TWI687210B - Tension adjusting device of orthodontic maintainer - Google Patents

Abstract

A tension adjustment device for orthodontic maintainer, which includes a slide rail assembly, a guide tube, a compression spring and two connecting blocks, the slide rail assembly is provided with two selectively movable displacements on two connecting sections of the slide rail Positioning component, the guide tube and the slide rail are arranged in parallel and a compression spring is installed in the guide tube, the two connecting blocks can be installed on the outer side of the slide rail and the guide tube relatively linearly, and the two ends of the compression spring are respectively elastically pushed Against the two connecting blocks, the positioning component of the slide rail assembly can selectively protrude into the long hole of the connecting block to resist the limit, so as to use the changing positioning component to directly sink into the slide rail, and another positioning component to the length of the connecting block The simple way that the hole resists the limit position changes the relative position of the two connection blocks.

Description

Tension adjusting device of orthodontic maintainer

The present invention relates to a tension adjusting device used in a dental orthodontic maintainer to limit the tension required for orthodontic tooth position or expansion of a dental arch.

The orthodontic patient removes the orthodontic device after the orthodontist uses the orthodontic device to complete the orthodontic treatment. The orthodontic patient needs to use the orthodontic maintainer for a period of time in addition to eating or brushing the teeth and other compelling conditions to maintain the orthodontics Each tooth in the back is in a neat position in the upper and lower dentitions to prevent the tooth from shifting again after correction. In addition, after orthodontics, patients with different upper and lower dentitions must also use the orthodontic maintainer (or arch expansion maintainer) to gradually expand the upper and lower dental arches, and then adjust the upper and lower teeth The shape and position of the rows allow the upper and lower rows of teeth to be arranged neatly and correspondingly.

The composition structure of the currently known orthodontic maintainer includes two oppositely arranged dentition sleeve fittings and a force adjusting device connected between the two dentition sleeve fittings. The tension adjusting device is its two connecting pieces They are fixed in the two tooth row fittings respectively, a spring is provided between the two connecting pieces to provide tension, and a round rod is connected between the two connecting pieces, and the two connecting blocks are respectively adjusted and positioned by using a plurality of screws on the round rod. The relative position on the round rod is used to change the tension of the tension adjusting device to apply force to the two-tooth row sleeve fitting.

The existing tension adjusting device applied to the orthodontic maintainer is a small device. When the dentist adjusts the tension of the orthodontic maintainer for the orthodontic patient, the dentist must use a small tool to remove the original two connecting blocks and locate the Remove the screws on the round bar, change the position of the connecting block on the round bar, re-lock the screws to fix the two connecting blocks on the round bar, increase the distance between the two connecting blocks, and expand the orthodontic maintainer The tooth row fittings.

However, the existing tension adjustment device of the orthodontic device is a small device with a small body. The screws used in the tension adjustment device are small components. When the dentist adjusts the tension of the orthodontic device for the orthodontic patient, , Remove the small screws first, and then lock the small screws again, there is a problem of inconvenience in operation.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tension adjustment device for an orthodontic maintainer, which solves the problem of inconvenient operation of removing the small screw and then re-locking the small screw when adjusting the tension of the existing orthodontic maintainer tension adjustment device.

In order to achieve the foregoing objective, the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer proposed by the present invention includes: a slide rail assembly including a slide rail and a plurality of positioning components, the slide rail having a base surface, and the slide rail Each end has a connecting section, each of the connecting sections has a plurality of adjustment positioning holes arranged linearly along the axial direction of the slide rail, and the adjustment positioning holes extend inwardly from the base surface, each Each of the adjustment positioning holes is provided with a positioning member, the positioning member can be selectively moved up and down in the adjustment positioning hole, and the positioning members each have an abutting end portion that can extend out of the base surface At least one guide tube is arranged parallel to the side of the slide rail, the guide tube has an axial through hole; at least one compression spring is installed in the through hole of the guide tube ; Two connecting blocks are installed on the outer side of the slide rail and the guide tube relatively linearly sliding, the two connecting blocks are respectively located in the two connecting sections of the slide rail, the compression spring Both ends are elastically pushed against the two connecting blocks, and the connecting blocks each have a long hole. The abutting end of the positioning member of the slide rail assembly can selectively protrude into the long hole by The positioning member is selectively raised and lowered to resist the limit position with respect to the edge of the long hole, and the elastic force applied by the compression spring to the two connection blocks changes the relative position of the two connection blocks.

With the invention of the tension adjusting device of the aforementioned orthodontic maintainer, which is applied to adjust the relative position of the two dentition fittings by the orthodontic maintainer, the dentist only needs to extend a small tool into the patient's mouth The first positioning component near the middle section of the slide rail for abutting the edge of the long hole is sunk in the slide rail, that is, the two connecting blocks can be pushed against the relative movement outward by the elastic force of the compression spring, so that the adjacent slide The position of the second positioning member in the middle section of the rail against the long hole hole edge of the connecting block can easily complete the position adjustment of the two connecting blocks, thereby changing the tension applied by the tension adjusting device to the two tooth row fittings. It eliminates the inconvenience of removing the small screws and then re-locking the small screws when adjusting the existing tension adjustment device.

Furthermore, the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer of the present invention uses the guide tube to be sleeved on the outside of the compression spring, so that the compression spring will not be exposed to the two connecting blocks, ensuring that the foreign objects in the oral cavity will not adhere or enter the compression spring , To reduce the inconvenience when cleaning the tension adjustment device.

On the other hand, the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer of the present invention utilizes a slide rail combined with at least one guide tube to provide two connecting blocks that can move relatively linearly, so that the two connecting blocks have good movement stability during the tension adjustment process.

In the tension adjusting device of the present invention, the sliding slot 42 may be a rectangular hole in an end view, and the sliding rails 11A and 11B may be rectangular rods matching the sliding slot 42. In this way, the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B can slide relatively linearly on the slide rails 11A, 11B, and the rotation of the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B on the slide rails 11A, 11B is avoided.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, several preferred embodiments of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic bracket of the present invention are disclosed. As can be seen from these drawings, the tension adjusting devices 1A, 1B The system includes a slide rail assembly 10A, 10B, at least one guide tube 20, at least one compression spring 30, and two connecting blocks 40A, 40B.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and FIGS. 7 to 10, the slide rail assembly 10A, 10B includes a slide rail 11A, 11B and a plurality of positioning components 12A, 12B, the slide rail 11A, 11B has a base surface 111 , And two ends of the slide rails 11A, 11B each have a connecting section 112, each of the connecting sections 112 has a plurality of adjustment positioning holes 113A, 113B arranged linearly along the axial direction of the slide rails 11A, 11B And the adjustment positioning holes 113A, 113B extend inward from the base surface 111, and each of the adjustment positioning holes 113A, 113B is provided with a positioning member 12A, 12B, the positioning member 12A, 12B The positioning holes 113A and 113B can be selectively moved up and down. The positioning members 12A and 12B each have a contact end 121A and 121B that can extend outside the base surface 111.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, 6, and 7 to 10, the guide tube 20 is disposed parallel to the sides of the slide rails 11A, 11B, and the guide tube 20 has an axial through A through hole. The number of the guide tubes 20 can be one or two, or the number can be increased according to the needs of the product. In the preferred embodiment, it is disclosed that the guide tubes 20 with two sides are respectively located on the slide rails 11A, 11B Opposite sides of and parallel to the slide rails 11A, 11B.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, 6, and 7 to 10, the number of the compression springs 30 corresponds to the number of the guide tubes 20, and each compression spring 30 is installed in a In the through hole of the guide tube 20, the two ends of the compression spring 30 extend out of the two ends of the guide tube 20, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and FIGS. 7 to 10, the two connecting blocks 40A and 40B are relatively linearly slidably mounted on the outside of the slide rails 11A and 11B and the guide tube 20. The connecting blocks 40A and 40B are respectively located at the two connecting sections 112 of the slide rails 11A and 11B, the two ends of the guide tube 20 are respectively located in the two connecting blocks 40A and 40B, and the compression spring Both ends of the 30 are elastically pushed against the inner walls of the two connecting blocks 40A and 40B, respectively. Wherein, the two connecting blocks 40A and 40B each have a long hole 41, and the positions of the long holes 41 of the two connecting blocks 40A and 40B correspond to the two connections of the base surface 111 of the slide rails 11A and 11B, respectively Section 112, and the abutting ends 121A, 121B of the positioning members 12A, 12B of the slide rail assemblies 10A, 10B can selectively protrude into the long hole 41, by the positioning member 12A, 12B is selectively raised and lowered to resist the limit position with respect to the edge of the long hole 41, and the elastic force applied by the compression spring 30 to the two connection blocks 40A, 40B changes the relative position of the two connection blocks 40A, 40B position.

In the foregoing, each of the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B has a sliding groove 42 and one or more guide grooves 43 on the side of the sliding groove 42. The long hole 41 communicates with the sliding groove 42. The connecting sections 112 at both ends of the slide rails 11A and 11B are respectively installed in the slide grooves 42 of the two connecting blocks 40A and 40B, and the two ends of the guide tube 20 extend into the two corresponding connecting blocks 40A and 40B respectively Of the guide groove 43. In the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and 7 to 10, the tension adjusting devices 1A, 1B have two guide tubes 20 and two compression springs 30, and two connection blocks 40A , 40B each has a sliding groove 42 and two guide grooves 43 located on opposite sides of the sliding groove 42, the long hole 41 communicates with the sliding groove 42, and the connecting sections at both ends of the sliding rails 11A, 11B 112 are respectively installed in the sliding grooves 42 of the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B, and the two ends of the guiding tube 20 extend into the guiding grooves 43 corresponding to the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B respectively. The long hole 41 communicates with the sliding groove 42. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the two ends of each compression spring 30 elastically push against the two connection blocks 40A and 40B, respectively.

As shown in the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and FIGS. 7 to 10, the sliding slot 42 is a hole that is rectangular in end view, and the sliding rails 11A and 11B are rectangular matching the sliding slot 42. Rod body. In this way, the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B can slide relatively linearly on the slide rails 11A, 11B, and the rotation of the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B on the slide rails 11A, 11B is avoided. The guide groove 43 is a circular hole in an end view, and the guide tube 20 is a circular tube matching the shape of the circular guide groove 43 to assist the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B in sliding Balance between the rails 11A and 11B when sliding relatively linearly.

As shown in the first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the adjustment positioning hole 113A of the slide rail 11A is a screw hole, and the positioning member 12A has a screw connection part 122A at one end of the abutment end 121A, The abutting end portions 121A each have a tool connection hole 123A, and the positioning member 12A is screwed into the adjustment positioning hole 113A with the screw portion 122A.

As shown in the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and FIGS. 7 to 10, the width of the long hole 41 may also be larger than the diameter of the adjustment positioning holes 113A, 113B. The positioning members 12A, 12B The diameters of the contact end portions 121A and 121B are equal to the diameter of the screw connection portion 122A, and the tool connection hole 123A is a hexagonal hole. In addition, the width of the long hole 41 may be greater than the diameter of the adjustment positioning hole 113A, the diameter of the abutting end 121A of the positioning member 12A is greater than the diameter of the screwing portion 122A, the tool connection hole 123A is a cross-shaped hole or a hexagonal hole.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, in the second preferred embodiment, each of the connecting blocks 40B has an assembly groove 44 between the sliding groove 42 and the elongated hole 41, each of which is installed in the assembly groove 44 There is an elastic fastener 13B, the adjustment positioning hole 113B of the slide rail 11B is a straight hole, the positioning member 12B is a straight cylinder body portion, the positioning member 12B includes a cylinder body portion 122B and one end of the cylinder body portion 122B Abutting end portions 121A, 121B of the positioning member, the outer peripheral surface of the abutting end portion 121B of the positioning member 12B each has an annular buckle groove 123B, the positioning member 12B installed in each connecting block 40B can be The annular buckle groove 123B is clamped and positioned by the elastic fastener 13B, so that the abutting end 121B is positioned within the long hole 41 and the positioning member 12B can selectively disengage from the elastic fastener 13B Sink in the adjustment positioning hole 113B.

The tension adjusting devices 1A and 1B of the present invention can be applied to various types of orthodontic maintainers or arch expansion maintainers and other products. Taking the application of the orthodontic maintainer 2 as an example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 4, the tension adjusting device 1A is fixed to the two dentition fittings of the orthodontic maintainer 2 by the two connecting blocks 40A, respectively In 2A, the long holes 41 of the two connecting blocks and the contact ends 121A of the plurality of positioning members 12A located in the long holes 41 are exposed on the outer surface of the dentition fitting 2A, and the orthodontics is maintained The two tooth row fittings 2A of the device 2 are connected together by a tension adjusting device 1A, and the positions thereof are fixed by the two tooth row fittings 2A.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, when the orthodontic appliance 2 adjusts the relative position of the two dental row fittings 2A, the dentist enters the patient’s mouth with a small tool, and only needs to move the closest to the slide rails 11A, 11B The position of the middle section for the first positioning member 12A, 12B for abutting against the edge of the long hole 41 is sunk in the slide rails 11A, 11B, that is, it can be pushed against the two connecting blocks 40A, 40B by the elastic force of the compression spring 30 Relative outward movement, so that the second positioning members 12A, 12B adjacent to the middle section of the slide rails 11A, 11B abut against the long hole 41 of the connecting blocks 40A, 40B, and the two connecting blocks 40A can be easily completed , 40B position adjustment, so as to change the tension adjustment device 1A, 1B applied to the tension of the two teeth row fitting 2A.

In the foregoing, as shown in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, when the positioning member 12A has a part with a screwed portion 122A, the dentist can use the tool rotation positioning member 12A to sink into the slide rail 11A Perform to adjust the tension of the tension adjusting device 1A to apply force to the two-tooth row fittings 2A, and according to the requirements of use, the positioning member 12 sunk in the slide rail 11A can be reversely rotated to the slide rail 11A with a tool The long hole 41 can be reused repeatedly, and its operation method has good operation convenience.

In the foregoing, as shown in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 15 to 16, when the positioning member 12B is clamped and positioned by the elastic fastener 13B, the dentist can press the tool closest to the middle area of the slide rail 11B The first positioning member 12B for abutting against the edge of the long hole 41 detaches from the elastic fastener 13B and sinks into the slide rail 11B, and then pushes the two connecting blocks 40B outwardly by the elastic force of the compression spring 30 to face outward Movement, the elastic fasteners 13B respectively installed in the two connecting blocks 40B are installed in the mounting grooves 44 of the connecting block 40B, the elastic fasteners 13B move together with the connecting block 40B, so that the elastic fasteners 13B slide on the positioning member 12B Move until the second positioning member 12B close to the middle section of the slide rail 11B abuts against the hole edge of the long hole 41 of the connecting block 40B, and the elastic fastener 13B re-clamps the second positioning member 12B and subsequent positioning The positioning of the component 12B, that is, the position adjustment of the two connecting blocks 40B can be easily completed, thereby changing the tension of the tension adjusting devices 1A and 1B to the two tooth row fittings 2A, and the operation method has good operation simplicity.

1A, 1B: Tension adjustment device

2: Orthodontics maintainer

2A: tooth row fitting

10A, 10B: slide rail assembly

11A, 11B: Slide rail

111: base surface

112: Connection section

113A, 113B: Adjust positioning holes

12A: Positioning parts

121A: abutting the end

122A: Screw connection

123A: Tool connection hole

12B: Positioning parts

121B: abutting the end

122B: Pillar

123B: Ring buckle groove

13B: Elastic fasteners

20: Guide tube

30: Compression spring

40A, 40B: connection block

41: Long hole

42: Chute

43: Guide groove

44: Assembly slot

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic supporter of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 4 at the cutting plane line A-A. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 4 at the cutting plane line A-A. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic supporter of the present invention. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 7. 9 is a schematic plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 7. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 9 at the cutting plane line C-C. FIG. 11 is a reference view of the use state of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 1 applied to the orthodontic maintainer. 12 is a schematic plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 1 adjusting its expanded state. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 1 adjusting its expanded state. 14 is another schematic cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 1 adjusting its expanded state. 15 is a schematic plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 7 for adjusting its expanded state. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of the tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer shown in FIG. 7 for adjusting its expanded state.

1A: Tension adjustment device

10A: Slide rail assembly

11A: Slide rail

111: base surface

112: Connection section

113A: Adjust the positioning hole

12A: Positioning parts

121A: abutting the end

122A: Screw connection

123A: Tool connection hole

20: Guide tube

30: Compression spring

40A: connection block

41: Long hole

42: Chute

43: Guide groove

Claims (9)

A tension adjusting device for orthodontic maintainer includes: a slide rail assembly including a slide rail and a plurality of positioning components, the slide rail has a base surface, and two ends of the slide rail each have a connecting section Each of the connecting sections has a plurality of adjustment positioning holes arranged linearly along the axial direction of the slide rail, and the adjustment positioning holes extend inward from the base surface, and each of the adjustment positioning holes is equipped with A positioning member is provided, the positioning member can be selectively moved up and down in the adjustment positioning hole, and each of the positioning members has an abutting end portion that can extend outside the base surface; at least one guide tube Parallel to the side of the slide rail, the guide tube has a through hole penetrating axially; at least one compression spring is installed in the through hole of the guide tube; and two connecting blocks Relatively linearly installed on the outer side of the slide rail and the guide tube, the two connection blocks are respectively located in the two connection sections of the slide rail, and the two ends of the compression spring are elastically pushed against the two The connecting blocks each have a long hole, the abutting end of the positioning member of the slide rail assembly can selectively protrude into the long hole, and can be selectively raised and lowered by the positioning member The relative stop position relative to the edge of the long hole and the elastic force applied by the compression spring to the two connecting blocks change the relative positions of the two connecting blocks. The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to claim 1, wherein each of the two connecting blocks has a slide groove and at least one guide groove located on the side of the slide groove, and the long hole communicates with the Sliding groove, the connecting sections at both ends of the sliding rail are respectively installed in the sliding grooves of the two connecting blocks, and the two ends of the guiding tube respectively extend into the guiding grooves corresponding to the two connecting blocks . The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to claim 2, wherein the slide groove is a hole with a rectangular shape in end view, and the slide rail is a rectangular rod body matched with the slide groove. The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to claim 1, wherein the tension adjusting device has two of the guide tubes and two of the compression springs, each of the two connecting blocks has a sliding groove and is located on the Two guide grooves on opposite sides of the slide groove, the long holes communicate with the slide groove, the connection sections at both ends of the slide rail are respectively installed in the slide grooves of the two connection blocks, and the guide pipe Both ends extend into the guide grooves corresponding to the two connection blocks respectively. The long hole communicates with the sliding groove, and the two ends of each compression spring elastically push against the two connection blocks respectively. The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to claim 4, wherein the sliding groove is a hole with a rectangular shape in end view, and the sliding rail is a rectangular rod body matched with the sliding groove. The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the adjusting positioning hole of the slide rail is a screw hole, and the positioning member has at one end of the abutting end A screw connection portion, each of the contacting end portions has a tool connection hole, and the positioning member is screwed in the adjustment positioning hole with the screw connection portion. The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to claim 6, wherein the diameter of the abutting end of the positioning member is equal to the diameter of the screwed portion, and the tool connection hole is an internal hexagonal hole. The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to claim 6, wherein the width of the long hole is larger than the diameter of the adjusting positioning hole, and the diameter of the abutting end of the positioning member is larger than the screw connection The diameter of the part, the tool connection hole is a cross-shaped hole or an internal hexagonal hole. The tension adjusting device of the orthodontic maintainer according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein each of the connecting blocks has an assembly groove between the sliding groove and the elongated hole, the assembly groove Each is provided with an elastic fastener, the adjustment positioning hole of the slide rail is a straight hole, the positioning member is a straight cylindrical portion, and the outer circumferential surface of the abutment end each has an annular buckle groove, each of which The positioning member installed in the connecting block can be clamped and positioned by the elastic fastener with the annular buckle groove, so that the abutting end is located in the limit of the long hole, and the positioning member can be selected It detaches from the elastic fastener and sinks into the adjustment positioning hole.

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