US1588091A - Dental articulator - Google Patents

Description

June 8 1926.

R. W.l BURCH DENTALARTICULATQR Filed March 24, 1923 Patented `lune A8, 1926.

4 UNITED STATES.

PATENT. onirica...

RAYV'W'. BUR'CH, 0F FORT LAUDERALE,

DENTAL ARTCULATOR.

.l `applicati@ sied March 24, 1923. serial No. 627,520.

This invention relates to dental articii` lators and more particularly to a device which will reproduce the artici'ilatorymove-V ments of the human jaws.

The principal object of the invention .is toprovide a device of this character in which plaster lcasts having artificial teeth therein can be mounted and means to speedily grind the teeth in' order to permit the natural functioning of the mouth.

The operation of this articulator is basedy 'largely on the theory that the path of the atory moving mandible is determined artcu t as though it moved on the outer surface of an eight inch sphere; that is the two condyles and the cusps ofthe teeth contact as if on the surface of the sphere during all the ar.- ticulatory movements.

VWhen the articulator is manipulated the upper plate holding the mandible cast will move 'forward and then execute a laterall chewing movement Vthereby producing a' spiral action ofthe plate. f

This spiral movement acting in combination with the interlocking of the cusps will produce a milling action and reproduce the articulatory movements of the human jaw and grind the artilicial teeth in the proper kand correct manner for the eiicient crushing of the food.l n

F or a more detailed understanding of the invention attention is now called to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment is shown illustrated. In these drawings like parts are designated by like reference characters in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the dental articulator. f

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a front view. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top view. l

Fig. 6 is a detail of the eccentric and camy Fastened tothe shaft adjacent the lbeariings 5.are eccentrics 9 parallel lto each `other and atan angle to the shaft 3 and with their limit of throw reversely arranged. Integral withthe eccentric's are carnslO having a` ridge 11 in the center` and sloping sides12 and 13. Y j l As noticed'in Fig. 6 `underneath the upper plate member 2 and'coacting with y'the crains 10 are projections 1,4 which bear against the surfaces l13 of the cam.` Integral with the said plate member are arms 15 "having screws 16 therein which "bear against the surfaces 12' of the cain. v Adjacent the screws 16 are wing nuts' 17 which alternately bear against the periphery of the eccentric 9.A f

Attached to the arm 8 asnoted 'in Fig. 3 is a flat spring 18 which bears around the shaft 3 and resiliently vforces the upper plate mein-y ber 2 against the cams 10.

Numeral 19 represents a'pair ofarins and 20 a ridge onthe tip of the bottom plate for Y ysup porting the cast.

y'The operation of this device `is as follows.

The casts having the teeth imbedded are fastened to the upper and lower plates re'- spectively and the lrnob 21 turned. This will cause the shaft, eccentric'9 and cams 10 to revolve. i The eccentrics coming in contact with the wing nuts 17 alternately will impart a circular `movement in a horizontal `plane of the casts supported by the upper plate memberwhich corresponds to the cir- -cle A in the diagram shown in Fig. 7. This motion can be increased orfdecreased by adjusting the set screws 16. f At the same time a rocking motion will be imparted to the cast which corresponds to the circle B and is at right angles to the circle A. vThis last movement is caused bythe lugs 14 alternately moving upward and downward on the n slope 13 of the cams l0.

Having thusdescribed my `invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Ina dental articulator, upper and lower plate membersa a common shaft, means to move the upper plate member in a horizontal plane so the said member will describe a circle and means to move said plate memberfor describing a circle in a plane substantially at right angles to the first mentioned circle, the said means including eccentricsand cams on the said common shaft and means coacting with the said eccentrics and cams.y

2. In a dental articulator a base, an upper upper. plate member so the said member describes a circle simultaneously in a vertical and horizontal plane, the said means including eccentrics and cams on the said common shaft, and means coacting with the said eccentrics and cams.

4l. In a device of the class described in combination, a base, side arms forming a bearing, a shaft, eccentrics and cams fastened to said shaft, a movable upper plate member, lugs on the said upper plate member coacting with the said cams and means resilientl7 forcing the said-*lugs and cams in Contact with each other.

-5. In a dental articulator, the combination of a base, side arms forming a bearing, a shaft, eccentrics and cams on said shaft, a movable upper plate member,.lugs on the said plate member coaoting withy the said cams and a springfor resiliently forcing the said lugs against the said cams.

6. In a device of the class described in combination, a base, side arms forming a bearing, a shaft, eccentrics and cams on said shaft, Van upper plate member, side arms integral with they said plate member, set screws in said side arms and a spring resiliently forcing the said upper plate member against the said shaft.

7. In a dental articulator having a base,

ylower member, arms integral wit-hfthe ksaid 5.0

lower member eccentrics and cams on said shafts, lugson the said upper plate member coacting with said cams, and resilient means for forcing the said cams and lugs in `contact with each other, ay movable upper member, a shaft passing through the upper part of the said arms, a ridge at the toe of the said stationary lower memberadjustable side arms attached to the said stationary member', the said ridge and side arms 50 adap-ted to hold plaster casts in definite relation to the said lower member and means to move the said movable upper member.

RAY W. BU RCI-rl.

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