US766235A - Dental articulator. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED AUG. 2, i904.

A. H. FLEMING.

DENTAL ARTIGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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PATIENT. O FIC ARTHUR moms FLEMING, or LOUTSBURG, NORTH CAROLINA.

DENTAL AnncuLATon.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent 110.766385, dated August 2, 1904.

' Application filed November 21,1908. No. 182,156. (F model-l To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known thatLARTHu'R HYNES FLEMING, acitizen of the United States, residing at Louisburg, in the county of Franklin and State of North Carolina. have invented a new and useful Dental Articulator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to dental articulators, and more particularly to an improved construction of articulating-plate employed in making models of the upper and lower dentures. Heretofore in making these models the heel-pieces have been provided with dowels in order to assure the return of the articulating-models .to their proper positions, and in addition to the ordinary method of making these dowels articulating plates have been employed between the upper and lower heel-pieces for the purpose of making transverse and longitudinal grooves and ribs in the opposing faces of the said heel-pieces, and by both of these methods the upper and lower models are'divided on a horizontal line and the upper model is lifted from the lower one in a straight vertical line. This is an unnatural movement, and it is therefore with the object of providing a dividing-plate which will divide the heel-pieces of the upper and lower models on a curved line, so that when the said heel-pieces are placed together the upper and lower models can be moved toward or away from each other with a swinging movement in close imitation to the natural movement of the jaws. By this means aperfect fit between the upper and lower dentures can be had.

With this object in view the invention consists, therefore, of a curved plate essentially in the form of a semicircle, said plate being formed with a longitudinal groove or depression extending from end to end and also provided with curved ears at each end, said ears being arranged upon opposite sides of the central longitudinal groove or depression.

The invention consists also in certain details of construction hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the upper and lower models separated.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspectiveview showing the upper and lower models together. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3' of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the upper and lower models, the articulating-plate being shown seated in the heel-piece of the lower model and the jaws separated, thus showing the pivotal movement of the parts; and Fig, 5 is a detail ing-plate;

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the upper model, having the heel-piece A, and

said models being constructed in the wellknown manner from the molds. In making perspective view of the articulatv 'B the lower model, having the heel-piece B, 7

these models, however, an articulating-plateC is arranged between the heel-pieces in order to determine the shape of the meeting faces of said heel-pieces, and this articulating-plate C is curved in the form of 'a semicircle and is constructed with a central longitudinal groove or depressionC, which extends from end to end of the said plate. The plate is also provided with longitudinally-extending ears G which are arranged upon opposite sides of the central groove C, as most clearly shown in Fig. 5. These ears are for the purpose of supporting the articulating-plate in the proper position, and by having the said plate in the form of a semicircle and having the ears at each end curved in substantially the same manner it is obvious that it is immaterial which end of the plate is arranged foremost.

in shaping the heel-piece. By means of this form of articulating-plate the heelpiece A has its lower edge convexed upon the arc of a circle, and the upper face of the lower heel piece is concaved upon the arc of a circle. This permits a hinge-like movement of the jaws. Furthermore, the upper heel-piece is formed with a longitudinal rib A which fits the longitudinal rib B in the lower heelpiece, and thereby prevents any lateral movement during the hinge-like movement of the jaws. After the models are completed the articulating-plate may be removed, or it may be permitted to remain seated in the. lowe heel-piece.

It will thus be seen that I provide anarticuw lating-plate by means of which models of the upper and lower dentures can be mated at their heel portions in such a manner that the said models can have a thoroughly natural movement, one upon the. other, thereby enabling the upper and lower dentures be accurately fitted to one another.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is r I 1. An-articulating-plate curved upon the arc of a circle and adapted to be placed between the upper'and lower heel-pieces during the formation, as set forth.

. 2. A metallic plate curved'in the arc of a circle having a vcentral longitudinal groove 5v grooves, as set forth.

ARTHUR HYNES FLEMING, Witnesses:

. B. B. MASSENBURG,

. C.. K. CooKE.

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