US1612950A - Dental matrix holder - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 4,1927.

7 0. R. SMITH DENTAL MATRIX, HOLDER Filed A rii a. 1925 INVENTOR. flalzofl 77? Smith;

Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT 0 FFi GE;

DENTAL MATRIX rio'nnnn.

Application filed April 8,1925. Serial No. 21,559.

This invention relates to matrix holders of the type employed by dentistsfor clamping a matrix around the patients tooth.

An object of the invention is to provide a matrix holder that will give as little discomfort as possible while the same is being used in the mouth.

Another object is to provide a construction that will insure against the patients lip pressing upon and dislodging the matrix holder from the position in which the dentist sets it.

Another object is to facilitate clamping of the matrix in the holder.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detailed description.-

The accompanyingdrawings illustrate the invention:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a dental matrix holder embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of Fig. 1 partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevationon the line indicated by 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a developed View of the matrix.

The body of the holder comprises two L-shape sections or members, 11,12 in sliding engagement. The legs of one member are positioned to correspond with the legs 7 of the other member.

The sections 11, 12 may be slidably connected in any suitable manner as, for example, by providing the section 11 with headed pins or rivets 37 that pass through slots 38 in the members 11, 12.

Relative longitudinal adjustment between the sections 11, 12 is effected by a screw 13 which is provided withright hand threads 14 in engagement with an ear 15, and left hand threads 16 in engagement with a threaded socket 17 in the member 11. The longer legs of the section 11, 12 are inclicated at 18 and the shorter legs at 19. When the screw 13 is turned movement is eifected of one section relative to the other longitudinally with respect to one of the longer legs of the other section.

The shorter legs 19, which extend normal to the path of movement, are provided with slots 20, 21, respectively, which extend longitudinally of the legs 19 and from side to side thereof. In other words, the slots are in planes that are substantially normal to the path of movement. The slots 20, 21 open to the outer end faces of the legs 19, thus furcating said legs so that the matrix, indicatedat 22, when inserted in the slots, may project beyond the outer ends of the legs 19, as is desirable in some instances. Each leg 19 is provided with holes 23, 24, the holes extending from the outer edge of one of the furcati'ons, and the holes 24 extending from said slot toward the outer edge of the other fu-rcation.

Each pair of holes 23,24 loosely accommodates a pin 25 and the pins 25 are mounted in or secured to a block 26. The blocks 26 are loosely secured in any suitable manner to the legs 19. In this. instance a screw 27 passes through a hole 28 in each block 26, there being countersinks 29 to accommodate heads 30 of the screws. The bottoms of the.

cou'n'tersinks constitute shoulders 31 which, when the blocks 26 are seated on the legs 19, are spaced from the heads 30 so that the blocks 26 can be moved for a predetermined distance from the legs 19. The pins 25 are suiiiciently long, when the blocks 26 are seated, to project into the holes 24 so that the pins 25 of either block may extend through perforations 32 inthe matrix 22 to hold said matrix securely attached to either of the sections 12, 13, and the pins of the other block will rest on the matrix. The distance that the pins 25 project through the matrix and into the holes 24 is no greater than the distance from the head 30 to the shoulder 31 so that, when. theblock 26 having its pins passing through the matrix is pulled. away from the member 12 or 13, as the case may be, to its.extremeoutward position, said pins will be withdrawn from the matrix, consequently releasing said matrix from the holder.

The perforations 32 1nay'be made in the matrix before the matrix is placed in the holder, but, preferably said holes are punched by the pins 25 which are pointed for this purpose as indicated at 33. If desired, the blocks 26 may be inserted in recesses 34 in the legs 19 so that said blocks will not project from the members 12, 13 to as great an extent as they otherwise would, thus making that portion of the holder that is inserted farthest into the. mouth of less bulk than if the blocks were not let into the legs 19. i

It may be desirable to recess one of the members 11,12 slightly adjacent to the .slot therein so that when the members 11, 12 are sliding upon one another to bring the slots 20, 21 out of alignment, the matrix will not be bent too sharply and will not tend to bind between the sections 11, 12. Such a recess is indicated at 35 in the member 11 and the junction of the wall of the slot 20 and wall of the recess 35 is provided with round ed portions 36 so that the matrix will curve around said corners when the slots 20, 21

are out of ali nment as in Fi 2. b t:

In use, the sections 11, 12 will be relatively positioned to align the slots 20, 21 and opposite ends of the matrix 22 will be brought together face to face and threaded through the slot 20 suliiciently far into the slot 21 to extend past the holes 23, 2%. Then, the block 26 nearest the ends of the matrix, will be forced inwardly, thus pressing the pins 25 through the matrix so as to clamp the matrix in place. The holder will then be placed with the legs 19 in the mouth in position to bring the loop of the matrix around the tooth that is to be operated on. Then the dentist will turn the screw 13 to cause the section 12 to slide relative to section 11, which motion pulls the matrix through the slot 20 so as to contract the open loop of the matrix about the tooth.

By having the matrix 22 protrude edgewise from the slots 20, 21, the matrix may be forced well down around the tooth close to the root portion thereof without the gums interfering with the holder or being irksome to the patient.

To release the matrix, the dentist will simply pull. the block 26 away from the member 12, thus withdrawing the pins 25 from the matrix, whereupon the matrix can be readily pulled out of the holder.

Though but one block and one pair of pins may be used, the advantage of providing two blocks is that the matrix loop may be positioned adjacent to the outer face of either body section and secured to the section that is farthest from the loop. The section adjacent to the loop and tooth is always the stationary section and that to which the matrix is connected by the pins is always the one that moves when the screw 13 is turned.

tively shift said members, there being slots in the members to receive the opposite ends of a matrix and there being axially aligned holes on opposite sides of one of the slots, a block, means connecting the block to one of the members and permitting motion of the block toward and from the slots, and a pin projecting from the block and loosely engaging in the holes.

8. A dental matrix holder comprising two L-shape members slidably connected with their longer legs positioned side by side and their shorter legs positioned side by side, means connecting the longer legs operable to cause relative longitudinal movement of the longer legs and edgewise movement of the shorter legs, the shorter legs being provided longitudinally.thereof with slots extending in planes lying transversely of the path of movement. I

4. A dental matrix holder comprising shiftably connected L-shape members, means to relatively shift said members, there being a slot in one of the legs of each member and there being axially aligned holes on opposite, sides of one of the slots, a block, means connecting the block to one of the members and permitting motion of the block toward and from the slots, and a pin projecting from the block and loosely engaging in the holes.

Signed at Ventura, California, this 31st day of March 1925.

DALTON B. SMITH.

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