Patents by Inventor Joseph Lee Frantz

Joseph Lee Frantz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11857456
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to receiving dentition data of a patient; processing the dentition data in a server to determine a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position to enable the patient to breathe during sleep by opening the airway of the patient; and forming a homogeneous dental appliance via direct manufacture using the processed dentition data, the vertical displacement and the forward mandibular position, the dental appliance including a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the lower dental tray inclusive of a pair of vertical displacement bite pads with the vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, the upper dental tray inclusive of a second pair of button protrusions, the first pair of button protrusions and the second pair of button protrusions providing the forward mandibular position when two elastic bands are attached to connect the upper dental tray and the lower dental tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11793668
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to forming an upper dental appliance chassis including at least two upper appliance button protrusions; forming a lower dental appliance chassis including at least two lower appliance button protrusions and at least two vertical displacement bite pads; injection overmolding a first thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a first reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the upper dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two upper appliance button protrusions to form an upper dental tray; and injection overmolding a second thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a second reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the lower dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two lower appliance button protrusions and the at least two vertical displacement bite pads to form a bottom dental tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Frantz
  • Publication number: 20230270587
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to forming an upper dental appliance chassis including at least two upper appliance button protrusions; forming a lower dental appliance chassis including at least two lower appliance button protrusions and at least two vertical displacement bite pads; injection overmolding a first thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a first reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the upper dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two upper appliance button protrusions to form an upper dental tray; and injection overmolding a second thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a second reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the lower dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two lower appliance button protrusions and the at least two vertical displacement bite pads to form a bottom dental tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Frantz
  • Publication number: 20220401255
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to forming an upper dental appliance chassis including at least two upper appliance button protrusions; forming a lower dental appliance chassis including at least two lower appliance button protrusions and at least two vertical displacement bite pads; injection overmolding a first thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a first reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the upper dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two upper appliance button protrusions to form an upper dental tray; and injection overmolding a second thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a second reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the lower dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two lower appliance button protrusions and the at least two vertical displacement bite pads to form a bottom dental tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph Lee FRANTZ, Donald E. FRANTZ
  • Patent number: 11419751
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to forming an upper dental appliance chassis including at least two upper appliance button protrusions; forming a lower dental appliance chassis including at least two lower appliance button protrusions and at least two vertical displacement bite pads; injection overmolding a first thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a first reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the upper dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two upper appliance button protrusions to form an upper dental tray; and injection overmolding a second thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a second reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the lower dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two lower appliance button protrusions and the at least two vertical displacement bite pads to form a bottom dental tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Frantz Design Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E Frantz
  • Patent number: 11357661
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including 3D printed sets of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth including mandibular dentition, and includes having a 3D printed bite pad which opens the bite vertically. The lower tray also has a set of 3D printed plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the teeth, one on the right and one on the left of the posterior buccal portion of the lower plastic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Frantz Design Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Frantz
  • Publication number: 20220151819
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to receiving dentition data of a patient; processing the dentition data in a server to determine a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position to enable the patient to breathe during sleep by opening the airway of the patient; and forming a homogeneous dental appliance via direct manufacture using the processed dentition data, the vertical displacement and the forward mandibular position, the dental appliance including a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the lower dental tray inclusive of a pair of vertical displacement bite pads with the vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, the upper dental tray inclusive of a second pair of button protrusions, the first pair of button protrusions and the second pair of button protrusions providing the forward mandibular position when two elastic bands are attached to connect the upper dental tray and the lower dental tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: FRANTZ DESIGN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph Lee FRANTZ, Donald E. FRANTZ
  • Patent number: 11185436
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to receiving dentition data of a patient; processing the dentition data in a server to determine a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position to enable the patient to breathe during sleep by opening the airway of the patient; and forming a homogeneous dental appliance via direct manufacture using the processed dentition data, the vertical displacement and the forward mandibular position, the dental appliance including a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the lower dental tray inclusive of a pair of vertical displacement bite pads with the vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, the upper dental tray inclusive of a second pair of button protrusions, the first pair of button protrusions and the second pair of button protrusions providing the forward mandibular position when two elastic bands are attached to connect the upper dental tray and the lower dental tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Frantz Design Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E Frantz
  • Publication number: 20200214877
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to receiving dentition data of a patient; processing the dentition data in a server to determine a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position to enable the patient to breathe during sleep by opening the airway of the patient; and forming a homogeneous dental appliance via direct manufacture using the processed dentition data, the vertical displacement and the forward mandibular position, the dental appliance including a lower dental tray and an upper dental tray, the lower dental tray inclusive of a pair of vertical displacement bite pads with the vertical displacement and a first pair of button protrusions, the upper dental tray inclusive of a second pair of button protrusions, the first pair of button protrusions and the second pair of button protrusions providing the forward mandibular position when two elastic bands are attached to connect the upper dental tray and the lower dental tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: FRANTZ DESIGN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph Lee FRANTZ, Donald E FRANTZ
  • Publication number: 20200197214
    Abstract: Methods and systems herein relate to forming an upper dental appliance chassis including at least two upper appliance button protrusions; forming a lower dental appliance chassis including at least two lower appliance button protrusions and at least two vertical displacement bite pads; injection overmolding a first thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a first reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the upper dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two upper appliance button protrusions to form an upper dental tray; and injection overmolding a second thermoplastic on the upper dental appliance chassis to provide a second reformable thermoplastic layer integrated with the lower dental appliance chassis that exposes the at least two lower appliance button protrusions and the at least two vertical displacement bite pads to form a bottom dental tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Applicant: FRANTZ DESIGN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph Lee FRANTZ, Donald E. FRANTZ
  • Publication number: 20200170758
    Abstract: A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: determining an incrementally progressive series of adjustment appliances, each of the series of adjustment appliances having geometries selected to progressively reposition teeth; and determining for each of the series of adjustment appliances, a vertical displacement and a forward mandibular position for treating sleep apnea. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Joseph Lee FRANTZ, Donald E. FRANTZ, Margaret Anderson
  • Publication number: 20190216633
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including 3D printed sets of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth including mandibular dentition, and includes having a 3D printed bite pad which opens the bite vertically. The lower tray also has a set of 3D printed plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the teeth, one on the right and one on the left of the posterior buccal portion of the lower plastic base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Frantz
  • Patent number: 10179063
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including 3D printed sets of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth including mandibular dentition, and includes having a 3D printed bite pad which opens the bite vertically. The lower tray also has a set of 3D printed plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the teeth, one on the right and one on the left of the posterior buccal portion of the lower plastic base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Frantz Design Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald Frantz
  • Patent number: 10123901
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including a set of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth and has a set of bite pads integrated with a second set of plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the teeth. The appliance includes the upper and lower plastic trays and specially formed elastic bands of a plurality of lengths and strengths replaceably attached to the retention hooks on both sides of the trays to pull the mandible forward for treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Frantz Design Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald Frantz
  • Publication number: 20160106572
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including 3D printed sets of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth including mandibular dentition, and includes having a 3D printed bite pad which opens the bite vertically. The lower tray also has a set of 3D printed plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the teeth, one on the right and one on the left of the posterior buccal portion of the lower plastic base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Applicant: Frantz Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald Frantz
  • Publication number: 20150059766
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including a set of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth and has a set of bite pads integrated with a second set of plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the teeth. The appliance includes the upper and lower plastic trays and specially formed elastic bands of a plurality of lengths and strengths replaceably attached to the retention hooks on both sides of the trays to pull the mandible forward for treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: FRANTZ DESIGN, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Frantz
  • Patent number: 8882497
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including a set of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth and has a set of bite pads integrated with a second set of plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the tooth. The appliance includes the upper and lower plastic trays and specially formed elastic bands of a plurality of lengths and strengths replaceably attached to the retention hooks on both sides of the trays to pull the mandible forward for treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Fratz
  • Publication number: 20120295211
    Abstract: An appliance and methods are described that include embodiments of a mandibular advancement or positioning device which can use elastic bands to pull the jaw forward. The appliance has an upper plastic tray conforming to the patient's upper teeth and including a set of retention hooks coupled to the upper plastic tray via being encased in plastic, one on the right and one on the left anterior buccal portion of an upper plastic base. The appliance also has a lower plastic tray conforming to the patient's lower teeth and has a set of bite pads integrated with a second set of plastic retention hooks encased in plastic extending outwardly from the tooth. The appliance includes the upper and lower plastic trays and specially formed elastic bands of a plurality of lengths and strengths replaceably attached to the retention hooks on both sides of the trays to pull the mandible forward for treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: FRANTZ DESIGN, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E. Fratz
  • Publication number: 20110003262
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mandibular positioning apparatus that uses elastic bands to pull the lower jaw forward including a set of plastic retention hooks, one on the right and one on the left of an upper plastic base, and a lower plastic base conforming to lower teeth with a vertical displacement on the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Frantz Design Inc.
    Inventors: Donald E. Frantz, Michael D. Frantz, Joseph Lee Frantz
  • Patent number: D970013
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: FRANTZ DESIGN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph Lee Frantz, Donald E Frantz