US980411A - Dental impression-tray. - Google Patents

Description

W. M. GANTZ. DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.8, 1910.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

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W. M. GANTZ. DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910.

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WILLIAM MILTON GANTZ, F WESTERVILLE, OHIO.

DENTAL IMPRESSION-TRAY.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed January 8, 1910. Serial No. 537,079.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MILToN GANTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'Westerville, in the county of Franklin and State 01'' Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Impression-Trays, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dental impression trays and includes espe cially a collapsible or break down tray which is so constructed that the plaster used in making the impression may be placed in the tray, the sides thereupon being swung to the proper inclosing position, and the tray may be inserted into the mouth of the patient. IV hen the impression is completed the sides may be swung apart and the plaster containing the impression may thereupon be easily removed.

In the present style of impression tray it is diificult, laborious, and harassing to the patient to remove the plaster containing the impression, especially where only a partial set of teeth are to be provided. It is readily seen that the teeth remaining in place in the mouth of the patient must be avoided when the latter is removed, and if the tray containing the impression medium is rigid there very great likelihood of the breaking of the plaster at one or more points, which may ruin the same for the purpose intended. It is clear also that in struggling to avoid the teeth of the patient with a rigid tray the mouth is subjected to great stress which becomes painful and almost unendurable.

The primary object of my break-down impression tray is therefore to make the removal after the impression is obtained aneasy matter. The impression medium may in some cases be removed intact, but in most cases it will be broken, and the advantage of my device is that the breakage will occur along fixed lines. hen this is done the subsequent work of the dentist may be accurate, whereas if the impression medium has been indiscriminately broken in the process of removal the subsequent operation of the dentist is rendered more or less haphazard.

My impression tray may be used in cases where an entire impression of the mouth of the patient is desired, but it is particularly adapted to cases where only partial impressions are to be taken, and in cases of bridge work; it is also adapted to use in the practice of orthodontia.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings hereto attached and hereby made a part of this specification; Figure 1 1s a top View of my improved dental impression tray ready for use; Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal section along the line YY of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the parts in break-down position; Fig. 4: is a bottom view of the device. The construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 is adapted for use in taking impressions of the upper aw. Fig. 5 is a top view of the dental impression tray adapted for use with the lower aw. Fig. 6 is a vertical, longitudinal section through Fig. 5 along the line Z-Z. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the tray shown in Fig. 5. The construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 embodies a tray used for taking impressions of the lower jaw.

In the drawings, 1 is the basal or palatal plate to which the side member 2 is hinged at 3 and 4; to swing into the position shown generally in Fig. 3. The side member 5 is hinged to the plate 1 at 6 and 7 to swing into the position shown generally in Fig. 3, and

it is seen that these side members 2 and 5 swing outwardly away from plate 1. The end member 8 is hinged at 9 and 10 to the plate 1, and it is also apparent that plate 1 is hinged to the end member 8 at the points 11 and 12, so that both the plate 1 and the end member 8 are free to fall away from each other when the parts are properly positioned for this purpose. The end member 8 contains the lugs 13 and 14 at its lateral edges, and when the members of the tray are placed in their closed position as shown in Fig. 1 they embrace the side members 2 and 5 and thereby hold these members in engagement with the end member 8 and keep them in their proper closed position on the plate member 1.

Secured to the end member 8 rigidly is the handle 15 which is embraced by the flanges 16 provided on the sliding bar 17 having the finger hold 18 thereon by which the said bar 17 may be moved either toward or away from the tray proper. The opposite end of bar 17 passes beneath the hinged rod 19, whereby it is held in proper position and is adapted to contact with the lug 20 provided on the under side of the base plate 1 as appears particularly in Fig. 4. When the bar 17 is pushed to its inner position as shown in Fig. 2 the handle 15, end member 8, and

. plate 1 are firmly held together in the nori wardly on the hinge 19, carrying the side members 2 and 5 with it, and as this downwardly swinging movement continues the side members are withdrawn from the engagement of the lugs 13 and 1 1, whereupon thesides fall apartand the inner tray is broken down. Now any impression medium found therein can be readily removed.

To fit the plate for use the side members 2 and 5 are; lifted into position and the bar 17' ismoved into engagement with the lug 20, whereupon the tray is closed and the impression medium-may be placed thereon as desired. Thereupon the tray is inserted into the mouth of the patient and time is given to form the impression and to permit the medium to harden, and when this has taken place the bar 17 is pulled outwardly and the tray falls apart as illustrated in Fig. 3 and drops to the lower portion of the mouth of the patient, whereupon the impression me dium may be readily removed; if a fracture therein occurs, it will take place along the lines of junction of the side and end members, and I have found that the fractures will always be clean and definite and therefore readily mended for thefurther operation of the dentist.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have illustrated an impression tray to be used for the lower jaw. The mechanical construct-ion is identical with the exception that the plate or middle portion thereof is cut away, as appears at 21, togive the patient free use of the tongue which may overlie the tray .while the latter is in place in the mouth. The tray used for the lower jaw would necessarily be inverted when inserted into the mouth of the patient, and when the proper impression has been made the sliding bar may be pulled outwardly and the tray may then be lifted to the upper portion of the mouth of the patient, whereupon the impression medium may be withdrawn without breaking and without unnecessary discomfort to the patient.

Modifications of the device herein shown and described may be made, and I do not therefore confine myself in the claims hereto appended to the specific construction illustrated, it being merely what appears tome at the present time as the preferable embodiment of the device.

hat I claim is:

1. A break-down dental impression tray comprising a plate member, side and end inclosing members hinged thereto, a reciprocating member associated with said plate and end member and adapted when in one position to unite said parts rigidly into a tray, and when in another position to cause said parts to be separated.

2. A dental impression tray comprising a plate member, side members hinged thereto, an end member hinged thereon, a reciprocating bar adapted to unite said plate and end members rigidly, and means on said end member for engaging said side members.

3. A dental impression tray comprising a plate member, side members hin 'ed thereto, an end member hinged to said p late, a handle carried by said end member, a reciprocating member arranged on said end member and said plate and adapted in one position to maintain said end member and plate in closed relation, and in another position to permit said end member and said plate to swing into open relation.

4-. A dental impression tray comprising a plate member, side members hinged thereto, an end member hinged to said plate, and lugs on said end member adapted to engage said side members when said parts are in their normal closed position.

5. A dental impression tray comprising a plate member, side members hinged thereto, an end member hinged to said plate, a handle on said end member, a bar mounted on said handle to slide thereon to maintain said members in their closed relation, and adapted to be reciprocated to permit said members .to fall away from each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM MILTON GANTZ.

Witnesses J. C. NAILOR, O. F. DOUGLAS.

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