US2126308A - Clamp - Google Patents

Description

S. R. BUTLER Aug. 9, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m WI/ d f d a a Mr A g- 1938. s. R BUTLER 2,126,308

CLAMP Filed July 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -Inveni0r Jaw M "JUN'IQTED STATES Patented Aug. 9, 1938 TENT OFFICE CLAMP Samuel R. Butler, Grand Island, Nebr. Application July 6, 1937, Serial No. 152,198

3 Claims.

Myinvention relates to improvements in clamps foruse in dental work and more particularly for securing denture, matrix bands, ,so called, in properposition for the filling of teeth. -;,The invention is designed with the particular Qblect in View of providing an efficient, inexpen-- sive device for positioning a matrix band along side, oraround, a tooth to be filled, drawing the band taut into close contact with the tooth and clamping the same in taut position.

Another object is to provide a device for the purposesabove set forth which is equipped for tensioning the matrix band to break the samewhen desired.

Other objects together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily understood when the following description and claims are read with reference tothe drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in top plan illustrating the manner in which a matrix band is applied in the practice of my, invention,

Figure ,2 is a view in side elevation of a tensioning, and clamping unit forming part of my invention,

Fi gure 3 is a view in longitudinal section taken on theline 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

,Figure l is a perspective view of a frame form ing part of the clamping and tensioning unit,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a denture matrix band,

Figured is a view in transverse section taken on theline 6 -6 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure '7 is a similar view taken on the line 1-1 of Figureql looking in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrows, I

V Figure 8 is a view in front elevation of a rear, or.l ingual side, matrix guide member, and Figure 9 is a view in rear elevation of said rear guide member.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the basic part of my invention is a combined tensioning and clamping unit comprising an elongated U-shaped frame 2 preferably of flat metal and having a closed end 3 and rounded free ends l on top and bottom arms 5 and 6 respectively. Pivotally mounted at one end thereof, as at l, between the free ends 4 of the frame 2 for lateral swinging movement of the frame thereon, or vice versa, is a front, or buccal side, matrix guide member 8. The free end of the front guide member 8 is provided with convergent concave sides 9 and an oblique top edge In, said sides and edge tapering to a point for fitting into the interdental space between adjoining teeth one of which is to be filled. Intermediate its ends the guide member 8 is formed with a pair of flanges l l upon opposite sides thereof, respectively, and extending. from the top to the bottom thereof, each flange having formed therein a lengthwise extending slot I2.

Between the arms 5 and 6 ,ofthe frame 2 is a block like tensioning member i3 slidably mounted thereon for adjustment endwise thereof, said tensioning member having formed therein upper and lower guideways M in which said arms 5 and 6 are countersunk. A pair of clamping levers l5 are pivotally mounted, as at it, upon opposite sides of the tensioning member i3, said levers comprising rounded pivoted ends I! spaced from the sides of the member 53 for the passage of the matrix band therebetween, and said ends I! being pivoted eccentrically for coaction with said sides of the member i3 to clamp the band between said ends and said sides when the levers l 5 are moved toward said member. An adjusting hand screw is threaded through the closed end 3 of the frame 2 and suitably mounted at its inner end, as at H), in the member it provides for adjusting said memher.

The described tensioning and clamping unit is designed to be used with a rear, or lingual, matrix guide member 20 having a front end identical with the described front end of .the front guide member 8 and adapted for insertion in the interdental space between the two aforesaid teeth from the lingual side thereof in opposed relation to the front guide member 8. The rear guide member 2!! also: includes a pair of lateral flanges 2 l, slotted, as at 22, parallel with theslots i2 of the front guide member 8 when said guide members are positioned as described. As will be understood when said guide members 8 .and 20 are so positioned-the slots on opposite sides of one member are related to the slots on the corresponding sides of the other member. The rear guide member 20 has a tail boss 23 laterally slotted, as at 24, and a set screw 25 threaded into said boss to traverse the slot 24.

Referring to the use and operation, in preparing a tooth for the filling of a side cavity, such as shown at 2B in Figure 1, and with the aid of the usual matrix band, such as shown at 21 in Figure 5, the band 2! is disposed between the tooth 28 to be filled and the adjoining one 29 adjacent to the cavity. In the further practice of the described invention, one end of the band 2! is inserted through the appropriate slot 22 in the rear guide member 2|] and clamped to said guide member by inserting said end through the slot 24 and turning the set screw 25 thereagainst. The rear guide member 20 is then inserted into the proper interdental space, as shown in Figure 1, with the intermediate stretch of the band 21 trained between the teeth 28 and 29. The other end of the band 21 is trained through the related slot l2 in the front guide member 8 and clamped between the related side of the tensioning member 13 and the appropriate clamping lever i5 in a manner which will be readily understood. The front guide member 8 is then appropriately inserted in the interdental space opposite to the rear guide member 20 with the frame 2 swung straight out, or in other words, aligned with the front and rear guide members 8 and 20. The hand screw i8 is then manipulated to pull the matrix band 21 taut. The frame 2 is then swung inwardly on the pivot 1 toward the mouth and in the direction of the side thereof to which the matrix band 27 is clamped. This operation kinks the matrix band 21 around the edge of the slot l2 through which it is trained to thereby frictionally lock said band in taut position. If the band M is not sufiiciently taut greater tension may be obtained by further adjustment of the tensioning member l3 after the frame 2 has been swung into the position indicated. The extent to which the frame 2 is swung is optional. Preferably said frame should extend in its swung position substantially at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the front guide member 8 as shown in Figure 1. As will be clear by the initial tensioning of the matrix band 21, as described, the front and rear guide members 8 and 20 are forced home simultaneously with such tension and by the swinging of the frame 2, as described, said guide members are locked in home position under the tension exerted on said band. 'When it is desired to remove the matrix band 27, the end thereof clamped to the tensioning member l3 may be released by proper movement of the appropriate clamping lever I5 and the other end released by loosening the set screw 25. The guide members 8 and 20 and the frame 2 may be then removed and the matrix band 2? torn in two in the usual manner and pulled out. If desired the matrix band may be notched as at 30 to weaken the same, at an appropriate point, and a sufficient tension exerted thereagainst by the setting of the tensioning member 13 to snap the band in two at the weakest point. The parts may then be removed as desired.

As will be clear either side of the described devices may be used in tensioning and clamping the band 2! in accordance with the location of the tooth to be filled.

In another use of the invention the matrix band 21 may be looped around a tooth and both ends thereof inserted through the slots I2 of the front clamping member 8 and clamped to opposite sides of the tensioning member [3 by means of both levers l5 and said band tensioned by adjustment of the hand screw l8 with the frame 2 swung into alignment with the longitudinal axis of the front guide member 8. In this use the band 21 may be appropriately positioned for the filling of a cavity in the rear side of a tooth.

Other uses and operations of the invention may be resorted to, but it is not deemed essential to a clear understanding of the invention to enter into such other uses and operations herein.

Manifestly the invention as described is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a dental clamp for use with a denture matrix band, a pair of front and rear guide members, respectively, for insertion in opposed relation in the inter-dental spaces between adjacent teeth, one member including means for securing one end of said band thereto, and the other member being provided with a guide slot for the passage of an intermediate portion of said band therethrough, and manipulative means on said other member for gripping the other end of the band and tensioning the same, and comprising a swingably mounted clamping and tensioning unit.

2. In a dental clamp for use with a denture matrix band, a pair of front and rear guide members, res ectively, for insertion in opposed relation in the inter-dental spaces between adjacent teeth, one member including means for securing one end of said band thereto, and the other member being provided with a guide slot for the passage of an intermediate portion of said band therethrough, and manipulative means on said other member for gripping the other end of the band and tensioning the same, and comprising a swingably mounted unit including cooperating clamping devices, and means for adjusting said devices toward or from said other member.

3. In a dental clamp for use with a denture matrix band, a pair of front and rear guide members, respectively, for insertion in opposed relation in the inter-dental spaces between adjacent teeth, one member including means for securing one end of said band thereto, and the other member being provided with a guide slot for the passage of an intermediate portion of said band therethrough, and manipulative means on said other member for gripping the other end of the band and tensioning the same, and comprising a G

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