US2901825A - Dental impression tray - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 1, 1959 s GRE4ENMUN 2,901,825

DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Filed Nov. 8, 1957 2- Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. LEO S. GREENMUN ATTORNEY P 1, 9 L. s. GREENMUN 2,901,825

DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Filed NOV. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LEO S. GREENMUN AT TORN EY United States Patent 6 DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Leo S. Greenmun, Vero Beach, Fla.

Application November 8, 1957, Serial No. 695,463

7 Claims. (CI. 32-17) This invention relates to dental impression trays and is more particularly directed to impression trays for the production of a lower denture constructed in accordance with my U.S. Patent No. ,641,835.

In my aforesaid U.S. patent, I show and describe a flexible lower denture consisting of two substantially symmetrical parts abutting together at their inner ends at the position between the two front teeth with. a leaf spring imbedded in the plastic material forming the denture to permit the compressing of the rear or outer ends for positioning the denture in a persons mouth or for removing same. As explained in detail, in my patent this construction permits the denture to fit against the undercut surfaces of the mylohyroid ridges and thereby fit snugly and properly in a persons mouth and also to compensate for displacement of the supporting tissues resulting from the flexing of the mandible when a person is biting and chewing.

To achieve an accurate impression of the lower jaw for the purpose of fitting a lower artificial denture which makes use of the mylohyroid ridges to anchor the denture thereto, a special impression tray must be used. Since the lower inside surfaces curve under the mylohyroid ridges, it is impossible to remove the impression and tray in a single piece for the reason that the impression made is larger at the bottom and inside edges thereof than is the opening through which the impression and tray must be removed.

I, therefore, conceived of the present tray which consists of two parts abutting at their inner portions with a pair of handles mounted on the tray and a spring means for yieldingly urging the inner portions of the tray in abutting relation. The handles permit the handling of the tray in placing the tray in ones mouth and in removing same, and also the compressing or collapsing of the outer portions of the tray in the direction toward each other so as to obtain an accurate impression of the undercut surfaces of the mylohyroid ridges.

Now therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an impression tray for obtaining a true impression of ones lower gum structure for a persons lower artificial denture especially of the undercut surfaces of the mylohyroid ridges in order to produce a denture that will fit properly thereon.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an impression tray which is cut or split at approximately its center position, with a spring mounted on the tray yieldingly urging the two parts of the tray in abutting relation, a pair of handles for collapsing or compressing the outer ends of the tray in a direction toward each other and an adjustment bolt for positioning the two parts of the impression tray at any desired relative position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a handle device for impression trays formed of a metallic rod and having a spring like mid-portion yieldingly urging the handles in a direction away from each other.

Patented Sept. 1, 1959 A still further object of the present invention is to provide a handle device described as above which device is readily mountable on a metallic or plastic impression tray.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a dental impression tray embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the tray in its compressed or collapsed condition.

Figure 5 is a top plan of an impression tray having a modified construction.

Figures 6 and 7 are bottom plan and side elevational views respectively.

Figure 8 is a top plan View of a further modified structure of my impression tray.

Figures 9 and 10 are bottom plan and side elevational views respectively thereof.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1111 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the spring handle device as shown prior to its being secured to the impression tray.

Figure 13 is a further modified construction of my dental impression tray having handles and a spring member as separate members aflixed thereon.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views and in particular to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral 10 refers to my dental impression tray general ly which is U-shaped and arcuate to form a trough along the full length as are the conventional impression trays; however, the tray 10 is constructed of two leg portions 11 and 12 abutting at their inner end portion as at 13. The inner end portions of the leg portions 11 and 12 are joined together by a leaf spring member 14 which yieldingly urges the leg portions 11 and 12 into abutting relation. The inner end portion of the leg portion 12 is provided with a flange 15 which overlaps the lower surface of the inner end portion of the leg portion 11 at all positions of the leg portions 11 and 12.

Means are provided for swinging the leg portions 11 and 12 comprising handles 17 and 18 secured at one end to the leg portions 11 and 12 respectively and extending rearwardly terminating in flared portions 19 and 20 adapted to fit in a persons fingers for operation thereof. The handle 17 is slotted as at 21 for receiving the handle 18 and whose inner end operates as a stop to prevent the handles 17 and 18 from swinging beyond a certain desired position.

Extending from the handle 18 is a tab support 22 on which is secured as by welding a threaded support 23 for an adjustment bolt 24. A knurled knob or head 25 is secured at one end of the adjustment bolt 24 while the other end engages a tab 26 mounted on the handle 17.

In using the impression tray 10, as in using the conventional tray, the tray is first prepared for an impression and the dentist grasps the handles 19 and 20 between his thumb and forefinger. He exerts a force thereon to cause the handles 19 and 20 to swing toward each other and the leg portions 11 and 12 will pivot about the spring 2, SM 32b 14 so that the outer ends of the tray are compressed or collapsed toward each other thereby making the tray 10 smaller in size. In this condition, the tray 10 is inserted ina-person smouth and placed in position on the lower--gums.- The force of thefingerson the handles 19 and 20 is released slightly topermit the outer edges of the tray 10to engage the sides of the gums with-only sufiicient pressure to obtain. thedesired impression Then the adjustment: bolt 24- is threaded-until the end of the bolt 24 engagesthe tab; 26. 'I'hen the"handles 19'and 20 are released to efiect the impressions When the impression has been made,the dentist again-grasps the handles19 and '20 with his thumb and-forefinger, forces the handles 19 and-20 together to-their extreme opened of lower jaws of different sizeswith accuracy of the impression produced.

However, where it is desired to have-a plurality of impressiontrays of various sizes so thatthe dentist making the impression may select the size of tray most suitable for the person-whose'lower gums are beingfittedfor an artificial denture, I have provided an'impression tray preferably made ofmetal shown by Figures 5-7 inclusive. Just as the tray 10, the tray 30 consists ofa-pair of leg portions 31 and 32 whose inner ends are in-abutting relation as at 33. At the position 33 at which the leg portions 31 and' 32abut, the latter are provided with a flange 34 on the extreme ends thereofl With the flanges 34 in contact relation with each other, ahandle 35 issecured as by riveting 'as shown or by any other desired manner to the legportions-31 and 32s The handle 35 is constructed from a lengthof metallic rod, flattened and bent into an arcuate shape as at 36 to form a spring and returned at an oblique angleas at 37, 37 to permit the riveting of the handle 35* to-the leg portions 31 and:32. The handle portions are stepped as at 39; cross eachother and extend outwardly to form portions 38 and 38 for gripping by a dentist to-manipulate the impression-tray30. Prior to mounting-the-handle 35 on the tray 30, the handle portions 38'are compressed slightly to place the spring" portion 36 under tension. Then the'portions37, 37 are secured to the leg portions 31, 32 whose flanges 34, 34 are in-contact relation with each other. The tension in-the spring portion 36 now maintains the legportions 31, 32 in-firmabutting relation so thatwhen the handles 38,- 38 are relieved of any forces, the leg portions 31, 32 will return to their abutting relation.

There are dentists who use the impression tray 10 shown by Figuresl-4 inclusive to make a smaller and better fitting tray 40 of plastic which is used only once and then discarded' (Figs. 8-11 inc.) Upon producing the plamic-tray 40, which is in one piece originally, an extremely inexpensive handle 41 is mounted on the tray by cgmenting v the handle 41 thereon with a plastic material as indicated at 42. The plastic tray 40 is then sawed in two symmetrical portions 43 and 44 as' at 45 at the exact. center portion of the tray 40, which center was first drilled as at 46 for convenience. The handle 41 is substantially identical in construction with the handle 35 consisting of a single length of metallic rodbent as at. 47 for forming the spring portion of thehandle 41. The adjacent portions 48, 48 of the handle 41 are bent and extend at an oblique angle to each other, steppedupwardly as at 49 and cross each other to form handle a plastic tray 40 (see Figure 8) or on a metallic tray 30 (see Figure 5) and is therefore provided with bores 51 in the event it is desired to rivet the handle 41 to the impression tray. It is to be noted that the handle 41 is inexpensive in cost and can be discarded after a single use along with the impression tray to which it is afiixed. The handle 41 accomplishes its function of maintaining the leg portions 43 and"44" of the tray 40 in abutting relation, permits the inward flexing of the'leg portions 43 and 44 when the handle ends 50, 50 are pressed together and flexes the leg portions 43, 44 outwardly into contact relation at their inner ends when the pressure on the handle ends 50, 50 is released.

Another inexpensive manner of constructing a dental impression tray embodying my invention is shown by Figure 13. There, a tray which is formed in two portions 55, 55 as are the above described trays, is provided with a spring 56 whose ends are embedded in cement, plastic or the like atiixingthe'spring 56 to the portions 55, 55. The spring 56' yieldingly urges the abutting inner end portions into firm' contact relation. Handles 57, 57 which are crossed are constructed of substantially straight metallic rods with their inner ends imbedded in'the cement in the same manner as the spring 56. Now when pressure is placed on the outer ends of the handles 57, 57 the outer end' portions 55, 55 of the'tray will collapse, swinging ina direction toward each-other and when released the inner end portions will return to'their abutting relation asthe outer ends 55, 55 ofthe tray will swing away from each other.

What I claim as new is:

1. An impression tray comprising a pair of arcuate-leg portions forming a substantially U-shaped member, said leg portions having their inner endsin substantially contact relationship, spring means mounted on said leg portions and yieldingly urging said inner'ends' into contact relation and handle means mounted on said' leg portions for collapsing said leg portions, swinging said inner ends about said spring means as a hinge in a-=direction away 'from each other and the other ends'in-a direction toward each other.

2. An impression tray comprising a pair of arcuate leg portions having aligned troughs forming a' substantially U-shaped member, said leg portions having their inner ends in contact relation, spring meansextending over the puncture of said inner ends, means securing said spring means to each of said leg portions whereby said leg portions are yieldingly urged into contact'relation at said inner ends, a handle having one end secured to each of said inner ends and the'other' endextending'ina di rection away fromsaid leg portions whereby upon exerting a force on said other ends of said handles said leg portions are collapsed, said inner ends swinging'in a direction away from'each other and the other ends swinging in a direction toward each other.

3. The structure as recited by claim 2 in combination with stop means mounted on said other ends of said-handles for limiting the outwardswinging movementof said inner ends and adjustable means for limiting the inwardswinging movement of said inner ends.

4. An impressiontray comprising a pair of arcuate leg portions having. aligned troughs to form a substantially U-shaped member, said leg portions having inner ends in substantially overlapping and contact relation, a spring member extending over said overlapping portions and having ends secured to said leg portions, a handle having one end secured to each of said legportions and the other end extending outwardly, said handles crossing each other intermediate their ends, one of said handles having a slot receiving said other handle for limiting the relative outward swingingmovement of said handles, an adjust ment bolt threadedly mounted on said one of said handles, and a tab mounted on said other of said handles adapted to abut against said adjustment bolt for limitin".

5 the inward swinging movement of said areuate leg portions.

5. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said spring means and said handle means are constructed of an elongated metallic rod.

6. An article of manufacture for impression trays formed from an elongated metallic rod comprising an arcuate mid portion, said arcuate portion having leg portions and handle portions each having one end portion extending from said leg portions, said handle portions crossing each other intermediate said end portions whereby upon forcing said handles together said leg portions are swung in a direction toward each other.

7. An article of manufacture for impression trays formed from an elongated metallic rod comprising an arcuate mid portion flattened to provide spring tension,- said arcuate portion having outwardly extending leg portions, and a pair of handles, each handle having one end portion flattened and extending from said leg portions, said flattened portions of said handles lying in a plane intersecting said arcuate portion to provide rigidity to said handles, stepped up portions extending from said flattened handle portions, said stepped up portions cross ing each other whereby upon the forcing of said handles together said leg portions of said arcuate portion swing in a direction toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 545,545 France July 26, 1922

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