Jul 20, 1948. R sANDHoFE-R 2,445,639

ARTICULATING APPARATUS FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH Filed Aug. 5, 1945 Fig.2 Fig.1

5 Q1 E11 I 5 59'3 v s Fig. 8

. m 5 .11 H 42 F 1 Fig.15

Patented July 20, 1948 UNITED STATES ARTICULATING APPARATUS FOR ARTIFICIAL TEETH Richard Sandhofer, Zurich, Switzerlaml Application'August 5, 1943,. Serial No. 497,460 In Switzerland March 16, 1942 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 16, 1962 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to an articulating apparatus for artificial teeth.

The characteristic feature of the invention is that only one set of shifting surfaces is necessary for the combined movement of the lower jaw model. If the lower human jaw makes the movement for the side bite, the lower jaw moves forwardly and downwardly but at the same time also sidewise.

Apparatus for articulating the teeth before they are worn, are known.

Now the known apparatus need several sets of shifting surfaces for the movement of the lower jaw model. At first with the use of one set of surfaces the lower jaw model is moved forwardly and downwardly and afterwards another set of surfaces is necessary to move the lower jaw model sidewise. But these two separate movements do not correspond with the real combined movement of the human jaw. Therefore it is important, that with the use of only one set of shifting surfaces of the invention the real movement of the human lower jaw can be reached.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of the articulating apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows a section according to line II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a section according to line II--II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a section according to line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a section according to line IVIV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 shows a bottom view of Fig. 1.

Figs. 7 and 8 show another articulating apparatus.

Fig. '7 shows a section according to line V'I-VI of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 shows a. section according to line V-V of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows the scheme of a third articulating apparatus. 7

Figs. 10-15 show different positions of the articulating surfaces.

Figs. 1-6 shows an articulating apparatus for artificial teeth, fitted with the upper jaw model and the lower jaw model 2. The upper jaw model carries the arm 5 with the aperture 1 and the lower jaw model 2 carries the arm 6 with the aperture 8. The aperture 1 is fitted with the removable pin II and the aperture 8 is fitted with the removable pin l2. The upper jaw model is furnished with the inclined surfaces 3 and 4,

which meet each other under a certain angle at the line Ill. The latter cuts the horizontal line under an angle of -33 and is placed right in the vertical center plane of the apparatus. The 5 vertical plate 9 is fixed to the lower jaw model 2. The plate 9 acts as a thrust plate and holds the upper jaw model I in place.

The apparatus is used in the way that the two sets of teeth are formed between the two arms 5 and 6. The set of teeth for the upper jaw is formed with the use of the arm 5 and the set of teeth for the lower jaw is formed with the use of the arm 6. The aperture 1 is used as a seat for the upper set and the aperture 8 is used as a. seat for the lower set. The pins II and I2 hold the sets in place. If the sets should be removed, the pins 1 and 8 are withdrawn and the sets can be removed easily from their seats in the apertures l and 8. For forming the sets with the teeth in the proper and exact way and for grinding the teeth exactly it is necessary, that the lower jaw model can be moved by hand just in the same way, as the human jaw moves. When exerting a side-bite the human lower jaw moves forwardly and downwardly and at the same time sidewise. Now it does not make any difference, if the upper jaw model stands still and the lower jaw model is moved by hand or the lower jaw model stands still and the upper jaw model is so moved by hand. In the present case it may be assumed that the lower jaw model 2 stands still and the upper jaw model is moved by hand. The movement of the hand and the positions of the surfaces 3 and 4 during this movement are shown in Figs. 10-13.

Fig. 13 shows that the jaw model I has made a transverse movement in relation to the jaw model 2, while the edge 4| rests against the interior surface 42 of the vertical plate 9. Therefore nothing else has to be done than that the point 4| is shifted by hand along the edge 42 and the lower jaw model 2 imitates exactly the movement of the human jaw during the whole sidebite. Figs. 10 and 11 show the surfaces 3 and 4 at rest and Figs. 12-15 show the position of the jaws after the movement. While the point 4| rests on the surface 3, the joint rests on the surface 4. Figs. 7 and 8 show that the two jaw models are connected by the spring M in the recess l3. A rod I5 with the holder l6 allows a certain movement of the upper jaw model but it prevents an unintentional disconnection. Fig. 9 shows an upper jaw model 35 with the surface I7 and a lower jaw model 36 with a corresponding 55 recess for the surface IT. This construction Articulator adapted for simulating combined 5 vertical and transverse motions of the jaw comprising, an upper jaw model holder, a lower jaw model holder, the two holders simulating jaw positions as to the normal vertical and horizontal positions, complementary sets of inclined control surfaces defined by two planes on each holder intersecting in a single line in the vertical central plane and at an angle of 30 to 33 degrees to the horizontal plane defined by the holders,

the lower jaw-model holder having a vertical 15 thrust plate cooperating with a complementary vertical surface on the upper jaw model holder as a stop and abutment means.

RICHARD SANDHOFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 395,385 Germany May 19, 1924 602,015 Germany Aug. 29, 1934 419,605 I Germany Oct. 3, 1925