US2254556A - Anatomical dental flask - Google Patents

Description

P 1941 J. E. WAGNER 2,254,556

ANATOMICAL DENTAL FLASK Filed April 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllls i 'iiTnnllfli p 2, J. E. WAGNER ANATOMICAL DENTAL FIJASK 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 26, 1940 Ill/ll] Jay 15! Wag/lei Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STTES OFFICE 8 Claims.

The invention relates to dental flasks and more particularly to a flask constructed in accordance with the anatomical shape of the human maxillary and mandible arches.

Under present practice, dentures are constructed in flasks the sections of which are usually separated upon substantially horizontal lines having no relation to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and mandible arches.

Such flasks make no provision for following out the details of the anatomical shape of the human jaw in the construction of dentures therein.

It is also necessary that the investment in such unanatomical flasks be undercut causing frequent fractures of the cast or denture formed therein.

Considerable difficulty is experienced in the use of such dental flasks as are now generally used due to distortion of the physical shape of the flask under necessary pressures while in use, which frequently results in distortion or fracture of the denture being formed therein.

Difficulty is also experienced in separating the sections of the flasks toremove the completed denture, and in removing the investment from the opened flask as the denture is frequently broken in this operation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a dental flask which overcomes the ob-J'ections to the type of flasks now in general use.

A further object is toprovide a flask in which the upper and lower sections thereof separate along anatomical lines conforming to the human maxillary and mandible arches.

A further object is the provision of a flask which will permit of investing the denture case for construction following out in all details of anatomical variations of the human maxillary and mandible arches.

A still further object is to provide such a flask in which the lower section is provided with a heel of suflicient height to permit a positive protection to the casts from fracture during the process of construction under the various pressures which of a necessity must be applied, to insure a correct anatomical finished product.

Another object is the provision of a dental flask in which the upper section has a long or deep front which provides substantially three times as much space for the recaption of the anterior upper teeth, assuring greater protection against movement or displacement of the teeth under the necessary pressure to alford a properl finished product. 1

Still another object is the provision of a dental flask which permits an investment void of any undercuts which might cause fractures of the cast or teeth.

A further object is the provision of a flask having novel means for locking the flask sections to ether at the heel and face of the flask, providing a dual locking of the sections which prevents forward, backward or lateral movement or shifting of the flask sections relative to each other.

.A still further object is the provision of such a flask with a lid lock which together with the above mentioned dual lock provides a triple lock for locking the entire flask absolutely rigidly together as a unit, thus, dispensing with the necessity of the mechanical clamps and presses ordinarily used.

Still another object is the provision of reinforcement ribs on the top of the lid of the flask to prevent buckling under pressure.

Still another object is to provide a dental flask in which the entire stress of necessary pressures under development or construction of the denture is carried by the flask itself instead of being applied aaginst the internal investment.

Another object is to provide such a flask in which the sections can be opened and closed on anatomical lines, preserving the internal investment to such an extent as to permit duplication, of the denture in a great majority of cases.

A still further object is to provide a flask having a lid or cover lock provided with degree markings for carefully recording the position of the lock for the original investment so as to exactly duplicate the amount of wax in the case with the dental material, either rubber or plastic of which the plate is made.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description or which may be later referred to may be attained by constructing the improved dental flask in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a dental flask embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, a rear or heel elevation of the flaskf Fig. 3, a side elevation of the flask;

Fig. 4, a longitudinal sectional View through the flask showing the position of an upper plate therein;

Fig. 5, a separated or expanded View of the flask sections and lid or cover;

Fig. 6, a plan View of a slightly modified form of the improved flask which is especially adapted for forming lower plates; 7

Fig. 7, a rear or heel elevation of the flask shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 9, a top plan view of the lower section of the flask shown in Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive;

Fig. 10, a longitudinal sectional view through the modified form of flask showing the position of a lower plate therein; and

Fig. 11, a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line I l-l I, Fig. 8.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The improved dental flask to which the invention pertains comprises generally the lower or drag section [5, the upper or cope section [6 and the lid or cover I i.

The several parts of the flask may be, formed of manganese bronze, brass or other suitable material.

The lower or drag section comprises the bottom wall IB and-the continuous side wall l9 upwardly flared as indicated in the drawings so as to provide sufficient draft to permit easy removal of the investment.

Thef-ace or front 20 of the lower flask section is approximately one-half the height of the heel or back 2| thereof so that the upper edge of this section may be substantially straight or horizontal at the front of the flask as shown at 22 and then curves upwardly and rearwardly conforming substantially to' the curve of Spee or compensating curve of the human jaw as indicated at 23 and meetingthe straight substantially horizontal upper edge'24-at the heel or back of the flask. r

The upper or cope section iii of the flask is open at both the top and bottom and comprises the continuous downwardly flared sidewall 25, the

the two'sections of the flask against lateral as well as forward or'backward movement relative to each other and comprises open downwardly tapered exterior pockets 3| formed upon the exterior of the lower section I at the centers of the front and back thereof, and correspondingly shaped depending tapered lugs 32 formed upon the upper section It and adapted to snugly fit within said pockets asbestshown in Figs. 2 and 7..

V For the purpose of providing means for quickly and easily separating the flask sections an inner central recess 33 is, formedin the'top of eachpocket 3! to permit a flat tool such as a screw driver or knife to be inserted beneath the ends of the lugs 32 in order to pry the top section upward.

gaging under the pocket portions 3| of the rib on the lower section. These bolts extend through openings in the ears 38 formed at the front and back of the cover or lid.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, each of these ears may have'an inclined upper surface as shown at 39 provided with one or more teeth 40 for engagement with the teeth 4| upon the inclined undersurface of the cam clamping member 42 provided with a lever handle 43 for operating.

provided upon the top of the lid or cover I! for indicating the position of each cam lever 43 in the original investment, permitting of a perfect recording of the amount of wax in the case, which must be exactly duplicated with the dental material, either rubber or plastic, of which the plate is made. v

A reinforcing rib 41 is preferably provided around the edge of the lid or cover I! and one or more ribs 48 may be formed upon the surface thereof to prevent distortion of the lid under pressure.

Either form of the flask may be used for making both upper and lower plates, but the form shown in Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, is especially d: adapted for makinglower plates as the heel or rear side of each section of this flask is provided at each side with the recesses 49 to accommodate the heel of the lower plate to be formed therein;

, As shown in Fig. 8 andFig. 10, the upper edge of the lower flask section may be provided at each side, near the rear or heel of the flask with a substantially half-round notch 50 to receive a corresponding shaped-lug 5| depending from the 401edge of the upper flask section.

5; relative forward and backward movement of the flask sections.

As best shown in Fig. 11, the opposed or meeting edges of the upper and lower flask sections may be inwardly inclined as shown at 52 so as mm cause the sections to fit more tightly together.

In Fig. 4- is shownin dotted lines at 53 the position of an upper plate within the flask, and in Fig. 10 is shown in dotted lines at 54 the position of a lower plate within the flask.

The upper edge of the cope or upper section [6 7 may be provided with tapered notches 34 to receive the depending tapered lugs 35 at the edge of the lid or cover H.

The triple locking means for locking the two sections and the lid or cover together includes, bolts 35 having hooked lower ends 31 for. en-'75 the flask may be opened and closed on anatomi These views show how the height of theheel of the lower flask section provides a positive protection to the casts from fracture during the process of construction under the pressures which must of necessity be applied, to assure a correct anatomical finished product.

It will also be seen how the long front of theupper flask section permitssubstantially three times as much space for the recaption of the gQaHtGIiOI' upper teeth, assuring greater protection from movement or displacement, of the teeth under the necessary pressures.

It will also be obvious th-a-tthe improved flask permits an investment void of any undercuts which might cause fractures of the cast or teeth, this being on account of the anatomical lines of the flask. V 7

It will be seen that owing to the shape of the flask sections and the draft provided therein,

cal lines, preserving; the internal investment to such an extent as permitting duplication of the denture in the great majority of cases.

This direct opening of the flask which protects the internal investment makes it possible to reproduce the second denture on the original investment or cast.

It has been found that in the use of the improved flask that it is not necessary to melt the wax in order to open the flask as the heat created under chemical reaction during the first or 6 minutes of the setting of the plaster in the internal investment creates sufflcient heat to permit the flask to be opened cold.

The fundamental, anatomic basic theories in the construction of this flask may be appreciated from a careful study of the picture of the human skull appearing on page 34, Fig. 1 of Prosthetic Dentistry, by Ira Goodsell Nichols, D. D. 5., Lieutenant Commander, U. S. N. B.

At page 38 of this same volume is shown the above mentioned curve of Spec or compensating curve known to exist in all human anatomy, and recognized since the early study of dental science.

Pages 216 to 233 show the use of various denture cases under construction and demonstrate the importance of preserving in the finished denture the same curves of the honey structures.

Pages 238 and 239 of the same volume treat upon the investing of the case to preserve the features of the set-up, and as illustrated show how under present practice this is attempted in an unanatomic flat line flask which does not permit of an investment void of undercuts with direct ease of opening for trial test packing, or for obtaining the correct amount ofdenture material for proper construction of a welladapted, comfortably fitting denture due to distorting and fractures of the internal investment.

I claim:

1. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and, mandible arches and comprising a relatively low, straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined by upwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw.

2. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively low straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined by upwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw, the back wall of the lower section being substantially twice the height of the front wall thereof.

3. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and mandible arches, and being substantially straight at the front and rear of the flask and curved upward and rearward at each side of the flask substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw.

4. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively low straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined by upwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw, the front wall of the upper section being substantially twice the height of the rear wall thereof.

5. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively low straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined by upwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw, and external reinforcing ribs around the meeting edge portions of the flask sections.

6. A dental flask including a lower section and A an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conformin to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and mandible arches, and being substantially straight at the front and rear of the flask and curved upward and rearward at each side of the flask substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw, there being substantially half-round notches in the edge of one flask section near the rear of the flask and cooperating lugs upon the other flask section.

7. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges, the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of the human maxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively low straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined by upwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw, said meeting edges of the flask sections being inwardly inclined.

8. A dental flask including a lower section and an upper section fitting together at their opposed edges; the contour of the meeting edges of the flask sections substantially conforming to the anatomical lines of the humanmaxillary and mandible arches and comprising a relatively low. straight front edge and a relatively high straight rear edge joined by upwardly and rearwardly curved side edges substantially conforming to the anatomical curve of the human jaw, there being tapered'pockets upon the exterior of the lower flask section at the front and rear in the median line thereof, and cooperating tapered lugs upon the upper section.

JAY E. WAGNER.

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