US2286288A

US2286288A - Dental bite recorder

Info

Publication number: US2286288A
Application number: US405716A
Authority: US
Inventors: Matthew J Lover
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-08-06
Filing date: 1941-08-06
Publication date: 1942-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-16

Description

June 16, 1942.

ML J. LOVER DENTAL BITE RECORDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1941 June 16, 1942.

1 DENTAL BITE RECORDER Filed Aug 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. J. LOVER 2,286,288

June 16, 1942. LVER 2,286,288-

DENTAL BITE RECORDER Filed Aug. 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet; 3

Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES TET OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to dental appliances.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for obtaining the correct impression for either upper or lower plates.

Another object of this invention is to provide an impression carrier which is so designed that the true biting position can be accurately determined and obtained, in order that either or both plates can be accurately made.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bite testing and determining apparatus which includes upper and lower impression material receiving tray members insertible in unison into the mouth and which are hingedly and movably connected together in such a manner that one tray may be shifted endwise, laterally or radially with respect to the other tray and then secured in its shifted position. In this manner, either one or both of the dental plates may be accurately formed from the impression material for proper positioning in the mouth.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an apparatus of this kind an improved means for connecting the upper and lower tray members together so that any desired adjustment thereof may be obtained while the said members are positioned in the mouth of the patient, the members being movable by the patient through contact with the jaws.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device by means of which an impression and bite may be obtained in a single operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred to functioning substantially as the human mandible does with substantially the same degree of accuracy.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred to having when used, five distinct bearing points as it may move in unison, forwardly or backwardly in a definite path and act as a rotation center, and by its use an impression and bite may be obtained at the same time. 7

A further object of the invention is toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred to having a hinged-like movement to a limited extend employed in opening and closing the mouth for the introduction of the appliance.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred to having a protrusive movement employed to determine the rearranging or changing of the position of the mandible to the proper mastication grooves.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred to having provisions for right or left lateral movements, as the condyle paths vary in different individuals, and frequently in the same person in their length, curvature and angular inclination, and because of these conditions the appliance is so formed that it will provide for recording every movement in the mouth of a patient to a degree of accuracy.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a dental appliance for the purpose referred to which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled, thoroughly efficient in the use intended thereby and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the objects aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the appliance showing the adaptation thereof relative to the simulation of a header a person, the simulation being set forth in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is an inverted View of the lower tray member,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the appliance, Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the appliance, Figure 5 is a section on line 55, Figure 4, Figure 6 is an extended View of the appliance looking towards the lower face of the upper tray member and towards the upper face of the lower tray member.

Figure '7 is a section on line 1-1, Figure 6, Figure 8 is a section on line 88, Figure 6, Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in top plan of the lower tray member, with the apertured support for the shank or stem of the upper tray member not shown,

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view partly in section of the upper tray member, and

Figure 11 is a front elevation of the apertured support element forming a part of the lower tray member.

The appliance includes a lower tray member or element and an upper tray member or element disposed in superposed relation with respect to the said other member or element. The lower and upper members aforesaid are generally indicated at !2, l3 respectively. The members l2 and I3 constitute, respectively, lower and upper impression material receiving trays. The member l2 will be of a contour substantially corresponding to the well known form of the lower impression trays, now generally used in dentistry. The member 13 will be of a contour substantially corresponding to the well known form of upper impression trays now generally employed by dentists. and width than the length and width of the member l3.

The tray member i2 is of inverted channel shape, substantially of semi-ovoidal contour inplan, and is formed of two different materials, one of which may be a plastic material or composition, such as hard rubber or Bakelite, and the other a metallic dental material. However if desired the tray members l2 and [3 may be made solely out of metallic material. ber I2 is open at its bottom and rear and closed at its sides, top, and front. The major part of the member I2 is formed of plastic material and its remaining portion of metallic material. That part of plastic material of the member I2 is indicated at M, and the portion of metallic material formed of two spaced sections is indicated at The part l4 and the sections l5 are of inverted yoke shape. The part l4 (Figure 2) of the member 12 is formed of a base or top wall IS, an inner depending flange I! integral The member I2 is of greater length The memat its upper end with and of less length than the inner side edge of wall l5, and an outer depending fiange l6 integral at its upper end with and corresponding in length to the outer side edge of wall it. The ends of the flange I! are spaced forwardly of the ends of the wall It and the ends of the flange E8. The inner sides of the metallic sections l5 form rearward continuations of the flange i3 and lateral inward extensions 2| of the base wall IS.

The outer side 22 and bight 23 of a metallic section l5 (Figure 7) are embedded respectively in the flange l8 and the base wall 16. The said outer sides 22 (Figure 4) extend downwardly and rearwardly from the flange I8. The bights 23 (Figure 4) extend rearwardly from the base wall It. Each terminal portion of the wall it has its inner side formed with a cutout 24 (Figure 2) within which is arranged the upper part of an inner side 20 of a section Id. The said upper parts of the inner sides 20 of the sections I 5 abut the edges of the cutouts 24. The said inner sides 28 not only form rearward continuations oi the flange l? but also constitute stationary hinge members of a pair of hinges. The inner side 20 of each section I5 is of greater thickness than the outer side 22 of the section and is flush at its bottom edge and outer face with the bottom edge and outer face of the flange 11;

Each inner side 23 of a section l5 (Figure 7) has formed therein and lengthwise thereof a pocket or chamber 25 of oval contour in vertical section, and also an opening (Figures 5 and '7) lengthwise thereof which communicates with the chamber 25 through the outer side wall of the latter and opens at the outer face of said outer side 20. The opening 26 is of less height than and is disposed centrally with respect to the outer wall of the chamber 25. The opening 26 corresponds in length to the length of the chamber 25 with which it is correlated. Each chamber 25 is for receiving the outer head of a sliding pivot or pintle of a shiftable hinge member for correlation with a stationary hinge member, and the said pivot and shiftable hinge member will be more fully referred to.

In forming the inner side 20 this side may be initially formed in two

sections

20 and 20 the section 29* being formed with the slot 26. The section 20 constitutes a cap for closing the slot 26 and the chamber 25 and may be secured to the section 2E! along the dotted line 23 (Figure 5) in any suitable manner, it being understood that the metallic sections 252 and 20* are formed from dental metal which is more readily formed or shaped than other metal.

The tray member 12 has secured to the upper face of the base wall l6 (Figures 3, 6, 8 and 9) a pair of upstanding spaced oppositely disposed curved. open top hollow members 27 for a purpose to be referred to. The forward ends 23 (Figure 9) 'of the members 21 are open and their rear ends 28 closed. The said ends 28 are arranged adjacent to each side of the transverse median of the wall [6. The members'Zl constitute sustainers for a supporting element 3% of arcuate contour. The element 30 is formed on its front and its face with a pair of oppositely disposed spaced elongated longitudinally disposed shoulders 31 (Figures 8 and 11), each extending from anend of element 30 to a point adjacent the vertical median of the latter. The element 38 has its front and rear faces formed with a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding curved steps 32 depending from the inner ends of the shoulders 3|. The steps 32 only on the front face of element 30 are shown (Figure 11).

The portions 33 of the element 30 below the shoulders 3| and laterally of the steps 32 are of less thickness (Figures 8 and 11) than the portions of element 30 between the stops 32 and above the shoulders 3 I. When the element 3!] is in position for use, the portions 33 thereof are .extended into the members 21, the shoulders 3| are seated on the upper edges of the walls of said members 21, and the stops 32 bear against the inner ends of the front walls of members 27. By this arrangement, the element 30 is sustained in upwardly extending relation with respect to tray member l2 and is prevented from shifting relative to its sustaining means. The element 39 (Figures 1, 5, 6 and 11) at the center of its top edge is formed with a forwardly directed lip 34 provided with inner and outer rows of spaced opening 35, and such element 30 has its front directly below the inner row of openings 35 formed with spaced vertical grooves 3-5 registering at their upper ends with the rear of such openings 35. The purpose of the lip 34, openings 35 and grooves 35 will be referred to. The element 3D is for correlation with the tray member l3, when using the appliance, and the manner in which such elements correlate with the tray member l3 will be hereinafter set forth.

As heretofore referred to, each inner 'side 20 of a section l5 of the tray member l2 provides a stationary hinge member of a hinge, and there is correlated with such side 20 a shiftable hinge member of the hinge. The shiftable hinge member is indicated at 31 and consists of an arm 38 (Figure 4) formed with a tapered socket 39 at one end (Figure '7) thereof. Arranged within and extending from the socket 39 is a bushing or bearing 40 having the major portion of its inner'facetapered as at 4| and its remaining portion 42 'of uniform diameter. Positioned within the bushing 40, as well asextending laterally from the latter is a pivot or pintle 'member 43 formed of a tapered body 44 arranged in the portion 4| of bearing 40, an inner head 45 seated in the portion 42 of the bearing 40, a curved breast 46 upon which is mounted the outer end of the bearing 40, a neck 41 extended from the breast 45 through'the opening 26 into the chamber 25 and an outer circular head 48 arranged in the chamber 25 of greater length in diametrical section than the width of opening 26.

The construction of the pintle member 43 and its arrangement relative to the bearing 40and inner side 20 of a section I is such as to provide for slidably and pivotally connecting the shiftable hinge member to the stationary hinge member of a hinge. The hinges connected to the lower tray member l2 are for correlation with the upper tray member l3 and the manner in which they correlate with the upper tray member, as well as their purpose will be hereinafter referred to.

Theupper tray member I3 is open at its top and rear and closed at its sides and front. The member I3 includes a base wall 49 substantially of semi-ovoidal contour in plan and of a form corresponding to the base wall of upper impression trays now in general use by dentists. The member l3 further includes an upstanding flange 50 which at its lower end merges into the wall 49 at the sides and front edges of such wall. The body of the tray member 13 is formed of any suitable plastic material with an edge reinforcement or hinder 5| of suitable metallic dental material. The binder5l is disposed throughout the top edge and end edges of the flange 50 and portions of the rear edge of wall 49. Embedded at its rear in the wall 49 and directed forwardly from the body of the tray member 13 is a retaining stem 52 consisting of a straight intermediate portion 54 formed with spaced openings 55 and a depending vertically disposed outer end portion 56 and a depending inner portion 53. The portion 53 and the inner partof the portion 54 are embedded in the wall 49. The purpose of the stem 52 will be referred to.

The appliance includes an automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure for the purpose of connecting the upper tray to the shiftable hinge members 31 of the hinges and to permit of one of the traymembers moving relative to the other when such tray members are coupled together. The said structure comprises a pair of spaced parallel coupling tubes 51 which are integral at their rear ends with theother or upper ends of the arms 38 of the hinge members 31. 'The tubes 51 are directed forwardly towards the stem 52. Secured to the lowerfa'ce of the Wall 49 directly below the portion 53fof the stem and integral therewith is the bight 58 of a U-shaped coupling member 59 which slidably correlates with the tubes 51 for coupling the tray member l3 to the shiftable hinge members 3'! of the hinges. The arms of the member 59 are indicated at 50 and are directed rearwardly from the bight 58. The arms 60 are disposed in telescopic slidable relation with respect to the tubes 51. Eacharm 6|! has an enlarged forward end Bl which merges into an end of and offsets the arm 60 downwardly with respect to an end of the bight 58, whereby the said arms are spaced from the lower face of the wall 49 -to form a clearance for the tubes 51. The tubes 51 constituteslide members and the I arms '60 guide members.'- T r 7 The manner in which the tray member- [3 is coupled with the shiftable hinge members 51 and the manner in which the said members 51 are connected with the tray member l2 permits of the shifting of one tray member relative to the other when the appliance is arranged relative to the mouth of a person in the manner as shown by Figure 1, or in other words, toprovide for the appliance to function as the human mandible does with the same degree of accuracy as the appliance may move in unison, forward or backward, travel in a definite path and act as a rotation center. With its use an impression and bite may be obtained at the same time.

The construction of the appliance as aforesaid gives it a hinge-like movement to a limited extent employed in opening and closing the mouth for the introduction thereof. The construction of the appliance, as aforesaid, provides it with a protusive movement employed to determine the rearranging or changing of the position of the mandible to the proper mastication grooves. The appliance also functions substantially similar to an articulator due to the manner' in which'the trays are hinged together.

The impression material is arranged in the tray members after which the appliance is inserted in the mouth of a person. The moving of the jaws of the person' will provide for the adjusting of one tray member relative to the other to dispose such tray members in position for obtaining the desired'impression and bite, after which the tray members are latched in their adjusted position. The latching of such members is had by the correlation of a latching pin [i2 with registering openings of the lip 34 and the stem 52 as is shown in full lines in Figure 1 and in dotted lines in Figure 5. The lip 34 constitutes a support for the stem 52. The element 30 in connection with the stem 52 provides for the holding of the front of the tray member [3 and the front of the coupling structure in superposed relation with respect to the front of the tray member l2. The shiftable hinge members act to hold the rear of the coupling structure and rear of tray member 13 in superposed relation with respect to the rear of the tray member I2.

What I claim is: Y

1. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, an upper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation with respect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of moving in different paths relatively to the other, said lower member having opposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hinge members, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected to said stationary hinge members, and an automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure disposed between said tray members and being fixed at one end to said shiftable hinge members and at its other end to. said upper tray member.

2. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, an upper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation with respect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of moving in different paths relatively to the other, said lower member having opposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hinge members, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected to said sta tionary hinge members, and a horizontally disposed' automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposed between said tray members and having its rear end fixed to said shiftable hinge members and its forward end fixed to said upper tray member.

3. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, an upper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation with respect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of moving in different paths relatively to the other, said lower member having opposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hinge members, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected to said stationary hinge members, an automatically lengthwise adjustablecoupling structure disposed between said tray members and being fixed at one end to said shiftable hinge members and at its other end to said upper tray member, coacting means on said tray members for supporting the front of the upper tray member relative to the lower tray member, and said coupling structure and said shiftable hinge members coacting for supporting the rear of said upper tray member relative to the lower tray member.

4. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, an upper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation with respect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of moving in different paths relatively to the other, said lower member having opposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hinge members, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected to said stationary hinge members, a horizontally disposed automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposed between said tray members and having its rear end fixed to said shiftable hinge members and its forward end fixed to said upper tray member, coacting means on said tray members for supporting the front of the upper tray member relative to the lower tray member, and said coupling structure and said shiftable hinge members coacting for supporting the rear of said upper tray member relative to the lower tray member.

5. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, an upper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation with respect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of moving in different paths relatively to the other, said lower member having opposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hinge members, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected to said stationary hinge members, an automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure disposed between said tray members and being fixed at one end to said shiftable hinge members and at its other end to said upper tray member, coacting means on said tray members for supporting the front of the upper tray member relative to the lower tray member, and said coupling structure and said shiftable hinge members coacting for supporting the rear of said upper tray member relative to the lower tray member, the said coacting means being so formed for receiving at selective points thereof a latching means to arrest the shifting of one of said tray members relative to the other.

6. A dental appliance comprising a lower impression tray member, an upper impression tray member disposed in superposed relation with respect to the lower member, one of said members being capable of moving in different paths relatively'to the other, said lower. member having opposed parts thereof being so formed to provide stationary hinge members, shiftable hinge members pivotally and slidably connected to said stationary hinge members, a horizontally disposed automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposed between said tray members and having its rear end fixed to said shiftable hinge members and its forward end fixed to said upper tray member, coacting means on said tray members for supporting the front of the upper tray memberrelative to the lower tray member, and said coupling structure and said shiftable hinge members coacting for supporting the rear of said upper tray member relative to the lower tray member, the said coacting means being so formed for receiving at coacting selective points thereof a latching means to arrest the shifting of one of said tray members relative to the other.

7. The invention as set forthby claim 1 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with said tubes.

8. The invention as set forth by claim 2 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with said tubes.

9. The invention as set forth by claim 3 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with said tubes.

10. The invention as set forth by claim 4 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with said tubes.

11. The invention as set forth by claim 5 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members anda yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with said tubes.

12. The invention as set forth by claim 6 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with said tubes.

13. In a dental appliance lower and upper impression tray members disposed in superposed spaced relation, said tray members being automatically adjust-able relatively to each other, hinge means at the rear of and extending upwardly from said lower tray member, said means including a pair of stationary parts fixed to the lower tray member and a pair of shiftable parts pivotally and slidably connected to said stationary parts, and an automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposed between said tray members and having one end fixed to said shiftable parts and its other end fixed to the bottom of said upper tray member.

14. In a dental appliance lower and upper impression tray members disposed in superposed spaced relation, said tray members being automatically adjustable relatively to each other, hinge means at the rear of and extending upwardly from said lower tray member, said means including a pair of stationary parts fixed to the lower tray member and a pair of shiftable parts pivotally and slidably connected to said stationary parts, an automatically lengthwise adjustable coupling structure interposed between said tray members and having one end fixed to said shiftable parts and its other end fixed to the bottom of said upper tray member, and coacting means on said tray members for supporting the front of the upper tray member over and spaced from said lower tray member, said coacting means being so formed for receiving a latching means to arrest the adjusting of the tray members relative to each other and for holding the tray members in adjusted relation, and said shiftable parts and coupling structure coacting for supporting the rear of the upper tray member over and spaced from the lower tray memebr.

15. The invention as set forth by claim 1 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with a said tubes, the said arms of said yoke-shaped parts being disposed in offset relation with respect to the lower face of said upper tray member.

16 The invention as set forth by claim 2 having said coupling structure consisting of a pair of spaced tubes carried by said shiftable hinge members and a yoke-shaped part having its bight carried by said upper tray member and its arms disposed in slidable telescopic engagement with said tubes, the said arms of said yoke-shaped part being disposed in offset relation with respect to the lower face of said upper tray member.

17. A dental appliance comprising lower and upper impression tray members disposed in superposed spaced relation, a pair of spaced parallel downwardly ofiset rearwardly extending guide members carried by and disposed below said upper tray member, and a pair of spaced parallel upwardly ofiset forwardly extending tubular slide members pivotally and slidably connected with said lower tray member, arranged over the latter and having slidably mounted therein said guide members.

18. A dental appliance comprising lower and upper impression tray members disposed in superposed spaced relation, a pair of spaced parallel downwardly offset rearwardly extending guide members carried by and disposed below said upper tray member, a pair of spaced parallel upwardly ofiset forwardly extending tubular slide members pivotally and slidably connected with said lower tray member, arranged over the latter and having slidably mounted therein said guide members, means for supporting the front of the upper tray member over and spaced from the lower tray member, and said guide and slide members providing for supporting the rear of the upper tray member over and spaced from said a lower tray member.

MATTHEW J. LOVER.