bow of rectangular cross-section or of other cross-sectional shape is contemplated.

Specifically, the invention comprises the improvement wherein at least one end of each tube and preferably both ends of the tubes 2 and 3 are partially cut-away forming terminal seats 8, 9, 10 and 11 with the said seats recessed from the top of the tubes.

Having provided the basic lock assembly by welding or otherwise securing the plate 2 with the pair of tubes thereon to the tooth band 1, an arch how 5 is positioned in the channel 12 between the tubes 3 and 4. In order to retain the arch bow in said position, the free ends of a piece of ligature wire 13 and each directed through one of the tubes 3 and 4 and the free ends having passed through the tubes are subsequently twisted together. In the tightening of the ligature wire by twisting, the ligature wire automatically positions itself on the seats generally designated as seats 7, 9, 10 and 11, and the seats prevent the ligature from pressing against the arch bow beyond the said seats, which renders the arch bow secured but slidably movable in the locks, especially when the said seats are of a height from the plate 2 in excess of the diameter of the ligature wire. On the other hand, by pro viding the seats with a particular height from the base plate 2, a controlled amount of friction if desired, may be applied to the arch wire.

While the seats 8, 9, 10 and 11 are generally designated as cut-away seats, it is within the scope of the invention to include a notch or slot member as the seat in accordance with the equivalency of function thereof as I the means whereby a ligature wire is seated with respect to a tube through which it passes so as to preclude excessive pressure against the arch bow wire.

What I claim is.

1. An orthodontic lock comprising a tooth band member having a pair of substantially parallel tubular members secured thereto, said tubular members being in spaced lateral alignment with respect to each other and positioned longitudinally of said band, recessed seat means on the upper portion of at least one end of each of said tubular members.

2. An orthodontic lock comprising a tooth band member having a pair of substantially parallel tubular members secured thereto, said tubular members being in spaced lateral alignment with respect to each other and positioned lengthwise of said tooth band, a recessed seat means comprising a partially cut-away end of the upper portion of each tubular member, and a ligature wire passing through said tubes and positioned in said seat means.

3. An orthodontic lock according to claim 1, wherein said seat members are partially cut-away ends of said tubular members and positioned on an upper portion of the ends of said tubular members.

4. An orthodontic lock according to claim 2, comprising a plate member positioned between the said tubes and said tooth band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,257,069 Peak Sept, 23, 1941

Images