US2915824A

US2915824A - Light wire orthodontic attachment

Info

Publication number: US2915824A
Application number: US654685A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold D Kesling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-04-24
Filing date: 1957-04-24
Publication date: 1959-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1976-12-08

Description

Dec. 8, 1959 H.- D. KESLING LIGHT WIRE omnonouuc ATTACHMENT Filed April 24. 1957 United States Patent LIGHT WIRE ORTHODONTIC ATTACHMENT Harold D. Kesling, La Porte, Ind.

Application April 24, 1957, Serial No. 654,685

7 Claims. (Cl. 32-44) This invention relates in general to means for effecting the proper alinement of teeth, and particularly to bands for teeth for cooperation with the arch or wire for providing the proper pressure to the teeth. More specifically, the invention relates to the specific means of securing the arch or wire to the bands.

The invention consists in an attachment applied to the bands for the teeth to permit a light wire, in the form {of an arch, to be easily and quickly applied to, or removed from, the attachment. The attachment consists of a body part which is arranged on the buccal or labial surfaces and is curved to conform generally with the curvature of the respective teeth, the attachment being removably mounted on the cooperating tooth band and arranged on the teeth between the occlusal and gingival. The attachment is provided with wings which are preferably integral with the .body of the attachment, the wings being spaced inwardly of each side of each tooth {at the buccal or labial side of the mouth. The wings are provided with proper openings, apertures or cutouts, to receive a light wire arch so as to eiiect a resilient pressure against a tooth to cause it to be straightened or shifted to the proper position. The wire or arch may be threaded through alined round apertures or openings in the wings, which apertures are midway between the top and bottom of a tooth. The wings may be provided with slits or cuts merging with the openings, whereby a part of each wing may be folded outwardly away from its cooperating wing to receive the wire, and then bent back to original position so as to maintain the Wire or arch in position in the apertures of the wings. A preferred embodiment of the invention, however, consists in the provision of an attachment which is of such a character as to permit the arch wire to be snapped readily into, and out of, the openings in the wings. The arch wire, when snapped in place for tooth straightening purposes, will remain in such snapped-in position except when purposely removed by the orthodontist or dentist.

The attachment, having the snap feature, may be applied to the band at the buccal or labial side intermediate the occlusal and gingival and intermediate the side edges of the teeth. The application of the attachment to the band may be done in any convenient manner, such as by soldering or spot welding.

The invention further contemplates the provision of an attachment which is integral with the band, whereupon the band including the attachment may be applied to a tooth as an integral unit, the band being cemented in fixed position on the tooth.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved attaching device or element so as to provide a light Wire attachment which is resilient, but still will create a constant pressure against 'the teeth so that the teeth, one or more, may be gradually shifted resiliently to proper position.

Another object of the invention consists in the provision of an attachment which may be secured to the band by soldering or the like, and at the same time permits the a arch or wire to be easily fastened to the attachment so that a resilient flexible connection of the wire or arch may be applied from the wire to the attachment, and thence to the band, the band being cemented or otherwise aflixed to respective teeth.

Another important object of the invention consists in the provision of an attachment for application to tooth bands, whereby the arch or wire may be readily snapped into and out of position but still be prevented from accidental disconnection during use.

A still further object of considerable importance consists in the combination of an attachment and band, the attachment being integral with the band and still having the characteristics of permitting quick and easy applica-- tion and removal of the wire or arch, but preventing accidental dislodgment or removal of the wire from the attachment part of the integral band.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the specification which is to follow.

The accompanying drawing illustrates certain selected embodiments of the invention, and the views therein are as follows:

- Fig. 1 is an occlusal elevational view of the maxillary arch and embodying one form of the invention, only four incisor teeth being shown;

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational view, on an enlarged scale, showing one form of attachment applied to a. band which is to surround a tooth;

Pig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of attachment to which the arch or wire may be received; I

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but discloses the attachment member having a different form of wing which cooperates with retaining ears to receive the arch w1re;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the device shown in Fig. 5, the view looking in the direction of the arrows 6--6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the attachment member for the Wire or arch as being integral with a tooth band.

The particular construction and arrangement herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention is adapted to be applied to teeth, four incisor teeth 1 being specifically shown. Separate individual bands 2 of the usual type are adapted to be secured to the teeth by cementing the bands thereto, Figs. 1 to 6. Attachments or attaching members 3 are secured to each band 2 at the buccal or labial side of the teeth. Each member 3 is adapted to be provided with means for effecting a resilient or loose wire connection or attachment of the arch or wire 4 to the attachment 3. I

It is extremely desirable that the attachment member 3 have at least two areas of attachment or attaching points, therefore, two wings 5 are provided for each member 3, there being a wing provided on each side of the body 6 of each attaching member 3. The attaching member 3 is located between the vertical side edges of each tooth, and extends between the upper and lower edges of its cooperating band 2; that is, between the gingival and the occlusal of the teeth. Each wing 5 may be provided with an aperture '7, the aperture 7 of one wing 5 alining with the aperture 7 of its other adjacent wing. The arch wire 4 is adapted to be received in the aperture 7 of each wing 5, as shown in Fig. 3.

This same construction and arrangement maybe carried out whether the teeth be the incisors as shownin Fig. 1 or whether they include some or all of the incisors,

I as well as one or more of the cuspids or bicuspids.

In order to provide more ease in the application of the attaching member 3 to a band 2, the wings 5, as shown in Fig. 4, may be provided with slits 3 extending into the openings or holes 7 of the wings. The slits 3 divide the wings in two parts, 9 and 10, Fig. 4, so that one part (either the part 9 or 10 of each wing) may be bent inwardly or outwardly to permit the arch wire 4 to be easily nested in place in its cooperating part of the opening 7, the previously bent part then being bent back to original position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

In actual practice, it has been found desirable that the attaching member 3, Figs. 5 and 6, have the wings 5 provided with a relatively straight surface 11 having an arcuate opening 12 into which the wire or arch 4 may be received. Immediately above the upper surface ill of the wings 5, as shown in Fig. 5, there are provided spaced retaining

ears

13, 13, which retaining ears are located at the gingival of the mouth. The retaining ears 13 are relatively flexible and resilient, and, therefore, when the retaining wire or arch 4 is applied in position, the retaining ears 13 will snap back inwardly, permitting the wire 4 to be received in the receiving recesses 12 with the lower edge of the retaining ears, Fig. 5, engaging the upper surface of the wire 4, Figs. 5 and 6. The retaining cars 13, like the wings 5, are arranged at the buccal or labial side.

The arch or wire 4 is arranged in position by merely laying the wire 4 against the buccal side of the band, and then as the wire is pressed inwardly, the retaining cars 13 will flex toward the lingual side and the wire will be in home position and maintained in place therein in respective openings 12. The retaining cars 13 snap back to original position because of the inherent resiliency of the material from which the ears are made.

There is shown in Fig. 7 a member 14 in the form of a combination band and attachment. This member 14 is formed from a strip of metal which is long enough to circle a tooth to form a band 15 which has an elongated body which is curved to conform with the shape of the tooth, the band being cemented to a tooth in the usual manner. The member 14 includes the attaching means 3 which has outstanding wings 16 and cars 18 struck out from the body of the strip and projecting at the buccal or labial side, the wings 16 and the cars 18 being identical in all respects with the wings 5 and the ears 13 shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Each wing 16, like the wings 5 of Fig. 5, has an opening 13 at its upper end to receive the arch or wire 4. The material of the strip between the wings 16 includes a body part 17 which is curved to conform with the curvature of the tooth and comprises a part of the band 15. Retaining ears 18 are struck from the body of the strip at the sides of the central opening 19 which is formed by the cutting or striking out of the ears 18 from the strip. The ears 18 are identical in all respects to the retaining ears 13 of Fig. 5 and are for the same purpose. The wings 16 are struck outwardly from the body of the strip or member 14, and form an opening 20 at one side of each wing, but these openings in no way hinder the operation of the combined band and its attaching parts. The arch wire 4 is applied in position in the same manner as previously described with respect to Figs. 5 and 6. The terms struck out from, struck from, striking out, or struck outwardly from are commonly used in describing sheet metal forming steps, and means cutting a portion of the strip and bending that cut portion out of the plane of the strip.

The structure disclosed in Fig. 7 may be very economically manufactured and readily applied to teeth, the free ends of the strip being secured together to form a band in the same manner in which the other bands, shown in the drawing and conventional bands, are fastened and applied to teeth.

The arch wire 4, the bands 2 or 15, and the attaching means 3 are made of non-corroding material, such as nickel-chrome, silver, gold or other acceptable metal.

The arch wire 4 may be bent or looped above or below the horizontal center of the band to provide pressures against the tooth at positions other than specifically shown herein.

The invention, including the several embodiments shown, comprises a light Wire attachment to effect positive, yet resilient, action on the teeth for straightening the teeth to normal position. A feature of the invention consists in the ease of application of the wire or arch to the attachment, whether the attachment be a separate member secured to a tooth band as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, or whether the attachment comprises an integral part of the band as shown in Fig. 7. In all instances, there are two areas of attachment of the wire or arch to each attaching member 3 for each tooth. A further feature of the invention consists in the looseness of the attachment with respect to the wire or arch, and further to effect easy and ready application of the arch wire to the attaching member. It is probably the preferred embodiment of the invention in forming the retaining ears in cooperation with the wings to permit quick and easy application of the arch wire to the attaching member, particularly in accordance with the embodiments disclosed in Figs. 5 to 7.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A dental appliance comprising a band for application to a tooth, an attaching member on said band, integral wings on said member, said Wings having openings therein, an arch wire arranged in said openings, and retaining ears on said attaching member and arranged adjacent said wire to lock the arch wire in said openings.

2. A dental appliance comprising a band for securement to a tooth, an attaching member carried by said band, said attaching member comprising a pair of outwardly extending spaced wings each having a wire receiving opening, said wings being substantially flat and the openings being alined, an arch wire removably supported on the member at the openings, and means carried by the band for locking said arch wire in the opening and to said wings.

3. An arch wire supporting device comprising a body, a pair of resilient metal spaced wings integral with the body and extending outwardly therefrom, said wings being substantially parallel and having alined wire supporting arcuate seats, an arch wire demountably received on said seats, and means integral with the device for selectively locking the arch wire to the seats.

4. An arch wire supporting device comprising a body, a pair of resilient metal spaced wings integral with the body, said wings having wire supporting arcuate seats, an arch wire demountably mounted on said seats, and resilient integral ears on the body and arranged adjacent the wire to prevent the wire from shifting vertically of said body.

5. A dental appliance comprising a non-corrosive band adapted to be secured to a tooth, an attaching member carried by said band and including a body portion, flexible integral metal wings bent from said body and projecting outwardly therefrom, said wings having open spaces provided therein and forming opposed seats, a light flexible arch wire supported on said seats, and flexible retaining ears on said body adjacent said wire to retain said wire on said seats.

6. A dental appliance made from a single strip of noncorrosive metal, said strip being configurated to encircle a tooth and forming a band, spaced metal wings struck up from said strip, said wings having alined arcuate openings formed on a part thereof, a light spring wire mounted in said openings, and flexible retaining ears struck from said strip adjacent said Wire to retain said wire in said openings, said ears being flexed inwardly when a pressure is applied thereto to permit the wire to be arranged in said openings and springing to original position when pressure thereagainst is released.

7. A dental appliance for teeth to shift one or more teeth to corrective position comprising a body made from a single strip of non-corrosive metal to form a combined tooth band and an arch wire attachment therefor, said strip being configurated to form a band to conform with the circumferential shape of a tooth transversely thereof, wings struck outwardly from the strip to form supports for an arch wire, said wings projecting outwardly and having openings in alinement to receive an arch wire, a 15 2,767,469

light springy arch wire loosely receivable in said openings, and retaining ears struck from said strip adjacent said wings and projecting outwardly and overlying a part of the wings, said ears being flexible to allow the arch wire to become engageable with the wings when the ears are flexed inwardly to permit the wire to be received in said openings, said ears flexing outwardly when pressure is relieved to overly the arch wire in the openings and lock the wire to the appliance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Atkinson Aug. 30, 1955 Gladstone Oct. 23, 1956