US3772788A

US3772788A - Articulator for constructing artificial teeth

Info

Publication number: US3772788A
Application number: US00191193A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Gerber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-21
Filing date: 1971-10-21
Publication date: 1973-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-20

Abstract

An articulator for the construction of artificial teeth or dentures which is of the type embodying a fixed base plate, a movable base plate, and a pair of support means for interconnecting such base plates with one another. Each support means can be individually adjusted in length.

Description

United States Patent Gerber [4 Nov, 20, 1973 [54] ARTICULATOR FOR CONSTRUCTING 2,909,837 10/1959 Gerber 32/32 ARTIFICIAL TEETH 3,423,834 1/1969 Irish 32/32 [76] inventor: a g gzg Primary ExaminerAntonio F. Guida Assistant ExaminerJ. Q. Lever [22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1971 Att0rney-Brenner, OBrien & Guay [21] Appl. No.: 191,193

[57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. Cl. 32/32 An articulator for the Construction of artificial teeth 51 Int. Cl. A61c 11/00 or dentures which is of the p embodying a fixed [58] Field of Search 32/32 base Plate, a movable base Plate, and a P of pp means for interconnecting such base plates with one 56 References Cited another. Each support means can be individually ad- UNITED STATES PATENTS Justed length- 2,688,80O 9/1954 Gerber 32/32 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ARTICULATOR FOR CONSTRUCTING ARTIFICIAL TEETH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved device for use in prosthodontics, and more specifically concerns itself with a so-called articulator for the construction of artificial teeth or dentures and which is of the type incorporating a stationary or fixed base plate and a movable base plate, these base plates being connected with one another by supports.

Articulators are already known in the art for the purpose of constructing artificial teeth wherein the supports possess non-variable lengths. Articulators are also known where the length of the supports can be changed, however this change in length must be by the same amount for both supports. With these types of prior art articulators it is possible to readily construct artificial teeth provided that the planes of both halves of the artificial bite or denture are parallel. However as a practical matter, this situation does not always arise. For instance, if half of the teeth are missing at one side of the natural bite then there can occur a narrowing of the gap of the corresponding jaw socket or articulation, and the planes of both halves of the bite are no longer parallel. Furthermore, the aforementioned narrowing of the gap can also arise owing to occlusion of artificial teeth if such are used over a long period of time.

The narrowing of the gap of the jaw socket can be ascertained by X-ray diagnosis and it is desirable, during the construction of artificial teeth, to also take this condition into account.

Prior art articulators of the type wherein the length of the supports either could not be changed at all or only simultaneously adjusted by the same amount for both supports, do not permit taking into account the narrowing of the changed gap at the socket or joint of the jaw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it will be seen from what has been discussed above that the prior art is still in need of a device for the construction of artificial teeth or dentures which is not associated with the aforementioned limitations and drawbacks of the prior art construction. Hence a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of such device, namely an articulator for the production of artificial teeth or dentures in a manner which effectively and reliably fulfills the existing need in the art and overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the heretofore known constructions.

Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to a novel construction of articulator which enables enlarging the pathologically narrowed spaces of the jaw socket or joint, depending upon the examination results, and specifically by an amount required for proper therapeutic treatment.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of this invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the inventive articulator is manifested by the features that each support can be individually adjusted with regard to its length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed descripiton thereof. Such descripition makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an articulator constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views of the plate-shaped components of the supports of the articulator depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, the articulator illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 1 3 will be seen to embody a fixed base plate 1 and a movable base plate 2. The fixed base plate 1 and the movable base plate 2 are equipped with suitable means 3, here shown as openings, for attaching thereto suitable impressions or reproductions of the bite of the patient. To the movable base plate 2 there is secured a shaft member 41 equipped at both ends with a respective guide portion 5. Each of those guide portions 5 possesses the configuration of a geometric body of rotation, and specifically that of two truncated cones which abut one another at their smaller base surfaces. Furthermore, the transition location between both outer surfaces or jackets of the truncated cones is advantageously slightly rounded.

Continuing, it will be recognized that the fixed base plate 1 is provided at both sides with a respective support 6 which is fixedly connected therewith. The top portion or marginal region of each support 6 is provided with a transverse bore 6a and both of these bores 6a of both supports 6 are disposed along a common horizontal axis. A disc 7 is rotatably mounted in each such bore 6a. Near the region of the transverse bore 6a there is formed a small opening 8 at the associated support 6. In each such opening 8 there is mounted a screw (not shown) and upon the shaft of such screw there is threaded an adjusting nut 9 which simultaneously serves to prevent axial displacements of the discs 7 and to selectively secure the discs 7 against rotation.

Each of the discs 7 is provided with a radially extending elongated aperture or hole lit], the boundary wall of which is substantially conical in cross-section over its entire length and therefore forms a support or bearing portion for the corresponding guide portion or piece 5 which is displaceable within each such associated elongated hole 10. The periphery of the elongated hole 10 is formed from two

circular arcs

10a and 10b and two tangent lines which connect these circular arcs with one another. One of the circular arcs, such as arc 10a, is concentrically arranged with regard to the center of rotation of the disc 7 and possesses a radius which is approximately 1.5 times greater than the smallest radius of the guide portion 5 at its transition location. The radius of the other circular arc 10b is the same size as the smallest radius of such guide portion 5.

From this relationship it will be understood that when the movable base plate 2 together with both of its guide portions of pieces 5 is supported at the lowest location of each of both support or bearing portions and thereafter the discs 7 are rotated for the purpose of changing the inclination of the lower linear section of the elongated holes 10 the guide portions or pieces 5 do not change their position because the support or bearing portion then defines a circular arc which is concentric to the axis of rotation of the discs 7.

Each of the aforementioned supports 6 consists of two components which can be displaced relative to one another, of which the respective first component 11 carries the discs 7. This disc 7 cooperates with one of the associated guide portions of the movable base plate 2. The second relatively displaceable component 12 of each support 6 is directly fixedly connected in a suitable manner with a fixed base plate 1.

Now in FIGS. 2 and 3 there is again illustrated the first component 11 of each support 6 which, as shown, is constructed in the form of an elongated plate member. This plate member 11 will be seen to be provided at its lower region or terminal portion with two oppositely situated

elongated holes

13 and 14. These elongated holes or

apertures

13 and 14 cooperate with

screws

15 and 16, best seen by referring to FIG. 1, which screws can be connected, for instance by establishing a threadable connection, with the second component 12 of the support 6.

The

elongated holes

13 and 14 are covered by a bracket or strap 17, as best seen by referring to FIG. 3, and this bracket 17 is also provided with two holes or

apertures

18 and 19 which in this case however are circular. These two last-mentioned l8 and 19 possess a diameter which corresponds to the diameter of the

screws

15 and 16 so that the bracket 17 is maintained fixed in position by these screws.

As already mentioned the

screws

15 and 16 piercingly extend through the

elongated holes

13 and 14 in the plate-shaped component 11 of the support 6. The large dimension of each of these

elongated holes

13 and 14 is oriented in the lengthwise direction of the associated support 6, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The plate-shaped component 11 of each support 6 can therefore be displaced with respect to the lower component 12 of such support 6 after releasing the

nuts

20 and 21 operatively associated with the

screws

15 and 16. The path through which both

components

11 and 12 of any given support 6 can be displaced relative to one another corresponds to the size of the lengthwise dimension of the

elongated holes

13 and 14. It has been found desirable to permit a lengthwise adjustment of the supports 6 in a range of approximately zero to L2 millimeters.

Now the adjustment of the length of the supports 6 can take place either only at one support or at each support separately by an amount which corresponds to the examination determination or diagnosis, for instance established by X-rays. It is possible to fix the adjusted lengths of each support 6 which has been appropriately regulated by merely tightening the associated

nut members

20 and 21.

In order to be able to readily carry out the desired adjustment of the length of each of these supports in accordance with the examination results or diagnosis, and specifically with the necessary accuracy both the bracket 17 as well as the portion of each plate member 11 situated below such bracket 17 are provided with an appropriate scale or marking, these scales collectively forming a vemier scale arrangement indicated by reference character 30. After adjusting the desired length of the support or supports 6, on the basis of the vemier scale 30 and after tightening the

nut members

20 and 21 it is then possible to carry out the required adjustment work at both halves of the artificial bite.

Now in FIGS. 2 and 3 there has additionally been depicted two further elongated holes or

apertures

22 and 23, serving for appropriately guiding a suitable fixation or locking element 24, depicted by way of example in FIG. 1 in the form of a toothed element. Each of these locking elements 24 engages by means of a nonillustrated hook-shaped projection with the guide portion piece 5 and maintains such guide portion 5 in engagement with the lower supporting or contact surface of the associated elongated hole 10. A screw 25 extends through the uppermost opening 22 and serves to secure the locking element 24 in desired position, and in the next lower situated opening 23 there is mounted a guide pin 26 connected with such locking element 24.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An articulator for use in the construction of artificial teeth comprising a fixed base plate;

a movable base plate with a pair of guide portions extending therefrom;

a pair of support components fixedly connected to the fixed base plate;

a pair of elongated plate members, each of said pair of elongated plate members having (a) an aperture displacably supporting a respective one of the pair of guide portions and (b) an elongated hole; and

threaded means extending through each of the elongated holes adjustably securing each of the pair of elongated plate members to a respective one of the pair of support components.

2. An articulator as defined in claim 1 which includes a bracket held by the threaded means over each of the elongated plate members in a position fixedly maintained relative to the respective support component; and

vemier scale means on each bracket and a portion of each elongated plate member for determining the adjustment of each elongated plate relative to the respective support component.

3. An articulator as defined in claim 2 wherein each of the elongated plate members can be independently adjusted relative to a respective support component through a range of approximately zero to 1.2 millimetGX'S.

Patent No. 3,772,788 Dated November 20, 1973 Inventor(s) ALBERT ERBER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the title page, after "Appl, No. 191, 193" insert --[30] Foreign Application Priority Data October 22, 1970 Switzerland. .15 625/70--.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of April 197A.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWAl'iD PLFLETCHERJR. C, MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commis sioner of Patents 1 FORM PO-IOSO (10-69] USCOMM-DC 6037 6-F 89 i U,S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

Claims

1. An articulator for use in the construction of artificial teeth comprising a fixed base plate; a movable base plate with a pair of guide portions extending therefrom; a pair of support components fixedly connected to the fixed base plate; a pair of elongated plate members, each of said pair of elongated plate members having (a) an aperture displacably supporting a respective one of the pair of guide portions and (b) an elongated hole; and threaded means extending through each of the elongated holes adjustably securing each of the pair of elongated plate members to a respective one of the pair of support components.

2. An articulator as defined in claim 1 which includes a bracket held by the threaded means over each of the elongated plate members in a position fixedly maintained relative to the respective support component; and vernier scale means on each bracket and a portion of each elongated plate member for determining the adjustment of each elongated plate relative to the respective support component.

3. An articulator as defined in claim 2 wherein each of the elongated plate members can be independently adjusted relative to a respective support component through a range of approximately zero to 1.2 millimeters.