US3414977A

US3414977A - Dental articulator

Info

Publication number: US3414977A
Application number: US587794A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund J Cayo
Original assignee: Edmund J. Cayo
Current assignee: EDMUND J CAYO
Priority date: 1966-10-19
Filing date: 1966-10-19
Publication date: 1968-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1985-12-10

Description

E. J. CAYO DENTAL ARTICULATOR Dec. 10, 1968 Filed OCT.. 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l nl w WJ 3% m Nn Nv QM L Q f d Sm. l www ww MMM ATTORNEYS" Dec. 10, 1968 E. J, CAYO DENTALV ARTICULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1966 INVENTOR {drm/22d fo/'aya BY 4j: kJ/@m A'ITQRNEY'S United States Patent O 3,414,977 DENTAL ARTICULATOR Edmund J. Cayo, R.D. 2, Castleton-on- Hudson, N.Y. 12033 Filed Oct. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 587,794 12 Claims. (Cl. 32-32) The present invention relates to a new and novel dental articulator, and more particularly to an articulator for making 'and fitting artificial dentures.

The present invention represents an improvement over U.S. Patent No. 2,348,606. The articulator of the present invention is adapted to be utilized in the same manner as that illustrated in the aforementioned U.S. patent, the only difference in the operating procedure being the fact that the template of the present invention may be employed in a different manner from that suggested in the aforementioned patent. Otherwise, the same general steps of making and fitting artificial dentures may be followed.

The present invention represents an improvement over the aforementioned patent structure in providing adjustable stop means to limit the downward movement of the support means of the apparatus whereby such downward movement may be accurately predetermined. With `this arrangement, the support means may be provided with a certain amount of swinging movement when setting up the teeth, and then the adjustable stop members may be adjusted so as to further limit downward movement of the support means so that it will not swing downwardly as far to thereby allow milling of the teeth to provide the finished product.

An additional novel feature of the present invention is the provision of an additional support socket member for each of the spherical fulcrurn members. These additional socket members provide better alignment of the support means supported by such fulcrum members, and in addition, the socket members are adjustably mounted so that the degree of freedom of movement of .the spherical fulcrum members can be readily varied as desired.

A further improved feature of the present invention is the provision of novel indicating means on particular portions of the apparatus which readily visibly indicates the exact spacing of the crosshead and support means of the structure with respect to the base means thereby enabling the spacing to be quickly and accurately adjusted.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel denture model including the unique mounting plate or platform which enables the plaster mounting of the model -to be of thicker construction so as to prevent cracking thereof, and wherein the plate or platform is of such a construction as to provide a better mechanical interconnection with the plaster mounting.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel dental articulator for making and fitting artificial dentures.

Another object of the linvention is the provision of a dental articulator including adjustable stop means to adjustably limit the swinging movement of the support means of the apparatus with respect to the base means thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dental articulator including special support socket means for the spherical fulcrum members thereof to provide better alignment and to enable adjustment of the freedom of movement of such fulcrum members.

Yet Ianother object of the invention is to provide means for readily indicating the spacing of the support means with respect to the base means.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a dental articulator which is simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet which at the same time is quite efficient and reliable in use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel denture model including a plate or platform therein which enables the plaster mounting to be of thicker construction and which provides a better mechanical interconnection with the plaster mounting.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in .Connection with the specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side View of the articulator according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 6 6 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the plate or platform mounted in the denture model employed with the articulator of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the base means includes a base plate 10 having three

integral leg portions

12, 14 and 16 exten-ding downwardly therefrom for supporting the base plate above a suitable supporting surface. As seen particularly in FIG. 3, base plate 10 includes a pair of upwardly extending

projections

18 and 20 which are adapted to fit within corresponding recesses provided within a plate or platform 22 mounted in the lower portion of a mandibular model indicated generally by reference numeral 23. Anchor means for holding the mandibular model in place includes a wing screw 24 extending upwardly through a hole provided in plate 10 and being threaded into a correspondingly threaded hole provided in platform 22. It will be understood that wing screw 24 is adapted to support either a model or a template upon the base plate 10 as desired.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7 which illustrates a top view of the plate .or platform 22, it will be noted that three holes 25, 26 and 27 are provided through plate 22. Holes 2S and 26 are adapted to receive the

projections

18 and 20 previously described, and the central hole 26 is threaded for receiving the wing screw 24. Four posts 28 of generally cylindrical configuration extend upwardly from the upper surface of the plate and are embedded within the plaster mounting portion 24a of the model 24 as seen in FIG. 3i. Referring again to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the posts 28 are disposed symmetrically about the plate, and these posts enable the plaster mounting to be of a thicker construction thereby substantially eliminating cracking of such mount* ing. The outer edge 29 of plate 22 is beveled as seen most clearly in FIG. 3 so as to flare upwardly and outwardly away from the undersurface of the model thereby providing a better mechanical interconnection with the plaster mounting.

The base plate 10 includes a plurality of integral upwardly extending

bosses

30 and 32 at opposite sides thereof and a central boss 34. As seen in FIGURE 4, the

bosses

30 and 32 include vertically extending relatively smooth bores 36 and 38 therewithin, while the bore 40 disposed within boss 34 is threaded for receiving an a-djusting screw Ihereinafter described.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 4, a pair of

guide members

50 and 52 which may be of generally tubular construction are slidably received within the bores 36 and 38 of

bosses

30 and 32 respectively. The

upper ends

50 and 52 of the guide members S0 and 52 respectively are threaded and are threaded within correspondingly threaded bores provided in a crosshead member 54 spanning the two guide members. Lock nuts S6 and 58 are threaded on guide members and 52 and are disposed in abutting relationship with the undersurface of crosshead member 54 for retaining the structure in the operative assembled relationship illustrated.

A first socket member includes an inwardly facing recess 62 defining a portion of a spherical Surface. Member 60 also includes a generally horizontally extending portion 64 having a threaded bore formed therethrough for receiving the upper threaded end lof guide member 50. A lock nut 66 is threaded on the uppermost end of guide member S0 for retaining the socket member 60 in the operative position shown.

A similar socket member 70 is provided `having a vertically extending portion defining on the inner surface thereof a recess 72 which is a portion of a spherical surface. Socket member 70 also includes a generally horizontally extending portion 74 having a threaded bore formed therethrough for receiving the upper threaded end of guide member 52. A lock nut 76 is threaded on the uppermost end of guide member 52 for retaining socket member 70 in the operative position illustrated.

A further socket member 80 includes a generally vertically extending portion having a recess 82 on the inner surface thereof defining a portion of a spherical surface, this last-mentioned recess being disposed in opposed facing relationship to the recess 62 previously described. Socket member 80 also includes a generally horizontally extending portion 84 having a slot 86 formed therethrough which receives a locking screw 88 which is threaded into a suitable threaded bore provided in the upper surface of the cross member 54. With this arrangement, the position of socket member 80 may be adjusted toward and away from the socket member 60 so as to provide the desired degree of pressure on the spherical fulcrum member received therebetween as hereinafter described.

A further socket member 90 includes a generally vertically extending portion having a recess 92 in the inner surface thereof defining a portion of a spherical surface. Recess 92 is disposed in opposed facing relationship to recess 72 and is adapted to receive a sperical fulcrum member therewithin. Socket member 90 includes a generally Ihorizontally extending portion 94 having a slot formed therethrough which receives a lock screw 98 which is threaded into a suitable threaded bore provided in the upper surface of crosshead member 54. With this arrangement, the position of socket member 90 may be adjusted with respect to the aforedescribed socket member 70.

The means for adjusting the position of the crosshead with respect to the base means comprises an adjusting screw 100 having opposite threads disposed thereon above and below a lthumb wheel 102 disposed at an intermediate portion thereof. The lower portion of the adjusting screw is threaded within the bore 40 provided in the boss 34 previously described on the base means, and the upper portion of the adjusting screw is threaded within a suitable bore provided in the central part of crosshead member 54. A lock means in the form of a wing nut 104 is threadedly mounted on the upper end of adjusting screw 100 for locking it in desired operative position.

The

guide members

50 and 52 are provided with suitable indicating means 108 and 110 respectively on the outer surface thereof. This indicating means may take the form of lines scribed thereon, and if so desired these lines may be marked in a suitable manner. In any event, these lines may be aligned with the upper ends of the

bosses

30 and 32 respectively. When a particular line is aligned with the top of a boss, it will indicate a speciic spacing of the cross head and the supported components above the base means. In this manner, a means is provided for readily visibly indicating in a very accurate manner the exact spacing of the componens of the apparatus.

A first spherical fulcrum member is journalled within the

recesses

62 and 82 and has a bore extending through the axis thereof slidably receiving a rod 122. A set screw 124 is threaded within a radial bore provided through fulcrum member 120 and is adapted to engage the rod 122 for securing it in desired operative relationship with respect to the fulcrum member. An enlarged portion 126 is formed at one end of the rod for facilitating manual grasping thereof, the opposite end of the rod being of reduced dimension and extending through a portion of the support means indicated by reference numeral 128, the outermost end of rod 122 being threaded and receiving a nut 130 thereon for connecting the support means 128 to the rod. A similar spherical fulcrum member is journalled within the

recesses

72 and 92, this fulcrum member having a bore formed through the axis thereof and slidably receiving a rod 142. Rod 142 includes an enlarged end 146, and the opposite end thereof extends through a suitable hole provided in the supportV means 128 and is provided with a reduced threaded end portion receiving a nut for connecting the support means to rod 142.

The support means 128 includes a forwardly extending plate portion 154 having a pair of depending

projections

156 and 158 formed thereon as seen most clearly in FIG. 3. These projections are adapted to fit within corresponding recesses provided Within a suitable means such as the upper portion 160 of a template means. An anchor means in the form of a wing screw 162 extends downwardly through a suitable hole provided in plate portion 154 and as illustrated in FIG. 3 is threaded within a suitably threaded bore provided in the portion 160 of the template means. It will also be understood that screw 162 may be employed for supporting a maxillary model on the support means if so desired.

A pair of integral depending

portions

164 and 166 extend downwardly from portion 160 and are provided with a threaded bore 168 and an enlarged bore 170 respectively as seen most clearly in FIG. 6. The template itself includes an arcuate plate-like portion 174 having a wing 176 extending upwardly therefrom as seen in FIG. 6, this wing being disposed between the spaced

portions

164 and 166 previously described. An adjusting bolt 180 extends through the hole provided in portion 166, and the adjusting bolt includes a reduced threaded end portion 182 which may be threaded through the threaded hole 168 provided in portion 164. The adjusting bolt may be employed for supporting the plate-like portion 174 in any suitable adjusted relationship with respect to the

portions

164 and 166.

It should be understood that the template is ordinarily employed for setting up the upper teeth initially in usual procedures. In the present invention, the template is illustrated as mounted in position so as to set up the lower teeth, and it should be understood that this procedure may be carried out prior to setting up the upper teeth if so desired.

As seen in FIG. l, the wing 176 of the template is provided with an elongated slot 184 for facilitating suitable adjustment of the template.

The stop means of the present invention includes a pair of

stop portions

200 and 202 formed integral with the crosshead member 54 and defining obliquely extending stop surfaces 204 and 206 respectively. As seen in FIG. 6, support rneans 128 is provided with laterally extending projections 210 and 212 adapted to support the adjustable support members of the present invention. As seen particularly in FIG. 5, a first adjustable support member indicated generally by reference numeral 220 includes an enlarged upper end portion 222 and a lower threaded end portion 224 which terminates in a stop portion 226 adapted to engage the stop surface 204. The threaded portion 224 is threaded through a suitable threaded opening provided in portion 210 of the support means 128 and through a member 228 which actually is a lock nut but includes a laterally extending portion to facilitate manual operation thereof.

A similar adjustable stop member is indicated generally by reference numeral 230, this stop member including an enlarged upper end portion 232 and a lower threaded end portion 234 which terminates in a lower end portion 236 engageable with the stop surface 206. Threaded portion 232 is threaded through suitable bores provided in projection 212 and a lock nut 238 having a laterally extending manually engageable projection.

In operation of the apparatus, the general procedures as set forth in the aforementioned U.S. patent are followed, and the indicating means 108 and 110 on the

guide members

50 and 52 respectively will enable accurate positioning of the crosshead and support means with respect to the base means. Additionally, the socket members 80 and 90 may be adjusted toward and away Vfrom the

socket members

60 and 70 respectively for adjusting the freedom of movement of the

fulcrum members

120 and 140 and to also obtain better alignment of the support -means with -respect to the base means. After having set up the teeth in the usual maner and utilizing a predetermined adjustment of the adjustable stop means to ensure that the plate portion 154 of the support means is substantially parallel with the base plate means 10, the adjustable stop members may then be readjusted by loosening up the

lock nuts

228 and 238 and then threading the members 220 and 230 so as to extend them further downwardly thereby limiting the downward swinging movement of the support means 128. After having made this adjustment, the teeth may be milled wherein the teeth are supported both on the base means and the support means to obtain the desired end product. The adjustable stop members may then be subsequently readjusted for setting up a new artificial denture.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according to the present invention a new and novel dental articulator especially adapted for making `and fitting artiicial dentures. Adjustable stop members are provided for adjusting the swinging movement of the support means with respect to the base means. Special fulcrum support members are provided for providing better alignment of the support means with respect to the base means and for adjusting the freedom of movement of the support means. In addition, means is provided for readily visually indicating the exact spacing of the support means and crosshead with respect to the base means. The apparatus is additionally quite simple and inexpensive in construction, and yet efficient and reliable in use.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim: i

1. A dental articulator comprising base means, anchor means on said base means for supporting a model means thereon, guide means on said base means, a crosshead including guide means slidably engaging said lirst guide means for guiding movement of said crosshead with respect to said base means, adjusting means for manually adjusting the position of said crosshead with respect to said base means, irst socket means mounted on said crosshead and defining a pair of spaced opposed recesses each of which defines a portion of spherical surface, a

pair of spherical fulcrum members each of which is received in one of said recesses and held in place therewithin, a pair of rods each of which adjustably extends through the axis of one of said fulcrum members, support means connected with said rods, anchor means on said support means for supporting a model means thereon, and adjustable stop on said support means for limiting the swinging movement of said support means with respect to said crosshead and base means.

2. Apparatus as dened in claim 1 wherein said stop means includes a pair of stop members mounted on said crosshead, and a pair of stop members mounted on said support means, said last-mentioned stop members each being adjustably mounted with respect to said support means for adjusting the position of the last-mentioned stop members with respect to the support means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said stop members mounted on said support means is threadedly mounted thereon for permitting ready adjustment thereof.

4. lApparatus as dened in claim 3 including lock nut means for locking the position of the last-mentioned stop members for holding such stop members in desired adjusted position.

5. Aparatus as dened in claim 1 including seoond socket means comprising a pair of socket members each of which has a recess therein dening a portion of a spherical surface, each of said last-mentioned socket members being adjustably mounted on said crosshead and being in facing opposed relation to one of said rst-mentioned socket means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 including means for locking said adjustable socket members in desired spaced relationship to said first-mentioned socket means for adjusting the freedom of movement of said spherical fulcrum members.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the guide means on said base means comprises a pair of hollow bosses, the guide means on said crosshead comprising a pair of guide members each of which is slidably positioned within one of said bosses, said guide members having indicating means thereon for accurately indicating the spacing of the crosshead and associated] support means with respect to the base means.

8. Apparatus as delined in claim 1 wherein the guide means on said base means comprises a pair of hollow bosses, the guide means on said crosshead comprising a pair of guide members each of which. is slidably positioned within one of said bosses, said adjusting means comprising an adjusting screw, one end of said adjusting screw being threaded within a boss mounted on said base means, the opposite end of said adjusting screw being threaded within a boss on said crosshead, each of said spherical fulcrum members having a bore formed therethrough, each of said rods being slidably positioned within the bore of an associated fulcrum member, means for locking the rods in desired operative relationship with respect to said fulcrum members, said adjustable stop means comprising a pair of stop members disposed in fixed relationship With respect to said crosshead, and a pair of adjustable stop members mounted on said support means, each of said last-mentioned stop members being independently adjustable with respect to said support means and engageable with said first-mentioned stop members, and lock means for locking said adjustable stop members in desired adjusted position.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 including second socket means comprising a pair of socket members each of which includes a recess defining a portion of a spherical surface, each of said last-mentioned socket members being adjustably mounted upon said crosshead and being in opposed facing relationship to one of said first-mentioned socket means.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of said guide members on said crosshead is provided with indicating means thereon for accurately indicating the spacing of said crosshead and said support means with respect to said base means.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including template means adjustably supported on said support means and retained in position by said anchor means on said support means.

12. A denture model for use on an articulator including a plaster mounting of substantial thickness, a rigid plate mounted in the lower portion of said plaster mounting, said plate having a plurality of holes formed therethrough one of which is threaded for receiving an anchor means, said holes being exposed at the undersurface of said model, said plate including post means extending from said plate into the plaster mounting to enable the plaster mounting References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,180,673 11/1939 Galetti 32--32 2,234,411 3/1941 McDonald 32-32 2,348,606 5/1944 Cayo 32-32 3,123,914 3/1964 De Pietro 32--32 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

to be of substantial thickness, the edge portions of said l5 R, PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A DENTAL ARTICULATOR COMPRISING BASE MEANS ANCHOR MEANS ON SAID BASE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A MODEL MEANS THEREON, GUIDE MEANS ON SAID BASE MEANS, A CROSSHEAD INCLUDING GUIDE MEANS SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST GUIDE MEANS FOR GUIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID CROSSHEAD WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE MEANS, ADJUSTING MEANS FOR MANUALLY ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF SAID CROSSHEAD WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE MEANS, FIRST SOCKET MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CROSSHEAD AND DEFINING A PAIR OF SPACED OPPOSED RECESSES EACH OF WHICH DEFINES A PORTION OF SPERICAL SURFACE, A PAIR OF SPHERICAL FULCRUM MEMBERS EACH OF WHICH IS RECEIVED IN ONE OF SAID RECESSES AND HELD IN PLACE THEREWITHIN, A PAIR OF RODS EACH OF WHICH ADJUSTABLY EXTENDS THROUGH THE AXIS OF ONE OF SAID FULCRUM MEMBERS, SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID RODS, ANCHOR MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A MODEL MEANS THEREON, AND ADJUSTABLE STOP ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR LIMITING THE SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS WITH RESPECT TO SAID CROSSHEAD AND BASE MEANS.