US3822473A

US3822473A - Bib and combination thereof with bite tray

Info

Publication number: US3822473A
Application number: US00369271A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-12
Filing date: 1973-06-12
Publication date: 1974-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-09

Abstract

A bib for a bite registration tray has a paste supporting strip of soft, flexible, open mesh material, its lateral margins embedded in resilient snap fastening channels of set plastic material. Embedding of the margins is effected during molding of the channels. The channels are coextensive in length with the strip and each has a restricted entry passage with guide walls flaring outwardly from the passage, so that the channels can be snapped easily onto laterally spaced wire frame members, respectively, of a bite registration tray in a direction radially of the frame members for holding the strip in bridging relation to the space between the wire frame members. The channels are of such resiliency and the strip is so connected thereto that the strip can be adjusted for slack or tensioned condition by rotating one or both of the channels about the axes of the frame members, respectively. The gripping power of the channels is such that, coupled with the lengthwise curvature of the frame members and resilient warpage of the channels, the channels remain in the adjusted position to which they have been rotated, and thus retain the strip with the selected degree of slackness or tension. The bibs are produced in multiple by a new method.

Description

United States Patent [191 Jones [5 BIB AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH BITE TRAY [76] Inventor: Russell J. Jones, 13804 Lake Shore DI'., Bratenahl, Ohio 441 10 [22] Filed: ,June 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 369,271

[52] US. Cl. 32/17 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney, Agent, or Firm+John Harrow Leonard 5 7 ABSTRACT A bib for a bite registration tray has a paste supporting strip of soft, flexible, Open mesh material, its lateral Jul 9, 1974 margins embedded in resilient snap fastening channels of set plastic material. Embedding of the margins is effected during molding of the channels. The channels are coextensive in length with the strip and each has a restricted entry passage with guide walls flaring outwardly from the passage, so that the channels can be snapped easily onto laterally spaced wire frame members, respectively, of a bite registration tray in a direction radially of the frame members for holding the strip in bridging relation to the space between the wire frame members. The channels are of such resiliency and the strip is so connected thereto that the strip can be adjusted "for slack or tensioned condition by rotating one or both of the channels about the axes of the frame members, respectively. The gripping power of the channels is such that, coupled with the lengthwise curvature of the frame members and resilient warpage of the channels, the channels remain in the adjusted position to which they have been rotated, and thus retain the strip with the selected degree of slackness or tension. The bibs are produced in multiple by a new method.

4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL si n sum 1 0F FIGI.

FIGZ.

FICA.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 1. Field of Invention Bite impression trays.

2. Description of Prior Art This invention relates to a bib and its combination with a bite tray frame for taking bite impressions and is an improvement on the bibs and bite trays and frames described in my U.S. Letters Pat. Nos. 2,713,202, of Julyl9, 1955, and No. 3,574,259 of'Apr. 13, 1971.

More particularly my invention is an improvement in the bib used in the bite tray frame of my first mentioned patent, and in the combination of the bib with that particular type of frame.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,202, a bite tray frame is provided in the form of a single length of stiff, resilient wire bent to provide a buccal side frame member, a lingual side frame member spaced laterally therefrom, and an intermediate frame member integral with and connecting one end of the buccal frame member to one end of the lingual frame member. A portion of the wire continues beyond the opposite end of the buccal frame member to provide ahandle, and the opposite end of the lingual frame member is left free and unconnected in any wayto the buccal frame member.

In order to support impression paste bysuch a frame, a bib in the form of a strip of soft, flexible, open mesh material, which may be molded or woven, is connected to the side frame members. In the form of the bib disclosed in FIGS. 8 and 9 of U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,202, the bib strip is connected at its lateral margins to the buccal and lingual frame member by channel shape members superficially bonded exteriorly to the margins of the strip. The walls of the channel are formed so as to provide a restricted throat of somewhat less width than the diameter of the buccal and lingual frame members. These members are made of resilient plastic material so that the buccal and lingual frame members can be forced past the throat into the channelsby movement radially of the frame member to spring the sides of the channel apart, .whereby when the side frame members are seated in the channels, the channel walls selfrestore and hold the channel members on the frame members with a sufficient degree of tightness to support the bib bridging from one frame member to the other and with the charge of impression paste thereon. As mentioned, the bibs are secured to their holding channel shaped members by being bonded to the surface thereof, the material used being pressure sensitive cement. These bibs work satisfactorily in many respects, but have a number of disadvantages. An important one is that they have a very short shelf life. After a'substantial period of storage, the cement weakens so that any substantial lateral stress on the bib margins rotates the channel members, which loosely fit the frame members, and peels the margins off of the channel members. This is due not only to the loss of adhesive qualities of the pressure sensitive cement upon aging but also because the portion of the bib extending from one channel shaped member to the other is tangential to the outer peripheral surface of the channel shaped members, and consequently exerts thereon the largest possible turning moment about the axes of the channel shaped members. Otherwise, the frame and the bibs,

especially while the adhesive wasfresh, was satisfactory in performing its function. The Wire frame isdesirable in that the handle-and side frame members are relatively stiff and therefore offer a substantial resistance to lateral displacement by the buccal muscles. For example, they can be adjusted, for taking of right and left hand bites simultaneously, and inserted in the mouth with assurance that they will not be displaced laterally by the buccal muscles when the mouth is closed, but will remain in proper position for taking an impression.

In U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,259, to provide a more secure bib connection, the buccal and lingual frame members and end frame member and handle were formed of molded plastic material with the lateral margins of the bib embedded in the buccal and lingual frame members, the normal plane of the bib and its margins being exactly at the median plane of the frame. This arrangement, while very satisfactory as a throw-away item, had minor disadvantages in that the tautness or slackness of the bib are fixed in the molding operation and cannot readily be changed, regardless of the type of impression material that might be used thereon. Furthermore, if the handle and buccal frame members were made sufficiently rigid to resistunusually severe cases of inward pressure exerted by the buccal musclesupon closing the mouth, they would be undesirably bulky for normal conditions. They could be clamped in position for taking simultaneous right and left hand bite impressions by adjustment of the lateral displacement'and angular relation of the handles relatively together and apart-But, due to their resiliency, it is necessary in such severe cases for the dentist to clamp the frame members in an approximate position with an estimated allowance such that on closing the mouth, the frame members would be deflected to proper position by the buccal muscles. The adjustment thus proceeded by the trial and error method. While this adjustment technique can be acquired in due course, dentists prefer a frame-which can be set in the open mouth and will hold the proper position relative to the teeth when the mouth is closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, a new and improved bib is provided for use in connection with the frame described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,202, and which, in cooperation therewith, makes possible easy installation of the bib and adjustment thereof so that the bib can remain slack or tensioned to a predetermined degree. The bib is of such a structure that it can be manufactured readily in multiples. The shelf life is as long as that of the plastic material itself, and far beyond what would normally be required for assuring that each bib will function properly after prolonged storage.

Various other specific objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bite tray frame and bib combination embodying the principles of the present invention, the frame and bib being shown with impression material carried on the. bib in position for taking a bite impression;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevation of the combination illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of one of the frame members with the installed bib and impression material thereon, and is taken on the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the bib of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a much enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of one of the channel shaped connecting members of the bib, installed on one of the bite frame members, and a portion of the bib mesh material, and is taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and shows the relation of the channel shaped member to the frame member and the manner in which the bib material is held by the channel shaped member;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the adjustment of the bib for medium tightness;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the adjustment of the bib to place it under substantial tension;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a plurality of bibs in the condition in which molded, and before cutting apart, illustrating the method of making the bibs; and

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the molded assembly of bibs and is taken on line 9-9 in FIG. 8, the gate and runner material being omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, the bite tray frame comprises essentially two substantially identical frames, indicated generally at 1, each frame being formed of a single length of wire. The frame 1 is open at one end as indicated at 2, so as not to interfere with the patients bite. The frame includes a buccal frame member 3 and a lingual frame member 4 spaced laterally inwardly therefrom. The lingual frame member 4 has one end free, as indicated at 5. The other end of the lingual frame member 4 is connected to an intermediate transverse frame member 6, which, in turn, has its opposite end connected to one end of the buccal frame member. The buccal frame member 3 has a handle 7 extending from its opposite end and integral therewith and forming a continuation of the wire of which the frame 1 is composed. One of the handles 7 has at the end opposite the buccal frame member 3 a tab 11 with an elongated slot 12 therein. The companion frame 1 has a tab 13 with a hole therethrough through which extends a bolt 14 carrying a nut 15. The tab 13 has upper and lower spaced wings 13a and 13b between which the'tab 11 is slidably and snugly received, and between which it can be clamped for holding the handles at the desired distance apart endwise of the slot 12, and also in the desired rotated position about the axis of the bolt 14, all as described in US. Pat. No. 2,7l3,202.

Referring specifically to the improvement of the present invention, the new and improved bib is indicated at and comprises an elongated strip of soft, flexible, woven or molded, open mesh sheet material having at its opposite margins connecting channels 21, respectively, which extend the full length of the strip 20. As best illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the connecting channels 21 has a central trough or frame receiving portion 22 of circular cross section and of a size to snugly accommodate an associated one of the

frame members

3 or 4. The portion 22 has a restricted entry passage 23.

It is desirable that the channel 21 be such as to be re ceived on one of the frame members, for example on the member 4, by movement of the channel radially of the frame member 4. For this purpose the interior walls of the channel are flared outwardly, as indicated at 24, from their juncture with the holding portion 22 and restricted entry passage 23 to provide a guide. The outward flare is such that its maximum width, at the outer surface of the channel, is slightly greater than the diameter of the frame member 4. The width of the entry passage 23 is slightly less than the diameter of the wire so that the channel walls are sprung apart by insertion of the-wire radially into the holding portion 22, but without offering too great a resistance to entry of the frame member 4.

The material of the channels 21 is set plastic which is relatively stiff yet sufficiently resilient so that the channels 21 can be bent or flexed in all directions transversely of their axes. This is important in view of the fact that the frame members, particularly the lingual frame member 4, is curved about an axis spaced from, and normal to, the plane of the frame, and thus is curved transversely of its axis. The channels have such resiliency that they grip the

frame members

3 and 4, respectively, sufficiently firmly to hold themselves fixedly in rotated positions about their axes relative to the

frame members

3 and 4, when in installed position thereon, against lateral forces imposed on the channels by the bib strip.

The channels 21 are identical, both being normally straight and extending the full length of the strip of the bib material carried thereby. Thus the bib can be installed by mounting on one of the connecting members by snap fastening one of the channels on one of the

frame members

3 and 4, and then snapping the other connecting member on the other of the

frame members

3 and 4. After installation both channels can he slid endwise of the

frame members

3 and 4 to desired positions, and their, gripping force is such that they hold themselves in the endwise position to which they are moved.

On the other hand, it is sometimes more convenient to install the channels 21 on the lingual frame member 24 by introducing the free end of the frame member into the holding portion 22 and sliding the channel 21 endwise onto the lingual frame member, and thereafter installing the other of the channels onto the buccal frame member by snapping it thereonto radially of the buccal frame member.

Here it is pointed out that the flexible strip of bib material is not superficially adhered to the channels 21, but, instead, is secured thereto by embedding its margins therein so that the plastic of which the channels are formed interpenetrates the margins of the strip, passing through the mesh, thus locking the strip fixedly to the channels.

The material of the strip extends entirely across each channel 21, and may protrude slightly beyond the outboard edge thereof. At its inboard edge, the strip exwalls 26 at the outer edge of the outer guide wall 24.

The strip thus issues from the channel memberat an outermost comer of its cross section, indicated at 27.

I Here again it is to be noted that the corner 27 is spaced beyond the side of the diameter of the holding portion 22 opposite the bottom of the holding portion 22, and is also spaced laterally from the circumference thereof. Since the'strip issues from the channel 21 at this location, any pull on the bib strip for example a pull to the right in FIG. 5, tends to rock thechannel 21 about the axis of the wire but does not impose any force tending to unwrap or peel the bib from the channel, or break its bond therewith. The channel 21 has a sufficient grip on the wire of the bite frame member 4 to prevent its rotation about the axis of the wire by tension exerted by the bib transversely of its width in any of the adjusted positions of the bib, as is later described. V

Normally, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the bib is mounted on the

members

3 and 4 with the channels inverted and opening downwardly,though they may be open upwardly, if desired. In FIG. 3 the mounting is shown with the bib stripheld in slightly loose or slack condition, with the paste P deposited thereon. In this position the corners 27 lie in a plane parallel .to the plane of the frame. If it is desired to tighten the bib slightly, this can be done by rotating the channels 21 in opposite directions about the axes of the

frame members

3 and 4 which, as illustrated in FIG. 5, moves the corners 27 of one frame away from the corresponding comer edge of the other frame, thus supplying a medium tension to the bib strip. If even greater tension is desired, the channels 21 may be rotated additionally in said oppo site directions, continuing in the same directions as they were rotated to reach the position in FIG. 5, thus For this purpose a conventional type of injection mold is provided comprising

companion mold plates

30 and 31, the. bottom mold plate 30 having .cavities 32 conforming to the exteriors of channels 21 and the top plate 31 having core portions 33 for forming the interior of the channels, the entry portions 23, and wall portions 26. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the cavities 32 are arranged in laterally spaced relation to each other in rows, the rows being offset from each other endwise of the members of the cavities. These cavities are connected by main runners 34 and laterals 35 which latter lead into gates 36, one gate for each cavity. A strip of bib material F is provided and is laid onto the parting face of the lower mold plate endwise of a row of cavities 32, bridging across the open sides thereof. The fabric is left relatively loose-and the mold plates are then moving the corners 27 still farther apart. This latter turning can be continued until, in effect, the bib strip actually flexes the

frame members

3 and 4 themselves closer together, particularly adjacent the free end of the lingual frame member 4.

The fact that the connecting members retain these rotated positions in which set is due to the clamping pressure on the wires, and is augmented by the fact that the frame members are curvilinear so that, when the channels 21 are fastened thereon and rotated to a given positions, they are warped transversely of their axes and therefore resists to a greater degree rotation of the installed positions.

In the bibs described in my U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,202, this effect could not be obtained as the channel connectors could rotate freely about their axes in directions to eliminate any tension on the bib strip, and if the tension were substantial, the channels would be rotated by the bib strip causing the bib strip to peel off of the surfaces of the channels if the holding properties of the cement had been reduced-by prolonged storage.

The present bib structure has a distinct advantage also in the manufacture of the bibs themselves, in that the cost is greatly reduced. In the prior structures, the bib material had to be cut into individual bib strip pieces and each piece cemented by hand to the channels. In the present structure this is unnecessary and, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a large number may be produced concurrently with little manual handling by the present method.

closed and while held firmly closed and in firm gripping relation to the strip F, the plastic'is injected so that a plurality of rows of bibs with the bibs of each row in laterally spaced relation to each other are provided, these bibs being connected only by the very thin gate material and the strip of material F. The cavities32 of each row are arranged in pairs, the cavities of each pair being spaced apart the distance required for the width of the bib, and each channel of each pair is spaced slightly from the adjacent channel of'the adjacent pair. The bibs are separated from each other by hand or machine cutting of the integument of fabric extending between the two closely spaced adjacent channels of adjacent pairs, in. each instance. The resultant bibs can be made with adequate precision to assure the functioning as above described. They have a shelf life of indefinitely long length without any appreciable deterioration.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A bib and bite frame combination for introducing bite registration material between the occlusal surfaces of the teeth;

the frame being of stiff, resilient wire and having an elongated buccal frame member, an elongated lingual frame member spaced laterally therefrom, and

' a transverse end frame member at, and connecting,

the rear ends of the buccal and lingual frame members, said buccal frame member havingat its forward end a forwardly extending handle portion and lingual frame members having its forward end free; the bib comprising a strip of thin, flexible, soft, open mesh material;

elongated, straight, channel members connected to the lateral margins of the strip, respectively;

each channel member being shaped throughout its length to accommodate near its bottom associated one of said lingual and buccal frame members in a position extending endwise of the channel member for the full length of the channel member, and having resilient side walls with portions defining a radially open restricted entry passage, and being coextensive with the channel member, the ends of the flexible strip terminating at the ends of the channel members and being free;

each channel member being resiliently resistant to flexure transversely of its longitudinal axis;

said channel members each being composed of resiliently distortable self-restoring set plastic material;

characterized in that the resiliency and self-restoring characteristics of the material are such as to promargins of the strip are embedded in said side walls of the channel members, respectively, and each embedded margin extends through the outer peripheral surface of the member and lies in a plane parallel to, but offset from, the axis of the wire accomodating portion of the associatedchannel member.

3. The structure according to claim 2 wherein each embedded margin passes through the outermost lateral limit of the adjacent side wall of the associated channel member.

4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein at least the buccal frame member is curvilinear endwise; and the channel member in which the buccal frame member is accommodated has sufficient resiliency and gripping power so that, in installed position, it can be rotated about its axis, in the warped condition of its axis, to selected positions to adjust the bib, edgewise of the bib, from slack condition to tensioned condition, and, when the bib is so rotated, can retain the channel member on the buccal frame member in its rotated position relative thereto against any pull exerted by the bib on its margins.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 7 13 Dated J ly 9: 97

Inventofle) R ssell J. Jones It is. certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 5, line 45, delete "a"; line &6, deletethe h hen;

' line &7, for "resists" read --resist; line 7,

after "bottom" read --out--.

Col. 6, line +6, for "members" read --member-; line 52,

after "bottom" read --an--.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of October 1974.

(SEAL);

Attest: Y MoCOY M GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Att-esti'ng Officer Commissioner 'of Patents FORM P0-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 I Q GOVIIHMENT PRINTING OFFICE: HIP 0-360-334

Claims

1. A bib and bite frame combination for introducing bite registration material between the occlusal surfaces of the teeth; the frame being of stiff, resilient wire and having an elongated buccal frame member, an elongated lingual frame member spaced laterally therefrom, and a transverse end frame member at, and connecting, the rear ends of the buccal and lingual frame members, said buccal frame member having at its forward end a forwardly extending handle portion and lingual frame members having its forward end free; the bib comprising a strip of thin, flexible, soft, open mesh material; elongated, straight, channel members connected to the lateral margins of the strip, respectively; each channel member being shaped throughout its length to accommodate near its bottom associated one of said lingual and buccal frame members in a position extending endwise of the channel member for the full length of the channel member, and having resilient side walls with portions defining a radially open restricted entry passage, and being coextensive with the channel member, the ends of the flexible strip terminating at the ends of the channel members and being free; each channel member being resiliently resistant to flexure transversely of its longitudinal axis; said channel members each being composed of resiliently distortable self-restoring set plastic material; characterized in that the resiliency and self-restoring characteristics of the material are such as to provide for clamping engagement of the channel members with buccal and lingual frame members respectively when inserted radially thereinto through the radial entry passage; and characterized further in that said margins of said strip are interpenetrated by the set plastic material of the channel members, respectively, for the full length of the strip.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the margins of the strip are embedded in said side walls of the channel members, respectively, and each embedded margin extends through the outer peripheral surface of the member and lies in a plane parallel to, but offset from, the axis of the wire accomodating portion of the associated channel member.