US2036735A

US2036735A - Dental impression tray

Info

Publication number: US2036735A
Application number: US15675A
Authority: US
Inventors: Welker Harry Logue
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-04-10
Filing date: 1935-04-10
Publication date: 1936-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 1953-04-07

Description

AWM 7 Wm., H. L, WELKER DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Filed April lO, 1955 Patented Apr. 7, 1936 t UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Application April 10,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful 1mprovements in dental impression trays, such as are commonly employed for taking plaster impressions in the making of artificial teeth.

In this art, it is the usual practice to use separate impression trays forl taking plaster impressions for the upper and lower sets of artificial teeth. It is the object of the present invention to provide a standard lower impression tray with a detachable palate member which can be applied instantly to such tray to adapt it for use in taking upper impressions.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a perspective View of a preferred form of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the detachable member which forms an essential part of the combination illustrated in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a. fragmentary section to an enlarged scale taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

As shown in the drawing, the invention comprises an impression tray I of standard construction, and commonly used for taking a plaster im,- pression in the making of lower sets of artificial teeth. This tray l comprises a perforated trough shaped body 2 having inner and outer iianges 3 and 4 merging at their rear ends into the body 2. A stiiening rim 5 of channel cross section is se cured detachably and by friction fit to the top and end edges of theflanges 3 and li.

The stiifening rim 5 forms a smooth inverted U-shaped channel member which seats over and covers the rough edges of the perforated flanges. The impression tray, as illustrated in the drawing, is of the water-cooled type in which a tube 6 extends around the bottom of the trough bounded by the side flanges of the tray, and is soldered thereto in the usual manner. The outer ends 'I and 8 of the tube 6, are provided with nipples 9 and I0, respectively, adapted t receive the ends of flexible tubing for conducting cooling liquid through the tubing within the tray. A handle I I secured to the bottom wall of the tray facilitates the operation of holding the tray in position during the taking of an impression of the upper and lower parts of the mouth of a patient.

Asso far described, there is nothing novel about the impression tray, and the water-cooling tubing does not have any material effect on the essential part of the invention, designated herein 1935, Serial N0. 15,675

generally by the reference numeral I2. The part I2 is shaped in outline to conform to the curvature of the top and end edges of the inner flange 3 of the tray; and comprises a body I3 which may be made of any suitable material, but pref- 5 erably of stainless steel orI other metal not subject to corrosion during the ordinary use of the instrument.

The body I3 terminates at its opposite ends in horns I4 and I5 which are curved to conform to the curvature, in two dimensions, of the ends of the inner flange 3. The outer edge of the body I3 and the horns I4 and I5 are provided with a groove I 6 which fits with friction tight fit over that part of the rim 3 which extends around the top edge of the inner flange 3 and the ends thereof where they curve downwardly to merge with the bottom of the tray. This body I3 is shaped roughly to the curvature of the palate of the average size mouth, in which devices of this kind are intended to be used.

It will be obvious from inspection of the drawing that the palate member I3 can be attached to, or detached from, the tray member 2, almost instantly. 'Ihere is nothing complicated or likely 2f to get out of order about the invention; it is eX- tremely simple and can be manufactured in quantity very easily and at low cost. Its use avoids the necessity of a dentist having to purchase separate trays for taking upper and lower impressions. Obviously, the palate member I3 can be cast or stamped out in quantities which would enable it to be sold profitably at a very small fraction of the cost of the standard type impression tray.

While I have shown the invention as connected up to well-known form of impression tray, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be considered as limited to use with this particular form, since it is obvious that changes in the construction of the impression tray would involve a corresponding change in the structure olf the correspondingly shaped palate member. The invention is therefore to be considered as limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is: 45

1. A dental impression tray comprising a dental tray adapted to be employed in taking plastic impressions of the lower jaw, said tray comprising a substantially U-shaped base conforming in general contour to that of the gums in the average human mouth and having anges upstanding from its inner and outer edges, the inner flange of the tray having its edge shaped to define a lingual cavity, and a plate shaped to correspond to said lingual cavity and detachably connected 55 from its inner and outer edges, the inner flange of the tray having its edge shaped to dene a lingual cavity, and a plate shaped to correspond to said cavity and having its front edge grooved to seat with friction t on the edge dening said lingual cavity to adapt said tray for use in taking impressions of the palatal arch and upper jaw.

HARRY LOGUE WELKER.