Resiliently Biased Clamping Member Patents (Class 433/11)
  • Patent number: 11890163
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprising a body and a locking shutter. A mesio-gingival reference plane is defined tangent to a lingual-most point of the archwire slot. The body further includes an occlusal-gingival opening that intersects the reference plane. The locking shutter includes a lingual end located in the opening at a closed lingual location when the locking shutter is in a closed position, and at an open lingual location when the locking shutter is in an open position. The locking shutter further includes a labial end located at a closed labial location when the locking shutter is in the closed position and at an open labial location when the locking shutter is in the open position. A first occlusal-gingival distance from the closed lingual location to the open lingual location is at least about 70% of a second occlusal-gingival distance from the closed labial location to the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Orthoarm, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Voudouris
  • Patent number: 11883257
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket includes a bracket body and a spring clip. The bracket body includes a mesial channel, a distal channel, a center channel, and an arch wire slot. The spring clip includes a distal arm, mesial arm, and a center arm which are moveably within the mesial channel, distal channel, and center channel between an open position and a closed position to occlude the arch wire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • Patent number: 11571280
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is provided, including a main body, a cover, and an elastic spring element. The main body has an archwire slot configured to receive an archwire. The cover is hingedly connected to the main body, and the cover can be moved between an open position and a closed position. The open position exposes the archwire slot and the closed position covers the archwire slot. The elastic spring element is disposed in the main body, coupled to the cover and the main body, and configured to generate a force that moves the cover into the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Cheng-Hsiang Hung
  • Patent number: 11517404
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket include a bracket body with an arch wire slot. A mesial recess is located at a mesial side of the bracket body and extends into the bracket body from the arch wire slot. A distal recess is located at a distal side of the bracket body and extends into the bracket body from the arch wire slot. A central ridge defines a ridge surface separated from the lateral ledges respectively by mesial and distal walls. A clip includes a first arm and a second arm connected by a U-shaped portion. The first arm terminates in a mesial arm, a distal arm, and a middle arm. The clip is moveable between an open position in which the arch wire slot is accessible and a closed position in which the arch wire slot is occluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer
  • Patent number: 11376103
    Abstract: Systems and methods for moving a tooth using a light, continuous force are disclosed. In examples, a bracket has a surface which is mounted to a tooth, and a pair of wings defining a slot having oppositely disposed upper and lower surfaces that converge at an apex. A wire runs through the slot at a distance from the apex. And a tensioning device presses the wire against a surface of the slot, the system is configured so that the wire gradually moves toward the apex of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Skarin Orthodontics
    Inventor: David A. Skarin
  • Patent number: 11259898
    Abstract: An orthodontic device and, in particular, an orthodontic bracket that is slidable along a wire without external forces is provided. The device may include a first and second gear, each of which are independently movable between a locked position in which the gear is prevented from rotation, and a released configuration in which the gear extends into the channel to engage a wire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire. The first gear may be rotatable to move the device in a first direction while the second gear may be rotatable to move the device in a second direction opposite the first direction. Thus, the first and second gears have the ability to move along the wire in short or long distances, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Mani Alikhani, Cristina Teixeira, Serafim Oliveira, Chinapa Sangsuwon
  • Patent number: 11234795
    Abstract: An orthodontic device for displacing a tooth and/or a group of teeth of a patient, which directly adjoin the tooth along a mandibular arch, in particular in the lower jaw in the area of the molars, the device comprising: a rigid, dimensionally stable connection between the tooth to be displaced and an attachment point for the device which fixed to the jaw and substantially does not change during the treatment of the patient, a regulating device for changing the length of the rigid connection in direct vicinity of the tooth to be displaced. A torsion-proof attachment of the device in the jaw bone may be provided. Alternatively, a point of support is provided on one tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Winfried Schuetz
  • Patent number: 11083547
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket system comprising a bracket body, an archwire, a slot receivable for an archwire, either a passive or interactive clip, and a channel capable of receiving the clip. The clip comprises two arms having a combined total width that is greater than the width of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Inventor: Alexandre Gallo Lopes
  • Patent number: 11076936
    Abstract: A high-strength, self-ligating appliances with orthodontically desirable dimensions. The appliances incorporate a door slidably engaged to a channel in the body; one that can be opened or closed depending on the equilibrium position of an integral protrusion on the door. Cooperating grooves and rails on the body and the door can guide the door between the open and closed positions, and mitigate against unintentional detachment. Appliances including rails that result in improved labial pull strength are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ming-Lai Lai, Laurent Eap, William E. Wyllie, II, David D. Lindeman
  • Patent number: 10799323
    Abstract: Systems and methods for moving a tooth using a light, continuous force are disclosed. In examples, a bracket has a surface which is mounted to a tooth, and a pair of wings defining a slot having oppositely disposed upper and lower surfaces that converge at an apex. A wire runs through the slot at a distance from the apex. And a tensioning device presses the wire against a surface of the slot, the system is configured so that the wire gradually moves toward the apex of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Skarin Orthodontics
    Inventor: David A. Skarin
  • Patent number: 10751150
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket having a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth includes an archwire slot having a base surface defining a base plane and a slide engagement track defining a translation plane. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane. A ligating slide is engaged with the slide engagement track of the bracket body and movable along the slide engagement track and parallel to the translation plane between an opened position, in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot, and a closed position, in which the archwire is retained within the archwire slot. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane so as to prevent the ligating slide from contacting the gingiva surrounding the tooth when the ligating slide is moved to the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Todd I. Oda
  • Patent number: 10660729
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket system comprising a body, an archwire slot receivable for an archwire, and a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to allow a ligating sliding member to move between an open position, such that an archwire may be inserted into and/or removed from the archwire slot, and a closed position, such that an archwire is retained within the archwire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Alexandre Gallo Lopes
  • Patent number: 10653505
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket includes a bracket body with a mesial and a distal channel. A spring clip includes a distal arm with a distal arm body and a distal finger and a mesial arm with a mesial arm body and a mesial finger. The spring clip is slidably secured within the bracket body by a sliding engagement of the distal arm with the distal channel and the mesial arm with the mesial channel. The spring clip is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein in the open position, the arch wire slot is unobstructed and in the closed position the mesial finger and distal finger extend into and across the arch wire slot to occlude the arch wire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • Patent number: 10624719
    Abstract: A cover device formed of a plastic or similar composition is structured for removable attachment over a bracket of an orthodontic appliance and includes a main plate with an outer front face, and top and bottom claws integrally formed with the main plate, curling behind the main plate, and each terminating at distal ends in spaced, opposing relation to each other behind the main plate. The main plate is bowed outwardly from top to bottom to allow the claws to flex away from each other and snap over the bracket upon application of inward pressure on the front face while the claws are pressed against the bracket, to thereby attach the cover to the bracket, with the bracket concealed from view behind the cover device. The front face may include an ornamental design. In another embodiment, the cover device includes a bottom tab for cooperating engagement with a removal tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventors: Steven Darling, Janis Darling
  • Patent number: 10603138
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprising a body and a locking shutter. A mesio-gingival reference plane is defined tangent to a lingual-most point of the archwire slot. The body further includes an occlusal-gingival opening that intersects the reference plane. The locking shutter includes a lingual end located in the opening at a closed lingual location when the locking shutter is in a closed position, and at an open lingual location when the locking shutter is in an open position. The locking shutter further includes a labial end located at a closed labial location when the locking shutter is in the closed position and at an open labial location when the locking shutter is in the open position. A first occlusal-gingival distance from the closed lingual location to the open lingual location is at least about 70% of a second occlusal-gingival distance from the closed labial location to the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ORTHOARM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: John C. Voudouris
  • Patent number: 10517697
    Abstract: A cover for an orthodontic bracket having an arch wire laterally extending therethrough includes a body having a forward-facing planar surface and a rearward-facing recess configured for at least partially receiving the orthodontic bracket therein. The body includes first and second slots located on opposed lateral sides of the body and each configured so that the arch wire passes laterally through the first and second slots and the recess of the body when the cover is positioned over the orthodontic bracket. The forward-facing planar surface is provided with decorative indicia thereon. The cover is configured so that the cover does not bind movement of the arch wire relative to the orthodontic bracket, does not secure the arch wire to the orthodontic brackets, and does not alter the functioning of the dental braces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Bracees, LLC
    Inventor: Sy Viet Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10327868
    Abstract: An orthodontic self-ligating bracket for orthodontic treatment of maloccluded teeth is provided that includes a bracket body and a bracket door including a coplanar spring. The bracket body has a base that is contoured to attach to a surface of a tooth, a archwire slot on the top side of the bracket body extending in a mesiodistal direction and configured to releasably retain an archwire, and a bracket groove on the top side of the bracket body extending in an occlusogingival direction towards the archwire slot. The coplanar spring includes a spring body and one or more legs that deflect in direction generally coplanar with a plane of motion of the bracket door. The one or more legs interact with one or more depressions in the bracket body to move and retain the bracket door on the bracket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Ortho Organizers, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Payne, Colin Corey
  • Patent number: 10321978
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is provided. The orthodontic bracket includes a base part; a bracket body mounted on the base part and having a retaining projection provided on an upper face thereof; a clip having a U-shaped cross-section, the clip being mounted on the bracket body and including an upper part along the upper face of the bracket body, a lower part along a lower face of the bracket body, a curved part therebetween, and an engaging hole provided in the upper part of the clip in a position that corresponds to a position of the retaining projection of the bracket body such that the retaining projection projects through the engaging hole when the clip is in an open position thereon; and an archwire slot in the upper face of the bracket body that extends perpendicular to a moving direction of the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOMY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masaaki Orikasa, Shingo Katayose, Kosei Endo
  • Patent number: 10182885
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body with a recess on a top surface of the bracket body and an archwire slot adapted to receive an orthodontic wire. The orthodontic bracket also includes a ligating member with a projection on its bottom surface. The ligating member is movably connected to the bracket body for retaining the orthodontic wire in the archwire slot when the ligating member is moved from an open position to a closed position. The orthodontic bracket also includes a discrete spring positioned in the recess on the bracket body such that a force is required to move the ligating member from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: MEM DENTAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Alberto Ruiz-Vela
  • Patent number: 10136966
    Abstract: The appliance includes a body that snaps onto the brackets attached to teeth with latching slots and so becomes detachable for daily cleaning by the patient. Inside the body there is an integrated spring function. The fabrication of the polymeric body can be done by 3D printing, which makes it possible to print integrated spring elements connecting the latching slots with the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Dentbend BVBA
    Inventors: Koenraad Gerald Rijkaard Lode Reybrouck, Wouter Gerald Herman Rik Reybrouck, Isabelle Diane Savoye
  • Patent number: 10123854
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides self-ligating orthodontic brackets with improved control over access to the archwire slot. Access to the archwire slot is controlled by a latch assembly featuring a door rotatable about an axis relative to the bracket body and a lock positioned near the axis to prevent inadvertent rotation of the door. The lock engages a surface of the door and is capable of preventing undesired rotation between an open state, where an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot, and a closed state, where access to the slot is prohibited. The self-ligating brackets may also include a biasing spring to provide active ligation and further inhibit undesired rotation of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lee C. Yick, Todd I. Oda
  • Patent number: 10111732
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket includes a bracket body with a mesial and a distal channel. A spring clip includes a distal arm with a distal arm body and a distal finger and a mesial arm with a mesial arm body and a mesial finger. The spring clip is slidably secured within the bracket body by a sliding engagement of the distal arm with the distal channel and the mesial arm with the mesial channel. The spring clip is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein in the open position, the arch wire slot is unobstructed and in the closed position the mesial finger and distal finger extend into and across the arch wire slot to occlude the arch wire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • Patent number: 10058401
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for the re-positioning of a tooth, such that separate walls forming the archwire slot are designed to enable different extents of flexing and movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventor: Kok Liang Tan
  • Patent number: 10004574
    Abstract: A method and apparatus with auto-inactivation for the lateral expansion or constriction of posterior teeth, anterior advancement or retraction of the anterior teeth, and distal expansion of the molars, bicuspids and canines is described. This system is for correction of the upper dental arch and jaw bone, nasal cavity constriction, or lower dental arch constriction, which helps to resolve the dental malposition, dental crowding, proper room for tongue position, and expansion of nasal cavity for improvement of airway. The appliance includes loaded springs around the wires connected to molar band with connector tubes and female attachments that are extended to the front tube. The spring creates a distalization force on the first and/or second molars, anterior extending force on front teeth including canines and incisors, and lateral expansion for the posterior teeth including, canines, bicuspids and molars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Inventor: Joseph Yousefian
  • Patent number: 9999481
    Abstract: Adjustable-prescription orthodontic bracket assemblies. The orthodontic bracket assemblies include a bracket body, an arcuate core, and a retention structure. The bracket body defines an arcuate receptacle that extends toward a base of the bracket body from a top of the bracket body. The arcuate core is received within the arcuate receptacle and defines an archwire slot. The arcuate receptacle is shaped to retain the arcuate core therein and to permit rotation of the arcuate core therein. The retention structure is configured to selectively retain the arcuate core at a selected rotational orientation with the bracket body. The retention structure is configured to selectively transition between a disengaged configuration, in which the retention structure permits rotation of the arcuate core relative to the bracket body, and an engaged configuration, in which the retention structure retains the arcuate core at the selected rotational orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher C. Cosse
  • Patent number: 9943383
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body and a ligating slide. The bracket body includes an aperture and an archwire slot. The ligating slide is slidable relative to the archwire slot between an opened position and a first closed position and is pivotable to an angular position in a second closed position. The orthodontic bracket further includes a resilient member that is coupled to the ligating slide and is slidable in the aperture. The ligating slide defines a first height from the base surface having a first value, and in the second closed position, the ligating slide defines a second height from the base surface that is greater than the first value. The bracket body includes a slide support portion having at least one wing extending laterally therefrom. The wing is tapered in thickness. The slide support portion defines a pivot point about which the ligating slide is pivotable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley S. Huang
  • Patent number: 9901423
    Abstract: A bracket body 3 is fixed to a base part 2, and a clip 4 is mounted on the bracket body 3 so as to move. An archwire slot 5 is provided on an upper face of the bracket body 3. A guide groove 9 for guiding a lower extended part 42 of the clip 4 is formed on a lower face of the bracket body 3, and provided at a position below the archwire slot 5. In a state where the slot is closed, an end 45 of the lower extended part 42 does not pass through the bracket body 3 up to a side face at an opposite side to a curved part of the bracket body 3. It is possible to provide an orthodontic bracket which has a lower height and has less possibility that a clip may be detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOMY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masaaki Orikasa, Shingo Katayose, Kosei Endo
  • Patent number: 9877804
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an orthodontic gripping device having a body made of a superelastic metal alloy, cold worked titanium beta III, or solution heat treated and aged titanium beta III. The body has first and second, spaced apart arm portions connected to each other. Each arm portion includes a jaw portion having an inner, arch wire-gripping, surface. The inner gripping surfaces are disposed opposite one another in spaced relation with a station defined therebetween for receiving the arch wire. At least a portion of the station is sized smaller than the arch wire. The arm portions are resiliently deflectable outwardly away from each other to admit the arch wire into the station. Once seated in the station, the arch wire is tightly held by inner gripping surfaces so as to resist displacement of the gripping device relative to the arch wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Strite Industries Limited
    Inventor: Neil Chester
  • Patent number: 9668830
    Abstract: This invention discloses an orthodontics adjusting bracket changing the traditional orthodontics logical thinking. The orthodontics adjusting bracket can reduce the chance for removing teeth, decrease the sequelae of removing wisdom teeth, avoid temporomandibular joint-pain-dysfunction syndrome and cheeks depressed, extend lifetime of dental formula, and lower down the social security expenditure. This invention can fundamentally improve dental engagement to avoid the secondary injury of traditional orthodontics treatment and improve the loading of social security expenditure. According to this invention, the difficult mission of correcting wisdom teeth in traditional orthodontics treatment will become easily and smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventor: Yu-Hua Lu
  • Patent number: 9615899
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket and system with variable resistance to sliding. The bracket includes locking elements and/or deflection control components that govern the flexibility and movement of blades or clips that extend over an archwire slot, in order to adjust the action of such blades or clips relative to an archwire positioned within an archwire slot in the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre Gallo Lopes
  • Patent number: 9603677
    Abstract: A pre-fabricated ligature with variable friction includes a ligature made of nitinol (1) with a rectangular outline similar to an “O” format, which has free ends (2) that can be deflected to meet the need for affixing of the arch wire (3) to the bracket (5), resulting in variable friction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Alexandre Gallo Lopes
  • Patent number: 9585733
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket that having a clip angulated toward the lingual direction in a diagonal orientation for active seating of archwires. The bracket having a lingual vertical slot, a pair of gingival tie wings and a pair of occlusal tie wings. An archwire slot extending mesiodistally across the body. A locking shutter with a pair of resilient arms connected by a guide bar and moveable between an open position allowing placement of the archwire and a closed position inhibiting removal of the archwire. A pair of tracks on each of the outer lateral surfaces of the body, extending from the occlusal tie wings and into the gingival tie wings. The tracks dimensioned to receive the resilient arms therein. The tracks extend in a substantially occlusal-gingival direction, angled lingually by an angle ? with respect to a plane parallel to a vertical that is perpendicular to the occlusal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Orthoarm, Inc.
    Inventor: John Voudouris
  • Patent number: 9585734
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a body (16) and at least one clip (36) connected to the body for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot (18). The body and each clip have matching, generally oval-shaped external profiles that present a compact, low-profile configuration. Each clip includes at least one prong (46) that engages a tab for helping to retain the clip in connected relationship to the body. Each tab is connected to the body by a protrusion that has a top surface coplanar with a bottom wall of the archwire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Ming-Lai Lai, Calvin N. Corpus, Ruedger Rubbert
  • Patent number: 9566134
    Abstract: A set of orthodontic brackets is provided in combination with an archwire extending over an arc when fitted to the set of orthodontic brackets. The archwire has at least one radius of curvature over the length of its arc, and each one of said brackets in the set has an archwire slot. Each slot has at least one surface supporting the archwire which is contoured to have a radius of curvature that matches the radius of curvature along the arc of the archwire at that point. A round archwire is preferred and the archwire slots may be formed as tubular channels to provide better torque action for the archwire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: World Class Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rolf Hagelganz, Juergen Bathen
  • Patent number: 9554876
    Abstract: A connecting wire is a wire having a circular cross-section and made of shape memory alloy or the like. Individual blocks have a cross-section configured to engage with an orthodontic bracket and have a through hole to insert the connecting wire. Because a torque is applied separately to each of the individual blocks after the connecting wire and individual blocks are formed according to an arch form on a Monson sphere, the torque can be applied keeping a three-dimensional curve such as the Monson sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Hiroshi Jinnouchi
  • Patent number: 9517112
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance comprises a base portion adapted to be affixed to a patient's tooth and an upper portion including a flexible and resilient hook for forming a tubular channel for receiving an archwire. The upper portion includes a flange affixed to the hook, and is sized and shaped to connect to loops of an elastomeric power chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: World Class Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rolf Hagelganz, Juergen Bathen, Robert Kabbani
  • Patent number: 9498303
    Abstract: An assembly of a self-ligating bracket intended to be part of an orthodontic apparatus. The bracket having in the longitudinal direction thereof an outer face and an occlusal face and being provided on the outer face thereof with a groove for holding an orthodontic arch wire. An elastic clip that can be moved in a reversible manner between an open position, leaving a free passage for the insertion of the arch wire into the groove or the extraction of the arch wire from the groove, and a closed position closing off the groove. The clip being moveable between said positions by a rotational movement, without the clip sliding in translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: H32
    Inventors: Patrick Curiel, Philippe Salah, William Ayache
  • Patent number: 9492246
    Abstract: The appliances and methods provide a tab on a “U”-shaped clip having a labial (i.e. toward the patient's lips or cheek) section and a lingual (i.e. toward the patient's tongue) section. The tab is located in a position that facilitates access by a practitioner and also reduces the moment applied to the clip when the clips is opened and closed. Advantageously, the tab can be positioned to account for the varying degree of resistance encountered by different sections of the clip and minimize the likelihood of either distorting the clip or torquing the appliance. The tab can be positioned coplanar with the sliding mechanism. Advantageously, these appliances can provide improved ease of use, reduced clip distortion over time, and greater patient comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Frank C. Lin, Oliver L. Puttler, Ming-Lai Lai, Evangelos G. Georgakis
  • Patent number: 9480541
    Abstract: The present invention employs a self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprising a body having a pair of laterally spaced gingival tie wings and a pair of laterally spaced occlusal tie wings, the gingival and occlusal tie wings projecting from a labial surface of the body; an arch wire slot extending mesially-distally across the body and between the gingival and occlusal tie wings to accommodate an arch wire; a free-sliding, controlled-locking, or pivoting clip wherein the clip allows placement and removal of the arch wire when in the open position and prevents the displacement of the arch wire from the bracket member when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: DENTSPLY International Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew James Falcone, Neil Verma, Sivaramakrishnan Krishnamoorthy, Tieming Ruan, Calvin Ng, David A. Zdurne
  • Patent number: 9468505
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket includes a bracket body with a mesial and a distal channel. A spring clip includes a distal arm with a distal arm body and a distal finger and a mesial arm with a mesial arm body and a mesial finger. The spring clip is slidably secured within the bracket body by a sliding engagement of the distal arm with the distal channel and the mesial arm with the mesial channel. The spring clip is movable between an open position and a closed position wherein in the open position, the arch wire slot is unobstructed and in the closed position the mesial finger and distal finger extend into and across the arch wire slot to occlude the arch wire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay Stanley Sommer, Eric William Nimmer, Andrew Rudolf Pietzner
  • Patent number: 9393084
    Abstract: A self-ligating attachment intended to form part of an orthodontic appliance, the external surface of said attachment being provided with a groove for receiving an orthodontic arch. A elastic clip that can be reversibly moved between an open position forming an open passage allowing the insertion of the arch into the groove and a closed position sealing the groove. A base including an external surface that supports the attachment and an occlusal surface which is intended to rest on one of the patient's teeth, so as to hug the surface of the tooth. In addition, the base comprises a support for the attachment and said base assists in the guiding of the clip, cooperating with the attachment, as the clip moves between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: H32
    Inventors: Patrick Curiel, Philippe Salah, William Ayache
  • Patent number: 9364298
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body, a slide member, and a resilient member. The slide member is slidable relative to the archwire slot. The resilient member is coupled to and is slidable with the slide member. The resilient member is configured to engage a first portion of the bracket body in the opened position and a second portion of the bracket body in the closed position. The second portion is different from the first portion. The resilient member imposes a biasing force on the slide member in the direction of movement toward the archwire slot when the slide member is in the closed position. The resilient member may be configured to impose a biasing force on the slide member in the direction away from the archwire slot when the slide member is at a position intermediate the opened and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley S. Huang
  • Patent number: 9345558
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth includes a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth and a clip. A clip slot extends through the bracket body transversely to the archwire slot. Upon deflection of the clip, it contacts the bracket body at locations that were not in contact before the deflection. The clip may also have various forms and include various structures that cooperate with the body when the clip is deflected to restrict or stop the deflection. The orthodontic bracket may include a securing mechanism that is configured to secure the resilient ligating clip in the closed position. A method of manufacturing a shaped unsintered body for use in manufacturing an orthodontic bracket is provided. A portion of the sinterable particles may be removed using a stream of energy to yield a plurality of posts which are then deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Todd I. Oda, Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9339353
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket including a body including a bonding base for attachment to the tooth, a lingual vertical slot, a pair of laterally spaced gingival tie wings and a pair of laterally spaced occlusal tie wings, the gingival and occlusal tie wings projecting from a labial surface of the body; an archwire slot extending mesio-distally across the body and between the gingival and occlusal tie wings at opposed medial and distal sides of the body to accommodate an archwire; a locking shutter including at pair of resilient arm members and a lingual guide bar between the resilient arm members, the locking shutter moveable between an open position in which placement and removal of the archwire is facilitated and a closed position in which placement and removal of the archwire is inhibited; first and second tracks formed on each of first and second outer lateral surfaces of the body, extending from the gingival tie wings across the archwire slot and into the occlusal tie wings; the first and second tracks sized a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Orthoarm, Inc.
    Inventor: John Voudouris
  • Patent number: 9089386
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a sliding archwire cover that has a top surface congruent with the top surface of an upper body portion having an archwire slot. The cover has a resilient locking tab that slides across the slot, bending upward as it encounters a ridge on the other side of the slot, and latching to the ridge to secure the cover in a closed position. The cover has a modified dovetail shape with flared bottom portions that slideably engage guides for reciprocal opening and closing sliding motion. A groove in the slide support track engages the locking tab in the open position preventing it from disengaging from the upper body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: World Class Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rolf Hagelganz, Juergen Bathen
  • Patent number: 9010334
    Abstract: The cheek pouch anchor, formed of a resilient filament, fits within a user's cheek pouch. The anchor dynamically spans a user's inter-occlusal space and lip opening as a user's jaws open and close. The anchor can be formed of inter-connected, conversely-adjustable loops to enable user adjustment of its span. It can stabilize a work piece, such as an airway, in a user's mouth. The cheek path airway fits a path between a user's lips and through the user's cheek pouch and rear-jaw gap, avoiding the user's bite. It provides supplemental air to a user's rear-mouth cavity independently of a user's nasal airways while a user's lips remain closed. It can be used in combination with mandibular jaw-control and tongue-control devices whereby the combination mitigates breathing restrictions in a user's nasal and throat airways. It can be manufactured in-line and folded by a user to fit the user's cheek pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Lowell R Wedemeyer
  • Patent number: 8992214
    Abstract: Disclosed is a self-ligating orthodontic bracket having a mounting base with a concavely contoured surface for attachment to a tooth, a main archwire slot formed upon the base, the mounting base being supported by a bracket body, and the slot being sized for receiving an orthodontic rectangular or round archwire, a ligating slide selectively slideable between an open position permitting access to the archwire slot and a closed position covering the archwire slot. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket also includes a resilient retention feature designed for holding the ligating slide in the open or the closed positions for retreating or retaining the orthodontic archwire within an archwire slot, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: MEM Dental Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chou Bing Wu, Tsung Che Wei, Chih Chang Tsai, Tung Yuo Liao
  • Patent number: 8932053
    Abstract: An orthodontic assembly includes a self-ligating attachment having a groove for receiving an orthodontic arch. An elastic clip can be reversibly moved between an open position and a closed position sealing the groove. A base including an external surface and an occlusal surface, said external surface of the base supporting the attachment and said occlusal surface of the base being intended to rest on one of the patient's teeth. The aforementioned clip can be moved in an at least partially rotational manner between the open position and the closed position. Moreover, the area of the above-mentioned base that supports the attachment comprises a depression at least partially in the form of a cup and the clip is inserted into the depression when in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Curiel, Philippe Salah, William Ayache
  • Patent number: 8920165
    Abstract: A self-locking and positioning device for a dental brace, comprising: a brace main body, an elastic piece, and an upper cover. Wherein, on the brace main body is provided with a track and a fixing slot, while on the elastic piece is provided with a positioning piece and a slot. The positioning piece is provided with a barb, while the upper cover slides and fixes into the brace main body through the track. Then, the barb of the positioning piece on the elastic piece will act against a block portion on bottom of said upper cover, to restrict movement of the upper cover, to lock automatically the upper cover into position. The dental brace is simple in construction and easy to assemble, hereby raising production efficiency and yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Micro Art Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Hsien Wang, Kuo-Li Wu, Ming-Hsun Yang, Hsi-Yao Wu
  • Patent number: RE46646
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a locking orthodontic bracket that contains a mechanism that rotationally locks an orthodontic archwire fully or partially within the bracket archwire slot. The orthodontic bracket has a body containing a slot to receive an orthodontic archwire, wings for tying ligature wires, a base that is attachable to an orthodontic band or directly to a tooth surface and a central recess in the front surface of the body that contains the rotating clip device. The rotating clip device is rotated to enclose an orthodontic archwire within the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Robert T. Rudman