Patents Assigned to American Orthodontics Corporation
  • 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: 11678957
    Abstract: A debonding tool for removal of orthodontic brackets includes a handle. An arm extends from the handle. The debonding tool includes first and second opposed fingers. A collar is translatable along the arm and operates to effect relative movement of the first and second opposed fingers between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Eric W. Nimmer, Lindy Couwenhoven, Juan Montes de Oca
  • Publication number: 20230061139
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket and a clip for a self-ligating bracket include a first clip arm and a second clip arm. 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. The second clip arm extends past the first, second, and third arms of the first clip arm. The self-ligating bracket includes a bracket body with an arch wire slot and the second clip arm positioned lingually of the arch wire slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20210386520
    Abstract: A debonding tool for removal of orthodontic brackets includes a handle. An arm extends from the handle. The debonding tool includes first and second opposed fingers. A collar is translatable along the arm and operates to effect relative movement of the first and second opposed fingers between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Eric W. Nimmer, Lindy Couwenhoven, Juan Montes de Oca
  • Publication number: 20210267725
    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: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • Patent number: 11058519
    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: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • Publication number: 20210113305
    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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer
  • Patent number: 10912630
    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: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer
  • 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: 10226311
    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: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Curiel, Philippe Salah, William Ayache
  • Publication number: 20190021818
    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: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer
  • Publication number: 20190021819
    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: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • Publication number: 20180360570
    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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Applicant: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • 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: D841804
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer
  • Patent number: D944993
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Nimmer, Madeline Gustafson
  • Patent number: D1022215
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Amie Chaloupka, Eric W. Nimmer, Lindy Couwenhoven
  • Patent number: D1022216
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Amie Chaloupka, Eric W. Nimmer, Lindy Couwenhoven
  • Patent number: D1022217
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Amie Chaloupka, Eric W. Nimmer, Lindy Couwenhoven