Patents by Inventor William E. Oliva

William E. Oliva 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: 5040981
    Abstract: A device for manipulating dental restorations, such as thin, ceramic tooth veneer of the type used in cosmetic bonding to teeth comprises an elongated, pencil-like handle structure having a tip which is releasably attachable to a surface of a veneer, affording convenient means for manipulating the veneer, as for example when bonding the veneer to a patient's tooth. A basic embodiment of the device includes a thin, small flexible circular plate attached transversely to one end of the pencil-like structure and forming the tip of the device. The outer tranverse of the tip plate, which may be flat or concave, is coated with a tacky substance providing sufficient adherence to the surface of a ceramic veneer to permit the veneer to be picked up when the plate is gently placed in contact with the surface of the veneer. The adhesion force of the tacky substance is sufficiently small to permit the tip to be disengaged from the veneer with a slight pulling force, when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Inventor: William E. Oliva